Hey Friendlings,
Almost every single time I have signed off on an Ask Joy email or post, I’ve ended it with the words, “From My Heart.” The reason I use these words is because they’re true.
I care deeply for Read more
WHAT?! You haven’t met my parents?! A few things to note: Emerson and Sarah only wear black, they’ve been married 40+ years, and when they met, my mother thought my dad was funny looking, dressed weird and wasn’t funny at all. Oh, and they started Love and Respect. Read more
What do you think about cliché phrases like, “Don’t marry the person you can live with; only marry the person you can’t live without?”
-Lauren
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Lauren,
I think we need to stop and pay attention to the reasons why we use phrases like this. Sometimes we they resonate with us so deeply because…they’re true! Read more
I have a great friend who lives about 20 hours away. He recently texted me and said he is interested in me, dating-wise. He said he just wanted to be honest.
But none of our following conversations suggested that he wanted to make a move or be more than friends. I am angry. Read more
(Note: If you miss Saved By The Bell, then you’re going to want to watch this video for nostalgia’s sake.)
Joy,
I’ve never had a girlfriend, but I am looking for one. I’ve tried online dating and I went out with two girls, but both said it wasn’t a really good match.
I am afraid that I am running out of time. I don’t want to be that guy who is 35 and has no one. Read more
Gabe and Rebekah Lyons are a power couple. They are people who get ISH done. Join me for a conversation with them that ended as though it had only just begun.
(Well, technically, it did. They left me so their kids wouldn’t be the last ones picked up from gymnastics class. Whatever!) Read more
Joy,
My friend and I have been “the last singles standing” for a while now, but she just started dating someone. Honestly, I am feeling a little jealous now. How do I keep hanging out with her without becoming the “crazy, jealous friend”? Read more
“Is she The One?'”
“I’ve found The One!”
“He definitely wasn’t The One.”
For as long as I’ve been doing Love and Respect Now, and probably for years before, “The One” debate has always been a hot topic. Recently my father and I were interviewed by Relevant Magazine on things the Church has gotten wrong about dating. This question inevitably came up. Read more
Want to laugh and be inspired today? Please meet two of my favorite people in the universe.
They’ll teach you about the beauty of miscommunication in dating, the making of a marriage in which one spouse often leaves the country, and why they let their unmarried friends be all up in their bizzzz-nass. Oh, and they’ll teach you about their actual business practices, social passions and facial-manicuring tricks. Read more
Do you like love stories? Do you like hip-hop? Do you like poetry and spoken word? Have you ever worked with your spouse? Have you ever wanted to move out of the friend-zone and into dating? Have you ever wanted to learn how to drop a mic? Read more
I have been married for three months now. My husband is very clean and I am fairly neat, but since being married I have kind of chilled out in that area. In fact, compared to my husband, I am lazy.
What can I do? I don’t want to make him feel like he got cheated by marrying me. Read more
Joy,
I am twenty-one years old and I have been with my boyfriend since high school. Everyone says we are great together and affirms our relationship. We’re in college and have no debt–but I keep hearing statistics that younger couples getting married is not a recipe for success. Read more
THE 50% DIVORCE STATISTIC IS FALSE, FOLKS!!!
I don’t usually demand things, but I’m going to today. You must read Shaunti’s book or watch this interview I did with her. I’m literally telling everyone about her findings because it’s EXACTLY what my generation needs to hear. Read more
Joy,
Many of my divorced friends had wives that cheated on them. From a woman’s perspective, what warning signs should I be looking for during the dating process that would be indicative of a woman that might do that? Read more
Well, hello!
This last summer I did a series with a guy named Dr. Norm “Normie” Thiesen, and I asked him all sorts of questions about singleness, dating and marriage. In one episode I asked him, “What questions should a young couple ask an older couple before they get married?”
He gave two answers.
Then I asked y’all a similar question, and you gave me 33 answers. Read more
One of the most common phrases I’ve written in response to the Ask Joy emails I’ve received over the years is, “God is not trying to trick you.” I believe this old post–which I’ve updated for today–is an example of what triggers this type of question. But it also gets at the deeper issue we all need to face when we’re left wondering if we’ve misunderstood “God’s leading” in our life.
We may even wonder, “God, did you lie to me? Do you even care?”
This is the third time Mr. Timothy Willard has guest posted on the ol’ LRN site. He’s pretty much the male-Joy at this point, which is a title he’s been working toward for the past few years. (Bows head to be Knighted.)
In reality, I keep asking him back because I know him, respect him and appreciate his wisdom as a married man who can shed light on an area that, well, I cannot.
_______
Hey Joy, Read more
Hey Joy,
There’s this woman I am attracted to, but after I kissed her I wasn’t feelin’ it at all anymore. Is chemistry outside of chemistry class real, or is it all in my head? Read more
The people I know who are well-liked and have lots of friends are people who ask genuine questions of the people they meet. Sadly, some of us are a tad socially awkward and the thought of asking questions makes us want to hurl.
Hey Joy,
There’s this guy that I’ve been watching for a number of years. (Creepy.) He’s really quality, but he’s also in a very serious relationship with someone. And the kicker? We have to work together every day.
What do I do? Read more
As a single woman in my thirties, my current M.O. is to go out with pretty much anyone at least once. A new-ish friend asked if I would go out with a guy she knew, and while he looked slightly older, I didn’t know he was a solid two decades my senior.
Taking a bite of my pizza, I heard him ask the age old question, “What’s your favorite movie?”
“Hook,” I said.
Surprised, he shot back the very question I was thinking, “How old are you?”
“30. And you?”
“50.” Read more
One day this woman will write a whole book about her life. You have NO IDEA how crazy and intense her upbringing was–and you wouldn’t know that if you met her, because her past is not her focus.
She has every right to be angry at God and at this world, and yet she isn’t.
Hi Friends!
Have you enjoyed this series with Normie Baby? (Another nickname that he doesn’t know I call him in my head.)
In the opening of this season finale you will hear how much of a nightmare I am after I’ve done too many videos in one day. I can barely complete a sentence.
AND THEN NORMIE MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN HE FLIPS THE TABLES ON ME. Read more
Want some first-hand stories of people who have gone through The Illumination Project? I had so much fun reading the answers to the questions I asked Crista and Sydney.
Who are Crista and Sydney, you ask?
First they were amazing interns for Love and Respect Now, and then my parents and I decided to keep them. I am so grateful for the energy and efficiency these two women bring to Love and Respect, but beyond all that they believe in the work whole-heartedly.
(Either that or they are really good liars.) Read more
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