January 8

I love waking up to snow. Snow always looks so pretty and makes everything look brand new. I must admit though I would rather have lots of snow than a small amount.
Watching Anna get excited when she looks out the window in the morning brings my heart JOY. I remember what it was like to get so excited to see snow on the ground. Ok, I still get excited when I see snow on the ground! Especially when it's enough to keep my husband and daughter home.
Although the snow didn't last long it was still a nice way to wake up Friday morning.

I've noticed this past week that I find JOY when we have the opportunity to share our day with friends or family. We've done that alot this week.
Something as simple as a pot of chili and cornbread is a perfect excuse to invite friends over!  I love cooking for my family and friends. It is a stress reliever for me.
Cooking brings me JOY!

January 7

Did you ever have one of those days where you feel like you've been going non-stop since you crawled (yes, crawled!) out of bed? Well, today was one of those days for me.

It was so nice to go back to work today. I really look forward to every Thursday and some days I wish it was more than once a week. Somedays....
I enJOY the break and the change of scenery. JOY was found at work in talking with the other ladies, seeing the kids and just being out of the house!

Abigail and I attacked the food store after her lunch and nap. I kept hearing about a snow storm so figured I better go replenish the milk, our third gallon of the week, and other food items we needed. So glad I did this for the "dusting" of snow. At least it's done and now I don't have to fight the weekend crowds, JOY!

My next JOY was also mixed with pride. Anna has been working hard on learning to read. She is picking it up quite quickly. Her teacher sent home a reading list to go over.
I sat with Anna and she read every word on that list! By the end of the night she didn't hesitate with a single one! It is so exciting to see your child do something so wonderful and to see the JOY it brings her when she knows she just read that and didn't even need help. I am a proud momma!

Dinner tonight was JOY. Wings! I do look forward to our wing nights and our friend has a knack for making the best wings. It may seem silly but, it is one of my favorite JOY's! The night is even more fun when you have a gang to eat them with.
The nightcap was Housewives with my friend. Ending the day with a friend and mindless television is JOY.
As I'm writing this I think most Thursdays bring me JOY. My Thursdays usually start the same and end the same and the middle is usually quite enJOYable.

January 6

So, two days into the school week and towards the end of the day Tuesday I get a call that Anna is sick and needs to come home. Nice.
Wednesday was spent making sure Anna got rest so she could return to school the next day. Luckily, Abigail has not gotten it but is still recovering from her black eye.

As I sit here to type I really have nothing to say. What a lazy day! Maybe that is my JOY for Wednesday?

January 5

JOY is having a huge weight lifted off your shoulders! With the help of a friend my husband and I felt this kind of JOY today. It's going to be a process but I look forward to the day when the weight is completely gone!
JOY is having friends who care enough to take time out of their day to say "Hey, let me help you out with that!".
JOY is knowing you can count on family to help you out when you need it. This has definitely rung true this past week!
JOY is watching your prayers being answered even though it has taken a little longer than what you would have preferred. Let's just say patience is definitely something I have had to learn over the past six years!
Sometimes JOY happens in the strangest of ways in the most unusual places.

January 4

Monday was bittersweet. Bitter in the fact that our break was over and Jer was off to work and Anna back to Kindergarten. Sweet in the fact that Jer was off to work and Anna back to Kindergarten! It's nice to take a break from the normal routine of life but I believe kids as well as parents do need that routine.
It is always tough though to get back into it! Let's just say my beautiful Kindergartener is gonna have a long week ahead of her. She went into school just fine but came home a complete disaster! I totally predicted it and was mentally prepared for all the meltdowns. And there were a few!
But nothing over the top. Whew!
It was weird for me on the walk to school in the morning. I had gotten (finally!) used to Anna being gone but I must admit I really enjoy having her home. Dropping her off totally felt like the first day of school and me having to let my little girl go again.
I did feel JOY though when she walked in happy and not crying! I also felt JOY when I accomplished all the things on my to-do list!
We spent the evening with family and that is always JOY (well, almost always!).
Even more JOY in the fact that I did not have to cook dinner or clean up after it!

January 3

Still on cloud nine after my date night I went to bed all set to have a great Sunday with my family. Well, let's just say the night of sleep I intended on getting didn't happen quite as planned.



We went to bed around ten, at about midnight Anna came in because of a bad dream. I calmed her down and sent her back to her bed. At one she came back with blanket and pillow and laid down on the floor. I decided she shouldn't be sleeping on the floor on such a cold night so, into my bed she went and into her bed I went. At about three Abigail wakes up crying but eventually falls back to sleep. Then around five my darling husband comes in Anna's room to climb into her bed (apparently she was kicking him and he thought I was still in our bed) and of course sits right on me. He heads back to bed where he immediately falls asleep and I'm left to toss and turn over the next two hours. FABULOUS!



At this point I know it's going to be a long day. Of course I should be used to all this "action". This describes most nights in our house. Not so much the whole musical beds but Anna coming in because of nightmares and Abigail crying. I crawl out of bed and I am thinking nothing but COFFEE! We eat our breakfast and talk about the days plans.



The morning went by fairly quickly and JOY came at about 12:30 when Abigail laid down for a nap. Into my bed I dove! Nothing like a Sunday afternoon nap. Aren't they the best?



JOY came again in the evening when we went to my girlfriend's house for dinner and football. I was looking forward to this all weekend. I love my friend and her family! Every time I am around them is a good time. Her family makes you feel so welcome and like you are part of them. I think I really enjoy just sitting back and watching them. I have always liked to sit and observe her and her sisters. It's not quite as entertaining as when they were all living in the same house but is still quite amusing. It is so amazing how four girls who grew up with the same parents and under the same roof can all be so very different. You can tell they all love each other and would do anything for one another. How great is that? I'm glad I am also a part of a family who is just like this! I just love when you can go from your own family to another family and just feel at home.



It's wonderful how JOY can come just from something as simple as dinner with your close friends or family!

January 2

We have all been home together over the past two weeks during Christmas break. We had a great Christmas and enjoyed family, friends and one another's company! I would have to say though by Saturday my husband and I were feeling a tad bit of cabin fever with two kids. We decided we needed to get out!
JOY came when my husband said "Let's call Megan (our sitter) and let's go on a date"! This is why I love him. He knows exactly what I need!
More JOY came when Megan said that she was available!

Being married with kids I totally believe that you need time out from them to regroup. Since parenting is a team effort sometimes the "coaches" have to come together to work out their game plan. We went out for a few hours and just did things WE wanted to do; without the hassle of the "players"! When you take this time for yourself and your spouse it does seem easier to come back and put your head in the game.

Once we were back home and on our "playing field" I felt relaxed and ready to take on the new week. I felt JOY when I sat down and thought of my sleeping beauties and my date and how sometimes the small things, like a few hours out, can really change your perception of the "game".