unwrapping 29 gifts

Today, I’d like to talk about a literal gift.

I saw this cute little DIY s’more gift here and knew I had to give them away this Christmas.  At first, I thought I’d give them to a handful of friends …

But then a friend gave me a fabulous book as a gift.  29 Gifts: how a month of giving can change your life.

And wait … let me back up even a little further.  Before I received the book … a different friend sent me a link to this Today Show clip:

I was so intrigued after seeing that clip.  And couldn’t wait to get the book to read.

But before I had a chance to pick it up, my friend, Roxane, sent it to me with the most beautiful inscription inside that meant the world to me.

Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down.  And not only could I not put it down … I wanted everyone I know to read it too.  And heck … a portion of the sales goes to MS research!  Can’t go wrong with that!

What I decided to do was give the book to the ladies in my bible study group, as well as the s’more goodie.  I did do that … but also gave them as teachers gifts this year too {along with this and our traditional Barnes & Noble gift card}.

And so far, two teachers have caught me and told me how incredible the book has been so far.

So on to the cute tower of yumminess I put together.  And let me state once again … I don’t have extra time on my hands for these things {honest!}.  I’m just extremely motivated by the end results and push my way through it.

Oh!  And I put a bookmark together too.  While I love the premise of giving in the book … I feel it promotes more of a karma, what-comes-around-goes-around kind of approach.  And not that there’s anything wrong with that.  I’d rather you give than not give …

It’s just that I believe giving goes further than that.  I believe God blesses those that bless others.  I think there’s something more intentional going on than just a “karma thing” … I believe it’s a “God thing.”

And the cute little tower of sweets above?  Super cute when it’s just one, huh?  But 25!?!  Yikers, what was I thinking?  Here’s part of my assembly line …

My hope is that y’all will run out and grab the book.  And consider gifting it to someone else … both to learn more about MS and the absolute strangeness of this disease, but also to learn about how taking your mind off your own circumstances … frankly put, stop feeling sorry for yourself … can change your life both emotionally and as Cami proves, physically.

When I gave the gift to the  bible study ladies, someone asked me the question, “Have you learned anything reading the book?”  I thought a moment and replied, “for me … it’s just really confirmed to me that I need to continue doing what I’m doing … not feeling sorry for myself and not focusing on my illness.”

I hope this inspires you to do the same … and spread the word!!

Posted in bible study, craft, creative, multiple sclerosis, tuesdays unwrapped

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refinement

The process of removing impurities or unwanted elements …

I started a bible study in my home a little over a year ago.  It was something God started whispering to me about.  Then it got stronger.  And the signs got clearer.  Everything fell into place.  It’s an amazing story really.

Actually, I’m going to attempt to put the whole story together here … I’ve not done that before.

So as I said … it started as a whisper.  God talks to us like that, you know.  He starts softly … before you get the spanking.  Oh, and for real … you better believe it … God spanks us.  How many of you can relate?

Anyway.

I heard God softly telling me he was preparing me for something.  Then I started getting signs.  Hearing signs.  I started following a blog where she talked about starting a bible study.  The whispering got louder.

Out of the blue, I’d picture myself talking in front of people, telling them my “story.”

You can read more here …

So … when I finally figure out that God wants me to lead a bible study … I have no idea what I’m supposed to talk about.

Angie {the blog I linked to above}, was going to be doing a Beth Moore bible study.  So I went to the book store to check into Beth Moore studies.  They didn’t have a single one there.  Now listen … I was in a Christian book store … and Beth is as Christian as they come.  Her books and studies are typically all over a Christian book store.  So the fact I couldn’t find a single one was a huge sign.

What did I find?  A study from Max Lucado called, Facing Your Giants, the story of David.

Facing your giants, huh?  Okay … I’ll bite.  After all, I’ve got me a few giants in my proverbial closet!

I was finally putting together the pieces of the puzzle, and what I believed God wanted from me.  I believe God wanted me to share with others the “giants” I had faced {up to that point} in my life and how He saw me through them.

And if this was the case, there was just one piece left to put into place.  Without that piece, which involved permission from my husband, I wouldn’t be able to proceed.

This particular giant CJ and I have gone through is a biggie.  Doozie, if you will.  And I was purty darn sure he wouldn’t want me talking about it.  In fact, up until that point, only a few close friends had ever known.

So God?  If this is something you want me to move forward with … you know you’ve got a big hurdle to cross here, don’t you?

Wanna know how that turned out?  You can read about how God had the whole thing in His hands, right here.

The rest is really history … We had our first meeting and have been going strong ever since.  We started the study with “Facing Your Giants.”  I started that first night and shared all of the things I’ve been through in my life.  Everything.  The good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.

My purpose was to open my closet and let others see that we all have “giants.”  Some are big, some are small … but they are deep … and difficult … and need the grace of God to see us through them.

It was a great series, and a great book … I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it before.

And anyway … we’ve gone on to discuss marriage and now are studying the end times and a DVD series from John Bevere titled, “Driven by Eternity.”

And … let me loop back around to the purpose of this post …

In our study last week, John talked about being refined like gold.  And that really struck a chord with me.  I talked about it with the group and what it meant to me.  Especially given what I’m going through now with my MS diagnosis and symptoms.

So the gift I’d like to unwrap for you today is … refinement.  And maybe a new way of looking into your own trials and situations.

What is refinement?  The process of removing impurities or unwanted elements.  The process of refining gold means putting the gold dust in a crucible and heating it until it melts. It is then that impurities begin to come up to the surface as a dirty film. The refiner then takes a ladle to scoop off these impurities and discards them.

The refiner may repeat the process a number of times, ‘boiling’ the gold to bring up the impurities and removing them, until he is able to look onto the refined gold and can see the reflection of his face, as if he were looking into a mirror.  {text found here}

This is what the bible says:
“These {trials} have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  {1 Peter 1:7, NIV}

What I want to scream to you all … to everyone who is “down on their luck” or struggling with unforgiveness, or going through a trial, or loss, or just plain ol’ being dealt a bad hand … you are being refined my friends!  Embrace it.

And I don’t mean, for one minute, to sound trite.  Believe me … I know.  I know what it’s like to go through some unspeakable things.  As honest and open as y’all think I am, there are still some things I can’t talk about here.

What I can tell you:
~ my parents separated when I was young
~ my father pretty much never wanted to see us
~ my parents divorced
~ the last time I saw my real dad was 32 some years ago
~ and the last words I heard from him were, “you are not my girls anymore”
~ as a child, I was sexually molested three times, by three different men
~ on a separate occasion as a child, I was held at knife point and almost raped
~ I’m divorced myself
~ 4 miscarriages in just over a year
~ I’ve been diagnosed with MS

That’s about where the story ends for now.

Because some of the other things I’ve been through are intensely private and involve other people, I can’t share some of the other things I’ve been struggling with for the last four{ish} years.  And not that I wouldn’t share … I have shared with the 20 some ladies in my bible study group … but because I honestly don’t know how many and who all read this blog, or where the information would go …

But what I do want you to know is … I’m no stranger to pain.  I know a trial or two.

What I also know … God will spank give you, again and again, the same trials sometimes until you learn {or embrace} the lesson He needs you to get.  Much like the refiner of gold continues to repeat the ‘boiling’ process.

So here’s the thing … and I’ve talked about this before … but we need to be people who embrace what God’s given us.  We need to stand at attention.  Step up to the plate and be ready to swing.

Ask God … talk to Him … find out what He wants you to learn.  We can. not. let our circumstances overcome us.  We must rise above them.  We must realize God has a plan for our lives.

There are a couple of songs that I love.  Give me chills and make me cry every time I sing or hear them.  I’ve linked the titles to a YouTube video of the song.  They’re long videos {over 5 minutes each}, but they’re such inspiring songs.  Maybe you could link and play the music in the background.

Please read the lyrics carefully … let them really sink in …

Bless the Lord
For your beauty,
For your goodness,
And your wisdom.. Awesome God
Praise the Lord oh my soul, Praise the Lord.

For your power,
For your honor,
And your splendor… Mighty God
Praise the Lord oh my soul, Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord oh my soul, Praise the Lord.

{chorus}

For your Kindness
For your Favor,
For your Mercy.. Gracious One
Thank the Lord oh my Soul, Thank the Lord.

For your fire,
For your testing
And your Spirit… Holy One
Thank the Lord oh my Soul, Thank the Lord.
Thank the Lord oh my Soul, Thank the Lord.

{chorus}

For your Suffering,
For your Anguish
And your sorrow.. humble King,
Bless the Lord oh my soul, Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord oh my soul, Bless the Lord

For your Victory {Victory},
For your Triumph,
And you’ll soon come and reign over all.

The above song … we are thanking.  And praising.  And blessing the Lord … for His fire.  For His testing.  But also his power, kindness, favor and … wisdom.

I rest … trust … in the fact that our Creator has wisdom.  He’ll not have me go through my trials {the trials He’s given me} in vain.

And here’s another thing … I believe when we can have this outlook … this kind of faith … He gives us the peace inside we need to get through it.  I mean, isn’t that a lot of times, the worst of it?  The torment and worry and frustration?  Wouldn’t you want to have a source to “hold” that torment and worry?  Don’t you want a place to rest?

The bible tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  {Matthew 11:28, NIV}

 

 

Blessed Be Your Name
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

{chorus}
Every blessing You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s “all as it should be”
Blessed be You name
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

{chorus}

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
I will bless Your name

{chorus}

And again … with this song, here we are blessing the name of the Lord.  In plenty and in want … I’ll choose to say, “blessed be your name.”

When the sun’s shining down on me … or the road’s marked with suffering … I’ll choose to say, “blessed be your name.”

Ahhh … I could go on and on.

Obviously, I feel passionate about this.  I’ve been working on this post for over a week now and it’s been brewing inside me for even longer.

And if you’re still reading, you deserve a prize! :)

Even after yesterday’s discouragement … I trust in a God who has a plan for me.  I rest in that fact.

Wow … this is a post of all posts … and no photos even!  Sorry ’bout that … but hey … wanna know what God’s been whispering to me lately?

I’ll give you a few hints … it involves:
~ writing
~ chapters
~ a title
~ a hardcover
~ and a lot of work!

Posted in bible study, inspiration, multiple sclerosis, tuesdays unwrapped

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birthday blessings …

I truly am blessed.

Not sure why it came to a head for me, but I was feeling quite emotional yesterday.  And then once again, as I sat back and counted my blessings and realized how loved I am … I felt a wave of peace wash over me.

I couldn’t believe my Facebook page and all the well wishes … what an awesome, incredible way to fill someone’s spirits!

I had coffee with one of my besties … we were supposed to get our toes done too … but true to our style, we gabbed right through “toe time!”

Then it was off to lunch with some of my other besties.

Seriously, how blessed can one be?

Wait!  It gets better!

After school, we go to an early dinner because I have bible study later that night.  Dinner was a typical crazy tornado … but I enjoyed being with my girlies & the hubs.

Then …

I get home just in time for the start of bible study.  Had to do my shot first {which sucks, but such is life} … but was able to come back from that and into a multitude of blessings.

I’d like to share a few with you …

I got this card from my sister.  I seriously can’t believe she found this card.  And what perfect timing!  Tell me you don’t love it!

Next up … and involved some serious tears all around.  Actually, I’m starting to cry again.  I just can’t believe how my friends have completely embraced my diagnosis and are doing all they can to help.

My bible study group, which consists really of a large group of my friends … pooled their monies and donated $700.00 in my name to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  Seven Hundred smackers!  That’s no small chunk of change people.

And as I said to the group last night … it’s not even the monetary value … it goes deeper than that.  It’s that they care, you know?  They recognized the significance in supporting me through this.  It may seem like a no-brainer.  But to me … it just means the world.

Thank you, thank you … a million times … thank you ladies!

And I must mention, once again … the fabulous Nellie designed the gift certificate.  Serious talent folks!  {Nellie, are you blushing?} :)

My bible study group brought food and snacks galore … oh my goodness!  Yum, yum, yum!

And then CJ and the girls all came down with a cake ablazin’ with candles … forty-one of them to be exact!

Anyway.

I received another amazing gift.  From the very talented and creative Leslie.  I’ve mentioned Leslie before … and again, just another small reminder of how God has a plan for us all.  Leslie has been an incredible blessing in the short time we’ve reconnected again.

Anyhoo … look at what Leslie gave me!  She made this.  Made.  Handmade.  As in from scratch!

So this was an old book she found {LOVE that the title is “Voyage of Faith”}.  She took the pages out {how in the world did you do that?  I’m thinking you need to post about this Leslie … hmmm … maybe a guest post at tsj photog is in order?}.

Okay sorry … back to the gift.

So she took the pages out and put a binder inside.

She also added a neat little do-dad thingy to the outside binding.  One charm has a “T” and the other says “believe.”

The inside are journaling pages.  I seriously could’ve taken photos of all the pages … but I didn’t think you’d enjoy that too much.  I can’t even explain how precious and fun every single page is.

Some have bible verses.  One is an old November 30 calendar page.  Some are sewn pages.  Lined pages.  Graphed pages.  Envelope pages.  Leslie said sometimes Etsy sellers will sell scrap packages of paper … I need to look into that.

This is one of those journals that sits on your special shelf and you never want to write in it.  I’m thinking though … this is a super special journal and I’m really determined to fill it with super special thoughts.

And … now I know where to get another super special journal! ;)

Another special gift I’d like to share is from my bestie Heather … what a creative gift-giver this girl is!

Between her and Leslie … the creative bar has been set purty darn high!

One of the gifts Heather gave me, is a book of “dates.”  One for each month … pedicures, dinners, movies, shopping … bowling?

I love this gift and I love this idea!  In fact, I may be planning to re-gift it in the very near future!

Ahhh … so despite the emotional mess I was at the start of the day … once again, the Lord reminded me in subtle, peaceful ways through the day … how He has His hand on me and is watching over me … blessing me over and over again.

Posted in bible study, birthday, blessed, friends, multiple sclerosis

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purity & a teenager {repost}

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to be a teenager today?  Do you have any idea how much harder it is to be a parent of a teenager today?

I pray everyday that I am raising this child {actually, all of my children, but especially Taylor right now} to be a person that will glorify Him one day.  I second guess myself and the decisions I make almost every. single. day.

I love this child.  And I want her to be happy.  But I am also her mother and I have a job to do.  I have been seriously blessed with this tremendous opportunity and I don’t want to screw it up.  I need to remember that ultimately, all that matters is that this child will one day go out into the world and be a responsible, caring, contributing adult … who knows how to glorify the Lord.

Taylor recently asked for a purity ring.  Say what?  Okay, I didn’t see that one coming.  {P.S., thank you Jonas Brothers for raising awareness and making it cool}.

I was kinda freaked out, wouldn’t you be?  On one hand … wow! how very cool.  On the other … say what??

Seriously …

How do you begin to ask if she really knows what that means?  If she understands that it is a huge commitment, not to be taken lightly?  And the hardest one … does she understand that by making this commitment and wearing this ring … she may actually find herself a target of someone cruel enough to try and break the vow.

She understood it all and claimed she was ready for the commitment.  I didn’t want it to be about just getting a ring and saying she made the commitment.

So I decided we would watch a series called “Kissed the Girls and Made them Cry” from Lisa Bevere.  It’s about purity.  Not just sexual purity, but whole-being purity.  We need to guard our hearts in what we listen, what we see, what we hear and how we dress.  It really is a great series and I’m glad we watched it together.

We recently finished the series and after a longer discussion with Taylor, we picked out her purity ring {online} and she’s proudly wearing it today.  I asked her if someone asked about it what would she say … she said she’d let them know it was a purity ring and a commitment she’s made.  She’s made this commitment to God, herself, her parents, and her future husband.  I couldn’t be prouder of her!  Here are some photos I took of her the other day …

Pretty, no?  And my job as a parent is to make sure she’s beautiful on the inside.  My wish is to one day stand before the Lord and hear him say, “You did well.” {with the way I raised them}.

Taylor’s grandfather {opa} died this past Wednesday night.  Frank’s dad, my ex father-in-law.  Willi was such a spit-fire of a man.  German, head-strong, and sharp as a tack!  He came over here from Germany, started with just about nothing and made a great life for himself.  It was the saddest thing to see his mind go over the last year or so.  He suffered a cardiac arrest Tuesday afternoon, and his family had to decide to take him off life-support Wednesday night.  Taylor doesn’t usually show much emotion regarding these types of things, but I wasn’t prepared for how this would affect her.  She took it pretty hard … I just couldn’t help but thinking, “I shouldn’t have to be holding my crying daughter explaining her Opa just passed away.”

I’ve been doing a lot more thinking about the bible study.  I’ve had maybe 4 people say they are interested … and I started second guessing this whole thing.  I had dinner the other night with two good friends and they encouraged me to keep going … so I am.  Even if you do not know me, but have happened upon my blog and are reading this, you are invited.  If you are reading this and are unsure if you should come … you should.  If you would like to invite a friend … you should.  If you don’t know Christ and feel funny about the whole religion thing … you should come.  I’m going to be putting some dates out soon, so stay tuned.  I encourage you to let your friends know about the bible study and I encourage all to come.

Posted in bible study, taylor

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yummy recipe

I had a bible study tonight. Great subject … family matters. Thanks ladies for coming and opening your hearts tonight … I really enjoyed the discussions. Be careful what you wish for … I was wrong … you ladies can talk! :)

Anyway, I made this yummy dish for the ladies and it’s super easy so thought I’d share it with y’all.

It’s the most amazing little party snack! Why? Cuz it’s tasty {duh!}, but more importantly … super, duper easy! Yes … I did, in fact, just say super duper.

Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups swiss cheese {which you can purchase shredded}
2 cups coursely chopped sweet onion {very important it’s sweet}
2 cups of mayo {real mayo, not the reduced fat stuff!}

Mix, bake at 350 for 40ish minutes and ‘ta-da’ {Hunter’s been saying ‘ta-da’ about almost everything lately … warms a mommy’s heart} … you’ve got yourself a party!

Posted in bible study, recipe

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