happiness---it sneaks upon you!

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

 ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

This past weekend, I was blessed to get to spend quality time with my family.   Saturday, off color daughter and I wanted to go hike

so we talked Big Daddy into driving us for two hours to a state park known as Carter Caves here in Kentucky.

We had never hiked there so we knew we were in for a new adventure.  Big Daddy even agreed to hike with us and although 

he seemed a bit nervous about us picking a 7.8 mile hike---he did it,  he did start off by saying "did you see that this hike is only recommended for experienced hikers only".   Off Color daughter and I just laughed and put on our backpack and camel back and ignored him by beginning the hike.   

The weather was cool and felt almost like the beginning of a fall day.  We started heading up hill in a rocky area, headed round and through a meadow, over rock bed, through arches and over swinging bridges.   By the time we had finished six hours later,

we were tired and sweaty and all I wanted was a cold diet Pepsi but the gift shop was closed--dammit to hell.

The rhythm of the walk was like prayer to my tired soul,

it moved out the "crap" and left room for 

my soul to breath.

All in All

a fabulous day

and

Big Daddy

well he and off color daughter kept each other entertained 

by 

quoting lines from 

the 

new TLC show "Here comes Honey Boo Boo"---

they kept saying,

"Be careful of the West Nile flesh eating bacteria disease"

On Sunday, 

we were graced for lunch with Off color son

who is turning into wonderful and mannerly young man, where we ate and talked about life and work ethics and college.

In the midst of what felt like a no good very bad week,

little butterflies 

came

and

landed on my shoulders

and 

brought a bit of happiness.

I am thankful for this on this cool morning

thankful for 

my off color family

thankful we didn't get 

the 

flesh eating bacteria disease

or 

west Nile mosquito bite

.....

happiness

it comes like little waves

moving toward us

often we run

but 

every once in a while

"it happens"

the wave rolls over the top of us and catches us completely by surprise

and

for that 

...

for that I am 

thankful this morning.

Have a great Thursday!

BE A GREAT THURSDAY

may the butterfly of unexpected happiness 

light upon your shoulder today

and

may you

be lucky enough to

not 

get 

the 

flesh eating bacteria disease!

Big Daddy's getting ready to do the hike

"for experienced hikers only"

off color daughter looks "thrilled"

 we had to scale down a rickety wooden flight of stairs

and then crawl through the arch to the other side!

\

light on the other side

"this was the 3.5 mile--big daddy was done---

 swinging bridge

 "what are you off color folks doing in my woods--gosh I hope your get the

west nile flesh eating bacteria disease---I'll laugh!"

solitude

big daddy taking a break...

that is off color daughter keep the pace!!!

off color son doesn't like me to use his picture

"but don't you think he is looking cute and if I must say it myself---

I am looking 

sexy hot!!!

Have a great day!!! I am going to!