2019 Joy Journal

April 17, 2019 Had a really nice chat yesterday with a lady that works for Amazon. I was appreciative and it made her happy.  Went and had my hair done. Stopped in at the Flour Girl bakery and thanked them for the cupcakes they donated to the tennis tournament.  Had a nice email visit with Adele Brown. Brittany started her first day at HDR today! When they were here for Second Sunday Supper I said, and "Jon Marc's going to take a picture of you." When she sent me the picture, she siad, "Jon Marc said, 'My job is done. I did the one thing Grannie told me to do."  Beverly and JA made it safely to San Diego and have their new address. She's not sure they'll stay in that RV park, but it is less than ten miles from the jobs that most excite her, so they're going to give it a try.  Got to hug Kennedy. She's getting ready for her pop up show tomorrow night.  Little text visit with Tori. She's still fighting her cough, so we laugh...

July 30, 2019 Annette posted some pictures of the Spartan race she and Brittany participated in the past weekend. She said it was an amazing race. Got to have a nice long phone visit with Beverly yesterday. The work three shifts at her clinic, and her shift ended early enough yesterday for us to have that visit. The girls have chosen dates for their trip to California, and she is pretty excited about that. JA is happy about his new job. They created the position for him, he will be going to Minnesota for some training, and shouldn't have to be on call as much as he has in times past, and shouldn't have to put in stretches of sixty and eighty hour weeks. Angela and Tori and Josh drove in Saturday evening and left early Monday morning. We went to Oriental Palace --- Tori and Josh liked the Long Island Iced teas, too. Lots of laughter and easy visiting. We played Mexican Train dominoes and came up with our own house rules. ;-) We spent an afternoon at Firefly --- Tori an...

October 3, 2019 Remembering Debbie, Annette's boss, saying that the way Annette talks about me almost makes her want to cry, it is so loving. Angela came over to visit last night and she just seems so happy.  Had a little text visit with Tori. Her work is participating in inktober or drawlloween, and so she sent me  a picture of the bat she colored on her dry erase board. She said drawing it was fun. Heard from Autumn and have some times and dates set for picking Willo up. 

December 9, 2019 I have ordered some reusable straws that I think will work --- they are metal, but have a silicone tip. Since Barry and I usually just drink water, I don't think they'll require that much cleaning.  I also found some reasonably priced non-styrofoam "to go" boxes and have ordered them. We can use them for SSS, and I can just take my own when we go out to eat. I ordered some plates as well. Paper may be disposed of significantly easier than the Styrofoam, but producing it has some negative effects. I'm going to think about getting some Melamine plates for Second Sunday Supper.  So, I feel happy about those things. The house has been neatened. The laundry is almost back in order. If I get Monday's laundry done today, I will be back on even keel.  Angela and Kennedy came over yesterday afternoon for a little visit. Angela said the Synergy party went well --- her boss and all of the guests seemed happy. Kennedy is winding up her BFA --- f...

December 3, 2019 I just got to have the nicest visit with Angela last night. Just a few minutes, out here in the writing shack. When I told her that I wanted to ask about the ornament for Logan, she seemed really happy about the idea. Got Kennedy's paper graduation announcements yesterday. I asked Angela if she had seen her envelope on the doggy bookshelf. She said, "Yes! My mama's handwriting."  Heard from Brittany and Faith. I think Faith is going to call me today. I'm going to get her to help with Willo's passaround present. Heard from Tyler. He said he was good, and that he was at school. 

December 2, 2019 Barry and I drove down to Firefly last night, stopping at the Mexican place in the Bayou for dinner. It was cold and dark but we spent a little time out on the deck. Mostly just watched t.v. and I went through my Google photos some, trying to get through all of 2019. When I opened the door at a little after 5:30 this morning, the horizon and that first, deep rozy glow of sunrise. It always makes me say, "wow," and is about as good a way to start a day as I can think of.  I spent Saturday working on the Christmas ornaments, and I just about have it, and was able to order them all from the same place. That should cut down on the shipping. I spent Sunday getting organized for December events. I really have a list of lists. ;-) Sunday afternoon I went to the first Sunday Market at Five Rivers and then to the Holiday Market at the History Museum of Mobile. Nothing spectacular, but it was nice to get outside.  Talked to Beverly a little bit yesterday. She a...

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 ...

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

October 2, 2019 Angela sent me a "good morning" text. Annette sent me a "love you," text last night. Heard from Brittany Monday night. She's excited about planning her wedding. Angela and Tori playing their online game together. I sent Kennedy a meme about a pilot identifying their place in the sky by the shape of a cloud (like a lion) and she knew immediately that I was remembering when she was little and wanted to be someone who watches the clouds when she grew up.  Touched base with Beth this morning. She is expecting a busy day. Morgan and Angela came to the house for lunch yesterday and that was so much fun. Davis spent yesterday with me. All kinds of smiles and happiness ---- crawled over to me, stood up and put his hands on my legs. I said, "hug?" and he held up his arms and when I picked him up, he put his head on my shoulder.  Zak called yesterday. Amber posted about missing her siblings. Sent Evan a text and heard back f...

September 30, 2019 When Morgan was here last week, as I hugged her bye I was making a little poem/song and ended with "You are the best, you just need some rest." She used those words as a tag in a post she put in the joy journal, about Davis sleeping through the night for three nights in a row. Makes me feel so good and useful.  Angela is home. She is at Phew! and I am so content with the state of the house. It is clean and finished and pretty --- I'm really tickled with my decorating choices --- and while it has some little oddities that might get in the way of being a perfect forever home, those oddities aren't going to get in the way of it being a good, comforting, pleasant shelter while she takes this next step and starts what she is calling her "first big girl job." I feel at peace. Kennedy drove over from Pensacola yesterday and so we got to visit with her a little bit. She helped Angela unload some things from her car, etc.  Most of the exp...

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 27, 2019 Went to the Minority Business Accelerator Kick-off reception last night and had a good time. Kristi July has stepped down from the board this year because her business is going to be in the program. I got to meet her husband because his business is going to be as well.  Heard from Brittany and Angela and Beverly and Beth yesterday. Beth and Rodney made it back to Houston safely from their trip to Vegas. Made good progress with Quicken / American Express yesterday, so I am starting to see some daylight there. 

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. 

August 20, 2019 Did I tell you that I spent a couple of hours reading when I was at Firefly? Finished "Russ and Daughters." Felt good. Annette set up a Facebook group yesterday to let us know that Jon Marc is planning to propose to Brittany on September 22, and to invite us to join them at Moe's for a little celebration afterwards. Beth and Beverly both posted their congratulations.  Brittany's flower is blooming, so I sent her a picture, and we had a little text visit. Heard from Angela, even though she and Tori and Kennedy were in California. They are on their way home today. Zak sent me a text, "Do you have ingredients for back to school cookies possibly?" I told him I had most of them and asked if he was in the mood for some cookies. He said, "It is Gabby's first day back in college and I thought it would be a good way to introduce you two. :-) "  Got to visit with Tyler when I took him to his class. I asked about Shawn, and h...