Thursday, April 9, 2009

Photostory Friday: Happiness

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek


In the West we have what is called Desert Varnish. This is a substance that adheres to rocks in arid climates, staining them with darker and sometimes interesting -- and even beautiful -- shapes. 

As I was walking up the front steps the other day, I glanced down at the ground by the rose bush, and this is what I saw:




And since I now wander through life, searching for Photostory ideas (so do you, admit it), I knew I had a good one here: Finding happiness in unexpected places. 

I was going to write something deep, about how this little rock sees wind and rain, sunshine and snow, yet keeps on smiling through it all. 

I would write that life is certainly not always filled with happy circumstances, but that if you have a list of demands and conditions that have to be met before you will be happy, you have ensured that you never will be. 



I was going to say that happiness is a choice, and that if your eyes and ears and heart are open, you will find it in the most unexpected places. 

I thought of all of this in an instant.

In the next instant, I took a closer look at the little rock, and the ground surrounding it.

 


I believe in miracles and I believe in coincidences. 

I also believe in a five year old, with a marker and an artistic inclination, spreading joy in the front yard. 




And that's where I found happiness. 

42 comments:

Michelle said...

How sweet.

That reminds me of my childhood. Our yard was littered with painted rocks.....cause that was what we did when we were bored and had nothing better to do.

I wonder if they made my mom happy?

Pam Emmons said...

One of my favorite PSF. Simple and sweet. I love Emma.

Wayne said...

I think it is very inventive

great photo friday

Mom24 said...

Great pictures, as always. :-) I've found a 5 year old is usually a pretty good marker to happiness, if we only let them lead us.

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

I was really getting into a deep mindset in the beginning and I also kept thinking that the rocked looked a little "too happy". lol! I just knew she was behind the art!

Love it! Send her my way, I have SO MANY rocks that need a little lift.

Linda@ViewFromTheRidge said...

great pics
and a great photostory friday post. I loved the last photo.

Angela said...

Oh happy rocks! So cute. Happy PSF and Happy Easter!

tiarastantrums said...

LOVE IT! That mad me giggle!!

Cecily R said...

Awwwww. YOu made me all mommy fuzzy again!

Our girls MUST meet someday soon!

Tink *~*~* said...

How awesome - she goes and creates a whole tribe of happy little rock peoples. Rock on! :D

Tink *~*~*
Not-so-hidden Mickey

PS - 33 days for me. Can't wait to hit the Flower & Garden festival, been blogging about it for weeks already!

Shellie said...

Now THAT was a great story. I didn't believe for one minute in desert varnish (such a cynic). Aren't you glad those smiles were on rocks and not your walls? Remember pet rocks?

Susie said...

You would have gotten away with desert varnish even with the ALL of the rocks--I then proceeded to laugh my head off! Very cool post--thanks for sharing the happiness.
Emma rocks the rocks btw--she's so cool!

Heather said...

That was awesome!!! At least she wasn't writing on the walls!

Anonymous said...

Love the smiley welcome rocks. I just adore your little girl. :)

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

That is the sweetest, happiest rock garden I've ever seen. :)

Emily said...

that is pretty cool! It looks like you have a pretty creative daughter. and yes, I do admit it...a substancial part of my week is trying to decide what my photo story Friday will be! lol

Anonymous said...

With that first picture I thought,how amazing, then I with the others I thought, now that is a sweet happy child.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

To be a 5 yr old with a marker!! Oh I have a 4yr old and I wish she would decorate rocks instead of the wall next to the toilet! Although it brings a smile to my face to see her art, I REALLY hate to clean it up! Love her happy rock family!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

A-men to THAT. And yes, I ALWAYS am searching for PSF ideas, I totally sucketh like that.

LOVE that photo. Happy Easter to you and your fam!

CC said...

What an awesome photostory!!!! I love her!

Jac said...

What a great PSF! With great photos!!

Those rocks are so darn cute! I used to take my water colors and paint the rocks in our yard... I wish I'd have thought of a marker!

Honey Mommy said...

How hilarious! Look at all those happy rocks.

Maybe we would all be a little happier if we painted smilies on more stuff.

Holly said...

Hahahaha! I thought the rock had a computer smiley type quality to it. ;)

Anonymous said...

I admit it...I search for things for Photo story fridays! ;)

Thanks for the happy story! It gave me a smile! :)

Alex @ I'm the Mom said...

Oh Chris. That was absolutely perfect in every sense of the word. Thank you for sharing!

Momisodes said...

It's amazing how children can ground us sometimes. What a beautiful post.

Robyn said...

That was great, brought a huge smile to my face! I want to go and put smiles out side too.

Lindsay said...

That was awesome - you actually had me hanging on every word. Gotta love kiddos...and their obsession with MARKERS - esp the non-washable kind.

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

I kept thinking that smiley face looked a little too perfect.

That picture of your daughter is adorable. :)

Alex the Girl said...

Awesome story. The photos are just the added bonus.

Stephanie said...

It put a smile on my face also! Thanks for sharing!

Melissa said...

awww.... what a "HAPPY" post.... you actually had me going at first, thinking "wow, how neat that a smiley face ended up on that rock"....derrrh, a little gullible, huh?

I've been meaning to ask you..... how is your wife doing???

latree said...

you have just made me smile
relieve my weight I thought I held

thank you very much

Gina said...

Wow, hilarious. I was thinking, "what a find! So amazing!" How funny.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That totally brought a smile to my face! Thanks for sharing.

Corey~living and loving said...

oh my word! THAt is just plain priceless. and the perfect post for the photos, as well.
have a great week!

Kacey said...

Oh I love it. Quite a beautiful little rock family you have now. :D

Straight to Your Hart said...

The small and simple pleasures of answered prayers...made my night!!

imbeingheldhostage said...

LOVE IT!!! You seriously had me going. I was thinking that in the 30 some odd years in that area, I had never seen that.

Oh, and thinking about blogging-- I'm not admitting anything.

sunshinesls said...

So very clever!

Wendy said...

Hi Chris--I haven't seen so for what, 25 years or so?!?! I was just reading your blog last night and very much enjoyed your entries. You have a good writing style and great photographic eye. Cute kids, too!

Funnyrunner said...

Cool blog! I wandered over here from Kaye's at the Road Goes Ever On...