Welcome to Joy in the Small Things where I explore the meaning of joy, showcase my folk art banners and talk about the creative process which helps connect these two seemingly unrelated topics.
This site is organized to highlight guest bloggers talking on the essence of joy, photographs of my banners in use and my own musings about the creative process where I have found healing during a very difficult season of life.
I started creating folk art banners with a simple word or short phase that captured the quality or essence unique to each person after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was no longer able to teach. During that year full of tests and pokes and sickness and ugliness, I thanked each person who helped our family by creating a banner for them. Eighty eight banners later, I find myself making banners for new friends and those interested in my work. While I am still not out of the woods and am learning to live with chronic pain, I have used this site to learn new ways to be grateful to God despite unpredictable and difficult life circumstances. I find there is A LOT to be thankful for and that is the essence of this site. I have my friend Kim to thank for the name of this website. Recently she emailed me to encourage me during a hard week, pain-wise, and said “I am and will continue to pray for joy in the small things for you as so much pain is part of your daily routine.” Joy in the Small Things…yes, that fits!
