Where'd the joy go?

You know, it astounds me that I can write so optimistically about joy one day and then find it to be a complete bust the next. So, the previous blog was about how joy is not hard to find. The last few days I have not found it hard to find but I have found it hard to look for.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who has experienced unwillingness to budge from a grouchy, "poor me" position. It's just easier to soak in my selfishness. So, I'm sitting here tonight thinking about my rotten disposition and realizing that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I know there will be joy hanging around somewhere tomorrow.

Will it be in the chocolate fountain?
Will it be in the turkey?
Will it be in the warm fire and glowing candles?
Will it be in our family games?
Will it be in our family prayer time?

I'm pretty sure joy will be there. It always seems to show up in time to slap me up side the head and put a smile on my face. I think I'll take a break and enjoy the joy. I can always go back to being grouchy later.

Look for joy!

This morning as I was reading a little book I got a women of faith conference, I was struck by the statement "Sometimes we have to go looking for joy. Good thing it's not that hard to find."

I put the book down in my lap and stared out the window. Is it possible that I've forgotten to look for joy? It's so much easier to look for problems and focus on what's not so joyful in our lives. As I looked out the window I realized that I suddenly wanted to find some joy. I rested my head back on the chair and breathed in the scent of the cinnamon buns I'd just made for my boys and listened to the Chris Tomlin CD I had playing in the background. Hmm.. Joy! It's not that hard to find!

Church was also an experience in joy this morning. People, I loved were there. Wonderful music and the cutest darn pastor I've ever seen. (Love you honey!)

Lunch with friends followed. Yep! More joy! Even now as I look at a sink full of dishes and pots and pans that need scrubbing, I can say, I feel joyful. Even happy! Those dirty dishes represent a wonderful afternoon spent talking, playing, singing, and holding my friends baby!

Well, the days not over yet. I am going to go in that kitchen and look for more joy! (Maybe I should start a bubble fight!_

Joyfully,
Joleen

piano lesson

So, I had my first piano lesson in twenty years today.

I'm not sure the teacher didn't want to throw-up after hearing my rendition of claire de lune.
The first words out of her mouth were, "Well, I'll warn you, I'm brutally honest."

Uh-oh.

She did not throw-up or throw me out though so I guess I'm okay. I did learn a ton of stuff. She's got me working on a Haydn sonata. I'm thrilled to be learning again!

The teacher is the student

Well, after twenty years, I am finally going to be a piano student again. Today is my first lesson with my new piano instructor. I am nervous and excited. I've been practicing all my scales and polishing my songs and feeling like I don't know anything about playing the piano. Funny how being the student puts the nerves in ya. I'll have more compassion for my own students now.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Matthew

Well, I am confused. For the past two days Matthew has been running, jumping, and acting like nothing is wrong with him. These episodes of not walking and being in apparent pain are so wierd.

We did go to the orthodpedic specialist yesterday. He ruled out Perthes, and Lukemia, and Lyme and a bunch of other scary stuff. Just when I was starting to think he was about to say, 'He's having growing pains, go home and let him rest and give him some vegetables!"

He says,
"What he's experiencing is not typical of growing pains and we need to rule out tumors or blood poisoning in the bones. " So, he's scheduled Matt for a bone scan on Nov.19th.

I am not freaking out! Really! I just can't see how it could be something like that. He's so completely normal today. Besides, if we are about to get some horrible news it won't do any good to freak out about now. (Yes, I'm preaching to myself)

So, we wait!
We watch for any further episodes.
We go the appointment on the 19th.

We'll keep you posted.

Matthew's limp

Well, we could sure use some prayers and wisdom right about now. My four year old, Matthew has had a limp on and off since September. Today it was so bad that he was crawling and only walking if he could support himself with things around the room. It was awful to see him crying and hanging onto the couch saying, "I can't get over there to that table Mommy."

So, I took him to ER. They took blood tests and x-rayed his hips down to his knees. Everything came back normal. The Lyme disease test results will come back tomorrow.

Matthew summed up both our frustrations when Jonathan asked him what happened today. Matthew said, "Well, Mommy took me to the doctor but the doctor didn't work."

I'll be calling our family doctor and the orthoped. specialist tomorrow to continue pursuing answers.

I'll keep you all posted on this site and on facebook!

Joleen

What does it mean?

I have been pondering the meaning of the well known Christmas song, "Oh come let us adore him." What does it mean to adore Christ? Wikipedia defines adoration as: Adoration (Latin) is to give homage or worship to someone or something.

"I adore the Lord>" This is not a phrase Iwould commonly use. It's more likely I'd say, "I love the Lord," or "I worship the Lord." But adore seems a bit archaic. Actually it has some pretty anchient meanings. Here's how adoration is defined in Wikipedia.

Ad, to, and ora, mouth; (i.e. "carrying to one's mouth "), primarily an act of homage or worship, which, among the Romans, was performed by raising the hand to the mouth, kissing it and then waving it in the direction of the adored object. The devotee had his head covered, and after the act turned himself round from left to right. Sometimes he kissed the feet or knees of the images of the gods themselves, and Saturn and Hercules were adored with the head bare.
By a gradual transition the homage, at first paid to divine beings alone, came to be paid to monarchs. Thus the Greek and Roman emperors were adored by bowing or kneeling, laying hold of the imperial robe, and presently withdrawing the hand and pressing it to the lips.

So, when I say, "I adore the Lord", I suppose I'm saying, "I worship Him." It's more than merely passing affection though. I don't simply kiss my hand and wave it in his direction. At least, I hope there's more than that to this whole adore issue.

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him! I'm just stuck on that phrase. I am going to have to do some more research on this whole issue. Anyone want to join me?

Canning Peaches

Well, I'll post a picture to proove this is true. But, I couldn't wait to say that I've finally learned how to can peaches. I spent the weekend with a dear friend canning peaches and making applesauce. We had such a blast! I just couldn't believe how many peaches it took to make just one jar. We had almost a 100 peaches but only made 16 quart jars. Next year we'll need more peaches!

When evening came the house was so full of heavenly smells and the finished jars sparkled in neat rows on the counter top. They were so pretty!

Once the kitchen was cleaned we sat down and put our feet up to watch a well earned movie. A walk in the clouds, was a perfect chick flick to end our day.

I can't wait to do it all over again next year!

My favorite place on earth

This is my favorite place on earth. It's the lake in Canada where my parents live.

That dock in the picture has many memories. My first time catching a fish, the summer we floated candles out on the lake, the winter we caught cat fish through holes in the ice. I remember swimming off that dock with my Grandmother and getting into Grandpa's row boat. I'll never forget the waves this small lake is capable of producing and the hundreds of gulls who show up to feed. I"ve sat on the end of that dock with my feet in the water thinking about my first year of college approaching, Crying over lost love, Rejoicing over love found, Praying for my family and friends and so much more.

Yes, this is my favorite place on earth. A wobbly dock on a lake in Canada.

I was so encouraged this early Sunday morning by a quote someone posted at Chrisitian songwriters network. I love that there is no option for despair or failure in this quote.

"When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."

Finding Petosky Stones

While in Michigan we went to a town called Petosky. Apparently you can find special stones native only to that area called Petosky stones. WEll, we collected a ton of stones and I think only one of them is really a petosky. Can you tell which one? Me either.......

Okay so I think the one fourth from the bottom is a Petosky. See the circular patterns?

The stone second from the right on the bottom is really really clean. Matthew discovered that if you lick it the lines and patterns are more visible. He must have licked that particular stone for about twenty minutes.

Michigan pics

So, here's a few more pics of lake michigan. You can see how far out the sand goes the water was so clear.

This is at a water park area in MI. I thought Matthew's pose was so hillarious! He had a blast going down the water slides into the water. He really thought he was a big boy that day!

Michigan - Ohio- Pennsylvania

No pictures today but just an update of our crazy week.

We spent three Days at Dave's parents house helping them with some repairs. Dave and his brother Brian and Jonathan built out the addition on the back of the house. Daniel, Matthew and I weeded the flower beds and planted flowers! We were so happy to have helped beautify Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We were so excited though to go to Cedar Point (Amusement park in Ohio) yesterday. Jonathan, Daniel and Dave rode all the big coasters. I couldn't believe Daniel rode the millenium force and the top thrill dragster! I was not getting on those! Matthew and I rode the yellow submarine and the ferris wheel (Much safer!)

So, here it is 9:15a.m. and all the boys are still sound asleep. Dave and I are checking emails and blogging and enjoying our morning together.

I think I'll go get another cup of coffee and sit on the deck! Ah, I love vacations.

We head back to Pennsylvania today. Can't wait to sit on my swings in the back yard.

Lake Michigan? Nope Burt Lake

Matthew blowing bubbles on the beach. We decided to find a quieter beach and ended up not even being on lake Michigan. But it was a great day! Daniel loves getting buried in the sand! Dave was helping to finish the job!

Matt, Dave and Dan.

Mackinaw City MI

We had a wonderful evening at Makinaw City tonight. Daniel and Matthew loved climbing on the rocks! We paid three dollars to cross this bridge and then three dollars to turn around and come back! It was really cool!My Danny Boy and I...

My Jonathan and I...(he actually let me stand that close!)

All my boys!

vacation pictures!

Dave & Matthew in the "three foot water of the big pool."

Vacation in Virginia

Well, I don't have any pictures to post because my camera is on the fritz. Bummer. But, I am having a wonderful vacation with Dave and Matt and Dan here in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia. We miss Jon. He's at DeerFoot for two weeks.

The first day we arrived we made a schedule of everything we wanted to do for the week. We did it all the first two days. Ha! Our favorite activity was the garden maze. It was a blast trying to find our way through eight foot tall hedges. At one point we ended up in the middle of the maze looking at a beautiful fountain. All along the maze there were misting areas to keep us cool and even a cave to walk through before we found the exit. It was so much fun Dave and Daniel went through again. Matthew and I.... we shopped! Of course everyone knows shopping is not nearly as tiring.

Now that we've conquered all the activites we're having fun swimming at the four pools and playing ping pong (Dave always wins!) and walking and resting and eating fresh fruit from the local market and .... it's wonderful.

I am so thankful for this wonderful vacation. God supplied it free to us and we can't thank Him and those who helped Him enough. Blessings to all of you! We plan on returning home refreshed and tanned-well burned maybe. But happy!

Daniel's courtyard recital

This is Daniel's fourth grade orchestra in the school courtyard. He's in the backrow on the left, blue shirt, blonde hair! Cuteness written all over him!

One of the songs required the players to shuffle their feet loudly to the rythm. It was very effective as a group. Don't you just love all their concentration!

family fun night!

We had a great time on Friday night at the Wagners house. We ate awesome food, and hung out together. I love our church family! Here's a few of them eating and talking...
Baby Micah and Sarah are the cutest!

Mud! should we! Yes!

My son Matthew had a blast bouncing and squirting people with his water gun. Thanks Jackie for letting him get you wet!

A perfect day (Arlington Beach 2008)

The seagulls fly
Hundreds of them
Wheeling, diving, and soaring.
“Scree, Scree,” they cry.

Waves crash on shore
Bringing a feast
Crawdads, minnows and seaweed
Enough for all

The wind, so wild
No one but me
Walking, watching, and laughing
My arms flung wide


Old guard chair stands
Beach sentinel
Guarding, staying, and aging
A welcome seat

The gulls and I
Lift our voices
Calling, singing, rejoicing
A perfect day

Copyright: Joleen Steel 2008

Ten things that bring me joy!

1. My husband shaving off his goatee
2. Nylons that don't roll down around my hips
3. laughing so hard I snort
4. A whole day in my pajamas
5. Riding in a van with five teenage boys who need a shower (Only because it's so bad it makes me laugh)
6. The Mega Pack of Prisma colored pencils
7. Those socks that have an indiviual place for each toe! I don't have any but I know they'd bring me joy
8. Getting the hiccups and the burps at the same time. (does that only happen to me? It's very funny)
9. Not burning dinner again!
10. A Venti Carmel Machiato whole milk, whipped cream.(I especially like ordering this just after some one in front of me smugly ordered a non-fat grande Latte.)

More Arlington pictures. Scroll down for post

Arlington Beach

So this is my favorite place in the whole world. Arlington Beach in Saskatchewan Canada. I thought those of you who've heard me talk about it would like to see it. The first thing to do is to drive and drive and drive to get there. You may see things like this....

Then you'll see fields that go on for miles that look like this...

Then after a really really long drive you'll see the general store and the post office and the fishing liscence place and well this is it... it's the only building in the town.

So, then you'll turn down a dirt road and travel 11 miles straight as an arrow until you see the lake... Yay!

First post

So, this is my first post. I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with all of my family and friends this way. Bear with me though cuz, I'm just learning how to do this.

So, tonight we're going to go out on our swings and roast marshmallows and just relax together as a famly. Here's a picture of the swings. Dave built them! Yes, he's amazing! There's a fire pit in the middle. In fact it's almost dusk so I better go get our tiki torches lit.