Coffee. Heart-to-heart chats. Photography as my profession. Photography as my art. Photography as my ministry. Discipleship. God. Teva flip flops. International travel. Phone calls from friends. Morning hugs from my little sister. The Word of God. Antique books. The ocean. Music. Sunsets. “Magic Hour,” which is the hours just before sunset when the sunlight looks like visual honey.

Lots of things give me joy. =)

Testimonies for God’s glory. Warm chocolate chip cookies. watching dreams become reality. New life (like spring, babies, puppies, new Jesus followers, etc).

What brings me joy? laughing with friends, being with family, serving at my church, eating good food, meeting new people, traveling anywhere, reading a good book, prayer, a date with a good guy, being in California, helping those who needs help, working with college students, learning life lessons that make me be a better person, having money in my checking account, playing with kids and watching them laugh, and knowing I am making a difference in the world.

Today what brings me joy is warmth and sunshine after a looooong, snowy winter I also talked today with a good friend who just got back from 6-months of missions work in South Africa. Talking to her today brought me lots of joy!!!

I’ve been rediscovering plain chocolate cake with good ol’ vanilla ice cream this week. What a wonderful combination. Mmmm....

Bethany Hoang brings me joy.

Ruthie McGinn brings me joy. Ruthie, chicken fajitas and tabasco sauce.

To our faithful Institute readers/commenters, let me apologize for my exuberant colleagues complimenting eachother Much love always spreading at IJM.

Thank you to each of you who wrote in (keep it coming) - refreshing to hear the things small and great that bring joy…

For me: in addition to my adorable son, my husband, good good coffee, music, water, writing, and guacamole, I am currently deeply encouraged with joy by the times of prayer I’ve been sharing with others in preparation for the exciting events of next week (GPG09), and joy in having such amazing work to participate in. So encouraged to have spoken to one of our clients in the Philippines tonight… can’t wait for GPG participants to meet her next week in person.

Hearing my children say “Papa”; enjoying chocolate cake and dark coffee with my wife; true worship; seeing Davids beat Goliaths; simple wooden toys; leather journals with great binding; medium rare steak with ice tea; hearing good hearty laughter; compassionate photography; hearing how proud my parents are of me; and of course -

“When justice is done, it brings to joy to the righteous but terror to evil doers.” Proverbs 21:15

My son’s laughter is pure unadulterated joy.  Seeing my husband walk through our front door every evening, safe and sound.  Visiting with friends that don’t live near me (Bethany H).  Hearing about God’s hand at work in the lives of my friends, family, and IJM!  Reading His word when it pierces through bone and marrow to the heart… knowing that He hears me and knows my needs before I do.

growth.
When my kids grow an inch in a month.
When my daughter can read a sentence without help.
When my son handles a stressful situation with confidence.
When I can see the light come on as I teach about following Jesus.
When a person acts in a way that reflects Jesus that they never have before.

And when I get a new book.

IJM brings me joy.
Books make my heart jump. (Libraries make it jump even higher!)
What eles?… Great concerts, coffee with friends, gyros (yum, yum), my church, knitting, yoga, sunny days, rain storms, diversity, ideas, dreams, late night conversations, sleeping outside, lakes, rock climbing, and prayer.
Thinking about the GPG next weekend is certainly top of the joy list right now too

My 5 year old daughter’s giggles. My husband saying something nice about me. Making a great meal for my family &/or friends. Serving the Lord in ministry. Sharing something the Lord has done with others and seeing them respond positively. Talking to friends over coffee. Coffee with anything sweet. Seeing a new believer growing in the Lord. Sharing with others. Getting lost in a song.

Friends who make me laugh.

seeing people getting excited about freeing slaves. a few nights ago a group that i’m part of raised $3,000 in one night from around 200 people!

dancing morning, noon or night,
music,
making my husband laugh,
time with my girlfriends,
surprises from God in prayer and worship,
newborn babies,
watching my younger siblings grow up,
drinking mimosas and eating delicious food,
laying in the sunshine, and
loving on children and teenagers.

Oh, and boardgame parties.  I SO love boardgames!

Late night heart-to-heart conversations. My job as a Family Law attorney, always seeking for justice in delicate issues such as divorces, child custodies, civil disability interdiction procedures… among people’s mixed feelings, love, passions, regrets, resentments… Music, be it singing in choirs, sharing feelings and gathering together on the same purpose, or solo, expressing yourself and once again sharing, or playing the piano, or enjoying good music made by others. Listening to the same song over and over again while thinking of someone special. Dancing (especially with someone special). God. Walking on the apartment bare foot after a long, exhausting journey of work. International travel. Phone calls from friends and laughing with them. Talking to my sweetest boyfriend Zachary Scott Jarvinen, the love of my life, through Skype, e-mail or whatever other means of communications which enable us to be strong and keep the hope in our relationship despite the distance still not surpassed and the difficulties it brings. Whenever I see his beloved, beautiful face, even if through a webcam. Seeing the Atlantic Ocean at Copacabana Beach every day when driving to work, followed by the Sugar Loaf, in what is one of the most break-taking landscapes I can imagine. Sunsets at whatever beach. Petit gateau au chocolate with vanilla ice cream at one of my favourite restaurants in Rio de Janeiro. Babies. Puppies. Flowers. Reading a good new book (the smell of the cover!). Helping those who needs help and learning while teaching. Water. Diversity. Ideas. Dreams. Sleeping in peace while knowing the alarm clock won’t ring the following morning (when it’s possible!).

Daffodil Days- those first sunny days of spring when the faces of cheery daffodil chase the light.