Gray hair…
Road rage…
Fighting with hubby…
Christmas shopping…
A child that’s going through a lot of changes…
Blog numbers…
Mean people in stores…
Waiting to hear back from editors…
There’s a lot competing for my joy this Christmas season. I don’t want to be like Elmer Fudd and be, “Wookin’ for joy in the wong pwa-ces…”
I know, I know…GONG! 
But I do want to intentionally look for joy. Cause it’s out there. Yesterday, I found joy in my bling-a-licious coffee mug.
So thanks to Sarah Markley, I’ve decided to join her in her “100 Joys” campaign. On the right, (underneath my face), you’ll see a sage green box with red joys letters. Sarah’s counting, via photos and words, 100 joys. I joined. I’m finding one joy each morning. I cut and pasted the “joy” that I posted there today:
My joy today is marriage commitment. My hubby and I had a horrible fight for the past two days. While fighting is the opposite of joyful to me, our commitment to taking five, ten or thirty minute “time-outs” to ensure we communicate fairly and lovingly is a joy to me because in years past that’s not how we rolled. Ten years ago, we quit on our marriage. We separated, moved into different residences and I had the divorce decree drafted. But God…God moved powerfully, and despite us, gave us one more chance…which we didn’t “deserve” then and don’t take lightly today. Thanks to God, commitment is my joy today.
I’m going to find one joy every morning leading up to Christmas. I’ll post as many as I can get typed up to Christmas. Will you join me?
What’s just one thing that you’re joyful about today?
thankful the Lord intervened in your marriage! finishing 100 joys may require a miracle for me, but i am with you, friend, it is really doing a number on my heart. seeing the joy and identifying it is giving me a more grateful heart. . .((thanks sarah for hosting it!!))
i’m grateful. some days are easier than others looking for joy…especially on the ugh days. it’s doing a number on my heart too, grateful sarah got the join train out of the station to help me chug along!
i love it steph. this is exactly what i was hoping would happen – that people would be encouraged to search for a little joy despite reasons not to. thank you so much for participating!!
Thanks for getting the joy-train out of the station!
Hey girl! Found your blog through Sarah’s 100 Joys today…. lovely testimony!! I too am finding joy today in my A-MAZING husband!!
Thanks Charissa! We’re blessed gals to have such awesome hubbys…on the high and low days!
I find joy in reading your posts! I don’t think you realize how many times God has used you to speak (write) the words I needed to hear that day. Thank you for allowing him to do that.
I find joy in having you as my beautiful sister-in-Christ.
P.S. I know what you mean about the husband thing…man, they can be such TURKEYS sometimes! But you know what, I wouldn’t trade mine for ANYTHING! I have no doubt in my mind that he is the one God planned & chose for me – and I would never want to mess up a gift like that.
You made my heart melt and mouth smile – THANKS STEPHANIE!!! You and your words both are special gifts from God! THANK YOU MY SISTER!!!
SOOO doing this!
There’s “joy” in your spice cabinet…right?!?
I know you will be finding joy at 545am on friday!
This info was in an email I got today-just wanted to pass it on so you can celebrate your marriage even more!
Union 28, a little t-shirt company. But oh, they’re so much more than a t-shirt company — after all, check out their mission statement:
“It is our mission to encourage marriages and to honor the sacred covenant between a husband and his wife by communicating a positive image of marriage in a fun and stylish way.”
Their t-shirts, hoodies, and bags exist in order to celebrate marriage. How cool is that? check out Union 28
I did find joy seeing you at 545am, and as for the running part – I’m joyful now!
I just chewck Union 28 out…TOTALLY COOL!
my family who have hung in there during a rough couple of months. It is still bumpy here, but they are not leaving me so… I am blessed.
And they’re blessed to have you…as are your friends!