Newest Posts - Joy & Charley

JANUARY 25 - 2019

My favorite blue throw covered my bent legs as I curled into a ball and snuggled into my spot on the couch. I swear this spot probably has an imprint ...

JANUARY 16 - 2019

New Year: Same Old ME

I am no skinny-mini. Nope. Not even for a second would anyone refer to me as a skinny girl. I'm more the athletic, muscular type with a large romp on ...

JANUARY 13 - 2019

I am THAT mom

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to SPEAK UP about to your kids I've told my kids over and over again. THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE IS ...

JANUARY 7 - 2019

War Zone: When marriage is harder than ...

He threw the potato in the sink with such force that it bounced and made a loud CLANGGGG sound. He had just a moment earlier been cool as a ...

JANUARY 2 - 2019

My BIG announcement

New Year brings New Beginnings. 2018 was a year of GROWTH for me...in my mind, thoughts and heart. It would be easy for me to never mention this to ...

DECEMBER 29 - 2018

The MOST IMPORTANT question you can ask ...

The New Year is just days away and like most people it causes me to pause and reflect on this past year. I LOVE to plan. I didn't really think I ...

DECEMBER 18 - 2018

When God Doesn't Answer Faster...

I asked Him for a heart that doesn't fear. Oh good idea, Carla. Because you know what happens when you ask for a heart that doesn't ...

DECEMBER 9 - 2018

That one time God gave me wine

"I hear you whisper underneath your breath." The Lauren Diagle lyrics play over and over in my head. I've woken in the middle of the night ...

DECEMBER 5 - 2018

Just Be: When Life is a Waiting Game

I'm not sure I will ever "get" it. Like truly in my heart get the fact that I'm fine just the way I am. I try and try to "talk" myself into ...

DECEMBER 3 - 2018

He is Good: The worst day of my life

The red neon numbers blinked as I glanced at the clock wondering where he was. I was rushing to pack for a trip that we had planned months ...

NOVEMBER 22 - 2018

When a messy house sets you OFF

I breathe deeply and count to 3. Here we go again. The kids are hangry and the breakfast dishes are still in the sink. Not to ...

NOVEMBER 19 - 2018

Truthteller: that time they were warned ...

She warned them about me. She laughs into the phone as she explains that she told them not to be offended by my bluntness. My sister that is, warns ...

NOVEMBER 15 - 2018

The Prison Sentence Called Motherhood

I wanted to be a young mom. I can clearly remember thinking that one day while I was walking to a classroom during my junior year of college. It was ...

NOVEMBER 13 - 2018

He Talks and I hear NOTHING

He speaks and I can't hear him. Well that isn't entirely true. So let's start again. My husband speaks to me and I have NO IDEA ...

NOVEMBER 6 - 2018

When the Pizza goes Straight to your ...

I trick myself all the time. I apparently don't like to follow the rules. I'll set them up in my mind and even write them done in a journal. It reads ...