Dictionaries & Wine Glasses = A Beautiful Day!

As I mentioned, I love Netflix! I have been watching a DVD of the teachings of Abraham by Esther and Jerry Hicks and I feel like I just can't get enough. The teachings are so life altering that I just want to soak up every single word. So I watch over and over and over and over..........

And in the meantime, Jim and I are continuing to explore Memphis and learn our way to new and exciting places. Last night we found a little area in Memphis called Cooper-Young not far from the Memphis University. It was a really quaint little area with 12 restaurants or pubs in a 3 or 4 block section. PLUS I found an old used book store with plenty of room to settle in and read anything you want. They told me to check back for some old dictionaries because they get them all the time.

Today we drove up to Arlington and found a wonderful antique shop. I headed home with another dictionary dated 1942. Yippppppeeeeeee! AND and a set of 12 antique wine glasses for only $7.50. I love finding beautiful dishes - and I love using them. I can't wait to serve a special drink in my new glasses to my grandsons and a delicious glass of wine to myself.

Life is good. Collecting and using beautiful dishes - J - O - Y!!!!!

Here's to the journey!

Netflix!

I love it!

Here's to the Journey!

Dictionary Heaven!

I hit the jackpot today. I went to the library to try to find a book written by Henriette Klauser and stumbled upon the library's used book store where I found 5 used dictionaries dating from the 1960s to the 1980s. Define me HAPPY! I also picked up 3 additional dictionaries at the antique mall and I can't stop smiling! Define me JOY!

Defining Life is very, very good!

Here's to the Journey!

Remembering Florida

Jim and I had a wonderful dinner this evening. Just after pouring a glass of wine I turned on my iPod to Chris Botti's A Thousand Kisses Deep. We have not listened to this music since we left Florida and it brought back vivid memories of sitting by the pool and sipping a glass of wine.

I think this is the first time I really missed Florida. But I belong in Tennessee! I would not trade this place for any other place in the world right now. Living close to Liz and Thadeus and our grandsons. Savoring the time together. This is my Joy.

Here's to the Journey!

Looking for Angels

I forgot to mention that yesterday when Liz and her family were here that Tucker and Rollin asked if I would take them to the attics to look for Angels. Of course I agreed and they rushed off to find their flashlights.

I'm not sure why the boys think that if I have Angels in my house (which I do) that they would be in the attic, but I am all for helping them look. Our house is designed in a way that we have two attics with easy access. The first one is off the media room upstairs and the second is off the guest bedroom walk in closet. We quietly entered the first attic and the boys shined their lights all around. Both agreed they saw nothing and we headed for the second attic. This attic is a little bigger and we searched every nook and cranny, high and low, but they agreed again that they saw nothing - not even a mouse. (Tucker confided to me that he thought he would at least see a mouse even if he didn't see an Angel.) We all traipsed downstairs more than a little disappointed that no Angels were spotted.

As for me - I got another lesson in Joy! Joy is beautiful, innocent grandsons looking for Angels in Nanna's house.

Here's to the Journey!

Sunday Visit

When I was a young girl, my family would always hurry home from Sunday School, Mom would make her delicious fried chicken dinner with all the trimmings, and then we would just kind of laze away the afternoon until time for church again that evening. I remember many of those afternoons were times when family and friends would come and visit us. All of us kids usually played outside because there was so much to do. We lived next to miles and miles of woods and most of our visitors had never lived so close to the "wild". We had worn a path to a pond across the railroad tracks and over Old Chicago Road where you could swim or fish. In the spring we would pick wild strawberries on the way to the pond. But we always spent time playing in the woods.

These memories came to mind this morning as I was fixing breakfast and the doorbell rang. Jim and I had a lazy sleep in morning and had just finished our first cup of coffee at 10:00 am. We both went to the door and was greeted by Rollin first - he always runs to my door. Next came Tucker with a great big hug and then Fynneus sauntered (slowly) up the drive and into the house followed by Liz. After hugs and greetings, we invited them to join us for breakfast (second one for them) and Rollin and Fynneus happily agreed. After breakfast we played several rounds of animal Bingo on the living room floor, and I made up stories for Tucker and Rollin. "The Little Boy Who Made Friends With A Wolf" and "The Little Boy Who Always Forgot to Say Thank You" and "The Little Boys Who Liked to Race BMX" and a few more. They stayed a while longer, I packed sandwiches for their ride home and then they were gone.

All of this made me think of how special it is to live close to family and for them to stop by - unannounced - on a Sunday just because. I want Tucker, Rollin and Fynneus to have good memories of Sunday visits at my house. And I know this is a tradition they will carry on years from now with their children. Family getting together - no matter the day. Always knowing they are welcome with open and loving arms! Joy is passing on the traditions!

Here's to the Journey!

A Night At The Races

I went to BMX tonight for the first time to watch Tucker and Rollin racing. It was a blast and Fynneus kept us entertained on the side lines. At the end of the night Rollin won a trophy for his race.

Joy is my grandson trusting me to safely carry the trophy all the way to the car!

Here's to the Journey!

It's Friday night and we are wrapping up our week. Delicious pizza from the Memphis Pizza Cafe and ice cold Shiners.

Jim and I have discovered the most fabulous store in Memphis - a Williams Sonoma outlet. I went there again today - second time this week - and bought new cake pans to make Jim a cake. I also bought some stuff for me, but Jim only cared about the German Chocolate Cake he saw when he came home today.

Joy is simply making someone you love very happy!

Here's to the Journey!

An afternoon at the gym......

I'm feeling the burn! I worked out with Liz today. I'm going to have to do this more often because she really puts me through the paces and I'm feelin' it tonight! AND I love spending time with Liz.

Still trying to figure out how to maneuver Facebook. I have been getting in touch with friends and family that I have not seen or heard from for many (many) years. Opens a lot of childhood memories, and brings to mind the courageous decisions I have made throughout my life and the contrast I chose to experience. I am the person I am today because of all the friends and family that I have shared time with over the years. I have grown and expanded in ways that I am only now beginning to fathom. And I am grateful for all of it.

Life is so very good!

Here's to the Journey!

Loves In the Morning!

Our three grandsons spent the day with me and Jim (my love) is taking them home now while I enjoy a wonderful glass of wine.

This morning, all three climbed in bed with me after Jim left for work and we talked of dreams, of Angels (Fynneus saw tiny red angels in my family room) and our plans for the day. Tucker took a jacuzzi while Rollin scrambled eggs, Fynneus toasted bagels and I enjoyed a steaming cup of loooooove!

Life is good here in Tennessee! Life is especially good with Jim and Tucker and Rollin and Fynneus to light up my days!

Here's to the Journey!

Moving into the 21st Century

Today I FINALLY opened a Facebook account. I'm not sure why I have been so very slow about this, but now it's done, I'm out there, and I can't wait to see what happens. (FYI - if you want to be my friend on Facebook, please add me - I would love to be your friend!)

I am trying to wrap up my blog early tonight. Tucker, Rollin and Fynneus are coming to spend the night with me. Liz and Thadeus are celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary tomorrow, and I want to help them cherish their time together. I know, having raised two daughters ourselves, that moments alone for mom and dad are few and precious. I am so grateful to live in Tennessee so that I can assist with those precious moments and I get to savor precious moments with our grandsons.

Here's to the Journey!

Friendship

Today I worked on a chapter in my book about friendship and did some research for famous friendship quotes. There is so much to say about friendship, but I think Pooh said it best when he told Piglet "Life is so much friendlier with two."

Life is good with good friends!

Here's to the Journey!

Our Beautiful Sunday

Our beautiful Sunday slipped away from me and I did not write my blog. It is funny how I miss this little exercise in Joy. I miss writing about my Journey of Joy and the paths I cover through out my day.

And......I had the most fabulous day. I love when Jim has the day off. He slept in and I made myself a delicious cup of coffee and headed to my office to write for a while. Once I heard him stirring in the kitchen we began our day together. We worked in the yard for a while, then headed to Home Depot for some potting soil for my rosemary. We stopped at Pro Bass and Jim picked up his Tennessee fishing license so that he can take Tucker and Rollin and Fynneus fishing now. (he has been waiting for his driver's license to be able to fish)

We came come and grilled steaks and veggies for dinner. A glass of wine for me and an ice cold Guinness for him. We snuggled together on the sofa to watch a movie together ...........and the day was gone. Just like that our beautiful Sunday fades to an end.

But Life is Good. We will have more Sunday's together. We still have so much to share with each other.

Here's to the Journey!

Driving Red Fred!

We have named Jim's new truck and I finally got in the driver's seat today. I took Red Fred to a few of my favorite places. Starbucks for an iced Americano. The Antique Mall where I picked up a 1956 edition of Webster's New American Dictionary. O'Charley's for an ice cold Amberbock. Then to Walmart for a little grocery shopping. All in all, Red Fred has become a good friend to the family. Reliable, dependable and beautifully red!

We arrived home with our new (red) dictionary in tow and I must share the 1956 version of Joy: Gladness, happiness, rejoicing, bliss. Pleasure, delight, gladness. Pleasure is the general term for any emotion aroused by gratification; delight is keen pleasure; gladness is happiness, especially as apparent in facial expression or bearing; joy is a deep and spiritual experience.

I love this definition. Joy is a deep and spiritual experience. This Journey of Joy just gets better and better!

Here's to the Journey!

So Much to Write

I spent most of the day writing and feeling overwhelming Joy for my life. Jim and I just finished a candle light dinner (with some of my fresh baked bread) and Billie Holiday singing all of her love songs and fresh herbs in vases filling the house with their aroma. Life is Sweet with the smell of basil, mint and sage and the beautiful words to describe them.

Life is especially sweet with all the words that call to me to write them. Already I am excited to write tomorrow! So Sweet! So Good! So Exhilarating!

Here's to the Journey!

Tucker and Rollin and Fynneus spent the whole day with me. Liz brought them over for breakfast and we took them home tonight after a concert at the town square. I have felt so blessed all day to be here in Tennessee spending time with these wonderful little boys. And when they are at my house, we all keep saying "Life Is Good"

And as I tell Jim the stories of our day and we laugh together, again I have to say "Life Is So Very Good" and "We Are So Very Blessed"!

Here's to the Journey!

Visionary tics shivering in the chest

Number 11 by Jack Kerouac

I completed reading Don't Sweat the Small Stuff yesterday and started reading the New York Book of Wisdom. I have been fascinated by the presentation of these and other books that offer helpful tips without long winded chapters. I am excited now to try this format for my book and easily came up with a list of over 130 chapters for my book.

Joy is new and exciting ideas for my writing shivering in my chest.

Here's to the Journey!

Joyful Living!

I have a book written by Jayme Barrett titled Feng Shui Your Life. In this book she gives ideas for Joyful Living and as I read part of this book today I am reminded of my Joyful Journey. My Joyful Living.

I am so grateful that I challenged myself to search my life for Joy. I am grateful for the words that flow to me each day - without effort, without force. Joyful living helps me see beauty wherever I go - wherever I look. It helps me to follow my dream of writing. It helps me to honor and to express myself. And it allows me to cherish the people I love most who are on this Journey with me.

Living with Joy - there is nothing better!

Here's to the Journey!

Write in recollection and amazement for yourself

(Number 17 by Jack Kerouac)

Jim and I have enjoyed a wonderful Sunday together. (including a trip to Barnes & Noble for Godiva Chocolate Cheese Cake) I love that after all these years we still enjoy being with each other. We still love working on a project together. (we spent the morning leveling the back yard for pavers) We enjoy sitting together with or without conversation. We love making plans together. (we are planning a fall East Coast trip) We still love being married. That's the best. To love being married!

Recollecting all the years with amazement and Joy.

Here's to the Journey!

A New Dictionary

Jim and I walked thru the Antique Mall and I found The American College Encyclopedic Dictionary printed by Spencer Press in Chicago in 1958. YIPPPPPPPEEEEE!

Definition of Joy: An emotion of keen or lively pleasure arising from present or expected good. A source or cause of gladness or delight. A state of happiness or felicity. The manifestation of good feeling or delight; outward rejoicing; festive gaiety. To feel joy; to be glad.

Number 7 by Jack Kerouac: Blow as deep as you want to blow.

My interpretation: Write as deep as deep as you want to write.

Define as deep as you want to define.

Life is good.

Here's to the Journey!

TGIF!

Friday's ALWAYS feel sooooo gooooood!

Joy is knowing the weekend is right around the corner. Or just one sleep away! Feel the looooove!

Here's to the Journey!

"Wolf Writer"

This morning as I was thinking of words to describe what I do, the name Wolf Reader came to mind. My interpretation of "wolf reader" is a voracious appetite for reading. I think this described me very well.

But I want to add another description and that is "Wolf Writer". My interpretation: a voracious appetite for writing. This is what I am! I want to always be writing. I carry notebooks and good pens with me all the time. I have note paper stashed around the house so that I am never far from a source for writing. I like jotting down ideas with dates so that I remember "Yes, this was the day that I had this wonderful idea". I makes lists with dates, I make notes with dates. Thinking always "I want to remember this day!"

Number 23 (by Jack Kerouac) Keep track of every day the date emblazoned in your morning.

This is the day! I love it. I will remember!

Here's to the Journey!

Tennessee Residents!

Well - it's official! Jim and I are now (legally) Tennessee residents! We were finally able to convince the great state of Tennessee to give us a driver's license based on our new home address.

Just one more step in our Journey together. And Number 20 (by Jack Kerouac) Believe in the holy contour of life.

I love this life. It is contoured holy and perfectly. Life is so good!

Here's to the Journey!

My Book of Positive Aspects!

I have a book that I have created. It is titled "My Book of Positive Aspects". The first couple of pages are old tic tac toe games I played with Tucker long ago and a few stick figures drawn for Tucker by me. The rest of the pages are mine.

As you see, this is an inexpensive notebook from Staples, but it has become priceless to me. For in this book I list the positive aspects of important things and people in my life. For example, I was feeling a little dejected today with feelings of "can I really write" and "who cares if I write. So I got out My Book of Positive Aspects and filled a page with the positive aspects of me writing. I could easily have filled more pages, but what this little exercise did for me was lift my spirits, and point the way to writing.

As I started my day at the computer, I was greeted with an email from my sister of total encouragement for my writing. And then Joy filled my day. I have written two chapters today in my book, and I am ready for tomorrow. I am ready to face the day of writing.

Number 1 (by Jack Kerouac) "Scribbled secret notebooks, and wild typewritten pages, for your own joy"

So for now, I will shelve my scribbled secret notebook of Positive Aspects and my wild typewritten pages and I will enjoy this Journey.

Here's to the Journey!

Even though I have not written since last Thursday, I have still spent time reviewing the Joy of each day.

Life is Good Friday.

Life is Good Saturday.

Life is Good Sunday.

Life is especially Good today!

Jim and I have been enjoying the holiday weekend. We took time on Saturday to enjoy a Tennessee State Park - the Shelby Forest State Park. It is located in northwest Shelby County (Memphis) on the Mississippi River. It was one of the most beautiful parks we have seen in a long time. The park was full of butterflies that kept landing on our arms and head. And the forest - the trees - the greenery was breathtaking. It felt so good to be surrounded by such beauty. Spread out for our pure enjoyment. Tucker was with us and we took a 3 mile bike ride through the forest. Absolutely beautiful! (Jim watched a butterfly ride on my hat for most of the bike ride)

I have completed reading 3 or 4 books this week and am already immersed in the next one. I try to keep a book with me at all times, and even if I can only grab 2 minutes of reading - well, it is time well spent. Now that I am writing, I so like to read how others put their words together. I love how you can be mesmerized by a writer. I love how they can pull you in with their words. I love how all the words fit together so beautifully even if they make no sense at the time.

I received a book from Jenn on Saturday. (Thank you again Jenn) It is by Jack Kerouac titled You're A Genius All The Time. Kerouac is credited with "reinventing" the English sentence. Can you imagine the creativity and the courage to try to do such a thing. In this book he lists his "Belief and Technique for Modern Prose" in an effort to explain his style of writing. My favorite is Number 4: Be in love with your life. Of course I love all 30. (search his name on Wikpedia if you want to read them all) Another favorite: Number 5: Something that you feel will find its own form.

So - be in love your life and with feeling you will find its own form. Definitely words to live by - courageous words to write by.

Here's to the Journey!

Happy News!

Our grandsons spent the day with me, and we wrapped up the afternoon with an ice cream cone and an indoor play ground.

Every time Tucker and Rollin and Fynneus stay with me, they always ask to watch Happy News! (Interpretation: America's Funniest Videos) I love that they love to laugh. And I agree that only Happy News will do. Happy News is sunshine and birds singing. Happy News is playing tennis and squirt gun competition. Happy News is spending the day with the 3 boys you love the most in the whole wide world and knowing they love you back.

Today my day was filled with Happy News! Today my day was filled with Joy!

Here's to the Journey!