Critty Joy

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

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,

5 Years.

Saturday August, 17, 2012 marked my 5th year of blogging anniversary/birthday.

5 years.

Wow.

 

It's been an amazing journey.

Funny how what started out as a creative outlet has turned into so much more.  

My first post was just a short welcome.....and my very first real post was a mumbling of life at the time.

A lot has happened in the last 5 years...

I became an aunt.

I lost one of the most beautiful people in my life.

I shed my secure, safe, job.

I wrote a 31 day blog series! (and I am doing it again... I must be crazy!)

I wrote a post for (in) courage and it's still a favorite.

I shared my story.  It was freeing.

I opened Delighted Designs and had my very first client!

I shared lots of favorite things and things I ♥!

I've gotten creative with my many quotables.

I have had years of journey and the confirmation He gave me...twice.  A year of hope and one of freedom and the reflections of spending a year focusing on it. And now a year of Dare!

I shared my favorite posts from 2009 and 2010 ...and wrote of a decade of life gone by.

 

I have changed. So very much.

Became confident.  Let go of many things.

Shared my heart.

Laughed and cried.

Learned to grab hold of adventure and live a great story.

Even on the hard days I am so reminded of how beautiful life is.  This blog has captured my life in an unexpected way and to be able to look back and see what He has done...has been a gift I never expected.

 

And then there is YOU.  One of the most amazing aspects of this journey with CJB has been meeting some of the most beautiful people I know.  You.  The ones who come here and encourage me...the ones who email me with their story or comment on my FB page...the ones who make me laugh on twitter.  

Some of my dearest friends came out of this blogging thing.  :)

You are a gift that came through this little ole blog and I could not be more grateful.

Thank you.  For reading my words and encouraging my heart... and for walking along side me.

You make my life richer by being in it.

I never would have guessed that August day in 2007 that this internet home would become so much more than I could dream.

I so look forward to journeying together in the coming years.  :)

 

Much love,

 

Random Friday Musings.

Hello Peaches!

Sorry I have been extra quiet this week...my little mac had a slight issue (the power cord stopped working) but all if well now thanks to my dear Mum.  I must admit I am realizing just how attached I am to this little white inanimate object.  There is a cartoon that says I love my computer all my friends live in it....there might be truth to that.

I kid, I kid.

I think.  ;)

Add in a few stressful things and I needed some quiet this week.

I must admit to hoping for a much better week next week.

 

I just had a few things to tell you....

***Passion in conjunction with The A21 Campaign released a new song this week called 27 Million.  The song is about those who are right now living in slavery....it is amazing.  I bought it Tuesday and have listened to it many times and it has reminded me to pray for those who are enslaved.  You can buy it here.  

***Another cool thing is their website 72 days for Freedom in which there are several things you can do... my favorite thing has been the daily prayer focus.  It is something I have added to my time with Him and find my heart even more passionate about being a voice for those who are enslaved.

***Also...I still need stories for What's Your Story so if you are interested you can click the button in the sidebar or email me for details (if you need details again please feel free to email!)  

***I cannot tell you often enough about how much my dear friend Kristen's new podcast is blessing my heart and challenging me.  If you haven't listened yet.... I think you should this weekend ;)   

 

I hope you have a most delightful weekend!

<3,

Waiting and Good Things.

I must admit in a time of waiting it is hard on some days not to get discouraged.  I am working on actively waiting (taking small steps forward and trusting Him) but some days I get down and it's just one of those blah days.  There's now rhyme or reason to the blah days they just come and it's hard to see anything other than the hard things.

So to shake myself out of my blahs I have been thinking of things that are gifts to me.  Gifts of moments, of time, of beauty.  Things that remind you life is wonderful.

Gifts like....

Gmail chatting with a heart friend.

Skyping with another heart friend.

Friends that call you knowing you will listen and trusting you with their inner most thoughts and feelings.

Spring like days with the birds singing, the trees budding, daffodils and yellow belles blooming.  The gentle breeze blowing and the sun shining.  I sat and just reveled in it all.

Cooking.  It just makes me happy.

Creating.

Favorite television shows (hello netflixing Doctor Who for hours....I can't help it...David Tennant just makes me happy!)  and favorite books to re-read.

Discovering that my friend Kristen and I are literary sleuths.  Let's just say.... we are geniuses.  ;)

Favorite authors having new books!  (see...literary sleuth!)

A Friday day out with another heart friend.  (seriously...can you tell how blessed I am in the friendship department?!?!)

A lazy weekend ahead.

Jeans that are getting looser thanks to the daily time on the elliptical.

Fun plans for something coming soon!

Blank notebook pages waiting to be filled.

Seeing friends go after their dreams and callings.  It's a beautiful thing.

Two evenings spent with my favorite girl.  

When my favorite girl comes running to my arms...or when she says my name....Kisstee.  

And this.... her laughter.  (also if you listen closely you can hear her say come here...which is one of her favorite phrases!)

 

 

What are some gifts you were given this week?

 

Have a lovely weekend Peaches!

 

<3,

Merry Christmas!

 

Critty Notes.

Hello Peaches!

I had a few things of note to tell you (hence the title Critty Notes...haha!)

1.  Beginning tomorrow and through the rest of this year I am going to be sharing my favorite posts.  The next two weeks are busy with family and friends but I did not want to leave this here internet home all lonely so I decided to share some of my favorite posts that highlight my journey through 2011. 

2.  Sigh.  Well it seems that google has decided to do away with google friend connect for non-blogger blogs.  Since I use typepad.... I shall no longer have the option.  I will be deleting friend connect on the first of January.

I wanted to invte those of you who use google connect to read Critty Joy Blog from your blogger dashboard to connect in a few others ways if you want.  

You can "like" Critty Joy on Facebook.  

You can follow me on twitter.  

With the two above I link to my posts there each time and I adore interacting with y'all on FB and twitter.  :)

You can subscribe in a reader and my new posts will be delivered to your reader or you can subscribe via email. (in the sidebar.)

Thank you for journeying with me this year and I so look forward to sharing my journey in 2012 with you!

 

3.  What's Your Story?

I still have plenty of openings left if you are interested in sharing your story here on CJ blog in 2012.  (I have 1 entry so far and it is fabulous.  It makes me excited to share YOUR story here!) So for those of you who I have emailed the details...know there are openings for the very beginning of the year.  And if you are interested please feel free to comment or email me and I will be glad to send you the information!  It is open to anyway and I hope to share a story each week all the way through 2012. Imagine 52 stories that give us a glimpse in the journeys of others.  That excites me so.

 

 

What are your plans for this week before Christmas my friends?

My Heart Overflows.

with gratitude.  I suppose it's normal to count your blessings in the days before Thanksgiving...but this year I have spent a great deal of time in a reflective mood.  Pondering all the gifts He has given me.  My heart?  It is filled to overflowing when I think of the gifts.  Little things.  Big things.  Gifts for the journey.

 

A fabulous family and a sassy niece who brightens every day of my life.

Friends who are authentic and real and who ask hard questions and encourage my heart.  

Heart friends.  The deepest of friends who are like sisters.

The painful days.

The beautiful days.

Rainy nights full of favorite things.

A new perspective.

Random thinking of you and praying for you emails and texts.

Love.  

Grace.

Serving others.

Captured moments.

Memories of those loved and lost.

Butterflies and becoming.

New opportunities.

Freedom.

Courage and doing it afraid.

Laughter.

A faithful furry companion... and her talkative meows.

Creativity.

Composition notebooks and pencils.

Books...and my kindle.  Great stories.

The fun of baking and cooking.

Adventure.

Yoga.

Walks on autumn mornings.

His Word and the freshness that is always there....just waiting for you to find something new and heart changing.

Comfy and cozy chairs and beds.

Social media and the fun of connecting with others.

Forgiveness.

Words.

Simplifying.

Redemption.

An old stuffed bear.

Prayers.

New things.

Flowers.

Boots and sweaters.

Fuzzy socks.

Pajama pants.

Stove popped popcorn and Christmas movies.

Encouragement.

YOU.

Yes.  YOU.

My little home on the internet is made all the more wonderful and cozy because of you.  Thank you for reading and commenting and emailing... you bless and encourage my heart so.  Thank you for journeying with me and being a part of my journey.  ♥

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.  ~Jean Baptiste Massieu

A New Look and Randomness.

CJ Blog has a new look!  My dear friend Kristen designed my awesome new header and I think it is my most favorite ever.  It captures so much of my life right now. The colors are also delightully unique and fun.  I had some fun playing around today and getting everything just right ;)  

 

It's been a rough week but I am in the mood for some randomness...so....

❤  On Monday I got to met one of my lovelies in real life!  Alison and I have been online friends for several years and Monday we got to move online to real life!  It was such fun to just sit and chat face to face.  I adore when my internet and real world collide.  And...if you love cute and fabulous accessories you must check out her Etsy shop!  (could not resist plugging her shop...it's part of her dream!)

 

❤  My sweet blog friend Kim gave me a fun blog award...

Thank you, Kim!  Your kind words touched my heart so!  

You are suppose to pass it on to 10 bloggers who ignite your world with their thoughts...but oh my...I could not narrow it down to 10.  Know that if you read CJ and have left a comment I have visited your blog and YOUR words ignite my world.

 

❤  I found this quote this week and it has been on my mind a great deal...

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting--a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

I really adore the phrase for beauty is God's handwriting.  What a thought.

 

❤  I have been reading again.  It has been so fabulous to discover my enjoyment of books again.  It has mostly been fun fluff reading but it's summer so.... embrace the fluff!

And because this made me laugh and is SO true...

Source: bookfessions.tumblr.com via Christy on Pinterest

 

Reading again gives me hope that writing and creating might be discovered again soon!

 

 

And with that last bit of randomness dear Peaches I bid you adieu and fond wishes for a fabulous weekend!

5 Books that Changed Who I Am....

My bloggy friend Jo is hosting such a fun link up with each participant sharing 5 books that changed who I am.

You know me Peaches....I am a book lover :)  So to narrow this down to 5?!  It was hard and I had to think on it for a few days.  And for clarity sake...I am not including the Bible because that one is a given!  I <3 the Word.

 

My list is probably going to look interesting because two of my books are fiction...both however opened my eyes in unique ways.

 

The 5 books that changed who I am are....

 

5.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

I was a casual reader up until 6th grade.  I liked it but did not spend a great deal of time doing it.  In 6th grade my Reading teacher had the whole class read a book together.  It was Anne of Green Gables.  I still remember how the book looked.  I fell in love with reading that year.  I fell in love with a story....and characters.  I read the book twice.  The first time barely putting it down I was so caught up in Anne's world.  Books came alive to me and I have had a passionate love affair with them since.  So a big thanks to LM Montgomery for opening my eyes to amazing stories and memorable characters.

 

 

4.  To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I was blessed to have the same English/Reading teacher in both 7th and 8th grade.  Ms. Gilbert encouraged me and poured into me for those two years.  She read my writings and had me enter contests and encouraged my love of reading.  If I ever get published her name will be in the dedication because she told me I could write.  That I was good at it and that it was a gift.  I still love her...and wish I could tell her all this :)  She introduced me to To Kill A Mockingbird.  I was taken with the story and the characters.  More than that...it opened my eyes to the issues of social justice and how every human deserves dignity.  It still resonates in my heart today.

 

 

3. Quitter by Jon Acuff.

This book is so appropriate to my life right now...and I am not even done with it.  Let's just say Mr. Acuff keeps making me angry (haha!)....and challenging me in many ways.  It also is making me laugh and I know when I finish I am going to be all the better for reading this and putting some of his suggestions into practice.  I cannot wait to discuss this with my book club.  I know it has challenged us all.  Personally it has shaken up some of my thoughts and helped me take some much needed steps in my life.

 

 

2.  The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

If you are a creative you MUST read this book.  This book has challenged me and made me want to beat the resistance.  It is hard hitting and at times I literally cringed because he was describing my situation so well.  I have really struggled with creative blocks this year and have felt so discouraged but this book is helping me in many ways...and seeing a lot of what I need to do is about me.  If you don't want to be challenged or to hear hard things...don't read the book....but if you want MORE (and I so do) from the gifts you have been given...read it.  He has a follow up called Do the Work...and I must admit...I am sort of scared to read it ;)

 

1.  A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

No book (other than the Word) has ever resonated so deeply in my soul. I read it last year at a really hard point in my life.  It spoke to me so much about my story and about beauty in tragedy.  It has been a big part of why I chose to make some changes this year...it even has it's own blog category!  I just don't have enough words to describe the impact it had...or the thinking it has caused.  In good ways.  And now?  I am starting so many big adventures that are going to be a part of my story...and I am learning I get to be a very active part of my story instead of just waiting for Him to write it.  We are co-writing...together...and it will be amazing :)

 

 

So there you have it....5 books that changed who I am.  

You know I am going to ask...

What is one book that has changed who you are?