Day 14: Describe the Last Moment You Felt Really, Truly Blissful

Day 14The last moment I felt really, truly blissful

My family is dysfunctional. I mean, don’t get me wrong – we’re definitely more Osborne-dysfunctional than Jackson-dysfunctional; but still, like most families, we have our share of bickering and fussing and picking and testing and sometimes hollering at one another. It takes us twelve hours to complete a road trip that would take most families six. My dad has to stop every ten miles to go to the bathroom, because he apparently has a bladder the size of a lentil. My mom shrieks at my dad from the passenger’s seat about driving too fast. My nieces slug it out in the backseat over whose turn it is to play with the iPad, and my sister and brother-in-law annoyingly smooch and stare deep into one another’s eyes in the middle seat, squishing me into the far corner of my parents’ van and forcing me into an unwilling front row seat to their weird road trip mating rituals.

By the time we get where we’re going, we are all tired, cranky, frustrated, and ready to streak out of the van with the speed of the roadrunner just to get away from each other.

And yet…

This past weekend we drove about an hour and a half away to a pumpkin patch/corn maze for my niece’s birthday, and we all assumed our usual road trip positions. And as I sat there squished into my corner of the van listening to my nieces bicker and my mom yell at my dad to slow down and my dad complain about having to go to the bathroom…I wanted to find a way to hit the “Pause” button on life and just remain in that moment as long as I could. It suddenly struck me that the messiness and the craziness and the lovable dysfunction of it all is…well, beautiful. It’s life. It’s living. It’s the comfortable familiarity of relationships bound by blood and love and fierce loyalty and knowing one another better than we know ourselves. It’s the knowledge that no matter how much I might screw up, or how flawed I might be, or how much I annoy them…these people aren’t going anywhere. They’re my family. As I get older I really appreciate the significance of that. Not all families stick together. Not all families overcome their differences and set aside their pride and forgive one another for grievances…but mine does. Which is why, in that moment, surrounded by the imperfection of my little family, I felt perfectly blissful. And overwhelmingly grateful.

The moment did eventually pass…the annoyance of someone passing gas without claiming it returned…jabbing my sister sharply in the ribs for hogging the seat might have happened…and chaos, as always, ensued…but the love and laughter and silliness and gratitude and beauty  and wonder, I took with me. They might be loud, they might be a little crazy, they might be flawed, and they might drive me insane on a regular basis…but they’re mine. They’re my people. And I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world.

“What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole; they were the ones who showed up and who stayed there, regardless.” ~Sarah Dessen

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35 Responses to “ Day 14: Describe the Last Moment You Felt Really, Truly Blissful ”

  1. October 29, 2013

    http://40yearswandering.blogspot.com/2013/10/day-14-describe-last-moment-you-felt.html

    I’ve had many moments of bliss despite much heartache this year. God is always there with your silver linings.

  2. Janette Alvarez
    October 29, 2013

    The last moment of bliss with Family was last weekend at Disney we actually did not argue, but enjoyed our company for the four days we were there…

    As for romantic was Last Novemeber and December that I waw reminded that being held and conversing with a lovely persont hat you can tell liked your company is bliss… I thank God for both of these times.. and pray there will be many more…

  3. Mom
    October 29, 2013

    OK Mandy! Did you really have to include the part about passing gas?!

    • Hadiza
      November 3, 2013

      LMAO! Busted by mum, Mandy! Mwahaha!

  4. Adrienne
    October 29, 2013

    This weekend while holding the new addition to our family…my 3 month old great-niece Annabelle. 🙂

  5. t
    October 29, 2013

    going bowling with my son and his girlfriend.. fulfilled a long time need to just bowl…. a sport I love..

  6. Traci Daggs
    October 29, 2013

    I didn’t know about this blogging challenge how wonderful
    The last time I was truly blissful was honestly from January to November of last year the man I met did not make me happy he ADDED happiness to my life he added even more to what I was missing and what I didn’t know I was missing. Unfortunately we’ve broken up now long story I do still love him but that was my last time feeling truly blissful

  7. Traycee Frey
    October 29, 2013

    I think that moment for me was last Wed. I’m extremely close to my family, but they live 13 hours from me, I was having the roughest day possible – woke up late for work, everything I touched I managed to somehow drop to the ground, found out I had no hot water, as the hot water heater went ou, so a cold shower at 5 am is really not ideal, got to work and everything that came my way was complex & needed addressing….but right in the middle of my horrible day I got an email from my sister in law – she’d taken a video of my 3 year old nephew – he had the guitar I bought him for Christmas – he was just strumming along saying in his 3 year old voice “I love you TT, I love you TT” (TT’s what my niece & nephews have called me since the oldest was born 17 years ago) – I just busted out crying! Out of all that comes my way in life – the only thing that truly matters is my family and the bond we have. That was a moment of bliss for me

  8. October 29, 2013

    Oh yes! Family are real treasures on earth especially your relationship to them. They won’t leave you ever! They’ll always support you, love and accept you for who you are! God bless all the families out there! And for those who have no family, may you see the goodness of a family within your community and in church. 🙂 I love my family. <3

  9. October 29, 2013

    i have a crazy family too. but who doesn’t? here’s the last time i felt really blissful.
    http://baredmysoul.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-am-really-truly-blissful.html

  10. Crizzy
    October 30, 2013

    I totally agree with Mandy’s post. Because I do feel the same too!
    From all those family arguments, former relationship’s heart aching breakups and loss of a friend…
    I still feel perfectly blissful for having my family around as always beyond our imperfections.
    They are the ones who always makes me smile whenever I have a bad day and makes it better.
    Being alone and single wasn’t a hindrance for me at all to be happy.
    Because with them and knowing I am super duper loved makes me the happiest and most content woman in the world! 🙂

  11. erin
    October 30, 2013

    I would have to say the last moment of perfect bliss for me was with my family in Seagrove, Florida. We go to Seaside, Florida every year, but this year we had found a house just outside of Seaside with enough bedrooms for everyone and also a heated pool. We had the best time together. It was one of the best trips we took together after all my nephews and niece came along. Seeing them play so nicely together and everyone enjoying each other and our short walk to the beach and hopping into the pool was great 🙂 .. i would have to say the trip before the kids was Jackson Hole, Wy. We took that trip in 2009 i think and just being together hiking, horsebak ridding and fly fishing was awesome 🙂

  12. erin
    October 30, 2013

    Also.. i went to the pumpkin patch this past weekend also .. we went to the one in harpersville, alabama called old baker farm .. and had a blast .. i went with my small group from church and it was a very pretty day with a lot of fun stuff to do :).

  13. October 30, 2013

    Love it! I am cracking up at Osborne dysfunctional vs Jackson dysfunctional! That’s my family, too, girl! Will share mine when I get more time to think about it. I’m currently happy but wouldn’t call it blissful and like Tyler Perry so eloquently put in Diary of a Mad Black Woman, the last few years (after divorce) have taken me through more emotions than I think I experienced my entire 21 years of marriage! But I’m sure I can think of something to share soon.

  14. Melanie
    November 1, 2013

    I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt blissful.

  15. Ngoni
    November 2, 2013

    The very last moment I felt really, truly blissful had to be this afternoon. It’s Friday and so after work I walked my dog Jackson around the park. I saw a fellow co-worker walking his dog and we were talking about the events of the day. The day was breezy and sunny and I was feeling energized. I walked for two miles and it was nice greeting people and listening to my headphones. And that’s not the endorphins talking either! Simple things make me happiest. A kind gesture. A note of appreciation or comfort. I have a note that is 17 years old. A male co-worker I used to work with wrote on a piece of torn paper, “Peace be with you” with some Jewish symbols. I never met him or knew who he was. It was a large company and we hardly talked to one another. Maybe he was an angel. He gave me that note after I was hit by a car as a pedestrian and had surgery on my knee. It was also before I knew I had cancer in my shoulder. It’s not hard to find blissful moments. For me, they are in the simplest things.

  16. Ngoni
    November 2, 2013

    to fThe very last moment I felt really, truly blissful had to be this afternoon. It’s Friday and so after work I walked my dog Jackson around the park. I saw a fellow co-worker walking his dog and we were talking about the events of the day. The day was breezy and sunny and I was feeling energized. I walked for two miles and it was nice greeting people and listening to my headphones. And that’s not the endorphins talking either! Simple things make me happiest. A kind gesture. A note of appreciation or comfort. I have a note that is 17 years old. A male co-worker I used to work with wrote on a piece of torn paper, “Peace be with you” with some Jewish symbols. I never met him or knew who he was. It was a large company and we hardly talked to one another. Maybe he was an angel. He gave me that note after I was hit by a car as a pedestrian and had surgery on my knee. It was also before I knew I had cancer in my shoulder. It’s not hard to find blissful moments. For me, they are in the simplest things.

  17. Ngoni
    November 2, 2013

    Sorry about the double response!

  18. kandi
    November 2, 2013

    Am I too late to join the challenge?

    • Mandy Hale
      November 7, 2013

      No! Join in at any time! 🙂

  19. Rebecca
    November 3, 2013

    I have to agree, time with family is the most wonderful feeling in the world, regardless of how dysfunctional they may be. My family drives me up a wall and down again, but now matter what they are always there for me. Especially now that I am out of a 2 year relationship and my parents welcomed me home with open arms.
    I have to be honest I cannot remember the last time I was truly blissfully happy. I could name times where I thought I was, but after my relationship ended, looking back it all feels like it was fake on his part. I was truly happy with my ex prior to him and that was the one time in my life that I realized what true love felt like. Now I am working towards my own blissful happy period in my life, going back to school and bettering me as a person.

  20. erin
    November 4, 2013

    so i just bought your book at lifeway .. the single woman: life, love and a dash of sass .. soo excited about reading it soon

  21. kathleen
    November 5, 2013

    The last time I felt truly blissful was sometime in the weeks following my July 4th 2013 wedding. After 3 weeks of wonderfulness, I realized the man I married was not who I thought he was!! He turned into this controlling, emotionally abusive person. I left him last week. I am moving to another state on the ocean by a girlfriend to start my life fresh. Do I hope to have many more blissfully happy single moments in the near future!

  22. Sheri
    November 10, 2013

    Played in the rain and jumped in the mud puddles with my 6 year old and 15 year old daughters. We laughed from the belly and my youngest told me three times that evening she hoped it was raining the next day.

  23. Cas
    November 11, 2013

    True Bliss!! Holding my 8 week old niece every day for 7 days, esp when she slept in my arms or on my chest, being the one that could help her to stop crying! (they are more than 2000 miles away so this visit was a huge blessing)

  24. January 3, 2014

    Missing this challenge…ever gonna pick it back up?

  25. Emma
    January 16, 2014

    Unfortunately we don’t all have family, I lost my mum at 22 and my dad died on my birthday two years ago, I’m 33 but I am grateful that god never let me give up, that he gave me strength and courage to achieve my dreams. I have like so many had many heartaches and barriers to overcome but four months ago I met the man of my dreams, someone I have waited and wished for, for a very long time. We never know whats round the corner so as hard as life is at times take time to understand the lessons we’ve been sent here to learn. I came from very loving parents so to go through that without anyone by your side was difficult but I’m here trying to make a difference and by loving myself and knowing I deserve better I’ve found inner peace and I am blissful for this journey I am still on
    Xxx

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Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only