It’s hard to believe that five years ago, I spontaneously signed up for a Blogger account. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going with a blog – I just dove in. Can you believe that the first name I chose for this blog was “Joy’s Little Soapbox”??? Yipes. Just a teeny bit pretentious.

I soon changed the name to “Joy In This Journey.” At first, I mostly wrote about the kids and health care issues, occasionally delving into politics (particularly as they relate to schools and health care) and matters of faith. After the death of my oldest child, I began to write about grief and loss, depression, and spiritual rebuilding, in the midst of raising three mostly-typical children.

Even after five years, I still don’t feel like I’ve quite found my blogging sweet spot. But maybe blogs are living things, just like people. We all continue to grow and change and learn new things. 

It has become increasingly important to me to write honestly about life, to not pretend that things are peachy when they aren’t.

When people put on their “life is perfect” face, it’s like Photoshopping a celebrity magazine cover. No real person is that perfect, but I tend to think it’s real and begin to think all of my repeated failures at this thing call life, adulthood, Christianity are abnormal.

It is so much healthier for all of us when we are willing to admit that we don’t keep house like Martha Stewart, sometimes lose our patience with the kids, and can’t keep houseplants alive. When we’re honest, we can help each other, learn from each other, and cry together when we screw up yet again.

This blog is a place for me to be honest. And you know what has been so incredible? Stepping out from behind the Photoshopped magazine cover helps everyone else do the same. You’re struggling with the same things. We’re in this together, and I believe this is how it’s supposed to be.


Thank you for five years of reading, sharing, and encouraging! 

As a way of saying thank you, I’ve partnered with FIVE very talented ladies to host a big birthday giveaway! Five great prizes for five great years. 

Click here to view all the details.