Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 253

10 Tips for Cruising with a Chronic Illness

As I prepare for the exciting opportunity for my job of writing about my Disney World experience and Disney Cruise with my sister next week I am truly speechless with gratitude over this beautiful opportunity. This has been an incredibly difficult summer tackling round 3 of treatment and looking ahead to a not-so-fun fall with round 4 of treatment. The blessing of going on this cruise has been a light that has encouraged me to keep fighting on very difficult days. 
In fact just yesterday something occurred and all I could think was, "less than 10 days till the cruise... less than 10 days till the cruise...". In the midst of some difficult and not so fun news, my doctor said "the timing might be extremely difficult but this is still a wonderful opportunity that will be good for the soul. Take a breath and grab the joy in life." The timing really is not that great but honestly this is more than a job, this is truly a healing opportunity for me. The opportunity to get away, spend time with dear friends and be with my sister is a gift that is to precious to put into words. I literally tear up as I think about all of the fun that is to come!
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 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 cruise 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 Cruising with a Chronic Illness and hope that these will help you in your next adventure! 1. Prepare As Much As Possible Ahead of TimeWhile many people may pack the week before the cruise, it is wise to spend time preparing and packing as much as possible in the months. While there are certain items that you may not be able to pack till the last minute (different meds with insurance regulations), relieving the stress of waiting till the last minute will help your body. Preparing ahead allows you to really think about each item that you want to bring and also allows you to have the time to make sure that you have all of your medications, supplements, etc. 
 In addition preparing ahead for your cruise can provide a fun opportunity for you to look ahead, discuss with your travel companions the upcoming fun, and look outside the difficult and painful days that you are having.
2. 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 cruise 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 on your cruise 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 cruise, but know that you can do it. Take the cruise. 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.  3. Be Realistic About What You Can and Can't DoWhen you are booking your shore excursions be realistic about what you can and can't do. My mom and medical team (whom I ran everything by before the cruise) 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 on that 10 mile hike and zipline through the mountains for 7 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 preparations for your cruise and the cruise itself fully! 4. Plan Your Shore Excursions WiselyFollowing along with #3, make sure to plan your shore excursions wisely. Think about the timing of the shore excursions and what times are best for you in the day. Think about the amount of energy each shore excursion will take and how that will look in your overall cruising adventure. And don't forget some important details like talking with the cruise line that you are going with about how transportation will work to the shore excursions, etc. Taking the time to plan your shore excursions wisely will ensure that you have fun, not just for one day, but for the entire cruise. 5. 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 cruise 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 the cruise and that you will need meds (and extra meds depending on your situation) for the duration of your cruise. 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, check with the cruise line as many cruise lines require that your medications are in the original containers not just in random pill containers.
Don't forget to pack all of your supplements and any other alternative meds you might use for your situation. I don't like wrapping my supplements and vitamins in aluminium foil, but for traveling I have found it so helpful to pack my pills in aluminium foil already separated out for the times that I take them. (For example: breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning snack, evening, midnight, etc.) Having my pills already prepared allows me to easily have my supplements available and also allows me not to bring along my hundreds of supplement bottles. In addition this saves me time in the mornings as I just pick up what I need for the day and head on out!
**Don't forget to check with your cruise line ahead of time (guest relations department) if you are needing to bring on board any special products. Different cruise lines have different restrictions and you will want to know this before you arrive. I recommend dealing with this two months out from your cruise, that way if the cruise line needs special documentation from your doctors office you have time to gather all of the documentation you need. I have found that this takes a lot of time to prepare in this way, but this will prevent you from having any issues when you embark onto the boat.** 6. Plan Your Travel To and From the Cruise WiselyThe last thing that you want to do is exacerbate your symptoms or start off or end your cruise on the wrong foot. Think through your travel plans carefully so that you can fully enjoy your cruise! 7. Make Use of Cruise Assistance if You Need ItIf you are not familiar with cruise assistance, it is similar to airport assistance in that the cruise line will offer to help people who are disabled or chronically ill to help them get around the cruise and embark or disembark from the cruise. 
Sometimes the reality is that embarking on the cruise the first day and disembarking the last day can create a lot of stress and strain on those who are chronically ill. You can spend a lot of energy walking, standing and waiting, and pain trying to get your bags, yourself, etc. on and off the boat. Making use of the cruise assistance can be a blessing and something to consider if you need it. If you think that you will need to use this contact the cruise line ahead of time, explain your situation, and ask them how to best go about this. 8. Speak Up to Those Around YouOn my first cruise I wanted to "get away from sick world" and asked my traveling companion not to share that I was ill. Let me be honest- I hate being the center of attention so in some ways this worked fabulously to allow me to "get away", but it also created a ton of awkward situations and eventually led me to apologizing for not being up front more with my health to the friends I made on the cruise as they were apologizing to me for not knowing!
I am not suggesting that you can't have a vacation "away" from your fight for your health, but I am suggesting that you can quietly set the tone when people ask why you need assistance and then move on. Lots of times those of us with chronic illness struggle to explain our invisible illnesses and this is an opportunity to learn how to share, advocate for yourself, explain that you have a long term illness and might need help, and then move on to enjoy your cruise. 
**Try not to let any silent or critical judgement or words about your health spoil your trip. I heard a couple of very hurtful and rude comments on my last cruise when people saw that I had a handicap permit with me but wasn't using a wheelchair. There were also several comments about I couldn't be "that sick" if I was on the cruise. People can truly be mean and not understand what a fight it is for you to have made the decision to come on the cruise. Don't let any inconsiderate and rude comments or silent judgemental looks ruin your vacation.** 9. Expect Difficult Times and Have a Backup PlanIt can be hard when you are cruising to accept that sometimes your body might struggle and have difficult times or days. I am sure so many of us have heard- "just think positively and you will have a wonderful cruise-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 cruise. On my first cruise I remember 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.
Accept your limitations, cry if you need to, find the joy in the day and the time, and have a backup plan. Take some extra time to rest and relax and join up with your cruising 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. Contact the Cruise Line Ahead of Time about Food AllergiesMany people dealing with a chronic illness also deal with a myriad of food allergies. Even though food on a cruise is always available, the food that is available might not be something that you can eat. I had this issue unfortunately with Carnival Cruise as they weren't as allergen friendly as Royal Caribbean was and how I hear Disney is. Take the time to call the cruise line ahead of time, discuss your food allergies, and make necessary preparations ahead of time for what you will need. I also recommend carrying an allergy card and giving this to your waiter the first evening so that they are prepared and knowledgeable about your allergies. 
What about you? What tips do you have for cruising with a chronic illness?

Craft Room at the House

I am so excited to share with y'all a special place that I love to spend a ton of time in at the house. My craft room (or December Caravan's "home" *smiles*) is truly a happy retreat to create in. I shared a few of these pictures a couple of years ago and wanted to give an update today. I look forward to sharing pictures of the craft room at the cabin, but in the meantime wanted to share these pictures of this precious space. There are a ton of pictures so go grab yourself a cup of tea before you look! Have a wonderful day friends! When I first started my shop, I used to work in the extra room in my apartment which then slowly overtook my whole apartment with various projects. *smiles* When I moved back to my parents home to fight for my health my parents patiently and lovingly helped me convert a room into my studio office. This space (which is right next store to my bedroom) has allowed me to have a very happy retreat to create. I use half (okay, a little over half as the joke is in our family *smiles*) of the room while my mom uses the other half of the room for a variety of different things.  In the room we placed two different desks. This desk I use for creating projects, a wrapping station, and for writing handwritten letters to friends and family. The various storage items in the room came from my former apartment where many things were thrifted or were passed down to me as loving "hand me downs". Since the space is limited in this room every nook and cranny is used purposefully in a variety of different ways. It took close to a year and a half to get the room "finalized" and organized in a way that I not only thought was "pretty" but would be practical and functional. Probably my biggest advice to anyone wanting to create a "crafting retreat" is to make it work for you. There are tons and tons of adorable craft rooms that you can find in magazines and on Pinterest. Making a space work for you is what is key. Due to my very limited budget I did not have the financial resources to create the room I originally wanted to. I just couldn't afford to purchase expensive boxes that were pretty. *smiles* But I took my time and was very patient and decided to search and search for pieces that I could afford and that would be practical in this space. One of those pieces that the I found was this former "card" rack that was in a old pharmacy that was closing. They had been trying to sell it for months and eventually took it to a thrift store that had it marked for $35. When I went in and asked about the piece I found that it was on sale and they were desperate to get rid of it. $15 later I had the solution that was perfect for all of the flashcards, bingo cards, tiny pieces, etc. that are used in my shop so often. To be frank I didn't love the "look" completely and may spray paint it one day but when I found these adorable and happy boxes at Target last Spring I love the final look! The Target boxes were also a surprise gift that have been cute and perfect for the room! I had seen these boxes in the dollar section at Target and thought they were adorable but knew it wasn't practical or feasible for me to spend $1 per box. I bought three but that was it. Well a couple of weeks later we were traveling from New York to the South and stopped at a Target. At this particular Target they had marked these boxes "on sale" for 70% and they were only $.30!! I bought ALL of them that they had and have LOVED them and the "pop" of color that they gave to this organizational piece and the room. As y'all can tell I love ribbon. *smiles* As I mentioned earlier I do have two desks in the room. I sometimes sit at this desk and sketch and paint, but mainly this desk gets used as a space for laying out projects that are "in progress". *smiles* Thank you so much for stopping by and looking friends! I would love to have y'all come over and spend a day crafting! Anyone is welcome!Have a wonderful day!!

Guest Post at Mundane Faithfulness

If you have been around this blog for a little bit of time than you know how much my little life has been influenced and touched by the late Kara Tippetts writings and life. Her books have had a tremendous impact on my heart and her writings at her blog, Mundane Faithfulness has touched my life, encouraging me in the truth that Jesus is good despite the hard in our lives. 
Like many others, I was incredibly touched by Kara's story over the last several years, and while I didn't ever get to meet her in person I grew to treasure her greatly. She was truly a hero of mine, a woman whom I prayed for who dealt with incredibly difficult circumstances yet clung to her faith in the Lord, and left a lasting legacy not only for me but for so many others. 
Earlier this year I had the lovely chance to connect with Blythe, who now runs Mundane Faithfulness, whom I am honored and humbled to call a friend. I have stood in awe as Blythe has navigated continuing Kara's beautiful legacy and yet uniquely developed a deep community rooted in God's grace that came after deep loss. Blythe has poured out her heart, serving behind the scenes, offering encouragement and love to the many hurting that are apart of the Mundane Faithfulness community. In addition she has taken the time to consistently share her heart on the Mundane Faithfulness blog. Blythe's writing is powerful, full of truth and love, and the grace is life-changing. I have literally cried many tears reading through her posts, thankful for her encouragement in this journey of life. I want to go grab a cup of tea and just sit at Blythe's feet listening to her wisdom or just follow her around for weeks on end soaking up her wisdom. She is AMAZING. 
I was so touched and humbled when she asked if I would share a bit of my heart for Mundane Faithfulness and today the post went live. If you haven't already had a chance to read through Mundane Faithfulness I promise you will want to grab a cup of coffee and head on over to it. Mundane Faithfulness is full of beautiful truth, God's grace, and encouragement. I can promise that it will encourage you to go back to the heart of Scripture and fall more in love with Jesus.
So today, give your heart a gift and head on over to Mundane Faithfulness and spend time reading, connecting, and finding encouragement that grace will meet us each day. (You can find the blog by clicking HERE!)
"Hard is not the absence of God's goodness,"-Kara Tippetts-  

5 Must Pack Items for a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas

Back in July I shared about the top 13 must pack items for a Caribbean Cruise and today I wanted to share more specifically the 5 must pack items for a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. Last week I shared about the incredible opportunity that my sister and I have to go on a Disney Cruise that leaves next week. We are both over-the-moon excited with about this trip and can't stop texting each other 20 times a day basically saying the same thing: a count-down to next week. *smiles* We are just so thrilled. This will be my third cruise, but my first time sailing with Disney and my sisters first cruise ever. I have fallen in love with cruising and am so confident that my sister is going to love it to. It is so fun to get to experience a Disney Cruise together and we can not wait!
Every cruise line is unique and I am sure that Disney is going to be just the same! When it comes to packing for my upcoming cruise I referred to my blog post that I had written above and also to the one that I wrote last year entitled 16 unexpected items to bring on every cruise. After reading these I  still searching for some Disney specific cruise packing information. So I searched to find anyone who has sailed with Disney, spoke with a ton of different bloggers, spoke with Disney Cruise Line directly, and researched a ton of different travel sites for their thoughts. So here are the 5 must pack items that you must take on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas:
(1) Size Specific Carry On LuggageUnlike some of the other cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line has a size specific carry-on luggage requirement. Disney requires that each carry-on luggage can be no larger than 22 inches wide, 14 inches high, and 9 inches deep. If you plan to bring a carry-on bag with you after you have checked your luggage than I recommend making sure your carry-on meets this specific size requirement. 
(2)A Travel Mug I mentioned bringing a coffee mug with you on a cruise in my 16 unexpected items to bring on every cruise post, but for Disney think one step above this. On each of the Disney Cruise Line ships there are 24 hour water, coffee/tea, and soft-drink stations available on the pool decks but the cups that are provided are extremely small. Bringing a travel mug with you allows you to fill up and get back to enjoying the ship without having to make numerous trips to refill your small cup. And if you are traveling with small kiddos bringing your own cup with allow you to choose a specific one that your kiddos are used to (including ones that have tops)!
(3) A Keepsake for the Characters to SignOne of the great things about a Disney Cruise is all of the opportunities to live in a magical world for a few days and one of the ways that Disney incorporates this is with character signing. When you get on board stop by guest services and drop it off early on your cruise. When you do so it will be returned to you "magically" before you get off! The sky is the limit on what you can have signed but a fun idea would be a picture mat that the characters could sign that you could use to frame a picture from the cruise. (If you want to ensure that you have the "color scheme" that you want used make sure to include your own markers with the item that you are dropping off to get signed!) My understanding is that you get to drop off two items for each stateroom so choose wisely and leave your item early on in your cruise!
(4) A Pirate Costume for Pirate NightEvery Disney Cruise Line ship has at least one pirate themed dinner evening and from everyone that I have talked with people really get into this which is so fun! I was told by everyone that all of the cast and crew also dress in pirate-themed uniforms and to top off the evening there are tons of special shows, lights and fireworks. (Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line to have its own firework display which is really neat!) And guess what? Every member of your group will receive a bandanna for Pirate night that will be waiting for you in your stateroom when you get on board! I will be honest I am still trying to figure out an outfit for this night and will take any tips or suggestions!
(5) A WatchI was surprised to hear this from several different people that have traveled with Disney but it makes complete sense. One of the best parts of a cruise is having the chance to take a break from the "real world" and simply enjoy the moment without looking at our phones. But if you are like me I often use my phone to let me know what time of the day it is and not using my phone ... well I will need to know what time it is. Another thing that I hear is unique about Disney Cruise Line is that they have less clocks on board than any other cruise ship line. This is wonderful as it lets you fully live in the moment but you don't want to miss any exciting adventure on the ship either! So make sure to throw in a watch and set it to the ship time to keep up with all of your fun activities!
And an extra note of what not to bring...Disney has an entire list of what is prohibited to come on board their ship and some things may surprise you like they did me! You can check out their entire line of what is not allowed to be brought on their ships by clicking HERE. Make sure to check this out as they have different regulations than other cruise lines!
What about y'all? Any must pack items that you recommend for a Disney Cruise?

Labor Day Sale at the Shop

Happy Saturday friends! To celebrate the long weekend I am having a HUGE sale at the shop! Starting today through Monday everything is 25% off!! Simply use the coupon code LABORDAY to receive your discount. 
So head on over and check it out! You can click HERE to easily go to the shop!  Thank you again for all of your support of my shop! A portion of all proceeds goes to charity and the rest of the proceeds go to help cover my necessary medical treatment and medical bills. Thank you again for all of your support! 
I hope that you are having a wonderful start to your weekend! 
Y'all know how I love making things pretty and this is one exciting way to do that and encourage joy in our everyday lives! 
There have been numerous other items added to the shop in the last couple of weeks! Thank you so much for your continued support of my shop! 
Please use the coupon code: LABORDAY to receive 25% off your entire purchase. 
Happy Saturday and Labor Day weekend sweet friends!

Prayers for Appointment

As some of you are aware and many may remember from my last "Notes from the Porch" update  this past month has been an extremely difficult one for me with my health. After seeing so much progress and huge leaps forward this year this past month has brought some steps backwards that have been hard and very difficult. 
Over the last several weeks I have been struggling with a severe reaction to one of my main treatment meds, have had a reaction to another part of my treatment plan which sidelined me to being primarily bedridden, have had to change 6 different meds including a change yesterday, developed two different infections, have dealt with a lot of pain and sickness and have been struggling with severe fatigue and dizzziness/vertigo and have cried numerous tears. My poor little body needs prayers. 
Today I have a phone appointment with my main medical team and I would covet prayers for wisdom for this appointment. I would also covet prayers for strength and a miraculous rebound as I have a very special trip coming up in 12 days. Thank you for all of your prayers friends, for your sweet encouragement, and your love. You are such an incredible blessing on this journey. 
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."

Celebrating the beauty of Love... 2 More Weeks

Seven years ago my sister and I decided to go to Orlando and Disney World to celebrate my four year anniversary of being healed from Endometriosis. It was a wonderful sister trip and it was filled with so much laughter and fun that both of us refer to it as "the trip of laughter". We searched and found this amazingly cheap deal that included a stay at a beautiful new hotel site, tickets to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and a day at Typhoon Lagoon. We giggled throughout our time in Epcot and the old Norway "scary ride" (and Emily's favorite $95 cookie), laughed hysterically throughout all of the rides in Magic Kingdom (including our 10 minute delay of getting stuck in "It's a Small World"), and raced around Typhoon Lagoon re-riding certain rides a hundred times like we were little kiddos.  Time in the parks and Disney was a beautiful celebration. A time to remember the hard and celebrate the miracle of healing that had taken place. Over the past seven years and the last few years especially we would always talk about taking a sister weekend back in Orlando. When I was to weak to even walk down the hallway and my sister would spend her time off from work laying on my bed with me, brushing my hair we would talk about two things: being on the Amazing Race (please pick us CBS *smiles*) and returning to Disney. I don't know how many times my precious sister has said to me these past four years, "when you get better we will go celebrate in Disney". Many times I would be extremely sick and would weakly nod my head, hoping and believing that someday it might come true. Disney for me has always been a magical place. It brings you out of your own world and reminds you of the joy and magic that exists in every day. Dreaming of celebrating in Disney has been a dream... a beautiful dream... until the Lord brought up an amazing opportunity.  This past fall an amazing opportunity arose to write about a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean. I prayed about it a ton, talked with my medical team in depth, and wondered at the timing. Emily and I had talked about going when I was healed... we hadn't really considered going as I was getting better. I have to admit that I hesitated. Many questions came to my mind and I wondered if this would be a wise thing for me and my health. I prayed a ton about it, consulted with those who love and know me best, and again my medical team.  The beautiful thing was that everyone thought that this was a great opportunity so I went ahead, signed up, and called my sister who jumped on board immediately. We were both over-the-moon excited and thrilled about what was to come in the following fall. I realized an important lesson last fall... there is beautiful hope in the waiting for the miracle to happen. As difficult times throughout this past year happened, when serious and life-threatening issues with "Nick the PICC" took place, when I was incredibly sick throughout treatment, and when each of us were dealing with different types of stress, my sweet sister would say again and again... "I can't wait for the Disney Cruise".  And we kept dreaming and planning and praying and God in His amazing ways continued to throw out extra blessings, including free tickets into the park in exchange for me writing about our experiences and a lot of extra special things that have made this trip a trip to dream about. As we approach this special trip I am reminded in a million little ways of the joy of dreaming and hoping and the magic of celebrating. Sometimes we celebrate big things (like the end of a treatment round) and sometimes we celebrate little things (like good days with #courtneytheportney). And sometimes... well sometimes we are blessed to celebrate life and love and the beautiful gift of love and family and friendship even when we are waiting for bigger celebrations. 
Because we have definitely learned that with the Lord there is always beautiful gifts to celebrate. 
As I look back on these pictures to seven years ago and think about what the last seven years have brought I am overwhelmed with the beauty and the gift of love. Love that seeps into the dark places of life and reminds us of joy. Love that curls up with you in bed when you are to weak and sick to leave. Love that overcomes the dark. Love that reminds us that today... the beautiful today... is a gift.
 So in two weeks we will celebrate so many things, but mainly I can't wait to celebrate the gift of hope and the beautiful ways and gifts that are given throughout this journey. A huge thanks to Disney World for the amazing opportunity to experience this trip. We are so looking forward to it!

What's Up Wednesday (August 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 is so fun to connect with so many other ladies who are doing this each month! I missed last month as we were busy celebrating my sister's engagement party and I was traveling out to Nebraska for the sweetest wedding ever so I am excited to be back this month!
What We're Eating this Week...  Raspberries. More Raspberries. And yes, more Raspberries. *smiles* So basically, as y'all know I spend every single day working to improve my immune system through the food that I eat, drinking tons of water, and the supplements that I take. I truly believe that working on building my immune system is just as important as all of the treatment I do to beat Lyme Disease. A couple of months ago I shared in my Thursday Health Thoughts post the 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Raspberries and I am definitely seeing some of these things truly play out in my own body . I try to eat Raspberries all year long, but there is something about the beautiful and fresh Raspberries at the Market during this summer season that is absolutely yummy (and yes, I am trying to hold on to summer as long as possible! *smiles*). Needless to say my mixed berry morning smoothies are pretty much raspberry smoothies right now. *smiles*
What I'm Reminiscing About...  My sister and my "sister weekend" back in 2009 at Disney! We are heading back to Disney for a day at the parks and a short Disney cruise in two weeks and I am SO very excited! I keep looking through and thinking about our last trip and the fun we had and my little heart is over-the-moon excited about this upcoming trip! (Words can not express how grateful I am to those who made this trip possible, including Disney World. This trip is truly a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity that we will treasure.)
What I'm Loving...  Cool and soft summer evenings at the lake. August brings the most beautiful sunsets and sometimes the softest ones and both are absolutely gorgeous. I am trying to grasp every single moment that we have left here before we leave camp. 
What I've Been Up To... As y'all know this past week has been a whirlwind of activity with the December Caravan Book Release. I have truly been so overwhelmed and blown away by the incredibly kind support and words about this book. Thank you so much for all of your love about this project! (If you are interested in purchasing December Caravan you can find it where books are sold and on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles. If you are interested in bulk/group discount orders you can find out more information HERE.)
What I'm Dreading...  Let's be honest... this treatment round has been extremely difficult and when I return from the cruise in two weeks it will kick up an even higher level! I would covet prayers for this as I am going into some of the most intense weeks and months of my life. Would you also continue to pray that all of the finances to come in for this treatment round? As I mentioned before this treatment round is extremely expensive (about $30,000 a month) and we are trusting the Lord for His provision. If you are interested in helping out financially you can find my "go fund me page" HERE. 
What I'm Working on...  Lots of new items for the shop including this adorable Kate Spade Emma journal! You can check out the shop HERE!
What I'm Excited About...  In addition to an incredible sister weekend the Lord has provided an amazing opportunity to spend time with these sweet friends! My little heart is over-the-moon excited and God is so good to provide this time!
What I'm Watching/Reading...  Last year when I shared the 5 books that have impacted my life the most I was quick to list this precious book, Evidence Not Seen. This book tells the story of Darlene who was a young newlywed in the pre-World War II era and her experience as a missionary in the jungles of New Guinea and then her four years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. The title of this book is perfect because she truly is honest in her experience of the way that the Lord often appeared silent but His hand was continuously orchestrating protection over her each and every day, providing "evidence not seen". There are so many nuggets of truth and encouragement that I have walked away from after reading this book and I have made it a tradition to read this book once a year in the Spring or Summer and am just finishing it up again. Each time I do I am struck again by this woman's faith in God despite her horrific circumstances. You can read more of my thoughts about this book HERE if you are interested!

What I'm Listening to...  A couple of years ago this song was on repeat every morning and I have had it back listening to it again almost every morning and evening. I definitely have used this as the prayer of my heart these past few weeks and this summer and plan to as we enter this fall. If you are tired and weary or feel like you have been forgotten by the Lord this song is for you. 
What I'm Wearing...  Let's be real... I have been in comfy comfy clothes most of the last few weeks treatment but am so excited for the upcoming trip and lots of fun outfits and cute cruise wear!
What I'm looking Forward to Next Month...  DISNEY TRIP. TWO MORE WEEKS. CAN NOT WAIT. 
I would love to know your answers to these questions friends! Share your thoughts below in the comments!! *smiles* Happy Wednesday!

A Beautiful Nebraska Wedding

Several weeks ago I shared that after three years of having to miss out on MANY special events and one-of-a-kind occassions and countless tears at all of the "No's" the Lord gave me the opportunity to say a huge "yes" to travel and attend the beautiful weeding of a dear friend and celebrate all that God had done in their lives. It was an emotional "yes". 
This week my medical team cried as I walked out of treatment... it was happy tears at this beautiful milestone of healing. It was tears not for the time lost, but of a glimpse of the future...a future full of "yes's". It was tears speaking into the silence as I was given a "yes" by a doctor who believed I might not make it several years ago. It was a blessed yes by my lead doctor and medical team who are fighting to save my life. And for me it was tears in the miracle of being at this point. In the midst of these tears I had the opportunity to share a little bit about Jesus and all that He has done. It humbled me to recount so many instances of grace over these difficult years. 
It was also humble tears for those who have graciously understand when I have had to miss their "one of a kind moments" over the years, for those that have cried and continue to cry with me when I have been at my end, for the encouragement to keep fighting, for all of y'all who have left precious messages celebrating this huge milestone, and most of all for your love and grace in the different seasons of this journey. 
"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. The Lord has done spectacular things for us and we are filled with joy. Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest." (Psalm 126:2-3,6) Nebraska was beautiful. Absolutely stunning. SO very different than my beautiful lakes and mountains that I call home, but so very beautiful.  There was a beautiful peace that surrounded the quiet and I spent some time walking among the cornfields and having an opportunity to pray and just be with the Lord.  Nebraska cornfields are abundant and I marveled at the unending rows of corn that were everywhere. I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon and had the lovely opportunity to spend time with my dear friends, the Wissmann Family that evening. Having time to spend with them as they ministered at a nursing home singing and at their home was such a blessing. They are such dear friends and I am so grateful for their friendship and they way that they have truly touched my life. The next few days were filled with set up and time exploring different parts of Nebraska. Like with so many wonderful times I didn't get pictures of everything but for so many of you that were praying here is a smattering of pictures! My sweet friend Hannah did an amazing job with the reception site and all of the details. She had a most beautiful concept and there were so many helping hands that brought her vision to fruition. You did amazing Hannah! All of the extra details that Hannah incorporated were just stunning! Every single table had a unique center piece that fit the theme that was simply gorgeous. A wonderful part of my trip to Nebraska was spending time with this sweet couple, Esther and Doug, whom I met on the last cruise. It was so lovely to get together for lunch and catch up on all that God is doing in our lives! The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear with a few clouds (which was an answer to prayer!) and for all of us arriving at the beautiful church there was an air of excitement over celebrating all that God has done! It was so good to be back with these dear friends again. The time flew by to fast and I look forward to the next time that the Lord brings us together again! Ruth, my dear friend was a radiant bride and there were tears at all that God has done in Ruth's and Ryan's lives! Truly the Lord is faithful and loving in fulfilling the desires of our hearts! After the wedding we headed out to the reception and it was a time of joy - celebrating the new marriage that God had brought together. One of the neatest and most special things was when one of Ruth's brother-in-law's asked how many people in the room had been praying for Ruth or Ryan and their future spouse. Almost every single hand was raised. It was humbling, beautiful and sacred to see the way the Lord answers prayers.  It was so lovely to see you Kori and I can't wait to spend a day with you at Disney in two weeks!! She is so incredibly sweet and wonderful! Meeting Courtney was absolutely delightful.  I love the way that the Lord works and weaves our times in and out of people's lives. I had the opportunity to meet Anna briefly back in 2010 at a christian conference in Colorado. We reconnected again in 2014 on a cruise and then had the opportunity to see her again in Nebraska. It was wonderful to hear how the Lord is working in your life Anna and all that He is doing! I hope he brings us together again soon! It was so fun to "meet" Bethany on this trip! We had connected years ago over the internet and meeting her in person (and her sweet family!) was such a blessing! You are so sweet Bethany!! Alan had us all laughing with some fun bride and groom games! Celebrating what the Lord has done in Ruth and Ryan's life was absolutely beautiful. This past year it has been such a blessing to hear how the Lord was orchestrating and bringing these two people together and their wedding was absolutely lovely. It was one of the most beautiful and God-honoring weddings I have ever attended. I welled up with tears many times over the joy of two people whose hearts desire to serve the Lord wholly and fully in their marriage and how it beautifully started with their wedding ceremony. (If you would like to read their love story which is absolutely beautiful you can do so HERE.) Congratulations again Ruth and Ryan! I can't wait to see what the Lord does in your marriage.  Thank you to so many of you who had covered me in prayer for this trip, for your sweet encouragement, to the entire wissmann family for your dear friendship. It was wonderful to see y'all again. I may have left Nebraska but a part of my heart remained. God be with each of you "till we meet again".

Bulk/Group Discounts for December Caravan

Happy Monday friends! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Today I wanted to share about a question that I have received a lot of emails about. I have received many emails asking if you can receive a discount for bulk/group orders of December Caravan for those of you who are interested in using the book for Bible Studies, Book Clubs, College Groups, Ladies Retreats, etc. The answer is yes! For those that are interested in this it will be done directly through me (through PayPal or another payment arrangement). For groups that order at least 10 books the books will be a discount of a little over 20% for each book and will be $11 each instead of the $13.99 and will receive two free copies for leaders. For groups that order more than 50 books each book will be discounted more than 25% and will be $10 each with 5 free leaders copies. If you are looking at a group discount more than 50 books please feel free to email me and I will be happy to discuss additional discounts. My ultimate goal and prayer of my heart with this book is that this book would encourage the hearts of those who read it and I hope by offering a small discount to groups that this will provide an extra blessing to different groups. I have also received several emails asking if the book is used in a group setting would I be available to come and visit the group and my answer is I would love to try to. I would love to speak with you more about these questions so please feel free to email me and I would love to chat with you!