Week of October 30th - November 13th (25') | Choosing Rest Over Hustle in a Season That Demands Both, Thanksgiving Children's Book Recs, & The Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T
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! ✨
I’m not gonna lie — the last few weeks have felt heavy. Every now and then, the weight and exhaustion of continuous solo parenting catches up with me, leaving me a little run-down, overstimulated, and emotionally depleted. I’m doing my best to keep as many balls in the air as I can, but as you might expect, some inevitably fall as I juggle the demands of life and this current season. This week, I’ve been giving myself permission to slow down a bit — to extend grace to myself by working less, resting more, and not forcing productivity.
Most of my work gets done in the margins — the cracks and crevices of the day — and while I’m grateful for those moments, I’ve realized that not every sliver of time needs to be filled with doing. I was reminded of that recently while watching one of my favorite YouTubers, Nicole Lela Green, share her new pottery journey. She talked about how, even though her time is limited by motherhood, she’s choosing to cultivate her craft in the small moments she gets, trusting that those little deposits will one day grow into something bigger, like her dream of owning her own studio.
I related to that deeply. Like her, I long to pursue the passions that light me up. But I’m also learning that sometimes the best use of those same margins isn’t more work, it’s rest. It’s space to breathe, to be, and to let the soul settle. As the holidays approach, I want to make more room for that — for purpose, passion, and presence to exist together, serving both others and myself well.
The Joy List ✨
Spending the weekend with friends. Last weekend, we hung out with my friend at First Friday. Then on Saturday, we went to storytime at a nearby coffee shop with another friend. I feel like hanging out with friends is rare these days, as we’re all constantly playing tetris with our schedules, so I was grateful to have some social time, even if it was only for a few hours.
Making pumpkin muffins. The last time I went to Trader Joe’s, I made sure to pick up two boxes of pumpkin bread. One, I made a loaf with, and the other, I made some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for the kids. These kind of boxes always makes baking with littles super easy and fun!
Reading fall/Thanksgiving books with the kids. In my opinion, fall is when children’s books are at their peak. It’s something about the stories and illustrations that are associated with the season and holidays that always get me, and even I, too, feel like I’m being enveloped in a cozy, warm hug when I’m reading them. Here are some of the books that we read this week.
Attending Wednesday night supper at church. Every month, our church hosts a Wednesday night dinner for our church family to come together to eat, fellowship, and engage in the Word together. I missed the one last month, so I was grateful to attend the one this month. Every time I go, God always meets me right where I am, imparting into me the wisdom and encouragement I need.
This Week’s R.E.P.O.R.T
Reading 📖 I officially started my Christmas reading, mainly because the next book in the Maple Fall series I am reading, The Spiced Cocoa Café1, is Christmas-themed. I have a lot of books on my Christmas TBR this year, so I don’t mind getting started a little early.
Eating 🍽️ I’ve been pretty burned out with cooking, but I managed to make: - pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for a cozy, seasonal treat - a quick and easy slow cooker teriyaki chicken and broccoli - potato soup (when the cold front came through)
Obsessing 🥰 This gingerbread drinkware I picked up from Target this week. I’m pretty much obsessed with all things gingerbread and cookies at Christmastime.
Recommending 🗒️ We’re a little less than two weeks out from Thanksgiving, and I’m already thinking ahead and meal planning what I can for that week. With me hosting and doing the majority of the cooking, I want to keep our meals simple and the fridge free as much as possible that week. I already have a pizza night scheduled the day before to give me peace of mind.
Treating 💅🏾 I have always wanted Christmas pajamas, but never bought any for myself. With everything that has been going on lately, I decided to treat myself to a few pairs of seasonal pajamas. These are the pairs I got along with another pair I’ve been eyeing. If you’re considering getting a pair, grab them while you can. The gingerbread ones have already sold out once.
Get After Grateful: A 30-Day Gratitude Challenge
There’s still time to join the Get After Grateful Challenge! Every day, I’m sharing a short reflection and action step in our community chat, inviting you to pause, reflect, and rediscover God’s goodness woven into your everyday life.
The challenge isfree to join, and it’s a simple way to infuse more gratitude, peace, contentment, and joy into your daily rhythm this November.
As you head into a new week, remember this: you don’t have to carry everything perfectly. You don’t have to meet every need, hold every ball, or show up at full capacity to be held by God. Even in the cracks, crevices, and tired corners of your life, His grace meets you fully, freely, and without condition.
When you feel stretched thin or not enough, lean into the truth that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. You are sustained, supported, and supplied by a grace that never runs out.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
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Loved reading you R.E.P.O.R.T. That might be a fun add to my journaling every week for me to do. This gingerbread cups are so cute. I wish I had the space to get some.
Loved reading you R.E.P.O.R.T. That might be a fun add to my journaling every week for me to do. This gingerbread cups are so cute. I wish I had the space to get some.