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...

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. 

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 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 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 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 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 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.

October 31, 2019 Heard from Shawn yesterday. And heard from Tori. She said, "Josh made some fresh pico de gallo to go with dinner and it is very yummy, so I'd say Wednesday went pretty well."  Heard from Beverly. She was tired, but packing.  Talked to Rodney when we called to wish him happy birthday. Had a little text visit with Morgan. She is excited about Halloween. 

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 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 6, 2019 Did I tell you already that Ashley Ezell said I was the most productive volunteer she'd ever worked with? I feel pretty much the opposite, so I've kind of enjoyed that. Evan and Chelsea brought Jaden and James over for supper last night. Jaden started lots of games with us (hiding in the cabinets, etc.) and James smiled a lot. We got take out from Taste of Thai and just laughed and talked and caught up a little bit. James was teething on his fist, so I gave him an Oreo. After he'd had a minute I said, "I should have asked his mommy first!" and Chelsea said, "That's all right. You're the granny. You can do whatever you want."  I got to have a nice phone visit with Annette this morning. I could hear in her voice how much she and Andrew had enjoyed her trip to California.  Heard from Tori. She said they had just finished a walk around the neighborhood, so I said that I was sending them each a star. Heard from Shawn. He said ...

April 26, 2019 Enjoyed my walk with Bertice yesterday. Heard from Lori this morning. Got some of my stitches out yesterday.  Heard from Tori. She said it had been an eventful day and that she and Josh were headed to a movie. Heard from Kennedy. She will be here Sunday, but has been very busy in the print lab. I've lost track of days, but I'm still happy about getting to have a nice phone visit with Beth. Just the sound of her voice telling me about her day.  Did I tell you that Amber was accepted into an online college to continue her sports medicine?  Chelsea posted a picture of Jaden sleeping in his big boy bed.

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 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 ...