Author Archives: joyocala

Spring arrives on Wednesday. Our lawns may get a bit greener; we may plant flowers in our gardens; our short FL version of cool weather will be past. Year by year, the seasons will change. Of this we can be … Continue reading →

My youngest son, Andrew, was so ready for kindergarten. He had talked about his FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL all summer. His older brother Tim would be entering third grade and the boys would now both be in school. The new … Continue reading →

As a child, I “grew into” my new school clothes. Would they last through the school year before my toes were cramped and crunched into the front of my sneakers? Would the hems of my skirts shrink to a dangerous … Continue reading →

Growing up, I was always a little envious of the Irish girls in my school. When St. Patrick’s Day came around, their moms would let them put some green food coloring in their hair as part of the celebration of … Continue reading →

I was leading a Bible study on the temptations of Jesus when someone remarked, “But Jesus wasn’t really tempted. He was the Son of God after all.” That took me aback for a moment. Then I answered, “No, Jesus was … Continue reading →

I taught math for 44 years (I’m hoping St. Peter will give me extra credit for that), and over those years I had many students come to my office for help. If a student asked for help on a specific … Continue reading →

Meekness, or gentleness, must never be confused, misconstrued as weakness. Moses and Jesus were both described as meek. Jesus himself says that he is “humble and gentle of heart” (Mt. 11:29, NLT). In him we find rest, reflection, renewal and … Continue reading →

I’m going today! I taking my computer in for repair. I’ll be sure to stand right next to the technician. I have lots of suggestions for him. I’m sure he wants my help to do his job. Oops, wait a … Continue reading →

Hm hm… the definitive smell of leather and the soft supple feeling it exudes as I clutch the new purse close to my face. The smell of real leather is quite apparent and the soft texture is very pliable under … Continue reading →

I went to buy a light bulb yesterday. It was a near-stress experience. As I looked down the long aisle, I was overwhelmed with confusion. It’s impossible to buy a normal light bulb anymore. It’s all super-duper lumens and halogens … Continue reading →