Josie is Home and Becoming a Snuggle Bug

Ronnie B and I have a new addition to our family. Miss Josie came to us from the Espanola shelter. She is a feral girl who took a few days to warm up to us but is now comfortable laying on our bed just chilling. Even Cora is warming up to her. 

Our search for a kitten was in vain since it is early in the season for wee ones. But seeing Josie’s precious face on the internet led me to consider a teenage girl. We are still hoping for a kitten from Kristi’s daughter but have welcomed this beauty to our home. She has the run of the house and is slowly venturing outside. 

When Ron and I think about pets it is hard to categorize us as dog or cat people. Clearly, we are both. So although Cora gets to go on outings while Josie remains home, we are so fortunate to have found each other. Thank you Espanola shelter for bringing the sixteen cats into your care and for posting the one who was meant for our family. 

In Him,

Joyful

4-3-25
 

Replace Rushed with an Early, Peaceful Arrival

 Avoid setting yourself up to rush which leads to stress and robs you of peace. Christine told us that it is impossible to love well when we are moving to fast because of the need to rush or the fear of showing up late. That is so true. Love is patient and how can we possibly be patient if we feel behind? 

This brings up memories of a not so loving mom that I was when my four kids were young. I would get sidetracked by tasks and find myself rushing the kids to get going. Screaming and impatience replace a mom who desires to be loving and kind. It is not easy to look for that missing shoe or the backpack when you only have ten minutes to get them to school on time. 

That saying that poor planning on your part does not an emergency on my part make is so true. My distraction and waiting until the last minute causes me to need to rush and turn into a crazy woman. Even now when I am retired and have no kids to get ready waiting until the last minute can cause stress and my psycho self to emerge. You would think by this age I would get that preparing ahead would be my go to so that I could enjoy peace and calm. But too often I still get sidetracked and end up needing to pick up the speed to chaos level. So my prayer for you and for myself is that we devise a strategy so we don’t get in that doing things in a pinch. But take the time to arrive in the state of mind that comes from being a bit early and not at all stressed or rushed. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-30-25

A Toast to Our Town and The Lifelong Friends We Share

Warm and sunny evening in our small town. The perfect time to get out for a beer and connect with friends. Ronnie B and I enjoy our local brewery where so many of our townfolks hang out. We were beyond blessed to have our grandgirl, Elissa, join us with the two wee ones. Caleb road his little car through the grass and took an interest in the other kiddos playing outside. Mayve enjoyed crawling around and pulling herself up on the picnic table bench. The Fusion tacos were delicious as always although Mayve was not a fan of the beans. Her face and spitting them out was clear evidence. 

We love our hometown where so many know one another. It is our community. Some know us as Mr and Mrs Barber while some call us by our first names. The fun fact is more and more refer to me as Noni. That makes my heart smile and not just because my goofy name is Barbara Barber. Where do you go where people know you and have lived life along side you? Raising our four kiddos here and working in the schools and in scouts have combined our lives with so many wonderful people through the years. Now in our golden years of retirement we get to sit back, sip our local brew and enjoy the sunshine. 

We are so blessed to share these precious moments together with Elissa andd our community. Chasing our great-grand kiddos keeps us in shape. So here is a toast to many more years and beers in our hometown. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-27-25

Not Never But Just Not Yet

 What a powerful word to shift our hope and perspective. Rather than giving up, throwing in the towel, walking away……..set your eyes to it is still possible. Yet means there is the possibility so don’t shut the door. I have never considered the power of this word for my attitude. Stephen Furtick spoke of it in a podcast that I listened to this morning. There are those words that change when we see them through different eyes. 

Yet~continue believing

Enough~you are

Scatter~pour over others

And several others that we could add to this list. Often people will get them tattooed on their wrist to remind themselves of the power of a word. This word of hope gives us grace for what we have yet to accomplish, yet to control, yet to fix in our lives. 

Most of you know that God put it on my heart to start a podcast almost two years ago. Then long covid took over my life and my lungs. It has made me beat myself up that the podcast has yet to be launched. I feel like I have not kept my promise to put this out into the world. But this morning I had grace for myself with this simple three letter word. That the podcast is not recorded does not mean there has not been movement toward releasing it. I have written the dialogue for the first few as well as prayed continuously  for direction. I am believing there will be a podcast to share my story and hopefully that of others. It just hasn’t happened yet. Stepping Out With Jesus is God’s given name for this platform and that is secured. Step one accomplished in 2023. Now to pray that 2025 may be the year that someone can find it out in the world not just in my head and my heart. 

What are you supposed to keep believing in? That hasn’t been accomplished or healed yet. Reconnecting with a family member. Finally, putting away the bad habit that has haunted you for too long? Or being intentional about being in His Word on a regular basis. Give yourself the hope that you don’t need to give up but realize that it just hasn’t happened yet. Of course, it is up to us to get off our butts and make things happen most of the time. So I will need to plug the microphone that I purchased into my computer and figure it out. And you need to take the first step or next step to getting where you want or need to go. But praying for timing and direction is doing something toward your goal. Believe in yourself rather than beating yourself up for not being further along in the process. Let love and kindness be the motivation in all you do. 1 Corinthians 16:14 is not just how we are to treat others but also how we need to treat ourselves. In the meantime, I will let you know when you can toon into my podcast until then pray for me and I will continue praying for each of you and your journeys. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-25-25

Together~Separately at Times Works for Us

 Two hearts, one love, a lifetime of experiences shared. Yesterday, a couple of different people commented on my life with Ronnie B. First, my daughter called in tears remembering the treasured trips we took as a family and wondering if those adventures are all in the path. Then a friend commented on how Ron and I love spending our time together while also allowing for time to do our own thing. At this stage of my life, as my last birthday in my sixties is only a week away, I am grateful for all the memories of our life together and those that we came together to share when we arrived under one roof. 

Natalie was having a sad moment recalling all the trips of her childhood and recognizing there won’t be anymore with her grandparents or our Ryan. But I told her honestly that her best memories are yet to happen. Although, I have wonderful childhood camping trips that come to mind, the ones I treasure most are the ones with my own kiddos. Natalie is just beginning her life as a mom with two curious boys that will take her on journeys she can’t even imagine. Will they be the same beach scenes she remembers when she was a little girl? Probably not. But they will be the writing of her families story and will give her joy as she closes her eyes and pictures her littles exploring their world. 

Ronnie B and I will be married forty-eight years this June. We were high school sweethearts and I can still smile when I think of the beginning of our love story. Prom pictures show the connection we shared even then. But along with living our lives side by side we have weathered storms that could have split us up but didn’t. The loss of a brother, the loss of a son, the heartbreak of infertility, the joy and pain of adoption, and the separation that lasted way too long because of stubborn hearts were just a few of the hurdles on our path. When Ron lost his brother in a military plane crash, all I wanted to do was comfort him. What he needed was time alone to process. That was a turning point for me. I recognized what he needed was more important than what I had to give. This moment shifted my need to be joined at the hip with my Ronnie B. It didn’t shift my love just my perspective. 

Through the years we have become more independent of one another in a good way. He enjoys his archeology adventures and I am free to spend much needed time with friends and family. Our months long rv trips give us the together time we crave and enjoy. But listening to Ron share his adventures when he comes home from a trip connects us even as we have ventured off separately. I love that we have this balance that works so well for our love and relationship. 

We even have a good balance of time spent with our kids and their families and time spent on other journeys. It has become almost a yearly thing to go with the Guthries on their catamaran to island hop in the Bahamas. What a relaxed and enjoyable time together those couple of weeks are for us. I get in all the swimming in the most heavenly waters and Ronnie B gets plenty of hammock time when we dock. Even in these trips that has so much us time there is always time to do what we love individually. 

I am glad that Natalie and Julie shared their thoughts with me yesterday. My hope is that Natalie looks to the future as well as the past to plan explorations with her own kids. Decades from now she will look back and realize that her childhood adventures were just a first chapter on her story. The ones she and Nate take with their family will be the ones that make her smile the brightest when these years have passed. 

Overall, I look back on my life with joy. Were there difficult days, weeks and even years? Absolutely. But even those have brought me to where I am today. And here is right where I want to be in life. For that I am thankful. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-24-25

The First Day of Spring, Laura Bird Began to Sing

 I am so thankful that we live where we get to look forward to all four seasons. Falling snow is wonderful as I  sitby the fire sipping coffee or sip wine in the hot tub is magical. But I always look forward to spring as the trees begin to bud and the crocus press their little blue heads out of the soil. Just when the wind has gotten tiresome it is time for summer and the heat it brings. My Mom’s birthday was the solstice, the longest day of the year. She loved that her birthday was special in that way. Swimming, barbecues, and camping trips make this such a special time of the year. It was my favorite when my kids were little since school was out and our schedule was more relaxed. Then came the crisp air of fall just as the heat was getting too much to handle. Thankfully, I live where there are dramatic monsoon rains to cool down the afternoons. But the fall brings its own beauty as I drag out the sweaters from the top of the closet and brace for the chill in the air. Some look forward to the pumpkin spice but that is not why I look forward to the autumn. The only draw back is the days continue getting shorter and I crave sunlight. But Christmas shopping begins or at least the lists of what others would enjoy. That makes the shorter days more tolerable. 

This spring I am at home and not on the road in our Chinook rv. I am excited about being at home. I went and purchased a bunch of plants and am excited to spruce up the plants in the house. It will be at least another month before I can put any outside plants in the ground. We get hail storms in the summer, so I gave up on a vegetable garden years ago. But putting in pretty potted plants that I will transfer to the ground around our yard makes me happy. Ronnie B has been planting aspens over on our side yard. I can’t wait until they are a bit bigger and quake in the fall breeze.

The first day of spring always reminds me of my Grandpa Peabody. His mother was born on the equinox and he always said………The first day of spring Laura Bird began to sing. I am grateful for the memories each season brings to mind. Here is to a new season of life and the new life that is evident all around us. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-23-25

Scream First then Coffee and a Slice of Pie

Maybe today is not the day we meet at our usual restaurant to sit politely and speak in low voices. Maybe today is a more shout it from the rooftops and get everything off our hearts kindof meet up. Sometimes we just need to get primal and release all the build up of life into the woods or our pillow. My suggestion is get outside and take a friend you know loves you even when you are releasing a guttural scream. 

Life can pull us in so many directions and even leave us feeling that it doesn’t really matter what we are accomplishing off our to do list. That is when we need to belt out sounds from our guts and then consider………who made this to do list anyway? Is our frustration and disappointment in not getting everything checked off because we just need to work harder? Or perhaps we have come up with a list that is not even possible to complete. More than likely things on our list are not even necessary. Who says the sheets need to be changed every week? Who decided kiddos needed to be in activities that fill every moment of everyday? Who says you are not a good friend if you would rather stomp your feet with a friend than sit calmly over a cup of coffee and pie? Consider that it is us who puts all the stress on ourselves. 

There will be time for coffee with your friend. But right now, throw a fit and get it out of your system. Then take a deep breath and sit down with an eraser to edit your list. What can you take off your plate that you put on that didn’t need to be there. This is the time for prayerfully considering what God has in mind for you and your time. Breathe. And be sure to order the pie. Screaming at the top of your lungs uses a lot of calories. For sure you need to replenish. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-22-25