The Joy of Planning

Wow, the year has come and gone and here I am, sitting at the table, thinking of what needs to be accomplished in 2007. There have been tears and laughter in 2006, but in retrospect, I see that we didn't do a lot of the things we planned to do. We didn't travel to visit family like we have in the past. We didn't go camping like we said we were going to do this summer. We didn't succeed in a lot of things! But oh, what a JOY it is to know that even though we failed to do some things, we didn't give up!! And we jumped right back in with both feet to plan for another year. This time though, I really do hope that we will actually do more of what is planned and less regrouping!!!

My kids are growing up soooo quickly and I look back at my childhood and see a lot of things that they have missed out on doing. Like a yearly rendezvous in the Ozarks for a week! Camping by the bank of Lake Oauachita, fishing in the ice cold water, and listening to the river flow by as we drifted off to sleep, nestled snuggly in our sleeping bags. There are pictures of my little brother, sister and I, playing in the water, fishing off logs, swimming in cow ponds, and helping to wash the dishes after the nightly fish fry. I fondly recall the VERY first time we went down a water slide. What JOYous fun! But here we are, running the rat race to pay the next bill and my children don't know what it is to feel the mud ooze up between your toes, or to dip your feet in a hot mineral spring.

So, what do I plan to do about this? Well, I am determined that we will go camping at least once this year and that we will spend some quality time with our precious babies and teach them how to just relax and let go of the worries of school work, pleasing friends, or even pleasing yourself. Perhaps, they will grow to look back fondly on their childhood and will remember lessons learned from nature and how majestic God's creation truly is! And if we fail to follow through with these plans, God forgive us and help us to get back up and start over again!
Oh, Lord, let these JOYful days of the new year carry over into each new day and may we always turn to YOU the true source of our JOY!!!!

This is a simple little chorus God gave me at 12:15 AM, January 1st, 2006:

"It's a new day, a new day, let the Lord change your life. It's a new day, a new day, when He frees you from sin and strife. Just open your heart. Let the healing start. Let go of your sinful past. For it's a new day when you surrender to God"

Dental Joy

......Oh, what JOY it is to take your kids to the dentist office!!! Ok, maybe not so JOYous! I and my 3 lil' dumplings went last week for check ups and cleanings, and Merry Christmas to us, we get to go back for fillings and extractions and possible root canal! My kids are going to cost us a pretty penny this year in dental bills! Ok, it is mainly one of the kids, but $700+ is NOT so JOYful!!! However, I can't complain since the Lord just recently provided me with a PAYING job and therefore, I will have the extra money to take care of said dental bills. Thank you Lord for providing for all our needs, even the ones we create ourselves by not being as diligent as we should in our daily flossing and brushing of our pearly whites!

Be sure to Floss and Brush in 2007! Stay healthy and SMILE your beautiful smiles of JOY!! Remember the song...."Smile a while and give your face a rest. Turn your heart to the One you love the best. Then turn around to someone new, shake their hand and smile."

Christmas Joy

Justin, 8, with one of his gifts. I guess he loved it soo much that he snuggled with it as he slept! My beautiful girls, Jessi, 10, and Rissa, 12, actually getting along for a few moments while stuck in the car AGAIN!!


We survived the Christmas rush of present shopping, traveling, and family! My kids enjoyed their many gifts from Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, Mommy and Daddy and all their aunts and uncles. The presents were nice but the real JOY of Christmas was being able to visit with family and attending service with them on Christmas Eve. I have to confess that I did struggle at times to find JOY during our hours of travel and trying to please all our family with our presence (not presents!) It is hard to live so far away and try to fit visits with everyone in 3 different towns, 100's of miles apart, in 5 days!!!! But I did find JOY in just relaxing with my mom and dad late at night when the kids were asleep and we could have "ADULT" conversation! It was awesome just being with them, no pressure to go shopping, to go out to eat. It was just family time!!! And even though we didn't get to spend much time with my in-laws, it was nice knowing that my kids were getting much needed grandparent time!!! I am determined that they will get more of that this next year!!!!!





But now that the rush of Christmas is passed, I am looking forward to a couple of days with just my kids and hubby!!!! We are planning on just lazing around and putting puzzles together, playing board games (Beat the Parents), making cookies, taking naps, maybe go to the snow and then church on Sunday! That's TRUE JOY!!!!





May God bless your family with JOY this year!!!

First Notes of Joy

Happy New Year!!! 2006 is on the wane and 2007 is on the horizon!
Welcome to my first EVER blog!!! I don't really have the slightest clue about what I am doing here but we will endeavor to learn. LOL My only hope is that someone will actually read this and perhaps even comment and I won't be wasting valuable time typing and thinking of things to write! HAHAHA

Why the title Notes of Joy? Well, simply put, I want to share notes about the JOY of the LORD!!! If you haven't noticed yet, I LOVE MUSIC!!! I love to play it on the piano, sing it, or just simply sit back and enJOY listening to the harmonies of GOOD GODLY music! I am currently endeavoring to memorize the song "Jesu, JOY of Man's Desiring" I have been MAKING myself go back to my classical training so that I can be a well rounded musician. Sometimes, we get so caught up in one particular style of music that we neglect other styles of beautiful, powerful songs that can minister to our souls. I have been SOO guilty of that and want to change the NOTES of JOY I play so that they can reach all people, not just those that like the same style of music I do!!! There HAS to be a balance in our music in our churches. We all seem to be getting away from the "OLD" and immersing ourselves in the "NEW" contemporary music of the day. But how many of us are still blessed when we hear "How Great Thou Art" or "He Looked Beyond My Needs" or "I See A Crimson Stream Of Blood"? Let us not forsake the music of yesteryear in our attempts to "please" the visitor who is used to the music on the radio. The songs of Zion are STILL powerful and have a message that many of our contemporary songs do not. Well, enough of beating that drum!

Please come back and visit my blog. Maybe even take a moment and share your thoughts of JOY. God Bless and Keep you in 2007!!! Get ready for the coming of the Lord and make sure your garments are white and your lamps are full of the oil of JOYous commune with Jesus Christ our Saviour!!!!!!

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!!
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the JOY of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10