A few months ago I was chatting with my Grandmother, whom I affectionately call Gma. If you don’t know my Gma, she’s a feisty, independent lady with a quick wit, great taste in books, and a fondness for Culver’s fish sandwiches. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she became a single mom in the 1960’s, raising her two daughters while teaching English in Detroit Public Schools. … Continue reading What do you believe, and what will you do with that?

We just spent a long weekend camping in my parents’ backyard. Like, really camping. We’re talking sleeping in tents, grilling our meals outside, wearing sports sandals and getting cool farmer tan lines — the whole thing. Before COVID-19 hit, we had planned to rent a cabin by beautiful Lake Michigan as a family. But with that option removed, we had to get creative. With seven … Continue reading Host family camp in your own backyard

One of my favorite things about the Lansing area is the number of public parks we have. Seriously, look at this map! Courtesy of Lansing Parks and Recreation Especially in this time of COVID-19 and social distancing, visiting local parks has really helped my mental health. Being able to spend time outside, breathe fresh air, and even visit with friends [walking six feet apart] has … Continue reading Lansing Area Parks I Love: Starting Close to Home

I began 2020 with a resolution to read 20 books for myself. But with COVID-19, sheltering in place for months and working full time from home with my toddler, time for reading just hasn’t been happening. Realizing that, I made a pivot and have been digging into the books that my daughter reads, instead. I want her to read (well, to listen to) all kinds … Continue reading Rosie’s Book Club: Season One

When we bought our almost 100-year-old house in Lansing, we knew we were being ambitious. We started with simple things like painting all the rooms, tearing out bushes from the front yard and fixing some of the floor trim, and it already looked so much better. Then we got pregnant with our first child, and things got more exciting from there. My husband and father-in-law … Continue reading Home Renovations with a Toddler

I’m Joy, and this is my blog. I am a 30-something wife, mom, friend, and neighbor. I have always loved to write, and I created this space to encourage me to do so, more often. About the name, Hometown Found. Although Lansing is my home, now, I actually grew up without a hometown. My parents did mission work and I lived in Bangladesh and Malaysia … Continue reading Hello, blog land!