The joy of cooking?

Today I made cut out cookies. Bunnies....hoping that it would make me feel more spring-like. I was planning on making this great homemade icing recipe I found at Christmas....To the cupboard I go for powder sugar. What !!! It is almost all gone!? No matter I have a 1/2 a can of pink frosting left in the refrigerator from another baking project; perfect for bunnies right?....Again... what? the empty can is left in the frig! Wait I know.....The kids were home all week on spring break! I ask Erin about the frosting....She tells me it is really yummy on toast! I guess I will frost the cookies tomorrow. :-) I have also been informed by Colleen that bargain brand hot cocoa mix needs extra powder sugar.... LOL! I am joyful that my kids are so sweet! 

The joy of seeing old friends!

A wicked winter/spring storm on Tuesday and Wednesday that brought thunder snow, sleet, wind, and many inches of unwanted snow found me working in an office space I haven't seen in about 10 years. The thought of driving 32 miles in bad weather turned the wheel on my car and I pulled into the Mercy employee parking lot Wednesday morning. As I walked into the department I used to work in all those years ago I was greeted with surprised smiles! After asking if I could work at a free computer in the "class room" I set up shop as best I could. Computers are wonderful..They make my work mobile...But old friends I haven't seen in years are a joy! I caught up with Lindy...now pleased as punch to be the grandma of 3.....Missy has 4 children now! Brian has 4 teenagers and doesn't feel the least bit sorry for me since I only have 2!!!! Gail is doing great. Jan has glasses but her smile and laugh is just the same. Connie and I had a nice chat! What a wonderful day I had. It was as if I never left....Maybe I never did! Thanks friends! I hope we always bring each other joy!

Watching your kids sleep.

Isn't there something that just touches your heart and makes you all warm inside when you watch your little ones sleeping? That is Joy. I haven't experienced this particular joy in a while since both my kids are in their early teens.....But along comes Monday morning of Spring Break. I go upstairs to let the girls know that I am off to work. I stop dead in my tracks. That joy is back and just as sweet as it ever was. Their sleeping faces so beautiful and peaceful. Hair everywhere, blankets in a pile.... a beagle picks up her head and looks over someone bum....a little snore sounds from the other room....Kind of the same scenario over there too...blanket almost over her head...a soft voice says "hi mom" the spell is broken....I hand out smooches and say "see you later girls.... sleep a while longer....."  Zzz.

The Joy of spending time with the girls and nature.

I just posted to my facebook page that I feel like "Supermom" today. It is wonderful when you get the whole day with your kids. Even though we went shopping we had lots of girl talk in the car to and from Oshkosh. After hair cuts and lunch at McDonald's we came home and enJOYed the wonderful springtime weather in spite of it being technically winter. The Waukau nature trail is beautiful this time of year. The trail was slippery and we had a good laugh as 2 of us took a header down one of the slippery slopes. Muddy jeans was the result of our troubles and Colleen found me a walking staff to prevent further problems (she was very kind about it too...)

After that we came home and we made chicken casserole and pistachio fluff. Rick was awake and we all ate dinner in the sunshine on the front porch.

Wednesday

Today I find my joy in being able to come home after a long day. To come home to a loving family, a comfortable couch...Hot tea a box of kleenex....Yes I have caught a cold but I am joyful for all the comforts of home.

Looking for Joy

Continuing my joy journal during Lent for Monday there was a beautiful sunrise. Not the pinks and oranges we are accustomed to but a beautiful soft blue and lavender. The bare dark tree looked like dark lace against that gorgeous soft color. Then as I was driving to work I was surprised by an owl that swooped down near the road...How such a giant bird can swoop like that I will never know! I also spent my lunch break sitting in the sun reading a book. Then end of the day I got to talk to an excited girl about her upcoming play!!!She was very excited!


Today I am joyful for a good night sleep! A warm sunny day where I could leave my coat off and my sunglasses on! For being able to help my other daughter with her math homework and for 2 goofy dogs who begged for raw carrots and then ate them!

For Friday & Saturday.....

One of the nicest joys of Friday was finding out that my friends in Hawaii were safe after a tsunami! Another joy and SURPRISE was that one of my co-workers called Spiritual services to have a chaplain come over to pray with us because one of our managers was also in Hawaii. I love it when people surprise you like that! :)
 My daughters and I went to the movies last night....What a joy it is to see a "chick flick" with your daughters!
  This morning I got to sleep in ( well 730 is sleeping in for me) Later I caught Rick watching cartoons with the girls. Mr. Magoo!!! I didn't even know he was still on TV. 
   In spite of the cold March wind today I finally spotted my first robins. A joyful sign that Spring will return! Rick and I had fun browsing all the different seeds for our garden at the store this afternoon. Sharing and enjoying a hobby with your spouse is a great joy! This afternoon I am sitting in front of my warm wood stove blogging and waiting for my bread to rise. Ahhhh! God is good  and Life is good!

40 Days Worth of Joys.

A friend of mine suggested that for Lent I note my daily joys ..As I have said in past blogs it can be hard to see your joy unless you look for it with purpose. Then acknowledge and thank God for his many gifts.....So my joys today were these....The sighting of a petite gorgeous female cardinal at my bird feeder. A really cute snowman with an infectious happy smile sighted on my way to work....The fact that we had 6 inches of slushy snow yesterday and sunshine and temps above 32 today. I still get hugs from my teenage daughters! And my dogs greeted me with waggly tails when I got home from work.  :)  

Looking for Joy in the small spaces.

What brings you joy? Maybe it is quiet time with a good book. Perhaps it is getting outside and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Sometimes joy is celebrating a milestone such as birthday or anniversary. We have many joys in our lives. Sometimes our joy is overshadowed by the mire and muck of life which continuously drags us down. I know…I am trying to keep an online “Joy Journal” but it is harder than I thought it would be. It seems like I go for weeks and weeks without anything “Joyful” to share ….or do I. If I add up all the small joys in the past weeks I could say that in spite of record snowfall and cold temperatures February turned out to be a pretty joyful month.


First of all my church started a prayer shawl ministry. I have been thinking about this for some time but I just feel I am not the one called to lead this ministry..... Praise God!! He knows who should lead it and yeah for the one who answered the call! We are just beginning but our meetings have been very enjoyable and productive. My peach colored ribbed pattern shawl is already about 12 inches long. I encourage you to pray with me for the recipient of this shawl (eventhough we do not know who it may be) that it may bring them peace and comfort.

Here’s another joy...Increased daylight hours! Have you noticed how light it is in the morning now? And how warm the sun is when it shines through the windows?? My pets (a cat and 2 dogs) are always vying for that sunny spot on the floor in my living room. The sun is even warm when you are outside. My daughters and I have a new routine after church on Sunday’s lately. We take the dogs for a walk together. It is nice girl time for talking and enjoying the fresh air and getting exercise. Increased daylight also means I can start thinking about gardening!

Then there are the joys of seeing others enjoy themselves… Pancake breakfasts with your church family……Kids who land a part in the play ( the Big Bad Wolf) …Kids who finally got to see a certain movie with their friends….Dad’s who play their belly like it is a bongo drum early in the morning :) …..an old married couple who coincidently had the same day off from work so they decided to go out to lunch together! Grandparents who got an unexpected visit from their children and grandchildren……

Life is rough enough! Celebrate the joys in your life no matter how big or small…Every one of them is a special gift from God custom made just for you!

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them….He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; Psalm 111 2 &4.