One little word.... JOY

If you are into the blogging world, than it will come as no surprise that this year, as part of your new years resolution there is a challenge to pick just one little word that will make a difference to you, that you can strive for and for me sometimes, throw me back into reality and remind my self just how blessed I am.

I  decided to choose JOY. 

This banner has been on my Christmas tree for a few years now, but this year something just really clicked for me.

we also used in in our family photos this year.

I have much to be joyful for. but I wasn't letting my self see it, let alone feel it. and why??? we all  deserve     JOY.

As  I have been concentrating more on feeling the holy ghost, I am learning the differences between what the Savior wants for me and what Satan wants me to feel. There are real differences.  I came across this on pintrest ...

As I reflect back on 2013 it all makes me smile.

Well of course this guy does..

                                                                And all his many talents...

                   


He can always bring a smile to my face.

This was a particularly bad day

  Family near and far.....

                            

Not just good friends, GREAT friends

sunsets....

(this is Jon's "race car" the nova muscle car and MC D's - pretty American ;) )


The ocean

And cats....

love this "yoga" cat...
 I was recently asked if I would describe my self as happy and my answer was "well other people tell me I'm bubbly, so yes" Why was I so quick to not just trust my self and just say "yes"? I don't need to look to others to be comfortable and honest in saying what I already know about my self.


This year I want to not only have more JOY but give JOY.


I am the person that likes to make lists and get them checked off. My Husband often tells me I just need to relax more. I usually respond with something like " I can't relax until all this is done". I now see how always rushing to do the next thing isn't letting me see the JOY in my life, in fact quite the opposite.

Heavenly Father choose to Help teach me this lesson  the Saturday before Christmas. I was fallen very ill on the busiest days leading up to the "holiday season" as they name it in retail. All I cared about was getting better and back to work.  I figured I would just be labeled as getting "conveniently" sick and I didn't want this.

A dear friend stopped by to visit me during this time  She brought me oranges! She said it would help everything not be so bad when tasting it for the 2nd time.... That orange was so fragrant, I sat there inhaling its scent and letting its orange color wash over me and re energize me. My heart turned to my grandpa that good 'ole farm boy who always picked the very best fruit and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a kid.

So after 2 days of being violently ill, I went back to work on Monday. It was HARD. let's just leave it at that. Monday was Christmas eve's eve. I had the worst shift possible, especially for this time of year. I was scheduled to close until 10 (good 'ole extended holiday mall hours) and then open early, 7 am for all the last minute shoppers. Well, I just couldn't see doing this in my current condition. not to mention being "no fun" for Christmas day. So I asked for what I needed. I asked if I could leave even just an hour or two early and to my surprise I just ended up working a baby shift! what a blessing!!

So sometimes....well a lot..... heavenly father has to tell me things 2 or 3 times. (2 times is becoming the new norm though... he he) Again, another dear friend stopped by to visit and give me..... Oranges!! coincidence- I think not!!!  

Again I thought of my grandpa and this time remembered he would put a naval orange in my Christmas stocking. My heart was immediately softened that god would grant me this tender mercy. I knew this was my Christmas gift from him. My Christmas miracle.

Not only was I able to feel my savior's love I was able to feel JOY in my heart especially at this time of year when I know so many also feel the sting of a loved ones absence.

Angels work through human hands here on this earth.

I don't remember where  I heard this but it has always stuck with me.

There was a tug boat who loved his work.
One day he sprang a leak
He prayed to Heavenly father and asked for help
Shortly after a friend, who was a cruise ship, sailed by and offered his help
The tug boat replied "no thanks, god will save me"
Again another friend, a barge ship, sailed by and offered his help, seeing as his friend's situation was becoming increasingly  alarming.
The tug boat again replied "no thanks, god will save me." His friend left hesitantly.
The tug boat eventually sank and when the pearly gates opened the tug boat asked God why he would let him sink since he had so much faith in him.
God replied " I sent two ships to save you".

How can we have so much love and trust in the lord but be blind to see his hand in all things?

This experience makes me feel like heaven is very close to earth - not far and beyond the black holes of space.

I think it is more of a perceived distant. like fog on your windshield on a dewy morning, we only need to want to clean it and see what's beyond to enjoy the beauty that lays ahead.

During stake conference ( a meeting held together with all the wards (areas of people that live near one another) where a apostle of the lord speaks to us once a year)  He said "The Lord's hand is in the details of our lives".  As we seek these blessings and share them we can know with surety that he lives and loves each and every one of us beyond a shadow of a doubt.

What's your one little word gonna be????