Not only do I love my job and love where I work but I also love that I get to see some great things everyday on my way to work. Here are just five of those things.

These are just some of the beautiful mountains I see every day. While living back in Australia, the mountains were one of the things I missed the most about Utah.

The state capitol building.  

This photo is from last spring but I pass by beautiful gardens soon to be filled with colour once again.

Beautiful artwork. This is one of my favourites. I am surrounded by beautiful paintings.

Every day I get to see this beautiful building. Regardless of one's beliefs, this is a beautiful piece of architecture. 

"Musick has charms to sooth a savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."...William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697

Music has also helped give me a boost of confidence or make me feel stronger.

Lyrics that have done this are:

Whistle a happy tune (from The King and I)

Whenever I feel afraid
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect I'm afraid

The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people
I fear I fool myself as well

Kind of like 'fake it till you make it'. I have often pretended to be brave or confident and in doing so I have found confidence where I thought there was none.

I am Woman (Helen Reddy)

I am woman, hear me roar....

If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman!

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

I remind myself often of this song. Particularly the 'you can bend but never break me' part. I remember a number of years ago one of my children came home crying. He told me that someone said that I was fat. It made him sad that someone called me a name. 

I held my little boys face in my hands and looked him in the eye. I told him that it was OK. Though his friend said those things to hurt my son and possibly me, we choose not to give those words power because HELLO! I AM fat . In accepting this, those words may bend me but they can't break me.

Firework (Katy Perry)

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth

ROAR (Katy Perry)

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

Brave (Sara Bareilles)


Show me how big your brave is


Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

What you have to say is important. Don't ever be afraid to say what's on your mind. Maybe you need to take some time beforehand to just whistle (scroll back up to the first song choice if you need a refresher).


What doesn't kill you (Kelly Clarkson)


What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter


Yes the song is about breaking up with someone but the chorus can be sung (preferably loudly) about any difficult situation. 


What is your go to 'feel strong' song? You know the one. The one you turn the volume way up for.

I really enjoyed watching this video for a number of reasons. First of all I have a tender heart towards all those with special needs, their family and carers. Secondly I love that Katy Perry sang her hit song with Jodi letting Jodi take the lead. And then I LOVE this song,  It's one of my favourite songs at the moment.

I love this song because at times I have felt "...so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?" I also know there are many of you out there who feel the same.

For all you who are feeling like you're "buried deep six feet under?
Scream but no one seems to hear a thing" I want to look you right in the eyes and tell you "After a hurricane comes a rainbow.......baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth......It's always been inside of you.....And now it's time to let it through."

You ROCK! Let's do lunch.  xoxoxox

My husband dropped me off at a friend's house tonight. As he backed out of the driveway I was about to say "Don't back into any cars!" but I thought I might just be nit-picking. As I'm just about at the front door....CRASH...CRUNCH!!!! 

<sigh> Yup....right into the side of another friend's car. 


I went inside to inform my friend what had just happened. I was most apologetic. I couldn't stop saying "I'm sorry". My friend on the other hand just kept smiling and shrugging and saying "Accidents happen." She was telling my husband and I to relax.


Gosh she was so calm. I'm sick to my stomach and she's taking it all in stride. When I grow up I want to be just like her. 

What are you thankful for tonight? Well I'm thankful for good friends....and good car insurance. I think that's at least worth a couple of clicks. CLICK! CLICK!

During the month of November Billionclicks.org has a great deal for you. When you order your Clicker Kit, enter in the code WENDY345 and you'll receive an extra clicker with wristband and sticker that you can use for a gift (HELLO....Christmas is coming), share with a neighbour, keep in the car or many other uses. Just remember the more you order the more you get.

I come from a large family. I love all my brothers and sisters. We love to laugh...and we do a LOT of that.

My two youngest brothers have Down Syndrome. They have taught me a lot over the years. They are funny. They are loving. They are forgiving. They are stubborn. They are helpful. They are giving. They are helpful.

I remember injuring my foot once and having to get my sister to drive me to the ER. Our younger brother came for the drive. He didn't like to see me in pain. He didn't like the idea of me sitting alone at the hospital (which I had to do because my sister was needed elsewhere). He sat with me for those hours. He was always asking me if I was OK and he was willing to do whatever I asked of him. "Here Wendy. Lean on me."

I just watched a little video that made me cry and made me miss my little brothers even more.

Today I will think of all the wonderful things about my brothers and I will click for each one. It's going to be a wonderful day filled with lots of clicking. 

During the month of November Billionclicks.org has a great deal for you. When you order your Clicker Kit, enter in the code WENDY345 and you'll receive an extra clicker with wristband and sticker that you can use for a gift (HELLO....Christmas is coming), share with a neighbour, keep in the car or many other uses. Just remember the more you order the more you get.

I hope you haven't been holding your breath waiting to learn where it is I chose to do my clicking. I am glad you came back to find out though.

I chose to do my clicking at work. I keep my clicker right where I sit.

The first day of clicking I clicked a grand total of 52 (I work four hours a day).  I noticed things like a little girl about age 4, holding her grandfather's hand. It made me smile and feel good....CLICK! There was another little girl looking ever so cute in a tutu. Well...you know me and tutus so she got TWO clicks.

There were a number of clicks because of customers who were nice to me and made me laugh. One customer even came up to me with a fortune from her very own fortune cookie. She said it suited me. What a lovely thing to say....CLICK!

I noticed husbands and wives holding hands....CLICK!

I had customers sharing jokes with me....CLICK!

(What was the name of Captain Moroni's horse?.....Be-unto-you, because he was always saying "Woe be-unto-you" hahahahaha)

Other things I saw through the week were:

Customers secretly paying for others...CLICK!
Cute halloween socks....CLICK!
Tater Tots (The best in town)....CLICK!
I saw a man on crutches and was thankful it wasn't me.....CLICK!
Show tunes being played on the piano....CLICK!
Cute and colourful headbands.....CLICK!
A customer dropped her plate and helpers came running.....CLICK!
Someone anonymously completed one of my jobs....CLICK!
Good news from a friend....CLICK!
Customers that generally don't smile, smiling.....CLICK!

I really enjoyed seeing how many happy thoughts I had throughout a work day. I looked forward to work to find what was going to make me smile/CLICK during the day.

During the month of November Billionclicks.org has a great deal for you. When you order your Clicker Kit, enter in the code WENDY345 and you'll receive an extra clicker with wristband and sticker that you can use for a gift (HELLO....Christmas is coming), share with a neighbour, keep in the car or many other uses. Just remember the more you order the more you get.

What colour clicker will you choose?

In my previous post I spoke about searching for happiness. (Our Search For Happiness...)

This is a photo of me and my daughter Sarah just this last August. She is the oldest of my children and my only daughter. 

Sarah is beautiful inside and out. She is funny, smart and very caring.

I live in Utah while Sarah lives with her husband back in Australia. I miss her terribly.

Yesterday I got an unexpected phone call from her. It went something like this:

Sarah: I wanted to tell you something that happened this morning. You need to know that I am OK. (A little shaking in her voice)

Me: Alright. Tell me all about it.

Sarah: I was on my way to work and I hit a kangaroo. The car is totalled but I am safe.

My daughter is safe. Tears and prayers of gratitude flow. How many clicks does one assign to such a thing? 

During the month of November Billionclicks.org has a great deal for you. When you order your Clicker Kit, enter in the code WENDY345 and you'll receive an extra clicker with wristband and sticker that you can use for a gift (HELLO....Christmas is coming), share with a neighbour, keep in the car or many other uses. Just remember the more you order the more you get.

A number of years ago I was invited to a birthday party for a friend. She asked us to bring something that makes us happy. It was her hope to find ideas that could help her in her own search for happiness. 

I knew exactly what to take. I have a book that I have kept cards and letters from people who have had nice things to say about me over the years. Whenever I was feeling bad I could just think of this book and feel better about myself, knowing there were people out there who loved me.

One of the attendees spoke of a happy skirt she has. It has bright and cheery colours that made her feel happy when she wore it. 

I have a friend now who has a Happy Book. She has others write their happy thoughts in it as well. I believe she is on volume 7.

We all have different ways to be happy or find positivity in our lives. Here's what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks....

I've been clicking. That's right, clicking. What? You haven't heard of clicking? Watch the video to understand more.

Billionclicks.org sent me a clicker and wanted me to take it for a 'test drive'. I'm all about thinking positive thoughts and finding happiness so I agreed. I waited for my clicker to arrive. What colour would it be?

There are eight colours to choose from and each colour has a special meaning.

The day arrived I was excited to see what was inside. Awwww even the outside makes me smile. "Think Happy...BE HAPPY"

I quickly opened the box.....

PINK! I have a pink clicker! I quickly looked up the meaning behind pink: 

"Pink - the color of self worth, order and love. There is a place deep in your soul where these qualities live. Each time you breath, think, click you nourish and feed each one."

I love it. I'm all about people recognizing their self worth and loving who they are. So pink is perfect for me.

Now to decide how I want to use it. Watch for my next post to see what I decide.

How will you use your clicker?

During the month of November Billionclicks.org has a great deal for you. When you order your Clicker Kit, enter in the code WENDY345 and you'll receive an extra clicker with wristband and sticker that you can use for a gift (HELLO....Christmas is coming), share with a neighbour, keep in the car or many other uses. Just remember the more you order the more you get.

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Little purple pansies......
Little purple pansies, touched with yellow gold,
Growing in one corner of the garden old;
We are very tiny but must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

In whatever corner we may chance to grow,
Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow,
Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

I grew up singing this song in primary. I always thought purple pansies were pretty but I never really understood the 'whether cold or warm.....try, try, try' bit. That was until just recently.

I started a job last year that had me walk past beautiful gardens every day. I was surprised that in the fall when everything is losing leaves and gardens are being dug up in preparation for the upcoming winter that in the gardens I would pass, they were planting pansies. Each day I was surprised that they were still holding their own and 'try, try, trying'.

Further amazement just this week when after two months of snow covered ground I finally get to see dirt in this same garden. I stopped one day as I noticed green coming from the brown earth. Looks like the tulips are starting to grow. I was excited to think that spring was on its way. 

The following day I stopped again to look at the progress. This time I paid attention to the pansies and to my astonishment they were still pretty purple pansies (and some yellow pansies). Not blackened and gross from being under snow for so long. Then I looked further and found that some of these pansies had lifted their 'heads' up and were ready to continue growing.

 This caused me to ponder the little song I had grown up with and how it called upon us to be like those little pansies and 'try, try, try'.

I don't know of anyone who isn't going through some kind of difficulty. How can we be like these pansies and continue bringing joy to the lives of others when we feel like the weight of the world is carried on our shoulders alone? I don't have all the answers but we could 'try, try, try' to at least look the part and smile.

Maybe as well as taking time to stop and smell the roses we need to also take time to learn from the pansies.