joy = new beginnings

All the joyful things shall now be documented over here: http://viewpointimages.wordpress.com. Go!

…

joy = joyful wiggles

Love this picture… love that I can see the joy of wiggling, through the wiggle. Usually a blurry picture drives me nuts, but this one perfectly describes her.

joy = one!

Goodness, a year can go by quickly.

This

is now this.

Baby

is now a little girl.

A little girl who loves to clap and hug and sway to music.

It blows me away that I’ve been a mom for a year.

How is it that I’ve been doing something for a year (plus 9 months of preparation), and yet it still feels so new, and I still feel so unsure? And yet, so sure and natural… all at the same time?

My greatest joy right now is my snuggly one year old. I’ve never been so needed or so loved.

She is wonderful.

joy = change

Some things are constant.

The kingship of Christ. Grace. The omnipotence of God. Gravity (at least on the earth’s surface outside of an anti-gravity chamber, anyway). The sunrise in the morning and sunset in the evening (or afternoon, in the Seattle winter).

Somethings are not.

One day there is dirt, the very next day, there are green bulb stems reaching out from the dirt to an impressive height of a full inch tall. One day, there are pink gums and one tooth in the baby’s smile, and the very next day, there is another tooth decorating her grin. One day, it doesn’t matter if the dog barks, the very next day, it makes the baby scared and causes her to cry, and look up at mama for comfort.

Things can change entirely in just one day.

For the things which are constant, we should hold on to them tightly and dearly, appreciating their ever-presence. Don’t run from God and doubt his ability; He is all-knowing and all-powerful – that will always be true. There ARE things which will always be true, but in the grand scheme, the things which are this way are few. They are big, but few.

For the others, we should not hold onto things too tightly, for something that is can change overnight into what will be. And both will have been true.

joy = creative optimism

I’m hoping that I can use this

And yarns in these colors

to make a cute thing like this

for this little one

by Easter.

Unfortunately, I don’t really know how to crochet very well yet.

Hence, the book.

To further complicate things,

I also want to make this

but the fabric isn’t picked out yet.

Although, it probably should match the sweater,

just in case I manage to pull all this off.

And that will be

an Easter miracle.

Don’t you think?

joy = having a place to start

Well, crap.  Did you know that Wii Fit plays sad music if you do a pretty sad job in the slalom ski game? I did my very best, and yet, my Mii started crying and sad music played.  It’s enough to make my Mii commit Wii suicide off the tight rope game.

So… obviously, the Wii finally came. Nintendo (well, their promotional ad agency, really) had some logistical problems with the contest and sending me a functioning Wii. But, after a bit of discussion and escalation, I finally have all the goodies.

This really is a fun toy. A bit depressing at the moment, but fun.  After it did my body scan, the happy-girl Wii Fit voice told me, “that’s overweight!”  Hurray for me!  Then she proceeded to tell me that I should make some goals to lose weight.  I guess so.  Oh, I’m also “unbalanced,” which my husband and I thought was really funny. I’ll have to remind him that that was a physical assessment, not mental.  Thankfully, he’s unbalanced too.  It gave me a Wii age of 40, which is sad since I’m really 30.

So, I told it I want to lose 13 pounds in 2 months.  I’d love to just get to a point where sad music doesn’t play. If only I could find a way to set that as my Wii goal.

joy = no more excuses

I’ve been putting off (more accurately… I’ve been highly distracted) getting all our Christmas stuff put away and getting the house cleaned up.  Unfortunately, I do not like having Christmas stuff out until February, so it’s actually been aiding my bad mood. I don’t want it out, but I haven’t had the energy to put it away, either.

It’s time. And I’m out of excuses.

Baby is asleep. Coffee is hot. Supply of required coffee creamer has been replenished.  Let’s go! No snowman or santa is safe.

joy = packages in the mail

The Wii arrived and there was great rejoicing in the house.

Baby hopes there is a game for wiggling and kicking. She would rock that game.

Unfortunately, my Wii will only work in Argentina and we need to send it back for the US version.  It seems we have an Argentinian Wii.  Oh, don’t cry for me Argentina!

joy = magically wonderful photos

I LOVE taking photos of my baby girl. It’s getting more challenging as she gets older… now that she knows how to make the recliner rock, and her goal in a photos session is to lunge for (and eat) the camera.

I love it when I try to get one picture, and somehow…by a gathering of all good blessings from heaven, I get an amazing picture that I didn’t even intend to. I end the “photo shoot” a little bummed, until I look at them on the computer.  Magic.

This is one of those magic pictures. It will be one of my favorites forever and ever.

joy = winning!

All, I can say is Wii!!!!!!!!!

It’s still unbelievably wonderful to me, but the other day, I found out that I won a Wii and a Wii fit from Y. I AM SO EXCITED.  I signed up to win on a whim (ha ha), but never thought I’d really win. I’ve entered a lot of blog give aways, and never ever win. I decided they were all rigged and I generally don’t enter anymore.  I thought a Wii fit would be so cool, so I entered anyway. This is a toy is more expensive than we would ever buy – ever.

Hubby truly believes I won because my comment was number 42, and the number 42 is the meaning to live, the universe, and everything. It was meant to be.

I cannot wait until this toy comes. What a fantastic Christmas present.  Maybe there is a Santa…and maybe he works at Nintendo.

Thanks Y!