Joyfull Living

 The blog "Joyfull Living" has been around a long time! It began as a creative outlet to cherish and record the moments of a growing family. As the seasons of life changed through the years, so did the vision for the blog. It began to center around the countless women who daily face the challenges of life and how 'joy' could be a force that carried us through those challenges. Instead of focusing on the seemingly endless days filled with required tasks of home, family and work, strength could be found as we searched daily for joyful moments.  In 2022 I want to embrace another aspect to the blog that at first doesn't seem very 'joyfull', but when looking beyond circumstances, a deep abiding joy can be found. Joy isn't just an emotion and it is not based on feelings or circumstances. In hard times, 'the joy of the Lord is our strength' and in experiences that threaten to overwhelm us - God will see us through and bring a purpose to our pain.  Thi...

  It is less than 10 days until Christmas and the excitement and activities are going full speed. Most of us are filled with anticipation and preparation of time with family, food and sweet fellowship.  This is also a year that we are probably are acquainted with or a part of families that are struggling with grief. The loss of a loved one is always painful, but the holidays seem to magnify the feeling of loss. There is a huge, gaping hole in hearts, homes and families. The traditions and events that can add so much joy and meaning to the season are punctuated with painful reminders of the person we love who is not here to share in it. Traditions will be different, there is an empty spot at the table and it becomes apparent, things will never be the same. For those who’ve recently lost someone they love, the holidays can seem more like something to survive than to enjoy. While those of us who surround grieving people can’t fix the pain of loss, we can bring comfort as we ...

 Hello June and Welcome Summer! As the summer season begins, our lives begin to embrace fun, relaxed activities such as swimming, cook outs and lots of outside time. June also holds some dates that are very emotional for our family - ones that represent the passing of one life and embracing of a new life. This June will find sweet hubby and I celebrating 32 years of marriage!  What a divine gift of God that came in His perfect timing. In the same year, 8 days before the wedding, my father was tragically killed. Our family gathered for a funeral and a wedding in the same week. Life can be like that, holding pain and joy in the same hand, but always being balanced with the gift of God's grace. As a Christian, I believe pain and grief comes from the result of living in an evil world. God does not cause the events that bring pain, but through the process of grief, we can find hope, wholeness and healing. And our stories from the other side of grief can be used to walk with others ...

The name of this blog is Joyfull Living deliberately chosen way back when the blog began, it was a busy season of life for our family with growing kids, juggling work, sports, church and relationships. Joyfull Living was chosen as a theme as we made strides to find joy through the mundane minutes of life. Fast forwarding through those years, we continually sought for joy, but the fact is that life can be tough. Crisis, trauma, death and hard times filtered through our lives, just like they do in yours. Today, I'm writing from a different spot in life. One that has endured troublesome times, learned that help, healing and comfort come from the Lord. Currently our country and world are in the throes of the COVID 19 crisis. This has left me 'staying safe at home' with more time on my hands than usual. Knowing this abundance of time had the potential to develop some not so good habits, I became diligent to keep some sort of routine - rising early, exercise, using time ...

Guess what? In case you haven't heard, it is Mother's Day week! Many of us are staying away from stores, but even a quick trip for needed supplies demands attention to this special day coming soon. Cards, gifts and flowers are prominently placed. They are so beautiful, brightly colored with flowers and all that loveliness that appeals to us ladies.  Seeing these displays immediately pull our thoughts to our mom. Hopefully, they bring a smile to our heart. Mother's Day can bring a variety of emotions. Every mother is different, as is every life situation, some are wonderful, but some may have some rough edges that still rub us a little raw. Mother's Day for some is a beautiful celebration, others find it a bit bittersweet. Even on such a day as this, emotions can sneak up on us and threaten to cloud the beauty of the day.  My dear mother passed away in 2007. Every day, I miss her terribly, miss her phone calls and her being an active part of my daily life. The painful vo...

June, where did you come from and how did you get here so fast?  For the first six months of the year, the newness captures our time.  Once June comes along, we realize the year is half way gone and usually there is much we want to catch up on!   Besides jolting us to the fact of how fast the year is going, June also brings in summer break for school children, family vacations. Armed with the realization of how fast time is going, we yearn to embrace and cherish these moments of time.  In our family, the month of June brings the blessing of our wedding anniversary.  It also brings the anniversary of my father's death. From the extremes of grief to joy, June reminds me of the grace of God that is present in every season of life. This year will mark 28 years of both anniversaries.  The dates of the month this year also correspond to that June 28 years ago.  A few prominent days can be recalled with vivid detail. Tuesday June 6 a wedd...