2018 Joy Journal

January 8 Second Sunday Supper was joyous last night. Andrew seemed relaxed and started off sitting by Barry and talking about pickups and I heard him say, "I'm not sure I made the right decision," in son-asking-father tone. And then John came in and the three of them discussed the comparative pluses and minuses of various makes and models of pickups.  Kim went straight to pet Mama Cat.  When I said that Tori and Josh were still good friends, still good to each other, had just decided that they didn't have the kind of fire that takes you through all of life's troubles, I ended up looking at Kim, who was nodding as in how important that is, and I remember her saying about meeting John, "It isn't like I didn't know right when I met him that he was the one." Chris said, "I wish all of my relationships were that mature," and Andrew, in big brother love, "So do we." Chris said, loving back, "I know y'all do!" J...

March 12, 2018 I forgot to hit the record button on my phone, but Vivian recorded it on Morgan's phone --- the blessing --- and I turned to Annette, whose hand I was holding, and asked "Did you get that?" With, "that'd be too exciting to be true," on her face, she asked, "Is that for her," and with my nod rushed over to give Morgan and Brandon hugs, and the whole room was awash in handshakes and hugs and celebration.  Skyler said that she'll be driving in June, that she'd passed her Driver's Ed course but had to have her permit for 6 months before she could drive. I congratulated her and then said, "But you aren't sixteen," and she said, "I am sixteen!" and we hugged and laughed. The professor who is guiding Brittany through her thesis presented their project to the mayor of Dauphin Island who presented it the town council, and they have agreed to accept the findings of her project and follow her recommend...

March 15, 2018 Well, first of all, I was elected to the executive committee of the Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  Don said that their bylaws allowed for other officers as needed and that we were at the place in our maturation where we needed a secretary. He invited nominations from the floor, but there weren't any, so we have a new president, a new vice-president, and a new secretary. ;-)  Josh came and spoke about fundraising, and I learned so much, and he mentioned a book, and I came home and ordered it immediately. I'm just so excited!!! Beverly called me yesterday and we visited for a bit. She said she thinks about when she's doing yoga and when she's not doing yoga.  Beth called around five. "I just got off the phone with Morgan." We laughed. Following in her daughter's footsteps. She's so excited about being a grandmother. She said there should be balloons outside that she could give to everyone and announce. She r...

March 19, 2018 The weather is nice enough that I am able to leave the writing shack door open, and I'm enjoying the bird sounds. I like to think that Bentley and Bella, who are hanging out with me, are enjoying the fresh air, too.  So I got hugs from Angela this morning. We got to visit with Tori and Josh this weekend --- they came in for Kayla's shower. Tori said her project launch went well, although sales seem to be going more slowly than they'd hoped.  Andrew laughed at the pie-rate joke I shared on his timeline. Beverly called Barry while we were on our way home from dinner so we talked to her on his truck's bluetooth thing. She'd finished up her weekend and is on her schedule so will have this week off.  Heard back from Faith. She was having a busy Saturday, getting ready for her prom. Zak and Vivian went to Houston and are having a good time. Vivian's 21st birthday was Saturday, so there are some fun pictures and greetings in the Facebook J...

March 21, 2018 Got to visit with Angela for a minute this morning. They're expecting a busy day --- in clinic and on call.  Talked to Beverly for a few minutes last night. They are having lots of rain, but JA is supposed to be off today and tomorrow, so she was looking forward to that. Skyler and I are going to go to Noah's soccer game this afternoon, and I'm looking forward to that.  Barry and I went to Golden Corral last night and Faith was working and so she took a break and came and sat with us for a few minutes. Her prom is in a couple of weeks and it is the first time she and her boyfriend have gone to prom. They've been to some homecoming dances, but this is their first prom.  Did I tell you that I heard from Brittany Monday night? She is having busy days, and is leaving for Iowa, to see her friend, on Friday. I did hear from Amber --- she won't be at Goodtimes because she'll be working. Barry said Evan came out and visited with him for a w...

April 2, 2018 We had a good weekend.  I got a Chat message from Shawn last night --- he said he'd had an amazing day with his dad.  Saturday night we took Angela and Tori and Kennedy down to see the property and they were excited and then we went to dinner at the Pelican Reef and they laughed and laughed. Kennedy has applied to participate in a 3 semester program that gives her the opportunity to completely design an exhibition.  Sunday afternoon we took Beth and Rodney and Linda down to see it. Beth said she wanted to just sit her chair in the sun and read a book. Rodney said that if Beth would just go ahead and win the lottery, he wouldn't have to work in Houston anymore.  Morgan and Brandon's gender reveal was Saturday afternoon, and it was a sweet time visiting with family. Amber was there and we got to sit and talk for quite a while. Annette and Brittany and Skyler were there, and so were Angela and Tori and Kennedy.  Zak brought his pups out S...

March 26, 2018 It is a slightly overcast morning, and slightly chilly but still nice enough to be able to leave the front door open. I'm hearing as much traffic as birds ;-) but still getting to hear the birds.  Annette stayed and visited with me for a little bit yesterday. She said she told Andrew she hadn't talked to me in a while and so she was going to visit with me until it was time for her to go and workout. And we did just have a good time.  Ange came over Goodtimes, despite the absence of any of the other Big Girl Cousins, and we laughed and played Sequence. She laughed so much, especially when she said, "You just rolled your eyes at me!" And then when I reached for my card just as she was reaching for hers she made a big "Oh!" face. We just laughed a lot.  Noah was in Huntsville with Kim and Faith was with Lindsey, finishing up her shopping for prom, and Michael and Daniel didn't get her until a little bit late, but Skyler and Tyler had...

April 30, 2018 Beth, to the lady who was sitting beside her on the plane, after that lady's description of having seen Mt. Rainer in a sunset, which followed Beth's excitement about seeing Mt. Rainer: "But look what my eyes are seeing right now."  Evan, in the midst of conversation, in reference to family, "You've done a good job." I don't know what I said in response, but he added, "Sometimes it needs to be said."  He and Angela and I played a game of cards, and it was fun to be with them --- being a part of their laughter and enjoyment of each other's company. As Faith, Michael, and Daniel left, Evan remarked that one of the good things that had come out of the October trip had been the hour and half ride that he'd been able to spend with Michael.  Andrew came to pick Skyler up, so I got to get a hug. I actually snagged two, and got a big one. He's flew back to California last night.  Kim and John sat and visited wi...

April 25, 2018 Barry spent all day yesterday down at the bay property. He had to fix a broken water line, and he made us a better path to the beach. He met with lady from the power company and made some calls to the county and the state about cleaning up our ditch and fixing the road, etc. He got home about 4:15 and after we caught up, he said, "I know I've been at the property all day, but I know you haven't been for a couple of days. We can ride back down there and get some supper at Pelican Reef."  I did want to ride and see the new beach access. I was pretty hungry but he'd just had a snack, so there wasn't a mutually perfect order for dinner / visit to the property until he suggested that we could stop by Chevron and get a snack. Turned out, they had some dinners, reduced because it was after five. We got our supper and two bottles of water for less than $10.00 and ate in the pickup, overlooking the bay.  I got to have a nice writing shack afternoo...

May 15, 2016 I am finally getting some real writing time this morning, and I am so happy about it. I just even feel different. I feel a little stressed because I got sidetracked with some tennis emails and have gotten myself off schedule, but I'm going to go ahead and claim my writing time. I can tell by the physical change in my sense of peace that I need the time. Got to visit on the phone with Beverly for a few minutes last night, when I called to thank her for my Mother's Day card. She's waiting to see if she can take a couple of days off so she can come home for a whole week.  Got to see Angela this morning, and get some hugs.  I'd had a little memory about Zak and sent him a text about it. I heard back from him, and he thanked us for his graduation gift and said that he was lucky to have such a supportive family.  Heard back from Shawn.  Heard back from Evan. Faith asked if she and a friend could come night swim, which would have been fun if the ...

May 25, 2018 The young girl (19 -21) that settled into the chair closest to me keeps laughing quietly to herself, maybe reading something funny on her phone. She has taken her sneakers off , curled up in the oversize chair and covered herself with her jacket. Evan and Barry grilled hamburgers last night. Chelsea went and picked Faith and Daniel up. Angela walked over with the pups. Evan, in the middle of a conversation about putting a walkie talkie under Angela's bed to tease her, "I hope y'all know you can call me, if there's ever anything like that. " Jaden isn't going to anybody but Evan and Chelsea right now but he got distracted by the chocolate Angela was giving him.  She said, "From now on whenever you think of me just think of chocolate. " Faith said she loved her graduation card.

May 18, 2018 I think I'm going to have a more-normal day. Not entirely normal, since there are a lot of things worrying me and I need to kind of scrap pick and figure out what is going on and what emergencies I have left lying in wait.  Michael, taking the camera from Lindsey and telling her to get in the picture during group shots after Faith's graduation.  Faith, lifting her diploma towards Lindsey as she crossed the stage. Annette, excited, planning Morgan's family shower. Blue tablecloths. Her fancy white dishes. Books instead of greeting cards.  Beverly will be here for ten days!  Barry was trying to emphasize to Shawn that he needed to close the HH storage trailer doors and the gate, and said that he'd gotten chewed, and that he could prove it. So, I told him to prove it. I said, "Don't let these boys think we shout at each other, because we treat each other with respect." Tyler said, "It's true. I lived here for almost four yea...

June 15, 2018 Barry's check up with Dr. Jacobs went well yesterday. We learned that clogged arteries can be reduced with exercise that gets your HDL up to 45.  There are things in the office that need to be done, and I'll probably start my 12:30 session out there, but it isn't too bad.  Andrew called Annette while she was here yesterday morning, and he said that he loves me.  She said, re: her Quickbooks, "I just need my Vickie to come home." I think I'll start signing my cards to her "your Vickie." She's really getting the hang of figuring Quickbooks out herself, and it was fun to see her happy about that. She said Brittany is in a really good place, and that she went to talk to her professors to tell them she was burnt out and find out what she could do to accelerate her graduation date. She'll present in January and get her Master's in May.  Beverly sent me a text that she misses me. Maybe she'll call this morning. A...

J June 18, 2018 My computer isn't broken and my hotspot is working.  Angela and Kennedy stayed after supper last night and helped me clean up. Ange is hoping to go test drive a car today.  Sent JA, Rodney, and Brandon Father's Day texts and heard back from them.  Texted with Tori a little bit. She said she's feeling a little bit better but slept a lot this weekend. When we saw Jaden at the Waffle House Saturday morning, he recognized me and leaned towards me when I made the kissy face sound. Evan and Chelsea and Jaden were here for Second Sunday Supper and Jaden had a big time running through the house.  Chris, Shawn, Erin and Wylder were here. Shawn is giving really big hugs these days.  John and Noah were here. Noah went outside to play soccer. ;-) Faith drove Michael and Daniel here. I think that was the first time she's done that. Faith has graduated, so Michael led us in the blessing. I told him to give the "Hurray punch" and "I...