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Simply Bloom Co.

Where Passion & Purpose Collide

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Sweet Spring Free Printable

Sweet Spring Free Printable

Hello, hello! Today is the first official day of Spring, and I am just giddy at the sight of grass and mud and sunshine right now! My wee ones and I have taken several walks through the woods and around the lake and have come home utterly filthy, sometimes shoe-less (due to getting stuck ankle-deep in mud) and absolutely tickled… Read More

Cute Stuff, Designs, Printables

Even Still… [When You Can’t See God’s Hand] & Printable

Even Still… [When You Can’t See God’s Hand] & Printable

I was reading in my Jesus Calling this morning about waiting, trusting and hoping, and how the three are intricately connected to each other. How they act as a strong chain, woven around the central cord of trust, connecting our hearts to God’s. And it reminded me how hard it is to rest in Him – to wait and to… Read More

Daily Life, Designs, Faith, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures

Cute Valentine’s Day Gift Tags

Cute Valentine’s Day Gift Tags

This is, by far, the bloggiest thing I’ve posted in a long time.  A l-o-n-g time. I’m not sure whether to apologize, or to nod in silent acceptance of your gratitude. I am, of course, way behind on making these little tags – and hence, sharing this project – but there’s always Pinterest.  Simply pin this and plan with every… Read More

Crafts and Activities, Cute Stuff, Motherhood, Printables, School, The Kiddos

The Other Conversation Christians Should Be Having About Fifty Shades

The Other Conversation Christians Should Be Having About Fifty Shades

I talk about sex a lot. In public, none the less. And I love it. As the demand for this particular talk has grown, and as I’ve bravely shared my own messy story, the regularity with which I get asked awkward questions has grown too.  I love that part too. It has afforded me the opportunity to wrap my arms… Read More

Faith, Grace, Keepin' it Real, Love, Marriage, Printables, Redemption

Good News For The Weary Woman

Good News For The Weary Woman

It happens every time I tell the story. I’m right there.  In the muck, in the shame.  In the hopelessness. I can feel the grip of self-loathing tighten around my throat.  My heartbeat quickens as the fear of exposure whispers; You are such a mess. You are worthless.  You’re finished. It’s just for a second.  But it’s there. So much… Read More

Designs, Faith, Grace, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures, Redemption

I Heart South Africa {Free Printable}

I Heart South Africa {Free Printable}

I love South Africa.  With my whole, occasionally-homesick heart. I also adore Namibia, because while most of my family still live in SA (and that’s where I was born), Namibia is the home we knew growing up.  Where life in all its raw glory happened.  I also wildly heart the United States.  Mostly Michigan (because it’s “home” now)…and California (because… Read More

Designs, Photography, Printables, Travels

Set of 4 Coffee Inspired Printables

Set of 4 Coffee Inspired Printables

I find that there are people you meet in life who make you want to drink. And then there are those you come across who make you want to drink coffee. Or tea.  Or hot chocolate. Really any warm beverage you can sip slowly – together – will do, if it gives you a few more minutes to soak up… Read More

Designs, Friendship, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures

Fall Chalkboard Printable

Fall Chalkboard Printable

I simply love this time of year!  With all the burlap accents, pumpkin scents & flavors, cute boots and scarves,…it’s like an annual reminder of why God gave us eyes and noses.  And necks to wrap things around. And the ability to pin hundreds of thousands of Fall inspirations without actually moving more than a finger. Which, in combination with… Read More

Designs, Printables

The Language of Empowerment {A Shameless Plug for our Favorite Parenting Series}

The Language of Empowerment {A Shameless Plug for our Favorite Parenting Series}

We’ve read lots of excellent parenting books over the years, but nothing has shifted our paradigms quite like Danny Silk’s Loving Our Kids On Purpose.  It rocked our parenting world.  It’s like Shepherding A Child’s Heart meets Parenting with Love and Logic, edited by Erma Bombeck.  It’s brilliant and simple and biblical and fun.  And it just.makes.sense, which…when you’re a… Read More

Designs, Family, Grace, Keepin' it Real, Motherhood, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures, The Kiddos

When Your Wings Are Weighed Down {plus Free Printable}

When Your Wings Are Weighed Down {plus Free Printable}

I have never been particularly business savvy. Partly because I just haven’t a clue what I’m doing. Most mostly because, if I’m honest, I’ve established really blurry boundary lines.  If boundaries at all. I have always struggled to find balance between my firm belief in the importance of generously sharing your unique talents and giftings with the world around you…and… Read More

Designs, Faith, Keepin' it Real, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures, Speaking

You Are Enough {Free Printable}

You Are Enough {Free Printable}

Not many words today.  Just a quick reminder that… YOU. ARE. ENOUGH. That nothing you do or say…or don’t do or don’t say…effects your worth. It’s a call to stop claiming your successes as luck, and your failures as confirmation of identity. A reminder that your inability to check every single thing off your daily checklist has nothing to do… Read More

Daily Life, Designs, Grace, Printables

Lessons from Under the Bridge {plus a Hand-Doodled Printable}

Lessons from Under the Bridge {plus a Hand-Doodled Printable}

I’ve been processing a lot over the summer – a lot of good, deep, heart stuff – and it’s been an incredibly liberating journey to say the least. Not always easy, but always good. As God has slowly been chipping away at the unsightly parts of my heart, dealing with misplaced priorities and my maternally-inspired anger issue, He’s tenderly brought… Read More

Designs, Faith, Grace, Keepin' it Real, Printables, Quotes and Scriptures, Redemption

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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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I am regularly overwhelmed by the kindness of God I am regularly overwhelmed by the 
kindness of God in the small + simple.

Things like twinkle lights + Christmas jazz,
scraping out the peanut butter fudge pot
all by myself while sitting on the counter,
and walking around the corner to find my
loin fruit snuggled up together over tea.

They may fight like cats + dogs at times,
but their bond is deep and true and sweet.
Happy release day, @dralisoncook 💛 Written at Happy release day, @dralisoncook 💛

Written at the intersection 
of faith and psychology, 
this book is yet another 
soul-nourishing,
heart-healing, 
boundary-fortifying 
gift from Alison Cook
(if you’ve had a heart-to-heart
with me in the past two years,
you know how much I loved 
‘Boundaries for the Soul’). 

As an enneagram 2 who was raised 
in the church, this book was a timely
and liberating read. Pure balm for the 
weary, recovering-people-pleaser soul. 

I am beyond grateful for the wisdom, 
compassion + experience that Alison 
brings to all she shares (and it was
such an honor to be on her launch 
team for this beautiful new book).

Need a survival guide for your growth
and healing journey? Here you go! ✌🏼

#thebestofyou #thebestofyoubook #womenoffaith #healthyboundaries #healthyyou #healingjourney
Find yourself a tribe of people who will, togethe Find yourself a tribe of people who will, 
together, spend a beautiful Saturday
morning pulling this workout off:

• 20 mile run
• 340 tire flips
• 2,000 air squats
• 1,000 pull ups
• 1,500 box jumps
• 2,200 pull ups
• 600 devil press
• 3,300 sit ups

Brutal. Amazing. 
Exhausted.
So grateful for these two - their friendship, enco So grateful for these two - their friendship,
encouragement and wise counsel over the
past decade of being our pastoral couple
has been such a gift to our family 💛

Congrats on your retirement, dear friends!!
“Over the years, I have come to realize that t “Over the years, 
I have come to realize that 
the greatest trap in our life is not 
success, popularity, or power, 
but self-rejection.”
 :: Henri Nouwen

Somewhere along the journey of 
life, we start to believe the lie that - 
despite being made in the very image 
of a good and beautiful God - who we 
are is inherently bad and broken, and 
we learn to cover that deep sense 
of inadequacy (and the shame that 
accompanies it) with performance.

Because our visceral 
human response to 
‘bad + broken’ is 
‘reject + conceal’.

We think it’s the rejection of others
that cuts us to the core, but the truth
is…most of us walk around wounded 
by a constant and unrelenting sense 
of self-rejection and self-loathing.

Want to know why we feverishly seek 
out the approval and validation of others?
Why we desperately want others to like us?

Because we’re out of touch with our
inherent value and worth, and we’re
not sure that we even like ourselves.

We resent our weakness,
and abandon ourselves.

/ / /

But this good + beautiful God of ours…
He is drawn to our weakness like a
moth to a flame, swooping in to
bring strength and grace.

Paul writes in Corinthians 12:9 that 
he learned to delight in his weakness 
because it was when he was week that
“His strength is perfected in me”. 

Or, as the Passion Translation so 
stunningly puts it, “my weakness 
becomes a portal to God’s power”.

Precious ones, we can shun our tender
still-in-process places, pretend to have 
it all together, and hustle for our worth…
OR we can drop the masks, offer kindness 
and curiosity to our hurting, broken parts,
and learn to live fully seen and known.

But we can’t have both.

And yes, it’s scary.

Today may we choose
…grace over perfectionism
…curiosity over shame
…acceptance over rejection
…gentleness over judgement
…wholeness over pretense

You are loved.
And they’re off! Alathea is in 10th grade and A And they’re off!

Alathea is in 10th grade and
Aiden is heading into 8th grade.

Here’s to a year full of grace,
discovery, friendship + growth 🙌🏼
"Faith isn't the ability to believe long + far i "Faith isn't the ability 
to believe long + far 
into the misty future. 
It's simply taking God 
at His Word + taking 
the next step."

:: Joni Eareckson Tada
Day 15 | Beach Day + Travel Prep We fly out late Day 15 | Beach Day + Travel Prep

We fly out late tomorrow evening so today
has been a lazy day of laundry, laying in the
sun, a petshop visit (where Aiden fell in love 
with a cute rat + I discovered zebra finches), 
an impromptu stop for bubble tea + stuffed crepes [oh my word, were these delicious!!],
shopping [I found the best, comfiest - Joe
would argue ‘ugliest’ - romper at the thrift
store that I can’t wait to wear on our long
journey home], and Aiden is currently off
doing his thing: fishing right from the pier.
Our view from the lodge last night ✨ Our view from the lodge last night ✨
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