Author Archives: joyful_admin

First Date!

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Emily’s first date!
My darling Emily had her first date the saturday after her sixteenth birthday. I was excited for her. Her friend Jonah took her bowling, they got ice cream and then they came and played
games at our house. 
Cute kids!!
I really didn’t think she was that short…must be!!!

This seat is saved!!

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So darling!!!!!
I had to take this picture!
My kids have sat in the same spot in our BMW (basic mormon wagon) for as long as I can remember. We’re not all in the car always at the same time, but when we are this is where my children sit. In these exact spots. I didn’t assign them places, they decided where they wanted to sit and it’s been that way ever since. I mean we’re talking years and years!
 This was our last family day, before Riley left, I had to snap a pic.
I love my children. I’m so proud of the people they have become and are becoming.  

Dear Friend

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Last week, on the day my son
Riley
left for boot camp, my dear friend Laura, brought me these tulips and some cookies. She didn’t know it, but I was having a hard day. I don’t like it when people leave. I know it will be a good thing for my son to do what he is doing, and I believe he will be in a good place. He will come home someday, a better man than he is now. I had teared up several times at work and then there she was. She just showed up with this beautiful bouquet of flowers. I absolutely love the canning jar! I love you, friend. Thanks for being inspired to come visit.

Family History Friday (FHF): Another Perspective!

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This is Joy’s daughter, Kelsey, doing a guest blog for Family History Friday!
Ever since I was little, my mom has been
 in love
with doing family history. 
 She has always taught us to have a love
 for the people who came before us, and
paved the way for us to have the lives we do now. 

We have been on a couple trips to places where our ancestors are from.  We took a trip in 1999 to the East coast, including Dedham, Massachusetts, where our ancestors, the Fairbanks, built their house in 1637, and Plymouth, Massachusetts, where our ancestors who came across on the Mayflower landed.  It was so fun to see how and where they lived when they came to America, and to see all the struggles they went through to make life better for us. 

Whenever we go on long trips in the car, she asks us questions about our ancestors to see if we know who she is talking about.  It is really cool to know things about them, because then they are real. They aren’t just names on a piece of paper. They really lived and experienced things, just like we do. I really do appreciate the things she does to find out who they are, and to help us know them as well.

I would recommend that you do your family history, and share what you learn with your kids, so that they can enjoy it too.

Family History Friday (FHF): Google!

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I really love
“google“!
When I need to find something, or I’m bored to tears, I can do a
“google”
search by entering a few words to be searched and a plethora of information about whatever you typed in comes up!! My FHF today is to suggest that you do a
“google“
search.
I put in “genealogy blog sites”,
and found much information and places to go to help in research.
As I’ve said before, you can
 “google“
your ancestor, to see if anything comes up.
You can
 “google“
 where they lived, find maps and also many pictures of the location. Do a
“google“
search and see what happens.
Happy Family History Friday.
Love, Joy

the joyful nest!

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I don’t know if you remember, but one of my first posts was about “choosing joy”.
It is what I do.
I have come to a time in my life,
when the chicks are mostly grown.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and
I know that in just a few years the nest will be empty.
OUCH!
I feel a pain in my heart. I’m OK, it’s just so hard to have my childers growing up and leaving. What’s weird is, I have been looking forward to this for quite sometime. I just didn’t know it would come quite so quickly. Being a mom has been the greatest, hardest, most amazing experience. When they were tiny, I would give anything (pretty much) for a break. Just 20 minutes! You know, run to the store by myself, take a shower, eat MY food by myself. I think all I did was feel overwhelmed and worry. Come to think of it, I still worry. But now they’re gone alot and doing so much, I worry when they don’t come home at the designated time. Did the car break down? Have they even looked at the clock? These days, I miss having them all safely tucked in bed by 8:30 pm.
After all is said and done, life is wonderful. It is a challange, and I love it. I choose to love it, all of it.
————————————
I sent my oldest son off to boot camp on Tuesday, he has chosen to serve his country. It’s going to be a great thing! I will miss seeing him for a while. Then my second son will be leaving on his mission in July. Oldest daughter is at a crossroads, as well. Bonus baby just turned sixteen on the 19th and had her first date all in the same week. Wow! I  know that I’m still their mom and hopefully they will always come home to the nest for visits, bringing lots of grandbabies and sharing love and  togetherness.
When I first heard Eva Cassidy sing the song, “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” I cried….I sobbed. I thought of my darling children flying away. It’s hard, but when it’s time for them to go, I know it. I have to have faith in them and in God. I know I have taught them, and loved them, and they are amazing!!
I had a friend tell me once, “Joy, you’re not the only one who loves them.” Father in Heaven loves them even more than I do. They will be just fine!!!

One year Blogiversary!!

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Today, it has been
one year
 since I started my blog.
I feel pretty good about it!
It isn’t the most famous, or the most impressive.
 It is however mine and I have enjoyed so much sharing the past year with anyone who stops by.
 One of my goals, was to do posts encouraging others to do their Family History. I did write “37” FHF posts, and if I didn’t inspire anyone that’s OK. I reminded myself, of the love I have for my ancestors and their legacy. They are amazing to me and I hope someday to meet them and to tell them how much I love them. Maybe, they will tell me, they think I’m amazing too?
I have also written very fond and wonderful memories of my life and family. I’m always happy to share my stories and the lessons and things that life has taught me, but it is also for my posterity. How will they know…unless I tell them.
So if by chance you’ve happened by, thanks!
 I hope to see you again and get to know you. I have gotten to know lots of amazing people, and am very grateful for all of you.
Happy Blogiversary to ME!!

Family History Friday (FHF): State Historical Background!

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If you have family from a certain area in the United States, and would like information about the place, you can go to the new “FamilySearch” here. Once there, click on “research helps”. Once there,  you will find an alphabetized list of possible information you can use. Click on the letter at the top of the state that you wish to look up. For example if I want information about the state of Utah, I would click on the “U”. When the list comes up, go down to “Utah Historical Background”. Click on it to see a chronological history of Utah. It is a great way to learn important dates and information that could be added to the history of an ancestors. It can/will be helpful and informative. Try it!! Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

My Baby is 16!!!

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My bonus baby’s
birthday was on the 19th.
We gave Emily a surprise party!!!
It turned out pretty great, and I think she was surprised.
We had fondue!
Cheese w/ ham, broccoli, cauliflour, carrots, pretzels, crackers, and –chocolate w/cinnamon bears (my personal fave), nilla wafers, pretzels, teddy grahams, marshmallows, bananas– also caramel w/ apple slices, pretzels, and all the stuff that was dipped in the chocolate. YUM, YUM!!!
what a darling smile for the camera!! Not!!!
(In case you were wondering, Emily is notorious for silly and crazy faces.)
Rachael forgot the “D” in birthday,
but did an awesome job decorating!
Then the kids watched “Zoolander”!
Emily calls her friend Linsey, her twin.
They were born on the same day,
April 19th, about 4 hours apart.
Linsey’s mom is one of my best friends, Lilli.
The girls have had their picture taken every year on their b-day,
since their b-day!!
Happy Birthday darling Emily!! I love you!!! oxox