How’s that for a cheesy title? I know. But it’s true and I want to tell you why and how, and I want your heart to smile, too. Because it’s Monday (and smiley hearts are the right way to start the week), and also because I simply think people should have smiley hearts. It really just makes life better.
I went home on Thursday afternoon because I don’t have class on Fridays this quarter and my family was planning to celebrate two very special people’s birthdays this weekend. I absolutely do not go home for every birthday now; it’s not realistic. But since this was the first weekend of the quarter, I was not terribly busy and I decided to go for it.
I spent the day on Friday hanging out with my mom, catching up on some blog stuff, getting ahead on homework, and baking cookies.
And on Saturday, we celebrated. First up, catch-up time. It had only been a couple weeks since I had seen my family, but I got to fill them in on my first week of classes. I’m so grateful that these wonderful people care about me and my life and share theirs with me.
{My grandpa and me, photo by my mom}
Next, we celebrated Mason’s fifth birthday. This kid is so freaking funny and loving.
{Photo of Mason and Camryn from my very talented mom}
The afternoon was full of pizza and snacks, gift-opening, Pounce-playing, and preparations for the big evening event.
See, my great-uncle’s 70th birthday is on Thursday, and his daughter had been planning a surprise birthday party for him for months. I love Uncle John and knew as soon as I heard about it that I wanted to be there for that. Fortunately, so did a lot of other people, from his current neighbors to his friends from high school to his family.
If the picture above doesn’t tell you, I will: it was a successful surprise party. He was touched.
The evening included stories of his teen years from the people who were there, lots of laughs, lots of wine (he’s kind of a connoisseur), and cake.
It was time spent soaking up some of my favorite people.
It included copious compliments on my cookies, Kayla telling me how smart I am, Camryn marveling at the algebra I was doing, and it also included Mason calling me out. See, I stole a pretzel from his plate. He looked at me and pouted a little, but continued to eat. I thought I’d been let off the hook. Nope. After he finished, he looked at my aunt and said, in all seriousness,
Ellen… Ellen… She did one of the ten bad things, the Ten Commandments… She stealed.
This story was told about 10 times that night, and it will probably always make me laugh.
The night ended pretty late, but I went to sleep with a smile.
If you’ve been reading a while, you know that going home is hard for me, because I love it there a lot and then I just… don’t feel like coming back to the school world.
Knowing that, I did it anyway.
I’m not going to lie, yesterday afternoon was a little rough. It required a lot of chocolate and spoonfuls of peanut butter, but I’m starting to feel better. I’m remembering the fun and the love.
This quarter is also going to be hard (I’ll fill you in more on what current life is like within the next week). So, I went home. I filled up. I savored every hug and neck rub, laugh and smile, and story and expression of love. I let my eyes get teary, my abs hurt from laughing, and my face ache from smiling so much. Then, I hopped on a plane and came back to face the next 10 weeks.
And now my heart is smiling.
What makes your heart smile?
Family time is so important – I love how close your family clearly is and how much love there is! I’m glad you were able to make it home for such a fun and important event!
Thanks, Morgan 🙂 I feel very lucky!
you are something else, Ellen – love, love, love reading your blog. Talent, beauty, smarts, and a baker – the fact that it is hard to go back to school is a good thing, it means you know your priorities – your family will always, always be there. Hugs to you to finish off the semester strong.
Aww thank you so much!
My heart smiled yesterday when my sister ran her first sub2 hour marathon in the worst weather we’ve had this winter. I was so happy to have been there with her 🙂 Have a great week Ellen
Wow – that is impressive!!! Congrats to your sister and I hope the weather gets better where you are, Ellie!
That’s so precious! I love how much you love your family. You are so blessed! 🙂 My heart is smiling today, because I really am starting to enjoy being at church and worship with the brothers and sisters so much more than I ever have before. It makes Monday such a sweet day, just thinking about it all. Happy Birthday to all your sweet family members!
Thank you, Emily! I’m glad you’re starting the week on a positive note, too! 🙂
Those kind of weekends are simply priceless, the best. All the smiles…your heart should be smiling!!! xoxo
Exactly how a weekend should be 🙂
That is so nice! I love my family too, and I miss them in Uni. I will see them in summer but it is so far away (
I know that feeling all too well. Hugs to you and I hope the rest of your school year goes well!
So beautiful! Family time is everything to me, even if I am annoyed by them sometimes. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Hahaha “even if I am annoyed by them sometimes”. YES. They’re still freaking awesome 🙂
I love all the pictures of your fam! Whenever you post about your family and get-togethers, it warms my heart and makes me smile. So I guess that is one thing that makes my heart smile. ? Many things make my heart smile (and BTW, I love that phrase; I don’t think it’s cheesy!): seeing my family, being able to give them warm hugs, dancing and taking selfies with my cousins’ kids, working on a project or going out on a fun outing with my sibs, sunny days, beautiful clouds and gentle breezes, treeless countryside, train whistles, road trips…just too many to mention! I should try and work in/appreciate more of those times when my heart gives a happy sigh, because it does help me see what a good life I have!!
Taking the time to notice all the things in life that make you happy really does make life just seem so much better!
This is so cute. I went home for easter break and it made my heart smile as well. I always hate leaving though because I feel a part of your heart is always left at home. But it makes me all the more grateful that I have something so precious I miss it when I’m gone.
I love that way of thinking about it. I’m definitely lucky to have something (or a lot of someones) who are so awesome that I miss them so much. Thanks for the perspective! ❤️
And Ellen, you don’t even know how much your presence meant to those involved. Loved having you here. We do appreciate your sacrifices to be with us. We have a pretty good idea how demanding your schedule is. Love and hugs to you.
Thanks so much, Grandma! Love you!
I love posts like this, because I can feel the love in it all. YOU make me smile, Ellen. Happy birthday to all of your loved ones!
Aw, thank you, Julia. Glad you’re back! 🙂
I positively ADORE this post. This post makes my heart smile. Every single part of it. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank YOU for reading it. (Also, I might’ve reread it like 10 times because memories ❤️)
This post made my heart smile too! I am sending HUGE hugs your way, girl! It’s never easy leaving loved ones (I totally understand as for six and a half years I had to watch Jesse get back on a plane to be 10,000 miles away multiple times – and now we’re the ones leaving devastated nieces/sisters/brothers/mums/dads) but it’s also so awesome knowing that despite all that, you have those extra special people in your life! <3
That story makes me so happy! You guys are the cutest and I think it’s adorable that your love extends/extended over such distance 🙂
Aww! This post made my heart smile too 🙂 Family is such a blessing <3333
I absolutely agree 🙂