Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 241

Monday Inspiration and Encouragement (Volume Two)

I shared a couple of weeks ago that for a while now I have had a dream of sharing some Monday inspiration and encouragement on the blog. Life is hard and I know full well that in the difficult times it can be hard to find inspiration, so a couple of weeks ago I shared my first post (which you can find HERE) and I plan to routinely share with y'all different things that I have found to be really inspiring and encouraging from all different genres and hope that it will encourage and inspire you for your week!  {one} Traveling, even when you don't go far and only go for a little bit of time is so refreshing to the soul. Last weekend my family and I explored Lake Placid a bit more and rode the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain. The views were breath-taking and inspiring and true refreshment for the heart.
{two} I shared this in my last post, but am going to preface this by saying that I love ice skating so the announcement that Meryl Davis and Charlie White will not be competing in the upcoming Olympics felt like an end of an era. At the same time though I felt like giving a standing ovation to their dedication to the sport, the athletic talent and hard work that they have shared, and most of all the way that they are incredible role models for this day and age. Thank you Meryl and Charlie for your beautiful dedication. We all wish you the best as you continue to skate and move forward in your professional career. 

{three} I shared yesterday in my health update that my amazing friend, Blythe, shared a beautiful former post of Kara Tippetts that is absolutely encouraging and inspiring. If you are looking for encouragement as you face a difficult situation you can find her post, battling if and what if only, on the Mundane Faithfulness website HERE. It is simply lovely. 

{four} Speaking of Kara, if you haven't already read, "The Hardest Peace" by Kara I can't recommend the book enough. You will be challenged, encouraged, and inspired by her words of truth. You can find it HERE.
{five} Like everywhere else in the United States the weather seems to want to change every single day. On Saturday it was in the high 50s here and I was ready to move into camp, but yesterday it was 23 degrees. It is simply crazy! But the cooler weather still has me dreaming of warm weather and cruises, especially the Disney cruise that my sister and I took in September. Have y'all been on a Disney cruise? It is wonderful and I can't recommend it enough. If you want to read about our experience you can do so HERE.
{six} Speaking of traveling, one of my dearest friends and I will be heading to Prince Edward Island in October! Eeehhh! This is seriously a dream come true and I am over-the-moon excited about this! Have y'all ever been to Prince Edward Island? Any tips or suggestions you have for us to see or do? We will be doing all of the "Anne of Green Gables" things but are totally up for additional suggestions! 
I hope that you are inspired and encouraged by these six things on this Monday afternoon! What about you? What is inspiring you recently? 

10 More Encouraging Bible Verses for Single Women

Happy Monday sweet friends! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend. Today I wanted to share with y'all ten more Bible verses that have brought so much comfort, joy, strength, and peace to me during this single season. I know well the struggle and pain of this journey and I find myself going back to scripture for comfort and hope more and more recently. I hope these verses encourage you as much as they have me! 
Know a single friend? Why not pass on these sweet verses to them as an encouragement? Also, if you missed my first post, 10 Encouraging Bible Verses for Single Women you can find it HERE. So here are 10 more encouraging Bible verses... 
1.  2 Timothy 4:17 for our deepest unfulfilled longings.  Longing, our aching unfulfilled longings for a spouse is one of the hardest things about walking the single journey. Song of Songs 3:2 sums it perfectly when it states, "...I sought him but found him not...". When we struggle with feeling that we were created to be a helpmate and married and long to be married our hearts often feel like they are going to shatter. My longings for a husband is one of the most difficult parts of being single. My heart physically hurts sometimes. I have found such comfort in 2 Timothy 4:17 that says, "But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength..." Every single day the Lord is going to meet us and give us grace and mercy for each day as we trust Him with our deepest longings. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of longing? I have found great comfort in Psalm 84:2 also!)
2.  Psalm 20: 4-5 for the ache to be married . As I just mentioned above there is a deep and longing ache to be married that can make our hearts feel broken. As time continues I literally ache to see my dreams of being married come to pass. But the Lord does promise that He will give us the desires of our hearts as we take delight in Him and a daily prayer for me and for my friends who are struggling with the ache to be married is Psalm 20:4-5 which states, "May He give you the desires of your heart and make all of your plans succeed. May we shout for joy... May the Lord grant all of your requests." Let us surrender our aching hearts to the Lord knowing that He is good and that we can trust Him completely. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of aching to be married? I have found great comfort in focusing on who the Lord is and His character, specifically that He is good which can be found in Psalm 100:5 and Psalm 119:68.)
3.  Isaiah 43:4 for self-esteem.  I was once told that self-esteem means to have "confidence in one's abilities and worth", but sometimes I struggle with self-esteem because I am single. I struggle because of the fact that since no one has "chosen me" I feel that I must not have a lot to offer to another person. Isaiah 43:4 is one of the most beautiful verses to me in this single journey and it states, "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you..." This precious scripture verse gently reminds me that my self-esteem is rooted in the Lord and HE reminds me who I am... precious, honored, and loved. The Lord deeply loves us and gives us worth- not our relationship status. Cling to this precious verse whenever you are struggling with self-esteem because of being single. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of self-esteem and singleness? Check out Luke 12:7.)
4.  Proverbs 28:31 for when you feel unworthy due to past decisions.  Proverbs 28:31 states, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” As a christian single woman it can be incredibly tempting to torment ourselves with past decisions and mistakes that we have made. But when we take these mistakes before the Lord and ask for forgiveness the Lord is faithful and He forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9). Don't let your past define your future. Rest in the truth that when you have confessed your sin you will be met with mercy. The tender subject of feeling unworthy due to past decisions is an unfortunate and heart-breaking part of many singles experiences. Look to the Lord... grace and mercy await you friends. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of feeling unworthy due to past decisions? A couple of my favorite verses on this subject are I John 1:9, Psalm 51:10, and Psalm 103:12.)
5. 2 Chronicles 20:15 for discouragement. So often in this single journey I find myself feeling discouraged. Sometimes the discouragement comes from circumstances and sometimes it is just with the entire topic of being single. The dictionary defines discouragement as "having lost confidence or enthusiasm or being disheartened" and that is often exactly how I feel. If I am honest, I often find myself more discouraged than hopeful. But the Lord encourages and commands us to not be discouraged (Joshua 1:9) and one of my favorite verses on this topic for the single journey is from 2 Chronicles 20:15 which states, "...This is what the Lord says to you: do not be afraid or discouraged..." (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of discouragement? One of my favorites is Joshua 1:9.) 
Are you a friend looking to encourage a loved one in their single journey and in the times of discouragement but aren't sure how? Check out my post, How to Encourage Your Single Friends that offers 20 practical tips! You can find the post HERE. 
6.  Romans 8:15 for when we struggle with fear . One of the things that many singles struggle with is fear that they may be alone forever. Romans 8:15 states, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear..." but sometimes it can feel like we are a slave to fearful thoughts that we will live all of the rest of our days alone. Let us pray that the Lord would deliver and remove our fears and replace it with the truth that we are never alone because the Lord promises us that He will never forsake or abandon us. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of fear? Check out Hebrews 13:15 and Joshua 10:25.)
7. Ephesians 4:26 for the times you feel angry. Sometimes in the single journey it can be tempting to feel nothing but anger at your situation and the fact that you are single and alone. Sometimes it is anger at the situation and other times, if we are honest, some of us feel angry with the Lord that He has allowed us to still be single after we have been praying for years (or decades) for a spouse. But I do think that all of us would agree that we don't want to be angry. Let us pray that the Lord would take away our anger and place it before Him. What an amazing God we serve that is merciful and loving as He listens to our every emotion. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of anger? One of my favorite is Ecclesiastes 7:9.)
8. Deuteronomy 31:6 for the times that you feel forgotten.  It is so easy on this single journey to feel forsaken and forgotten. I often find myself crying out with the psalmist, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning." (Psalm 22:1) As my grief threatens to overwhelm me I feel that the Lord has forsaken me (Isaiah 49:14) but then the Lord quietly and gently meets me and lovingly answers, "I have chosen you and have not rejected you." (Isaiah 41:9) No matter our feelings the Lord has NOT forgotten or forsaken us. He has not abandoned or forgotten us. He promises that he will never do so (Deuteronomy 31:6) (Looking for additional scripture verses on the topic of feeling forgotten in this journey? Luke 12:6-7 has been challenging and encouraging for this area for me!)
9. Romans 12:15 for when everyone you know is getting engaged.  There seems to be certain seasons where social media is flooded with news that people are getting engaged. Sometimes it can seem absolutely overwhelming and heart-breaking to hear "one more engagement story". I often feel like Hannah, from the book of I Samuel, as it seems that those who have joyous news become my "rivals" as they gain what I so deeply long for. But just like Hannah we can come to the Lord and lay out all of our pain and anguish. (I Samuel 1:10) As I lay out my heart before the Lord and know and trust that His timing for my life is best, then I am free to rejoice with those who rejoice, because on the deepest level I know that my rejoicing is really rejoicing in the Lord's beautiful timing for each of our stories and journeys. (Looking for additional scripture verses on the tender topic of handling engagement news? Proverbs 10:28 and Proverbs 31:25 have been both tender reminders of God's perfect timing and joy in trusting that!)
10. Nehemiah 8:10 for the Grief Over the Way I Envisioned Life to Be Like. Nehemiah 8:10 states, "This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength." As I examine my life and think about an upcoming birthday, I often have been struggling with tears as my life, at my age is completely different than I could have ever imagined or envisioned. I long and ache for a love story that honors the Lord, and instead find myself approaching another birthday still single. Just even writing that sentence brings tears to my eyes. And so when the grief is so great and my heart aches for the way that I envisioned life to be, I will remember that the Lord has not forgotten or abandoned me. When I feel like weeping at what the reality of life is like versus what I envisioned, I will cling to the truth that the day before me is holy and the Lord is my strength. 
This topic of grief over the way that we envision life to be is a sensitive topic to my heart and it is one reason why I felt burdened to write September Caravan which will be releasing in on September 1st. If you struggle with this topic, I pray that my upcoming book will be an encouragement to you. You can read more about the book HERE and connect more with the September Caravan Instagram Community HERE. 
I hope that these verses are an encouragement to you today friends! Praying for each of you who are longing and aching to be married today. 

Hard is Not the Absence of His Goodness

This past week has been an absolutely whirlwind and a mixture of emotions. On Monday I shared with IG community and my facebook friends we received the beautiful news that I have NO new Cancer spots. Next year (at the 5 year mark in May 2018) I can officially say that I do not have Cancer, and to be getting closer to this goal is such a beautiful gift. Thank you for all of y'all who were praying for this appointment and continue to pray for me and my health every single day. 
As we rejoiced greatly in this news on Monday evening, we had tears of joy. Unfortunately within 24 hours I also had tears of frustration as I ended up back in the ER with issues with #courtneytheportney. You would think that I would be used to the ups and downs of this journey, but this week things hit me hard. To be frank, I am very ready to be finished with this season. It has been a long four years and as another milestone marker is approaching, I have deeply struggled, weeping often behind the scenes. Recently, I have felt such a tug-of-war about wishing my story was different. I have cried many tears about the deep aching and longing of dreams that I see others receiving and living while some days I struggle to complete the necessary treatment protocol before me. It is a true relinquishing of many many many hopes and dreams on this long journey to the One who loves me more than life. 
I shared back at the beginning of January that my word for this year was "rachat" which is a french word for restoration and redemption. After I had spent a lot of time praying about the word for the year, I had felt so impressed that this was the word. To be honest, I think I expected things to come in mightily and quickly at the beginning of the year, but the last two months have held some further crumbling of some dreams in some areas. The other day, okay again yesterday, *smiles* I found myself moaning and complaining to the Lord as I was taking my daily walk. I kept saying, "Hasn't this season lasted long enough?" "Hasn't there been enough sickness and pain?" "Haven't I endured enough on this journey?" On and on I went complaining and weeping as I walked. Suddenly there was a huge gust of wind and as I looked up at the trees that surrounded me I stopped short and then I wept... this time remembering. The wind transported me back to another time period 7 years ago when my health really started to crash and I was taking a walk and I had been crying out to the Lord for answers when there seemed to be none. Another memory flashed through my mind of wind blowing four years ago when I sat out in my front yard crying because I was too weak to walk or stand and a well known hospital in the US had just told me that there was no hope. And then I thought of the wind blowing when I was on my first cruise three years ago this past week and I was watching the sunrise with a gentle breeze blowing on my face and I was begging the Lord for wisdom for an upcoming appointment with my now current medical team. And I thought of last year at this time when I was so excited to have the winter wind blowing on my face as I was able to consistently walk an 1/8th of a mile with no assistance and yet begging the Lord for more. 
I stood there weeping yesterday as I remembered all of these memories and more that continued to go through my mind... times of tears, times of deep aching, times of heart-wrenching heartache, and yet times where the Lord has faithfully answered. Faithfully meeting every single one of my emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, never abandoning me. 
This past week my dear friend Blythe posted a former blog post of Kara Tippetts on Mundane Faithfulness which you can read HERE. I actually remember reading that blog post when it originally was posted by Kara, but this week it had even greater significance to me and gently reminded my gentle and fragile heart of the Lords faithfulness and goodness:
"I do want more time but more than all of that, I want Jesus. More than my wants, I want what I know is mine to receive. It is not easy to receive the hard story when all you want is to live in the simple mundane of today. But I trust Jesus, I trust him. He sometimes must pry my fingers loose one finger at a time, but He is good in His opening of my hands. He is good even if I struggle to choke out the words: HARD IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF HIS GOODNESS."
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him."-Job 13:15-
And maybe what I am learning most of all in this journey is the Lord's utter gentleness and mercy, once again. He is so good. He has never abandoned us and He never will. More than anything I want Jesus. Day by day the Lord meets us and the grace and mercy and the blessings as I stop and count them are numerous. 
He is good. He is good. He is good. Hard is not the absence of His goodness. 
I wanted to take a quick moment to say how grateful I am for your extreme patience as I am very behind in responding to some emails, some messages, and some sweet packages and letters that have arrived in the mail in the last couple of weeks. I also appreciate your patience as many of you ask for more regular updates on my health. I know it has been quite a while since the last update and I appreciate your patience. February with my health has been mostly about putting one foot in front of the other, grabbing the good moments and trying to make them last as long as possible, and continuing to press forward with this difficult treatment round. Thank you for your love and patience as I am still working to respond to the outpouring of love. Thank you for giving me grace in this area. 
As always I remain so grateful for all of your prayers for this journey. Thank you for covering  me in prayer, your prayers for my family and loved ones who are walking this journey with me every single day, and for the Lord's provision and mercy to answer each of these requests that are before us. Here are some of the most pressing prayer requests... 
Prayer Requests...  1. As a few of you are aware the one IV medicine that I am on that is a part of this protocol for treatment round #4 is still giving us some serious issues with #courtneytheportney. Unfortunately this medicine causes ports to clog, and this can be extremely dangerous. There are medicines that help with this, but our number one prayer request is that the Lord would work miraculously and that instead of being dependent on this medicine that the port would flow with absolutely no more issues. 
2. As some of you are aware for the past several years I have been struggling with severe anemia that has caused a lot of issues. At one point in this journey I was able to raise my ferratin level up to about 24 which was HUGE but unfortunately ever since the blood clot last year I have struggled to get back into the double digit numbers. At one point it was very dangerously low, and we are praying that instead of going down (which it is currently doing) it will continue to raise. I am taking several supplements and medicines and eating extremely iron rich food and we are asking for prayer that this would indeed improve as I have struggled in the past with iron infusions. 

3. As some of you are aware I would continue to ask that you pray that the Lord remove the inflammation that Lyme has caused in many areas of my body. This is a serious prayer request as it comes with lots of different issues and I would covet prayer that this would be answered. 
4. As always we would ask for prayers for the Lord to provide financially. We are choosing to add some additional therapies into my protocol which will cost extra money, and in addition to this I received word that one of my main meds for this treatment round will be increasing in price by nearly $4000 a month and I have some other unexpected expenses (due to the several ER visits that have had to happen in the beginning of this year). It is a very tough time financially. Thank you for joining us in prayer for this request.
5. The infection that I have mentioned several times over the last two months is s-l-o-w-l-y getting better but still needs to be fully healed. Thank you for continuing to pray for this. 

6. I am struggling with one of my IV meds that is causing lots and lots of sickness and pain. Would you please pray that I can handle this difficult med as we continue to up the dosage? Thank you!
7. I have some private prayer requests that I would ask you to join me in praying for.
Thank you for continuing to walk this long journey with me. Thank you for carrying me and my family in prayer. Your support, your encouragement and your love are some of the ultimate blessings on this journey and they are completely priceless. 
"Let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. That He will come is as certain as the morning sun..."-Hosea 6:3-
"For I will restore your health to you, your wounds I will heal" declares the Lord."-Jeremiah 30:17
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter..."-Joel 2:25-

Coloring Altered Journal (Purple)

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 new journal that was just recently listed in the shop- a coloring altered journal!
I don't know about y'all but I have really enjoyed the coloring books that are now available. It is so fun to be able to sit and color and so to find this unique journal was a delight! 
This unique altered journal is hard-covered and is a coloring journal for those who love to color. It is the perfect combination for those who like to write a little bit and still express their creative side of coloring.  The out side cover can be colored as well as a portion of the inside pages. There are approximately 100 pages inside this 4x6 journal.  One of my favorite aspects of each journal is the different ribbons that I use in each journal. I use a wide variety of ribbons that include one-of-a-kind combinations, vintage ribbons, and beautiful and unique ribbons in each journals. As a "ribbon-lover" I love the textures and the prints that combine together to give a beautiful look in each journal. If you are interested in this journal it can be found HERE! If you are interested in a custom order or to see other new altered journals that have been recently added, you can check out my shop by clicking HERE or email me for details!
Happy Saturday again friends! I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend!

A Few of My Favorite Things from Joules

I first shared about my love affair with Joules clothing back in 2015 here on the blog, but have loved them ever since I first saw Princess Kate wear something from the company back in the early part of the 2000 era. Y'all know my love for all things English and Kate, but it went beyond this as I truly fell in love with the pretty (and affordable) version of Hunter boots and floral dresses and scarves and stripped beauty of the clothing and shoe items. The company has expanded to lots of different items, including luggage (which Kate and Wills were spotted carrying back in 2015) and jewelry. 
If you follow me on Instagram than you most likely have seen me in one of my favorite Joules products - their wellies. I have two different Joules wellies but the red ones are a definite favorite of mine and I pretty much live in them during the fall through the early Spring.
Two of my favorite places that I have recently worn them are when my family and I visited Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid and for my Vancouver trip to the When Calls the Heart Family Reunion and When Calls the Heart Set visit. But to be honest if you have been around the blog, or we are connected through Instagram than you have seen me where my favorite red boots pretty much everywhere, including to treatment, my IV therapies, and even sitting in my favorite place in the world- in my woods.

The Wellies come in all different colors and you can find the black version HERE which is also extremely popular. But there are other Joules products that I also love so much and so here are a few more of my favorite things from this lovely company:
1. Their HatsI shared the above picture on Instagram back in 2015, and I have loved this hat since the day it arrived. I was searching through their collection of summer hats for this upcoming season and there are so many that I am in love with, but one of my favorites is this one:

  Natural Dora Hat Size One Size | Joules US
I love this hat and love how it has a relaxed look and feel that would be perfect for the summer- whether by the sea or just even for a relaxed summer evening. One of the cool things about this hat is that it is crafted from paper!!


2. Their Scarves
I have had a love affair with Joules soft and feminine scarves for years now and I was so excited to see that they just released some gorgeous new colors for this upcoming Spring and Summer season.The Wensley scarf collection has a wide range of all different colors and hand drawn designs, and a few of my favorites are:

Emerald Beau Bloom Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US

  White Mara Ditsy Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US
  Gold Floral Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US
  Soft Coral Hare Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US
  Cream Floral Stripe Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US
 and one of my absolute favorites:
  Soft Coral Floral Wensley Scarf Size One Size | Joules US
3. Their Dresses
Several years ago when I first started blogging I was given an opportunity to review a couple of items from Joules and I fell in love immediately. One of those items was a dress and to this day I still wear it. The quality of products amazes me at how wonderful they hold up.

Because of this, I saved my little pennies and a couple of years ago I purchased a couple of Joules dresses that were on sale and still wear these all the time. I loved the fact that they give structure, emphasize the right places, and are so beautifully feminine. They have come out with a few new ones and here are a few of my absolute favorites:

Soft Grey Beau Bloom Eleanor Gathered Waistband Dress | Joules US
French Navy Orchid Beth Stretch pleat dress | Joules US
  Grey Spot Daylia textured Dress | Joules US
  Grey Bloom Finola Gathered Waist Dress | Joules US

So those are just a few of my favorite things from Joules. What about y'all? Do you have any favorite items from Joules that you would recommend?
Don't forget to check out their sale section for lots of happy deals!
Happy Friday y'all!! I hope that you have a wonderful day!! 

5 Helpful Thorne Research Products for Chronic Illness Patients

I am so excited to share with y'all today a few products from Thorne Research that I have found to be particularly helpful in my journey with Chronic Illness. Y'all know from other posts how strongly I feel that supplements are for the body, even if you are not fighting a chronic illness, but especially for those that are. I shared in the fall with my instagram community that I take over 225 supplements every single day  as I believe that they are truly a key part in my fight for my health. 
I don't take those supplements randomly though and without a lot of research or without the direction of my doctor. I also research a ton to make sure that I am taking high quality supplements. I don't want to use products that are not quality and just waste money. This is why I love Thorne products. One of the things that I love about Thorne Research, Inc. is that they do not make any products that contain Genetically Modified Organisms. Unfortunately (and what a lot of people don't realize) is that many supplements and vitamins are filled with GMO's and this can be detrimental in the body- especially when dealing with a chronic illness. 
This is not a sponsored post, but I love the products by Thorne so much that I am excited to share about them and that I hope will be helpful to those that are exploring different supplements. Listed below are just five of the many helpful supplements that Thorne has available for those fighting and dealing with Chronic Illness:
1. Biogest I mentioned Biogest in my post, 10 Helpful and Affordable Lyme Disease supplements for the Gut last year, and this is definitely one of the products that I use on a daily basis. It is so important to have a digestive enzyme as part of each meal and after I tried nearly 50 different ones over the last several years I have been extremely pleased with Biogest. Biogest is a blend of HCI (hydrocloric acid), pepsin, pancreatin, and ox bile. This combination makes it helpful to promote the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. You can find Biogest under the "gastrointestinal products" by clicking HERE!

2. Basic Detox Nutrients Thorne has lots of different detox supplements and products in their inventory so you can choose a product that is helpful to your specific Lyme symptoms and case. The general "basic detox nutrients" seen above is stated that it is "designed for individuals with environmental toxicity. It can be used within a cleansing program or as a stand-alone product for preventative use. It is a complete multi vitamin-mineral formulation with higher levels of nutrients commonly found to be deficient in those with chemical overload, as well as those nutrients and botanical that help the body handle the toxic load." You can read more about this product HERE.
3. Glutathione-SR Lots of Chronic Illness patients, Naturopath Doctors, OD's, Lymies and LLMDs swear by Glutathione. This for me is something that I am still really working to get into my system because I hear so many positive things about it. Do y'all take Glutathione? I know that many Lymies do this in IV format. 
If you are not familiar with Glutathione, it is something that "occurs naturally in all human cells and is a co factor for dozens of enzymes involved in detoxification. As an antioxidant glutathione directly quenches several reactive oxygen species (free radicals). Numerous structures and functions in the body receive benefit from maintaining a normal level of glutathione, such as hepactic support, pulmonary health, immune function, bowel health, carbohydrate metabolism, cardiovascular health, cognitive health, and eye health. The liver is the body's largest reservoir for glutathione. A potent endogenous antioxidant, glutathione is essential for phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification." 
As I mentioned above there are many different forms and ways to obtain glutathione and this Glutathione supplement by Thorne comes in capsule formula. You can find it under the detoxification products HERE.

4. Meriva 500-SF Curcumin is one of the supplements that many supplements that is often recommended for Chronic Illness patients. Meriva is a Throne Research exclusive product and it curcumin bound to sunflower phospholiipds which is especially helpful for those who are sensitive patients like myself. My mom actually started taking this product first and was the one who suggested it to me. After researching it and discussing it with my doctor I was excited to add this supplement into my regime. If you are not familiar with Curcumin and its health benefits I definitely recommend that you research it and find out more about it. You can find this product on the Thorne website under detoxification products HERE.
5. Phosphatidyl Choline PC (Phosphatidyle Choline) is an important component of all cell membranes and is an excellent source for liver support. "It protects liver cells from toxin-induced damage and promotes cholesterol metabolism and excretion from the body." Lots of Chronic Illness patients, Naturopath Doctors, OD's, Lymies and LLMDs swear by PC. This for me is something that I am still really working to get into my system because I hear so many positive things about it. Do y'all take PC? I know that many Chronic Illness patients do this in IV format. Have y'all tried this? I would love to know your thoughts!
These are just five of the amazing Thorne Research products that are available on the Thorne Research website. Even if you don't have Chronic Illness or Lyme Disease, many of these products and others on their website can be helpful! What Thorne products do you find the best? AND for a limited time there is FREE shipping on all orders!! Head on over to Thorne Research by clicking HERE to take advantage of this offer!

From Hope Valley Devotionals (Week Four)

Watching this precious scene between Elizabeth and Abigail as she handed out some of her first baked goods to the people of Hope Valley, I was immediately challenged by the truth of these words. Words have incredible power- to either or destroy or give life. The way that we speak to each other, the words that we choose to use, the type of words that we use to communicate with each person we encounter has such importance to each and every relationship that we have.

These past few months I have been really considering this concept in deeper and more significant ways. There have been times that I have had harsh words spoken to my tender heart and they have deeply crushed me. There have been times in these last couple of months specifically I have watched (truly in horror) at the way that we as a world have handled disagreements and used words to speak death to each other. Like many of you sweet friends, I have wept at the insensitivity of reckless words spoken to me and to others. 

But then... these past months I have also stopped and examined my own words that I use in different situations. While my heart would never try to be intentionally mean or hurtful, I am humbled to realize the way that I speak can truly have an impact on another human being. Recently, I have been so challenged to examine the words that I use every time I speak. Just like Elizabeth encouraged Abigail to reach for her dreams with her words, I want to give true encouragement in each word that I speak. Scripture states, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24) These are the types of words that I always want flowing from my mouth as they come out of my heart. 

One of the ways that I have seen this beautifully modeled in my own life is through my precious grandmother I affectionately call "Ba". I mentioned in my devotional post last week that we live with my grandmother and to be frank she has gently influenced who I am becoming in significant ways through the way that she talks. 

Growing up I had always admired Ba, but now I truly am inspired by her. Her love for her family, her devotion to the Lord, her courageous heart that went back to school in her fifties, learned to ski in her sixties, took up dancing in her seventies, and her love for living life to the fullest are just some of the qualities I have always admired about her. A couple of years ago she suffered a bad accident and lost sight in her left eye. For many people in their eighties this would have been something that you could not recover from, but not Ba. Instead, everyone witnessed her grace and eloquence that she has always portrayed in every situation. She loves fiercely and I consider her to be one of my best friends. She is truly a remarkable woman with a love for life. 
And as I have lived life with her closely these last two years, I have come to admire something even greater about this precious woman, and that is the way that she speaks. She constantly speaks with life-affirming and redeeming words- to others and about every situation. She rejoices deeply with those who are rejoicing and weeps deeply with those going through difficult and hard seasons of life, spreading and speaking life-giving words into each and every situation. There have been many times where I have sat down and wept over different issues that have seemed impossible to me, and she gently and lovingly speaks life into the dark crevices that I may be tempted to speak death. 
When I have been discouraged or felt like giving up, Ba has continuously spoken gentle encouragement into my heart. I look back at so many situations in life where people would consider me "successful" and I see the gentle and wise encouragement that my grandmother gave to help me obtain that success. I think back and realize that without encouragement there are so many things that I never would have done in my life. Encouraging words change everything. 
The Message says Proverbs 16:24 like this: "Gracious speech is like clover honey- good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body." This reminds me so much of Ba. Her speech is not only good for the soul, but brings energy to every body she encounters. As I watch and listen, I have realized that I want my words to hold the same life-affirming and redeeming power. 
I may not know ever battle or trial that someone is going through that I encounter, or the depth of pain someone is going through, but my words may have the power to offer encouragement and change a person's story. Ian Maclaren, a Scottish author and minister, is widely credited to have said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". The way that we talk to each other can breathe a different story of love, life and hope into the hard battles that other people are facing. When we speak with love and hope, we often can see the heart of a person better. We can embrace the people before us knowing that they are trying their best and rest in the positive truth that our words can impact everyone we encounter. 
I truly believe that we each can change things with our words, just like Elizabeth did in Abigail's life. I mean, y'all, can you imagine a Hope Valley without Abigail's Cafe?? I seriously can't! 
And then I stop. I stop short because I wonder and am challenged to consider, what "Abigails Cafe's" are in the dreams of those who are around me? Who needs my encouragement to chase their dreams? Who could be changed by my words? How could my community be changed by simply encouraging the dreams of those around me? 
This challenges me so deeply. I wish that I could sit down with each of you reading this and hear your stories. If no one else tells you today, know that I believe in your dreams and am encouraging you to chase them. You can do it!! 
So today sweet friends, let us see the people all around us who are hurting and are in pain. Our world is truly broken right now, but we can change that. Today, sweet friends, lets spread a little of Hope Valley into those before us. Let us spread the power of life-affirming and redeeming words to each person that we encounter. Let us spread words of encouragement and words of life into our world, knowing that our encouragement can change the lives of everyone we encounter. 
"Words kill, words give life, they're either poison or fruit- you choose."
-Proverbs 18:21, the Message-
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.*

What's Up Wednesday (February Edition)

Happy Wednesday friends! I am excited to link up with Mel, Shaeffer, and Shay for the "What's Up Wednesday" Link up! I have so enjoyed reading these ladies posts and am excited to join in! It has been so fun to connect with so many other ladies who are doing this each month over last year and I am looking forward to connecting more in 2017. If you missed last months post you can find it HERE and listed below are all of my "What's up Wednesday" posts from 2016: 
What's Up Wednesday January EditionWhat's Up Wednesday March EditionWhat's Up Wednesday April EditionWhat's Up Wednesday May EditionWhat's Up Wednesday June EditionWhat's Up Wednesday August EditionWhat's Up Wednesday September EditionWhat's Up Wednesday October EditionWhat's Up Wednesday December Edition
 If you would like to join in and have a blog, just answer the questions above!
What We're Eating this Week...  So last month I shared how I work to get approximately 8 cups of greens into me. To me this is just as much a part of my healing process as all of the medicine and supplements that I take. I received a lot of emails asking how I incorporate this into my diet and I plan to share a post SOON about this!! What is one of your favorite greens? Recently I am loving dandelions because of all of the health benefits that they provide!! 
What I'm Reminiscing About...  On Monday evening I shared about the precious news that I received that there are NO new Cancer spots! We are praising the Lord for this beautiful blessing and the healing that is happening in my body! But as we rejoice, I also look back at what an incredibly long journey this has been. I shared with my IG community the following:
Seven years ago today, my life as I knew it changed forever. As I was driving from my home in Georgia to my parents house in Tennessee in the early evening on a busy highway, I felt the left side of my body go completely numb. I thought that I must be having a stroke or a heart attack. I struggled to pull my car off to the side of the road and dial for help. It is one of my last memories of that seemingly beautiful day and life as I had known before was over. In the next three years I saw over 413 doctors as one baffling health symptom after another continued to emerge. In 2012 I saw over 273 doctors alone, including some of the best medical facilities in the country. After thousands of invasive and painful testing procedures, doctors telling me that I had "no hope", and becoming unable to eat or walk without assistance, I was correctly and accurately diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease on the day after my 33rd birthday. Within three months I was also diagnosed with Skin Cancer among other things. 
Tonight I think back to going to bed seven years ago feeling hopeless and scared and not knowing the road and journey that was to come. And tonight I head to bed, grateful and overwhelmed with emotion as I received incredible news that I was told 4 years ago would be impossible... I have NO new Cancer spots and my Lyme tests and bloodwork is showing improvements. Slowly and surely, healing is coming. This journey may still have a ways to go, but today was a beautiful victory and held lots of rejoicing, lots of laughter and hugs, and doctors encouraging words. 
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. Thank you to those of you who have given financially in the past to help me get to where I am and to those of you who continue to pray. Your support, your encouragement, and your love are priceless gifts in this journey. Thank you for weeping with me when I weep, and for rejoicing with us in this beautiful news today.❤
What I'm Loving...  The beauty of the winter here at my favorite place on earth!

What I've Been Up To...
This past month has been a whirlwind of activity between Etsy shop orders, The Novel Garden Crate Launching, and working on finalizing book details for my two upcoming books, "When Truth Refreshes" (Releasing May 1st) and "September Caravan" (Releasing September 1st). It has been a bit hectic, but honestly I have loved and relished the energy to do these things again. 
What I'm Dreading...  Honestly, treatment continues to kick my butt. #onedayatatime is the saying around here, and sometimes, when that is too much we say, #oneminuteatatime. 
What I'm Working on...  Lots of exciting new bloggy things! I am so excited to share more news with y'all in September but eeeh!! I am squealing because I am going to be starting to offer some courses!! Yea!! Stay tuned for more announcements in this coming month!!
What I'm Excited About...  What I shared above! I can't wait to share more!!
What I'm Watching/Reading...  Picture is the intellectual Property of When Calls the Heart, Crown Media, and Hallmark ProductionsWhen Calls the Heart season 4 premiered on Sunday night. Did y'all watch it?? It was so good! If you missed it you can watch it on Amazon HERE. If you enjoy When Calls the Heart and are on twitter- consider joining the fun Twitter party that happens every Sunday night with the cast and crew! I love joining in and would love to connect with you over there so let me know your Twitter handle to join in with the fun! You can find me HERE. 
Finally, if you enjoy When Calls the Heart you may enjoy the weekly devotionals that I post called, "From Hope Valley" that post every Wednesday! To read them you can find them HERE. 
What I'm Listening to...  So my dear friends, the Wissmann Family, released a new project back in the fall that is absolutely beautiful. I seriously have this playing for most of the day. It is absolutely gorgeous. My favorite song from the project is probably #11- Glacier, but the whole thing is so good. If you want to listen to a preview of the songs you can do so HERE. (They are also currently having a sale on their site that if you use the coupon 15OFF you can receive 15% off your entire order!
What I'm Wearing...  Lots and lots of scarves. I love scarves and in the frigid weather that we have been having they are the perfect thing to wear and they are so cute! This one has a lot of personal significance to me, but I love all scarves, especially cozy and big ones to wrap up in! *smiles*
What Else is New.. Excitement over some new things that I can't wait to share with y'all soon!!
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month...  Exploring more of this beautiful area that we live in. I absolutely love it here. This past weekend we took the Cloudsplitter Gondola ride up Whiteface Mountain and I fell more deeply in love, if that is possible. The beauty of this area astounds me. 
I would love to know your answers to these questions friends! Share your thoughts below in the comments!!
 Happy Wednesday!

Cloudsplittler Gondola Ride at Whiteface Mountain

On Saturday we headed up into the Adirondacks at Lake Placid to ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain. Y'all, it was stunning. The day was sunny and gorgeous and the views were absolutely incredible. If you are ever in the upstate New York, Lake Placid region, I definitely recommend that you take the Gondola up to the top. The Cloudsplittler Gondola ride carries you from the Main Base Lodge at Whiteface Mountain up to the top of Little Whiteface. The eight-person Gondola ride takes approximately 15 minutes to get to the top of Little Whiteface. As you ride up the Gondola you can see sweeping views of the Adirondack region, including Lake Placid, Lake Placid Village, and Lake Champlain. As you ride up in the Gondola you will be able to see ski trails, steep rock faces, forests, streams, and beautiful trails that seem to stretch for miles. When you arrive at the top you will have a close up view of Whiteface summit and you will be able to view the surrounding area and beauty from the observation deck. In the summertime there is also a picnic area where you can sit and eat.  From the moment we stepped off the Gondola I was in awe of the beauty that surrounded us. It was simply gorgeous.  The day was absolutely beautiful and the views couldn't be beat. If you want to ski (or snowboard) from the top of Whiteface there is a chairlift that you can take to the top of the mountain. The Gondola ride will take you to Little Whiteface summit. The Cloudsplitter Gondola ride to the top of Little Whiteface is a perfect activity for those who want to see the beauty of the Adirondack region and is something that would be gorgeous in all different seasons. I love that it gives you the opportunity to really embrace the beauty of this area that I love so much. The cost of the Cloudsplitter Gondola is $22 for adults and $15 for kids and seniors. Kiddos that are 6 years and younger can ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola for free. If you purchase an Olympic Passport (for $35 for adults/kiddos and $30 for seniors) this activity would allow you admission to ride this for free. You won't regret purchasing this activity and experiencing it. The views are absolutely priceless.  The Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride opens at 8:30am and closes around 3pm. When you purchase your ticket you can stay up at the summit for as long as you would like so there is no time frame of how long you want to stay. One thing that was exceptionally sweet was that a couple of the Whiteface crew offered to let us come inside the cabin at the top to warm up if we wanted to stay longer. It was so gorgeous that it would have been tempting to stay all day just to watch the skiers and enjoy the vast views. Have y'all ever visited Whiteface Mountain or ridden the Cloudsplitter Gondola ride? I can't recommend it enough, it is simply stunning.  If you are interested in finding out more about the Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride you can do so HERE.

Opening an Etsy Shop -What You Really Need to Know

Before I opened my Etsy shop, December Caravan, in 2013 I read every single book and website article I could get my hands on to help make my store, an "Etsy success". The reading helped a ton, but I have also been learning a lot of things along the way! In this last year alone I have changed a lot of things with my shop and have continued to learn and grow as an Etsy shop owner.
I receive a lot of emails asking me for some Etsy advice in general. I am still learning, but I hope that this post will help other aspiring Etsy Shop owners!! So today I wanted to share some tips on opening an Etsy shop and what you REALLY need to know! Here are some thoughts (in no particular order):
(1) Take Time to Decide Your Shop NameThere are a lot of different theories about how to choose a shop name but at the end of the day this is your shop. It is going to be with you for a long time and you will want it to be something that you can "grow" with. 
While Etsy does allow you to appeal to change your shop name at a later date you will have to let people know about this change and you will potentially need to change your social media handles if you have matched them to your shop, not to mention any business cards or marketing that you have done elsewhere. Take your time to choose your name! Some people think that you need to have a name that "fits" your products, while others believe that is not necessary. My best advice is to do what feels right for you. (You can read the story behind the name for my shop, December Caravan HERE!)
(2) Do your Research Ahead of TimeWhether you are interested in starting to create an item to sell or you have been selling to friends and family for a long time and now want to take the "plunge" into opening a shop, take time to do your research. The fortunate thing is that it is very easy to open a shop on Etsy and list things. The unfortunate thing is that it doesn't mean it will sell. 
Take time to do research so that you will be successful. Think through whether or not there is a demand for your product, whether or not you will be introducing something "new" to the world, etc. If you aren't sure about some of these things, take time to develop your business strategy. 
(3) Study the "Quick Start Essential List" Etsy how has a "quick start essential list" that they didn't have when I first started my Etsy shop. This can be a wonderful and helpful tool at the beginning of your journey! (You can find it by clicking HERE!)
(4) Take Quality Pictures that Represent Your ProductsTaking quality photos that represent your handmade products takes lots of time! As an amateur photographer, this is a fun and creative part of the handmade process for me, but for some creatives this can be frustrating and annoying. The hard part of selling on-line is that you must convey in your pictures how wonderful your handmade item is. Your goal in your photography is to be the thing that "draws" people in. You have to convey the "feel" of it, the details, the "tone", etc. 
Recognize that you are competing with brick and mortar stores where people can touch and look through the things they are interested in. You want your photography to represent your items well. Honestly, it is better to have 5 items for sale with excellent photography than 100 items with poor photography. 
Make sure that your pictures represent your products. When I first started on Etsy I thought that I should do all of my products with a "white light background". I did this at first and the realized that my shop is for those who love and live with their handmade items. I started taking pictures outside, in different areas, etc. This has worked extremely well for me, especially with wholesale orders. Find what works for you and own it!
(5) Brand your shopTake the time to figure out branding for your shop. Honestly I went through three different business cards before my current branding which I love. Take the time to really develop your look and style so that you have a cohesive brand. 
(6) Understand that running an Etsy shop is hard workWhen I first opened my shop I thought that it would be easier than it is. Honestly, it has been one of the hardest business ventures that I have ever done. I love my job though and at this stage and season in my life, this allows me to work from home while I am fighting for my health. But that doesn't mean that it isn't an incredible amount of hard work! Every single day (even if it is just from my bed on rough treatment days) I work at least 6 hours on orders, on new products, on marketing, on instagram sales, etc. It takes a ton of work but I absolutely love it. Really consider this aspect as you plan for your shop if you want to be successful in this venue. 
(7) Set specific goals When I first started my shop I didn't do this as well as I needed to. I was so excited to have opened my shop that I just spent time creating and posting and trying to market. I have now learned how important it is to set goals for your shop. Take the time to set yearly goals, quarterly goals, and monthly goals. BELIEVE me you will be so thankful that you did!
(8) Take time to list and describe your products wellIt can be exciting to open a shop and just want to "dive" on in. Take the time (just like with the photography) to write out interesting, captivating, and detailed descriptions of your product! This will definitely help you as you continue!
I hope these tips have been helpful! And guess what? Did you notice that in the picture above I have at the bottom something called "Caravan Sonnet School"? Well I am so excited to announce that in the next couple of months I will be offering courses through a school called "Caravan Sonnet School" on Teachable. The mission of the school is: "a place to nourish the soul, encourage the love of living a creative life, and to find resources to live your dreams". Stay tuned for more exciting announcements to come!!
Happy Saturday friends!