Happiness

Things that make me happy:

Playing the piano
Singing
Listening to good music
Babies
Playing with my nieces and nephews
All of my awesome family helping make my birthday party a success
Long walks on summer nights (especially if a cute boy is involved!)
Sunshine
Blue sky
A cool breeze on a warm day
Finding a new record about an ancestor
Writing in my journal
Reading the scriptures
Serving others
Baking
Chocolate-- especially dark chocolate-- especially if it's Dove brand
Waking up without an alarm, after a good night's sleep
Good books (Go Les Mis, A Tale of Two Cities, and Wild Swans!)
Cuddling
Watching snow fall outside while I'm curled up in a blanket
Christmas lights
General conference
Being done with finals
Spending time with my family
Hanging out with good friends
New clothes/New haircuts
Finally getting my income tax refund!
Going to the TRC and remembering how much I loved being a missionary
Hiking (Except in 105 degrees at Zions with slippery shoes!)
Gardening
Fresh fruit from the orchard
Getting back from the temple, feeling fresh and clean
Going to church
Riding my bike
Flowers, especially when they smell good.
Blogging
Friends that listen when I need to talk
Dinner group (unless it's beans and beets again! Sick!)
Emails
Phone calls
Letters
Knowing that I am a daughter of God
Aceing a test or class
Looking at old family photos (especially if they involve the '80s and big bangs-- on people other than me!)
Having meaningful gospel conversations with roomates and friends.
Sharing the gospel
Making myself do something scary and then realizing it wasn't so bad after all
Aunt Carolyn's jokes
Playing board games
Family trips
Getting up early and exercising while it's still cool
Getting in bed at a decent hour (if only this happened more often!)
Reading, writing, and memorizing poetry
Watching family videos
Going to the libraryy
Good, uplifting movies
Watching the stars up in the canyon
Sunrises and Sunsets
The Atonement

"Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy." --2 Nephi 2:25

"[God] has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." --Mosiah 4:20

"In my ninety-plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out.
"I imagine that most of you will be underestimated at some point in your life. And I am sure that each of you will have difficulties ahead of you. None of us can avoid them. But do not despair. They will not last forever. Look for the sunlight in the clouds. God will not forsake you." --Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something, 84, 87

I'm grateful for all the things that make me happy-- that brighten each day. My family, my friends, and all the little things around me are what makes each day worth living. Especially, I'm grateful for the gospel in my life. Without it, life would be pretty shallow. With it, I know that I'm a daughter of God, I know that I can be clean, and I know that I can be with my family forever. What greater joy could I have?