Hands Full of Blessings!
Sharing Some of My Blessings With You.
Recent Post
My Testimony
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 11, 2026 | Faith | 0 Comments
I grew up Catholic. Attended Catholic school kindergarten through 12th grade. All my family and friends were Catholic. Catholic was just part of who I was. Part of my identity, if you will. I attended Mass every Sunday and on all those Holy Days, and I actually...
End in Sight
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 25, 2026 | Faith | 0 Comments
My husband and I started training for a Spartan... and as we looked for training plans, the obvious became a reality- I had to start running again. When my husband would be like- let's just run, I would get all in my head... I can't do this.... I'm too out of shape......
Nobodies Chosen By God- The Shepherds
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | December 18, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
I recently heard a Christmas message focused on how God uses the unexpected and the overlooked to accomplish His work for His glory. The message centered on the shepherds, who were the first to hear of the birth of Jesus. In biblical times, shepherds were considered...
Eyes on the Road
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | August 27, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
So, we have a new driver in our house… and I have learned that I am really glad my husband is good at teaching and instruction… because you don’t realize all the things a new driver doesn’t know until they get behind a wheel. For example, keep your eyes on where you...
Seasons
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 19, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." John 15:6 Fruit grows in season. And look at this Prickly Pear Cactus... the fruit...
If It Were Easy…
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 20, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
“If it were easy, everyone would do it.” I tell my kids this all the time. Especially when they’re learning or perfecting a new skill or hobby- like crocheting, playing music, sewing, running… seriously I cannot count how many times I have said this to all six of them...
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 7, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
I’ve had this thought running through my head. When I read the Armor of God in Ephesians 6, as an evangelist, I really want the Shoes of the Gospel of the Peace to represent going out and sharing the gospel. But every single commentary I read says that is not the...
Creative
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | May 31, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
Have you ever looked at a sunrise and thought, “Wow, God! You did that. You didn’t have to, but you wanted to!” Our God is truly the Master Artist. The Creator of the universe didn’t stop once the creation was set into motion. He continues to be creative and shows His...
Seek First
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 23, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
“But SEEK first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matthew 6:33. As I wrote this verse on our whiteboard today, countless games of Hide and Seek went through my head. I remember being a kid and trying to hide in the hardest spot, so the “seeker” would have to...
Fuel Up
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 21, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
You know how there are two people in every relationship? The one who always has a full tank of gas and the one who isn’t even sure if the car will make it to the gas station? Yeah… well… I’m the second one. Today my van's gas light came on… and I thought, well I...
More on the Blog
A Dream Come True
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 21, 2020 | Books, Popular Post | 0 Comments
This moment… this moment, right here, is something I have been dreaming about for almost three years. But let me tell you a secret… 3 ½ years ago, it wasn’t even on my bucket list. This is 100% a dream God put on my heart, and He gave me the super-human strength to...
Book Update!!!
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 14, 2020 | Books, Popular Post | 2 Comments
Coming soon! Book 1- Daughters of The King: A Princess Problem with Envy Release date: February 25, 2020 You can pre-order on Amazon now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1951620003 Please tell all your friends who have daughters in the age range of 2-8! Also, please leave...
It’s Launch Day!!!!
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 25, 2020 | Books, Popular Post | 0 Comments
Today is the day! Daughters of The King: A Princess Problem with Envy is now available for purchase through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also order through the publisher, Grackle Publishing. Please help me spread the word about this book, the series, but most...
Book 2: A Princess Problem with Pride
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | May 14, 2021 | Books, Faith | 0 Comments
Book 2 is on the way!!!! But before I tell you anymore. You HAVE to hear how God brought it all together. Book #1 was released… literally right before the United States went on lock down for COVID-19. Bye bye book signings. Goodbye read-alouds. All my thoughts on...
God is Faithful!
by reneejoiner | September 3, 2019 | Books, Growing in Faith, Popular Post | 8 Comments
I’m getting published!!! I’m so excited to share this news. However, it doesn’t seem right to share this news without sharing how AMAZING our God is! So, let me tell you the whole story! The Call In April of 2017, I felt this stir in my heart to write a book. It...
Diet and Exercise
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 24, 2020 | Popular Post | 0 Comments
Diet and exercise. I’ve started this blog many times, but I have never been able to actually complete it. I realize now, that is because it will never be complete. This is a rollercoaster of a journey. If someone would have told me when I was 17, my biggest struggle...
The Splinter
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 23, 2019 | Popular Post | 0 Comments
One of my children recently had a splinter in his foot. Now this child is extremely sensitive to touch and pretty much all sensory inputs. He showed me the splinter. I pushed the skin slightly around it and he started crying, “Owwey Owww.” I took a look at him and...
The Christmas Puzzle
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | December 13, 2019 | Popular Post | 1 Comment
As I was making dinner, my three-year-old wanted some help with a puzzle. Now, this is a new puzzle of the Baby Jesus. (We are very blessed with people in our lives who help point our children to Jesus during a protentional very secular holiday.) Anyways, she was...
It’s Launch Day!!!!
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 25, 2020 | Books, Popular Post | 0 Comments
Today is the day! Daughters of The King: A Princess Problem with Envy is now available for purchase through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also order through the publisher, Grackle Publishing. Please help me spread the word about this book, the series, but most...
God is Faithful!
by reneejoiner | September 3, 2019 | Books, Growing in Faith, Popular Post | 8 Comments
I’m getting published!!! I’m so excited to share this news. However, it doesn’t seem right to share this news without sharing how AMAZING our God is! So, let me tell you the whole story! The Call In April of 2017, I felt this stir in my heart to write a book. It...
Offended
by reneejoiner | April 23, 2019 | Popular Post | 0 Comments
Well, on Good Friday I found myself in need of a shopping trip to Target. It was a for-real need. The baby only had a handful of diapers left. (And Target’s Up and Up diapers are the best value.) So, my six children and I walked into a busy Target. I was able to...
Identity
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 3, 2020 | Christian Parallels, Faith, Popular Post | 0 Comments
I just recently watched The Incredibles with my children. We love this movie. It never gets old. If you haven’t seen this movie, you should. It is about a family of Supers trying to get along in a world where they have to try to pretend to be something they are not...
God Report
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | April 23, 2021 | Popular Post | 2 Comments
As you may have noticed, I have not been posting nearly as often as I have in the past. Our family is going through some big changes in which all the credit goes to God! Let me back up a few years… to right before my husband took a job as a pastor. Previously he...
My Story
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 25, 2021 | Popular Post | 3 Comments
I had to write my conversion testimony for an Evangelism class at Liberty University, and I thought that there was no reason for it to stay on my computer. So here it is. (I did have to follow a specific format and keep it to 2 pages maximum.) I have not always been a...
Intentional
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 6, 2019 | Popular Post | 1 Comment
A few days ago, my husband called for me to come to the computer. He opened up a video from 2010 of our oldest as a baby. The adorable little baby (that looked strikingly similar to our current baby) rolled back and forth on a jungle floor mat happily playing by...
Good Good Father Book Review
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 15, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: Good Good Father Authors: Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett Illustrator: Lorna Hussey Publisher: Tommy Nelson Summary: Grammy Award-winning music artist, Chris Tomlin, and Pat Barrett (Housefires) team up to tell the story of a little bear named Tucker whose life is...
If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 30, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart Author: Jill Roman Lord Illustrator: Amy Wummer Publisher: Worthy Kids Summary: A new size for this sweet and brightly colored board book that explores the presence of Jesus in our lives. If Jesus lived inside our hearts, would it...
The Princess Parables Book Review
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 12, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten (The Princess Parables) Authors: Jeanna Young, Jacqueline Kinney Johnson Illustrator: Omar Aranda Summary: In Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten, Princess Grace promises her father she will care for the...
Veggie Tales Comic Book Reviews
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 30, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Book: Veggie Tales Super Comic Volume 3 (contains the stories of Rack, Shack, and Benny, MacLarry and the Stinky Cheese Battle, and Larry Boy and the Rude Beet.) Author: Rack, Shack, and Benny is adapted from the movie created by Big Idea, adapted by Aaron Linn....
Jesus Storybook Bible
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 16, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: Jesus Story Book Bible Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones Illustrator: Jago Summary: For over a decade, The Jesus Storybook Bible has been introducing children to God’s wonderful story, and the Savior at the center of that story. Trusted and treasured for over a decade,...
The Pumpkin Patch Parable Review
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 19, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: The Pumpkin Patch Parable Author: Liz Curtis Higgs Illustrator: Nancy Munger Disclaimer: I LOVE LIZ CURTIS HIGGS! Moms, if you have not read her Bad Girls of the Bible series, you should… totally not the point of this post though… Summary: Bestselling author...
Three Gifts for Abigail Review
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 26, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Title: Three Gifts for Abigail Author: Allison Romero Illustrator: Gloria Elliott Summary: Excited to spend a special day with family, Abigail hurries downstairs where she finds a surprise waiting for her on the living room table. As she uncovers each of the three...
A New Section: Book Reviews
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 11, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
“You don’t know what you don’t know…” In the Spring of 2017, I felt called to write... specifically, a Christian children’s book series. As I was seeking to fill out my submission forms to various agents and publishers, I found the section: competitive titles....
Like Arrows
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | August 25, 2021 | Book Reviews, Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
When I started the review section of my blog, I never really intended on doing anything outside of Christian children’s book… but last night I watched a movie on Amazon Prime that I think would benefit parents (young and old alike) to watch- Like Arrows. Movie Title:...
Children Arise Review
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 3, 2021 | Book Reviews | 0 Comments
Book: Children Arise Author: Jenny Johnson Illustrator: Jessie Blasdel Summary: Children Arise is a book empowering children to become all God created them to be by teaching them how to partner with Holy Spirit! Children Arise is a sweet storybook that teaches little...
Christian Parallels Post
Signing Away Your Freedom
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | November 7, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
This image right here... Ariel is signing away her freedom for a chance at romantic love. She was the daughter of the King. The King had the power to grant her request. Yet, she made a deal with Sea Witch. In Ariel’s defense, she was hurt. She had this...
Sleeping Beauty
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 24, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
I recently read that fairy tales are a literary form of apologetics because they illuminate the Gospel. After reflecting on this, I noted that most of our basic princess fairy tales follow a similar format: 1) They start with a happy world where we meet our princess....
Christian Parallels in The Lion King
by reneejoiner | November 5, 2019 | Christian Parallels | 1 Comment
Last week I had the opportunity to share some Christian parallels of the movie “Aladdin” in my blog. It was honestly really neat to see how the messages of the movie fit perfectly into the blog I was currently writing. So, I decided to try this again with another...
Little Red Riding Hood
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | October 4, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
My kids love watching a YouTube channel called “Pancake Manor.” The creators are a couple in Canada who remake/remix nursery rhymes making them upbeat, creative, and fun. They do an awesome job, really! But with my kids of all ages 10-1 loving these music videos, the...
Jingle All The Way
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | December 20, 2019 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
Next up on Christian Parallels in the Movies is “Jingle All the Way!” Every 90s child knows this movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a workaholic dad who forgets to get his son, Jamie, a Turbo-Man doll. Let’s be honest, watching this movie as an adult was very different...
The Hope in Cinderella
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 3, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
Up next on the blog is Cinderella! Now, Cinderella is a classic written on the hearts of every young girl. The chances are most ladies have probably seen this movie in at least three different versions. But it never gets old. For the purposes of this blog, my kids and...
Humpty Dumpty
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | October 8, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
Up next on Christian Parallels in Nursery Rhymes is Humpty Dumpty. Now before we begin, let’s all say the nursery rhyme together… Ok, maybe not… that’s the teacher in me coming out… But here is the rhyme for those of you who were on board and still reading. Humpty...
Christian Parallels in The Land Before Time
by reneejoiner | November 17, 2019 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
Up next on Christian Parallels in the movies is “The Land Before Time.” I remember watching this movie as a kid and balling my eyes out every time… Well guys, watching the movie as an adult with my six children… I still cried… maybe even harder. Movie Recap The movie...
What if…
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | October 10, 2021 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
Warning: This post does have spoilers for the Disney+ series What If. As I started watching the Disney+ series What If… I had very mixed feelings. The stories I knew but were slightly altered were just alright. It seemed like a reach of a television show. Then episode...
Would Cinderella Return to her Stepmother’s Home?
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | November 3, 2020 | Christian Parallels | 0 Comments
We all love a happily ever after story. Look at Cinderella. The poor girl lost her parents and ends up serving her stepmother and stepsisters like a slave. The movie even says they abused her. However, she had a hope that could not be explained, despite that abuse....
Growing Seeds
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 18, 2020 | Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
A few weeks ago, my children came home from church with a plastic cup, soil, and a planted seed. Let me just be honest, I do not have a green thumb. When it comes to keeping plants alive… I am not so good at that… like… at all… So we put the plants on the windowsill,...
Be Angry, But Do Not Sin
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 9, 2020 | Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
I really don’t think my older kids realize how influential they are to their younger siblings. This morning, my oldest wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of doing schoolwork. So, I sent them all outside to play. Of course, my oldest- who was not in a great mood, huffed...
Brave?
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | March 5, 2021 | Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
Today I had not one… not two... but three other moms tell me that I was brave while walking around the zoo and Turtle Park with my six kids. Honestly, I was taken back by this. I’m not brave. This is what we do. We run errands together. We go out together. We have fun...
The Hawk- The Common Enemy
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | May 29, 2020 | Faith in Marriage | 0 Comments
While playing outside yesterday, we noticed a hawk in the tree right over head. At first, it was cool to watch, but then it was like, “Oh no, what is it trying to get?” As the day went on, he sat there on the edge of the tree branch high above our heads. But the other...
Control-Top or Hidding the Problem
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | February 20, 2019 | Faith in Marriage | 0 Comments
Confession time! I love my babies! But I do not love what pregnancy has done to my body. I just had baby #6 three months ago… and I reached the biggest I have ever been! Slowly the pounds are coming off, but that means I am now in the awkward in between stage… You...
Run to Him
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 14, 2020 | Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
Everybody loves fireworks… unless you have a baby or a dog… Then the beautiful lit up sky full of colors, wonder, and awe does not even come close to annoyance one gets from the loud sounds making the baby or dogs unhappy. Well, this year my baby was 20 months. Due to...
Potty Training
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | January 23, 2021 | Faith in Parenting, Fellowship | 0 Comments
The decade of diapers is almost behind me… My oldest is 10 and my last child is now 2. He also seems to think he is ready to potty train. This morning I stood by him and said good job as he peed all over the floor. My oldest smiled at me and said, “I’ll go get...
Parents: A Glimpse of God
by reneejoiner | September 23, 2019 | Faith in Parenting, Popular Post | 3 Comments
My kids were playing outside as a storm rolled in. I saw a flash and heard a boom. So, I called them inside. My youngest daughter was apparently really scared when I called them in. I gave her a hug, told her she was safe, and sent her to play with her siblings. About...
Homeschooling with Littles
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 18, 2020 | Faith in Parenting, Popular Post | 0 Comments
It was suggested that I write a blog about how to homeschool with littles at home. My immediate response was, “I wish I knew.” However, many people have told me I seem to have a good handle on it, so here it goes. If you are on the fence about homeschooling and are...
A Poison Ivy Wreath
by reneejoiner | October 29, 2019 | Christian Parallels, Faith in Parenting | 0 Comments
This week we have seen the beautiful colors of fall in St. Louis! As my kids were playing outside, they kept showing me the colorful leaves that they would find. So, I decided we should make an autumn wreath for our front door. Oh, they had a blast finding all the...
Candy Land and Biblical Interpretation
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | July 3, 2020 | Faith | 0 Comments
Have you ever played Candy Land with a preschooler? I am fairly sure it is the role of the adult to turn their eyes away when the child is cheating and allow him/her to win. I have six kids. It works fine when I am playing with just one child. However, when two or...
The Indication Light
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | October 2, 2018 | Faith | 2 Comments
Last Friday my kids had a doctor’s appointment. Since my morning was a little out of routine, it really didn’t surprise me that I forgot my cell phone at home. Oh well, I figured. I will be home in an hour, and I probably won’t even miss a call. I really didn’t even...
Good Guys VS Bad Guys
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 11, 2018 | Faith | 0 Comments
My kids really like the show “Wild Kratts” right now. As a parent, I like it too. They get to learn about wild life in an entertaining way. Since my kids are into the super hero thing, the good guys verse bad guys approach while applying science couldn’t be more...
Buttered-Up
by reneejoiner | March 14, 2019 | Faith | 0 Comments
So, I have been making an effort to eat healthier. I looked into all those fad diets, but decided that ultimately, I needed to have a healthy relationship with food and eat a balanced diet. Let me be honest, I have been a yo-yo dieter since I realized I could...
Wait! I’m Still Preparing Lunch
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | November 24, 2019 | Faith | 0 Comments
I was making my kids peanut butter sandwiches while the girls played at the table on Friday. I was taking my time, since I knew the boys still needed to wrap up their schoolwork. I had six pieces of bread laid out with a peanut butter spread over them… and out of...
A Lesson on Crashing
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | November 10, 2020 | Faith | 0 Comments
Watching my kids learn how to ride a bike has been a complete joy… That is until my most recent rider started learning. Like her siblings before her, it appeared she just needed some more space and she would take off… Well, her dad took her to the park… Then I took...
Freezer-Burned
by reneejoiner | May 25, 2019 | Growing in Faith | 0 Comments
Recently, someone who loves us very much cleaned out their freezer and gave us a bunch of food. So, I decided to make some of those goodies as a side with dinner tonight… only to find out that they were… well... freezer burned. The sides I thought would go well with...
Confessions of a Former Catholic
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | September 13, 2021 | Faith | 0 Comments
My name is Renee Joiner. I am a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom of six, teacher, seminary student, and children’s book author. Most people may know this, I was raised Catholic. Yes, I know, I am clearly no longer a practicing Catholic as one of the first titles...
14 Months Apart
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | May 2, 2021 | Faith | 0 Comments
This morning I had to finished up some baking before church. So, after breakfast I just sent my kids upstairs to get ready by themselves. As I went upstairs to check on them, my seven-year-old was dressed so fashionably cute that she looked like a teenage. My...
If It Were Easy…
by reneejoiner_jhkz15 | June 20, 2025 | Faith | 0 Comments
“If it were easy, everyone would do it.” I tell my kids this all the time. Especially when they’re learning or perfecting a new skill or hobby- like crocheting, playing music, sewing, running… seriously I cannot count how many times I have said this to all six of them...