Happiness

Happiness is the little things that make your soul swell

and leave it a little larger,

a little deeper,

long after the moments have faded from conscious memory.

Today,

happiness is

picking a Pink Brandywine heirloom tomato

from plants I raised from seed.

Somehow,

I love plants a whole lot more when

I've witnessed their growth

from the first time

their tiny green heads popped through the soil.

Happiness is also

a thriving rosebush 

from a little cutting.

Happiness definitely is 

putting up a washline

and hanging a quilt out to dry...

a quilt made by

the moms of students I taught,

and a few stitches done by the students themselves.

Happiness also is

wandering through a new exhibit

of T. Alan Kirk's works,

drinking a mocha,

discussing art,

education,

and names

(punctuated with much laughter)

with Tim himself

and Bekah

to a backdrop of a violinist both

very talented and live

and a cafe full of happy people.

At this very moment,

happiness is 

eating fresh apple crisp

(courtesy of Bekah)

after decorating the front door and dining room table

for autumn.