Today was a busy day full of travel and family and fun. Rather than focus on one first, I experienced a series of firsts, and just allowed the day to unfold. This was a “roll with it” kind of day, full of joy.
I got an early start on the day by taking my daughter and her friend to the NW Arkansas Airport this morning to catch a plane…ultimate destination Georgia. After hugs goodbye and wishes for safe journeys, Greg and I used the GPS to locate the nearest Barnes & Noble Bookstore. I wanted to pick up a few gifts and I just plain enjoy browsing among the shelves and shelves of books. Joplin doesn’t have a Barnes & Noble. I have to go to Springfield if I want to shop in this amazing store. This was my first visit to the Rogers, AR, store and Greg and I spent a pleasant hour looking and shopping.
After lunch with Greg’s dad and an afternoon of chatting, we headed back to Joplin. We picked up grandson Dayan and shopped for essentials at Walmart to make Christmas surprises for the family. Dayan and I used to shop together for store bought gifts, however the last four years we have created gifts together. We have fun and well, now it’s a tradition! With everyone’s busy schedules it was coming down to the wire but this evening, we made it happen. We grabbed Subway sandwiches on the way out of the store and in keeping with new experiences, I had a meatball marinara sub for the first time. Delicious.
Dayan and I combined gift making with watching a couple of episodes of Dr. Who, the 9th Doctor. These stories are all new to me, and Dayan is enjoying watching the older seasons again with me. “Empty Child” was, as Dayan promised, one of the creepiest episodes. In 1941 war time London, a four year old child, wearing a gas mask, wanders the streets of the city, crying for his mum. He makes phones ring and toys turn on and radios blare just by his presence. And anyone who touches him, becomes like him, not quite dead and not quite alive. As the episode wound down I was wondering how they were going to conclude the story….and discovered it was a two part episode! Dayan is so good to watch movies or TV with….he never gives anything away! He laughed when I said, “Nooooo….”. We will catch part two very soon. I must know what happens!
Dayan and I had fun creating the gifts he will give away and what we made was a first also. However, to do as well as Dayan does at not giving away surprises, I will just say, it’s a great gift and he did a fantastic job! Dayan is so thoughtful and I love working with him in creating surprises. With four younger grandchildren, this will be a tradition that I will continue with them.
The day was full of joy. Before I left the house this morning, I was reminded that the more joy I share, the more joy returns to me. Yes, these days can be hectic and stressful and overwhelming, if that’s the way I choose to see them. I don’t. It’s my choice, and since I am 100% responsible for what I am experiencing, I choose to see them as fun, interesting and full of joy. And, that’s exactly the kind of day I had. Joy to the world….and joy to me!
