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joy.marker

✍️Writing hope-filled words of reflection.
🌅 Cultivating beauty in every season.

A Prayer - As we begin a New Year May we begin thi

A Prayer - As we begin a New Year
May we begin this new year slowly, allowing space for rest and renewal and creating room for future growth.

May we cultivate ground that will allow us to plant beautiful seeds.

May we grow deep roots, fed by your Word.

May we prepare our branches to produce fruit in rhythm with the changing seasons.

#randomprayer #throughouttheseasons #winter #rest #renewal

My friend @ronnerock shared with us that this year

My friend @ronnerock shared with us that this year, instead of a word, she was entering 2025 with a perspective, a prefix. Can I tell you how much I love this? And how she got me thinking about my RE:

It's January, and it was January six years ago when the future I had imagined for my life shattered with an unexpected diagnosis.

A seemingly strong, independent, I can-do-it-myself, watch-me-get things done person got handed a reality check—a chronic illness, a life journey that would require some serious adjustments.

REimagine - to create a new image, to form a new vision.

Over the past few years, so much of the person I thought I was becoming has had to be broken down and reevaluated. My capacity living with a chronic illness has limited me in many ways, and yet it has opened up a new journey filled with unlimited possibilities for what might be.

I now know very clearly that I canNOT-do-it-myself, but also that I don't want to. I now understand that strength is not found in independence but rather in dependence, humility, and a slow steadiness.

Life throws us the unexpected: a diagnosis, a divorce, a loss, etc. So we grieve the loss of life as we imagined it, as we thought it was or might be.

But then, we go treasure hunting, seeking beauty in unexpected and ordinary places. And we find ourselves beginning to Reimagine.

So here's to @ronnerock. I can't wait to see where her journey, a year filled with RE, takes us.

And when life throws us the unexpected, may we find the courage to REimagine what beautiful new things we can grow.

#randomreflection #reimagine #ordinarylife #beautifulthings #chronicillness #grief

As we enter this new year, Let's remember that w

As we enter this new year,

Let's remember that while we do not always get the opportunity to decide our circumstances, we always get to determine how we live in and through those circumstances.

Let's not forget that we are never too old to have childlike faith and wonder.

Let's spend more time seeing what we have in common with others than remaining focused on the things that set us apart.

Let's keep our eyes open to the brokenness of our world, but rather than becoming disheartened, consider how we might share Light.

Let's focus on the beauty found in the ordinary, scattering kindness and beauty wherever we go.

Let's enter this new year with curiosity. I wonder?

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #newyear #winter #wonder

To my friends, whether we've met virtually or in p

To my friends, whether we've met virtually or in person, thank you for showing up in this space, reading my random reflections, and sharing your stories.

2024 has been a wild ride, holding both grief and joy. Finding beauty and light in this broken and war-torn world sometimes feels like incredibly hard work. And yet, we kept looking and found the good, and when we did, it was so very good and beautiful.

As we enter 2025, "here's what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering."
(Romans 12:1, The Message)

Let's loosen the hard-packed soil, releasing what is not ours to carry and making room for beautiful new things to grow.

If you're not already subscribed to Throughout The Seasons and would like to read a year-end and new-year coming update, click on the link in my bio. I'll also share in my stories.

#randomreflection #endofyear #cultivating #throughouttheseasons #newyear

This Christmas, May we open the gift of Hope and

This Christmas,

May we open the gift of Hope and share that Hope with others.

May we find true Peace and carry it out into the world.

May we know real Joy and share it freely.

May we remember that we are so very Loved and spread that Love in our world.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #advent #christmas #hope #peace #joy #love

Maybe this Christmas season finds your fists close

Maybe this Christmas season finds your fists closed tight, your jaw clenched, and feeling as if you carry all this weight on your shoulders.

Perhaps while you sing Joy to the World, you desperately long for joy. Or while Silent Night plays in the background, your head spins with thoughts and worries, anything but silent. The good news is that we don't have to stay in that space.

Take a moment and breathe in deep. Tightly clench your fist and then release, open your hands, and imagine laying all your worries aside.

Breathe deep and feel your jaw relax, unclenching teeth. Pull your shoulders up close to your ears, and then relax them. Feel the weight drop.

Now, remember what Christmas is really all about. True love that was born in a stable. And true love still carries us through.

As we reflect and process all that is happening in this season, may we also remember:

The most extraordinary love story was written for each of us.
Joy is often found in the unexpected when we find gratitude for the gifts, no matter how small.
The prince of peace came to give us inner peace and show us how to live as peacemakers.
There is always hope, even when we can't see it. We can choose to live it.

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." The Grinch by Dr. Seuss

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we live fully present today. May we overflow with love, knowing we are so very loved.

#randomreflection #throughouttheseasons #advent #christmas #hope #peace #joy #love

As I rolled sheets of pasta dough, I caught myself

As I rolled sheets of pasta dough, I caught myself thinking,
"I should get a pasta roller, it'd be much more efficient."

But, as I continued to work, I began to wonder,

When did the work of our hands become not good enough?

When did we start to equate speed with efficiency?

And

When did perfect and uniform become the standard in which we felt we needed to achieve?

Someday I might get a pasta roller, who knows.

Yet, I pray that I never lose sight of the gift of something made by hand. I pray my home and table are continually filled with perfectly imperfect hand crafted, slow cooked, uniquely created things.

That goes for people too. Perfect and uniform feels rather dull anyway.

#randomreflection
#kitchentherapy

Stacks of books, warm cozy blankets, glowing candl

Stacks of books, warm cozy blankets, glowing candles, and a fire. These are a few of my favorite winter things.

I have updated the Books and Other Things I Love page over at Random Reflection to welcome the official start of winter.

Follow the link in my bio to check it out.

#randomreflection #booksandotherthingsilove #seasons #winter #lightenyourload #rest #prepare

As we light the fourth candle this Advent Season (

As we light the fourth candle this Advent Season (or simply pause to reflect), let's take a moment to consider Love—remembering that we are so very loved and invited to love one another from that place of being loved.

Is the Love we say we have for others reflected in how we live?
Do we care for the deeply divided world, even loving the unlovable?
What is an attribute of Love that is challenging to live out in the ordinary every day?
Have we accepted the invitation to love others as Jesus loves?

God gives us Love for others that comes only from you.

Help us to hold in our hearts the gift of Jesus' birth and the True Love that came to earth for ALL the people.

In this broken and war-torn world, may we not depend on Love as a feeling. But, give us the strength to actively Love others.

Give us listening ears,
Noticing eyes,
Compassionate hearts,
Open hands,
So that we might know true Love and carry that Love into this world divided.

May we know we are so very Loved and spread that Love in our world.

Amen

If you'd like to read more reflections on Love, please join me on Substack at Throughout The Seasons, link in bio.

#randomreflections #throughouttheseasons #advent#love #joy #hope #peace #winter #christmas

Winter, she whispers. "lighten your load, rest, an

Winter, she whispers. "lighten your load, rest, and prepare."

When I consider winter's invitation to lighten my load, rest, and prepare, I do not think that lightening my load means I stop living my ordinary everyday life. Rather it asks that I take time to discern what this particular season of life needs and when to say "no" so I can say "yes" to what matters most without overextending myself.

Rest is not a passive or lazy activity but rather an intentional practice to restore weary bodies and souls. And I do not believe preparation requires us to make lists to be checked off (although it can), but rather a time for dreaming dreams and determining the next right steps to help us move forward.

Winter arrives when many of us are in the throws of the holiday season. Work parties, school events, and family gatherings fill our calendars, and while we may enjoy all the season's merriment and festivities, it does not always feel so restful.

And yet, even amidst the festivities, it is not too early to consider winter's invitation. While baking cookies and holiday treats, it is not unreasonable to consider how we might accept winter's invitation to rest.

When I think of winter, I think of home-cooked meals, a house warmed by a fire, glowing candles, warm cozy blankets, and a stack of books.

When I think of winter, I wish for a slower pace, more time gathering with family and friends, and space for my soul to breathe.

When I think of winter, I think of rest but also finding space to dream new dreams and prepare for what might grow come spring.

What comes to mind when you consider winter's invitation to lighten your load, rest, and prepare?

#randomreflection #seasons #winter #lightenyourload #rest #prepare

Guess What? Guess What? Guess Whhhhhaaaat? Tomorr

Guess What? Guess What? Guess Whhhhhaaaat?

Tomorrow, it is officially WINTER.

All my summer-loving friends are likely grieving the prospect of the cold, dark months ahead. And yet, if you've been around here for any length of time, you are likely aware that I consider myself to be somewhat of a winter enthusiast.

As I've attempted to learn to live more in rhythm with nature's seasons, I have uncovered the gifts that winter offers. I have learned that there is so much value, beauty, and good to be found in this season we call winter.

I was also born a Tromsness, a family of Norwegian descent.

Ness is a peak in the water, and Troms a region in northern Norway. Home to the concept of koselig, a unique Norwegian tradition. Some might say koselig is hygge 2.0, comfort that transcends mere physical comfort to embody a sense of warmth, belonging, and the Joy of life's simplest pleasures.

Joy is also my name, which holds significant meaning for such a small name. (If you want to learn the story behind my name, check out my latest newsletter; link is in my bio.)

While the Merriam-Webster dictionary would tell us that Joy is an emotion evoked by well-being, good fortune, or success. Other languages and cultures use various words for Joy to capture its more complex meanings.

Scandinavians have multiple words for Joy, Koselig being one of them.
Koselig describes the Joy found in those warm, fuzzy feelings you get when you're surrounded by people you love in a cozy setting.

As I've spent more time studying winter, my name, and my heritage, I have become a Winter Enthusiast. It just feels like it runs deep in my bones, roots, and story.

But don't worry, you don't have to be Norwegian or named Joy to be a Winter Enthusiast. You just need to accept the beauty and gifts that winter offers and embrace the warmth, belonging, and the Joy of life's simplest pleasures.

Hello, winter season; you are welcome here.

#randomreflection #winter #winterenthusiast #joy

Merriam-Webster would tell us that Joy is an emoti

Merriam-Webster would tell us that Joy is an emotion evoked by well-being, good fortune, or success. But, I would like us to consider that perhaps true Joy is found regardless of circumstances.

Chara, the Greek word for Joy, means an inner gladness, a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites in us a cheerful heart.

When using the word Joy during Advent, we are not referring to our English dictionary definition of happiness. This Joy is a more substantial and less common feeling than just happiness, and it is found regardless of circumstances.

In the New Testament, "chara" is used to describe a deep sense of Joy rooted in spiritual realities rather than external circumstances.

As Ann Voskamp reminds us, it is "the brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world."

#randomreflections #throughouttheseasons #advent #joy #hope #peace #winter #christmas

"she laid him in a manager because there was no ro

"she laid him in a manager because there was no room for them in the inn."

It's easy to look back and make judgments on the fact that no one made room for a pregnant woman to deliver and then care for her baby.

Yet, the hustle and bustle of our ordinary life keeps our days full. So full, perhaps, that there is no room in our inn. And I can't help but wonder if I myself am making room.

As we prepare for Christmas, I wonder ............

In our sorrow, have we made room for joy?

In our doubt, have we made room for hope?

In our conflict, have we made room for peace?

In our hustle, have we made room for love?

In the chaos of our ordinary days, have we made room for the good news of great joy?

#randomreflection #advent #joy #hope #peace #love #makingroom

As we light the third candle this Advent Season (o

As we light the third candle this Advent Season (or simply pause to reflect), let's take a moment to consider Joy—remembering that our Joy is not dependent on circumstances, emotions, or feelings but comes from a more significant source.

Have you found yourself struggling to feel joyful this season?
What reminds you that there is still Joy to be found?
Where have you found Joy in the story of Christmas?

God gives us an inexpressible Joy that comes only from you.

Help us to hold in our hearts the gift of Jesus' birth and the Joy that is for ALL the people.
In this broken and war-torn world, may we not seek Joy in circumstances. But, give us the strength to actively share your Joy with others.

Give us listening ears,
Noticing eyes,
Compassionate hearts,
Open hands,
So that we might have Joy and carry Joy through our ordinary days.

May we find our Joy in you and share that Joy with others.

Amen

If you'd like to read more reflections on Joy, please join me on Substack at Throughout The Seasons, link in bio.

#randomreflections #throughouttheseasons #advent #joy #hope #peace #winter #christmas

This athletic-only attire kid pulls off formal wea

This athletic-only attire kid pulls off formal wear nicely.

From 6th Grade Music Program to Winter Formal.

#seniorsunday #classof2025

Our oldest son is in a season of attending college

Our oldest son is in a season of attending college visits, and as a people watcher, I enjoy paying attention to the various types of parents we encounter on these trips.

On a recent trip, a mother was there with her son, and it quickly became apparent that she was VERY concerned with security. She pointed out every camera and, specifically, the spaces where cameras were lacking. She asked about security staff, curfews, and campus rules. Her observations and questions all indicated she held a lot of FEAR.

As someone who lives with and takes medication for anxiety, I understand the propensity towards fear. So, I do not discount it or take it lightly.

However, I wonder if, as a society, we have allowed fear to hold too much power.

When my youngest was five, he was riding his balance bike on the sidewalk with his helmet on, and I was walking three feet or less behind him when an elderly neighbor pulled into her driveway and hit him. Thankfully, his helmet protected him from severe damage, and he quickly recovered. But that moment is seared in my mind forever.

We did everything right, we were safe, and I was right there with him, yet I had no power to stop what happened.

It was an eye-opening reminder that I am not in control, that bad things happen even when we are doing everything right, and that living in fear of what might happen only robs me of the beauty to be found today.

Making safe choices is not bad; I wear my seatbelt when I drive and a helmet when I ride my bike. Yet, understanding that I cannot control life or the events that may or may not happen, I choose not to allow FEAR to be in control.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (1 Timothy 1:7)

#randomreflection #fear #love #overcoming #anxiety
(photo: May 2015 after being hit by a car)

"The planet does not need more "successful people.

"The planet does not need more "successful people." The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds." Dalai Lama

As we reflect on PEACE this Advent Season, perhaps, instead of finding ourselves discouraged by the lack of Peace in our world, we might consider how we can be ambassadors of Peace, "let it begin with me."

What might it look like to live as a peacemaker, an ambassador of Peace?

Peacemakers represent characteristics of love. Attributes like patience, kindness, not being proud or boastful, they are not self-seeking.

Peacemakers are not people who avoid conflict at all costs. They welcome disagreement but approach conflict, willing to listen and learn first. They are open-minded, seeking to understand while valuing the truth.

Peacemakers are proactive in how they live, building relationships, and trust. They often show mercy to others, display acts of kindness, and win the hearts of others.

Peacemakers are gentle in spirit; they are calm and slow to anger. They understand emotions are involved and are sensitive to others' feelings. It does not mean they always agree with everyone; instead, they know how to disagree politely.

#randomreflections #throughouttheseasons #advent #hope #peace #winter #christmas

Happy 18th Birthday,🥳😲🏈🎉 Benjamin! As

Happy 18th Birthday,🥳😲🏈🎉 Benjamin!

As we cross this milestone with you into emerging adulthood, there are so many feelings. Eventually, I'll find the words to adequately express all those feelings, but today, we want to just celebrate you.

May you always know you are so very loved.

#birthday #turning18 #emergingadult

As we light the second candle this Advent Season (

As we light the second candle this Advent Season (or simply pause to reflect), let's take a moment to consider Peace—remembering that Jesus came to bring Peace to the world and to show us how to live as peacemakers.

Think of your ordinary every day; what spaces do you find lack peace?
What is one characteristic of a peacemaker that you are living out well?
Where might you improve how you live as a peacemaker? In your homes? Your community?

God remind us that your Peace can be found even in the middle of chaos and war.

Help us to hold in our hearts the gift of Jesus' birth and the reminder that he came as our Prince of Peace.

In this broken and war-torn world, may we be Peacemakers. Give us the strength to actively engage in bringing your Peace to others.

Give us listening ears,
Noticing eyes,
Compassionate hearts,
Open hands,
So that we might see Peace and carry Peace through our ordinary days.

May we find our Peace in you and share that Peace with others.

Amen

If you'd like to read more reflections on Peace, please join me on Substack at Throughout The Seasons, link in bio.

#randomreflections #throughouttheseasons #advent #hope #peace #winter #christmas

Pausing to remember birthday #1 as we prepare to c

Pausing to remember birthday #1 as we prepare to celebrate birthday #18.

#seniorsunday #classof2025

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