I am amazed at the thoughts you wonderful people have. You really took the time to think about this and give me good and honest answers. So in a very small nutshell it adds up to looking for joy in everyday situations. People find joy in a multitude of ways. In a sunrise, a good book, a childs smile even in a snowflake. Joy is both a personal and a universal feeling. It can be shared with others or it may be a feeling of the moment all your own.
A few lucky souls feel joy daily and for some of us it comes it comes in smaller increments. But the consensus seems to be no one is joyful 24/7 and I think the pressure in trying to be so would drive a person crazy. So I will seek joy in both big and small ways. Be open to it. I have felt it several times in your writings dear friends. My thanks to all of you. Hugs.

I had a busy but enjoyable day yesterday. I got my house tidied up. Christmas cards addressed and mailed. Class went well. Church service was beautiful. The message from Fr. Ed was to live joyfully. It's a good message. I've always wanted to live a joyful life. But I don't really know how.
Maybe I let all the little everyday inconveniences have a more important roll in my life than I should. I know I tend to dwell on problems to much. I tell myself I'm going to be a joyful person and before I know it I'm caught up in work issues, family problems, life.
Father said to find joy in all things. Problems and all. He said most likely they are life lessons from God. I understand that but I don't know how to see joy in them. Or is that I'm not looking? I let little things bother me much more than I should. I do recognize that in myself. Maybe thats a place to start? To try not to feel that just because I forgot to call a friend or family member or to say the thank you to the clerk at the store that that means I'm a lousy person.
So maybe if I let go of those feelings and not feel that I have to please everyone else I'll be more joyful? I don't know. Are most people joyful in their lives? Am I missing something? I do know some people who are just naturally happy people and I've always wondered how they do it? Whats the secret to being that way? Is it genetics or am I just not doing it right?
I'm going to have to think on this some more.

Off to a busy day today. Have the RCIA class that I'm a member of this morning. I'm sponsering one of the women in the class. Then cards to mail, groceries to get, cleaning to be done and the Rite of Welcome at church tonight. Hope you all have a wonderful saturday. Have fun! Hugs.

Hello My Friends.

I'm going to tell you about one of my favorite Christmas memories. I think I must have been six that Christmas.

I've said before that I come from a big family. There were 7 kids in my family. My Dad farmed for Mr. Kennedy. He owned the house and the ground around it. He and his wife were old and I don't remember much about them except that they were soft spoken people and I thought they were rich. They owned an insurance company too. My Aunt was married to their son. I had the feeling that they were uncomfortable around a house full of kids.

Mom didn't work outside the home. God knows she had her hands full with all of us. I don't think that Dad made much money farming for Mr. Kennedy but it was never anything he and Mom talked about in front of us kids. I have wondered since I've become and adult how they managed. Mom and Dad had five daughters before my two brothers were born. My Dad was proud of us all but his boys were special to him. They seemed to get away with a lot more than we girls ever could.

The Christmas that I was six my brothers would have been four and three. We had one of those silver aluminum trees that you set a color wheel in front of and the tree would change from blue to red to green to yellow. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Mom would put on the Eddie Arnold Christmas album and bake lots of candies and cookies. She always started weeks in advance and then would freeze them so we couldn't eat them all before Christmas.

That Christmas Mom and Dad must have been pretty strapped for cash. But once again Santa came through with the goods. I remember my one brother got a brand new bike. A stingray, bright red with shiny chrome it was really something to see. A beautiful red banana seat with ape hanger handle bars. It was the epitome of COOL. Dad had put training wheels on it and lowered the seat as far as it would go.But even so I don't think his feet reached the pedals.It didn't matter he was crazy about it. My other brother got a new tricycle also red and shiny. I can still picture him with his cowboy hat on his head, his six shooter strapped around his waist pedaling like mad around and around the big basement. And there standing by their brand new shiny bikes was mine and my sister Kathys bikes. A new coat of paint but the same bikes. Huh? I looked at Kathy and she at me. We both looked at the shiny red and chrome bikes sparkling by the silver tree. We knew. But we tried to act happy anyway. I don't know if we fooled anyone or not.

Then we turned and oh my God, the greatest gifts I'd ever seen were there for US! A table and chair set! On it was a set of dishes! Pink with little flowers on them. And on the chairs were two dolls waiting for us. What a wonderful beautiful sight. The dolls were recycled too but they had new clothes and Mom had tried to do something with their hair. Oh it was a special day. I cried at the sight of those beautiful gifts. I have an old black and white photo of Kathy and I sitting at our table that morning my head is bent looking down at the doll in my lap offering her a drink of tea and Kathy is smiling broadly at Mom taking the picture. I cherish that picture.

In later years Mom said that Dad had bought the boys bikes without her knowing. She did the best she could to make ours look new. And it was enough. It was more than enough.

Well kids I survived! No frost bite on my fingers or toes. My tush may be another story those plastic picnic benches get COLD. I wore 2 coats, 2 pairs of gloves and a scarf. By the time I got it all on break was almost over. I looked like the kid in 'A christmas Story' --I Can't Put My Arms Down!!
Just to let you know I may not get to post for a day or two. I have to try to get some sleep today and be back and work 7 to 3 tonight and then back there by 1:30 tomorrow afternoon for meetings. But I'll try to pop in . Thought I'd better let you know so D. didn't have to put another APB out! Stay warm. Hugs to all ( execpt Cake - I'll just shake your hand LOL). Pie