Things that make me happy...

This blog was inspired by random thoughts, one of which happened when my son said "mom", like he always does, it just made me step back and go "wow, I am a mom! When did I get so old and responsible?" Even though I am a million times happier than I was as a child, I want to reminisce on the most important things that bring me happiness in my life, some of which I have abandoned due to just forgetting how much I loved them. So here are the ultimate things that make me happy.

At the top of the list would be

• God


• My wonderful sole mate Trevor


• My beautiful children


• and friends and family that support me

Then other things that make me extremely happy but probably wouldn't make me as happy without the things listed at the top.

• SINGING- I would evaluate my voice as one that can sound really good with some songs and really bad with others. I am yet to find a church hymn that I feel I sing well. When I was a child I was criticized by someone close to me when I sang, and for many years it gave me a complex, which I am still over coming. The awesome thing about being an adult is I realize that that criticism was unwarranted and whether I can sing or not, WHO CARES, I love to do it!!! That is really all that matters right. When I can't get the kids in a car seat I just sing about it, particularly one song "It's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine" it is amazing how it never frustrates me when I do it that way and how extremly fitting that song is for the problem.


• DANCING-I knew I loved dancing ever since I saw it was an elective for high school. I did take a couple dance classes in high school but never got into anything like 'dance company' or 'drill team' due to the stereo types that were associated with them. I did not want to be classified and so I held myself back from discovering myself more. So my talent was only shared with my hardwood floor in my house or grassy back yard.


• ACTING- I never got to explore this much, lets just say the West High Drama department is not a place to start, I hope that I am able to help my children achieve their aspirations better than I was able to. These first three things are all in the ARTS department. I did go to St. George the summer before my Senior year, my grandpa walked me through a school for the Arts, I am unclear why I never ended up going there. My brother Isaac makes me so proud, he has a love for the arts as well, but has works so hard to make them apart of his life, and man does he have talent!


• PHOTOGRAPHY-these includes taking pictures, editing and designing pictures, as well as scrap booking them. But to be honest my favorite part is taking them. Capturing the one moment that will never again be exactly the same. Isaac is also showing amazing talent there and my friend Garrick has even started up his own company.


• BASKETBALL-There are many other sports I will play or watch and like but NOTHING compares to how I feel about basketball. I could play it everyday and it still wouldn't be enough! I especially like to play with Annie because she gets so mean and competitive that it is funny! Oh the good old days of talking smack, pushing, shoving, hitting, and dirty faces and then walking off the court and being best friends again. Man I love basketball!! Thanks dad for shooting hoops with me and throwing beautiful spirals with the football my way. I have a great arm and love throwing around a football too because of it. I don't think I could have played softball in high school had I not had that training with the football as a kid.

There are other things that put my mind at peace and help me relax, but I don't love them as much as my list above. So my husband and his brother would tell you I never relax. Which computes in my head that I am not laughing and smiling enough. SO I am starting now to make sure that no one can say the "old" Chrystal is dead, I am still alive in here, I still feel young and beautiful even though some times the mirror says otherwise. I will laugh, I will sing, I will dance, I will continue to be hilarious, I will continue to treasure every moment and I WILL LIVE! Even if it is only seen in the walls of my house by those who are close to me, I will be alive on the inside and never let the "old" young naive Chrystal die as I continually grow less naive of the world I will become closer and closer to God. I will never lose sight of what makes me feel young and happy.