Blog: Puzzles Are Perfect for Bringing Joy!

It’s always the small pieces that make up the big picture.  – Author unknown

This month, God willing, I will reach my 42^nd birthday.  Since turning 40, I have always been looking for unique ways to celebrate the second half of my life.  This year I decided that something special will be “42 in 42 for 42.”  That’s right… 42 things in 42 days to celebrate my 42^nd birthday.   I have from June 21^st until August 2nd to do 42 uniquely special things.   They don’t have to be big things – getting a delicious cupcake, a special pedicure, a trip to the movies, or a simple family dinner.  I do, however, have a few big things planned in these 42 days.  The 42 days end while I am in Arizona preparing for Forever LIVE.  In July, I will visit Hershey Park, The Hershey Spa, and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola.

The kick off of my 42 in 42 for 42 will be in Miami, Florida.  The next day I will meet up with a good friend, Cindy Swilley, and have a relaxing girls weekend in Key Largo.   We have lots of fun planned, though most of it is a surprise since I have never been there.  Cindy is making most of the arrangements.  Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to this trip and my few days off.

The other day, a sparkly magenta envelope came in the mail.   I am sure we all know that giddy feeling when you receive an unexpected surprise in the mail.  I struggled to get the envelope open.   When I finally did, there was a card and a burlap pouch.   For a minute, it felt like opening a gift box just to find another gift box inside.   I opened the pouch and poured a bunch of puzzle pieces on the table (Yup, another “gift box”).

It took me 35 minutes to put together that puzzle (Clearly, I am not the one you want competing in any puzzle competitions.), but I loved every single minute of it.   The thrill of trying to figure out what the image would reveal.  I put the title together first.  That was the easiest part.   A clever play on words brought back some memories of our last time together.  I was also able to piece together the Jack Daniel’s Honey bottle, at which I burst into laughter at an inside joke. The image and the title have a very special meaning to me, more than can deciphered from simply looking at the completed puzzle.  I knew that was precisely the “message” that Cindy was sending me.  Now, I am even more excited to be joining some really special friends on my birthday weekend.

I would never had thought I would have had so much fun putting a puzzle together all by myself.  I encourage you all to share in the joy of creating puzzles using Artisan software.   A puzzle can be used for many purposes.  Here are a few ideas:

• Baby announcement – “You are going to be a Grandma/Grandpa!”  “You are going to be a big brother/sister!”
• Promposal – “I am going to prom, but you are the missing piece.  Go with me?”
• Engagement – “You are the final piece!”  “I love you to pieces.”
• Family vacation reveal – “We are going to Disney World!”
• Wedding announcement – “Be my Maid-of-Honor!”

In the comments section below, tell me how you would use puzzles to share joy.