all this and more

two days of detox

Well, I’ve started a five day break from my pill cycle (20 days on - 5 days off) this past Saturday - it’s like a little vacation. This five day break I was scheduled to do a Juice Fast (detox) for two of the five days. It involves drinking carrot, celery and apple juice (from my juicer) six times a day... and nothing else to eat during that time.  I am on my second day of the fast... must say that I greatly underestimated the power of the Juice Fast. Going into this I thought no problem, probably won’t have any side effects, etc.. Guess my body had more toxins (and cancer) to dump than I thought, because I have really been in detox mode. I have experienced headaches and chills for the last 28 hours. I am talking the kind where I have a sweatshirt and jeans on inside a house that the thermostat is set on 80. This afternoon I even crawled under the down-comforter for an afternoon nap and it was 98 degrees outside. So needless to say it is working and not the cake walk that I expected. 

Also, thought I would share something interesting  that happened last night... Julia crawled in my bed about 3:00AM and proceeded to talk for another hour and a half. Do you know what she wanted to discuss.... Jesus! She starts off “Mommy, does God have a Son?” And I said -yes, remember Jesus is His Son. Then “What was his mommy’s name?” - Mary... “Where does Jesus and God live?” - Heaven... “Why did the bad men put Jesus on the cross?”  This conversation went on for over an hour. I was amazed at what her little mind was thinking and obviously how Jesus had touched her life. This morning the first thing she said when she woke up was “Mommy, I want to see that picture in the bible (children’s bible) of Jesus as a baby and on the cross” . She was so interested in learning more that we spent part of the afternoon picking out more books at the Christian bookstore. She was still talking about it tonight at bedtime. It made me realize how much more I should be nourishing their little souls.

my little Juju 

(her nickname, a.k.a - juju bean)

I adore those cheeks and nibble on them every chance I get

   

a powerful medicine

 

Hope is...knowing that a positive outcome awaits and being okay that it might look different than you thought.

Hope is...not only expecting a dream to come true, but having a deep assurance that it's within your reach.

Hope is...saying you can improve and that you always get better with practice.

Hope is...knowing that you can.

Hope is...knowing that someone loves you.

Hope is...realizing that you don't need to know all the answers, God already does.

Hope is...looking to the future with joy and having expectations of better things to come. 

Hope is...knowing that miracles still happen everyday. 

Hope is...something that never abandons you. Even when your life is filled with sadness and disappointment, a spark remains inside to help you get through the rough times.

Hope is...a very powerful medicine.

Hope is...often beyond our understanding but always real and true.

Hope is...one of God's greatest gifts to you, because it's the magic that inspires you to keep living.

Hope Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for showing me the power of hope. Remind me when any trouble comes my way, that hope is available - in You. Thank You for being my hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope. Romans 15:13

{From Rob Cottrell in Hope Minute and the picture was taken by Paige}

a lesson on hope

This is the reading from Mass on Sunday.

Romans 5: 1 - 5
1	Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2	Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
3	More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4	and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5	and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

 
 

{These beautiful photographs were taken by my new friend, Paige. I have never met her yet she sends me the most encouraging messages}

happy wednesday

Love - 
 

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

 

In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

 

It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.

 

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

 

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

 

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home.

 

 

~Pearls of wisdom from Mother Teresa - a woman full of Christ Love ~

 

{The photograph of the flowers was taken by Ashlee Raubach found via House of Turquoise}

just beautiful

 
 

“I paint by faith, not by sight, faith gives me sight.”

“For several years now, I have been focusing my artistic attention on thoughts of hope and renewal. In a time of great adversity, these are positive aspects of life that bring light to the darkness. In much of my work I use symbols to express these thoughts - symbols which have been used in art throughout history such as the bird, nest and egg.” – David Arms

 

Loving David Arms paintings!

nothing is impossible

 
 
"Come to Me with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me.

Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasureably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing.

When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you; therefore, you needn't be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening - even dangerous, the safest place to be is in My will." - Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

life:beautiful

I'm in love.... with life:beautiful magazine, faith for your journey. Just discovered it in our local library and cannot put it down. It's a new publication that comes four times a year. It is full of wonderful articles, scripture, recipes and so much more. It is a lot like a Christian based Martha Stewart magazine. Check it out!

 
Mission:

Life:Beautiful is a national, inter-denominational, Christian lifestyle magazine that celebrates an active, integrated faith. Built on a foundation of biblical teaching and encouragement for spiritual growth, Life:Beautiful offers relevant information and community for Christian women.

The pages of Life:Beautiful showcase everyday experiences and activities, such as parenting, cooking, decorating, teaching, working, volunteering, resting, traveling and offering hospitality—all of which can be used to share the joy of the Lord.  

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known amoung the nations what he has done. Psalms 105:1

the old has gone, the new has come

"...Do you feel as though you're spinning your wheels in life? Rather than moving forward with an attitude of faith, expecting good things, are you allowing obstacles to stand between you and your destiny? It's time to let go of the past hurts, pains, or failures. Refuse to be counted amoung the doubters. Trust God to lead you in the right direction as you break through the barriers of your past." - Your Best Life Begins Each Morning by Joel Osteen

2 Corninthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

nourishment for your soul

"I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. You face nothing alone - nothing!  When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture.  The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.  Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always.  I will get you safely through this day and all your days.  But you can find Me only in the present.  Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you!  Receive today's gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its depths.  As you savor this gift, you find Me." - Sarah Young

Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Genesis 16:13-14

Love this little book Jesus Calling: Devotions for Every Day of the Year by Sarah Young (a few dear friends gave me a copy when I was recovering and I have read it almost everyday since)

Also, for those who are suffering with cancer here is a book that I have clung to. I have a copy downstairs, on my nightstand and in my purse. Healed of Cancer by Dodie Osteen; you can order them for $2.00 from www.joelosteen.com (click on books).

Wishing you a beautiful day full of God's blessings.