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...

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.

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 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...

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 21, 2019 Well, the writing shack ac compressor isn't working, so I'm clammy. ;-)  However --- Angela sent me a text yesterday morning and I got to talk to Beverly last night.  I got to spend yesterday with Davis, so my day is was filled with hugs and smiles, and getting to see Morgan. She said, "I love the expression on his face when he sees me when I come get him after work." 

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...

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. 

The red amaryllis just outside my writing shack window are in full bloom, always reminding me of Tori's graduation.  The tennis tournaments have been rained out so far, but all of the inconvenienced players were gracious and appreciative of the work done to put the tournament on.  Morgan and Brandon and Davis came over yesterday, so I got to hold him and get some of his smiles, and got to visit with Morgan. We went to Firefly. Kennedy came over Saturday night, and she and Barry got a lot done on the project they're doing for Frank, and she went to Firefly with us.  The tennis tournament took everything last week, so I didn't send any postcards, or hear too much from anyone. 

March 12, 2019 Just having a good morning. We ate leftovers for dinner last night, so there wasn't any need to run the dishwasher last night, or to unload it this morning. It didn't take long to straighten the bedroom, fold the towels, get my blanket out of the family room----all neat, ready to go and behind me. In the writing shack at 7:52. I should be able to get in a walk, and the afternoon feels doable.  Angela and Tori made it back to Tampa safely, and Kennedy made it back to Pensacola. Ange's experience at the vet didn't go well, and we couldn't get Bentley interested in marking any of the spots in the back yard. There was a lot of love and laughter surrounding the effort though --- Tori and Kennedy carrying water, trying to lure Bentley to interesting spots, Ange  doing the same while toting the plastic container to catch the sample. Surprising a cat who was hiding in the playground.  Beth came over for coffee and so I got to play with Davis a little ...

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...

Morgan, as part of conversation about dressing babies up for grandparents and great grandparents, and Goodtimes: "We spent so much time in Papa's T-Shirts! That's still my favorite thing to wear to sleep! 2X" Brandon said, "She even wears it out sometimes." Morgan added pretty quickly something like "Just to the ComPac."  Kennedy said that Saturday was her first day being paid to work in the art department. :-) Work study program.  Beverly and I got to have a nice long phone visit Friday night, and Angela and Tori called us that night, too.  Kennedy came over yesterday afternoon and she and Barry spent some time out in the pottery barn working on her gun project. She said her art teacher said he could see it developing into graduate student work.  Saw Beth on Facebook a little bit. She'll be here sometime Wednesday and will stay for a few days. It will be so good to have her home. Morgan and Brandon and Davis came over yesterday and s...

January 4, 2019 Davis slept in his crib napped in his crib for the first time today. Brittany thanking me for always caring about what is going on in her life. Jaden trying to get a glass off the kitchen counter. He can reach it now.