Hello loved ones, far and near, here I am again! As I mentioned last post, our blog is "under construction" please don't mind the dust and disorder, I sense that construction may take a while. However, I decided I'd just keep writing, life is too short to wait for perfection!!!!
Yes, I changed the name of our blog...I hope you like it! It's just a little more succinct, but it still gets to the heart of our story. JOY. Joy that is a gift, joy that can't be found in things, joy that is very different from the mere feeling of being happy (not that feeling happy is bad, but we certainly can't feel happy all the time!) The kind of joy that was being spoken of in this sentence, " I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete." (John 15:11)
What am I talking about? I am talking about the deep and abiding happiness that comes from believing you are called to something and answering that call with authenticity, despite the fact that it is not always easy, and does not always feel good.
This helps me to seek and find joy, even in the mundane, the difficult, the sufferings...even in the realities of my life that are not easy, glamorous, or ideal.
This means that I can always write about joy, even in Joe's unemployment, even though we live with my parents while waiting for his immigration, even though our little one has been teething or coldy for the last few months and I can't remember ever feeling this tired. This means, that I can say with true joy "I LOVE YOU," even when Lyla is driving me crazy and the only other alternative is to scream! This means that I can experience joy over dirty laundry or poopy diapers, because I am living my call to love this man and this child with selflessness and sincerity.
Seeking true joy enables me to understand that life isn't meant to be easy, it isn't meant to always feel good! I can be full of peace and deep satisfaction even when I am brought to tears by frustration over life's difficulties, when being a wife or a mama seems like some sort of bad joke...I mean, no one told me that it would be this hard but gosh no one ever told me it would be this great either!
Understanding that joy is different from feeling happy helps Joe and I to see the deep blessings in the life we are leading even though there are moments where one or both of us feels cranky or burdened. We are learning to be a team, we are best friends, we are spoiled by our love story, we have a sweet baby who has changed our lives for the better, we see miracles every day, our hearts are growing and being purified in hope. It helps us to be generous and tender with each other even when our differences make us frustrated with each other. It helps us understand that love is sometimes about will power and sacrifice, and other times it is also about romance and heart palpitations, but it is always beautiful and meaningful.
This is why I write about JOY. It is pervasive in our lives. From the first moment we met it has been a theme. This is why Liliana's middle name is Joy...because her life is a gift and the happiness it brings is something we are ever more cognisant of. We are also aware that if we don't actively seek it, as we live our lives, we focus too much on those things we could be negative about. Simply put, if I don't seek JOY I spend way too much time wallowing in self pity. Life is just too short to allow that to happen.
SO, now you know. Yes, we have difficulties, but I won't spend so much time writing about those.
Here are a few joyful tidbits before I sign off :)
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| Real men wear their babies :) How happy do these two look? And how alike? I LOVE THEM!!! |
We took this video about 1.5 weeks ago...sorry about the shaky camera-woman :) Little Lyla is on the move!!!
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| Nothing says "joy" like a naked chubby baby! Such a happy girl!! |
Ok dearest ones, that is all for now. Thank you for loving us and praying for us! We pray for you all and miss those of you who are far away!!
xoxo
