Make a joyful Noise!

It says it in Psalm 100 and I believe it with my whole heart.  And besides, I have been happy and I have been sad and I sure like being happy much better!  Of course, I'm not so optimistic or stupid enough to believe that one can be optimistic all of the time.  Bad times come into our lives and we have to cope and move on!  I have a Scripture I refer to during those times:  "Weeping endureth for a night but joy cometh in the morning!  (Psalm 30:5)  I have held on to that verse and waited for the weeping to subside.  And it did!

My niece, Annie, and her three children--Jordan, Layne and Holly--are a big part of my life.  They live down the street from me and we see or talk daily.   Like many single-parent families, they cope with the worries of living and paying the bills and sickness and growing up.   My role, as I see it, is to distribute joy when possible and advice when asked.  (Well, sometimes when it is not asked also!)

Tonight was Layne's l8th birthday and it has not been the best week for her.  Her week-old new car was hit by a tree (while she was in it) and it was totaled.   She has moved into an apartment with other college students and things did not go as smoothly as she wanted.  Still no stove in the house.  Normal irritations.  So I set up a party at Shogun where they cook the food at the table.   So much fun and laughter.  So much picture-taking and eating cake or as I say, getting my "Crisco fix" of icing.

It is so much fun to laugh with each other and at ourselves.  God, you knew what you were doing when you gave us a sense of humor.   A fuddy-duddy, long-faced world just doesn't cut it!