Overwhelmed

Author Interview: Living a Meaningful Life Despite Chronic Illness

April 19, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

By Debbi Farmer I recently had the blessed experience of chatting briefly with Sherry Boettcher author of "Living a Meaningful Life" She has had such a good response from her readers, as well as many testimonials that inspire others to read and share her book. Sherry, thank you for taking time to speak to me today, can you tell us a little about yourself and why you felt led to write the book "Living a Meaningful Life"? Thank you, Debbi. Oh, how it breaks my heart that there are so many of us who hurt, but I'm so glad we can encourage one another and that God offers us all hope! I guess one of the most encouraging things for me has been the response from readers, giving me the affirmation that my book is touching hurting hearts and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Overwhelmed, Profiles, What's New? Tagged With: book: Living a Meaningful Life, Books, Chronic (medicine), debbi farmer, God, Health, Lord, Meaningful Life, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, Sherry Boettcher

Movie Review: Soul Surfer Shows Courage. . . Through God Who Strengthens!

April 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

By Lisa Copen My 8-year-old son said it was going to be a boring movie. Afterward, he said it was boring. But during the film he was on the edge of his seat. After we came home, he went outside with his skateboard, and when he came in he wanted to watch videos on Bethany Hamilton's web site. The next morning, he took a break from video games to listen to every word Bethany said on the Today Show. "Soul Surfer" is easy to label an inspiring movie. Who wouldn't? A 13-year-old girl is out on her surfboard when a 14-foot tiger shark takes her arm and then leaves the scene. The rest of the movie we see how Bethany deals with the day-to-day challenges of living with one arm (who knew cutting a tomato could be so difficult?); learning to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Links, Overwhelmed, Profiles, Teen w/ Illness, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Alana Blanchard, AnnaSophia Robb, Bethany Hamilton, Carrie Underwood, Craig T. Nelson, Dennis Quaid, Lorraine Nicholson, Soul Surfer

Does Grief Have a Timeline?

March 29, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

By Georgia Shaffer "My friend is stuck in grief. . . what can I do to help?" This is a question I often hear, and I've learned to ask, "What do you mean your friend is stuck in grief?" Usually they will say something like, "Well, her husband died 14 months ago, and she's still very depressed. Isn't it about time she moves forward with her life?" Or, they may say, "His wife moved out a year ago, and he's in worse shape now than when she left him." Surprisingly, the problem isn't that these people are stuck in grief. The issue is that their friends don't realize how long it can take to heal and rebuild after a heart-wrenching loss. As a psychologist and someone who has experienced deep sorrow, I've seen too many people hurt by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Church Leader, Coping Skills, Depression, Friend Has Illness, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: Anger, Chronic Illness, georgia shaffer, God, grief, Grief Loss and Bereavement, grief cycle, Health, Mental Health, Pain, Pennsylvania

Latte With Lisa – Completely Unfiltered

January 27, 2011 By admin 89 Comments

Living with illness is hard. Yes, that is nothing new that you have not heard me say before. But Thursday I felt like I was hit "hard." It's not life-threatening news or anything, it was just one of those "can't I catch a break" moments. And the tears flowed. And I used the time to talk with you. As I have prayerfully listened to God's voice on what direction to take Rest Ministries, one of my hopes was to "connect" with you more... to share the realities of life with illness--AND the hope we CAN find in Christ. Sure, I usually fix my makeup and put on a shirt with a collar before making a video. I try to add a bit of sparkle so I don't scare you off (smile) and so it at least appears I know what I am doing. But sometimes a gal just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Founder's Blog, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Videos, What's New?

Do You Have a Good Excuse…. or a Legitimate Reason That House is Dirty?

September 22, 2010 By admin 2 Comments

Last week was Invisible Illness Awareness Week , sponsored by Rest Ministries. The panel discussion was very good. If you missed it you can still listen to it at Blog Talk Radio ( Monday 9/13’s program ) During the discussion, the topic turned to house cleaning. To most people, vacuuming, doing the dishes, laundry, dusting, etc. isn’t the most enjoyable job; however, it’s not a big deal. Yet, to those of us who live with chronic pain and or illness, house cleaning is a very big deal. Have you tried to vacuum while using crutches or a cane? Have you tried to empty the dish washer when you can’t bend the waist? Or tried dusting when you can’t lift your arm above shoulder level? Or tried to clean the tub/shower when … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Organizing, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, Facebook, Health, Medicine, Pain, Pain Mgmt & Illnesses

There is One Who Sees All Invisible Illnesses

September 14, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

By: Cindy Tannehill Being 39 years old, with two small children, and a climbing career in a Fortune 50 company was not exactly the time I expected to receive a diagnosis that changed my life. I had everything I needed and wanted and looked like one of those all-together moms, wives, and professionals. I tried desperately to live out those roles. No one could tell I had just been diagnosed with a debilitating form of arthritis – psoriatic arthritis – and invisible illness. My family tried to be considerate and understanding, my bosses at work, not quite as much. I secretly wished that I would get some kind of crooked bones, hunched over postureanything that could be visible besides the dark circles under my eyes! How … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Arthritis, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Conditions and Diseases, God, Health, Joint, Psoriasis, Psoriatic arthritis

Waiting: Choosing Calm Over Control

May 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

". . . According to my ability & judgment; I will keep them from harm & injustice." Hippocrates What type of client, customer or patient are you? When you walk through the waiting room door does the person on the other side flinch, tense, or otherwise prepare for attack? Do you disappoint, discourage, or offer a disgruntled impression? Is every statement or question voiced one punctuated by an undergirding of subtle disrespect, disinterest or distrust? What exactly is your attitude saying about you, your words notwithst&ing? It used to be that physicians had to memorize the Hippocratic oath, the most memorable line laypeople remember being, First, do not harm." Nowadays, this pledge has been updated to make more practical sense in our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Caregiver, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Author, Books, Christian, Chronic Illness, comfort in suffering, focus, god did not give fear, god's word, Health, Memory, Parenting, print, save my life, Shopping, verses

Recognizing the Hidden Benefits of Suffering

March 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

SUFFERING: To undergo or feel pain or distress; to sustain injury or loss. Webster’s dictionary can put it down into words, but many of us have to feel it. Suffering comes into your home like a long lost relative & stays much longer than you would like. I have had six major surgeries, including quadruple by-pass. In each case the doctors commented on my positive attitude. Apparently, while a heart surgeon was putting in a pace maker into my chest, I was telling jokes & making him laugh. Don’t try that at home! You want your doctor to have a steady h&! Are there any positive outcomes from going through suffering? Let me share some thoughts that may suggest that there are: Suffering helps keep us from being conceited. We … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Church Leader, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Abraham, Author, Bacterial meningitis, Bear, Bible, Christian, christian social networking sites, Christianity, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Evangelism, God, health social networking sites, health social networks, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, RM Shop E-flyers, social network tools, suffering

Want to Get Organized?

March 10, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

Do you ever feel disorganized but can't seem to find the right system that works with your lack of energy, budget & habits (like dumping the daily mail on the counter)? It's a constant source of struggle around here! So many times we have to prioritize exactly where to spend our energy &, unlike a healthy person, sometimes doing the dishes or taking something to another room to put it away is just not the best use of that energy we have. Check out Get Organized Now! The web site literally has thous&s of tips from hundreds of organizing articles. They also boast 60,000+ current posts on. . . Organizing Forum Reader Tips Organizing Clinics Checklists Newsletters Challenges Blog Quick Tips Web Polls Slide … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Links, Organizing, Our Best Tips, Overwhelmed, Save $, What's New? Tagged With: Be Still, Beautiful music, Classroom, Eileen Rose, Epistle to the Philippians, Home, how to beat depression and loneliness, how to cope with depression and loneliness, how to deal with loneliness and isolation, Illness, Overwhelmed, Personal life, Praise and Worship, Roller skating, shenandoahvalley

Ever Feel Like You are Herding Cats?

February 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

When this commercial played during a "Best Super Bowl Commercials" TV show Lisa laughed out loud & replayed it a few times for her family. Now you too can enjoy this moment thanks to YouTube. Whether you have cats, dogs, children, or gr&children, we're sure you've had moments where it felt like you were herding cats! See below or click here to play. httpv://www.youtube.com/v/Pk7yqlTMvp8&hl=en … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Overwhelmed, Silly Stuff, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Arts, congre, Dog, entertainers, Family, Organizing, pastor appreciation month, Pastor Appreciation Poems, pastoral appreciation, pray-ers, Recreation, Television, YouTube

How Being “Tolerant” Can Ruin Your Health

January 6, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

Start Your New Year Right by Eliminating These Common Energy-Drainers by Mary Yerkes My desk is messy. My clothes don’t fit. The dog needs grooming. Life coaches agree that people zap their energy & increase their stress by putting up with a multitude of things that bug them, what life coaches call “tolerations.” And for the chronically ill, lingering stress can translate into increased pain. So, why not start your New Year right by identifying—& then eliminating—those things that deplete your energy & dampen your spirit. Here are four common tolerations, along with practical suggestions for addressing them or eliminating them from your life: Health Tolerations If you live with chronic illness, you probably realize … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Organizing, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Reflection, Self -Esteem, What's New? Tagged With: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Christ, Chronic, Coaching, Focus on the Family, Health, House, New Year

When It is Tempting to Quit We Need Jesus More Than Ever

January 4, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

I was using a saltshaker when I first noticed that the right side of my body was staging a mutiny. Inexplicably, my h& had forgotten how to move up & down. Other everyday activities became difficult. Brushing my teeth was a challenge. Playing piano was impossible & typing was clumsy. And then there were these weird, involuntary tremors on my right side. What was going on here? After a batch of expensive tests, the doctors couldn’t — & still don’t — agree. While they are scratching their heads, the elders anointed me & prayed for my healing — twice — & I am trying everything in my power while the problem persists. Like Paul, I have asked the Lord that this “thorn in my flesh” be taken from me. As He told Paul, He has … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, HopeKeepers Resources, Hurt Feelings, Overwhelmed, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, Share Your Story, Spiritually Struggling, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: Author, book, Editing, Leadership, Piano, Publishing, Shopping, Website