The beautiful Bear Lake, Utah!
Look at that face!
Emily and Anthony on the paddle board.
This is one of my favorite pictures! I thought Anthony had a man bun, but it was actually his hat on backwards. We laughed and laughed so hard.
My darlin with Tayzie on the tube!
Anthony the tube dude!
My darlin made me this awesome cooler!
We filled the styrofoam cooler with ice then turned on the fan. The PVC elbows sent the cool air which ever direction we pointed them.
We had a blast at the lake!
It’s my blogiversary!!
So here’s a list of 7 things I’ve learned blogging for 7 years:
1-Always remember why you do it.
I don’t spend a lot of time on other peoples blogs. I am trying my best to get a grip in my life and sitting on the computer all day doesn’t help. So if I don’t have a lot of visitors, because I’m not commenting all the time on others blogs, I’m ok with that. I am leaving a journal with stories and what not for my family and anyone else who would like to visit. I love you all!
2-Put your best foot forward.
Emily and Anthony’s cute socks and shoes on their wedding day!
I struggle sometimes. I prefer to not focus on complaining. It’s really not me anyway. I am a joyful person! I am always looking for the blessings in life.
3-Have variety.
If I always focus on one topic, it’s like I’m talking in a monotone voice. That’s not very fun! So it’s good to mix it up.
4-Be totally honest.
I am, what I am. I love to share what I feel and the adventures I’m having. Sometimes, life is challenging. Maybe if I share how I’m working through a challenge it might help someone else. Who’s to say…;)
5-It takes a lot of effort sometimes, and that’s ok.
Remember Dory? Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!
6-“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
I am a firm believer that love conquers all. I don’t agree with everyone on the internet, and I know they don’t all agree with me, but we can be kind and show love for other humans when we communicate.
7-Sharing what matters most to me is fun!
Sunday’s really are Best! Family History is so fun! Missionaries make me happy! Beautiful Places are beautiful! My Darlin, First Born, Janet, Dream Come True, Most Quoted, Amber, Bonus Baby, Anthony, Grandbabies, and Tayzie mean the world to me! Someday this blog will be a treasure for the people I love, maybe it is already. Either way, it’s here and waiting for a visit from all!
Thank you for visiting! I hope you return often!
Love, Joy
Happy Birthday sweet Bonus Baby, Emily!!!
22 reasons why I am so glad I’m your mama!
You are:
1-a bonus 2-the cherry on top 3-the cutest caboose 4-beautiful 5-a spiritual giant 6-so sweet 7-thoughtful 8-a good friend 9-motivated 10-adventurous 11-faithful 12-a good example 13-darling 14-fun 15-happy 16-a leader 17-very huggable 18-hard working 19-sensitive 20-easy going 21-trustworthy 22-the best!!!!
I love you so much!!!!
Have a wonderful Birthday!!
Today is my little brother Grant’s birthday- Happy Birthday Grant!!
And on the 2nd of April was my baby brother Larry’s birthday- Happy Birthday Larry!!
Aren’t they so cute?
When we were kids I was often the one in charge when the parents weren’t home. I wish I could say I was always nice to them. I wasn’t.
They really were fun little brothers. They were inseparable.
Grant seemed a little more quiet than Larry when they were kids. Grant has so many talents, and is very creative. He worked hard at college and is a very good provider for his family. He is a leader. One of my favorite things about Grant is, I know he is always doing his best in whatever he accomplishes. You can count on him for love and support! For years it was our tradition to go to the local Parade of Homes together. He loves architecture and I love looking at all of the beautiful homes. These days, besides being an all around great guy, he is a brilliant photographer of the Great Salt Lake area.
Larry is my baby brother. I don’t know if he likes me calling him that, but I was 9 when he was born and helping mom take care of him was such a fun thing to me. He was my baby. The one I took care of, and hauled around. Now he is a big guy and very lovable. He took state in wrestling in high school. We are all proud of that. He is very generous and loving to all of us. He is so creative and has a lot of projects going all the time. He is the epitome of an entrepreneur. He writes music and stories, and is creative and efficient, and also a great photographer and world traveler. He is my biggest help when it comes to technology (I’m sure he wishes he wasn’t).
Once when we were young I wanted to watch my two favorite shows: Love Boat, and Fantasy Island (I am embarrassed to say that), and the little brothers wanted to watch something else. Well, I was the boss ’cause mom and dad were gone. I said, “No, way!” A few minutes later the little brothers come in the room with picket signs and saying, “Rights for little brothers!” Bouncing the signs up and down. I about lost it! Oh my stars! They were so cute.
I feel so blessed to have these cute little brothers!!! I love you both!
My life would not be complete without you!
Where do I start?
I have been a slacker…..Only in my blogging!
Life is so wonderful, and hard, and awesome! Our family had a wonderful blessing on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Our daughter Emily, my Bonus Baby was married for time and all eternity to her sweetheart in the Jordan River Temple.
It was wonderful!
It was a blizzard.
It’s was very overwhelming and fun!
I have had my two son’s get married, but this is my first wedding for a daughter. Let me just say there is a big difference in what you do to get ready for a son to marry, as opposed to what you do to get ready for a daughter to marry. I have been sewing, and hot glueing and organizing for weeks and weeks for this blessed event.
It all turned out great!
Now that we have had our day with Em, I’ll share some of our preparations with you.
I have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t in preparing. I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned. I will share pictures and fun ideas.
Watch for my next post!
This is my brother Brad! He’s giving a squish to his sweetie Cindy!
Today is his Birthday!!!!
When I was a little girl I remember him being so good to me. He was, and still is, a wonderful big brother.
He is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. He has been working since he was in his early teen years. He still works so hard to provide for his family!
He always had the beautiful cars when he was a teenager. This was the late 70’s and he had these beautiful muscle cars. He had a Chevelle, a Monte Carlo, and a LeMans. He always took such good care of his things. He has always been so responsible.
He is a good brother, dad, husband and son to our parents.
I love him and hope he has the most Happy Birthday Ever!!!
I am so blessed to have a big brother like him.
So thankful for:
Life*Love*Father In Heaven*Jesus My Savior
*Family*Home*Food*Clothes*Friends*Sunshine
*Snow*Mountains*Water*Warm*Work
*Turkeys*Cars*Fun Times*Hard TImes*Life*Love
Of course this is not a complete list.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!
How do you celebrate?
How do you celebrate your birthday?
————————————
My darlin said to me, “It’s your birthday Tuesday, what do you want to do?”
I answered, “What do I really want to do?”
He told me it really only matters what I want to do on my birthday.
I agreed!
“I want to clean the basement,” I announced.
He couldn’t believe it, “What?”
“We’ll do some work, take a load to the thrift store, then have dinner with family!”
Sounds like a perfect day to me.
We spend the first 5 hours of the day cleaning the basement. It hasn’t been organized since we moved into our new (old) home in March. When we moved, we downsized a bunch! We, as well as those helping us move just put items here and there. There was no rhyme or reason to the rooms. We had food storage with seasonal decor, sewing supplies, and cleaning supplies all in random places. It was very full, with just a pathway leading to the far corner of the room.
I don’t know how you feel about that kind of situation, but to me that is very overwhelming and frustrating. I learned from reading a book written by an organizer named Daryl Hoole, that you need a place for everything and to keep everything in it’s place, like put it right away once you use it. We didn’t even have a place for everything yet, how could we keep everything in it’s place? This drives me crazy, so to me this was a great way to spend my birthday, and then have the peace that comes from keeping it clean, and organized.
It went very well. We got a lot done. We took a load to the DI (thrift store) and met the family at the restaurant. It was so fun to see them.
We have a tradition in our family on birthdays. We go around the table and say something that we love about the person whose birthday it is. We usually go around a few times. I love it! It was the perfect finish on a wonderful day. I got to love on this sweet little grandbaby! My daughter-in-law Janet gave me the cutest thing from my grandbaby. She traced his cute tiny hands on paper, and cut it out, and attached a accordion piece of paper from one cut out hand to the other. On the one hand was written, “Happy Birthday” and on the other, “Grandma, I love you this much!” Oh my stars!!!! I love it!
It really was a great day!
Birthdays are fun when they’re spent doing what you want, with who you want to be with!
Alex and Amber
What a beautiful day! They are married and it was wonderful!
Love!
Get every new post delivered to your Inbox
Join other followers