Joy Visualized

Joy Visualized

Monday, December 31, 2012

December 31st....A reflection

So, here it is.  The last day of my year-long quest to seek Joy out.  My daily discipline turned habit.  Seeing the Giver of Good Gifts in all the variations in which He shows Himself.  I posted my last post---of this year, at least---Gift #1067.  Just as it was when I crossed the #1000 milestone, I find that I can't really stop.  I don't know if I'll continue my blog, but I do know that I have this list and it is growing.....

All year, I have written my three gifts from the Joy Dare topic in a paper journal.  Those gifts are the ones pictured on my blog. But also, along with the numbered list, I kept a separate list---unnumbered and sporadic--scribbled in the left hand side of my journal.  In an effort to reflect upon the year, I read back through my journal and numbered all the gifts I wrote on the left hand margin.   I'm happy to report that I not only found my 1000 gifts and not only counted gifts for an entire year, but I also doubled my initial quota.  The list, if you care to peruse, is included below. (Heads up:  it's the equivalent of a 27-page Word document...970 total.)

I find it interesting that at the first of the year, I only jotted down pauses in time to remember.  But as the year progressed, I found more and more to be thankful for---mostly mundane, like being on time to my Yoga class or being at the grocery store by myself.  But some real genuine thankfulness is going on here, and that's what I'd like to share with everyone.  When I would find myself in one of "my moods"---turning my thoughts to what God has given me cast a new light on my day.  Now, sometimes, it took longer than others, but if I could remember to be grateful and direct that thanks to the right source, my perspective shifted.

And the daily practice of sitting down to think about the gifts entrusted to me has become as natural as making my coffee in the morning.  It's just something I do now.  I hope, if you have read my blog or followed my progress at all, that you have gleaned some positive experience from my little experiment.  If I do blog again, I'll be starting with #2038.....and still counting.....





1/7
#1068              Jack sings Away in a Manger and Jingle Bells ALL THE TIME
#1069              Lucy gives solo dance performances to the “beautiful music that Daddy plays”
#1070              Ella is always making something…a craft, a picture, a gift….
           1/31
#1071              Ella calls him “Justin Beaver” and she doesn’t like him at all….
#1072              Jack makes perfect aviation sounds for which ever aircraft he’s pretending to fly
#1073              Lucy colors meticulously inside the lines and gets the markers herself
            2/9
#1074              Ella & Lucy at Baylor’s Martin Museum of Art, Wiethorn Visitor’s Center and Moody Library
            2/10
#1075              Twins at the library, seeing the Kermit & Miss Piggy puppet show
#1076              Ella ran into the house yelling “GG!!!” because she saw the car outside
             2/16
#1077              Jack taking the silly putty from the Arterburn’s house, being made to return it an apologize, and then taking a marble before we left again….
#1078              Jack:  “Mrs. Agreggor” = McGregor
                  2/18
#1079              Lucy jumping for joy when Cinderella marries her prince
#1080              Ella and I making Barbie rooms out of cardboard boxes
                 2/22
#1081              All three kids in the Ash Wednesday service
                2/29
#1082              Ella at church:  “A boy said nobody wants to be his friend and I told him I want to be his friend.
                  3/1
#1083              Ella and Lucy at the Library playing and creating
                   3/2
#1084              Amy Everett:  “May our repentance be courageous and may we be patient with our transformation
#1085              Jack asleep on my lap at Don Carlos
#1086              Lucy pretending to be a cat
#1087              Ella’s story about the magic wolf       (wishing now I had written it down…)
                3/3
#1088              Pam Reed “filled a room”…..
                3/5
#1089              Jack use of Green Eggs and Ham to cite an example of someone else not trying something new to eat.
                3/13
#1090              Spring Break in Waxahachie
#1091              Hannah & Ella = BFF
#1092              Jack & Hudson being boys together
#1093              Hannah looking out after Lucy
                  3/19
#1094              Joel & Jack practicing soccer:  “Mommy---did you see me playing sports?”
#1095              Lucy:  “Ella is really nice, but sometimes she gripes.”
#1096              Playing in the tent on the driveway
                  4/2
#1097              School field trip with Ella to the museum and having time together afterwards
#1098              Ella correcting me:  “No, Mommy, that’s a cement truck.”
                  4/8
#1099              Ella collected the offering with her Sunday School class
#1100              Jack:  “Storms without tomatoes are fun.  Storms with tomatoes are scary.”
                4/12
#1101              Jack’s day at the zoo and he was Baby Jaguar from Diego
                 4/18
#1102              Mema’s 100th Birthday
                  4/19
#1103              Free time at JBF, Downtown, and Girls’ night with Alisha & Chrissy
                 4/26
#1104              Ella reading to Jack on the couch
                 4/27
#1105              Dad in town
#1106              Dinner on the patio
                 4/28
#1107              Joel’s art show “Art on Elm”
                   4/29
#1108              Lunch with Karyn
#1109              TWO swim parties
                 5/3
#1110              Lucy day!  “You’re my favorite person.”
                5/5
#1111              Girls SOOOO excited about going to GG & Papa’s
#1112              Garage sale with Mom
#1113              Playing store
               5/11
#1114              Mother’s Day tea with the twins
                5/12
#1115              Farmer’s Market with twins
#1116              Ella’s haircut for Lucy (!!!!)
                5/13
#1117              Mother’s Day pics downtown (by the warehouse that is now torn down)
                5/15
#1118              IKEA with the twins
#1119              Rainy drive to RoundRock
                5/19
#1120              Jakob’s birthday party with all three kids
#1121              Blow up water slide!
#1122              Jack’s last soccer game
                5/20
#1123              Cheddar’s with Sara
#1124              Chocolate Cake!!!
#1125              The partial solar eclipse viewed from atop Papa’s house
                5/21
#1126              Cardboard sheets for VBS
#1127              The challenge of driving with the cardboard sheets
#1128              Grace from the Eldest when the cardboard sheets made me late to pick her up from school
                  5/22
#1129              Ella’s field day, cut short from a hurt toe
#1130              Lucy’s ant bites
#1131              Hard, hard day at home, but just one day…..
                 5/23 
#1132              Jack & Lucy’s last day of preschool
#1133              Mrs. Conner
#1134              Mrs. Thompson
                  5/24#1135 Historical village with Jack
#1136              The church bell
                   5/25
#1137              Ella’s end of year party at Whitehall
#1138              “Chipwrecked”
                   5/26
#1139              Charlie’s swim party in Ft. Worth
#1140              Cousin time
                  5/27
#1141              Pentecost Sunday
#1142              All-church breakfast by myself
#1143              On the boat with Nathan and Amanda
                 5/28
#1144              Kids spending allowance money
#1145              The outdoor pool at the Y
                 5/29
#1146              Beth K and her boys came over
#1147              A successful non-family haircut
#1148              My kids and her kids playing Simon Says and Hide-n-Seek
                  5/30
#1149              Hall Boys and My Boys to the Ranger Game
#1150              Hall Girls and My Girls to the Waxahachie pool
                  5/31
#1151              RAIN!!!!!
#1152              BIG THUNDER!!!!
#1153              Sunshine and drip-drops
                6/1
#1154              Van Breakdown, but with Joel behind us
#1155              Waiting in the sun with Wayne for the tow truck
#1156              Lowe’s with twins
#1157              Carpet cores to church
               6/2
#1158              Set design work day…plans come to life
#1159              Getting whisked away to a glorious day on the boat!
                6/3  
#1160              Joel on the boat with kids while I worked on parrot wings
#1161              Eric’s Sunday School talk about Vocation & Calling
               6/4
#1162              Day 1 of summer:  hard day, but Joy was present
#1163              Music lessons
#1164              chore time
#1165              Lucy at ballet
               6/5
#1166              Swimming at the Y in the morning
#1167              Perspective shift at lunch
#1168              Around the block in the evening
#1169              Given a “peace rose” by a neighbor
               6/6
#1170              Terry’s birthday with Julie & Burt
#1171              Max the Dog
#1172              Hitting golf balls
                6/7
#1173              A day to myself
#1174              Running errands for the party
#1175              Ella’s gifts
                6/8
#1176              Cleaning & vacuuming the house
                6/9
#1177              Ella’s Parrot Party
#1178              Jack falling asleep on my shoulder
#1179              Lucy’s rehearsal and dancing like crazy
               6/10
#1180              Sunday School with Kurt
#1181              Mom came to Sunday School with me
#1182              Grilled Chicken at home for lunch
#1183              Lucy’s ballet recital!
               6/11
#1184              Birthdays
#1185              Jack’s first words to me:  “Happy Birfday, Mommy!!”
#1186              Dad made coffee
#1187              Breakfast with Mom & Dad
#1188              Opened birthday cards with Ella
#1189              My new Nike’s
#1190              Lunch at Panera
#1191              Ella off on her own to Waxahachie
#1192              Twins to the mall with me
#1193              Free Panera scone & coffee
#1194              Twins playing in the green cooler
#1195              Date Night with Joel
#1196              My new iPhone!!!
#1197              BJ’s Brewhouse
#1198              Home in time to say goodnight to twins
#1199              Number 38 is the best birthday yet….
                6/12
#1200              Ella’s 7th Birthday
#1201              Talking to her on the phone from Mom’s house
#1202              Twins playing in the green cooler ALL DAY
#1203              Rain in the afternoon
                  6/13
#1204              “Way Back Wednesday” with Jack, Lucy, & Papa at the museum
                6/14
#1205              Lucy’s “Spa” day
#1206              Jack with Papa
                 6/15
#1207              Museum with Jack & Lucy…waiting for Ella to get home
                6/16
#1208              New Car in Temple!!!  “Mike”
#1209              Setting up VBS All Day…..
#1210              Getting Ella Back….last drive in Herbie
               6/17
#1211              Major Install Day for VBS…going smoothly
#1212              Father’s Day…thankful
                6/18
#1213              Day One of VBS
                6/19
#1214              Garage clean-out
#1215              Helping Kay
#1216              Mother’s Day Out:  Day 1
#1217              First time NOT at VBS….a little weird
              6/20
#1218              Kids spending earned money at the museum…
#1219              Ella and her birds
               6/21
#1220              Yoga at the Y
#1221              Angel Paws at the Library with “Yeti”
#1222              Swimming at the Y
               6/22
#1223              Last Night of VBS
#1224              DaySpring water slide
#1225              Homemade bread…mmmmm….
             6/23
#1226              clean-up of VBS at church:  DONE BY NOON!!!
#1227              Elise’s baptism
#1228              Pool with the fam
              6/24
#1229              Susan.  Thankful to have known her
#1230              Brave at the theater with the kids
#1231              Supper club with the Arterburns
              6/25
#1232              YMCA pool
#1233              Weaving t-shirts with Ella
               6/26
#1234              Lucy sick, but home
#1235              Quicken like mad!  Three months….
               6/27
#1236              Susan’s memorial service:  grieving and comfort
#1237              Date lunch with Joel
#1238              Escape to Temple
               6/28
#1239              Twins and the brown eye-shadow….they just wanted to be brown.
               6/29
#1240              Mayan exhibit at the museum
#1241              Bahama bucks for free
              6/30
#1242              Farmer’s market with DaySpringers
#1243              Lake Belton on the boat
#1244              The sudden storm on the lake
              7/1
#1245              Lucy is thankful for Mimi & Papa
#1246              Tante’s chicks
#1247              Twins in the chicken coop
               7/2
#1248              Waiting for ATT and getting things done!
               7/3
#1249              Chicken Tetrazini at Mom & Dad’s
#1250              Jack singing VBS songs
               7/4
#1251              Waxahachie 4th of July parade with the Baergens
#1252              Giant water slide at Suzanne’s
#1253              Squeals of delight
#1254              Back in Waco on the Happy Day with Mimi, Papa, Tante, & James
               7/5
#1255              Sleeping late!!
#1256              Movie morning
#1257              Pool at the Y
#1258              Joel to Houston and back safely
               7/6
#1259              The Bubble Nazi at the library…fun information, but sort of a funny lady
#1260              Lunch with kids and Joel
#1261              Running into Papa at Target
               7/7
#1262              Home all day
#1263              Cleaning and playing
#1264              Poured down rain
#1265              Movie:  “The End of The Spear”
               7/8
#1266              Poppa Rollo’s after church
#1267              Afternoon spent organizing
#1268              Joel took the kids to Mother Neff
               7/9
#1269              Playing with Ponies in pajamas
#1270              Jack:  “Daddy kills bears and wears the fur on his arms!”
#1271              RAIN!!!
              7/10
#1272              Mother’s Day Out for twins, Home for Ella
#1273              RAIN!!!  (again!!!)
#1274              Trip to Best Buy & Walmart
#1275              Seeing the rainbow
              7/11
#1276              Old Navy shopping trip
#1277              the Museum
#1278              Rain for our picnic
#1279              Joel coming to the rescue after a hard day
               7/12
#1280              Reading to Frank the dog at the library
#1281              Lucy’s coloring page
#1282              Lunch with Dad at McAlister’s
#1283              Discovery Dome
#1284              Kay’s house
                7/13
#1285              Getting ready to leave for Clyde, grateful that it is a rare trip
#1286              Twenty years since high school
#1287              Belle’s Chicken Dinner House
#1288              Christina.
               7/14
#1289              Breakfast & swimming at the hotel
#1290              Lunch with Louis & Sherri at Cracker Barrel
#1291              Zoo with friends from High school
#1292              Touring Clyde
#1293              The State Trooper’s WARNING
#1294              Home sweet home
                7/15
#1295              Papa at church
#1296              David dancing in his underwear
#1297              Pedicure and smoothies with VBS girls
                7/16
#1298              Day at home
#1299              Ponyo
#1300              Joy Dare
                7/17
#1301              Lunch with Erica
#1302              Bubbles with Jack
                 7/18
#1303              Papa took the kids for the day
#1304              Sick, but thankful for DayQuil & Vitamin C
#1305              Chick-fil-a
               7/19
#1306              Home sick again = pajama day
#1307             Getting packed up for the trip to the lake
#1308              The kids’ tender hearts----feeling sorry for me for being sick
                7/20
#1309              Day 1 at Lake Granbury with Hall family
                7/21
#1310              Kids on the pull-along jet ski
#1311              Boys in their conversations
#1312              Cousins
               7/22
#1313              Family devotional time  (church on the porch)
#1314              Alyssa’s birthday party
#1315              Scavenger hunt
#1316              Me, Gary, Shower caps, & cheetos
                7/23
#1317              Leaving the Lake House
#1318              “Losing” Joel’s wallet
#1319              Joy in sorrow
               7/24
#1320              Home again
#1321              Mother’s Day Out
#1322              New Swimsuits
                7/25
#1323              Ella Day!
#1324              Dr Myers:  “She’s perfect”
#1325              Martin Museum of Art---touching with our eyes and minds
#1326              Antique store
              7/26  
#1327              Art lunch with Hillary
#1328              Angel Paws poodle:  “Winston”
              7/27
#1329              World Hunger Relief Farm with DaySpring Kids
#1330              Buzzard Billy’s with Joel
#1331              DaySpring restocking while kids play
#1332              Slip-n-slide in the back yard….Ella & Jack LOVING it.
              7/28
#1333              Cleaned out girls’ room with Joel’s help and girls’ input
#1334              Y swimming
              7/29
#1335              Taught Ella’s Sunday School class
#1336              Read scripture in church (Ephesians 3:14-19)
#1337              Served Communion
              7/30
#1338              Splash park with William & Lauren
#1339              YMCA pool
#1340              Steaks at home
               7/31
#1341              Last day of Mother’s Day Out
#1342              Laverty’s with Momma
#1343              Ella’s tumbling camp
                 8/1
#1344              Fantasia & Fantasia 2000
#1345              Having a flexible schedule so Ella can stay home & rest
#1346              Mimi & Papa took the twins
                8/2
#1347              “Herbie”
#1348              Going through Hand-me-downs  Ella:  “it’s like a store!”
#1349              Museum Movie
#1350              Sonic Ice Cream
#1351              Library coupons
                8/3              
#1352              Jesus Calling passage and the work of the Holy Spirit on my character
#1353              Lunch with Joel
#1354              “Chimpanzee” movie at the Dollar movie with kids and Papa
                8/4
#1355              Morning at home
#1356              Joel’s office with the kids
#1357              Horseland
#1358              YMCA pool
#1359              Cleaning the church with the kids
               8/5
#1360              Slow morning
#1361              Twins in church
#1362              Poppa Rollo’s
               8/6
#1363              Ella & Mommy at HEB alone…
#1364              Chicken Tetrazini
                8/7
#1365              Clean patio
#1366              Playing horses
#1367              Garage with Ella
#1368              Dietz family portrait and dinner
               8/8
#1369              1st day of Vacation!!!!
#1370              Joel off work
#1371              Safe arrival in Rockport at 11:30 p.m.
               8/9
#1372              Breakfast at Whataburger---and meeting its biggest fans
#1373              HEB for the week
#1374              Rockport Beach
#1375              NOT a stinky shower
                 8/10
#1376              Port Aransas for the day
#1377              Moby Dick’s & full bellies
#1378              Sandy toes & sun-kissed noses
                8/11
#1379              Corpus Christi for the day
#1380              Science & History Museum
#1381              Treasure Hunt with Ella
#1382              Brewster Icehouse for lunch
#1383              Shoreline Drive
                8/12
#1384              Cinnamon rolls at the cabin
#1385              Kids playing store through the window
#1386              Pizza Inn
#1387              Rockport Beach
                8/13
#1388              Morning golf cart ride
#1389              Weird lunch, but thankful for food
#1390              Rockport beach
#1391              Canals dug
               8/14
#1392             Jalisco
#1393              Art Center Pier with Kids
#1394              Landromat
#1395              Packing up and saying goodbye
#1396              Victoria Chick-fil-a
                 8/15
#1397              Home with Joel off work
#1398              Photos & videos of trip
#1399              Kids playing at home
                 8/16
#1400              Dad’s 1st day back at work….meeting for lunch
#1401              Mr. Rogers online
#1402              Twins’ preschool orientation
                 8/17
#1403              Friday lunch with Dad
#1404              Packing kids for GG’s house for the weekend!!!!
#1405              New shoes
#1406              Date night with Joel
#1407              More RAIN!!!
              8/18
#1408              Slept until 10:00 & woke up to rain
#1409              Date with Joel to see Dark Knight Rises at the theater
              8/19
#1410              All-church breakfast by myself
#1411              CJ’s welcome back party at Jerry & Christina’s
             8/20
#1412              Drive to pick up kids
#1413              The first hugs…how much we missed each other
             8/21
#1414              Birthday of a wonderful man
#1415              Early morning with the kids
#1416              Rain & Playing in the garage
#1417              Joel’s birthday cake
#1418              Cleaned house for Joel
               8/22
#1419              Twins’ 1st day of 4-year pre-K with Mrs. Dvorak
#1420              Morning with Ella
#1421              Afternoon at the museum with all three
                8/23
#1422              Early to the Y….treadmill, yoga
#1423              Lunch with Joel and then the zoo
#1424              Kay’s table
                8/24
#1425              Ella day:  Target & Mall playground
#1426              Carwash
#1427              Lunch with Daddy
#1428              YMCA pool
#1429              Late night movie date with Ella
                8/25
#1430              Saturday at home
#1431              Barker kids came over….
               8/26
#1432              Promotion Sunday
#1433              Twins to Godly Play class
#1434              Ella being a “helper” in her class
#1435              Our study on Amos begins….
                8/27
#1436              Walmart with Ella….caught in the rain!!!
#1437              Princess movie at Mardel
#1438              Meet the teacher night!!!
                8/28
#1439              Day trip to IKEA
#1440              Ella getting to play in Small Land…in awe
#1441              Rain on the last mile home
               8/29
#1442              All morning/early afternoon to myself
#1443              Ella’s 1st day of school
#1444              Picking up Ella and talking about her day
              8/30
#1445              Joel sick, but home!
#1446              Water leak was nothing
#1447              Rescued from snake in the laundry room
#1448              Ice cream at Sonic
              8/31
#1449              Shopping alone
#1450              DaySpring Supplies
#1451              Lunch with Joel
#1452              Poague Park---met Michelle, Raymond & Robert
              9/1
#1453              West Fest Parade with Papa
#1454              Outlaw Steakhouse
#1455              Jack’s model airplane
#1456              Swimming at the Y for the last time in the summer
              9/2
#1457              Extended session with the babies
#1458              Seeing Poppo at Logan’s
#1459              Pajamas in the afternoon
                9/3
#1460              No school, no work
#1461              Cleaning the house and working in the garage
#1462              The pool at the Jones’ house
              9/4
#1463              Temple with the twins
#1464              Ella off to school for the day and not getting to see her until bedtime---that moment we sat together
#1465              Thrive, taking pictures
              9/5    
#1466              Twins at school
#1467              Coffee with Amy
#1468              Thomas at home
#1469              Homework with Ella
              9/6
#1470              Morning yoga before twins got up
#1471              Catch-up Day
               9/7
#1472              “Home”work
#1473              Twins at school
               9/8
#1474              Cooler Weather!!!  Wind almost COLD!!!
#1475              Housework & chores
#1476              Mimi in the hospital, but doing better
               9/9
#1477              A Sunday in the middle of church
#1478              Regina
#1479              Visiting Mimi
#1480              Walking around the hospital with the twins
#1481              Working on sale while everyone else adventured
               9/10
#1482              Legos with twins
#1483              Ballet for the girls
#1484              Outside with Jack
#1485              The new shovel
                9/11
#1486              Home with twins
#1487              Legos for hours
#1488              Dawn Treader
#1489              Women of the Heart and Holy Silence
               9/12
#1490              My hour by the big tree at DaySpring
#1491              Work of the church
#1492              Outside with kids
#1493              Home with family
#1494              Banana bread
#1495              Written in by Lucy:  MOM DAD JACK ELLA LUCY {heart} JESUS
                9/13
#1496              Morning with Lucy
#1497              Working on Katina’s tree
#1498              Jack Day
#1499              Scooters in the rain
#1500              Keith Carter’s exhibit and gallery talk
                9/14
#1501              Rain all morning
#1502              Work at DaySpring
#1503              Chuy’s with Joel
#1504              Home with twins
              9/15
#1505              Waxahachie with Mom…”Junkin’”
#1506              Focus on the Family
#1507              Baylor game with Joel & Kids
              9/16
#1508              Sunday school & church
#1509              Katina’s last day….lunch to honor her
#1510              Kids adventuring with Joel
               9/17
#1511              Twins at school
#1512              HEB & JBF work
#1513              Talking to Mom
#1514              Girls at Ballet
#1515              Jack playing with Diego Legos
#1516              Corn meal okra
               9/18
#1517              Jack sick in the morning, but better by lunch time
#1518              Lucy being so patient with him
#1519              Tents and crackers
#1520              Barnes & Noble with CJ & Jo Anne
               9/19
#1521              JBF drop off and helping out
#1522              Kids at Papa’s house
               9/20 
#1523              Twins Pajama day!
#1524              Ella out of school at noon
#1525              CJ came over & Played Parcheesi
#1526              JBF Presale and Yogurt with Alisha
               9/21
#1527              Coffee with Molly
#1528              DaySpring restocking
#1529              Chuy’s with Joel
#1530              Museum with twins
               9/22
#1531              Arts Fest Downtown:  ALL OF IT
#1532              Picnic with violins
#1533              Watching clay being shaped by little minds
#1534              Painting faces
#1535              Free books
#1536              Music and Dance
#1537              Painting Doreen’s van
               9/23
#1538              Katina’s tree & kind words
#1539              Chili’s with kids
#1540              Fun Conversation
#1541              JBF:  working & helping
#1542              Thankful for best sale yet
               9/24
#1543              Candles at DaySpring
#1544              Shopping for twins party on $20.00
               9/25
#1545              Day at home
#1546              Thomas trackmaster
#1547              Helping Ella with Homework
#1548              Mimi’s birthday
#1549              Women’s group
               9/26
#1550              Cleaning at DaySpring
#1551              Toys R Us
#1552              Papa’s house
#1553              Nissa & Brynn
                9/27
#1554              Cleaning day at home with the twins
#1555              Making the cake
#1556              Date night at the Symphony!
              9/28
#1557              TWINS 5th BIRTHDAY!!!
#1558              Breakfast together & giving them their trips
#1559              Birthday Cake!!
#1560              Birthday party at school
#1561              Girls go to GG’s
#1562              Hotel in Burnet with Jack
#1563              Swimming in the drip-drops of rain, at night, by himself….laughing.
               9/29
#1564              Breakfast at the hotel
#1565              Ride on Thomas…3rd in line
#1566              Rain all day long
#1567              Jack at the Imagination Station…with Legos and Trackmaster sets
#1568              Buying Toby with his birthday money
              9/30
#1569              Katina’s Sunday
#1570              Art pouring in
#1571              Amos 3:2
#1572              BJ’s with Sara & James
#1573              Birthday celebration at Mimi’s
             10/1
#1574              Groceries home & unloaded
#1575              A disciplined day, but exhausting
#1576              Jack’s truck on the slide
#1577              Scooters on the driveway
            10/2
#1578              Cleaning out the garage
#1579              Sidewalk chalk, ponies, and scooters
#1580              Women of the Heart
              10/3
#1581              Holy Silence at DaySpring
#1582              Help-a-Teacher club
#1583              Museum with all three kids
             10/4
#1584              Cleaning like crazy
#1585              Exercising at home
#1586              Homework with Ella
              10/5
#1587              Packing in the quiet
#1588              Leaving town
#1589              Jack & Ella excited to be with Mimi & Papa
#1590              Ballet with Lucy….complete with binoculars
#1591              Leaving early to go swim at the hotel
#1592              Chocolate Cake at 9 pm…..
             10/6
#1593              Sleeping late in comfy beds
#1594              Hotel breakfast
#1595              Lucy’s birthday money spent on My Little Ponies
#1596              Lunch at the Original Chuy’s
#1597              Town Lake River Trail
#1598              The Spiral Hill….Lucy running down SOOOO fast
#1599              Home with EVERYBODY!!!
             10/7
#1600              Amos 4….crying again
#1601              Sironia with Alisha
#1602              HEB….by myself
            10/8
#1603              Columbus Day….lying in bed with Ella
#1604              Hearing about Ella’s dream
#1605              Going through art for the Art Show
              10/9
#1606              Laundry done and caught up
#1607              Our prayer group
             10/10
#1608              Help-a-teacher club
#1609              Conference with Mrs. Freedman
              10/11
#1610              Heart of Texas Fair
#1611              Ella’s great report card
#1612              Ferris Wheel “reward”
              10/12
#1613              Art show
#1614              Holy Silence at DS
#1615              Chatting with Amy
#1616              Climbing a tree
              10/13
#1617              Hot blueberry muffins
#1618              home with everyone
#1619              tidying up the art at church
#1620              Joel’s office with the kids
              10/14
#1621              Small tantrum subsides about Jack being sick
#1622              Cheddar’s chocolate cake
#1623              Olson’s ranch
#1624              Pledges of faith and family….community of Christ’s body
             10/15
#1625              Helping CJ unpack
#1626              HEB with the twins “driving a truck”
#1627              Born Free (again)
#1628              Ballet for girls
#1629              Jack and I take Mrs. Martindale her book
 #1630             Jack being a gentleman as a guest
             10/16
#1631              Jack with the vacuum
#1632              Playing store together
#1633              Walmart & gift cards
#1634              Overcast day
              10/17
#1635              Silence at DaySpring
#1636              Old Navy jeans
#1637              Lunch at Mimi & Papa’s
#1638              $5 car wash
#1639              good dinner
               10/18
#1640              Ahhhh….yoga
#1641              Lucy wanting to do Kids Zumba
#1642              Jack Day….Lunch with tractors
#1643              Picking up pears with Jack
#1644              Washing the van windows to earn airplanes
#1645              Ella:  “Ya know, having a brother isn’t that bad.”
#1646              Book fair & Open house
#1647              Ella singing with her class
               10/19
#1648              Farm field trip with Twins
#1649              Ella’s first 100% on a spelling test
#1650              Papa picks up Ella and takes twins
#1651              Date night at Fuji
#1652              Joel’s art opening at Arthouse 1319
             10/20
#1653              Productive Saturday
#1654              Burning brush…smelling like fall
#1655              Cleaning trailer for the Coblentzes
#1656              Ice cream at Sonic
#1657              Pictures at the pumpkin patch
            10/21
#1658              Teaching the church calendar in the Godly play classroom
#1659              Poppa Rollo’s
#1660              Playing with kids from next door
#1661              Emily’s yoga class---back after months away….
#1662              Pumpkin carving
             10/22
#1663              The Y to walk & workout
#1664              home with the kids
#1665              Playing hookie from ballet so Ella could work on homework!
            10/23
#1666              Hurt arms!!  Could barely move, but knew I worked out
#1667              A day at home in the plans anyway…
             10/24
#1668              Still, Silent Time at DaySpring
#1669              Dr. Meyers:  “Perfect Twins”
#1670              Roasted carrots & potatoes
#1671              Preparing for the middle-of-the-night arrival of guests
              10/25
#1672              Morning with the Coblentzes
#1673              Funny glasses and funny faces
#1674              Papa takes Jack
#1675              Library, Lunch, & Zoo with Lucy
#1676              Homework breakthrough with Ella
#1677              Baylor treat night with Tante
              10/26
#1678              Work at DaySpring
#1679              Shopping
#1680              Jack wanting to go to the library
#1681              Ella coming home early
#1682              The COLD front!!!
              10/27
#1683              Coloring with the kids
#1684              All bundled up on a cold morning
#1685              Fall Farm Day…by myself
#1686              The DaySpring Art Booth success…..
#1687              Stamping with vegetables
#1688              Eggs Sandwiches a la Joel
               10/28
#1689              Cool, crisp morning at DaySpring
#1690              Joel in Sunday School
#1691              Choir:  “Be Holy”
               10/29
#1692              Alone at DaySpring
#1693              Candles
#1694              HEB….done!
#1695              Squirrels & acorns
#1696              Veggietales
#1697              Nissa & Brynn….simple fun
#1698              Ballet
#1699              Kay
             10/30
#1700              Five loads of laundry….DONE!
#1701              Ella’s fall clothes….OUT!
#1702              Women of the Heart….MET!
#1703              Afternoon with Denise
#1704              Homework with Ella
              10/31
#1705              Twins Fall party at school….the last Fall party
#1706              Fun with parents & kids
#1707              ZOO BOO!!!  Bathouse & Snake house….
             11/1
#1708              Home all day!
#1709              Laundry & playing
#1710              Going to vote with the children
#1711              Olive Garden take out with Mimi & Papa
             11/2
#1712              DaySpring alone
#1713              Ocelot in the woods
#1714              Holy Silence pages
#1715              Seeing Amy & getting to chat
#1716              The squeegee
#1717              Cleaning the windows with the twins
            11/3
#1718              Baylor’s Homecoming parade with the Barkers
#1719              Candy wrappers in my pocket and the kids griping at people that throw theirs on the ground
#1720              Farmer’s Market
#1721              Clearing the girls’ room…
#1722              Making ready for the new beds…mattresses on the floor!
#1723              Haircuts
             11/4   
#1724              EXTRA HOUR!!!
#1725              Early for church
#1726              Kay involved
#1727              All Saints’ Day….remembering
             11/5
#1728              Making the grocery list at starbuck’s
#1729              Dr. Shutt…my new eye doctor
#1730              My eyes being called “a variance of normal”
#1731              Dawn Treader play
#1732              Ballet for the girls
#1733              Picking pears
            11/6
#1734              Pajama morning
#1735              Working on the last turkey feathers for school
#1736              lunch with Ella
#1737              Operation Christmas Child donation
#1738              Washing windows during election coverage
              11/7
#1739              Talking with Tiffani
#1740              Help a teacher club….and the laminating machine
#1741              Conversation with Jennifer
#1742              Art lunch at Lula Janes
#1743              Gazpacho
#1744              Taize prayers
#1745              Conversations resulting from Taize prayers
              11/8
#1746              Farm folk picking pears
#1747              Cleaning house
#1748              Twins playing Arietty in the trailer
#1749              Date Night with the Beatles
             11/9
#1750              Museum field trip with twins
#1751              cleaning the church for candy
#1752              checkbook work
#1753              Home with Joel & the twins….missed Ella, who spent the night with Mimi & Papa
              11/10
#1754              Twins playing and coloring together
#1755              Joel fixed Papa’s mower
#1756              Cotton Patch
#1767              Easy store trip
#1768              Ella came home
#1769              “Over the Hedge”
#1770              Laughing out loud
               11/11
#1771              Amos 8
#1772              Ripened fruit….with the pear harvest still fresh on my mind
#1773              Extended Session with J&L’s class
#1774              Mom & Dad’s visit with the girls’ beds
#1775              Each has their own….and snuggling to say goodnight is so much easier
              11/12
#1776              Morning at Target with Mom & Dad & NO KIDS…
#1777              Sandwiches at home
#1778              Ballet for girls
#1779              Captain America for Jack
#1780              Jack hammering the nails
             11/13
#1781              Girls clothes in the closet
#1782              Recycling taken
#1783              Captain Billy’s tater tots
#1784              Seeing Amanda & Ann
#1785              Mom & Dad willing to help
            11/14
#1786              Work & Peace
#1787              Amy at church
#1788              Making it on time to get the twins
#1789              Ella being so happy to see me after school
#1790              Kids playing well outside
             11/15
#1791              Yoga….on time and taking it easy
#1792              Library and 22 new books
#1793              Lunch with Mimi & Papa
#1794              Jack taking the trash out
#1795              Lucy doing the dishes
            11/16
#1796              Playing beauty shop with CJ
#1797              Hearing more stories
#1798              Going to stores with the twins
#1799              Ella coming home
              11/17
#1800              Yoga at the Farmer’s Market
#1801              Farmer’s market by myself
#1802              Pleasant surprise at HEB on a Saturday….
#1803              Adventure after lunch
#1804              Four geocaches
#1805              Double date with the Barker’s
#1806              Watching the Baylor Game at Jake’s Texas Tea House
#1807              Kids did well at a new place
             11/18 
#1808              Joel leading Sunday School
#1809              Offering my view without crying
#1810              Lunch at Mimi & Papa’s
#1811              Rest & Football
#1812              Yoga with Sara
#1813              Poppa Rollo’s with Sara
              11/19
#1814              Twins’ thanksgiving Party…the last one!
#1815              Lunch with Dad
#1816              Reading books
#1817              Getting Ella and laughing in the car
             11/20
#1818              surprise date night
#1819              lunch date with Ella
#1820              Moonrise Kingdom
#1821              Anniversaries and remembering
             11/21
#1822              Lazy morning
#1823              fourteen years of wedded bliss
#1824              Lunch with Joel
#1825              Finding out he has the rest of the day off
#1826              Getting the kids back
#1827              Legacy Park
#1828              Crawfish observations
#1829              Quaker Steak….memorable, but not very good.
            11/22
#1830              Packing and cleaning for the weekend
#1831              Lunch at Mimi & Papa’s
#1832              The Thanksgiving House
#1833              Poppo coloring with Lucy
#1834              The Edwards clan together on Thanksgiving day for the first time since I’ve been a part of the family
#1835              CafĂ© Homestead’s catering our lunch
#1836              Remembering Popo….
#1837              Going to Waxahachie
             11/23
#1838              Hike & Bike in Getzandaner Park
#1839              Kids playing with cousins
#1849              Seeing family
#1850              Waiting in the woods
#1851              The BIG dinner
            11/24  
#1852              Jack sick, but no messes
#1853              Jack better---running around laughing
#1854              Downtown Waxahachie with the Cornelisons
#1855              Having time with Mom, Dad, Gary , and the twins
            11/25
#1856              Zombie Garden, the movie
#1857              Safe trip home
#1858              Brave!!!!  (our own copy)
#1859              The Archery Tournement
#1860              Yoga with Emily
            11/26
#1861              Jack picked a rose for me on the way into school---even though we were late
#1862              Camera shopping with Jo Anne
#1863              Getting groceries with twins
#1864              back to routine
             11/27
#1865              A “RESET” day….
#1866              Clean bathrooms
#1867              Unpacked suitcases
#1868              Boxes upstairs
#1869              Books with twins
#1870              Women together…CJ, Jo Anne, Lisa
#1871              Pizza
           11/28
#1872              Quiet time and space at DaySpring
#1873              Working and restocking
#1874              Having time to make the meal
#1875              Getting the meal to the family
            11/29
#1876              Yoga at the Y
#1877              Jack day!
#1878              Hobby Lobby & Big Lots
#1879              Getting the tree down from storage
#1880              Lucy dropped off
#1881              Advent Service at Baylor
#1882              Christmas on 5th street
#1883              Camels
#1884              Free hot chocolate
            11/30
#1885              Finally having time for dishes!
#1886              Balanced checkbook
#1887              Toys R Us with twins
#1888              Date Night with Joel & Ella
#1889              Olive Garden with the dainty little miss
#1890              Baylor’s Combined Choir Concert
#1891              Finding seats
             12/1
#1892              Sleeping in
#1893              Jack & Joel putting together the snap model airplane
#1894              Baylor vs. OSU---at the tip-top of section N
#1895              Losing my debit card in the wind
#1896              Getting it cancelled and reissued without event
#1897              Decorating the Christmas Tree
#1898              Starting Advent
           12/2
#1899              A Sunday without Cinnamon Rolls!!  We made do….
#1900              All-DaySpring Sunday school
#1901              Amy’s introduction of the series
#1902              1st Sunday of Advent
            12/3
#1903              home while the twins were at school
#1904              Papers cleared off the buffet!
#1905              Laundry & dishes!
#1906              Kay’s treatment went well
            12/4
#1907              Reset Day
#1908              DaySpring & Poague Park
#1909              Holy Silence with Women of the Heart
#1910              Joel reading Chapter 13 of Prince Caspian
            12/5
#1911              A smooth morning
#1912              Picking up Kay
#1913              Time at Target
#1914              Re-shelving library books at school
#1915              Playing games with the twins
#1916              Christmas lights
           12/6
#1917              yoga with no rush
#1918              back at the library
#1919              Lucy’s afternoon at the museum
#1920              Thrive! Youth Event
#1921              Taking pictures
              12/7
#1922              Morning at home
#1923              Reading Ponyella with the twins at lunch
#1924              Home in the afternoon
#1925              Papa picked up Ella
             12/8
#1926              Saturday morning at home
#1927              Barnes & Noble Art Show
#1928              Errands and evening at home
#1929              Finished shutterfly books for Hall family
             12/9
#1930              Dr. Harvey’s telling of the needle in the record groove
#1931              Great day hiking and geocaching behind DaySpring
              12/10
#1932              On time to school
#1933              Christmas shopping begun
#1934              Christmas shopping almost finished
#1935              Ella & Lucy’s Ballet Observation Day
#1936              Cookies in celebration
              12/11
#1937              Cold, cold morning!!!  (welcome winter!!!)
#1938              Twins & Papa to Temple
#1939              Free Oil Change & Car wash
#1940              Temple Train  Museum
#1941              Getting to see inside the static exhibit
#1942              Women of the Heart Christmas Dinner
              12/12
#1943              Christmas shopping done!  =)
#1944              Surprise lunch with Joel
#1945              Kiss at 12:12 on 12/12/12
              12/13
#1946              Yoga on time
#1947              Reading to twins
#1948              Cleaning Mike
#1949              Cleaning the house
#1950              Laundry
#1951              Spaghetti
#1952              Iron Man
           12/14
#1953              Picking up Kay
#1954              Walmart alone
#1955              Talking about the CT school shooting with Joel….
#1956              Hugging my children
#1957              Legos on the floor
           12/15
#1958              Saturday Yoga at the Y
#1959              Errands with the Fam
#1960              Lucy’s little hand in mine
#1961              The cool mist in the morning
#1962              Ella making her book at Daddy’s computer for hours
            12/16
#1963              Stacy’s steady presence in Sunday School
#1964              Angela’s guidance in breath prayers
#1965              CJ’s honest plea for time
            12/17
#1966              Tea with Regina
#1967              Home with twins
#1968              Finding Lucy again at Walmart….scary few moments
              12/18
#1969              Gifts wrapped
#1970              Joel made dinner
            12/19
#1971              Ella’s pajama party at school
#1972              Twins’ Christmas program
#1973              Starbucks & the library with Ella
            12/20
#1974              The “last” yoga practice!!
#1975              Ella’s Christmas party at school
#1976              Ella so happy that I was at her party
#1977              Papa taking the twins so I could be there
            12/21
#1978              Walmart---getting Lucy the keyboard
#1979              Twins’ Christmas party
#1980              Lucy, the sheep!
#1981              Picking up Ella early
#1982              playing all afternoon
#1983              dinner & party with the Baergen’s for Juju’s birthday
#1984              Talking with mom
#1985              Spending the night
#1986              The Mayans being wrong
            12/22
#1987              Sleeping late!
#1988              Asian buffet
#1989              The John Deere Tricycle
#1990              Jack pretending
#1991              Ella & Jack playing together
            12/23
#1992              Lighting the Advent Wreath at church
#1993              Subbing in Ella’s Sunday School Class
#1994              Cheddar’s Chocolate Cake
           12/24
#1995              South Bosque Park
#1996              The Hobbit with Joel
#1997              The kids baking at Tante’s
#1998              Christmas Eve Service
#1999              Chiming the hour
#2000              Jack singing
#2001              candle-light
            12/25
#2002              Pajama day….all day
#2003              having set the automatic coffee maker the night before
#2004              The aircraft carrier
#2005              The keyboard
#2006              Ella’s art set
#2007              Together
           12/26
#2008              The library with everyone
#2009              Danny Kaye as Hans Christian Anderson
           12/27
#2010              yoga with Laurie---and surviving
#2011              Lucy feeling better
#2012              Packing smoothly
#2013              mexican food at GG’s house
#2014              Safe trip & Smooth ride
#2015              Baylor vs. UCLA…
             12/28
#2016              Discovering Waxahachie history with Daddy
#2017              The Keurig
#2018              Gifts together
            12/29
#2019              Stockings
#2020              The photo book
#2021              my purple robe
#2022              twins on the driveway & in the backyard
#2023              Kindles & tablets
#2024              Cousins
            12/30
#2025              Ella going to church with the big kids
#2026              Helping Dad get lunch ready
#2027              Paper plates, plastic ware, and left overs
#2028              home
           12/31/12
#2029              Grocery list & Joy dare year-end list in my pajamas
#2030              lunch at Rosati’s
#2031              Joel & kids helping out at HEB
#2032              Joel & kids at the wetlands while I put away and start cooking
#2033              Fire in the fireplace
#2034              Fireworks boom
#2035              Joel painting and listening to all kinds of classical music
#2036              Doubling my joy dare
#2037              Not wanting it to stop