Do you have a favorite word?
A word that just speaks to your heart, a word that motivates and inspires you? A word that just seems to pop up every time you turn around?
That word for me is Joy – it’s not an unusual word this time of year. In fact, last year I added this to my holiday decorating….
I decided that Joy was not just for Christmas but it was something I needed to remember and focus on all year long so I left it on the wall – it is now a permanent part of my decor. A daily reminder that it is up to me to bring Joy to my world.
Because that is not always an easy thing to do – I decided I needed a few more reminders. I have an entire Joy tree (this one doesn’t stay up all year). The Christmas tree in our family room is decorated with Joy ornaments….
and a few other pieces of Joy decor…
Recently I came across the following quote that I have decided is my new mantra for 2009. I love it so much we put it on our Christmas card this year.
“Let us relish life as we live it, find JOY in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.” Thomas S. Monson
I have decided to tweak it just a little bit – I want to find JOY in MY journey. Life does not always go according to plan but it is up to us to find JOY in the journey that life gives us. I hope to find more JOY in my Journey in 2009.
Do you have a favorite word, a word that speaks to your heart?
I have had several requests for pictures of my holiday decorations. I recently posted pictures of some of them on my family blog – if you are interested you can check them out here, just click here. Enjoy!
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Oh my gosh, “joy” is my word as well. Absolutely love this word.
Thanks for sharing your joy with us all year Leigh Anne. A word like that for me is “story” – each of ours is unique, each makes up the fabric of who we are as individuals. We also collectively share stories and that gives us common ground to build on. I hope you have a joyful Christmas with your loved ones around you!
Leigh Anne, I agree with Carol’s post—thank you for sharing your joy with us!
The word that speaks to me each and every day is Grace. I have this word posted on my refrigerator so I am reminded that I have been given Grace, and that I should be displaying Grace to others.
Merry Christmas to you all! So glad the college kids got home safely :-> .
My word is “believe.” I keep it posted in my kitchen all year long, but when Christmas comes, it gets spread all over the house.
I love the gold joy on the wall. I guess mine would be magickal ( spelled that way LOL). Merry Christmas.
Your post reminded me of my cousin – earlier this year, he and his wife lost their 2-year old daughter, Joy, to a random virus that blocked her airways and caused her to stop breathing. This Christmas, Tami (Joy’s mom) has created a “Joy tree” and filled it with ornaments that say “Joy” in some form to remind them of their sweet Joy and also keep their thoughts centered on her and Christ during Christmas. It is inspiring and beautiful. The word “Joy” has taken on a whole new meaning in our family.
I love that quote from President Monson. I also LOVE the last “JOY” wood letters you have. They are all so cute!
Joy is a good thing to remember, even when life can be hard. Thank you for sharing with us! I love your Joy tree, what a great idea.
I love Hope. If you have both joy and hope, it can help you through rough times. It’s been a rough road the last 18 months but we have found “Joy in our journey” with our 2 toddlers and new baby and “HOPE” that my husband will get better.
(here’s one of my favorite talks about Hope: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-7,00.html)
JOY is also one of my favorite words and was the word highlighted in my recent Christmas letter. Another favorite word is MIRACLE. I believe in past, current, and future MIRACLES. . . . .Some come after much prayer and works and others come unexpectedly. . .but MIRACLES come when we are ready and do make a difference. THANKS for all the JOY you have shared with us in 2008. Looking forward to 2009!
We are so on the same page about this! I was going to make letter shaped wreaths to spell out the word joy, but never finished that project (by next year!). Thanks for stopping by my blog!