Best Job Ever!

I have been reminded several times today that my boys are indeed Masters of Joy.  From the time they wake up, until the time they jump into their beds, they live far more in the present-- in that moment--than I do, even when I'm quietly sitting and purposefully, mindfully, focusing on a single breath.  Certainly they think about things in the past and future, and they imagine things, and they can feel a wide range of emotions, and even have empathy and understand what other people might be feeling.  But they are so fully present in now--they are all about today.  Maybe that's one reason why hours and days and years seem longer when you are young. And I know that mindfulness, along with gratitude and love are the secrets to joy.  Right? Can I get my diploma yet?

I saw that joy in them today at Menchies.  We went there with my dad (hi dad!), my sister, and my brother.  They have been to a frozen yogurt self-serve joints before, but not this particular one, and it did look rather inviting, with it's bright colors, clean counters and floors, right in the middle of downtown Ogden.  And we were with Grampy, for goodness sake.  And we were getting frozen yogurt-- which is a lot like ice-cream, but a little healthier.  What could be better?  In fact, William was so excited to be there he exclaimed to the solitary worker (a petite, soft-spoken girl of less than twenty), "You have the best job ever!"  They sampled the flavors.  They got lots of their favorite ones, with toppings.  They colored the little coloring pages with the yogurt-haired Menchies mascot.  They hung up their pictures, and used the restroom, and drew on the chalk-board too.  They ate most of their yogurts and loved most of the flavors.  They hugged their aunt and uncle and Grampy.  They were joyful. And I was too, being there and watching them.  I love seeing their joy.  And I loved my frozen yogurt too.

James showed his mastery of joy earlier in the day at his friend Heath's birthday party.  He couldn't wait to give him his Target dollar-bins gift.  He loved the card I picked out, even though it was kind of lame and part of a bargain birthday card pack.  He shouted to his friend Henry and couldn't believe how lucky that they were both at the party!  He loved the pokemon ball rice krispy treat that Heath's mom had made and asked for one more when it was time to leave so that I could try it.  "It is soooo yummy, Mom.  You've got to try it!"  He had a total blast, fully immersed in birthday fun with school friends he hasn't seen for a whole super-long (kind of sad) first week of summer.

Master William showed his mindful joyfulness while playing with Truman this afternoon.  They grabbed a bunch of sea creatures from the bathtub, and brought them outside where I watched as they made the sea creatures thoroughly battle the dinosaurs that have been immersed in the cat-urine turtle-shaped sandbox since last summer.  It was inevitable that the whales would beat even the mighty T-rex.  The dinosaurs just didn't have much fight left in them.  And not a scrap of dignity left.  They did wash them in the hose first though, before touching them too much.  It was a hilarious and joyful hour, and we were all a little sad when Truman had to go home because his grandma had come to visit his new baby sister (born yesterday and so far without a name).

And today Peter read me all the information he could find in his new comprehensive Star Wars book (thanks Grampy) about light-sabers.  It was pretty interesting.  Especially the parts about crystals and how they sense if you are light side or dark side.  The saber chooses the color.  I asked Peter what color my light saber would be.  "Let's see.  Loving, kind, caring....I'd say green."  Awwwww....He said his would be gold, or yellow, and said he'd explain later what that would say about him.  But being with him and feeling his excitement about light-sabers was exciting, and interesting, and we were at least half an hour sitting on the love seat while his brothers were pushing a wagon up and down the sidewalk screaming.  It wasn't until James came in with a scraped bottom that we put down the book, with the promise that he could read me all about Star Wars vehicles tomorrow.

We visited my mom this evening after seeing an amazing home movie that Chris made with the boys during their uncle camp on Thursday. It was called Whale Defenders and I loved everything about it.  Chris is a great uncle and the boys love him.  In fact, James said that after me and Ryan, he loves Chris the most.  William was not happy about this, and James said he loved William a lot too, but the point is, they love Chris and he is really good with them.  The other point (?) is that my mom is still very, very sad-- understandably.  And being around her I get just a taste of the depth of her sadness, (being a betazoid it's inevitable).  That was hard.  I left her house feeling sad.  I felt sad about my grandma dying, and sad that my mom was so sad.  I felt regret that I didn't know what to say, or how to make things better.  I felt a desire to wave a wand and make all my relationships loving and nourishing and perfect so that I could avoid regret in the future.

When we got back home James gave me a big hug before we got out of the car, and I asked him if he could tell I was sad.  He said no, that I looked like I was crying a little, but as he put it, "I thought it was tears of joy because of the baby."  He thought I was crying because I was so happy about our neighbors' new baby girl who I got to hold for a full twenty minutes earlier in the afternoon.  He can't wait to see her, and wanted to know what she can do.  "Can she walk, or crawl?  Can she just sit up?"

When I explained that I was a little sad about grammy, but very happy for our neighbors, and the baby can't really do much of anything, he simply said, "That would be hard!"  And he was off to brush his teeth and jump into bed with his koala, his baby jaguar, a new pokemon bracelet from Heath's party, and just his shorts, because his shirt makes him too warm.  He loves being without a shirt.

I love these boys and my sweet husband so much.  I love being alive, and love today, and tonight.  I am definitely still learning, and being mindful and having joy doesn't mean you don't experience sadness.  You do, and may experience it more deeply, but you don't have to live in the neighborhood of sadness.  You can just visit.  I want to live in the neighborhood of joy.

And even though it would be pretty amazing to work at Menchies, I can honestly say I think I have the best job ever!