Joy

Isn’t it funny how the simple things in life can bring so much joy! I often say I am easy to please. I don’t need large ticket items to make me happy. I’ll take a glass of wine, a chick flick and be happy as a clam. My definition of a great Sunday dinner is Chinese food. Having a family dinner on the deck with everyone present is another simple joy.
Watching my tulips bloom every spring makes me smile with excitement. Cuddling on the couch at night with my puppy is the best relaxing medicine I have had in a with my girls, especially dining outside with them is a simple joy! (Can’t speak for them however.) I cherish walks in the evening with my husband and appreciate the uninterrupted time. New buds on my Christmas cactus can make me dance with happiness. A clean house can bring a smile to my face and relaxation in my tense muscles. I just love walking in the early morning while the sun is rising. The eastern view of the sky is just breathtaking and makes me feel so peaceful.
While at church, I find myself watching the toddlers and their antics, instead of paying attention to the priest. For several years, at every holiday mass, we would sit near the same family. We would smile and laugh as the youngest girl danced and sang to the music in church and the music in her head. Young children are the purest form of love and one
of the best reflections of God’s presence in this reality. God’s unfiltered reflection is present in every young child. It truly is a gift to spend time with them!
My daughters and I equate butterflies with our dear Aunt Mimi who passed away 5 years ago. So the mere vision of a butterfly brings such joy to us. We always send out love and greetings to Aunt Mimi when we see one. About 4 years ago, we had a new deck built. The day it was completed, 2 butterflies sat on the railing and stayed there into the evening hours. They were present while we ate dinner outside. Occasionally they would flutter above us, briefly going out of our site, only to return and sit on the rail again. The butterflies
danced around my daughters’ heads. One kissed the nose of my youngest. The other landed and stayed on my oldest daughter’s shoulder. The orange and black butterflies came back for the next few days but never stayed as long. We knew this was a special visit. It brought such warmth to all of our hearts. We still talk about them each time we are on the deck. We remain uncertain as to whom they were, but my odds are on my aunt and her brother, my dad.
Pure Joy!