This is the (Joy)Cap where I share a weekly 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 weekly joy hunt and start receiving the (Joy)Cap by subscribing today! ✨
Happy Sunday friends,
I am happy to share that sickness has officially left this house, and let’s pray that it stays this way. I just picked up a Target order today and went ahead and bought a mini can of Lysol spray that will now permanently accompany our library visits and park outings. I have also re-upped on vitamins, boogie wipes, and pretty much all the sickness prevention essentials.
The first half of the week was spent catching up on household and work tasks, while the second half was all about fun fall activities for the kids. We did apple stamping, pumpkin washing, and painting, and on Thursday we took a trip to a local pumpkin patch, and by the end of the day, I was exhausted.
Between solo parenting, planning all these activities, and working on upcoming projects, exhausted pretty much wraps up how I feel most days, and sometimes I question if my work is really making a difference. Is it really worth all of this time, energy, and devotion? As I switched from task to task this week, the Holy Spirit encouraged me:
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9
It’s so easy to let our weariness and weakness over take us to the point of giving up, but God promises us a reward if we keep pressing on. Pressing through the overwhelm, pressing through the tiredness, pressing through the discouragement or the uncertainty. And as we press, the Lord is so kind to send us encouragement and refreshment when we need it most. He did that for me this week when I received a special inquiry, reminding me that He sees me and to not give up.
ICYMI, The Get After Grateful Gratitude Challenge is coming back!
Last year, around this time, I started the Get After Grateful to cultivate contentment and gratitude at a hard time when it felt hard to grasp. All November, we as a community, took to the chat and shared three things we were grateful everyday. I’m happy to share that this year, the challenge is coming back, and it’s better.
Every day in the month of November, our community took to the chat and shared three things we were grateful for, and I'm super excited to announce that this year it's back and better!
This year, the challenge will consist of daily mini reflections/devotions complete with action steps that I’ll be sharing in our community chat. I will also be sharing other resources such as journaling prompts, and other supporting resources that will be exclusively for paid subscribers. There will also be other fun community activities, such as a weekly gratitude wall, which might be one of my favorite parts of this challenge. ☺️
This challenge will run from November 1st through November 30th, and it’s open to both free and paid subscribers. However, to access and respond to the daily devotions in the chat, you will need to download the Substack app or sign up for an account.
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To learn more about the Get After Grateful Gratitude Challenge, here’s a post from last year, that also includes links to previous blogs I’ve written, as well as recommended books and a free Lifestyle Guide for download on cultivating gratitude and contentment.
If you’ll be joining us, leave a comment in our chat saying, “I’M IN!”
What Brought Me Joy ✨
Fall crafts and sensory activities with the kids. It’s always a little extra work to put these together, but seeing the pure joy and excitement on the kids’ face is always priceless.
Our pumpkin patch visit. Although our family is in so much change and transition, I still wanted to make this fall special for the kids. While I wasn’t able to take the kids to the pumpkin patch we typically would frequent, my best friend and I took them to the (bootleg) pumpkin patch down the street (i.e. a plot of land this man bought to put up blow up decorations, corn mazes, and pumpkin bouncey houses to make money 😂.) It’s fine. It did the job, and the kids had a good time.
I’m always sharing my thoughts in real time on Fable and Instagram. For ratings and reviews, check out my Goodreads.
Currently Listening 🎧
I’m super excited for the launch of Emily Jenson and Laura Wifler’s new book, Gospel Mom. The book and workbook bundle is on its way to me as we speak. In this podcast episode, Emily and Laura walk you through the CFRC (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation) framework and how you can use it to apply a gospel lens to all of your parenting, motherhood, and really all decisions.
I would love to hear from you! What brought you joy this week? Leave a comment, or send me a direct message!
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I put cinnamon and nutmeg in things like pancakes all year round. I never tried to put ginger in there! I might have to try that when I make pancakes this Saturday!
My fall hack is to put cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in everything I make. That way it takes like fall even when I don't feel like it
I put cinnamon and nutmeg in things like pancakes all year round. I never tried to put ginger in there! I might have to try that when I make pancakes this Saturday!