The Weekly (Joy)Cap
Week of September 20th - September 27th (24') | Fall Traditions, Hurricane Helene, and The Very Best Part of Fall
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 hope everybody is safe. The last few days have been a rollercoaster ride as we have dealt with the aftermath of the storm. We’ve received some heavy rainfall and moderate winds for the last few days, but I’m thankful that the storm didn’t hit hard and we are safe.
But I can’t say the same for some of my friends and family. Some of them, including my husband and in-laws have had both power and phone lines down and those lines are expected to remain down for a few weeks, and others have had some trees cause damage to their homes. I am thankful that I got in touch with my husband and in-laws. They came up here yesterday, and I was so thankful that the Lord kept them safe. Honestly, the storm gave us quite a scare, but I’m thankful for God’s sovereignty and protection.
Along with the craziness of the storm, this week has been an adjustment, as my Dad returned home and my husband was on the road with his new routes. I did my best to lean into fall commencement traditions to keep us grounded and busy.
On Sunday, I grabbed pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts from Dunkin to kick off the fall. I lit a seasonal candle and poured a second cup of coffee, and the kids and I enjoyed our donuts while listening to a fall Spotify playlist. While we were eating, I decided to do a fall-themed devotional with the kids, sharing with them from Ecclesiastes 3, on the purpose and timing of each season. It was short, quick, and just what our hearts needed to recalibrate to a new season, both spiritually and physically. We wrapped up the day with fall water coloring sheets and sensory bins.
That weekend, I placed a large box load of fall books on hold, at the library, that were ready for pickup. Fall and Christmas reads for the kids are probably my most favorite of them all.
What Brought Me Joy ✨
Ringing in fall with new traditions. I shared more on how family and home life are some of the areas I’m attuning to this season, and a part of that is creating traditions. I shared more about this in my Instagram post and my recent essay.
A ChatGPT stratgey session with one of my best friends. She used that tool to breathe new life into my business.
Quiet mornings and hot coffee before the kids get up. I am in a season of solo parenting, and I love to maximize any quiet moment I can get.
Currently Reading 📚
This week I finished Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore, The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest, and Fall for Murder by Kathleen Suzette.
I’m slowly reading through The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson, and Sacred Work by author Peggy Bodde, and You Are Your Child’s First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy.
Something about this rainy weather is putting me in a cozy, fantasy mood. I’ve been listening to Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross on audio, and it’s giving me all the cozy, fall vibes.
I’m always sharing my thoughts in real time on Fable and Instagram. For ratings and reviews, check out my Goodreads.
Currently Listening 🎧
This was such a fun episode. If you’re looking for fall books, recs, and traditions to try, you will enjoy this episode!
Currently Loving 💕
Recently, I pulled out New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp off the shelf, and I’ve been loving how these entries convict me and remind me to get myself off of myself and onto Christ. (It’s on a Prime Day deal, if you’ve been thinking about snagging it!)
Occasionally, I have been swapping my nighttime tea for warm apple cider, and it’s been one of my favorite evening rituals.
Fave Substack Read of the Week 💻
In this post,
contemplates why everyone loves fall, and she’s not wrong. Fall is the season of grounding and presence.Everyone loves autumn, and I’m always contemplating why. Each season has its positives, but there’s something in particular about this season of transition between long summer days and winter holidays, pumpkin-spice-everything, and pretending-to-like-football (or is that just me?) that calls out something higher in our souls. I wonder whether it scratches an itch, even temporarily, of some deeper longing for feeling at home, feeling comfortable in one’s skin (not too hot, not too cold), and for living more present in the moment.
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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