Jim and I have spent our lazy Sunday together and now our 4 year old grandson, Rollin, is spending the night with us. He called me three times today to ask if he could come and spend the night by himself at my house. So Jim picked him up this evening and he had dinner with us. I asked him why he wanted to spend the night with us by himself, and he told me that he has had a bad attitude all day and he didn't want to play with his 2 brothers. He said that he knew I could change his attitude.

He also told me that his Mom was fixing shrimp for dinner and that he loves shrimp - but that he loves me more, and that is why he came to my house. Joy! Joy! Joy!

Here's to the Journey!

We are experiencing our first ice storm today. The heavy pine tree limbs are now hanging below my second floor windows, and the sleet is pelting the sides of the house. I have stayed in all day watching the changes in weather - from rain to snow to icy sleet.

Liz and her family are on their way to our house for a sleep over because they have lost electric. I have a blazing fire going, dinner is cooking, and we are all safe. Life is good.

Here's to the Journey!

Today I started to pack up or "dismantle" our apartment in anticipation of our move. I love packing because it gives me a chance to review my life. And so today as I packed I was amazed at how quickly Jim and I have adjusted to living here in this tiny, yet cozy apartment. We have felt totally at home and comfortable.

I think one of my favorite things about the apartment has been the fireplace. It has been a long time since we have had a fireplace, and we have spent many evenings sprawled on the floor watching the fire, reading a book or sometimes watching TV.

My little office is crammed full of boxes, and I have made bookshelves out of the stacks of boxes for the books I couldn't bear to be without for 2 months. Many of my small kitchen appliances are stacked on boxes in the walk in office closet, and the majority of things have never been unpacked. So here I am packing away everything I dragged out last November, and looking forward with excitement to discover all my hidden treasures in the boxes packed in Florida.

And I am excited about a few new things have been added to our moving list. I now have a toy box filled with dragons and warriors and castles to move. I have a little dresser with little boy clothes stashed away neatly, and I have a new box of our favorite games to play with Tucker, Rollin and Fynneus. All of this will be going to our new house. And that is delightful!

Here's to the Journey!

We have now been living in Tennessee for 2 months and it feels like we have been here for years. It feels that natural. It has been so fun to share family times with Liz's family, to explore the area, and check out all the wonderful shopping centers and restaurants.

We have discovered a Barnes & Noble that has the most delicious Godiva chocolate cheesecake. They serve Starbucks coffee and it's like heaven. Jim and I are making it a tradition to go there every two weeks or so on our lazy Sunday afternoon and order cheesecake with 2 forks.

We have found a wonderful wine store close by and discovered a new fabulous wine. It is a malbec by Zolo and made in Argentina. Of course they carry my favorite Old Vine by Marietta which Jim and I discovered in Louisville, Kentucky several years ago.

We have become members at Costco, and can buy big packages of "stuff" which is perfectly fine until we get home and have to carry it up the flight of stairs to our apartment.

We have been going to the gym regularly, and joined a "Team Fitness" class. I am finally breaking down and buying size SMALL clothes. That feels good! That is Joy!!!!

And we know (by heart) the directions to all the best playgrounds in town.

Here's to the Journey!

Today is Sunday, and we are still reeling with excitement about our new home. The sun peeked through the clouds a couple of times, yet the wind whistled briskly most of the day. I know that I written about this before, but I love windy days. I always think of my brother, Kenneth, on windy days, and this was no exception. I find Joy in remembering, and in feeling his presence. I know he is always close, but on windy days I feel him with much more clarity and I am reminded not to take this wonderful life for granted. To cherish each moment. To love with all my heart and soul, and to gather to me those I love.

Here's to the Journey!

It's Official! The house is ours. (practically) We will be closing in about 3 weeks on the house I discovered last Monday. I have spent the week visualizing us in this house, and then opening my arms to allow it to come to us. And it has.

I can't find words tonight to describe the amazement and the gratitude I feel watching this dream come true. Everything has fallen into place. We will be nesting again soon. Our daughter and her family are close by, and our New York daughter will be coming soon for a weekend.

Joy is watching the unfolding that is my life.

Here's to the Journey!

We are getting closer to finalizing the contract for the purchase of our new home. A bottle of champagne is chilling in the fridge and we are watching with amazement the beautiful unfolding of our dream home coming to us.

Breathe, breathe, breathe............

Here's to the Journey!

I spent the afternoon with my grandson, Rollin. Eating Oreo cookies, playing Tiddly Winks, and hiding from Poppa! Time spent with a child is always delightful. Spending time with a little boy who declares " I love you more than Christmas and my Birthday both" is priceless. Tonight, I cannot think of anything more Joyful than relishing time with some one you love.

Here's to the Journey!

January 19, 2010. This is the day we purchased our new home in Tennessee. Actually, we just finished writing the offer and I just performed my own version of the "happy dance".

This morning when I woke up, my first thought was that I need to remember this date because we are going to buy a house today. As I moved through this day, knowing I would buy our house (even though I had not seen the inside of the house yet) I found myself amazed at the unfolding of the day. My trip to the grocery this morning led me to a Bank to discuss mortgage info. A bank I had not intended to visit. The loan officer led me to the realtor, whom I had met recently, and the realtor led us back to the contract.

And here I am, several hours later, the contract is signed, the dance is danced, and even Jim is feeling small ripples of Joy for the home we have found. I think just one more dance before I go to bed................

Here's to the Journey!

We are still looking for a new home in Tennessee, and today I believe I found the house we will buy. I have not seen the inside yet, only a few pictures online, but I feel very excited yet calm.

I know that if this is our house, everything will work out perfectly. I know that I won't have to force anything. I just let it come to me. So here I sit, allowing our house to come, believing that I now know the address. Joy is allowing. Joy is believing.

Here's to the Journey!

It has been a whirlwind day today starting with my early morning walk, and ending with Liz and the Boys having dinner with us. And I am wrapping up the day with my writing.

I joined a yoga class yesterday, and my second class is tomorrow. I have been wanting to do yoga for such a long time, yet right now it seems like every part of my body is aching. So, I will breathe deeply for now, and be grateful for my healthy, slim body. And tomorrow I hope that my body will cooperate in the Joy of Yoga!

Here's to the Journey!

The temperature finally came back up to 20 degrees this morning, so I made my walk around the lake again. I love the early morning quiet air. Two beautiful white tail does ran along side me for a ways, then disappeared over a hill. At least 50 geese started squawking as I approached the lake and swam quickly to the center.

As I made my way back home, the sun was coming up just over the trees. And again I was grateful that I had caught a little more of the early morning Joy!

Here's to the Journey!

It is Sunday again, and I love the lazy routine of a Sunday morning. This is the day we sleep in, we always build a fire, and move very slowly through the day.

However, today, I invited Liz and the boys over for breakfast, so Jim and I were in a whirlwind of activity until everyone was filled up. Later we took bread over to the frozen pond and Tucker Rollin and Fynn fed the ducks. They all left after a cup of hot cocoa, and Jim and I settled back into our quiet, lazy day. Our fabulous Sunday!

Here's to the Journey!

My grandsons, Tucker Rollin and Fynneus are here to spend the night. They helped me fix meatballs for our spaghetti dinner. Tucker asked me to say a prayer before dinner, so I asked everyone to hold hands, so that we would have a circle, and I thanked God and our Angels for our wonderful meal and our wonderful grandsons. We have had the most wonderful evening, and now, as I tuck each of them in bed, I feel so loved.

We are all blessed.

Here's to the Journey!

It is Thursday morning, and it snowed a little overnight. We are on the second floor, but I hear children laughing. When I look out the window, they are scraping snow off all the cars and making snow balls and yelling, and running and playing. It sounds wonderful to hear this laughter as they wait for their school buses.

As I look out and see a very light dusting of snow, I realize that this is the first time in 6 years that we have lived where snow is possible. And while we are told we won't get much snow here, it is beautiful to wake to everything draped in white. It gives such a serene sense of beauty and peace to see all the "whiteness".

I am going for my walk now because I don't want to miss a Joyful walk in the snow.

Here's to the Journey!

I am sitting at my desk tonight clutching a hot cup of tea and my entire body is aching. Jim and I joined a gym this past weekend, and I have made it through 3 workouts. And even though I thought I was "kind of" in shape by walking a mile or two in the mornings, I am finding that things are aching that I never felt before.

Yet I sit here with a smile realizing that this is all good. There is Joy in knowing that I am nourishing my body by eating and exercising correctly. There is Joy in knowing that these aches will turn to firm and toned muscles, soon, I hope. And there is Joy in sharing my quest for health with my husband.

Here's to the Journey!

Joy is wearing size 4 skinny jeans on my 55th birthday! Yeah!

Here's to the Journey!

The second day of the new year and it is my birthday. I am 55 today. I have always had a hard time admitting my age, as though not saying it out loud could make it not so. However, I have found myself, this time around, not trying to hide, and this feels better.

I feel I must acknowledge these years I have lived, and honor all the phases I have passed and the woman I have become. I am not perfect, and that is not my goal. I want to live a life of Joy. I want to be surrounded by family and friends that I love. I want to speak my truth and allow others to speak their truth without judgment. I want to be creative in all areas of my life. I want to love.

Celebrating this birthday today reminds me that I have lived these years so that I can seek out in my life the things I want and the things that make me happy. Because of these years, I am aware that life is precious. I am aware that love is precious. And I know that allowing Moments of Joy into each and every day makes each day more and more precious.

I will remember this birthday for a long time. For this is the year that the number did not make me cringe. Instead, I feel this number has freed me from a closed mind that did not know the importance of time.

Here's to the Journey!

Today begins the new year. I have always liked waking on New Years Day. It always feels like an opportunity for new beginnings. And "new beginnings" offer so much promise, so many dreams to come true, and a chance to "shed" the past.

Today I start 2010 with much promise of Joy in my life. Dreams are coming true as I write my book and continue my Journey of Joy blog. In 2009 I deliberately spent time releasing the past, letting go of limiting beliefs, and today I find comfort and Joy in moving forward.

I hear laughter coming from the living room as Jim plays with our grandsons. We are heading out for our New Years Day walk. A wonderful tradition to welcome in the new year as we breathe in the cold and refreshing air. I am so grateful for these moments. These wonderful moments of Joy.

Here's to the Journey!