As I was flipping through the photos on my phone, trying to decide what to share with you from the past two weeks, the collection of images I chose all had one thing in common: they were small, unexpected moments of joy. When I saw each one, I was taken back to a simple, heart-warming moments.
Isn’t that how joy works? Beyond the obvious watershed moments that are pivotal life-events, our days are filled with tiny snapshots of warmth and laughter. The real trick is to notice them, collect them, and realize that even when life is challenging, joy can still be found.
The week of Thanksgiving, I set the table early. Not only did I want to make sure we had everything we needed, but I also loved passing by the table for a few days and drinking in the beauty. One day in particular the November light was so stunning, I gasped. My photo does not do it justice. Good light makes everything beautiful, and this moment was breathtaking.
On a whim, while ordering some Christmas pajamas for my children, I bought a new pair of pink satiny PJs for myself. When they arrived, I put them on and fell in love. The color, the fabric, and even the heaviness of the hem in the cuff and leg feels luxurious. I felt very fancy, in a loungewear kind of way.
I have always wanted to have Christmas sheets. My kids have flannel snowman sheets, but I have never found a set that would work for our bed…until this year. I call these our Advent Sheets, and they are so fun. The pattern is called “Santa Toile,” and includes scenes with reindeer, Christmas trees, and sleds. My girls were with me when I took them out of the package, and we could not stop laughing. They are so extra, and so different from the normal sheets on my bed…it was delightful and funny all at the same time.
Timm hung lights on the outside of our home (as he always does). There is nothing more festive than driving up to your home at night and seeing the glow of lights framing the house. I snapped this photo because not only is Timm doing a great job on that ladder, but can you see Lillian helping behind the bushes? At first I didn’t see her, and then she said, “Hi Mommy! I’m helping!” I died. If you know Lillian than you are not surprised that she would stand behind bushes, holding the slack of cording, and do so with a happy heart.
Baby Henry came to Hurley House, and I got to hold him! We talked about how awesome his mother is, how much fun we are going to have together, and when he will be able to taste his first Sparkle Sandwich Cookie. Elizabeth has come back from maternity leave, mostly working from home, but a couple of times a week she brings Henry up to the store, and we all adore him. There’s just something joyful about holding a baby.
A few months ago I shared how much I loved learning French on the Duo Lingo app. This past week I clocked in my two-hundredth day in a row! This streak is something that has kept me mentally engaged on a daily basis. It’s only five to ten minutes each day, but I love it, and I love how satisfying it is to see my knowledge (and my daily streak) grow.
Last, but not least, I made a latte heart. It was an accident, but it totally made me smile. I have been trying to understand how latte art works, and after several attempts, I just stopped trying. And then yesterday, on a whim, this little heart appeared in my cup, and it made me smile. Maybe I will keep trying to get the hang of this. Or maybe, I will just keep looking for the unexpected moments of joy to show up in unexpected places…like my coffee cup.
Have a lovely weekend!
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