The Joy Underneath | Repeatedly discovering how to live, love, and write well.

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Helpful Truths for Winter Break
2
January 3, 2020 by Julia

This year, the day after Christmas, after reading my ‘notes to self’ from last year during winter break, I decided …
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Category: Cultivating Joy, Family, Holiday Cards, Making a Home, Parenting, Seasons, Stay-at-home mom | Tags: family time, winter break, winter break tips
Land of Wonders: To my other Grandma, on her 90th birthday.
2
December 23, 2019 by Julia

For the second time this year, I have a grandma turning ninety years old. How lucky am I? This means …
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Category: Family, Making a Home, Reflection, Special Events, True Story, Wonder | Tags: birthday, family celebration, family tree, grandmothers, legacy, milestones
Blowing Off Steam (Without Being Mean)
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December 6, 2019 by Julia

A few weeks ago, it struck me with sudden clarity that I’d let things go too far in my household, …
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Category: Cultivating Love, Culture, Everyday Life, Family, Friendship, Humor, Parenting | Tags: house rules, kindness
As I Get Older, or What to Expect When You Apparently Have Chronic Health Issues Now, or Adulting
2
October 25, 2019 by Julia

I’m grappling with getting older, to the point that it became a joke when I recently visited my best …
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Category: Body Issues & Health, Challenges, Guys I'm Confused, True Story, What It's Like | Tags: adulting, aging, chronic health problems, getting older, health, low-FODMAP diet, turning forty
THE BIG MOVE
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October 16, 2019 by Julia

They say moving is stressful, and they are right. We moved for the first time with kids, after thirteen years …
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Category: Challenges, Cultivating Joy, Family, Making a Home, Seasons, Stress, True Story, What It's Like, Wonder | Tags: home life, identity, moving
To Grandma on her 90th Birthday
1
September 26, 2019 by Julia

I am lucky enough to have two grandmothers approaching their 90th birthdays this year; actually, today is my paternal Grandma’s …
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Category: Cultivating Love, Family, Reflection, True Story, What It's Like | Tags: family, grandmothers, identity, pen pals, writing letters
Oh the Humanity of House Hunting!
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May 24, 2019 by Julia

We are currently in the quagmire of contracts and big financial decisions concerning our upcoming move to a new …
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Category: Cultivating Joy, Culture, Making a Home, True Story, What It's Like | Tags: house hunt, moving, neighborhoods, quality schools, realtors, social concerns, values

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