This is the (Joy)Cap, where I share a reflection or lesson and a roundup of links, recommendations, and everything that’s bringing me joy, inviting you to do the same. Think of this as a weekly coffee date with my close friends. ☕️💕🫶🏾 Join me on a joy hunt and start receiving the (Joy)Cap by subscribing today! ✨
Why is it that when you feel like you can’t take one more thing, life goes and adds just one more thing to your plate?
It reminds me of how I hold my breath when one of my toddlers adds one more block to their tall, lopsided tower. I already know it’s one block away from crashing, and I’m mentally bracing myself — preparing my senses for the loud, overstimulating crash when it finally topples over.
That’s how life has felt the last two weeks — one thing after another — to the point where I’ve been anticipating the crash. But just like I sometimes step in with my kids and steady the tower before it’s too late, I feel the Lord doing the same with me: balancing me, holding me together, making sure I’m steady and complete. This kind of care and protection is why James urges us to count it all joy when we face trials of various kinds.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Just as my children learn to build on a steadier foundation, these trials strengthen ours, rooting us in the unchanging God who offers light, love, protection, and provision.
So rather than being defeated, I’m declaring my victory, remembering that even though the trials are ever-present, so is my God, offering peace and joy that are available to me right now.
The Joy List ✨
Joining the worship team. I grew up singing in church and at school, but over time, I burned out and took a step back from singing on stages. However, since joining our new church, I’ve been feeling the pull to serve again in this way and had my official audition the other week. While I am nervous, since I haven’t used my voice to this capacity in a while, I’m excited for God to use me in this way again.
Creating my first scrapbooking pages. If you follow me on Instagram or TikTok, you know that I recently started scrapbooking. Between my love of stationery and journaling, plus all the pictures my son’s teacher posts, it made sense. I’ve been slowly collecting supplies since December, and the other week, I finally sat down to create the first few pages, and I’m completely obsessed! It’s been the perfect activity to decompress with after a long day, using both my hands and mind to focus on something other than my situation.
Breaking my fast with an iced latte from one of my favorite coffee shops. I kicked off the New Year with a fast, which included no fancy coffee along with some other dietary restrictions. I was happy to break my fast last Saturday at one of my favorite nearby coffee shops. I ended up getting an iced banana pudding latte, which was so good and worth the 25-minute drive to get it.
Zuppa tuscana soup during the snowstorm. Although Brunswick wasn’t hit by the latest snowstorm, South Carolina was, where my husband was delivering that Saturday. I knew that he would be cold, unloading a truck and driving through sleet and snow. It was also a chillier day than normal, so I decided to make some copycat Zuppa Toscana soup to keep us warm, and thankfully, he got back before the storm got bad and right when the soup was finished. I shared this recipe along with other meals saving my life this winter in my latest post.
5. Friend meetups. We haven’t seen too many of our friends since the holidays, and since the library was hosting an Alice in Wonderland tea party in honor of the author Lewis Caroll’s birthday, we decided to meet up with one of our friends there. The kids got to make crafts, eat some treats, and she and I got to catch up, which was much needed.
Life Lately
Reading 📖 This week, I finished The Lost Bookshop1 by Evie Woods, which has been sitting on my physical TBR list for the last few years. Although I have the physical and Kindle copies, I enjoyed listening to it more on Libby, simply because of the great narrators and accents. I’m also working through Sarah Adams’ back list with The Off-Limits Rule, the first book in the It Happened in Nashville series.
Playing 🎧 Here are a few podcast episodes that I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks:
The Holy Spirit has had me posted in the Psalms since last summer, so when I saw that Steffany Gretzinger released this album, it’s been on repeat ever since I’ve listened to it.
A Nourishing Note ☕️
Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of my weaknesses and the lengths of my limits. Oftentimes, weaknesses and limitations have a negative connotation, but what if they aren’t liabilities but invitations? The Holy Spirit reminded me of a post I wrote a few years back on limitations and how God uses them to remind us of our humanity and His sovereignty, and as an invitation to lean into Him and His word.
Sometimes the weight feels like it’s one block too many. But the Lord is not bracing you for your collapse; He is strengthening your foundation. The same trials that feel like they might undo you are the very things God is using to steady you, mature you, and anchor you more deeply in Him.
“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12
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