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.

February 22, 2018 Texted with Annette a little bit yesterday morning. She said Brittany has started her physical therapy, and that's good.  Got to visit with Angela this morning for just a minute. Bentley is heavily sedated but doing well other than that.  Beth and I got to visit for a minute, and she had a safe trip back to H-town.  We got to go to Noah's first soccer game. He's number #19.  Shawn called and we talked for about 15 minutes.  Beverly and I got to chat for just about 5 minutes. 

February 28, 2018 Just starting off with a happy day. I got the bed made quickly, the laundry in, dressed and over here for a writing day. Not the full writing day of my dreams because I need about an hour for some little tasks, and I need to take care of some laundry, but nevertheless have the 12:30 - 6:00 period scheduled for writing, and I am happy about that.  Brittany sent me a text yesterday morning, "Thinking of you this morning as I listen to the birds sing."  It's kinda cool when the kids reach for you, or think of you all on their own.  I sent Morgan's post card via text instead of Facebook, and that worked, so I think I'll do that from now on. I feel better about not interrupting her while she's at work. She and I had talked about whether or not spring was really here, and since yesterday was cooler than recent days, she said she was calling it "a cool spring day."  Angela and I got to visit for a bit this morning, and Bella was w...

January 17, 2018 Got this screenshot in a text from Kennedy, with a follow up text, "I got selected!" She'd been telling us about this. The art department at her college was contacted about a competition of designs created using a 3D printer to be given as takeaways for the VIP guests at Pensacon. The woman who was to make the selection did not show up on the appointed day, and Kennedy thought the whole thing was a wash, and then she got this email.   I replied about how excited I was, and she said, "I ran around looking for you guys but just couldn't wait for you to know!!! I'll be back for my hugs later. ...I"m already trying to get extra tickets if y'all are interested. I love y'all so much!" When I told her that I couldn't believe I wasn't there for that and thanked her for letting us know so that we could share in the excitement, she said, "No worries! I"ll be this excited all day!"  ~ Bri...

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 3 Doug Jones is going to be sworn in today, and I get to feel like I was a part of that, and not just a tiny part. A kind of active part. Brittany's surgery was more complicated than they had anticipated, but was successful and she is with Andrew and Annette. I got to see Angela this morning. They're on call today and then she has to go the vet and then go get Bentley's medicines, so she has a long day ahead of her.  Got Marco Poloed with Tori a little bit last night. She said she'd had a good, regular day.  Shawn said he's going to start at Waffle House today.  Saw Evan for a few minutes yesterday. He's coming down with something.  The kids all sent in pictures so that Beverly could make me a picture book and it came in yesterday's mail. She said everyone sent pics and they had a whole nother chat about it in the Facebook group and I know that she put hours and hours into pulling it all together. It is beautiful. I spent time in m...

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.

March 8, 2018 Beverly called yesterday morning and we got to talk for just a minute.  Shawn called and the phone system finally worked, so we got to visit for a minute.  Heard from Tori --- she was having a pop tart for dessert, so I had to ask about supper. She reported having had a healthy supper.  Heard from Evan --- he has to go to a concert Sunday and write a review. Heard from Kennedy --- she is busy, busy, busy in these days leading up to spring break, but she's looking forward to spring break and spending some time in the shop.  Fun text from Brittany --- trying to make sure her mom is at Second Sunday Supper without spilling the secret.  Vivian's RSVP --- "We love you, Grannie, and thank you for all that you do for us." Kim sent me a copy of Noah's schedule. Barry and I went and did a walk through of our new camper yesterday. I think it is going to work perfectly for what we want most of the time.  Angela's Facebook message thi...

March 14 2018 Bella came out with Angela yesterday and then stayed with me for a while. Ange mentioned that Bella liked soft places so I put a pillow on the floor her. She came out with Ange again this morning, and after she'd had her treat and Angela had left for work, just settled in on her pillow.  I got to see Shawn yesterday. He said he was sorry he didn't have any news to tell me, but there wasn't really much to talk about. I had been working in the 2016 Joy Journal and so did have some fun things to talk to him about.  I just got a text from Valerie! She is going to call me tomorrow. :-)  Saw Andrew a little bit on Facebook. He liked my comment about Talk Like a Pirate Day.  Just quick blown kisses exchange with Beverly. Got to see Angela this morning. She's expecting a busy day, since they're on call.  Kennedy may be over today to borrow one of my cameras to help take pictures at a friend's wedding.  Talked to Beth for a little bit....

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...

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 30, 2018 Shawn gave me a big long hug. "It has been so long since I've been able to hug any of you." He told me about a nineteen year old, talking to his mother, crying, and how it broke his heart and he went up and was kind to him, as others had been to him. He felt like he was able to get along because people could just see that he is caring and didn't want to be a part of fighting. Those weren't his exact words, but he is start to recognize more and more that his good heart is a major strength.  Got to visit with Beverly for a few minutes, and got to see Angela this morning.  Talked to Beth a few minutes. She and Rodney and Linda are driving in today. She said we'll have some time to hang out.  Morgan is bringing lunch and picking up the card tables. 

March 27, 2018 Barry and I went down to the bay property last night. We are having fun envisioning the fun we can have down there. We both got to talk to Shawn.

April 26, 2018 I got to talk to Beverly last night. She and JA are going to try to come home around Mother's Day.  Angela came over last night, per Beverly's directions, so that Papa could check her finger and see if it needed lancing. Lots of laughter. An eventual pin prick. Barry and I got a late invite to judge in Florence this Saturday, so we're going to drive up there. It will be our first BBQ adventure. Chris had some interesting tools in his belt and so he told me about them --- three different glass cutting tools for doing particular things. He's been working on some pretty mirrors.  Shawn said he'd be at Goodtimes: "I promise, Granny."  Got to text Tori a little bit. She said it is just too fun that we get to officially name the bay property.  I got to talk to Daddy and ask him about the pelicans.  I have known for a while that Daddy especially liked pelicans, but until a recent trip home, I had not known why. Nana brought it ...

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 ...

June 4, 2018 I got to spend some time with Annette today, helping her with her new software. I'm not sure I was really much help, but she thanked me anyway. I did take notes for her, anyway, when we were having the lesson online.  And I still got my Wonderwork done, so didn't lose any traction there.  Got to talk to Beverly. She said they had a really good day. Tori worked from home, so they were able to pop in and say hi to her and she and Angela had fun talking about how they want to decorate. Beverly said it is just the cutest little house and Angela already has her elephants set up.  Beth stopped by to visit for a few minutes on her way to Texas.  And Kennedy has followed up on her transcripts, so that's good. And Evan has followed up on his.  And Goodtimes was fun, with swimming and card games and a visit to Firefly.  And Kennedy said she will be here tomorrow. And I got a text from Angela, and from Shawn. 

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...