Hi, I’m Rebecca. I write books and I write here at This Joyful Mess to inspire everyone to find JOY in the everyday messes of life. Here you’ll find inspiration, educational resources, and so much more. Please explore and connect—I’d love to hear from you!

The Most Insane Parenting Decision I Never Thought I’d Actually Make
Homeschool & EDU, Parenting Rebecca Grabill Homeschool & EDU, Parenting Rebecca Grabill

The Most Insane Parenting Decision I Never Thought I’d Actually Make

I couldn’t pay my kids to go outside. They’d drag out of bed, take bowls of cereal to the family room where they’d watch TV followed by hours of begging for “screen time” while I battled our way through the morning’s schoolwork. Months of this, years of it. We fought this battle day after day until we made a dramatic decision and drastic change.

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5 Things to Love About a Community Fundraising Garage Sale
A Writer's Life Rebecca Grabill A Writer's Life Rebecca Grabill

5 Things to Love About a Community Fundraising Garage Sale

Every year my parish holds a garage sale to raise funds for the VBS and Preschool programs. It has fast become one of my favorite events and helping at every stage, in my mind anyway, absolves me from taking part in the actual VBS. Anyhow, a sale of this size is a huge undertaking. Like crazy huge involving weeks and many, many, many hours from lots of people. But it's so worth it, and apart from the usual reasons about helping others and serving the community, here's why…

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One of THOSE People
A Writer's Life Rebecca Grabill A Writer's Life Rebecca Grabill

One of THOSE People

I'm becoming one of them. Those mamas with the cell phone poised, snapping low quality digital images. My kids (to post in Facebook), the coffee pot I might buy, so I can compare prices, the kids again. What fun!

I snickered at people like me...

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