JOY!

I clearly remember the day when I walked into Hancock Church several years ago and Joan greeted me and said....this is your day! It was the third Sunday of Advent....the Sunday of JOY! 

That moment made my day! I don't remember anything else about that day...but I remember that line and how it made me feel.  JOY!  Thanks Joan!

I am not joyful all the time....just ask Paul. But I do my best....and I believe that paying attention to and appreciating the simple joys of life can make any day better. No matter how badly the day is going...or how sad I am...or how discouraged I am with the state of things in the world....there is always joy. 

So during this week of JOY....I'm going to pick a few things each day that are right in front of me that brighten...and lighten my day. I hope you do the same! (I'm kind of chuckling....because I think that's what I do almost every day here on the blog....so I'll just carry on.)

I am nearly done with a new Christmas puzzle I started right after I finished Margie's Advent puzzle. I don't know if you've noticed...but I haven't blogged about it even once until now. 

It's called Merry Market.

As you know...I always have a puzzle going....and every day for a few minutes here and there I search for shapes and little bits of color. And on this one....I get to search for bits of metallic gold too.

I know I'm a broken record...but sitting at my puzzle table grounds me. It's one of the simple joys of life.

And sometimes during the early evening I walk by and the light is just right and the Market glows. It's like someone has turned the lights on.

 

And that's a little bonus joy.

And I will say I was pretty tickled with myself when I wrapped this little handmade gift for young Max in a woven strips from a Trader Joe's Bag. 

I had a lot of fun making the gift....and I'll share it after Christmas if I remember. Coming up with fun little gifts...and interesting ways to wrap them brings me joy.

I hope you found some joy today.