Newest Posts - Joy & Charley

APRIL 30 - 2019

I hear the slamming doors before the the storm of raised voices. I immediately recognize the scale of the argument, most likely started by a hormonal ...

APRIL 8 - 2019

Hiding the bruises: An abusive marriage

I've had three people in the last week tell me tales of someone they know being trapped in an abusive marriage. I hear the desperation in their ...

MARCH 18 - 2019

YOU are the deciding factor

How do you really get the life you want? I told her "you just have consciously decide to just do." She was a relative stranger I ...

MARCH 6 - 2019

Choosing Love over Being Right

She cried hysterically into the phone, and I forced myself to not SIGH out loud. Here we go again. I despise going in circles. I despise wasting ...

FEBRUARY 25 - 2019

When you have nothing to offer

I stopped writing this past month. What began as a way to express myself and a hobby of some sort, suddenly seemed like a chore. It felt like ...

JANUARY 25 - 2019

Shaking the Winter Blues

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 ...