Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 240

5 Reasons Every Blogger should Use PicMonkey

1. The CostCompared to other photo editing bundles and prices, PicMonkey is by far the most affordable option that I have found to edit photos, add watermarks to my photos, and to create Pinterest size able images. The basic plan which allows you to have access to some of the core editing tools, basic touch up features, basic effects, and basic overlays, fonts, and textures is FREE. This is a great option for newbie bloggers and those who are on a tight budget.

But, if you want access to the advanced touch up tools, advanced and primo effects, overlays and fonts, top-shelf templates, custom effects, the option to edit after saving your work and no ads than the price will absolutely stun you as it is only $3.99 a month if you sign up for the annual plan and $7.99 if you pay month to month. This is amazing and for those, like myself, who are watching every penny it is extremely affordable to be able to have this at my fingertips at such a great price. Want to sign up right now? Click HERE.

2. The Easy Ability to Create a Watermark for Your Photos
With all of the ways that photos are "stolen" and copied now-a-days it is important to have a watermark on your photos. PicMonkey makes it easy to create this watermark! If you are looking for an easy tutorial on how to create a PicMonkey watermark for your photos I found THIS post from Pinterest to be really helpful in explaining things step-by-step!

3. Easy to Create Printables
For bloggers that are interested in offering free printables to their community, PicMonkey makes it easy and simple to create these. If you are interested in an easy tutorial on how to create free printables in PicMonkey I found THIS post one Pinterest to be really helpful!

4. The Easy and Affordable Ability to Edit Images
As bloggers we spend so much time taking and editing photos and as much as I want to be able to purchase an expensive editing software, I just can't afford that right now. I have loved that PicMonkey gives the opportunity to affordably edit images so that pictures look professional on the blog.

5. Easy to Create Pinterest Images
One of the highest ways to drive traffic to your blog is through Pinterest and creating images that are "pin-worthy" to stand out among all of the hundreds of thousands of pins that are pinned throughout the day is incredibly important. PicMonkey gives you the ability to create Pinterest images and also Pinterest board covers easily and without breaking your budget.

What about y'all? Do you use PicMonkey? If you want to sign up to try it out for a week free you can click HERE! 

From Hope Valley Devotionals (Week 6)

Whenever I consider this precious scene that took place between Jolene Miller and Elizabeth in episode 8 of season 1, I always marvel at the wisdom of young Jolene to so adequately express what so many of us think and deal with in hard seasons of life. Like Jolene we can know the lines of scripture or what is the right thing to say but it can be hard to believe the words that we so often repeat when we look around at the difficult circumstances of life that we face.
This past week I have been reading scripture about how God works in the dark. As my life has taken a completely different course than I could ever have imagined I often grapple with the question, “How does God work?” Throughout the last several years in a variety of different ways in many different situations- from my bed, from a hospital floor, from a hotel window, from an airplane window overlooking giant soft clouds, and most recently from looking out over the wide expanse of the moon on the lake at a precious place I fondly call “camp”.
For a while in this journey I struggled through the season as Jolene talks about. Knowing the lines and the words but struggling to believe them as I lay bedridden in pain unable to walk and move.  In many ways this young girl eloquently expressed in words that I had been trying to formulate in that dark season. Maybe I was afraid to say them out loud or maybe if I am honest I was afraid to admit them to myself.
Years ago I struggled with a different diagnosis but unlike this journey, I received the diagnosis was told by many doctors that there was no hope, had a miraculous surgery and within a year I was back to my “real life”. I think I thought that this journey would be the same. But things never happen the same way twice and this journey unlike others is not finished. The story that I long to be living isn’t the one that the God who loves me the most is writing.
Instead, this journey is in the middle. This story doesn’t have an end right now that is appears all happy. This story is messy and painful. This journey has been long and has cost me (and those who love most) a lot. On certain days it is easy to sit and wonder as Jolene said, if I believe the lines anymore.
It is tempting in life to focus on the bad instead of the good. It is tempting to focus on the difficult things that are so numerous that if I let them they would be the sole focus of life. If I let them they would wrap around my soul like a dark moonless night and harden it.
And on days like Monday where things have not gone according to plan, where a potentially new and scary diagnosis waits in the wings, where another surgery is needed, when it was necessary to put some stricter boundary lines in place due to my health, when a new doctor didn’t understand my condition, when friends haven’t been as supportive as I would hope, when tears wouldn't stop falling, and when I had a difficult reaction to a new prescription – it is days like that that I remember this scene between Jolene and Elizabeth and understand how easy it is to live with the questions instead of the truth. Where it can seem to wallow in all of the dark and all of the things that can make our lives seem like night without the glittering stars. Where... a young girl has the courage to express the words and search for the truth through the grief.
But the truth is that is where hope lies. When the lines seem like just lines and yet we continue to say them, continue to preach them, continue to believe them and live them. Because it is in the night, in the messy and dark and scary places that hope lives.
There is a verse in Exodus that states; “The Lord caused the sea to go back… all that night”. I love this verse. I love how it shares and focuses that God is at work in the dark. When all seems lost and you cannot see because of the darkness, God is still at work. God will continue to work “ all that night” until light comes so do not fret about the darkness. And in the dark we gently learn once again that the lines are not just lines, but the breath and hope to our weary souls. 
"The Lord caused the sea to go back...all that night."
-Exodus 14:21-
Looking for past From Hope Valley Devotionals? You can click HERE to find a complete listing of all of the devotionals! 
*Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*

Requesting Prayer... and an Upcoming Surgery

As some of you are aware, yesterday brought unexpected and daunting news to our lives. After a routine check up and ultrasound my doctors found that there is a large mass/cyst that has been found on my right ovary that I will need to have surgery to remove. At this point and with my health history it is the safest for me to go in for surgery and to remove and biopsy this to make sure that it is not Ovarian Cancer. My doctor has been quite open and frank with me and we are praying that this will just be a simple cyst that will require minimal surgery and not be complicated and will not be cancerous.
As I type this I am receiving an IV for continued treatment for Lyme and yet still in shock from yesterday. Hearing those words and having this sudden and drastic health detour has been an incredible shock to me and to my family. There has been lots of tears, lots of prayers, and lots of learning to trust the Lord with the unknown details that are before us. 
In many ways, as I shared in my last update, I have been moving forward, so this news is a bit discouraging. I am leaning and trusting the Lord that He promises that all things work together for His good and that this is just a helpful step in this healing journey. 
I would covet your prayers as we move forward with a pre-op appointment on Thursday, for wisdom for me and for my medical team and the surgeons, and for the miraculous removal of this mass. We are praying that this is a benign mass that will only need a simple surgery. Our miraculous prayer request is that this would be removed miraculously.
At this point surgery is scheduled for March 29th and I will continue to update in the days and weeks ahead. Will you also pray for peace? My little heart would so appreciate that. Thank you for your continued prayers, and your love and support during this very scary and overwhelming time.
"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His Love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."-Zephaniah 3:17-

10 Things People Forget to Bring on Their First Cruise

When I went on my first cruise to the Bahamas in 2014 I was a complete newbie. I knew nothing about cruising and searched to find the best packing lists so that I wouldn't forget anything. Despite this though I still found that there were things that I left at home that I wish I had brought with me. 
As time has gone on and I have cruised more I started compiling a list of things that I wished someone would have told me to bring on my first cruise! So if you are packed and ready to leave on your first cruise and are afraid of forgetting something- don't worry! This list below will help remind you of 15 things that most people forget to bring on their first cruise! 
1. Over the Storage Shoe Organizer or Door HangerI shared this as my #1 suggestion in my post, 16 unexpected things to bring on every cruise, and I still say it is the #1 thing to bring. This is a great way to have dozens of small size compartments for a variety of different things and helps to add extra storage to the small staterooms that exist. I purchased THIS ONE from Amazon for less than $13 and I have now used it on the Disney Cruise and the Royal Caribbean Cruise too and plan to use it on all future cruises!
2. White Noise Machine/Small FanFor years I have been sleeping with a fans and have loved the "white noise" that they provide as I am a very light sleeper. the walls on a cruise ship can be exceptionally thin (even less than a typical hotel room) and a small fan or white noise machine can be very helpful, especially if you have young kiddos who go to bed before others. There are lots of different options but I have used THIS ONE from Amazon and found it incredibly helpful. You also can't beat the price for less than $15!
3. Small UmbrellaDepending on where you are traveling to and your destinations you may want to bring an umbrella. If you forget to bring this some cruise ships do have extra umbrellas so make sure you ask at the beginning of your cruise for this! There are so many adorable ones that are available but I loved THIS ONE in Tiffany blue that I found on Amazon! 
4. Laundry BagsThrowing in a set of laundry bags makes it incredibly easy to separate your dirty clothes at the end of each day so that when you get home everything is already in the bag and can easily be cleaned. One tip that I learned from a seasoned cruiser was to take several different laundry bags and separate them - one for whites, one for reds, one for darks, one for cleaning, etc. I personally love THIS set of laundry bags from Amazon. For less than $10 you receive 5 different bags and can separate things in a variety of ways making laundry when you return home incredibly easy. 
5. Over the Counter MedicationWhile it is true that you can purchase all different over the counter medication on your cruise it will cost you substantially more than if you brought it on board. Think ahead and bring some of your own. Prone to seasickness? A lot of people use Dramamine (or the patch) for motion sickness on a cruise which is a wonderful option, but ginger can be a great natural resource to help with nausea. You can read more about ginger and its health benefits by clicking HERE. I have mentioned this in several posts but I swear by THIS ginger here. For less than $8 you can save yourself a whole lot of sickness! 
6. Comfortable Shoes/SandalsI shared this in my post, 13 Must Pack Items for Your Caribbean Cruise, but it is a definite thing to remember. Pack comfortable shoes and sandals!! You definitely want to look cute and have fun, but you don't want your cruise ruined by blisters either so take the time to pick out cute and comfy sandals. Looking for some adorable and comfortable sandal options for this year? Check out my post, a few of my favorite sandals from ASOS! 
7. A WatchI was surprised to hear this suggestion from those who had cruised a lot but honestly, have now seen the value in having a watch. One of the best parts of a cruise is having the chance to take a break from the "real world" and simply enjoy the moment. But if you are like me I have grown accustomed to look at my phone for the time and frankly when I cruise I didn't want to use my phone at all so a watch is the best option. I shared in my post, 5 must pack items for a Disney Cruise, that the Disney Cruise Line has less clocks on board than any other cruise line. This is wonderful if you want to live fully in the moment, but you don't want to miss any exciting adventures on the ship either so make sure to throw in a watch and set it to ship time to keep up with all of your fun activities!
8. Extra HangersDepending on who you are traveling with you might want to bring extra hangers. Many cruise ships will provide more if you request them, but if you are going on a long cruise or like to hang everything instead of using the drawers you might want to consider this tip!
9. Power StripWhat may come as a surprise for first-time cruisers is that there are very limited outlets in each stateroom. A power strip is incredibly helpful for short and long cruises. I purchased and have loved THIS ONE from Amazon because it comes with a surge protector and extra space between a couple of the outlets for larger items. 
10. Extension CordI shared this in my 10 Must Pack Items for a New England and Canadian Cruise post, but it is helpful for any cruise. Having an extension cord allows you to maneuver to set up your power strip (see #9) where it is convenient for you in the room. This is a definite item that I now bring on every single cruise! 
What about y'all? Any items that you wish that you had brought on your first cruise that you would recommend to a first-time cruiser?

Discouragement in the Single Journey

“...This is what the Lord says to you; do not be afraid or discouraged...”-2 Chronicles 20:15-

One of the real aspects of walking the single life journey is that it can be easy to fix our eyes on our circumstances and grow discouraged. This discouragement can haunt us when we feel discouraged from the way that a circumstance didn't work out the way that we had hoped, or simply as we look at our lives and don't see a potential for a special man in it. 

The dictionary defines discouragement as, "having lost confidence or enthusiasm or being disheartened" and often times, if I am honest, I feel this way about this single journey, instead of feeling hopeful. The dictionary defines my feelings exactly on this subject as I find myself losing confidence that a man will come to pursue me and often feel disheartened as I think about this tender subject area. 

I know in my head that scripture says to be strong and courageous and to not be discouraged (Joshua 1:9) but truthfully I am way more discouraged than I am strong or courageous. I am way more apt and quick to become discouraged more than hopeful about this area. 

Sweet friends, if you are walking this single journey and are feeling discouraged my heart breaks for you. It is tough. Really, really tough. Many times because of the disappointment that we face in this single journey we feel more like weeping then we feel like rejoicing. Social media can increase our feelings of discouragement as it can feel like everyone around us is getting engaged. I am finding great comfort that while I don't have wonderful words of wisdom for this area and tender subject, the Lord is near. He is close to the brokenhearted. He promises to give us strength and courage and mercy for the days in front of us. 

Let us pray that the Lord will give us strength to rely on His promises that He is with us each and every day. We can wake up with confidence that He is with us and we are not alone in our single journey. Let us pray and trust and rest in His peace for the moments that we feel discouraged, knowing that we can rest in the promise of His word that in Him we are never disappointed.

Happy Monday sweet friends! I pray that you have a wonderful week remembering the cry to not be discouraged but to have courage as we look to the Lord. Our circumstances may look hopeless, but we have a God who delights in impossibilities. Let us be strong and take hope as we focus and hope in Him alone. (Psalm 31:24) Hold fast to Him and fix your eyes on Him.

"For we live by faith, not by sight."
-2 Corinthians 5:7-

Chocolate Covered Pretzels Thank you Gift

Happy Saturday sweet friends! I hope that you are having a lovely weekend! 
Today I am so excited to share with y'all about a little thank you gift that I created (with my mom's help!) last weekend to give to some very precious people at the hospital where I am treated at every week.
Last week on IG I said, "Every serious illness journey is filled with hundreds of people who play such important and key roles in it. Words could never describe the gratitude I continue to have for each of you that are walking this difficult road with me" and it is so true. I know that the illness journey often seems long and lonely and in many ways it is. 
But recently I have been thinking that it the illness journey is actually very full. Full of people who are constantly giving their time, their energy, their best to help me in this critical time in my life. When I consider this I don't feel lonely, in fact, I feel overwhelmed with the way that love is full in my life. My life is particularly full every single Monday when I spend a lot of time in the hospital as #courtneytheportney is specifically cared for and I am treated with extreme compassion. From the moment we arrive we are greeted with workers who park the car for us and always greet us with a smile and ask how things are going. I check in and I am embraced by the three receptionists who not only know my name and my story, but always have an encouraging word for this little heart of mine. When we need to make new appointments or change things around, the schedulers work so hard to help us, making us feel like we are the only patients that they deal with.  And as #courtneytheportney is cleaned, watched and monitored and dealt with and accessed I am met with compassion. Compassion in listening to me tell "just one more story" from teaching days, of listening to me share about longings for a husband and kiddos, and support for the journey that I am walking. Even as I write this I have tears of gratitude running down my cheeks. Every single word of encouragement, smile, and laughter we have shared has been a precious gift to me on this journey. Every time that I have had a concern it has been met with wisdom and knowledge. No complaint or concern of mine has been dismissed lightly. These nurses and medical assistants have been in the trenches with me, helping me through.  I am not exactly sure how you thank people who have had such an incredible impact on your life. Quietly and every single day they have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help me and so many others in some of the most difficult situations in life. I can honestly say that I have never heard one cross word come out of their mouths to any patient and have only exuded calmness and respect for everyone. In many hospitals and situations I hear of people being treated like they are just "one more sick person" but that has never been the case here. I don't actually feel like a sick person in there, instead I feel like I am given the gift to dream beyond the walls and situation and the story to a future. 
So last weekend my mom and I spent some of Sunday afternoon having fun making these chocolate covered pretzels with spring colors. (We are still in the midst of winter here in the north so we are dreaming of spring days *smiles*) It was so fun and we loved the final results and we were so excited that every person we gave these goodies too saw our overwhelmed hearts of love and gratitude in this small present. It was so much fun and it was very easy to do. Here are the supplies that we used for those who might be interested:
2 bags of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Chips1 bag of Snyders "Old Tyme" pretzels1 bag of Snyders Gluten Free Pretzels (these are the mini looking pretzels you see in the pictures)May Arts RibbonDisposable Trays, Cellophane, and Cupcake Holders from Michaels in Spring DesignWilton Sprinkles (Purchased from Michaels) To make these adorable pretzels simply:
(1) Heat the bags of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Chips, mixing until the chocolate is completely melted (some people add 1 tablespoon of oil to help thin out the chocolate but we did not do this)(2) Simply dip the pretzels into the chocolate and sprinkle on your sprinkles while the chocolate is still warm(3) Let the mixture dry for approximately 1 hour(4) We put the big pretzels directly on the tray and then put the gluten free pretzels in cupcake wrappers to keep them separated.(5) Enjoy! A huge thank you again to all of the nurses and medical staff that work so hard to help me in my journey and to those who are working tirelessly around the world to help patients. You are treasured!!

Happy Saturday again friends! I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend!

A Few of My Favorite Sandals from ASOS

Last week I shared about a few of my favorite things from Joules and this week for Fashion Friday I thought I would be fun to share about a few of my favorite sandals from ASOS. I first shared about my love affair with ASOS clothing back in 2015 here on the blog, and have loved them ever since my first purchase with them. As a tall gal I love the fact that they have a tall section for ladies and I adore the way that their clothes fit no matter the size that you are. If you we are connected on Instagram than you most likely have seen me in several different ASOS pieces over the years. A couple of my favorite things that I have worn are the two dresses above that I shared when I went to Disneyworld with friends in September and the black and white striped midi stress that I shared about HERE. Both of these dresses have been worn many many times and I love the way that they look and feel.
I also love the different products that ASOS offers, including their jewelry. One of my favorite pieces that I purchased last year from ASOS (on sale for under $20!) was an over-sized white watch that I wear all the time: Last night I was looking at all of the new pieces that ASOS is releasing and today I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite sandals from this lovely company:

London Rebel Toepost Flat Sandals in Gold
I love a lot of the different shoes and sandals that ASOS has but one of my favorite is this pair- the London Rebel Toepost Flat Sandals in Gold.
  ASOS FLERY Leather Flat Sandals - Tan

ASOS FELENA Leather Embellished Flat Sandals - Beige

ASOS FROLIC Wide Fit Flat Sandals - Tan

  ASOS FIXATION Suede Plaited Flat Sandals - Pink

  ASOS FRECKLES Leather Lace Up Flat Sandals - Pink

ASOS FELENA Leather Embellished Flat Sandals - Gold

So those are just a few of my favorite sandals from ASOS. What about y'all? Do you have any favorite sandals or shoes from ASOS that you would recommend? And don't forget to Shop the ASOS Outlet for ip to 70% off Shoes! Happy Friday y'all!! I hope that you have a wonderful day!! 

13 Amazing Benefits of Dandelions

Every time I travel out to California to visit my doctor, or for personal reasons, I am always amazed at the different ways that greens are creatively used. It seems like stores like Whole Foods are lined with all different salads and yummy green "concoctions". I shared on the blog a couple of years ago about the abundance of Kale salads that I saw everywhere and the benefits of eating Kale HERE, but there is an additional green that I was first introduced to out in California that for the past year specifically  I have worked to get into my diet on a regular basis that has incredible benefits and that is dandelions. 
Dandelions are high in lots of health benefits and there have been incredible studies done on the power of this little green to pack an important health punch. A study that was done in 2011 involving dandelion and dandelion root tea showed that there is the potential of dandelion root to be a non-toxic alternative and additive to conventional therapies as it is a possible Cancer fighter. There was an article in 2012 that stated that dandelion root extract might halt the growth of melanoma cells without inducing toxicity in non-cancerous cells, even those cells that are considered to be drug resistant. (If you are interested in reading more about this study you can find it HERE.)
There are so many amazing benefits of this little green and today I am so excited to share with y'all just a few of the powerful benefits that are found in this leafy green:
1. Rich in CalciumDandelions are known to be extremely rich in calcium which is helpful for the strength of bones and to help bones with age-related damage. What is amazing is that dandelions can actually contain 10 percent of the daily value needed of Calcium. But Calcium isn't just good for bone health. Calcium also is used in the body for muscle contraction, hormone secretion, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. And by consuming dandelions you will also help avoid muscle tension, tooth decay and high blood pressure. 
2. Excellent Digestive AidDandelions help promote healthy digestion and help to balance the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. This can help increase the stomach acid and bile to aid in digestion. 
3. Helps fight CancerAs I shared above this leafy green is known to help fight Cancer cells. Some studies are also showing that dandelion may slow Cancer's growth and prevent it from spreading. 
4. Helps Combat InflammationDandelion is known to help treat inflammation because it contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients that all reduce inflammation throughout the body. By reducing inflammation in the body you can help to relieve pain and swelling. 
5. Boosts the Immune SystemStudies have shown that Dandelion helps to boost the immune function in our bodies and helps to fight off microbes and fungi that exist. 
6. Helps Lower CholesterolNew studies are showing that dandelion helps to lower and control cholesterol levels. 
7. Helps Strengthen KidneysDandelion is a light diuretic that helps the kidneys to clear out waste, salt, and excess water by increasing the urine production. 
8. Helps to Prevent/Treat Urinary Tract InfectionsDandelions help to prevent microbial growth in the urinary tract system. 
9. May Help Prevent CystsSome studies show that consuming dandelions may help prevent cysts on reproductive organs. 
10. Helps cleanse and strengthen the LiverDandelion has been shown to improve liver function by helping to remove toxins while re-establishing hydration and electrolyte balance. 
11. Excellent Source of Vitamin AVitamin A is known to play a crucial role in helping to maintain healthy vision, and can also help with neurological function, and healthy skin. Just one cup of dandelion greens is shown to have over 100% of the daily needed vitamin a dosage. 
12. Helpful for AnemiaDandelions are a helpful source of iron and other vitamins. Iron is the integral part of the hemoglobin in the blood, but other vitamins and proteins are essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells. Dandelions help anemic people by keeping the formation healthy and strong and helping to support the body with needed iron.
13. Helps Skin InfectionsThe sap of the dandelion in the stem is actually a really wonderful product for your skin! Dandelion sap is highly alkaline and it is known to have germicidal, insecticidal, and fungicidal properties that can be applied directly to your skin.
If you are looking for other greens that have health benefits I have also shared about the following greens on the blog:
The Benefits of Eating KaleThe Benefits of Basil
What about you? Have you found any amazing benefits or helpful from consuming Dandelions? Stay tuned next Thursday for some practical tips and ideas of how to include Dandelions into your diet! 
Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her health care provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.}

From Hope Valley Devotionals (Week Five)

One of my favorite scenes in episode 6 is at the end after Carla has twins and the exchange that takes place between Cat and Abigail. In the midst of the other widows grief they choose to rejoice with Carla and find the joy in this blessing. In doing so, we are gently reminded that in rejoicing with another we are also all blessed.

This scene has deeply challenged me as I have thought and considered my own personal life in many ways. In today's world it seems that it is almost "common" or "expected" to be envious of another person or to compare ourselves with another when good things come. Unfortunately I see more and more women who grow envious and bitter at what they feel that they are missing out on when they see what others have. Instead of rejoicing with what God is doing in other’s lives, they grow resentful, bitter, and even withdraw from different friendships.

Do I think that it is easy to always rejoice when I see friends and others get in life what I most long for? Absolutely not. Maybe you are struggling with unemployment and only continue to hear about the successes of others in their jobs. Maybe you are longing to be a mama and month after month you see the negative strip show up on the pregnancy tests, while all of your friends continue to have children. Maybe like myself you are longing for a spouse and have seen more engagement announcements or attended more weddings than you can count on your fingers. Maybe you long for a broken relationship to be mended. Maybe you desire for close family relationships. Maybe you are longing for a desire so deep that you can’t even express out loud because you cry when you try to form words.

How do we rejoice with those around us who may be blessed by the deepest desires of what you have been longing and aching for? How do we find the courage to see beyond the circumstances we are most longing for and One practice has been extremely helpful to me and that is practicing the art of thankfulness. Instead of looking just at the things in life that I feel that I am missing or longing for I start to focus on what the Lord has given to me. I shared in a post on the blog a couple of years ago about 5 ways to stop the comparison game and love your life and writing that post really challenged me to focus on the blessings that I have been given by God. His goodness is everywhere and I am completely overwhelmed by it as I consider just how much I have that I don't deserve. 

To say that life is difficult in waiting sometimes for our longings to come to fruition is an understatement. This scene in episode 6, season 1 has gently reminded me of the grace that the widows were offering to Carla. It would have been so easy (and perhaps even "acceptable") if they struggled to embrace the joy that she was experiencing while they were still in grief. But in choosing to look past their own circumstances and embrace the courage to rejoice, they all were blessed. 

I am so challenged by this brief but poignant scene that reminds me that when we withdraw out of envy or lack of willingness to rejoice with others, we only hurt ourselves. We are then robbed of the opportunity for blessing in the midst of what others experience. When we withdraw we miss out on seeing the different ways that God is working which can gently remind our tender hearts that even in the times we don't see it, God is still at work in our own lives.

So sweet friends, today, let us cultivate and strive for courage to embrace and celebrate everything that God is doing not only in our lives but in the peoples lives around us.  May we find the hidden jewel of blessing in rejoicing with others. God is writing each of our stories uniquely friends. We can rest fully in the knowledge that His timing for every single detail in our lives is flawless and as we rejoice with others we will see the beautiful truth that we are all truly blessed.
"Celebrate everything that you and your families have accomplished under the blessing of God, your God."
-Deuteronomy 12:7, the Message-

"Rejoice with those who rejoice..."
-Romans 12:15-
Looking for past From Hope Valley Devotionals? You can click HERE to find a complete listing of all of the devotionals! 
*Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*

Aquatica- SeaWorld's Waterpark, Florida

Back in September, before my sister and I went on our Disney Cruise we spent a day at Disneyworld but we also were able to spend a couple of hours at Aquatica - SeaWorld's Waterpark. Ever since a trip to Florida in 2009 my sister and I have taled about going to Aquatica - SeaWorld's Waterpark and so it was so fun to surprise my sister with tickets to the park as a belated birthday present. My sister and I love waterparks and always have. We laugh that we want to visit all of the major water parks and have been able to visit several and it has been so fun. I shared about how we visited Atlantis Aquaventure on the Disney cruise and it was incredibly fun, and we really enjoyed our time at Aquatica. 
Aquatica is a fun and family friendly water park that features lots of different slides (including some "tamer ones" and ones that are not for the faint of heart- hello the one that releases the ground below you!) and a fun "lazy" river (Roa's Rapids) that was really one of our favorite things.  We started with "Roa's Rapids" which is a twist on the lazy river concept. Honestly we did this several times, because it was just a lot of fun.  This is a fun family friendly ride and it had some surprises that made the ride a bit different and really enjoyable. It was a favorite and if the weather hadn't closed down the park, we probably would have ridden it again!  After riding Roa's Rapids, we headed over to Loggerhead Lane to ride the lazy river on the tubes. It was fun and so relaxing and one of the things that we loved the most was that you could ride the tubes to different rides on this lazy river. We were even able to see some of the animals as we floated along! So after we had rode the Loggerhead Lane for a bit we took our tubes up to ride some of the rides. One of the first rides that we did was Tassie's Twisters which is a really fun and different waterpark ride. Basically you ride in a tube and you go through a dark part of the tunnel until you are shot out into this giant bowl where you spin and spin and spin until finally you drop through a hole which shoots you back into the lazy river. We did this ride several times because it was hilarious and kept making us laugh! After this ride we headed to the dolphin plunge and honestly I don't even know how to describe it because it went by so fast that we definitely didn't see any dolphins but we definitely got a good laugh out of it!  After this we headed over to Hoo Roo Run and this ride also made us giggle a lot. Basically you soar down a 6-story, 250-foot, triple drop water ride on a huge tube. Emily and I went by ourselves and our tube got turned around and so Emily ended up going backwards with me landing on top of her at the end of the ride. *hahaha* We couldn't stop laughing and we definitely loved this ride. 
Unfortunately due to weather Aquatica closed down a bit early, but we definitely had a blast and we said that we would definitely return to do this waterpark again! 
Here are a couple of tips and thoughts about Aquatica if you are interested in visiting this when you are in Orlando:
1. One of the things that my sister and I enjoyed about Aquatica the most was the fact that there were a lot of rides that could be done together or as a family. We love experiencing the rides together so this was a really neat thing about Aquatica specifically that is not always available at different waterparks.  2. Another thing that we thought was neat was that there were kids areas by some of the more adventuresome rides. This area in the picture above, the walkabout waters was right in front of the Hoo Roo Run and it was fun to see families waving to each other and all having fun as different family members experienced different parts of the park.
3. Traveling in September like we did was an excellent time to enjoy Aquatica . The park was not that crowded and we never waited more than 5 minutes to go on a ride. It was truly a wonderful time to go visit if you can!
4. The most cost-effective way to enjoy Aquatica is by purchasing the tickets online which you can do at the Aquatica website by clicking HERE. They constantly have different sales going on and it is by far the cheapest way to visit instead of purchasing them elsewhere. 
If you are interested in combining the tickets to also visit SeaWorld there is a great deal going on right now which you can click the picture above to receive. 
5. Aquatica definitely was set up to be as disability friendly as possible. If you are interested in finding out more, Aquatica has a disability guide which you can read HERE. 
I hope you enjoyed reading this review of Aquatica! We had such a delightful time and as I write and remember all of the fun and laughter I want to go back and do it all over again! Please let me know if you have any questions!