About

Growing up, Giving more, and Going forward

About me (the condensed version):

My middle name is Joy, hence the blog title and many posts about discovering joy in life. I’m passionate about encouraging people to be real about their life story in order to bring healing and growth. I think that part of that process includes learning to set healthy boundaries in relationships and loving yourself enough to do so.

I am an advocate for the broken and oppressed, and that often takes different forms. I am great at facilitating rich conversation. I am a follower of Jesus, and believe that he came to free the broken and oppressed by loving them like crazy.

Posts usually fit into the following categories:

• Justice
• Community
• Boundaries

My goal is that in sharing stories of my personal life, you will find strength to share yours.

I post every Wednesday, and at least once more during the week. You can subscribe to my blog through email or RSS so that you don’t miss any posts!

Here are my top five viewed posts to give you a taste of what you’re in for:

• Christians make terrible rules
• A shelter needs a name
• Take a walk in someone else’s shoes
• Just be You
• Justice for your city

And one more for good measure:

• Depression

Contact:
Send me a message! Through email, or following me on Twitter.

The long version:
I graduated in 2005 from John Brown University with a degree in Family & Human Services. I spent one semester of my college career in Latin American with the Bestsemester program through the Counsel for Christian Colleges & Universities. As a direct result of my participation in that program, I became immersed in topics such as social justice, politics, theology, religion, and intentional community.

After graduation I became a study abroad administrator with the Bestsemester programs in Washington, D.C. During that time, I was a member of Washington Community Fellowship, a multi-denominational evangelical church affiliated with the Mennonite Church, USA. In two short years, I joined the Mennonite church, lived in community with a bunch of beautiful women, became really good at all things administration, dove into the world of social justice, and discovered wine, cheese, and fine art.

I moved to Nashville in 2007, believing I was called to work with at-risk young women. That calling has led me to a Pregnancy Crisis Centre in South Africa, and to co-found the Underground Justice & Aftercare Movement committed to victims of human trafficking. Currently, I serve as Secretary for People Loving Nashville, a community who desires to bring hope to the needy. Oh, and I work as a database administrator for a Nashville-based Universities (I just can’t get away from higher education).

Outside of building relationships and generating philosophical conversations, I enjoy training for half marathons, reading whatever I can set my eyes on, and watching episodes of Burn Notice.