Joker's Joyous Journey

I'm not really sure how my title fits in, but anyway...

J made me think of happy things, laughter especially. I like to laugh and it always feels so good. Especially when something really hits me and I get that can't catch my breath, laughing so hard I'm crying, cheeks actually hurting sort of laugh. I love those. Not enough to want them to happen too frequently, but I love having them.

What makes me feel better is when I share that laughter with others I care about. Watching my kids crack up with me is great.



Like the day before Easter when my 7 year old and I were walking down the Easter aisle at Reasor's. I paused in front of the cards, but I'm paying attention to the shelves across and suddenly she's laughing. And not just a chuckle, she was really laughing. So, I turn and look at her and she's got this card in her hand.

When I asked her what the card said that was so funny she showed it to me because she was laughing too hard to read it to me. The card was funny. It made me laugh. On the front of the card there are two chocolate balls. On the inside it said something like, "When you see the chocolate Easter bunny, tell him I found his balls." It was genuinely funny, but then I had to stop and wonder why my 7 year old was laughing about it. She said because it's so funny. I said, yeah, but what do you think it means. She read the card again and stopped laughing. Then she said that's gross and put it back and was upset that she laughed. When I asked why she said, "I thought it was his poop, not his dangly things."

I laughed a little more and then told her I'd rather her keep thinking poop and not dangly things because I don't even want to know how she knows much of anything about boys having dangling things considering we're a house full of girls.

All inappropriateness aside though, it was funny and it made us laugh. It made my mom laugh when I got to share the story with her later. Made my dad laugh of course. And then it made my sister laugh.

So I guess my title comes from jokes bringing joy which is so important on our journey through life.

That is that, hope you have (and are having) a great weekend. See you Monday. :)

December 2-The Joys of Christmas

OK, here we are on day two of the countdown to Christmas and I have been thinking of all the joy that this time of year brings to me. The hustle and bustle. The decorations, at my home and all around town. The time with family. The lights in my little girls eyes. All the excitement of every child. The Christmas shows on TV, classics and new. The music associated with this time of year. The sign that I have conquered yet another year of the madness that is life. The giving, love, happiness, sharing, smiling, laughing. These are the joys of Christmas. I am sure that somewhere in there I missed things, there is so much to be joyous about during this time. I may be a little bias because I am not only a winter baby, but a December baby and one week shy of being a Christmas baby, but this is absolutely the BEST time of the entire year. December makes any troubles suffered the other 11 months all worth while. It makes every heartache, teardrop, and anger for someone or something-meaningful. December is the time when people are more caring. At least 50% of people are going to feel the Christmas spirit. People are going to give to the less fortunate-those that have been forgotten all year. Some will reach out to family they ignored January through November. Others will call up that friend they couldn't find time for. Strangers will speak to other strangers in the street-even if it is just a simple nod of the head-it happens during this time. I love it, every bit of it. My heart is huge-I always give when I can. Smile at the woman furious about-what? I don't know, but she needs a smile. I always donate food to food banks as often as I can. I donate all clothes my children and i outgrow and I do what i can for those who have less than I do(which trust me-is VERY little). Point is, I always give, i am that person who wants everyone to always be happy. That one who wants no crime to ever happen. I have never stolen, I don't cheat, I do my very best to never lie, i want everyone to love each other. This is my time-December is that one time of year that other people feel the way I do. The kindness that Christmas brings out in people is what is the most joyous part of Christmas for me. I enjoy seeing so much giving, so much caring, so much love. it makes Christmas the most wonderful time for me. So-my lesson for this post is short:
Think of all the joys of Christmas. Think of everything happy that you can during this time and embrace it. Take it all in and then-carry it over to January, February, March, etc. The kindness that makes December the most wonderful time of the year should not be reserved for Christmas only, it should be kept with you always...Let the joys of Christmas become the joys of the year.