Planning 2012

The year is quickly coming to an end and we have covered many miles. We began the year in west Tennessee then happily moved east to Knoxville. A few short months by the mountains and then we found ourselves in North Carolina. But I am making plans for New Years Day - a mountain hike. We are only 2 hours from the smokies and if I plan this right, the picnic will be packed, our back packs loaded in Red Fred, coffee will be ready to brew and we can be on the road by 7 and in the mountains by 9. I have a really, really good year planned!

Here's to the Good Life!

A Blessed Holiday Season

It is Christmas Eve. Jenn is home and we are all sharing the love. Presents are wrapped and plans are being made to be at Liz & Thad's early tomorrow morning. We have been playing family games, sharing stories and catching up on all the time past.

I marvel at the beautiful group of people that I call family. I marvel at the diversity and the alikeness. I love watching all of them - each telling their story in their own way - their own style. I love spending time with them and I love that they love spending time with me.

My family - the loves of my life all in one house for the holidays. This truly is a blessed life.

Here's to the Good Life!

Life with Family

It's almost Christmas and I am so excited to be spending the holidays with our daughters. There is no place I would rather be than with our beautiful family. Life is so good sharing it with family.

Here's to the Good Life!

City Lights

Tonight Jim and I drove through the town of McAdenville, North Carolina. The whole town decorates for Christmas (It's nickname is Christmas Town) and traffic was backed up for miles with people wanting to catch a glimpse, or a picture or two of this beautiful lighted city.

As we drove, stopping often as the traffic in front of us stopped, I realized that somebody, a long time ago, really, really loved Christmas - and that love of Christmas was seen and felt by the thousands of people who cruise through this little town in December.

Joy is seeing lovely traditions passed from generations long ago that is so powerful it lights up a whole city.

Here's to the Good Life!

Tis the Season

Just a week until Christmas and the excitement is building. I love the holidays. I love buying and giving gifts. I love being with my daughters at the holidays. I love having celebrated so many Christmases with Jim's arms wrapped around me. I love the Joy and excitement that 3 grandsons bring to the holidays. I love seeing Liz with her husband and knowing the love they share for each other. I love Jenn coming home from the big city and filling all of us with so much Joy and appreciation.

The holidays seem to enlarge the Joy of Love, the Joy of Life and the Joy of Family!

Here's to the Good Life!

Joy

Going to the movies tonight with the man I love the most in the whole wide world.

Here's to the Good Life!

Joy of Recognition

Today has been a beautiful day here in North Carolina. Sunshine and almost 70 degrees. The squirrels outside my office window have been chasing each other all day and the leaves on the ground have gently tumbled around the yard. I remind myself to appreciate these moments that may seem so insignificant but hold so much Joy when I open my heart to them.

Joy is recognizing beauty and allowing it to touch my soul.

Here's to the Good Life!

Adding Joy

Jim and I just finished a walk around the neighborhood. Looking at lights and giving John Wayne a little exercise. The sky was clear and sprinkled with stars. Christmas lights twinkled on most of the houses we passed and we returned home feeling refreshed. Just a little more Joy added to our day!

Here's to the Good Life!

Wishes from the Heart

I have spent most of the day preparing Christmas cards at the travel office and feeling great appreciation for all the friends we have made over the years. I am not sure yet if I will be sending out my own cards, as time is running out for all the Christmas things I want to do. But it was Joyful today to think of friends we have made on this Journey. Friends from Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Tennessee and now North Carolina. Whether I send a card or not, I wish all my friends a very Happy Holiday Season and trust they will know what is in my heart.

Here's to the Good Life!

My favorite day of the week...

A lazy Sunday morning. It was Jim's turn to get up early and take John Wayne out, so I got to stretch and roll over - and enjoy my lazy morning. When I finally got out of bed, Jim met me with a delicious cup of coffee with chocolate sprinkles! Joy in the morning!

Here's to the Good Life!

Writing Joy = Feeling Joy

Each morning I open the web site for my blog, and each evening I have been shutting down my computer all the while ignoring that I have not written my Joy. I must admit that I have been more than a little lazy in not living up to the goal I have set for myself - to write my Joy as often as I can.

I have been caught up in the day, forgetting how powerful these little words are for me. I feel empowered when I pull the words down and put them on this page - the words that describe how I feel, how I love, how I Joy.

It never takes me long to put the words together. The stories that make up my day come easily as I sit to write. The feelings and emotions that filled my day with Joy all seem to come flooding back and the words and stories flow.

But I have let time slip by without words and I have begun to realize how important these words are to me and for me.

It is the words that describe the Joy of the beautiful mountains that Jim and I drove through today. The gorgeous moon shining outside our front door. The delicious Americano that we picked up at starbucks today. The beautiful boots that I wore with the 2 inch heel. The rolling hills as I drove the last leg of the journey home. The hot apple pie I took out of the oven at just the right moment. And it was that moment that Jim grabbed me and hugged me - just because!

As I write the words, the Joy floods me again and I am revivified. Ahhhhhh Yessssss! I needed this writing session. It fills me with Joy to write my Joy!

Here's to the Good Life!

Christmas Glow

It's the first day of December and it always brings back memories of when our daughters were little and we kicked off the Holiday season with breakfast in bed (usually chocolate donuts) and christmas carols playing through out the house. So many memories of those wonderful years.

Now I like that Jim and I are still creating memories. We had chocolate donuts this morning, I have been shopping for mistletoe and we are going to decorate the tree this weekend. Our days have changed since our girls were little, but love still surrounds me and the holiday season still brings it special excitement. And come Christmas, we will be embraced in hugs with our beautiful daughters, and Christmas will have that special family glow once again.

Here's to the Good Life!