JOY

A daily devotional book reflecting the obstacles that we face in trying to "find" joy. This book can be used especially in preparing for Lent.

In reflecting on those moments as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, patient, caregiver, friend and physician, there are times one can feel lost and overwhelmed. Often we are too tired to seek guidance or comfort for ourselves. Everyone wants to be joyful. But it is a practice that lasts only until the next time we wake up. Then we must remember, like a recipe, the small steps that we can control in resetting our focus, purpose and path in joy. This book hopes to provide short stories and reflections to enable the habit of realizing what obstacle to joy we are facing. We all need to build the muscles necessary in facing and adapting to whatever we have on our plate each day. As music is its own beautiful and powerful form of healing, many of the pages have song "pairings". Life is like a never ending soundtrack.

Dr. Andrea Girod Espinoza is a practicing physician and resides with her family in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and then raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is the oldest of ten children and credits her family and siblings with providing the love and support necessary to navigate life's difficult and joyous times as she embarked on her path to medicine. She attended LSU undergrad and then graduated from LSU Medical School in New Orleans. After completing Internal Medicine residency, she went on to completed a rigorous fellowship in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine. She married Luis Espinoza, M.D., an Orthopedic Surgeon and together they have three children. She practiced Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine for nearly 13 years in an underserved area of Southeast Louisiana (Houma, Louisiana-Terrebonne Parish). In 2019, she decided to begin private practice in Pulmonary Medicine & Lifestyle Medicine. Joining her husband's practice, Dr. Espinoza appreciated the work "behind the scenes" in private practice and credits their faith, family and the practice of mindfulness and music in facilitating both personal and professional successes. Practicing Critical Care Medicine for many years, the vantage of seeing patients suffering from preventable diseases motivated Dr. Espinoza to focus her practice towards prevention. Practicing Lifestyle Medicine has been a rewarding addition to both she and Luis' life as well as their patients. The Drs. Espinoza also work side by side co-hosting their podcast "Mixtape Hope". Living in New Orleans, music has always been synonymous with "good times". They interview artists, songwriters, producers, dance instructors and more as they share personal stories about music as a true healing entity. She and her husband also play music in a band "Better Together Band" formed with friends during the pandemic. Over the many years of practicing Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, she has watched the many pages of life's script unfold in her own life and those of her patients. In her writing, she has tried to capture "life lessons" in the small moments. Her hope is to continue to share her passion of storytelling with the world.