If you have the will to win, you have achieved half your success; if you don't, you have achieved half your failure. - David Ambrose

Today isn't even half over, but I already know what my smiling heart moment is for the day!  I've set some goals for myself, one is to be able to run a certain distance, the other to get to a certain weight by July.  Well, for someone who isn't a runner and who has been working on losing weight for a while now with no success, I was a little unsure as to whether or not I'd be able to do it.  But, I refused to give up and wanted to at the very least be able to say I gave it my all and hopefully see some results, if not exactly what I was hoping for.  However, today I did it!  I haven't yet reached my weight goal, but not only did I reach my running goal, but I exceeded it! I ran an extra 1.3km than I planned on!  My heart smiled when I got off the treadmill, my legs shaking like jelly and knowing that I accomplished a goal!

Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. - Johnny Carson

Back in the summer I discovered the amazing television show Game of Thrones.  In the fall, I bought the first book in the series that the show is based on by George R. R. Martin.  I quickly burned through all five books in the series, and haven't gotten several other people hooked on the series.  A couple months ago I pre-ordered the television series, which happened to arrive today!  My heart smiled when I opened it up and watched the first episode, and I'm sure it'll continue to smile after every episode!

Joy is a flower that blooms when you do. - Author Unknown

Today was Family Day, meaning no work!  To top it off, the sun was shining and it was fairly warm out there (well, very warm if you consider what the average temperature is for February).  I went for a nice long walk through the park today, which really brought a smile to my heart.  It was nice seeing all the people out with their family, going for walks and playing in the park.  So pretty and relaxing!

It takes a lot of work from the face to let out a smile, but just think what good smiling can bring to the most important muscle of the body... the heart. - Author Unknown

I had an amazing day.  I was asked to do a talk about my trip to Bulembu, Swaziland to a ladies church group.  I don't particularly like doing public talks, but figured that it's worth it to spread word for Bulembu and the amazing work that they do.  Little did I know, I would be told that they would donate $100 to the charity of my choice.  My heart smiled to hear that $100 would be going to Bulembu to help out.  It's truly amazing how generous people can be!

Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold. - Maurice Setter

It's been too long!

My day wasn't a very exciting day.  In fact, it was fairly uneventful.  It began around 9am when I woke up, and my heart smiled almost immediately.  You see, I was able to lay in bed till 10:30am reading and cuddling with my cat, and if that's not a reason for my heart to smile, I really don't know what is!  After finally rolling out of bed and making my way downstairs, I asked my sister if she would like to go out for lunch.  I highly suspected she would say yes, so we went for a nice quiet lunch around the corner in the afternoon.  My heart smiled to be able to have a nice lunch with my sister.  She's going away for a week, so it was nice to be able to have a chat with her before she leaves for sunny Cuba!

A smile appeared upon her face as if she'd taken it directly from her handbag and pinned it there. - Loma Chandler

Every year at Christmas time my family and I go to see Canadian Brass in concert.  For me, it's really the signal that the holidays are about to start, and a time when I can find real peace within myself.  Listening to the music as it fills up the hall, following the different instruments as their sounds move around.  I consider it to be an almost spiritual thing for me.  I just feel so calm, relaxed, and content during it.  So of course, my heart was smiling during another amazing concert today.

Also, I wish everybody a very Happy Hanukkah!

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. - Mark Twain

I crochet for two reasons.  The first is because I find it super relaxing, and I like being able to do it while watching television so that I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.  I can actually hold something tangible that I've done while sitting in front of the tube for longer than I should.  The second reason is because I like to know that what I'm making can bring a smile to someone's face.  While I'm crocheting, I like to imagine what the person's face will look like when they see what I've made, even if I won't be there when they see it.  That's why I like donating what I make because I know that the person will truly appreciate it.

Back on Thanksgiving I made a bunch of Halloween decorations for my family members.  Each person at the dinner table was given something.  At the end of dinner, some people ended up leaving their decorations behind, but one of my Aunts picked them all up and took them home with her.  Fast forward to this morning, I got a phone call from her telling me that she handed them out to all the babies out with their older siblings for trick-or-treating.  It made my heart smile to hear her tell me about this.  It's nice to know that they were able to bring a smile to others and to know that she "gets" why I crochet for others.  It's all about passing on a smile.

Thanks!