2019 Joy Journal

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...

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 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 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 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 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. 

October 10, 2019 Barry and I drove down to Firefly last night and as we were walking in from the pier, he saw Fred and Donna and shouted a "hello." We stood and talked over the fence until the moon and stars were out.  Bertice touched base. Got to phone visit with Beverly for a few minutes.  Got to pick Beth up from the airport and visit with her for a little bit.  Yesterday was Davis' first birthday and Morgan posted a sweet video and pictures of his birthday. Got to talk to Faith yesterday. She sent me a text afterwards and said that it was good to talk to me, that it felt like it had been forever. Yesterday was Jaden's first day at head start and the teacher sent pictures of him having a really good time. 

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 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 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...

August 16, 2019 Beth called yesterday afternoon and we talked for a good thirty minutes, really longer, I think. It made me happy to get to have such a good visit with her. When I opened the mail, there was something to me from Andrew, Annette, Brittany and Skyler --- a hummingbird pop-up card, with a sweet message. I told Zak I was curious about the cards he and Morgan were talking about with Gabby, and he answered my text --- a game called "What's your meme?" He said she won the most cards. Amber said she is enjoying her yoga class.  Tor walked in shaking her head and grinning.  Me- What's funny? Tor- Daddy's just being so cute. M- About what? T- (sigh) Everything.  His laughs when they are near him. His face when they greet him at the door. I've been watching it for so long but it never fails to fill me in unexpected ways.

August 15, 2019 Barry and I spent last night at Firefly. I'm at my little writing desk in the bedroom. He and Mike and Jerry Wigfield are working on finishing up getting the electricity out to the deck. It is taking a little bit for that peaceful feeling to settle back in, but I got to see the moonlight on the bay last night. I slept too late to see the sun make its first peek over the horizon, but was up before I moved from orange to yellow.  Zak posted last night that he is in a relationship with Gabby, and Beth said he seems really happy.  Angela, Tori and Kennedy made it safely to San Diego, although their flight was delayed a couple of hours because of rain in Houston. Beverly and I got to have a phone visit. She said there is a lady at work who is about 68 who is really, really sweet to everyone. She said that one day when she was stressed out, the lady took Beverly's face in her hands and said, "Don't forget, you are very pretty."  Heard from Beth....

August 13, 2019 It has been a long time since I have opened my Joy Journal! When I sent Tori the pictures of the letters she had sent Grandmother and Granddad, she said, "Now, I want to read a joy journal!"  The morning has gone well. I took my 30 minute walk early because it is so hot these days, and I'm making it through the laundry. I'm focusing on it a little bit because I'm going to pack today so that we can spend a series of nights at Firefly.  Talked to Beverly for a little while last night. She and JA are just in a really good space --- bills are paid, have breakfast together in the morning, supper together at night, easy relaxing evenings. His job just has more sensible hours than anything he has worked for the past several years. She is especially excited because Ange, Tor, and Kennedy are all flying out there tomorrow for a visit. Kathi had a card that I had sent Grandmother --- picture of Brittany waving at us at her preschool program. I sent ...

June 18, 2019 Got a text from Tori yesterday! She said they are having a lot of rain, that work was good, and that she'd had a yum lunch. :-)  Heard from Beverly this morning.  Got to have a nice phone visit with Beth yesterday afternoon. She'd had a crazy Friday at work and had anticipated Monday being troublesome, but it turned out not to be.  Got a text from Angela this morning. Heard from Zak. He said he was planning to come by this evening, but since Barry and I are planning to go to Firefly at 5:00, he's going to come over for supper Wednesday night. 

June 14, 2019 Barry talked to Dave Ferrante yesterday and we have just come to great new places in our adventure. Dave told Barry that he has learned more from working with him than with any of his other terminal managers.  And, we're excited. The three owner-operators who wanted to be able to go ahead and buy their trailers can do so. We are on track for getting Donald into his own truck with his own trailer. We've made a decision about running our trucks. I've talked to Derek about getting his corporation set up.  ~Tyler was so mature and helpful yesterday, and loving. I needed to change Davis and so put the changing pad on the front passenger seat. I worried aloud that this might not work too well because Davis is longer than my seat is wide, and Tyler reached in, offering his finger to a crying Davis, "Here, do you want to hold my finger?" And after the change was done, Tyler offered me a diaper wipe for my hands and offered to take the diaper to the d...

June 7, 2019 Barry and I drove down to Firefly after work and just set out on the deck for a minute ...he picked up his fishing rod. Time just flies by when we're down there. We went to Bailey's for supper.  Heard from  Skyler. Enjoyed visiting with Tyler on the way to and from his class. Got a text from Angela this morning, with a video. A turtle is laying eggs just outside her office! Got to have a little phone visit with Beverly. She should be getting the schedule she expected, starting next week, and she was signed off on some things that she had to get through, even though they didn't give her much time to prepare.  Heard from Kennedy. She may be over this weekend. I shared a fish article on Zak's timeline and he responded.  Beth will get her CT results one day next week. Heard from Amber. She said she got in a two mile run along the lake!

June 4, 2019 Kennedy is here!  I got a "Happy Tuesday," text from Angela early this morning. Brittany sent me a picture of a vase that she has, and that she has filled with a collection of sand, including sand from Vero Beach. Beth sent me a text. Facebook chatted with Morgan a little bit yesterday.  Zak posted on Facebook and I commented on his post, and he said, "Love you, Grannie!" Amber posted a picture of some paleo baking she'd done. Had a good visit with Tyler yesterday when I took him to his class. Had a good walk with Bertice this morning. 

May 30, 2019 Jamie Franco-Zamudio reacted with a heart to my comment on her post, and Mark and Robin Dannahower and Peggy Lyon liked my comments on Mark's post. I spent some writing time there this morning. Barry and I are going to leave in the morning for BBQ competition in Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. He's kind of looking forward to the even now, and I think we'll have a good time.  Got to see Beth for a minute yesterday.  Got a text kiss from Beverly.