Day 336: Happy New Year!

Joyful Moment today--looking around at the excellent friends we have here, just before ringing in the New Year!




Wishing you all Joyful Moments shared with excellent friends!

Day 335: Tangled

First, because I've been sort of a downer this week (I know--I'm sorry!), I must let you all know that today went well.  I got things done, spent good quality time with the kids, and didn't really feel hurried or stressed  at any point.  It has been beautiful.

Anyway, you can maybe guess from the title, but today the kids and I saw "Tangled" in the theatre with a bunch of friends.  It was really cute!  I loved it.  And so did the kids.  And it was fun to go together.  We never go to movies in the theater.  Even at the matinee price, I could have purchased the movie for what I paid in ticket price.  But that's not a very Joyful attitude, so we'll move on...

I feel very fortunate that we sat by my friend who didn't have any children of her own to look after.  She was able to keep Sweet P and Little M company while I was down by the exit trying to convince Baby B that it was fun to be in the dark for a couple hours.  He did pretty well, but mostly preferred for me to stand.

Anyway, that and the rest of today was just the Joyful Moment I needed as we're coming to the end of this week--and this year!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that are just what you need!

Day 333: Puzzling

Did I ever tell you that I am certified in Gerontology?  Certifying was like minoring, but a little bit easier.  I'm all about choosing the option that's a little bit easier.  Especially when they're offering a $200 scholarship to do it.

As a part of my certification, I had to do an internship.  So, once or twice a week I headed up to the Senior Friendship Center and hung out in the fitness room.  The idea was that I would set up work out programs, demonstrate the fitness equipment in the room, and teach Tai Chi, among other things.  Unfortunately, it turns out that not all that many Senior citizens are interested in learning these things.  At least, not at the Friendship Center.

But I gained two things from this experience:

1.  I realized that I didn't want to make a career out of teaching strength training and wellness to the elderly, as I previously thought I did.

2.  During all of the down time, when no one was asking for our help, the other interns and I "puzzled".  There were a ton of puzzles.  We became extremely adept at puzzling.  Seriously.  Amazing.  I've always enjoyed a good puzzle, but I had no idea that it was a skill to be strengthened.

And, for the record, I did my fair share of actual interning there as well.  I learned and then taught Tai Chi, I set up work out programs for a small number of people, and mostly, I answered individual questions about fitness and health.  And I made some good friends.

Tonight I worked on a puzzle with my family.  Everyone except Baby B.  It was a 300-piece scene from The Little Mermaid.  That's the biggest we've ever done with the kids.  And it was a Joyful Moment working on it together.  It was just good, clean, simple fun.  And they were so proud when we were finished.  They're pretty good at puzzles.  I might be a little proud, too.  It looks like they've inherited my skillz.

Wishing you all good, clean, simple Joyful Moments!

Day 332: Yesterday Was Plain Awful

You know that line?  It's from a song in "Annie".  Tomorrow, I could say that about today.  Although, oddly enough, my mood today was much improved from yesterday.  But still, some awful things happened today.

3/5ths of the family is sick.  And getting sicker.  And I drove the van into a cement wall today.  We're all okay (van included), but I'm thinking that's one more thing I wouldn't have to worry about when living in Amish Country.

Still, today had it's good points.  One of which was watching the kids play with their friends at the children's museum.  Especially when they were dressed up in safari clothes and loading as many large stuffed lions and tigers and giraffes into the back of the Jeep as they possibly could.  Yes, Joyful Moments can be found in the Jungle Room.  Even after a car accident.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments in the Jungle Room--without the car accident!

Day 331: Back In Time

That's where I'm really wanting to go.  I know life involved a lot more hard work back the, but I'm tired of all the busyness in my life.  It feels like I put so much effort into "things" and "stuff" and only a small fraction produces meaningful results.

Take today for example, I spent the better part of three hours dragging my kids all over town in search of the perfect Christmas tree on clearance.  Tonight as I sit here, I have only one Christmas tree in my house and it is dying and destined for the tree recycling drop off tomorrow.  I did get a few other things that we need during those three hours of errands, but the bulk of them were spent looking for a tree while the one that I'd found on-line, that I loved, got sold at a different store.

And it was sort of the culmination of my growing discontent.

What a wonderful intro to a post on a blog dedicated to finding joy.

Today was frustrating.  But it was the final straw and now I'm going to really sit back and re-evaluate and simplify (again) and see what I come up with this time.  And if it doesn't work this time, I might have to pack up my family and head to Amish Country.

As usual, Baby B came to my rescue in the Joyful Moment department.  He's sick again, which is no fun.  But it did provide extra opportunity for snuggles.  And his sweet, fuzzy head on my shoulder is always a Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all sweet, snugly, fuzzy Joyful Moments!

Day 330: Game Night

Sweet P received "Uno" from her grandparents for Christmas.  So, tonight we opened it up and taught the kids how to play.  Although the box says it's for ages 7+, they've updated the cards so you don't even have to know how to read in order to play.  And both Sweet P and Little M picked up on it pretty well.  And Little M didn't get bored before it was done, as he frequently does when we play games.  It was a fun Joyful Moment playing all together as a family.

Sweet P won--quite legitimately and was quite pleased with herself.  Little M wanted to win, too, so we kept playing for second place.  He won that (and it may or may not have been manipulated a bit by parents ready to end the game).  He was thrilled!  It was great.

And I'm sure we'll have many more Joyful Moments to come since they both enjoyed this game quite a bit. Good times!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments filled with good times!

Day 329: Merry CHRISTmas!

Today was a nearly perfect Christmas. As far as gift giving and receiving goes, everything felt exactly right. Not too much or two little. Things went smoothly, too. The kids have played happily with their toys--no bratty outbursts or tantrums. HH took a nap while the kids and I put together and played with all their stuff. I was able to do my traditional Christmas Day run, although not in the traditional way. I love to run outside on Christmas day because virtually no one is out and it feels so peaceful, but I got outside today only to discover that the ground was covered in a lovely, smooth sheet of glass. Or ice. And I didn't dare run on it. So, I went back in downtrodden, but HH insisted that I keep my tradition (it's been in place since long before I met him) and helped me get the treadmill "fixed" and running again!

And then we went carolling at an assisted living facility with some friends. It was really fun. And visiting with some darling, sweet ladies after was delightful. I think the kids and I will make some repeat visits.

But the true Joyful Moment today comes from the reason we have today--our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because a tiny baby was born in bethlehem thousands of years ago my life has meaning. I know who I am and where I came from. I know that I am a child of God. That my children are children of God. I know that after this life, my life will continue. I know that my family can be my family forever. Forever and ever and ever. I never have to be separated from my HH. I know that He is the ultimate source of Joy and that what He wants most for me is eternal Joy.

In that spirit, I wish you all Joyful Moments regardless of whatever else life is offering right now in knowing that Jesus Christ loves you!

If you want to know more about what I believe visit www.mormon.org.

Merry Christmas!