Category Archives: Life

Happy, Happy 100th POST!!! 100 WAYS TO CHOOSE JOY!!!

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100 ways to choose JOY!
(in no particular order);)
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100-go for a walk
99-cuddle your sweetheart
98-jump on a trampoline
97-research your family tree
96-go for a drive
95-clean a closet
94-serve dinner at a shelter
93-play scrabble
92-cuddle a sleeping baby
91-watch “The Princess Bride”
90-read a good book
89-make a new friend
88-make treats for your neighbor
87-do some ironing
86-take a long hot shower
85-lay on the grass and watch the clouds
84-watch planes take off and land
83- give the dog a bath
82-call an old friend
81-look at your eyes in the mirror
80-go to a museum
79-let go of things you can’t
 do anything about
78-paint your nails
77-make play dough for the kids and play with them
76-sing a song at the top of your lungs
75-do the dishes by hand
74-finish a project
73-practice saying “I love you” to the mirror
72-take a nap
71-start a blog
70-clean out your purse
69-write a letter
68-count your blessings
67-read to a small child
66-braid someone’s hair
65-sit in a park and just watch
64-buy flowers for yourself
63-plan your dream house or your mansion in heaven
62-try cooking something new
61-go for a hike
60-kiss someone you love
59-forgive
58-go on a picnic
57-set some goals
56-write a special memory for your posterity
55-notice the little things
54-plant a tree
53-learn a language
52-sit in the sunshine
51-pray daily
50-have a song in your heart
49-visit a historical sight
48-one word: “chocolate”
47-visit a rest home
46-don’t JUDGE
45-give a massage
44-stand for right
43-believe in God
42-listen to beautiful music
41-play with someone’s hair
40-go for a run
39-balance your checkbook
38-dust your home
37-go to a farm when the baby animals are being born
36-read about great people
35-donate to a charity
33-drink clean water
32-use the toilet
31-“do unto others…”
30-share dinner with friends
29-shampoo, massage your scalp
28-clean up someone else’s mess, without anyone seeing you
27-take pictures
26-get a pedicure
25-“if you can’t say somethin’ nice,
don’t say nothin’ at all”
24-get things done (no moping)
23-have a candlelight dinner
22-start a rock collection
21-HUG
20-listen more
19-count the stars
18-watch ants
17-don’t compare your worst with someone else’s best
16-chew bubble gum and blow bubbles
15-be grateful
14-LOVE
13-feed the birds
12-create something from something else
11-SMILE
10-ride a horse
9-smell brownies
8-Listen to your heart
7-tend children for a tired momma
6-jump a rope
5-lotion your whole body
4-close your eyes and feel the breeze
3-take a class
2-fold laundry
1-Choose it! choose JOY!!!!
Thanks for reading and spending the last 100 posts with me!
 Love, Joy

Being the Mom!

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“There’s no way to be a PERFECT mother…but a million ways to be a ‘good’ one…
My greatest blessings
call me Mom”
….Riley and Grandbaby Natasha….
….Kelsey….
….Alex….
….Emily….
I absolutely love being a MOM!!!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

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This is the sweetest, funniest, most tender hearted and loving man!
This is my Dad!
He has always been there for me when I need advice and counsel. He has led, and continues to lead, a life full of integrity and goodness. Years ago, my Daddy started to take me on a date once a month, just me and him. We go to dinner, and talk. We share our days and life experiences together. Sometimes, I tell him what I think he should do in a certain situation. He tells me what he thinks about what’s going on in my life. Sometimes we talk about my children, and what they’re doing or a hard thing they’re going through. He gets big tears in his eyes, and can’t even speak. I love that the older he’s gotten, the more tender he is. I love him so much. I hope someday to be half the person he is. I will just keep doing the things he has taught me to do, both in word and through his example. Thanks Daddy for being such a great Dad, for your wonderful example, and for always being there for me.
Happy Birthday!!!!!!
OXOX

On death’s door!

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This is Taz
He is the sweetest pooper on the planet. Last Sunday he was not doing too well, in fact, we have been feeling like he might not be around much longer. We feel lucky we still have him. First, he is 10 years old, which is 70 for those of us who know what his real age is. Second, he just doesn’t get that much exercise. Sorry, my top priority is NOT walking the dog. And third, he seems to be ailing a bit lately. So back to last Sunday, he was puken his guts out. I was really starting to feel concerned. We all know the vet is home enjoying his family and maybe doesn’t want to be disturbed, but I was really worried. So I called the vet, (he did put his home phone # in the phone book. Would you put your home phone # in the phone book if you didn’t want to be called on a Sunday?) He met us at his office to take a look.
We’re thinking this is it!!!
We won’t get to have our sweet little Taz anymore. The vet feels around his belly, takes his temp, and basically gives him the once over.
And then annouces that he has “garbage gut”. Garbage gut? Yup, garbage gut! It means he got into the garbage and ate something that was bad. We were back tracking over the last few days, we did leave him in the car while we ran in the store. Maybe he got in the garbage in the van. And we did have a family party on Friday, maybe someone fed him something that’s not agreeing with him. Or, he might have just got in the kitchen garbage after everyone ate pizza. On and on we wondered. What a relief! Thank goodness he’ll make it. We thought he was on death’s door, but he only had garbage gut! He did get his rabies shot. We thought, “We might as well since we are here”. We also got a bottle of antibiotics. He is doing great now, and we will be watching him a lot closer from now on!

I needed a reminder, I thought you might too!

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It has been quite stormy and gray here. I’m not very fond of gray.
 I NEED THE SUN!!!!! It seems like this time of year, every year,
I’m wanting spring.
I have to remind myself to choose joy. I know that when we have stormy gray days, it helps us enjoy the sunny days. I do love the seasons, but I start to not love the winter so much at the end of it. So here is a post I wrote about choosing joy:

I grew up with 5 brothers. My parents say that after having the first three boys, it was such a “joy” to get a girl, they named me Joy. Really, I know that they tell me that, because they want me to feel special. That’s just the way they are. They want all of their children to feel special and they always let us know how much we are loved. I used to wonder a lot about the name Joy and always felt a certain amount of pressure to be joyful. Like it was an assignment or calling. Something required, if you were named Joy. I have since changed my view. After struggling through a difficult time in my life years ago, I came upon a concept that I had heard many times in my life, but hadn’t quite grasped it. We all go through tough times, things we don’t want to deal with in life. That is part of the earthly experience. What I learned is this, no one (except God) can stop us from being hurt or from struggling. And we would never choose to have the hard things happen to us. But we can choose how long we continue thinking about the pain or struggle after it is over. We attain Joy by choosing it!!! We are in charge of our happiness. I know it’s sad that it took me this long to realize this. But more importantly for me is, that I know now that my parents named me Joy, because God knew that I would need a reminder through out my life to be happy. I choose joy! And I am grateful that my parents were so inspired to give me such a special name.

Here comes the sun,
I can feel it now!!

Fuzzy Things!

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OK, so a cute thing happened at work today. A couple of weeks ago, when this guy came into work I fell in love with his hat. It was beanie, handmade by his wife. It was that really fuzzy chenille type yarn and I had to ask….I had to…I asked him if I could touch it. I know I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it. He turned red then leaned forward for me to touch it. I of course was going crazy, saying, “Ohhhh, that’s nice!”. He then said, “Ya know, there are people who can help you with this.” I just laughed!
So he came in again today, I said, “I bet you’re glad you don’t have your fuzzy hat on, I would have to ask if I can touch it,” and he said, “You should be on a talk show for people who have issues.

You have an illness for fuzzy things.“ I laughed and laughed! I think that’s a compliment! I love fuzzy things! Warm fuzzies are my favorite though.

Two Cents! by T and G.

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T
G

I decided I have to share. You know how kids say the darndest things? Well the two little guys we have tended for years have given us a plethora of giggles. I’ll just call them T and G. T is 6 years old, G is 4 years old, and they are so funny and entertaining. We don’t tend them every week anymore, but we still tend them at least once a month and sometimes more. So here goes!!!

G: My vitamin loves me.

New Job!!!

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I got a new job back in November. It is my miracle story (blog post on 11-14-09). I thought I should tell you all, I love it! I have been there for 2 months. I feel valued and I feel like my talents and abilities are needed and appreciated. I work with great people. The office is beautiful. I work 40 hours a week. Yeah! And it’s close to my home. I am so grateful for my job. (just in case you wondered)

Lessons from the Mountain!

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Another lessen learned while climbing this beautiful mountain.
God is in the details!
My husband and I climbed this mountain back in 1999. While climbing we stopped a lot to rest, mostly because of me. My sweetheart is an athlete. While resting we looked at everything; the view, the sky, the cars that looked like little ants cruising around, the rocks, the trees and other plants. One thing that I remember thinking is how much we miss when we don’t stop and look. Everything that was created by God down to the smallest detail is amazing. For example, a pinecone. Have you ever just looked at the intricate details of a pinecone? The leaves on each tree, including the pine needles are so beautiful. Or the flowers. There were all different kinds of wildflowers on the hike, most of them I had never seen or noticed before.
Notice the heart shaped petals on the flower below. That’s Heavenly Father saying, “I love you and I want you to know it!”
The first thought that I always have is, ‘this was no accident, there is a kind and wonderful Father in heaven who loves us!’  He put so much time and attention into the smallest detail of everything He has blessed us with. I think if we all slowed down a little, in our fast paced life and really looked, we would all find God in the details. I know He is real, and that He loves us. He is blessing us all, constantly. Even the hard or challenging things we go through are a blessing if we realize that we learned something new and we’re a better person once the challenge is past. Look for God in your life, He is there. When you notice how He has blessed you, Thank Him.  Love, Joy