Learning “Joy”

Over the past weeks and months I have been really challenged to re-think the way I live life. Honestly, I can struggle to not play the pity my card when things don’t go my way or even just having a good attitude in all things. For example, living in Minnesota has its challenges! I recently heard a weather man talking about why Minnesota has such extreme weather. We are right in the middle of the equator and the north poll, so we get the worst and best of both climates. I am a freeze baby anyway so winter can tend to be more miserable for me. In the past I have always let the weather dictate my mood… sunny days are good, but on the cold cloudy days I can tend to be a grouch.

After we went to Cancun over Christmas this year I was really dreading coming back to the cold, but started thinking about my attitude. I realized that by allowing myself to be crabby about the cold was wasting time and not living a life of joy that I want to live. Though the cold is still cold, I am learning to realize this is where I live right now, and choosing to love the weather for all its ups and downs makes me a much happier person.

Though this example is simplistic, I have been trying to apply this to my whole life. Often we wish things away and only see the grass on the other side. I just don’t want to live my life this way. I want to be in the moment, living and enjoying all that God has for me now, not wishing for things to be different. I am defiantly still learning, and know I will never stop learning contentment and joy, but am so thankful for the changes I have already made.

I would love to hear how you choose joy in life…. Leave a comment!

And now for the change of subjects: Bathroom Update (OK, for those of you who watch SNL, when I say Bathroom Update, I hear the music playing from the Weekend Update….)

Yesterday we were very pleasantly surprised that our state tax refund had already been put into our account! Go Phil for doing our taxes well and right away.. did you know he is the best?! SO, we decided we wanted to get the vanity ordered for the bathroom first since that is the only thing we need to order and we wanted to make sure we have it when we need it. I just got a notice saying it has shipped and is scheduled to arrive on MONDAY!! Very exciting for us…. Now we wait for our federal tax return…. Hopefully within the next three weeks. Then the party begins…… or the mess….. ok one or the other!