Day 75 Joy playing tennis with my son.

Earlier today my son asked me if we could play tennis today.  He explained it is the perfect weather for it, not too cold or hot!  After dinner tonight, I opened the door slightly to his room where he was playing and said, how about some tennis?  His face lit up and he jumped up at the opportunity.  He used my first racket I had used in high school, while I used my favorite.  I told him I couldn't promise, as I didn't know if the one set of courts in town would be open, but sure enough, they were not only open, but to my surprise recently repaved!  I played tennis for the first time with him once last summer, as he had found my high school trophy and was so excited to learn about my past.  This evening, again, it was a surreal feeling to play a games I spent all four years of my high school playing and quite a few before...with my own son across the court from me this time.  His smile, enthusiasm, how could it not fill me with joy.

Day 74 Joy in a neighbors backyard.

This afternoon, after the official back-to-school registration was done at the high school, I was getting ready to take my puppy for a walk when I saw my two neighbors outside.  Soon, my daughter came out to see what we were chatting about and the one across the street with three dogs, a fenced in yard and what we joke as the neighborhood dog park, invited us to have the dogs play.  It was the first time my daughter had been in the back with all the fun of the doggies everywhere, she soon went and got my son out from inside our house.  Before we knew it, our neighbor was getting out her bean bag toss game and the kids, furry and two-legged where all having a blast.  A random afternoon turned out to be so much fun, chatting with two neighbors, watching all the doggies playing and feeling joy surrounding us.

Day 73 Joy in an early morning.

My daughter began her flute lessons this morning, dropping her off at 8AM, after the luxury of being able to not leave the house that early for weeks!  A reminder of school mornings right around the corner.  Why am I finding joy in this early morning, because it was also a chance to come back and celebrate time with my kids, know that we still have a few weeks of summer together.

Day 72 Joy in time around home.

Today, I am glad I made the right choice for our family and spent the day at home.  The kids could stay in their PJs as long as they wanted, I got to read a good amount of my newest library book and it was much less stressful.  This evening, watching family Disney shows together, seeing everyone relaxed and laughing, I was filled with so much more joy than the night before.  It's true that sometimes you need to just stay home and enjoy a break.

Day 71 Joy in hugging my daughter again.

After a full week without seeing my 11 year old daughter for the first time ever, it was an exciting afternoon to see her, hug her and listen to her share all about her week away.  Kayaking, tubing, fishing, finding a 'root beer' waterfall, get interview on a local news station at the parade they were at...so many stories and smiles.  As much as I missed her, it was so good to hear all the fun she was able to have by going.  I was so overjoyed to be able to hug my daughter again.

Day 70 Joy in starting a new adventure.

Today I met about stepping up from a Preferred Arbonne customer to an actual active Consultant.  With two friends finding great success and joy in the business and already a happy customer, I decided to give it my all for a year and see what happens.  It can't hurt to try and see if I can make a side business of it, as I am needed to find some source of another income at this point in my life.  Making those first brave calls this afternoon, I was starting to feel the joy after hearing friends say, "Yes, I'd love to help you out."  Of course, not everyone said yes to hosting today and from past experience with Creative Memories, I am aware not everyone will, but now, at least I can say I've tried!

Day 69 Joy in doing something on a whim!

This evening, when my son and I were looking at the on-line movie schedule for the new Disney Movie "Planes" schedule tomorrow, we discovered it was showing at 9:30 tonight!  Being the night owl he has been the past week, I know he hasn't been falling asleep until 11 anyway, so I asked him if he'd want to see it now (as I discovered this we had just enough time to get to town to see it).  So, to great surprise to him, we got ready, headed in to Madison and made it!  We hadn't been to a movie for so long, to our surprise, they had redone the theatre and it was great.  Then, when we enter number 8, we were the only ones!  Soon after three more came in, but son was SO excited...so was mom, as I knew, going to a morning showing tomorrow meant it would be packed, with TONS of little kids talking during the show.  Well, from the jumping cheer of "That was AWESOME" as we left the show and entered the lobby...I knew, this was a whim of a night, filled with joy I won't soon forget.