Amazing Answers to Prayers

In the last month, I've had some amazing answers to prayers. Prayers that started over eighteen months ago. Sometimes it feels like a wilderness, the waiting for answers and healing.

After the car crash Christmas of 2011, I spent four months with hours and hours each week in physical therapy and doctor visits, then into a shoulder surgery, and then back into another seven months of PT.

Discouraged, I wondered what my lesson would be in all the lost time. Besides making my mark on the world ;) How would all that lost time translate into something good? God promises to work all things for good for those who love the Lord. He had me really curious as I thought I wandered the wasteland.

Angie's Mark on the World
Crash spot a few months later the ground is still torn up.

(It doesn't seem like all that time passed. But it took a year from turning in the manuscript to the release of A Healing Heart, in April 2013. That entire year rather than waiting for my book to release, I was in recovery from the car wreck and surgery.)

Have you ever been in that place where you had no idea how to pray? With so much time spent recuperating from the shoulder, neck, back injuries the creative part of me chomped at air. I wondered how long until life felt normal again. Writing and speaking, still so important to me, had to slow down to fit in all the medically necessary appointments. I prayed for it all to be over, to be healed, and to return to the writing world. And God answered.

But God allowed me to wait for some very good reasons.

1. How it felt to have a long illness.
2. How to help my fitness and weight loss clients with comprehension and compassion for injuries.
3. Editing for income.
4. Changing directions I wouldn't have thought of prior.
5. Learning, learning, learning to overcome a fear of driving.
6. Opening my eyes to opportunities.
7. New friendships and deeper relationships with old friends.
8. Trust. That people really wanted to help and I didn't need to do everything myself.
9. New ideas for more novels because of the many experiences in the long process.
10. A willing heart to take the path God puts me on.

Rainbow near the crash site.
God's love shines in every circumstance and He does bring good out of rough circumstances even if it takes a long time for us to see it.

A Place I Didn't Belong - Hope for Adoptive Moms

A Place I Didn't Belong - Hope for Adoptive Moms Offers Validation, Healing Life is messy. Some adoptions are, too. Through the compelling stories of adoptive moms who've "been there," you'll learn to be okay—even when your child is not! In her new book, A Place I Didn't Belong - Hope for Adoptive Moms (Carpenter's Son Publishing, 2013), Paula Freeman explores a painful reality of some adoptions: Things don't always work out as planned. Unmet expectations, a child's compromised beginnings, and emotional wounds carried into the process can undermine often-fragile adoptive bonds. Families are turned upside down as their adopted children lash out with hostility and rage. Sadly, adoptive mothers often bear the brunt of their child's behavior. Their once-peaceful homes feel more like emotional battlefields. They may even begin to question their decision to adopt in the first place. Overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, misplaced guilt, and shame, they withdraw into self-imposed isolation and silence. They find themselves in a place they didn't belong. "Based on my personal and professional experience with adoption, I well understand the unique struggles many adoptive families face," says Freeman. "I wrote this book not only to give voice to their pain, but to validate their experience, and offer them hope for the future." With compassion and grace, Paula Freeman articulates the reality of these shattered adoptive dreams. She shares poignant stories of mothers who experienced not only the distinct joys - but the unique challenges - of adoptive parenting. Told through the lens of introspection and personal growth, their real-life experiences offer hope, practical coping strategies, and spiritual renewal for the on-going adoptive journey . . . imperfect though it may be. "Things can get better," adds Freeman. A Place I Didn't Belong releases June 1, 2013, and by pre-order, through www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. For more information about the book and the author, visit www.hopespromise.com. About the Author: Paula Freeman, MSW, is founder and executive director of Hope's Promise (www.hopespromise.com), an adoption and orphan-care ministry headquartered in Colorado. As a social worker, author, speaker, wife, and mother of seven grown children - three by adoption - she articulates the heart of adoption with candor and grace.

How Do I Get Rid of Bulges in Clothing

Weight Loss Coaching moment: Always good for the heart.

Client question asked by one of my fitness/weight loss clients: Why don't you ever have any bumps and bulges under your clothing?

Feeling like an Amazon woman: I'm 5'6
scrunching down a little for the photographer.
Without her up-do and heels, this dear lady is about 4'6

Stunned, I didn't think anyone but me noticed something like that. I'm always analyzing how I look. I think most women are self-analyzers. Don't you? But we're told no one else analyzes us like we analyze every little part of us. In the regular day, I don't think that's a wrong statement. But when you're a coach like I am, clients want to believe you know what you're talking about. I have to live what I teach. So physically, I think I'm more prone to being analyzed because it's a trust factor for people who receive my coaching. Same as a band teacher needs to know how to play instruments. The teacher must be able to display their knowledge and ability to the student.

She followed up with: How do I get rid of bulges under my clothing?

In the photo above, the sweet lady at one of my speaking events is a very petite and fine-boned gal. She's really about a foot shorter than my average 5'6 (and a quarter). I'm wearing a size 6. But could have fit into a size 4. I not only look like an Amazon woman, next to the petite woman I look down right chubby! (Um, that would be a good reason why you've never seen this particular photo before, lol.) Yet there's no bumps or lines in the "wrong" spots. How is that possible?

But let me tell you a few little things that make this picture a perfect example for getting rid of bulges under clothing and then I'll give you a few tips.

The fabric is a tweed. It hangs well and wears well.
*The photographer is below the two subjects. Not ever flattering for anyone.
*I'm hunching down so you see a little belly that isn't there when straightened up. Chub factor.
*One subject is a foil for the other. Next to a 6'6 muscular man, an average subject looks like a twiggy. (Look at the photo below for an example. These pictures show me the same size, but in different perspectives.)
*Perception and perspective matter. Notice the gal behind us? She's quite a distance back and so also looks much smaller.
*My photo partner's clothing reveal no bumps and bulges though she has a very different figure.

Wearing red satin is possible.
The dress is lined to help the fabric flow.
It helps to stand next to my 6' hubby to look smaller too ;)

So what are a few tips will help any woman get rid of bulges under clothing? I learned these from charm school. Yes, I really did go back when they still existed. Do they now? I have no idea. But the lessons are still strong in my way of being.

Tips for Banishing Bulges Under Clothing

1. Toss out fixed sizing. There ain't no such animal. Use the size as a guideline, not a law. Even within the same brand, you'll find two garments the same size on the tag that are not the same size in real life. I use the size number to guide me and then try on one up and one down to see what really looks good on my body. I can buy sizes from 4-8 and XS-L. It isn't about what is on the tag. It's how the garment fits and feels. My husband can't figure out what size I wear. Because I don't wear "a size".
2. Buy one size larger of undergarments than the package says. Make sure the item fully covers derriere and doesn't cut into your skin causing a dimply effect under your clothing. Often the bumps, dimples, and bulges are simply caused by poorly sized underwear.
3. Avoid undergarments that hit at the largest curve of the hip. Instead of an hour glass figure, you'll appear to have scalloped edges.
4. Get fitted properly for bra and support garments. Proper support and fit make a major difference in how your clothing flows over your body. Go to a full service department store, not the fad lingerie shop to get fitted. Allow the trained and expert staff to help you find the proper fit for your body type. Lifting the bust line properly allows the lines of the ribcage to show and slenderizes to a sleeker silhouette.
5. Buy tight-fit clothing (like yoga pants, skinny jeans, etc.) one size larger. Clothing should skim, not grip your body. Tight, tight accentuates little bumps, bulges, and undergarment lines.
6. Avoid muffin-top. If the waist is too small, we overflow. It looks plain awful. Psychologically, the number on the tag doesn't make you feel better if you see a muffin-top.
7. Wear slacks and skirts just above the hip, not at it. Wearing anything at the largest curve of the hip draws the eyes to that larger circumference. You'll appear larger. Elongate your body by wearing waistlines above the hip bone, not at it.
8. Skim, skim, skim. The picture in my charm school book is emblazoned in my mind. A belt cinched around a pillow. Clothing should lightly skim your body to cause the perception of a smaller body. The biggest error in fashion I see is women, no matter what size or body type, wearing their clothing too tight. They appear chubby even when they aren't.
9. Belts. Wear the width of a belt to fit your frame. For instance, I have a shorter area between my ribcage and my hips. Wide belts make me look like I don't have a waist while pencil thin belts look great. Look at the length of your torso. If it's long between the ribs and hips, have fun with wider belt styles. If not, pencil them in ;) Choose the belt to fit you, not the fad.
10. Fabric choices matter. Certain fabrics like satin and clingy polyester can cause anyone to have unsightly bumps and bulges. I avoid them unless they are cut properly to flatter and these fabrics are often made cheaply without lining. Some fabrics are almost always flattering like jerseys, denims, and stretch denim. Always, always look at the cut and fit.
11. Take your clothing to a seamstress. Have your clothing altered. It's very inexpensive and helps get rid of gaps in waists, tucks in extra material, and fits the clothing to you. I do this often because clothing off any rack is made for a general population. But our bodies are unique. Spend a small amount (for me it runs $5-20 depending on if I need a simple dart or to re-cut a piece down) to make your clothes really fit you.

12. Exercise daily for your heart, your life, and your goals. By being a good steward of the body you have, you'll be able to reach those dreams. But battling health, pain, and weight slow us down from living out our God-given purpose.

Bottom line? Toss out the number and look at each piece of clothing for its specific fit and style. Feel good in your clothes and you'll always be a more confident woman.

Blog Topics

Looking in the stats of this blog and the thousands of readers, I'm finding the favorite topics have to do with courageous women, mental health, and weight loss. They all seem to boil down to confidence and relationships. Is this true for you?

If so, I will move to cover more of these topics.

If not, share what you enjoy reading about this blog.

Do you like interviews with courageous women, authors, inspiring personalities? Do you like recipes, encouraging posts about faith and life, or fun posts on Montana?

Do you enjoy the eclectic and blended topics you've read here?

I will endeavor to write to encourage, educate, enlighten, entertain, and empathize in the topics you enjoy and that meet my expertise areas. Hmm, I think my favorite letter must be "E". ;)
Angie
PS you can post here or email me privately through the contact me tab on the home page of this blog.

Save Someone You Love From Suicide

 

www.ThinkingAboutSuicide.com - it's filled with articles, helps, and resources for those who are depressed or thinking of ending their lives as well as those who have lost a loved one to suicide.  Please reshare this, as you never know which of your loved ones and friends desperately needs the encouragement to live.  The articles are written by 20 of my Christian writer friends from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.)  www.AWSA.com

Thanks and blessings,

Linda Evans Shepherd

 

Angie here: I love to share information that might save a life, a family, a hope. Please consider sharing the link, visiting for information, and finding hope for yourself or a loved one at risk for suicide. I'm honored to be part of the team of writers, but the only thing that matters is encouraging those we love to stay safe and get help. This site will also have help aids and support to families and friends who grieve the loss of someone they loved to suicide. The Lord loves you. Let Him minister to you through the love of others and don't isolate away from them.

6 Ways to make a difference through conversation

People talk. A lot. But do our words really matter?

Does conversation change lives or make a difference?

I spoke with a gal who said every time she talked with a particular person, she left with her mind spinning through ideas, dreams, and goals. She looked forward to talking with her friend because each time they had a conversation, life changed. Her dreams get bigger with each connection.

Here are 6 ways to make a difference through conversation.

1. Be welcoming. Smile and allow the other person to feel safe with you. Hearts and minds open to new possibilities in a positive environment.

2. Listen to the concepts and words being shared. Don't assume you know where the other person is going with his/her idea. Even if you do, the other person may simply need to talk it out. I've solved many problems through voicing them to a friend. It's respect, but it's also beneficial to allow the other person the opportunity to express themself fully. You never know when the conversation has a surprise ending. On facebook, a parent asked how to help a teen earn money. Much of the norm posted a few minutes later. But I happened to have a few unique ideas about owning their own small business. Stop the conversation too soon and you may never hear the real need isn't for yardwork and babysitting.

3. Share ideas. What encouragement or knowledge do you have that will help? Now the interpersonal dynamics are taking off. The chat becomes fun, interesting, and often inspirational to both parties. Do you have articles to help your friend with New Year's Goal Support?

4. Share your dreams. When you have the courage to share your dreams, you inspire others to brave their own. Courage creates courage in others. It's magical.

5. Share the progress. What's changed since you last met? Are you closer to your goal? Are they closer to their goals? Celebrate progess in the moment and the big pay off will come. Our minds focus and draw us into the right direction to complete our goals when we celebrate by sharing the progress along the way.

6. Never nullify by being a Negative Nelly. Be sure to encourage ideas and not be a nay-sayer. You may not see the big picture, but many rejections turned into spectacular successes throughout history. There's no reason to squash someone's idea, dream, or goal. If you feel you must offer help to avoid trouble, ask first. "What do you think about..." or "May I share a hurdle I see?" Then also share a solution or an idea for a solution. If you don't have a solution, it may be an opportunity to stay silent.

Are there only 6 ways to make a difference through conversation?

Oh no, there are as many opportunities as there are people in the world.

Share your ideas on how to make a difference through conversation.

I'm sure there are some great ones out there :)

Angry Birds, Bigfoot, and the Little Pigs have something in common

Today I'd like to invite you over to the group blog I've belonged to for five years.
www.theFaithGirls.com

It's fun, uplifting, interesting, and lots of great conversation from 5 different authors, one great God.
We focus on living out our faith in the real world while being writers with faith in our stories. But you will totally find behind-the-scenes stories, gems of wisdom, family issues, women's issues, and more. With 5 of us posting regularly (I'm Wednesday's child), you're sure to find something encouraging, enlightening, educational, and entertaining any day of the week. And today it's my turn to entertain...
www.theFaithGirls.com

theFaithGirls are:
Missy Tippens
Angela Breidenbach (hey, that's me!)
Lindi Peterson
Christy LaShae-Smith
Mindy Obenhaus
With drop in regular, Jennifer Hudson-Taylor too.

What's Your Calling?

Lately in interviews and on social media I've been asked, "Who are you and why do you do what you do?" Valid, but very tough question to answer. Can you off the top of your head?

In writing and speaking, I consider myself someone who helps others to learn how to walk their faith daily. The teach-a-man-to-fish concept helps me explain. If we get to the root problem, we can find solutions. Glossing over the symptoms is more like feeding a man for a day. If we don't deal with the real problem, hunger emerges over and over and over. Hunger for our purpose, the meaning of life, and the call to do great things. It's easy to be dissatisfied when we feel handicapped by fear, misery, resentment, and pain.

It all centers around a few main questions.
What's that daily faith thing look like?
 How do I do it when there's all this junk in my life? 

That's why I wrote Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life. I want to help people accept Christ's call on their lives in spite of the battles going on around the situations in their lives.

I get a deep sense of fulfillment when someone is freed from past pain to walk on their God-given path. That's how I know I'm living in my gifting, my call. It's in the sense of satisfaction I feel, the rightness deep in my being. I want to help other people have that sense of deep satisfaction.

We are called for a purpose. But many folks can't answer that call because they've been deafened by the noise of the emotional daily battle. That's how I felt. Enter God and His message in Romans 8:28.

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

I don't consider myself an evangelist who gives the call to become a Christian. I can, but that's not my specific gifting.

I'm better suited to be the encourager helping someone learn to live as a Christian on a daily basis and reach for the dreams God placed inside of them. I think our giftings come out in the challenges we overcome. Those challenges are our training ground, the place we learn to use the gifts personally so we can turn around and use them to help others.


Is it okay that I don't claim that gifting? It's actually scriptural. Not everyone is meant to be and do everything.

God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. ²⁵He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. ²⁶If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
    ²⁷Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body. ²⁸First, God chose some people to be apostles and prophets and teachers for the church. But he also chose some to work miracles or heal the sick or help others or be leaders or speak different kinds of languages.²⁹Not everyone is an apostle. Not everyone is a prophet. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can work miracles. 1st ~Corinthians 12: 24b-29 (CEV)

So why do you supposed we try to lump all Christians together to do the same job?
What's your gifting?

Angie Breidenbach

Are you intentional?

How was your day?

Some days seem to be filled with productivity and others, well, they kind of get away from me. Yesterday was one of those. No matter how hard I tried, I felt like the day was slipping into the sea of lost causes.

Frustrated, I reworked my to-do list and tried again. But to no avail. At the end of the day I realized part of my problem was fatigue. I'd been going and going faster and faster until my day was no longer productive but frenetic.

Today I did much better. Then it started to feel overwhelming again. So you know what I did? I intentionally took the afternoon off. I took from about 2:30 p.m. until well after dinner and just relaxed. The shocker came. Yep, yep, yep. When I pulled out the work I needed to finish, I did the same amount in less time.

As I look back over the last few weeks, I can see the pattern. Every time I pushed too hard, my productivity went down. Now I'm refocused. Not on all that has to be done. That's on the list. I'm refocused on taking intentional time off to revitalize and refresh.

Will you take intentional time off? What would that look like? How can you plan for it?

Angie

The Power of a Thank You Note

Rough day?

And the sigh is as long as the face.

Then the unexpected happens. It's not related to this day. It's not related to the events of the week or even the month. It's a surprise from something forgotten. A kind turn given and forgotten.

A thank you note shows up in the mail.

The day brightens.

For a moment, your mind flickers back to that tiny deed. It was nothing. It didn't cost much time or effort.

But somehow, you touched a life enough to warrant a thank you.

The blessing? The sense of appreciation shows up on the day you need it most. The day you feel like life is just a little too hard. Challenges just a little too big for you.

But God knew. He knew when He nudged you to say yes to a small deed that meant the world to someone else. He knew you'd need that encouragement that minute. God prepared a special angel kiss way before you knew you'd need it.

The power of a thank you note isn't the words, oh they are often very beautiful and inspiring. The power of a thank you note is attitude altering, affirming, and awesome. It's stunning how enriching that powerful note can be.

Do you send thank you notes? Did you ever think they might actually be a gift set up by God for the person receiving it? Is it possible God is working through you when you send a thank you note to speak encouragement right into the soul of someone?

Greg Hennis- Not the Way I Thought It Would Be

Please welcome my guest today, Greg Hennis. His interview about his broadcasting career is found on thefaithgirls.com but I've asked him to share his testimony on God Uses Broken Vessels in order to reach out and help others who might have experienced something similar or need encouragment. Greg is a broadcaster in New Jersey with the radio show, Second Chances on LiftFM 98.5, and on television. His heart and talent are to help others understand that God is a God of second chances. Please enjoy my new friend, Greg, and his testimony. ~Angie

Greg's testimony: Not the Way I Thought It Would Be

My first paying job in the broadcasting field at 16 was in itself a blessing from above. After spending my first couple of years in local radio, in 1990, God opened a door for me to get in on the ground floor of local cable TV. I thought it would be short term. I'd married, and life seemed good, until my marriage came to an end. I wasn't living for the Lord and God was not the center of my marriage or my life. 

Several years following I began to feel a tug to own a broadcasting company. I talked many times over the next 8 years with the owner of the company I worked for about buying his business. He always seemed like he wanted to talk about it but never really moved forward. I even did a extensive business plan and spoke to area banks about a loan, but it never went any further. I felt stalled out.

God began to get my attention for the first time since I was a child in Sunday School. I met my wife Carrie, and through her, I rededicated my life to God. One of the first things God did through prayer was take away my 15 year habit of smoking. I tried every trick know to man, but God spoke to me and said, "Greg I can't take them from you if you don't put them down." It took me a week but I did what God said. From that day forward I have not even had a desire to smoke. Praise God!

    

Back to my desire to own a broadcast business. As the calendar rolled to 2008 I was entering my 18th year of working for a local company, making a great living but inside I felt more and more depressed about continuing. The signs of change were all around me but they hadn't directly affected me. The owner of the company had left his wife and the economy was quickly going down. Finally we lost too many customers due to the economy. Approaching Thanksgiving things in the industry seemed hopeless and dim. A week or two prior, I spoke to the owner and felt in my spirit this time would be the final time I asked. He blamed the lack of desire to sell on his estranged wife, but I knew inside it was just to keep me with the company. I was the top salesman and brought in most of the revenue. 

The first day of work following the Thanksgiving Holiday, I was more down than ever. While I was out of state that day doing a project for a customer, the bookkeeper, a former employee, and a saleswoman (who kept watch) were in my office trying to steal information from my personal laptop. I found out when I returned. I was shocked. Loyalty is important to me, but I knew that after 18 years I was leaving and not looking back. Ironically, it was in the worst economy and I wasn't even nervous. 

I went on a 17 day fast, I became closer to God than ever. On January 1, 2009 Advantage Broadcasting and  Advantage Radio Ministries began operations. In 2005 while I was looked into starting a company, I thought I would need a minimum of $500,000 to secure equipment, office space, etc. The miracle? I started it for under $30,000 when I cashed in my 401k and God did the rest.

Throughout the next several years, God has blessed me. I've grown and learned many things. In the begining of 2010 business was great. My business was doing well. God even opened a door to get my church on TV every Thursday night in prime time in over 2 million homes in the Philadelphia market with many people being saved and set free. 

But life was about to throw me another curve. In May, my largest customer began to bounce large checks and fall behind. Soon he owed us thousands. Next thing I know the state closed down his business. Then my former employer attempted to bring a personal law suit against me. What else could happen? Things were tough! My business was in debt and I had an angry ex employer trying to bring me down anyway he could for things that werent true. Finally, after weighing my options, I realized the only way to get myself out of this financial mess and was to declare personal bankruptcy. 

It was a hard thing to decide. I had a great credit score and never had a late payment on my credit report. But I knew what had to be done. In early 2011 it became public knowledge that it was filed. My former employer learned there'd be no suit due to the bankruptcy and he was angry. He began notifying broadcast outlets who did business with me, customers, and anyone who would listen that I had personally filed. He always gave the impression it was the business to try to hurt me. 

Not only do I all this stress, but I have to start calling all my customers and business contacts and tell them myself. Very Humbling. After the first few it got easier and then in February, I was doing a interview on my Christian radio show, "Second Chances", and the guest said something that made it all seem worth while. She said the things in life that we try to hide are the things that God wants us to share to be a blessing and help to others. Since then I haven't stoped encouraging people by sharing what I just shared with you. They all say the same thing, "WOW, God Is Good."

And I say to that, "Yes he is."

What my ex employer doesn't know is that because of God's love for us, he gives us the strength to forgive. I have forgiven him and even feel pity for him dealing with the bitterness he has. I hope God's love will one day heal him.

I'm clearly not out of this yet, as you read this today, but what I can say for sure without question, if you live for God he will NEVER leave you or foresake you and he always provides. It's not always how we think he will, but he does. He's never let me down. He will never let you down either.

Speaking From Experience

Mistakes. Do you beat yourself up over each one? Does shame, doubt, and guilt assault you each time that mistake comes up again?

I used to be one of the worst (or is it best?) at beating myself up over mistakes. I'd befriend my pirate allowing it to attack me with guilt and shame. I'd doubt myself. Then I started helping other people who'd made a similar mistake learn how to get through the hardship. My past blunder became the brokenness God used to heal someone else.

Do we become friends with our pirates?

As I began to listen and open myself to helping others from my life lessons, even those difficult experiences caused by circumstance or another person's harmful choices became gifts. I could hold the hand of someone walking through the pain.

Soon the past became a reference file, then an amazing encyclopedia of ways to offer opportunity and choices. The grief I felt at wrong turns has become joy in being a guide through hard terrain. In embracing the lessons of my past, I've found purpose by sharing those lessons.

A few days ago Psalm 51:15 shouted out to me, "Help me to speak and I will praise Your name."

Such a simple, easily memorized verse. Building my speaking career is hard work. I loved that this verse reminds me to go to God for help to speak. Some of my topics can touch on old wounds and hot buttons. But with God's help, I will speak from experience. I hope to help others draw on their experience to soothe and smooth the way into their perfect purpose.

Gem of Wisdom: Opal~Empathy is the ability to understand another person's feelings or difficulty.
Read Proverbs 17:17 and see how it relates :-)

Are you friends with your pirate or is it time to defeat him for good?
Does someone need your past experience to make it through their current one?

Mrs. High Energy is Back!

Hah! Figured it out! So excited! I went from feeling like this even after a good night's sleep...

Sleepy Panda

Caffeine became my crutch...And having felt like that all day for the last several months...

Super sloth in the afternoon

I was ecstatic to realize I didn't need a nap today to feel like this...


How?

I did the unthinkable! Yes, the thing most people dread... I had my annual check up and learned something about myself I didn't know. Something that might be helpful to other people too.




I learned that all I needed was to supplement with some folic acid and Vitamin D3. In fact, my doc helped me understand the right amount for me. I'm feeling a lot better and am thrilled that I can see it will keep getting better as I build my immunity and minimum needs back up. (By the way, minimum needs of folic acid are not those touted on cereal boxes. Doc says that's just enough to stop the rickets but not enough to help with fatigue, diabetes, and colon cancer.)

How did I get so tired? Coping with Colitis is a difficult chore. I've spent a long time discovering the foods I can and cannot eat. Dark greens and fresh vegies are a real problem for me. But there are other people out there that can eat them and just don't.

My doc was thrilled with all my blood tests, blood pressure, heart and all my results. Except this one thing kept plaguing me, fatigue, but my thyroid numbers were doing fine. So we ran back through my regular daily diet. Because the colitis interferes with the foods that have folic acid and I live in a Northern clime, she determined I had some deficiencies we could clear up simply. Yahoo! I'm all about simple.

So once I undersood that certain elements in our diet really do matter for energy, protection from diabetes, bone density, and metabolism then I saw dramatic results in how my body functions.

For me, it was such a dramatic difference after even 2 doses of higher level folic acid and Vitamin D3 that I'm astonished. I'd forgotten to ask how long until I'd see results. I wish I could express to you how different this is. Maybe Snoopy does. My eyes are not burning. I'm not yawning. I'm not dragging through the afternoon like I have for the last year. I feel elated!

Do you know what else she said? Keep eating what you're eating. It's working well and add the supplements. Oh yes, I am sticking to her advice!

Something so very simple and yet so crucial. May I suggest you talk to your doc, evaluate your personal requirements, and recover from the fatigue?

We'll Snoopy dance together :-)

Is fatigue an issue for you?


Keep eating what you're eating because it's working...
Here's how I eat. :-)
Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance

Hanging onto Faith in the Midst of Breast Cancer

Introducing Yvonne Ortega, my guest today on God Uses Broken Vessels. Today she will be answering some interview questions over at my group blog, WritingByFaith.blogspot.com...

Yvonne shares:

When life seems to go along smoothly, we don’t struggle to believe God or to trust His ways. However, what happens when we receive a diagnosis of breast cancer?


On January 3, 2001, I heard the dreaded words, “malignant tumor.” I had breast cancer, and my world changed forever.

You may not have cancer, but each of us faces some kind of struggle. I found it helps to be honest with God. He knows what we’re thinking anyway. When we tell Him we’re riding an emotional roller coaster of fear, anger and depression, He helps us work through those emotions.
We can play praise and worship music day and night. With our focus on our heavenly Father, cancer or whatever we face seems small in comparison to Almighty God, our Rock, our Shield and our Strength.

As women, our hair and how it looks are important to us. However, some types of chemotherapy cause us to lose our hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. We can choose to withdraw and have a pity party or to believe God can use this experience for good in our lives and the lives of others.
In our daily quiet time we can include reading the Bible and memorizing Scriptures that promise us hope and healing.

I didn’t invite cancer into my life, but I am a stronger Christian and a woman who lives with purpose and passion because of cancer. I would have never become the published author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer, if I hadn’t lived through it.
I now host the program, Hope for the Journey, for breast cancer patients at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey and archives are available 24/7. 

(Pssst...I added the link to get Yvonne's book if you would like. ~Angie)

I also send out a free weekly devotion in both English and Spanish. These outreaches of my ministry are a way to give back what others gave me during my bout with breast cancer and to praise the God who healed me.


Ask God to use your circumstances for His honor and glory and hang on to your seat. You are about to go on an incredible journey.

Copyright © October 2010 by Yvonne Ortega
Web site: www.yvonneortega.com

A Friend in the Storm by Cheryl Ricker

Sometimes life is a bit rocky. A friend comes along and says a little word of encouragement, usually no more than a few sentences. We walk away lifted, stronger, and more able to face the rest of the day or situation.

Cheryl Ricker has done exactly that with her book, A Friend in the Storm. A quote, a verse, and a short few poetic phrases. The combination sets me off for a better day even on rough ones.

She gave her little book to me at the ACFW conference a few weeks ago. It was a sweet gesture of friendship and one I have privately been grateful for over the last few busy weeks in my life. I've stopped several times just for an uplifting word or thought.

Do you have a friend needing a little courage?
What about someone who has been through a rough spell lately?
What about you? Is life just a bit much?


I highly suggest taking a moment here and there to brighten what may feel like a storm into a much sunnier place to live by refocusing your mind with a page or two from A Friend in the Storm. Such an apt title!

Thank you, Cheryl, for being the kind of person that would write a book that feels like an uplifting friend.

Here's a sample poem that I asked Cheryl if I might use when I give talks based on Gems of Wisdom. It stunned me how perfectly it fit. (She said yes, by the way.)

In whirlwinds of confusion

when cold questions press you tight,

ask Me close and I will hold you

by a love surpassing sight.

You're My treasure, bright with promise,

and I live to see you reign;

As we cross this bridge together,

I will lead you through the pain.

by Cheryl Ricker 

p. 7 of A Friend in the Storm

About the Author: Author Cheryl Ricker reaches into the depths of human suffering from the perspective of Christ speaking to the reader in soothing poetic truth. This elegant gift book lightens the heart and soul of anyone facing difficult circumstances, leading them through their suffering into the arms of a faithful loving God.
Each two-page spread includes a poem, as well as reflections written by Christian leaders, along with healing Scripture verses. An elegant foil-stamped fabric binding makes this the perfect gift.

Building a Dream

Ever wondered how long it took to get to the center of a ...

Lol, you thought I was going to say tootsie pop, didn't you?

Okay, have you ever tried to count how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

As a kid of a certain generation, I immediately identify the commercial cartoon owl that counted "Ah one, Ah two." Then he bit down and crunched the candy coating getting it done in three licks. All the children hung their heads in disappointment.

That's exactly how we think we should be able to achieve our dreams. In one, two, ah crunch! But instead we experience delays, confusion, and distractions. Sometimes it feels like everyone else is living their dream because they weren't afraid to chomp down on their dream right away. At least that's what we think in the quest for our dreams. Suddenly years have gone by, everyone else appears successful and way ahead, and we are feeling that time and circumstances have drained us of the opportunity to ever reach that squishy, sweet center of our lollipop. We beat ourselves up with our assumed failure. Why didn't I just bite when I could? Why'd I let that dumb owl do it?

My recent discovery? Because I didn't have a fully formed, satisfying message yet. My message was still under God's creative control.

A message I wouldn't have had five years ago. In fact, not three years ago. I thought I should have started my career in public speaking in my twenties so by now I'd be established. The sweet spot isn't that I've begun speaking. It's the confirmation that I really have a message to share. A message that blossomed in those hard times of delay, confusion, and distraction. A message of substance.

Each time I get impatient now, I see Mr. Owl and the disappointment of the cartoon children who never really get a satisfying answer.

I don't want to be like Mr. Owl. Do you?

God be with you,
Angie Breidenbach

When Things Go Wrong They Are Often The Most Right

Some days glow when you wake up. They feel warm, wonderful, and welcoming. Others, well, they are what they are--at the start. The question is how will day end?

Over the weekend, I had the most wonderful opportunity to speak at the Naked Truth conference. It was geared to Christian singles. Little things went wrong like little foxes released in the field. They created a lot of havoc.

The worries I had were over a new presentation in a different style on power point. Very little sleep, unfamiliar setting without a simple internet connection, not knowing how to get the technical tools working, and of course a few forgotten little items made me start to stress.

But I had a fabulous experience. No matter what seemed to go wrong, warm and friendly people jumped in to help. By the end of the day, after hearing the hearts that shared with me, I was more blessed than any one present. The stories I heard after sharing mine were not only encouraging, but also a bonding. I couldn't help smiling, hugging, and feeling like my treasure chest was full of the gems other people had filled it with all through the day.

All those little things people did to step in for small needs added up to great blessings even though they started as little stresses. All those little helps prove that no one succeeds on their own and no one achieves the heights of their dreams all by themselves.

I may have woken rushed and exhausted, but my day ended with the glow.

In what way has your needs, your mishaps turned around to lift you up?
What people have helped you achieve goals and dreams?
How do you show your gratitude to those that have walked the road with you and helped to carry the load?

Building Confidence On Past Accomplishments

Have you thought these words before?

"I'm just not capable!" or a similiar, "I can't do it. I don't know how."

Oh yes, I have! That's when I review the good things I've already accomplished. Most with no idea how to start either. It helps me realize if I could do it before, I can do it again.

What's the "it"? Let's look at that sentence expanded. If I could figure out how to start a project and succeed, even through frustration and cluelessness, then I can figure out how to be creative and succeed again.

Lately, I've been struggling with writing time and focus. I've been overcommitted in a new job and heavy volunteerism, family needs with varying individuals either sick or injured, and some sad moments when we lost two beloved pets in the last month. I started allowing my mind to spin into all the needs in the next few months from money to product for speaking events to travel. I started the self-talk off on the wrong foot. I allowed myself to say, "I don't have a clue, how am I supposed to do this?" Spiral down.

It was like being in the middle of a meteor shower. Not watching it, being IN it. My brain just fritzed out on me with all those flying space bodies.

This morning I woke up praying. Praying from my dreams and my sleep. Wow! I really think it has something to do with Romans 8:26-27 where we are told that when we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit will do it for us.

So right now I've stopped everything. I've made a list of all those meteors so they are out of the space between my ears and landed the moon for a short time while I refuel and reset my fritzed out systems.

One of the little niggly meteors that bugged me was I didn't have a good list of the free lance I'd been doing. I didn't even know how much I'd done because it was not on my radar for tracking. Yet it's important in this publishing world to show your work.

I decided to take a few minutes and round up all the free lance articles I'd written in the last two years and compile them into one document. Now I can keep records and referrals. I feel just a tad bit better.

If getting a list, working each item on the list, and filing it for reference helps me refocus, then I am less stressed. Lessening the stress helps me settle into what needs to be done. Not just reminding myself, but encouraging myself with past accomplishments clears the fritzed systems and prepares me for a take-off.

How to track free lance work we've done? At one point I started a spread sheet. Another was a file in the computer. But some of the work is online and some is in print. Hmm, what to do?

I felt that I'd done the beginnings of a good plan. I had a file on my computer, a physical file, and a spreadsheet. I'm going to add a link of each online article in one document and store that document in both the physical file and the computer file. The spreadsheet needs to be updated with articles sold. I'll move that spreadsheet into the computer file so everything is in one place. At the end of each month, I can print out the spreadsheet and add it to the physical file for taxes. Hmm. Better already.

Once I began to feel confident in a small area, I could move to a bigger area. It's all building blocks with confidence.

I also realized that some of the work was for the same publishing outlet. As an example, I didn't keep the live link for the Christian Fiction Online Magazine. I'd kept my version that I submitted, but no proof of the actual published version. So I simply went back to the archives and began copying the link into my document like this:

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/feb-09-buzz_acfw.html

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/mar-09-buzz_acfw.html

Confidence definitely comes from realizing we can do again because we've done before.

Have you experienced this sense of "I can't..." lately?

How do you regain confidence and refocus after your system has fritzed?

Angie
Now coaching confidence and courage. Visit http://www.MyGemOfWisdom.com for more information

Clear Direction Breeds Confidence

But where do we get that clear direction?

In the deep winter, the fog lies low over the valley. Sometimes it feels as if we are walking aimlessly through that cold, bone-chilling fog. The moisture freezes on everything around.

Montana Hoar Frost (frozen fog.)

We feel ourselves freezing up, not sure we can continue through the barren, icy land until the sun shines again. But there's a glow, just noticeable. A blurry sign of hope.

Our step picks up, we forget the burning in our fingertips, and lean into the direction of the glow. Warmth, comfort, safety. It draws us in and we go in that direction without wavering.

Once inside, warm and protected, we can look out a window and see something we hadn't before. The marvel of sparkling crystals everywhere. The creativity and beauty is breathtaking. But all we could see in the fear, was the need to get to where we were going.

Let me challenge all of us today to take a look around us for that spectacular beauty while we are in it. Allow it to spark the desire to wonder in amazement. Such unique formations. A new ice sculpture in each branch, plant, and weed.

Then realize when you get to safety, that you did get to safety by putting one foot in front of the other. It's stunning to see the footsteps leading to where we belong in a straight line.  Clear direction came from looking for the hope, the dim glow diffused in the frosty air.

Celebrate each time you have the chance to walk in the freezing fog because it offers persistence even as we find creative surprises. Then look back and see the accomplishment of resiliency and survival. These are confidence builders. Celebrate coming out of the fog with new knowledge!  Confidence is built on overcoming difficulty when your eyes are locked on hope.

Angie
http://www.MyGemOfWisdom.com
If I may be of service to you in confidence coaching, please contact me through my website. It will be my joy to help you discover the glow of hope.

The One-Day Way by Chantel Hobbs

Angie's Take: Being a Weight Watcher Ambassador, I believe in taking weight loss one day at a time. I think Chantel has the right idea. I think she also brings out that our relationship to God is the lasting power. I do, however, believe that we lose weight better and keep it off longer when we have a support system. I also understand the scientific difference in men's and women's bodies. It's important to realize that men do get to eat more than women because of the way they are made.


I love that Chantel teaches the basics and then adds explanation. It's very important. She also teaches that changing the way you think is crucial. AND IT IS! She shares excellent pictures of the exercise routines that keep costs very, very low. Another wonderful plus to this book.


Drawbacks: It's for the standard healthy person. Be aware that if you have allergies to peanuts, nuts, or gluten that there aren't substitutes listed and you will have to take that into account. There isn't a group to join for support. Diabetes, Colitis, Crohn's, and any other intestinal and health challenges need to be addressed separately. There just isn't a way to handle those issues in a book this size. They need their own specialized weight loss book due to the issue with nuts and fresh vegetables/fruits. The good news is that by working with your doctor and using this book as a tool, you can manage it with some substitutions.


So do I think this is a good book? Yes. Do I think it will help you learn? Yes. But I also feel it's important to create a support network so the places that are tough are easier to get through with someone walking along the same path. I feel it's very important to set your goals, but no one is self-made or a solo achiever. Join or build a network of friends/counselors that are supporters and that you can support too.


Yes, read this excellent book. Then be sure to take your height, weight, bone structure, health and gender into account in choosing the calorie count per day. Be sure you see your doctor to figure out the correct count for you so you experience less frustration and sense of failure. No one likes to waffle around. With that information in hand, you can succeed with Chantel's plan.

The One-Day Way:

Author Chantel Hobbs breaks the chains of past diet debacles and frees readers from unrealistic goals. She teaches daily fitness tasks that develop into lasting habits. By focusing energy and attention on doing the right things every day, she frees readers to achieve their weight-loss goals one day at a time.

            

I’ve got great news for you: You are about to feel better and look better beginning today! Today is truly a new opportunity for you to reach your weight loss goals. No, you won’t fit into your “skinny jeans” today, but I’m going to show you how each day will get you closer to that goal.

           

Yesterday’s mistakes are gone so let them go. You can’t control tomorrow, so stop worrying about it. Today is your opportunity to lose weight, get strong, and look great. It won’t happen overnight, but you can build a new life by changing your actions immediately and I’m here to show you how to make the changes that will create the new lifestyle you dream of: body, mind, and spirit. Best of all, you will start celebrating right away!

Come on, my friend. Let’s get started! By opening this book, I’ll show you how to unlock every tool you need to lose weight and get fit —and stay that way for the rest of your life. Success can be yours, what are you waiting for?

            -Chantel

RandomHouse.com:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307458780

Summary

The One-Day Way produces lasting results by taking you back to basics. No more complicated weight-loss strategies. No more expensive diet plans that achieve only temporary results. Instead, you will lose weight and get fit with Chantel Hobbs’s simple, high-energy meal plans and her at-home program for cardio exercise and strength training. She will teach you how to change the way you think, which leads to new actions. Before you know it you will be strong, fit, and healthy. All it takes is doing things differently for twenty-four hours—and then repeating it.

The One-Day Way gives you everything you need to lose weight and get fit in body, mind, and spirit:

• Break free from past dieting defeats
• Learn a realistic, life-changing way to measure success
• Change the way you think so you can change your life
• Translate your dreams into goals, and your goals into lasting achievements
• Get strong with thirty-one simple exercises, no fancy equipment required
• Take advantage of ten ways to eat better while you lose weight

By focusing on food, faith, and fitness, Chantel shows you not only how to lose weight, but how to build the new life you were designed to live. You don’t have to wait any longer. The One-Day Way gives you all the tools for success, starting right now.

Author Bio:

The author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer, Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Visit Chantel at ChantelHobbs.com for fitness updates and coaching tips.

Cover art:

   

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.