Today is Letter Writing Wednesday! I have not written a letter or a birthday card in probably a month. I DID send over 100 Christmas Cards this year in its place. But not sending birthday cards or letters makes me very sad as I realize how many special days I have missed. Yesterday my Instagram …
Author: Susan
I am an Orthodox Christian, a deacon’s wife, a mother, and an aspiring Kindler of Joy.
Over the last year or so, I believe I’ve begun to understand, by the grace of God, where we can begin to find happiness. True happiness. My heart longs for a deeper connection to those around me and to creation. I want to feel joy not only in myself but to see it on the face of people I love and those that God brings my way.
Thus, begins my journey to become a Kindler of Joy. It is a journey, a path of learning and growing. So I’ve created my blog as a reminder to myself, daily, to open my eyes and find the beauty and joy around me.
Doxa
Last week I pulled out a stack of old newsletters, called Doxa, that I receive from the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael. Have you ever been there? It’s in Canones, NM about an hour northwest of Santa Fe. I pulled these out because I know Abbot Silhoun’s feeling on internet and the social media …
O Lord, O Lord, My Joy
I missed the third day of #bloginstead. But I have really enjoyed getting back into blogging and teaming up with such an encouraging bunch of people. What I am hearing from everyone is “happy to be back on the blog”. It’s hard for me to blog every day and even to read daily. But I …
The Sky
So, ever since last summer, I think I've talked way too much about the sky! It is no secret I am quite enamored with it lately. I find myself just looking up! All the time. It started with reading the Fr. Stephen Freeman book , Everywhere Present. And continued as I did some camping and …
2020 and New Beginnings
It has been nearly a month since I have posted on here! Wow! Where does the time go? It really does sprint past in a flash if you don't pay much attention. Just look at the year of which we find ourselves...2020!! I thought this only happened in the movies. 2020! Today I was engaging …
Resurrection Reminders
Oh! How I love these reminders! A day late, these "reminders" were given to us yesterday, Sunday...Sunny Sunday! Even in the midst of winter (technically it is still fall though), the dark days. In the midst of Advent and on our way to Christmas, we are reminded He has resurrected Adam's race and granted eternal …
Lead All Into My Kingdom
This Sunday reminder we hear during Diving Liturgy...it is chanted by the reader during the singing of the Beatitudes. "Having risen from the dead on the third day, the Lord bestowed His peace upon His disciples; and having blessed them, He sent them forth, saying: lead all into My Kingdom!" I just love the fact …
Akathist of Thanksgiving Day 5
Music, indeed, is one thing that almost always can draw me out and up, towards Him. Towards grace and peace and light. I love music. I love to sing. All kinds of music. Whether it be church music, classical, or even Disney music. Music makes joy! And also, music can be felt in beauty. In …
Thanksgiving Day is Here
O give thanks unto to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever! This phrase, found 6 times in scripture, fills me. We sing it nearly weekly in Matins. It makes me filled with joy and happiness in the Lord. It fills me with thankfulness. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He …
Thanksgiving Day 3
I have started noticing a habit in myself I do not like. I have begun picking up my phone to just see if I have any messages in any way, shape or form...Instagram message, email, text, any at all. It has started bothering me how often I do this and I've tried to pay attention …
