Choose Happiness...even when you stub your toe.

{I wrote this just a few days before I got sick and hadn't finished adding all the pictures...I want to acknowledge it is hard to stay happy all the time, especially dealing with ailments, but if you can ever hope for happiness than you are not far from it. }

A happy happy day filled with people I love and care about. Let's begin now.

I should say that the following words were written to a missionary that left our area. Our family was unable to say goodbye. He spent almost 6 months in this area, so we had him and his companion(s) over many times. Although we love all the missionaries...he just sorta fit in like one of us...and not being able to say goodbye, I wanted to send all of the pictures of him and his companions that I could. Whenever they visited our house, and had dinner with us...there were lots of picturers.{!} Just before I sent the last one to him via email and only writing a few words. I thought I'd share my thoughts with him and this is what I wrote. When I was done, I felt compelled to share it here with you. I added my changes and put in {parenthesis} like this.

Dear Elder, {Dear YOU}

You may think me crazy...but, I am not. I am just rare, as much as you are rare, and all of God's children too.  There is NO normal. We are ALL different, some of us just stand out a little more. 

I think  Heavenly Father made us all so different so He can pick us out in a crowd easier.

{I am adding this picture for my blog....as this is what crazy may look like....but really its just me being the happiest I can. I love these Freezes!!!}

Ok, so as well as taking tons of pictures...I write...I can be wordy so I apologize now, for I do not know what is going to come out on paper...and I will just continue until I am done...no edits, no take backs, just whatever... here it goes.... 

I think that every moment is precious and every connection not an accident. Maybe my "craziness" for taking an abundant amount of pictures is really a blessing, for in the future when I have lost my memory,  the only thing I will have to look back on, to remember all the good times, are the pictures that I have.  Maybe it is to get me through a time when it is impossible to see my children because they will be gone and far away when they marry....whatever it is, it will be known in the future I am sure.  

{Pictures like this hold so much meaning they say so much to me. Little Em just woke from a nap when my daughter came for a visit she woke up when she heard her speaking and said "Dandy Danda!!" then ran to her and put her head down like she was ready to go back to sleep.}

{and what about that!!! don't you just want to smile?}

{back to letter}

  I have such a desire to take pictures {as what I remember most from my youth are pictures in a photo ablum I have. I love to write, and share, and that is what I do. I where xxx wear my heart on my sleeve, I love everyone the moment I meet them, and I care deeply. 

I  don't know why I am writing this...but I will continue.

Pictures of my girls looking at his scriptures...

LOL

{6 boys 5 girls....boys finally won!!}

Heavenly Father has given us all such unique and everlasting qualities, talents AND personalities...not just for this life but for the next. When we find that uniqueness we need to grab on to it, and cherish it and act upon it. That is our rare gift...no two people will be alike and I have yet to even want to be like anyone else anyways.

Pres. Dieter F. Ucthdorf gave a talk in General Conference in 2008, Happiness, Your Heritage. That talk resonated with me. I talk about it much, but it touched my soul,  and I have never been the same since. I had an immediate response to it, and started writing, taking pictures, helping my children create, and hoped to inspire them to find their "happy" more actively...

whatever that was for them, I tried and try to be as involved as possible.

The desire to create anything....especially happiness was so profound and struck me like cupids arrow. {I have fallen in love with creating.} I have a copy of this talk on my desk and I still make copies of it from time to time and hand it out whenever possible and encourage people to read it.  I think that everyone can relate to this feeling and desire to create.  We are created in God's image....he created us...we create!  It is wonderful.

Pres. Ucthdorf spoke...

"the desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. "  "I believe that as you immerse yourself in the work of our Father- as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others- God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequecy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment." 

I do indeed feel Gods arms around me and I feel such energy in that. I try to create everywhere I go. I know that I stand out, and seem a little odd to some, but I am ok with that. 

 I know that my true happiness comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that life is hard, and there are many struggles, but we have a choice to be happy or sad in everything. It is not always easy to remain happy, but it is a lot easier when it becomes a habit to do so. It has taken many decades and trials and tribulations, even though my natural disposition is to be optimistic, I have had times of great sorrow...sorrow is not so hard as long as there is hope. We have a choice to choose happiness over every other emotion we could possible have. But when we remember that no  matter what our circumstance, God has put us in it for a reason, and in that circumstance we have the power through HIM to get us out...OR... stay in it if need be...so even the days of sorrow have purpose, as without opposition we would not know how good we had it. When we view our sorrows, trials, "what have yous", with hope, and think that this too shall pass and something better will come...it make life so much...hmmm HAPPIER. This is not always easy to do and I am tested in this frequently. ;)

I don't know why I am sharing this message with you, maybe there is a reason...I'll continue.

Just be happy as much as possible. If I never speak to you again, and WE never see you, or say goodbye...be happy and smile, even when you stub your toe....and think of the Gessell Family when your holding your foot in pain...maybe that will make it feel better. ;)

Best to you and all that you endeavor, 

All smiles, Always, Sister Michelle Gessell

Then shortly after this I had a headache that wouldn't quit and then another and then another and then two weeks passed and I am finally feeling some relief. Thank fully as we are celebrating Amanda's birthday today. 

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Choose happiness!!! 

From me to you w love, M