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).

January in California

I am enamored with January in California. While friends around the world share pictures of snow or, much worse, inflamed cheeks frosted with icy eyelashes, here “green” has become a verb. We watch, newly astonished, at the greening of our once crisp straw hills. Once dead lawns resurrect themselves, springing to life with tender green … Continue reading January in California

Spark

The smallest spark can ignite a fire,for good or ill,To warm friends around a campfire on a chilly nightTo candle-cozy a room and illuminate a page of readingTo create a fireline for safetyOr burn down buildings. The smallest spark of electricity canPower a light bulb or an engineAnd heat or cool your food or home.Lightning … Continue reading Spark

Reading: Holidays 2021

Sorry to post so late, but you understand, life got busy and the living of life felt more important than posting about the reading of books. But here I am with a quick reading update, and you can expect another reading post in just a few weeks. Book titles link to Amazon for more info … Continue reading Reading: Holidays 2021

The Ricketts’ Season Greetings

A man [or woman!] practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies, and adopting new viewpoints. -Wilfred Peterson By that definition, this pandemic season of life has been an adventure requiring rigorous … Continue reading The Ricketts’ Season Greetings

Goals, Habits, & My 22 for 2022 List

Several things came together in a short period of time that felt like synchronicity: Twice in one day I came across the familiar quote by Rilke encouraging me to “live the questions now,” which got me thinking about the questions that have arisen during this ongoing odd time of life. In the practice of choosing … Continue reading Goals, Habits, & My 22 for 2022 List

Get with the Christmas Program, Darlin’.

How to engage gentle spiritual practices that can offer rest and joy during the holiday season. Today's post comes from my new writer-friend, Emily Rowntree. In the midst of your holiday bustling, pause for four minutes to read this article that will add much-needed perspective to all the busyness of this season. Also, as you … Continue reading Get with the Christmas Program, Darlin’.

What is Your Spiritual Gift?

Do you appreciate the insights you receive from personality assessments? Not fluffy magazine quizzes like “What’s Your Home Decor Personality?” but assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Enneagram Personality Test, and the Five Love Languages? Psychologists and thought leaders have invested years of research into these typologies that can help us understand … Continue reading What is Your Spiritual Gift?

Expectation: O Come, Emmanuel

Advent is a season of waiting. Unlike God’s people of old, we know we will celebrate the Messiah’s birth on December 25, and we spend about a month preparing our homes and hearts for his arrival. They had to wait. Like all God’s people throughout time, we’re still waiting for the Messiah’s eventual return. We’re … Continue reading Expectation: O Come, Emmanuel

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