Aim for your Best

Soggy Saturday, here.

Thankfully hubby and I made our weekly grocery jaunt in time before the latest downpour hit.  Now, he's napping and I'm snug in my chair with a new show in the Netflix queue and blogging to you, sweet friends.

Highlights of this morning - saving 57% at Kroger and having breakfast out with my man.  Our brunch spread was a not-yet-used Christmas gift from Grandma.  And the savings were a stock-up of my favorite low carb frozen pizza made with a chicken crust.  ...It's the little things.

Last night was the final archery meet for our senior.  He had his best shooting set ever -aside from an unfortunate snafu.  Right before the last round, there was a medical emergency, causing chaos on the floor.  (Prayers that the girl is recovered)  Of course, he wasn't focused on his score and a lane judge pulled his arrows before recording them.  We'd videoed the round and know it was maybe one of the sharpest aims he'd had at a tournament.  Our best guess from the distance is 47 or 48 out of 50.

Sadly, they won't count a phone recording for state qualifier so he had to re-shoot all alone with a packed gym watching.  Between the stress of a classmate unwell and the pressure of hundreds of eyes gazing, he did not duplicate the same score.  In fact, it cost him at least 10 points.  But, he did have a memorable senior shoot.

We are going to miss rooting for our guy.  From the time he was able to run, we've been cheering from the sidelines for some sport. Soccer in preschool, basketball all the way to middle, mixed in with softball and a brief trial of football, finally settling with archery. He began in the 7th grade, walking over to the high school for practices because there was no team for his class.  We've watched him grow in ability and stature over the years. 

I'll admit this momma got teary in the stands thinking about the end of the season.

Though I was frustrated for him and the unfair hand he'd been dealt, his character shined through.  He was calm and professional with the judge, focused on the final five arrows of his high school career, and never complained.   I'm continually proud of the young man he has become.

And my final joy, this week...
It's no secret I love to write, always have.  Since the days of "dear diary," to moody teenage poems turned songs, to soaking up every creative writing class as a student, my passion to share in written form has been with me since I could structure a sentence.  And it is still my dream to publish a book -someday.

In the meantime, I'm honored to have opportunities like the most recent, writing for a local online magazine, OC Monitor.  As a community contributor, I'll be able to share snippets of life in a small town.  If you'd like to read my first post, click here.

But don't fret, I'll continue sharing on this happy little blog.  It's my outlet for a rainy day or one full of sunshine, wherever joy is to be found...

Day 2: Simple Saturdays

Announce you're on the search for joy and the world will sure try and suck it out of ya!

I've been hit with a sprinkling of unsettling news today and, though it caused some heartache, I'm determined to push ahead.  In situations like these the most you can do is pray, hope for the best, and leave it at God's feet.  Whatever will be, will be...

Today's joys have come from a simple Saturday.  Nothing special, except that I've spent it with my two favorite guys.

I woke rested, grateful to have hubby back in bed beside me.  And he greeted me with a steaming cup of creamy coffee to say good morning.

We ventured out for the Farmer's Market and breakfast, but I think most of the farmers must've taken a holiday!  Noah was desperate for more local honey, a treat he's become accustomed to after stealing mom's stash.  (It's healthy so I'll share, I guess!)  But she was one of many vendors not present so we drove on to breakfast.  Our plans were to try out a new catfish place only to find they weren't open.

I know, you're thinking catfish for breakfast?!  

But they'd announced on Facebook a 2.99 special starting in July.  And catfish isn't included!  I saw the date wrong though, as they don't begin until Tuesday.  Plan B was heading to another familiar favorite.  Odd as the 'catch of the day' might be with eggs and biscuits, our boy did polish off a piece of peanut butter pie at the end of our meal.

Next on our agenda, between errands, was the annual visit to the firework tent.

I'm only a fan of fireworks from a distance, and prefer to watch them in the eyes of a child more than the sky, but my guys love them.  They loaded up on bottle rockets, firecrackers, sparklers and those ear-shattering boom ones that sound more like a war zone than a holiday celebration.  But they're excited to have kiddos over tonight to watch them.  Or rather, they're probably most excited about setting them off.  Boys...

The rest of our afternoon has been a mix of productivity and laziness.  We've reclined and rested, laughed and wrestled, and just enjoyed being together.

Hubby is napping now, feet high in a recliner.  I'm about to sneak off and dunk mine in a pedi-spa.  And my boy is getting ready for work.  It seemed like the perfect opportunity to jump online and post about today's joy.

Sometimes it doesn't have to be big or anything special to be joy-filled.  Sometimes the simplest of moments and togetherness can be filled with joy just because of who you share it with.

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday too!