family equals joy

Why do we go after the things we do?  I've been growing new perspectives on life lately.  Joy.... we are in pursuit of joy, not happiness.  Happiness is fleeting and temporary. Joy grabs you at your core, even if there are bags under your eyes, crumbs everywhere, crying and screaming...  Joy feels like pangs of worry wrapped in warm hugs and love.  I see joy in family. Children are pieces of your heart  that go running out into the world - all children are pieces of the human heart.  We just enjoyed 10 full days of family time together - my sister-in-law and our three nieces came to stay with us.  My parents in-laws are very nearby, so it was quite the adventure the past 10 days hanging out together.

They left yesterday morning.  My husband and I came home and the house was eerily quiet.  On one hand, the introvert in me sighed in relief to finally have a chance to be alone and quiet.  On the other hand, my heart hurt and missed my sister-in-law and nieces dearly.  I wish I had been able to take off more time to hang out with them...  coming home from work and eating dinner together was so nice.  We cooked marshmallows on the stove together.  I watched every awesome kid-tastic movie out there with them - Spy Kids 2 and 3, Frozen, The Lego Movie, the Pirate Fairy....  the nieces cuddled up with me....   After they left, I've been thinking about children - I can see myself loving any child as my own, really.  In the meantime, I am thinking of my nieces, my friends' children, my family, my friends... and what I need to do to get us to see each other more, what I can give them next time I see them or talk to them, ...  

Well, .... only God knows what'll happen in the future.  God-willing, maybe 2014 will be our lucky year.

xo,
Arry