Usually I write a blog post when I’m inspired, when something happens that I think is really funny, or really moving. Typically, there is always a story mulling in the back of my mind just waiting for me to put it down on paper.

Welp. It’s been over a month and there isn’t anything ground breaking that I’ve said, “THAT’S IT! That’s the one I want to write right now.” There haven’t been any huge moments lately… only small simple joys that keep cropping up here and there, which honestly feels like living in a place of joy and contentment… so instead of a crazy story today, I thought I’d share about some of my simple joys.

Simple Joy #1: Saturday I went on a 2-3 mile hike with a few other staff ladies to a new restaurant in our town. A new restaurant is HUGE news- it’s an incoming hotel with a small pool and even a cafe. Overlook views? Stunning. Walking in the sun chatting I felt like it was a mid-summer day, not a care in the world! We have a new chaplaincy team this year and there has been a concerted effort to create space for community which has been such a gift. Some of the events are big, others a simple invitation to an easy get together. This was one of their events. Nobody had to open their home, cook, clean, plan a wild activity… we just had to show up (which with the busy schedule at RVA can sometimes be hard enough!) and it was an absolute delight.

Simple Joy #2: I have a new friend! His name is Ashley. He’s about 70 years old and here just for a year. He’s taken to coming over about once a week and we play music together- each time it reminds me of when I play with my grandma and sister in Michigan. We have book we’ve acquired of worship music, but about 95% of the words are in Korean. Music is still music, and there is an English index, so we pick a song, turn the page to words we don’t know and play hymns and worship songs for hours. It’s been a sweet time of joy and unlikely friendship. The other week we played on a Wednesday, which is when my inside worker Gladys comes to do some housework. As Ashley and I sat and played, Gladys listened intently. After our first song Gladys raved about what we were playing and her words as she left not too long later were, “Congratulations!” It seemed like such an odd response to me, but in trying to see it through her eyes, I see the beauty of the skill my friend and I have had the honor to cultivate in our lives- congratulations are due when you accomplish such beauty!

Simple Joy #3: I’ve been hosting a ladies prayer group on Sundays. Sometimes there are five of us, sometimes two. But every single week, we come together and spend time praying through scripture, first focusing on an attribute or characteristic of God, then we spend some time in prayer for a group of people on campus and finally for each other. It has been a sacred time of focusing on God and growing in community. It’s set my heart right each Sunday before going to church, and gives me a designated time to spend with the Lord. I think this joy has brought about many of the other joys. Without this one, I’m not sure the others would have followed.

Simple Joy #4: When I sat down to write my once per VAC MailChimp email (turns out I never finished it… better get on that oops!) I noticed that three of my blog posts in a row were about some form of laziness- the Lord showed me that pattern and helped me to see I need to lean into my teaching a little more. Just because I CAN coast through aspects of my job doesn’t mean I should- so I’ve been trying to be a little more diligent. I’ve been getting more work done in my days, leaving my evenings more relaxed and full of dog walks and time with friends, neighbors and students. I’ve been trying some new lessons! Some have been a smashing success, others a complete flop! But it’s been bringing life back into my teaching and joy into my classroom. Right now we are in the middle of a large scale game of clue: the students job is to answer a number of stoichiometry questions to eliminate suspects, weapons and rooms. We’ll see who done it, and who wins dinner at my place! Because, when you can put some stakes on the line to make things more interesting, you do!

Simple Joy #5: I have the students I’ve been sponsoring in Chemistry. On almost any given day you may hear me rave about how much I love this specific group of students. Working with them for two years before having them in my classroom has built a foundation of relationship that creates a lighthearted goofy classroom environment full of lots of banter and of course, “your face” jokes. I usually find God fills my heart in abundance with His love for His children, but I am finding this to be especially true this year as I so often walk out of my classes with a smile on my face.

Simple Joy #6: Hot Coco and the Hupps! The Hupps sponsor with me, and each Wednesday this school year they have opened their home to our junior class during “Late Studie” for a time of fun and fellowship. This has been so life giving! I show up with about 4 liters of hot-coco and spend an hour and a half after curfew (the “late” part of “late studie”) playing games with students, chatting with them, and sipping coco in the banda behind my friends house, in the living room, or playing games around their dining room table. There is nothing super profound happening during this time, but the small moments of love and community create depth of relationship with these students I couldn’t have anticipated at the beginning of this year. The biggest gift of them all? The friendship that has blossomed with doing ministry together.

Simple Joy #7: We are making some major progress at class nights on planning BQ (think RVA’s version of prom). If you recall last year, with these same students I sponsor we hosted a “sophomore restaurant” that I lovingly dubbed “Kung-fu-Panda-monium” since it was so chaotic, serving almost 200 people a four course meal. Well, the kids are a year older, a year more mature, a year more experienced and a year more invested in the work they are doing. They are planning a program for entertainment, a full themed menu, set, tables and centerpieces… the whole nine yards! It is quite the ordeal and they are killing it! I love seeing them learning and growing. We’ve been having so much fun together!

Simple Joy #8: My dog is older. She is starting to calm just a little tiny bit. Every once in a while I’m getting glimpses that she is outgrowing a little bit of her puppy craziness! She likes to snuggle in the mornings while she is still sleepy, and to play fetch any time I’m willing. She runs in circles with her friend Marshall when he comes to visit, showing off her intense speed and agility. She wrestles shen her friend Scout comes to visit, even sitting on her sometimes to remind Scout that though younger, Ginger is definitely in charge. She still chases the monkeys, and loves catching the coffee grounds I chuck off my front porch each morning. I love my little companion who right now keeps bringing me an empty peanut butter jar to throw out the front door for her to chase as I type this out.

Simple Joy #9: I’m an Aunt! It is very exciting to get pictures of my sweet little nephew as my sister navigates the newness of motherhood. I get to see her joy at the small things he does as she shares with us, and I get to celebrate the milestones of cuteness! While I am sad I haven’t been able to hold him myself yet, I know my day will come before I know it!

Simple Joy #10: I get to host house guests again! Next week one of my students parents will be staying with me for the week as she is here for school board meetings. Last week my roommate moved across the yard to a now empty house when some expectant friends of ours flew back to Colorado for the birth of their first child. While sad she isn’t with me anymore, I’m glad I get to open my home up once more as there are already three house guests on my schedule in the next few months!

Here is where I would normally put some prayer points, but honestly, I think today it can be instead 10 praise points… and if you’re not sure what they are, go back to the top and start reading all over again!