Archive | December, 2018

JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 365 :: joy is a year of joy

31 Dec

{joy}  

OH, JOY!

What a year you have been. You have brought me a new job, new home, new town, and new adventures. You have filled our lives with laughter and love and appreciation for the people we love near and far, along with a heartbreaking goodbye to those that left us too soon, including Aunt Nancy and our dear #1 Pup.  

More than anything you have provided a clear path and a clearing space to move forward. And tonight you went out with a bang with fireworks over the Boston harbor!

After the fireworks, we tried to catch an UBER ride home but the surging cost was ridiculously expensive between $96 – $235. So we opted to take the FREE MBTA subway halfway home, then catch a cab the rest of the way. 

As we walked through the streets of Boston toward the train in the pouring rain I was pleasantly surprised to feel only warmth in my body. I was not cold or shivering even though I was dripping wet from the storm.

And I think that pretty much sums up my year of joy — sometimes you have to dance in the rain to feel fully alive. 

Because that is what we are here to do. To dance with joy. And, so we dance.

And yet, another year begins. I stand on the precipice of starting this blog all over again as I do every year on January 1st. It’s Decision Day, to blog or not to blog? To that, I say yes.

New Year’s Day marks the ninth year for this blog to live on and I graciously accept the challenge and the honor of being the conduit for these words and experiences to find a place to call home. 

You would think I would be out of words by now, and sometimes I think I am, or at least recycling them all too often. Or, as my dear Aunt DeAnne says with the care that only an Auntie can point out with full support and love, “sometimes you phone it in.”

And sometimes I do.

Because this blog isn’t about having the right words or the best stories or even the most things to say. It’s about showing up. It’s about evolving. It’s about moving forward and staying accountable to my dreams. Even if it rains. 

On the way home tonight in the pouring rain we passed a sign on the road that someone so beautifully painted in graffiti. It caught my eye because it spelled out the words, “Adventure Awaits.”

And so it does! The blog will reboot tomorrow with a new promise. Trust me.

As my fortune cookie says, “If you do not have a plan for your life someone else will.” But I say if you don’t trust in yourself, who else will?


Here’s to a year of joy. Thank you for 365 days of lessons and learnings that will always stay in my heart and guide me into the next adventure. 

What’s next? 
Find out tomorrow! 
Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 364 :: joy is preparing for a new year

30 Dec

{joy}  

A new year is almost here, and I have to say I am joyful about preparing for a new year and a new promise. Joy has been a joyride this year, with new adventures and big moves which makes it hard to imagine a new year

But a new year is almost here and a new promise is on its way….. 


Here’s to as much joy to behold before the New Year arrives. 

More tomorrow… 

Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 363 :: joy is believing in something

29 Dec



{joy}  

I believe in Joy. I believe it has changed my life this year and sent me down a path and a trajectory that I couldn’t have imagined last January 1st. 

I believe writing this blog every night forces me to face my dreams. It holds me accountable and it keeps me honest with myself. It provides a moment of reflection and allows me to lasso the words and thoughts floating in my head. 

I believe in the power of JOY.
And I believe Joy is believing in something. 


Here’s to believing in yourself.

More tomorrow… 

Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 362 :: joy is tiny moments

28 Dec


{joy}  

As the year 2018 nears the end I am joyful to be surrounded by laughter, love and family. Is there any better way to celebrate the final turn of a year of joy?

Joy has taught me so much this year, more than what I could have ever imagined. But at the end of the day (and the year) it is the people we love and cherish that matter most. It comes in many forms, phone calls, text messages, hugs, laughter, tears, and moments that make up this thing called life. All of that feels like joy. 

Today is was Christmas presents, Chinese food and many card games. It reminds me that the tiny shared moments matter most. 


Every day has a moment of joy, it’s our job to find it, even the tiny ones. 

More tomorrow… 
Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 361 :: joy is making gnocchi

27 Dec

{joy}  

I drew a card today that said: “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” It’s a good question. I had to stop and think about it but I still drew a blank. 

When was the last time you did something new? 

The good thing about NEW is it usually brings me joy. The novelty and the adventure of newness mix with joyfulness to create the thrill of trying something for the first time. The moment gets seared into muscles and brain fibers to create a lasting memory. Like riding a bike, traveling to a new place, learning to surf, ski, or play anything, really.

But new doesn’t happen very often in our overscheduled lives. 

The good news is later tonight we all made gnocchi. From scratch. At the direction of Brian with step by step helpful instructions. It turned out great and tasted fantastic. And for me, it was something new.

Which brought me joy.  

As we sit on the edge of the precipice of the New Year I am thinking about what’s new that would be fun and adventurous to do. 


What’s something new that you want to do?

More tomorrow… 

Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 360 :: joy is packing the car

26 Dec


{joy}  

Tomorrow we are off to New Hampshire. Tonight we packed the car. Or, at least Justin packed the car in pure Tetris form everything fit. 

Joy is the anticipation of adventure and packing the car. 


More tomorrow… Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 359 :: joy is unexpected gifts

25 Dec


{joy}  

Another Christmas is in the books! And this year came with a surprise, unexpected gift under the tree. It was a box, a regular square shaped box wrapped in bright paper. But what was inside was truly unexpected.

You see Justin and I agreed we wouldn’t exchange gifts this year because our greatest and most expensive gift to each other this year was moving across the country. Instead, we put our resources into gifts for our family far and wide and on the other side of the country for Christmas presents.

But Justin didn’t listen. Typical. He gave me a gift anyway.

Truth be told, I gave him one too but to justify it I made sure the gift (Red Sox Tickets) could be used by both of us.

When the box landed in my lap, the last gift of the Christmas 2018 to be opened under our tree, I had no idea what it could be. It wasn’t heavy but it wasn’t light. It was a square box but when I opened it there was a bunch of tissue paper. 

As I pulled at the tissue paper, one by one, I discovered an old metal speaker from an outdoor drive in. It’s not just any speaker, it’s one from the drive in we used to frequent in high school for date nights and a few makeout sessions. 

One night at the Motor-Vu Drive-In Justin and I fell asleep during the late showing of some movie I don’t remember the name of. When I awoke it was 2:00 AM and the parking lot was empty. I shook Justin awake in the driver’s seat. It was just the two of us teenagers sitting in his Chevy Blazer with sleepy eyes. We awoke to more than the fact that it was past our curfew. I was pretty sure my parents were going to ground me (or worse) when I got home.

Justin scurried to start up the Blazer’s engine and hit the gas so we could make our breakaway. Just as we peeled away I realized the speaker was still on my passenger side window. The tires spun, the speaker wire snapped and the big, old, heavy metal speaker fell in my lap. 

I looked at Justin in horror and screamed, “What do I do with this?” holding the clunky metal speaker in my hand. 

He panicked and said, “Throw it out the window!” So I did. And we sped away. 

Justin dropped me off at my house and then hightailed it to his. As I crept up the steps and opened the door I knew I was going to be in trouble. Not just any kind of trouble but out-too-late-with-a-boy kind of trouble. 

As I tiptoed down the hallway, I heard my mother’s voice call from her bedroom. I knew I was in for it and I squirmed in my skin as I answered her call. But when I made it back to her bedside, after she scolded me in a hushed whisper for being out too late, she asked the most important question a mother could ever ask: “Did you have fun?” 

I have told this story so many times, so many ways to so many people. It was the unexpected night for two little souls in love. It was an unexpected response from my Mama Sling. And today, on a day that we were not supposed to exchange gifts, Justin gave me the most unexpected gift I could ever imagine. 

A speaker from the Motor-Vu Drive-In from Twin Falls, Idaho. A drive-in that is currently being torn down to make way for a new storage facility. A storage facility that is owned by the same one that Justin stored all his belongings in for the last nine years while we galavanted around the country on numerous adventures. That storage unit was just emptied out this fall as we moved its contents all the way across the country. 

Lost are the days of drive-in movies. And long are the nights where we would worry about our curfew. But this little metal speaker holds a memory and a moment in my life that was unexpected and absolutely priceless…and full of joy.

So much joy for a boy that I have always loved, and a man that still knows how to hold my heart and surprise me in ways I never see coming. 

So tonight, my joy is unexpected gifts and the memories that come with them.


More tomorrow… 
Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 358 :: joy is christmas eve

24 Dec

{joy}  

There may not be a more joyous day than Christmas Eve. The anticipation of what is to come and the spirit of love and memories filling the air.

And, then there is the grocery store which was a total nightmare today. But alas, we are tucked in and waiting for our takeout Chinese food. ‘Tis the season!

If there is something JOY has taught me this year it is to not wait for one day of the year to feel joyful and bright. Joy has reminded me to go after that which brings joy every day of the year. It is in the everyday moments that we build up reserves of joy that last through the year. 

So here’s to JOY today, tomorrow and every single day.

There is always so much to be joyful for.​

More tomorrow… 

Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 355 joy is family recipes

23 Dec


{joy}  

Today my joy was making Christmas cookies. I mean, c’mon, it’s hard to get more joyful than Christmas cookies! But for me, it was joyful for two reasons: 1) We made Justin’s Grandmother Ruth’s cookie recipe and they taste amaaaaaazing! and 2) I used my great aunt’s KitchenAid mixer.

The KitchenAid mixer is probably as old as I am, or close to it. But it still works great, practically like new. If the electrical cord wasn’t yellowed from age it would be hard to tell just how old it really is. And from the taste of the cookies, you wouldn’t know the difference. Sometimes new isn’t better. And most of the time, joy comes with memories. 

And that’s a great family recipe, at least a recipe for joy.

More tomorrow… 
Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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JAMIE’S BLOG – YEAR 8 – DAY 354 :: joy is hope

22 Dec

{joy}  

Tonight was movie night and we watched Justin’s favorite holiday flick, Die Hard. It’s not a fluffy holiday show, it’s more of an eighties action movie. But it was entertaining. And in some weird way, there is always the sensation of holding out hope for the hero. In this case, Bruce Willis.

But in real life, I think the hero is in each one of us. We all hold onto hope for something, with or without the action hero. 

So here’s to hope and joy and the occasional hero in each of us. 
Yippee-Ki-Yay!

More tomorrow… 

Lovemore,
Jamie

{joyful}
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