This week was a real mixture of joy and sorrow, easy and hard.
A dear friend lost her Mom.
Another loved one’s husband got laid off.
December is so very dark, and many I know, including myself, find that adjustment very difficult.
The holidays often bring up lots of bitter sweet emotions that we have to feel, and then let go of.
I was also feeling low physically for most of the week.
But making a list of what brought me joy truly does help to comfort achy spots.
So here goes:
A JOY list for the week on December 12, 2011 :
Art Journal time taken. Yay !
Christmas cactus blooming right on time !
Christmas shopping underway, and going relatively stress-free.
Even included a few little gifties for myself !
(A puzzle for the deep, dark, January evenings. Thanks to my friends, Kim and Riley, who reminded me of my love of puzzles this past summer !)
A couple’s dinner at my friends, Lois and Mike’s, house that included great conversation, laughter and an exchange of handmade goodies. I love my owl, Lo !
My pets never fail to bring me moments of sweet joy, just by being around.
How’s this for a silly portrait portrait of my 8 year old puppy, Chica ?
(Leave me a caption for what you think she might be saying if you are inspired to add to the joy to the week !)
It was also a joy to see the Christmas decorations that have been stored away for a year come out of their boxes.
Certain ones made me feel really nostalgic this year. Many have been around for 11 years or so, since David and I celebrated our first Christmas together.
Like this one, that is a favorite of my friend, Suzanne, who is celebrating her birthday today !
Love you, Suzy !
Happy and joyful Holidays to you, Beautiful Ones !
Much love !
![STJ_Thursday_web[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I3YI-y0Q2Qa4zBrS6C73QE1z7gQ0LzmkXFdxhGoaIIqT8sIUwEzyAo_nOm3zI2ePpeQLn92WW8gYYjqesW92592Cd5sH432T2qTHHfIats3slr5JBV6G_RZ1StUvWNdh2VHc8Yco_9qH/?imgmax=800 "STJ_Thursday_web[2]")
More joy at Meri’s Musings
Such sadness and stress for your dear friends -- I'm sure your warmth and caring is a great gift to them. This is a difficult time of the year for so many people, because their lives don't match the expectations or because people who are part of their best memories are no longer with them. And then there are the short, dark days. . . blech! So it's really important to get in that art journaling, girlfriend. . . and to take funny pictures of Chica. I stuck out my tongue and winked simultaneously to figure out what she was thinking, but all that came was "nanny, nanny boo boo!"
ReplyDeleteoh that chica photo cracked me up....tongue, wink and a leave me alone look all in one....looks so much like my sophie who lately sleeps with her tongue sticking out like that.
ReplyDeletethis time of year is a great time to sit and write out what we're thankful for....as it's so hard to forget when dealing with all the stresses that seem to attack all of us right about now....
xoxoxo
December is one of the most difficult months...bad things happen, sad things happen and yet, in among all the sadness there is still joy happening and joy to be found. My heart goes out to your friends who are experiencing sadness this month.
ReplyDeleteAnd then my heart smiles because you have found joy and shared it.
As for Chica...what a look!!! As if to say, "yes, you wanted soemthing?"
I'm off to find some joy myself...you, as always, have inspired my day!! ♥
I've either had too much coffee or not enough because something tells me I should know how to "spell" something!!! lol!!!
ReplyDeleteEven with some sadness in your life you still manage to bring the joy to all of us. That pic of Chica is adorable! I'm never good with words so I can't help you with a caption but it sure brought a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteCaption: C'mon Mom! I was dreaming of a bone, it was big, no, huge. And then, then you woke me up with that darn camera again. So, um, there's not a big chewy bone for me under the Christmas tree is there Mom?
ReplyDeleteJust be silly! In my head, my pups speak in cartoony voices. LOL.
Unfortunately there will always be less than joyful moments in our lives and our loved ones. It's brave of you to find the joy amongst the heartache. I hope your day gets brighter!
I am sorry for your difficult times, My Queen. I love the idea of a Joy List. It adds some additional positive emotion to the traditional Gratitude List, for we can be grateful for something without it bringing us joy. Joy is like the next level up. I have been bereft of blogging ideas lately, but that is a good one: A Joy List. The perfect time for it is on Share the Joy Thursday, too. Wishing you love and joy and peace, xoO
ReplyDeletei just hear chica's thoughts, "oh, no she's got the camera again". the puzzle looks like a fun and challenging one. that should keep you busy many a winters nights.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos of joy!
ReplyDeleteChica: What was so important you had to wake me? Raspberries!
Little things can bring tidings of great joy. The Christmas cactus in bloom certainly cheers my soul!
ReplyDelete