latest on the blog
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.jpeg "caravan sonnet- rebecca vandemark")
This is a girl excited to say hello to May... *smiles*
Happy Friday friends! I hope that you have had a lovely week! This week has truly left me a bit speechless... I know that sometimes on the internet it can be a bit frustrating when a blogger says something like this because then you are like well why say something like that if you aren't going to share. I can't speak for others, but because I live so much life with y'all I know that this community is faithful in support and prayers. So right now, I do ask for prayers. Something happened yesterday that has definitely thrown me. Please know that it is nothing to do with my mom's health or mine, and thank you so much for your prayers. This verse has brought specific comfort to my heart in the last 24 hours:
Here are some of my favorite things from this past week! First of all....
I am OVERWHELMED by the response of providing this FREE guide and telling my story and journey with medical debt and finances. This is truly a passion of mine to discuss finances, so telling my story was definitely a raw and vulnerable start to sharing more about this. If you would like the Free Guide please click HERE!
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for mom. You can find the updated news HERE. We continue to ask for prayers for the best next steps and treatment.
I shared a bit more HERE in a blog post, but earlier this month the TPT store changed its name!
When I started the shop back in 2021, I was quietly building resources late at night and early in the morning, uploading them between life responsibilities, and dreaming of what this could become. And slowly, faithfully, it has been becoming something much bigger than I could have imagined as I chase my dreams.
Sales reaching 26 states, Canada, Australia, the Philippines.
Five star resources.
A community of teachers I am so deeply grateful for.
But as I have been thinking about the future — really dreaming about where this is going — I kept coming back to one thing: I am not just building a shop. I am building a classroom. A place where teachers find resources that bring financial literacy, history, government, economics, and law alive for their students. A place where other educators who are building their own TPT journeys can find honesty, encouragement, and community. A place that can grow beyond any single platform — because what we are building together is bigger than that.
I am also SO grateful for ALL of your support of this shop. Y'all... THANK YOU. This is something that I work so hard on behind the scenes and your support, reviews, and encouragement are HUGE. Thank you so much for all of your support of the shop! If you would like to check out the shop you can find it HERE!
Can I ask 2 HUGE favors?
(1)- If you are not already following the shoppe could you please do so? Even if you are not a teacher or don't plan to purchase things the number of followers does influence potential buyers and this would show incredible support! Simply click HERE!
(2)- If you have purchased something would you please take a moment and leave a review? It doesn't have to be long, but reviews are SO helpful to TPT owners like myself! Simply click HERE!
THANK YOU!
I shared more about the upcoming Lake Placid Half-Marathon that I am officially signed up for! You can read the post HERE! As y'all know back at the end of the summer, I had signed up for and planned a trip to Hawaii for this month - and part of that stay was going to be doing a half-marathon. It felt like a stretch goal, something both adventurous and symbolic. But life, as it so often does, shifted. With my mom’s diagnosis, everything changed. Priorities realigned. Travel paused. And the idea of that race quietly slipped away.
But the dream didn’t. I am officially registered for the Lake Placid Marathon and Half Marathon this June! Read more about this HERE and send along ANY and ALL tips please in the comments below!!
.jpg "heating pad")
When I was a teenager I tried to attempt a "stunt" (like I was a cheerleader- which in my defense I was so it made sense haha- please don't ask *smiles*) while I was water skiing. Suffice it to say the "stunt" went horribly wrong and I took a bad fall that hurt my back. About 7 years ago I was skiing (winter this time) and I took a very bad fall and between the two things- I can unfortunately end up in extreme pain if my back goes out... so one of the things that I have always been grateful for, has been the suggestion of THIS heating pad by one of my doctors about 12 years ago. I can't say enough good things about it and can't recommend it enough! If you have been around the blog the last decade then I also have to say that this was a huge help while I was extremely sick fighting Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and Cancer (and other things). The heating pads of this brand come in a variety of sizes (I use the medium size while my mom loves the small size).
For after my mom's knee surgery we also purchased the knee version and this was a huge help also. (You can find that HERE). There are tons of options of sizes, but if you are looking for a new heating pad definitely try these out. It definitely is an investment, but worth every single penny. Each one we have owned has lasted for about 5 years - so they last a LONG time! I just checked and on Amazon they are having a MAJOR sale today so definitely check that out!
.jpg "Top 10 Must Pack Items for a New England and Canadian Cruise")
With Caravan Sonnet turning 13 years old this year I love sharing on Fridays some of the older but most popular posts on the blog! One of the things that Caravan Sonnet developed into in the early years was a a resource for those looking for cozy luxury travel around the United States and World.
I am so delighted to start sharing about an upcoming adventure that we are going to have in the second half of the summer and look forward to sharing all of the details!!!
In the meantime, you can check out all of the travel and cruising adventures HERE!
I hope that you have a wonderful Friday friends! Thank you for making this such an incredible space to come to and connect with every single day. I am so blessed!!
Happy Wednesday friends!
It is hard to believe that it has been a full year today since our beautiful Rhone River Cruise! I am excited to share a few final reels of this beautiful adventure beginning with our first two days HERE!
Last night on IG I shared a reel all about our embarkation day and our beautiful day in Arles! Before you read anymore here, I would be honored if you would please head on over to watch, comment, and like this reel by clicking HERE!
I understand that in the world we live in and the constant reels and pictures it may not seem like a lot, but to me this means so much more than you realize. Every view, like, comment, and share on a reel truly matters more than most people realize. Instagram quietly uses those small signals to decide whether a post should be shown to more people. When you watch, tap the heart, or leave a thoughtful comment, you’re helping the story reach someone else who might need to hear it too. For a small content creator like me, those simple moments of encouragement from this community make a real difference and help Caravan Sonnet continue to grow in the Instagram space. So please take just a quick moment to click HERE to do this!
Thank you.
If you are interested in more information about these first couple of days please click on these links below and as always feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
Embarkation Day
Embarkation Day on the Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Embarkation Day on the Viking Delling (Blog Post)
Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Viking Delling Ship Review (IG Reel)
Viking Rhone River Tours (IG Reel)
Viking Delling Stateroom 337 Review (IG Reel)
Day 2- Arles, France
Morning on the Rhone River (IG Reel)
Thoughts from Arles France (Blog Post)
The Arles Ampitheater (Blog Post)
A Walk Through Arles France (IG Reel)
Sunsets on the Viking Delling (IG Reel)
Happy Wednesday! I hope you have the most wonderful day!
You don’t need to rush across Europe to make a trip feel worthwhile. When you plan your
route with care, each stop starts to work harder for you, giving you better food and time to
actually enjoy where you are. You avoid the constant packing and long transfers that drain
your energy and instead build a journey that feels balanced. By mixing well-known cities with
quieter regions, you give yourself variety without overwhelming your schedule.
Iconic European Cities
Tourists naturally gravitate towards cities like Paris and Barcelona, and for good reason.
Each offers a compact layout that makes exploring on foot or by metro straightforward,
which saves both time and money. In Paris, you can structure your day around
neighbourhoods - start with a morning coffee in Le Marais, then walk to the Seine instead of
zigzagging across the city. Barcelona gives you flexibility - pair a cultural stop like the Gothic
Quarter with an afternoon by the beach, which helps you recharge without wasting a day
travelling.
Island Escapes
Islands offer a calmer, slower-paced way of life. The Italian charm is irresistible, that’s why a
Sardinia Holiday is the perfect getaway. You can land in Cagliari and reach quiet beaches
within an hour, avoiding the long transfers you’d face on larger islands. Renting a small car
lets you explore coastal roads at your own pace, stopping at lesser-known coves where you
won’t compete for space. Alternatively, Santorini suits shorter stays; its compact size means
you can see key viewpoints without constant travel, freeing up time to relax.
Scenic Countryside and Alpine Routes
Europe’s countryside gives you breathing room and a different rhythm. The Swiss Alps, for
example, make travel itself part of the experience. Trains between towns like Interlaken and
Zermatt run frequently and offer panoramic views, so you don’t need to drive to enjoy the
scenery. If you prefer something quieter, regions such as Tuscany let you base yourself in
one village and take short day trips to vineyards or historic towns.
Eastern European Gems
Cities like Prague and Budapest combine walkable centres with affordable food and
accommodation, which helps stretch your budget. In Prague, you can explore the Old Town
on foot and still have time for a relaxed evening by the river. Budapest offers thermal baths
that double as both sightseeing and downtime. Venture slightly further to Kraków, where you
uncover cultural sites that add depth and purpose to your trip.
Europe Done Right
A well-shaped European journey comes down to the choices you make between
destinations as much as the places themselves. You don’t need to see everything to feel
satisfied; you just need to experience enough with intention. Focus on how each destination
fits into your overall pace, and you’ll build a trip that feels coherent and genuinely memorable
long after you return.
*contributed post*
There are moments in life when everything changes quietly… and then all at once. For me, that moment wasn’t just illness—it was what came after.
Years of fighting for my health led to something I wasn’t prepared for:
over $500,000 in medical debt.
Not because of reckless choices. Not because of poor planning.
But because life sometimes asks more of us than we ever imagined we could carry.
And maybe you understand that.
This Is Why I Created This Guide
Over the years, I’ve slowly, steadily paid off $260,000 of that debt.
Not quickly. Not perfectly. But consistently.
And somewhere along the way, I realized something important:
People don’t just need financial strategies. They need hope, clarity, and a place to begin.
So I created something I wish I had back then— A simple, honest, step-by-step guide for rebuilding financially after overwhelming circumstances, illness, or starting over.
My Free Guide Is Now Available
“How I Paid Off $260,000 in Medical Debt (and Where I’d Start Again)” is now available as a free download in my Stan Store. Click HERE!
Inside, I walk you through:
→How to stop the financial spiral and gain clarity
→ The truth about medical debt (and why it’s different)
→ How I reduced my debt by over $200,000 through negotiation
→ A simple, sustainable plan that actually works in real life
→ What I would do differently if I were starting today
This is not a complicated system. It’s not overwhelming. It’s practical, gentle, and built for real life—especially when life feels heavy.
If You’re in a Hard Financial Season
I want to say this as clearly as I can:
You are not behind. You are not alone. And you are not stuck.
Medical debt—like so many financial burdens—often comes from situations we didn’t choose.
But it is something you can move through. One small step at a time.
A Quiet Invitation
If you are rebuilding financially—after illness, loss, or simply a difficult season—This guide is for you. From someone who has sat with the bills, made the calls, and walked this road slowly…
You can still build a beautiful life.
Download the Free Guide
You can download your free copy HERE:
And if you’re walking this journey, I would love to stay connected:
→ On Instagram for daily encouragement
→ Here on Caravan Sonnet for deeper stories
→ And through upcoming resources designed to help you rebuild with clarity and dignity
Live elegantly. Spend with dignity. Rebuild—one step at a time.
Thank you for all of your prayers for mom's appointments on Friday. We have some plans in place for next steps and are also prayerfully considering other things for the weeks, months, and years ahead.
Thank you for your prayers for wisdom and for us as we continue to process and
plan wisely. Mom and I headed home last yesterday, grateful and a bit overwhelmed from a (good) overload of knowledge and expert wisdom from Sloan Kettering- but mostly humbled with gratitude.
We appreciate your prayers for both of us as we arrived back home late last night and approach the week and weeks ahead. I am finishing up the last several weeks of an intense semester plus full time work responsibilities and some additional behind the scenes things. Most importantly mom will be approaching radiation in the next month and we appreciate your prayers for that. Thank you for all of your love and support.
PS- Sloan Kettering is simply amazing. From the minute you walk in to appointments you are met with such kindness and care- not only for patients but as a caregiver. I (not the patient) always feel so seen in this journey. Sometimes even the caregivers and loved ones need the warm packs to Thank you Memorial Sloan Kettering!
Most teachers also use this time to stock up for next year while everything is discounted! Grateful for each of you and the work you’re doing in your classrooms every day!
AND... I want to give you a FREE GIFT!
Thank you so much again for all of your support of the shop! I know I say that all of the time, but you are a blessing! I am so glad you are here! And to say thank you, I want to share about a small thank you gift that you can receive!!! Community matters deeply to me, and your reviews truly help this small, independent shop continue to grow. So I am offering a small gift- if you leave a review in the Caravan Sonnet Shoppe, you can choose one FREE resource (up to $3 in value) as my thank-you.
How it works:
1. Leave a review on any resource in the shop
2. Email me at caravansonnet@gmail.com
3. Tell me which resource you’d like
4. I’ll send it to you directly as an attachment
It’s my way of saying thank you for supporting thoughtful, real-world teaching. Truly—it means more than I can say.
Happy Friday friends and HAPPY Shopping!!
Click HERE to go directly to the Caravan Sonnet Classroom!!
Hello friends!
Lately I’ve been reflecting on how much our lives are shaped by the communities we surround ourselves with. Some of those communities are found close to home: the familiar faces we greet at church each Sunday, a neighbour who stops for a chat on an evening walk, or the friends we gather with around the kitchen table for coffee and conversation.
Other connections appear in quieter ways, through shared interests, faith, and the simple joy of finding people who see the world through a similar lens.
In a busy world that often feels scattered and hurried, those relationships can become small anchors of encouragement.
The Beauty of Shared Values
As life unfolds through different seasons, many people discover that the relationships that matter most are often rooted in shared values.
When people share a common perspective on faith, family, and purpose, conversations feel easier and deeper. There is a sense of understanding that turns even ordinary moments into something meaningful.
For many of us, faith is a central part of that connection. It shapes how we approach life, how we care for others, and the kind of community we hope to build around us.
Community in the Digital Age
While face-to-face friendships will always be special, the digital world has quietly created new ways for people to discover communities built around shared beliefs and interests.
Some people join online reading groups or prayer circles. Others participate in discussion forums or creative communities that bring together people from different places but similar outlooks.
One example is SALT, a Christian dating app created for believers who want faith to be part of their relationships from the very beginning. Unlike many mainstream dating platforms, the app focuses on helping Christians connect with others who take their faith seriously.
Members can highlight their interests, values, and personality traits on their profiles, which helps conversations begin with a sense of shared understanding.
Several features are designed to encourage genuine interaction. The Online Now feature allows users to see who is currently active on the platform, while global search makes it possible to connect with people across different countries. SALT also hosts live audio gatherings known as Table events, where users can join discussions about faith, relationships, mental health, and everyday life.
For many people, these kinds of spaces feel less like traditional social media and more like welcoming communities built around meaningful connection.
A Gentle Reminder
In a culture that often celebrates busyness, it can be easy to overlook how important community truly is.
Yet the friendships we nurture, the conversations we share, and the people who walk beside us through life’s different seasons often become some of our greatest blessings.
Whether those connections grow through quiet moments in our local communities or through thoughtful conversations across the world, they remind us that we were never meant to walk this journey alone.
And sometimes the most beautiful part of life is simply discovering the people who share the same faith and hopes along the way.
*contributed post*
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