Rebecca VanDeMark's Blog, page 259

Stranded With... Netflix Series

I'm so excited!!  Y'all may remember last month that I linked up with Shay and Erika's new link up "stranded" and shared three books I would take to a deserted island. Each month there is a different topic (see below for all of the topics) and today, we're blogging about what three netflix series we would take with us if we were stranded on a deserted island.
Let me be clear. As much as I love the beach (like one of my favorites, Coco Cay *smiles*) I don't think that I would fair well on a deserted island. Hahaha. Obviously, while I dream of being on the Amazing Race, I am not hoping to be on Survivor which I associate with being stuck on a desert island. Or the movie Castaway. Not fun.*hahaha*

I have shared on the blog before that I am not a huge TV watcher. To me I don't love to watch a ton of TV and I am incredibly picky about what I put in front of my eyes and what I choose to put into my brain. I choose not to watch shows that are filled with violence, lots of sexuality, and that are crude. This may not leave a lot of options, but that is fine with me. I am honestly sometimes appalled at what is on TV and influencing our country and generation.

I know that some people think that those that are sick are sitting around doing nothing but watching TV, but in all honest, anyone that knows people that are seriously ill know that this is not the case, and for anyone who knows me knows that this is farthest from the truth. I am most happy and content when I am engaged in the lives of other people, enjoying the moments with others, and choosing to be wise with my time despite this hard season in life. 

On the flip side, there have been times where TV has been a great distraction from pain and I was so thankful when someone gifted me a Netflix subscription last year so that I could have a distraction. So here are the 3 TV shows that I would take with me to the deserted island:

(1) When Calls the Heart
I have loved the show from the very first episode. It is sweetly written, beautifully depicted, and the acting is wonderful. Originally inspired and named after Janette Oke's first book in her Canadian West Series, "When Calls the Heart" is the story of Elizabeth Thatcher who is a young teacher from a high society background who obtains her first teaching assignment in Coal Valley, a small mining town. Shortly before she arrived there had been an explosion that killed more than a dozen of the town's miners, leaving the widows and the children grieving, along with the rest of the town. As the seasons have progressed (there are three and two that are available on Netflix), a sweet love story emerges, deep friendships, and the overriding theme that despite life's hard, there is good to be found and community is beautiful. BRAVO Hallmark Channel for depicting a beautiful love story of a man pursuing a woman and a beautiful relationship without all of the sexual content. I love this family friendly show and recommend it everyone.

(2) Madam Secretary
When previews for Madam Secretary first came out I was skeptical about the show and then I watched the first episode and I was immediately impressed. Madam Secretary follows the story of the newly appointed Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord as she returns to public service at the request of the president, after retiring from her job as a CIA officer and becoming a professor at the University of Virginia. Madam Secretary revolves around the political need for international diplomacy, battles office politics, and negotiates national and international issues. The show is not only wonderful because the acting is phenomenal and is family -friendly, but the chemistry and romance between Tea Leoni and Tim Daly (who plays her brilliant husband and are also dating in real life) is adorable. And SERIOUSLY... it is SO nice to see a couple who are relatable, adorable, and obviously happily in love without all of the "TV drama" that sometimes is added into a relationship. Bravo CBS for showing a healthy marriage. One of the things that I love about the show is that they deal with super serious issues and bring international things that are going on currently to light, but also have a ton of humor. There are so many quick lines that I often find myself laughing out loud. I love it and recommend this show to everyone, especially if you are looking for a family-friendly show.
(3) West Wing (Seasons 2-6 Specifically)
The West Wing was an American political drama that started in 1999 and ran through 2006. The series was set primarily in the West Wing and centered around the lives of President Josiah Bartlet and his staff. I did not like season 1, but seasons 2-6 were fantastic. The acting was suberb, there was humor, and the creators had the ability to bring relief issues to the forefront while showing an inside look at how the West Wing functioned. As a former history and government teacher, I have always been impressed with the way that the show was able to teach a lot of general and factual knowledge about government and yet create a wonderful dialogue. I also loved that this was a family friendly show with minimum language and minimum sexual content.

So these are my three shows if I'm stranded on a deserted island that I would bring! What TV shows would you bring?  I'd really love to know if you have any suggestions!!  Comment below (or link up!) and share this with us!  
And to see the other topics for the rest of the year (obviously next month we all know that I will be bringing Kate Middleton and Prince Harry with me - hahaha!):


Happy Wednesday friends!

The 6 Types of Friends Every Christian Single Girl Needs

picture found on internet, altered by Caravan SonnetEvery woman needs friends. We all need and long for special community, but as a single girl there are 6 types of friends that we need to journey with us through the difficult and joyful days, the highs and lows, and the hopes and tears of waiting for God's timing. So what are the types of friends that we single girls need? 
The Praying FriendThis is the friend who prayers BIG prayers, dreams big dreams, and believes in the impossible no matter the situation. She is the one who believes that God can and will do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)
The Loving Truth TellerThis is the friend that will call you out lovingly when you are tempted to have a pity party, will speak truth into your heart when you are tempted to settle, and will lovingly remind you of the greatest truth- God's truth when you are tempted to feel less than who you are in God's image because you are single. This friend is a beautiful gift in this journey- reminding you of truth and understanding the power of life-giving and redeeming words. 
The Brave OneThis is the beautiful friend that will remind you that life is an adventure and to never settle in this season but to live fully for the Lord in this season. This friend encourages you to ask questions and yet have courage in this season of waiting, beautifully encouraging you to step out and follow the Lord's plans for your life. This is the friend that will also encourage you to use this season of waiting for the Lord's glory. 
The Married FriendIt can be tempting to think that a married friend won't understand this single season of life, but the opposite is true. A Godly woman will be able to share with you and help you mature in areas that can prepare you for marriage in the future. I have learned so much from each of my married friends who have been willing to openly love on me in this season about what true love, sacrifice, and commitment in marriage looks like. Don't be worried about the different seasons- true Godly women understand that we are all always waiting on the Lord for something and will lovingly welcome you into their lives.
The ExampleWhen I was in college I was blessed to work part-time in the Christian Ministry department at my university. I basically just answered phones and answered students questions, but I look back at my time there with such great affection and wonder. There was a woman, Cheryl who had been working as an administrative assistant for a long-time at the University and was one of the sweetest women I have ever known. She treated everyone with Christ's love and I learned so much from her example. My first year of working there I learned that Cheryl was single and I was baffled why. She truly was an amazing woman. As time went on I learned part of her story and then in my second year she entered into a relationship with a wonderful Christian man and later got married to this man. Cheryl was quite a bit older than me and as a young woman I remember secretly hoping that I wouldn't have to wait so long to be married. But one day Cheryl said something to me that I have never forgotten. She said, "Rebecca, God's timing is absolutely perfect, for it is in God's timing that I have become the woman He is calling me to be. I trust that His timing is better than I could ever have imagined." I remember going home to my apartment and crying out to the Lord to have her faith for God's timing in this very important area of my life. Years later after my ex-fiance' walked out on our relationship Cheryl sent me a beautiful letter filled with wisdom and encouragement that I have kept to this day. Cheryl's beautiful example (and many others since then) have tenderly touched my heart, encouraged me, and reminded me that God's timing is flawless. 
The ListenerThere are times where as single girls we just need to weep at this difficult season of life. In these moments we need the friend who will listen and cry with us. The listener has the gift of truly listening to our hearts and encouraging us in the difficult moments of life.
What kind of friends do you think every Christian single girls needs? What kind of friend category do you think that you are?

10 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity This Summer

I have seen a ton of people sharing their goals for this summer (and I have been working on mine too *smiles*) and it has gotten me thinking about how I want this summer to enhance my creativity. There is something about the summer months that makes me dream of new things, exploring new places, and becoming a more creative person. Today I thought I would share 10 Ways to Enhance Your Creativity this Summer for your best summer yet!  1. Create the Right EnvironmentWhat is your perfect environment for thinking creatively? What can you do this summer to enhance your environment to make it beautiful? Having the right environment will look differently for each person, but it is a key to enhancing your creativity this summer. 
The picture above shows one of my favorite places in the world to sit and connect with others. I love curling up in these comfy, relaxing, and colorful chairs, working on projects, and writing. Sitting on an open air porch makes my creative brain run wild. What is your perfect environment? Don't think that you have to spend a lot of money either to create your perfect environment. All of the chairs above came from a Goodwill find that we re purposed! (You can read more about our porch HERE!) Sometimes enhancing the creativity is started by your environment!
2. Learn Something NewYour creativity will flourish when you step outside your comfort zone and learn something new. Whether this is learning something that you have always wanted to learn or something that you have forgotten since you were a child, take the time to step out and learn something new. This summer I hope to learn more French and spend time back playing the Keyboard. What are new things you want to learn this summer? If you are at a loss for where to begin- check out your community. Many community organizations and colleges offer adult education classes in a lot of different things. Want to learn something specific like cooking? Check out Whole Foods summer cooking classes. Think outside the box and learn something new this summer!
3. Get MovingRecent Studies at Rhode Island College are showing that exercise can improve our ability to think creatively. The summer is the perfect time to get outside and move around! Get moving and watch your creative juices flow!
4. Develop Deeper Friendships and Be Open To New Connections "Creativity is just connecting things and people. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something."- Steve Jobs-
Without the constrictions of a busy school year, the summer months is the perfect time to reach out, connect with old friends in a deeper way and reach out to new friends. Looking for inspiration on how to do this? Blythe Hunt wrote an amazing blog post on inviting others into our lives and six easy ways to do so. You can find it HERE. As you reach out and connect on a deeper level your creativity will be enhanced in a million different ways.
5. Spend Time DaydreamingSummer is the perfect time to spend a little time daydreaming. Summer is the perfect time to take a step back, allow your brain to be free from distraction, and dream of what makes you feel joyful and creative. 
6. Put away the Phone/Social MediaI saw the above picture on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago and I found myself saying "amen"! It is fun to document the lazy and beautiful days of summer (and y'all know I love instagram for connecting people in this way) but y'all also know from my post last year, 5 Ways to Stop the Comparison Game and Love your Life, that I am a BIG believer in limiting social media. Put down the phone and enjoy your beautiful and creative life, your friends, your family, your relationships, and make some beautiful and creative memories that are just yours. 
7. Travel to a New Place"Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller."-Ibn Battuta-
I have the above quote on my travel page here on the blog and I love how true that it is. There is something about getting out of our everyday environments and traveling to a new place that not only can leave us speechless, but turn us into a storyteller. Traveling enhances my creativity in so many ways as I interact with new people, new cultures, new customs, new ideas, and new sites.  
Traveling can cost a lot of money, but it doesn't have to. Maybe this is the summer to dream of where to travel next summer? Maybe this is the summer to dream of where to take your dream vacation in a couple of years and how you are going to save for it? Or maybe this is the summer that you can discover in new ways how great your own city can be! Last summer I wrote a post entitled, 10 Tips for Exploring Your Own City that has so many helpful hints on thinking outside the box (You can find the post HERE)! There are so many places that are near to where we live that we can explore and travel to that will enhance our creativity! 
8. Step Outside of What You "Always" Do and Start a New TraditionThis summer, step outside of what you "always" do and incorporate one new thing. Start a new tradition. Maybe instead of family movie night always being inside with pizza you start a summer tradition of playing a movie in the backyard and grilling out. Maybe instead of always taking the same route to your extended family gathering you leave a day early and do something new along the way. (Looking for tips and tricks for long car trips? Check out this post I wrote on 10 Tips and Tricks for Long Car Trips HERE!) Think outside the box and start a new tradition! You will be amazed at how this enhances your creativity and will start to transform your life!
9. Change Up Your Morning RoutineSummer can be the perfect time to develop a new routine and this can help enhance your creativity. Maybe you are a morning person and you can wake up a little bit earlier to start a new project, or maybe you need a little bit more sleep. Think about what might work for you and try it this summer! New studies that are coming out are showing that changing up your morning routine can get your brain working in new ways!
10. Spend Time in NatureIf you have been around my instagram page than you know that I am a girly-girl who loves the outdoors, especially being in beautiful nature. Nature lets us connect to the world in a profound way I believe. It reminds us that we are part of something way bigger than ourselves, helps us slow down, reminds us of beauty even in difficult times, and gives us a new perspective on life. Take time this summer to get outside in nature and experience the beauty of enhancing your creativity and your life. 
Happy Saturday friends! I hope that these tips are helpful and that this is your best and most creative summer yet! 

A Celebration of Miracles

Always, Katie Blog PhotoOne year ago my precious niece and nephew were born today. June 3rd will always have a very special place in my heart because of these precious little ones. Their lives are a constant reminder to me that God is working in ways we can never see, has a beautiful plan, and the fruition of the beautiful verse of Psalm 126:5. I have mentioned my dear friend Katie (from Always, Katie) here on the blog numerous times. She is a beautiful friend and a lady whom I call a sister. She and her husband Ethan (a good friend from college) have lovingly embraced me into their lives, walked into my suffering, have cried hundreds of tears with me and have taught by example of trusting the Lord for miracles. 
For years they walked the difficult, tearful, and long journey of infertility and waiting. Their faith in the Lord has encouraged my heart in so many ways. Their openness to share their story and vulnerably allow people to witness the hard and the good has reminded so many of us that God is working in beautiful ways, even when we don't see it. If you are looking to be encouraged today, especially if you are in a season of waiting (for anything), I strongly encourage you to head on over to Katie's blog (you can find it HERE) and read their story. You will be tenderly encouraged in your waiting journey.
Happy Happy Happy birthday Abbie and Sam. I love you both dearly and thank the Lord for you every single day!! You are a beautiful gift and today is a beautiful celebration of miracles.
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy."-Psalm 126:3-

5 Beautiful Skirts for the Summer

source

Happy Friday friends! If you know me at all you know that I have a love affair with dressing up and wearing skirts and dresses. I have loved looking through the gorgeous summer skirts for this season and today I am sharing 5 favorite ones that I found!

(1) Lindy Taupe Lace Maxi Skirt source
I have recently discovered Morning Lavender and I am in love with all of their products. This gorgeous skirt truly is beautiful and would be perfect for summer. You can find it HERE.
(2) Yellow Bow Knot Skirt This cute and adorable skirt is one of the cutest finds and it is on sale right now for $8.99!! The skirt is versatile as the bow can be worn in the back or in the front! You can click HERE to find it!
(3) Embellished Tulle Midi Skirt There are lots of different Tulle Skirts this season, but this embellished tulle midi skirt from Anthropologie was adorable. You can find it HERE. 
(4) White Lace Skirt source
There are so many adorable white skirts this season to choose from, but this one by Morning Lavendar was the perfect solution. As you can see from the pictures above the skirt is versatile and can be worn in numerous ways for different occasions. It is the perfect solution to that white summer skirt you are looking for. You can find it HERE.
(5) Yellow Maxi Skirt  source
Another beautiful skirt by Morning Lavender, this beautiful Yellow Maxi Skirt is perfect for the summer. You can find it HERE. 
What are some of your favorite skirts for this season? Happy Friday friends! I hope you have a wonderful day!

17 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Three years ago I wrote a Thursday Health Thoughts Post on the 15 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. (You can find the post by clicking HERE if you would like to read more about the health benefits of this important and simple wellness trick!) One question that I continually get emailed about though is how to use Apple Cider Vinegar to absorb these benefits! So today I thought I would share 17 Ways to use Apple Cider Vinegar! Start incorporating one or a few of them today and see the amazing benefits and helps that you experience! 
1. Drink 1-2 tablespoons mixed in water everyday. Everyday I add Apple Cider Vinegar to one of my Smartwater bottles that I drink. The taste is pretty strong so I started off slowly (starting at 1/2 teaspoon) and now drink it this way everyday.  
2. Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Your HairThere are a number of different ways that this will help your hair including brightening it and making it more shiny and it can even help to remove dandruff if you struggle with this. Just mix up about 1/4 of a cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 of a cup of water and spray onto your hair before you shampoo. Leave on for about 15 minutes and then wash your hair like you normally do. Try and use at least once per week and you will love the results!
3. Use to Get Rid of Bad BreathDo you struggle with bad breath? Mix 1/8 of a cup of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of water and gargle to help!
4. Use as a salad DressingHere is a simple salad dressing that you can make to add some more health benefits to your salads:Mix together 3/4 cup of olive oil, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of water, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. 
5. Use as a Facial Toner
6. Use in a Detox BathLooking to find out more about detox baths or different combinations for a detox bath? Check out how I use Apple Cider Vinegar in my post on detox baths HERE!
7. Prevent Cats from Clawing/Biting & Remove Cat Urine SmellAs I have mentioned in a previous Thursday Health Thought post, there are many benefits to owning pets, but cats can sometimes claw or bite things you don't want them to. Simply put some Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton ball and gently wipe down the area that you are trying to prevent your cat from clawing or biting. The smell will help distract and deter them! You can also add this to the laundry if your cat has an accident. It will help to eliminate the smell!
8. Help Sooth a Sore Throat
9. Elminate Foot OdorDo you struggle with embarrassing foot odor? Poor 1 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar over a paper towel (or a baby wipe) and soak this concoction overnight in the refrigerator. Simply store in a zip-lock bag to use as needed. Simply wipe down your feet (or your shoes) as needed. Don't worry about the smell- it will evaporate as the vinegar dries.
10. Fight Yeast InfectionsSimply add 1 & 1/2 cup to a bathtub and soak for at least 20 minutes to help fight a yeast infection. 
11. Brightens TeethApple Cider Vinegar can help whiten your teeth. The vinegar will help to remove stains and fight bacteria. Simply use the gargling recipe in #3 for this benefit!
12. Balance Your Digestive SystemDrink Apple Cider Vinegar (in a water solution) before your meals to help balance your digestive system.
13. Smooth Your SkinApple Cider Vinegar is wonderful for your skin. Simply apply a washcloth soaked in a diluted solution of Apple Cider Vinegar to your face to help smooth your skin or try putting Apple Cider Vinegar directly on spots of acne, pimples, or scars to reduce their appearance.
14. Heal a SunburnSoak in a bath with Apple Cider Vinegar or apply to the burn infected area. (Note: This does sting a little when first applied, but will help after wards!)
15. Use as a Marinade on Veggies or Meat
16. Add to your Morning SmoothieDon't forget to take into account things I mentioned in #1 as the taste is very strong!
17. Use to Help Ease Leg CrampsUse a diluted mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water and apply directly to Legs to help ease cramping muscles. 
Do you use Apple Cider Vinegar? In what ways to you use it that you have found helpful?
{Disclaimer: This post was originally posted in 2013 but has remained one of my most read posts and I wanted to take the time to update it for this year! 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.}

The God Who Meets Us in Faraway Places

"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..." -Jeremiah 31:2-5-
As I watched the calendar days slowly slip by and May fade into June I have to admit that I became a little apprehensive. These past few weeks have been incredibly difficult with pain, changes of meds, some reactions to new things, etc. that instead of the bravery I was feeling a couple of months ago with getting a port placed, I had instead emerged from May and approached June with a cautious fear. The verses above from Jeremiah 31:2-5 have brought great comfort to my heart. Truly the Lord appears to us in "faraway places" and in the desert times. And yet, I admit that I feel that my typical brave spirit was wounded. 
And yet today and this month of June is upon us. Today that calls us to trust the Lord in new ways, to ask for mercy and grace, to once again pray through scripture for healing, and trust this day, like every other to the one who holds our future. 

As I mentioned in my last Notes from the Porch update, these past several months since March 13th (when "Nic the PICC" developed a serious and life-threatening blood clot) have been intense, difficult, and have provided lots of changes to my fragile system. Since March 13th I have dealt with thirteen different medicine changes, added additional supplemental therapy that required us to travel over three hours several times a week to receive, started a new "mini-round of treatment" to prepare for the "Mort the Port" being placed (yes, that is the only name I could come up with so I am open for suggestions *smiles*), and have tried to take one day at a time. *smiles*
These weeks have been extremely intense. There are numerous shots, numerous IV therapies, new oral meds, and new supplements and new protocols that have truly taken my fragile body to the breaking point. To be frank I have spent a good half of the last several weeks in tears due to extreme pain and extreme nausea. I have spent a lot of my days praying and asking Jesus for mercy in these difficult moments and I am so so grateful for precious friends and loved ones who have been lifting me up in prayer as I stumble through this time. I have received so many sweet messages from people asking me how things are going and telling me that they are praying for me. You have no idea what a blessing that this has been to my little heart during these days of weeping. 
So ... I continue to press forward with 13 more days of this treatment until we fly out to California on June 14th. I have an appointment on June 15th with the hematologist surgeon who will "officially" evaluate my case and then will give her recommendation on the best way to proceed. Some of you have asked if there is a chance that we will do another PICC line... at this point the answer would be "no". With the months that I have left in my suspected treatment rounds for my case of Lyme and the way that I can only handle a certain amount of drugs at one time (due to Mast Cell Disease) a port is a better long-term solution. Another factor that has brought us to this conclusion is that when "Nic the PICC" was originally placed we found out that it is impossible for me to have a line placed in my left arm and with the right arm developing a serious clot another line would most likely not be placed there (unless it was under extreme circumstances). 
I would ask for continued prayers as I am not looking forward to this surgery and with this past month being so difficult ... I am kind of dreading it. 
Thank you friends!  Some of you have gently and tactfully asked if this past year of living in a different state have been worth the upheaval and expense and if the decision was a good one. I appreciate your kindness in asking so gently and lovingly. As a sick person I often struggle with guilt at the long length of this journey, the cost of this journey, the fact that Lyme Disease is not a "quick fix" and the stress and inconvenience that this brings on everyone that knows me. I have expressed so many times how grateful I am for every one's sacrifice and love this year (you would NOT believe all that my parents have done to help and so much that my other family members have sacrificed in order for us to be here this year!!) and I continue to well up with tears at the love that has enveloped me in this journey. 
I am grateful to say that the Lord has answered our prayers exceedingly beyond all that we could have asked or imagined after this past year. Here are just a few of the many beautiful blessings that the Lord has given:


(1) As I shared on instagram and facebook last week we received joyous news for the first time in seven years! Over the years I started to dread bloodwork as lots of things started to go from bad to worse, and continued to show "one more issue" after another as I was finally and accurately diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease, Cancer and many other health issues. After years of searching for answers, years of slow and steady treatment with my fragile body, and lots of encouragement and prayers we have joyful news!! About 10 months ago my bloodwork started to slightly and slowly improve. About 5 months ago it started to stabilize. And then today... finally today ...we received the beautiful gift of for the first time in SEVEN years one very important area of my bloodwork is completely NORMAL!!
(2) Despite all of the medicine changes in the last several months and the fact that I have struggled, I have also never had to be hospitalized for any issue associated with this. For a gal who was going to the hospital emergency room 3-4 times a week just a couple of years ago this is a HUGE answer to prayer!
(3) There are NO new Cancer spots which is a blessing that we have cried many thankful tears over!
(4) In the past year my sleep, which is something that I was struggling with has returned almost to normal. At one point in this journey it was difficult for me to get more than 30 minutes at one time of sleep and now it is common for me to sleep 6-7 hours at one time. 
(5) My joint pain which has been severe these past couple of years, has decreased amazingly. 
(6) I have now been able to walk consistently (every.single.day) for a 1/2 of mile. This is HUGE as just a couple of years ago I couldn't even get out of bed without assistance and using a wheelchair. Last summer when I tried to start a walking program I eventually crashed. This year I started so SO slowly in October and for the past six months have added little bits every single week until we are at this point. My body has loved this and I am so incredibly grateful for this new addition to my healing journey. 
(7) I have been able to return to 98% raw vegan. This one right here has been one of the HUGEST accomplishments and help in my healing journey. Before I got sick I chose to eat raw and vegan for a number of different health reasons but after I got sick and Lyme attacked my digestive system I could hardly eat at all. Being able to return to almost a normal diet for me has been an incredible blessing and is helping me heal!
(8) Being able to return to driving. This has been an incredible blessing that I didn't talk much about on the blog because it was painful but this past year I have been able to return to driving and it has been an incredible gift.
(9) Being able to travel alone, speak at a conference, and dream of the future. While I still have a LONG way to go till I am completely healed, the trip to Phoenix showed me how far the Lord has brought me this year and that we are truly moving forward in this healing journey. What an incredible blessing!
These are just a few of the things that I could share about this past year, but are nine of my favorites! *smiles* Thank you so much for your continued prayers. Here are the immediate prayer requests that we have:
 (1) Prayers for peace as this trip to California approaches and for the placement of this port. 
This is the next step. It's my next step... a step that will bring me closer to healing and closer to the end of this incredibly tough journey, but I would be lying if I would say that it is an easy step. Anyone who is having a port placed is obviously having it placed for serious reasons and the IV treatment is not a picnic. Hearing the details that are in front of me has left us all feeling quiet and sad, with a few tears. 

(2) For relief of pain.
This mini-treatment round has caused a ton of pain (which is unfortunately normal) and I have been struggling a great deal. Please pray that the Lord relieves this pain as I face these remaining two weeks. It is quite intense and very uncomfortable. 

(3) For soothing of my digestive system.
This mini-treatment round has caused a ton of stomach and digestive issues again (which is also unfortunately normal) and I would covet your prayers for this to be calm again.

(4) For Nausea to be relieved and my appetite to return
This mini-treatment round has caused a ton of issues with nausea and sickness and my apetitie has been completely wiped out. I am not going to go into details, but would appreciate prayers for this area. 

(5) For Finances to Be Met for this Trip
I mentioned above the guilt that I feel as a sick gal needing to ask for prayer for this area and yet I know so many of you faithfully cover me in prayer so I do need prayer for this area. 
Due to a variety of factors (that I will not bore you with here) my mom (who needs to be with me for medical reasons) and I will be flying out and staying for nine days in California (June 14th- 23rd) and it will be an expensive trip. While we are there I will have the port placed and then will start the rounds of different IV medications in my doctors medical practice so that I can be carefully monitored in case of any reactions. As it was for the October trip, this trip is quite expensive and we would covet your prayers for all of the funds to be provided. If you are interested in financially donating you can find my "Go Fund Me Page" on the left side of the blog and I so appreciate your prayers as I humbly mention this need:
Here are the breakdown of costs for our California Trip:  Lyme Doctors Appointment, Nurses Instructions and Appointments, and IV First Round Meds (None of which are covered by insurance)- $800
2 Round Trip Airline Tickets - (approximately) -$1500
Hotel Stay (8 nights)- (approximately) - ($2500 but is now) $1500 (This number is reduced as we have been offered points by a generous friend and had some points saved up for our Hyatt Stay. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who have donated your points for this!!)
Rental Car- $250
Food for the 9 day stay- (approximately)- $300
Total Cost- $4350Due to some generous donations earlier this year, orders from my shop, book sales, a few other things we have been able to do the total that I am now needing is: Total Cost- $3000
Most of all thank you thank you thank you for your incredible love and prayers that continue to carry me through this journey. I am reminded by so many of you that we have a God who continues to meet us in faraway places. He is so incredibly good. Despite the hard, despite the pain, God's character never changes. Thank you for crying with me friends, rejoicing in the good, and all of your prayers that continue to help carry me each and everyday through the very difficult. You are a blessing that words can not describe, 
With Love, 

Bistango Restaurant, New York City

Back before I went on the cruise in the fall, I shared that I was able to spend a little time in New York City. It was the first time for me being in the city since 9/11 and it was a precious and memorable time visiting some of the iconic sites and spending a few hours at the 9/11 memorial. When my friend and I decided to spend time the evening in the city before the cruise I quickly researched about where to eat dinner. There are so many fabulous restaurants in the city that it was hard to narrow down to just one, but as a person with Celiac Disease, I was very interested in a restaurant that provided gluten free options. I came across Bistango Restaurant and I loved their website and quickly called to make reservations. Having traveled to different parts of the world, I love trying new restaurants and places, and I have to say that Bistango is honestly one of the best meals I have ever had! I definitely recommend this restaurant! We ate at the 29th street location (there are two different locations with two different menus) which was a perfect fit for us as it was close enough to walk to the Empire State Building after our dinner meal. The 29th Street location is the original location and this restaurant was amazing. 
I had called ahead to make reservations (which I highly encourage you to do!) and we were seated inside by a window which allowed us to view the city as we ate our meal. Despite the restaurant being incredibly crowded I was impressed with how personal our service was and how they have arranged tables so you feel like you are the only ones in the restaurant. It was an incredibly relaxing atmosphere.
Bistango was ranked by USA today as one of New York City's top 10 Italian Restaurants and everything on the menu looked incredible. Everything that was on the menu can also be made gluten free and I was blown away by the options!  I started off with choosing their gluten free bread (which is complimentary for the first round) and ended up ordering a second order. The bread was amazing. I was incredibly impressed as I never really loved bread and have found gluten free bread to often be tasteless and crumbly. This bread was so delicious. I then ordered the Eggplant Ravioli (which was dairy free also!) and chose the pesto sauce as my sauce. You can see by looking at the menu that there are lots of different sauce options. Honestly our food was amazing and like I have said one of the best meals I have ever eaten.  The next morning before we left to get on our cruise my friend and I kept discussing how amazing our meals were and I suggested that we go back for brunch before we boarded the cruise. While I enjoyed the gluten free bread again I decided to try the gluten free cipolle pizza for this meal. The food was deliciously prepared but I do admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the crust. My friend who ordered a regular- non-gluten free pizza- said hers was the best pizza she had ever had. I don't think I have to repeat that despite not loving the crust, this was one of the best meals of the entire trip! 
If you are ever in NYC I can't recommend Bistango Restaurant enough! I definitely plan on returning to this restaurant in the future! It was simply delicious!

Memorial Day Gratitude

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." -Cynthia Ozick-
Several years ago, as I prepared to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday I realized that I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't know the history behind the particular day. So I decided to look it up and learn about it. As many of you know, Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday that is intended to honor the Americans who have protected our country throughout generations. Memorial Day started as a way to remember those who had died in the Civil War. At this time it was called "Decoration Day, and was first strted in Carbondale, Illinois in 1866. Over the decades celebrations spread to different towns and cities across the United States, and eventually in 1971 it became a formal national holiday. 

If you visit a grave site, you may see people placing coins on top of a grave. Each coin symbolizes a different thing. Pennies mean that you stopped by the grave site, dimes symbolize serving with the deceased and quarters mean that you witnessed the deceased death.
Having lived in different parts of the country, it is interesting to me how different areas celebrate this holiday. For example, when I lived in DC there was always a service held at Arlington Cemetery and always different concert options, while in NYC there are parades. Texas, Alabama, and Virginia also celebrate Confederate Memorial Day which honors Confederate soldiers. Different sections of the country offer all different ways to celebrate and last week I shared about different Memorial Day activities offered around the Lake Champlain area. No matter what you do to celebrate on Memorial Day don't forget to stop at 3pm to remember the deceased. Under an act signed by President Clinton in 2000, Americans are supposed to stop and remember the deceased at that time. 
I am so grateful to live in a country that takes time to honor the men and women who have served and our serving our country and their families. To all of our veterans and active military members and their families and loved ones: I am forever grateful for your service and sacrifice today and everyday. May you experience the gratitude our nation feels on this Memorial Day and beyond.

Memorial Day Fashion Inspiration

sourceSince I was a little girl I have always loved fashion, dressing up, and jewelry. I am truly a girly-girl at heart. Over the last couple of years though as my health declined fashion was often the last thing that was on my mind. Making it through each day - often in the comfiest clothes that I could find was an accomplishment. My body also went through incredible changes due to the nature of this fight (some of which I talked about here) and I was embarrassed to have to work through accepting that fashion was going to look a lot different on me than it used to and on the models that I see in all of the magazines (and even some blogs). But as time has continued, I have seen healing milestones happening on this journey, and I have come to respect and love my body in a whole new way for all that it has done in these past four years, I started dreaming about the joy of being a girl again and the fun of fashion. 
I pondered how to incorporate this on my blog and prayed about how this would fit with my blogs themes and decided that it would be fun to start doing a Friday Fashion post each week. Currently I don't routinely write on Fridays so this was a perfect fit into my blog schedule. If you are curious about my blog schedule it is simply: 
Mondays- I talk about Singleness/RelationshipsTuesdays- TravelWednesdays- Writing, Books or Personal UpdatesThursdays- Health TipsFridays- FashionSaturdays- Artistic Creations/Etsy Shop
While sometimes things morph a little bit this was a schedule that I came up with in the summer of 2015 and it has worked well for me and the blog. *smiles* So welcome to my first Friday Fashion Post! Today I am sharing some fun and pretty memorial day fashion inspiration! Can't wait to continue to explore the fun of beauty and fashion with y'all on Fridays!! Caitlin (pictured above), from Southern Curls & Pearls is simply so cute in all of her outfits, but this July 4th outfit that she shared last summer was one of her cutest! (You can read her post HERE which will share all of the details of this outfit!) Source SourceI love the pop of gold with this outfit! It adds a fun and sparkling addition to this traditional color scheme! sourceI saw these fun and cute tanks on Etsy that would be cute with a pair of shorts or jeans for the weekend. I love that both of these would also be adorable for July 4th!  SourceThese shorts are so cute and fun!
If you are looking for some fun and beautiful jewelry to compliment any outfit that you are planning to wear throughout the weekend and this summer - check out my Chloe & Isabel shop by clicking HERE! Throughout the weekend I am having a buy 2 get 1 free sale!! Check it out as this sale is amazing and is the perfect time to pick up beautiful pieces (that come with a life-time guarantee!!) for this memorial day and summer season!
I hope that y'all have a wonderful Friday and weekend remembering those who have lost their lives serving our country and the brave men and women who continue to give so much to our country and the world. Happy Friday y'all!