Joy Seeker

Have you (or do you) make New Year's Resolutions? I don't necessarily sit down and make a list to check things off, but I do make mental notes of things I would like to do for the year. Well, this post in December when my friend Anna challenged me to think about what brings me JOY really got my wheels turning. Even after writing that post, when something would happen, or I would catch myself laughing, I would say to myself, "another 'joy'!!" After reflecting on last year I made a resolution that I was going to do a better job this year of seeking out JOY. Joy in the littlest (is that a word?) everyday occurrences; joy in the big things; and, every night before I go to sleep to think of at least one thing that day that was JOYOUS.

As I began to read some of my blog friends "New Year's Resolutions", I saw several of them as well that had made "finding joy" a goal for this year - so, I guess we'll be seeking it together!!

Being the lover of words that I am, I looked up what "joy" is defined as. Webster says "joy is great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying". Doesn't that make you feel joy just in reading it?

Today, on this very rainy, gloomy day with a broken ankle and my husband half way across the globe (literally!!), I'm finding JOY in this -

This is a picture of a piece of furniture and art piece in my foyer. Every single time I walk by it (or hobble these days), I smile. Every. single. time.

The dresser was my Granny Cox's. All of my childhood it was in her bedroom, with a lacy embroidered runner on top, a fancy jewelry box, and a mirrored tray with lotions and perfumes. When I open the drawers, I can smell a scent that makes me think of Granny Cox. I adore this dresser more than any other piece of furniture in our house. It's completely traditional, it has a thousand stories to tell, and is a true symbol of my Granny.

The canvas is a piece I bought right after Christmas this year. It caught my eye at the beginning of December, and it was love at first sight. I knew I didn't need to buy it so close to Christmas - Brad would not have been very happy about that! So, when I heard that the store would be having a 40% off After-Christmas Sale, I was so excited! I ran in right after the store opened on December 26th, and there it sat waiting for me to take it home. It's fun and completely unexpected, and a true symbol of my style.

When I look at these 2 pieces together, I smile.

And, then I giggle.

Besides that fact that it would bug her that the dresser was not being used in a bedroom, but in my foyer - my Granny would think that piece of art was the wildest, most atrocious thing she had ever laid eyes on. It would drive her CRAZY.

In her thick, South Carolina drawl I can hear her saying, "Hayley honey, are you sure about that picture?"

But for me, I find great delight in them together. In fact, I would say they are exceptionally good! The pieces together are a reflection of mine and Brad's personalities, and what we want our home to be. Creative. Happy. A wee bit crazy. Strong. A bond with our family roots. Never forgetting the past, but not being stuck in it.

And, by golly - I just think the whole thing is cute as it can be!

So, that's my JOY today. A little random, I know. I plan to share more random joys throughout the year, so stay tuned!

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalms 126:3