Joy Column
 

This is an offshoot of Bonnie's post on another thread. I propose we keep it going daily, and post something joyful that we felt, saw, did, experienced, received, learned, woke-up to, etc..... whenever we feel like sharing. It is important to keep connected to the joyful experiences during our journey. No matter how big or how small. They are what keep us going and kicking and fighting to make it around the next corner!

I woke up to find my gorgeous and CRAZY Maine Coon Cat curled up in the new vessel sink in the bathroom today. Good gawd that critter brings smiles to my face... never-ending. He is a KOOK! He just looked at me like "what? you got this for me to sleep in, right?"

He wouldn't let me brush my teeth. He kept jumping back up and trying to crawl back in, even with the water on. Did I say he's not the brightest bulb... not all the time anyway.

LOL

I found Joy today in just being alive and well. It's not because of the weather, that's for sure. Gloom, rain and cold. BUT I'm alive and healthy ANDhttp://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...cons/icon7.gif most of all loved by our God. What more is there??????????

Great idea Brenda.

Mary Jo

Aye Aye!!
 

I agree. Breast cancer was not going to rob me or make me bitter about life. It has taken enough from us thank you very much!! I have worked very hard to try to bring back the normalcy that my hubby and I so yearned for. We have that laughter back and there are many stories that we would love to share about JOY.

And I too have a Maine Wave cat, huge orange cat with a "M" on his forehead that means "Mommy" LOL!! Won't find him in the sink though...tub maybe; where he can get all wet and 'let' me towel him dry.

Today's Joy: Being able to kiss my husband's bald head and thank him for being the fighter he has always been!! For being able to hold his hand and feel it. One year 9/7/07 and just thankful we have this time they did not think we would have!!

Let's do it girls!!>>Believe51

I found joy today reading this, and also one of my Grandchildren came over, Allison, soon to be a year old....I got a big hug, a sloppy kiss and got to see all 7 of her pearly white teeth when she smiled....being a GRANDMA, HAS GOT TO BE A TRUE GIFT FROM GOD!

Sheila.....
 

Cute little story about my 3 1/2 granddaughter Tia. She came to visit and Ed was sleeping off that belly pain. She wanted to see her Grandpa Ed (she has grandparents, great grandparents, and great great grandparents so names are vital for her). I reminded her that when she was sick last time she needed to sleep and be left alone, she did not want to even talk to anyone, she could not eat.

After reminding her of the importance that Grandpa Ed stay sleeping because then his belly did not hurt, she said:

"But Grandma, he is my grandfather", (reminded her why he needed to be in bed) then she repeated it for me!!

"But grandma, he is my grandfather, he is sick and I Loooooooove Himmmmm!!". Guess where that little bugger ended up? Yessir, she gave her Grandpa Ed a big hug when he woke up!!

The little miracles in life, the joys of just being alive and able to hug this small wonder. By the way, she looks just like my son only with blonde hair, when I see her I cannot put aside how she looks like daddy!!>>Believe51

PS. Ed said when he goes in for the next scan to see how the brain mets are he wants the doctor to drill some holes in his head to let the voices out!! ROTFL!! So it looks like bowling is an option if you are not good at pool!! LOL

Love Always>>Believe51

Joy is everywhere. I noticed my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashing are all growing back in and are starting to show some real promise.

My children (9 & 5) are running around the backyard, playing on the waterslide, screaming at the top of their lungs. Also, my wonderful husband of almost 10 years said a most beautiful prayer for me this morning.

And our loving Lord has His hand on all of us today.

Brenda,
What a great idea! We often get caught up in the disease and forget we do have so much to be thankful for. Joy is all around us!

We have been camping for the last week. Had a wonderful time hiking and biking. But when I walked into my house I got such a warm feeling. I love my home and all the good memories here!
Donna

Joy today was eating a huge ice cream cone. I decided to treat myself. Over the weekend, my joy was spending time with my granddaughter, grandson and of course, both of my daughters. Another joy is cuddling with my little 7 lb. chihuahua, Chico at night.

I got to see my oldest start his first day of Kindergarten. Walked him to school and then picked him up. The little guy looked funny carrying a backpack that is almost as big as he is!

And it was such a quiet day with him gone....LOL

Joy today was getting out and walking at 5:30 (it's so hot in the evenings) this morning and hearing the birds starting to wake up and seeing the sun rise before going to work. Realizing it feels so good to be alive!!!!.

Thanks for this wonderful idea, what an inspiration!
Debbie

Brenda, first of all I feel such joy that you were inspired by my post to do this. What a wonderful idea! Thank you!
I am finally feeling joy today as it is the first one since chemo last week that I have not been in pain.
AND I have 3 different friends coming from out of town all during the next 3 days.
AND we did the final walk through on our remodeled house today.
AND I laughed at your cat story. I could just picture it!

Great joy over the weekend spent with my husband and children, my father and stepmother, my brother, sister-in-law and niece. Taught my sons how to waterski--one of the great joys of my youth.

Joy today as I was in the laundry room folding clothes and my 16 year old son stuck his head in the door and yelled "Love you MOM!"
________
Side effects from prilosec

My nine year old was given a guitar last week and he's been "practicing" really hard. So, today I said something to my mom about medical bills. He enthusiastically piped up and said "Mommy, don't worry! Someday we will be rich!" I asked him how that was going to happen and with such intense seriousness, he replied " Well, my guitar career is really going to take off soon." :)

Live life as adventurously as a five-year old with a treasure map

Happy thoughts and peaceful moments,
Steph C

Joy is getting every morning and thanking the Lord for another day. Also I checked online today and I only have 19 days until my Eastern Carribean cruise . WOO HOO Best wishes to all my 'Sisters and brothers" Jeanette

I felt joy today and especially this weekend because I felt so incredibly crummy, lotsa pain, and even had the "trots" on Friday! ... Um, it makes me very happy because I just started the Tykerb TEACH study and I am SO hoping I have the drug and not the placebo ... so I am welcoming anything that could be a side effect and not just my "wishful thinking".

AbbyDawg

Joy today was shopping for a birthday present for my son who will be 23
on 8/23...and planning a birthday dinner party for him.I also had my first 3 month check up with onc. Another added joy is not wearing my wig! My hair has grown enough to ditch the wig.
Yahoo....

Jean

Thanks Brenda
 

First of all, I thought this was a posting from Joy - my chemo brain. Now that I'm up to speed...

Today I had a mani/pedi with my beautiful daughter, Gina, who will be leaving soon for college. She has been gone most of the summer, so I was truly happy to spend a little time with her.

I am also thankful for this site. I have "met" many wise and wonderful warriors.

xo Flori

little birds
 

If I turn the water on my garden at just the right time, a whole flock of the cutest little birds comes and bathes in the leaves of the trees as they become drenched. They make soft chirping sounds and the water droplets are like little rainbows as they fluff their feathers to get them all wet.

Yep, that's joyful!

Donna

My Daily Joy
 

Today's Joy: I took Joy getting things together for our get-away to celebrate his one year anniversary living with cancer. We are going to the White Mountains Friday 9/7 thru Monday 9/10 at a beautiful bed & breakfast. We will be going to check out the wildlife and wilderness, our greatest loves....animals and the great outdoors!!

I guess I just feel blessed to have this time with my Knight In Shining Armor and that he feels decent enough to even want to go!!

Another Joy: Thankful to have friends as special as all of you, you are my Angel Warriors!!

Believe51

I awoke this morning in God's wonderful world where nothing happens by mistake. Believing that makes every day joyful and worth living. I pray for each of you are who are experiencing difficulties in the course of this disease and thank God for His loving care. I also thank him for my beautiful granchildren who love a Grandma that can play video games with them!
I have never had a cat but love the story. I do have Pepe who loves to go for his SSNP walks. (That is for stop, sniff, "n pee.)
This thread is a great idea.
Love & hugs,
Marlys

Our newspaper has a daily happy musing. Today's is "Some think that joy is in short supply. Rather, it's in short use!"

We have an ongoing heatwave and drought. A few days ago I looked out my window to the garden. Much to my surprise I saw my half grown kittens playing in the water from the sprinkler. A little thing, but it made my day.

Leslie

Leslie, it is so often the "little things" isn't it? Unexpected...

I'm blessed with a lot of joy lately, so thanks for starting this Brenda. I'm joyful because:

1. I've reached my first "dear Lord let me stay alive long enough to" goal of seeing my oldest son off to college. We leave next week and it's sad but I'm so happy about the young man he's become and so excited for him as he's about to begin this wonderful journey.

2. I have a man who has loved me for 25 years and we still laugh and dance!

3. I have amazing friends who share the good times and bad but we laugh a lot more than we cry!

and last but not least.....

4. My eyelashes are growing! (sometimes it's the little things!)

I am headed out to pick my 'better half' up at the airport... he travels a lot with his work and is sometimes gone for 2-3 weeks at a time. What a blessing and a joy and a treasure he is in my life! My 12 year old 45 year old boy! LOL

He's a sweetie and brings so much joy to my life. Even when he drives me a little crazy.... you know what I mean.

Ooops, I forgot this.....
 

You know I have been asking for signs lately. I open up the paper and what do I see?

An article with the word:

BELIEVE!!

It was a front page story and the word was smack dab in the center of the page. When I read it (second time this week that word was in the center of something I was about to read) it reminded me of who I am.

I am thankful that in my sad day I was reminded of what is important to me and what I need to do to conquer this all!!

Believe51

Joy is not having to water my garden in the morning because it's raining!!

Joy is starting to deal with 40 pound weight gain and eat healthy again 20 months after diagnosis (thank you weight watchers core program)

Hey
 

today ...I went to do a mammogram for my left breast ( the same doctor who find the beast lasat year ) told me .."this time is not a bad news is a good news ...the calcification that you have last year still the same and are bening ...so let me schedule for next year on Aug" do you hav any question ? just look at him smile and said THANK YOU ....

Joy
 

for me today was to wake up and open my eyes and to hear the birds singing in the tree outside my window. I thank God every day for allowing me to grace this wonderful place for one more day.
Emelie

There is a patient at work who has, since I first lost my hair, believed me to be "Stevie", her stepson LOL. She even introduced me at her birthday party as "...Stevie, the most wonderful son a woman could ever ask for." So, today, I am talking with her and she tugs at my hair and raises an eyebrow at me and says "Stevie, you may want to think about getting a haircut." I didn't realize my hair had gotten so long, because just a few short months ago, I felt sure it would never grow back.

Steph C.

Tuesday Evenings Joy
 

It is Tuesday evening. I am sitting here relaxing - reading all the wonderful posts from my WONDERFUL cyber friends. Also, my wonderful sweetie of almost 29 years (Sept. 2) and I are leaving tomorrow for a little mini vacation to western Wisconsin in an old fashioned town. We are traveling through a lot of little old fashioned towns as well. I love to do things like that.

Another "joy" moment!!

Mary Jo

I was going to lunch with a friend who is visiting and we found a stray dog along the way. No tags. Spent the afternoon tracking down his owner. The JOY was seeing the successful reunion!!!!! I have never seen a happier dog!!!

I love lost pet reunions! They are awesome.

It's meeeee!!!
 

Todays Joy: My son called me at 1:00 am this morning because he needed his mom. It was my pleasure and honor to be able to answer the phone, talk him into closure, and then tell him to go to sleep. When he was little we would always say each night, "See you in the morning when the sun comes up". He came up with this saying and we said it all through his childhood.

It was my JOY this morning to be there for my terrific son and it surely was a JOY to say "See you in the morning when the son comes up", I missed that so.

This post is wonderful!!!>>Believe51

I saw a hummingbird this morning in my flower garden--It was so tiny and bright--what a beautiful creature. Made me smile!

My joy today is waking up and still laughing at a favorite comedian of mine who I watched on Comedy Central last night, Jim Gaffigan! That guys just cracks me up! And laughing, really, really laughing is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world...

Birds ...
 

Whoever says "Life is for the birds" may not really know what they are saying. Birds do a lot to lift my spirits! Audrey had a hummingbird visit. We have several nests around.

Three years ago I put a hummingbird feeder hanging from a shepard's hook right next to the edge of our patio. I sit and read or ponder my garden and then I hear the whirring of their wings. Some times there are 2 or 3 divebombing me and while one feeds the others will land in the lilac bush and "stand guard." At times one will come close to my face and just hover in the air looking at me. I wonder which angel sent them...

We have two birdbaths and one is quite near the kitchen window under a sheltering Japanese maple. All kinds of birds visit our yard I got a field guide so we now know more about all the different birds that come. The Flickers peck in the grass, the sparrows take "dirt baths," the Jays come and chase off the others, Mr. Robin comes and hogs the birdbath, and the Finches, Siskens and Chickadees are among other regulars. At times we will see one of the rarer birds and that is always a treat to find it in the field guide.

My joy today was when I picked up my grandson at school. He came running down the hall and gave me the biggest hug and kiss. Then when we got home we sat down together with a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and two spoons. Eli is my joy everyday and whenever I'm feeling down he seems to sense it and just pours on the love. Grandchildren have to be God's greatest gift.

StephN,

I can relate to your love of birds, I have several feeders outside that I can watch from kitchen and patio doors. I also have been raising zebra finches for several years, but think I am ready to pass them on to someone else to rear now.

At the lake this weekend, it was a wonderful birding time. In additional to the regulars, we saw blue herron, white crane, kingfisher and bald eagle. Birds give me joy.
________
SerennaHot