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!