My name is Joy and I am a mother to three daughters. I am a poet, artist, jeweler, baker, thinker, dreamer. I have many passions and when I become passionate about something it is borderline obsessive. I can't do something halfway; it is all or nothing! Which can be frustrating at times, like when I'm reading a horrible book but can't put it down because I just have to finish it.
I met my husband in 2004, on a missions trip to Mardi Gras. I mean, when I met him he wasn't my husband yet, of course. I was an intern at a church, going through Bible College. He was the son of a pastor coming to lead worship on the trip. Part of being involved in a Bible program is abiding by some strict rules, including no dating. So I wasn't on the market or interested in anyone.
But I fell in love anyway. The moment Daniel opened his mouth to sing I was a goner. His voice shocked me and shook me to my core. I actually didn't really talk to him on the trip because I didn't realize he lived in my area. I thought he was a New Orleans native and wouldn't even be anywhere near me. When I saw him hanging out at a friend's place I was pleasantly surprised and finally opened up my heart to him.
Eight months after we met we got married.
I was about 8 weeks pregnant when we got married. We don't look at ourselves as hypocrites but as young, emotional people who let temptation get the better of us. Christianity isn't about being perfect, about never messing up. We all sin, we all stumble and do things we wish we had either not done or had at least waited to do. In the end we were blessed with a perfect, beautiful baby girl. Contrary to popular belief we did not get married because we were pregnant but because we knew we were meant for one another.
My mom died two weeks after we were married. That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through in my life. The other two hardest things I've ever been through were my two miscarriages, one in 2006 and one in 2008. I stood beside my mom's bed as she slowly stopped breathing, finally ending her battle with breast cancer and going on to be with Jesus.
Our first year of marriage was a rocky start, other than my mom passing. I had been on my own for the past four years and he was just leaving his parents' house for the first time. We had to learn to live with one another. Heck I think we still are learning how to live together.
Our daughters are Elaina, Abigail and Zoë. Yes, we are blessed with three daughters! I feel like we're in a Little Women or Pride & Prejudice novel at times, though in modern times. I love it!
Elaina was born in 2005. She is the eldest. She is a sensitive soul who craves one-on-one attention. She is also a very compassionate girl who understands some things on a deeper level than I probably even fathom. If someone is hurting she hurts with them. She cares about injustice and wants everyone to get along.
Abigail was born in 2007. She is my expressive child! She loves purple obsessively and rarely cries. She is a toddler so she does have the occasional tantrum (and watch out when she does!) but for the most part is such a loving little girl. She is constantly trying to make everyone around her happy. She is my Sunshine Girl!
Zoë was born in 2009 and is the baby so I'm still learning about her personality. What I do know for sure is that she knows what she wants. She isn't a content-to-just-sit child. She is go, go, go all day long! I can't even sit when I hold her. We have to get up and move. She is the life of the party and doesn't want to miss out on anything! She can be so so serious but she can also be very giggly.
One final thing you may glean from browsing my blog is that I am a Birth Junkie (definition). My first two births were epidural births due to lack of information and due to the fact that I thought that was just the way birth was done. By the time I got pregnant with Zoë I knew so much more about birth from my previous experiences and from all the wonderful medical blogs you can find here on my sidebar. I knew exactly what I wanted different and I researched and researched and decided it was time to give birth naturally. So I did! Zoë was born three days past her due date after my water broke at home. I gave birth in a hospital under the direction of a midwife without an IV, bands around my belly or an epidural. There were only three people in my room with me when she was born; my husband, his mother and the midwife.
I am also a huge breastfeeding, baby-wearing and co-sleeping advocate. Just call me crunchy!
