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’s easy to spend so much time anticipating the big things—the milestones, the celebrations, the special outings—but sometimes, the quiet, unexpected moments are the ones that settle deep in our souls.
Like on Friday, we took a family trip to the Jacksonville Zoo for the twins’ birthday. It’s rare for my husband to be off work, so this felt like a gift in more ways than one. As we drove down, we made a quick stop in a sleepy coastal town for gas and breakfast. I unwrapped my sandwich, feeling the warmth in my hands, and took in the stillness of that moment—the hum of the car, my family all together, the slow, unhurried start to the day.
Then, on Saturday, after swinging by the library to pick up my holds, I decided to check out Coast Fest, a waterfront festival happening just across the street. I had seen it advertised but hadn’t planned to go, yet something in me decided to walk over. And for some reason, my heart was glad. It reminded me of the small-town festivals I grew up with—not extravagant, but full of pride, community, and that unspoken familiarity of home. I watched kids running across the playground, took in the salty-sweet aroma from the food trucks, and let the waterfront breeze settle something in me. I didn’t realize how much I needed that moment.
Sunday, we made it back to church for the first time in over a month. Getting out the door with the kids is always a battle, but once I’m there, I never regret going. The service was exactly what my heart needed—a quiet centering, a recalibration of my soul.
Then came Monday, the twins’ actual birthday, which meant slipping into my usual role as chief magic maker, where I’m behind the scenes orchestrating the fun and making the day special. It was equal parts joyful and exhausting. And the rest of the week? The usual rhythms—cleaning, resetting the house, correcting and disciplining, fighting off overstimulation and overwhelm — the way I spend the majority of my days.
I am grateful for moments like these. I live for moments like these, mainly because they are the very moments I once longed for, the ones I now have the privilege of experiencing. But I’ve come to realize they are only moments—gifts meant to give us joy and encouragement, not necessarily to anchor our weeks. It’s easy to live for the weekend, for the special plans, the indulgences. But most of life is spent in the in-between—the preparing and planning, the vacuuming and mopping, the washing and folding. And in our longing, we can’t forget that there is joy and purpose to be discovered here, too — both in the meaningful and the mundane.
Glimpses of Grace 🌤️
Lately, grace has looked like simply capturing gratitude when it appears. I felt it as we drove down to Jacksonville for the twins’ birthday—a rare weekend away as a family. We stopped in a sleepy coastal town for gas and breakfast, and as I unwrapped my sandwich, I found myself pausing, just taking it all in. The quiet hum of the morning, the ease of being together, the warmth of something so simple yet so special.
I felt it again when I stopped by a new friend’s house to drop off a book, thinking I’d just be in and out. Instead, I ended up staying for hours, welcomed into her home, into deep conversation, into one of those unexpected but needed moments of connection. And then there was the afternoon by the waterfront, the kids running and laughing while I set up their lunches on the picnic table, the breeze carrying in a sense of peace.
None of these moments were huge or planned, but they were full. And maybe that’s what grace has been showing me lately—that fullness isn’t always found in the grand or extraordinary but in the slowing down, the noticing, the receiving.
The Joy List ✨
Celebrating the twins’ birthday. This past Monday, the twins’ turned three. To celebrate, on Friday we took the kids to the Jacksonville Zoo, and Monday we spent the day together as a family. My twin boy, Kai, was so happy that he sang the happy birthday song to himself the whole day. It was a sweet day.
Conversation with a friend. I feel like making friends at this age is just as awkward as making friends in elementary school or the early stages of dating. I always feel a little vulnerable and nervous reaching out to a new friend, but on Saturday, I decided to put myself out there and offer to drop off a book that I suggested to one of my new friends, and it was great. Her and I got to chat at her home for a few hours, and it was just what I needed.
Getting back to church. Due to recovering from hand, foot, and mouth and bad weather, we had been home on Sundays for the last month. This past Sunday, I was thankful to be back in the building. With the kids, it’s always a challenge to watch service online, so I was grateful I could finally worship in person again.
Library and Picnic at the Waterfront. Every Tuesday we go to the library, which is downtown across the street from the waterfront that has a playground. I’ve been meaning to take the kids over there for awhile now. Since the weather was going to be nice that day, I packed some bento boxes and after storytime, we headed across the street to play and eat lunch. I think this is going to be a staple part of our spring and summer rhythm.
Currently Savoring 💞
These bento boxes that I prepare in advance for quick lunches on the go with kids.
A Million Tiny Moments by Emily A. Jensen and Laura Wifler. I’ve been loving this new release by Emily A. Jensen and Laura Wifler, the last book in the Risen Motherhood legacy collection. When I’m having a hard day or need to be encouraged, I love reading a quick reflection for refreshment or encouragement. The best part about it is that each reflection is organized into sections — for example, for when you are tired, afraid, sad, limited, or need strength to keep going. It’s perfect when you need a quick reset with sound wisdom and Gospel truth.
I enjoyed listening to the wisdom shared by Sally Clarkson as she recounted the lessons that she has learned and experienced over the years. In this episode, she shares the key to living life well — by following God’s Word, adhering to His truth and wisdom, and taking captive our thoughts as we follow the unique path He’s laid before us.
A Nourishing Note ☕️
Grace As You Go 🕊️
Life isn’t just made up of the grand celebrations or the perfectly planned moments—it’s woven together in the everyday rhythms that quietly shape our days. The birthday candles and deep belly laughs. The slow mornings and full afternoons. the errands that turn into unexpected adventures. The mundane and the momentous, the ordinary and the extraordinary—all of it comes together to create a life that is whole, rich, and deeply fulfilling.
This week, may you embrace the beauty of it all. May you find joy — not just in the milestones but in the small, quiet moments that string our days together, because every moment, big or small, is an invitation to gratitude, a reason to praise.
Go in grace, knowing that each moment—celebrated or seemingly insignificant—is part of something beautiful.
"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised."| Psalm 113:3
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