It Brings A Smile
We talked a little about motivation in the this post. As I read through many of the comments, I realize I may have come across as unhappy or down. I assure you, I am not. I pretty consistently have a smile on my face. I am so overwhelmed, in a good way, with the blessings in my life.
Here are things that make me smile,
-Hanging out with my wife
-A warm day
-Enjoying conversation with friends
-Driving in my $1000 Samurai. No top…love it (no top on the car…to clarify)
-Seeing my Mom and Dad in retirement
-Watching my kids play music
-A good beverage 
-A great movie
-No alarm clock
-Being in the mountains at a lake
-Seeing a life transformed by God
-Getting kisses from my niece
-Working with the staff I work with
and of course,
-Reading your comments 
So, I want to hear from you what gets you going. Even more than that, I want to hear what excites you.
What Makes you smile?
I bought these very cool earrings for a DOLLAR at Target the other day, they are HONKIN’ rainbow colored flat hoops. They make me smile. A lot.
I especially like when Jake does the dishes.
I like rainy days. Really. (although two weeks of rain is starting to get to me)
My puppy is super cute and I like to snuggle with him.
A really yummy homemade milkshake….which reminds me…I forgot ice cream at the grocery store tonight. And chocolate.
I like seeing the faces of family in pics since we can’t see them face to face anymore.
Brandy’s last blog post…Am I a mean mom or what?!
Hey man, I’d no idea you’d moved the site, this looks awesome!
Fred (still stuck in Chicago Ohare w/ massive flight delays!)
Fred McKinnon’s last blog post…Update from Willow Arts Chicago #2
This is a great post idea bro. My baby boy making little steps toward coming home from the NNICU makes me smile!!!
CJ Mills .::. http://www.visualtrademark.com
CJ Mills’s last blog post…Free Finds Friday // 1
Dancing music
puppies & babies
getting kisses from anyone
getting more than kisses from my female friends
Chocolate
making stupid mistakes (we can either laugh or cry – first I cry and then I laugh)
clowns
anybody getting a whip cream pie in the face
rainbows
sunrise
sunset
the NY Mets winning (not happening much this year)
the NY Yankees losing (which is happening more this year)
the Marx Brothers
Jack Benny
George Burns and Gracie Allen (remember I am 65)
I could keep going but I have a baseball game to watch.
Ed’s last blog post…Music – The Amazing Guitar Work Of Rodrigo & Gabriela
Ed said: getting more than kisses from my female friends
I say: Like what? Chocolate? Flowers? That sort of thing?
Brandy’s last blog post…Am I a mean mom or what?!
I think Ed is a rascal.
Brandy’s last blog post…Am I a mean mom or what?!
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Indian Lake Papa’s last blog post…Please come pray with us! ( Major Correction!)
AAHHHHH!! I love when Papa leaves you comments!!!
I get a huge smile on my face! 
heehee
And Mama is just too cute for words!
AH! Love them!
Brandy’s last blog post…TGIF!!!!!!!!!
Brandy, you forgot ice cream and chocolate? Shouldn’t you just leave that at the grocery store
Fred, I’m bummed you guys are stuck! Glad you made it by. What you up to now…79 bottles…Haha!
CJ, I’ve just gotten to know you, but I did not realize your son was in the Nicu. I’ll be praying he gets home soon as well. I can see why that would make you smile.
Ed, Clowns! I love it. tam hates clowns, but they make me smile too. And it sounds like your a little horndog
Papa and Mama, you guys make me smile!
I’ve seen a lot in the blogosphere – but “papa and mama” rocking the seesmic comment function?! THAT makes me smile as well!!!
CJ Mills’s last blog post…Where I Want To Be
Every so often, thousands of memories converge, harmonize, arrange themselves around a central idea…
…and I write a really good Essay.
TheNorEaster’s last blog post…SunBeams 4
Let’s see…
Time away with my amazing wife.
Playing with the kids
Flying back to visit the great pac. northwest.
A good cup of coffee
Flying by myself
Seeing life change
Watching people grasp what worship is all about
Good friends
Watching my kids learn to love God
Anything on the Discovery Channel
Seahawk Football
Jim Henry’s last blog post…GCC’s Top 10 Programming Rules
It doesn’t take much. Just being able to do for someone else. And then to see or read or hear about their smiles!
And, riding a harley anywhere.
pollyh’s last blog post…PURE RUSH!
NorEaster, you are a true writer to appreciate your craft that way.
Jim, We have got to try to connect if/when you get back to Oregon.
Pollyh, Welcome! Your a Harley girl, very cool!
What makes me smile:
Listening to my kids belly laugh – with each other
The smell of early morning… winter, spring, summer, fall – I love them all!
Good coffee
Good book
Good conversation
Good friends
Hearing stories of people coming to Christ
The last day of school in June
Anything NYC
I am so blessed!
kids
MY HOT wife
guitars
music
worship
art
my mac’s
memories
blogging
blog friends
youth ministry
klampert’s last blog post…This one wrecked me
Glad you clarified that you had no top on the Samurai..for a moment there I was thought you were showing off your new physique!
When Greg is home
Hearing the kids playing (or Simone singing at the top of her lungs)
Going home
Seeing the way Jesus touches people’s lives
Counting all my blessings
Cheryl’s last blog post…The Tooth Watch – Day 77
MommaJen! “The last day of school in June” Now Tammy would say the first day of school in September
Klampert, glad you go the Macs and the hot wife in that list
Cheryl, I new I would have to clarify for my readers
for me?
Sunshine in Winter ( am smiling BIG today )
puppies anytime
Knowing i am truly Loved – By Him – through ‘others’ (and puppies) as well as by myself.
Jokes.
Being with folk i love.
Sharing something i have learned with someone and them totally geting it – more so when they did not think they could or would before i shared.
Flowers
most birds
…and nature at it’s best (i.e. pretty much all the time – except for where people get hurt.
Oh and Blogging… i smile a LOT then. (reading Other People’s blogs)
Thanks for being a part of that B
It means a lot 
<
love’s last blog post…Simple English (- part the second)
Just about everything makes me smile..but the best smiles come from;
watching my children worship,
seeing Hubs relax,
watching baptisms,
seeing someone connect to the Lord for the first time,
my bloggy friends,
emails from a friend thats unexpected,
Music,
my dogs when they are being praised for being good…too funny
babies of all kinds (human or animal)
I should probably just post this later..as I can not stop smiling now, and my list is growing rapidly!
darla’s last blog post…The Biggest Lie
I haven’t smiled much lately so thanks for this opportunity to think about the good things in my life.
The Beauty walking in the door.
My kids doing something silly – which is most of the time.
Watching my daughter sing.
Music.
A good comedy.
Watching Mandy & Tam’s MTTV videos.
A rainbow.
When I read scripture and finally understand how to apply it to my life.
My pastor – he injects alot of humor into his sermons.
When my 2 year old niece calls me a ‘punk’ then gives me knuckles.
Seeing my 7 year old nephew with cerebral palsy do things no one ever thought he would do.
When my kids say ‘I love you’ with no ulterior motive.
Spending time with my extended family. We laugh. ALOT.
Hearing how God has delivered someone out of addiction.
The smell of chocolate chip cookies baking.
When someone takes the time to leave a comment on a blog post I’ve written.
givemejesus’s last blog post…Friday Funny
new coldplay cd in 3 days. not just a smile, a freakin huge smile.
Tyler’s last blog post…Fortuitous Bouncing: Chicago Version
Love, most birds? Which ones would not make the list
Darla, let us know when the rest of your list is up.
givemejesus, “When I read scripture and finally understand how to apply it to my life.” I love it when the Spirit opens our eyes to things God wants us to understand.
Tyler, welcome home! Anxious to read your post on the conference. All I can say is that this Coldplay album better live up the hype.
am I missing out on something by not having EVER listened to Coldplay?? All this Coldplay blog chatter makes me curious.
Brandy’s last blog post…TGIF!!!!!!!!!
Check them out Brandy, you may like it.
Brent:
You should have seen me in college.
TheNorEaster’s last blog post…SunBeams 4
What gets me going: Decaf Americano (placebo effect rules!)
What excites me: TV Guide New Fall Season issue
The sunrise that hits the bay just right.
A latte with 3 shots of caramel
a paycheck
Being with God open and vulernable
Reading your wife’s/your blog!
Most of all being with family and family of friends.
The sunset as it hits the bay!
Noreaster, I can imagine
Jon, I like hearing people order the skinny, sugar free, decaf drinks. I call those…What’s the point!
Heidi, what do you think of sunset’s that hit the bay just right
Really want to know….
I do my 5 mile walk ever other morning around the bay or I’ll do it in the evening.
Brent… I believe without a shadow of doubt that sunrises and sunsets are times of worship.. Let me explain. I remember going to my grandparents home in Rockaway Beach, Oregon and I would sit there in awe.. I had the best moments with God with myself on the sand and eyes to the horizon. I would weep,shout for joy and be able to be filled with His journey plans in my heart.
I believe any musician/pastor/ and or leader can duplicate a worship moment.
But there is NO sunrise or sunset that are the same.
It bowls me over when I AM at the awe of His presence for just me.
Heidi’s last blog post…What’s Life’s Speed Limit?
Heidi, right on!
I was joking a bit, but I am glad you shared that. Now I know how you feel about the sunset, without a doubt!
Thanks!
You need a new post so Papa and Mama will do another vid. Yes, I get my Mama/Papa fix here thanks to the super cool seesmic video comments. Looooove iiiiiit!
Btw, how did you add that to your blog? Can it be done on wordpress??
Brandy’s last blog post…What do you think?
Brent? Which birds would not make my ‘list’?
Well ones like Mandy wrote a peom about a month or so ago on her blog.. the 4:30 am little feathered freak who wakes me up occasionally at an UNgodly hour
Vultures – DANG! those things are ugly
and
Tweety-Bird! Just ONCE i’d like to see Thylvethter wipe the smile from that little dude’s clock!:-)
<B
love’s last blog post…Simple English (- part the second)
Love- hahahahahahha vultures are ugly, and always wanted the cat to win at least one round! hahahaha
darla’s last blog post…The Biggest Lie
Brandy, this is not your blog
Love, Haha! I had my ideas, but I didn’t think of vultures!
Darla, I love watching cats chase birds, especially when they catch them…is that bad
Things that make me smile…
Watching my kids perform
playing with my little niece
playing with my cats
watching my cats play
doing artwork with my kids
watching my puppy Honey tease the cats
My brothers
My uncle’s artwork
pumpkins
my kids baby pictures
My best friend
a mocha frappachino…mmmmm
frogs
flowers
Looking at old pictures of my family
singing silly songs
The song “I Can Only Imagine” because it reminds me of my dad
my husband
the reactions I get from people when they see my hand made cards
the smell of rain
curious questions that my kids always have…my daughter asked me once if God has blood. My youngest son asked me how God made the rainbow stand up.
Melanie’s last blog post……..A very long day…..
Melanie, thanks for stopping by and jumping in! I was playing with my niece tonight. I love that one! And anything coffee always gets a good smile from me!
Brent – that is worse than blowing up poor moles!!!!
tell me you are joking… right?
<B
love’s last blog post…Simple English (- part the second)
Brent: Brandy, this is not your blog
Me:
What?
Brandy’s last blog post…What do you think?
Love, of course
Brandy, I was joking about you telling me to write a new post just so you can see Papa and Mama
sorry took so long…but still having trouble with the internet…but my post is up on “what makes you smile”..linked here too
(internet problems= God being funny and teaching me patience
darla’s last blog post…What Makes You Smile?
ooooohhh, well in that case….
new post. stat.
Brandy’s last blog post…What do you think?
I’ll check it out Darla. You’ll have fast internet at our house in 8 days
Gee, I’ll get right on the Brandy
doing nothing with a friend makes me smile inside and out.
alece’s last blog post…explanations (in a french accent)
Alece, those times are amazing!