happy friday . . .

These "You've been egged" cartons turned out so fun and happy.

My mom helped me fill them with candy.  She can't do so many of the things she used to do because the arthritis in her hands . . . so she loves it when she can be part of making something with me.

That made it "egg-stra" fun. 

What does your joy look like today!

 

good things today . . .

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

A beautiful sleeping baby (she is a sweet one)

Progress on the fort we are building

Starting a new doll

A FaceTime visit with Avery Rose (so I could see her walk on her balance beam)

Not letting my grey hair bother me . . . the time has come to just go with the grey!  (It will take some time, but I am really excited about this change.  It just feels like it is time.)

A new llama pool float 

Squirt guns

Living Simple . . . 

Finding my JOY . . . 

JOY . . .

I truly believe that you can find JOY in every day . . . and in doing that life is a bit easier.

Still working on this - (the painting and doodles - not finding joy) . . . I do that every day!

We celebrated my mom's 90th birthday this past weekend.

Not exactly as we had planned - but it was really nice.  My brother decided to make the trip to celebrate her birthday even though we postponed the full party.  (We now have to find a date where we can use the taco truck we had arranged . . . maybe we will use that to celebrate the day we can get everyone together again.)  We were able to get most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to participate in a "Zoom" birthday party?   We all sang Happy Birthday and she blew out her candles.  I had baked pie for her birthday, but Avery she had to have a birthday cake - so thanks to Avery - she had a cake also.  

Talk about JOY . . . it was the kind that brought tears to our eyes.

Clay being Clay - he didn't stay long, but it made the weekend so special for her.  

I asked people to send mom birthday cards.  This was really fun!

She ended up getting more than 70 cards!  It took her awhile to go through them all.

There were fancy cards, old cards, handmade cards, recycled cards, photographs, cards from family, cards from old friends, new friends, and people she didn't even know.

JOY!

I love this photo of Mom and Dad on their wedding day 70 years ago

April 15, 1950

A lot of life lived in 90 years.

The secret to living well and longer is: 

eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.

just because . . .

"I am learning to find JOY

right here in the mess of things."

                                                ~ mhn

I am pretty sure I was the cause of this stain on the driveway.  I get a little

sloppy sometimes when I am having fun with a project.  

Then I hate that there are stains on the driveway.

Oh well . . . I will go with a fun project any day . . . and the stain turned out to be fun also

Richard sent me this the other day . . . just because!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Another rainy day

Flowers blooming everywhere

Logan giggling like only a one year old can giggle

Richard seeing the face in this stain . . . 

doodling . . . sewing . . . reading

Schitt's Creek . . . I love shows that make me both laugh and cry

The creative mess that is still going strong in my house

. . . and not letting that mess bother me

Being able to stay in touch with my family and friends through this "lock down"

My orchid is getting ready to bloom

Happy Tuesday!

Just a reminder . . . 

Find JOY in the everyday stuff!

Be . . .

I found this on my desk after I came back from lunch.

My friend Jessica gets me . . . and this note made a huge difference in my day.
Find your joy for today!
BE HAPPY!

jelly, paint, and doodles . . .

"Don't wait for everything to be perfect

before you decide to enjoy your life."

                                               ~ Joyce Meyer

Charlotte's guinea pig came to live with us after her mom found out that she was allergic to him.

I wasn't too sure how I would like him - but he is so much fun.  

He loves to eat . . . squeals when he hears the refrigerator open . . . and makes us laugh.  

If it make you laugh - it's a good thing!

Paint and Doodles on a rainy weekend.  

I may add something more to them . . . not sure yet. 

I have had such a busy week and another busy week ahead of me, but I made some time to play with some paint . . . I made some time to read . . . I made some time to pray . . . and I took some time to rest.  Richard has a crock pot full of goodness cooking. (Korean Beef Zoodle Bowls) 

It smells delicious!  My house is sort of a mess . . . but I'm really not caring today! 

Just enjoy today!

choose joy . . .

 Be joyful in hope. 

Be patient in trouble.

Be faithful in prayer.

I have been fighting something off the last few days. 

That turned into a cozy weekend at home . . . a lot of reading, a little painting in my art journal, 

and just taking time to take care of myself.  

This can be a tough time of year for me.  It doesn't help when I'm not feeling well,

but I had a reminder this morning . . . . CHOOSE JOY!

So today I will be looking for joy in the ordinary.

Have a wonderful day!

God's timing . . .

My son Luke . . . 

Sitting here looking at this picture of him I don't even know where to start and have been going back and forth on how to share this photo.  I mentioned in an earlier post that the end of last year brought some changes.  One of those changes was my son going into rehab. 
Obviously this is very personal . . . but feeling like I want to share it. 
There are of course a lot of negative perceptions commonly associated with substance abuse and addiction.  But what about when the addict is someone you love?  What about when the addict is your child?  What about when you can see past the addiction and see the hurt and pain and it nearly kills you because you can't help? 
I have spent years trying to figure out why this happened to him.  He really was not an "at risk" kid.  I have been through guilt and embarrassment.  We tried tough love . . . We enabled him (I can be very good at that.)  I have tried to figure out where love and support ends and enabling begins.  I think anyone who has been in this situation wishes they could figure that one out. 
The last few years . . . he was trying.  I could see that he was trying, but I could also see that what he was doing wasn't going to work for the long haul.  I do believe he could see that also . . . but hadn't really faced it.  Last summer he told us he was going into a rehab.  They recommended he stay 30 days . . . he told them he wanted to do 90.  He ended up staying for 60.
He is 7 months clean and sober.  I wish I could say it was easy . . . for him . . .  and for me.  There is a reason they say . . . "One day at a time." 
I will never give up hope . . . and then there is this feeling of being afraid to get my hopes up. 
What gets him through?   Prayer and surrendering his life to God.  Does he struggle?  Yes.  Is he fighting?  Yes.  Do I worry?  Yes.  Am I learning to turn it over to God?  Yes.


So about this photo . . .
Luke has always wanted to perform his music in front of people, but never was able to get the courage up to do it.  This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago at the church he attends.  He also was a part of the worship team at another church this past week where he attends Celebrate Recovery.  I thank God every day for his recovery.  I also turn my son and his journey over to God every day.  It is his journey . . . but oh what it has taught me. 

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  
And the peace I five is a gift the world cannot give.
So don't be troubled or afraid."     ~ John 14:27

Be Amazing . . . .

I did what I told myself I wasn't going to do this weekend . . . spent a good part of Saturday cleaning.  My intentions were to make something, read, and relax.  I got frustrated because I couldn't find something . . . which turned into organizing my supplies and cleaning the whole house.  

I have to admit though . . . it is much easier for me to do the relaxing part

when things are in order . . . that's just the way I'm wired.  

So with that done . . . I spent some time painting and writing . . . and reading. 

I had Lily spend the night.  That involved staying up late, watching movies, having popcorn and root beer, playing with slime (her not me) . . . and face painting.  

I have so much going on with me these days . . . some good and some not so good,

but I believe it is all moving towards something amazing  - if that makes sense.  

This blog has always been a good place for me to be me and I go back and forth about sharing some of what I am going through and think that eventually I will.  I have no problem throwing my life out there for everyone to see, but for now and as I work through some things . . . 

I will spare you all the details.  LOL

Life is a gift - Each day God gives us is a gift . . . so find some JOY in today!  

No matter how serious life gets, 

you still gotta have that one person 

you can be completely stupid with. 

Happy New Year!

The past couple of years I have chosen a word for my year.  Sort of way to get me thinking and keep me motivated in areas that I think I need take care of.

In 2017 I chose the word FAITH . . . oh how it was tested and how I grew in my faith.

Last year I chose the word CHANGE . . . with some specific things in mind.  About half way through the year I felt like I had let myself down and was not making the changes that I so wanted to and needed to make.  Life has a funny way of working out . . . and the last part of the year was filled with so many changes that started me on a journey the has changed the course of my life.

Some day I need to go into more details about that.

So this year - 2019.  

I have decided to not be quite so serious (Life is serious enough without making it more so.)  

So I have chosen the word CREATE.  

I need to create more . . . I need to get back to this blog . . . 

and I need to use creating as part of my journey.  

So this year I will write . . . and sew . . . and stitch . . . and paint . . . and take pictures . . . and doodle.

Along with that . . . I will find joy in the small stuff.

I will play and be silly.

I will LET GO AND LET GOD!

I will be messy.

I will PRAY - and enjoy this life that God has given me.

Happy New Year!

three girls and a boy cat . . .

 Little girls are full of magic . . . 

 . . . and silliness!

They make life pretty special!

Then there is this guy . . . he is around a year old now.  We adopted him back in February.

He has been making us smile and laugh ever since. 

Find JOY in every day!

enjoy the little things . . .

Another doll that was stuck away before it was finished.  

This little doll is very special to me.  It was created with the help of my granddaughter Charlotte.  Charlotte asked me if she could help . . . so she drew the face and picked out all the fabrics and yarns to use for this doll.  She was three years old at the time. Original post here.

It really only needed a few small touches in order to be finished.  I am not sure why it got stuck away . . . but glad she is finished now.  

If my grandchildren have taught me anything, it is to take the time to enjoy the little things.  

Today I choose JOY!

Challenges are what makes life interesting ~

Overcoming them is what makes it meaningful.

I have been away from here for too long.

It hasn't been by choice . . . life keeps getting in the way.
But along with life getting in the way . . . . life is also giving me plenty to enjoy and celebrate.
I refuse to let life's challenges get the better of me.  I look at these beautiful children and know for sure that life is precious and wonderful . . . and meant to be lived with joy and passion.
Life doesn't always make that easy . . . but attitude makes that possible.
Today I choose JOY!

do re mi . . .

After her recital I had told her what a good job she had done . . . 

she then proceeded to sing the song that she had played.

do re mi

do re mi

do re mi re do do do

simply wonderful weekend . . . .

What a wonderful weekend . . . of doing not really anything.  Well, I guess I did something . . . 

I painted, I read, I fold paper cranes . . . I took a nap that felt simply wonderful

Richard and I played cards, took Charlotte to lunch . . . and did few things around the house.

I didn't anticipate enjoying a do nothing weekend as much as I did.  I feel rested and relaxed!

Finding joy in the little things!

Today I choose JOY!

I love her hands . . . and I love her face . . . and I love her imagination!

She brings us so much JOY! 

Happy Weekend!

Sunday Funday!

Walking around Old Town is always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon . . . even when the temperatures are over 100.  Tomorrow's high is predicted to be 108.  I don't mind our Summer weather . . . although I do have to get out early if I am going to walk or ride my bike.  Our Sunday afternoon of antique stores was cut a little short . . . we decide lunch and a cold drink was needed.  I think I drank a whole pitcher of iced tea.

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK!

1.  Reading . . . and more reading!  

2. Helping my friend Julie organize her house . . . We are getting quite a bit done, but also get easily distracted.  Today as we were working on her kitchen . . . we decided to make cookies.

3. Taking the braids out of Charlotte's hair . . . she loved it!

4. Riding my bike

5. Antique stores and lunch with Richard

6. Still on Summer break!

7. Taking pictures

8. Painting

9. Seeing Charlotte's face light up when she got the "fat cat" toy she wanted in her Happy Meal.

10. Seeing Richard's face when she asked if he would get her McDonald's and if he could get the "fat cat toy" . . . like he could tell her no.  

JOY IN THE SMALL STUFF!