Finding JOY in the day to day

When we lived in Misawa, Japan, every day was an adventure and this blog became a travel log in some ways.  Everything we did seemed noteworthy because it was so new and different from any experience we had before.  Since we have returned to the US, life is a little more mundane.  It is just day to day regular life; work, school, kids, errands, etc.  The life that most of us live.  But life does not come without its hidden JOYs.  

Since we have returned to the US, some things have been a little easier to access.  Bear is very involved in ballet and has an excellent ballet studio here in Enid.  After participating in the local Nutcracker and meeting guest performers from Ballet West, we decided to audition for summer ballet intensive programs.  This took us to Dallas and Oklahoma City for auditions.  Bear auditioned for three programs and made all three.  She is thrilled to be traveling to Cleveland, OH this summer for artEmotion of Ballet West. Despite the expensive price tag on the program (which does not bring us JOY), we find JOY in the ability to expose Bear to a wonderful learning opportunity which is only a half day plane ride away.

We find JOY in visiting temples wherever we go.  Dallas temple

We found JOY in Daiso of Plano, TX, a little bit of Japan daily lifts my soul!

Lots of JOY for our tummies at the Asian market in Plano, TX

It was a JOY to reunite with old Misawa friends, the Hafen's.  They were excellent hosts for our weekend

I find JOY in family outings and adventures.

Bear finds great JOY in ballet

In January, we had the JOY of being able to take Bub to the Oklahoma City temple, an easy hour and a half drive from Enid.

Josh is working hard at his job and we enJOY participating in awards ceremonies on base. I always love to involve myself in military functions and enJOY a connection to the base since we are now living off base for the first time.

This "big head" is going to come on adventures with the kids and I when Josh is on deployment. It will bring me JOY to stick Josh's head in awkward places.

 I find the most JOY in discovering things about our new surroundings.  All the places we go in Enid and OKC are new to us so they feel like adventures.  I get the most JOY from our family time together.

Symphony hall in Enid.  We saw Jenny Oaks Baker and Family Four.  Her kids play cello, piano, and guitar, just like my three!

Valentine date for Bear and me at the Oklahoma City Ballet

Oklahoma City bombing memorial.  It was a very sobering and heartbreaking to experience.

Bear's first Church of Jesus Christ youth dance

Mother Daughter tea in downtown Enid