Take that One Step Toward the Light

This is not just a famous quote by a brilliant poet. This is the way we need to approach every obstacle or hard circumstance in our lives. Put one foot in front of the other and take a step. There is light at the end of the tunnel even when the path seems too narrow to navigate through. And the comforting truth is that most of the time we don’t have to travel through the darkness alone. There is always someone that God places along side us to hold our hand, encourage us, and let us be assured that all hope is not lost. 

Does this mean that there won’t be consequences for our actions? No. But even the results are just another hurdle to get over on our way to forgiveness and wholeness. It is easy to believe that everyone has given up on us. That we are too damaged to be loved. But the truth is that God forgives our transgressions and has an agape love that is never taken away. He also puts it in people’s hearts to walk beside even the most vile criminals. Kim is a lawyer friend who steps beside those who have committed horrific capital offenses with compassion and a willingness to do all the work to get the best for her clients. Her heart is for the victim as well as the perpetrator. What a gift God has given her to step beside these fallen people. To know that they are not alone but are heard makes their path less frightening. 

Most of us are stepping into situations that are less dark than Kim’s clients but the fear we carry with us can be just as loud. Just know that you don’t have to walk this path alone. Reach out to who will take your hand and comfort you through the journey. 

But prayerfully consider that your best way out is always through. Even when the darkness seems overwhelming. A sliver of light can give hope and a knowing that the darkness can’t last forever if we walk toward His light. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-4-26

 

Colorful, Healthy Can Equal Yummy!

 Greek sheet pan chicken and veggies is so healthy and beyond delicious. Clean up is a breeze and prep time only includes the cutting of the vegetables you want to include. I love this meal. When we were in Greece we fell in love with green olives and feta. Wow! I have not cooked with either enough. I bake mine in the oven and Cameron cooks his on his Blackstone. Either way the veggies get crispy and fabulous. You probably could use your air fryer as well. 

Ronnie B and I are trying to eat more fiber, protein and foods that are more colorful. Little changes like brown or red rice rather than white. Chocolate milk rather than white would fit that, right? How come we used to get rewarded with chocolate milk and now we could buy it anytime and don’t? I think I will include it in our new eating plan. Why not? Actually, we are eating healthier. I thought it would be task intensive to move in this direction. It really isn’t a lot more effort but does take being intentional starting at the menu and grocery store. Ron has always loved salads so I am finding a variety of recipes to add salad meals a few times a week. 

week.

Don’t get me wrong. We will still enjoy our almond croissants and taco Tuesday but are trying to add more healthy options to our planning. Cam and Britt got us new knives for Christmas so cutting all these colorful veggies is a breeze. Now if I can just make sure we eat up all this food before it goes bad. I get excited and make more than we can eat at one sitting. My brain still thinks I have four teenagers to feed. So feel free to stop by for a meal or a snack. You know I made plenty.

In Him,

Joyful

2-3-26

Moonrise-Sunset, Simple Beauties of Life in the Southwest

Last night I dropped Ronnie B and Cora off to take some lunar measurements and explore a calendar cave that he studies. They were out hiking after dark for a couple hours. I took the time to enjoy the full moon and view across the Rio Grande Valley toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It was a beautiful site. This photo does not do it justice. 

This was the view we had when our kids were young and playing t ball through baseball. Living on the top of a mesa sure provides us with spectacular views throughout the year and throughout our lives. Los Alamos has been our home for the past thirty-six years. We raised our children here and watched them spread their wings to other places. 

I love our community and the beauty of our hometown. There are so fond memories of family and friends here. Yesterday, Ron and I met some friends with Clara for the Cowboy breakfast that benefits different charities in town. It is the first Sunday of every month at our local Sheriff’s Posse Shack. It feels like the whole town gathers to visit, eat a few pancakes, and support the kids serving food for their group. The junior ROTC was hosting yesterday. It is great to see young people serving and enjoying working together. Kaycee was one of them. She is now fifteen and I got multiple hugs from her throughout the morning. When she was born, her mom was between houses and she came home to our house from the hospital for a few months. It feels like she and I have a special bond and I love that. What a beautiful, young woman she is becoming. 

There is beauty where ever you live if you look for it. I know when we lived in the Bay Area in California that the look was completely different from here but still lovely. In New Mexico, we don’t have the lush, green rolling hills. In fact, it is a whole lot of dirt landscape. But there is something about finding the beauty where ever you are that makes life pleasant. Heck, people even live in Yuma and somehow find beauty in that desert landscape. Even cactus bloom in the spring and.add a touch of color. After the Super Bowl, we are going to head south to Arizona to visit family and friends and spend sometime in the rv where it is warm and sunny. I can’t wait to hit the road again with my Ronnie B. But truthfully, whether we are here at home or off on an adventure, it is just good to be living life together. Enjoying moonrises and sunsets make it even more spectacular. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-2–26

 

Coffee and the Best Love Story

 

Reading my Bible not to get answers but to connect with God. It is not a text book but a love story drawing me nearer to Him. Will I get the direction I need from it? Absolutely. But it is more about building a relationship than anything else. 

Some wonder why I get up around five am to sip coffee and do a Bible study. The truth is that it centers my day. I begin the day with peace and that sets the tone and my perspective. It helps me feel the love of Christ and His ever accepting nature. More than anyone He knows my flaws and embraces me anyway. That is a powerful start to my day. 

It is not just connecting in the morning that sustains me. I need to whisper and check in throughout my day. Just a brief awareness of His presence in my life, in my tasks, in my connections with others. If I intentionally keep Him at the center of my life, I am less likely to fear, get angry, or feel loneliness. 

There is research that confirms the power of spending time in His Word. Apparently, the statistics show that less than four days is not that beneficial. I guess I need to read my Bible more days than I don’t. That is the lesson here. 

My Amplified Bible has been a game changer for me. Before I avoided the old testament and Revelation believing it was not the best of the story. But this Bible points me back to how the old testament foreshadows Christ coming and dying for me. It relates the old and the new and is growing my understanding of both. I am thankful someone pointed out this version that has helped clarify so much for me. It just shows that sometimes it is not continuing to do the same thing but being willing to embrace a new way of looking at the familiar. 

So here I sit with my steaming cup of coffee beside me, the sun just now streaming in the window, and my Bible opened to Romans. It is no doubt going to be a fabulous day with this beginning. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-1-26 

February with an R

 February is the shortest month and the one that can be the coldest while being known as the love month. Christmas is in the rear view mirror. We struggle to continue those New Year’s goals that we were so confident to achieve in January. In some ways, February is the hardest month to get through. It is just sort of the month that we get through while waiting for spring and new life. 

The Super Bowl is in February and that marks the end of the football season. Now what do we do on Sunday afternoons? Valentine’s Day is a celebration for some and a day to be avoided by others. We even get Presidents Day off and a much needed three day weekend but it is also not the most thrilling holiday of the year. Every four years February has an extra day so that makes it unique from the other months. 

I would love to toot my horn for February but I just can’t. The people who named it were even the worst spellers. Who puts a silent r in a word. Could it be that they were just messing with us to see if we would comply to their spelling and pronunciation? That is my theory. The one good thing about February is that it has a beautiful birthstone with the amethyst. March failed when it came to a beautiful gem. 

But alas tomorrow begins February and we will look forward to the slushy snow storms and longer days as spring approaches. Time to consider the fun of Mardi Gras and what we wish to fast from durning Lint. No, you don’t have to be Catholic to give something up for Lint. Think of it as a refresh on your New Year’s Eve resolutions. Maybe giving up phone games will be mine this year. Yikes! Will it just be another failure? Perhaps. But it is good to keep on striving. Right? Or maybe I will finally launch the podcast that is on my heart. How do you plan to get through February? Let’s encourage each other to embrace this month rather than just enduring it. That makes sense. Right?

In Him,

Joyful

1-31-26

How Many Wooden Spoons Do You Have? How Many Do I Really Need?

My drawer was overcrowded with utensils. Hmmmm what to do, what to do. Should I get rid of the duplicates or donate the excess? Perhaps. But I chose to decorate my counter with this beautiful planter and keep what I possibly don’t really need. I love how it looks. I love the heart shaped wooden spoons that others have gifted me. 

The same thing came up in my closet a few days ago. I finally got all the laundry done and found clothes that had not been hung up in a while. So now I have more clothes than hangars. Buy more hangars or get rid of some clothes is the question. I did get rid of some clothes and am not planning on buying any more hangars. 

Ronnie B and I have been going through the closets in our spare rooms that have become catch alls. We have been putting items and pictures in piles to give to our kiddos. The truth is that our kids don’t want much of our stuff. So why are we holding onto it? I took what seemed like a car full of extras to the thrift store. Hopefully, someone who has a need not a want will acquire our toss offs. 

I hope to continue ridding out rather than acquiring items for the rest of my life. It took time to go through my mom’s and Mary’s things after they passed. I don’t want to burden my kids with all my stuff. How many trips to Goodwill will they have to make if something happens to me? I want to make it less not more. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not getting rid of the things in my home that bring me joy or that I use and desire. But I do have an abundance of stuff that is just clutter. Why do I keep knee braces and when did we get that sixth stapler. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I used a stapler. Now tweezers I need in every room. Chin hairs are real at my age. But I don’t really need all the wooden spoons that I shoved into my pretty planter. That will be a task for a future date. I did see in my pantry that I have five bottles of catsup. For some reason when I am at the store, I think we don’t have an extra catsup and purchase one more. I guess I need to walk some across the street to Jenn when she gets back from Texas. She does need five bottles of catsup for the amount she uses daily. 

I feel good about all the donations that are now out of my house and out of my way. This is an endless job. And it would be easier if so many darn Amazon boxes didn’t show up at our house way too often. Hmmmmmm. I wonder why they keep delivering to us? 

In Him,

Joyful

1-30-26

 
 

24 Hours May be Unreachable but I am Going to Make it a Goal Anyway

 But does that sound simple. In reality it just may be impossible. I would love to say that I can achieve this goal for at least one day but I am not convinced. That being said, i can strive to achieve less complaining and lean toward more gratitude. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says Do everything in love. That is another tough goal to achieve. I try but fail more often than I care to admit. The failure usually comes in the form of gossip of grumbling to someone else or myself about how others act. Even beating myself up for mistakes I make is not a loving way to live. 

There may never come a day when I lay my head on my pillow and can say I achieved either of these goals. But the aspiring toward these goals will move me from where I am today toward a more peaceful, appreciative existence. I am not ever going to be perfect. That is not what I am called to. But being a better version of myself as I walk my walk through life is my goal. 

Rather than sharing my aches, pains, and disappointments I want to share what is fabulous. Rose colored glasses is a perspective shifting attempt to see the best rather than the worst in others and ourselves. I complain about the news only reporting and sensationalizing our communities but I tend to do the same in how I choose to share. And it is a choice. One that I need to be intentional about shifting my focus from the negative to the positive. It takes looking for the good. I may never get to a whole 24 hours snivel free but I am going to reach for it. Pray for me as I pray for you.

In Him,

Joyful

1-26-26