Hiatus.

So, I've been a little quiet on here lately, and I think it's because I'm taking a bit of a blogging hiatus. Never fear though, I'll be back. And I'm not going complete radio silence....

-Joy & Creagon Ministry Updates can be found at www.creagonsjoy.com

-Posts about my 2013 Reading Challenge "Around the World in 80 Books" can be found here: http://joyreads2013.tumblr.com/

But, until next time, goodbye. Continue reading →

The Last 29 + Flashback Photos

Tomorrow I turn 30. A new milestone. It's scary & exciting all at the same time. It's scary because it's sounds so grown up, and I still feel so very young. It's exciting because I know there's so many possibilities out there for what my life will look like. As I reflect back over the past 29 years on this planet, I thought I'd hit some of the highlights & accomplishments...no particular order...

- Met Jesus, my Lord & Savior

- Fell in love & married my best friend

- Graduated second in my high school class

- Earned a bachelors degree in something I really enjoy [and use in ministry!]

- Lived for a summer in California

- Been in 3 out of 4 oceans

-Was broken for the injustice of human trafficking

- Traveled to 11 nations on 5 different continents

- Visited 20 different states

- Learned how to sew

-Became obsessed with reading

-Called into missions

-Spent 4 years working fitness at a YMCA

-Discovered how to share my faith, and led people to the Lord

-Became skilled at graphic design

-Taught abstinence education in public schools [I got stories, let me just tell ya...]

-Jumped from PC's to Macs [#win]

- Made some amazing friends

The 20's have really been a grand decade for me. I lived so much life, and discovered so much of myself. But it's with confidence I move into my 30's. I know who I am, and I know who God created me to be. I have my husband forever by my side. Of course my 30's look awesome!

Thirty was so strange for me. I've really had to come to terms with the fact that I am now a walking and talking adult.

--C. S. Lewis

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Practice What You Preach

So this weekend I got to teach in the photography track of the YWAM Orlando Discipleship Training School about blogging and how to blog well. As a blogger, I guess I have some authority in this area, but I definitely looked to some pro's on putting this teaching together. Jeff Goins is a fabulous blogger, and does a great job of communicating how to communicate. I used many of his blogging resources! It was so fun teaching this students, and sharing blogging successes and fails with them, and inspire them to blog well! But I was also challenged about how to be a beter blogger myself. I want to use this blog as a place to not just process life, but also to educate & inspire others in being active in their faith, and using social justice to do that. So I'm excited to post more and share more and hopefully, inspire more! Hope you are too.

Thanks, Joshua Miller, for snapping this photo! Continue reading →

'Tis the Season For Fall TV Premieres

It happens the same time every year...the kids go back to school, the weather gets cooler, Pumpkin Spice lattes reappear, and the networks pull out a crop of new television entertainment for us to devour or dismiss. I just finished my first round of Fall TV premieres and thought I'd share my hits & misses!

Must Watch
Go On [starring Matthew Perry]: As a huge FRIENDS fan, and an even bigger Chandler fan, this show was on the top of my must-see, but I had extreme fear of failure. Happily, I was quite pleased with the show! Starring Perry as sports radio talk jockey, he delivers wit after pun after quip flawlessly, in pure Chandler fashion. But this is no character knock-off, as there's much depth the Perry's Ryan character as well. Recently having lost his wife to a tragic accident, Ryan finds himself in mandated group therapy, surrounded by a Community-like cast of characters. It's funny, it's sweet, and it'll have me coming back week after week.

Probably Watch
Elementary [starring Johnny Lee Miller & Lucy Lui]: Dear Benedict Cumberbatch, I am in no way replacing you as the superior Sherlock Holmes reboot. You will forever have my affection & commitment. Buuuut...you are off the air until 2013, so I'll have to sustain my Sherlockian cravings with this CBS reimagination. Miller is quirky & quippy, a recovering addict and a bit damaged as Holmes, but it works well. The biggest leap is Lucy Lui as Dr. Watson, former surgeon now caregiver of sorts. It could work, or it could flop. But an hour-long crime procedural ripe with Sherlock Holmes mythology can't be all bad. I'll give it time!

The Mindy Project [starring Mindy Kaling]: Kelly is done playing second fiddle to the Pam & Jim drama of The Office. She's gone off all on her own! In this new character show, writer & star Mindy Kaling plays an OB/GYN looking for love & a great life as a single, chubby 30something. She's sweet, and rarely grating as Kelly often was. But if it turns into week after week of bad dates, meaningless sex and shopping sprees, I'm out. It has potential, so for now, I'm in!

Not Watching
The New Normal [starring Andrew Rannells]: Single mom looking for a fresh start. Loving gay couple looking to start a family. And they find each other. That's episode one. Sure, there are laughs, mainly from Andrew Rannell's character. I wanted to give him a chance, being a theatre junkie all [Rannell hit it HUGE last year with Book of Mormon], but the concept & the characters weren't enough to keep me there. Oh well.

Some thoughts regarding favorites coming back this Fall:

Gloria is pregnant?!? [Modern Family] Will we FINALLY discover who the Mother is this season...please?? [How I Met Your Mother] Magic is back! Now is that good...or bad? [Once Upon a Time] OMG what did Deb see?!! [Dexter] Will Sheldon & Amy find true love...or at least normalcy? [Big Bang Theory] Matthew & Mary are finally engaged, I'm just SURE everything will work out wonderfully now [Downton Abbey]

Well there ya go! TV thoughts & musings regarding the fall season! What are excited to check out this fall? What favorite are you looking forward to? Any recommendations?

Happy channel surfing!


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Kids These Days

While I have no children of my own, I definitely enjoy laughing at other people's. And the internet has made that even more fun. Let me just share with you a little bit of what I'm finding amusing these days...

The Honest Toddler. Ever think your toddler is conspiring against you? Well, this one is. The Honest Toddler blog and Twitter [@HonestToddler] is every parent's worst nightmare, and it's just so darn funny. From his rants about a big bed, to adult recipes, to despising infants & the library, it's a good time. Here's a few gems:

@HonestToddler: Going to a birthday party. It better be for me.

@HonestToddler: So if you want cake for breakfast it's called muffin. Lol adults, I see what you did there.

@HonestToddler: Not participating in library story time. How will learning animal sounds make me successful

@HonestToddler: This three-year old just rolled up to the park wearing loafers looking like Frasier. Don't hurt yourself, Kelsey Grammer.

@HonestToddler: Feel embarrassed that I still can't tell anyone how to get, how to get to Sesame Street.

So there ya go. Stop reading my blog. And go read the Honest Toddler's. You'll be glad you never had kids. Or wonder if yours has been stealing your computer at night.

Next, follow up some Honest Toddler fun with some Kid History on YouTube.

You know how cute it is when kids tell a story? How about when they tell a story that they you've heard you tell? From when you and your brothers were hellions and ridiculous. That's Kid History.

A personal favorite edition of mine is Babysitting. Babysitting for siblings is rarely fun, but add in some temper tantrums, sneaking out of the house, and sand papering a new car...you know it's gonna be great!

What Kid History so unbelievably entertaining is that the adult dads act out the kid's stories of themselves, lip synching and all! Great editing, great emotion, and great laughs.

If you are still looking to crack up over some kids, just go to Pinterest.

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Fall Memories

Just kicked off another fall quarter here at YWAM Orlando. It's by far the biggest, loudest, wildest & craziest [in the all the best ways] quarter of the year. This fall, we have over 60 students from across the world joining us for training! Such excitement.

The fall quarter always marks a memory for me as well. It was fall just 2 years ago when this naive little student first laid eyes on her future husband! It took many more months for me to discover that fact, but I always smile when fall comes around. I love reflect back on my own DTS experience, the friends, the growth, the travels & adventures. And of course the smiles, the hugs and the butterflies in my belly. Just so many good memories!

Joy & Creagon, circa 2010

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Stories End

I wasn't sure how Day 2 of the STORY 2012 conference in Chicago could top Day 1. Yet, it was amazing. After amazing worship with All Sons & Daughters, artist Makoto Fujimara kicked off the morning. His art is inspirational, creative & spiritual all in one breath. He challenged us to create in secret. To create for the sake of creativity and the Creator. To not let all our art be for utility & purpose. It was a challenge that I want to take seriously. Spoken word artist, Micah Bournes, wowed us all with creatively chosen words to craft a beautiful message, like Who Broke Africa? It was...moving.

Afterwards, pastor & author Kyle Idleman shared about idolatry. A seemingly random subject a creative conference, but was dead on. An idol is something man has created...to replace God. Like the Israelites and golden calf. There's nothing wrong with creativity, it's a gift from our Creator! But when I create something, who gets the glory? My art...or my God? It was great perspective setter. I ended up buying his other book, Not a Fan, because I was so challenged by his perspective on art & life.

The last speaker of the day and conference was Phil Vischer, formerly of Veggie Tales fame. I hope I can adequately even describe how amazing his talk was. His talk was one of humility, of inspiration, of tragedy, and of success. If you aren't sure of the story of Veggie Tales rise & demise, pick up his memoir Me, Myself & Bob. You won't regret it! I was moved by his openness in sharing about his struggles and where God took him. The themes of intimacy & abiding in Christ once again spoke to my heart. His poignant statement of "Jesus + [__________] makes you just as valuable as Jesus + nothing". It was this idea that even if I did no ministry, did nothing for God but love Him, He'd see me as just as worthy. I can't earn more [or less] value in His eyes. What freedom. For all of us who have ever felt that we have to create something world changing to be more accepted by God, stop it. We don't. If we know Him as Savior, we ARE accepted. Praise the Lord.

So yeah, it was an amazing two days, filled with sensory & information overload, but in such a good way. Met new friends, enjoyed spending times with old friends, was inspired & challenged & refueled.

Story 2013....I may just see you there! Continue reading →