[autumn] joy.

Can you feel the cadence of life slowing as we enter fall? I can!

Crisp air and early evenings give my body a signal that it's ok to put the pjs on sooner, cut the to-do list shorter, and find something good to pop into the oven (I made banana bread this past week - I think the smell made me as happy as the taste! I couldn't find my favorite recipe online, but here's one that is pretty close that has lots of rave reviews if you need one).

Slowing down also gives me space (like today) that there is a bit less jamming my schedule and more opportunity to contemplate what I am being led to make space for next. It gives me the opportunity to add donation events for Finding Joy, which I had the first one at The University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital last week - which was SO awesome!

I want to invite more of you into the "joy movement" by plugging into "give joy. feel joy." and finding ways to serve others. I know that schedules don't always allow you to do that in ways that align with charities or organizations that may need your help, so I have an idea that I am going to launch for the month of October that I'm inviting you into. More details to come, but essentially I am inviting you to the "give joy. feel joy." box at Mattea's Joy.

I will setup a place that you can access anytime that fits your schedule to come and share something that someone else might like (I am going to bake some cupcakes and box them up individually).
You can choose to come and take a cupcake for yourself or give it to someone else to brighten their day.
You can choose to bring something you'd like to add to the box.
I'll email out an interest form next week. I am very excited about it!

Lastly, I recently shared some tips that I found to be useful as a parent that was at the hospital with my child. However, I realize that they are simply good tips for any of us when we are managing a life situation that is proving to be challenging. Maybe you'll enjoy them as well. You can see the post HERE.

Keep sharing!

with joy,

jamie

joy.assembled

Thank you to the St. George and MBVM Youth group and the Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School Tri-M Honor Society for assembling snack boxes this month for us to share with our partner hospitals.

We will have a new way to sign-up to come and serve with us in coming days. I can't wait to share with you more about our volunteer team that is heading up some of our groups at our headquarters.

joy.delivered

Snack boxes and care packages delivered recently to Advocate in Park Ridge, Riverside and St. Mary's Hospitals in Kankakee, and our monthly Comer Children's dinner was a success with thanks to the Child Life team and Chant Restaurant in Hyde Park.

We truly couldn't do this work without our delivery volunteers AND the hospital partners that distribute these items to families when they need them most.

Shout out to our delivery volunteer, Angelique!

Delivered care packages to St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee ER department, as well as Riverside Medical Center (not pictured).

The Comer Child Life team with our yummy monthly dinner we serve to families at Comer Children's Hospital. This month's meal was partnered with Chant Restaurant in Hyde Park.

buy one. give one.

When you purchase a copy of Finding Joy, you allow Mattea's Joy to donate one to a kiddo at one of our partner hospitals (and hopefully beyond that in the near future).

Thank you for supporting our joy movement!

Want to support the "joy movement" - purchase a copy at www.thejoypress.com and we will provide a copy to a child at the hospital.