We Need to Remember Joy is a Random Thing

What brought you joy last week?

It's easy sometimes to get so caught up in the things we struggle with that we fail to give proper credit to the things that bring us happiness, however fleeting.

I spent a good part of my weekend blog hopping, to the extent that it seems some bloggers spend all their time writing about blog hopping. It was a perhaps necessary exercise to see how other people write and try to expand readership (following those I found I liked and getting some new followers myself) but out of all my blog hopping, Monday morning I found inspiration. Anna Elizabeth, who had commented on several of my blogs, also blogs at The Five Facets and her blog, which show up on Google+ feed (yes I know, who cares) was about random things that brought her joy last week.

I decided it wouldn't be bad to take a moment or two to think about the things that brought me joy last week -- heck, that would probably be a good habit to get into. SO I did, even if it's not Thankful Thursday. I'll call it Thinkback Tuesday.

1. Sledding with the girls. Sure, the snow sucked and there was only a couple of inches of really slick stuff that DOT never really addressed, but for two little girls who can't remember a significant snowfall, it was enough. A small hill, a good sled and snow bibs and we were able to enjoy time outside.

2. A doughnut with E1. Watching her eat her chocolate-covered, creme-filled concoction while her busy little eyes were focused on the fresh doughnuts rolling off the conveyor belt was priceless. Indeed, the whole morning's outing was an unexpected joy.

3. Deer hams from a virtual stranger. Three phone calls on Saturday had me meeting Josh at the interstate where he had two hams in a tub from the extended bow season in Elkin, NC. He'd hunted all season and while he still enjoyed hunting, his need for meat had slipped. One was cut up and went into the freezer and the second into the crockpot for this week's protein addition.

4. Watching the sourdough sponge rise. Unless you've done it, don't laugh. You can actually see the dough breathing. About 10-12 hours into its expansion, the bubbles rise and burst causing the dough to move and wiggle. The fact that each batch brings me closer to perfection (or what I want it to be) and that I've been using the bread for sandwiches, etc., only adds to my fascination with step two of the process.

5. Singing in church. Sunday morning, after struggling with worship songs for weeks and finding my peace with "Keep Making Me," I was able to sing with the congregation without feeling like I had to hold back. It was the "Revelation Song" and it didn't matter that the big screens weren't working because I knew it from my heart and sang it out with joy.

6. Walking with Rebel, Macy and my husband Saturday afternoon. The first day of February turned out fairly nice and my big yard dogs haven't seen me nearly as much as they would like this winter. They were practically doubling up in enthusiastic tail wags, walking on my heels and, in Macy's case, bouncing off of me in their excitement. Hubby hadn't walked as much as he would have liked last week either, so he joined us and we all took a brisk stroll down the road and back.

7. Zumba. Well, Zumba almost always makes me smile and even more so as I'm feeling ties to my classmates that I never had before. After the aggravation of missing another night class on Tuesday thanks to the aforementioned snow, I was at Move2Melt just a little late Saturday morning and, other than realizing I still had gum in my mouth and having to run spit it out, didn't miss a beat of music, although I won't say I was always with it. Dancing makes me happy. My classmates make me smile.

8. A Super Bowl commercial that made me laugh out loud. It was for Chevy, the first one with the bull and romance in the air and "You Sexy Thing" for a soundtrack. I grew up around cows and it was just hilarious to me. Pretty soon after that the game was so bad that I didn't even watch, but that one made me laugh.

9. A diaper blowout. Yes, those are generally bad things, but this one was beyond the realm of bad. It was just hilarious because E3 had not only covered herself, but somehow managed to shoot poop out of the top of her diaper and leave a trail across the playroom. Much cleanup, a stinky baby and all, it was just too funny to not laugh.

10. Two little girls yelling "Ma!" and wrapping tiny arms around my legs when we rode over to watch the Super Bowl at their house. That will always bring me joy, although I know the voices and range of reach will change. When they are so excited that I'm at their house, despite all the time we've spent together in the week, it's especially priceless.

There, 10 things to be thankful for last week and a reason to take the time to note the things that bring me joy this week as well. Perhaps a challenge to each of you to do the same and share? Maybe, little by little, we can realize our lives are better than we take the time to recognize in the moment.

Mondays are Me Days

Between all my assorted part-time jobs and taking care of the 3Es (now ages 4 and soon to be 3 and 1) there's no such thing as a day off. In fact, once my husband goes to his second shift job (a totally different kettle of worms, but it's a job), I spend virtually all my time with beings who cannot carry on an adult conversation.

We have some really interesting conversations. Don't get me wrong. There's "what kind of animal am I?" and "why you shouldn't hit your sister." We talk about coloring, how to spell words, why the baby smells funny. Which program should we explore on ABC Mouse? And what we'll have for our next meal/snack? ("Chickie nuggets!" Well, not always.)

I occasionally ambush people dropping off or picking up their dogs for an adult conversation. The mail carrier and UPS drivers are subject to the same risk if they leave a package at my house. Heaven forbid you call any time that I've got a minute or you may be sucked into a much longer conversation than anticipated. I have actually called people back and apologized for talking too much. Some days Facebook is as close to a non-family conversation as I get.

Then there's exercise. Granted I get plenty of it walking my kennel guests in the morning and chasing, lifting, playing with three little girls. But I'm also aware that to age in the way I want to, I may need something else in my routine.
But by the time the E train leaves Ma's house sometime after 8 p.m. (sometimes closer to 9), cause Mom works an odd shift, Ma's generally not fit for much of anything. I've tried convincing myself to do some yoga before bed (15 minutes and I'm ready to go to sleep) and occasionally talk myself into 30 minutes on the recumbent bike, but that's just more of the same and if the day has been busy it's not happening.

One of my doggy moms, one I knew in my pre-dog life as well, hooked me on Zumba years ago.

She kept talking about it and became an instructor then opened her own studio (Move2Melt in Mount Airy). It sounded like fun, so I bought the DVDs and started doing it at home. I'm all about anything I can do without leaving home since getting away is so tough. I think I first started doing Zumba during nap time for E1. Then one Saturday there was a Zumbathon way too close and I went and was severely hooked. I sold the DVDs -- not good enough after the whole group experience. I caught a class whenever the girls had a day home with their daddy who had an retail schedule.

I loved the diversity of the group in the class. There are a group of regulars who range from dressed to kill in Zumba wear to just wanting some exercise. Some who I can tell hit every class, and some who are muddling through and burning calories but enjoying the experience. There's all ages, weight and abilities. I can carry on a conversation here and there before and after class.

Then I discovered a doggy rescuer (yes, I help with that, too) was teaching a class called PiYo at the same studio. While I had a break for the arrival of the third E this past spring I caught one of her classes. They call it a blend of pilates and yoga. I call it make you sick to your stomach because yoga isn't done at that pace. But afterwards, oh my, I knew I had stretched all those muscles I was neglecting on a day to day basis. I had also worked on balance. Once again, I was hooked on a class.

But the arrival of E3 closely corresponded with a change in the babies' daddy's work schedule and no more weekdays off. There were no morning Zumba classes. Trying to get to an evening PiYo or Zumba just felt like too much with three little ones to interrupt naps and wrestle into car seats. I sat home for months.

Then there was the random day when they weren't here and I caught both classes back to back. A doggy dad who had commented on how tired I looked one day told me the next morning I looked like I'd gotten some rest while the girls weren't there. I laughed and said no, I'd gotten nearly two hours of hard exercise. I realized it was something I needed to do more often.

When both classes became available on Monday as well as Wednesday (church night for the girls) I made a new commitment to myself. Baby daddy was home by class time and I was somehow going to get myself there for class by 5:45 p.m.

The first week I had to take several breaks from PiYo to overcome nausea. I hadn't eaten enough and I was not used to quite so much time with my head at my feet. I chased 45 minutes of PiYo with Zumba, however, and realized that even though I recognized only one routine, since I had learned most of the steps I wasn't as lost as I'd imagined. I had a blast.

The next morning, I could barely get out of bed and required a bit of medicinal help to walk the dogs.

Week two, however, went much better and there were no breaks in PiYo; Zumba was easier; and I was able to get out of bed the next morning unassisted.

Today is PiYo/Zumba day and I get out of bed with something to look forward to. Never mind that it's raining and the daily dog walks that help keep me sane are off the table, I have something to look forward to. Never mind that the children are at Disney World and I could pretty much sleep all day, I'm up and at it with something to look forward to. Never mind that many people would choose a mani/pedi (I've never had one), a massage, a trip to the salon or some retail therapy for me time, I choose working out.

No, I may not look as polished at 8 p.m. tonight as someone who takes a different route. But my heart and muscles get a good workout. And I'm looking further down the road than how I look tomorrow. I want to be flexible and have good balance as I age. Looking at the lifespans of my grandparents, I should have a good three decades left and I want them to be decades I'll be fit enough to enjoy.

Besides, I've got three little girls to keep up with and be a role model for as well. And that counts for something.