I struggled for a long time with the concept of writing a blog. Partly because I'm generally a private person. Partly because I don't think I have anything to say that would be particularly interesting to anyone but my immediate family. And partly because I'm never quite sure whether the things that go through my mind ought to be shared. I don't always trust my "filter." ;-) But a good friend of mine recently convinced me that this would be a good outlet. I love to write and express myself. So, while I'm glad you've made your way here to read what I have to say, this blog is really more about giving my mind an outlet. An online journal, of sorts, that will hopefully be an important collection of memories for my family in the years to come.
I've named my blog "In Pure Joy" in reference to one of my favorite scriptures: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." -James 1:2 I chose this verse as my own life verse when I started college many years ago. Not because my life has been all trials, but to remind me that when the trials come (because they always do), that is when I know God loves me enough to want to grow me. I know that I can live in joy, pure joy, at all times because God shows His love for me when things are good and when things are not so good. As it says in I Thessalonians 5:16: "Be joyful always." God has been teaching me this truth for most of my life.
So, hopefully, you will find sprinkled throughout this blog the joys I find in my life: those little things that make everything else a little more bearable. And I hope you are able to recognize them in your life too. Thanks for reading!
