Y'all know that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, in my post "a season of new dreams" that I had the opportunity to be apart of a book project that would help provide 45,000 people with clean water. This project was truly a lovely thing to be apart of and I was so honored that so many of you not only voted, but shared with your friends and family to vote for my story and others who are apart of the project. There were SO many people who were involved in the making of this book and each story that I have read is inspirational and encouraging in many different ways. BUT my favorite thing about this book is the fact that for every book sold it will help bring clean water to THREE people.
Honestly, as I write that I am humbled and grateful. Humbled because I live in a country where obtaining water is as easy as turning on the faucet. As easy as going to the grocery store and picking out a bottle of my favorite brand (like Smartwater). And I am so so grateful. Grateful to live in a land that has those opportunities. Grateful that someday my children will not have to walk miles and miles and miles to obtain clean water.
And that is why this project is so important to me. Yes, I am so honored to be published in this amazing book but I am also so excited to be able to help change someones life. So today I wanted to do a celebration giveaway - a copy of the e-book and a Starbucks gift card.
And if you don't win- can I encourage you to consider buying a copy of the book? For less than ten dollars you can change the life of THREE people. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! (If you would like to buy the book you can click HERE.)
Thank you again so much to CausePub for allowing me to be apart of this amazing project, Blood: Water Mission for your service and mission to help so many people around the world, and to all of you who voted for my story!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It is hard to believe that this summer is slowly starting to wind down and I have only a couple of weeks left here at camp. In many ways this summer has been incredibly different than any other summer but it seems like it has passed by just as quickly. With all of the rain that we have experienced we have not had the opportunity to spend time on the lake as much as other summers and were praying our little hearts out that Emily's visit with some dear friends also planning on coming up would grant us a lovely Saturday on the lake. It was answered beautifully. We had the best time, lots of laughter, I had one of my best days in months, and my energy held out for a couple of hours!
We decided that we would ski first and then go tubing. {I didn't have the energy to ski this year, but can't wait to be back up next year!} Sarah & Emily decided to double ski first and it looked like no time had ever elapsed as they are naturals!
When Emily skied alone next she was seriously a jumping machine. {I think she is practicing without telling anyone! *smiles*}
Nate was awesome and even managed to perform a few tricks and stay up despite boat waves that would have knocked me out of the boat if Sarah hadn't grabbed me. (hahaha)
Somehow, even though mom only drove for ten minutes I have a picture of her and not of dad?
After skiing for a couple of hours we went tubing. It was so much fun!!
Yes, the one tube had a little too much air. (hahaha!)
All I have to say is that switching tubes was completely Emily's idea even though I always get blamed for it! *smiles*
And then I decided that I would switch tubes. Note to self. It was much easier to do eighteen years ago. (Hahaha) Somehow at fifteen I was alot more talented. And if you notice Sarah's face in the middle picture she agrees! (hahaha)
It was an absolute perfect day. Thank you God!!
Also thank you so much to Sarah and Nate (and Wes who we missed so much!) who I not only think of as dear friends, but family who have walked this long road with me and are such a blessing. Love you guys so much!
What about y'all? What has been a perfect summer day for you?
Thank you.
As each day is an adventure I find great comfort in the verse from the promise found in Deuteronomy 33:25 (KJV)- "And as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Praise God. While I may be concerned about certain things God is NEVER concerned. Or worried. And HE is full of power. And can be completely trusted.
And I see His grace each and every day.
Here are a few updates from the last time I shared:
(1) Thank you for ALL of your sweet emails, phone calls, and lovely encouragement. You have no idea how much this has helped me walk this long caravan.
(2)I started the chelation treatment last week and unfortunately had a severe reaction so I had to take this week off. I am currently
trying to discuss with my doctor the best way to step forward with this. Because
my blood levels show that I am in a near toxic level for lead the
chelation treatments are very important. One of the issues that is complex with my Lymes case is that there are many things going on in my body and we have to be strategic in how to fight it. The goal of the chelation is to hopefully relieve one of the issues that is taxing my body.
(3) I am continuing to take a couple of medications including a cancer med and
will continue this throughout the next several months. This comes with a prayer request as many of the medications have side effects that are not always pleasant.
(4) As I mentioned last time the doctors were watching a couple of spots that they were suspicious of. It has been decided that I need to have a couple of additional spots removed and I will
have surgery in a couple of months to remove these spots. In my case it is best to be preventative and aggressive back to this cancer. *smiles* As many of you know from our talks I am so thankful for my doctor who performed surgery out in California and was SO pleased with her work that I plan to have surgery with her again.
(5) Daily life is much much better than it was before I went to California
(6)I continue to have acupuncture treatments every week and it has been extremely helpful for me this summer. I would like to continue it throughout the fall but at this moment have been unable to find a qualified acupuncturist around the area that I live in the south.
(7) In a couple of weeks I am going to start adding reflexology treatments to my weekly treatment schedule. I am curious to try this as I have not ever had reflexology thus far. I have several friends who have used this with lovely results, especially with pain. Have you ever used this? If so has it been helpful for you?
(8) I am also looking for additional health things that I can do to help my body in any and every way that I can. One of the things that has helped my iron level that was previously at the deficiency level is eating Kale. (I can’t wait to share more about Kale’s amazing health benefits on Thursday.)
(9) Thank you so much for ALL of the amazing supportive and encouraging comments from one of my most heartfelt posts that I wrote last week. (If you didn't read it you can click HERE.) There are so many different things that I can’t wait to share with y’all about ideas that I have and ways that I and several friends are hoping to reach out to churches to equip and encourage them to minister to those with chronic illness (especially those who are in the “younger age bracket”). Stay tuned in the next weeks and months. Along with that same note this month has brought some miracles and exciting new adventures, seasons, and opportunities. In the next week I look forward to sharing some exciting opportunities that the Lord has opened up.
(10) Last week I posted the following video to my personal facebook page. It is one of the best videos on Lyme's that I have ever seen. If you have not seen it and are curious about Lyme's this gives an accurate and understandable explanation. You can click HERE to access the video. Thank you again to Fox News for airing this piece!
(10) Last week I posted the following video to my personal facebook page. It is one of the best videos on Lyme's that I have ever seen. If you have not seen it and are curious about Lyme's this gives an accurate and understandable explanation. You can click HERE to access the video. Thank you again to Fox News for airing this piece!
(11) I am currently trying to raise money as I plan to head back to California
Many of you are so faithful in your daily prayers for me that have carried me through so many dark days and have walked this seemingly long path with me. I am truly humbled at the physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual support of family members, friends, and strangers alike. Some of you have asked what you can specifically pray for. Here are a few things (in no particular order):
Specific Prayer Requests:
1. A definite prayer request is for my stomach. I picked up a virus a couple of days ago, which with my immune system has really knocked me out.
2. For my heart. I won't go into too much detail but there are days (especially when school is starting) that my heart aches to be back in the classroom and to have a "normal" life. For those of you that have lost so much due to chronic illness at a young age, I pray you find the words of Joni Erickson Tada a comfort like I have, "Don't let anyone tell you that contentment comes easily. It is not passive. In fact, it is gritty determination. It has to be learned. And it requires grace from beyond this world."
Grab onto Jesus, Follow Him, and Go Change your World.
Hold onto truth: Whatever God does today will be as significant as the parting of the Red Sea.
3 For energy- while I have less days of this than before, the exhaustion can be overwhelming. This is a combination of a difficult past month, not recovering from the wedding trip, and some physical symptoms that have been acting up recently.
4. For my body to start responding at a faster rate to the long term treatments.
5. I am also praying for the inflammation to go down in my body. This is the bodies natural response to the Lyme's infection and the Cancer but I would covet prayers for that also!
5. I am also praying for the inflammation to go down in my body. This is the bodies natural response to the Lyme's infection and the Cancer but I would covet prayers for that also!
6. For healing & mercy.
Hi y'all! I am so delighted that several of you are joining Stephanie, Crystal & I on this adventure of reading through the "Made to Crave" book. {If you haven't already purchased the book but would still like to - please feel free to join us for the last 1/2 of this study!}
This week we are discussing chapters nine and ten of the book. Chapter nine (But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry) and chapter ten (This Isn’t Fair) both had some points to talk about and think through. At the same time though I am curious to hear what everyone learned from these two chapters!
One quote that stood out to me from chapter nine was from page 9, “I can either be loyal to honoring the Lord with my body or loyal to my cravings, desires, and many excuses for not exercising.” (Made to Crave, page 91) Now, as a young woman who used to love walking for exercise and ballroom dancing several times a week exercise didn't make me cry. I am not like my sister (who is AWESOMELY training for a 1/2 marathon) who likes to run, or like a former co-worker of mine who is doing Cross fit. I am not even going to pretend that was before I got sick let alone would it be now. So here is the thing that I took away from this. Exercise doesn't make me cry, but there are other things that I don't like to do which is incredibly good for my health (i.e.- drinking drinking Cod Liver Oil) and I have the choice everyday on how I choose to treat my body- in the big and little things.
A beautiful verse that gives us encouragement to face whatever our circumstances is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
I said this a couple of weeks ago, but these points are so important to be reminded of once again here: If you are defining yourself by your work, illness, career, blog, profession, marriage, children, your contribution to society, weight, the dress size you are, the marathon that you just ran, etc. I highly encourage you this week to think through the following definitions of who you truly are. I love these following truths and hope that you do to!
*I am a forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)
I am a set-free child of God. (Romans 8:1-2)
I am accepted child of God.(I Corinthians 1:2)
I am a holy child of God. (I Corinthians 1:30)
I am a made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am a loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)
I am a close child of God. (Ephesians 2:13)
I am a confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)
I am a victorious child of God. (Romans 8:37)*
Have a blessed week y'all - celebrating the small victories as much as the large ones, knowing that we are truly loved by God.
P.S.- Can y'all believe that we are on week six?!? It is hard to believe that we are at this point in this study! Keep up the awesome work y'all! So delighted to be on this journey with you!
* Wording and info taken from Scripture & "Made to Crave Participant's Guide: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God" By Lysa TerKeurst
* Wording and info taken from Scripture & "Made to Crave Participant's Guide: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God" By Lysa TerKeurst
Here is the reading schedule for the rest of the study for those of you that would like to join us :
August 19- Week 7
Chapter 11- Stinkin’, Rotten, Horrible, No Good Day & Chapter 12- The Curse of the Skinny Jeans
August 26- Week 8
Chapter 13- Overindulgence & Chapter 14- Emotional Emptiness
September 2- Week 9
Chapter 15- The Demon in the Chips Poster & Chapter 16- Why Diets Don’t Work
September 9- Week 10
Chapter 17- The Very Next Choice We Make& Chapter 18- Things Lost, Better Things Gained
September 16- Week 11
Chapter 19- Live as an Overcomer & Summary/Conclusion
Today's blogging prompt question from Northeast Bloggers was asking who our five favorite blog crushes are. Honestly it is hard to pick just five! When I first started Caravan Sonnet I knew that one of my goals was to develop a rich and vibrant community. In doing so I never want to pick "favorites" so the blogs that I have listed today are sweet writers who have been in the bloggy world for a while and whom I have gotten to know a little bit outside the "bloggy realm". I hope that you will be inspired by each of these blogs and out of today's post find some new blogs that maybe you haven't discovered before!
p.s.- It was so hard to only pick 5. I mean... lets be honest. It was impossible.
(In no particular order)
1. Marshalls Abroad. Amanda, the writer behind the blog, is absolutely lovely. While her blog focuses on recipes that make you want to eat your computer, she also has posts about her daily life as a military spouse, her inspiring faith, and her travels. Her pictures are stunning and make you feel that you are truly seeing the places that her family travels to in person. Beyond her pictures though there is a simplicity of living life filled with beautiful dependence on God that jumps through the screen and touches your heart.
2. Heart Shaped Sweat. Kristine is an amazing woman who writes about exercise, life, and her sweet family. As a military spouse she just recently moved and just like her entire blog she shows the courage that she and other military spouses have. Kristine is absolutely wonderful and is one of the most humble and helpful bloggers that I have ever encountered. She truly wants to see other bloggers succeed. I am so incredibly blessed to have gotten to know her and you will be too.
3. Love.Laughter.Happily Ever After. Kalyn, the writer behind the blog is incredibly encouraging and wonderful. Kalyn writes about life, love, and faith and when I say writes, I definitely mean that. It is obvious that she puts an incredible amount of time into each of her posts. Her words are carefully crafted and whether it is her goal or not (because she is very humble) she challenges each of her readers every time. The minute that you see her blog design you are met with warmth, uniqueness, and creativity. Just like the author and the blog herself.
4. Mini Manor Blog. Ok, I admit. It was almost impossible to pick just one of the "home" type blogs that I read. Each one in different ways has me crushing on them. I love how I Heart Organizing inspires to me become a more organized person. I am constant inspired by Bonnie from Going Home To Roost to create a beautiful and simple life. SO ok...yes, there are three that fall into my "crushes" category. *smiles*
5. Wissmanns Family Blog. Sometime this year in the middle of a very difficult and painful night I came across this family blog and immediately my heart fell in love. In this blog the family shares their faith, life, traveling stories (as a band), and the deep love that they have for each other and Jesus. I have been constantly encouraged to dive deeper into scripture through their writings and am looking forward to great excitement to be going (with one of my best friends) on a cruise with them in February. *happy sigh*
Isn't it lovely how bloggy world can connect people? Who do you have a blog crush on? I love finding new friends and would love to have you share!
Friends, if you are struggling through the dark night of
suffering I urge you to hold fast to the story and
find hope in the story of the Israelites. We see in the
book of Exodus that the Israelites held on to the hope that God was still at
work. As they limped out from under the hard yoke of slavery they carried their
tambourines through the long trek of the desert believing that there would
still be a song yet to sing. They didn’t know when the song would come, but held onto hope that God would show up.
Despite the fact they had no assurances or promises of what their future would
look like, they walked with their tambourines. They were fully prepared for the celebration that they did not yet have a
time frame for. The celebration that only lay hidden in their hearts as they
walked mile after mile in the desert. The same hope of celebration that the
woman who was ill for twelve years was also expecting as she reached out her hand
for Jesus’ cloak(Luke 8).
Grab onto Jesus, follow Him, and change your world.
I have friends who are scattered around the world serving
AIDS victims in Africa, sex-trafficking victims in Nepal ,
and crying orphans in the heart of Haiti . Maybe you are like them and
can venture to far off countries to rescue those that the world has abandoned.
Or maybe you can quietly and powerfully write your story by showing up, and
learning like I am to take one day at a time and minister to those that the
world has forgotten. Either way we
can all come to the cross and take His love into our worlds- no matter how big
or small that might seem.
God is at work friends.
Hold onto truth:
So now I ask you friends: "What is something you strongly believe in but maybe don't speak up about often? Why do you believe this &what causes you to keep quiet about it?"
Hi y'all! I am so delighted that several of you are joining Stephanie, Crystal & I on this adventure of reading through the "Made to Crave" book. {If you haven't already purchased the book but would still like to - please feel free to join us at any point - even if it is just for a week or two!}
This week we are discussing chapters seven and eight of the book. BUT to be frank I felt that I learned so much from chapters five and six from last week that I did not read the chapters for this week and instead prayerfully meditated on what the Lord was teaching me! SO I look forward to catching up with y'all next week and can't wait to hear what the Lord taught you through the reading this week! {If you would like to read last weeks post please click HERE.}
Here is the reading schedule for the rest of the study for those of you that would like to join us :
August 12- Week 6
Chapter 9- But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry& Chapter 10- This Isn’t Fair!
August 19- Week 7
Chapter 11- Stinkin’, Rotten, Horrible, No Good Day & Chapter 12- The Curse of the Skinny Jeans
August 26- Week 8
Chapter 13- Overindulgence & Chapter 14- Emotional Emptiness
September 2- Week 9
Chapter 15- The Demon in the Chips Poster & Chapter 16- Why Diets Don’t Work
September 9- Week 10
Chapter 17- The Very Next Choice We Make& Chapter 18- Things Lost, Better Things Gained
September 16- Week 11
Chapter 19- Live as an Overcomer & Summary/Conclusion
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