I'm a little at a loss today about what to blog. Nothing new and exciting going on in my life right now. Things at work are going smooth for a change and I like that.
I sifted through the email this morning and quickly deleted the usual daily crap. You all know the ones that scream " Men enlarge your penis today! Give her what she really wants for Christmas!!" and "Refinance your home with us! Hurry limited time offer!!" or " you qualify for a brand new credit card!" Over 100 new emails and most of them are this junk!
But I had a nice note from my penpal in Anchorage thanking me for the antique postcards I'd sent her for her postcard collection and updating me on her life. There was an email from one of my sisters with new pictures of her grandbabies. And an email from my daughter, one of those answer these questions about yourself and send it on things. This one had to do with Christmas and I was actually glad to get it because some of her answers surprised me.
One of the questions asked was- What is your favorite Christmas present you've ever received (sound familiar Dazey! ) Miranda wrote: the big doll house my parents made for me out of a big cardboard box.
I didn't even think she would remember it. She was seven the year she was Barbie doll crazy. She wanted it all. Barbie dolls,car,clothes,house everything. But it was a tough year for Rog and I and money was tight. We managed to get the doll, some clothes, and the car but the house was to far out of our reach. The are or were back then expensive!
So I talked Rog into helping me make one out of a box. We cut one side completely off leaving three sides so she would have an easy time playing in it. We built different floor levels with the cardboard we had cut off. We cut in windows and doors. I made curtains and rugs out of scrap material. Rog built little cardboard tables and chairs and beds, We glued little pictures on the walls from magazines and made little frames to go around them.
It was crude and oh so home made looking. But I do remember her excitement that morning when she saw it. She squealed in delight, she loved it! She walked around it looking at all the windows and doors and then plopped herself down in front of it to check out all the little accessories. A little girl with a huge grin. She kept it for a couple of years before it started to fall apart. I never knew how much it meant to her though until today. I guess I found something to write about after all.

Good morning Bloggers.
I don't have a lot to say right now. I am in a state of shocked happiness over Pup and Ice. Shocked because I didn't have a clue and happy because I like them both so much and they make an awesome couple. Am I the only one who had no idea?

MY house is warm, cozy and bright.
Wish I could stay home tonight.

Forecast calls for rain and sleet.
Then turn to snow 6" deep.

The calendar says it's not yet the season.
Then why all this snow, what is the reason?

Snow seems to have it's own agenda.
Wish I could stay home and watch it out the winda.

Goofy poem I know, That's true.
But I had nothing better to do.

Silly Pie.........

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.