Flannelette

 I love Flannelette fabric.  It brings me Joy.  It brings me warmth.  The warmth brings me Joy.

 Flannelette defined as “A lightweight cotton flannel”.

Today I bought a Flannelette nightie for my time in hospital.  It looks so warm and comfy.  I love my flannelette pj pants - I have quite a few and love them.  I also love the new Flannelette pjs my hubby bought me for Mother’s Day too.

And then today I put my Flannelette sheets on our bed.  I will be very glad to get into bed tonight, I know I will feel very toasty.

Feeling warm and toasty and in my Flannelette pjs definitely brings me Joy. 

After a warm bath I love putting on Flannelette pjs - it makes me feel at home, at peace, comfortable, happy, Joyful.

Sky

I love the Sky, the everchanging colours, the clouds, the shades of blue.  Looking at the Sky brings me Joy.

Sky defined as “the upper atmosphere as seen from the earth’s surface”.

In the morning when I walk our puppy I love looking at the Sky, the first light in the sky.  The shifting clouds, the shifting blue.  The Sky is definitely a canvas of God’s artistry.

Even from my kitchen or a bedroom, catching a glimpse of the Sky in the morning makes me feel Joyful, brings me into the present, brings me peace.

At any time of the day, looking up to the Sky is a gift for me, even just seeing the clouds or blueness.  It is always fun, especially with children, looking at the shapes of the clouds and pointing them out - “look it looks like a bunny”, “or a puppy”, “or a dinosaur”.

At night, the Sky is definitely a showcase of beauty – the pinks and yellows and oranges and purples.  The Sky is definitely breathtaking and just being in a state of presence and looking at the Sky brings me Joy. 

I love taking photos of the Sky too, capturing the beauty. 

HighTea

High Tea is definitely one of my favourite things to do! Love taking my daughter to HighTea which is our thing we love to do each year. Also loved taking my Nieces for HighTea as they transitioned to high school. 

And today went to HighTea with my best friend. Went to QVB which is my favourite!

HighTea defined as “the British tradition of drinking tea while sitting in high-backed chairs at a table full of plated items such as cold meats, vegetables, pickled fish, potatoes, salads, pies, tarts, homemade bread or crackers with butter, teacakes and fruitcakes”.

I love the ambience, the setting, the Old World beauty, the chairs, the chandeliers, the gold wallpaper.

I love the sandwiches, the egg sandwiches, the salmon sandwiches.  I love the savoury and I love the sweet treats and I love the scones with the jam and cream. 

There is a part of me that would love to explore and venture into other HighTea venues and enjoy other HighTea experiences and yet the QVB HighTea brings me Joy, and it is guaranteed.

Now I am keen to take my hubby to High Tea.  Definitely keen for him to enjoy the fancy sandwiches and little cakes.

So glad I was able to take my best friend there today for her Birthday.  Such a Joy-filled day for us.

Lipstick

My Mum always loved wearing her red Lipstick. Mum doesn’t get out much now yet when she does the red Lipstick is on and packed on her handbag too. I’ve discovered that wearing Lipstick brings Joy, brings a sense of feeling feminine and beautiful.

Lipstick defined as “a cosmetic that affects colour, texture, and protection to the lips.  Many colours and types of lipsticks exist.  Some lipsticks are also lip balms, to add both colour and hydration”.

The other week we were shopping at Big W and I loved that I quickly bought a pinky coloured Lipstick. Wish I had have had more time to pick out a few colours as they were half price. Although sometimes it just takes one great Lipstick.

I wore the pick Lipstick when we had our photo shoot and I loved wearing the Lipstick, felt pretty, love that feeling. 

Today I went out with my best friend and I loved putting on my lipstick which I found in my new handbag that I haven’t used much lately. I felt ready once I had on the Lipstick, ready for a Joyful day.  And I loved touching up the Lipstick through the day.  Now I will make sure I have a Lipstick handy, ready to bring colour, beauty, Joy. 

Lessons

It is one week since Mother’s Day 2021 – a year and one week after I set the Mission for the year ahead – to be Joyful or Joy Filled.  I made a commitment to write 100 posts over the one year.

I am proud of myself that I have found Joy, that I now find Joy so easily, that I set the Intention each day of bringing Joy into my life and the lives of my family, that I know what brings me Joy, that I see Joy, that I feel Joy, that I can switch to Joy.  I see now that there are so many things that bring me Joy, that can bring me Joy, that I often text myself the words or write a list since it is hard to keep up with the writing to write about all that brings me Joy. 

Of the 100 posts so far I have achieved 78 posts.  Since I was enjoying writing so much, I then started to write and completed a novel.  I loved writing my novel so much, and experienced so much Joy in this process, that I found myself writing this story, being in Joy, rather than writing about Joy each night. 

I can easily make 100 posts about Joy.  I’m sure I could write so much more about Joy.  And yet at the same time I am keen to reach 100 posts, consolidate and then set a new Intention too.

This has been lifechanging for me in many ways.  Consciously being a Joy Seeker, consciously choosing Joy Starters, consciously wanting Joy for myself and my family and friends.

It is good to think about what I have learnt, the lessons, the new knowledge and wisdom I have gained through this process the last year. 

At the end of the process I will write a Conclusion or Summary post, as the final post and yet for now I ponder on what has been the greatest Lessons for me. 

Lessons defined as “a period of learning or teaching”. 

I don’t want to number the Lessons as all of them are important. 

One key Lesson for me is that Joy is so possible and so easily within reach where it really is about quietening the mind and being in the Present, being in the moment.

Another Lesson for me is very much about knowing what brings me Joy, the Joy Starters, I call them.  And by knowing what brings me Joy I can consciously bring them into my day, bring Joy into my day, every day.

I have also learnt that when I am in a place of Joy, it is definitely easier to bring Joy to others.  When I am in Joy I definitely get stressed less and less anxious and less cranky, I do not like the Cranky Mum in me. 

I know that I can switch the Joy, when I need to rescue myself from another state.  Of course it is normal and natural to experience a range of emotions, yet it is good to not get stuck in an emotion – and that’s when I can switch to Joy, shake it up, intentionally do something that will bring me Joy.

I know that being outdoors and out in the world, allows more opportunities for Joy to enter my life.  I am a homebody and love being home, especially in winter, all snug in my pjamas.

I find that there are some things that bring me Joy, that can then lead to the opposite, and so perhaps this is not the Joy that I want to be seeking, surrendering to, choosing - something such as chocolate.  I love chocolate.  Just ate some chocolate tonight.  And yet the feeling of Joy does not last long.  Normally it is overridden with a headache and a down feeling.  And yet I still go back the next week to have chocolate since it brings me Joy.  I know what I need at this time is to remind myself that this joy, with a little j, does not outweigh the downside that always comes following the fleeting moment of joy.  I was going to write a post about chocolate yet realise this is not the best type of Joy for me.  Perhaps a topic about Self-Control and the sense of achievement and Joy that comes from Self-Control would be better for a post.

I’ve learnt it is the simplest of things, the ordinary, that can bring Joy such as a cup of peppermint Tea for me now. 

I know that it is in the experiences, experiencing life, experiencing the senses, that bring the greatest Joy to me.  I am not wanting things, anything fancy, anything more than I have, I have enough, my children have enough.  The goal is to be living and doing and being and present. 

I learn, that I love the Quiet.  I love the Calm.  I love having Space.  It is rare.  I do not get enough.  Yet these rare moments do bring me Joy and allow me to be Spirit-Led too, to be inspired, to know the next steps, to just be too.

I learn that looking after my health, making healthy choices is so important for a Joyful life.  Feeling good about myself from making good decisions about my health, and when feeling healthy, being in the best state of mine to be activate in activating Joy and to receive Joy too. 

Another lesson for me is that when there is too much happening, too much scheduled, too many plans, this can rob the Joy of me and the members of the family.  Time at home.  Time to relax.  Time with nothing to do too is the goal and can bring in more Joy.

I know and have learnt that there are the Joy Robbers.  Knowing what robs my Joy, prevents my Joy, limits my Joy is really important too.  I know that running late brings on stress and anxiety for me which later can lead to guilt for having a terrible morning getting upset with my little ones.  I probably need to post about the Robbers and the importance of planning so that I can avoid the Joy Robbers so that Joy can easily come into my life. 

I have learnt that no matter how much I am enjoying something and know I could do something that will bring Joy, that Sleep is so important to me.  Lack of sleep is definitely a Joy Robber for me. 

I’ve learnt new things that bring me Joy such as Writing and am excited that this process of writing about Joy has ignited the Joy of writing, where I have so many books I want to write.  Now I hope there will be the Joy from getting them published and from achieving my goal.

I am a Mum On A Mission - many Missions - and while there is still so much to be done (particularly around my home in terms of de-cluttering) and looking at my life it may still look the same, it feels so different since I have discovered the Joy of Joy - each day I will still be on a Mum On A Mission – Joyful!

Acceptance

Acceptance to me does not bring Joy in itself, yet it allows for Joy, it opens up the possibilities of Joy by not allowing a block to stand in my way.

Acceptance defined as “the act of accepting something or someone”.  Accepting defined as “The action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered”.

With my recent health journey, I am now in a place of needing to be in Acceptance, to accept that I have the gene and accept what I have chosen to do.  By being in Acceptance it has allowed me to focus on what’s important, to focus on what brings my family and myself Joy.

My journey has forced me to make sure my priorities are in order.  Being in Acceptance of what I can’t control. 

As I am in a place of Acceptance, I spend less time worrying and less time thinking and for me it’s about just being and doing and creating memories and bringing in Joy and being in Joy.

Listening

Listening, truly Listening, full attention given when Listening, brings me Joy. 

Listening defined as “Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. Listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood. ... If there is one communication skill you should aim to master, then listening is it.”

I love when my children talk to me.  I love when I stop and love Listening to them.  This brings me Joy.  Hearing their stories.  I love seeing their eyes and faces light up. 

Usually I am so busy racing and racing and racing yet stopping and Listening is the key to having a positive relationship with my little ones and all of us being in a place of Joy. 

Listening to my Mum and Dad’s stories is also very Joyful for me. 

Plus Listening to my husband and us Listening to each other also brings Joy.

Sharing my story and stories and having people that I trust Listening to me also means a lot to me.  It is hard for me to be vulnerable as I am private, and I am not sure if I would say it brings me Joy yet there is a feeling of Joy when I have someone that I trust enough to share my realness and the chapters of my life. 

Memories

Memories definitely bring Joy.  Making memories, remembering memories, sharing and reminiscing about memories with loved ones are all opportunities to bring Joy for me.

Memories defined as “something remembered from the past”.

I have so many Memories from my childhood that bring Joy, particularly when I look at photos and the Memories come back to me.  So many beautiful Memories with my Mum and Dad and brother and our pets.  So many Memories bike riding and rollerskating and being in my neighbour’s pool and being in and out of my friends’ homes.

I also have so many Memories of going on holidays to Shoal Bay which were the best holidays.

And now I have so many Memories of my children – I am making sure I make beautiful Memories with my children and I take so many photos to capture these Memories.   Every day I want to bring Joy to my family and capture the Joy of these Memories.

And I want my children to have all of these beautiful Memories too.  I love looking on my phone to see all of the photos that capture these special moments. 

Today we had the best time at the beach.  We were all so Joyful, including our puppy.  After being in the moment and enjoying the day, I loved coming home and sitting for a few minutes, looking at photos and remembering, enjoying the Memories, finding Joy in the Memories.

Helping

Helping definitely brings me Joy.  I love offering to help, I love the process of Helping, I love the feeling of Helping, I love the outcome of Helping others.

Helping defined as “the act of a person or thing that helps”.

I love that my daughter loves Helping too.  This comes natural to her.  My daughter always loves getting jobs to help and gets genuinely excited about the new jobs to do or being selected as the helper.  This makes me so Joyful knowing that she loves Helping.

Last weekend my daughter and I chose to be involved in the Church Cleaning Bee, working together, Helping others to clean up the Church.  There was a list of everything that needed doing and I volunteered us to clean the Chapel which was really special as this is where I married my husband 10 years ago.  I was so proud of my daughter who was racing around Helping, working hard and then volunteered to do the mopping too.  We are planning to go each month when we can and it was so rewarding and filled my heart with Joy at Helping with my daughter.

It is always so kind when people offer Helping to me too, offering to help when I need help.  And I am always ready on hand to help.  This brings me Joy knowing this is who I am and who my daughter is too.  And I know my son will also follow in our footsteps – I say “our” as my husband is also a helping person too and that’s what makes us so successful as a couple as we work hard as a team and help each other and help others too.

Hand-Holding

I love Hand-Holding - holding hands with my daughter or my son or my husband.  I love this sense of closeness and connection. 

Hand-Holding definition, what I am referring to is “If two people are holding hands, they are holding each other’s nearest hand, usually while they are walking or sitting together.  People often do this to show their affection for each other”.

Today as I walked my son to his friend’s house, I had such Joy in my heart Hand-Holding, his hand in mind.  I even took a photo to capture the specialness of his hand in mine.  It is so special to me.

My daughter is growing up too fast now.  It is rare that my daughter will hold my hand and when she does she does so very reluctantly - yet sometimes it feels natural and not forced and in these moments, there is Joy.

Holding my husband’s hand can be rare these days as usually we are focused on keeping our children safe and holding their hands - yet when we do hold hands, it is Joyful, it is special, it is felt in the heart. 

I know that one day my little boy will also stop wanting to hold my hand and yet for now, for every day, for each special moment, I will treasure and cherish and be in the moment, to capture this Joy. 

Netflix

Netflix is definitely a giver of Joy.  It is fantastic and deserves a mention too. 

Netflix defined as “a subscription-based streaming service that allows our members to watch TV shows and movies without commercials on an internet-connected device”.

I love having movies and series so readily available at just the click of the remote.  Each night as my children are asleep I look forward to clicking on to Netflix to see what I can see, to see what I can enjoy.

And it is fun talking to friends and family members about the shows that they are watching on Netflix too.  So much Joy from just relaxing on the lounge, enjoying a good movie or show.

Movies

I love watching Movies.  Movies bring Joy.  I love watching Movies with my children - new movies, old favourites.  I love watching Movies when my little ones have gone to bed. 

Movies defined as “a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television”.

I love watching Movies as a special ‘Movie night’ with my children.  They get excited, I am excited and we are together.  It’s a good chance for me to just stop and enjoy a relaxing time as a family. 

My children are so filled with Joy when I let them pull out the sofa bed to watch the Movie.

I love different types of Movies - love stories and romance, dramas, true stories, motivational stories and sometimes even scary or thrillers (which is a bit out of character for me, as long as not too terrifying or real). 

I really love going to the Movies too, seeing shows on the big screen.  I love going to Gold Class with my hubby or a friend and my daughter is excited that she will be getting Gold Class tickets for her Birthday as we move towards more experience gifts rather than toys, ‘things’.

My husband also loves going to the Movies - this brings him Joy too.

For all of us Movies is a Joyful experience.

Quotes

I love Quotes.

I’ve always loved Quotes.

Quotes defined as “to write or say the exact words of (someone); to write or say a line or short section from (a piece of writing or a speech)”.

I have found some great Facebook pages that each day have the best Quotes that inspire and encourage me.  Inparticular I love the Facebook page with quotes on Joy.  I read them.  I love the words.  I share them to inspire and encourage others too.

One of my favourite quotes is "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." (Helen Keller).  I’ve always loved this quote.

There are other Quotes that bring me Joy too.  There is a whole verse I used to know off by heart about positive thinking and seeing the best in others.  I can’t remember it now.  I will ponder about this one and do some Google Searches as it was a verse that has always inspired me too or certainly highlights the philosophy I have on life.

I love Quotes on posters.  I love reading Quotes.  Quotes on being Joyful and gratitude are my favourite.

Playdates

Playdates definitely bring Joy.

My children love Playdates, the love having friends over to their house and they love visiting their friends at their homes too. 

Playdates defined as “a play session for small children arranged in advance by their parents”.

Seeing my children happy, brings me Joy.  It can sometimes be hard work, surprisingly - they are different to the fun we used to have playing with the children in my neighbourhood.  There were no Playdates back then, just going in and out of each other’s houses - I am not even sure if we knocked on doors or just went from house to house. 

Yet organising Playdates for my children brings me Joy knowing that they are excited and that they will have a good time – well that is the goal.

I am also so Joyful now organising Playdates for our puppy.  My little puppy had the best fun with my cousin’s puppy the other date at their Playdate and also went next door on a Playdate too.  Joy Joy Joy.  As I strive for Joy, I strive for Joy for myself and very importantly for my children and hubby too. 

Sometimes I like to have a rest on the weekends, just family time.  I wish I was a Mum that just had an open door and open house and children could call in whenever they wanted, like the “good ‘ol days” and yet I do like now the organising of Playdates, as it allows families to have the space they need to, so that we can connect together and also rest and restore for the next week.

In any case, I am conscious of organising Playdates to bring in Joy.

Storytelling

I love Storytelling - hearing stories, telling stories.  Sharing stories and the process of Storytelling, giving someone space to listen to their story, or having someone give you their full attention as you share your stories, definitely brings Joy.

Storytelling defined as “the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination.”

Stories defined as “a narrative, either truth or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader.”

I especially love the Storytelling of my children.  I love picking up my daughter from school each day and hearing her stories.  I can’t wait for my daughter to get in the car when I pick her up from school so that she can tell me about her stories from school.  I love when my daughter tells me stories about her day - any stories - all her stories - what she learnt at school, about her friends - all her stories.  I hope that my girl always tells me her stories.  And I love when my son tells me his stories and his face lights up and he is happy.

I love Storytelling, telling funny stories and happy Stories, I love sitting with friends telling stories. 

I love hearing the stories of friends and family.  I really love my Mum and Dad Storytelling - I love my Dad’s stories of growing up and his sporting days.  I want to capture these stories on video, in writing, in my mind, in my memory, in my heart.    

Often I am so busy working that I run out of energy yet I need to find the energy and reset so that I have the energy to listen to stories and be involved and share my stories too.

I love when you have the close friend with who you can share your own stories.  And I love listening to them Storytelling too.

I have so many stories.  So many stories that make up the chapters of my life and the process of Storytelling is a beautiful process to reveal myself and that brings me Joy knowing I can remember and reflect and share my stories with people that I love.