A friend of Stories of Joy shared the following story with us . . . I hadn’t done much shopping for groceries recently, and I needed to fill empty shelves in the pantry and refrigerator. I went to my favorite store, Trader Joe’s, and proceeded to fill my basket. When I finished shopping and went…Read more »

Anita lived in a Phoenix neighborhood.  She didn’t live in a home in the neighborhood.  She lived on the street.  She was a fixture in the neighborhood.  Folks saw her on the sidewalk.  They saw her at Safeway.  People gave her money, food, water, blankets.  Sometimes she accepted their help.  Sometimes she refused.  When she…Read more »

This isn’t a Story of Joy.  It’s a Story of Honor.  A Story of Comfort.  Peter Wang dreamed of attending West Point.  He won’t.  He was killed at Stoneman Douglas High School last week in Parkland, Florida.  He was shot as he held the door for other students.  Held the door so that they could…Read more »

I was checking in on a couple I know who just returned from a difficult trip, and they told me a beautiful Story of Joy.  They traveled across the country to visit their son who is battling terminal cancer.  They usually stay at the same hotel and sometimes visit with the staff. Because of their…Read more »

February is Black History Month, and we want you to meet Amanda Gorman.  She is the first Youth Poet Laureate of the United States.  She recognizes the importance of that.  She also acknowledges that she’s the first woman to serve in the role and the first African-American to serve in the role.  That’s a lot…Read more »

Hannah and Marissa Brandt are sisters.  Growing up together.  Doing everything together.  Including playing hockey together.  They’re even at the Olympics together.  Both are at the Olympics, both are playing hockey, but they’re on different teams!  What an exciting time for their family!  What an interesting journey to the Olympic Games! Click the link below…Read more »

For Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing you an unusual love story.  Paul Kalanithi wrote his memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, as he battled lung cancer at 37.  Nina Riggs wrote her memoir, The Bright Hour, as she battled breast cancer at 39.  After Paul and Nina died, their surviving spouses began an email conversation.  Lucy and…Read more »

On the way to work one day last week, I heard a news report that disturbed me.  When I arrived at the office, I looked up the text of the report to confirm that what I thought I heard was accurate.  The reporter said that “higher percentages of voters say they’d be disappointed if a…Read more »

  The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics is today.  What an exciting time for athletes from around the world!  Many of those athletes, however, struggle against prejudice.  With the support of family and friends, folks face all kinds of bias.  If you’re watching the Olympics, you’ll probably see the following ad a lot.  While…Read more »

The Super Bowl is over, but Stories of Joy has one more football story for you to finish off this season.  Danny had one dream.  To be a Rebel!  Since he was a little boy, he dreamed of playing on the Moose Lake High School Football Team.  How do you stop a kid from dreaming…Read more »