joyce

I love this photo of my girls in matching jumpsuits.  Well … almost. I should have been in that pic also. Now before you conclude that I have issues with vanity and narcissism, let me explain. As soon as school was over, my family and I left for vacation.  It was the first time my

One of the birthday traditions we have in our family is sharing what we love about the celebrant. It’s truly a special time for the birthday boy/girl who feels encouraged as they realize the impact that their life has on each of us. In his book Raising Giant-Killers, Bill Johnson refers to this as a

As I was driving on a stormy day, the rain poured down and visibility was poor. It was hard to tell how long the storm would last or how far ahead it was of me. And then it happened. After living in Texas for years, I was caught in my first hail storm. Non stop

As most of you know by now, I am originally from New York aka the city that never sleeps. So, let’s just say that hustling and bustling run through my veins. There was hardly ever a quiet moment in the near three decades I lived there. We were always on the move with places to

If you happened to catch the post I wrote last week, you may have seen that I included a photo of myself smiling big. That was quite a step outside of my comfort zone. You see, when I comb through old pictures, I am saddened by how I appear. Surprisingly, it’s not my hairdo or

As we remember this last week of Jesus’ life on earth, my heart is filled with gratitude for His life and resurrection. Oh, the wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb! About two years ago, I shared the blog post “Miracles and Memorials”, which is my story about how God was with me when

“The more, the merrier!” That’s a common phrase I use, whether I am talking about having people over or I am recruiting help for a major undertaking. Having mentioned the latter, I am reminded of the number of friends and family that helped us in our move from New York to Dallas. Between packing up

Dear Friend, Has it been one of those days, weeks or months for you? Perhaps you are hurt and feeling broken. Maybe you are devastated by life-altering news. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed, isn’t it? It’s even more challenging when you think that no one cares or understands. With darkness and despair all around you,

I have come to terms with the reality that life can get pretty hectic with busy schedules and a bombardment of voices.  Not to mention the number of distractions that come our way. For me, to be still and to be silent seems foreign and almost uncomfortable. Yet, I have been convicted that it’s exactly

I don’t know about you, but I do not have answers for the challenges that come my way. In fact, such circumstances leave me feeling sad and confused. Sure, talking about it to a friend helps. Reading a practical book is insightful. But the problem is still there and so is the unrest in my