Passport Office took my Sparkle when They Altered My Image

 This was kind of creepy. It was time to renew my passport and so Ronnie B took the picture of me smiling. Some on Facebook thought the government wouldn’t accept it with the smile. I read the emails again and again and they did indeed accept the photo I submitted. Imagine my shock when my passport arrived a week latter minus my earrings, smile and other small changes. This is disturbing. That they would alter my image rather than declining it and asking me to send an appropriate photo. It doesn’t feel like me on my own passport that I will carry for a decade. I am not against AI but was disturbed that they used it for my identification. 

New technology has never scared me. In fact, I have mostly embraced it to improve life as I know it. Somehow I have to get past the eerie feeling of seeing my altered self, In October, we travel to Egypt and Kenya. Let me focus on the discoveries of this incredible trip rather than the haunting eyes staring back at me on my passport. 

What are your thoughts on AI? Are you curious to see how it will improve your life or cautious of how it will overtake tasks we typically do ourselves? I have mixed feelings but understand that it is now a part of our world. It is better to see how we can use this tool that is now here to stay. But please know that I would have gladly sent another picture through technology to get a passport with a real image of me. There corrections left me with haunting eyes that I am glad I don’t wear in my everyday life. It feels like they took the life and sparkle out of my eyes and my face shifted accordingly. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-24-26

Maddy and Justin and an Old Rotary Phone with My Mom’s Number still on it

 Ronnie B and I had a surprise visit from our Goddaughter yesterday. Maddy and her dad came up and stopped by for a quick connection. What a joy to spend time with these two catching up and remembering when her dad was her age and such a big part of our family. Maddy heard a lot of stories that may or may not have been R rated about the Barber boys and her dad. She handled it well. 

I gave her a couple of heart items to remind her of her Noni’s love for her even when we don’t see one another. She and Justing were interested in my gramma’s rotary wall phone in my dining room. I gave them my mom’s old phone that Maddy had no idea how to use. It was a hoot to see her try to dial a number. Later, Justin posted a picture of her acting like she was chatting away on that outdated device. This picture reminds me of Ann Margaret in Bye, Bye Birdie. I will have to make a date to go down and watch it with her soon. 

It is fun to share what we have with those who we love. Our time, talents, and yes, even a dirty, old phone that isn’t connected bring joy when shared. I feel so honored that Justin and his sister, Jennifer, still call me Mom. Our families spent so much time together while they were young. Now he is this incredible dad who is raising this beautiful young woman. Life keeps rolling along and what a gift that we get to move through it with others. 

Justin will never know how much his love means to me. That he shares Maddy with Ron and me is the best gift. Thanks for the visit and connection my chosen son. It just shows that hearts are connected even when we don’t get to see one another as often as we would like. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-23-26

Take a Breath and get some Rest

Sunday is the day of rest. Even God rested on the seventh day in Genesis. It is necessary for us to refuel, take a pause, and simply be. Ronnie B and I just got home from a ten day trip in our rv. It is comforting to be home and to sleep in our own bed. Yesterday, we unpacked, did laundry, and even had a precious visit from a friend who is family. Then I took the opportunity to catch up with phone calls to people I hadn’t spoken to on our journey. So today may be a pajama day at the Barber’s house. I need to pay a view bills, go through the mail, and do quiet tasks that allow me to rest while being productive.

It may also be a nap day since I have been up since before four am. My home internal clock says get up for Bible study. So off I go to take my first nap of the day at 10am. See you on the other side.

In Him,

Joyful

2-22-26

Love Until They Ask Why

 Love them until they ask why. That is how you share Jesus love and bring them home to Him. Each of us has the task of loving others. It is not for those in ministry to share Christ’s love but all of us. Whether we are helping someone pick up a dropped roll of paperwork’s in a grocery store or giving a person a ride to a dental appointment, small acts of giving matters. In the past, people wore WWJD wrist bands as a reminder to live like Jesus lived. What would Jesus do? He would love, accept and encourage others. He walked through life never in too much of a hurry to pause and connect with someone along His way. 

A towering oak tree starts out as a tiny acorn. How could this seemingly insignificant seed grow into such a powerful giant? Sharing God’s love seems like an overwhelming challenge the first time. But knowing that others may be living without the embrace of the one who keeps us close through all the moments of our lives makes the fear easier to overcome. It is said that the first is always the most difficult. Whether it is a bad choice or a right one. With each exposure it gets more comfortable. But the truth is that pounding someone else with our words will not give them a true picture of His love. Living your life serving others and being available will. That is after all what Jesus did here on eating and now how He is always available while in heaven. forest.  

 You know you are living your calling of knowing Him and making Him known when others wonder why you are treating them with so much kindness and acceptance. This world is often too quick to judge and Comanche when anyone is not living up to our standards or has beliefs that don’t line up with ours. Wouldn’t it be less of an example if Jesus had come to be served and hung out with those who already believed while He walked among us? So let’s make it our goal to lean into loving to the point that others scratch their heads and ponder……..Why would they be willing to do that for me. Lead with love one moment at a time. What a gift to watch our faith and His love pour onto others through us. While we grow from that tiny acorn into a giant oak tree that can stand up to any of life’s storms. Stretching our branches to others growing near us turns us from a sole giant to an impressive forest. forest.  

In Him, 

Joyful

2-21-26

Spend Time with Jesus, Others, and Yourself it will Fill You

I am doing better at getting my time in the mornings. Even on my last trip, I made time each day. Today, Ronnie B and I take off to Arizona to visit with as much family as possible for the next ten days. But we will be sleeping in our rv, Goldie, so I can take my time before we begin chatting with others. 

This sweet heart message is so true. Building a relationship takes time. Time spent with God keeps Him close and your relationship alive. He is always just a whisper away. 

This trip is to connect with family that we have not seen in far too long. I am especially excited to see some of my dad’s family. Hopefully, my grandgirl, Ami, and I will get to go for a pedicure while we are in Flagstaff. Such fun to see so many in our traveling casita on wheels. We are all packed and after Ron’s work meeting we will be off. I even packed food so we won’t have to just mooch off others but bring in some to contribute. Mike and Deb will host us in Flagstaff, then we will be at Allen’s, then Jimmy and Shawna’s. From there we will play it by ear. It is fun to just park out front with our own bed. This time of year it will be pleasant in Phoenix so we won’t die of the heat. 

Thank you all for your listening. Spend time with Jesus. You will be thankful for it. How? Read your Bible, listen to YouTube podcasts, meet with others for a conversation and prayer, or simply pray and listen to His nudges in your life. It can be as quick as a three word prayer or as deep as a lunch to connect and share faith. My mornings start with Bible study, youtube pastors and speakers, and then sharing my heart with you. Thank you for being a part of my faith walk and my routine. I appreciate each of you who share my heart on this Blog. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-10-26
 

Big Brother Knows I am Celebrating My Seahawks Super Bowl Win

 

What a.world we live in. Moments after my Seahawks won the Super Bowl, my social media was filled with ads for Championship merchandise. Crazy how algorithms work. Just sitting in wait to pounce on my interests and clicks. It is eerie at best and scary at worst. Big brother is always watching but not only big brother but such a variety of people and companies around the globe. 

These ads are so smart. The timing matters since fans are so pumped up by the win. Quick click to purchase a bit of memorabilia from coins to clothing to whiskey glasses celebrating the win. I am proud to say I made no purchases last night. I do plan to buy something this year for the Seahawks fiftieth year and their Super Bowl win. There are going to be plenty of opportunities to acquire something for my collection. I have just not decided what to buy yet and was waiting in case they won the big prize. Many probably bought stuff with their NFC win a couple weeks ago. Well, that is not nearly as exciting as their Super Bowl win. So I am glad I have waited. 

There is no hiding our location or interests in 2026. We all carry a cell phone that pings off towers giving our location. My internet attached speaker and ready to give answers device sits beside me on my end table. Simply calling Alexa’s name wakes her up to assist me. But that means our home is always being monitored with our permission since we purchased and connected the Echo. The truth is we are all used to being monitored at this point and agree to it for our own convenience. It was fun to get information throughout the game on players and statistics and share my enthusiasm with my kids and grandkids watching from Washington. 

I recently renewed my passport and the government accepted my picture with a slight smilie on my face. Or at least they said they did. When I got my passport back the next week, my earrings were removed along with the smile on my face. AI manipulation for sure. It seemed eerie at best and scary at worst. On a side note, the cost to renew had three options. Rapid one to two weeks, accelerated two to four weeks or standard four to six weeks. The price went from just over a hundred dollars to over five hundred dollars. I didn’t need it right away so went with the cheaper option. They sent me an email that they were taking longer than normal and were sorry for the inconvenience. It arrived in one week. I’m so glad I did not pay for the quick delivery. 

There is really nothing I have to hide so this techno world I live in does not alarm me too much. But it is certainly a new world we live in. Now I am going to enjoy my Hawks win while I ponder what to purchase to remember their win. I wore my shirt from their Super Bowl win in 2013 against the Broncos. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-9-26

A Lifetime Seahawk Fan, Don’t Ask Me Why!!

The Seahawks are fifty years old. Jim Zorn started my devoted fandom to this team in 1976, What was the criteria to pick my perfect team to follow for most of my life? At twenty years old, I was extremely scientific about my process. Zorn, the Seahawks quarterback, had the best bootie in the NFL I proved this with much research checking out all the backsides in the league. It was a grueling job but someone had to do it. 

Now here I am fifty years later approaching my seventieth birthday and still a 12. They are going to the 60th Super Bowl today with a quarterback who is young enough to be my grandson. To be honest, I have never once checked out his rear end. With age comes wisdom, I suppose. Now I am a fan out of loyalty and the love of lime green. I am sure that they added this touch of my favorite color to their uniforms just for me in 2009.

So today, I am watching the game with Ronnie B and making snacks ahead of time. Because during the game I don’t even to miss a moment to go pee. No distractions! Just the game and texting to my son who moved to Tacoma and became what he said he would never be. Yes, he is an avid Seahawks fan like his mom. No, he did not pick the team for the backside of Russell Wilson who was qb when he became a fan. He became a fan because how can you live in Washington and not be one. Especially since the year he moved there our Hawks went to the Super Bowl. They beat his old team, the Broncos. That cemented the Seahawks as not just my team but a bit of a family team. I love that!   Go Hawks!

In Him,

Joyful

2-8-26