Positively Tuesday-Find Joy

      

Sharing in memory of a blog friend. I hope her
last days were filled with beautiful sunrises.

     A reader let me know our blogger friend Cheap Chick passed away on October 22. For those that read her blog, you already know she was the epitome of grace and courage, living whatever time she had surrounded by and with people and places that bring her joy. Her last post in August was simply beautiful, pictures and words of love and nature. In her memory, I will look closer, think clearer, and appreciate deeper the joys and simple pleasures of my life.

1. I'm grateful my daughters oral surgery for her implant prep went well and she for the most part stayed ahead of the pain. She was tired, but any sort of trauma to a person's body, plus  the drugs given during the procedure will cause that. She's back to work today.
2. Building off that, I'm happy she had oodles of paid time off, and I did as well to  help get her there and back and stay with her. 
3. I got my Swiss Colony  booklet, and am planning to send DS a Thanksgiving treat. It was a simple pleasure for me to know how much he liked getting it last year at Christmas, and that he liked the little cakes so much. He's not much of a sweet eater, so the petit fours did the trick. 
4. Out walking pup, I went past a neighbors house as he was coming home. He just sold his house and he and his son will be moving. I chatted for a few minutes, and shared that they were good neighbors and will be missed. It made me mindful that overall, we have pretty good neighbors, even the ones next door who tend to send there kids outside to  run and yell and cry loudly. You can't pick your neighbors so getting friendly and respectful ones is a joy. 
5. I got through interviews and it looks like I'll be able to hire back the office support staff, who I thought I had hired permanently last year. Through a communication glitch, his position was classified as a one year temporary assignment. I am happy to not have to start someone new, but even happier to now feel like he has stability and can really focus on learning and developing his skills. 
6. Seeing my younger daughter with the dog was a joy every day. She missed him so much, and in return he was at his utmost cute. His fur is at the totally fluffy stage-not overgrown yet, and despite his 10 1/2 years, when he plays with his balls, he's a puppy all over again. No offense, but he truly is the cutest dog. 
7. DH and I had "the talk" Sunday morning about figuring out a budget to live on just my salary in 2022 and 2023. He was surprisingly pleased I raised the idea. I was more pleased that he too was of the mindset that we need to do this, but not with a miserly or cheapskate mentality, just through  good actions. Mostly, it will be a year of looking at where we can cut fat and stop stupid spending-the rest, entertainment, a little travel, eating out in moderation, and gift giving, including charitable donations, stay in tact. It's more than a simple joy to be on the same page as your spouse. 
8. I don't know why I didn't snap a picture, but I loved having my light up pumpkins outside instead of just in the window. They really glowed in the dark. Mom's ceramic pumpkin was too far out of my  reach, and I didnt want to move a bunch of stuff so went with just the plug in guys. 
9. While we had less than 25 trick or treaters this year, we must have had the politest ones in town! I don't recall a single kid not giving a very bold thank you, and I'd say over half, the ones elementary age and older, all said Happy Halloween. DH noticed this too Well done kiddos! 
10. My younger daughter got safely back to college in plenty of time to enjoy her festivities on campus. My older daughter and I  shared pictures we each received from friends and family's kids dressed up in their costumes. It was a nice end to Halloween. 

     I hope your week was one with a lot of smiles, simple pleasures, and joys. The sad and difficult things will find us without looking, and can take away from our happiness if we let then. I owe it to others to look for the things that are good and happy and really lean into the joy, big and small..