J-O-Y

This is a picture I took of our paper plates...yes, Christmas paper plates. I saw some candy canes on the counter and made them into a heart...I have always loved how two candy canes can create a heart. Of all the words on the paper plate, JOY stood out to me. I put the heart representing LOVE over JOY. I LOVE JOY...who doesn't!?! When I hear or think of the word JOY, I think it means even more than happiness...it is better than happiness! Here is a list of things that bring me JOY in my life:

 My little family of five brings me JOY. Yes, the three boys are a handful, and I am guilty of having not very much patience (something I am constantly working on), but they sure do bring JOY into my life when they share or do a kind act or read a book out loud, or say a prayer, smile, listen/behave, or learn something new. Christian is a JOY ---who doesn't LOVE a baby, especially a good baby who is easy-going! Curtis is a JOY to be around! He is easy to talk with and easy to get along with...no one doesn't like Curtis! :) Just a side note: Christmas lights bring me JOY too! Just like the ones on the pine tree behind Cannon and Carter in the above picture.

The temple gives me peace and JOY. I have peace in knowing that my family is an eternal family! What more JOY can you have than that??? I LOVE the Idaho Falls temple! Probably because I am from Idaho Falls and got married/sealed in the Idaho Falls temple.

Jesus Christ, our Savior is the #1 reason why I have so much JOY in my life! I have so many blessings...too many to name, and it is because of HIM! He is the Savior of the world! If we remember to put the following in this particular order in our lives: J - Jesus O - others Y - yourself, we will never go without JOY! We named Christian - Christian because we feel as though people are forgetting Christ. We liked how Christ is in his name, and we hope and pray Christian can be a good example to others, a true Christian, to remind them of our Savior. We wish you JOY and LOVE this Christmas season and all year round!!!

P.S. Here are a few other things that give me JOY (okay, maybe happiness) in my life, but aren't nearly as important as what was mentioned above: my iPhone, instagram, words with friends, candy, restaurants, sleeping in, baths, Christmas cards in the mail, yard work, a newly cleaned - bathroom, fridge, car, etc., music, acts of kindness, good smells,  an organized planner, children's books...and the list goes on and on and on and on....