Literally! This month we have focused on joy. Joy in family, hobbies, self, work, and faith. We often go through our days forgetting to find joy and are always looking at the glass half empty instead of half full. However, we are days after Thanksgiving heading in the Christmas craziness and we easily can be derailed with decision fatigue. There are decisions around every corner. Our lists are endlessly long. Events are never-ending. Gift-giving is a challenge these days as it seems like everything has to be so grandiose. Shopping this year has been a challenge as well with out-of-stock items. We wake up each morning seemingly trying to put…

I write this post with Thanksgiving being tomorrow. A day that will be filled with an abundance of food and gathering with our family. I am thankful for my family, health, and all that God has given me throughout the year.  We especially are mindful to be thankful during the month of November and on Thanksgiving, but we should always have a thankful heart. God has done so much for us and has provided for us as he sees fit. Maybe not in our timing but when he knows it is the right time. God truly has blessed us with his endless mercies.  I often tell my children to be…

As the verse in Ecclesiastes 3:22 says we should rejoice in our work. God has given us our lot (work) to do and as long as we have God at the center our work should be joyful.  There are days that it is hard to be joyful about our work. Trust me, being a farmer this summer with no chance of rain in the forecast or when there was a chance of rain it didn’t show it was hard to find the joy in work. That is where I had to have a child-like faith that God will provide. Indeed he did a little too late perhaps for this year’s…

We continue our series of finding joy today with our focus on hobbies. Early this year we discussed the lost art of hobbies and finding hobbies to do as a couple. Both of our articles expressed the importance and value of having a hobby and being open to a hobby to enjoy with your spouse. Today I am missing my niece getting confirmed as I have a sick kiddo and am having a hard time missing such a milestone. However, it has given me an opportunity to do a hobby that I love… sewing!! However, I did not set out with utmost joy or look at it as an opportunity.…