Peace in the morning

Imagine sipping your coffee, watch this sunrise.

Choosing Joy- In my warm cozy home

Pogonip is an indian word which basically means "freezing Fog". We have that off and on in the winter months. It is really freezing temperature wise and you can't see 2 feet in front of you. The worst part is driving in it. The ground gets frozen in patches. So not only can you not see where you are going,you have a tendency to hit patches of ice in the road. Then you slide and have no idea where you are going. I am so glad I do not have any reason to drive in it.
Another thing about the pogonip, is it freezes everything in its path. The telephone line, anything metal, the trees...everything. Now it can be a bad thing if the wires get loaded down with all the ice. The can snap,as well as the tree branches. But I choose not to dwell on that part.
The thing I look forward to, when we have pogonip, is the beauty the next day. It is like a silent ice storm came through and turned everything white. I have to count my blessings when we have these occur. One, I am tucked away, ever so warm and cozy inside the house. Two, I have no where to go. Three, I can wake up to this....From my warm cozy home.

peaceful sleep

Choosing joy - Looking forward

With the new year quickly approaching, I will try not to look with a cynical mind. It is so easy to find the negative things in life. So I Choose to look forward to the new year with joy. I look forward to all the things to come,even though I don't know what is coming. This year,I am going to try my hardest ever to see the good in the day and reclaim the joy in every day. After all, every day is another gift from God. I need to remember that. Who knows how many days I have left on this earth. Only God knows for sure. So I need to quit wasting my time worrying about the things I cannot change and find something to be happy about every day. I am so glad that I took part in this challenge. I maybe missed a few days, but overall it has been a blessing to me. I really have found joy in so many more things. So here I am looking forward to another year of life that God has given me. I choose joy in every day to come and pray I can share it with those around me.

Loving the grand kids

Choose Joy- Even when its hard

I am choosing joy on behalf of my husband today. His brother is a truck driver and just so happened to stop by in our little out of the way town. They haven't seen each other for quite a while. The reason I choose on behalf of my husband, is because we, his brother and I , do not under any circumstances, get along. It has always been that way, and I can't really get into details. Since my husband has had a had a series of illnesses lately, his depression has been almost unbearable. He seemed to brighten up a bit when his brother happened along. So for that I will choose to be joyful in his arrival. I know it seems unkind to be so unforgiving to someone like my brother-in-law, but there is just a lot of history. But to see my husband have a glimmer of joy to his face, I can endure and be truly joyful.

Tow family

My abstract version of family. You would really have to know me to understand this.

Christmas Joy

I hope your day was blessed! Mine was just full of joy. All the children loved their presents and the Christmas dinner turned out right. I think the most important thing that happened, was my seven year old grand son realized that today was the celebration of the birth of Christ. It was a wonderful moment for me. The real reason for Christmas. It is a blessing and a real reason to choose joy today! Merry Christmas everyone.!

Choosing Joy- Easy to find today

I was so blessed today! My daughter has a lot of friends up here in this Northern Nevada community. Every one is so nice. I don't really know how to begin to tell it.
My daughter told me, in advance , that we would be expecting a visitor early in the evening. So I already knew what to expect. The kids knew someone was coming too, but did not know who. Well, the phone rang about 3 o'clock, and it was the visitor. They said that he was around the corner and would be at our house in about 10 minutes. I quickly ran and checked my camera, to get it ready.
I ran outside to get a picture of him as he crested the hill on the path to our house. How excited I was. Then I could hear the bells. He was riding his horse and had his really huge mule pulling behind him with packs on. You see, the hunters around here actually use mules to pack their supplies in and out of their hunting trips. A pack mule was packing in some Christmas presents for the kids! Tim, the rider, was wearing his riding gear, complete with a santa hat over his cowboy hat. I think I was more excited than the kids were. How cool is that! Tim, does this every year and really enjoys it. It doesn't bother him that he sometimes has to trailer the animals in to the area, then go through all the trouble of unloading and loading them in the trailer. Then he gets them all dressed up in bells and loads the presents and let the kids see him coming. That's a lot of work! But he loves to bring joy to those around town. What a joyful experience! I am still tickled to have been a part of it. The kids were just in awe! They loved the horse and mule. Then the packages were unloaded and I thought they were going to pop with excitement! It was great! Yeah, Joy was easy today. I loved it!

Beautiful smile

A beautiful smile from one of my beautiful grand daughters.

Choose Joy- In Giving

Today I Choose Joy in giving. I have very little to give in monetary things. But I can give so many other things. I can give my love, my prayer time, my time, my knowledge,etc. So many things that I don't have to purchase. These things are already within my reach,and I can reach them when I need or want to. My choice is to give to others the things that I can. In giving, it brings my joy. God is so good. Without Him, I would not know how to give. So this moment I am sharing with you my joy in giving. My grandmother used to always say, If you see a need,try to help. I see many needs, and give as I can. I hope it can help those who feel they have nothing to give. We all can give something. Who and how is all up to you. And it doesn't have to cost you a dime. Give someone a smile, a hug or just a simple hello. It can change a lot. Here I am... Choosing Joy in giving.

Choose Joy- In wellness

Today was a sick day. The two younger children were up and down all night. One had a very annoying cough. And the other child had an asthma attack all day. I was so afraid I was going to have to take him to the hospital. Neither of us really enjoy that little trip!
So it was a night and day of charting meds given and comforting all night long. Today Zac had my nerves on edge. I was afraid I was not going to be able to handle it. But we did. And what a relief! He seems to be doing a lot better. I hope we all can get some well needed shut eye. So I am going to say...Here I am thankful and joyful they are getting better. We will all get some much needed rest.

Choose Joy- Church Christmas music

Today I am Choosing Joy in Christmas music. Specifically Church Christmas music, like "Joy to the World", "Away in the Manger"' and "Silent Night".
At church today, the choir had their little Christmas special. It is a small church, so half the church is in the choir. They all did a fine job, but there is no professional singers by far. The kids, as always, did great. The usual, a few really sing,and the rest stare at the audience and smile or pick their nose.

As small as it was, it was really great. Not because they were so good, but because their hearts were in it. I love singing the old church hymns and Christmas songs. You can't help but smile when you hear all the voices blending and realize what the words are meaning. I am sure God was smiling about it all. I know I was. So here I am ..Choosing Joy in Church Christmas music.

Grandpa and Kaitlyn

So Sweet!

Glittering/shiny things

Just a few glittering and shiny things that make the holidays brighter!

Choose Joy- Tech or kitchen stuff

I never would consider myself a tech kind of person, but I love the gadgets. I find a lot of joy playing with things that are complex and run on batteries or electricity. I love new cell phones, computers with all the extra's, i-pods,kitchen things, etc. Yes, kitchen things like Cuisinart things and cooking gadgets, and specialty pots and pans. I can get lost forever in some stores. Radio Shack, electronics stores,and kitchen gadgets stores,Bed,Bath and beyond. I could stay in there for days! Yes, I know the latter store isn't a electronics or kitchen store,but it is one of those stores I could stay in there for hours. I find a lot joy in new technology in the office and kitchen things. Guess it's the material girl in me. Some may think it's weird, but here I am...I choose joy in these things.

Choosing Joy- Mellow days

Today was a good and quiet day. I spent most of my day playing with the three year old and started reading a new book. It's called "Twilight". It is different than most the books I read, but I thought I would give it a try.
So today I am choosing Joy in that this day was a nice mellow day. I am really joyful that it is bedtime and I am so ready to get some sleep. Its cold outside and suppose to snow again. It is so easy to sleep when its like that. But I am sure my three year old darling , will have me running early. Here I am ...Choosing Joy in a mellow day.

Choose Joy- Childhood memories

It's late and I feel like I have been on my feet for hours. No, wait, I have been on my feet for hours! Finishing up on my baking.
I have been so busy, I almost forgot about finding my joy. So I was seriously thinking about all that I did today and where the joy was. After going through all the events that took place today, it came to me. I had been thinking about it all day. Yet I never looked at it as joy. I know it may sound weird, but I have been known to exhibit weirdness now and then. I looked at it as just thinking,remembering, not really giving it the title of joy. Here is how it started.
My daughter decided she wanted to go look for a Christmas present for someone special. Well, where we live, hunting and fishing is a big past time. We went to the most enormous sports store I have ever seen. I have driven past this place so many times and just thought, one day I am going to go there and check it out. But that's not the joy part.
While we were looking at the guns and guns and guns, it made me think of my dad. He was always taking me with him to the gun store. Always looking for that thing that would make him the best hunter.
So that started the journey for the day. I have thought about my Dad all day. My Dad used to try and include me in his hunting days. I was the oldest of four girls. So I was his pal. He taught me how to use a rifle and a bow and arrow. He tried to teach me how to use the bow and arrow. My arm would never turn quite right,so I had an almost permanent bruise on my forearm. After I turned thirteen, my mom and dad divorced ,so we no longer got to pal around.
He gave me and my sisters a lot of memories. He gave us a lot of joy. Christmas time was always big when he was around. He was as much of a kid as we were. He would always take us on night drives, just to look at all the Christmas lights. Some streets, my Dad would park the car and we would get out and walk. My Dad loved to do that. We girls loved it too. If we were lucky, there would be someone who would give out hot chocolate and popcorn balls!
My Dad is no longer with us. I miss him. He is in Heaven and I look forward to the day when we see each other again. I sure enjoyed the memories. Here I am...Choosing Joy in my childhood memories.

Choosing Joy - In the day

Today was one of those blah, Eeyore kinda days. Not a lot of anything in particular. I did get some baking done. That always gives me joy. And that is probably, no definitely, because I really like to eat sweets. Just per chance that was what I was cooking today,cookies. Mmm,fresh hot cookies.
So my day was mostly spent in my kitchen. The oven keeps it so nice and warm. And I don't have to run the heater if I'm baking! Good reason for baking! =) Especially when the high temp today was 33 degrees!
My granddaughter, Nadia, is always a joy to be around. She forces me to look at the world through her imagination. That is always fun. Lately, she has been kitty. I do not know how she came to this, but it can be entertaining. She meows, and rubs her head on my arm,like a kitty. When she is forced to answer me or ask for something,she stays in character and talks with a high pitch kind of voice. It can be quite embarrassing when she answers the cashier at the store by saying"Meow".
And then there is the joy of knowing I am so blessed. Since I have moved here , a little over a year, I had to leave a lot of stuff behind. I miss my stuff. But I am doing fine without it. Sometimes I get to hung up on material things or stuff. But I need to have a blah day now and then. That way I can sit back and count my blessings, without the "stuff" blocking my view. So today I am choosing joy in just having another day.

Glittering Ornaments

My Grandmother had one just like this. It has since lost one antler. But I can't imagine my Christmas tree without it. Yes, I now possess it.

Choosing Joy- Christmas plays

I love Christmas plays. I love the chaos, right before the show. The leaders are all stressed and feeling like everything is going to go wrong. You see, I can say that now, cause I am just not as involved as I used to be. I get to sit in the audience and just watch. The teachers fret for weeks, trying to get everything to fall into place. Practice after practice and the little angels still make the same mistakes! Oh the stress and chaos of it all!
But year after year, it always happens the same. The teachers stress and the kids are so carefree. The teachers feel impending doom. Yet the night of the play, when all is said and done, it always goes fine. Everyone seems to know what to do. And maybe a glitch or two may occur,but nothing that can't be fixed or quickly overlooked.
It never fails, I am always left with tears in my eyes. It always touches my heart to see those honest little faces sweetly singing praises to God. It just makes the Christmas spirit swell up inside you. And all the chaos that the teachers have gone through, all melt away. It is beautiful. I love Christmas plays. Here I am, choosing Joy in Christmas plays.

FOR TODAY December 15th 2008...
Outside my window the snow left behind is looking so pretty.
I am thinking how blessed I am.
I am thankful for my family.
From the kitchen I smell my coffee brewing.
I am wearing my nightshirt and jeans.
I am creating a crocheted scarf.
I am going to enjoy my day.
I am reading Proverbs 15.
I am hoping to get some baking done today
I am hearing Nadia watching "Little Einsteins".
Around the house it is quiet.
One of my favorite things is cuddle time with the baby of the house.
A few plans for the rest of the week: get some important errands finished, get most of the Christmas baking done, and finish the laundry, which is a daily battle.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Snow can be fun, when you're ready.

Choosing Joy- Christmas lights

Christmas time is a time people take to make their yards and houses all pretty with lights and nativity scenes. All seeming to try and show their version of what Christmas means to them. I love to drive around after the sun has set, just to see the lights. It is such a joy to me every year, to try and find the one with the prettiest set ups. The kids love it too. I am not looking for the house with the most lights, but the house that just makes you stand in awe because of the beautiful sight. This Christmas, we have so many farms that have decorated so beautifully, you would think they were in a contest. The in-town folks can't even hold a candle to these beauties. From what I am told the best time to see these lights are at the dawn of the day. Something about the light in the dawn and the open fields, makes the lights stand out so beautifully. In town the city fathers have had the lights strung up across the main streets and from building to building. It looks so festive. Just gotta love the small town excitement. The pictures of both of these moments will have to come up in a day or so. So be watching.

Red Barns At Christmas

There is a family that lives down the road from us with a red barn. Every year at Christmas, he put Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, in big white letter on the side of his barn for all to see. Then a big wreath too is hung above the words. Doesn't that look festive? Now imagine the letters across the wall facing us. This is the closest I could come to his barn. I will get another cord for my camera...Santa?

Blog Candy Challenge

Be a part of this Blog Candy Challenge put on by my friend Sherry. I just love the designs of this chocolate candy. Looks like a joy just to eat one...or two! Click on the "clicky" to check it out.

Choosing Joy- Snow Day

Early this morning,about 4 a.m., I awoke to the sound of the wind blowing so hard against my window. It really frightened me! Now maybe that has to do with the kids choice in programming lately. Non-stop tornado chaser shows! But none the less, it frightened me awake. I did a walk-about the house, just to check things out. Looked outside and saw the wind was really blowing hard, but everything seemed okay. Went back to bed more relaxed.
This morning, very early,about 7 a.m., I was awoke to the shrills of Zac, running through the house, "It's snowing!" He wanted to make sure no one missed it. With-in five minutes, everyone was trying to get dressed as fast as they could to go build a snow man. I thought I was going to get to sleep in today. Nope,not today.
Oh, I could have been annoyed. Aww, why waste the moment. Be a kid and enjoy the little things. A snow day. To a kid, that's a lot of joy. You kinda get caught up in it, if you let yourself. So yeah, I helped them get dressed to go play in the snow. It was a joy to watch them fall back in to the snow to make snow angels, like they had found and old friend. It was great. Oh, to be a kid again.
Now if you're wondering if I joined in....I stood inside the house at the picture window, sipping my coffee, in my pj's and fuzzy slippers. Then I went into the kitchen to make pecan and maple syrup pancakes. Getting all three kids dressed in their snow clothes is enough cardio for me today. Choosing Joy for a snow day!

Red Wreath

Choosing Joy-Blogging

I have been reading blogs for quite a while. I never really thought about starting one myself. My biggest fears..What would I say or write about? What if it sounds dumb or stupid. Thinking about writing a blog was right up there with the 1000 word essay on "what I did for the summer" in English class, that I dreaded.
I never would have thought that blogging would bring joy. Because of Sherry's blog, I have really found it to be fun. She has showed me how you can just take a few minutes and think about a topic and make it interesting. Blogging has given me a time to make my mind think or express what I think, in a different way. It is a time I get to spend by myself and enjoy re-finding something new about me.
I was really beginning to forget who I was and what I was about. If you asked me what I found joy in, my joy was existed through someone else. My world has been so busy trying to fix everybody's problems, I forgot about mine. Now I am really looking in another direction and starting to see joy through my world. It's been great. I am re-discovering who I am and what I like.
Now, I am not only looking for joy on a daily basis, I am looking for Red things. I see red things! Everywhere! (Where have I heard that one? Mmm.) I have a camera and would love to share some of the things I have found, but I have no way of downloading the pictures, yet. The cord is missing. But I have the world wide web, so I will recreate my pictures.
Thanks Sherry, for helping me keep it real. I really appreciate you..and your blog.
If you ever get the chance, jump over to Sherry's blog. It will make you smile.

Choosing Joy- Friends

I am Choosing Joy today by thinking about and thanking God for all my friends. Now I don't have a huge amount of friends,but the ones I do have are very special to me. They are always there to give me a nudge of hope when all seems too bleak, and they always help me to keep things in perspective.My friends help give the inspiration I sometimes needs to make the right decisions I have faced. I always have a big smile on my face when they call or contact me via the Internet. It is truly great to have friends.
We have all gone our separate ways, so shopping together or visiting each other is not an option anymore. And in separate ways, I mean we have all moved to different parts of the country. Oh, how I miss the times together, the laughter and sharing of life struggles and victories.
Thanks to the Internet and telephones, we still can share, laugh, and have our special time together. It's great,but I do miss the close times. The occasional hug, doing each others hair, the pat on the back. The sister type of stuff. Yeah, I miss that. I love the joy I feel when I think of my friends.

Red Poinsettias

I love the poinsettias at Christmas time. They are a must have, kinda like Easter lily's at Easter time. `

Hurry up snow!

This was last winter. But we can hardly wait till it snows again. It would be so great if we had a white Christmas!

Choosing Joy day 3

Today was a very full day, consisting mostly of waiting. I spent the whole day, 60+ miles away from home,sitting in a hospital waiting room. There we sat, me my daughter and granddaughter,waiting ,waiting , waiting.
My grandson is a special needs child and is in the process of going through a battery of tests to decipher what his actual diagnosis is. So today was just an MRI. Doesn't sound too bad. But for a little guy, who's only six, and doesn't really understand what is going on, this is trauma for him. So this MRI was only suppose to take about an hour, but he had to be anesthetized. So it took longer than expected. The nurse said they took a lot of extra pictures. Kinda makes us wonder why. Now we have to wait to have the results read, which could take a few weeks.
So Joy was not really a big thing for us today. But on the way home , my daughter reminded me of something. The city Christmas tree lighting ceremony is tonight. Ugghh! We all had been looking forward to this for weeks. But after today we were all feeling pretty drained. "Maybe we should just stay home" was our first thought. But after thinking about it for a few miles, I decided it was best to push through the feeling and just go. If it was too much for Zac, we would go home. We have to at least try. So we did.
It was great! The kids just lit up when we got there. It was great! They watched the countdown to the tree lighting, had hot cocoa, watched the snow fall, listened to the Christmas music, and talked to Santa. It was truly a joyful time had by all of us. And just seeing their little faces all aglow, made it all worth while.
We all had made the right choice. We could have choose to stay home and wallow in our day of waiting. No, we choose to rise above the feelings we were having and search for something better. Our decision gave us all joy. I am so glad we choose to go to the celebration.

Joy -Day 2

Okay...Here I am...Its only 9:30pm and everyone is sound asleep in their beds! The T.V. is off,because there isn't anything worth looking at. And I am trying to reflect on some joy today.
The first thing I thought of is the trip to the post office today. I have one hand holding the hand of my 3 year old grand daughter and the other hand in full of letters and such that need special attention. Lately she has started talking to every one like she is in a wind tunnel. When she speaks, she uses her loud voice. Like every one is hard of hearing. I know she hears well. Just try to open a piece of candy in its crackly wrapper as stealthy as you can. Even try it in the next room. She hears it and comes running. So her sound volume is temporarily broken and only knows loud.
The post office is full of people ,hustling and busily getting their packages sent. No one really seems to notice us standing there, until....She announces, in her loud voice, that she has to poop! I told her to quietly wait for just a few minutes and we'll go. So she starts hopping up and down saying "I gotta poop!" The look on every face in the store was, well, priceless. Needless to say, the clerk paused with helping his customer,and showed us to the bathroom in the back. It still makes me giggle thinking about it.
Okay, it may not seem that funny to you. Kinda had to be there in the moment. But it brought joy to my heart. I am not sure why. Was it her honest and get to the point attitude? Or maybe it was the lady that looked at me, like I was the one that had said it? I am still not sure if she was shocked because the little girl made the announcement or if she was frightened by it. I don't know. I just wish I could show you her expression. It was ,like I said, priceless.
And another thing. I love chocolate. And as I sit here and share this moment with you, I am enjoying my little piece of heaven,chocolate. Mmmm. I have chosen two joys to share with you. The house is quiet, I have chocolate and a pleasant thought about the day. Mmmm..three joyous moments. Here I am...choosing joy.

My love and joy of my life

My husband has been and still is the object of my joy for so many years. We have been together for almost 32 years. And that's does not include the years we knew each other as teens. We went to school together and lived in the same neighborhood. We were best friends even back then.
We have had our ups and downs. Sometimes the rough times are long and hard, but the up times make it all so worth it. We enjoy each others company. He is my best friend. He is my strength when I feel defeated. He makes me laugh. He knows me better than I do, at times.
This last month, he had a heart attack. I was really afraid. His heart is much better and the blood pressure is under control. Now his current battle is severe depression. He has a battle ahead of him and I am here to stand by and fight it with him. It doesn't sound very joyful, but I am so glad he is here.
I am full of joy, knowing he is here, alive, and on the road to recovery. He is my love, strength and my joy.

Choose Joy

I am going to join Sherry in Choosing Joy! I hope you so too. Here is the link to it: Choose Joy

I am hoping I can follow through on this and keep up with everyone else. Either way, I know it will be a challenge and a learning experience. Especially when blogging is so new to me.