2019 Joy Journal

June 27, 2019 Amber sent me a text to let me know she received her birthday cards. She said, "Thank you so much for my bday cards. It made my day getting them, especially the one from second Sunday. I have been homesick since I can't be home for my birthday. I love you, Grannie!"  Heard from Andrew and Skyler and Tori and Kennedy. Tori and Josh were getting ready to play an online game with Josh's brother. Kennedy said they had a little hiccup in their presentation, but that they got through it. 

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...

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 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 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. 

October 8, 2019 I got to have breakfast with Andrew yesterday morning, and that was really fun. Annette got the bronze metal in her race and Brittany placed eighth! I didn't exercise, or write, yesterday, but I did get my regular weekly Wonderwork done. 

October 4, 2019 Heard from Andrew. He is in town to go to Annette's Atlanta race with her, but I might get to see him Monday morning for breakfast. Got to voice visit with Beverly last night. She was headed to an Elizabeth Warren town hall.  Heard from Tori yesterday. :-) She sent me a picture of her drawing for the day.  Heard from Amber. Morgan had a pumpkin patch party for Taylor and her boyfriend and Zak and his girlfriend. Zak sent me pictures.  Evan called Barry and is supposed to come over Saturday with the boys to visit.  Heard from Annette. Little text visit with Beth.  Zak posted pictures of their pumpkin carving night on his Facebook.

September 3, 2019 I get to have breakfast with Andrew tomorrow! Angela, when she called to tell me that she had gotten a job in Mobile and is moving back ---- I was so happy, she was so happy, she couldn't wait to tell me and she didn't want to do it by text.  Beth and Rodney have been in Chicago with Morgan, Amber, Zak, Brandon, Amber's boyfriend, and Davis. Lots of fun, lots of pictures on Facebook. Shawn is engaged.  Faith and Michael and Brooke came over yesterday to swim, and we sat at the kitchen counter for a long time and visited.  Heard from Brittany. She and Jon Marc spent Labor Day weekend with his family and had a good time. Pictures on Facebook. 

August 22, 2019 I sent Andrew a birthday message, and heard back from him. Heard from Brittany --- she and Jon Marc should be at Second Sunday Supper.  Heard from Skyler --- she is excited about her turtle things that Nana sent for her.  Heard from Angela and Kennedy. Ken's planning on being here for Second Sunday Supper. Angela was spending some time today in a department she hadn't spent much time in before.  I went to my first handbuilding class with Juli Day today, and had a good time. She's a kind of encouraging presences and seemed mostly happy. That's always fun to be around.  Barry took Tyler to his class, so I was able to get some good licks out in the office. Not a full afternoon, but didn't fall behind either. 

June 17, 2019 Andrew, hugging me, smelling the roast, having answered that he was doing good, "Ummm good."  Evan, coming back to help clean up the kitchen and take out the garbage. We didn't have to pull out any extra tables, so the grandbabies didn't break in to their usual generational groups. Daniel's girlfriend came. Lots of laughter all through the house.  The roast turned out all right but I the top of the mac and cheese was a little overdone. Kim said she'd be happy to bring a side dish anytime.  I spent most of Saturday shopping for things for the Firefly R.V. and I think we've about got things in place. We spent Friday night down there and we're going to tonight, and I get happy just thinking about it. 

May 6, 2019 ~Brittany's graduation. The processional. Brittany is standing in front of her seat, along with others as they wait for everyone to get in. She has seen us and waved to us. I blew her a kiss and she blew one back, which made me jump for joy. Later, on Facebook, I said that it had tickled me that she blew a kiss back and she said that it had tickled her that it had tickled me.  ~Kennedy came over yesterday and looked through albums for a pictures for a present she is making Beverly for Mother's Day. We had so much fun enjoying the pictures together. When she hugged me bye she said that looking through the albums had almost been cathartic.  ~We met Jon Marc's parents although we really only ended up speaking to his mother. His father sat on the other side and he and Jon Marc visited a lot. They left before it was over.  ~Enjoyed visiting with Paul and Kara and got to see Kim and John and Noah. We were all just celebrating and being proud of Brittany, s...

April 24, 2019 Yesterday morning I got a video text from Andrew. He was on a hike, and walking a trail flanked by fields of tall stalked, yellow flowers, as far as the eye could see. He was determined to get to the top of the mountain --- and when he got to the bottom, he saw a sign about mountain lions in the area. It was a fun visit.  Brittany flies out Sunday for her first work trip!  Davis is crawling!!! Talked to Beverly for a few minutes, and to Beth for a few minutes. Chris and Tyler and Wylder were over in the evening for a few minutes, to pick up a package. 

Kennedy received three grants! Brittany said she got to go shopping this past weekend for clothes for her new job.  Heard from Andrew. He is in California. Annette is working on Easter for me. Heard from Angela. She said that Tori has the flu, but has some medicine now. Got to see Tyler yesterday when I took him to his class. 

March 22, 2019 Annette sent me a good morning text message. We had a fun supper with Zak and Vivian at Quickly's last night. We got to hear about their trip. Vivian may get a shift change at WalMart, so she'll be able to be at Second Sunday Supper again. She's applied for a WalMart scholarship, and it would be really awesome if she got it.  Heard from Skyler. Heard from Andrew. Got to have a nice phone visit with Beverly. She had expected to work yesterday, but they called her and told her they don't usually schedule people on their last day, so she didn't have to work after all.  Heard from Angela. She and Tori are driving in this weekend. They're going to come over here with Kennedy and pick out some things for her new apartment. Heard from Tori. She is looking forward to being able to swim. Kennedy called to update us and sent some pictures of her new comforter, etc. She said, "Thank you for helping me feel ready. I feel so ready. I lov...

March 11, 2019 Second Sunday Supper was a lot of fun, and this morning is going well.  Heard from Andrew --- text --- really busy at work. Brittany called me in to the bedroom for a minute and Jon Marc jumped  up from the dining room table and said, "Wait a minute!" Brittany handed me a gift bag, saying "We went into a gift shop, and I saw this first thing, and said, 'I have to have this for Grannie." A turtle-shaped coffee cup that says "I turtilly love you!" So sweet.  She called me the other day --- said she'd started to send a text but then thought, "I haven't talked to Grannie for a while. I just want to hear her voice."  Skyler drove herself to school for the first time today, in her new car. Annette talked about taking Skyler with her to get the oil changed, and letting her be the one to have the conversation with the people there. They've opened a checking account for her, too. Angela and Tori and Kennedy hel...

March 4, 2019 The house is straight, and easily so. The weekend chores are done, and I put some extra Wonderland time in, and so made some project progress there.  Barry and I spent some time at Firefly. The deck is almost finished. We spent some time together in the greenhouse, planting seeds.  I got to talk to Beverly a little bit on Saturday.  Evan, Chelsea, Jaden and James were over for a few minutes Friday night. Jaden smiled at me and wanted to play chase.  I got a text from Andrew. We got to talk to Angela and Tori for a few minutes early Friday evening. They both seemed pretty happy. Angela said that she works alone on Fridays and so is usually behind all day long, but this Friday had been easier. Tori had told me she was in meetings and so I asked her if that meant she was telling people what to do. She laughed and said that she was coordinating with more people.  Morgan posted some pictures of Mardi Gras, and a videos of Davis laughing an...

February 25, 2019 Andrew: California is the most racist place I've ever been, and when you consider where I'm from, that's saying a lot. The Spanish and the Asians and the blacks don't even acknowledge each other, and don't have anything to say to each other --- that is good. I come in and say, "Hi!" to everyone. That confused them. When they need something done they come to me because they don't know which contractor to call, and that isn't even part of my job. They all bring in food, but just for their own little group. I'll bring in ten dozen doughnuts and get on the radio and tell them we've got doughnuts and they're for everybody. .... When he calls for help, he gets more than he even needs. He needed to move his equipment to another location, way on the other side of campus. He asked if a couple of people could come help him. So many people showed him, he didn't even know how many. He said he was literally just handing each ...

February 14, 2019 Barry and I drove down to Firefly last night. The pier is about two poles away from the deck, and it was exciting to see that progress. You can see all the way around the point from that far out. We went to the Pelican for dinner and I asked if I could put the Serve It Up With Love tennis card on their community bulletin board. The lady was very kind and lent me some tape and didn't seem put out at all.  The tennis meeting went well. I'm not sure I handled the "pick the colors for the T-Shirt logo" just right, but I think overall people were pretty happy.  Beth seems to have had a good visit and made it back safely to Houston.  Kennedy drove over last night and will be with us till Friday night.  Sent Andrew a text letting him know that I'd heard from Mark about their visit in California --- that Mark had said he's a fine young man, and considered his time with Andrew to be his birthday present -- Andrew said he'd enjoyed the ti...

I finished my little art book! It was a surprise because I hadn't looked ahead to see how many pages were left. Mission accomplished!  Barry and I went to the Brazilian steak house last night. We think next time, we might just do the salad bar. There is really a lot on it. Monday nights are comparatively quiet, which made it nice.  Beth came over at 8:30 yesterday morning and the three of us rode down to Firefly and enjoyed the pier and beach. There was a place in the sand where bird tracks and puppy tracks came together and looked like it had caused one of them to make a big wet spot. That cracked her up! Morgan met us at Waffle House for lunch. She usually goes to see Davis, and usually goes to her car to feed him, and it was rainy, so she didn't really want to do that.  Evan and Chelsea came over last night with the boys, so we got to hold James and play with Jaden. Evan said his managing shifts had gone well, even if it did include a small setback. (Something ...

January 1, 2019 I did learn some things last year about keeping an online joy journal --- like putting the date on each page, so I get to start out right, anyway.  Kennedy and Shawn went out to supper with us on New Year's Eve, and Kennedy went shopping with us on New Year's Day. I made German Apple Pancakes for breakfast and Barry said it was very good. We ate lunch at Logan's near the mall we like in Spanish Fort. Barry made Black Eyed Peas. Cabbage and Corn Bread for our New Year's dinner. Shawn was with us for that.  Heard from Andrew and Beverly and Beth on New Year's Eve.