Happy happy joy joy

at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Happy that G is arriving back home today, just in time to help Sam participate in his last ever Pinewood derby.  {He's been in Arizona this week at Thunderbird, learning all about being an international man of mystery + about doing business in Saudi Arabia.}

Happy that it's Friday, that I am halfway through the semester and the class sessions just keep getting better (with a few learning-curve moments thrown in there).  It's lovely to get a good measure of energy and feedback from the students every week. I'm learning a lot.

Joy in the contradiction of eating sourpatch kids and drinking diet Coke. (I know, neither the pinnacle of health.  I promise I ate beets and broccoli for dinner.)  In the fabulous sunrise yesterday as I drove Lauren to seminary.  In polished toenails and taking my girls for their first-ever pedicures.

Joy in finding out that Louie and the dog next door have been passing their toys to each other under the fence (how fabulous is that?!).  In wearing my red shoes on a gray day.  In realizing (yet again) that I really am in charge of my own life, my own happiness.

(l to r) Maddy, me, Lauren.  They got their long toes and limbs from their father.  While I have sausage toes. And limbs.

Comments

[Anna]

Pure joy. Happy to hear that teaching is a great fit for you. A pedicure is a true luxury, I love getting one every now and then.

[calibosmom]

That does sound like pure bliss! Looks like all three of you can share shoes too-now thats something to be happy about...or not. I can just picture Louie passing his toys-he looks like he should be in the movies.

[dayna]

thanks for reminding me about the little happy moments i have to enjoy, too. your toes look beautiful! :)

[Holly]

I pop over to visit your blog from time to time and always leave inspired. Thank you.

[Michelle]

love this-- I know you work to find the joy and I love that about you.

[martha corinna]

Love the toes photo, my daughters also have long toes, while mine are slightly gnarled.

One of the reasons I love your blog is that you do find the joy and share it with me. Thanks!

[Lindsay-ann]

Hi Annie
Great to hear all is going well for you all including Louie!
Love the picture of the toes lined up. What is the pinewood derby?
Have a lovely weekend.
Lindsay

[Anonymous]

I changed my gratitude journal to a joy journal. You can be thankful for a lot of things and still feel overwhelmed and maybe even cranky (or so I've heard!). It has been fabulous to focus on the little and big things that make me happy!! - D

[Annie]

Hi Lindsay,
I don't know if you'll check back here but I thought I'd explain about the pinewood derby. Maybe they don't do it in England or maybe having a daughter hasn't brought that particular event to your life...

It's a traditional yearly Boy Scout activity. The idea is that the boys spend about a month making a little car from a block of wood (designing, cutting, painting, etc.). Then they all meet one night for a Pinewood Derby, where they race the cars down an inclined track.

As you can guess, this becomes a huge event for the dads as well, with their egos as wrapped up in their son's car's success as the boys themselves (sometimes more so). I'll try to post pictures of it for you :)

[the wrath of khandrea]

i have greg toes. skip has annie toes. i will send a picture.

i find that so funny for some reason, i can't stop laughing. it's ridiculous, i know.

[Christie]

Lucky for the world, I do enough complaining for both of us.

Just haven't done it publicly this week.

Which is also lucky for the world.

[gab]

I have sausage toes and a sausage neck. Oink! Glad you are experiencing basic joy!

[carolyn]

Soooo darling. Those toes all lined up. Love your new posts. I haven't checked in for a verrrry looooong time! It is just what I needed now.