Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 251

Disney Dream 6192 Stateroom Review

Today I am so excited to share about our Disney Dream stateroom because it was so amazing y'all! Seriously- every time that I cruise in the future on the Disney Dream this is the stateroom I will be picking because it was AMAZING. Disney Dream 6192 stateroom is a Catogory 05E which is a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. Disney describes the room as having deck furniture and lights, plexiglass railings and childproof locks. In addition the room features a queen-size bed with underneath storage and in wall dresser and drawer space, a spacious living space with a desk and a single convertible sofa bed (the room sleeps four technically so an upper Pullman style bunk bed can also be used). The Mattruess is a Sealy Posturepedic Premium Plush Euro-top mattress. Each stateroom also has a privacy curtain to separate the living and sleep area, individual cimate control, a full length mirro, hair dryer, 100% 300 thread count egyptian cotton linens and premium bath towers.There is a private split bathroom with a vanity/sink and a shower/tub in the full bathroom and a vanity/sink in the half bathroom. This stateroom also has phone with voice-mail messaging, 22 inch swivel LCD flat screen television, iPod docking station, refrigerator, in-room safe, and ample closet space. So as I said at the beginning this state room was seriously amazing. On previous cruising experiences I have had, I have stayed in a middle room with an ocean view room and a forward room with a balcony. Both of these experiences were on different cruise lines so I can't compare that part, but I can say that for me this was absolutely perfect.  The stateroom was incredibly spacious, was decorated so cutely, and the set up was absolutely lovely. A couple of things that I loved about the room: 
(1) The ability to store your suitcases under the bed.There is tons of room to fit even a full size suitcase under the bed which is wonderful because it allows you to get it out of the way after you have unpacked. (2) The Ample Drawer and Dresser Space.Many times in cruise cabins it can almost become a race to see who can unpack first (*smiles*) to make sure that you have enough space for your clothes and other belongings. It was totally the opposite with this cabin. There was so much drawer space that we had tons of empty drawers! 
(3) The Split BathroomsHaving a split bathroom was absolutely lovely. It truly allows you to have privacy and still be able to allow the other person to get ready or shower. It was lovely. 
(4) Having a Shower and TubMany times in cruise cabins there is only a teeny tiny shower but in this cabin room there was a tub and a shower that was full size. It was really a wonderful treat and just felt like a bit of extra luxury for the room.  (5) Having a Privacy Curtain.The privacy curtain is a wonderful addition that Disney has added into all of their staterooms. It makes it perfect for those who are traveling with friends or groups and gives you the feeling of having your own space. Another thing that was wonderful about it was the privacy curtain is pretty thick so it kept light out which is wonderful for parents traveling with children or friends who may want to stay up a bit later than others. (6) The Beautiful Extended BalconyThe balcony was one of my favorite parts of the room. It is a huge balcony- and provided us with several chairs (2 lounge and 2 sitting) and allowed us to have the most gorgeous views day and night.  The way that we could see the vast ocean was simply stunning- it was absolutely breath-taking. If you are a photographer or just love the ocean this is definitely the room that you will want! Even at night we were in awe of the most beautiful stars and views. One evening we saw a storm in the distance- it was awe-inspiring. Absolutely gorgeous. Before I chose this room I had done a lot of research on the different reviews of this particular stateroom. One of the criticisms of the room was the flag pole that is in the middle of the back part of the balcony. Honestly this never was an issue for us. To take pictures we would just step to one side or the other and we were still able to get the full paneramic view. It was spectacular. As a final note- some of the reviews said that you would hear the flag being raised (we honestly never did!)Being in the very far aft of the ship (literally the last stateroom on the ship on the 6th floor!) was also a blessing in some additional ways in relation to our trip:
(1) It was incredibly quiet.In fact (and I am cringing admitting this!) we were unfortunately too tired to attend the Pirates Party and Fireworks off the boat the night that this took place. I know, I know. I am totally shaking my head too. But unfortunately it was just the case. We went back to our room, joked about being woken up by the fireworks and thought we would wander down to see them when we heard them. Imagine our surprise when we woke up the next morning and had NEVER heard them. Hahaha! So seriously, it is an incredibly quiet room!
(2) A Great Room for Those Who Struggle with Motion SicknessWe literally felt nothing. I do admit  that you will feel the motors a bit in this room, but nothing that is difficult to handle or will prevent you from getting great sleep.  (3) You have the First and Last Views of the PortsOn our cruise for the ports that we stopped at (Nassau and Castaway Cay) the ship backed in so we actually were the first ones to see the beautiful views and also had the opportunity to see the last few moments of these special places! Absolutely gorgeous! Finally, a little example of the extras on Disney *smiles*. Not only will you get a different towel animal, but you will also receive chocolate each night. Such a cute addition to the typical towel animal seen on cruises!
I hope that this review has been helpful of the Disney Dream 6192 Stateroom! Please let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer them!

How Your Smartphone Can Help You Manage Chronic Illness

The mobile medical solutions, or mHealth, market is exploding and mobile solutions for people with chronic illnesses are leading the way, according to a recent MarketsandMarkets report. The global mHealth market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33.4 percent over the next five years, reaching $59.15 billion by 2020. The fastest-growing segment of the mobile apps market will be apps for managing chronic illnesses, including apps for monitoring and managing blood pressure, diabetes, EKG, cancer and mental health and behavioral disorders. Here are some ways mobile technology is helping people manage these and other chronic illness-related issues.Tracking Diet and ExerciseFor people with chronic health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes, where maintaining good diet and exercise habits can be especially vital, the growing number of apps available for tracking diet and exercise can be lifesavers. For instance, for users of Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung’s S Health app enables easy tracking of both diet and exercise habits. You can input information about your meals and snacks to automatically track your diet. You can also enter information to track your weight and use built-in sensors to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels. Additionally, S Health lets you track your fitness activities with the ability to automatically count your steps when you walk or jog. You can even invite friends to participate in exercise challenges.An app for iOS users is AliveCor’s Kardio, an FDA-approved EKG monitor that now also monitors blood pressure. Tom’s Guide contributor John Corpuz provides a guide to some of the best apps for managing diet, such as Fooducate, which provides information about preparing healthy meals while counting your calories; Shopwell, which helps you find healthy alternatives to your favorite foods; and Calorie Counter PRO, which combines diet and exercise information into a single display. Leading exercise apps include MapMyFitness, which uses GPS data to help you track your miles when walking or running; Workout Trainer, which uses photos, videos and audio to provide you with coaching for your training; and Fitted Lifts, which eliminates the need for pen and paper when counting exercise repetitions.
Issuing Medical RemindersAnother important way mobile apps are helping chronic illness sufferers is reminding them when to take their medication, which is especially important for people who have to take a large number of different medications on different schedules. For instance, the Medisafe app helps both Android and Apple users remember when to take their pills. To use the app, you input all of your medications, their dosages and what they look like. You then can view a daily list showing all your medications and what time you should take them and can receive notifications when it’s time to take your pill. Heathline surveys some of today’s other leading medical reminder apps, which include Tabtime Vibe Vibrating Pill Timer Reminder, MedMinder, PillPack and e-pill’s Once-a-Day Reminder.
Tracking Your SymptomsWhen visiting your health professional for chronic health treatment, one of the challenges can be accurately answering questions about the frequency and severity of your symptoms, since most of us don’t systematically track this. Apps such as Manage My Paint Lite help address this. You can input your symptoms in order to automatically keep track of your pain over time and create reports designed for your doctor. Some apps such as CareZone take this a step further and integrate symptom monitoring with medication reminders, medical appointment schedule reminders, contact lists for doctors and pharmacies and other useful information.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. 

starting the fifth fall

Time is the most unique thing- isn't it? It is the most precious commodity and often when we are experiencing "good times" in life time seems to "fly" and we can never get enough of it and yet when we encounter hardships we often are surprised at how long something lasts. 
And sometimes... well sometimes life is a bittersweet mixture of both. 

And for me, that is what starting the fifth fall feels like. It is the fifth fall (start of the 4th full year) since I have moved home to my parents house suspecting that I was dealing with more than "just" CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia. It is the fifth fall since my entire digestive system started to crash and I needed IV nutrients. It is the fifth fall since I gave up my independence, moved out of state, moved back home into my parents home, and then eventually (in the winter) became unable to walk with no explanation. It is the fifth fall away from the job that I love and desire to go back to(teaching). It is the fifth fall of seeing dreams shattered and delayed. It is the fifth fall that I have experienced extreme illness and pain. It is the fifth fall that I will spend time in a place that I will call "home" but we will all be displaced. It is the fifth fall that I am completely reliant on my parents, family, and friends for help in a variety of ways (including financial resources).
For the last several weeks I have contemplated this blog post... what to say... what to share... I would start to write and sometimes would well up with tears and other times I felt like my heart closed off from feeling. Again... a bittersweet mixture. This summer for me held more promise than I had previously shared on the blog... in many ways I truly envisioned it to be a "mighty summer of healing" and my heart was set on being at a completely different place physically than reality has me at. 

It's hard. It's discouraging. It's frustrating. It's nothing like what I planned or envisioned my life to be like. It's messy. It's painful. It's difficult... and the tears fall often. 

In the midst of that there is beautiful hope in the ordinary... in the days where the difficult and the painful meet... there is beautiful blessings that reach out to grasp my heart in new ways. In the pain joy arrives encouraging me and gently reminding me of God's beautiful and tender grace to meet me in the pain and that I am not forgotten.
It is the fifth fall that many people would classify as a time that has been awful... and it has been. It has stretched me and grown me in ways that I never would have chosen before.  It has molded my often selfish heart to be more understanding, more kind, more gracious, and more loving... all because I have been the recipient of such extravagant measures of each of these things. 
As we move out of the camp and woods that I so dearly love for the winter, we move into my grandmother's home... my parents completely displaced (sleeping on an air mattress in the living room), all of us sharing a tiny teeny home that was really meant for one person, my dad needing to step outside (even in the snow drifts of winter to take phone calls because there is hardly good phone reception), all of us learning to live with a lot less and everyone sacrificing to help me get better. It's hard. It's really hard sometimes... especially when Rebecca is often sick and there is not much space... but in this tiny teeny space and house... I have learned so much about love. 
Love that is faithful and unbending. Love that doesn't walk away when life is tough. Love that believes in the bigness of God and the miracles He still performs today. Love that gently quotes scripture verses of encouragement to hurting hearts. Love that listens to God-filled music on replay again and again because it helps remind of us of truth. Love that chooses laughter in silly things over frustration. Love that comforts in pain. Love that chooses to believe and hope in all things. 
I have been so changed by the beautiful love that surrounds me. The fifth fall is also a time of seeing the Lord provide for me daily on this journey - emotionally, physically, spiritually. It is the fifth fall of seeing who my true friends are - those who are willing to walk into the darkness, and are not afraid of the scary and long and winding road of this journey with Lyme. It is the fifth fall of looking back on a hard but beautiful summer filled with precious memories that included a successful and perfect port placement, a visit to Muir Woods in California and Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, the opportunity to attend my dear friend Ruth's wedding, see the book release of December Caravan come to fruition, share a bit of my heart at Mundane Faithfulness, go to Magic Kingdom with Friends, go on a beautiful Disney Cruise with my sister and so many other things. And... it is the fifth fall of this fight... a fight that still has a while to go. Due to the pain that I have been experiencing these last several weeks some of the intense treatment has been delayed. I am grateful to share that your prayers are being answered as I am seeing improvements slowly... and it is a balancing act of figuring out the best medicine as I am reacting unfortunately to the medicine that is helping. And yet, this is the battle. The battle to get well and to fight to beat these diseases. 
I well up with tears though at the goodness of the Lord. I have a wonderful doctor and medical team and they are fighting this journey with me. One day at a time friends (and sometimes one minute at a time) I will take this fight. The Lord is with me. He continues to provide wisdom and direction- even as recently as the end of the last week as bloodwork came in and we learned some new news. Surprising to me but not to the Lord. He is NEVER surprised by any of this. So on Friday I will have a phone appointment with my main medical team and we will discuss the best steps forward. I would covet prayers for this appointment and for wisdom as we move forward with this fifth fall... A fall that I know the Lord will provide for me again- in miraculous ways. A fall of trusting the Lord who knows my heart and knows the way I will go. A fall filled with days of falling more in love with my Savior.  This may not have been what I would have picked for this season of my life... but I know the one who carries me and even this He has a beautiful plan that I can't imagine... even with this fifth fall. 
Several years ago I came across Daniel 2:21 which states, :"He changes times and seasons...". This verse has been of particular comfort to me of late, reminding me that the Lord has a hand in all seasons and each day that is approaching is a gift. And the Lord has brought me to Jeremiah 31:2-5 again and again this past week:
"The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert. The LORD appeared to me in a faraway place and said, “I love you with an everlasting love. So I will continue to show you my kindness. Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. Once again you will take your tambourines, and you will go dancing with happy people. Once again you will plant..." 
Once again dear friends... once again I am starting the fifth fall looking to the Lord and His love and knowing that He will have the best in mind. What a good and amazing God He is. Thank you so much for all of your continued prayers for me on this journey. I know from the outside it can sometimes seem confusing, frustrating, or even difficult to understand and yet you take the time to lovingly support and pray and offer hope and encouragement. Every single day I see the answers to each of them in a thousand different ways. I weep as you pray for my doctors and nurses who I have come to love dearly in this journey who don't know the Lord. Thank you for loving them through your prayers. Please keep praying for all of us friends and thank you so much for all of your love and support on this very long journey.    "There will be a lovely ending to this story of frustration, something worth all it has cost." 

7 Tips for a Perfect Disney Dream Cruise Embarkation Experience

As I share a couple of day ago, our Boarding and Embarkation experience was literally a dream in every sense of the word. Today I wanted to share with y'all 7 tips for a perfect Disney embarkation experience:
1. Don't Worry If You Didn't Have a Chance to Do the On-line Check In at HomeBefore you leave for your trip take the time to do the on-line check-in at home because it will not only save you the time of filling out the paperwork but will also allow you to pick a time to arrive at the port terminal for embarkation. But... if you don't have a chance to do it, don't worry! I will be frank though that we did not do this and we still had a wonderful check-in experience. We called the Disney Cruise Line Guest Services the night before and asked for their recommendation of a time to arrive. They were able to look at the times that were the busiest with people arriving and suggested a time of arrival for us. It was absolutely perfect. Honestly, I would do check-in online in the future, but also feel comfortable with the way that we did things!
2. Read and Follow Disney's Carry-on Luggage RequirementsDisney has specific size guidelines for their carry-on luggage. You can read all about the requirements on their website. Disney does allow you to bring alcohol on board the ship but you have to place it in your carry-on luggage to be inspected. You can find out more information about FAQ for Disney here. 
3. The More Times you Sail with Disney the Shorter the LineThe more times that you sail on Disney cruises the shorter the wait line that you will have. For first-time cruisers with Disney you will need to expect a bit of a longer wait time, but for silver, gold, and platinum members your wait time will be quicker!
4. The Cash/Credit Card System at Check-InWhat I am about to share was one of my favorite things about the Disney Cruise. When you check in you have the option of leaving a credit card on file for all of the charges that will happen on the ship or you can request the "cash system" and decline leaving a credit card. With the "cash system" you will be given a certain amount of credit on board and then will go and pay your balance off (with cash or different credit cards) at guest relations. 
Y'all this is brilliant. For those like myself who may save to go on vacation all of our little pennies and such or want to split the charges among a variety of cards this is your opportunity. You can go as many times as you want to guest services to keep your balance under the maximum limit and it works like a charm. 
Another benefit to this system is that if you are traveling with friends or family members and want separate bills you can go to guest services and request this too. So many times in the past when I have cruised with friends and had my credit card down as the "secure payment" things never seemed to work out fairly one way or another and there would always be charges that I personally didn't do. At the end of the day this is fine and life moves on, but the system that Disney has is brilliant. 
5. Minnie and Mickey Picture OpportunityMinnie and Mickey will be available at certain times throughout the terminal to take pictures with. This line is very long but can be a fun beginning to the trip! If you don't have time or can't make it don't worry. Minnie and Mickey are seen throughout the ship and will spend time even on Castaway Cay. Check your daily navigator guide schedule for places to be to meet up with them! (There is also a personal navigator app that you can download for free that will give you updates on the ship and activities that are happening!)
6. Embarkation is Extremely Disability FriendlyThe Disney terminal and the embarkation process is extremely disability friendly. The lines are extra wide so that wheelchairs can be easily accommodated and there are plenty of couches, chairs, etc. to sit on if you are tired and need a break. Everyone is extremely friendly so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need some!
7. Disney Magic From the moment that you ride the escalator up to the terminal the Disney magic is everywhere. There is Disney music playing, staff members are extremely gracious and helpful, and there are even TV areas playing different Disney movies. The beautiful Disney magic is amazing and is something that sets this embarkation experience apart from the rest. 
Like I said at the beginning, boarding the Disney Dream was wonderful and one of the best embarkation experiences I have ever had (you can read all about it here). I hope that these tips have been helpful! What about you? Have you sailed with Disney before and have any tips for a perfect Disney embarkation experience?

Disney Dream Ship Review

Today I am so excited to share my Disney Dream ship review! This cruise was amazing and I can't recommend it enough!  The Disney Dream is one of the largest of the Disney cruise ships which includes 14 decks and 1250 staterooms (I will be sharing a review of our stateroom later this week!). The Disney Dream "lives" in the "sun ports" and is known for its Art Deco opulence that is sweetly blended with Disney magic.
The Disney Dream first sailed in 2011 and like its sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, represented the Disney corporation stepping into a season of bolder and bigger ships. While Disney kept the same classic inspired design of the ocean liners of the 1920s and 1930s there were tons of new features and spaces.  One of the most innovative parts of this new technology was the way that the ship includes virtual portholes for the inside cabins. This allows those in the inside cabins to still get a "real time" look at what those with outside windows and balconies are seeing!  From the moment you step on board the Disney you will be able to clearly see the influence of Mickey Mouse everywhere you look.  To be truthful I didn't find it overwhelming at all but instead it brought a smile to my face. "Hidden" Mickeys (and really not so hidden Mickeys *smiles*) can be found just about everywhere that you step foot on the ship.  You will see the influence of Mickey (and Walt Disney) throughout the entire ship in your cabin, in artwork, on picture windows, on lamps, on statues, in the design of the pools, the decorations, and even on the dinnerware.  In addition to this the music that is played in the hallways, dining areas, elevators and common areas is a sweet mixture of a variety of different Disney songs in all different forms. While the original versions are interspersed throughout your time there are classical and instrumental pieces, hip hop, dance, a slow techno, and even newer vocals of the classic Disney songs. What is also nice is that these songs include music from the very beginning so there is a wide range of music that is played for the newbie Disney lover to those of us who can still hum along to Fantasia.  The ship itself was incredibly easy to navigate and I loved the way that it was laid out. Unfortunately on some cruise ships it can take a bit to orient yourself (especially if on some floors you can't walk the entire length due to a variety of different reasons) but Disney was a dream- literally. And if you are on a short cruise this is a gift because you don't want to spend your time trying to figure out where to go.  I will be writing an entire post about the entertainment and shows because they are amazing but there are tons of different activities to do on the ship whether you are a little one or an adult.  The Walt Disney Theater provides Broadway caliber live shows each night on the Disney Dream. You will appreciate not only the amazing costumes, the talent of the performers and technology but the humor, the fun, and the inspiration of believing in dreams. These shows are simply amazing and I can't wait to share more in a future post about them! In addition to a mini-golf course, climbing wall, and basketball court there is also the famous Aquaduck that is so fun.  The Aquaduck is a "water coaster" and the first of its kind at sea and is available on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. The Aquaduck is located on the 12th deck and is an exhilarating water slide that takes you on an exciting 4-deck drop and up and down and around - even off the side of the ship! As you ride you will see breathtaking views of not only the ship, but the ocean. It was so fun and definitely something that I recommend to go on! You won't regret it!
One of the things that was an absolute treat was the way that the staff interacted with people. We were incredibly impressed with not only the friendly nature of the staff, but the joy that they obviously had for working for Disney. The overall service was the best that I had ever experienced so far on a cruise. The staff truly went above and behind to accommodate different requests that we and others had. It was exceptional. In my opinion Disney has accomplished the somewhat impossible. They have kept the charm of the iconic Disney while moving into the future with a talented brilliance. One of the examples of this is that Disney uses "enhanced art" with digital paintings throughout the Disney Dream that come to life as you look at them. Kids and Adults can also pick up a Midship Detective Agency packet and use these digital works to solve a mystery on board. (One of the families on board shared with me that the mystery changes every year!)  Character meet and greets are widely available throughout your cruise. Our cruise was one of the shorter ones (3 nights) and there was still ample amounts of time to see the characters and have pictures taken. Before the cruise you also can have the opportunity to sign up for a variety of character meet and greets (for free) or you can consult your the navigator guide daily to see what times and where characters will be. And if you love Disney like many of the passengers, including myself, you will find it all completely endearing. I said several times to my sister and to those we met, it is literally like they placed Disneyworld on the water. Completely wonderful.  I want to highlight to for a second how much fun this was as an adult on this cruise. It wasn't just the Mickey Mouse affects, but the adult only spaces (where you couldn't even hear the other parts of the ship!), the spa opportunities, the classes and fun events for adults only - each of these things was amazing. Walt Disney once said, "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up anyway." Absolutely perfectly stated. 
If you are a huge Disney fan (or members of your family are) than a Disney cruise is an obvious choice to consider. But if you are hesitating due to the cost or wondering if it is really worth all of the hype, I can't say often enough that it is. Whether you are a family with young kiddos, have teenagers, or are just adults that want to go on a wonderful and first class service cruise you will not regret this choice at all. It has honestly been my favorite cruise to date and the service and the extras were a beautiful gift. There were numerous times that I would turn to my sister and say- Disney has this down to perfection in every way.  I hope that this review has been helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer them!

Boarding the Disney Dream

Our Embarkation Day aboard the Disney Dream was absolutely magical. Honestly, it was the easiest, quickest, most relaxed, and fun embarkation experience that I have had on all of the cruises that I have gone on. Typically Embarkation Day can be a bit harried but Disney does it right. From the moment that we were dropped at the entrance by Lots of Honor staff it was a dream.  We were all smiles as we prepared to go through security! Security for those who are curious was the easiest and least line I have ever waited for when getting on to a cruise ship. It was really thought out well, was efficient and quick, and we quickly went through and up the escalator to check in which was also a breeze. Less than a 5 minute wait later we were ready to board the ship! As you step off the gangway onto the ship you are met with many Disney Dream staff members clapping and welcoming you aboard. They will ask for your name and they announce you over the intercom of the ship as you step onto the ship. It is so cute and so Disney and absolutely magical.
We quickly headed to our stateroom to drop off our carry-ons and were amazed at the room and our gorgeous views! The rest of our day was spent grabbing a yummy lunch, attending the muster station drill, the embarkation send-off, getting ready for dinner, dinner, and seeing a Disney show. It was a full and beautiful day!  If you are interested in details about my boarding outfit you can read a post about it here! Like I said at the beginning, boarding the Disney Dream was wonderful and one of the best embarkation experiences I have ever had. Have you ever sailed on Disney? What was your favorite part about boarding?

Boarding Outfit for Disney Cruise

  JCrew Coral Sweater
JCrew Anchor Scarf (Similar here)
Vintage Navy Polka Dot Skirt (Similar here)ASOS Oversized 70s sunglasses
Vintage Gold Circle Necklace & Vintage Gold Circle Earrings (Similar here)
ASOS White WatchJCrew Navy Striped Seville Wedges (Similar here)

Choosing a boarding outfit for a cruise is always a ton of fun! When I thought about what I wanted to wear for boarding for our Disney Cruise I knew I wanted something that was casual but cute. I loved the final outfit and LOVED how easy and fun Disney made the entire boarding process! It was definitely a dream!
Y'all know I love wearing dresses and skirts and this navy polka dot skirt with the coral sweater and cute scarf was extremely comfortable but cute and pretty for boarding. I love the detail and the color combination! I also love that it can also easily transition into fall too! It is definitely something that I would wear again and is one of my favorite boarding outfits! What has been your favorite cruise boarding outfit?

Happy Friday friends!

The 9 Benefits of Eating Pumpkins

Happy Thursday friends! Y'all know how much I love eating fresh and healthy foods that are in season and with pumpkins showing up everywhere I finally decided to research if there were any health benefits of eating Pumpkins. Y'all I am absolutely amazed at the health benefits that they bring to our bodies and wanted to share some of them with you today! Here are just a few of the powerful benefits that are found in pumpkins:
1. Eating pumpkins helps Protect your Eyesight.
Studies have shown that if you eat a cup of cooked pumpkin it contains more than 200% of your suggested daily intake of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is one of the key vitamins to help your eyesight according to the National Institutes of Health. In addition to this pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids which is full of Beta-Carotene, which the body will convert into a form of Vitamin A.  (An additional side note: Beta-Carotene is also an excellent anti-oxidant in safe doses so it will help your immune system!)

2. Eating Pumpkins aids in Weight Loss.
Pumpkins are full of fiber which helps to keep you feeling full longer. At an amazing 7 grams of fiber per cup and super low in calories (like their fall friend apples), pumpkins are an excellent choice of food to aid in your weight loss plans.

3. Eating Pumpkins can help Reduce your Blood Sugar.
One of the amazing things about pumpkins is that research is now showing that pumpkin oil can be beneficial in preventing hypertension. 

4. Eating Pumpkins may Help Prevent Cancer.
As I mentioned in #1, the Beta-Carotene that is present in Pumpkins helps to boost the immune system. In addition to this Beta-Carotene may help play a role in Cancer Prevention according to the National Cancer Institute. 

5. Eating Pumpkins may Help Improve your Mood.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in a particular amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid is extremely helpful in the production of serotonin which research has shown helps control our moods.

6. Eating Pumpkins will help Boost your Potassium. 
Just like bananas are known for their potassium levels, Pumpkins are also helpful. In fact, pumpkins have more potassium at 564 milligrams than bananas do. Potassium will help restore the body's electrolyte balance and helps our muscles to function at their best.

7. Eating Pumpkins may Help Patients with Diabetes.
Recent studies are showing that pumpkins help to reduce blood glucose levels, help improve glucose tolerance and even help increase the amount of insulin that the body is producing. These studies are in the infant stages, but it will be interesting to see if overtime they show promise of helping patients. 

8. Eating Pumpkins helps to Protect Your Heart.
A Harvard study of over 40,000 participants found that those who ate a diet that is rich in fiber (like the amount that pumpkins hold) had a significant lower risk of coronary heart disease. A recent study done in Sweden showed that women who ate a diet high in fiber had a 25% lower risk of heart disease. 

9. Eating Pumpkins helps to treat Intestinal Parasites.
According to Debbie Edson from Living Well Magazine, pumpkin seeds can help your body get rid of nasty gut parasites that make us sick. Interestingly enough, Pumpkin seeds have been used for this exact purpose by Native Americans and in some parts of Africa Pumpkin seeds are used to treat tapeworms.

Isn't that amazing friends? Those are just 9 benefits of eating pumpkins and there are so many more! What about y'all? Do you eat pumpkins or pumpkin seeds? What health benefits have you found from eating them?

{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.}

10 Tips for Enjoying Disneyworld with a Chronic Illness

As I look back on the exciting opportunity that I had of spending time at Disneyworld with my sister and my friends, I am truly speechless with gratitude over this beautiful opportunity. This summer was hard. Hard in so many difficult and personal ways and the blessing of going of this trip that I took in September had been a light that encouraged me to keep fighting on very difficult days.  At the same time though, I have traveled enough while I have been fighting for my health to know that you don't "leave" your sick body and automatically get a "new one" so it is important to understand and prepare ahead of time for any trip when you are chronically ill. Traveling takes a risk and a courage- especially when you don't feel well. If you haven't struggled with a chronic or long term illness the idea of traveling perhaps sounds strange or foreign. You might even question why people do this if they "feel so sick". I can't answer for everyone but for me I push myself to do it (knowing that there will be side-effects while I am gone and especially when I come back) because I want to live despite being sick. I want to grab onto life and experience it. I want to grab onto experiences and live bigger than my world of illness allows.   So if you are taking that risk... if you are stepping out and grabbing onto life in a new way and are going for a visit to Disneyworld while you are ill I applaud you. I applaud you for any small or big steps you are taking as you heal. And today I wanted to share 10 Tips for Enjoying Disneyworld with a Chronic Illness and hope that these will help you in your next adventure! 1. Choose Your Dates WiselyOne of the first pieces of advice that I can give is long before you even arrive at the parks- and that is to choose the dates that you are going to visit very wisely. Think through the times that are the "peak season" at Disney and the amount of crowds (which will equal longer or shorter wait times), the weather temperatures (if you are affected by heat), the events that may be going on at the park which could affect your visit (special weekends, special events and parties, etc.), and the timing that works best for you personally. 
I will be frank- I hadn't thought much about the temperatures when I made plans to visit and the heat for me was extremely difficult. This wiped what precious little energy that I had and made things more difficult. The flip side though is that September is an amazing time to visit because the lines were so short. I think the longest that my sister and I waited in line was 10 minutes and the day that I went with friends the longest they waited in line was about 45 minutes for the Dwarfs Mine Train Ride which was still awesome. Having such a short wait time was an amazing gift! The park was the least filled I had ever seen it and that was precious as we were able to basically just walk on to any ride. Thinking through and making these decisions about the best dates to visit for you personally ahead of time will be the foundation for having a great visit to Disneyworld.  2. Plan a RouteMy sister had done an amazing job of researching ahead of time and planning out a route for us to enjoy all of our favorite rides and see the park but in a logical thought out way. This was extremely helpful as we took advantage of the Disney transportation system (more on that in a minute!) and it allowed us to see the entire park without wasting any precious energy so we could see and do more. 
The "My Disney Experience App" can also be a huge help with planning out a route for your time in the parks and at the resorts. You can do everything on that app and it helps so much in the planning. It is easy to use and navigate and kept everything so up to date and it is totally free. It was wonderful! You can find out more about the app by clicking HERE. 
3. Use the Transportation SystemIf you are like me and have trouble walking long distances than I can't recommend enough using some of the "transportation services" that Disney offers. My sister and I took the Magic Kingdom Express Train to take us from the front of the park to the back and also to get off at different stops. It was fun to ride, it gave me a chance to re-group by being able to sit for a few minutes, and saved precious energy of walking. 
If you are in need of a wheelchair Disney has Wheelchair Rentals available at all of the theme parks and water parks and even at Disney Springs. You can find out more about the Wheelchair rentals HERE. I will give those of you a heads up about this though that I learned in talking with some of the Disney staff: (1) You can't take the wheelchair to the different parks - you have to leave it at one park and then pick up a new wheelchair at a different park. If you are using a hopper pass this can create a few glitches because (2) the wheelchairs are on a first-come first-serve basis. The staff that I spoke to assured me that there are lots of wheelchairs available, but during peak season this can be an issue. You, of course, are allowed to bring your own wheelchair into the park.
Another side note about Handicap Parking: the parking is close, but there is not a tram that takes you to the front of the park like other parking lots. So you will have to do a bit of walking.  4. Plan your Meal Times Ahead of TimeIf part of your Chronic Illness includes a special diet (like myself) you will want to research ahead of time which restaurants are allergen friendly. I had a bit of a mis-conception that all of the restaurants in the park had allergy friendly options (gluten or dairy friee). The first morning when I went to the park with my friends I quickly found out that this wasn't the case. BUT, if I had planned out the meal times ahead of time (something that Disney offers) I could have easily fixed this. 
Disney has several quick-service, buffets, sit-down, etc. restaurants that have dietary restriction offers, but many restaurants will work with you if you call ahead of time or place your order on-line. You can find out more about this by clicking HERE. Have questions and want to discuss several things ahead of time? You can email the Special Dietary staff who will be happy to help you. You can find out their contact information by clicking HERE. By planning this out a head of time you will be able to really enjoy your time without paying for it later which will help you have a wonderful time at Disneyworld! 5. Face Your Fears and Choose to Be CourageousI won't even begin to start listing all of the fears that I have when I go to leave my family who are my caretakers, my doctors, the hospitals that I am familiar with, etc. Living with a chronic or serious illness can be extremely difficult and when we go to change up that routine it can cause a lot of fear. The mind can play incredible tricks on us and in the months and weeks and days leading up to your vacation at Disney you might be thinking, "what if this happens, what if that happens, etc." I think C.S. Lewis' words in this situation are best:

"Courage, Dear Heart"
No one at the park might know what a act of courage it is to step out, leave your surroundings that are helping you fight for your health, and take this time to grab a hold of life, but know that you can do it. Take the chance. Take the time to celebrate life. Take the time to remember what you are fighting so hard for in your fight for your health. You can do this. If there is one thing that is preached again and again and again at Disney it is to have courage. Go and be reminded of this.     6. Be Realistic About What You Can and Can't DoWhen you are making plans for visiting Disneyworld be realistic about what you can and can't do. I spoke at length with my sister, my mom, friends, and medical team (whom I ran everything by before the visit) wh0 were kind and compassionate sounding boards gently saying sometimes, "do you think that you can realistically do this?". While I could have chosen to be offended by their words, I instead knew that they were coming from someone who knows that my heart wants to go running from land to land and park to park and go on every single ride like I used to for 12 hours, but my body is just not physically able to. Take the time to be realistic about what you can and can't do and you will end up enjoying your visit more! 
Also- be up front with those whom you are traveling with to Disneyworld and encourage them to go and do things while you rest. My sweet friends Ali and Kori didn't want to leave me at first when I insisted they go on a couple of rides without me. I treasured their sweet spirits and the way that they didn't want to hurt my feelings by leaving me, but honestly seeing them go gave me a gift! I was so happy that they could go and ride a couple of rides that I can't and on the flip side it gave me a few moments to sit in the shade, rest, and re-group.  7. Enjoy the MomentsDisney gives you the opportunity to step out of your world and into a magical world that reminds you that dreaming big dreams are possible. What a beautiful gift - especially for those struggling with a chronic or long-term illness. Disney provides the beautiful opportunity to escape for a brief part of time and come back refreshed and renewed. The most important tip that I can share is to enjoy the moments. Enjoy the laughter. Enjoy the "pixie dust" of the magic. Enjoy the time. The memories that you make will be an incredible gift during difficult days ahead.  8. Plan, Prepare, and Pack All of Your Medications, Supplements, Etc.One of the things that can take a lot of time in preparing for a trip of anykind is planning, preparing and packing all of your medications, supplements, etc. Honestly it can take a bit of maneuvering (and a lot of patience) to make sure that you have all of your meds before your trip. As much as it is possible try to let your doctors know in advance that you will be going on a trip and that you will need meds (and extra meds depending on your situation) for the duration of your visit to Disneyworld. (If you are staying at Disney Resort make sure that you are aware that the nearest pharmacy is a couple of miles off property for which you will need a car.) I can't encourage you enough to work on this ahead of time as some medications can only be purchased with insurance at certain intervals so you will want to work this out with your doctor and insurance company. Also, I was warned ahead of time by the staff at Disney that when security checks your bags, they will require that your medications are in the original containers not just in random pill containers. (As a side note- be prepared for the security staff to ask you a few questions. At each park this was done very professionally and kindly but I still received a few questions. If you don't feel comfortable answering them in front of other people- bring a doctors note along which will suffice.)   9. Expect Difficult Times and Have a Backup PlanIt can be hard when you are on vacation to accept that sometimes your body might struggle and have difficult times or days. It would be absolutely lovely if we could leave the "sick body" at home and trade it with a "healthy one". 
I am sure so many of us have heard- "just think positively and you will have a wonderful vacation-you won't feel pain or sickness at all". That would be awesome, but the reality is that many times we will experience pain or sickness because we are still in our bodies. That is okay! 
Don't let times of sickness and pain ruin your visit. I remember several years ago, on my first cruise I went on while I was sick having a breakdown the first day on the shore excursion because I realized that I needed to sit and not explore all of the Atlantis property. It was frustrating, sad, and hard to realize that I still had limitations even though I was on "vacation". Having the opportunity to cry and release some of those expectations allowed me to enjoy the rest of the cruise with a more realistic lens. The next day, when friends were going snorkeling in Coco Cay (something that I loved to do before I got sick) my heart wanted to jump and join them but I quietly declined and watched from my chair. Instead of wallowing in self-pity though I watched with joy as my friends explored the water and thanked God that I was well enough to have even got off the boat to enjoy a very special day with my friends. What was a "typical or normal day" to many people was the highlight of many months to me.
I share this to say- that it is okay to cry and have a few moments of grieving for what you want instead of what you have at the moment. I was surprised at how much grief I felt in someways walking around Disney as I realized that the last time I had been there I had been so much healthier. That is okay. Accept your limitations, cry if you need to, find the joy in the day and the time, and have a backup plan. 
When my sister and I went I was so exhausted due to the heat that we ended up cutting our time shorter than we had planned in the parks. I went back and rested while my sister went and grabbed food and spent some time in Disney Springs. I was sad that I missed out on those couple of hours, but it was okay. I knew that by resting I was able to fully enjoy future time with her that was precious.
Take some extra time to rest and relax and join up with your companions later in the day. Most importantly, take a deep breath. Nothing is ruined- keep the joy and faith, even in the difficult times. 10. Believe in the Magic of DisneyworldAt the end of the day, Disney is one of the best places to visit if you are struggling with a chronic illness. I have witnessed and been the recipient of so many compassionate staff members who were happy to help and witnessed so many others being helped too. The goal of the staff is to truly try and help people have an amazing day and believe in the magic that surrounds Disney. I can't recommend it enough as a vacation place if you are struggling with an illness. You won't be disappointed and will walk away being encouraged to believe in dreams and miracles.
What about you? What tips do you have for enjoying Disney with a Chronic Illness?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A huge thank you to Disneyworld for the tickets for my sister and I to enjoy the park and for me to have the opportunity to write about my different experiences. It was a gift that was beyond beautiful!

When Truth Refreshes (Releasing December 1st, 2016)

I am so excited to share a BIG secret that I have been keeping!! My new book, "When Truth Refreshes: Daily Reflections from Scripture for the Emotions that Accompany the Lyme Disease Journey" will be released on December 1st!! 
This book, "When Truth Refreshes", is the first and only Lyme patient specific book that focuses on finding truth and hope from scripture for the emotions that accompany the Lyme Disease Journey. There are 31 different emotions covered in this book to match the days of the months of the year. Each days devotion has a portion of scripture, a short reflection, a prayer, an inspiring quote, and highlights a specifically chosen song that relates to the emotion being discussed. "When Truth Refreshes" can be used as simple encouragement to those struggling through the emotional minefield of Lyme or as a guided daily devotional. Either way, "When Truth Refreshes" will provide spiritual encouragement and offer truth and hope for the emotions that accompany this journey. 
I started writing this specific book in December 2013 so the timing of the release date brings a smile to my face. At the time I was deeply struggling with loneliness and grief, fear, frustration, anger, hopefulness and hopelessness in addition to a myriad of other emotions when a stack of beautiful letters arrived at my front door from some former students. These letters (which I have carried with me in a special notebook and are tattered right now) spoke beautiful truth of God's love, His power to do the impossible, and His never ending mercies for each morning. Several months later, in April 2014 I had the brief opportunity to try to thank these beautiful ladies for their gift. Honestly, I was so overwhelmed with emotion of seeing these dear ladies, being back in my former classroom, and being with my former students and staff members that I loved so much that my words were so choppy and bumbled I wish I could do the entire day again. From the precious words of encouragement and love that I received afterwords, I knew though that my heart had been heard and that was a beautiful gift to my soul. 

Visiting in April 2014 renewed my desire to write a book on the topic of the emotions that accompany the Lyme Disease journey and the hope that comes from the truth of scripture on this topic. Truth had met me in deep ways when I visited my old school. I saw clearly the beautiful hope that is found in history and the beautiful truth of from the book of Psalms:

"Those who are wise will take heart, they will see in History the faithful love of the Lord." 

Throughout the last couple of years I continued to write this book, more than on the slips of papers, napkins, mediation bags, doctors notes, and lab results, but on my heart. Over the course of time in hospitals, doctors offices, treatment sessions, from my bed when I couldn't sit up, the theme of this book and the truth that I was writing was being imprinted on my heart and soul.

While I had originally planned to have this book released in 2018, I realized after a beautiful conversation with my dearest friend Katie  a couple of weeks ago that the time was now. The book was already completed and if I was honest my reasoning for waiting was more out of fear or pride- either way, I once again was learning that I needed the beautiful truth of this book in my own heart again. 


I came across this quote by Paul David Tripp earlier this year and this summer the Lord has brought it to mind again and again, especially in finishing up the last edits of this book:
"Every day you preach to yourself a gospel of your loneliness, inability, and lack of resources or you faithfully preach to yourself the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

I need to do this. I needed this book. I needed to be reminded of the truth of the gospel and the hope that comes from that. I need to preach to myself the gospel of Jesus Christ and the tender mercy that meets me in my emotional distress. 

The timing of finalizing things with this book release and finishing up last minute items with this book has not been lost on me. This journey through this disease has brought a myriad of different emotions: excitement at the progress of healing that I am slowly experiencing, joy at finding a wonderful and experienced medical team to help me, anger over the lack of understanding and support in the political arena of Lyme, discouragement at the extreme lack of energy I have and the way that fighting Lyme Disease prohibits me from living life fully the way that I wish I could, regret, anger, frustration, and sometimes hopelessness at feeling this journey will never end. 

These past 7 weeks alone brought unexpected changes and this week's decision to halt and stop some treatment and news that was completely unexpected to me and another delay in this long road of healing is enough to bring on the deep emotional waves. My heart was broken again and I have cried more tears, found myself discouraged again, and have laid out my broken heart once again to the One who loves me more than life. 


But this past week in many ways is once again reflective of the entire journey... and in many ways life. Our emotions can shift and change and there can be times of hardship and grief and times of highs and joy but truth refreshes even the weariest of emotional droughts. 
As I approach another anniversary of when this season began and everything was shattered, I look back on the now tear-stained pages of my Bible with a soft smile. An understanding of truth that has refreshed my soul. Of knowing how my emotions have been met with grace and love and hope, especially on days where I felt I could do nothing but weep.
My prayer with this little book is that it will encourage anyone who reads it, lead them to scripture, remind them that they are not alone in this fight, and gently remind them that the God of hope and truth is very present and active in this often emotional journey. 
May the Lord bless you abundantly dear friends and give you strength for the journey's before you and may we find everlasting hope in our ever present and faithful Savior.
"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
-Psalm 25:5-