#365HappyDays

A year ago I began the #100HappyDays challenge. I took up the challenge because, as I wrote in my first post on the subject, I believe happiness, at least to a certain extent, is a personal responsibility. It is my responsibility to surround myself with people who lift me up, instead of drag me down. It is my responsibility to focus on the positive, instead of the negative. It is my responsibility to be kind, say thank you, forgive others, and above all, LOVE, because these acts bring and sustain happiness.

I joined the challenge because I wanted - and needed - a daily reminder to seek out and document the happiness in everyday moments, and to teach my children to do the same.

I stuck with the challenge for 100 days (though I admit to missing a day here and there), and then continued capturing happy moments and sharing them here - on Friday as my Happiness Highlights - for another 265 days.

When I realized at the beginning of April that a full year had passed, I went through all 365 (give or take a few) photos and relived every smile, every laugh, every happy tear. Here are, in no particular order, a few of my #365HappyDays.

He did it!

Exploring the River Walk in the rain.

Will, Hallie, and friends (Will's on the far left and
Hallie is right next to Will) in their youth yoga class.

Silly Lily on her first day of preschool.

My parents on their 38th wedding anniversary.

A ninja and a dancer in front of their Christmas tree.

Will and his award-winning Christmas card.

Mama Bear and Goldilocks on Halloween.

Hallie, Kara, Will, and Kaylee on the last day of school.

The same foursome on the first day of school. 

Hallie's fifth birthday.

Hallie and Grandpa celebrate a victory.

The spread of my future. 

My newly-painted front door. 

The Ferris side on Jenna and Ferrell's wedding day.

Pure joy.

Will's eighth birthday.

Kaylee and Will after the Nutcracker.

Sweet girls, sweet ice cream.

A trio of soccer stars.

That's one nice Grandma.

I bought myself a Christmas gift.

Elsa, Anna, and Elsa working out.

Mama and her boy.

A hot - and cold - mess.

Sweet dancing girls.

Will and Ben, out for a rainy run.

Celebrating the bride in Nashville. 

Big Event 2015

The Mueller side on Christmas 2014.

Our newest family member, baby Forest.

Remembering our younger years.

A typical family vacation.

Bringing our Tuxie Wuxie home.

A little Milwaukee Brewers tailgating.

Will lovin' on Lily.

The four "Mueller" cousins.

Watching the 4th of July fireworks.

She was so brave!

A big toe-head and a little toe-head.

Meeting Reveille for the first time.

My loves.

Last Friday's post was the last one to include Happiness Highlights, but I have no plans to leave behind "high fiving" on Fridays or focusing on life's Happy every day of the week. After watching a moving documentary on Saturday night, I have a new idea for encouraging and supporting happiness in my life and my children's lives. Stay tuned…

Thanks for taking this happy ride with me, friends.