Finding MY Joy

My daughter at Shadesofpink.com posted about "Finding Her Joy"
It sent me into a wonder of joy in my life, It brought back many joys and tears.
 I have witnessed and enjoyed over my 65 years.
There are too many to mention,
Sheer joy at playing in fresh rain, spring fed  ditches.
The joy of Mama letting us go barefooted when she felt the ground was warm enough.

The first Daffodils of summer, Oh how I loved seeing the first blooms. (I still do)
The first Crept Myrtle. Trees slowing leafing out and the majesty of the shades of green in a tree.
Seeing my Moms laundry hanging on Many clotheslines after being washed in a wringer washer and jeans scrubbed in a wash pot.
Fresh plowed soil, cool and moist from winter coolness but warm enough to sprout seeds.
The old mule and the old colored gentleman Mama always called to plow for us.
(Mama always knew who to call)
Oh my, I almost forgot the "Fruit Peddlers and door to door salesmen"
Yes we had all of them, L. B. Price Mercantile, Watkins dealers, Mason shoe dealers, and I loved when the dealers arrived with loads of peaches and strawberries.
The ice Man, We had an ice Man, He was George Rudkins, He delivered huge blocks of ice for our Ice Box. That was before we had a refrigerator.
The farmers actually went door to door to country people so they could have the fresh produce too.
The joy of a trip to my grandparents. it was a long trip with 8 children seated in the old car but "We were going to Grandma and Grandpas"
I recall the joy of us kids all singing as we drove on through the night, sometime.
The joy of waiting for Santa,
The joy of having someone to share a bed with when the old Arkansas winters were so cold.
Our only source of heat was a wood heater placed in the living room.
Rosie and I or Jeanette and I always shared a bed and warmed each other with our hands or feet.
Joy Sheer Joy of life is often taken for granted.

It, as she said, May be flannel sheets on cold windy nights.
It may be the joy of watching your Children discover life but the greatest joy We shared.
We watched as our Children gave their hearts to Jesus.
We shared a Joy,only a Christian can know,when you feel secure in your decision to take your children to church and Let them learn, Not push them to learn of God.

I am sure many more joys await us, and some days we may have to look deeply for joy but it will be there. In the smiles, in the Laughter, in the hearts of everyone we meet.