Perspective
| May 18, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Five Minute Friday |
Linking up today with Five Minute Friday where you write for 5 minutes about the word for today and then publish without editing or perfecting.
Today’s word:
PERSPECTIVE
Start
Wind blowing through the trees. Leaves are swaying to and fro. A bird’s nest on the windowsill. And every so often, a bird dances on the sill. A glimpse of sunlight streams in the window. That’s my perspective of the outside world.
Pager chirping. Code Blue. Code Red. Doctors and nurses scramble to help the patient. So many people standing around the bed that I cannot even see the patient. The family arrives. I pray. I listen. I hold hands. I comfort. That’s my former perspective, a day and night in my life.
But no longer.
I miss it.
So busy, so emotional, so needed.
Am I still?
No, I’m not busy.
I sit, I rest, I read, I knit, I watch tv and movies.
I’m emotional – pain, longing, forgotten, distraught, wanting.
Am I needed? I want to be. But most of the time, I’m the one needing, not the one needed.
Stop
What about you? What do you have to say about perspective in 5 minutes? If you link up, let me know. I’d love to read your post.
InstaFriday 5/18/12
| May 18, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Family, Knitting, Photos |
Knitting Projects
1 – chemo cap
2 – Dr. Seuss hat
3 – square 1 of kid’s afghan I’m knitting as a sample for the yarn shop
4 – Dr. Seuss hat
5 – Dr. Seuss hat
6 – my nephew Wyatt is 5 months old
7 – isn’t he just a doll!!!!!
8 – my niece Lola trying out the new playset at my parents’ house
9 – can you see how excited Lola is to play!
10 – had to laugh when I realized this is the same vacuum my parents had when I was young
11 – a bird was strutting it’s stuff on the windowsill but was moving so quickly, Damaris could only get a picture of it’s tailfeathers
Hope you enjoyed this peek into my life. You can always visit my Picasa if you want to see more pics. See yall again next week for more pics!
Good Things Teacup & Tote Review & Giveaway
| May 17, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Reviews and Giveaways |
I’m super excited to be reviewing (and giving away) the Dayspring Dena Designs Good Things Teacup & Tote. I am a big purse fan and I’ve been drooling over these Oil Cloth Totes from Dayspring since they came out. I was thrilled when I got the email notification that I was getting one and getting to give away one.
I’ve been carrying this beautiful tote for about a week now and have had numerous women stop me to ask about it and where they can get one. I love that it has great pockets inside, that I can carry my knitting along with my regular purse items, and that the colors are so varied that I can mix and match it with so many different outfits. The teacup is gorgeous! I look forward to many cups of amazing tea in it (when the weather is a bit cooler that is!).
& (in)courage: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |
Dayspring and (in)courage are offering a chance for one of you to win a Dena Designs Good Things Teacup & Tote. Instructions to enter are below. Good luck to each of you!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these products to review on my site and products to give away were donated as well. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Winner of the Trudeau Stress Less Products Giveaway
| May 16, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Reviews and Giveaways |
The giveaway is over and I have used Rafflecopter to choose the winner. The winner is:
Congrats Sacha S.! I have contacted Sacha via email and she has until Friday to respond to claim her prize of a six piece Stress Less prize package including the Stress Less Safety Can Opener, Stress Less Garlic Press, Stress Less Easy Grind Pepper Mill, Stress Less Easy Grind Salt Mill, Stress Less Pizza Cutter, and Stress Less Rotary Cheese Grater ($143 retail value). If she doesn’t respond by then, I’ll choose a new winner.
Thanks everyone for participating in this giveaway! Keep reading and commenting. I’ll be posting a new giveaway soon.
Sharing Our Spoons Week #2
| May 15, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Fibromyalgia/Chronic Illness |
Sharing Our Spoons is a weekly link-up for those of us with chronic illnesses where we support and encourage each other in a holistic way by focusing on five goals each week. The five goal areas are: Physical, Mental/Emotional, Spiritual, Something fun, and BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone each week. We’ll be linking up on Tuesdays. We’d love to have you join us.
My Goals From Week 1:
1. Physical: Work on reincreasing my water intake. I was doing quite well and then in the last couple of months, I have really slacked off.
5 out of 7 days I increased my water intake by 20 ounces. 1 day I was at my previous norm. 1 day I was below normal.
2. Mental/Emotional: Knit at least one NICU hat, one chemo cap, and one little hat to donate this week. Knitting is calming and relaxing for me.
Done!
3. Spiritual: Read/journal the remainder of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
Finished One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
4. Something fun: Paint my fingernails and toenails.
Done! Painted them yesterday and yes, they are pink, one of my favorite pinks called Tough Chick.
5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone a week: Write an article for possible publication as a guest post.
I’ve done lots of brainstorming for this article, but haven’t started writing it yet.
My Week 2 Goals:
1. Physical: Continue to work on reincreasing my water intake. At least 20 ounces more than my norm every day is my goal.
2. Mental/Emotional: Knit at least one NICU hat, one chemo cap, and one little hat to donate this week plus complete the square I’m working on plus another square for the afghan I’m knitting as a sample for the yarn shop. Knitting is calming and relaxing for me and I’m feeling very empowered and proud of my work after being asked to knit a sample for the shop.
3. Spiritual: Start reading/journaling You’re Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be
4. Something fun: Go on a date with Russ – even if it’s just to get coffee.
5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone a week: Actually write an article for possible publication as a guest post.
Your turn! Come link up with us as we Share Our Spoons.
Eucharisteo ~ #910-930 / Joy Dare #382-402
| May 14, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Gratitude |
There is no greater difference between men (and women) – my addition than between grateful and ungrateful people. ~ R.H. Blyth
If you’ve been a reader here for long, you know I’ve been keeping a gratitude list for about a year after being inspired by Ann Voskamp on her blog A Holy Experience. Her book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
, has been life changing for me! This year, Ann has challenged us to participate in the Joy Dare. You can read all the details on her blog, but basically we are striving to write at least 1,000 gifts in 2012. Ann has put together a calendar to help us out. I’m going to keep numbering my gratitudes but also number the joy dare so I see when I get to 1,000 gifts in 2012.
To read all my gratitudes so far, you can visit my gratitude page for a running list.
910. (382) a comfortable chair to rest in
911. (383) a bed to snuggle in
912. (384) windows to look out and see the world even when I can’t step out into it
913. (385) hidden birthday presents
914. (386) fun purses to alternate through
915. (387) clothes I’ve been saving for Damaris that fit now
916. (388) calm and quiet
917. (389) rest
918. (390) glimmers of light
919. (391) the rain coming down nourishing the dry land
920. (392) being able to curl up in my chair inside to watch the rain outside
921. (393) Damaris’ face as she stands behind my chair and leans over to give me a hug
922. (394) parents with faith
923. (395) love for music
924. (396) love for all things crafty
925. (397) holding my knitting in my hands and how natural and comforting and peaceful it is
926. (398) yummy smelling Hippie Chick Happy Hands lotion
927. (399) fresh fruit and veggies
928. (400) her creativity
929. (401) her organization
930. (402) her love of music and singing
Are you up for the challenge? Will you participate in the Joy Dare? Let me know because I’d love to read the gifts you are seeing in your life!
Mother’s Day Gifties
| May 13, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Family, Holidays |
Mother’s Day goodness from the ones I love:
Referenced in the slideshow above:
Damaris’ Blog Post – A Tribute to my Mom on Mother’s Day
and
Russ’ Blog Post – A Tribute to My (Courageous) Wife on Mother’s Day (2012)
A Prayer for Today
| May 13, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Ministry |
Faithful God,
make our hearts bold with love for one another.
Pour out your Spirit upon all people,
that we may live your justice
and sing in praise
the new song of your marvelous victory.
Amen.
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
| May 12, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Fibromyalgia/Chronic Illness |
Today, May 12th, 2012, is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. I was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2009 although I had symptoms of it for 2-3 years prior. Fibromyalgia has so completely changed my life to the point where I am unable to work or do much of anything even at home. I wanted to share this amazing graphic with you that tells how widespread this disease is, how it affects people with the disease, and the history of the disease.
This invisible illness affects many people and is life altering. Please be supportive and encouraging to those you know who have this disease (Top 10 Things NOT to Say to Someone With Chronic Illness).
Navigating Fibromyalgia Image Credit
Identity
| May 11, 2012 | Posted by C.C. @ I'm On My Way under Five Minute Friday |
Linking up today with Five Minute Friday where you write for 5 minutes about the word for today and then publish without editing or perfecting.
Today’s word:
IDENTITY
Start
The first thing to enter my mind when I saw the word identity was that song from several years ago called “Who I Am”. You know the one where she talks about being someone’s granddaughter, being the image of her father, and her mama being her biggest fan.
For me, my identity has shifted quite a bit in the last year. A year ago at this time, I was a hospital chaplain. I was involved in ministry. I loved working with patients and families. I hated the long hours and lost sleep involved in being a resident, but I loved my work. But my health was going downhill fast. I was in a wheelchair unable to walk the short distances between patient rooms. My last day as a hospital chaplain was August 31.
Now, my days center around trying to get rest and distracting myself from the chronic pain. While I am still all of the things mentioned in my tagline, a Christ follower, wife, Mamma, and fibromyalgia fighter, the fighter has had to really step up as I try to figure out a new normal.
But, you know what? I miss being a chaplain. I miss ministering! I miss saying prayers over the cribs of sick newborns and sitting with families as they awaited the news of their loved ones. I miss preaching and leading worship services. I miss having colleagues that cared about their work as much as I did.
I miss what I thought my life was going to look like. I’m grieving and wondering if and how I am going to be able to minister in the future. The blink of an eye and everything changes!
Stop
What about you? What do you have to say about identity in 5 minutes? If you link up, let me know. I’d love to read your post.
2008-2012,
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