In September, every day I tried to post a few pictures and explanations of how our family was choosing joy. I missed a few days. I also realized that those pictures and posts may have created a false truth or created a picture of reality that is not entirely true, or at least that leaves out something.
There were very real moments in the midst of August and September that were less than joyful. There were days filled with doctor's appointments, an ER visit, closed medical doors, tantrums, big emotions, and frustrations. There were moments when joy was the furthest thing from our minds; if I am honest, moments where survival until bedtime was the goal.
There were also some amazing moments in there as well. Peter got to try out surfing; we had a week at the beach. There were times when the boys played wonderfully together. Times of contentment, easy transitions, outdoor play, time with friends and family. Peter and Jacob started back to school (6th grade and year 2 of preschool) The good and the bad mix together in the lemonade of life; sometimes it is more sour and sometimes more sweet.
Each of us walks through hard and difficult moments. There are times when questions, concerns, and worry echo through our hearts and minds. Times when all we can see and hear are the hard and heavy things. I do not ever want to come off as insincere or fake. I have learned however, in my 44 trips around the sun that I need to be careful where I dwell.
If I am honest, choosing joy is about reminding myself where to focus. In a world where cancer, Batten Disease, other diagnoses, and situations can easily become an all-consuming darkness, intentionally choosing joy changes the perspective and the narrative. It doesn’t take away the hard or the heavy but helps us to focus from those things and on to what is good and right about life, our circumstances, our surroundings.
Facebook is a wonderful tool for connection, sharing life, and encouraging people who we would not otherwise connect with. In fact, it is a way that we have connected with other Batten Families around the world. Many of the families we are connected with are walking harder journeys than we are. There are families with multiple affected kids, families with a different and quicker progressing form of Batten Disease. It gives us a dose of reality and a reminder of what our future may hold as well as a reminder to be content and choose joy.
Somewhere along my journey, I heard or read that there is always someone better off than you and someone worse off than you. That has stuck with me. And reminds me that while we have hard days, we could have harder ones; we have victories, but there are others who have more victories. But I am also realizing that being real about the hard while also choosing to focus on the good things is okay too.
If this blog has a little different feel than usual, no need to worry about us. We are doing well. We are thankful for our families, our church, our community, our village that helps us choose joy, and our faith in Christ, who gives us strength to face whatever is in front of us.
Until next time, when you are making lemonade, choose sugar, not salt; it tastes way better than with sugar! 
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