Tired and worn after a difficult meeting, I’m eager to be home. The sight that greets me when I open the door is a dirty pan and a dish with lunch scraps. “At least he could have put these in the sink,” I think, removing the mess from the counter. I open the fridge to…
“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” ~Russell M. Nelson A few weeks ago, I met up with a friend and her family to spend the day at the local botanical gardens. My husband and I are members…
I’m pretty much the last person you’d think God would call to write about growing a more joyful life. After a year of challenges in 2016, I was downright miserable despite my apparent faith. I’d struggled to accept a new long-term health issue. I’d achieved far less than I hoped at work, always chronically behind…
In 2004 I arrived. It was the year I accomplished everything on my wish list. After my high school graduation, I packed up my red Chevy Cavalier and headed to the city. I shook the small-town dust off my Birkenstocks and marched full speed toward my dreams. I pursued my degree with unequivocal focus. I…
One of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season is get up early, snuggle under a cozy fleece blanket with coffee cup in hand, and gaze at our Christmas tree as it dimly lights the room. In Michigan, more often than not the ground outside the window is covered in white, glistening snow….
The season of fabulous feasting—days filled with savory meals, second helpings, and leftovers—is upon us. But especially for women, a tension exists between the excitement and joy of being with loved ones and the work and preparation. I vividly recall my grandma hard at work in her kitchen, making the most delicious holiday dishes. Years…