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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Angels We Have Heard

Now is the Season to acknowledge all the wonderful Angels in our lives. Every single morning, I am greeted by three amazing women. They make me laugh. They make me smile. The get my day started off on the right foot. JOY is the Early Light Academy Angels.

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I'm Walking on Main Street

JOY is being able to walk up and down Main Street, passing all the beautiful shops and not spending a dime. Added to the JOY was the company I was with...Richie, Camille, Johnathan and Noah. We stopped at one shop that was full of antiques...old glass bottles, telephones, barbershop amenities, skis and on and on....There was one store that had the answer to all your problems, another full of candied apples and delicate chocolates and I must not forget the Christmas shop...

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The Bright Orange Box

The bright orange box was waiting for me at the end of my workday. I could hardly wait to open the box and see how the project turned out. It was beautiful and I am so pleased with this Anniversary Gift. I felt such JOY in seeing the product of hours of hard work. JOY is and will be in presenting this to Mom and Dad for their Anniversary and JOY will continue to come each time I look at it.

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Let's Play Hoops

Jordan Ridge Elementary invited the Mother's and Son's to an evening of fun. We dressed in our Cowboy duds and headed for the gymnasium. There were "Wanted" Posters, ice cream sundaes, pictures, contests, music, hokey pokey, congo lines, limbo, dancing...Naturally it was JOY to be on a date with my son, but the unexpected JOY came in the Hula Hoop contest. Noah and I had just posed for a photograph. He ran off while I gave the photographer our information. I went in search of Noah and couldn't see him anywhere. The Hula contest was going on I could hear the music. Then the music stopped and the announcer proclaims, "We have our WINNER! What's your name?" Oh my word...it was Noah up there and I had missed the whole thing. He won a beautiful brand new soccer ball. The smile on his face filled my heart with JOY! It truly was a wonderful night.

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A Sinking Feeling of JOY

My wonderful husband talked of plans to update our kitchenette. I was thinking way down the road. He got busy on the internet searching out a double sink. For the last year, we have had to wash all our dishes by hand in one sink and without a disposal. So when he came home on Monday with this beautiful cast iron sink, I was thrilled. There were saws and painters putty. There were boxes and parts and the kitchen looked like a disaster. When I awoke the following morning, I knew the sink fairy had been there. It was an awesome sight...clean, tidy, and ready for dishes. JOY came in the hard work and ingenuity of Rick and in a more convenient sink.

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Noah's Parent Teacher Conference

JOY is meeting with Noah's School Teacher. What a great report Noah had! We set a few goals for the upcoming term and my effort is needed. In the school hallways were all the Reflection's Projects. Noah's Photo was nicely displayed with a red ribbon on it. I inquired as to what that meant. The woman said that it stood for "The Principal's Pick." I was so proud of him and he seemed ecstatic to think that his Principal selected his picture.

JOY was continuing a tradition...Wok King after the Conference. Noah was also feeling sick just like last year.

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Jordan, Cotton Candy, Shampoo, Conditioner and Brown Eyed Susan

October 29, 2011 Noah and I headed to the Marriott for a dual Birthday Celebration. Jordan was born on October 20. How fortunate we were to be able to share in his wit and humor. Oh there were many great lines, but the best caught us all by surprise. Mallory handed him a gift bag. It appeared to be heavy. He jokingly said, "This better not be shampoo and conditioner!" One by one out came packages of Cotton Candy...blue...sour apple. I had no idea Jordan loved Cotton Candy, but Mallory knew. We laughed as Stephen and Jordan bantered back and forth over Jordan's earlier splurge on Cotton Candy at the University of Utah Football Game. Then one classic moment...Jordan reached in and pulled out two large bottles...Shampoo and Conditioner!!! His eyes wide, he replied "NOOO!!!" and then graciously thanked Mallory. It took me back to a Christmas when Jordan was just a little boy hoping for more little boy toys. Grandma had given him a gift. He knew what Grandma liked to put on the Grandchildren--adorable clothes from the Brown Eyed Susan. These clothes came in a classic red box that could be easily recognized. As the gift was placed in his hands, he knew the shape, "This better not be clothes..." He unwrapped the gift and saw the oh too familiar box from the Brown Eyed Susan and tossed the gift across the room...wouldn't even open it. I could hardly contain myself, I was laughing so hard. The years have come and gone. Jordan demonstrated greater maturity :) in receiving this gift from the "HART," the Mallory Hart. Where was the JOY? Being able to let go and just laugh.

Noah was on camera duty...

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The Neighborhood Party

Have you ever seen such a happier group of children. That memory captured on camera brought a Neighbor Mom lots of JOY.

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The Three Faces of Noah

Well, there was a little JOY in a black sharpie and Noah's creativity.

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Bouquet of Smiles

JOY is having good friends...to be there for you in times of JOY as well as times of trial. Eva certainly deserved to be surrounded by bright yellow balloons all wearing smiles on their faces. JOY was she let me capture the moment in a picture.

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