Depth in Relationships and Life, Part 3 of 3 with Mary Yerkes

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Yesterday Mary Yerkes wrote about how simple living can be found when remove some of the clutter and truly make our surroundings less cluttered. Today she writes about how important our relationships are and how to keep them a priority. By Mark J. Yerkes, The Simple Life, Part 3 of 3 Depth in Relationships and Life Of course, no discussion of simple living would be complete without addressing relationships. Relationships matter. A lot. I met with my friend Robbie for lunch this week, and the issue of relationships came up. He made an observation that captivated me. He said many of us go through life like skipping stones. Do you remember skipping stones as a child? The pastime involves throwing a stone with a flattened surface … [Read more...]

Removing the Clutter: Part 2 of 3 with Mary Yerkes

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Yesterday Mary Yerkes wrote about how simple living can be found when we start moving all of the different parts of our life in the same direction. Today she writes about how to turn our home into a sanctuary. By Mark J. Yerkes, The Simple Life, Part 2 of 3 Removing the Clutter Personally, I've made several significant changes to my life over the past year, all of which fall under the category of moving toward a more simple, meaningful life that supports my life purpose and gives me the time and energy I need to focus of what I value most. I have not yet arrived, but I am headed in the right direction. Here is the first significant change I've made over the past year, along with the benefits this, and the change I share with you … [Read more...]

RM Shop’s E-Flyer: Tired of Bills? Want to Feel Like God’s Princess? We Got You Covered

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Those of us with chronic illness realize just how expensive illness can be. Whether you are on disability assistance, private insurance or just trying to pay for your medical costs out of pocket, spring months can be a bit depressing when it comes to finances. Taxes may be due and all those medical deductibles keep adding up. This week I am featuring a book I love by someone I am honored to call a friend, Ellie Kay. You may have seen Ellie on Inside Edition or ABC News Good Money. When she married her husband she became a military wife, having 5 babies in 7 years and moving 11 times in 13 years. She learned how to cut expenses! Then she became "America's Family Financial Expert.(R)" She has loads of endorsements for her book 1/2 Price … [Read more...]

The Simple Life: Intentional Living for the Chronically Ill – Part 1 of 3

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By Mary J. Yerkes, Part 1 of 3 Simple living can seem elusive. In a world focused on achieving and accumulating more and bumper stickers that read, "He who dies with the most toys wins," the reality of simple living seems like some pie-in-the sky ambition, a trend. Despite the proliferation of products, books, magazines, classes, and organizational systems guaranteed to simplify our lives, most of us continue to hurry through live, pursuing activities and making purchases that ultimately add to life's clutter. There has to be a better way. As my rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases have worsened over the years, my desire for simple living has grown. It has become a quality of life issue for me; and if you live with chronic … [Read more...]

Finding New Hobbies and Joys Within The Midst of Pain

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By Bridget Gazlay You would think being chronically ill, a full-time administrative assistant, and a devotional writer would be enough to keep my time occupied. I also have the great joy of being a fabric artist. Now that title alone doesn't really tell you what I do. I don't design fabric or make clothing. I draw a design and then I make it in fabric, creating my own fabric art scene. I then scan my fabric original to produce my own prints, bookmarks, and note cards. That way I can spend as long as I need to on each design - which could be anywhere from 4 to 20 hours - and not have to make hundreds of them. I started making fabric pictures in 2000 when I was a missionary. I was a quilter at the time and wondered if I could figure out … [Read more...]

Chronic Illness Ministry Highlighted at SXSWinteractive as Social Networking and Health Success Story

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Rest Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization for people who live with chronic illness or pain, was recently featured as "one of the organizations doing it right" by Jenni Prokopy who spoke a the SXSWinteractive technology conference. San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/31/2011 -- Rest Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization for people who live with chronic illness or pain, has had a website since 1996 and was recently included as an example of some healthcare social networks doing their work well . Founded by Lisa Copen, 42, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for eighteen years, their health social network is called "The Sunroom" and it was recently featured as "one of the organizations doing it right" by Jenni … [Read more...]

A Different Kind of Mom: Making a Difference at Home and in the World for Christ

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I remember sitting at my first MOPS meeting for Mother's with Preschoolers. After years of waiting to have a child, my husband and I had been blessed with a newborn through adoption. The irony is, all of the moms at the table had new babies. We needed support way before our children reached preschool age! Our of about 10 of us however, I found is disheartening to hear all but myself and another mom say, "Don't you just hate being a parent some days?" Gasp! And these were Christian women. "All I feel like is the maid and the cook" they shared. Looking back, now I realize that I was still in some of the "bliss" of motherhood." Yet, ironically, the only two of us who were content at the moment were both working at home--in the middle of the … [Read more...]

Daily Devotionals Now Available Via Kindle Subscription

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Over at Rest Ministries, we've had daily devotionals for over ten years. We've seen technology continue to move forward and so are excited about this new addition to the devotionals! If you have a Kindle, the popular e-reader from Amazon.com, you will be excited to know that our daily devotionals are now available on the Kindle! If you don't have a Kindle, you can just keep this information in the "things I don't need to worry about" file. [Or if you are considering buying a Kindle use this link and Rest Ministries will get a small donation with our affiliate link!] If you are interested in subscribing to the devotionals via your Kindle, you can do it at the direct link here on Amazon or do a search on the Kindle itself. It will pop … [Read more...]

Illness Can Help Us Get Creative in Problem Solving

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By Rhonda Sawtelle I’ve been busy unpacking in my “new” place. I’m enjoying the remodel results. The unpacking has been moving slowly for several reasons: (1) my pain level can’t take too much at one time: (2) I’m rearranging things. I decided while packing up my apartment, that this would be the time to reevaluate what I have where and why. Throughout the years, I’ve worked on getting things which help keep my pain level lower: sleep number bed in the bedroom, a high table in the kitchen, a shelving unit putting things within my reach (my pantry), and most recently the daybed and new mattress in the living room. Yet, I didn’t think through where things were put and how they affected my pain. Until now. One … [Read more...]

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

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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...]

Coupons & More Coupons

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I love the little thrill of clipping out the coupon for an item I would have purchased even without the coupon. But it can actually be even a little more exciting to find printable coupons online that you wouldn't have had otherwise. We found another site to add to you money-saving bookmarks: smartsource.com & then enter your zipcode. Another tips is look up your favorite local stores on Facebook or Twitter or ask them if they have a site that offers coupons. Lately I've noticed nearly every little store I go into from Smoothie King to the movies has a Facebook account for that LOCAL shop with coupons just for local customers! And while you are clipping coupons, if you see a big ticket item with a great coupon, clip it & as you are … [Read more...]

Make Your Own Artwork for Pennies

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When you live with a chronic illness your house can get so dreary. We are often there--at home--looking at the same old knick knacks day after day, watching those dust bunnies grow into adulthood (oh, I'm sorry, maybe that is just at my house!) Well, either way, summer is just around the corner & maybe you are looking around wondering how you could cheer the place up. Or maybe you have kids that are out of school & they are bored & need a project. Here is a cool little tool we found! You can create a poster with the printer you have, even though your printer will only take regular sized 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper. Posterazor has a great video that shows how to download this free software & then how to upload your print. I can see … [Read more...]

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