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.

Day 68 Joy in a field.

I left out the last word in my post title today, which should read sunflowers.  Last night, after the picture of my three sunflowers I had purchased for myself, I saw a friend who found a field full of them, as her picture showed.  I found out that it wasn't too far away, so once I convinced my son, we headed out to find the conservatory these amazing flowers were growing in.  I had never been to a sunflower field in person and let's just say this field surpassed my expectations!  My son and I didn't even make it to the end of the field...it was as if it went on forever.  As I said to my sister, along with a few of the photos I had taken, it's like a little taste of Italy, in Wisconsin.  True joy and awe walking alongside the great sunflower field today.

Day 67 Joy in buying sunflowers for myself.

This afternoon, I had been looking forward to visiting a vineyard nearby with two good friends.  When I found out we had to reschedule, I knew my son would still want to attend the play-date I had set up for him, so I decided to run some errands on my own.  After making a return, picking up a few things I had needed in town, I then did some enjoyable window-shopping at some of my favorite shops near Hilldale.  Anthropology, Title Nine, all things out of my budget, but when just looking, know one else knows this.  I did make one purchase, as I knew the upscale grocery store always had a beautiful selection of flowers, many of them from local farmers.  I walked through their display and into huge cooler filled with buckets of flowers as well as arrangements.  Then, I saw them, amazing sunflowers, larger than my wide open hand and under $2 each.  I asked if I could have three wrapped and with a huge thank you and smile, I checked out and walked proudly with my purchase to my minivan.  Coming home, picking up my son from his friends and placing them in my family room, I couldn't help but smile.  Fresh flowers, even when purchased for yourself, can definitely fill you with joy.

Day 66 Joy in a phone call.

My daughter, who is eleven years old, left at 8 AM Saturday morning for her first trip away from home for a week.  She was so excited to go with her good friend and their family, up north to a cottage by the lake.  I was excited for her to have the opportunity, but as my son pointed out, she's NEVER been away that long!  I will miss her too much!  Well, we have made it three days now and we excitedly received our first call from her.  She sounded a bit tired, but happy, having went tubing behind a speedboat for the first time...having kayaks and paddles boats and Bingo at night to play.  She was having a great time, which is all I needed to hear.  Joy today, among other things, was hearing her voice again in that call.

Day 65 Joy watching a free ski show.

Earlier this evening, my son and I were climbing to the garden top terrace to watch his first water ski show.  We made it just as the practicing was finishing up and found ourselves pulling up two chairs near the large curved steal rails and had a great view from above.  We watched the skiers go by, in a pyramid form, going off the jump, a large group dancing side by side...reminding me of the ski shows my sister and I use to attend each summer near my grandparents cottage in northern Wisconsin, it was a fun evening event Then, the reality of hunger kicked in (I had asked earlier, but apparently we could only focus on getting to the show).  Fortunately, the roof top café was right there and not too bad for pricing, so we went for it.  Fish tacos for mom and of course, a hot dog meal for my son.  The best memory was sitting there eating and watching the show on such a beautiful summer evening with a wonderful son, what a joy.

Day 64 Joy in new places.

Today, I took my son picking raspberries for the first time.  It's amazing how the simplest things can be so fun.  Discovering where the ripest berries are, watching the bees keep busy working and staying away from us, watching the farmer cutting the grass in the adjoining field.  The sunny sky and not-to-hot August day made time just disappear.  After returning home, we ate lunch, picked up our 5 month old puppy and headed to a new-to-us State Park just under a half hour away.  I had heard it had a dog beach as well as park and my son was up for the trip, so off we went.  Just as I was about to pull off the country highway and try and figure out where we were, I saw the sign, entrance and in moments we were walking down to the dock and beach were a couple other dogs were happily playing.  It was so fun to watch as our puppy watched for the shore, went in knee deep and eventually just sat, taking all the action in.  Again, I had know idea how long we were there, but it was such a wonderful time, watching all the dogs frolic, play, splash and sniff.  You could see their smiles and their owners as well.  So much joy in new places/experiences today.

Day 63: Joy in distractions.

While I was continuing to learn about 'The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs" in Ted Kerasote's book Puakka's Promise this evening, my puppy had other plans.  We had just came in from playing catch...after the kids and I (as well as she) had ate dinner.  I thought she was ready to flop while I picked up where I left off on studies and reports on feeding our dogs when I was distracted, over and over by an adorable face peaking up over the edge of my chair.  I finally laughed, picked up my cell phone and snapped a picture, putting down my book and went outside to play and then take her on a nice long walk.  Apparently we both needed the distraction from reading, as otherwise I wouldn't have seen the beautiful purple highlights at the bottom of the sunset this evening.  Distractions, at the right times, can certainly bring joy.

Day 62 Joy in a dog hug.

While the emails of new teachers and class lists, birthday parties and friends over to play, today ended up being a more hectic day than I had woke up thinking it was.  When my son ended up sick this evening, probably more exhaustion I am thinking, it was a reminder to stop going.  As I am taking a break from my recent book I have dove into, I am thinking back on the day as to what brought me the most job...I think that giant, calming smile from my puppy.  She had once again climbed/jumped up on my recliner, this time paw around each side of my stomach, literary hugging me and almost nose to nose with my face with the largest I LOVE YOU MOM smile.  How can that not be my moment of joy for today.  Of course, I couldn't capture it on film, but I did get another great smile as I was making our dinner.