Random in it's Randomness

Every day I'm trying to find joy.  The thing that brings me the most personal joy is photography.  It can also bring me a lot of frustration but it's fun frustration if that makes any sense.  It's the thing that feeds "me".  I have to have something that feeds me.  Face it....it's easy to get drained and lost in just living life and particularly parenting RAD.  The more joy I put back in the better mother I think I am.  Most importantly I'm not going to allow anyone else to steal my joy.  That includes J most of the time.  I was going to take Christine's dare and find joy with J today.  We didn't manage it until bedtime but we finally did it by playing Trouble.  We both truly enjoy playing it and it's something we can do together.  Usually it's a sure fire way to get both of us out of the doldrums.  There aren't many days that we don't make time to play a game. 

We also still do gratitude lists at dinner.  The lists are sometimes quite comical but they are always genuine.  And...they also bring us happiness to think about the things we're grateful for.

Tonight our dinner was on the gratitude list.  We made PW's Sour Cream Enchiladas.  Holy heck those things are divine!

I'm starting to get really excited about Orlando.  I'm also starting to get really nervous.  I'm an introvert by nature so large groups of people make my anxiety level go sky high.  Fortunately for me there will be a few others with the same problem so I'm guessing we can all go hide together when we're overwhelmed.  :)  Orlando will get me out of my comfort zone and I guess that's a good thing.

I've been trying to read the blogs of everyone that is going so that I have some idea "who" they are.  I'm having trouble keeping up with aliases and real names, locations and family dynamics.  Staying pretty lost but I'm giving it my best shot. 

What do you do to find joy for yourself?

Did you know Diana over at Gold to Refine is doing a retreat for Trauma Mama's?  Go here to check it out.

I'm ready for Spring.  This has been the coldest and snowiest winter I've ever known.  I have no idea how you folks up north do it.  Seriously.

Week 3 of being cola free.  Oh how I miss you....