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! ✨
Hey friends,
Happy December! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Last week, I was deep in hosting mode as we hosted my husband’s family this year. I was thankful to have achieved my goal of getting everything prepped, cooked, and cleaned the day before. That made for a pretty chill and stress-free Thanksgiving day. This week, we were easing back into our school routines. We had a rocky start, but were able to quickly find our rhythm again. I shared a snapshot of our first day back in this TikTok vlog.
Advent also started this week, and I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it had been for the people of God back then to wait for their promised Savior, many of them never even seeing the promise come to pass in their lifetimes, yet they still had faith. Before that, Abraham himself struggled with waiting for his promised son, and even in his doubts and efforts to speed up his promise, he was still credited as faithful.
That’s so encouraging to me, as someone who struggles with waiting. I was sharing with a friend last night, “Oh, how I wish to be on the other side of this, sharing my testimony looking back at all God has done,” but unfortunately, I am still in the messy middle, stuck in what seems to be no way out.
I’m sure the Israelites felt that way, too, but at the right time God fulfilled His promise. He made a way.
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” | Galatians 4:4-6
The good news is that we don’t have to feel faithful in order to be faithful. As Bailey T. Hurley shared in a devotional reading, we need faith in all circumstances — while we are waiting, when things don’t go as expected, and when God’s timing feels questionable. And regardless of our faithfulness (or faithlessness), God is still faithful to us anyway, because of His covenantal promise, regardless of how long we wait.
Because of this, we can celebrate while we wait, remembering and commemorating all that God has done and praising Him in advance for all He will do. He is faithful to do it (1 Thess. 5:24).
The Joy List ✨
Watching holiday movies while cooking. This year, was my first year cooking fresh greens. I usually just grab the bag from the grocery store, but this year I wanted to try some from our local farm. I had turned on a Netflix Christmas movie while I chopped and cleaned them, which was the perfect cozy, holiday vibe.
Spending Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. As I shared earlier, we hosted my husband’s side of the family this year. There was 14 of us total, which made for a full house, but it was so nice to catch up and spend time together.
Attending the Christmas tree lighting downtown. The day after Thanksgiving, Historic Downtown Brunswick had its annual Christmas lighting. Before the lighting, they always read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, which is always fun for the kids. After the lighting, we walked around and looked at Christmas lights in the different squares. It’s always a magical moment for me, reminding me that we really live in a Christmas Hallmark small town.
Resting and sleeping in. Although we had guests, I did my best to sleep in and lounge as much as possible. In the last (Joy)Cap, I shared how I want to get back to the nostalgia of high school and college holiday breaks. I plan on holding the same intention for the upcoming Christmas break.
New stationary. I might be hyper-fixating on all things stationary at the moment as I prep for the New Year 😅. I share more on my current obsession in the weekly report below.
On Holding Plans Close
Just a reminder that it’s okay to hold your plans close. Not every dream, goal, or plan needs to be shared with friends or family. I was recently reminded of this when I prematurely disclosed some plans only to see them recreated. It wasn’t a big deal, but it reminded me that some ideas need nurturing and protection before they’re ready to be released. While it’s fun and exciting to share, and sometimes we wish to collect feedback, use discernment, remembering that sometimes, privacy is protection.
The Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading 📖
I finally picked back up The Spiced Cocoa Cafebut not before reading All I Want Is You by Fallon Ballard. I bought the physical book last year during Christmastime but wasn’t able to get to it. I knew that I wanted to read it this year, so when the Kindle version became available the other week, I figured that this would be the best time to get it in. It was a cute, spicy, quick read.
Enjoying There’s nothing like drinking your morning coffee or nightly tea in a cute Christmasy mug. This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to Trader Joe’s and restock some of my favorite seasonal teas and treats. Click here to see my most recent haul.
Playing 🎧
A lit Christmas tree + a cup of coffee + this playlist playing = the perfect holiday morning vibe. I’ve been enjoying listening to this playlist while going through the Advent study in the morning.
This episode with Raechel Myers, Amanda Bible Williams, and Annie F. Downs was so on time for me. In this episode, the three women talk about the joy, comfort, and challenge of waiting, reminding us that when we groan or lament to God, He listens and moves.
Obsessing 👏🏾 PlannerTok. I’m fairly new to TikTok, so I was completely unaware that this thing could be used as a search engine for interests and hobbies. I’ve recently discovered PlannerTok, and I can’t go back. I’ve been getting so much planner inspiration now, and it may have inspired the haul that I’m sharing with you down below 🙈😆.
Reflecting As chief memory maker, lately, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to our opening ceremonies and traditions that mark the Christmas season. I know that a lot of this is a journey, and there will be things I add and takeaway over the years as seasons change, but I want to make sure that I’m being intentional but also giving myself grace to do what is in my capacity and budget this year. More than anything, it’s about presence, and remembering Christ, the real reason for the season.
Treating 🖋️ A little stationary haul. If you couldn’t tell, I’m in knee-deep into New Year planning and setting up my planner/journaling eco-system for the New Year. I’ll be working on an upcoming post sharing all the details for paid subscribers. Make sure you upgrade if you haven’t already so you can receive the post once it’s live.
A Nourishing Note ☕️
Grace As You Go 🕊️
If you find yourself in a season of waiting, take heart. Advent reminds us that God moves at the right time. The same God who fulfilled His promise in sending Jesus at the exact moment humanity needed Him most is the God who is fulfilling His promises to you now.
When the waiting feels long, or faith feels thin, rest in this truth: God’s faithfulness does not depend on your strength. He will finish what He started. Because of that, you can take the next step, surrender your season, and celebrate the small joys before you, remembering that our promise-keeping God is present in the middle just as much as He is in the miracle.
“He who calls you is faithful; He will do it.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (CSB)
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