Join me on this path.
This journey leads us toward a life filled with joy as we say “yes” to God, our loving Father. Together, we will find joy in prayer, put love into action, and discover ways to give thanks in all circumstances.
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances, give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Today’s invite
Begin the day with a simple invitation to choose God, open your heart, and carry one faithful thought with you.
The Path to Joy
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
Welcome, my friend—
I am so glad you found us.
I have been thinking, dreaming, and creating this site for two years. I love sitting with friends, talking about our faith, where we have seen God, learning more about His abundant love, and how He shares it with each of us so uniquely. These conversations, along with realizing which practices have helped me grow my faith, are what caused me to start this journey with you.
For me, choosing Joy is choosing Jesus. It does not mean pretending that life is always happy or easy. It means walking with Him again and again—learning to see Him in the ordinary, the mundane, the unexpected joys, and the difficult times—and trusting that our deepest joy is found in Him.
The sacraments are at the heart of my Catholic faith. Through them, I receive the grace and strength I need to grow closer to Jesus and live out the teachings of the Church.
Along the way, I discovered a few practices that helped me return my focus, my attitude, and my heart to God. Through them, I have grown in my relationship with Him and in my understanding of the beauty of my Catholic faith. From these practices, I developed four Stepping Stones. I call them The Journey, Joy in Prayer, Love in Action, and Grateful Living.
But I realized there was more. How I began and ended my day became key to my routine and helped me stay on track. That is how Today’s Invite began. It helps me begin the day by opening my heart to God.
Then I went back to my Jesuit roots and thought about how powerful an Examen can be, and there I found Tonight’s Reflection. It gives me a quiet place to look back and notice where He was present that day.
This is not a program or a list of steps to complete. These are just guideposts that continually point us back to Jesus, the sacraments, and the faith found in the Church.
Begin wherever you are. Explore the stories, prayers, reflections, and the simple invitation offered here.
You do not have to do everything or have all the answers. God knows I don’t.
My hope is that you will find something that makes you say, “Yes, I think I can see God here.”
A Prayer for Our Journey
Before we take our next step, I invite you to pause and pray with me—asking Jesus to take our hands, guide us along the way, and keep our hearts turned toward Him.
The Journey
Walking with God through everyday life.
Joy in Prayer
Growing closer to God through prayer.
Love in Action
Faith becomes love when we live it.
Grateful Living
Noticing God in the ordinary with thankfulness.
tonight’s reflection
End the day by slowing down, looking back, and noticing where God was present.
Hi, I’m Jane
I love learning and growing in our Catholic faith. I wanted to create a place where I could share that love with others. My hope for Choose Joy Always is that we can encourage one another as we grow closer in our relationship with God.
I'm a wife, mom, nana, and friend, and I'm still learning to recognize God's presence in all the moments of my life—the ordinary days, the joyful celebrations, and the challenges along the way.
I don't have all the answers, but I believe there's so much we can learn from each other along the way.
Most of the photographs on Choose Joy Always are ones I have taken with my phone. Ordinary moments of beauty that have made me stop, pay attention, and stand in awe.
I'm so glad you're here so we can walk this journey together.
