Joyfull Living

Living in a pandemic, none of us are immune to this illness, no matter how healthy, fit or active. The COVID virus hit our household. This actually happened several weeks ago, so if you see us around, please know we faithfully followed all procedures and are now healthy and whole. Here is an account of our recent experience: For the first time in months, it felt great being around other people. Cautiously regathering at places, enjoying family Sunday lunches and helping others in times of need. It almost felt like 'normal' had returned. Then out of the blue,  a small tickle began in my throat and then by bedtime had escalated to a headache and then through the night, a fever. Being extremely healthy and rarely sick, I immediately knew what these symptoms pointed to. A visit to take a COVID test was done and a 10 day quarantine was ordered. Test results should be ready in 2-3 days.  Sweet hubby was called and then sent home from his work per procedure to quarantine.  Since...

On a recent Saturday morning, while cleaning out the pantry there was a small amount of pancake mix left in a bag. It was the perfect amount for a small batch of blueberry pancakes. After they were made, I ate 2 and left 1 to finish cooking. After finishing the portion for breakfast, I spied the lone pancake in the pan and immediately decided I needed that one as well. But, through a pause and an evaluation it was discovered that I was full and the extra pancake could be used for a quick weekday breakfast. A quick phrase - "Embrace the Pause" came to my heart. Running full speed is second nature to me....I kind of consider it my super power! Having my hand in several different projects, moving and speaking quickly, arriving everywhere right on time, with not a moment to spare and walking through the door like a hurricane is just my thing. The pressure to answer a text or email instantly keeps me glued to my devices. I can fill my day end to end and find satisfaction is gettti...

Welcome to August! It seems like this year since March things have been in a constant state of chaos. So many things in our world and lives are changing daily, there in no consistency and we are forced to try to stay abreast in the midst of constant change. Fear and apprehension always seem to be lurking behind ready to pounce. We question - 'when will things get back to normal?', or 'what will normal even look like?'. We may feel simply stuck, overwhelmed at the problems we see around us and not sure how to go about being productive.  So let's talk about the weather a minute. Summer in Florida can be brutal.  The heat and humidity are oppressive. They zap the energy from you to where even the simpliest of tasks are put off if they require being outside. One of the things I love about August is that it gives a glimpse of hope that fall will be coming. In our area, there are at least two solid months left of heat, but we are turning the corner and if we look waaayy a...

This is one of my favorite Bible verses.  It is a beautiful message of blessing and hope, but it came alive to me in the midst of a crisis.  Several years ago, a loved one was in a bad spot. With life choices that were cascading in a downward spiral, every resource had been used up with no help in sight. I sat in a chair with the Bible open in my lap and found this verse. A desperate situation needs hope to begin the steps toward healing. Hope is a spark of light in a dark space, it is a tiny flutter that begins and builds into confidence. An idea that jumps in the heart and compels you to action.  As vital as hope is in life, this verse tells us that God not only offers hope, but that He is the God of HOPE! It is not something that He does, it is truly who He is.  His presence and promise of hope in any situation builds faith and secures our trust in Him. A promise like this calms our fears and gives us strength to carry on  But this promise doesn't stop with H...

Fitness trackers are a tool to help people in their journey to be healthier. I wear a little device on my wrist called a Fitbit. It looks like a watch but helps keep track of every step taken through the day, tells about my heart rate, sleep patterns and probably many more features I haven't explored yet. My favorite feature is tracking steps. When the fitbit is set up, it asks you to set a goal for daily steps. 10,000 steps per day is a good, healthy number, so that was my goal. Due to having a few distinct advantages - I love to walk and have short legs, I take many steps, my daily step goal is always met. The step goal is a little low and if you throw in a few long runs, the weekly step average is fabulous!  A friend introduced me to a fitness app to meet your step goal and I was immediately ready to crush it! But, instead of setting my own goal, this app calculated my average steps and set a daily goal for me, which was waaayyy over the low, manageable goal I had set! Loving a ...

The month of June has come and is already on the way out! The months seem to fly by, but June is one month out of the year for me that holds an entire year worth of emotion. In the span of a few weeks in June some momentous anniversaries occur. First the anniversary of my father's death, then my wedding anniversary and then the holiday of Father's Day. Many posts have been written sharing our family story. They can be found under 'Crisis" and "Grief" labels on the sidebar.  Through the years, these dates that hold utmost significance in my life cause me to pause and be thankful for the fatherly influences that have come to a beautiful fruition.   My father - no words are needed to what a father means to a girl. Her hero, protector, friend, advisor and the one influence that can fill her heart with love and acceptance.  No father is perfect and mine made some choices that negatively affected our family, but I never doubted his love for a minute.  My wedding ...

Dads....their day is coming up this weekend. This special day comes just weeks after Mother's Day which is a day mothers enjoy a day of recognition and pampering.  Father's play an important role in our families, churches and communities. Their leadership affects generations to come as well as leaves a legacy to follow. A godly father is the foundation of the home and his influence can be unlimited.  While Mother's Day gifts seem to be easy, beautiful and full of meaning and sentiment, gift giving for the fathers in my life is hard. There is no emotion in a neck tie or sporting goods item. Most men are practical and would rather not have another item that is not functional and useful laying around (taking space on the dresser!).  A perfect gift for dad is the sentiment of appreciation and respect.  Instead of gifts, words are especially meaningful. I found a link that has encouraging messages from Scripture just for dad.  You can print them off, cut out, write a...