Sometimes It's Hard To "Find" Joy

I'm liking this "Joy Journal!" It is focusing my attention on joy during the day, even on days where I cannot locate much. I love that it focuses me on God and what joyful things he's brought to my day. It's been an awesome challenge for me and a better way for me to tell you what happens during our days!

Yesterday was an absolute perfect picture of joy. Jackson's preschool teacher's birthday is today (Saturday), so many of us parents got together and planned a surprise for the teacher that the kids knew about and then a surprise they didn't know about :) To give you a bit of history on his class...there are 13 kids in the class and 10 of them (including Jackson) have had this teacher for the past two years. She teaches two age levels so the way the program works is to move them from the 3/4 year old to 4/5 year old class but it's the same teacher. It's been an awesome experience and the teacher is fabulous and truly LOVES each one of these kids. Anyway, we began the day yesterday by having each of the kids bring a flower to her that she placed in a vase that the first little one brought to her in her classroom. So, by 9am, she had a complete bouquet of flowers and 13 "Happy Birthday, Ms Dawnna's!" It was absolutely perfect. Then, about 30 minutes prior to class being over, when they would usually be lining up to go outside, we parents arrived and threw a "surprise party." JOY TO THE MAX!! She was beside herself surprised and overjoyed...you could see it in her face, in her emotions and in her actions. Most of all, you could see God in the classroom. He was there, smiling with us all...I just know it. (Yes, I brought my camera...no, I didn't charge the battery :( so no great pictures!) Loved it!

Today, I realized that God gave me the ultimate joy yesterday...and a day today where I would maybe have to search a little harder for the joy. I've found it, but in a strange way. Today I received the news that my dad's cancer was confirmed, and in a more advanced stage than anyone had expected, including the doctors. They located cancer in the lump and in the lymph nodes that they removed. So, no telling what the future holds, except that he will have to have chemo and radiation and pretty strongly, probably. I talked to my dad briefly, which was wonderful. But, again I asked, where is the joy today, God?????? It took me the whole day to realize where it was. My husband is a Godly man, and I am blessed by that; and my son, well, he doesn't know Jesus yet, but he's on his way, I know by the way he talks and the questions about Jesus that he asks. What I didn't realize was immediately after I shared the news with Cody, he turned on praise music...and it has been playing all day. It was subtle, but I started singing the songs as I cleaned and was reminded again that God stands by me through everything. He will give me the comfort, peace, strength, calmness, the words to say, the emotions to share, EVERYTHING through all of this!

Right now, I sit here in a quiet house, surrounded by this music, as Cody and Jackson have gone to the park. I just listened to Point of Grace's, "You Are Not Alone," and found myself thanking God for the reminder that I am NOT alone. And, I am now recalling the scripture, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." It is James 1:2 ........ consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds ....... WOW! I'm there, Lord, in the middle of a trial and I am trying to seek the joy. I'm grateful that I found the joy today through music, watching Cody play with Jackson and getting a small but wonderful chance to talk with my dad and tell him that I love him!

Thank you, Lord, for the joy you brought today in unexpected ways.

Here Comes the Tickle Monster!

Aren't "tickle-fests" fun?!?!? My joy yesterday was found in a mini tickle-fest between me, my hubby and Jackson. For 3 minutes we were rolling around and laughing together! These days, it is a small miracle when Cody is home...any time of the day, so to have him home at bedtime and tickling and laughing together was pure joy!! I loved every minute of it (even though it was short)!!

Today, my joy came in watching my son in soccer practice. I think I'm beginning to think that we may have found a match for him. Mind you, he is not in a league soccer yet, but in his "Pee Wee" soccer, where they teach him the basics of soccer through games (and lots of running!), I was realizing that he is good!! It was great fun to watch him!

Speaking of "finding his niche," I will include a picture of him from his Team Ninjas/Tae Kwon Do class that he took last session. He has decided this may not be his thing, but I will say that I was so proud of him when he was able to break a board on his last day of class!! Joyful times...

A Recent Discovery

Obviously I have not posted on this blog in a while. To be honest, it seems to be "a bother" to post...the pictures take too long to load, I can't think of exciting things to say, and then...wala!! It occurred to me that the problem was not with any of that...I have LOADS of pictures to post that are about exciting things and who cares if they take too long!! It occurred that the problem is with me...I've just felt "bogged down" with things, but then, I realized those things were things of my creating. I've just been in a lull. And, with that, I stumbled across this scripture the other day while studying the Bible, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." It is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I was completely convicted when I read this verse. I realized that I have been missing out on the joy of life...which for me is in the little everyday things that happen! I realized it while blowing bubbles with my sweet four year old. Bubbles are so much fun! I forced myself to smile and not think of the things that "needed" to get done...and you know what, I found myself smiling and having a blast. I just got done playing car races with Jackson (races that I never win, mind you!), but had so much fun laughing...at nothing!

So, my blog is taking a new turn...I'm going to try to post more frequently, but they may be short posts and they will all search for the joy in my day.

Yesterday: My day was consumed with the thoughts of my dad in a 10 hour surgery to remove what they think are cancerous lumps in his esophagus. Those thoughts were immediately always turned to prayers. I thank God for that, as it was through those prayers that I knew I didn't have to carry the burden of those thoughts but that Jesus took them every time. But, where is the joy in a day like that?? No joy in the actual earthly circumstance, but my joy yesterday came in realizing how many people I know that truly care about me and my family. Most of my faithful blog readers were commenting on my facebook page that they were praying...and you didn't even know what for! THAT meant so much to me, and in turn, to my family.

I thought I'd include some pictures of Jackson and my dad at Christmas. These pictures exemplify "joy" to me!!



And then, I leave you with this family picture of us at Christmas. The "Whisler" side was all together this Christmas...another picture of "joy" during a most wonderful time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior! And, to think back to all the joyous times we had...times full of laughter and love!