Change in Focus

The last month I've been trying something new. As you all know by now I've spent years...MANY years focused on my fibromyalgia trying hundreds of different things and wasting thousands of dollars in the process. My whole life is very centered on my pain and to be fair what choice do I have? It's pretty hard to ignore something so prominent and in your face. But a life focused on pain can be a pretty bleak focus at times. So this brings me to my new focus-being healthy.

I've always cared about healthy eating but in the last month I've decided to make that my focus. I'm avoiding fast food (which I never liked in the first place!) & as much processed food as I can. I'm researching recipes, green smoothies and different types of teas. And you know what I like my new focus! Obviously my pain is still a constant thought in my head but now I have something else more positive to focus on too. And I'm not focusing on healthy eating in an effort to cure my fibro-although it can't hurt! I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do. I only have 1 body and I want to be a good steward of it. Plus in the 18 years that I've had chronic pain and fatigue I have taken thousands of pills to try to improve it. I can only imagine what that does to my stomach, liver and kidneys. So whatever I can do to improve my health and flush out some of those toxins I'm all about.

So as I go through this journey I hope to share with you what I'm learning especially if I find that anything I'm trying improves my fibromyalgia. But I want to hear from you. How do you make healthy living a priority? What are you favorite recipes, supplements or health products?

Be Still

Today this verse is on my mind

Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46:10

Being still is something we struggle with as a culture. Everyone is always busy and rushing from one thing to the next. Having fibromyalgia or really any chronic health condition changes that. Your body won't let you go and go and eventually whether you like it or not you are forced to be still. Maybe laying on the couch all day sounds like a dream to you but laying there day after day just becomes boring and lonely real quick.

I'm going through a season in my life right now where my need for God is very apparent. I desire for the depth of my walk with Him to grow but I know that requires a commitment on my part to spend more time in prayer and Bible study.

And that's where I'm beginning to realize that the forced stillness is a gift. There are millions of things that can so easily distract and derail me but when my body gives me no choice but to slow down it gives me a chance to remember what's most important, to pray, read the Bible, relax and recharge my body. It's in that stillness that I hear most clearly from God. It makes me wonder why I've ever fought taking that time to be still.

So what are you thinking this Thursday? Share in the comments or put up a link to your own blog post. What are your thoughts on being still?

Newly Diagnosed, Now What? Week 5 Give Back

It's my final video in my Newly Diagnosed, Now What series. Check it out!


If you can't view this video click here

Did you miss any of the other videos?

Week 1: Do your Homework
Week 2: Get Support
Week 3: Grieve
Week 4: Create a life

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Heavenly Acupressure Mat WINNER!

And the winner is.....

Monday Muse

There's 1 more week left in my Newly Diagnosed, Now What video series but for today I'm going to skip that & instead send you over to Le Musings of Moi to check out a guest post I wrote there.

Thank you Summer for the opportunity to post on your awesome site!

Heavenly Acupressure Mat Review & Giveaway

I'm so excited to bring you all a review and giveaway for the Heavenly Acupressure Mat. Check out my video for details!


Disclaimer: I was given the Heavenly Acupressure Mat in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own. Just because a product does or does not help my pain does not guarantee you the same results. Consult your doctor before using any product that makes medical claims.






If you can't see this video click here

And now for the giveaway: This giveaway is open to anyone in the United States or Canada. The giveaway ends at 12:01 am on Friday February 17th. You may only enter through the rafflecopter below. The winner will be announced in a blog post on Friday February 17th.

Fibromyalgia Cure?

A couple weeks ago I was so blessed to spend a week in Los Angeles with friends. I had no idea when I booked it in mid December how necessary this trip would be, but God did. As I shared before the 2 weeks leading up to the trip I was in some of the worst pain if my life, other than going to work I didn't leave my couch. I tried every trick I had and nothing would ease the pain. Even the night before my trip I cried because I had no idea how I was even going to make it to LA. I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow without intense dizziness, nausea & lightheadedness. In that moment I felt God speak to me clearly to trust Him and surrender to His plans for the week.

In that moment I stopped worrying and made it the prayer of the week that God's will would take precedence and that He would meet my needs on this trip. I went to bed that night not knowing what the morning would bring. As the day went on, hour by hour, I felt my vertigo leaving me. By the time I landed in LA it was completely gone. Each day my neck and back pain lessened. Every time I saw the ocean or a gorgeous sunset it felt like a gift from God. Every morning waking up to another fun day instead of work was a sense of relief . Every day was so sunny & warm & I soaked in every moment I could. I realize how cheesy this sounds but I felt like Dorothy when she landed in OZ- everything was so bright and sunny. Ohio is so gray and dreary in the winter and I had forgotten how beautiful a "summer" day is. The joy of sweet fellowship with my friends was refreshing for my soul. God knew my needs far better than even I did. I finished Ann VosKamp's book while on this trip and I had more than my share of blessings to count that week.

And then it happened, Sunday my last day in LA-I had almost no pain. Everyday I gauge my pain on a scale of 1-10. In winter, my pain is usually a 9 or 10. In summer, it's maybe a 5 or 6. But the last couple days of my trip my pain was maybe a 2. I had not felt that good in years and actually had come to believe I would never feel that way again. The combination of warm weather and not working was just what my body needed to feel good. For the first time in a long time I have hope. Hope that maybe one day I'll be pain free. Yes it's not realistic right now for me to live somewhere warm and not work or work very little but I also believe nothing is impossible for God and He could make a way. I'm also looking into other possibilities and doctors that might be able to help. In the 18 years that I've had this pain and fatigue I've seen more doctors than I can count and tried everything they've told me to do from vitamins and elimination diets to new meds, acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments. After awhile it's easy to believe nothing will work. But that one day with almost no pain had given me hope and I'm clinging to that with everything in me.

So the whole point of this long post is to ask you to pray for me, to pray big for me, that one day I will be pain free!

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

Newly Diagnosed, Now What? Week 4 Create a Life

It's week 4 in my video series Newly Diagnosed, Now What? Check it out!



If you can't see this video click here

Links mentioned:
Week 3: Grieve
Week 2:Get Support
Week 1: Do your homework
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My Twitter

LA Trip Pictures Part 2

Yesterday I put up part 1 of my LA trip pictures & today is part 2-our day at the wax museum! We had SO much fun. Here are some pics ( and believe it or not, its not all of them!)


Every good Hollywood event starts out with a trip down the red carpet


Sure Madonna we'd love to be your backup dancers for the Superbowl Halftime Show


Just Chilling with Brittany


We're bringing sexy back!


Maks got in on the fun too!


Would you like to serve Majesty or Duration at your next event?


What up Snoop?!


Oh you know just breakfast at Tiffany's;)


AHHHH!!!!



The creepiest!!!


My very first crush!


Life is like a box of chocolates



Candace was in heaven:)



I love how Maks made himself look like all the celebrities


Come on Simon give her one more chance!


Of course I had to get a pic with the King of Pop!


Check us out with Conan!


Lady Gaga was by far the most real!


This pic is going to be real someday!

What a great day. Such fun memories!

LA trip pictures Part 1

Last week I was so very blessed to be able to visit friends in LA. Thank you Val & Candace & Melissa & Jason for letting me stay with you. Your friendship blesses me more than you know.

Ok on to the pictures! I got picked up at the airport by these cuties.

And then came back to the Bures just in time to catch this gorgeous sunset.




And here's what it looked like the next morning. Seriously this view took my breath away every time I saw it!


On Thursday I spent all day at the beach with Melissa, the kids and their friends. Did I mention it was 80 and sunny everyday-so perfect!. Here are some beach pics.



And Thursday night I got to stay with the Flemings.

Friday I chilled at the Bures and Saturday Candace, Maks and I decided to be tourists and go to Madame Tussaud's. It was so much fun and I have so many pictures that I'll do a separate post! After the wax museum we went to Hansen's for some yummy cupcakes!

Saturday night I went out to an awesome dinner with Candace, Dilini and Anna. And Sunday morning we watched Maks' hockey game (the only time all week I was cold!)

After hockey we went to the Farmer's Market to get cauliflower....we may have got a few more things;)


And Sunday afternoon, we went for a long walk. It was such a gorgeous day and it felt so good to be outside in the sun.






The trip was a huge blessing for me and I'm so thankful I got to go!

Nothing is Impossible with God

Every Christmas I enjoy reading Luke's account of the birth of Jesus. Last month as I was reading I came across this verse, one that I had read many times.

Luke 1:36-37 " Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Can you imagine being Elizabeth? A woman well past childbearing years having a baby? She must have spent years, decades even, thinking she would never have a child. Yet nothing is impossible for God.

Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Do you have an impossible situation in your life? Have you stopped believing that your situation will ever change? Remember the story of Elizabeth and take heart, our God can and does do the impossible. When we commit our circumstances and our very lives to Him, He will do things that exceed anything we could hope for or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

For no word from God will ever fail.