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! ✨
It feels good to be back in your inboxes this week! I had started to queue up last week’s newsletter, and then on Wednesday, we were immediately hit with a nasty stomach bug hours after returning home from the pool. This week was spent recovering and catching up on all the house things while prepping for the new month. We’re officially in summer mode, and I’ve been doing my best to be present and plan fun things while staying flexible, taking each day as it comes.
Glimpses of Grace 🌤️
Breathing in the salty ocean air and exhaling a labored sigh, I sat back down on the park bench. Prior to the park, I took the kids to a hulu dancing show hosted by one of our county library’s summer reading program. In an effort to rest, I picked up my Kindle, attempting to squeeze in a few pages of reading while the kids played. I always bring my Kindle to the plaground aspirationally and in hope that one of these days, the kids will play independently, letting me take a breather from the work that is taking three under five (or really any small child) to the park. Before sitting down, I had hoisted up my youngest on a huge whale in the heat, adding to my exhaustion. So when my oldest cried, “Mom! Let’s walk and look at the water!” four pages into my book, I let out another weary sigh and replied “Okay.” We walked a few paces away from the bench, keen on staying close by to watch our belongings, but we didn’t have to walk far to marvel at the ocean, waves steadily crashing against the shore and rocks. “Look, Mommy!,” my youngest excitedly exclaimed. “It’s flowers!” Indeed, there was a yellow flower. And I almost missed it — missed the opportunity of the rest and peace that is found when I just look up and be fully present.
The Joy List ✨
The first grill of the season. My husband worked on actual Memorial Day, so that Sunday we celebrated the holiday early by throwing some things on the grill. Everything came out perfectly, and we finished right in time before we got rained out with an afternoon storm.
Memorial Day with new friends. I always carry a little bit of grief on the holidays, since my husband is usually on the road. Some new friends of ours invited us over for the holiday, making it much more enjoyable and lighter.
Sunrise reading and coffee drinking in front of the pond. A few mornings out of the week, I’ve been enjoying dragging a lawn chair in front of the pond behind our house to watch the sunrise and drink coffee while I read. It is one of the most peaceful and perfect moments of my day that fill me with so much gratitude.
Neptune Park Fun Zone pool with the kids. I originally intended to take the kids to a splash pad, but it was locked upon arriving, so we piled back into the car and headed over to Neptune Park’s pool over on St. Simons, where they have a water playgrund for the kids. The kids splashed, played in the water, and dragged me in on the fun too. We had such a good time, and it was super cheap at $8/person with kids three and under free. I would highly recommend it, if you’re ever in the area!
5. Summer reading program at the library. Our library has officially kicked off its summer reading program and we are having a blast with all the programs that are offered throughout the week. Between the Brunswick and St. Simons Library, there are about three to four events a week, enough to keep the kids busy and engaged the entire summer. The kids have already earned 9 free books from their logged reading. I can’t wait to see how many books we conquer together over the course of the summer.
Currently Savoring 💕
Books
Every Summer After1by Carley Fortune. This book had me in a chokehold. Similar to Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren, the book has a dual timeline as it flips between past and present to divulge the details and evolution of Percy and Sam’s relationship after meeting for six summers at Barry’s Bay. The demise of their relationship made Percy believe she would never return, until a tragic phone call leads her back, ultimately to face Sam and address the biggest omission that is holding their relationship back. I loved every bit of this swoony second-chance romance, even though the characters were driving me insane, I couldn’t stop reading. If you enjoy slow-burns, you will also love this one!
Podcasts
This episode was published on Memorial Day, the unofficial kick-off to summer here in the States. It’s the time when pools are opening, vacations are commencing, and school winds down and comes to an end. As my oldest is starting school this year, I want to make the most of the summertime we have together as a family. In this episode, Kendra walks you through a five-step plan for making the most of what matters for you this season, including making time for both fun and rest, no matter what season you find yourself in.
This episode is a follow up, serving as a guide to plan those summer days that don’t have a plan using the five steps she shared in the previous episode.
and Simplified for years and have used several of their planners in the past. Team Simplifed is officially on Substack and I love this Sunday Prep post where they shared tips on setting up your week, planning your month, meal prep ideas, and fun favorites from the team.
“Wholeness is found when you let go wholeheartedly, putting ten toes down – planting yourself – deciding to dig-in and make the most of wherever you are.”
It’s been about seven months since my family and I transitioned from the Atlanta area to coastal Georgia. Since then, I’ve been processing all the feelings — sadness, grief, gratitude, and joy. I had a pleasure of contributing to
In a recent Substack post, I shared my summer bucket list, and one of the items on my list is to spend summer in the Psalms. Life has been a lot lately. In the chaos and uncertainty, the Lord has lead me to spend the summer studying the book of Psalms.
The Psalms chronicle the range of almost every human emotion — sadness, grief, gratitude, and joy. And it challenges us to seek the good by always finding a reason to remember and praise the Lord. I shared more about the studies and resources I will be walking through now until the end of the year in this TikTok post.
Sometimes grace finds us not in grand gestures, but in quiet interruptions—the flower we almost miss, the giggle we nearly tune out, the unplanned moment that becomes sacred simply because we looked up. This summer, may we notice the beauty hidden in the in-between: in the waiting, the mess, the laughter, and the stillness.
Even when our days feel ordinary or our plans unravel, God is near—reminding us that the good things are often already right in front of us.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24 (CSB)
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Love the idea of spending summer in Psalms. 📖