Pure.Joy.

This phrase, Pure Joy, is one that is embroidered into a beautiful blanket that was given to my sweet baby Ab after her birth. It was a gift from her Aunt Donna. 

As a brand new mother, I remember reading the phrase and feeling it resonate somewhere in my newly expanded heart.  A heart that was just discovering how much feeling it could encompass.

As my family and I have dealt with our challenges, this phrase rings true and pure.  It is guaranteed I will continue to have days that are not so joyful...but, overall, things are pretty dang good.  There is always a balance in blessings and trials; we just have to open our tired and often heavy eyes.

So, in that spirit, I am going to attempt to document my joys at least weekly.  Those moments, as brief as they are at times, that swell my heart with pure joy.

Pure.Joy.

*I got to hold Ab in my arms, cradled like a baby yesterday.  She had to have a strep test done, an experience which was far from joyful (she literally ran away and attempted to escape the doctor's office)...but, the aftermath was heavenly. She let me comfort and rock her, her long legs nearly touching the floor.  Such a rare, joyful few mintues.

*I picked a very happy Deak up from preschool yesterday.  He LOVES, LOVES school this year.  His new teacher, Miss Meegan, told me that she had happened to run into Deak's preschool teacher from last year.  Deak's old preschool teacher asked how Deak was doing and then snidely said, "Oh..he just cries. All he does is cry, right?"  Miss Meegan said she got angry and responded, "I do not know what Deakon you are talking about. The Deakon I know never, ever cries. Ever. He is happy and laughs all the time. So, unless you are referring to a Deakon who laughs all the time, I have no idea what to say."

Can you say, LOVE?  I love her; love that she loves Deakon, and LOVE that she stood up for him during a time she truly did not have to.

*I learned how to make peach jam Sunday. I also learned a little bit about canning (I've only canned once, and I don't remember much).  Not only is the peach jam to DIE for, the time spent with a friend who "gets" me was priceless. She even taught me how to use a knife...which is a feat. I've cut my hands open too many times to count and have an irrational phobia of using knives.  Btw...She also did not judge my irrational phobia.:)

*Ab is a determined child.  She earned her bitty twins and has really worked hard on managing herself and her emotions during this somewhat chaotic time in our house. She is tough.  She has also recently decided she loves goalie...something that makes me extremely nervous. Last weekend, she caught a goal, and dove on two others.  She was awesome.  I promise, this girl will do ANYTHING she puts her mind to (which, as her parent, is a little bit of a frightening thought).

*On Sunday while getting ready for church, I stepped outside of the bathroom and discovered Ab lying on the floor reading books to Deak. No one had asked. Deak kept handing her a new one each time she finished, and she'd say, "Okay...one more."

*I stopped myself from getting into one of those infamous facebook fights (don't tell me you haven't been there). I may have had to give my iPhone a time out in order to refrain from pushing send...but, it worked. Props to me for self-control.

*Deak, Deak, Deak. Man...he is just joy in bottle. He is in a super crazy social butterfly stage and whole-heartily believes everyone in the universe wants to be his best friend and jump with him. He flirted with a waitress this week and blew her kisses...and attempted to "share" (stuff in his face) pumpkin bread with another waiter.  He loves life, and I love him.

*On another Deak note, he has recently discovered a love for singing...which is an interesting, albeit quite lovely, talent when one possesses a very limited vocal vocabulary.  During church, while the congregation is singing hymns, he sings "AHHH" at the top of his lungs and attempts to vocally fluctuate with the tone and flow of the song. He also claps after each verse. It is the epitome of singing with one's heart....pure.joy.

So, there it is...my attempt at beginning to record these little moments that fill me up with happy.

What an awesome week I've had...