Preparing for 2012

JOY! JOY! JOY! That ever growing pile of important papers have now found a home. All the bills and statements are neatly filed away...my tax receipts and information ready to go...a renewed desire to work down the list of putting things in order...bit by bit...I believe it can be done.

JOY is a house of order...a house of order is a house of God...a house of God is a house of JOY.

JOurneY on...

The Days After

It is never easy the few days after Christmas...the excitement and build up for the season has come and gone...returning to work is not too far off and clean up for the New Year awaits.

JOY was being able to put away the Christmas Decorations before mid January.

JOurneY on...

Christmas in Paris

I so enJOYed reading madsinreallife@blogspot.com...a picture diary of the Bodine Family and their Parisian Christmas. My niece Maddie had the gumption to share this adventure with me via blogspot. It was a thrill to sit with Mom and Dad and see the photos of Paris and London...clearly, the Bodine's had a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Joyeux Noel.

JOY is family.

JOurneY on...

Aegean Herring Corner Revisited

An after Christmas Surprise came in a visit with old friends and neighbors. JOY is being able to attend one of my best friend's daughter's wedding...Stephanie and Christopher Burns. Like always, it is crazy to think that we are that old. What fun, what fun with Nan, Julie and Kali...

JOY is happy childhood memories.

JOurneY on...

Plug 'Em In...Plug 'Em In

As we headed to the Chuck-a-Rama, I questioned the behavior of two energetic boys. Little did I know the power of the IPOD.

JOY was seeing Noah and Tryn have conversation or not.

JOurneY on...

Grandma and Chuck-a-Rama

JOY is the "Grandma Maxine

 monthly dinner at Chuck-a-Rama
tradition"

Monthly, we would take Grandma Garff to a delicious buffet dinner at the Chuck-a-Rama on 4th South. It was such a thrill to recapture old times with her and then to have Mom and Dad accompany, was like icing on the "Kettle Roasted Turkey" and the "Bread Pudding." A favorite line of the evening was when Grandma  asked how to spell Shrew...

JOY was revisiting a tradition.

JOurneY on...

Christmas Guests

Grandma and Grandpa made the rounds...unfortunately for them, the miles in distance was far and wide...Idaho Falls for Christmas Eve and opening presents on Christmas Day with Howard and his family and then quickly back to Salt Lake to spend the day with us. Noah was thrilled to have their company and wanted them to have a sleepover. We settled on dinner and a few games. "Name 5 Professional Teams that do not end in the letter 'S'...Broncos? No. 49ers? No. Packers? Bears? Steelers? Redskins? No. No. No. Then who?"

JOY is truly having an enJOYable Christmas Day.

JOurneY on...

Christmas Day

JOY was watching a sleepy Noah awake to Santa's Gifts. This Christmas was a bit tricky because of a 9:00 a.m. Sacrament Meeting. Noah agreed to save the presents for after the Christmas Service. I found JOY singing in the Christmas Choir. I found JOY in Noah's excitement as he opened presents. I found JOY in knowing there was more JOY yet to come...

JOY is a list of JOYS on Christmas Day.

JOurneY on...

Christmas Eve

This free picture collage generated with Smilebox

Noah wanted to go Ice Skating for Christmas Eve. I cannot even begin to tell of the JOY and entertainment that we had that night. The lights on the ice were beyond description...the music was festive for the season... I was charmed by my boy, "May I have this dance?" I had my spills both on and off the ice. We also had the good fortune of having one of Noah's friends join us for a bit of Christmas Magic. Awaiting back home...hors d' eurves and Rick's famous slumgullion. It was just the thing for the cold nipping at my toes and fingers. In keeping with tradition, Noah opened his one gift on Christmas Eve...pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa. We ended the evening with "It's a Wonderful Life" and tonight it certainly was a wonderful life.

JOY is a wonderful life.

JOurneY on...

Shopping for Joy

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Everywhere I looked...there was JOY...wrapping paper, cards, napkins, ornaments, hangers for stockings....Christmas brings JOY...

JOY is everywhere.

JOurneY on...

More Joys of Christmas...The Candle and the Bell

JOY is the beauty and scent of a lit candle and the ringing of bells. At the darkest time of the year, we celebrate the light of the world--Jesus. The candle is symbolic of giving light to a dark world. The bells ring out tidings of great JOY at the birth of Jesus.

Also, the Shepherd was able to find His sheep by the ringing of the bell around a sheep's neck. Jesus, our Shepherd truly knows each of us and will help us when life becomes challenging.

JOY is the light of Christ, my shepherd.

JOurneY on...

Christmas Adam

Noah was wrestling with Rick on Christmas Eve..."Hey dad...was yesterday Christmas Adam...you know if today is Christmas EVE, wouldn't yesterday be Christmas ADAM?" JOY is the way Noah thinks. JOY is the way he can make me smile.

JOY is a sense of humor.

JOurneY on...

A Long Winter's Nap

" What is a kerchief and Who wears a cap? while I settle down for my long winter's nap... When by the TV there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter. Away to the bathroom I flew like a flash, tore open the door and saw my mustache ???"

"NNOOOAAAHHHH !!"

JOY is Noah's teasings.

JOurneY on...

The 25th JOY of Christmas...My Greatest Gift

JOY is celebrating the most absolutely best gift of all...Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday to my Savior, the Savior of the World.

It doesn't get any better than this...that is, until He comes again.

JOY is Jesus Christ.

JOurneY on...

..."Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

The 24th JOY of Christmas...One Glorious Star

One glorious Star...




leading to one glorious gift




Yes...Away in a Manger...a Miracle happened.

JOY is believing in miracles.

JOurneY on...

The Star was the sign of the heavenly promise of long ago, that a Savior would be born. The New Star that shown told the world that the prophecy had been fulfilled.

The 23rd JOY of Christmas...The Gift That Keeps on Giving

JOY is the Gift that keeps on Giving...no, not the jam of the month or fruit of the month...but my parents...giving of their time, love, service, talents...

JOY is having the absolute best parents.

JOurneY on...

The 22nd JOY of Christmas...Characters Welcome

This photo collage generated with Smilebox

Driving through the neighborhoods has brought me tons of JOY and laughter...some homes decorated by artists and others by just plain ole characters. Within my home, I have a few of my own characters that bring charm, warm memories and JOY...

JOY is decorations.

JOurneY on...

Christmas brings out the "HO HO HO" in all of us.

The 21st JOY of Christmas...What's My Hang Up?

"The Stockings were hung by NO CHIMNEY with care...with hopes that Saint Nick will find them somewhere." Christmas Stockings are my hang up...or should I say, JOY was hanging up the Christmas Stockings. I can hardly wait to see how Santa will fill them...Tic Tacs? Chocolate Santas? Tangerines? Lip Smackers? Something personally that I need?

JOY is knowing that I have needs, for it teaches me humility.

JOurneY on...


Christmas Stockings, according to a site I googled gives some enlightenment and meaning behind the strange custom of hanging stockings. "According to an old tale, three poor girls who were in dire need of money for their wedding dowries had hung their stockings by the fire to dry. Saint Nicholas - the first Santa Claus- upon finding out about their need, left a gift of gold coins in their stockings." www.A-Magical-Christmas.com

The 20th JOY of Christmas...Wrap it Up

JOY is wrapping presents with festive paper, shiny bows, Christmas tags...which all contribute to the Christmas Spirit.

JOY is in giving of the self.

JOurneY on...

Ribbons and Bows demonstrate that we are all tied to each other with love and peace to the family of mankind.

The 19th JOY of Christmas...Invitation to the Savior

JOY is having Christ in a Christmas Celebration.
I invite Christ and His spirit to be with us as we celebrate
His amazingly, wonderful birth.

JOY is remembering it is Jesus' birthday and as we give gifts,
may we find JOY in giving a gift to Him.

JOY is being able to declare "Jesus...the REASON for the SEASON. Let Him in..."

JOurneY on...