She's My Daily Joy

Throughout this joy exploration, I've been reminded about two constant, daily joys in my life. First is God and His Word. No matter what happens, He gives joy, deep abiding joy that only He can give. Second - my wife is a continual source of joy to me.

The above picture is one of my Christmas gifts from her.  Every time I see it, I smile. I love it. It makes me think of her every day as I work. (I have to post this instead of a picture of her. She won't let me photograph her or at least share photos of her.)

Cindy gives me joy. She laughs at my stupid jokes (even after all this time of marriage). She reminds me of blessings we have in our lives. When I get anxious or distracted, she calms me or kicks me in the pants or both at the same time. She listens when I whine or have legitimate concerns. She gives wise counsel. She challenges me to think about things. She does so many things for me, without asking and without much in return.

She's been my joy for more than 31 years. (That sounds like a long time!) Last year when I could have lost her, I learned even more how much joy she gives me. I only hope that I can return a fraction of joy that she brings to me.

I often hear about people talking about "their other half." Cindy is definitely the one who fits me, who gives me strength in areas where I lack and pulls the best from me for what she needs. I can honestly say she's my daily joy, a true gift from God.

Today's Joy: My wife; I think I'll keep her.

When Something Works

I take a lot of pictures with my phone. Well, not so many now. But I like to take photos of things that I see the kids doing and things they enjoyed.

I was looking through my camera roll today, searching for a certain picture. I saw the one on this page. It's a shot from yesterday's music class; we made bell sticks.

I wanted the kids to make instruments to use with our rhythm activities. I had one idea in mind...and then I saw a picture of something like this on Pinterest. I wanted to do it. So I purchased sticks and beads and chenille stems and bells. I experimented with it and decided to do it.

The kids really loved it. I think they would have made these for the whole hour if I let them...and if I had a few more sticks. I also brought out the markers so they could color the sticks if they chose.

One guy began shaking his as hard as possible - and the chenille stem flew off the stick. (I had tape...just in case.) We taped some of them just to make them more secure.

The kids enjoyed shaking their bells sticks to songs and with the rhythm patterns We didn't have much time to use them because we enjoyed making them for so long. Now they are tucked away in the cabinet, ready for next week. We'll use them for a few weeks and then the kids can take them home.

Just seeing the picture made me smile. I love it when something works out!

Today's Joy: Bell sticks that work...and the photo of them.

Too Old for This?

My new driver's license arrived. In the picture I look like an old man. Well, I guess I am an old man - I have gray hair and a white beard. Most days I feel like I should be still in my 30s or so. I think I can take on just about anything that I've always done.

And then there are other days - like today. I got up this morning not feeling very well. A cold or something. I get moving a little slow. I wonder if I'll be able to lead kids in music effectively. I feel tired.

But something happens when I get into the room with the kids. I don't know if I pull energy from them (because they seem to have an endless supply). But when I'm in a room, playing music and clapping rhythms and moving to songs and so forth...I feel like I can anything. Occasionally I even fall on the floor with the kids. (Well, maybe once but that's it.)

Today at the end of our music time, we were moving to a favorite song "All Fall Down." It's a building song. First we clap and then fall down. Next we make a face, clap, and fall down. And so on, adding movement each time, building up to the falling down each verse. As we finished the song, one boy said (lying on the floor): "I'm getting too old for this!"

When I heard that, I felt that I would never be too old to enjoy time with boys and girls.

Today's Joy: Spending time with kids and music

Joy and Sadness

I am sad today. What led me to looking for joy this month were some sad things at the end of the year. Today I had some sad news, some sad circumstances, sad situations. It seems that every gathering I was a part of had some sad tinge to it today. I think sometimes it's just like that. And that's when I need to search for the joy even more.

I thought back over this day and past days. The one thing that came to mind over and over is the book of Psalms. I've been reading through the Psalms this month, 5 psalms each day. Often when I think about the book of Psalms, I think of praise to God. After all, the book is a book of songs.

While there are shouts of praise, there are also lines of lament. There are confessions and confusion along with the adoration and adulation. Words of worship and worry, comfort and crying, thankfulness and thoughtful questions.

I noticed that even in the times of lament, praise and joy leak through among the verses. And in my times of sadness, I can see the spark of God's joy peeking through.  The shadows of my sad situations enhance the glow of the joy that comes in even the smallest packages.

Can there be joy in the lament? He turns the lamenting into joy.

Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

Today's Joy: The lament that heightens His joy

Just a Quick Stop

For the past few weeks, Cindy and I have tried something new. Cindy orders groceries online at Walmart and we go pick them up. She logs in on the app. A young man or woman comes out when we arrive to verify our name. Then they bring out the bags and load them into our car.

I enjoy going to the grocery store. I like spending time wandering the aisles and selecting what we need. I like having the time to think about things or think about nothing at all but what to purchase for dinner the next week. Going to the store has been a joy in the past for me.

But now, I need the time for other things. Since I've added a few more things to my schedule, it is more difficult for me to find the time to wander the store. We tried online shopping as a stopgap one week and now we really like it. I've met some really nice young adults who load groceries into my car. While I still must take time to drive to the store and back, the time to pick up is so much less than shopping for myself.

Letting others "do things" for me is a struggle. But I've learned in the past months that allowing others to help isn't a sign of weakness. It's wise to let others do things if possible and free up time and space for other things - things that people cannot do for you.

Sometimes is a joy to let go and be served.

Today's Joy: Online grocery shopping and pickup

Brain Exercise

Writing takes a lot of thinking. It seems I spend a lot of time at my computer, trying to pull out thoughts that sometimes just don't want to come. So, while working, I need to take a brain break from time to time. I look to think about something completely different and maybe use different skills than I have been using.

One way to exercise my brain and focus on different things is through puzzles. I really like to do Sudoku, especially online when it will tell me that a number is wrong and I can correct it. On paper I end up tossing puzzles because I can't find the mistake. These number puzzles make me think and plan and try different things. And I enjoy them (usually). And the best part? If I get too frustrated, I just close it down and go back to work. The doing has helped me even if I don't get to the solution. (But I'm usually stubborn and keep at it until it's done.)

I also like to take trivia quizzes on Sporcle. I do really well on Bible questions and history and general knowledge. I really do badly on popular music. I'm embarrassingly great at TV shows. I struggle with world geography but clean up on US geography. But even if I try and fail on a particular quiz, it's over in a couple of minutes and my brain is ready to do something else.

This particular joy is small and quick and I can go back to work before too long. (That is if I don't keep clicking on quizzes to take.)

Today's Joy: Quizzes and puzzles for brain breaks.

Adventures in 1-derland

As the music teacher for Mothers Day Out, I get to lead musical activities with all ages of preschoolers. This includes the 1-year-olds. Now my musical activities are simple for this age group. I go to the classroom with a CD player, simple rhythm instruments, and bubbles.

One-year-olds are an interesting lot. At the beginning of the year, most are skittish. They stare at me and keep their distance. I may be able to coax them closer with an egg shaker or tambourine, but they will take it and then move quickly out of reach.

Even now some are still a little stand-offish. They are more comfortable with me being there but still keep their distance. Others welcome me to the room and walk to where I normally sit, just waiting for me.

Today in the ones' room, I sat down and handed out shakers. The kids began to shake them before I started the music. We shook shakers and sang. Some wandered the room; others sat right next to me or stood close by.

One little guy sat with shakers in hand and stared at me. He didn't shake his eggs, just held them. He watched everything I was doing. This guy just started again at MDO this January. He was upset in the fall and everyone decided he needed a little more time for adjustment. He still cries when he's dropped off, but he stops fairly quickly and has adapted to the routine.

When I pulled out the bubbles today, everyone pressed in. I blew bubbles and they chased them and popped them. The little guy came and stood right next to me. He opened his mouth each time the bubbles flew into the air. (Maybe he was trying to catch them on his tongue? I don't know.) I talked to him and the others near me as I blew the bubbles.

Then he began to babble softly to me. I don't know what he said. But he talked! The first time he has spoken to me and one of the few times I've seen him so engaged (so far). My smile was wide.

I had some great conversations with several 1-year-old friends, including this new friend. I decided there's not much more joy than a 1-year-old deciding you are okay and talking to you.

Today's Joy: Music and bubbles with 1-year-olds