Joy Phenix's Blog

A few weeks ago, Billy’s favorite jeans were getting a little thread bare and so he bought some patches and asked me to iron them on the INSIDE of his jeans leg.  He taught me that patching on the inside of the leg sealed the hole but didn’t show to the naked eye and make [...]

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Phillip Pullman I am a consumer and, as such, I’m accustomed to people trying to sell me stuff. No problem.  I get it. I understand the motivation to move product, and since I work in television, I probably appreciate the [...]

In order for something to become clean, something else must become dirty. (from Imbesi’s Conservation of Filth Law) There isn’t much in my world that needs cleaning more than my heart.  I can be shockingly self-centered and demanding; I am proud and rebellious in ways that I can’t even describe.  Much of the time, I [...]

I’ve been reading the Harry Potter books to my kids, and it’s getting a little emotional for them.  I  knew the intensity of the stories would be a stretch for my 7 and 9-year-old, but I knew they’d love the story.  True enough, there’s no turning back now, so we’re knee-deep into them, emotions and [...]

I have a short list of favorite words that consistently make me smile.  For instance, I think “kerfuffle” is a perfect way to describe a little scuffle or disagreement.  I have a friend who makes me laugh every time she says “thimble” because she thinks that word gives everyone a lisp.   I also love [...]

In yesterday’s post, I highlighted the idea that a person who overcomes great conflict to get what they want ends up with a more meaningful story. The video below is an example of that principle playing out in real life.  It is a truly amazing story born of conflict and met with the persistence and [...]