Tag widow
Happy May! Here is a lilac stem for you. Not sure if this is the first or the last of the lilacs, as it is the only stem in bloom. Some of the branches did not survive the harsh winter. May the merry month of May be filled with an abundance of joy and song… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Time for blogging has been short due to extremely high productivity in other areas of life. Today’s post is a reminder of what God considers important. All widows are to be cared for, no matter how rich or poor. Caring for widows not only means doing oil changes and lawn mowing, but it also means… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Yesterday was one of those days when the NOAA weather radio blared severe storm watches and warnings numerous times throughout late afternoon and early evening. As a result of the heavy rain, the River Kearns returned. 😀 Rainwater flows out of the mouth into the sewer pipe under the neighbor’s land. From there who knows… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
With all the insanity going on in the world, I figured today was a good day to repost this photo. May you overflow with hope this week. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
I’ve been watching for the gladiolus to burst forth from the ground. On Tuesday, it started coming up. The gladiolus is special because in October 2023, it bloomed for the second time that year. It was just after Mom went on hospice. I took it as a sign of comfort and reassurance from God that… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Here we are, the day in between Good Friday and Easter. We know we are waiting for tomorrow, the celebration of Jesus walking out of the tomb. His followers waited and mourned. Waiting for what they did not know, because how could a dead man rebuild a temple? Especially in only 3 days. Wait on… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Eighteen years ago today, Joe literally gave his heart to another man. It was his wish. He signed up for organ donation when he renewed his driver’s license about a year before his passing. Joe was happier than a kid on Christmas Day when he showed me his new license. In honor of his wish… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
I’ve had this photo on my mind for weeks. Finally able to get it done but not as envisioned. Smiley Simone was supposed to be hanging from the tall loop on the gate, and not the little thingy on the side. Hopefully, this series brought smiles to your faces and shows that while it is… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
First dandelion of the year! On this day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad not only for the day but for the dandelion as well, for God made them too. According to a master gardener on Youtube, their roots crush clay and turn it into good soil. I love how the… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
May your heart be filled with joy because you trust and see God working in your life. Because of this, may you burst out in song. Praying you have a blessed week. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Weekend Wisdom was almost cancelled because I have been ill all week. Last weekend’s time change did not help, but it was not the sole cause of my illness. However, cancelling Weekend Wisdom would defeat the purpose of showing that joy and pain can coexist. Joyful living can be challenging when you are sick or… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
When grief causes your life to feel empty and barren, be like Habakkuk and trust in God even during your suffering or times of confusion. Habakkuk lived in Judah, a morally bankrupt and violent region (hmmm…sound familiar?). His heart was filled with grief. So he took his questions and complaints to God. God assured him… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Every Saturday this month, you will find a quote about joy. Sunday’s posts will be scripture. Smiley Simone will make an appearance in those posts. She was a gift from Joe’s family for my birthday several years ago. You never know where she will pop up; maybe she will go to church with me on… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Look what the Lord has made that sprung up in my yard on Tuesday! Daffodils. Spring is coming. Although this week it feels like it is here. We’ll see how long it lasts. March is not over yet. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures,… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
I had hoped to publish a picture of today’s Blood Moon but the clouds clouded my view. Also, freezing drizzle prevented me from driving somewhere that might be a little less cloudy. So here is a photo of a prior eclipse. The white & gray blob on the right is the pole on my front… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Now that the calendar page has turned to March, that means another anniversary of Joe moving to heaven. I decided the theme for Weekend Wisdom would be quotes and scripture about joy. Because joy and grief can co-exist. Am I still grieving 18 years later? No. But it would be nice to have someone in… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Here is the link to Philippians 4 so you can read this verse in context. I’m not sure if these posts will continue. My computer and/or internet are acting funky. Most likely, it is the internet provider. It was a major struggle to get this one done. There are only 3 more to go so… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
WELCOME OCTOBER! There are three months left in this year. What will you do in these months that will give you a head start when 2026 arrives? First of all you need to determine what 2026 looks like regarding goals and accomplishments. Once you do that, then pack out an activity that will help you… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Today’s post from Philippians is about being like geese – flying as a team, getting to better weather. They all have the same mindset, unlike this divided country. So, think of others, be of one mind, and care for one another. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
I didn’t know what to do for Advent. While looking back at past photos a few days ago, I decided to combine them with scripture. It’s also a different take on my pastor’s sermon series about being home for Christmas. You will find pictures of Christmases past paired with a scripture verse. Hopefully, the scripture… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 188:24 (ESV) Grateful, 30 Days of Growing In Thankfulness by Allison Brost is a wonderful, joy-filled book. There are five sections of short (starts on page 21 & ends on page 23 ) devotions, starting with Tending The… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Welcome to the Bloganuary challenge where WordPress bloggers are encouraged and challenged to post every day. Doing so gets us off to a good start in developing a writing habit, something my regular readers know I need. Also, check out my photo blog OgleOhio, as I will also be publishing there too. Since there are… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Do you have lovely gray, gloomy, overcast skies today with snow in the forecast? If you do, well, here is a little light to break the gloom. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Here is the second of the Valentine’s Day cards. Praying you always love the Lord, and recognize He is your strength. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is a lover of…... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Today is the final Valentine’s Day card. Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is a lover of Jesus, Disco, history, books, and lipstick. She is also the amateur photographer b... mehr auf joyreturns.com
A few month’s ago I read Stronger than Stress, 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm by Barb Roose. One of the spiritual practices is to celebrate with gratitude what God has done. So today we humbly celebrate with gratitude what God has done with JoyReturns since the first post went live 15… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
There are a lot of videos listing 5, 10, 20 or more steps to set you up for a great year. Truthfully, I think there is only one step you need to take and if you do, I believe you will feel well enough to do others. Actually, any one of these steps alone will… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Author’s Note: I know there was not suppose to be another post this year, but thanks to our worship leader’s song selection, I had to share what we sang at church yesterday. All Glory Be To Christ is to the tune of Auld Lang Syne (Lyrics by Scottish Poet Robert Burns). The words to All… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
I know I posted this picture before, but while printing photos today, I had an epiphany about this one. My thoughts are proof that I do not think like you, normal people. Geese are an example of life’s victors. When Joe and his buddies were golfing, the Canadian geese always made their presence known on… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Today is the 10th anniversary of becoming a new creation. Ten years ago this morning Joe suffered a stroke caused by a blood vessel rupturing at the base of his brain. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I went kicking... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Yes, while our main citizenship is in heaven, We The People, are to be good stewards of this country. Heavenly citizenship is a joy, and so is living in the United States of America. God wanted this country to exist; otherwise, the Founding Fathers would have failed. While you wait in line to legally immigrate… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
This Bible explains what I want to happen at Charlie Kirk’s Memorial tomorrow. May everyone leave filled with the Holy Spirit more than ever before. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on&... mehr auf joyreturns.com
The most recent online book club selection was Stronger than Stress, 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm by Barb Roose. It is an excellent resource for managing stress, whether for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Roose uses the following definition for spiritual practices: Spiritual Practices – methods that center... mehr auf joyreturns.com
The heat is on this week in many ways. Stay alert and informed. Heat If you are under an extreme heat warning this week, remember to stay hydrated. Do you have flashlight? Do you have batteries for your flashlight? Do you have matches and candles? Do you have food in the pantry you can eat… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
The New International Version uses the word “still,” while the New Living Translation uses the word “calm.” Silent, from the English Standard Version, describes me the best. As my house is silent most of the time. Although I am working on a remedy. However, this evening the windows are open and I’m being serenaded by&#... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Here is the promise from Genesis 8 Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her adventures, hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is a lover of Jesus, Disco, history, books, and lipstick. She is also the amateur photographer behind… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
In Spring/Summer of 2023 my gladiolus bloomed. I appreciated the beauty of the yellow & red flowers but did not think much of it. Then in October 2023, I arrived home after a trip to Mom’s. What greeted me as I pulled the car into the garage? The gladiolus. It had bloomed again. She had… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
While I found movie quotes that can be used as encouragement for helping widows move forward with life, they were not appropriate for this weekend. This quote by Charles Spurgeon felt right since it feels as though we’ve been thrown around this week. 1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,let me hide myself in thee;let… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
These three books by Kate Motaung; make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for widows or anyone grieving, experiencing difficult times, or just generally longing for our heavenly home. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Isaiah 60: 20B (NIV) Letter #3 Letters to Grief Letters to Grief: Finding Healing… ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
Today’s wisdom comes from author and fellow blogger, Ferree Hardy. She too unexpectedly became a widow when her first husband Bruce passed away. In 2012 her wonderful book Postcards from the Widows’ Path, Gleaning Hope and Purpose from the Book of Ruth was published. In her book, Ferree takes you through her grief journey while sharing ... mehr auf joyreturns.com
