Joy!

"   "Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live."

ANONYMOUS

When I let the dogs out into the backyard this morning , I had the opportunity to survey what 24 hours earlier had been my nice clean yard.

What was once a lovely,serene oasis now resembled the Delta's frat house in the movie Animal House.

Beer bottles were strewn all over the place. Lawn furniture which was once arranged strategically in small conversational groups were now overturned and scattered all over.

Paper plates, napkins and empty cardboard boxes from 30 packs, covered a good percentage of  what was my lawn.

Nothing could bring me more joy! 

Yesterday, my daughter Becca threw a surprise 30th birthday party for her older sister Sara.

By all accounts it was a huge success.

The aftermath that was now my yard is a testament to just how fantastic the day was.

The guests started arriving at around 1 and the guest of honor walked in just after 2.

She was absolutely surprised.

The happy tears started to flow. 

And then her sister's and her mother's as well.

After my morning bus run, I spent a couple of hours preparing the yard and the food to be served.

After the initial "surprise" I quicly jumped behind the grill and knocked out a couple of dozen burgers and hot dogs before heading back out for my afternoon bus run. 

I returned home by 6:30 to find that the majority of her friends were still here.

By around 9, people started saying their good byes and by 10 o'clock, it was time to cover the fire pit and turn off the lights and the pool filter.

My yard was a perfect mess. nd nothing in the world could bring me more joy than that!

Shavua Tov!