joyce

“I wasn’t allowed to do that as a kid, so I’m not going to let my child do it either.” Does that thought ever cross your mind? Growing up, it was a rare occasion for me to be away from home .. for sleepovers, school trips, or college. It didn’t matter if everyone else was doing it. I

Coffee and great company. How could it get any better? My friend told me I was awesome. BAM! I’m all ears … tell me more :) Well, maybe she didn’t use those exact words, but she might as well have. My friend shared how much she appreciated me as a mom, having a special needs child,

We read about many miracles in the Bible. For example, there’s the miracle which the Israelites experienced on their way to the Promised Land at the Jordan River in Joshua chapter 3. As soon as the priests, who were carrying the ark of the covenant, set foot in the flood-level waters of the Jordan River, the water

When I was in high school, I had taken a Ceramics and Sculpture class.  One of our projects was making a clay sculpture.  After much deliberation, I finally decided to make a vase. The process my teacher taught us to use was the slab method which was tedious for this teenager: knead the clay, roll

When it was recently suggested that I consider a position, my immediate response was “I’m not qualified.” I felt inadequate in my abilities to fulfill such a responsibility. I also was afraid that I would fail terribly. The next day I was engaged in conversation with a friend who is discouraged in this new season of

Typically after a birthday or Christmas, the question most frequently asked is “What did you get?” Gifts. Receiving them is wonderful.  That was my experience during my birthday earlier this year when my husband gave me a beautiful camera. For those who know me, I LOVE taking pictures. It doesn’t have to be a special

Decorating the Christmas tree.  Baking cookies with friends.  Watching Christmas movies.  These are a few of our family’s favorite traditions during this season. However, there’s one tradition we all truly look forward to.  We began doing this a few years ago and it has had a significant impact on our perspective of this season. We

Do you find yourself making decisions based on the past? With Thanksgiving and Christmas being my favorite times of the year, I love to host large groups of people at my home. In fact, it’s a tradition my husband and I began 17 years ago when we were just newlyweds. Decorating, cooking, and organizing gift

Family reunions. Feasting on scrumptious dishes. Fun, fun, fun! It’s the holiday season and for most, a joyous time of year. As a teenager looking forward to Thanksgiving, I remember when our family received a phone call that changed our lives forever. My Dad’s sister had been in a terrible car accident and was airlifted

Do you ever feel as if you pour out your heart and soul into something, only to wonder if it’s even making a difference? That’s how I feel about parenting. I mean, I pray for my children, talk to them daily, do my best to impart life lessons, address issues of the heart, discipline them to