Joy in the ChAOS

Noni and the kids 2012(above) Addy by the tree(below)

Well...Christmas is in 12 DAYS and I have made a CONSCIOUS choice to enjoy (as MUCH as i can) the crazy days that lead up to it...The photos on here show my kids a few years ago but i put them on here because it reminds me once again how time marches on and the little moments....the teensy moments are to be cherished.

Lately, My kids and i have been watching You Tube's young Bethanny Mota ( heard of her?...her DIY You Tube videos are adorable and creative) to get ideas for holiday foods and crafts. She makes pretzel and cookie holiday treats, great homemade "Starbucks"drinks, shows you how to organize and decorate your room etc. She's got a fun personality and I love that the kids want to share this with me. Anywhoo, I do have to say that whenever i watch these different videos (she has MANY) I think back to being young and it makes me a little melancholy!!...........but also InSPiReD somehow. Sometimes i think "oh that's cute -to be young again!" BUT She has such a hope and excitement  for her life -- like my own kids --like kids in general!!!....It's that overriding JOY that they have ....someDAys i wonder where MY silly Joy for little things goes --too often really... I guess it gets lost sometimes in the midst of chaos and cleaning toilets...Ah to find a smile on my face - that JOY!- when cleaning toilets!!!( i think I'm setting my goals a little high for 2015! maybe not!)

i remember being young at Christmastime and i remember the excitement of the Christmas Eve play at church, the soft light of our little fake candles as we sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" and the annual (and often snowy) drive out to my aunt and uncle's- some 40 mins away that night. I remember their big cozy tree and the smell of their house. i think of the Christmas Eves where my Dad would be so excited and happy to get gifts that we would almost open them all that night and stay up really late. My life has been good...i have these warm memories and a million more.

and the memories continue every second..

So when i think of it...when i think about all the responsibilities...OK!!  Yes!! Joy AMIDST the responsibilities!!!! For this new year, i wish to have a smile on my face when my kids are being WILD and craZY and LOUD , a grin when I'm rewashing clean dishes from the dishwasher, an excitement when i am looking through my pile of clean orphan socks wondering where their match is...?(seriously people where are all the lost socks of the world????).....

...WHAteVER it is....FINDing the JoY...

                   -God's Blessings,
                           Julie