The Happy Day Project is over.
I’ve had a few days to recover and to reflect.
So, I have to tell you:
Julie and I brainstormed and planned and organized and coordinated for a few weeks beforehand. And to be honest, by the time the week was upon us, I was kinda burned out on all things Happy. I wasn’t really in a Happy Day kind of mood anymore.
It didn’t help that even though we picked the week it would be on, it somehow happened to be an especially crazy week…without any Happy Day business added to it.
Andy had an unexpected trip to South Korea the week before, I decided to spend 5 of those 6 days visiting family a 3 hour drive away, so we were doing all of the “re-entry” stuff that comes with your husband, oh you know, being on the other side of the EARTH for a week. Lots of extra laundry, keeping the kids quiet while Daddy recovers from jet lag, and some of the, ahem, behavior that comes along with spending 5 days with grandma…plus therapy and preschool and la, la, la.
So, me and Happy Day were not super stoked on each other.
But, I trudge along.
And I was shocked. Downright stunned.
By how much these silly, simple little tasks messed me up. We had picked them out, scheduled them and talked them through. And yet, I was still completely surprised each time I actually carried one out.
I may have started the week begrudgingly, but man…my heart grew three sizes bigger by the end of it.
I cried. A lot. When I didn’t even expect to.
Some tasks stayed with me for days. All of them special. All of them made for great conversation.
Henry keeps asking when we can make something for the neighbors again. Maybe we can give it to this neighbor or that neighbor next time. He has the sweetest little heart. I wonder if maybe they put a little extra in there when he had his surgery sometimes. ;)
Writing a note to a friend was by far the most special task for me. It made me come out of my comfort zone. It made me think. In concise little sentences. Not on and on and on over email. And the note to Wren? Ruined. Just stinking ruined. All day I couldn’t help but think of her and her little family. Ruined you guys. And then Julie got this comment on her blog the other day. Enough to kill a girl.
As Wren’s husband i want to thank you so much for all of the cards! One of the other pastors told me that i needed to go check my box because it was overflowing with mail. I cant wait to go home tonight and sit on the bed and watch her open them. This has been a difficult journey but one that God and others have walked through with us. Once again thank you so much!
Your comments?
Your participation?
Took my breath away.
My instagram feed was flooded with Happy Day. Twitter blew up with all the sunshine being spread.
Pinterest was awash with The Happy Day Project. I was humbled by the participation. By your willingness to jump right in. I really couldn’t believe it. Each time I saw one of those printables in my feed, my heart caught in my throat.
How YOU took time out of your busy days…squeezed a little more out of your budgets…wrangled your kids to talk about the hard stuff…
I don’t know how to express what I’m feeling exactly.
Just that I’m encouraged by each of you. I’m encouraged that with nothing in it for you, in the midst of the crazy that is life, YOU participated.
By all accounts, The Happy Day Project happened on what might have been one of the most harried weeks this year for us. But maybe that’s part of the point? Maybe that’s what made it even more special and poignant for me? That we made it a priority to serve others. In little ways. In big ways. Even when it would have been far easier to look inward and hunker down and say we didn’t have the time. Not this time. Maybe next time.
THANK YOU. For being awesome. For rocking. For bringing it.
Did you play along with us? How did it go? Were you surprised by how things went? Good? Bad? We’d love to know what you thought and how it all went!
Link up your summary/recap posts for The Happy Day Project! (Julie and I are both hosting this linky party. So if you link up here, it’ll show up on her blog and vice versa. You don’t have to do it twice.)
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thanks to you and julie for hosting this. i know it was extra work for you two – added to regular life, and general project-ing.
but you did well. for the name of Jesus.
thank you for encouraging us to do the same. seriously.
the conversations that have come out of this have made it worth it.
the excitement of giving is contagious – and its awesome to see others experiencing it as well.
can’t wait for the next HDP – and by that I mean Happy Dolphin Project….you scheduled that next week, right?
jeannett! thanks again for you and julie being diligent to organize this.
the project really sparked our family to be more intentional about loving those around us.
those simple tasks each day made such an impact on me-praying the recipients were blessed, too!!
love you and am so grateful for you!
Thank you so much for this idea…and for being obedient enough to carry the project out. It was life changing for me. I do not say that lightly. Hit me in a way I never expected. No doubt God used the Happy Day Project to change the hearts of His people…and show His heart to some that may not know Him yet.
still happy day-ing. still catching up. still haven’t blogged. but i ADORED this project. i love when He is glorified in our good works. and this was perfect. thank you, for your big huge hearts. love you girls both so much.
I loved this project. It was so busy and it stretched everything a bit further but for the few minutes each day I focussed on that one task I was well and truly happy. Thank-you so much for the opportunity. If I’d only sent Wren a note I would still consider this a success.
Thanks for doing this – I was very inspired, very humbled and felt very blessed to be able to participate!
This is such a wonderful project and i think you did great with it :)
thanks to you and julie for hosting such a great week of projects :) it was really humbling and inspiring to take part and read about your (and everyone else’s) experiences.
Hugs to you friend. Big stinkin’ hugs.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for opening eyes. Thank you for changing my life, my way of thinking. Thank you for everything. Tears, streaming down my face every day. You and Julie are amazing.