It's a Brand New Week

For the past 48 weeks I have been compiling a list of my daily joys. When I first began I was not expecting a pandemic and a lockdown. I expected to be filled with joy as we used the remaining season tickets to the theater, and those to our favorite concert venue. I never expected a joy to include something seen on Netflix, or bird watching from my kitchen window. Life changed quickly but I noticed there were sincere joys still each and every day. So at the end of week 48, this is my list of joys. Now I am in countdown time to New Year's Eve when I am going to re-read the entire year, just to remember  what joys are out there, and to remind myself that another year filled with joys is waiting.

Wednesday: Painters were a no show and though I did not get any big tasks done, I completed a ton of small ones including fully decorating the Christmas tree for the living room. One down! While I was in the process of hanging ornaments, I had a FaceTime visit with my favorite girl. 

Her parents have done one of the smartest things I have heard for the school year and the current Covid situation. They organized with 3 other families who are isolating and created a private school employing a first grade teacher who is also isolating. They now have a 6 kid, 3 family bubble so the children are in a brick and mortar place rather than online education, and the kids are able to have recreational time after school with each other. Monday they took a 2 day field trip (Moms and kids only) to a home in the country. The kids got to explore and play, and Pip was able to have a small birthday party in spite of Covid.

While we talked she told me all about her birthday presents. Dragons! If you have not been assigned to watch the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy by your kids or grandkids then you might not know about Toothless and Stormfly or Hiccup and Astrid. I know all about them (more than I ever wanted to know) but I  am overjoyed I can talk with her about the movies and also about the world she creates while playing with them.

Thursday: Thanksgiving with just the two of us was a first, but not a bad thing. We both lounged around during the morning watching the Macy's new twist on a parade. It was the first Thanksgiving I did not have to hop out of bed and start cooking. I must admit it was not a bad way to begin a holiday. I got some Christmas presents wrapped and under the tree, then started decorating the dining room in earnest. A special joy was a deliberate non-keto planned day ending with a cup of Snickerdoodle hot chocolate! 

Friday: The painter finished at Moms so we are one step closer to getting it on the market.

 TheHub had gotten a gift certificate for his birthday from some of  his co-workers to a newly opened (right before covid) restaurant. I will still not go into a restaurant but fortunately they are doing takeout so we decided to try them. We went ahead and bought 3 meals so we could use the entire card hoping they will survive these times, but you never know. Wow what delicious food!  We will be doing that again. 

And the final huge joy was a FaceTime visit with Pip. More dragon play!

Saturday: We went .shopping/looking for a new car ( well at least new to me). I have driven my car for years and years and it is completely used up. Time for a change!

After we got home I had a delightful phone call with Sluggy. She makes me laugh and is a true joy to talk with. 

Then it was time for the Iron Bowl. Roll Tide, Roll! Bama won!

And in the evening I had another very brief FaceTime call with Pip. When she is bored she gives me a quick call to amuse herself until something better comes along. I treasure those minutes!

Sunday: Sunday now begins with streaming our church's services. It is going to be hard for me to go back to real church since I can wear pajamas at home. 

Later in the afternoon we had a Zoom birthday party for Pip. The entire clan was on the call and we all got to see her open her presents, blow out the candles and share in the excitement. I am seriously thankful for the technology that allows us to be part of her special moments and times. Did I mention we bought a piece of chocolate cake to share so she would not have to eat cake alone?

Monday: The day was just an ordinary day with more cleaning/decorating and a tad of shopping. I needed some tulle ribbon for gift wrapping and a little decorating. Quite unusual for this time of year, while I was in the parking lot there were snow flurries. (actually, it is unusual any time fo the year, here) I know some of you do not understand the delight those of us in the south get from seeing the white stuff falling. It is a novelty and people all over the parking lot stopped walking to look skyward. 

Tuesday: An unplanned visit to the dentist happened. I have known my dentist since we were kids and there is a joy in being able to have her squeeze me in, even though I had not planned on seeing her yesterday!  Fortunately it was an easy fix and I was able to stop and pick up some Christmas goodies because her office is just down the street from my favorite Aldi. 

Afterward I met my sister at Mom's house to go over her monthly finances. I find it odd that we still have to meet to do business for Mom after all these months.  "What a joy to begin compiling tax documents", she said sarcastically.

Hope you all have a wonderful joy filled week. Look for them because they are out there!

Christmas sighting, Day 2. The other side of the den entertainment center (yes I am old and still have an entertainment center instead of having a humongous tv mounted on the wall)