|
Live the Joy
JOY ~ Journey of You February 25, 2011 |
|
|
|
| Quick Links |
Past joy droppings feed the soul.
|
JOY every week!
*************************
JOY readers are signing up!
Still Save $200!
|
|
|
| |
Blink; February is over.
Blink; 18 years have passed and my firstborn has made his college decision. Arizona State University.
Blink; blink, blink, blink, but the tears still leak out.
My column (in some newspapers today, some next week, here in JOY next Friday) was written while still blinking away my reaction to the reality of my first son leaving the nest and then BAM my second sweet son, the year after will fly away too.
I am doing better today. I have truly tried to savor the moments of the entire growing up years and I do not want to waste this precious time being mopey. I know of moms who are depressed the whole span of senior year. I choose to celebrate it. That does not mean that I do not cry my eyes out and have times when I swear I can't breathe.
My boys are used to my emotions. They get it, but they don't. My younger wonder asked, "Mom, aren't you happy for us?" I told him, "Of course. I am thrilled and happy and so proud. Part of my tears are tears of joy, and part of my tears are because I love you like crazy and I am (short breath) going (short breath) to (short breath) miss (short breath) you (short breath) so much."
"You know, Mom, we are going to come back home to see you."
Ah, from the mouths of babes.
Letting go the timeless Suzy Boggus song just made me cry again
Words to Ponder:
It's never easy
letting go
|
|
|
|
|
| JOY DROPPINGS | |
What brings me JOY lately...
- that Tyler is excited and ready to go to ASU
- that Andrew (Eppy) advanced to the next round of the regionals 3-point shootout (and Rockford Christian basketball team is still undefeated for the year 27-0)(maybe 28-0)
- my new comfy office chair
- my delightful assistant Cindy, the German exchange student, who comes once a week to get me organized
- music to soothe my soul
- books to reassure me
- loving arms to hold me
- now having a washer and TWO dryers
- making party plans - you are all invited to a cake and dance bash May 1 (details later on)
- having to submit a one-minute acceptance speech in the event I am selected for the Women of Achievement Mentorship Award. "I'd like to thank the Academy, the producers, the directors, the crew, my co-star Ewan McGregor." Oops. Wrong speech.
- yogurt
- hearing from YOU!
Hey you. Yes, YOU. Send me YOUR Joy Droppings! Keep them coming! I need many many many from you to be published in a little book later this year. Silly, serious, sappy, brief, lengthy -- anything goes. (We saw "Anything Goes", the Cole Porter musical, last year on my birthday in London [Canada]. It was de-lightful, it was de-lovely.)
|
| What I like about ME | |
In your JOY Journal, record daily joy droppings, quotes that speak to you, books you want to read, movies you want see, songs that grab you, things you want to do, AND "Things I Like About Me." The greater your self-confidence and like of self, the greater your level of happiness. What I like about me...
* I love musicals.
* My desk and office are clean and organized.
* I drink pink lemonade from a hand painted blingy goblet.
|
| |
Mr. Romantic has shaved off the Wolverine chops but it was fun touring Universal with a SuperHero celebrity.
|
| Testimonial | |
"Great stuff, Joy Fairy! I'm glad you dare to do mighty things! You rock!"
~Susan Daffron, author of "Publishize" and ten other books
(Susan is what I call a BOOK FAIRY!)
|
| AATH = Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor |
www.aath.org!
Superb lineup of keynotes (and lots of fun folks like me doing breakout sessions). ALL are welcome - you do not have to be a member of AATH to attend this conference. One of the keynoters is from India who originated laughter clubs.
|
| Birthday Love |
HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY BIRTHDAY WISHES TO:
RICH HINRICHS
MELISSA LEWIS JOHN HURLEY PAT CASAZZA MINTA GIBBONS BRYAN HACKER HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY TO ANYONE ELSE WITH A BDAY THIS WEEK/MONTH, THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR! **IF I MISSED YOUR BDAY, SEND IT IN AGAIN. I'M SYSTEM UPGRADING AND DON'T WANT TO MISS YOU!**
(Send in your birthday. Each month a name is drawn for a JOY prize delivered via snail mail.) FEBRUARY BDAY WINNER..... DRUM ROLL PLEASE..... RICH HINRICHS
|
| Sage Advice | |
"Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds.
Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them
and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
| Sage Advice | |
Gator bites are chewy.
|
| Click and read | |
Kelly's newspaper column -
Kelly's blog for healthyrockford.com -
|
| All a girl needs: A HBM (Hair Brush Microphone) | |
Your HBM song for this week:
I get lost in your eyes - Debbie Gibson
anyone else find the Boy George resemblance uncanny?
|
| Did you know... | |
Feb 23 was international dog biscuit appreciation day.
I think dogs appreciate their biscuits every day.
Dogs are excellent teachers of joy.
|
| Ode to JOY | |
from JOY reader and German-born Dorothee ...
gorgeous Ode to Joy
|
| WORD NERD | |
concupiscible \kon-KYOO-pi-suh-buhl\, adjective:
Worthy of being desired.
"And possibly, gentle reader, with such a temptation - so would'st thou; for never did thy eyes behold, or thy concupiscence covet anything in this world, more concupiscible
than widow Wadman."
-- Laurence Sterne,
The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Volume 2
DICTIONARY.COM
We are all concupiscible.
|
| Random Acts of Kindness.... | |
Some of you have shared your stories.
From Ruth P in Rockford --- "A woman at church (of limited means) kept admiring my purse (from Too Purse'n All). Knowing she couldn't afford one like it, I wrapped it up and presented it to her. She was so thrilled, and I have heard many stories about the compliments she's getting now."
From Linda C in Arkansas --- She sent an email thank you to the lead man in charge of clearing the snow and ice from the roads in their town. He was so touched that he replied and forwarded her note to his entire Arkansas Highways crew. This made Linda realize how many others need to be thanked for their service during snowstorms, like the mailman, etc so she spent the week writing thank you notes.
Beth C of Loves Park asked if I had enough plastic eggs in my joy closet to donate for her latest cause: treat-filled Easter eggs for the local homeless elementary age children. A sack of 300+ eggs is ready for Beth.
|
| JOY = Writer/Author Events | |
Best selling author Joan Anderson, A Year By The Sea, is the guest at this year's Womanspace Luncheon, April 16. Get your tickets now!
Best selling author Kelly Epperson (I've done my best to sell a few books) is the guest at the kickoff of In Print, professional writers group, March 12. All are welcome. Free. 1:00 pm Cherry Valley Library, State St, Cherry Valley, IL.
See you there!
|
| HAPPINESS CLUB | |
First Thursday of every month
All are welcome. If you have been wondering about H Club, come check it out.
Free. Fun. Food for thought.
MARCH 3 >> David Schroeder "Dr. Feelgood" presents HUMOR & HEALTH HAPPINESS CLUB, LOVES PARK, IL 6:30 - 8:00 pm North Suburban Library, 6340 N. Second St., Loves Park
**********************************************************************************
A short video clip of me and H Clubber Marie chatting up the H Club! |
|
Quote Junkie
| |
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way."
- Virginia Woolf
|
|
JOY BOUTIQUE
| |
JOY Boutique = fun stuff
You game? New JOY fake tattoos are here.
Always A Good Thing: BOOKS! Order Online:
-When LIfe Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes
-365 Days of Joy
|
The joy of ...
| |
ITALY!
May 4-11, 2011
Lago Maggiore
Find Your Muse, A week of creative expression in Northern Italy
... "come with me, my love, to the sea, the sea of love...."
Hotel Cannero
Details Click Here! Questions? Ask!
We have room on this Italy trip for YOU!
|
|
Join me this Saturday in the lounge at Gia's restaurant (Forest Hills Rd, Machesney Park, IL) from 6 - 8 pm for the Firelight Dimmers. A beautiful young chanteuse with three talented musicians and sounds from a bygone era. Joy.
There's nothing wrong with being happy. and all that jazz. xx kelly
|
|
parting shot...
"Never bear more than one trouble at a time. Some people bear
three kinds -- all they have had, all they have now, and all
they expect to have."
-- Edward Everett Hale
|
|
SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY JOY
Spread the joy!
 Please give my name/info to anyone who could benefit from my programs! Thanks for spreading the joy! Try Constant Contact! It's what I use for this joy letter. Try it 60 days for free. If you sign up, we both get a free month! |
|
Order books online:
Member AATH - Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Member AHA - American Happiness Association Member NNC - National Society of Newspaper Columnists Founder - Happiness Club of Loves Park, IL Member JellyBeans for JOY
|
|
|
|
|
