Hi there, I’m Joy!
I’m a Jesus follower, wife of 20 years to my wonderful husband, mom to five awesome kids, a home educator, a blogger, and a lover of vanilla candles, books, tea parties, and home life.
I’m passionate about creating a vibrant and loving home life. Some days it’s like swimming upstream, but I refuse to give up! This home and loving the people in it—is my life work, my art. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty beautiful to me.
Creating a beautiful piece of art takes time, skill, sacrifice, and hard work. Making a life-giving home requires all that. Ours is still in process, and I’m still pouring myself into this work of art called family.
Figuring out how to keep things running smoothly, organize our family of seven in a small house, clothe and feed everyone on a tight budget, homeschool, and make happy family memories in the midst of it all—that’s what occupies my brain space on most days. That, and trying to figure out how to squeeze a few creative projects into my already jam-packed schedule!
What This Blog Is About
Are you on a similar journey? I hope we can get to know each other better, and that you find help and encouragement here!
My goal is to come alongside you as a friend, providing hope, encouragement, and creative inspiration for your homemaking and mothering journey.
Find recipes, homemaking tips, homeschool advice, and creative projects. For as long as I can remember I’ve loved crafts of all kinds. I love to make things. So, I often end up blogging about something creative I’ve made, whether it’s soy candles in mason jars, knitted dishcloths, kool-aid-dyed playsilks, wool dryer balls, or toothpaste.
Where to Start
If you’re new, here are some introductory posts to help us get acquainted:
- Why Homemaking Matters
- Why We Homeschool
- One Question That Could Change Your Life Forever
- How I Don’t Do It All
- What Elisabeth Elliot Taught Me About Motherhood
- Enjoy Today, Mama
- Advice for Younger Moms
- 10 Things I Love About Motherhood (+ free printable art!)
- My Daily Schedule and Routines
Here’s a list of some reader-favorite posts:
- Make Your Own Mason Jar Soy Candles Tutorial
- Save Time With Trim Healthy Mama Freezer Meals
- My Diastasis Recti Story
- Trim Healthy Mama Menu Plan + Free Menu Planning Printable
- The KonMari Method for Kids
- Make Your Own Natural Deodorant
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub
- Planning for Before Five in a Row
- Simple Knit Dishcloth Pattern
- Homemade Coconut Mint Toothpaste
- Homemade Granola Bars
Subscribe to Artful Homemaking
The best way to stay connected is through my free email newsletter, which includes encouragement and links to the latest blog posts. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook.
