Critty Joy

My Sassy Niece Has Something to Say....

Last weekend I had the lovely honor of taking some of my favorite photos....

So I'll let those photos do the talking....

 

 

Yes!

I am going to be an Aunt again and I am over the moon excited!  

Toccoa was Bean... and we are calling this one Spike for now.  This is totally Toccoa's doing.  She loves My Little Pony and she has deemed it that she is Twilight Sparkle and the baby dragon is Spike.  So of course he had to be in some photos too.  It was such a fun day and we are all relieved we can now tell people!  In the next few weeks we will learn the gender....I must admit I am hoping for a boy.  That is Toccoa's hope too.  I think it would be so special since it would be like Michael and I.  Big sister...little brother.  :)

What is something lovely that has happened to you lately?

One Word 2017

Hello Lovelies!

It’s been a busy two weeks!  I started back to work, the RAs came back and we had training, the students moved back in and it’s been very busy.  Thankfully after this week things will slow down to a somewhat normal pace for higher ed.  At least I can say my job is never boring!

During this time I have been waiting for my one word for 2017.  I was honestly getting disappointed and discouraged that a word had not come. I have had a word for my year since 2009: journey, hope, freedom, dare, embrace, grace, wholehearted, bloom…. Each has significantly shaped my life and my story.  To not have a word this year was disheartening but I knew God must be doing something…

One night I was catching up on some blogs and read Sarah Bessey’s blog about her word.  She mentioned her words in the past and one stuck out in particular so I clicked on the link and proceeded to cry through the whole post because it spoke to my heart so…and then I knew my word….or rather words…

Hebrews 10:23 says… Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. (NRSV)

Hope has long been something I cling to.  And the last 9 months have been so hard and I have tried to hold onto hope.

As I read Sarah’s post I ugly cried because it was right where I was at.

Discouraged.

Desperate.

Overwhelmed.

Lost.

After I read the verse it hit me…even in the midst of the hard parts of life…He is faithful.  Always.

I needed to keep holding…but more than that hold fast to my confession of hope.  Hold fast to my knowledge that He is faithful.

Sarah went on to say this:

“He is faithful. Hold fast to hope.

Hold fast is an old sailing term, too – tying knots that hold tightly for instance. It means to remain steadfast and immovable, to cling to and adhere, to attach. For the sake of survival and safe passage to the new land, we hold fast … to hope.”

By definition hold fast means: remain tightly secure; continue to believe in or adhere to an idea or principle.

Right now things are hard.  Some I can’t mention yet and we also received really hard news this week we are still processing.  I am tired.  I am discouraged.

But I am holding fast.

To hope.

To belief in who He is.

To knowledge He is faithful.

To the love He has for me.

So let me encourage you if you too are struggling… disheartened…discouraged.

Hold Fast.

Do you have a word for this year dear ones?  I would love to hear all about it!

 

(PS...I have some fun news to share in my next post!)

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Back to Reality...

Well technically....day 2.  ;)

 

Hello!

I hope you had a most delightful holiday season!

Sigh.  Tomorrow it is back to work for me.  I have been off work since December 22. It's a perk of working in higher education!  I would tell you all the glorious things I did while at home but alas I spent most of my time off in bed with the crud.  Given to me by the husband.  I did get to snuggle with my cat so that was the upside to things.  I also may have watched way too many Hallmark Christmas movies! I slept most of Christmas day which is sad for me...but I did manage to feel better in time for New Years Eve...although we stayed in our pajamas all day and watched things like NCIS LA and Chrisley Knows Best.  We know how to party I tell you.

I have been doing little things like working on my book list for this year, trying to figure out my one word, and making a list of topics to blog about so I can be more proactive with writing this year.

I must admit to feeling a little off on this second day of 2017.  By now I usually know my goals, have my word, and planning how to meet them.  I think part of the reason is because I have set goals the last few years and did not succeed.  So no big goals this year.  Just my one word, the reading challenges, and writing. 

Last year was hard.  HARD.  I was not sad to see it go but with that I think I am looking to take small steps into this new year.  I'm slightly afraid of what it will hold but also I have hope that good things will come.  Some years are bitter.  Some years are sweet.  And some are bitterly sweet.  I am still having some trouble accepting some of the bitter from last year. I will be working on letting it go this week as I do not want last year to overshadow this year.  Simple things that bring delight to my heart is how I am going to work on this.  Of course that might have to wait until next week as the next few days will be crazy as we gear up to start a new semester!

There is an unsettledness in my heart.  Anxiety had made for a few sleepless nights and I feel a stirring.  I have these hopes and dreams I buried a long time ago that keep surfacing and I am not sure what that looks like.  Have you ever had those times of unsettledness?  I feel quiet but not because I don't want to say anything...more because I just don't know yet what the stirring is.  It's an uncomfortable place but I have found in the last few years those uncomfortable places are where He often meets me.  I have prayed hard over the last few days for clarity and wisdom.  I am thankful He knows what is stirring and that he will reveal it in time.  I can be a bit impatient...so I'll just be praying and biting my fingernails off.

Oh I kid about the fingernails. 

I hope.

Thankfully we are on page two of a brand new book.  A new story is just waiting to be written.  I may be unsettled and uncomfortable but at least I know who my co-author is and He is pretty darn trust-worthy!

How was your holiday dear ones and how is the start of your new year?

 

Why, Hello There!

My goodness.  It's been a while!  For months my heart has longed for words here but I just didn't make the time.  As we come to the end of 2016 (also known as the most awful year ever.) I realized I needed this space.  Much has happened over the last few years.  Beautiful things.  Ugly things.  A whole lot of messy.  A whole lot of glorious hope.

In the end I needed to start putting my words out there again.  So with a brand new look Critty Joy is ready to step into 2017!  Did you know I started writing this blog in 2007?  So 2017 will mark my 10th year.  What better time to re-enter one of my favorite hobbies and enjoy all that it has to offer!

I will be participating in a few things to help me to keep coming to this space and to also share parts of me here...the fun stuff and the messy stuff on the days when I don't feel like writing.

I am going to participate in Modern Mrs. Darcy's reading challenge!

I also want to participate in Leigh Kramer's What I'm Into link up.

It's also time for me to chose my OneWord365 word for 2017.  I've been pondering on it but don't have a solid one yet.

I am going to look into some other things to participate in around bloggy land.  So if you know any good ones please let me know!

There will also be stories about my life... some fun such as my marriage and being a fur mom...and the not so fun stuff as I have decided to document about my struggle with anxiety and depression.  

And lastly... I am feeling the creative bug again so I will be creating wallpapers and other digital art fun here!  I am so excited to start creating...as you can tell I had fun with my new blog look.  :)

 

How are you my friends?  I have missed you so!  

<3

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Why Hello There!

It's been a while bloggy land!  For months now I have wanted to write.  I reserved my domain and came back to my home.  (with a small change it is now crittyjoy.me!) and then it sat.  But for weeks it has been stirring in me I need to write.  I miss it.  I changed everything back to Critty Joy because that has long been my moniker and it is me.  It is CJ who has made the most delightful friends in bloggy land and is so glad to be back!  

However I am not the person from a few years ago.  Much has changed.  My journey is different.  I hope to share that here.  My story.  My struggles and my mess.  My triumphs and my joy.  And of course randomness.  It's not the CJ blog without the random!  My passions have changed some.  My heart has definitely changed some.  And embracing those changes has been important.

I came back as Critty Joy because I met the most delightful people on my journey in this space years ago and I want to come back and make this space my home again.  I hope you will join me.  I am not sure exactly how things look...I know for now at least a weekly post...and I do have some great bible studies and books to talk about.  

I hope you will join me again on my journey.  I have missed you so lovelies.  

Merry Christmas and An Announcement....

First...an announcement my dear ones...

This is my last post from this internet home...

Critty Joy Blog is moving.  THIS is going to be my new home at some point this week.  Right no there is nothing really there but soon...  Hopefully I will be able to move the RSS feed and get my domain working...and get everything settled during this quiet week of work.  I'm on duty for this week so that means lots of time in my apartment with plenty of time to get everything moved and working.  :)   

If you want to bookmark http://crittyjoy.blogspot.com/ just in case that would be fab...also I will be keeping you updated on facebook and twitter. 

I do plan to do a post this week (at my new internet home!) about my oneword for 2012...and my new word for 2013.

 

And I wanted to wish you a....

Much love,

Love Came Down :: A Dayspring Review.

I am so excited to share my thoughts on some of Dayspring's beautiful Christmas products with you dear ones.  I adore how (in)courage does their (in)spired deals!

There was a slight mix-up and I ended up with something unexpectedly different but here is the lovely thing...all of it is delightful!

I loved opening my box and finding so many gorgeous things.

Dayspring introduced a new line this year called Love Came Down which I find so wonderfully appropriate as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

This gorgeous tablerunner.  The color is stunning.  A deep red with gold accents on one side and a beautiful linen color with the words Love Came Down on the other.  Since I just moved into my apartment a little over a month ago I don't have a dining room table yet...but I cannot wait to use it next year!  It will be lovely.

The delightful trio of tealight candle holders are a beautiful frosted glass with the words Brightest hope (my favorite!), Jesus, and Purest Love. 

This is the first year I will have my own Christmas tree and I am putting it up this weekend and I am so excited to put the gorgeous Love Came Down ornament on it!  It is simple yet means so much.

I think my favorite thing in the box was the Advent tabletop devotional.  (and it's only $5.99!)  I could not resist flipping through the pages and I teared up several times as I read of His promises fulfilled.  The last 2 months have been a beautiful reminder for me as He has fulfilled promises to me.  So to have this devotional to look at each day and remember the amazing God we have and the promises He has fulfilled...especially the one that is Jesus.  It's a gift.

Sigh.

Isn't Christmas grand.

I received the above products from Dayspring for free in exchange for my honest review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

 

When Adventure Takes Over....

Why Hello there dear ones!

I must admit I did not mean to abandon this little ole bloggy but life's been...an adventure as of late.  

It's very strange to be so very happy after nine months of really hard things.  Some days it scares me to be this happy yet I choose to embrace it and live life fully.

Oh... why so happy?

Well.

The job?  It's amazing.  I love it.  I work with some amazing people and am enjoying all aspects of it.  It feels like a perfect fit.  Just over a month in and I am overwhelmed with the goodness of it all.  I wake up excited for work and it's been a long time since I felt that way (years!).  

Having my own place is also fabulous.  I am enjoying making it a home each small step at a time.  (saving money for things like a dining room table are a dream come true!).  It already feels like home and I know in the coming months it will become even more my own space that reflects who I am.

And...

There is a guy.  Who is pretty amazing and he makes my life so much more fun.  He is good at getting me out of my comfort zone and he's wonderfully sweet to me.  

Life is lovely.

I feel like this quote has been the beauty of my life lately.  This year has been about giving up dreams and gaining new ones... it's been about hoping when things felt so hopeless.  It's been about choosing joy on the hard days.  It's been full of choosing trust and even on the most frustrating days.

A year of dare...that has turned out to be more than I could have ever imagined.

I am so grateful for the gift that has been this year...the beauty that has come from ashes and the hope that has sprung forth in the most unusual of ways.

I am not sure what this blog will look like for a while...as I try to navigate my new chapter of life.   

I will still be around on facebook and twitter as I try to figure out what this space will become.  Know that I think of y'all often dear ones!

My hope is that each of you are well... what has been going on with YOU lately?

 

Much love,

 

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