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...

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...

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 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...

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...

JOurneY on...

"God bless us everyone." Charles Dickens

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

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

JOurneY on...

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.

The 9th Day of Christmas...Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

There is no one that I adore more than my Savior...JOY is taking time to do just that...adore Him...BOLDLY AND BRIGHTLY...What a message to the world.

JOurneY on...

Carols, stories, phrases and words remind us of the purpose of the Christmas Season.

The 6th JOY of Christmas...The Nativity

What a JOY to participate in a special presentation of the Nativity...carols, the Christmas Story, the manger, the animals...Christmas is finally coming to life once again.

JOurneY on...

The Nativity reminds us of the events that happened long ago in a far away land...the awaited birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. His birth was one of simplicity, humility and meekness and yet the outcome of this event supercedes all grandeur of all the other momentous occasions in history.

The 4th JOY of Christmas...JOY in the Season

Snowy Window Christmas Card

Find unique and modern Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

JOY is preparing to celebrate the greatest JOY of all--the Birth and Life of Our Savior and to do it as a family.

JOurneY on...

JOY is an acronym for Jesus, Others and You. As you put the Savior first, serve others before yourself, then and then only will Everlasting JOY be felt within the heart.

Blessing in Disguise

I felt sorry that Noah was sick and home from School. That meant that I would also be home from School. At first I felt frustrated but then I remembered a project that had to be completed at the earliest convenience which is usually never. While Noah rested, I worked on Mom and Dad's Anniversary Gift. It was completed and ordered and that was a great JOY!! I will have faith that it will turn out even better than what it looks like on computer.

JOurneY on...