Inspiring Joy
Michelle Ruddell
Author | Speaker
Explore insights and stories that inspire resilience and positivity, even in the toughest times.
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Recent Insights on Finding Joy
Every Time the Doors are Open
I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been to church in the last few years. I was angry at God because my marriage had failed. I was ashamed of the choices I’d made, and worried about what people would think. I had grown up involved in church. I took great...
Presents or Presence?
Matthew rubbed his sleepy brown eyes as he peeked around the corner. The adults sat, cameras ready, waiting for my three-year-old son to see the spread that Santa had delivered. There was the toy kitchen he had asked for since July, a big yellow truck, an overflowing...
Just a little meltdown……
I had a little meltdown this week. My thoughts started spinning. I needed to make a decision. It's not a matter of great consequence. Nothing earth-shattering will happen if I say yes--or if I say no. It really wasn't that big of a deal. It should have been easy, and...
Anywhere but Waco!
“Have you ever thought about leaving this town?” Brother Anthony said that question had been laid on his heart. He waited for my answer. “Some days I can’t wait to leave. Other days I want to stay here forever.” This little rural town had been home for...
To You, First Year Teacher
It's about to get real. You've planned and prepped, listened and learned, decorated and dreamed. In a few short days, students will stream through the door. Names on rosters will become faces in your room. Whether you teach precious little pre-k's, almost-grown high...
A Little Help Along the Trail
My hiking helpers My mind and my heart love a good hike in the mountains. (not anything too crazy). My body doesn't cooperate. I am clumsy and out-of-shape. Recently my daughter, Missy, and I took a trip to the mountains, where I knew we would be hiking. On our way I...
Christmas in August?
Like a child waiting for Christmas, I am a teacher anticipating the beginning of a new school year. There are new school supplies in a box on my kitchen table. I stepped into my classroom last week. The whiteboards are shiny, the floors are clean, and there is not one...
I am not a Plumber!
Why I’m Not a Plumber I was cleaning house at a furious pace that Saturday morning, fueled by conflicting emotions. Anger at abuse and betrayal by my husband collided with the giddiness of my independence and freedom in the week or so since his arrest. I was...
Mowing in the Dark
I knew I had procrastinated too long. The yard was a jungle. I had used every excuse to put off this task, but today was the day it must be done. The neighbors had all mowed. I had the lone unkempt, tall grassland on the block. I started late in the evening....
Reminders of His Goodness
It wasn't twelve stones from a riverbed, but it was a reminder of God's miraculous work in my life. I stumbled across this memento while looking for a scripture to accompany a blog post. I reached for a small red Bible that was on the shelf above my computer. (I don't...
Fear Not
At the clap of thunder my dog Pumpkin came running. He jumped into my lap and climbed onto my shoulders. He is terrified of loud noises—also leashes, any type of cord, and the vacuum cleaner. He shakes and pants until the noises stop. He doesn't trust me when I tell...
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