Everyday Joy
May 26' Finding the Fun & Creativity in the Everyday + My Monthly Reading Roundup
As I look back in my planner and journal, May somehow feels like it was a whole year in itself — probably due to the end-of-school year activitie, events, holidays, and everything in between. It was jam-packed but in the best way. We celebrated Mother’s Day, Kaiden’s Pre-K award ceremony, Memorial Day weekend spent at the pool and on the grill, and I delved even further into the world of paper crafting, dipping my toes into cardmaking, which I can officially say that I’m obsessed!
In addition to these serendipitous delights, this was the first month in a while that wasn’t marked by noticeable anxiety for me. Although it’s something that I try to actively be aware of, anxious thoughts almost always hum in the background of my mind like a pestering housefly buzzing by my ear. I’m always trying to swat away the thoughts before they become a total nuisance, but sometimes, despite how hard I try, I miss my shot.
But somehow, this month, the humming subsided for a bit as I grasped for everyday joy rather than be thrown off kilter by the buzzy distractions of challenges and the enemy’s tactics. Maybe it was due to having a full calendar or planned moments of fun. Or maybe it was because I sought to both infuse and end my days with life-giving creativity. Or maybe it was a joyous blend of all the above.
Regardless, every day, I am discovering more and more that joy is cultivated when you turn down the buzzing and start noticing the opportunities to enjoy and find the fun and creativity in everyday life.
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On My Nightstand 📚
Monthly Favorites + Books I’m Currently Savoring
Three Days in June1 by Anne Tyler. Another delight that was recommended by Brittany Viklund of In Joy with Brittany Viklund. Gail can’t seem to catch a break when she loses her job, and her ex-husband arrives at her door to stay for her daughter’s upcoming wedding to a questionable man. Her daughter doesn’t make it any better when she shares a revealing secret regarding her groom-to-be, stirring up Gail’s and her ex-husband’s past. This story’s simplicity, honesty, and humor made it a joyful, quick read. Fantastic for summer!
Worship by Emily A. Jensen. Many people think of worship as something we do corporately on Sundays, but worship extends to your everyday life — making dinner, folding laundry, your commute to work. In this booklet, Emily invites you to see how daily life is filled with opportunities to worship and walk with the Lord. Thank you to Crossway for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Just Friends by Haley Pham. This was a cute debut novel from YouTube creator Haley Pham, inspired by her and her husband’s love story. The writing was a little amateurish and young, but it was a sweet second-chance romance. I would highly recommend listening to it on audio, as I found the listening experience to be slightly more enjoyable than my reading experience.
These were just some of my favorites from the month. Check out my monthly reading recap, Goodreads, or Fable for a full list and reviews of what I read.
Fave Listens 🎧
It’s always fun to hear how other mom’s are setting up their kids and family for summer. I enjoyed listening to this while planning our summer in my Lazy Genius playbook.
Speaking of the Lazy Genius, Kendra shared how she plans to implement her summer plans as well as some great tips for implementing yours.
I always love listening to Chrystal when I need a little bit of encouragement and a motivational boost. As the twins get ready to start school in the fall and I consider what’s next for me personally and professionally, I found this episode encouraging and helpful as I begin to pray about my next steps.
Links & Little Joys 💖
Sparkling water that tastes just like a firecracker bomb pop
These eyepatches that get me through late summer nights
Flip flops for arch and foot support (as someone who is still recovering from an Achilles tear)
No-fuss press-ons for a quick and fun summer mani
May Snapshots 📸
Mother’s Day at The Porch on St Simons Island //Beautiful blooms at our local farm stand // Me and Kaiden after his Awards Day Ceremony // The last day of Pre-K! // Beach walks // Memorial Day weekend at Neptune Fun Zone Pool // Memorial Day Grll Out // A birthday card that I created for my niece
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