Joy is contagious. When you choose joy, others around you will feel it and want it too.
– Mother Teresa

My daughter found this darling Siamese kitten at an animal shelter several days ago. The kitten, named “Joy,” had a such a severe case of pneumonia, she wasn’t expected to live. However, my daughter took her home and tended to her with such care that she survived and as you can see from the photograph, she is the sweetest creature. She joins Lauren’s rescue dogs, Chester, Yumi, and Kimmie.

We started to think about Joy as a concept- especially during this holiday season. I have been finding this special kind of profound pleasure and delight everywhere: children’s smiles, robins at my kitchen window, felted animal ornaments, a riot of yellow fallen leaves, Christmas roses, decorative lights at night, Christmas carols … But joy is more than a fleeting feeling of intense happiness. Sometimes it can be held onto for a brief while: in hugs and kisses, in snuggles, and in lending a helping hand.

I wish you many, many moments of joy for the holidays!