I have to tell you…. this project is one or the best decisions I have made. I can’t begin to write how it has changed my whole outlook. It has diminished my grief and changed how I view life right now.  I am actually looking forward to this Christmas season. I am grateful… so grateful for that.

I want to tell you some of my findings so far. Here goes!!

You will see as my reports unfold that I have taken a lot of pictures of the word JOY. That has been so fun! People probably wonder what the heck I’m doing! Just for the record….Target has more JOY than Walmart and Costco has none whatsoever!!!  :o)

1. I went on a trip at the beginning of November to Phoenix with my 2 daughters and my mother to a conference called Time Out for Women. It is hard to get together with children and schedules, but we did it and it was a JOY to be with them for 2 whole days. While at the conference I heard truth that sunk deep into my heart telling me that I am important to my Heavenly Father and I felt very strongly that I need to keep writing. On the way home, I got to hear my mother and daughter, Candace, conversing in the front seat, solving the world’s family history problems and Candace asking questions, learning about my mother’s childhood. I don’t believe they have ever had a conversation like that before. It was pure JOY to watch and hear them bonding.

2. We have a Family Mission Statement that we worked quite diligently on one year when the kids were younger and all at home. We wrote down what was important to us and what we wanted to accomplish as a family while on this earth together. We used to read it together almost every week at our family council meeting. We don’t do that as much any more now that that kids have left home but Carter got it out and we read it, just he and I. It brought JOYFUL tears to read through it again. We did a good thing, writing that together.

3. I am so grateful for my church family. They bring me so much JOY. I came home one Sunday from church with a special love in my heart for all of them. There’s something about worshiping with a group of people that bonds us together.

4. Not sure how to put this one…. guess I’ll just say it outright…..reconciliation with someone where we have had mutual hard feelings  has been so liberating and JOYFUL for me. I can’t tell you how that has lifted me and helped me see the love God has for all people. We are all loved children of our Heavenly Father. He loves everyone just the same as He loves me.

5. I usually sing at a Community Christmas Celebration held in our area, and we start practicing in the middle of November. It’s not my turn to sing this year; it’s my turn to listen. So…I went to one of the practices to sit and listen with my mother who handles the music and I really listened. I was able to feel why singing brings me so much JOY and really heard the beautiful Christmas music. I heard in my heart the reason we sing. I think it’s the music of Christmas that is my favorite thing about Christmas. If I would have been up there singing like I usually am, I don’t think I could have felt that. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending Your Son, so we can sing about Him and his great JOY-filled gift during Christmas.

6. Have you ever looked at the pictures on Bing, the web browser?  Every day is a different picture and every picture is amazing and beautiful!! Now that we write and have this blog, I am on the computer more than I used to be and Bing makes it a nicer place to be. I can truly say… it brings me JOY!  Go look… www.bing.com

Are you searching for JOY along with me? What have you found? I would love to hear about it! You can leave comments on the blog or Facebook page. Send me pictures! Thanks a bunch to those who have sent me your JOY! I love it!

Written by Faye