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Where Passion & Purpose Collide

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Ode to Bambi

I interrupt your regularly scheduled blog post to bring you this absolute mind-numbing nonsense… While on this marital tilt-a-whirl ‘Tis true, I have become a country girl He wooed this city girl and now I can’t see my neighbors…but maybe a cow? I’ve now grown 2 humans and vegetables…bliss! {Isn’t there a super-hero cape for this?} But the part that… Read More

Complete nonsense, Keepin' it Real

Gingerbread & Company

My sisters and I gathered on Monday for our first annual cookie baking & decorating day.  We made “undercover” mammary munchies {with oatmeal cookie dough}, sugar cookies in various shapes, raspberry pecan pinwheels, gingerbread characters, and chocolate-dipped pretzel rods a plenty!  And lots of coffee & tea, but of course! It was a blast! {Except for the part where I… Read More

Christmas, Family, Keepin' it Real

The Mother Load

Remember this little helper? Well, he’s back…and he’s cleaner & drier than ever!   Yes, he’s all mine. No, you may not borrow my dryer ball.  Er, I mean…boy.

Daily Life, Keepin' it Real, The Kiddos

The Birds and The Bees…and Some Little Apple Seeds

While my hubby and I love talking to couples about the {regrettably under-talked about, within-the-context-of-the-Christian-community} topic of sex, and the undeniably crucial role it plays within a healthy marriage…we really didn’t know how – or when – to broach the subject with our kids.     We actually look forward to having “the talk” with them when they’re older, to… Read More

Faith, Keepin' it Real, Marriage, Motherhood, The Kiddos

Two Words

Trader Joe’s. Dark Chocolate. Powerberry madness. Yum yum. Oh my giddy aunt! Yes, I know…that’s 4 words.  Give a sugar-lovin’ lass some grace…I ate (almost) no sugar for 100 days!  And my brain still works.  In fact…and I hate to admit this…it works better.  I think. I lost 11 pounds.  And am going to try my darndest to not reacquaint… Read More

Daily Life, Keepin' it Real

I Am Delusional: Christmas Tree Edition

I haven’t had a tree of my own for the past 2 years.  Christmas of 2008 was spent surrounding by boxes, a bullet proof vest, guns and the remainder of freshly acquired police gear my hubby had brought home from academy.  He graduated as a State Trooper a mere 6 days before Christmas, was posted an hour away, and was… Read More

Family, Keepin' it Real, The Kiddos

Listen, I Tell You A Mystery…

I am whipped.  And I have a smashing headache. My bed beckons. I wonder if I could call in today.  Take a day off from mothering?  Just one sick day. Or a mental health day would be grand. And the rambunctious 3 year old who usually stirs around 8am is fast asleep in MY bed, next to my hubby, while… Read More

Keepin' it Real

Open Mouth, Insert Foot {and other Burnt Offerings}

I like feet.  Little ones, to be exact. Especially when stocking covered or cowgirl boot clad, and in mid swing. That’s when I love feet. {and thus, I become said foot photographer} But my feet.  They’re a whole ‘nother story. You see, I have this adorable pair of ribbon-covered ballet flats that I acquired on super clearance at Target {which… Read More

Daily Life, Keepin' it Real

Looking Ahead: The {not so} Nutshell Version

I interrupt your regularly scheduled post to bring you this scintillating collection of “what’s on the horizon” blips from my oh-so-exciting life: * I have discovered 2 interesting things about myself over the past 86 days. 1.  I function well under strict food “law”…           Some sugar = never works.  After all, “some” is relative.            No sugar whatsoever =… Read More

Daily Life, Faith, Family, Keepin' it Real

15 {Potentially Awkward} Things…

                              You probably don’t know about me.                     {and quite possibly, don’t want to} I think sweaty feet smell like buttered popcorn {which, needless to say, I don’t care for}, and belly-button “jam”, like parmesan cheese {which, disturbingly enough, I do enjoy}. I really want a tattoo.  I’m just far too chicken to go through with it, which is odd… Read More

Complete nonsense, Keepin' it Real

Identity Crisis: Averted

I didn’t realize how much of my identity and value was wrapped up in this little green booklet thingie.  I had no clue that my unspoken claim to fame was simply getting to be different from the majority of the crowd.  I don’t look different.  I’ve almost completely lost my accent. But I feel a little different.  It’s the kind… Read More

Keepin' it Real

It’s Not Wrong…It’s Just Long {ENSJ}

My husband and I have a mantra: “it’s not wrong…it’s just different”. We picked up the phrase {as it pertains to marriage} while taking the Love & Respect course years ago. I then adopted it as my mom-tra as I began to see how, even played out in my own life, our differences {in parenting choices and “mommy-style”} could stir… Read More

Daily Life, Keepin' it Real

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 photo Joy.jpg

Hello there! I'm Joy. Speaker, designer, author & coach, and creator of the #weROARproject. Welcome to Simply Bloom Co., where passion & purpose collide.

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Permission Granted. In case you needed someone t Permission Granted. 

In case you needed someone to tell you: yes, you should absolutely make the impromptu stop at the roadside farm stand and buy the $5 bouquet of flowers.

No, you do not need a reason.

No, you do not need to be buying them for someone else (although that is a perfectly lovely thing to do, too).

Buy them for yourself.
Put them in your kitchen.
Smile every time you walk past them. 🌸

And support your local flower growers and farm stands while you’re at it.

That is all.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled scrolling.
If you are an Eight, my prayer is that you would n If you are an Eight, my prayer is that you would
never lose your fierce love for justice, your courage,
or your willingness to protect those who cannot protect themselves. 

Those are holy gifts.

But may you also discover the freedom of being protected yourself.
May you find people with whom you no longer need armor. And may you know, deep in your bones, that the God who fights for you is inviting you to rest...
not because you're weak, but because you were never meant to carry every battle alone.
The year we moved into this house, a peach tree sp The year we moved into this house, a peach tree spoiled us thoroughly. It produced more peaches than we knew what to do with—cobbler, galette, crumble, smoothies, fruit leathers, and basket loads given away.

Our expectations for peach season were high.

Turns out, that tree was throwing itself a retirement party.
It died the following year.

We’ve since planted two more. The one that has always been unproductive surprised us this summer with these gorgeous, generous peaches. The healthy, established tree that usually produces? One. Single. Peach.

Fruit-bearing is an interesting thing.
Unpredictable. Relatively unmanageable.
Sometimes delicious and sometimes disappointing.

And maybe that’s why I love the reminder it offers:
performance isn’t always a good indicator
of what’s happening beneath the surface.

Take heart, dear one.

Some seasons, you’ll crush the to-do list,
accomplish the goals and have plenty to show for yourself.

Other seasons, you’ll simply keep showing up.
Quietly. Consistently. Faithfully.

And that is enough, too. 🌱
What if your greatest strength was never meant to What if your greatest strength
was never meant to become a hiding place?

This week on Oh, Good Grief, we're continuing in our Summer Enneagram Series by exploring the Type Eight: The Challenger.

Many Eights learned early that strength was safer than vulnerability.
But what if healing isn't about becoming less strong?

What if it's about discovering that courage
and tenderness were never meant to compete?

God isn't asking you to lay down your strength.
He's inviting you to lay down the armor you no longer need.

🎧 Episode 036 is available wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you identify with the Enneagram 7, my prayer fo If you identify with the Enneagram 7, my prayer
for you is that you would never lose your capacity
for wonder, laughter, creativity, and hope.

Those are sacred gifts.

But may you also discover the freedom of staying present
when life feels heavy. May you trust that joy does not disappear
when sorrow arrives. May you find that God is not only present
in the moments of celebration, but also in the quiet,
painful places you once tried to avoid.

The One who created your joy can also hold your grief.

You are loved.
What if the thing you've been running from is actu What if the thing you've been running from
is actually the doorway to healing?

This week on Oh, Good Grief, as we continue in our Summer Enneagram series, we’re exploring Type 7: The Enthusiast - their gift of joy, the longing for freedom, and the ways we sometimes run from pain because it feels too heavy to carry.

Sevens remind us that hope matters.
That beauty still exists.
That tomorrow can hold something good.

But joy was never meant to require us to avoid sorrow.
The invitation isn't to become less joyful.
It's to discover a joy deep enough to hold the whole story.

🎧 Episode 035 is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

#OhGoodGriefPodcast #SimplyBloomCo
If you identify with the Enneagram 6, my prayer fo If you identify with the Enneagram 6, my prayer for you
is that you would discover the freedom of loosening
your grip on certainty and opening your hands to trust.

May you never lose your ability to notice, prepare,
protect, and care deeply. Those are beautiful gifts.
But may fear no longer be the voice that leads you.

May you discover that courage has never meant the absence
of fear, it has meant knowing Who is with you in the middle of it.

The God who holds tomorrow is already present today.
What if the voice you've trusted most...has been f What if the voice you've trusted most...has been fear?

This week on Oh, Good Grief, we're exploring the Enneagram 6: The Loyalist, their gift of preparation, the weight of uncertainty, and the journey from fear to trust.

Sixes are often the ones who ask the important "what if" questions,
notice the details, protect what matters, and stay when things get hard.

But sometimes the same voice that helps us prepare can keep us trapped.

Fear is a wonderful informant.
It makes a terrible leader.

The invitation isn't to become fearless.
It's to discover the One who walks with us through every unknown.

🎧 Episode 034 is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

#SimplyBloomCo #OhGoodGriefPodcast
If you identify with the Enneagram 5, my prayer fo If you identify with the Enneagram 5, my prayer for you
is that you would discover the freedom of stepping out
from behind the walls you've built for protection.

May you never lose your curiosity,
your wisdom, or your love of learning.

May you discover that your needs do not
make you a burden, and your presence 
s more valuable than your productivity.

May you trust that God is not asking you to have
all the answers before He invites you closer.
The One who created your mind also created
your heart—and He delights in all of you.

You are loved.
Follow @SimplyBloomJoy

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