Hi y'all! I am so delighted that so many 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. Also if you have a Kindle, Crystal has shared with us that the Kindle Edition is on sale for only $2.99 this week!}
This week we are discussing the introduction which if I am honest I am not the best "introduction reader". Often times I find myself reading through an entire book and then going back to really read through the introduction. {Yes, I know. As a person aspiring to be a published author I should know better.}Discussing this book though forced me to read the introduction and to be challenged in several areas. While I don't have a "cycle" to break with food, I do find myself in a cycle that is not victorious with other things- specifically my worry thought patterns. Lysa in her introduction states that we are meant to live in victory and with worry that is not how I always live. A quote that I found to be very challenging and that stuck with me was from page 18 where she states: "I am made to rise up, do battle with my issues, and, using the Lord's strength in me, defeat them- spiritually, physically, and mentally to the Glory of God." What I love about this quote is that she is not saying that we do this in our own strength alone but through the Lord's strength. Being sick and weak right now I LOVE that reminder.
Another thing that really stood out to me in the introduction chapter was how Lysa shared there are several people in the Bible that were "brought down" by food. This to me was almost unbelievable because I thought- food- really? But then I think about Eve and then I also think about Esau (Hebrews 12) and it is not laughable. And neither is my propensity to not deal with my issues that are bringing me down and have me in a cycle (aka. worry, etc.) And also this introduction really made me think: what do I crave? What does my mind crave? What does my heart crave? What does my soul crave?
SO honestly- I am so thankful that I did not skip the introduction this week because these are just a few of the thoughts that are in my mind to pray through in the next few days! What about y'all? If you are a blogger please feel free to link with us below and share your thoughts and if you don't have a blog please leave a comment in the comment section. I am so confident that we can all grow and learn together in this process!
Here is the reading schedule for those of you that would like to join us for the whole study or for part of it:
July 8-
Introduction
July
15-
Chapter 1-What’s Really Going on Here? & Chapter 2-
Replacing my Cravings
July 22- Week 3-
Chapter
3- Getting a Plan & Chapter 4- Friends Don’t Let Friends Eat before
Thinking
July 29- Week 4
Chapter
5- Made for More & Chapter 6- Growing Closer to God
August 5- Week 5
Chapter 7- I’m Not Defined by the Numbers & Chapter 8-
Making Peace with the Realities of my Body
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
Also, Crystal has found some lovely resources that I can't wait to check out!
21 Day Challenge (a new challenge emailed to you each day)
Healthy Eating Go-To Scripts (Printable verses to help you on your journey)
Freebies (lots more freebies on the Made to Crave website)
Beat the Craving (a post I wrote last year with my own tips for beating cravings)
My Get Healthy Pinterest Board (lots of great inspiration here)
Have you ever had an experience that you couldn't talk about for a little bit because it was simply so wonderful? That was my weekend last week. It was such a treasured time that I needed time to digest it and treasure it in my heart before I was even ready to talk about it. It was a miracle weekend for me. My energy held more consistently then it has in over a year and for each moment the Lord provided exactly the energy I needed. I was surrounded by friends that are like family and while I am more tired than ever before, I still am smiling as I write this post.
I want to say a humble and grateful thank you to the Visy family for the extravagant gift of my plane ticket that made this trip possible, the Minite family for opening your home to me and treating me as a special member of the family, Kaara & Richard for picking me up on Thursday and for your generous monetary gift to offset any additional costs that occurred, Carina, Katharine, Tricia & Kaara for a wonderful long evening full of laughter and fun on Thursday evening, Katharine, for our precious talks and driving me all over Maryland throughout the weekend and then to the airport on Sunday evening, for Carina for lunch on Saturday, and for countless others for your extravagant love.
I read once that someone said "you can never go home again". Thank God that is not true of the WCA community for "going home" is like returning to a piece of your heart. What a precious community.
I read once that someone said "you can never go home again". Thank God that is not true of the WCA community for "going home" is like returning to a piece of your heart. What a precious community.
Like, I said the whole weekend was a miracle and a gift. My parents drove me to the Albany airport and with only a short delay my flight left and was very uneventful {umm... except for the pilot having a rough landing and saying "sorry about that"?hmmm...}.
Kaara, as I mentioned above, was so sweet to pick me up and it was such a wonderful time to catch up with her. We went to Silver Spring {which has changed so much!} and grabbed a light dinner before meeting up with the ladies! Despite the traffic (which I have sweetly forgotten about in life *smiles*) it was such a lovely time. Thank you again Kaara for coming to pick me up and for such a sweet time of talking and catching up!
After dinner we caught up with Tricia, Carina, and Katharine and we had the best time talking and catching up on life. We laughed so hard that there were tears. It was the best type of conversation. And I sat there wondering: How has it been four years? Much too long to not see dear friends. We must have our next reunion sooner.
Because we were out so late on Thursday evening we slept in late on Friday and then Katharine took me to the Bridal luncheon. It was SO good to see the bride and it was delightful to meet all of Kristen's friends and family that I did not know!
After lunch Carina picked me up and we were able to catch up before the Rehearsal and the Rehearsal dinner. {Sunshine, how did I not get a picture of that?}Carina dropped me back at Katharine's and I had a quick moment to change before Katharine was sweet enough to brave the traffic to take me to the rehearsal.
Honestly, the rehearsal was one of the best that I had ever been to and it was lovely to laugh and meet so many of Kristen's and Paul's families. {By the way- isn't Kristen's rehearsal dress so beautiful? Love it!}
After the rehearsal we headed over to the rehearsal dinner. Because of the traffic it took us about an hour to get there which gave me a chance to close my eyes and rest. I admit that I was very tired by this point and SO appreciate all of your prayers for me for the weekend!!
At the rehearsal dinner (which was very beautiful) it was lovely to get to know a new friend (and one of Kristen's bridesmaids) Ashlan and get to talk with different members of the families and wedding party. Some of the toasts were so precious and the toasts from the men in Kristen's life were extremely special. {How crazy is it that I coached Kristen, had Michael on SGA, and taught Scott? WOW!}
Kristen and Paul blessed me with a beautiful gift that truly touched my heart and was an answer to prayer. Thank you both so much!
On Saturday morning Katharine and I laughed and had a wonderful time talking and catching up. Somehow though time got away from us and we were flying around the house getting ready for the wedding that at one point seemed "far off". *smiles*
We were there with plenty of time to share and had the chance to snap some pictures before the wedding started! Beautiful- I love you!!
Alex- I am soo happy that I had a chance to spend some time with you this weekend!!
The ceremony was beautiful and extremely precious. {Sorry that most of these pictures are blurry- I cried throughout most of the ceremony!}
Have you ever seen a set of parents so excited for their daughter?
After the beautiful ceremony we headed to the fun and gorgeous outdoor cocktail reception. It was such a lovely time!
Dear sweet ladies, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to talk with you throughout the evening. My heart is SO proud of each one of you and honored to know you all !
The newlyweds arrive!
After the cocktail hour outside we moved into the reception inside and had a lovely dinner and a ton of fun dancing with a WONDERFUL band!
Molly, it was a treasure to meet you!!
Oh sweet ladies, how my heart has missed you!!
John put his face in the background of the following picture so we had to take another one with just the girls *smiles*
You know when you just meet some people and you instantly admire them? That is these two girls. You are lovely!
Fun with the photobooth props! I won't even begin to share what Kaara said! hahaha
Love you sweet Kristen! Congrats to you and Paul!! {Isn't her dress GORGEOUS?!?}
Oh WCA family, how I have missed "the dances"!! Such FUN!
It's hard to convey such a WONDERFUL and fantastic event in just a few simple paragraphs and pictures. Thank you so much to everyone that made it such a WONDERFUL weekend!
So... I admit. When I first was approached by Stephanie from The New Mrs.Adventures about joining her in a summer Bible Study/Book Study my heart jumped. With being so sick this past year I have missed the opportunity to connect with other women over a book of the Bible or a Book Study that can help deepen my faith in the Lord. Being sick has provided countless hours with my precious Lord alone, but has left me somewhat dry of community. So when Stephanie proposed this idea to me I literally got tears. It was an answer to prayer!
After suggesting several ideas, Stephanie mentioned the book "Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst. I was intrigued as I had not read this book before. As I investigated the book more closely and the website (Click Here ) I knew immediately that this would be a wonderful study to participate in. There are so many women that struggle with these types of issues and whether you "crave" food or something else I am confident that we all can relate to what this book speaks about. I truly believe that there is something for everyone to learn (myself included) through this book. We as women have so many dreams and longings that we want to see fulfilled and many times we turn to food to satisfy those desires. Or we turn away from food to satisfy those desires. And maybe, as I said, maybe it is not food that you turn to. Maybe it is something else. Either way I am confident that we can grow, encourage, laugh, cry, and support one another on our journey's (or Caravan's *smiles*).
I want to invite y'all to join with me, The New Mrs.Adventures, and Serving Joyfully as we embark on this adventure each Monday over the next few weeks. Every Monday the three of us will be sharing what the Lord is doing in our lives through this book and we truly would be honored to have you join with us. If you are able I would encourage you to purchase a copy of the book. I and these other two ladies are excited to see what the Lord is going to do through this study and this summer. We have been praying for each other , ourselves ,and everyone that will participate that this will be an encouraging and challenging adventure. I also am praying that the Lord will use this to show more of Himself so that we can fall deeper in love with Him and "crave" Him more!
I hope you’ll join us, starting next Monday where we will be discussing 2 chapters each week (starting with the introduction). If you’re a blogger and are going to blog about the study please let us know so that we can read what God is teaching you through this book!
P.S.- I know for me (and many others that money is really tight right now so buying this book might seem like an impossibility. I truly do understand. Truly. But please don't let that stop you from participating! On the website that I mentioned above there is a twenty-one day challenge that you can sign up for. This twenty-one day challenge is completely free and you will receive a daily devotional that follows similar principles that the book chapters discuss!
Hope to have you join us!
A couple of months ago I heard about an organization called The Exodus Road. I was thrilled to discover the amazing work that they are doing to help rescue out sex slaves across the world. I was also thrilled to become a member of their blogging team to help bring awareness to the real life issues that are going on in the world, amazing stories of rescue and redemption, and ways that you (my amazing readers) can make a difference.
As many of you know I spent time working in DC as a Match Grant Program Coordinator with asylees, refugees, and sex-trafficking victims in their first 180 days in the United States. The time that I spent doing that was life-changing and truly opened my eyes to the horrors that exist within our world. Due to my health I am not able to participate in ways that I would like right now. And due to many reasons there are so many people that I know wish to see this horrific practice ended but do not know how to help or do not have the ability to help right now (like me).
NOW YOU CAN.
As many of you know I spent time working in DC as a Match Grant Program Coordinator with asylees, refugees, and sex-trafficking victims in their first 180 days in the United States. The time that I spent doing that was life-changing and truly opened my eyes to the horrors that exist within our world. Due to my health I am not able to participate in ways that I would like right now. And due to many reasons there are so many people that I know wish to see this horrific practice ended but do not know how to help or do not have the ability to help right now (like me).
NOW YOU CAN.
This past week The Exodus Road launched the Search and Rescue Program. This program enables you to personally fuel and empower literal rescue. You are invited to join a real-life covert investigative team through our new partnership, Search and Rescue.
From our experience, it takes about $35 a night for one of our investigators to engage in local surveillance. Since we already have teams on the ground and since most of our teams are volunteers, we are able to fund investigations with a fairly lean financial model.
If you’d like to join a team, you will be “hiring” one of our investigators to go literally look for children and victims on your behalf in some of the darkest corners of the globe. Investigators will then take that until to local police partners and will develop cases and raids from that initial intelligence.
If you’d like to join a team, you will be “hiring” one of our investigators to go literally look for children and victims on your behalf in some of the darkest corners of the globe. Investigators will then take that until to local police partners and will develop cases and raids from that initial intelligence.
The search fuels the rescue. And by investing in our teams, you will be putting boots on the ground, sending eyes to look for the enslaved.
Currently, we have four designated teams that we’d like to empower. Each team has a code name (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta) and a brief description of their area of focus. You can find the team names and descriptions here. When you choose a team to sponsor for $35/monthly, you’ll have access to their field intelligence (though, as always, for safety, some details may be changed). You’ll get live updates about the ways your team performs investigations, raids, and rescue. We’ll also send newsletters, incentives and even ways for you to connect and support your field team on a more personal level.
Want to become a part of the Search and Rescue Team? This is your chance to join arms with the guys who are actually kicking down the doors.
Want to become a part of the Search and Rescue Team? This is your chance to join arms with the guys who are actually kicking down the doors.
Hire an Investigator.
Recover a Slave.
What are you waiting for? Want to join with us? Click HERE to read more!
What are you waiting for? Want to join with us? Click HERE to read more!
This past year was the first year that I did not teach high school students in a very long time. Because I loved my job life so much during that time there were moments where I missed my students so much that my heart ached. Throughout the year I thought of special moments and times and many times throughout the year I would think, "Oh I would be on the fall retreat right now" or "oh today would be the day that I would give the "thanksgiving feast"" or so many other countless (and to many people inconsequential) things. Each memory is special and each memory is a gift. During this difficult, difficult year I have looked back on those six precious years and my breath catches at how good God was to me to give me such amazing gifts. Six years and I have a thousand memories during those times. For all of the hope that I would change a students' life more for the Lord, it was mine that was changed the most.
In just a few days I am going to be reunited with some precious former students friends. I have been receiving the most lovely bunch of text messages, emails, facebook messages, and phone calls and I can hardly wait. My heart is so excited to celebrate a dear friends wedding! As I anticipate seeing so many wonderful people memories from my six years of teaching have been flying through my head. I know I have shared some on the blog before but today I had to share a few precious ones.
1. The "senior prank" that went wrong from ASCS. 1-800-LOCK-YOU-UP. :) STILL to this day makes me laugh out loud whenever I think of it!
2. These girls were part of my first cheerleading squad that I was a head coach of. They (were) ARE brilliant, funny, and extremely wonderful. I treasure all of the memories from that year.
3. And just when I thoughts my life was falling apart after a bad break up... the Lord brought these amazing 27 people into my life. I know that I wrote in April about this precious class but Class of 2009- I love you from the bottom of my heart. Words cannot express all that you mean to me.You deserve a million posts- a book really. One day. :)
4. 7th period AP World. The best class ever. How could it not be? I mean I know my time is running out... hahaha :) And the best.cake.ever. :)
5. Undoubtedly one of the best senior trips ever. :) Beautiful- I love you and can't wait to see you in a couple of days! (The air horn... hahaha)
6. My first advisory group at FCS. We definitely had the best group. No questions about it.
7. "Field Trips"= ASCS- the Washington DC trip (including the part where we got lost); WCA- the CCP trips to starbucks (including the time that Carina stole my car); FCS- the noble beauty trip to see a movie and the beach. :) All treasured memories. 
8. LOTS of talks - especially over ice (Love you IBFL). Sunshine - you are the best. I love you. Immensely. FFS- you have brought such joy to my life. Thank you.
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| photo credit: lindsay m. |
9. ASCS- Hotel Rwanda is to violent to watch. Because of the genocide depicted someone throws ice on another person. Ignore the fact that your teacher told you that she threw ice on her sister when she was younger.
10. How can I just pick 10? This picture probably captures my emotions the best as I think back on six years of teaching. I was HONORED and humbled to get to know and spend time with all of the students who were in my classes and who are changing their worlds. 
God has been so good to me! I love y'all!!
If you follow my Etsy shop you know that I am so excited to have revealed some exciting items a few days ago! I am so excited in the following weeks and months to share additional projects that I will be listing! Today I wanted to share with you some more pictures from a recent scrapbook project that I was working on for a friend!
All of my custom scrapbooks and their pages offer a unique perspective in every layout. I am in "wedding mode" this week as I look forward with joy to celebrating a dear friends wedding in just a couple of days so I wanted to share with you a couple of wedding pages from the custom scrapbook. In this particular layout I thought it would be delightful to capture the beauty and sweet loveliness of this wonderful day. These two pages were some of my favorite pages in the custom scrapbook that I made! After designing the background pages with a variety of scrapbook paper, I added in vintage lace with flowers, lovely ribbon, and sweet shabby chic tags to complete the look. Here are a couple of shots of this layout!
Left Page:
Left Page:
Right Page:
I am so excited to share with y'all that The Paper Sonnet has just added new listings to the store! There are three new card pack designs that are featured currently on Etsy each inspired by a dear person in my family!
My sweet mom's collection (or aka. "The Elizabeth Casual Collection") has six beautiful cards in it that I think are so adorable. Inspired by my mom each card is filled with love, tiny prints, and lots of flowers. If you are interested in finding out more you can click here!
My awesome sister's collection (or aka. "The Emily Casual Collection") has six beautiful cards in it that I think are so lovely. Inspired by my sister each card is filled with lots of blue, inspired by the art of writing, and love for others. If you are interested in finding out more you can click here!!
My amazing grandmother's collection (or aka."The June Casual Collection") has six beautiful cards in it that I think are so wonderful. Inspired by my grandmother each card is filled with lots of color, joy, and love for others. If you are interested in finding out more you can click here!!
Thank you so much for all of your support of The Paper Sonnet! It is a joy to create and please feel free to contact me (caravansonnet@gmail.com) for custom orders!
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