SPEAKING JOYFULLY
5 Helps when Mother’s Day Hurts
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Wherever I looked it seemed as if people had a mother with them. Young children giggled as they held hands with their moms; college-aged daughters and their middle-aged moms talked and shopped together; elderly women shuffled slowly...
Trusting God’s Faithfulness
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com I trusted they would be there. The ocean blue as far as I could see. The white-capped waves breaking on the beach. The sun rising above the water as it signaled a new day. It had been well over a year since I had seen the ocean,...
Unexpected Difficulties and Delights
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com The unexpected - when bad - can deliver a punch that hits hard, bruising our lives. A 2 a.m. call awakens the mom and dad of a college-aged daughter to inform them of a serious accident. The sole provider for four young children gets...
Linger-land or Ladder-land?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com “You’re in Linger-land,” I said to my friend who shared about her lack of progress on a long-time dream. Her idea has merit and could help others but she’s still at the starting gate. I recognized the signs of Linger-land. I have...
Repair and Restoration by Expert Hands
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Decayed. Cracked. Damaged. The gouges ran deep inside. Several boards on our deck showed signs of storms, weight, and daily wear, so we decided to replace the ones that were severely messed up. After the craftsman replaced the old...
Celebrate Easter with Meaning – 24 Activities to Explore
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com “Love, the Easter Bunny” read the card that came with the basket of goodies I found on my front porch as a high school teenager. After the initial surprise and thrill of the gift, I wanted to know the who and the how. Curious about...
What do Salt and a Spiritual Walk Share?
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com In case you missed it, this past week was World Salt Awareness Week. When we think of salt, flavor and preservative usually come to mind. Yet thousands of practical uses exist for salt in our daily lives, and sodium is vital to our...
Boost Blooms and New Growth in the Yard and Heart
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com When new growth returns to our yards – and our hearts - the dormant and the dark give way as blooms push forth in the light. After enduring the dark, cold days of winter, multi-colored pansies seem heartier and stronger than ever....
Hurting Inside
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com People everywhere are hurting. Wearied by the demands of everyday life. Saddened by the loss of a loved one. Burdened by the destructive choices of a family member. Worried about paying the bills or feeding the family. Injured by the...
Messing Up What Was Lent
©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com Being lent something hasn’t always worked out well for me – or the one who loaned it. The smell permeating my house made it difficult to breathe. In less than 30 minutes, about 35-40 people were due to arrive at our house for an...