2019 Joy Journal

Got all of the ornaments ordered except for Chris (need a picture) and James (can get a nice "Baby's First Christmas" locally, and for three boyfriend/girlfriends. Celebrated with pistachios and a bananan.

November 29, 2019 The house is straightened back up, although I still have the little box of Thanksgiving decorations to put away. The white holiday plates are put away, along with the coffee cups that belonged to Grandmother and that I used for dessert cups for the Heavenly Chocolate Mousse. The cranberry sauce dish was out and is back up again.  I forgot to kick the oven up to 350 when I took the ham out and put the vegetable casseroles in. The dressing from Neighbors wasn't all that good. But my cranberry sauce was delicious and the rolls from Fresh Market were good, and the turkey from Neighbors was ok.  Angela was happier than I have seen her in a long, long time. Maybe it was the time she spent on the phone with Beverly the day before. Maybe because Logan came to Second Saturday Supper and she feels good about that relationship. Maybe she was just enjoying Thanksgiving dinner --- I don't know, but it was fun to see. Kennedy brought Guillermo, so we got to meet ...

I got to use my cute little turkey gravy boat.

November 25, 2019 The wifi is giving me a hard time this morning, and I hope that isn't going to be an all-morning thing. So frustrating. Barry and I drove down to Firefly yesterday afternoon. I think he wanted to show me what was going on with his oyster baskets. We took our lists and planners and spent a few minutes at the kitchen table working with them. It wasn't quite enough for me, and i had to get back up in the middle of the night to finish it, but it was a pleasant time. We had Second Sunday Supper on Saturday so that it would be easier for Tori to be here. It turned out that, at least on this particular Saturday night, it also meant that the older grandbabies could stay and finish their game of Nines. And so, with the house mostly empty except that table full, they gathered up in the dining room and played and talked and laughed. It was like an impromptu Goodtimes, and I loved it. Barry was talking about it the next day.  We got to meet Logan, Angela's f...

Twice this week that I've been able to eat my breakfast outside my little bowl of cereal listen to the birds and the waves and enjoying the Morning Light

November 20, 2019 Beth and Rodney are moving home! She said, "I'll just go ahead and let you know that we want to move back by this time next year." Save up a little nest egg. Move back into their house.  Heard from Kim. We were texting about pictures for the Christmas ornaments, and she said, "Love ya and appreciate all you do!"

November 20, 2019 Had a fun text conversation with Brittany this morning. Tori and Josh changed their relationship status yesterday to "In a relationship." Naturally, that prompted a text. She laughed, and said they had just been out to dinner and realized they hadn't ever changed it back.  Had a little text visit with Morgan last night and this morning. Heard from Shawn. He is planning on being at SSS. Barry and I had lunch at Firehouse yesterday and got to visit with Faith a little bit.  Had a good walk with Bertice yesterday. 

November 19, 2019 Annette said that she and Andrew and Skyler will all be at Second Saturday Supper.  We talked for Tori for just a minute, since it was her birthday. She said that Josh had made her some cupcakes. Went to Firehouse Subs for lunch and got to visit with Faith a minute. Got a message from Michael asking about Second Sunday Supper, and so I have his phone number now.  People liking my comments on FB --- I get a kick out of that.

November 18, 2019 I got my elliptical today! A Monday! It hurt, but I stayed on. I'm struggling with some frustrations, but I stayed on. I'm looking forward to Becky saying, "Dr. Webster said your cholesterol levels look go Barry and I were up in time to see the sun rise this morning. I got to spend all day Sunday down at Firefly. He came back to work on his projects, but I was able to take enough down there that I didn't have to come back.  We went to Kennedy's Mini Makers Faire Saturday. Angela rode with us, so we got to visit with her. We got to meet Val, the professor that Kennedy will be interning with next semester and Thomas, the professor that got her into the electrical art. When I told Thomas that Kennedy had talked about how hard he had worked to put the faire together, he talked about how much help he had gotten from the students, like her. She had to work at her table starting at twelve, and when we went to tell her bye we got to stand for a few...

November 15, 2019 Barry and I rode down to Firefly after supper last night and got to enjoy the fireplace for the first time. It was rainy and cold, so I just went from the truck to the R.V. and back again.  I commented on an Al.com article and twenty people liked it! Heard from Zak.  Made it through a score of Wonderland tasks yesterday and felt a vast of amount of celebratory relief.

November 14, 2019 Barry and I had a good meeting with Derek yesterday afternoon and we are well on our way to making the changes complete and finalized. I feel a huge sense of relief. Annette sent me a cute text emoji yesterday. And, oh! When I weighed this morning, I was down 6 more pounds! I'm thinking that has to be good news for my cholesterol, and that I am closer to hearing Becky say, "Dr. Webster said your cholesterol levels are normal."  Heard from Beverly yesterday. --- A good morning text while I was on the elliptical. Got to have a nice little text conversation with Tori. She said that she and Josh had veggie burgers for dinner, and that they had been good. They took the Zoey and Shiloah to the vet to get the second part of their flu vaccine. Kennedy just sent me our tickets to the Maker Faire which is going to be Saturday. Little phone visit with Beth. 

November 13, 2019 Angela stopped by the house and gave us some hugs before she went home. She and Morgan had a good day getting things ready for the office Christmas party.  Davis spent yesterday with me. He's old enough now that he is more aware of his surroundings and felt a little bit like he needed to check us out at first. It had been about six weeks. But it didn't take him long to warm up and smile and baby-talk. He recognized the drum and thumped on it a little bit. He reached up for hugs. He slid down out of my lap and as he got to the other room turned around and waved "bye" to me.  Morgan got here early enough and stayed late enough to visit with me some on both ends, and I was happy about that.  Morgan and Angela here for lunch. Lots of love and laughter.

November 11, 2019 Angela waiting at the gate. "I thought if I was slow enough I might get to hug you again."

November 11, 2019 I had a good weekend! Saturday was really productive. I got both freezers organized, did my weekly Saturday chores, finished the weekly round of household bookkeeping and made it to the grocery store. So, I gave myself Sunday off, and I spent that day exploring the Commit 30 planner and the DragonTree planner and printing the 108 day Rituals for Transformation and getting ready to do it. Just spent a lot of time on myself.  Angela and Kennedy came over for a little while on Saturday, and we got to visit. Kennedy came back on Sunday and so she and Papa got to visit. I talked to Beverly for a few minutes last night.  Barry and I spent Friday night and Saturday night down at Firefly.  JA got the little gifts I sent him, and called to thank me. Had a little text visit with Kim. Jaden can count to ten in Spanish. Chelsea said he learned it from watching YouTube.

November 10, 2019 Kennedy said that her grandparents are her best friends.

November 9, 2019 New phone case and decalgirl

November 9, 2019 I had a productive day and I feel like I can take tomorrow off. I am happy.

November 8, 2019 Barry and I had a nice evening. Went to Ruby Tuesdays instead of the Mexican restaurant and kept our eating on track. We're going to Firefly tonight. Heard from Andrew. Heard from Amber. She said she remembers baking cookies with me.  Heard from Annette and Skyler. 

November 7, 2019 Just really kind of fed my soul to visit with Frank and Juli and make them laugh. Heard from Skyler. Heard from Tori. She said she had an easy, normal day.  Saw Shawn for a few minutes when he came to get his car.

November 6, 2019 And the good news is that Virginia flipped blue, and so did the governorship of Kentucky, where 45 won by 30%. There may be hope for us after all. Went to Juli's this morning to pick up my last pieces of pottery and visited for a little bit. Met Frank Voghtner who I see on Bertice's page a lot. He was teaching Juli how to do water testing.  Went to Virginia's health food store and got the maca and collegen powder to make Bertice's concoction. We'll see how that goes. Heard from Beverly. She is training today for the ultrasounds. Ordered JA's little surprises.  Got to hug Angela this morning. Got a hug from Shawn yesterday.

November 5, 2019 Beverly called me yesterday afternoon.  Beth sent a text to see if we could have a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner.  Heard from Brittany. She is happy and busy, busy. She referred to JonMarc in a post this morning as bf and he noted "fiance" which made her laugh.  Heard from Faith. She's working a double today, and might come by to see us this Sunday. 

November 4, 2019 Kennedy --- it's like a mini Papa station

November 4, 2019 Had a nice long Facebook chat with Shawn this weekend. Ashlyn texting with Tyler. Andrew and Annette and Brittany and Skyler pulling together for Tyler. Angela and Kennedy came over and visited with us for a little while yesterday. Morgan and Angela took Kennedy to Bellingrath to take her graduation photos. Morgan told Angela that they have about 400 shots. ;-)  Got to have a voice visit with Beverly. They have settled in to their new park for the 30 days that they will be there --- or rather, have successfully set up the RV. They left some things, including their cable, in place at the other park, and are leaving a lot of things packed up in their car and truck. 

November 1, 2019 Got to have a nice long phone visit with Beth yesterday afternoon. She is in Louisville again and will be for another week. She said that every Thursday, Morgan cooks dinner and Zak and Gabby drive over and have supper with them. Morgan made the cutest Halloween costume for Davis. I feel so much deep contentment --- that Morgan is creating family times and that all those hours spent crafting at my house ---- I know I'm probably giving myself more credit than is actually mine, but still --- a deep contentment.