Ponderings: On Joy

In 2014, Jo_Goldsmith11 took it upon herself to initiate the Light2Love Project Good Words.

Jo pledged to use good words and publish articles used to empower, encourage, support and defend those who need to be shown love.

Jo offered us a good word for each week to focus our thoughts, behaviors and actions on...In the 10th week, Jo wrote her perspective on the word joy.

However, as 2014 came to an end, Jo filed away her Good Word articles - as she begins the process of publishing it in e-book'. Shyron E. Shenko continues to write a beautiful poem to accompany each Good Word to inspire and lead us.

The ripple effect of the Good Words Project throughout the HubVille community has been heartwarming.

Please join me with some of my musical thoughts and reflections on the word joy...

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I found myself sitting in my car alone just the other day. Well, that's never entirely true as I'm never without my tunes and my steno pad.

I was in the middle of a traffic sandwich and in the words of Ronald McDonald : "It was a triple Big Mac, man!"

People all around me were indignant. Folks jumped out of their cars to see the obvious: there was road construction way up ahead.

The work crew were doing the best they could to keep the traffic moving but it was - one lane at a time and it was very close to the lunch hour.

Honestly, my mind started to wander to the the little man who has brought me nothing but joy since August 3rd, the day he came barreling into our lives - Andy Jordan.

I knew that soon enough it'd be my turn to get moving again ... and I'd be on my way home to walk the dog.

Yup... this is the face this Mother loves to see when she comes in the door - the face of pure joy.

Andy is a believer in hugs and kisses ... they come very naturally to him. He is a cuddler and enjoys hanging out with us whatever we are doing...and I sure do mean whatever.

Our boy gives fetching your slippers a whole new meaning. He's actually fetching them... and anything else he can sink his sweet teeth into... for his own nefarious purposes.

His Pop even gave him a lemon to dissuade him of this habit - he loved that lemon, it was his favorite toy until I pried it from his chops!!

But there is nothing that gets this kid's tail wagging more than when you say:

"Hey, Andy, wanna go for a walk...?"

Walking the Dog

and wow, did he hate it at first...! I think Andy was just outraged at the very thought of a leash - he actually stared it down, like it was the enemy!

Because of his exceedingly curious nature, my husband and I were anxious for our boy to know exactly which house in the neighborhood was his! As such, getting him familiar with all roads leading to Rome, was of paramount importance.

Time and patience paid off. Andy quickly grew to love his walks around the block and is up to four walks a day, shared by both of his parents...

And, like his sister Aunt Baby before him, Andy is eager to run independently to his home, when he is about three houses away. He waits patiently by the door, leash in mouth, for his ever-so-slow Momma and then saunters out back to do a little business...!

Andy has the attention span of a gnat... so does my husband, come to think of it?! They are both Pisces...just sayin...?!

As such, I keep a large activity basket filled with all kinds of stuff that brings Andy joy - of course, I am forever getting a vicarious joy fix from play time as well.

One of the toys that Andy loves best of all is his black Kong frisbee, given to him as a present from his 'Aunt Vicki'. This well-loved treasure has provided endless hours of enjoyment. I truly believe a little boy learned to love his Daddy because of this simple but very generous gift.

Despite the toys in this basket, Andy has curious and roving eyes...

Over the summer I proudly and assiduously built a Hugelkultur in my back yard - my good friend Shauna Bowling (aka bravewarrior) taught me how on her website in a wonderful video. Aunt Baby had left us in May and this one activity was so healing and therapeutic for me, as she had been my Branch Manager, as many of you may remember.

Mr. Andy Jordan and I are currently in negotiations about the ebb and flow of Momma's handiwork. In other words, at any given moment, large branches are running through the yard at the speed of lightening in young Andy's mouth ... some ending up in our sun room if Momma is not watching carefully enough...♥

The same is true for small twigs, mounds of dirt, weed piles and anything else Mother Nature has left for us...!!!

Did you know that National "Walk Your Dog Week" is October 1st through 7th...!!

But really every day is an amazing and exciting opportunity to connect with that special someone in your life...

and if you don't currently have a furry friend to walk with, hoping you see one you can smile at when you are out walking and finding your own joy...!

"Everything reminds me of my dog
The guy in the store reminds me of my dog
Telephones remind me of my dog yoohoo
Taxicabs remind me too
If you remind me of my dog
We'll probably git along little doggie
Git along git along little doggie git a
Smiling at strangers reminds me of my dog
Better let them know you're friendly
The way people dress reminds me too

So by now, you should know this is the highest form of compliment...(my best friend says when she is reincarnated, she wants to be Maria's dog...♥)

I know that Linda has already written on the subject of COURAGE when I recently passed the baton to her.

However, I believe there is no other hubber who has written on the subject of joy more than Sunshine625 in her wonderful hubs.

I have included some examples in the links below but please check through the profile of this amazing writer that we voted the Most Cheerful Hubber for four years in a row.

See you next week... and wishing you much joy in the days ahead! Hugs, mar

© Maria Jordan (October, 2014)