2018 Joy Journal

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!

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 23, 2018 Got to hug Angela this morning. The bowling party is coming together. I did get to see Tyler to tell him that I'd heard from his teacher.  Talked to Beverly for five minutes yesterday morning. Zak made Vivian an anniversary dinner. Pics in FB Joy Journal. Texted with Noah a little bit about his soccer game, and his practices, etc. He has practice 3x a week, so he did get to rest up after the game. Kennedy had a great time at her Thursday night dinner. 

January 26 So, I cut my time in here short yesterday and went and walked the mall with Bertice. It was a good walk and talk.  Angela, after I'd told her that I should get to have a CAC afternoon, but found myself thinking I should do other things: "I hope you get to do whatever makes you happy."  Beverly planted a garden yesterday. Saw Kennedy and John for a quick minute.  Beth called to tell me something funny. Zak answered my text, and so did Noah. Noah made the soccer team! Beat out someone for the striker position who has been playing a lot longer than he has. Said he didn't know until he saw his name on the list what it felt like to have that feeling of "is this really real?"

January 21 John told Noah about high school and friends. Tyler, Noah and I were on our way back from the park, talking about which high schools they would go to. Along the way, Noah said, "Yeah, my dad told me that you had told him something that stuck with him, that your high school friends won't be around when you're grown up." It made me feel good that I had said something to John that he had thought worth passing on to his own son, and I do remember the day in my early thirties when I realized my high school classmates were no where around me, and I really wished I could have back all the time I'd spent worrying about whether or not they liked me, or whether or not I was ever going to fit in. 

January 20 Got to visit with Sue Carney (at the Women's March) Tyler And Noah laughing,  They were in the reading room just laughing and laughing. I sat on the sofa in the family room, closed my eyes, leaned my head back, and just soaked up the sound. 

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 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 12, 2018 Angela and Kennedy came over for a little visit last night, and we looked at some of the old books we've gotten at the estate sale, and had fun talking about them.  Beverly and I got to have a little phone visit. The cable guy visit went just fine, and she has internet now, so that's good. J.A. is doing some of the onboarding things, so he's a little bored but should be back working sometime this week.  Saw Beth on Facebook a little bit --- pictures of Sammy.  Amber texted me back and so did Zak. We talked to Noah to wish him happy birthday.  Tyler and I had a little bit of a rough night, but it ended on a good note, so that's the good part. 

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. 

January 7 Laughter all over the house. Morgan and Brandon at the kitchen table.  Beverly called at suppertime and got to tell Noah, "Happy Birthday." Skyler took the pictures. Angela and Kennedy helped clean up. Vivian said she saved the cards I wrote for her and Zak's ornaments. Andrew re Tori: Is she coming home? She needs to come home.

February 9, 2018 It is possible that I forgot to clock in for part of the time that I was in the office, but if I did, I don't think it was for a large amount of time. I have completed the regular weekly, and the real "I need to do somethings" in under four hours. That holds amazing potential for giving an afternoon a week to the Melton Center and an afternoon a week to the Child Advocacy Center. Annette has been checking on me every day, and I think that is so sweet.  Beverly called last night, and we had a good visit. She had a great day! She was able to irrigate patients ears, instead of just assisting. She said it is one of her favorite things to do because people who thought they were losing their hearing are so excited to discover that they are not. She said it is just immediate results. Not about medications. You start out having to stand in front of them so they can read your lips, and finish by them telling you that you need to quit talking so loudly. Then...

February 20, 2018 Dr. Vance said everything looked fine. Beverly and I got to phone visit for about an hour yesterday. Kim sent me a text about Noah's soccer game. I had to rush a lot yesterday, but I did get through the bulk of month end and did at least get the sales tax paid, etc.  Chris waited for the bus with Tyler.  Angela sent me a good morning message. Barry said the French Toast that I made was good. 

March 1, 2018 Barry woke up early this morning, at the same time I usually do, and we didn't have a lot of early morning responsibilities, so we went to Waffle House and had breakfast. He sat facing the people he usually talks to and that worked out better for me because otherwise I end up making eye contact with them, and not really knowing what to say. Chelsea was there and knows our new regular, which I really like. Barry orders the All-Star with a half order of dry raisin toast and I order two scrambled eggs, and we ask for it to all be served at the same time. So, I get a half a piece of toast, a half a waffle, a piece of bacon and two scrambled eggs. Lots of flavors without being served more than I can wisely eat. Yesterday, Beverly and JA celebrated the anniversary of their first date and seemed to have had a good time. Went bowling, for one thing. We had a tiny text conversation. Got to visit a bit with Angela this morning and got some hugs. Noah's team won the...

March 2, 2018 We had a nice visit at Waffle House this morning, over breakfast at 5:40 in the morning. He said, "I wonder if we'll have a house built there by this time next year, and I wonder how many miles we will have put on the RV by this time next year." Then he smiled a big smile and said, "It makes me happy just thinking about it!"  Bella ran out to see me this morning and I got to have a visit with Angela. She had a minute to tell me (without any names) about a patient yesterday that caused a ruckus --- nose bleed and didn't want to go to the hospital. She said they don't see active nosebleeds in the office because they can go so wrong so fast.  Beverly and I finally got to have a decent phone visit last night. She called while we were at Benja's and I said, "But I'm kind of desperate to hear your voice," and she said "Same." So, I called her back when we got home, and took my evening walk around the yard and ta...

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 16, 2018 I was just so happy last night! Angela did get to make it to Noah's concert, so she and John laughed and talked, and she enjoyed Noah, and Noah was surprised when he saw her, when we switched seats so she could see better.  Got to visit with Beverly a little bit yesterday. She's found a new video that leans pretty heavily on the stretching.  Beth was excited about Zak and Vivian's visit, and they went to a Keith Urban concert last night. Heard from Amber --- she's got the flu.

March 29, 2018 Bella is napping on her pillow. The writing shack door is open. I hear cars, and the wind chimes Brittany and Skyler gave me.  Kim posted on Facebook that Noah's team came back from a 1 - 3 to go on and win the game. I hate that I missed it.  Beverly and I talked last night for a little minute. She's going to call me back today.  Beth called, but I missed it, and I missed her when I called her back.  Tori said she is coming home this weekend! Kennedy was in drawing class when she got my text, but said she was able to send me a kiss back. ;-) Barry and I found out yesterday that the buyer did sign the purchase agreement, and our paperwork is at the title office. We're expecting to close April 10 on the bay property.  We went and got his computer for the RV and we got the gun safe, so those things are behind us.  And we went to the property and met with the people who will be doing the clearing. 

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...

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.