My Grandkiddos are the Best because They have My Kids as Parents

When I say to my grown kids that their kids, my grandkids, are such better kiddos than they were, there is one response. Mom, it is because they have so much better parents than we did. No, the truth is my kids were the best and so are my grandkids. But too often I get caught up in the struggles of raising mine when I was overwhelmed and the calm of spending time with grands that of course is relaxed and enjoyable. It is no longer my job to make sure teeth are brushed, homework is done and boogers are tended to. My role is to spend time with, communicate my love and let their parents do the heavy lifting. That is why I am thankful I never have to be a full time babysitter to my grand kiddos. That would put me back in the parent role rather than the luxury of being their Noni. After all, parenting is a young person’s sport and I am swiftly approaching seventy which does not make me a young person. (Younger than Susi but not young) 

Watching my kids be parents to these precious kids is one of my greatest joys. They are certainly doing a much better job than I ever could. So I may not be a young mom anymore but I must say that I love the age and stage I am in. Them sharing their children with me proves I did a few things right as their mom. 

In Him,

Joyful

6-28-25

Nap-itizer and My Ronnie B

 Everyone knows Ronnie B can and does sleep anywhere and everywhere. It is his gift to sleep in the midst of chaos, quiet and storms. Others are amazed at how he can nod off in any circumstance. I have been aware of this talent since high school. His best friend, Dave Jansen, would get so stressed before a race in a track meet. Then he would look over to see Ron snoozing on a bench without a care in the world. Dave was amazed. 

This has continued throughout our lives. Through raising four kids, teaching grandkids to drive and beyond. Lissa was eleven when Ron took her out in the forest to teach her to drive a stick shift. When they returned she tattled on him and said Papa was sleeping while she was driving. His defense was that he would have woken up if she hit anything. Logical and after all it was his truck she was driving toward possible tree impact.

 I can say Ron is a fabulous Papa to all our grands and great-grands but babysitting is not always his strongest gift. After all, he just may doze off while the kids are playing at the park. Papa waswatching Kayla while she plays in the sand. Luckily, the park behind our house is safe and Kayla was well behaved. His thought was…….I’ll wake up if she screams.   

Here Felix is patiently waiting for his Papa to wake up from his nap on the porch swing. It is clear that playing with Papa is worth the wait! In the evenings, Ron can be watching any program and just shut his eyes for a few minutes…..nap-itizer begins. Then he wonders why he isn’t tired when he comes to bed a few hours later. Hmmmmmmm.

I adore this man and his many talents. Sleeping is definitely one of those talents. I envy his calm nature that allows him to rest so peacefully. Now with all this chatter about naps, I just may need to crawl back in bed and have an early morning nap.

In Him,

Joyful

6-27-25

Happy Heavenly Birthday Mom……..Enjoy the Sonshine Up There

 Oh how I want to be at your party. I bet it is a heavenly day up there. You always thought it was so special that your birthday was on the summer solstice the longest daylight day of the year. Wonderful. You were special. You are special. All the memories that I have of you and your impact on my life and the lives of others matters even now.

I love all the fun we shared. My hope is to be that fun loving person to those in my life. You are a great example of taking the bumps in life in stride and never dwelling on the complaints. You were never a wallowed or pity party person. Life unfolded and you adjusted. Breast cancer, losing dad, financial difficulties never paused you or turned you sour. I strive to be more like you. Nothing is accomplished by sniveling. The only thing it does accomplish is pushing others away from us. 

When someone asks what lessons I learned from my parents I say Dad taught me generosity and you taught me to stay positive. What lessons am I teaching my own children and their children? How am I living my life as an example? Not the lectures I spew but the actions that I take are what imprints deep in people’s hearts. 

So here is to you Mom on you birthday. I am sad I can’t call you or watch you blow out the candles on your banana nut cake. But I can remember you and all the fabulous times we shared. For that I am forever grateful. 

In Him,

Joyful

6-21-25

What I Learned as a Toddler Prepared Me for Old Age!

 Who knew we were training for our senior days. Here we are not looking for Bert or Ernie but morning and evening pills. All those tasks that we learned in our little stages are coming in handy now. I have recommended to so many people our age who are having relationship struggles to read Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten. That book has so much rich information about how to behave and to treat others. 

The best advice from "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" is to apply basic, yet profound, life lessons often learned in early childhood to navigate adulthood with greater success and fulfillment. Key takeaways include sharing, playing fair, being kind, cleaning up after oneself, and respecting others. The book emphasizes that these simple rules, when consistently applied, can significantly improve relationships and overall well-being. 

Now if I could figure out what I did in my youth to prepare me to change these darn hearing aid batteries! 

In Him,

Joyful

6-19-26

Camp, Walk, Go to a Park, Get Outside

 Father’s Day camp out in the Jemez was wonderful. It was so special that Amalia was here to join in all the fun of hiking, s’mores, and sharing stories of other campouts. Even thirteen month old Maeve went out exploring the woods and picking up sticks. I love that we get to spend time with littles as well as our oldest grandgirl. 

Camping allows us time to just sit and enjoy. Too often in life we keep our to do lists as top priorities rather than just pausing to be. This was so relaxing and gave us time to just spend together. Whether it is in an rv, a tent or just sitting in the backyard, we all need to set down our tasks and be in conversation with one another. 

300 hours outside amounts to 100 hours a month.  Break it down even more, and it’s about 3 hours outside a day.

So why do this?  I want to get away from the screen.  I want my kids to run, and play, and get rosy cheeks from time in the sun.  I want to spend quality time with them. Time that is not spent multitasking on my computer, or checking Facebook.

I would love for you to join me in this challenge!  Feel free to grab and use the image above and use where you’d like.  And post your pictures to social media using #300hoursoutside! 🙂

In Him, 

Joyful

6-18-25

Diy projects, recipes, and motherhood all in one place

Love, Grace, and Warfare

JP Pokluda

Walking in truth is only possible when I stay connected to Jesus through His word, prayer and just remaining in His presence.

Acting in righteousness happens when I choose to turn the other cheek, forgive, and practice JOY-Jesus, Others then Yourself.

Ready with the Gospel so I must read the word and give it a home in my memory and my heart. 

Firm in faith happens when I stay near to His love and remind myself continuously of His love and acceptance unconditionally. 

Aware of my salvation is the knowledge that I know 100%  that through my faith and acceptance of Jesus that I am forgiven and will be in heaven. His grace is enough.

Responding with the word allows me to focus my behaviors with the filter of His love for me and for others. Love Jesus~love others.

Engaged in praise allows me to be showered with His love and lifts me up with arms raised. 

There is an enemy that we must have warfare to resist. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy but he doesn’t come with a red cape and pitchfork but through the distractions, discouragement and being offended in everyday life. This is why we must live life close to Jesus for ourselves and for those He places in our path. 

His grace is mine. My grace is mine to share with others rather than judging and condemning. This gift of grace covers me and allows me to cover others accepting them for who and where they are. God’s grace and love is mine to receive and to give.

His truth is in His word and I can rest in that truth when I spend time in His word and allow it to penetrate deep in my heart and throughout each day as I interact with others. 

To know Him and to make Him known is my life’s path. I have to stay close to know Him and connect with people so I can share His love through my actions and words. Us not you and I but us for we are one together. Loving others is loving ourselves because I need relationships in my life. That saying that the only time we look down on others is when we are reaching to lift them up is a lifestyle that I want to live. Please know that by supporting and encouraging people rather than judging and condemning allows our hearts to connect rather than pushing away. Love your neighbor as yourself only blooms when I love myself because He first loved me. 

In Him,

Joyful

6-17-25

Start with the Person in your Mirror and Pray

 Oh if we could somehow eradicate the hate from our world, from our streets, from our hearts. The petty bickering among leaders, the violence in our streets, the warring among nations are all hate filled expressions of how we are not accepting of one another. It is time to put down our ugly loathing and get on our knees to pray for open hearts that live and let live. Hearts that accept that none of us are all knowing or have all the answers. So why do so many position ourselves to throw stones at others who disagree with our positions? It is arrogant to think that anyone of us is all knowing. 

So let’s take today away from the news coverage that too many of us let slow drip into our minds throughout the day. Instead, let’s get on our knees and pray for the wisdom of leaders, the calm of rioters, and the hearts of those who grieve the loss of loved ones. There is power in prayer. We can actually be proactive in prayer rather than being fed sensationalized news feeds from biased profit concerned media on either side. And we should not pray for one side or the other but rather pray for all nations, all people and a peaceful resolution to all conflicts. 

My heart breaks for those who are persecuted and for those so filled with hate that they feel persecuting others is justified. My heart breaks for all those who lost loved ones in India when their plane crashed on takeoff and to all on the ground who also lost their lives. My heart breaks for our world so filled with unnecessary death and destruction. Life is difficult enough without being filled with so much condemning of others. Love is the answer to hate. It is the yen and the yang. How do we stay unoffended so that we don’t literally or figuratively throw those stones at those who offend us? Prayer for a heart that sees all sides. 

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let love and kindness be the motivation in all you do. If only we could play this verse on repeat and let it sink into our hearts. Perhaps then we would turn away from what divides us and focus on what unites us. Pray for your heart and mine. It is true what Michael Jackson wrote about starting with the man in the mirror and getting him to change his ways. Maybe you and I cannot solve the global chaos or the rioting in America’s streets or the anti-semitism that fuels ugliness but we can be a bit kinder to others who cross our paths and we can pray. 

In Him,

Joyful

6-13-25