Category Archives: Neat!

The Time I Thought Amanda Died.

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 For years now, me and my sweetie have shopped at thrift stores and had a blast doing it. We have found all kinds of things; home furnishings, knickknacks, toys, scrapbook paraphernalia, and clothing, to name a few. It is always so much fun to see what we find. What kind of treasure we will get to take home. 

One time while shopping at the thrift store, I found several jean type pants that were my size and in very great shape. On the back at the waist, inside where the belt would go looked like an iron-on label that said: Amanda. 

Now, it’s not uncommon to find clothing at the thrift store that has come from a rest home or convalescent center where someone has passed on and they are donating all of their clothes. Each of these pants had the name Amanda just inside the waistband in the back. I thought, “Hmmmm, maybe Amanda died at the old folks home so they donated her pants.” I was so excited, because if Amanda died, she was free from the toil and hardships of this world, and I would be the new owner of her pants. They were in great shape in various colors and just my size. In other words, we would both benefit from her death. I have enjoyed these pants for some time and been very grateful for them.

Then on a recent trip to St. George, I once again was shopping at the thrift store and came across some really nice pants and looked at the back of the waist to find the name: Amanda. I was so surprised! Maybe Amanda didn’t die and maybe it was just the style of the pants that had been made for a cute little chunky chick like me from this company. I found my sweetie, and exclaimed, “Amanda didn’t die!” He looked perplexed and said, “what are you talking about?” I reminded him about all the pants we found up north, closer to home that we thought belonged to Amanda, and that we also thought she died at the rest home, and they donated her pants. He said, “Oh, yeah!” I showed him the pants I just found and said, “There’s no way Amanda could be in a rest home up north and in St George, a month later and die again. We laughed and laughed and I got some more new Amanda pants.

Super Power: Birthday Remembering!

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I’m not a super hero, but I do have a super power.

My little brother says, we remember what’s important to us. Well, I must consider birthdays very important. Maybe I didn’t get enough attention when I was younger on my birthday, I don’t know, but I love my birthday, I love celebrating and I love remembering other peoples birthdays and special days.

For as long as I can remember I have had a good memory for other peoples birthdays. I can remember other special days, too. I don’t know for sure how it happens, but when I explain it to others they like to tease me. Example: I’ll say, “Well, I was almost full term pregnant with Kelsey when Scott and Stacy got married. I was big and uncomfortable at the wedding, and Kelsey was born a week later on July 21st. So I know their wedding anniversary is July 15th.”

So family will say, in jest- “The moon was rising over Sagittarius and Jupiter was falling…” like it is a magic ability, or power. Well, if I do have a super power this is it. If you asked me the price of bananas, I have no idea and never have. I can’t remember any prices, ever. I don’t know if what I’m shopping for is a good deal, because I can’t remember what the price of hamburger is per pound. If I need bananas, I buy them. If I need hamburger I buy it, but forget a birthday? Never!

For example: in January these are the birthdays, Brad-2nd, Lizzie-2nd, Indie-6th, Nancy-9th, Ian-16th, Vickie-17th, Monroe-22nd, Kiefer-23rd, Liam-23rd, Lilli-30th, Colin-30th, Abby-31st. I typed all of these from memory except 2. I had to check, but not too bad.

I have made lists of birthday, and anniversaries and shared them with the rest of the family. I may have even saved someone from missing an important birthday. Just sayin’. In that way I may even be a super hero!

I love my family, my people. I have chosen to send a birthday card to each family member on their birthday. It takes effort, but I want them to know I love them and I want them to know they are remembered on their special day. Most the time I don’t hear back from them. That’s ok. The ones who say thank you are always so glad I took the time to remember them. I just got a message from my niece who is serving a mission in Germany. She got her bday card and loved it. When your away from home and you get mail it’s the best!

Maybe that’s it. When I was a missionary I loved mail. When someone takes the time to send a letter it means they thought about you to think about doing it, then they thought about you while writing the letter/card, then they thought about you while getting/writing the address, and then one more time while dropping it off at the mailbox! So much loving thoughts.

It’s worth it to me!

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Why Important Birthdays Are Important

They acknowledge our steps along the road. They let us savor the joy, yet again. They inspire laughter and shenanigans. They embrace pageantry and tradition. They ask us to close our eyes and make a wish for the future. -Tiffany&Co.

Sunday Best!

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This quote describes my darlin to a “T.”

“Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” -Joseph Smith

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You will not usually see my darlin cruising around with his chainsaw and working on the Sabbath, but we have had some serious wind storms, and trees have been falling on homes, cars, and making a real mess where we live.

Last night the wind start to blow really hard. I’m sure a lot of people didn’t sleep well. Sometime in the night the power went out and by 7:30 this morning I received a text saying that 9:00 church had been cancelled. The power was out in the church.

My sweetie decided to go for a ride and see what things looked like. He ended up driving past our old home. It has many tall pine trees around it. He noticed one pine tree was tipping a bit and when he looked at the ground realized it was going to fall over. He quickly went to the door and let the people who live there now know they needed to move the cars that were parked very close to the tree. They rushed to move the cars and within a minute or so the tree came down right where the cars were.

They were so grateful!

My darlin showed up at home and told me the story, then left with his chainsaw to cut up the tree.

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When he got back to our old home. The tree next to the one that fell, was beginning to tip as well. Some of the neighbors noticed the activity going on and started to help clear the limbs and clean up while others started cutting down the other tree.

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I drove over to see the damage. I was amazed and surprised that it never happened while we lived there. What a wonderful neighborhood. People were coming to help without any special request. Just seeing the need and helping. I love these people!

I love my darlin for blessing so many others, and always being “anxious to bless the whole human race!”

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

It’s Cold Outside and The Longest Icicle!

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It sure has been cold here in Utah!

I ran outside today barefoot and in my jammies to get this awesome picture of the longest icicle! I hope you all appreciate my effort. It has been growing for some time. My darlin and I heard a crash this afternoon and when we checked the icicle had fallen. I’m so glad I got the photo!!! 

Stay warm!!!

A Trip to the Motherland!

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My parents went on a lovely trip to England

with my baby brother, his wife, and her parents.

What a wonderful thing to do!!!

I almost climbed into their luggage.

In this picture they are visiting a place called Rollrightstones, you can read about it here!

“The Rollright Stones is a ancient site located on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border in England. The complex consists of three main elements, The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone, and the Whispering Knights.”

I may never get to go on a trip like this, but I have been traveling with them as they go. You might wonder how. The answer is…the internet. I have their itinerary. I know what their plans are, and I can search and see what they are seeing on the internet.  I am having a blast on their trip!!!

Hopefully I’ll be able to share some more pictures. So come visit and I’ll share what I can.

It’s Been Five Years!!! Happy Blogiversary!!!

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20070616_174349Five Things About My Blog!

1-I love having a blog. It is a way to share my personal history. It is a history of my family. There are times I can’t think of anything to say, and other times I have lists of future posts I want to write.

2-Sometimes I wonder if anyone is reading. Hopefully, it is a fun place to visit. I’m so happy when I see that others have been to my blog. I hope when people come to visit they’re glad they came. I hope I can put a smile on their face.

3-It is not a popular blog, but it is mine. It is how I feel and my experiences. It is a testimony to my love of life and God, my love of family and home. It is all about our joyful nest, and it is a happy place to be!

4-I am amazed at which posts are the most popular: The Candy Bar Poster, My Cold Hot Water Bottle, My Favorite Planner, Family History Forms, The Grapefruit Poem, and More!

5-I wonder sometimes how long I will do this. I have been writing a blog for 5 years. I think I will do more posts, write more stories, and share more history. I think I will do better at sharing my helps for parents. I will continue to share myself and my life, my family and my love of Father in Heaven and my Savior.

Thank you for visiting! I hope you will come again sometime. Leave a comment once in a while, I would love to hear from you.

Happy 5th Blogiversary!!! 

 

Got Any Gwapes?

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Look at these beautiful Concord grapes!!! They smell and look so wonderful. We have been juicing almost everyday! The juice from these grapes is the best!DSC06148

The color is spectacular. I wish I could capture it in my picture. We are so excited to drink this juice all winter long!DSC06149Yum!!!!!

Angels Among Us!

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DSC05542If you visit ourjoyfulnest very often you will know that life has been extra busy.

In the month of May, my oldest son got married, and my youngest daughter left on a LDS mission. Both of these events can, and usually do, require a lot of time for planning and money to make them happen. I am a firm believer that we are truly blessed, and we will continue to be blessed with the things we need (Key word: need).  We are always blessed by a loving Heavenly Father. We live in a wonderful neighborhood, and have amazing friends. We have had so much help from others. Our friends and neighbors and family have been amazing.

So during all of this planning and spending, getting ready for the wedding and preparing our daughter to leave for a year and a half, the thought crossed my mind a few times, “Are we going to have enough money?” Then I would push that thought out and think, “Of course we will, we have to!”

One day while busily going about my day, an envelope showed up on the back porch. One of the kids said that it was just sitting there. I opened it not knowing what to think. As I got to the card I could see cash peeking through from inside the card. The card says, “Just thinking thoughts of you”. On the inside of the card written by hand it said, “You’ve prayed me here, now what will you do with me.” My eyes filled with tears as I counted the money, lots of money.

An angel or angels came to our home and blessed us. Straight from Heaven. I cried and cried thinking about how thoughtful people are. It was truly a miracle in our lives. I hope to someday be able to thank those angels who blessed our family. I don’t know if it will happen, but I will most definitely pay it forward. I love you angels!