Choose Joy in the Journey

We celebrated my granddaughter’s seventh birthday and I have to admit I was intrigued by one present she requested. Gift giving is pleasant in our family since we discovered how much fun it is to use Amazon’s wish list.  My daughter teaches her daughter that it’s okay to wish for things, make a list, realizing you may or may not get it all, but surely the gifts that come will be ones you’ve handpicked.   Weeks ago I asked her to remove Gary and Jan Bower’s book, The Person I Marry, from Sookie’s wish list because I purchased it and mentioned what a surprising read it is for young kids.  The idea for that gift came about when Sookie started asking pertinent questions about the faith of our family members and then drawing the conclusion of how important it is to marry someone with the same faith.  We were astonished at her perception after we picked ourselves up off the floor. The book is written in rhyme and talks about all the different cha...

I was driving to work this morning and cracking up as I listened to the local radio station’s latest promotional challenge. As we head into Valentine’s Day, the station wants to send a prize to the couple that sends in the most humorous memory in their marriage. My memory is when we were newlyweds and preparing for the first presidential election we would be voting in as a married couple. In fact, it was the first time I was old enough to vote and I was excited as I responsibly researched the candidates and filled out my registration papers. The day finally came and proudly, we drove to the voting poll right after work. In the most serious manner, my new husband questioned if I had my voter’s registration card and list of candidates I wanted to take into the booth with me. Then he went on to instruct me that after I sign in at the poll, I would be asked to place my hand on my heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance. It got quiet in the car as I repeated the Pledge over and over ...