| When Life Stinks, Find Your Joy! |
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| Issue No. 20 |
January 16, 2009 |
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SEND ME JOY! |
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Kelly Epperson
PO Box 2324
Loves Park, IL 61131
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Dream no small dream.
~Victor Hugo
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CLICK HERE to Subscribe to JOY!
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Hi! January is half way over already.
We in the midwest are in the belly of winter. And it's a really cold belly. If you are somewhere warm, please don't tell me about your sunburn or say "it's a little chilly, I might need a sweater" or groan about how many golf balls you lost today.
As I type, the temp is -17. We won't even mention wind chills. So I am totally into Eskimo kisses. Keep that friction going and keep my nose warm.
I'm told last week's link to Grandma Joy didn't work. Click here to read that column. I wonder if there is anyone known as Grandma Crabby? I want to meet her too.
If the joy letter is really short this week, I went back into hibernation. My warm comfy bed is calling me....
Words to ponder:
Not all of us have to possess earthshaking talent. Just common sense and love will do,
~Myrtle Auvil
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Joy = Music |
 Lyrics I wish I'd written: ...love me like I'm cash....
~Robbie Williams
(my crush on Robbie has not faded) |
| Joy = Peace |
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Peace
in the world
in your neighborhood
in your heart
Can it be?
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| Did you know... |
Martin Luther King Jr's birthday is January 15 and doesn't always fall on a Monday? Did you know he was 15 when he entered Morehouse College? In 1963, at age 34, he was Time's Man of the Year. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest ever to receive that honor and also the first black recepient.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends."
MLK Day is not a holiday in France, but his legacy is celebrated.
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| Joy Droppings |
| What brings me joy lately?
* heated seats
* warm socks
* Puffs with lotion and the scent of Vicks
* friendly people
* the possibilities of what lies ahead
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| Joy = You |
I'm singing Happy Birthday really loud and off key to:
Brooke P, Roscoe, IL
Lois S, Carlsbad, CA
Martin Luther King, Jr
and my dad!
Grandpa Wally sported a tattoo for a day!
Newborns are a precious gift!
Welcome Katie Eve Allen! Leicester, England (and the world) has become a more beautiful place. Long distance hugs to Nic & Kathy, and big sister Summer.
(New JOY seekers/spreaders: Let me know your bday. At the end of each month, I draw a name and one birthday person gets a joy present in the mail.)
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| Joy = Books & Movies |
Book Pick This Week = A Whisper in God's Ear by Tom Acierno
Flick Pick This Week = Enchanted (I'm serious. I love this movie.) |
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Joy = Obligatory Sales Pitch |
Besides the fabulous book (When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes), I sell cards (greeting cards/note cards) with fabulous France photos, and joy apparel: long sleeve t-shirts with swirly girly C'est Bon (It's Good) and Joy*us. Yep, FABULOUS! |
| Quote Junkie |
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"I don't care, frankly, what people think. I do what I like."
~Julia Child
(You really gotta read Julia's My Life in France. Utterly delightful.)
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| Joy=Speaking Gigs |
THE LOST ART OF LOVE LETTERS:
Feb 2 - Womanspace
Feb 13 - Center for Learning in Retirement
Feb 18 - Rock Valley College
Feb 16 - PROGRAM SPEAKER, ROCKFORD NETWORK OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
Feb 18 - PROGRAM SPEAKER, NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
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| Joy=Teenage Boys |
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Firstborn son has had drivers license for 4 months. He rear ended a car last Saturday in the snowy weather. No one was hurt. Just my heart when I saw the airbags had deployed. Tyler's car is totalled. Byebye, Impala. You were very good to us.
Tyler's new wheels.... 
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| Joy = English Majors |
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"Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra.
In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra."
~Fran Lebowitz
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| Joy =French Lesson |
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radio = la radio
chewing gum = le chewing gum
tennis court = la court de tennis |
| Joy=A Really Big Snowperson |
 Somewhere in Maine, there are crazy fun people who build a giant snowman. With those eyelashes (skis), I think this is a snow chick.
Several friends sent me the series of pictures and the information of how tall, etc. Finding it now, hmmm..... I can tell you this: She is really tall. :) |
| Joy =History |
My friends at Midway Village (very cool place) tell me the Civil War Symposium is January 24. They always have wonderful events (the ever popular Sock Monkey Festival is first weekend of March.) Nothing says Rockford like a sock monkey. See www.midwayvillage.com for details on all the happenings. AND check out their gift shop. All kinds of fun stuff and very reasonably priced!
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| Joy = Belief |
Maybe it seems like your efforts or ideas or dreams aren't going anywhere. Don't hang it up just because you don't see instant results or get immediate rewards.
Louis Braille, born in 1809, was three years old when he was blinded in an accident. He invented a system of raised dots that could be read with fingertips. His system did not catch on during his lifetime. We've all heard of Braille now.
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...tune playing at the moment....
...who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it, and look what it's done so far...
"Rainbow Connection" ~ Jason Mraz is singing it this time (Kermit taught him)
For the rest of the day, I want you singing:
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers, and me...
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The Talmud says, "A quotation at the right moment is like bread to the famished."
I'm always hungry for the right words.
joyfully,
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