Family History Friday (FHF): Sorry, too Pooped!!!

Family History Friday (FHF): She had 16 Kids!!!!

My 4th great grandmother's name is Charity.

 Charity had 16 children. How do we know? We know because she said told us. You might say, "how could she tell us, when she died in 1916?" She told us, on a census record. An important thing to remember about census records is that, depending on the year of the census, different questions may be asked. On two of the census records, the mother is asked "How many children did you have?" And "how many of them are still living?" The first time the questions are asked is on the 1900 census. Charity said she had 16 children, but only ten children were listed by name. That meant that 6 children were missing. They could either be old enough to be married, or they could have passed away. From this we could tell, those six children needed to be found somewhere. But where? Other places to look, include: earlier census records, birth, and death records. We were successful in finding 5 of the missing children. They were born and died in England before she came to America. One was still missing, but her story will be told on the next FHF. 
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Happy, Happy 100th POST!!! 100 WAYS TO CHOOSE JOY!!!

100 ways to choose JOY!

(in no particular order);)

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100-go for a walk

99-cuddle your sweetheart

98-jump on a trampoline

97-research your family tree

96-go for a drive

95-clean a closet

94-serve dinner at a shelter

93-play scrabble

92-cuddle a sleeping baby

91-watch "The Princess Bride"

90-read a good book

89-make a new friend

88-make treats for your neighbor

87-do some ironing

86-take a long hot shower

85-lay on the grass and watch the clouds

84-watch planes take off and land

83- give the dog a bath

82-call an old friend

81-look at your eyes in the mirror

80-go to a museum

79-let go of things you can't

 do anything about

78-paint your nails

77-make play dough for the kids and play with them

76-sing a song at the top of your lungs

75-do the dishes by hand

74-finish a project

73-practice saying "I love you" to the mirror

72-take a nap

71-start a blog

70-clean out your purse

69-write a letter

68-count your blessings

67-read to a small child

66-braid someone's hair

65-sit in a park and just watch

64-buy flowers for yourself

63-plan your dream house or your mansion in heaven

62-try cooking something new

61-go for a hike

60-kiss someone you love

59-forgive

58-go on a picnic

57-set some goals

56-write a special memory for your posterity

55-notice the little things

54-plant a tree

53-learn a language

52-sit in the sunshine

51-pray daily

50-have a song in your heart

49-visit a historical sight

48-one word: "chocolate"

47-visit a rest home

46-don't JUDGE

45-give a massage

44-stand for right

43-believe in God

42-listen to beautiful music

41-play with someone's hair

40-go for a run

39-balance your checkbook

38-dust your home

37-go to a farm when the baby animals are being born

36-read about great people

35-donate to a charity

33-drink clean water

32-use the toilet

31-"do unto others..."

30-share dinner with friends

29-shampoo, massage your scalp

28-clean up someone else's mess, without anyone seeing you

27-take pictures

26-get a pedicure

25-"if you can't say somethin' nice,

don't say nothin' at all"

24-get things done (no moping)

23-have a candlelight dinner

22-start a rock collection

21-HUG

20-listen more

19-count the stars

18-watch ants

17-don't compare your worst with someone else's best

16-chew bubble gum and blow bubbles

15-be grateful

14-LOVE

13-feed the birds

12-create something from something else

11-SMILE

10-ride a horse

9-smell brownies

8-Listen to your heart

7-tend children for a tired momma

6-jump a rope

5-lotion your whole body

4-close your eyes and feel the breeze

3-take a class

2-fold laundry

1-Choose it! choose JOY!!!!

Thanks for reading and spending the last 100 posts with me!

 Love, Joy

Being the Mom!

“There’s no way to be a PERFECT mother…but a million ways to be a ‘good’ one…

My greatest blessings

call me Mom”

....Riley and Grandbaby Natasha....

....Kelsey....

....Alex....

....Emily....

I absolutely love being a MOM!!!!

Family History Friday (FHF): A Great Project

I saw and fell in love with a darling family history project done by Lisa at "tarnished and tattered"  you can see it here. Can you stand it? I absolutely love it! Wouldn't it be fun to have our homes full of heirlooms, pictures and crafts that are a reminder of our sweet ancesters. I have my Grandma's hope chest, my grandpa's harmonica and an old skeleton key, a beautiful vase from my great-great-grandma, and many other items around my home. Go through your stuff, and see what you can come up with to decorate your home. When I see these special items around my home, I think about my ancestors, and how much I love them. It also gives me an opportunity to share stories about that ancestor, when people ask about my decor. What a great way to decorate!! Happy Family History Friday! Thanks Lisa!! Love, Joy

One quarter of a century!!

That's how long I have married!!! Well, not yet, but on August 7th, 2010 it will be. I thought it would be fun to ask you what you think we should do to celebrate. What do you think? My mom and pop-in-law have a trailer at the lake. My little darlinest always jokingly says, "Well, we could always stay an extra day at the trailer." Funny, I know, but not this year. It needs to be more special. Our biggest problem is the money. We are quite limited. We have a list of other pressing financial issues. Still trying to replace the shingles on the roof. And Alex, my almost 19 year old, will be leaving on an LDS mission sometime this summer. So help us get creative, come on, give us some ideas! I would love your help. The most important thing is this: I have a sweetheart who I love, more than I loved 25 years ago. It will be wonderful, where ever we spend our anniversary.

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes!

Mr. Incredible: No matter how many times you save the world; it always manages to get back in jeapardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for....for ten minutes?

-Mr. Incredible

The Incredibles

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

This is the sweetest, funniest, most tender hearted and loving man!

This is my Dad!

He has always been there for me when I need advice and counsel. He has led, and continues to lead, a life full of integrity and goodness. Years ago, my Daddy started to take me on a date once a month, just me and him. We go to dinner, and talk. We share our days and life experiences together. Sometimes, I tell him what I think he should do in a certain situation. He tells me what he thinks about what's going on in my life. Sometimes we talk about my children, and what they're doing or a hard thing they're going through. He gets big tears in his eyes, and can't even speak. I love that the older he's gotten, the more tender he is. I love him so much. I hope someday to be half the person he is. I will just keep doing the things he has taught me to do, both in word and through his example. Thanks Daddy for being such a great Dad, for your wonderful example, and for always being there for me.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

OXOX

Family History Friday (FHF): Happy Birthday Norman!

It was Norman Rockwell's birthday on Wednesday,

 and I thought I'd share a darling picture he painted of a family tree. I think my favorite is the pirate at the bottom. He looks a little like Johnny Depp. Don't you think?

Make a family tree to

display in your home.

If you have young children, have them draw their family and grandparents and great-grandparents on a tree and share it. Who knows, it might be the next family treasure!!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

5 Faves on the 5th

#1- A wonderful Daddy!
Who loves my Momma.

#2- Valentines!

#3- hearts!

#4- a candlelight dinner with those I love!

#5- having a sweetheart,
to have and to hold, forever!

On death's door!

This is Taz

He is the sweetest pooper on the planet. Last Sunday he was not doing too well, in fact, we have been feeling like he might not be around much longer. We feel lucky we still have him. First, he is 10 years old, which is 70 for those of us who know what his real age is. Second, he just doesn't get that much exercise. Sorry, my top priority is NOT walking the dog. And third, he seems to be ailing a bit lately. So back to last Sunday, he was puken his guts out. I was really starting to feel concerned. We all know the vet is home enjoying his family and maybe doesn't want to be disturbed, but I was really worried. So I called the vet, (he did put his home phone # in the phone book. Would you put your home phone # in the phone book if you didn't want to be called on a Sunday?) He met us at his office to take a look.

We're thinking this is it!!!

We won't get to have our sweet little Taz anymore. The vet feels around his belly, takes his temp, and basically gives him the once over.

And then annouces that he has "garbage gut". Garbage gut? Yup, garbage gut! It means he got into the garbage and ate something that was bad. We were back tracking over the last few days, we did leave him in the car while we ran in the store. Maybe he got in the garbage in the van. And we did have a family party on Friday, maybe someone fed him something that's not agreeing with him. Or, he might have just got in the kitchen garbage after everyone ate pizza. On and on we wondered. What a relief! Thank goodness he'll make it. We thought he was on death's door, but he only had garbage gut! He did get his rabies shot. We thought, "We might as well since we are here". We also got a bottle of antibiotics. He is doing great now, and we will be watching him a lot closer from now on!

T is seven today!!!!!!!

I started tending him

when he was just 3 weeks old.

What a fun boy!

At about 8 months old.

Now he's 7 years old!!!

Where did the time go?

I love you, T -man!

Happy Birthday!!!