Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Shoe Tissue and Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy…

I’m laughing out loud this morning. Yes, the new year has begun and God is already giving me ways to laugh at myself and find joy. I appreciate the ways God shows me how to find joy every day.

One of my Christmas presents was a beautiful pair of bedroom slippers. The kind with the “no slip” backing, cozy and soft inside and cute on the outside. I couldn’t wait to try on my new slippers. I imagined my toes snuggling up to the inside of the shoes. No more cold feet on the floor. This was going to be fantastic!

Slipping my right foot into the opening of the shoe, I paused when I reached a certain point. My foot would not budge any further. I had already double checked the size. Yes, that was correct. What could cause my foot to only enter halfway into the shoe? Perhaps the size was marked incorrectly? Perhaps my foot was swollen due to eating too many salty foods the day before?

Reasons began filling my thoughts.

These slippers were cute and looked like they would make my feet comfortable. Why weren’t they fitting? Disappointment began to set in.

But, wait….

Yes, you may have experienced the same thing with a pair of shoes you tried to wear.

Silly Mimi! Looking inside the slipper, I noticed a large ball of tissue paper inserted in the toe area. That paper was placed inside to give the shoe form. Hooray!

Removing the tissue paper allowed my foot to slip right inside and find a home. Now, to the other shoe. Same thing, more tissue paper.

All ended well. Paper removed, feet inserted into slippers and a comfy, cozy experience began.

Along with finding joy in the simple moments in life, grandson Rowan and I have created our own song to sing when we are together. Simple words.

We sing “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy…Happy, Happy, Joy!” Sometimes the tune or the rhythm changes, but the song always fills us with joy.

When we sing these words, Rowan and I bust out in laughter. I look forward to the day when we can teach his baby sister, Eden, the words to our special song. Yes, baby sister Eden was born in November 2020. We are now blessed with two wonderful grandchildren. Thank You Lord.

Look for joy in the simple moments. Whether tissue paper in a shoe or singing a made up song, God is providing happiness and joy. Can you share a time of unexpected joy?

Blessings and Happy New Year,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

44 Comments
  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 14:58h, 12 January Reply

    Amen to this! (And this has happened to me too, haha!) It’s funny sometimes how we must get rid of something old that’s stuck inside in order for a thing/circumstance/relationship/dream to work right.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:08h, 12 January Reply

      Yes, yes! This seems to be a common occurrence for many people. haha! I’m glad God provides laughter. Also, I’m singing the “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!” song this morning. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Kimberly Rose Johnson
    Posted at 15:10h, 12 January Reply

    I love your positive outlook! Yes, I’ve done the same thing with shoes. 🙂 Have a great week!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:24h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you. God reminds me everyday to have a positive outlook. I seek His joy in every moment. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 15:26h, 12 January Reply

    I loved this, Melissa! I can picture you trying to force your foot into the slipper. 🙂 Congratulations on the birth of Eden. I know Rowan will be a great big brother! Simply moments can bring the greatest joy. Blessings to you and your family.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:31h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you Jill. Rowan loves to help take care of baby sister Eden. Rowan and Eden bring tons of joy to our family. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Yvonne Morgan
    Posted at 15:37h, 12 January Reply

    Thank you for my smile today. I love how our my grandkids remind me about joy. Thanks for sharing

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:40h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting Yvonne. I hope you continue to smile all day. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Bettie G
    Posted at 15:39h, 12 January Reply

    Dear Melissa,
    Congratulations on the birth of your newest Grandbaby, Eden! Such joy those little lives bring!!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:45h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you Bettie. Yes, Rowan and Eden bring great joy to our lives. We are truly blessed with love and laughter. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Janice D. Green
    Posted at 16:04h, 12 January Reply

    What a fun post to read today. Thank you! Happy happy joy joy joy!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:16h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you Janice. Yes, indeed! Happy Happy Joy Joy!! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • michelechynoweth1
    Posted at 16:28h, 12 January Reply

    Thanks for the reminder to be joyful! Good way to start off the New Year!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 17:24h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you Michele. Even in times of stress, God gives us ways to find joy. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Invisibly Me
    Posted at 18:21h, 12 January Reply

    The relief is enough to make you laugh when this happens, isn’t it? This has definitely happened to me before, on more than one occasion! 😆 Enjoy the lovely new tissue-paper-free slippers, Mimi! xx

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 19:42h, 12 January Reply

      Thank you for reading and posting a comment. Laughter is wonderful! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Janet from FL
    Posted at 21:24h, 12 January Reply

    I love your happy song! I may use it with my grandkids too! Congratulations on your new granddaughter. A surprise joy recently for my husband and I was a video call from our youngest granddaughter. She loves to be silly and make funny faces. She always makes us laugh!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:08h, 12 January Reply

      Janet, how sweet to video call with your youngest granddaughter. I know that made you and your husband very happy. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • June Foster
    Posted at 22:01h, 12 January Reply

    What a precious story that will make a precious memory. Grandchildren are such a blessing. One of mine texts me almost daily and says she’s praying for me and her grandpa. She even quotes scriptures. Words we need right now. I’m so grateful God has blessed you with these sweet babies. The words to your song are so special.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:09h, 12 January Reply

      June, how wonderful that your granddaughter quotes scriptures. Yes, we need His Word. I love staying in touch any way we can. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Karen Jurgens Harrison
    Posted at 08:48h, 13 January Reply

    Delightful story! You won’t believe this, but I’ve been reading in Genesis about the creation story, and somehow I fell in love with the name of the garden. I thought about what a divine name Eden would be for a baby! That your new granddaughter wears that name brings me joy! Congratulations, Mimi, on two grandchildren. You are blessed indeed! 😘❤️

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:36h, 13 January Reply

      Thank you Karen. We love Eden’s name. We love Rowan’s name, too. Very special grandchildren. 🙂 They bring us great joy! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Diana Derringer
    Posted at 13:17h, 13 January Reply

    Little moments offer great opportunities for joy

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:37h, 13 January Reply

      Yes, yes, I agree with you Diana. Joy can be found in the little moments. God is good. Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a blessed week!

  • Ava Pennington
    Posted at 15:18h, 13 January Reply

    “Look for joy in the simple moments.”
    Yes!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 17:41h, 13 January Reply

      Have a wonderful and blessed day Ava! Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂

  • debwilson2
    Posted at 21:29h, 13 January Reply

    Did you feel like Cinderella’s step sister? I’ve done the same thing. Thanks for spreading the joy, Melissa!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:18h, 14 January Reply

      Haha! I could have been Cinderella’s step sister. Thank you for reading and commenting. Blessings. 🙂

  • colarnold
    Posted at 00:13h, 14 January Reply

    Great story, Melissa; God does have a sense of humor! Thanks for sharing your “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy…Happy, Happy, Joy!”

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:18h, 14 January Reply

      Thank you Col. I am singing that song right now. 🙂 Rowan and I enjoyed another video chat a while ago and he was singing our song. 🙂 Blessings.

  • Jeanne Takenaka
    Posted at 00:29h, 14 January Reply

    Melissa, this made me smile. And I love the song you and Rowan sing! God does fill unexpected moments with joy. Today it was a coffee date (yes, in an actual coffee shop!) with a dear friend. Spending time talking and laughing gave me strength for the rest of the day.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:38h, 14 January Reply

      Thank you Jeanne. I’m so glad you were able to share a coffee date with a friend. What a wonderful blessing! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 14:58h, 14 January Reply

    Congratulations on the birth of another grandchild! I find joy in my silliness often–although it might be an annoyance for another observing me fumbling with chopsticks, for example. Have a blessed day, Melissa!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:49h, 14 January Reply

      Thank you Lynn. We are truly happy and blessed to have two grandchildren. I have not tried to use chopsticks. That would be a funny sight! Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Melinda Viergever Inman
    Posted at 19:28h, 14 January Reply

    Oh my goodness! I’ve done this before, and I felt so silly that I also laughed. I love how you find joy and laughter in the everyday events that touch your life. Congratulations on the new granddaughter! Double the fun!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:49h, 14 January Reply

      Thank you Melinda. Yes, double the fun! We learn something new everyday from Rowan and Eden. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Melissa McLaughlin
    Posted at 20:51h, 16 January Reply

    Such a cute story, Melissa! And I love the little song you have composed! I love to sing little snippets of hymns and worship choruses, mostly because I can’t remember all the lyrics to anything! But the little songs do bring joy.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:09h, 17 January Reply

      Thank you Melissa. I’m singing that song right now. 🙂 Have a joy filled day and keep singing! 🙂

  • Melissa McLaughlin
    Posted at 20:53h, 16 January Reply

    Most of all, congratulations on the birth of your precious granddaughter, Eden! That’s some serious joy!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:08h, 17 January Reply

      Thank you so much. Rowan and Eden definitely fill our lives with joy. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • ordinarilyextraordinarymom
    Posted at 14:14h, 17 January Reply

    Joy in the simple moments makes all the difference

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:55h, 18 January Reply

      Thank you. Yes, I agree. I pray we all find joy today. Have a blessed week!. 🙂

  • Karen Friday
    Posted at 23:45h, 17 January Reply

    Cute, fun post Melissa.I laughed, too, at the thought of tissue paper in your slipper. But most of all, I like the simple lyrics to your song with co-writer. Rowan!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:55h, 18 January Reply

      Thank you Karen. I love how God gives us joy and laughter in the simple moments. Have a blessed week! 🙂

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