Christmas with family is Joyful!

It was so fun to watch Cayden and Brooklyn open their gifts. They were both thrilled with their gifts (Yesterday Cayden took his first step into peeking at the gifts and was caught!). Guess he is just like the other boys in my family....total sneaks but they didn't get caught. The expressions on their faces and their exclamations as they looked at each new thing, and then later as they played was so delightful! They have gone to their dads tonight, so things are quiet on the homefront. I appreciate Andrea and Justin allowing us to share in the joy of children and Christmas. I also want to express the joy I feel as I contemplate the birth of the Savior so very long ago, and the steps he took to ensure the chance that I can return to my Father in Heaven. I thank Him every day and that knowledge brings me JOY.

It was Cayden's class Christmas program last night. They memorized How the Grinch Stole Christmas and they did an amazing job! They also sang the songs and other Christmas songs. We sat behind Adam and his sisters Marianne and Emily, so we were privileged to watch Brooklyn's reactions to it all. She flitted between the rows, hugging and telling me she loved me! Love that little girl! Cayden worked so hard at speaking slow and clear. He did such a good job. Watching the changes as these sweet children grow brings unlimited amounts of Joy. :)

In tune while out of tune...JOYFUL???

Had a great time yesterday performing with the Chime Choir and Cherie at the Creche. It was a very interesting experience! I had a severe ear infection that created a distortion in the sound. Like having two speakers, with the left one blaring each note 1/4 note flat! It was the hardest performance ever! The piano sounded like Brook was sitting by her side playing the next note to every note she played which created a jumble of horrible sounding music. Cherie, with her loud, beautiful voice was the only thing that cracked the speaker and she was in tune. I couldn't even tell if I was playing the right chime because it sounded like we were ALL playing the wrong ones! Made me much more grateful for working ears and the beauty that we can listen to. So glad I don't have to always hear those terrible combinations of sound! The real stuff is pure JOY!

I may not look this old but my bod feels this old. Its my mind that doesn't believe it!! Somehow I have to convince my body that my mind is right! The dancing youngster on the wall shows complete JOY!

Today I spent 4 or so hours helping to set up for the annual Granite Bay Creche. It is so cool to see 20-30 people make a church building, from top to bottom, become a beautiful Christmas venue. The actual creche's are brought tomorrow and I can't wait for the final show. We will be singing in my choir and playing chimes at musical performances for the creche this weekend. Music in my life is a total cup filler for me! Complete JOY! I came home, and after a short rest (that older body just can't do what my youthful mind wants it to!) I brought all the outdoor decorations and lights out and set them up. Christmas is very apparent at the Barnett household. As I look at the ambiance created, it reminds me of the feeling I get as I think of Christ. Peace & JOY.

This sweet little boy had his seventh birthday today. Maeve would have been 7 on August 22, Logan was 7 on November 11, and now Cayden has his turn. Seven years of wonderful grandma experiences. All the years since they were born have been filled with love and devotion to all my sweet grandchildren. Cayden is such a sweet boy, and as I get to observe and spend time with him in our home, I realize he is such a special spirit. Heavenly Father knew Andrea could not let him be adopted, and so sent a lovely, gentle, sweet boy to our family. He has been a blessing from day one. There were many difficult days in his life, but I hope we have helped him to realize what a great person he is and that his Father in Heaven is happy with him. I know one thing about this cute, charming boy and that is he brings me JOY!

Shared a lovely Thanksgiving week with our family in Utah. We spent sweet time with Keith & Zelda, fun time with grandkids, motored with Cayden & Brook back and forth from home, and loved seeing and being with a lot of those we love. The only thing better would have been having them at MY home! It is different spending vacations away from your home. But the joy of family resonates through me wherever I am. So grateful for the quality time spent with special ones. Truly joyful!

Lexi reading the Book of Mormon - Complete Joy!

Little Lexi, one of my 3 year old granddaughters reads the scriptures with her family every morning. Brandy, her mom has wondered if anything is getting through. But the last four nights Lexi falls asleep with the Book of Mormon in her BED! She is adorable and lovely and pure JOY!

Today I wore myself out completely redoing my front flower bed. I took most everything out (and it was alot of stuff growing in there!) and planted bulbs. I started about 11 am and finished at 3:30. I may not be walking tomorrow! I love working in the yard actually, my master gardener hands can't wait to make changes and plant stuff! But my older, achy body does not like to accommodate. But I am determined this winter I am redoing my yard so that I feel like it is a yard a master gardener would have! hahahaha There is that pride factor coming in. Oh well....it brings me JOY!

Grandkids bring......JOY!

Today is Logan's birthday and he has turned 7 years old. Those years have flown past, but as I look back there are many events that fill those years; many happy and some sad. The saddest days of my life are encompassed within those years and some of the happiest days also beckon thru memories. I love each of my 7 grandchildren and the memories we share are bountiful and beautiful. I thank my children for bringing these lovely spirits to be united in our family. We are eternal and that brings great JOY!

Time to set up for.....Christmas!

I always like Christmas up for longer than 4 weeks. I decorate my whole house and I am not ready to put it away after 4 weeks so I decided some years back that I wanted to enjoy it longer. Hence, post Halloween decorating! It has been one of our traditions to collect unique Christmas items and 35 years of collecting has produced, um plenty of Christmas decor! My kids say that they will be able to split up our stuff when we are gone and still have too much! Well, personal preferences! Brad is actually becoming more Christmasy than I am. I love how I can focus on the meaning of Christmas with my collection of nativities and it reminds me how blessed I am. Christmas brings Joy any time of the year!

A finished project = Joy :) But now what???

I finished the quilt I have been working on today. I still have shams to create and build but the big part is DONE! So happy with how it turned out. It will be quilted and ready before Christmas. It is one of Brad's Christmas gifts (even if he has seen it!). Not sure he'll appreciate it even if he did ask for one! LOL. So a finished book, published and complete, and a finished quilt all but done. Now what will I do??? Another book might be a good idea. I think I'll wait until after the first of the year for that! R & R? Maybe. :)

Quilt making is truly a JOY! Thanks MOM!

I am working on the quilt for our Master Bedroom kingsize bed. It is coming along so well and I love how the colors work together. Sewing is so fulfilling and rewarding. I thank my mother for the love I have for quilt building and for the patience to sit and work every little seam. I have many memories of her sitting in the night, sewing on some project or other, or sitting beside a quilt, stitching far into the night. She had unbelievable energy and stamina. I would be happy with half of what she had! Thanks Mom for your great example. Miss you.

Day of Joy, Gospel Lights my life.

I love Fast & Testimony meeting. For those of you who do not know what that is, I'll explain. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) on the First Sunday of each month fast for 24 hours (free of food and water) and then go to Sacrament Meeting, our church service, and bear testimony of our convictions about the church, about God and Jesus Christ. It is difficult to explain how listening to other people tell about why they love God is so fulfilling. But when you are humble, feeling hungry, I guess you are hungry for more than food and so the spirit fills the empty space with Joy! I also had a friend in Church come up and tell me she read the book yesterday and LOVED it! She said she laughed all the way through it (which made me very happy) and she loved it enough she wants to read it again. More Joy. :)

The Magic of Jennie!

It has been a busy day but we were able to get balloons and Cayden, Brook, Andi & Justin joined Brad and me and released them as we wished Jennie happy birthday! We had our Jamba Juice and are about to cut into a yummy "Bakin Robins" ice-cream cake. Oreo ice cream with white cake! YUMMMMM! Had a new review posted on the Kindle site and it captured what I hoped I had conveyed in the book. The Magic of Jennie. :-) Joy!

Celebrating 30 years tomorrow!

I heard from the publisher that my book is ready! It posted on createspace.com and will be on Amazon in 5 days. I decided long ago that Jennie's 30th birthday deserved some commemoration and decided to try to finish the book. I'm so happy that I accomplished that goal. I didn't need to make money from the book, just publicly acknowledge the joy and love I received from her. I am putting 30 pictures representing 30 years on FB and will do the traditional balloon release and Jamba Juice run tomorrow. I think we will get an ice cream cake, her favorite kind, and let the kids really enjoy her day. Thanks for being part of our life Jennie! You gave pure JOY!

A Fairy Dog!

As I came home from shopping, Andrea and Justin greeted me at the door with their dog Sadie dressed in a pink tutu and fairy wings! I laughed out loud! It was hysterical. Nice cap to a busy day. Felt like singing "I've been working on the railroad" today as I dug with my pic axe and shovel a drainage ditch for better water drainage. I haven't been able to do much exercise and so I guess yard work will be my cardio each day. A couple of hours each day and I'll be so buff by the end of the year! It gives me joy to see changes I make with my own steam. It is amazing how much joy you can have when you look at it the right way! The yard is going to be amazing come spring. I'm revamping it all winter, as long as the rain gives me a few sunny days. I'll know if my drainage system works, although it isn't quite done, but the rain was pouring down tonight and it should help to alleviate some of the water in the yard. Very nice productive day. :)

Memories from my childhood = JOY!

Cloudy and cool outside just begged for a bowl of hot tomato soup, just like when growing up! A toast of homemade bread, mug of Nestle's quik and I feel transported back in time, sitting at my mom's kitchen table. Haven't had that meal in years but it reminds me of mom and my great childhood and great family! I miss you mom! Lovely memories = JOY!

Many joyful moments in a great day!

I practiced with my Chime Choir this morning, getting ready for our Christmas programs. It is a surefire way to prevent Alzheimer's! Very tricky and complex, but remarkably rewarding and joyful! Brings Christmas that much closer, which I LOVE! I then had a fun lunch with my grandson Cayden and my friend Cheri at Jacks Urban Eats. Yummy salad and good company that stayed with me through a grueling workout in the yard! My yard has a big drainage problem, along with overwatering neighbors which presents ground soaked 3 feet deep. I decided to take the project on myself, since I haven't been able to get out and exercise recently, and so pick axed 25 feet of space through sopping wet dirt to create a space for a drain pipe. I actually love working in the yard, so that was joyful. Just wish I had an automatic wipe for my face! I sweat mostly in my face and my hands were pretty muddy, so I got a dishtowel wrapped around my neck and used my wrist to wipe it across my face about every two minutes! It helped and I didn't quite get done, but got a huge start on the project. Trying to finish it before the rain starts tomorrow night. I know it will feel great to get it finished. My home is humming with children playing, Cayden doing homework, Brad playing "hide and zeek" and the happy sounds of a busy, joyful noise!

The joy of a great review!

I have the first review posted for A Gift Named Jennie! Five stars! LOL I appreciate my friend who read and posted quickly, but also appreciate her sweet words. There isn't many things that feel so good as to know that something very dear to your heart brought someone else joy.

Old age doesn't stop from doing things you love!

Today I spent most of the day in my backyard. For someone else this may be considered drudgery and WORK. I worked for my Master Gardener's certification in Oregon in 1999. Over the years since I have enjoyed knowing more about what I love, the growing of beauty. My body doesn't like me to do all the digging and scraping and pounding, suggesting I might want to do more gentle activities. My yard has been calling me for quite a while, and my husband has listened to his body suggesting to leave yard work for others to do. So I took it upon myself to ignore the aches and pains and remember the joy that comes from a cleaned, weeded garden, getting it ready to be winterized; the joy of moving something you dislike out of the yard to get ready to plant potted citrus fruit in the ground. One thing I know about myself is that when I start a project I don't want to quit until it is finished, no matter what is in the way (aches and pains, mostly). My husband suggested tonight that I take it easy, don't try to do it all in one week. He really doesn't realize how hard that is for me. I have Peonies to plant and bulbs to insert for spring beauty and I have to wait for some good top soil! Patience has always been a virtue and usually one of my strengths, but when a project is on the drawing board, patience takes a back seat! I told him I can wait--I'll probably have to plant without the topsoil. But life goes on and little events like today continue to bring me joy and happiness.