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Independent means to be out of someone else's control. A free thinker. I've always been a dreamer, a person who jotted down ideas outside the realm of reality. In fact, when I was about my daughters age I dreamed of being an astronaut. That's about as far away from my real life as I could get. Don't get me wrong I loved my life, especially running around in my grandparents' backyard. But even then I didn't have a sense of me. I saw myself as a we because of my twin sister. Yes, we're separate and unique, but we were a pair from the beginning (literally). As I grew that closeness was a God send because we could help each...

During our first full Friday back from vacation we missed lunch with my sister and her hubby. We'd decided to sleep in and rest our aching muscles (at least some of us). Instead of missing out, we decided to go to the same place. Why? Because of the great food and awesome people! It's true that we usually go once a week, but it's normally on Tuesdays. As I sat there surrounded by a buzz of conversation and TV news I heard a familiar name. A local church pastor was seated near us along with several of his men of the church. Most of the time their conversation was about what was going on in their lives or housekeeping items...

A photograph I saw changed my perception of me. My husband had taken the shot on vacation. He was excited about it, having managed to get the light just so and capture that moment in time. I was mortified. I saw myself for how I truly looked. All 300+ pounds of me registered in the instant my eyes took in that crystal clear picture. In that instant I also knew I had to make a change. When I saw myself in another picture beside my daughter I thought why didn't anyone say anything? Maybe they thought I saw it? Maybe they were trying to be nice? I can't explain it, but I had to take ownership of the problem. I...

Did you know that smiling can help you burn calories?  I've remembered that fact for years thanks to the doctor my mom once worked for. I think I was having a bad day when I visited the office and he tossed the tidbit out.  I'd never really thought about it until I stumbled across this picture while looking for something else. But this is an important question...Did You Smile Today? Smiling may not only work the muscles of our face, but it also creates joy on our insides as well as spreading that emotion to others.  So if you're having a down day, turn your frown upside down! 

Simple Joys has a new online place to call home! We'd love for you to stop by and take a look around. We hope to make it a place to collect all our things to help you find joy and cultivate it.