Joy Enhancers

This morning our sermon was all about JOY.

It was great because this week I had a few joy stealers.

Where shall start?  
How about the students who forgot what I taught them only to bite and run the last hour of our trip. This was a  TOTAL joy stealer because we have come so far and have been using OUR WORDS (really we have been). 


My friend's son had a few hard moments in childcare, and this is a TOTAL joy killer for me because I know how hard she is praying and working.  Why can't it just be easy? 
Why can't we as moms put out a full page ad that says 'I KNOW!  WE ARE WORKING ON IT!!!'

My own son had a less than savory NOTE in his planner this week.  
A TOTAL joy killer because DANG it I thought we were past this type of behavior.  
Discipline/ Teaching/ Praying and hit repeat please (and even though I don't smoke, when do I get a cigarette break?  I'm wearing out here.)

Now remember, I'm not talking about Joy KILLERS.   Joy killers are those things on the news that I can't watch without prescription anxiety medications.  
Joy STEALERS are little things that creep up and rob you from appreciating God's gifts.

This morning, I shamelessly prayed that:
a.  my students have a perfect week and that "good" behaviors come easy for them at home and school (and they all throw me a party).
b. that my friend's child has the most spectacular week ever and gets an award for MOST awesome behavior with free doughnuts for a year!!
c.  that Connor never, ever, ever, gets in trouble again and that he turns out to be an award winning young man who thanks his mother for all of her hard work on a BIG public platform (preferably not a wrestling platform but I'll take it).

I admit it,  I prayed for an easy button.. an easy MAGIC button.  I'm guilty.  I'm tired.  I'm guilty and tired.

In that same prayer I was reminded of a few things.  
There was that one time when.... 
....Connor averaged a B in reading after years of struggling but not giving up.  
...when he went to all those ball practices scared and nervous. He gave 100% knowing it would still be very hard.
....a student calmly came to me to tell me another child 'had knocked down his train track'.... (without THROWING a chair).  VICTORY.
....a friend at church hugged me with tears because I was a good friend during a hard time (as if I have something to offer?)
   

Those times were my personal DISNEY WORLD trips.  

Those times were Joy ENHANCERS.  
(More of those times... please.)
No one.  No one can appreciate those type of moments without a prior fight. 
Really, if things came easy, I wouldn't really care about the above very much.  That would be sad for me. 

By afternoon, I changed my prayers to appreciate our Joy Enhancers.  (Forget the easy magic button, it ain't happening.)  
I know in the end, I will have so much more to praise and appreciate if I look for my joy enhancers.

My Joy Enhancers this week:

The Dinosaur Maze

Princess Pumpkins

Matching Mermaid Dress

(we bought cousin A. one too!)

Halloween Doughnuts 

Bubble Baths

My Growing Boy

Swinging in the Cornfield

Inquisitive Minds 

(minus timed testing)

Mrs. D.

New Experiences

Shopping (and texting) with Aunt J.

Making our Own Fashion Statements

Princess Birthday Cake

Naps

Little Converse

New Adventures

A Dear Friend 

and Partner in Crime

Father and Son Trips

Old Friends

(minus the writing test)

The Pumpkin Patch

Beauty

^{Ephesians 4: 30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Pictures from Fall

This afternoon Connor was invited to a birthday party (where he had big fun).  Are these kids getting two birthdays a year or what!?! Time is flying and they are growing up before our eyes.

The party was so close to a walking trail, I decided to go for a little walk that turned into a longer one.

I don't remember the last time I just went for a walk in complete solitude.

I walked for a full hour.

I didn't speed walk.  I just walked at a nice pace.  

It felt good to move, breathe in the air, feel the breeze, and most important to let my mind settle.

I don't know how much ground I covered, I just know the hour went by so quickly.

I captured as many glimpses of FALL that I could with my little camera phone.

No editing needed, God's glorious works speak for its self, "the sea and the mountains are His for He made it".  

God just filled me up with comfort and love the whole time.

Enjoy my fall walk:

'Let it Go' on a Rainy Day

This week started out interesting.  Around 11pm on friday night,  we heard a huge bang outside.  Soon after our power kept kicking off and on rapidly.   

Darren went outside to investigate, along with the rest of our neighborhood, and he saw a power line sizzling away.   Sparks were flying right into our yard.

The fire department came out and blocked off our road until the power line stopped sizzling.  

We are thankful for the lineman and the fire department.  I'm sure those men/women would much rather stay in a warm bed, but came out to make sure we had power and that everyone was safe.

The rest of the weekend was rain, wind, and cold.

All sporting events canceled.    

This gave me some much needed down time.

I camped out on the couch and finally caught up on a few shows.

I always start the season recording the new shows, but then I end up deleting them because our box gets so full. 

I never have time to watch all the new stuff, but I really enjoyed the fall lineup this weekend.

My favs:

The Middle:  If you are a parent, you have to watch this show!  It is hilarious.  Sue adjusting to college life had me in tears.

Quantico:  Ok, I haven't watched this one yet, but I have it recorded.  Hello?  FBI agents in training?  Stopping terrorist in the blink of time?  Who wouldn't want to watch this one.  BTW-  Is Priyanka Chopra the most gorgeous character?

Days of Our Lives:  Don't laugh at me.  I haven't watched this show in ten years, but I'm recording it now because all the old players are coming back (Bo/Hope & Steve/ Kayla).... AND there is a necktie serial killer on the loose.  Further more, I heart the new Chad DiMera.  I know it's cheesy but it's my cheesy.

Nashville: Sure it's a another drama, but there is some really great talent on this show including Lennon and Maisy.  Juliette Barnes keeps me coming back for more.  

Blindspot:  A woman is found in a duffle bag.  Her memory is erased and her whole body is tattooed.  The FBI has to use her tats as a treasure map to save lives.  PS.  Extra bonus the main character can kick butt.  (It's a lot better than my description.)

IN addition to watching, MUCHO TV, Carlee and I had a girls' afternoon.   It was my favorite activity of the weekend. 

Carlee loves to watch cooking/ cake episodes on youtube.  I decided to buckle and spend the afternoon watching and making a Frozen cake.  We made it up as we went.  She did a great job!

Watch here for all your CAKE needs.

I'm off to feed my Sunday Night Blues.
Night Y'all