At the beginning of the summer I warned my friends that this year I expect to be entertained all summer. They all laughed at me. So I took matters into my own hands. Yesterday was the 1st annual entertain Joy day! We decided that we would all meet at the beach. So off to Island Beach State Park we went.

When I was a kid this was an island that we would go to by boat. But you can also get there by driving. Yesterday we drove. I would have loved to go by boat but the visibility was not get and the water was too cold for the jet skis 55 degrees. YIKES! In spite of the cold water we had a great time. On this beach we were able to build a fire. Out came the marshmallows and hot dogs. In all my years we never had a fire on the beach.

Luckily for me my good friend Pat K. not only comes prepared with wood but she also had these great devil type pokers for roasting. We watched my friend Lynn's Grandson Zach buggy boarding in the surf WOW is he a dare devil. Tyler her other grandson was fascinated with the building of the fire. Her son Jeffery carried most of the fire wood onto the beach and without that we could have never had the blaze that we all enjoyed.

Amy's son Matthew was the mighty fisherman but only came away with stories about the ones that got away. Ryan and his friend were very helpful is spearing and cooking food like items (You all know what I mean).

Our 2nd Annual Entertain Joy Day is fast approaching we are all going to have to get our sea legs because we are going on a boat. August 11, 2008 we will be fishing my niece's uncle's boat the Doris Mae IV.

Hidden Beauty

Beauty can be found in so many places you just need to keep your eyes open and wait for God to reveal the beauty to you. Did I ever tell you that I begged for a lawn mower last year? Up until last year I had a local teenager who then went to college cutting my grass. I loved him very much not in a weird way but more as an Aunt. He actually started to come to me for advice on certain things and we would talk a bit about life and the choices that you are presented. So anyway I did get the lawn mower and sometimes I miss cabaña boy that is his nickname. Honestly, I am scared of gas powered tools. I know that sounds a bit crazy and even crazier to those who are around me because I am not the afraid of much of anything. So cutting the grass is a big deal for me. Not that I do not love to garden I am just scared of the mower and weed waker too come to think about it.

Wow am I off the topic!

I think it is not a secret that I have been a bit stressed but there is an end in sight and I know that. I need to remember that this is not my plan but God's plan. I know that this wait does not remotely compare to what it will feel like when I wait between the 2 trips or maybe 3 trips I am not sure yet. So I was thinking wow this could be so worst then it is right now.

Now here is a funny little explanation about the picture. I wish I could say that I am such a fantastic gardener that I can get anything to grow anywhere but that would not be true. I actually never use my front door. I insisted on a paver walkway and I am lobbying Gerard for a paver driveway, which by the way I am losing terribly. Did I mention he has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? He is not that hard to deal with but he has his quirks and I love them all.

The paver walkway is one of his quirks; he has never felt that it looks clean enough and that includes tha day it was installed. I usually just nod my head and tell him that I will fix it but secretly I love the old world look of a worn pathway. He has been telling me about this "weed" for the last 2 weeks and I just keep nodding my head. Well the other day I walked outside and this is what I found. I just love it. I have printed this picture and put it near my desk as an inspiration. Sometimes you just need to follow the path in order to see the beauty at the end.

Let There Be Light

I just love that statement. Any one who knows me knows that I am a freak about money and saving. With the rising cost of well everything I am a bit freaked. Gerard says that I am just in my worrying state of being and this will blow over. I think he has been waiting for my worrying state to blow over for about 15 years. At least the man still has hope for me.

Which brings me to my latest project. Solar energy! I remember being a small child and having a clothes line. That was how we dried our clothes. Gerard hates the way clothes lines look so I have never actually had one as an adult. In stead I have a very large deck at this house and last year I started to do laundry and rather then use the dryer I would hang the clothes over the rail on the deck. It during one of my hanging the clothes over the rail last year that I started to think about solar energy. I have a very large roof that is southward facing. My backyard is blistering hot everyday because of all the sunshine. I am not complaining I am just stating the facts. I love the fact that this house is so sunny.

Fast forward to this year. I was talking with my good friend Geralyn and she was telling me about how the cost of electricity is going up around here. Her bill this past month was huge and I am a bit scared to see my bill. This is why I am thinking about solar energy. I would love to install those solar panels to my roof. I really think that this is the way to go. The energy from what I have read is clean and honestly I could care less what the roof looks like in my back yard. Load me up with panels and cut my bill in half. So does anyone out there have solar panels and do you like them?

The Flight Leaves at 7:50am!

First of all made you look! The blue water with white sandy beaches and a tropical drink is calling. Antigua here we I mean here they come! One thing I can say about myself is I have the ability to enjoy an experience through others. I know you all must be seriously confused by now. The day has finally come Jaime and Greg have left for their destination wedding. I am so excited for them both.

I think it is interesting how you can learn stuff from others and they not even know that it is happening. About a year ago Jaime and Greg got engaged. Now I do not know what it is like in other families but in mine we are a bunch of pushy women with strong opinions. I try my best to keep my opinions to myself unless I see that some ones actions are hurting another. Well in my family weddings are one of those high stress times where everyone thinks that they know best. PS having a baby is ranked number 2 right under weddings.

So when Jaime and Greg were deciding on what type of wedding they wanted many of my family members interjected their opinions. Feelings were hurt and tears were shed. Jaime and Greg are a very funny couple because unlike other couples they are really joined together by a bond that is unique to only them. When the two of them decide on something anything just fill in the blank they join forces and stand strong as a united front. They decided that they wanted a destination wedding. I was not shocked but others were. They wanted their wedding to imitate with no one in attendance. I have to say I spent about 5 minutes trying to convince them that it would be okay to let their parents go to the wedding but in all honestly I think that it would not have worked out well at all. Too much drama!

I will miss not seeing them get married but I have respected their decision and moved on to help in what ever way I could. Mostly it was to run interference by others. I am a bit of a linebacker.

I am glad that I took this position because I think they needed someone to do that for them. As a result of this Greg's new motto was "Just call Aunt Joy she will know what to do!" This was the case when Jaime weighted herself at 1 am and realized she gained 3 pounds which by the way she lost is a couple of days. This was also the case this afternoon when she ripped her veil hours before she was set to leave.
I am proud of them that they did not crumble under the pressure of the families. I think because they were able to stand strong on the wedding issue they will be able to stand strong on other issues as well. So this week on Wednesday say a pray that their marriage will be a long, happy, fruitful one.

It Has Happened Again!

I have to say there have been many things that I just have not seen coming during this whole adoption. Yes it is true I have yet another new adoption coordinator. This makes the fifth different coordinator in one year. I found out yesterday. The funny thing about it all is I took the news much better then I did the last 4 times. The only thing is there seems to be something fishy surrounding the latest change or perhaps I am just paranoid. When the others were changed I was given a little story about why they left or were changed. This time nothing. No explanation at all. So that is my adoption news.

Tomorrow my nephews are coming over. My sister has a wedding that she and her husband are both in that is out of town. I honestly feel for my sister this is only the second time that she has left her youngest boy. The funny thing is and I know those of you who already have children will probably agree with her but she has written out the rules. Now mind you her children are by far the most well behaved children that I have ever met. Her oldest son prefers vegetables and fruit over many other things. I just think it is cute that she writes out the things that we are allowed to do and the things we are not allowed to do. Whenever they are here we do the same things ice cream at night, playground and the pizza store. I do not expect that we will do much more then that except maybe watch a minor league baseball game. She just is not used to not being in control.

How Did I Miss Posting for the 4th of July!

I just can not believe that I missed posting for the 4th of July. This weekend was packed full of fun. I was surrounded by family most of the weekend and we had a great time. We spent the 4th at my niece's house that is in walking distance of the fireworks. You can actually see them from her backyard. She had a bunch of us over for ribs, s'mores and fireworks.

This was the first time that Aristotle my nephew had a s'more. The funny thing is the conversation went something this:

Jaime: "Aristotle would you like a s'more?"

Aristotle: "I don't know what a s'more is"

Jaime: Chocolate, marshmallow and gram crackers"

Aristotle: " Is it Hershey's chocolate??"

Jaime: "Yup"

Aristotle: "Then I want one!"

I have the cutest picture of him eating this s'more. The funny thing is that my sister and husband try to limit the amount of sugar that he eats but they do allow the occasional piece of chocolate which he absolutely loves. So needless to say the s'mores were a bit hit.

No real news on the adoption home front except take a look at my counter. Yes that is right I have hit the 12 month mark. When I saw that it was approaching 12 months at first I thought I might be a bit sad but then I started to think wow this time last year I had NOTHING done! I was not even in line to be in line for a referral so today I am very happy that I have come this far.

I know I am a Broken Record

Today is a glorious Tuesday here is New Jersey. The sun is shining and life it great. Ask me why?? I am almost finished with school. I woke up today to realize that I have 7 more weeks until I am done with my BSN.

Now for the next bit of non-adoption news. We had a very busy weekend my niece Jaime is getting married. Wow does that make me feel old. We had her shower at my house this past weekend. I think the whole idea made her a little nervous because she is planning on a destination wedding with just her and Greg. She is very frugal and did not want anyone to have to go overboard with trying to save the money to go to the wedding. When they get home they will have a small tea party reception at a local tea room 217 Main Street

I have watched this Victorian home be renovated for the past year. I have such a passion for old houses and tea parties. I bet you never knew that. The running joke between Gerard and I is that I have enough china to serve about 150 people. I had such a wonderful time because I was able to pull out my antique luncheon plates. (Okay I must be really boring!)

Then I was able to spend so time with my 2 littlest nephews they are so cute. Kids say and believe the funnest things. We went to the beach on Sunday. So on goes the bathing suit and cover up. We decided to stop to get some lunch before we hit the beach. As we are siting there Aristotle is standing on the seat next to me and looks under my arm and starts to laugh. Are you ready

"Aunt Joy you have a beard under your arm!"

"That is so funny Aunt Joy it is just like my Daddy's beard!"

"How did you get it there?"

To the waitress "Look she has a beard under her arm!"

Okay I will admit that I had not shaved in the morning but I can tell you that it was not THAT long. He made it sound like Father Time's beard was hanging out from under my arms. Sorry to leave you all with that picture in your mind.