OUR 1/2 NEW CAR

Strange title I know ~~~~  Here's the whole story.  

Ever get the "bug" for a new car?  Suddenly every time you are on the road driving you begin to notice cars and think "It sure would be nice to have a new car!"  You try and shake it, but everywhere you look you see a car that is "catching your eye".

This has been happening to Mickey and I over the past few weeks and suddenly we found ourselves looking at cars ---- our criteria something under 2 years old and under 30,000 miles.  Guess what????  Didn't take long at all to find something we really liked.  I had told Mickey, at the beginning if we got a newer car I wanted leather seats.

We left the dealership pretty much convenienced we had found what we wanted and were going to buy it but wanted to "sleep on it".  All the way home, and I mean ALL the way, The Holy Spirit keep speaking to me "Owe no man anything but to love the Lord."  Mickey and I have been debt free for a number of years now and we had said, "We will NEVER go in debt again."   Unbeknown to me, Mickey was thinking the same thing as we drove home.  Then we both voiced what God was saying to us to each other.  STILL that tug for that new car lingered!!!  

This was on Wednesday and of course we went to Wednesday night services.  Pastor Steve is currently preaching a series on Emotions.  His topic that night was on anxiety and one of the points was A Divided Mind.  He began using the example of going into debt and suddenly ended up using the example of buying a car and ended by saying, "I don't know why I've spent so much time on this.  It isn't even in my notes."  Mickey and I squeezed each others hands -- we knew why.......God was speaking to us.  After the service I shared and confirmed to Pastor Steve how he had truly heard God speaking to share that and told him about the car. 

The truth of the matter was --- our HHR was still a very good car and one that fit our needs so well, the only problem was that it had very light tan upholstered seats that had gotten badly soiled and we also had some bad stains on the back carpet where some King's Kitchen meals had spilled. SO I began to check out getting some new leather seats put in.

Yesterday we did just that!!!!  And had the entire car detailed down to the 9's.  

Here is our BEAUTIFUL 1/2 new car.  It truly looks brand new and we could not be more delighted.  The picture looks lighter, but the seats we selected are the exact dark brown of the partial dark brown dash and the accent trim on the doors.  The young man who did the full detail did an excellent job and every inch of the car, inside and out looks brand new -- except for a few dents, dings and ouchies on the exterior.

SO - We have our hearts wish and WE OWE NO MAN ANYTHING EXCEPT TO LOVE GOD.   Thank You blessed Holy Spirit for speaking to not only us but The Pastor over us.  HIS SHEEP TRULY HEAR HIS VOICE.  I am so thankful we are HIS.

Anticipation Is Often Thought Better Than Fact...

......But...not in the case of our beautiful new laminated wood floors.

This is truly a desire of my heart fulfilled

and I could not be more thrilled.  

A Special Granddaughter - Jessica.

A special blessing - Oldest granddaughter, Jessica

Today we make a return trip to Oklahoma City VA Hospital to get Mickey's right eye cataract surgery rechecked. A good report from the Dr. and just follow-up in about 3 weeks here at the VA clinic in Tulsa. 

Granddaughter Jessica, who heard we were making the trip, called last night and wanted to know if we could meet for lunch after we were finished.  Could we!!!!  Of course. Jessica, who is a Senior at Oklahoma University (OU) in Norman, OK, a suburb of OKC, is usually working or in class so this was a rare opportunity for us to meet up. 

We made arrangements to call her when Mickey was finished with his 10:30 appointment and she picked us up and we had the most delightful time and visit, and very yummy lunch, at Cheesecake Factory.  And yes, even with each of us going home with our "doggie bag" (because we couldn't even finish our meals) we somehow managed to split a slice of Blueberry White Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake 3 ways. Can't go to The Cheesecake Factory and not get cheesecake....right? 

We are so proud of Jessica who will be graduating in May with a Degree in Interior Design.  She and her mom, Jacque, are making a car trip to Detroit, the early part of December, for a final project she is doing. She will be re-designing an old mansion, that has changed hands several times over the years and has recently been sold, into three different sections:  children adoption, pet adoption, and an adoption office.  What a challenging project and great opportunity for her & Jacque to share time together.

Then the end of December she is going with a group of other OU Interior Design students to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to study their architecture first hand.  What great opportunities.

After our long, leisurely lunch and visit Jessica took us back to our car and we made the trip back to Coweta, arriving at 4:30. 

Thank you Jessica for turning a necessary trip into a delightful visit and day.  

We love you and are so very proud of YOU!! 

    

#56 Anniversary #2

October 4, 1958 - 2014

56 Years 

After a very relaxing day Son Marc & Daughter Jacque took us all out to a fabulous meal at

Texas Roadhouse.

Jacque even got there early, and turned our names in for a table, so that when Mickey & I arrived they were already there and as Benny was taking this picture our name for our table was called and we were seated.

(back row) Grandson Aric & Mickey

(front row) Son Marc, Granddaughter Oksana, Daughter Jacque & Susan.

Missing - Son David in Florida-Granddaughter Jessica in Norman, Ok-Daughter Suzette in Heaven

So wonderful to have Oksana with us this year.

After a wonderful meal of 2 appetizers and a delicious meal

Jacque & Oksana headed to the fair

Marc & Aric to their Owasso home

& Mickey & I home to Coweta.

We are blessed with a small but WONDERFUL family that we love dearly 

&

best of all they love us!!!! 

#56 ANNIVERSARY

Mickey and I decided to start off our 56th Anniversary celebration with hosting a dinner party for 9 of our friends the evening before .

 The table is set 

The meal consisted of:  Susan - Beef Strogaoff - black & regular olives - white & red grape                                                       juice - tea - coffee 

                                      Shirley - Greek Salad

                                      Patty - Home made yeast rolls

                                      Dianna - Carrot cake & Lemon squares

                                      Sandra - Toll house cookies & vanilla ice cream

In other words--a delicious feast prepared by ALL.

After a leisurely, wonderful meal we decided to wait until later for dessert.

(because we were all stuffed!!)

Moving to the living room we watched a Bill Cloud dvd 

"Eating From The Tree Of Good And Evil" 

This is an excellent teaching that Mickey & I share with everyone we can. 

 (left to right) Dianna, Jayme, Sandra, Patty, Arron, Danny

 Gary, Shirley, & Shirley 

Yes we had 2 Shirley's and 4 Smiths!!!

After the dvd we had desserts and coffee and talked and visited until about 10:30.

Thanks to these 9 for making our evening a real blessing

=======================

Saturday - October 4th

 My wonderful card and Pandora charm from Mickey

Charm is a Red Heart set in silver on one side

and "love" in Red in the silver on the other side 

The card reads:

Celebrating the day

I put a ring on your finger

and promised to love you

forever...

...and thanking you 

for making that promise

so easy to keep

Happy 

Anniversary

And added in his own handwriting

"I love you so much.  Thank you for sticking with me for 56 yrs."

 The heart charm itself.  

I am a blessed woman!!

So thankful for God truly making Mickey & I "one flesh", as HIS word declares, for 56 years. 

GOD IS FAITHFUL - GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

OH HAPPY DAY - A brief history of Oksana's returning to her father's house and a wonderful new chapter in her life.

 This was yesterday, September 13th, right after Oksana and I had returned home from shopping for Business Casual clothing for her. I was so happy she invited me to go along.  We had a wonderful time.    

 December 31, 2010, and a very sad day in our lives ~~ because the following day, January 1st, 2011, Marc was taking Oksana to live with her mother in Indiana.  She was 1 month and 19 days shy of turning 16.  

Her visit in June, 2011 with her brother Aric. Aric is grinning from ear-to-ear  because in that 6 months time he had grown taller than she.  Aric is 4 years younger than Oksana.

Her annual visit 2012 - 17 years old. I love these two with all my heart!

 On the beach in Florida, 2013, where our family spent Christmas with son David.  Marc flew Oksana in to be with us - 18 years old.

Grandpa with his beloved granddaughter.

A joyous and happy day in the Joyce household and our lives - September 5, 2013.  Marc fly to Indianapolis to meet Oksana, who had driven about 1 1/2 hours from where she had been living to meet him. Oksana picked Marc up at the airport, their timing was perfect as he landed about 5 minutes after she arrived.  Oksana drove her car all the way home - with dad as passenger.  They arrived in Tulsa to pick-up Marcs car from the airport at midnight.

OKSANA IS HOME - We could not be more delighted !!!!!

Oksana yesterday before the clothes shopping trip.

She did such a great job.  She had done her research about building a work environment wardrobe using a few basic pieces and co-ordinating the colors to switch and match.  I was actually surprised and very please how decisive she was in making her choices.

She purchased 2 pair of dress slacks, one with a matching short jacket, two dresses (one of which is in the first photo), 7 or 8  tops (can't remember for sure!), a cardigan sweater, another button-up sweater and 2 pair of dress shoes. All for under $300!!!

After shopping we went to Braums for ice cream and then back to the house to show off all her clothes to her dad & grandpa (Needless to say 15 year old Aric was not too interested!) Both men gave their approval.

She will be looking like a million dollars when she begins her new, temporary-part time, job next week at the firm her father is Office Administrator at for the 3 state offices: Tulsa, Norman & Oklahoma City.

We are believing within about 90 days, if she does really well and we know she can and will, she will be given a permanent position and a real opportunity to work herself up and make a career for herself.

Marc is placing her under someone else for training and supervision and will totally keep his distance.  My son Marc and I have worked together at 3 different times over our careers in the Accounting Business.  The first two times I was over him, and Praise God, he had advanced so well, the last position he was my boss!!! I'm just pointing this out because our family knows how to handle working together and keeping work and family totally separated. 

I end this as I began:

GOD IS FAITHFUL

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER 

DAVID'S VISIT - August 28-September 3, 2014

What a wonderful time we had!!!!  Just mostly hanging out, having fun, acting silly, playing games and talk, talk, TALKING!!!

 Here's the 6 who were here.

Marc, Aric, Mickey (in 1st), Susan (in 2nd)

David, Jacque

These were taken Saturday morning as we were waiting for our table at Egg It On Cafe for brunch.

Then Mickey, Jacque, & David and I came to our house and the 3 of them played their X-box golf game.  That evening we invited our dear friend, Don, over to join us for sandwiches so he & David could visit. David & Mickey also spent time via the phone & X-box instructing Jacque how to connect with them so she can join in the games with David from his home in Florida. 

 A guys group hug at Marc's home one of the times we had been together and were leaving

 Having fun playing Apples to Apples game at Mom & Dad's. 

Single shot of Jacque who only got to be with us the one time on Saturday due to her work schedule and a birthday celebration on Benny's side of the family.

Just all being together and hanging out is what we enjoy doing.  Of course there was one night that David & I had to stay up TALKING very late one night (which we paid for dearly the next day!).

Mickey, Marc, Aric & David played their X-box golf game one day. Jacque, Mickey & David played the game on Saturday.  Can't believe I didn't get a picture of either occasion :o( When these golf games are going on I'm usually in the office on fb and relishing the laughter, camaraderie and fun that emanates from the living room  

David went with us to The King's Kitchen and participate in the entire 3+ hour preparation with the entire crew.  I was so upset I was so busy I forgot to get pictures!!!  It was such a treat for all three of us: Dad,Mom,Son and was a very special time.  David could not get over all the joy and camaraderie of this wonderful team of helpers who have done this every Tuesday for the past 4 years and 6 months.  It was great for him to get to meet all of them and for them to get to meet this son we talk about so much.  

It was a wonderful, fun, relaxing family time for all 7 of us. 

So thankful for his visit and he left with a promise to try and get home every 6 months.  We'll see!!!