December 1: Inspire Peace

I grew up in Evanston not very far form the Baha'i House of Worship. I remember going there with my church youth group and again on other occasions as the building was incredibly beautiful and inspired such a sense of peace within me.

I was back in Evanston yesterday and had this urge to stop and visit once again. As you can see the sky was a brilliant blue and I knew that the building would be a beautiful as ever. I took time to walk all the way around the building and spent time in the visitor center that is below.

"Bahá'ís believe: the purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization all humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship."

Inside I found this display rack:

In the rack are literature about the building and the religion in many different languages. How many places do you visit that are this inclusive?

I walked into the meeting area in the visitor center, it is a big round room with a tall domed ceiling below ground. There was a very strong scent of flowers and when I looked by the podium I saw a large vase if Day Lily's.

On the upper floor they ask that no one take photographs. Oh, how I wished I could take just a few images of the domes ceiling. It is beautiful and intricate and no one was there to stop me. As I sat wishing, I realized that taking that photograph and posting it here about inspiring peace would be very hypocritical, so I just sat for a while and took in the quiet, the space, and the light coming through all of the windows.

There is beauty, peace and serenity throughout the world. My goal this month is to notice and photograph those moments when I am peacefully inspired and share them here.

Day 30: Happiness is . . .

The last day of the month. When I started this 30 day challenge, I had planned to use the concept "Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -- Alfred D. Souza as an excuse to go out and do photography then put up a daily post. I did take pictures everyday, but often it was with my cell phone camera. Things don't always go as you plan, but they always seem to go somewhere. It was a hard project because I began to realize that my happiness circle was relatively small. The simple things near me such as my husband, my dogs, and being out with my camera could easily provide for a happiness moment. That was OK, but I would think in the back of my mind that there were a few people reading my daily posts and I had to look around and see happiness in more places so my friends wouldn't get bored.

That was a good thing, I did find happiness in so many areas of my life.

To end this month, I will say when you find the laughter,laugh along with it.

In moments of joy, immerse yourself in it.

Happiness is a choice. No matter who you are or what is going on in your life.

You get to choose to find it and grasp on to it.

My little world of happiness often revolves around a few things. Each day those things keep me going and opening the door to more and more moments of happiness.

May you find happiness in all that you do.

I don't know what October will bring. I still have a few hours to figure that out.

Day 29: Happiness is . . .

This has been a hard day. There have been laughter and tears, rain and sunshine, music and silence. Today was Toni's last day at work. Happiness is that she was able to worker longer than anyone expected.

This image was taken on April 12th the day she learned and shared with me that the doctors said she had 3-6 months to live. I named it Where  Do We Go From Here. 

Five plus months have passed since that day. Toni is still with us. She is leaving the library. I hope that she can put her energy toward healing and living. I hope that she will have many moments of happiness. Special moments with her husband, children, grandchildren, and sisters and brothers.

This image is that same tree today. It has grown it's leaves and they are beginning to change colors. To see these changes is a gift.

Happiness is living each day to the fullest. Having friends who help you through the tough times. Cake to add sweetness to life. A husband to take you to lunch, run errands for you, and allows you to cry when you need to cry. 

Day 28: Happiness is . . .

A note of appreciation to the library staff on a box of donuts. Gotta love our patrons.

The realization that even though we are sick of the rain and cooler than normal temperatures, the spinach and lettuce in the garden loves it. Yummy healthy salad with dinner.

 And today most importantly, Happiness is no more stink coming from the ventilation system of my car.

 $169 dollars, a new air filter, a deodorizer and the removal of a mouse nest, cured the smell that has been plaguing me for three days. I do have to say that the new smell in my car is that of a woman I have never met and am not sure that I would like her if I met her, but it is better than the smell of dead rotting mice.

Happiness comes in crazy packages.

Day 27: Happiness is . . .

Knowing that the sun will shine again and until it does, there are photographs of past sunny days.

Happiness is taking a little time to go through the photographs of the last month and finding more that you love and want to play with.

Some days it takes a little digging to notice the happiness moments. Some days are so busy that you don't have time to take the picture for your post. You just have to go with the flow.

Have a happy tomorrow. May the sun shine on your day, and the light paint up your sky.

Day 26: Happiness is . . .

Being lost in another dimension while taking care of a task that requires elbow grease rather than brain power.

Yes, sometimes happiness is spending time at the sink washing the dishes. You feel the accomplishment of finishing but more importantly, you have those few minutes of down time from all the mental requirements of a day.

Day 25: Happiness is . . .

A fall day that reminds us that the world is a beautiful place.

Bee's Lunch

Beautiful Dragonfly

Laughter in the Garden

Where Summer and Fall Meet

What a glorious day! We had three deer wander through our backyard, I mowed the lawn, and pulled some weeds. These are the glorious moments of life and of living. Happiness is always available in nature.

Day 24: Happiness is . . .

Sometimes hard to see among what feels like thorns.

Saturday was tough. I wanted to print some photographs and things were not going right. By the time my husband walked into the room I was swearing in a fashion that could even embarrass a sailor. (Yes, librarians, at least this one, swears when frustrated).

John looked at the problem like a good engineer and it was discovered that I was printing on smaller paper than I realized and my border problem was because I needed wider paper not because the printer was messing with me.

Happiness is knowing that there usually is a solution and when you step back, or someone you loves looks at things a bit more objectively, you can find that solution and get the results that you want.

In all of this John reminded me that I was looking for happiness each day. I said sometimes happiness eludes you. OK, not in those words, I think I was still a bit more high keyed than that. But it is true, some tasks and activities feel like they are going against you. Those are just moments like the moments of happiness, we get to choose which ones to dwell on, to hold close, and to make our friends.

I am choosing to befriend the happy moments.

Dear Printer,

Thank you for the final print.

Love, Sarah


Dear John,

Thank you for being my calm in my silly storm.

Love, Sarah

Day 23: Happiness is:

Spending time at WLBK 1360 with Terry Ryan and Scott Zak.

Terry Ryan at the Boards

The pay-off of a silly wager.

Several staff members from the DeKalb Public Library came over to Sycamore Public Library to grill us lunch after the DHS football team lost to SHS football in the local cross town classic. Patrick brought the grill and Dee brought the food. Veggie burgers, hamburgers, and hot dogs were grilled for everyone.

Edith and Darcy

Sitting down to lunch is a great way to get to know one another. It's an opportunity to talk and laugh. It has been suggested that we have a grill day at least once a year. I think that's a great idea. We don't even need to wager as far as I'm concerned.

Happiness is being social.

Day 22: Happiness is:

Deciding what to do in the Pumpkin Fest Parade.

Taking off your dress shoes at the end of a long day.

Making a Bacon, spinach and tomato sandwich for dinner.

The bacon is nitrate free already cooked from Trader Joe's. I heat it up and add spinach and grape tomatoes from my garden. In the upper left is the yummy muskmelon that also came from the garden.


And happiness is going to bed when you are tired.

Lady's eyes are aglow

There are other things that make me happy through the day. My plan was to make this a photo journal of daily happiness so some moments have not been included because they did not come with a photograph.  Things like: This morning I sat with my coffee looking out at the morning light, Bear in my lap, and Lily and Mitsy next to me. That was a peaceful happy moment. On the way home from a meeting in Warrenville, I stopped to take a photograph of a farm and stopped again on my way home from work. Those are pleasing happy moments. Mostly these days those stops make me happy because I stop. I stop to take the photo, my version of stopping to smell the roses. Yes, those stops came with photos, but the images sit on my camera waiting for me to download them.)

What do you stop for and why? What pleases you so much that you will be a few minutes late for work or a little later getting home?

Day 21: Happiness is:

Getting home after a long day. Unwinding with a Blue Moon, and going to bed.

This was one of those days that wasn't really bad, it just is nice to be at the end of it.

I send prayers and peace to Candi and her family and to Diane and her family. May you find happiness in your memories and always feel the love that is meant for you.

Day 20: Happiness is:

Walking downtown Sycamore on a breezy sunny afternoon.

Greetings from Sycamore

Yes, I was shooting the clouds

Happiness is finding fun stuff for painting with light at the Dollar Store.

Happiness is taking notice of the little things in life. Running into people you haven't seen in a while.

Or Stopping to photograph the early morning fog on your way to work.

Or the streams of light through the trees and smoke on your way home.

Happiness is whatever you want it to be. What was your Happy moment today? Did you take time to notice it and enjoy it?

More birthdays, no pictures. Happy Birthday to Haley. Twenty years old today.

Day 19: Happiness is:

Having Patti show up in my office with a mum plant and a taffy apple from the Confectionery. Thank you. I didn't have to leave for lunch, just ate left over potato chips, a taffy apple and a piece of cheese. (Don't worry, I didn't take any pictures of my lunch.) I do have to say that one should not try to cut a taffy apple with a flexible plastic knife.

Happiness is after a tasty but somewhat lacking in substance lunch, the Molcahete, guacamole and a $1.99 Margarita from Los Rancheros with my husband.

When we walked in one of the waiters said hello and asked if we were there for the Molcahete. I guess we have it fairly often.

Happiness is being in good company and having friends who light up your day.

Day 18: Happiness is:

Spending the day any way you want. It was rainy and dreary outside, so I watched Project Runway, The Bears game, and Dinner for Schmucks.

If you haven't seen the movie, I recommend it. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd play off of each other fabulously. Barry (Steve Carell) is a lonely man who works for the IRS and makes mousterpieces with dead mice that he preserves and uses in his creative displays. Tim (Paul Rudd) works for a financial firm and wants to move up to the seventh floor. His opportunity for success requires that he bring an "extraordinary" person to a dinner at his bosses house. When he hits Barry with his car (no injuries), his prayers seem to be answered. That is until he and Barry begin to spend time together. There's a little schmuck in all of us. It's what makes us unique and fun to be around. OK, this description doesn't even begin to explain how funny and quirky this movie is. It makes me laugh and laughter equals happiness.

I finished a birthday movie for Toni. John put it on a DVD.

Made more Tomato Tortilla Soup for the freezer and Sloppy Bombay Joe's for dinner.

Oregano and Thai Basil

Garden Fresh Tomatoes

 

Onion and Jalapeno Peppers

Ready for the Cold Weather

Happiness is spending a rainy day in your sweats doing the things you enjoy. Laughter, good food, and doing something for a friend.

Day 17: Happiness is:

Getting up after a late night and going out with your camera and friends again.

Sarah, Tracy and Toni

On a clear day you can see Byron

This is known as the Rusty Old Cadillac West of Rochelle. A tourist stop on the Lincoln Highway Trail. Also along the path to the Nachusa Grasslands Autumn on the Prairie Celebration our planned destination.

Nachusa Grasslands Vista

Nachusa Grasslands Website

We discovered this little restaurant in downtown Franklin Grove. Tasty food, inexpensive and just off the beaten path.

Inside the Lincoln Way Cafe

Happiness is discovering new places, being outside on a beautiful day, and taking notice of the beauty and interesting things that surround you.

Day 16: Happiness is:

Knowing that you can post your post a day late and it's not the end of the world.

Happiness is Friday Night with the DeKalb Photo Walk Group painting with light.

Group Photo

In this image, Toni, Sarah, Kirk, Tracy, Candi, Cathi, and Rodney. We all took light sticks and danced and ran around to create this menagerie of color.

Steel Wool

 It's amazing what you get when you play with steel wool a d-volt battery and a whisk.

Tracy's Light

I just love this one of Tracy. Candi painted her with light and the clouds were turned orange by the city lights creating a bit of an Edvard Munch feel.

Happiness is new friends, cameras, light, a home in the country surrounded by darkness, a cooler of  beer, and lots of laughter.