Day 12: Stars

I have never been a dog lover. I've always had dogs in my life for as long as I can remember. But asked my preference, I would say--and still would say--that I prefer cats. I love their independence, their silky fur, their love of curling up in my lap. I had a cat that I adored--Ebony. She had long black hair, intense green eyes, and moods that changed with the wind. But I loved her completely. She loved crawling on my lap and sitting for hours. In the end, she had diabetes, no teeth and it was evident she didn't feel too well. But one of my favorite memories is of her sunning on the sidewalk, rolling over and scratching her back, and then laying there, fully sprawled, soaking in the rays. She even maintained a playful spirit: 15 years old and still chasing my feet under the covers. And every night she slept with me--curled up around my head. Every. Single. Night.

I miss her.

Our pets become so engrained in our lives, in our hearts. And I am reminded of that every day with Piper--our 23 pound Cockapoo. He's quite a character--a good little dog who has wormed his way in to all of our lives. But today I took him to the soccer field. When we were walking back home, I took him off the leash and off he ran--bounding and bouncing and flying across the yard. I'm not sure what he's chasing--actually I don't think he even knows what he is chasing. But he represents absolute joy: free, unabashed joy.

And every single day--watching Piper enjoy every moment, fully present and alive...I am inspired. I want that for my life. I want to embrace each moment and be fully present for those in my life--my husband, my kids, my friends, my students...my God. I want to experience life abundantly. And I was reminded of that today as I watched Piper do exactly that.

Another 'moment' that comes to mind that brought me joy today was in regards to Jace and my friend Yvette. I intended to take Jace trick-or-treating at the Manor this evening--the nursing home that's right next door.  But then I realized I had a meeting this evening so I asked Darian if she could take him instead. She readily agreed...but then this afternoon she remembered that she had an SAT study session at the same time as my meeting. She was quick to say that she would skip the study session of course because...well...that's just the way she is...but of course that wasn't an option in my mind. So I thought of Yvette.

Yvette is Harrison and Alex's mom--Jace's very good buddies. And she is one busy mama. She works full-time and goes to school full-time as well so there isn't much spare time in her world. But the boys told me that she was taking them trick or treating so I thought--since I was feeling a bit desperate--that maybe, possibly, she would let Jace tag along. When I called her, she quickly said, "Absolutely! My kids will love having Jace!" And so off he went--Yvette, her four kids, and mine--all piling into her van and happy as can be.

She called me at 9:00 to tell me that they were having car trouble and stuck at Ingall's by the Biltmore Mall just as we were leaving to pick Jace up at her house. So we zipped over to the mall instead and there she was--waiting with a friend who came to the rescue. But here's the thing that I found so astounding: Yvette was happy, totally relaxed--not even slightly stressed. And when Jace scooted into the car, she looked at me, and in all sincerity said, "Any time you need me to take Jace, please let me know. Any. Time. We sure enjoy having him."

So this friend of mine who most likely has no time for herself? Her genorous, thoughtful spirit gave me all kinds of joy today.

And the other thing that gives me joy? A full refrigerator. A stocked pantry. We went to Sam's Club today and came home with enough salad and canned tomatoes and toilet paper and bread and tortillas and--lots more--to last the month. Sometimes finances can be stressful and budgets can be tricky. But the truth of the matter is, we have everything we need.

And so much more.

And utimately, that's the stuff that joy is made of.

“If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and adore.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

tags: inspirational, perspectiv61 people liked it

Day 11: Oh Rats

Wow--today has been such a busy day. It's one of those days that started at 6:00 and I am just now--at 11:00--sitting down to actually stop. Think about my day. Remember those good moments. And then go to bed so I can do it all over again tomorrow. But that's ok...It's what we Americans do. And? It's a good life.

So this afternoon Jace had his regular buddies over: Harrison and Alex. Jace adores these boys and if it were up to him, they would live here. We try to have a weekly play date and it's nonstop action from the moment they arrive until they leave. Alex is a very sensitive soul. He is one of those kids that gets his feelings hurt if I you look at him cross-eyed and yet he is all boy: rough and tumble and giggles and fun. So this afternoon when I came home from my class, he was on the couch with quite a tragic look on his face. Jace informed me that he was mad at him and ready to go home. So I went over to talk to him to figure out what the problem was. He just shook his head--refused to say a word. So of course Jace, who is never short for words, immediately began to tell me how the boys were pretending to be dogs and cats. Alex, who was a dog, bit Jace. Twice. So then Jace decided to change the rules a bit: they would all be cats. So then Alex, now a cat, 'scratched' him on the arm. And...then Alex joined in the conversation. He quite adamantly stated, "But I didn't! He said I scratched him and I didn't!" And then he proceeded to show me his very short little nails that were by no means capable of scratching.

It was all I could do to keep a straight face. Here he had bitten Jace--not once, but twice. And then he had 'pawed' at Jace's arm in an attempt to scratch him but, of course, couldn't. But it was enough to make him sad that Jace would make such an accusation! (Oh boy, Alex...stick around, buddy. Jace will have plenty of accusations to go 'round!)


So once Jace readily admitted that he now understood that Alex wasn't actually trying to scratch him, Alex decided that he could be happy to stay and play and..."Could you make dinner? I'm hungry." (Pretty sure these boys have endless stomachs.)

So--I'm not sure what part of this story I like the best. The fact that they were pretending to be dogs and cats? The whole false accusation story? The big hug Alex gave me when it was all over? I can't decide. It was all pretty darned hysterical.

Then this evening I skyped with Savana. That isn't anything new. It seems we skype several times a week. But what made it special is that she told me she read my blog and she wanted to do something that would bring me joy so that I would write about it. She considered writing me a note...but then she forgot (she was home this past weekend). But what she didn't know is that simply caring enough to read my blog was enough.

I do like this daughter of mine. I like her a lot.

And last of all? Tonight when we got home I went into Jace's room to check on Socks, his little dwarf hamster. She's a rather persnickity little thing--but she's cute. I try to 'visit' her daily as they take some time and effort to tame. But anyway, there she was--up in the top part of her cage in this little box area. And when I opened it up, she immediately perked up, stood up with her little paws on the top of the box so she could look out and see what's going on. Usually she scurries back down the tube and hides in her little home when she suspects that I may invade. But tonight was different. She hung around, checked things out, and even let me pick her up without 'boxing' me too much.

So we came to an understanding tonight--Socks and me. I think she's finally realized that I'm her friend actually. I mean--I have faithfully checked her food and water and made sure Jace cleaned her cage. I've been in her court all along. But she never knew it. She just assumed that the water bowl and food bowl--they magically refilled themselves.

And this new understanding between Socks and me?

It gave me joy.

Day 10: Celebration

Today has been yet another stormy day outside. Oh my goodness--I just love these types of days. And since Jace didn't have school, I spent most of the day at home with him. He entertained himself for the most part and I entertained myself for the most part so all in all, this day was pretty much enjoyable.

So one highlight of my day is that my friend Beth is back at work. She was sick last week and therefore out of the office. I always miss her when she's gone. It's like a little piece of the puzzle is missing. So as soon as I entered the office and saw her smiling face, I felt a little lighter. I went into her office and we chatted for awhile. But with Beth, it's rarely 'chatting.' It's more like connecting. She's one of those people who is gifted at being real and insightful. And she absolutely knows how to listen--she listens with her whole being. And so though I intended to just say 'good morning' and hurry off to my office and accomplish a million and one things before my class, I ended up staying about half an hour because the conversation was simply too good to deny. Beth is just one of those people that everybody should know. When she's around, it's like comin' home.

A second highlight of my day? When  I went to class, there was Abby. Abby is one of those kids that just make you breathe a little easier when she's around. She's calm and collected and creative and adorable. She was gone last week to Bell Fest and I absolutely missed her in my classroom. She is the sort of person who, when everybody is telling you something and you aren't sure it's true, you can ask  her and know that you can depend on the truth--no matter what. So anyway, when I walked into the classroom this morning--a flurry of activity to get 'stuff' written on the board and organize my desk and unstack my stacks of papers and set up my iPad--there was Abby: all smiles. And she looked at me and said, "Mrs. Seals! I missed you. I really missed you."

And her words made me stop -- really stop -- and enjoy that perfect moment.

And then this afternoon Estee Marie called. Estee is one of those rare and beautiful people whom we taught back in the day that was so much more than 'just' a student. As a 14 year old kid, she was an 'old soul' with wisdom beyond her years. We've remained close through the years and, of course, she is an adult now with kids older than what she was when we taught her. But anyway, she called to see if we were surviving the storm as Sandy has arrived on the east coast. And what began as a casual "How are you?" conversation, quickly spiralled into something much deeper and personal. With Estee there is no pretending. We have known each other for so many years that we laugh readily, cry easily, and connect instantly. She is a rare and beautiful person and I count myself so blessed to call her my friend.

And really...my intention when I started this blog was not to write about how three people affected my life today. But as I reflect on the highlights of this day's events, I realize that, truly, those three individuals made the difference--made life on this planet just a little more bearable. And really...isn't that what life is all about--connecting with others?

It's time to celebrate.

And what could be better to celebrate than the people in my life.

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.

Edward Wallis Hoch

Day 9: A Blustery Day

So today has been a perfect kind of day. We had big intentions for the day actually: go to Sam's, go shopping with Darian...But as it turned out, it's rainy and blustery so we just stayed home. And normally that would be perfection. But I am working through this program that digs deep emotionally and I decided that, since I have so much time on my hands, today would be a good day to complete one of the exercises. So...suffice it to say today has been difficult at best in some respects. So that's the truth of it and I don't want to deny that. But with that said, there were some amazing moments. And here they are:

First of all, I did a ridiculous amount of laundry and put it all away. Inevitably when I fold laundry I think of my delightful friend Sue Nelson. Back when we lived in Wisconsin, Sue would occasionally bring me boxes of hand-me-downs. It always felt like Christmas as the clothes were in pristine condition. But the part that stands out the most to me is how perfectly she folded each piece of clothing: seams matching, straight lines. It was beautiful. And inspiring. And so I began to emulate her method of folding. And honestly, I always think of her now as I fold my kids' t-shirts, carefully matching seams, straightening edges, creating straight lines. It speaks love to me--taking my time and creating perfect piles. And, when it's all put away I can't help but feel accomplished. And--as long as there isn't just one more load of laundry in the dryer? It gives me joy.

Another highlight of my day is I slept in 'til 8:00 this morning. That's a rarity for me these days. But when I finally managed to drag myself out of bed and head downstairs, there was Savana: cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Oh my. Does it get any better than that? She made breakfast burritos--complete with tofu and hashbrowns. So delish. She's turned into a fine cook and the fact that I didn't have to lift a finger? Fabulous. I think I could get used to having my own personal cook rather quickly.

And one more little blessing to my day? Roy and I ran into town quickly as I needed to pick up some laundry detergent. I fully intended to clean the kitchen as soon as I returned but when we got home, Darian (with a bit of help from Jace) had accomplished it for me. It always feels a bit magical--leaving the house a mess and coming back to it sparkling. I love it when that happens.

So today? My kids gave me lots of joy. (And so did the potato-poblano soup that we had for lunch right along with some homemade cornbread.)

The effects of Sandy have arrived. The temperatures are much cooler, and rain is predicted for the next few days. I'm looking forward to some blustery days complete with reading, blogging, and Chai tea.

Day 8: Texts and Such

Moment #1: This morning I taught Sabbath School here at the Pisgah church and then I zipped over to Foster with Darian as Savana, Guerin, Drew and Ryan led song service. Can I just say...I could listen to these kids sing every day, all day...for the rest of my life? Oh. My. Goodness. Such passion. It was ... spectacular. And honestly, it gave me so much pride and joy that it was enough for a week and some left over. I didn't sing. I just listened. Wholeheartedly.
                                   


Moment #2: I had a bunch of people over for lunch today: Louie & Nancy Parra, Drew, Ryan, Guerin, and then, of course, the 5 of us. Our table holds six comfortably, so Roy said we should eat in the living room. But I love the coziness of being around a table. It brings connection and laughter and conversation. And so that's what we did: all ten of us scrunched around the table. There wasn't much space between us--four on each side, two on each end. But it was perfect. I love teenage boys--always have. They are so funny--overgrown boys trying to be men and failing miserably. So they kept us entertained. And then once the kids left for the living room to continue their antics elsewhere, we adults stayed at the table and chatted it up. I love the Parras. They're so kind and accepting. It made for lots of joy.

Moment #3: This evening my sister Lori texted me. We exchanged texts for quite some time--deep, philosophical texts about who God is. And it gave me joy as I love talking about God. I love asking the deeper questions and surmising about the different possibilities. I am no longer content with 'pat' answers. But I love this new 'space' I'm in. So that conversation today? It made me think. And it gave me joy.

Day 7: Fabulous Fridays

I love Fridays. It is absolutely my favorite day of the workweek. Everyone seems a little lighter; happier. And it is an easy day for me. I only teach one forty minute class and then the remainder of the day is all mine. Delightful.

But today? That moment that I wait for in all of my classes happened: we clicked. It's like suddenly everyone gets me and I get them. They know my expectations and they know the boundaries. And I know them--like them. It all comes together and we're ready to fly. It's exciting. And truly--it's what makes me love teaching.

Secondly we (Roy, Jace me) went to Barnes & Noble. How I love that store. It's a slice of heaven. I could spend hours there--days even. I never tire of looking at all of the books, the journals. But mostly the books. So many titles pique my interest. And even Jace has discovered the beauty of B&N. Of course, he wants to buy everything he sees...or rather, he wants me to buy it. But nonetheless, it was so much fun and it brought me all kinds of joy.

And thirdly? I cooked this evening and am all ready for lunch tomorrow. Back in the day, I faithfully prepared my Sabbath meal on Fridays; but for the past couple of years, I am more likely to come home from church and throw haystacks together or spaghetti. But Savana came home and wanted stuffed shells. And naturally she has friends that she wants to come over. And then Roy suggested that we invite some friends as well and...rather than being stressed tomorrow morning...I decided to cook this evening. So I put on Pandora, listened to Christian music, and prepared the shells and the garlic bread. For a moment I considered being irritated that the girls weren't around to help me but then I decided I didn't want to ruin my happy mood and I quickly reovered. So now here I am--all ready for tomorrow. So in the morning I can get up, drink some Chai, and have some quiet time before the day begins. Ahhh....bliss.

“Now may every living thing, young or old,

weak or strong, living near or far, known or

unknown, living or departed or yet unborn,

may every living thing be full of bliss.” 

― Anonymous, The Dhammapada

Day 6: Connecting in the Smokies October 25, 2012

I teach ESL this year and I have 5 students--2 girls, 3 boys. All of them are from Korea so they have a deep sense of respect (well, for the most part. One of them is rather Americanized...) But anyway, one of the boys--whose name is Ricky--is one of those kids that just touches my heart...every. single. day.  I'm not sure what it is about this kid but he gets to me--in a good way. He is so sweet. He smiles with complete sincerity. He is genuine and tries hard and he's quirky and wears skinny jeans of all sorts of colors. I work with these kids with their writing skills and their reading skills.  For reading, we read these passages and then answer critical thinking questions that are rather complicated. In the beginning, all of the students failed these quizzes. But now they are getting much better. In fact, this last time, four of my students only missed two out of nine questions. But not Ricky. He actually only got three right. But in typical Ricky-fashion, he just grinned, congratulated everybody around him, and shook his head at himself.

I could just squeeze him.

And I saw Ricky again today. I only teach ESL twice a week. But anyway, today the girls are gone and so I only had the three boys in class. And there was Ricky--all smiles and telling me how happy he was to see me, to be in class as it breaks the boredom of his long afternoon. And, as always, it gave me joy. Because Ricky is just one of those kids that is different--in a good way. But most of all, he makes me remember why I love teaching.

Another moment of joy happened this morning. Even though I only live a few blocks from the elementary school (which is also on our campus), I drive Jace to school. It's sheer laziness but...I'm on year three so I'm over feeling guilty about it. :)  So anyway, as Jace and I were making the short drive to school, he was recounting a story of how I reacted to something he said or did (I can't remember exactly what it was), and he screamed this shrill, woman-like scream in a fake high squeal: AAAHHHHH!!!! So I said, "So that's how I reacted? That's what I did?" He shook his head in dismay, pierced his lips together, and then said, "Oh Mom. You have no idea the things I put up with." And then he gave me that ornery little grin, threw a "Love you, Mom" my direction, and closed the door as he headed off to school.

I laughed the whole way home.

I had many good moments throughout my day actually. Several times I tried to stop, take a deep breath, and find that 'center.' But the one that stands out the most happened this evening. Every Thursday a small group of women meet at a friend's house to discuss a book entitled 'Unglued.' It's such fun and I always look forward to it. But this week the woman who hosts the group is sick so she asked if I would open my home. So there we were, in the living room, discussing how or why we come 'unglued' and sharing those common experiences we all have--no matter who we are or where we come from. And I couldn't help but just stop for a moment, look around at these women whom I call my friends, and recognize how truly blessed I am. Because of all the places in the world that I could be...I am here, in this little suburb nestled in the Smoky Mountains, in a place that I call home, surrounded by women who allow me to be real for just an hour each week.

And that is absolutely something to be joyful about.

Day 5: Swings and Lists and Bits of Bliss October 24, 2012

I noticed today that I'm becoming much more purposeful at finding these moments of joy. I like that. I like that these few minutes scattered throughout my day sandwich life and stress and normalcies.

So today I took some time read outside on the swing. Every morning when I get up I actively determine that I'm going to create joy in my life. And then I try to visualize exactly how I'm going to do that. And every day I imagine taking my Nook and heading out to the swing to read--for just a bit. But every day passes and it never happens. But today? It did. It was chilly outside; however, the sun blared down on the swing and, as I sat there, enjoying the breeze, it put me to sleep. And so I went inside, took the stairs up to the mancave, and crawled onto the couch. Aww...blissful sleep. The house was quiet--just me, my dog, and the ticking of the clock. Not exactly how I envisioned my moments of reading on the swing, but...it was perfect.

Secondly, I decided to create a list of 100 things that bring me joy. I ended up spending quite a bit of time on the internet searching for websites or blogs from others of how they get joy. It was so much fun! I found some cool sites, signed up for a newsletter from Little Buddha that gives tips for creating simplicity in one's life, and stole ideas, created ideas, and wrote my list. It took me longer than expected, but? I loved it.

And last of all, Darian and I watched an episode of Parenthood together. Parenthood is one of those shows that is second to none. We live for new episodes of Parenthood! We've become so attached to the characters that we are both convinced that they are actual people. We cry with them; laugh with them; dream their dreams; experience their heartaches. That show is nothing short of perfection. And afterwards? We went for a walk. It was dark outside and chilly. So we threw on our hoodies and walked the parameter of campus. We talked about everything and nothing. We laughed. And for a few fleeting moments, we lived in the beauty of the moment.

It was ninety minutes of pure joy.

Day 4: The Center of My Universe

So...the highlight of my day? I got an email from Lauren Bongard Schwarz. Oh my. Love that girl. She is one of those people in my life who thinks, lives with purpose, is well-read, and expresses herself with ease. I taught her for four years but she has grown from my student to one of my favorite friends. Weird how that happens. But anyway, I wrote her randomly the other day and she answered me today: a long, newsy, thoughtful email. I soaked it in, read every word, and then reread it after I was finished the first time. She absolutely brightened my world today.

Secondly, when I got home from my class this evening, I suddenly had the urge to go to Taco Bell. That used to be one of our favorite hang-outs, but it's a place we rarely visit these days. But for some reason, the idea crossed my mind about the time I saw Darian. Normally, we don't have the opportunity to go out for dinner as Roy has rec and Darian has...well--a million and one things. But for some random reason, Darian stated that she was free, starving, and Taco Bell sounded like perfection. So we went to the ad building where Roy was teaching and he too proclaimed that he could go. He had to do a little manipulating but...he managed. So, off we went. And? Gosh it was fun. So much fun. We had fun riding to Taco Bell. We had fun eating at Taco Bell. And we had fun riding home from Taco Bell. Laughter. Good food...Ok. Maybe not so much. But it definitely hit the spot. Friends (as we randomly ran into a couple of different people there that we know). And the four of us. Splendid.

And my third moment? We had a teachers' meeting tonight at 8:00 and I walked over. It was dark outside and since we live in the mountains and no lights are on this side of campus, it is REALLY dark. But just those few moments of walking from the house to the ad building were refreshing. They gave me a moment to stop. To look up at the big big sky and remember that it's just little me in a bit universe; a big world. That I really don't take up that much space. That my perspective, in the scheme of things, really isn't all that important. And yet? It's everything. Because it's all I have. And that reality--that little bit of centering of my universe? It brought me joy.

And it was good.

Day 3: Fleeting Moments (October 22, 2012)

So today I went back to work after Fall Break. It was good to be back actually--like those kids. And it's been an overall busy day.

So what brought me joy today? First of all, I would have to say I had to do a cycle regarding others' perceptions of my kids and this is my grind in: My kids are okay. It doesn't matter what others say; it doesn't matter what others think. I know in my heart of hearts who my kids are and, frankly, they are just fine. They are...okay. And that thought brought me joy. Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down by what other people think and to let those perceptions become my focus. But today I stopped that vicious cycle--if only for a moment. And that's a good thing.

Secondly, I spent some time talking to Laurie. Laurie and I are quite different actually--she's one of those people who is artsy and and quirky and fresh. I like her. A lot. She makes me laugh. She's cute and whimsical and real. I always enjoy time with her--whether she's showing me something regarding Alumni (as I now have her job) or helping me knit (as she started teaching me this last winter). This evening I was walking home from the track and she was headed to a board meeting. She stopped and chatted for a few minutes and, as always, it was a good time. It made my step a little lighter and my outlook a little brighter.

And thirdly, Jace came home from school and sat on my lap. He's been that way lately--crawls up into my lap and chats about his day. It's so sweet, and I know these days are fleeting. So for now, I will relish them--soak up every minute. And after he'd been sitting there for awhile, he looked up at me and said, "Mom? You know what? You're my favorite person in the whole wide world." Even writing this brings me joy. So much joy.

I hope he always fills that way.

October 21, 2012: Day 2

Today has been ... well ... a day. I wish I could say it was joy-filled and relaxing but...it was anything but those things. But since I don't want to focus on the negative, I will refrain from recounting the miseries of the day. Instead, I will try to focus on those few miniscule moments of ... joy. To be honest, I had to try my hardest to eek out some joy but I managed. It was fleeting at best...but it was there.

The first time was this afternoon at APCS Fall Fest. I was manning the donut booth where I string up a donut and the 'contestants' eat it with no hands. It's a rather comical setup with sporadical moments of popularity. Towards the latter part of my two hour shift, this little girl and her sister came up. They were about 3 and 5 years old--so doggone cute. They both looked at me with pure innocence and asked if they each asked if they could have a donut. Their mom (or grandma??) encouraged them to give me their two tickets for which, of course, I would exchange a donut. Their chubby little hands reached into the box and pointed to the donut that they wanted. So so cute. And then they looked up at me with those big eyes and said thank you. I melted. My joy was two-fold: I just love little kids--their innocence and sweetness. And these two little girls were simply precious. But secondly, it reminded me of my own little girls at that age. How I miss those days. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

The second time is when we were driving from Sports Authority where we bought shoes for Roy to Walmart this evening. It was rather tense in the car for a variety of reasons and we were stopped at a light in the middle of Asheville. I looked to my right and there--nestled on the side of a major thoroughfare was a peaceful river. It was quietly doing its business--the water lazily rolling along as trees hovered over each side. The sun was beginning to go down so shadows were cast on the water and it glistened. I just sat there, looking out the car window and for just a few moments the whirling thoughts ceased as I solely focused on that little river in the midst of a city. For a few moments it brought me joy.

And then tonight Jace asked if I would play a game with him. Roy had settled into his mancave for the night and Darian proclaimed herself too busy with homework as she has a project due tomorrow so I said, "Sure, Jace. Bring the game in here and I'll play with you." Naturally he chose Angry Birds--one of those games that has to be constructed and you try to destroy the construction by hurtling birds at it from a slingshot and knock over the pigs that are haphazardly placed on the construction. Anyway, since it's been "one of those days", I coerced Roy to come down and play (not an easy task). And then we were having so much fun constructing and destroying, that Darian stopped studying long enough to come in and see what all the commotion was about. Wen she saw the game, she determined that she wanted to play too so...she gave it a go. It was a nice ending to a rather stressful day: laughter. And? It brought me joy.

Day 1: October 20, 2012

My goal? To blog about 365 days of how I am creating joy in my life. Welcome to Day 1. Let the journey begin.

So today I had company–real live people–over for lunch: Tina & Al Williams, Guerin (for Savana) and Rachel (for Darian). I cooked…a lot: cucumber & onion salad, cottage cheese loaf, garlic mashed red potatoes, brown gravy, hot rolls, corn on the cob, sparkling grape juice, lemon merengue pie, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. But best of all? Laughter. Conversation. It brought me lots of joy.

Secondly? I stopped and listened to Jace–really listened to him. Jace loves to draw cartoons, create stories, live in his own imaginary world. And then? He loves to read it to me. Now I recognize that sounds fun. I mean really–what mom wouldn’t want to hear their child’s imaginations? The problem is, however, that as he develops the story–one square at a time–he likes to read it to me: from the beginning…over and over and over again. So the first time it is hilarious, witty. The second time…it’s still clever. But by the third time? Enough already! But this evening I put down my Nook and listened as he read me his story from start to finish. And I listened as though I was hearing it for the first time. I laughed–and watched him revel in the attention. And honestly? It brought me joy. Lots of it.

And last of all? Oh my…what to choose. Watching the fish in my fishtank? (I love the peacefulness–always have). Getting in my jammies at 7:00 with an entire evening before me? Pure bliss. Or simply watching my oldest daughter standing with her boyfriend whom she absolutely adores–a look of pure joy on HER face. I’m not sure which one of these experiences gave me the MOST joy. All I know is…it was a pretty darned good day.