Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my June Joys joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month. Many readers notice I choose a theme for each month, which often reflects lessons or themes from…
Read More
June Joys: Share Four Somethings
Serenity Summer Sampler
In celebration of the official arrival of the summer solstice, I delight in sharing my serenity summer sampler with you! Summer speaks a slower pace to me; a time of lingering, resting and sampling the best summer has to offer. Some of my favorite summer memories as a child reflect the simple pleasures of life; lying in the cool grass…
Read More
Bringing Joy Home
Pulling in the driveway, it catches my eye; the vertical sign with the simple word, “HOME”. Strategically placed at the entrance of the garage, it greets me each time I return home, prompting a smile. Though arriving home is the highlight of my days now, until I learned the art of bringing Joy home, I had mixed emotions. As women,…
Read More
The Transforming Power of a Little Known Virtue
Often misunderstood, the word “virtue” intimidates most people. Somewhat archaic, its usage in our modern language is relegated to classic or religious literature. Yet, visiting with my One Word friend this month, revealed not only its transforming power over adversity, but its merit as a virtue. Amazingly, my journey with my bold friend, resilience, reaches the halfway mark this month!…
Read More
Looking For Joy? It’s Closer Than You Think
A friend of mine shared a little ritual she uses whenever she takes a walk. She never ends her walk without finding something which delights her. Rarely dominating her time, the search provides a great way of staying present. Finding she notices more of her surroundings, looking for joy breathes peace and purpose into her walks. Intrigued by the premise,…
Read More
Love When Beauty Fades
It came rather suddenly. Others around me encountered it sooner; but I never felt especially bothered by it until recently. Unrecognizable at first, I wondered at the gnawing discontent within. Organizing photos on my computer, it all came clear: time fades beauty. Grouping photos of myself, observing the unkindness of the years, the tale of aging unfolded before me. Never…
Read More
The Joy of Planting Pennies
Though the summer solstice is still thirteen days away, once Memorial Day closes, most thoughts turn towards summer. While my thoughts have yet to turn in that direction, childhood summer memories filled with the joy of planting pennies, bring a smile to my face. Perhaps the unseasonable temperatures, or a barefoot walk in dew damp grass the other morning triggered…
Read More
Joy Comes in the Morning
For many years, the beauty of the morning escaped me. Never really “a morning person” the years of raising babies with long nights of interrupted sleep stole my mornings from me. Beyond the strain of motherhood, seasons of suffering claimed my night hours. Yet, over time, God gently revealed the truth spoken by the sun each day: “Joy comes in…
Read More
May Mercies: Share Four Somethings
Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my May Mercies joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month. My regular readers often notice I choose a “theme” for my Share Four Somethings post. Last month…
Read More
