The Art of Joy

Art: Dance of Joy I-by Monica Stewart

My sister, Stacy, has been going through some difficulties lately. She's been battling and struggling with her 21 year old son and his addictions. He's made some poor life choices and now their family is paying the price. He's still refusing to go to rehab. It's so hard to see those you love hurting. There really isn't much anyone of us can do personally, but we continue to pray, hope and trust.

Since I'm constantly looking for the joy in all things (like I previously posted), I realized that I need to not just look for the joy, but look for ways to bring joy to others.

My sisters birthday is on Monday. After talking to her for a while, I told her I would come over tonight and make my famous tacos (translation: the only thing that I cook really good) for her birthday dinner & her favorite-German chocolate cake.

This seemed to perk her up a LOT! Something so simple.

Wow, who knew that joy can be found, given and received so easily. This New Year is full of many new awakenings. I continually and joyfully hope for a huge change this year!

Transition

On Sunday we got the keys to our new place. We start moving on Thursday and Friday. I'm not as sad as I thought I'd be, but then again, we don't have to be out of our house for a while, which gives us time to move things in slowly.

I'm sure when its time to turn the keys over to the new buyers, it will hit me.

Sometimes I think we get so comfortable in our life, that God comes in and shakes things up.

I'm looking at this as a fresh start. All of the older kids have moved out so we really don't need a big place anymore. Change is always hard but sometimes necessary.

One of my bosses was walking around work the other day saying, "Bloom where you're planted" over & over again. He thought he was being funny...I laughed, but then thought, "How true!"

Cheers to New Beginnings!

A Day of Change

I came home from work just as Josh was getting ready to leave for his interview. I had to leave to go to Elijah's basketball game and waited for his call. For those of you who don't know Josh...he is a man of VERY FEW words. It's like pulling teeth to get detailed information. He said that he thought it went well...that's about all I got. I don't want to be a meddling mother so I left it at that.

Thank you all for your prayers...he needs a job so bad! He is really depressed right now, this will help him to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I got home from the game, Jason (my nephew) had just dropped Josh off here. He has nowhere else to go and doesn't want to stay here at all! He was crying and said that he doesn't want to talk to me. He's still angry with me about something that happened a year ago that disrupted my kids lives. His dad continually filled his head with a bunch of negative things about me.

Needless to say, our relationship has been a surface one. He spends time with me but it's usually a little strained. I tried to tell him that we can use this time to get everything in his life straightened out and then he can eventually get an apartment. He is too upset right now...he wants to live at my sisters with his cousin. Luckily my wise brother-in-law put his foot down, (my nephew and son are not good together and bring each other down) he told him he cannot live there and needs to go home to his mom.

We'll see what happens...lots of prayers are needed right now! Change is always hard, but necessary for growth.