Author: Siv Ricketts

Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).

The Joy of Collaboration

Do you have someone with whom you enjoy collaborating? I am so grateful for the gift of a friend who has become my favorite creative collaborator. Nancy is a full-service creative: photographer, artist, hand letterer, graphic designer - you name it, she probably does it - and she and I have collaborated on assigned tasks … Continue reading The Joy of Collaboration

Add Joy, Not Overload, to Your Holiday Celebrations

How do you feel as you anticipate the holiday season? Are you looking forward to it, expecting to grin and bear it, or a little of both? Most of us intend to observe the holidays with joy. Yet the holiday season can easily become overloaded with busyness, stress, hassle, chaos, late nights, and early mornings. … Continue reading Add Joy, Not Overload, to Your Holiday Celebrations

Reading is Self-Care: Guest Post by Katie Pozzuoli

On Sunday mornings, my husband gets up with the kids. He makes breakfast and prods them along as they get ready for church. Me? I stay in bed and read. For me, reading is the ultimate act of self-care, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that Sunday mornings are my favorite little pocket of … Continue reading Reading is Self-Care: Guest Post by Katie Pozzuoli

Reading: Aug-Oct 2021

What are you reading? has to be one of my favorite questions both to ask and answer. I love books and I love talking about books. Of the eleven books I've read since my kiddo resumed in-person school in mid-August, nine were written or co-written by women, three are non-fiction, two are YA, two qualify … Continue reading Reading: Aug-Oct 2021

Gratitude as Joyful Self-Care

What book has made a lasting positive impression on your life? If you’re a reader, you know: some books are more than good. They’re life-changing. Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts has been one such book for me. Though Voskamp has endured heartbreaking tragedy within her own family, she found her way to gratitude and, through … Continue reading Gratitude as Joyful Self-Care

What are you learning from conversations?

How has your fall been so far? Ours has been full of goodness. Happily sending Q17 back to in-person school for his senior year and Dave back to work post-sabbatical for a bigger, more joy-filled job and almost-regular work weeks for the first time since March 2020. A wedding in Tahoe and a pastors’ retreat … Continue reading What are you learning from conversations?

Want to Be Productive? Add Joy!

When our younger son was diagnosed in middle school with inattentive ADHD, I discovered that I have it, too. Our older son has what most people think of as ADHD: capital-H Hyperactive. Our younger son’s personality is so different that we had no idea. Turns out, ADHD doesn’t always look the same. I thought I … Continue reading Want to Be Productive? Add Joy!

Join My Community!

Friends, I am excited to announce that I have added a sign up form on my blog’s homepage so you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Why subscribe? 1 - You will receive an email once a month with encouraging content I won’t share elsewhere. 2 - You will receive a bonus list of five … Continue reading Join My Community!

Five Types of Prayer to Refresh Your Joy

How do you feel about prayer? I’ll admit I have mixed feelings. I grew up in churches. I attended a Christian college and seminary. I have been involved with countless ministries. I have worked at churches. And I have prayed silently and out loud in every one of those contexts.  Still, for much of my … Continue reading Five Types of Prayer to Refresh Your Joy

Summer Reading 2021

School starts for my son tomorrow - senior year already? - which means summer is over for us even though technically summer lasts another six weeks. Also, it's #NationalBookLoversDay, so it seems like a good time to share all the books I've read this summer. Since I've read a stack, I'll list them in star … Continue reading Summer Reading 2021