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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Christmas Eve

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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..."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.

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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.

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The 22nd JOY of Christmas...Characters Welcome

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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..."

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The 18th JOY of Christmas...Singing Christmas Praises

Christmas Music brings me so much JOY. The day after Halloween, I plug in the Christmas CD's and tune into FM100.3...plenty of time to hear and sing praises to my Lord and then to "repeat the sounding JOY."

JOY is having ears to hear and reasons to sing.

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"A Song of the righteous is a prayer unto me..." Doctrine and Covenants 25:12

The 17th JOY of Christmas...J is for Jesus

What can I say, "J" is for Jesus and it is Jesus that brings JOY to the world.

JOY is following the shepherd and belonging to his flock.

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The Candy Cane symbolizes the Shepherd's Crook. It was used to keep the sheep from straying from the fold. Jesus is the Shepherd gathering His sheep. Turn the Candy Cane upside down and the staff makes the letter "J," to remind us of our Shepherd and to the flock in which we belong.

The 16th JOY of Christmas...Visions of Sugar Plums

JOY is a taste of all the talented people that drop by with tantalizing sweets and the shelves that a are laced with chocolate and candy...chocolate fudge...white chocolate covered popcorn...English Toffee...peanut brittle...peppermint kisses...

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Traditional treats and candies remind us of the generosity and sweetness that abounds at Christmastime...oh that Christmas might be every day of the year.

The 15th JOY of Christmas...I Believe!

JOY is believing...believing in the Magic of Christmas...believing of Christmas Miracles...believing in the Savior...believing that with God nothing is impossible. It is true I BELIEVE!

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"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it is given unto you..."
3 Nephi 18:20

The 14th JOY of Christmas...Christmas Movies

JOY is the Hallmark Channel. I have been able to find Christmas Spirit in the reminders of these Christmas Specials...I only have fifteen more to go :) Annie Claus, Mistletoe Over Manhatten, Christmas Pageant, Moonlight and Mistletoe...and so many more...

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"God bless us everyone." Charles Dickens

The 13th JOY of Christmas...Winter Wonderland

Wow! This morning I left to take Noah to school and we were greeted with a Winter Wonderland...or so it appeared. I so enJOY the seasons and all that nature has to offer...what a sight. It made for picturesque moments...like powdered sugar made it's debut.

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Walking in a Winter Wonderland reminds us of the glorious World that has been created by our Savior for the benefit of mankind.

The 12th Day of Christmas...Greetings at My Door

JOY is opening all the Christmas Cards from family, friends and loved ones.

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The circle shape of the Christmas Wreath, shows that just like love...it is continual...it has no ends and knows no stops. It is the Greeting Cards that come to our door that remind us of that love...with a chance to reflect on another year passed and Merry Christmas Wishes.