Some of you may think "Journal of a Happy Family"  wow they must be a family that really loves being together.  And that is true.  BUT the title is actually a stretch from a book by my favorite author, June Strong.  She wrote a book Journal of a Happy Woman and I have both consciously and unconsciously patterned much of my life on her advice and thoughts.  (that's why is is critically important to be careful in selecting who and what you listen to, watch & read.

June has been very influential in my life. In fact, I was just rereading Journal of a Happy Woman for about the 20th time and came upon a sentence or two that stuck me as "that's just like me."  Then I thought "well I read that 30+ years ago when I was in my teens maybe I subconsciously adopted her ideas."  

One thing I always wanted to do was hike around Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine, just like June did.  Last September our family went there and was blessed to have a day of hiking the island.

I highly recommend all of June's books as excellent Christian reading.  Other than Journal of a Happy Woman June has written Mindy (a slightly fictionalized biography of her grandmother), Project Sonlight, A Little Journey,  A Warm and Welcome Place, Where are we running?

So while we are a happy family that loves being together my blog title is also a tribute to a wonderful woman that I owe a great deal to and who is in some way responsible for my being me.  Thanks June!