Day Thirty-five

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

5 Things That Will Make You Happier
1. Be grateful - Some study participants were asked to write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness - over weeks and even months - after implementing the habit. What's even more surprising: Sending the letter is not necessary. Even when people wrote letters but never delivered them to the addressee, they still reported feeling better afterwards.

2. Be optimistic - Another practice that seems to help is optimistic thinking. Study participants were asked to visualize an ideal future - for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling - and describe the image in a journal entry. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.

3. Count your blessings - People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show significant boosts in happiness, studies have found. It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.

4. Use your strengths - Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends. This habit, too, seems to heighten happiness.

5. Commit acts of kindness - It turns out helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness.
Lyubomirsky has also created an iPhone application, called Live Happy, to help people boost their well-being.

I saw this story on yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100222/sc_livescience/5thingsthatwillmakeyouhappier), and I immediately thought about the blog entries, the bible verses, my prayers, etc. 
For me, I think the story should have just had just one item:  Develop a relationship with God and read the bible.  As my relationship becomes stronger daily, the five items in the article seem to come more naturally.  Thank you, Lord!

Today was a good day.  Ryan openly talks about his upcoming 'bolted' head (he is almost there), and it doesn't seem to bother him that much.  Nanna came today and brought him about 5 hats!  He already packed one for the hospital visit  (the nike skull cap).  I had talked about shaving my head if he really has a problem with his 'bolted' head, but I guess we'll see how he does.  Ryan is sleeping with Nanna tonight, and when I went in, they were having an interesting conversation.

Uncle Will and Marielk (correctly spelled) came over tonight to use the foot massage (oh, and see us...I think), which was nice.  Mirjan cooked a nice dinner (again), and it was a good evening.  We received some very good chocolate covered strawberries (thanks, Pops & Elise!) and shared those with everyone.

 Ryan was in bed for about an hour last night, he came down and said, "I'm in paint."  I asked him if he was in pain, and he said, "No, in paint."  I asked him to describe it, and he said his stomach hurt because he ate too many strawberries.  I let him sit with me for a while and then took him up to our bed.  Tonight he said he didn't want the "chemoferapy" because it made him sick.  I told him that the different medicine this time will help out.  I thought to myself that if he can't even pronounce chemotherapy, he shouldn't have to experience it. But it is part of the healing process.

Davianna received her membership package from Super Sibs, which included a coloring book, membership card, magnets with feelings that she can use to show us how she is feeling, and other items.  This is an organization that supports siblings of children with cancer.  She already took her membership card and put it in her purse.  The envelope had hand drawn flowers and her name, which made her feel special.

Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you be with Ryan tomorrow and let your healing power continue.  Be with the doctors and nurses and give them clarity and focus to perform their duties.  I thank you for your blessings of family and friends that are supportive and can be here, that the medical facilities for his treatment are close, and for the comfort that you provide daily.  Amen.