"People are like teabags. You have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."

I like this idea. Thanks for starting it Pat. For me, one thing that makes me happy is when I see life's milestones pass each year. July 4th is one that really gets me as well as Christmas. It signals another year I have survived and am sharing it with people I love and care about.

Me too Pat, I really like the idea of talking about happy things!
I will post mine tomorrow - good for you to lighten and brighten the day!
Nadine

Thank you Lexisgirl, I love what makes you happy because you are an inspiration to many people. That is what life is all about, Loving and caring for others.

Nadine, looking forward to you post. :) You are also very inspiring to this group. Thank you,

- actress Kristen Bell said " Laughing is so good for you. It legitimately burns calories and just makes you happier on a daily basis."

Let's have some laughter.... Tell a story, tell a joke (but please keep jokes clean) It is well known that laughter is good for you. I remember when my husband was ill, I don't remember the actual title of the book, but it was about illness and laughter. If you put "Laugh yourself Well " in Google, you will come up with many articles about laughing yourself well. Attitude is half the battle when it comes to beating cancer. Does laughter cure you, maybe for some it does, I don't know, but I do know that it makes living with cancer easier. So I am hoping more of you will join Lexisgirl , Coetie and I. I will try to post a uplifting quote everyday.

I agree that laughter is very important to healing. I try to find humor in things I do and I share that humorous perspective with others. Life is too short to be frownee. :-)

My Bottlebrush Tree:

We have a bottlebrush tree that grew tall and strong with beautiful willowy draping branches. Stunning flowers in abundance that attracted bees and birds and lavish compliments. She didn't always look that way. When we first planted her the garden services accidently chopped off her main branch with the weed eater. I took a side branch and tied it up so that it would take the place of the main branch. She always looked a little lopsided but as she grew and gained strength it became less noticeable.

A few months before my lymphoma diagnosis my hubby decided that the flowers caused too many problems with the pool pump and the bees were becoming an issue with the family. She had to go! I was beside myself.

One morning I arrived home after shopping to find her lying in pieces on the ground - a carpet of leaves and flowers. All that was left was a tall stump. A neatly sawn off stump sticking out of the ground like a planted pole. I put my head down and walked into the house totally devestated.

The plan was to poisen the stump to kill it. That didn't take place because things went a bit upside down when I was diagnosed.

During my chemo I used to get up early in the morning and sit on the patio outside and stare at the barren stump - no bees - no flowers - no birds. I, no hair, eyelashes or eyebrows. In the same boat....

One morning, feeling restless I walked to the tree that once was and couldn't believe my eyes. Teeny, tiny shoots were protruding out of the stump! Bright green, healthy and robust! I secretly watered her every day. I felt a sense of victory of sorts and knew at that moment I was going to be okay.

When hubby noticed the shoots (which by this time were doing so well) he said he needed to poisen it. Well, need I say what my reaction was!

The tiny shoots turned into beautiful young branches. The strangest thing though was that they all grew towards the back of the stump, leaving the front with almost a fringe. I bought her a pair of sunglasses and made her beautiful red lips so that one could see her face.

As strange or crazy as it may seem, she gave me courage. If she could survive then so would I! And it is true. Today I am in remission and my special friend has gorgeous hair flowing down to the ground. I trim her fringe from time to time and touch her every day and say "thank you"!

I have put a picture of her on my photo page if you would like to see her. That was taken 3 months or so after the first shoots appeared. Amazing isn't it?

So that is a happy story and we all have those experiences in our worst moments if we just take the time to notice them.

I will place an updated photo of her shortly.

God Bless
Nadine

Oh what a wonderful story... Thank you so much for sharing. And you are right if one really looks we can find something to smile about even when we are down.

I love your tree, she looks beautiful......

God Bless you,
Pat