2018 Joy Journal

January 4, 2018 Woke up at 5:26. A kind of hopeful sign that my body clock has reset after DST. Angela is all right. She went into work early this morning, so I didn't get to see her.  Tori sent me a Marco Polo message this morning on her way to work. Beverly sent a text and a Marco Polo. She and JA were about to get underway on the third day of their trip. She said it is 24 degrees there and their hose froze. Tyler was almost through getting dressed at 6:18 a.m. so he seems like he is intending to have a good semester. Got to see John for a minute yesterday when he came to get Noah. He asked Tyler if they were going to see him this weekend. :-) Chris came to get some rent money, and Shawn was with him, so Tyler got to laugh and visit with them for a little bit.  Brittany had ankle surgery yesterday and when I talked to her last night, she said that Morgan had come over to have lunch with her.

January 1 Barry and John talking about football. Noah and Tyler warming up by the fire after being outside kicking their soccer balls. Barry and I had a good, relaxing day. Spent most of it indoors because we are having a lot of cold, but we did drive across the bay to Barnes and Nobles and had lunch at California Dreaming. I didn't hike today, but I did do something creative --- made my new address book. Said, done, uploaded, and ordered. And I even knew where my Blurb discount card was!

January 22 Sunday was just as restful as you would want a Sabbath to be. I  cooked breakfast and lunch, and cleaned the kitchen up some, but I also built a fire and set my card table up in the family room, and sat there for about an hour and a half and finished writing the quotes from the Sabbath book into my notebook. Just re-reading things was a good time, and there is something definite that happens when your hand takes the time to form the cursive words.  I made taco-dillas for the boys and Tyler said that was an interesting word, and that made me smile.  Tyler and Noah cleaned up the kitchen while I got Barry's results from his DNA test, and then we went to Cottage Hill Park to play disc golf. It was a beautiful day and there are some stunning trees along the path. After I brought one big tree to their attention, they started noticing interesting tree trunks, etc., and that was fun.  Beth called and we visited for a quick minute. She was on her way to t...

January 6 I feel pretty good about the plan that I have for today. For starters, it is my writing day. Even though I have some unfinished Wonderland work, none of it really has to be done today, and it just can't come first all of the time. Besides which, I have become comfortable with having my writing day and the world has not come to an end because I do so. January 16 I'll have to break two and a half hours early to take Tyler to see Dr. Diane, but I am going to take my Sabbath book and notebook at work on that while I am in the waiting room. There isn't much I can do about drive time, or that the fact that we'll get back here about 30 minutes early. I won't want to recoup that time, because Angela and Kennedy are coming over for dinner, and I'll enjoy relaxing with them.  Had a nice little text conversation with Brittany last night. She's still having to take pain medicine at night so that she can sleep, mostly because the stitches itch and burn, ...

January 15 Erin.... thank you again for the Christmas. It was very much appreciated. ..   She was cleaning the hall bathroom, and I went to tell her that I was walking over here, and to give her her tip, in case she finished before I got back. She thanked me, and said so genuinely, "And thank you again for the Christmas. It was very much appreciated." It made me feel good.  Didn't talk to Beverly much over the weekend, but we did phone visit, etc., some last week. J.A. was off this weekend so they did a lot of exploring and hiking.  Angela came over yesterday afternoon and we play rumicube and sequence. She'd been to Books a Million to just wander among the books and see what interested her and came home with a book on history and book about the world's greatest books. We had fun talking about them. Kennedy came over late in the afternoon and played a couple of games of sequence with us. She is excited about some sculpture projects she's workin...

January 2 Beverly came over for a short visit yesterday evening, and liked the book I picked up for her while Barry and I were out New Year's Day shopping. They had fun at Mrs. Reed's house, dinner with Paul and his wife. John and Barry talking about football. Noah and Tyler warming their hands by the fire after being outside and playing soccer.  Beverly gave me sweet hugs before she left for California today, and so did J.A. Wendy sent me a message, "Thinking about you today. " Listening to Noah and Tyler laughing while they play their video game. 

February 5, 2018 Well, for starters, last week went quite well, as far as hitting the mark on my objectives. I finished the donation request for Rouse's for the CAC and took it all the way to the store, and she said she would email it right then.  I got to take a walk in the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. I can see myself living on the island, taking walks in the woods and on the beach, except that I can't exactly see how that would work.  Brittany came out a couple of hours early yesterday afternoon, before Second Sunday Supper, and she and Papa sat at the kitchen table while I puttered around in the kitchen, and we just had a really relaxed visit. We got her to tell us about her thesis and the breach and the models she is running and she told us about Skyler doing this great kickboxing class.  When Beverly called Friday night, I asked to speak to J.A. and I can still hear the tone in his voice when he said, "Thank you for asking to speak to me."  Angela stayed ...

January 31, 2018 Barry and I did spend yesterday together and spent it all on the Island, going up and down streets and looking at property.  Angela and Kennedy came over for supper and I was going to make brownies but didn't have any vegetable oil, so Angela went and got some for me.  Beverly called this morning and I got to talk to her. She really enjoyed her first day at work. It is a teaching facility, so she sees the opportunity for learning a lot of things.  Beth sent a text that she is having some packages sent here, so I heard from her. Morgan sent me a Facebook message. John said he'd be at SSS. Heard back from Shawn. He said he has the flu.

January 29, 2018 When I was hugging Andrew bye, he said that he had to go, that Annette was getting them lunch, but that he had wanted to wait to see me. That made me happy --- that and walking in to see him and John and Barry visiting. John had waited, too, so I got to visit with them both for a minute. Annette sent a text that Andrew was stopping at Foosakly's for Skyler, and asked if anyone else wanted anything. Skyler said she is doing more MMA now than Karate. She said it is more fighting and less armour. Got to have a nice phone visit with Beverly last night. She and JA took the cats on a hike. She said it takes an hour to get anywhere, and that if you miss a turn Google maps doesn't tell you take a uturn it just takes you all the way around the mountain. Angela spent most of Goodtimes with us and played board games with me and the kids. We played Sequence and Rumicube and Spoons, and got to visit and laugh along the way.

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 22, 2018 I just had the best time at Noah's soccer game last night. Skyler and I got there a little bit early, but didn't see Kim, who was also there. When John came, we saw them both, and Kim got up to hug me. And we just laughed and visited and enjoyed the game. Skyler and I enjoyed each other to and from and stopped at Five Guys and had a little supper. She's starting to think about what she wants to do --- maybe photography.  Got to hug Angela this morning.  Brittany sent me a picture of her dog Bella playing with the dog toy that was in the kids saran ball on Christmas Eve.  Got to see Andrew for a quick minute. Beverly and JA went to Reno, and posted pictures. I think she got on the PCT.  Got a text from Tori. She's hoping to volunteer with the horses again this weekend. Got a text from Kennedy --- she might be over sometime today. Beth is in Chicago. Morgan will be readying her house this weekend for the Baby Gender Reveal. 

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...

May 14, 2018 Andrew called after he got off work yesterday and we got to have a little visit. He said that he was sorry he couldn't be here. He said that he might be coming home sooner than expected, because someone said something stupid on Friday, and he said something smart alecky in his reply. He said, "I'm 2000 miles away from the people who take care of my soul." He'd already talked to me about how much he misses Annette, so I knew what he was talking about. He said everybody there knows he'd rather be home. The people you would expect to be annoyed by his frankness are not, he said. Most people there are trying to climb the corporate ladder, but he is not. Most people there won't say the things that need to be said, but he will, and they are grateful.  Annette basically pulled Second Sunday Supper together for me. I couldn't even think of what to serve. She suggested party food, and so that's what we did. John and Kim stopped by and pick...

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...