tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53434280869849072972024-03-27T01:38:23.443-05:00Sunshine and SpoonsSpecial needs, chronic illness, parenting, and life in general.Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-43210609870817179512023-01-03T13:10:00.001-06:002023-01-03T13:10:11.301-06:00My Top 10 Books of 2022<div><p><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i></p></div><b>I did it!</b><div><br /></div><div>I set a reading challenge goal of 150 books on <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20862495.Hannah_Wingert" target="_blank">Goodreads </a></b>at the beginning of 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDYZ1kvIlK1gKsmEZGdCc1gOZ_2KjlZzAS2Ja7Qq3A1j6fKpCloI3PdElub49kRKu6kWRbMDbZXQY2xMBxzazKFNy0bbx77cMUv4xzcp9zHB0mJE1yaSUKucNv859wwRjPzF1hXsSckJMF_TIRXhkW5sAPmvWYWDy1yoJ9c3Vc54-RxP9t2Az2RbO/s1500/TopTenBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDYZ1kvIlK1gKsmEZGdCc1gOZ_2KjlZzAS2Ja7Qq3A1j6fKpCloI3PdElub49kRKu6kWRbMDbZXQY2xMBxzazKFNy0bbx77cMUv4xzcp9zHB0mJE1yaSUKucNv859wwRjPzF1hXsSckJMF_TIRXhkW5sAPmvWYWDy1yoJ9c3Vc54-RxP9t2Az2RbO/w426-h640/TopTenBooks.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br />At 10:45ish pm on December 31st, I finished reading my 186th book for the year. Normally, I would've been at our church's annual New Year's Eve game night with the rest of my family, but I was under the weather so I got to spend a peaceful (and kind of lonely) evening at home with the dog. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFf99goXT22wuoF7zYt5RjXgaydVeCSOZurFXH17TZXrhbHVksUfR5zosVrlTKk0CSbwG8Eigk34GstvL62Yd-twgn4Vnp3kxZSiiYn21PK03jjSSweh6JdYS1xXVX4luDH_3Vyvn4kBVEQSD2zSYjMkdwjsby8UVtpJcZDDATd-zRFnMe3cjdBTy/s1644/Screenshot_20230101_133643_Goodreads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1644" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFf99goXT22wuoF7zYt5RjXgaydVeCSOZurFXH17TZXrhbHVksUfR5zosVrlTKk0CSbwG8Eigk34GstvL62Yd-twgn4Vnp3kxZSiiYn21PK03jjSSweh6JdYS1xXVX4luDH_3Vyvn4kBVEQSD2zSYjMkdwjsby8UVtpJcZDDATd-zRFnMe3cjdBTy/w263-h400/Screenshot_20230101_133643_Goodreads.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In no particular order, here are my top ten favorite books that I read this year!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3GavuO5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Bring Your Children to Christ and Keep Them There: Avoiding the Tragedy of False Conversion</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Ray Comfort</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3GavuO5" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="209" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzDLYC0U8pLYXj6Jao4Z1CoX2yOomv6eKp5R5d7vA-ZAJ-8o91GY66vYeEtYVvUs2wMXNcXyk09X49U_uWLwbgrx4idVmZVTCaXt7p29qNbV2DUmPw3k92IP8h6zIJt7AGNl11Fi6E1O1bLMd6c3FTRGZIgTInHManLV-Rpn4H-YnF6mc6kkMkR-6/s1600/HowToBringYourChildrenToChrist.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This book helped me initiate some really good conversations with my kids. Because of it, they have a much more clear picture of what true salvation really is. </div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3IhF8Rx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book Love</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Debbie Tung</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3IhF8Rx" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD6J5H9gvNOMU3nTRmSHpXbHeacsAEhs6fIf5WhYKFQVET1HXWh3WsnU8stHJcnD0Pd0V0hBLO4AtWar7bsbt0UOKBo7jC4BSDoj0MGF_VsxFrtH9ivEqGgWBR7oiamCqJgC7PZH7FL1p0H9ZE4qdHQ3G5wfyFEtmvItC4cbivyG0p9Hfk3Y_DJ20/s320/BookLove.jpg" width="231" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I loved this book! (see what I did there? ;) It was a quick and easy read and so relatable. </div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Qa2pqs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Raising Them Up</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Israel Wayne</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Qa2pqs" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtg5YnKeUYxqvc4cfc7BCtolRGL-SXN6QwGlhfN142u2Cj5QPfNzXZWSkkStk0tzW2ztaNAsreVLL-JooK7AKPl5qTQINYWWKRAxDO8kWStLns5GeQ6OkbmohMpP1ku03aBAnC1lUFLBbRrRN6yXV328MjkmxQBF155x0YsWgfXot_57xMK9N3hoGy/s320/RaisingThemUp.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you read just one parenting book in your lifetime, this is THE one! It's biblical, practical, and even has a section on parenting kids with special needs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3WJTgHR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Light in the Darkness: Janusz Korczak, His Orphans, and the Holocaust</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Albert Marrin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3WJTgHR" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HVnqr2Nj78guectbZViRZr6y3ogRNXw4cnpo1_UCkhgBmN-Whvzk8eFStxOZoJ8NRyoC7wesnqvvYcp51636jLxZe1tOAnStTsNVSEpNDJwJ_3qXw-Cio9EwOo_9ZjEK0l1luCLdBd6fzHK6Xb8CE2BfohGXpLecI570PqAWJWA1MVn_uSTdkAWh/s320/ALightInTheDarkness.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've heard the story of how Janusz Korczak took care of many Jewish orphans before and during the Holocaust and how he chose to go to the gas chambers with them, but had never read a book about him until now. This was a heartwarming and heartbreaking read. </div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZw7Rp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Unsaved Christian</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Dean Inserra</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3WZw7Rp" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4ow6vhp5QpDpwyBWBRa7bnwgu7RUmsQmMbvoRw5B0DSFQuVM4Boq2puVCq38ObI1hPx7i0lIWzi4uPgJavMRs9gkSMgJlMXi_9qLDdHQZ_34RQ-CrvrV2M49z4d_j7cd_jaRP7BCzBZlHdCdwXO3uMAhlu3avMHgbn10a6a8PmS5tV6amYiTA5MK/s320/TheUnsavedChristian.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The scariest verse in the Bible is when Jesus says in Matthew 7:23: "And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" There are so many people who call themselves Christians, but are not truly following Christ with all of their heart, soul, and mind (Mathew 22:36). This book was very helpful in explaining how to reach people with false assurance.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3IlVtor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secrets of a Charmed Life</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Susan Meissner</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3IlVtor" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtRPNQ76KKy_jUUJJie2tWzvMAVbbD6jtj7dT7s48bv-LFAAnHGnXUyZodN-MXdVpBIOQ47LmwN30kG5uL_UXO9P1Is7CNGgtpm6BBUzEqSA8H-mRw0O8OIx1sf8AN6oqHDJQg8_qb0Qf7IA1VKNX42ZwbW6aKfYmw5XBsWT3Qe-SYLWrRi4VBPFY/s320/SecretsOfACharmedLife.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love anything by Susan Meissner and this book didn't disappoint! She keeps the reader on the edge of the seat through the whole book and they never end exactly how I thought they would. The characters seem so real that I feel like I'm right there with them through their struggles and joys. </div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3In69Dq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Danika Cooley</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3In69Dq" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GZBrTnMqggV4-5A-QwkoIXjlTkbJqwFIDHsD9htPgVgmTd5-FsmdhcowIYeQ2oKbFaiy6e772p9AKJ-EU01Z9yUHhHC0qwQDSO2udylKcY6L_dRkG_TTH0ViWjEW6vmgOy-umd5KjA8bUo7TYAWiFZQtMgS8pbflCN6h874RiqkW2Uhsg78VUjEH/s320/HelpYourKidsLearnAndLoveTheBible.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This book has so many good tips for helping your kids truly learn to love the Bible and to know what's in it! Highly recommend for all parents who want their children to love God.</div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ckffg8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Saving Meghan</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by D. J. Palmer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ckffg8" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCafDf0hgaYUOEl3zP1i_Si_2W-ThWobSbUfkXKaqoGudw2-m4cV-1mFG4jYUPBy0JqI86wgOZYHsEk2_BWp_QqcUwElbEHh_jC_DaXxcHiceNq76nNqxGe7ODzXGB0RtcSEaQNkidOyp1V6XoDdWGr8Su8IXmCMUHHO1Lp-EQ8vr2JX5Pv4yxB21S/s320/SavingMeghan.jpg" width="209" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was a heartwrenching read and one that hit a little too close to home. Parents of kids with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome are all too frequently accused of making their kids sick or faking their condition for attention because the disorder is so misunderstood by medical professionals and the general public.</div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Gzn2tc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate: A User Guide to the Asperger Life</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Cynthia Kim</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Gzn2tc" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="195" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VWE3jcsddtxbu5B-P8odRnq6LjCx2GCquyCjE6M5EZaddHxmF7qaIEt_mnJZm2k27RzY2TGLGEAgxJM_ZvxKYahUNCJAVuY41iCizgwJpHYqSfPbvrG6n9Im2NKTCmfwES_Pupsc_Ai1-JqLIEB_1SHdbOgcIpDbMtTOKd4IVURO-RAGB8SLDGr8/s1600/NerdyShyAndSociallyInappropriate.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This book was so relatable and had me going, "Wait, that's not just me?!?" on just about every page. Very informative and good to read!</div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3VGEqAC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Read-Aloud Family</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Sarah Mackenzie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3VGEqAC" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysJpxNM8v7SvfwEy5SL5YGo4zePb-m8XyPgVNj7MdD2LuTDHfGonehV3qUHHJxEA587tTJ2NZv9kzbYqfoYRVJtml-Fi_1nGm_QuMFkx6plInn6fS_Zm6re2ebPBMJng4AcZreDXkgK8mXBqCnlsMUn1TI3SwVKEQHOA4WL28NWL9iMUyu-iNGgC0/s320/TheReadAloudFamily.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I deeply regret not starting read-alouds with my kids when they were younger, but even at their ages now (14, 12, 10, and 8), they all still love listening to books. I usually read to them while they're eating supper (I eat later with Hubby when he gets home) and it makes for a very peaceful mealtime!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Did you set a reading goal for 2022? What were some of your favorite books that you've read over the last year?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hBkJ6d67NBN02--0d5LGyWeWzatjtmPthUk_QKr5MWcvAdELlWgb0rR7mp0p2_wCrfgbhPm_Vre4Nrl1Xxg85HQixMZKseGGJpW4w7d-57XQ4bJDyMD_ZUtvOHzFxDvEn28IBO3vO9F2OjVMy4Sb_ufYNIj0leLJgBXudfPIgBnqwsdUOuOWOSiy/s200/Signature%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="200" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hBkJ6d67NBN02--0d5LGyWeWzatjtmPthUk_QKr5MWcvAdELlWgb0rR7mp0p2_wCrfgbhPm_Vre4Nrl1Xxg85HQixMZKseGGJpW4w7d-57XQ4bJDyMD_ZUtvOHzFxDvEn28IBO3vO9F2OjVMy4Sb_ufYNIj0leLJgBXudfPIgBnqwsdUOuOWOSiy/s1600/Signature%20(1).png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hannah @Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626989815417823218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-75679695270762053162022-11-01T14:22:00.006-05:002022-11-01T14:32:28.452-05:00 10 Myths About Autism<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!<br /></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are a lot of myths and wrong beliefs about autism. We've run into quite a few since Davy's diagnosis in 2021 at the age of 7. I actually first suspected he had autism when he was 3, but thanks to some of the common myths about autism, I had a hard time getting anyone to take my concerns seriously, <b>including medical professionals.</b> So, I thought it might be a good idea to address some of the most common myths. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8G5aX5xQu_tUo9Ta1eeeURtZ8RKlSB8tYjG96MxRJgSQtUIreZj7GFG6kAHgr_9SQYa-Tr-rKbZzuNFAVT8URyV0BNhxFeuahxDQ09a-siTfmAY3YVcGwdfzHSRJX2BCAtMxYv3zkcOZx2pAlK6Y1FVoQDqChOQGwikjPBSBEcTJj--8lO2LGQV5l/s1500/10%20Myths%20About%20Autism.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8G5aX5xQu_tUo9Ta1eeeURtZ8RKlSB8tYjG96MxRJgSQtUIreZj7GFG6kAHgr_9SQYa-Tr-rKbZzuNFAVT8URyV0BNhxFeuahxDQ09a-siTfmAY3YVcGwdfzHSRJX2BCAtMxYv3zkcOZx2pAlK6Y1FVoQDqChOQGwikjPBSBEcTJj--8lO2LGQV5l/w426-h640/10%20Myths%20About%20Autism.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>1. All autistic people are alike.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the same as saying that all people with blonde hair are alike. It's just not true at all and trying to put all autistic people in a box can be very hurtful to them. <b>If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.</b> Each one is a unique, amazing individual with different personalities, traits, and characteristics. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>2. Autistic people flap and rock.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Flapping and rocking fall under the category of stimming which is a repetitive behavior that people with autism often do to calm or regulate themselves. <b>Stimming comes in many different shapes and forms</b> though, not just flapping or rocking. Davy's favorite stim is what we call "book and pen." Ever since he was an infant, he has spent hours flipping pages in books and when he was a toddler he added the "pen" which can be any object that is shaped similar to a pen. "Book and pen" is where he sits (usually on the floor) with a book (the bigger the better) open on his lap, flipping through the pages one by one while flipping and fidgeting with the pen in his hands. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>3. You can grow out of autism.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nope. Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder, which means that <b>it's something that is hardwired into a person</b>. A person can learn to manage its symptoms with therapies, but it's not something that can be outgrown. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/553329340/yes-i-have-autism-no-my-mom-doesnt-want?click_key=9fe56dfcf8dbe3524e80d947ff6522acbac69d1a%3A553329340&click_sum=d6f2e88c&ga_search_query=%2526quot%253BYes%252C%2BI%2Bhave%2Bautism%2526quot%253B&ref=shop_items_search_3&frs=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYxM3TJAiR0WaaNkHDns-0Mf1txJ0WUFoNns-Zgu5OSyDIegQPHGUfyxBhVPuIO0tuv3pHN8F3FXwVPDdb1mb2QDyKwZDqNJdajw6qX2_qY2r0-TPeBMKprFzC2ZaKKQteRe7jpS7_RQtXHTh_8SbcXKs8qHR9cDi0wCNW3jRYpFgOCvFRqVS8cGS/w400-h400/Yes%20I%20Have%20Autism.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>4. Autistic people can control their behavior.</b></div><div>When Davy is in the middle of a meltdown, he's out of control. There's no talking or disciplining him out of it. The best thing to do is be aware of his triggers and when he's getting overstimulated so I can try to stop the meltdown <b>before </b>it starts. <br /><br /></div><div><b>5. Autistic people don't like being touched.</b></div><div>Some people with autism are hypersensitive to touch and don't like it, but others are hyposensitive and crave it. Davy is hyposensitive and he loves hugs and often crashes his body into furniture or the floor intentionally because he craves that sensory input. </div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Autistic people don't have or want friends.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">People with autism often have difficulties making or keeping friends, but that doesn't mean they don't want or need them! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/652158221/its-not-a-label-its-a-diagnosis-34?click_key=925bc48e706d6836174d34302b48fc74b1d07c0b%3A652158221&click_sum=9265d8f9&ga_search_query=autism&ref=shop_items_search_6&frs=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSdO_Rjdr2BkL-oCNgfS-oGipAvtiBr7CY4VUwE3kJjxqcZ7JlIb1ln6wYcgs4CjGKLxMP90Rd1tXUQZRQX64eFCB6trp-SwXVXAKAJeaUmF9iG1DxtINPxyKLmGtUA1aktDH7wqJ7LCe2W18g8cZO-NUGN8cmeJBofZTNaP0K0prgzLKwZZhJaoA/w400-h400/NotALabel1_mockup_WhiteBlack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><b>7. All autistic people are geniuses.</b></div><div>Okay, some are, but that doesn't mean they all are. Davy may not be a certified genius, but <b>the way his brain works amazes me</b>. About a tenth of all autistic people have savant abilities. <br /><br /></div><div><b>8. People with autism don't have a sense of humor.</b></div><div>Some people with autism may not understand certain jokes, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a sense of humor. Davy has a very unique sense of humor that is different than most people's, but hilarious nonetheless.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>9. People with autism don't have empathy or feelings.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just because they express their feelings in different ways doesn't mean that people with autism don't have any or are not empathetic towards others. A friend of mine with autism explained to me that <b>she feels emotions so intensely</b> that they're overwhelming and she shuts down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-aa30268d-879d-46a6-b83f-b5950ffe87ec"></div><script async src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=aa30268d-879d-46a6-b83f-b5950ffe87ec"></script><div style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Autism is overdiagnosed or isn't really a real disorder.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ever heard this one? "Kids in my day didn't have autism!" Actually, in your day, kids with more severe symptoms of autism were often institutionalized and weren't mainstreamed and kids with less severe symptoms went undiagnosed and misunderstood, often causing irreparable damage. <b>It's very real and it often went undiagnosed in the past.</b> Thank goodness things have changed! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which of those myths have you heard or did you believe at one time?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2YtPTKq9aLo0ZqATp4NtLYWromenT9PApr-xqozf_aJb44J3GojLBk-891m2u5HRrf_wW_I8gMeQe-mjGk7N7UzYd4-RKEPmulI5LHnN7us9cTMms2iFtnn4dypWxRN-pThT6sM77WT5tStKUpEAHL1RNMruGV2k_ogMk1ekAAtCN-gA-M4x50HL/s200/Signature%20(1).png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="200" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2YtPTKq9aLo0ZqATp4NtLYWromenT9PApr-xqozf_aJb44J3GojLBk-891m2u5HRrf_wW_I8gMeQe-mjGk7N7UzYd4-RKEPmulI5LHnN7us9cTMms2iFtnn4dypWxRN-pThT6sM77WT5tStKUpEAHL1RNMruGV2k_ogMk1ekAAtCN-gA-M4x50HL/w200-h64/Signature%20(1).png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-60584097273571029572022-10-18T11:25:00.002-05:002022-10-18T11:25:47.077-05:00A Gut Feeling: Raising a Child with a Genetic Disorder<div style="text-align: left;">Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? A nagging thought in the back of your mind that just wouldn't go away?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5u2SypOcX20eujoHYN0gdtOqtaaw_b5OWRFwIkb3DfXJVTPEfp4lbVv9S0GOou_iqv2_0O98BrrE0cV9LBw3GhM7VRgsgBEbelHjLW8EZdf3wD-x5SbTODgYPkQdLldRnr9pu5_orBGZ-KODBBTaOCyy4HAgo7Axph3AX_0bWXSOSeVzkJ6y4v35/s1500/A%20Gut%20Feeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5u2SypOcX20eujoHYN0gdtOqtaaw_b5OWRFwIkb3DfXJVTPEfp4lbVv9S0GOou_iqv2_0O98BrrE0cV9LBw3GhM7VRgsgBEbelHjLW8EZdf3wD-x5SbTODgYPkQdLldRnr9pu5_orBGZ-KODBBTaOCyy4HAgo7Axph3AX_0bWXSOSeVzkJ6y4v35/w426-h640/A%20Gut%20Feeling.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I had that when I was expecting my third child. From the moment the second line appeared on the stick, I had a feeling that there was something unusual about the pregnancy, that there was a surprise waiting for me at the end of it. I didn't know what it was though. Maybe twins? No other possibilities came to mind and when I had my first ultrasound at 20 weeks, there was definitely only one baby. A little boy. The ultrasound technician printed a fuzzy black and white picture with the word "boy" superimposed on the picture and an arrow pointing to the proof. It didn't feel right, but it was hard to argue with that picture. Every time I started experiencing doubts, I pulled it out again and convinced myself that I had just been hoping for another little girl. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A second ultrasound about two weeks before the baby was born confirmed the first ultrasound. "It's definitely a boy!" the tech said as she moved the wand around my belly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then SHE was born.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7btvzbs3ggcMHG4VZlXTfOKAZGDuSPpb9qjVWehFe_E1xqX9Yj19OymVERwPXmoafUgkxJrtiii4gE9h3dj7ac_JBuGkqc_MM705MyA8VSqEs2nozs0WW3WEiXl35HzkEk68d7wTvhHihLlBBozRzd2NSoV6Bb9FErKNIQiM4NJTlBZa0raWVtyT/s960/563096_10200785841668017_390655526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7btvzbs3ggcMHG4VZlXTfOKAZGDuSPpb9qjVWehFe_E1xqX9Yj19OymVERwPXmoafUgkxJrtiii4gE9h3dj7ac_JBuGkqc_MM705MyA8VSqEs2nozs0WW3WEiXl35HzkEk68d7wTvhHihLlBBozRzd2NSoV6Bb9FErKNIQiM4NJTlBZa0raWVtyT/w400-h300/563096_10200785841668017_390655526_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had convinced myself so thoroughly that the feeling had just been in my head that I was completely shocked when the doctor announced, "It's a girl!" Things finally made sense though. My mom told me later that she had never felt right about it being a boy either.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then, I got pregnant with my fourth child. Once again, I had a feeling right from the start, but it was different this time. I just knew that there was something wrong with my baby and even further, I knew it was a genetic syndrome. At the time, the only one I could think of was Down Syndrome and so I thought that might be it. When I went in for my 20-week ultrasound, I braced myself for the news. Over the past few months, I had gotten to a place where I was at peace with it. <br /><br />The ultrasound showed a healthy growing baby boy. No defects were noted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was downright surprised at the news. The feeling didn't go away, and I thought maybe they had just missed the signs in the ultrasound.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Davy was born, seemingly healthy, albeit en caul or in his amniotic sac. When the doctor broke the sac, Davy was green from meconium, so they examined him closely to be sure he hadn't inhaled any of it. He did fine on room air and never needed any interventions. But he looked...different than my other babies had. Absolutely adorable and perfect, but different. And every time a doctor or nurse came in the room to check him out, they noticed little things. He had a sacral dimple, he didn't suck correctly, one of his ears was crumpled, he had wide-set eyes. Nothing seemed too concerning to them though. I kept waiting for someone to tell me he had Down Syndrome or something like that because of how he looked, but no one did, and I didn't want to speak up and seem like an overly worried mother. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLluQQFFTpcA1Qg63T6_7jYH1whJTz0Tw-ewl-7w96kj2zc7X0eYoZMnGIp1ZjZg3Z-HFtM4VuykrLO0zOzOvAx0OhFqALqoqiyuZeo3qYyTYukschdWlbmX4G-ge8R1k1XForQ0yVXOQDpAZmUiP_Ku7k3TrBLQ9tV4tPCQCFpoxkTEq0DOAeakvb/s560/1601508_10204347618390209_7623922720400584337_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLluQQFFTpcA1Qg63T6_7jYH1whJTz0Tw-ewl-7w96kj2zc7X0eYoZMnGIp1ZjZg3Z-HFtM4VuykrLO0zOzOvAx0OhFqALqoqiyuZeo3qYyTYukschdWlbmX4G-ge8R1k1XForQ0yVXOQDpAZmUiP_Ku7k3TrBLQ9tV4tPCQCFpoxkTEq0DOAeakvb/w400-h400/1601508_10204347618390209_7623922720400584337_n%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The feeling didn't go away after we brough him home from the hospital. When he was less than 2 weeks old, he started to struggle to eat, and his breathing sounded very junky. He was hospitalized at 3 weeks for his breathing which is when they discovered he had a Patent Foramen Ovale or PFO heart murmur. But still, no one seemed concerned, so I kept my thoughts to myself. At 2 months of age, he was hospitalized for <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/01/davys-tube-feeding-story.html" target="_blank">failure to thrive</a></b> because he was losing weight rapidly and unable to eat more than about 8-10 ounces of milk in a 24-hour period. During that hospitalization, they ran test after test on him and multiple specialists came to check him out. The geneticists were intrigued by him and noted dysmorphic or unusual facial features along with developmental delays, which they said most likely meant he had a genetic disorder of some kind. <br /><br />At 2 years of age, Davy was <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2016/04/the-best-and-worst-news-of-my-life.html" target="_blank">diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome,</a></b> a genetic disorder which it turned out all 3 of his siblings and I have as well. It explained a lot, but there were still things that didn't add up. Our geneticist was sure there was something else going on, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Finally, at the age of 7, a genetic test revealed that he had <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2021/08/a-new-diagnosis-for-davy.html" target="_blank">CDK13, a very rare genetic disorder</a></b>. It explained everything from his hair type to his adorable little face with the button nose, to the eating difficulties he had as an infant. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOotXtsF73lMZEpU8-07UaPiZAVxXMHyrtQWjE7uE87v0_ds1cp-cMXwYfFa230wrjureer1pCMihE8eyGpyB5gwKI0RJ8We6YX0M8jeLktdVIg7y-HdNGMppIO1Zq8hokvTcKmPmcN8fnfD5kSM6_2l5llw4ggiJUItyxIxi5wharNMpjKVYxh4h/s960/189004894_10227366543488950_2512332465002755875_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOotXtsF73lMZEpU8-07UaPiZAVxXMHyrtQWjE7uE87v0_ds1cp-cMXwYfFa230wrjureer1pCMihE8eyGpyB5gwKI0RJ8We6YX0M8jeLktdVIg7y-HdNGMppIO1Zq8hokvTcKmPmcN8fnfD5kSM6_2l5llw4ggiJUItyxIxi5wharNMpjKVYxh4h/w400-h400/189004894_10227366543488950_2512332465002755875_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I firmly believe that the gut feeling I had during my pregnancy with Davy came from God. While one can never be truly ready to raise a child with special needs, God did help me be prepared for that possibility before Davy was even born and seven years before receiving the CDK13 diagnosis. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y5K22FbzDOLlIrrvBSWRnlRR_1cw3qkJAgbJXK-Hw9Ac27Zmw0Uu5fK1lywgAn5ItCvg3NI-7WLmDjqM8qVJhbV8_JCFK2BtYMTd2_aSxLX8fTuxCDd1yrcGaQfk0VyFyWMqssdVvjWB9QGtjzQJZuTN6Bwlnua90lWXTuDwN70C_Pc9uhNS_T-G/s200/Signature%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="200" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_y5K22FbzDOLlIrrvBSWRnlRR_1cw3qkJAgbJXK-Hw9Ac27Zmw0Uu5fK1lywgAn5ItCvg3NI-7WLmDjqM8qVJhbV8_JCFK2BtYMTd2_aSxLX8fTuxCDd1yrcGaQfk0VyFyWMqssdVvjWB9QGtjzQJZuTN6Bwlnua90lWXTuDwN70C_Pc9uhNS_T-G/w200-h64/Signature%20(1).png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting/dp/1649600119/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K3F8WZO2C3YS&keywords=yet+will+i+praise+him&qid=1665504075&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjU4IiwicXNhIjoiMS4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=yet+will+i+prais%2Caps%2C642&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="640" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GXiPvyC8XU2dge2r8rCMfgtXzeIke1jmB_WwmJMmJ-DIT2c_LLYpa5VNPt3_eKrzaC5hSCDhgCTSFhUNKbiyzvaVKJD0JJI5-8vnHZMi1zwu0Cq-9UDts6W4qh6Ocz93JnJ5yiGAqGd2vocvR_PtD4vekbNq2VDN3HfrIzUZE_pgbfPMwWR-nA7p/w640-h244/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-55031012396083522322022-10-11T11:04:00.000-05:002022-10-11T11:04:00.320-05:00A Glimpse Into the Future<p>I recently got a glimpse into my son's future.<br /><br />Davy has <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2021/08/a-new-diagnosis-for-davy.html" target="_blank">CDK13</a></b>, a rare genetic disorder that affects his development, speech, muscle tone, facial features, and more. It can also cause autism, which it does in Davy's case. <br /><br />I was at the bookstore one day when a boy about 13 or 14 years old came in with his mom. He was loudly vocal about his dislike for books in general and instead selected several dvds, he told his mom she was slacking when he was ready to check out and she was not, he did not seem to realize that he was in the cashier's bubble when he leaned way over the counter, and he loudly asked her several questions about how many books and how many dvds the bookstore carried. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFMUzU4i6wkYCUnz6Cup_Eqp0vBnUqoiL53Fpn5uIAgdCykShAJSqciUwJcYULr6XUSwtAoNGHg7PzlA8v7ns-y5r6kANi7V5M4nMdE9_TX5xJAv9sYbRBO4XBoPTYCJsvhAx7zydd2VQAlKxPC-crEftu8ilJLqTyi8dYMncBtxff_yxbvGP8raG/s1500/AGlimpseIntoHisFuture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFMUzU4i6wkYCUnz6Cup_Eqp0vBnUqoiL53Fpn5uIAgdCykShAJSqciUwJcYULr6XUSwtAoNGHg7PzlA8v7ns-y5r6kANi7V5M4nMdE9_TX5xJAv9sYbRBO4XBoPTYCJsvhAx7zydd2VQAlKxPC-crEftu8ilJLqTyi8dYMncBtxff_yxbvGP8raG/w426-h640/AGlimpseIntoHisFuture.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>My first thought was that this kid was disrespectful and self-centered. <br /><br />Then, I noticed that his speech was kind of unclear and "sloppy" for lack of better word. I also noticed how his mom stayed calm throughout the entire visit as she encouraged him to read the books they had at home if he didn't want any from the store and explained to him each step of what they were doing. </p><p>I realized that while there was a chance that this was a kid who just needed some discipline and to learn some social skills, there was also a good chance that this was a kid with special needs who was doing his best. </p><p>And then, I realized how much he reminded me of Davy. Davy doesn't hold back on his opinions. He has very clear likes and dislikes which he is sure to share with others. He expects others to operate on his timetable. He has no sense of personal space. He is interested in details of how things work and doesn't hold back from asking questions. We are constantly working on social skills and being courteous and respectful to others, but he will always struggle with these things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIlNAzJY9Sv3lVVh_V3R9sy5sodIQEtOY0n6rfYKaYnKlSB3yT3AwoJXJpg93fFFLiV9uRxDwkpnF9XAaP-DrnbUDUtU1Ko-ol6bIM_oaZujFZXHVvj7zENBVtaDagMamf5H_0Ddia5TJ80Ve1KWFF9h47mRnk4yMFkWjgUUTKp4RzlEciscDD2w_/s2048/304266063_10230279993123370_5990427742734844728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIlNAzJY9Sv3lVVh_V3R9sy5sodIQEtOY0n6rfYKaYnKlSB3yT3AwoJXJpg93fFFLiV9uRxDwkpnF9XAaP-DrnbUDUtU1Ko-ol6bIM_oaZujFZXHVvj7zENBVtaDagMamf5H_0Ddia5TJ80Ve1KWFF9h47mRnk4yMFkWjgUUTKp4RzlEciscDD2w_/w480-h640/304266063_10230279993123370_5990427742734844728_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As I watched the boy exit the bookstore, I realized that I had just seen a glimpse into Davy's future and it broke my heart. Davy is eight years old now. As he gets older, it's becoming more obvious that he isn't like most kids his age. Each birthday is bittersweet as they remind me of how far he's come, but also, just how much he struggles with things that come naturally for most kids his age. When people look at Davy now and as he grows up, will they see a spoiled child who needs some serious discipline or will they see a child who is doing his best, but struggling to process and respond to everyday things? </p><p>Please let this be your reminder to give people grace when you see them behaving "differently" in public. Many disabilities are invisible to others, but they're there just the same. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88pRqcvWQb9suE16vbKL1J56NUQgVixgpoubg5XcVR6A0bTpzyEK177nTaxVpb_JdiW_wiQxiNiXsEzWQ2xk2zyY6DNzoEnQIF328_V5eYs1XWylBkBTFvlWJDwi52SoyHzYpO3lOL0iftCL5mpBOrlq4pih4IpmQcBV3GXq_2iVdvCDLFrviBhr_/s2000/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88pRqcvWQb9suE16vbKL1J56NUQgVixgpoubg5XcVR6A0bTpzyEK177nTaxVpb_JdiW_wiQxiNiXsEzWQ2xk2zyY6DNzoEnQIF328_V5eYs1XWylBkBTFvlWJDwi52SoyHzYpO3lOL0iftCL5mpBOrlq4pih4IpmQcBV3GXq_2iVdvCDLFrviBhr_/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting/dp/1649600119/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K3F8WZO2C3YS&keywords=yet+will+i+praise+him&qid=1665504075&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjU4IiwicXNhIjoiMS4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=yet+will+i+prais%2Caps%2C642&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="2050" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKLlR49ikY3hPkSiP_pzoI9dma2ScJZy7qsdZLFYvQ6edT_5bvUTWV987QFuywf7OUMZyCMe8PPd0OBhvsIT4b-JhR0Uv9pJcZi0ifQWWbjkW3X2pi8yy-8RE8iqdox-sqt34aGIVjcUYSIAk-p4yD_dRrYUIkPu5g_hvXzR1G-EBsZdJzyki1kCf/w640-h244/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-10516422540142348782021-08-30T12:59:00.007-05:002021-09-02T10:28:11.232-05:00A New Diagnosis for Davy<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday, April 29, 2021</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Davy had an appointment with his geneticist that day to find out the results of his Whole Exome Sequencing or WES. It had been a few years since we'd done any genetic testing for Davy, and I was fully expecting the results to be the same as the other tests we'd done with nothing significant found. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Several years earlier, our geneticist had told me that despite diagnosing Davy with hypermobile <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2016/08/what-is-ehlers-danlos-syndrome.html" target="_blank">Ehlers Danlos Syndrome</a></b>, she felt that he had another genetic syndrome as well and wanted to keep looking. EDS explained a lot of his issues, but there were still some things that didn't quite fit in that box. Multiple genetic tests had always come back negative so we had taken to writing things off as "that's just Davy!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SkkTQnCdUaicqCEnEtLF9hIPsBskm0bs3k0EHYAjr9R7Io2KgYmFoEKwVTFVhUsDe6TNdqjY4_iHueMNbQnGvlhXrqovjrQmd62ktRu8idjiIZpQ25d_SdwA07SHH2EuFOIVeVGS24g/s1440/83618641_10222724056029665_4228896448286031872_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SkkTQnCdUaicqCEnEtLF9hIPsBskm0bs3k0EHYAjr9R7Io2KgYmFoEKwVTFVhUsDe6TNdqjY4_iHueMNbQnGvlhXrqovjrQmd62ktRu8idjiIZpQ25d_SdwA07SHH2EuFOIVeVGS24g/w477-h640/83618641_10222724056029665_4228896448286031872_n.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Once we were back in the exam room, I tried to keep a very impatient Davy calm and occupied while Hubby and I waited for the geneticist. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When she entered the room, she had a stack of papers in her hand and a triumphant smile on her face. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"We have answe</b><b>rs!" </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiVap84QbzG0mJW1PhI6ndlhNa63o0DHG5cd3Sd6wEmZwNKb7oW6LNQs0dlvkFbPdV4OfXBc_YCAYOMQDm85OOFvhtly36I1Dod_UwTfy3Rt87htl50GopdkporDh36VVtVGUvYeI0GA/s1500/A+New+Diagnosis+for+Davy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiVap84QbzG0mJW1PhI6ndlhNa63o0DHG5cd3Sd6wEmZwNKb7oW6LNQs0dlvkFbPdV4OfXBc_YCAYOMQDm85OOFvhtly36I1Dod_UwTfy3Rt87htl50GopdkporDh36VVtVGUvYeI0GA/w426-h640/A+New+Diagnosis+for+Davy.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just about fell off my chair. I had been expecting her to tell us the test was negative, <b><a href="https://supermommyornot.blogspot.com/2015/07/getting-genetic-test-results-back.html" target="_blank">just like we'd been told so many times before over the last seven years</a></b>. <br /><br />She started asking us questions that she already knew the answers to, having followed Davy since he was a year old: </div><div style="text-align: left;">Did he have feeding issues? <i><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/01/davys-tube-feeding-story.html" target="_blank">He had to have a feeding tube as an infant </a>to keep him from starving to death.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Was his hair thick and curly? <i>For sure. If we didn't keep it short, it was uncontrollable.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Did he have speech issues? <i>He had a diagnosis of apraxia and struggled to speak and be understood.</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Did he have hypotonia? <i>Yes, definitely.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">As the questions continued, I was stunned at how well they fit Davy. It turned out that he had tested positive for a mutation on the CDK13 gene or <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDK13-related_disorder" target="_blank">CDK13 related disorder</a></b>. It was newly discovered in 2017 and medical literature noted that only 44 individuals worldwide had been found to have it. <b>Our geneticist had never even heard of it before Davy was diagnosed. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3hBs-KT4Ix7PK_iWBL12WYYuewXenQalqa_FVwhbF7GfMWUijciuUbE2F97whjxMjKBDMIgScUiId5I5NLDm-sJRAYhBPXYCjVPqvNDddOtxPngtLKC8dA5nZGugC-mrbmjOuCtpeNU/s2048/214801982_10227764439756108_7648326889459533642_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3hBs-KT4Ix7PK_iWBL12WYYuewXenQalqa_FVwhbF7GfMWUijciuUbE2F97whjxMjKBDMIgScUiId5I5NLDm-sJRAYhBPXYCjVPqvNDddOtxPngtLKC8dA5nZGugC-mrbmjOuCtpeNU/w480-h640/214801982_10227764439756108_7648326889459533642_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>When the geneticist was done talking to us, the genetic counselor sat down to help us navigate our new reality. He recommended joining a <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/121545531684772" target="_blank">CDK13 support group on Facebook </a></b>that he had stumbled on in his search for some information to share with us. Davy had two more appointments that day and before we had left the clinic, I had already found the group and requested to join. When the administrator contacted me to verify Davy's diagnosis before admitting me into the group, she mentioned that she had been able to easily pick Davy out of my profile picture, which had all four of my kids in it, based on his facial features which are unique to people with CDK13.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once I joined the group, I found that <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDK13-related_disorder" target="_blank">CDK13</a></b>, while very rare, isn't quite as rare as what our geneticist thought. We were the 170th family in the world to join the group because of their child's diagnosis and the group continues to grow. After seven years of not having answers to Davy's unique issues, being able to talk to other families and getting to "meet" their awesome CDK13 kiddos (many of whom look like siblings to Davy!) has been so amazing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UurfNPzGNRp-qoXRdFbK930slJXAEUyivWxY3mQemAhCXwV2GHXNV3OThJu6x2b9gKU1oDbrbTtUroCBo9x2ZNSoUuSTOBBo6RP4lpBXfsP_M6ETiyiLtQAuFD8dqhMz861xik3Q5V4/s2000/CDK13+Awareness.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UurfNPzGNRp-qoXRdFbK930slJXAEUyivWxY3mQemAhCXwV2GHXNV3OThJu6x2b9gKU1oDbrbTtUroCBo9x2ZNSoUuSTOBBo6RP4lpBXfsP_M6ETiyiLtQAuFD8dqhMz861xik3Q5V4/w400-h400/CDK13+Awareness.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We don't know exactly what Davy's future holds, but we do know that he doesn't have any of the potentially life-threatening issues that people with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDK13-related_disorder" target="_blank"><b>CDK13</b> </a>sometimes have such as a heart defect or seizures. He does have quite a few of the other symptoms of it such as unique facial features, thick curly hair, speech issues, developmental delays, hypotonia, feeding issues, autism, gastrointestinal issues, reflux, and more. Some kids with CDK13 tend to be very cuddly and loving and Davy definitely has that trait which is one of the things I love about him. I wouldn't change him for the world. <b>No matter what struggles he faces in life, he is exactly how God designed him and we will support him to always do his best.</b> Davy is an amazing blessing and he is who he is because of his CDK13, not in spite of it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9CeXfmctDPpuFEWbkkbwAJKp_6HEFRVlYNuwB6C0eLS7544BAkf41jHzefeVXYdOttdwpFe15Pm7suYuPKJHzlPWbTP8HlgxVdEMAXn7su8TlZRtnmzBRLsfQWeJ8O9Fju1Nps4m7iM/s1800/240885314_238870551575443_7871313767798606117_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9CeXfmctDPpuFEWbkkbwAJKp_6HEFRVlYNuwB6C0eLS7544BAkf41jHzefeVXYdOttdwpFe15Pm7suYuPKJHzlPWbTP8HlgxVdEMAXn7su8TlZRtnmzBRLsfQWeJ8O9Fju1Nps4m7iM/w512-h640/240885314_238870551575443_7871313767798606117_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shirt is available at the <b><a href="http://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=God%27s+masterpiece" target="_blank">Sunshine and Spoons Shop</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">September 2nd is CDK13 Awareness Day. I'd love for you to help spread awareness so hopefully other families can find the answers and support they need. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>September 2nd is CDK-13 Awareness Day! If you've never heard of it, learn more here: </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>https://bit.ly/3zH4j8U</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/3lc8y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><span class="null">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would appreciate it so much if you would share this post! You can also add a frame to your Facebook profile picture by searching for "CDK13" in the frames.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpDBsRNOjiG4f36JToS_Y62T9uFRFt9yFGsSRwnMRZHWI2kDExyBnvTvMLFn-iA-n9xCvlIIhCOLsTPCQTMF8htsXrcDLeCFjUGL1qZpTSmFKFm7RqeXRFI2SPwAoLtj5YwyDKKVDxdc/s2050/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="2050" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpDBsRNOjiG4f36JToS_Y62T9uFRFt9yFGsSRwnMRZHWI2kDExyBnvTvMLFn-iA-n9xCvlIIhCOLsTPCQTMF8htsXrcDLeCFjUGL1qZpTSmFKFm7RqeXRFI2SPwAoLtj5YwyDKKVDxdc/w640-h244/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-44549854653936200142021-08-02T11:18:00.003-05:002021-08-02T11:19:40.019-05:00But If Not...: Praising God Through the Pain<p>At the beginning of July, Hubby and I packed up the whole family and we went for our fourth year to <b><a href="http://www.campchetek.org/" target="_blank">Camp Chetek</a>'s</b> family camp. </p><div style="text-align: left;">The week started off <b>HOT</b> and humid with temperatures reaching almost 95 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday. If you've been around here long enough, you probably know that heat and I don't mix. <i>At all. </i>Anything higher than about 70, and I'm headed straight for heat exhaustion. Generally speaking, if I get overheated, it takes me at least a week or two to recover depending on how bad it was. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU39JoLkjRUd190Jq7He0SlPwPCG7mUQH3K1nwrzyN9oqFORuIGT-41LMNbnoSLsNwzcgT8UvEa31T4335N6QjApIjEyXE5sU6R3hbz-z60IvBQc_-Y0sRZjHzpecqDK53AjNfQ-EI6Nc/s1500/ButIfNot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="But If Not...: Praising God Through the Pain" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU39JoLkjRUd190Jq7He0SlPwPCG7mUQH3K1nwrzyN9oqFORuIGT-41LMNbnoSLsNwzcgT8UvEa31T4335N6QjApIjEyXE5sU6R3hbz-z60IvBQc_-Y0sRZjHzpecqDK53AjNfQ-EI6Nc/w426-h640/ButIfNot.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This time, I didn't have a chance to recover and gain any <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2016/12/what-is-spoonie.html" target="_blank">spoons </a></b>back. I had to jump straight into a week of family camp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Monday afternoon, I was in a pretty awful mood. I was grouchy because I felt absolutely horrible, and I knew that the rest of the week would be more of the same. I had been hoping to do at least a few activities with the kids, but knew that it wasn't going to happen (<i>we did do the escape room on Wednesday though and that was fun!</i>). <b>I felt like I was letting my family down</b> by not being able to do things with them, and I was not too happy that my body was once again letting me down by being a total jerk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI243ZzfhiUoLtv_KdnBhFq7rKKksfFjOQAn9MhZepD5TBrCuhPGP3AGNo8EuOouFyYf7y3D8p8DCcpBsKOBWLZw9YOTfzNbecpSuBoLvX4DE7gG_s1kHtres1TCwYSWWZinerUbq36A/s633/2021FamilyCamp3+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI243ZzfhiUoLtv_KdnBhFq7rKKksfFjOQAn9MhZepD5TBrCuhPGP3AGNo8EuOouFyYf7y3D8p8DCcpBsKOBWLZw9YOTfzNbecpSuBoLvX4DE7gG_s1kHtres1TCwYSWWZinerUbq36A/w300-h400/2021FamilyCamp3+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That night was our first chapel service of the week. The speaker for the week was <b><a href="https://beneverson.com/" target="_blank">Ben Everson</a></b> (<i>whose preaching and music I highly recommend!</i>) and his sermon on Monday evening was on chapter three of Daniel. In case you don't remember what happens in that chapter or you don't have a Bible nearby, it's the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they refused to bow down to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzer had set up. The king had commanded that everyone bow down to the statue and if they didn't, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's response to that command is found in verses 16-18.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><span class="text Dan-3-16" id="en-NKJV-21824" style="background-color: white;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. </span><span class="text Dan-3-17" id="en-NKJV-21825" style="background-color: white;">If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.</span><span class="text Dan-3-18" id="en-NKJV-21826" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To sum up, they told the king that they would not bow down to the statue and that God would be able to save them from the fire. <b>But the first three words of verse 18 are where it gets real. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"But if not..."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even if God didn't choose to save them from the fiery furnace, <b>they would still serve Him.</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My troubles looked a little less daunting at that point. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">That night, I decided that if God allowed me to have health issues that week, <b>I would still serve Him.</b> Period. I would not allow those issues to ruin a week spent with my family learning more about Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0dYl25HwKr30fm3x8mrYssc0zR_DLwQewNUPYHckVtdO_oulPgAMB8s3CQa7Nr97kqCvg9f7I8XpwmwpeqMLsAcIvIjBJF5lpY5r9IrMzJooROJCk3CaP9HetGOFgt3673OAwqqgBdI/s2048/2021FamilyCamp1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0dYl25HwKr30fm3x8mrYssc0zR_DLwQewNUPYHckVtdO_oulPgAMB8s3CQa7Nr97kqCvg9f7I8XpwmwpeqMLsAcIvIjBJF5lpY5r9IrMzJooROJCk3CaP9HetGOFgt3673OAwqqgBdI/w300-h400/2021FamilyCamp1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Guess what happened next?!?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My health continued to tank all week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By Wednesday, all of the walking, the heat from Monday, the sudden plunge into cold temperatures (<i>90s on Monday and by Wednesday, it was in the 60s</i>), and everything else <b>was really taking its toll on me.</b> My vision was wonky and made me feel like I was walking around cross-eyed, my joints were in excruciating pain from giving out on me and subluxing, my muscles were spasming almost constantly, my fatigue was so severe that I could barely put one foot in front of the other and it didn't help that my foot drop had kicked into overdrive making me trip frequently, my autonomic system had taken a vacation and all of my signals (<i>am I hot or cold? hungry or full? etc.</i>) were mixed up. It will be weeks before I get back to my baseline.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoadpOVjkZc3sDdhlWAynub9LUpFXqM1g3nZcxhx3y5c-V_wKgP3kb99NAFgqtPYDaYzCku1Mdx1Jz7x-I9dwOOTPyQQHU8gjeQKdbXN-0nq_Lwr3HTXD9mu7WD8uEY1XFZn5jYhq4Gw/s758/2021FamilyCamp2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoadpOVjkZc3sDdhlWAynub9LUpFXqM1g3nZcxhx3y5c-V_wKgP3kb99NAFgqtPYDaYzCku1Mdx1Jz7x-I9dwOOTPyQQHU8gjeQKdbXN-0nq_Lwr3HTXD9mu7WD8uEY1XFZn5jYhq4Gw/w300-h400/2021FamilyCamp2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>But it was still a fun, encouraging week, and the only reason was because <b>I chose to focus on God instead of my problems</b>. I asked Him to heal my pain and fatigue so I could spend some time actually doing things with my family, but He didn't. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"But if not..."</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some people would probably take this opportunity to ask why God wouldn't heal me if He truly loved me. I covered <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/07/why-god-hasnt-healed-me.html" target="_blank">that in this post</a></b>, but to sum it up, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I learned a lot more and grew as a believer more last week at family camp than I would have if my health had been great. <b>My circumstances do not dictate my relationship with God. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"But If Not..." Praising God through the pain : https://bit.ly/3ykNyQt</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/4514Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Has there been a time in your life when you chose to continue to serve God through a trial? I'd love to hear your story!<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-383985530779013952021-06-29T14:45:00.000-05:002021-06-29T14:45:00.111-05:00Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my review. However, all views and opinions are my own. </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been over 13 years since I installed the first carseat in my car. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><i>Full disclaimer: I couldn't figure it out and actually asked my sister, aka the carseat wizard, to do it for me. </i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But anyway...the point is that I've had carseats in my vehicles for a long time. From infant carriers to convertible seats to backless boosters, we've been through them all and have usually had multiple carseats installed at a time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7Sek3aw90SFjheMyc7BTzy-s4xLcMs-LY2YnMOj0lZ_9ATrVnPDwSf_tuBpPnZi6w3S3PduGKz6W5geRxCb6VjEMdtapH43iF7vXaepvguktUSaXEAa2pM-oj1aSncKzEcJ2N5acIbE/s1500/IntroducingTheComfiGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7Sek3aw90SFjheMyc7BTzy-s4xLcMs-LY2YnMOj0lZ_9ATrVnPDwSf_tuBpPnZi6w3S3PduGKz6W5geRxCb6VjEMdtapH43iF7vXaepvguktUSaXEAa2pM-oj1aSncKzEcJ2N5acIbE/w426-h640/IntroducingTheComfiGO.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Right now, my two oldest kids, Katie and Nate, are 13 and 11 years old respectively and are out of carseats. The two younger ones, Anna and Davy, ages 8 and 7 are both still in booster seats. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtZYMHY7nLsaDraIfAcQHdAKbhyphenhyphen-YiNhUSWJQFtk_kmRPULNgezBfQ6mOvMmS476tqivU1JxunBnXCQv-OMR7HKf_tv0eGRT-HsOpevQ5DkTo7nDPdCj7xme1KVd3Gzxe4tWv5VQowW8/s1570/ComfiGo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX" border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1167" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtZYMHY7nLsaDraIfAcQHdAKbhyphenhyphen-YiNhUSWJQFtk_kmRPULNgezBfQ6mOvMmS476tqivU1JxunBnXCQv-OMR7HKf_tv0eGRT-HsOpevQ5DkTo7nDPdCj7xme1KVd3Gzxe4tWv5VQowW8/w477-h640/ComfiGo6.jpg" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Davy was not in the mood for pictures, but we got one!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">We keep extra backless boosters in Hubby's pickup and at my in-law's, but they seem to always be in the way and needing to be moved in and out of vehicles. So, when I saw the new <b><a href="https://clypx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ComfiGO booster seat from ClypX</a></b>, <b>I was pretty excited about how small and lightweight it was.</b> The center seat of my minivan's bench seat is almost unusable when there are two booster seats being used there and anytime I have an extra child (friend, niece, nephew, etc.) riding along with me who needs a booster seat, I have to reconfigure our regular seating for the kids. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaEe3ll1Y3hK9e0vcgGVUNgHqHrtbwM3MEl4ML3L6Sn4k3S5kaQOo46wZ3nOGKX_-DrkcKi93Wp0x2XVkM3bMLzBTi8PYhxfZf1ilcHeK6SJDXTS5J838fR5awYV01tGS6Z4czust_kU/s1443/ComfiGo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX" border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1443" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaEe3ll1Y3hK9e0vcgGVUNgHqHrtbwM3MEl4ML3L6Sn4k3S5kaQOo46wZ3nOGKX_-DrkcKi93Wp0x2XVkM3bMLzBTi8PYhxfZf1ilcHeK6SJDXTS5J838fR5awYV01tGS6Z4czust_kU/w640-h640/ComfiGo4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Standard backless boosters work by bringing the child up to the seatbelt. <b>The <a href="https://clypx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ComfiGO </a>works by bringing the seatbelt down to the child.</b> It's easily portable and would be especially great for grandparents or families who are traveling. The flat, flexible seat has anti-slip rubber on the bottom to keep it in place and also has the option to connect it to your vehicle's LATCH system. It's ready to go in just three easy steps (<i>so easy that a brain fogged, exhausted mom like myself could figure it out in less than five minutes!</i>) and, once it's adjusted to your child, only needs to be readjusted when your child grows.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a video that shows just how easy it is to install the ComfiGO booster seat:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/555467591" width="640"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/555467591">ClypX® | Installation of comfiGO® Kids Friendly Booster Seat, Full Version</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user138586217">ClypX</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />The <b><a href="https://clypx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ComfiGO </a></b>is for kids ages four and up who weigh between 40 and 110 pounds and are between 40 and 57 inches tall. When 8-year-old Anna sat down on it, she couldn't stop gushing about how much more comfortable it is than her regular hard boosters. After I adjusted it to be just right for her, she was able to easily unbuckle and rebuckle her seatbelt on her own.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginA1QkWu09kRMAfWF7Q7RWILw0i0oJaW3_Lbi-IiY-oJSU8IBiYcfRPX2rHhhaojTIpuuwRkZyLAn8Sn0noI0N8klhgrRCI1-TrKoOr9N_WHJoGDX9AkWbcLxeHjCBY4wUCuzdMci2HE/s1756/ComfiGo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX" border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginA1QkWu09kRMAfWF7Q7RWILw0i0oJaW3_Lbi-IiY-oJSU8IBiYcfRPX2rHhhaojTIpuuwRkZyLAn8Sn0noI0N8klhgrRCI1-TrKoOr9N_WHJoGDX9AkWbcLxeHjCBY4wUCuzdMci2HE/w560-h640/ComfiGo2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Introducing the ComfiGO Booster Seat from ClypX</i></span><i>: </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>https://bit.ly/2SyGTCq</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/Uut2K" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The <b><a href="https://clypx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ComfiGO booster seat</a></b> is a definite winner in my book and will get a lot of use in our family! <br /><br />What do you like best about the <b><a href="https://clypx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ComfiGO</a></b>?<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-83496941634353593632021-06-01T11:33:00.003-05:002021-06-01T11:33:40.171-05:00Essential Tools for Moms with Brain Fog<p> <i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i></p><div><br /></div><div>If you have a chronic illness, you probably experience brain fog at least some of the time. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Confession: I wrote that first sentence and then stared at it blankly for 20 minutes. Brain fog, anyone?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway...like I was saying, brain fog is real and it can make life pretty difficult sometimes. Add in a few kids (<i>hello mom brain!</i>) and it gets really interesting. <b>The struggle is real.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZtAAcfROl7gmOi6BzgCaNsn2EbEUlwphK5Oc1701MT1BOVslqB4hESvUAh71Atv0RidrgoKwncyWD1ufS4l8mdS5PHxgmSLIFapAoppyEYUX6_aPkZs7_zd3UH25b1tl5wiCTdCpMwM/s1500/Tools+For+Brain+Fog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Essential Tools for Moms with Brain Fog" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZtAAcfROl7gmOi6BzgCaNsn2EbEUlwphK5Oc1701MT1BOVslqB4hESvUAh71Atv0RidrgoKwncyWD1ufS4l8mdS5PHxgmSLIFapAoppyEYUX6_aPkZs7_zd3UH25b1tl5wiCTdCpMwM/w426-h640/Tools+For+Brain+Fog.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I use a lot of tools to help me manage my brain fog. My smartphone is the biggest one and what I refer to as my "external brain." I also work hard to stay organized with my home and schedule, stick to routines so I don't miss anything, and break down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to share some tips, tricks, and tools for brain fog with you in the hopes that they'll help you as well. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy591_ZSCvS0vFefyjC0Q5_yyN4x9yZ4GQkkLTTdxe-u_eKYrSIF4KvUn9hVJZQc8DkSb3V4lMYVMhSzKfkwK9Oq_brKKC92Fl-ka52eXEgvRuXEjqOzrquKez-N0gQ3sLjK5B9bhDBVw/w320-h320/GoogleCalendar.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r" target="_blank">Google calendar</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I used to carry a paper planner with me at all times to keep track of my calendar, but I needed to lighten up my purse to cut down on shoulder strain so I reluctantly made the switch to using a Google calendar. It turns out that I love it! I especially love that I can sync it with my husband and share it with my sister.</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________ </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37ZISVa" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCC86bKQVSA870p8Q48vIFQLL-9Iav4e5oCs02GxRTEB78x_5wMfVETWzkN8hawNCcCXoBcpYP10lBZySt9lc4VCTYfdbaEs4cVjXM6APXuX_2eRYk1xX64-KZe6a4W_EQ-BcMtA9j7E/w356-h400/Post+Its.jpg" width="356" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/37ZISVa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Post-its</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one's a little less high-tech, but still very useful. I use them to leave reminders for myself around the house, notes for my kids, and I even write Bible verses on them so I can see them throughout my day. You can even get sticky notes pre-printed with Bible verses <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2L5DN4Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/09/blog-post.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVDufMynQozWeLC9v0JKChZol-2kvPKe9GvwxbOHyUcQh_7UbJwUNHoByzDIwv3mx2GEi8jp99tyYG12sPtaao5PUFuPup2y2srQag25k68N8eoOGP5Riw8stHR6KxQ77oy_B_g2k05o/w400-h200/PhoneAlarm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Phone alarm clock</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to distance learning with four kids who all have virtual classes, I currently have 17 alarms set to go off of my phone throughout the school day. Thankfully, that's not the norm for me, but I do use my phone alarm on a regular basis to help me remember things such as appointments, picking kids up from activities, and just about anything else.</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3pH5gc0" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYstUMSELd_bXkgA63wxXbjmL69_bZWBqMcnnsFrroMb2Ole6CTaEY3ZIZVd1JWjv5icdRsN8l3YxJsfUVjy1P9-Ync8B35-CvHdC1kQB77zxmrDkg3WOBU6qT9kl3fWv4h2lP3QBMy1w/w320-h320/Tile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3pH5gc0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tile</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you're like me, you're constantly looking for your phone, your keys, your purse, your mind, etc. Tile can't help you when you're losing your mind, but it's great for the other stuff! </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3o8giGO" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewoEJLPNNmRr3-UePlEUrg7NHBujTMXjGE-FIOu41j_2i4F7FMrMgM5W-qbVFUBVYrKvT4AV1pR825M9UwUrSrtryTBpLKJo_ahVTlNNXEszTX9SIgY2a0mEaQPX0_MGOetz3gpWGlVI/w400-h342/SmartNotebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3o8giGO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smart notebook</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't write by hand as much anymore because it hurts my fingers and hands, but I'm still pretty obsessed with notebooks and always have at least one going at all times. I use it for my devotions, to write lists and reminders down, to plan things, etc. When I discovered smart notebooks, it blew my mind! Write in the notebook with a <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2MpmBrM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pilot FriXion erasable pen</a></b>, scan it and upload to your favorite cloud service, erase, and start again. I love that what I write can become digital so I can save and easily find it again. Plus, it's endlessly reusable!</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://flaredown.com/" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://flaredown.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://flaredown.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12Nh1tEt5imSxpq8atukOW-RldcAL_IINulLZCpDFZ_nx6H6pfnyXBdwOAGCBBEahdA3HR39A2ekB3_QtVAGWpvp8KnGGSuK958FJLR9ht6PHy-G_ook9fD-JLCYpA2xZ0D4anBNmw3I/w332-h400/Medisafe.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div><b><a href="http://flaredown.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div>Flaredown App</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This app helps you track your symptoms and is available for Androids and iPhones. This can make a huge difference in managing your health and being able to show your doctors exactly what's going on with you. </div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3uA7exW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3uA7exW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3uA7exW" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbjopDwevD048Ri-QrvUMk_b90_Jr_Z8SD7o5J2zEdaUSVf500RJ-1iyPLtDH9GvTvdQuttM7a8EHtX6rdW4F7i5vb8veMVkABBxweYxNl95xvfIFNtWsk0zOLlq76HRcf-mzRDjh9n0/w400-h200/Flaredown.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3uA7exW" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div>Medisafe App</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you ever forget to take your medicine or is that just me? If that's something you struggle with too, this app can help remind you to take your medication and can even be synced with others so someone else can check in on you or so you can make sure your child or other loved one is taking their medicine. Oh, and did I mention that it's free??</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://motivatedmoms.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="474" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-3vLjw5NCg6FI28ZtH29NAFkYD8Jc07HXyZ5jzuQCajJqyqkPwVC7EBuy-S-HCh-nxuegkjUSv7uVQAek2RsyNIAVWnaA5FDmePkj-8KxnN0_rkKjTOVZQn50wQSGM15cbFSOeWn8D4/w400-h114/MotivatedMoms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://motivatedmoms.com/" target="_blank">Motivated Moms App</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've used this app for about 10 years now and LOVE it. It helps me keep my house from reaching disaster levels by giving me a list of simple chores to do each day. They can be customized and even assigned to others in your house. </div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.cozi.com/" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.cozi.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.cozi.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SYji11gtnmAX_I2Mqm4pMUyarrBSuWcrD3YdWnUWvjaHw2VQinyQ-DWHvwGMlHguIMtvjV-7Z7bgHkXhzrbBnPEqk0sGfb-ZmdSXI822UqoAWZ957V2Kl3tBqfRhVYsbAIv6gvP82Xo/w400-h400/Cozi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><b><a href="https://www.cozi.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div><a href="https://www.cozi.com/" target="_blank">Cozi App</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't personally used this app, but I've heard rave reviews about it from lots of other moms so I thought I better include it in the list. Cozi is a family organizer that keeps your whole family on track and in communication with each other. </div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3tBocuc" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXB2MYENHwa2ReJcgp7ALR04a9Q7rdrAfHukw-R-4Oju_LsEs2mtoSVTp6L8tBTJoXBhNE3MZ5IsgQxZJWT_KRIRAxEuekRsEu7p0QJiuqd6g6Syqozo1k6hKONeie24yw14wT4SjWbI/w266-h400/PainSymptomTrackerBook.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3tBocuc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chronic Pain and Symptom Tracker book</a></b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you prefer to go old school, this book covers a lot of ground and can make tracking your symptoms and other aspects of your care easy to do and share.</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3hcAKG4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="907" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHBzdO2zXn8x2n6ssShKCSwEmE_qJOj0fZnD_oWRBr39hZwWlIa6BNPmi2H0OX7J8BUZb7T_yipar8DeoGVozz0jisF7C7xm6QSCGUrqhxxwgeotWdNWJzZlSd6JjdVCb_VTVKAJVTO4/w266-h400/MrsFishersBook.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3hcAKG4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3hcAKG4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mrs. Fisher's Imperfectly Perfect: Housekeeping for the Chronically Ill book</a></b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Need some tips for how to clean your house while minimizing your pain and fatigue? This book covers it all and is a must-read.</div><div style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This last one isn't really a tool, but it's a blog post about getting organized from <b><a href="https://www.chronicillnesswarriorlife.com/how-to-get-organized-when-you-dont-know-where-to-start/" target="_blank">Chronic Illness Warrior Life</a></b> that I found to be very helpful. Check it out! </div><div><br /></div><div>What tools do you use to cope with brain fog?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-34062377624290230272021-05-12T08:30:00.003-05:002021-05-14T09:15:42.424-05:00Win a Signed Copy of "Yet Will I Praise Him!"<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Guess what? Today is my birthday! Normally, I don't get too excited about my birthday because being the center of attention just isn't my thing, but this year, I can't wait! This year, I'm doing something a little different that takes the focus off of me and puts it on you. Yup, you! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VMhyphenhyphen29KJjonNlL5g_IoLDrdXfU3U0kjoi20J4Bv8l5GH_9uPxzfUpOzqT8tZLRBW-R-Q5nTDXuvZ3bmCTxk1rENYlJR9aOO0Sam-_STF0fIXIjEvl7i52Fy1Ql8mW3Ls1uIRoSPj_YM/s1500/GoodreadsGiveawayPin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VMhyphenhyphen29KJjonNlL5g_IoLDrdXfU3U0kjoi20J4Bv8l5GH_9uPxzfUpOzqT8tZLRBW-R-Q5nTDXuvZ3bmCTxk1rENYlJR9aOO0Sam-_STF0fIXIjEvl7i52Fy1Ql8mW3Ls1uIRoSPj_YM/w266-h400/GoodreadsGiveawayPin.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For my birthday, I'm giving away <b>five </b>signed copies of my book, <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3nVdlu2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yet Will I Praise Him</a></b>. The giveaway will run from May 12 through May 31st on Goodreads. You can enter via the widget below or by clicking <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/323608-yet-will-i-praise-him-living-and-parenting-with-a-chronic-illness" target="_blank">here</a></span></b>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget323608"><!--Show static html as a placeholder in case js is not enabled-->
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55853489" rel="nofollow">Yet Will I Praise Him</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20862495.Hannah_Wingert" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Hannah Wingert</a>
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Giveaway ends May 31, 2021.
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See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/323608" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
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</div><script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/323608" type="text/javascript"></script><br />I would love it if you would share the giveaway with anyone you know who might benefit from the book as well! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.create-with-joy.com/2021/05/friendship-friday-blog-hop-482.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=createwithjoy" target="_blank">This post is linked up at the Friendship Friday Blog Hop.</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-9225851229128119932021-04-21T18:29:00.008-05:002021-04-23T16:32:04.504-05:00Why Mask Mandates Are Ableist<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I caught your eye with that headline, didn't I? Let me start by saying that <b>this blog post is not about the <span style="font-family: inherit;">efficacy of masks or the severity of COVID-19. It's not a pro or anti mask post. </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're here to argue about any of those things, <b>please read this with an open heart and mind.</b> Feel free to leave a comment, but know that any comments that miss the point of this post or are just downright mean will be deleted because I don't want any wars to start in the comment section.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>Ableism: </span><span class="hvr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040;">Treating people unfairly because they have a disability (an illness, injury, or condition that makes it difficult for them to do things that most other people can do.)</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've become a social pariah. I'm not welcome out in public anymore. If I do have to go out somewhere, I feel like a criminal, constantly pulling up the bottom of my mask to get a breath or furtively tugging it down for </span>a few seconds when no one's looking. I haven't been to a store in almost a year except for a quick stop at a small local store for milk or some other essentials that can't wait until my next online grocery order at Wal-mart. I still brave all of my kids' regular doctor appointments and therapies, but I pay for them, spending 10-15 minutes sitting in my van after walking out of the clinic, waiting for the world to stop spinning and going black around me and hoping that my crushing headache and nausea will let up at least a little so I can drive safely. I have a severe heat intolerance due to <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/10/what-are-dysautonomia-and-pots.html" target="_blank">Dysautonomia </a></b>and the way that the air heats up and becomes humid in a mask makes me very sick every time I have to wear one. <b>My body simply cannot tolerate it. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb-Zn_YGiWHlPyyOBeHtWig-e8aVSpoZCYwVbUGB0jFXyTwAoUzDsDzBFW6CAXLGaDhpXVm9S4ELrpupbPHZThb3ekLBgCL934GGTAHiC7EcBqynPDUbRn1zOKAITPJp4HWA691Qzdik/s1500/MaskMandatePin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb-Zn_YGiWHlPyyOBeHtWig-e8aVSpoZCYwVbUGB0jFXyTwAoUzDsDzBFW6CAXLGaDhpXVm9S4ELrpupbPHZThb3ekLBgCL934GGTAHiC7EcBqynPDUbRn1zOKAITPJp4HWA691Qzdik/w426-h640/MaskMandatePin.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"You'll get used to it" is what people told me at the beginning of the mask mandate. I wish that were the case, but it's gotten worse each time I have to put a mask on. My 13-year-old could tolerate them at first, but now she finds herself blacking out repeatedly when she wears a mask. After she came home from school recently and told me that <b>she had blacked out 58 times that day</b>, we got permission from the school for her to wear a face shield instead although those give her a pressure headache. At least a headache is better than blacking out constantly. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point, I've spent well over a hundred dollars buying different styles of masks, desperate to find one that will work for me. I've found that the only ones I can tolerate for even short periods of time are the <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3t9L84F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blue surgical masks</a></b>. I've tried a variety of <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3d5Kuzs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">face shields </a></b>as well and while they are a little better for my breathing, they give me a splitting pressure headache and are very annoying if I have to move around much so I only wear them for the meetings I have to attend in-person. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not a matter of not wanting to wear a mask or not agreeing with them. I'm not even going to tell you how I feel about masks in general because that's not the point here. <b>The point is that I can't safely wear a mask.</b> My life would be so much easier right now if I <i>could</i> wear a mask. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9nubKIXtpTLYm9Tyt7v96T95gIXeqsk35EK1oh88Gy7vEMi2E17aKpds1Dyk0hloLuKlunVE_h7e1cNrHIwb7bfX3boYwXFpRQGhqReGRcazgZH6DhVHC_23TEuuPjh5VZg1V9_S8qI/s940/MaskMandate2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9nubKIXtpTLYm9Tyt7v96T95gIXeqsk35EK1oh88Gy7vEMi2E17aKpds1Dyk0hloLuKlunVE_h7e1cNrHIwb7bfX3boYwXFpRQGhqReGRcazgZH6DhVHC_23TEuuPjh5VZg1V9_S8qI/w400-h335/MaskMandate2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>People who live with a chronic illness know how it feels to be left out, to be told that they're lying about their health, that it's all in their heads, that the accommodations they need aren't important. But when I asked for help in dealing with my inability to wear a mask in several online chronic illness groups, I was met with anger, hatred, and bullying from the people who should have the most compassion for someone who does not fit the "norm" and is struggling with their health. <b>The same people who have dealt with ableism and discrimination their whole lives because of their disabilities are now happy to inflict it on someone else because of their specific medical issue.</b> This is the opposite of the inclusion we have been fighting for. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been told that I'm selfish, that I don't deserve to be out in public even for much-needed medical appointments, and <b>told that they hope I die from COVID</b> (<i><b>joke's on them. <a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2021/01/my-story-of-being-high-risk-with-covid.html" target="_blank">I caught COVID and survived.</a></b></i>) These people, who say that they want everyone to wear masks to save lives, are wishing death on people who can't. You can't tell me that your priority is saving lives and then in the same breath, tell me that you hope I die. That's just not logical. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've also been told that if it's that bad, I should just get a mask exemption. I did actually ask my doctor about one last June, but the clinic has a policy against doing so. Also, businesses can create their own policies and if they have a strict mask policy, then having a mask exemption isn't going to help. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-PdW45Jz1FrXmfWlGo53RhPPLGa9tKnHtZ54DzQMFKWks5l2nXLDRZ7yWb4xGinTMRYg431JQDR7kiL2Y8SMpXrv3ndgLkMiVhcAfAkl14G0HRRQPOSdc490fNyoAlQ9QWMBXEBN0Z0/s940/MaskMandate1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-PdW45Jz1FrXmfWlGo53RhPPLGa9tKnHtZ54DzQMFKWks5l2nXLDRZ7yWb4xGinTMRYg431JQDR7kiL2Y8SMpXrv3ndgLkMiVhcAfAkl14G0HRRQPOSdc490fNyoAlQ9QWMBXEBN0Z0/w400-h335/MaskMandate1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>There are a variety of reasons why someone would struggle with or be unable to wear a mask, from sensory issues to breathing problems. There are also a variety of ways that masks affect those people.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My friend Kristina said it perfectly... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>"We don't all have the same baseline needs, so just because one person can wear a mask does not mean everyone can."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are just a few stories from other people who can't wear masks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3taowkz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Daphne, an author of multiple books</a></b>, can't wear a mask because the humidity that builds up in the mask causes her to have an asthma attack.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Seth from <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mysweetzebras" target="_blank">My Sweet Zebras</a></b> wears a mask, it makes his Tourette's tics worse. He also has Autism Spectrum Disorder and his sensitivities from that keep him from wearing a mask.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kristina has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS and has trouble getting enough oxygen. Wearing a mask causes her to develop <b><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Dystonias-Fact-Sheet" target="_blank">post-hypoxia dystonia</a></b>. Because she can't wear a mask safely, she has been forced to forego her last three echocardiograms (by a medical clinic which is supposed to be working to keep ALL of their patients safe, not endangering their health by refusing to provide much-needed medical care) and was kicked out of an eye clinic for lifting her mask temporarily to try to get a breath.<br /><br />Stephanie has pectus excavatum and severe asthma. Wearing a mask makes her breathing symptoms much worse.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barb has Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia. Her years of taking Prednisone to treat that caused her to develop Cushings Disease as well. When she wears a mask, it makes her breathing symptoms worse and causes her to break out with severe acne.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emily has severe asthma and has an asthma attack when she wears a mask.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Brandy has abdominal surgery and is unable to comfortably take a big breath because of the scar. She was forced to wear a mask at a medical clinic or her appointment would have been canceled. She passed out because of the mask while at the clinic and woke up in a hospital bed unable to speak clearly. She was diagnosed with having had a mini stroke due to oxygen deprivation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'd love to hear your story! Leave a (<i>kind, respectful</i>) comment and share your story about how masks affect or don't affect you. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-23364350793578276902021-02-08T12:17:00.002-06:002021-02-08T15:44:16.981-06:00Why I Stopped Using a Digital Bible in Church<p> <i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i></p><p>When I got my first smartphone four or five years ago, one of the first things I downloaded on it was a Bible app. I often took notes in my physical Bible, but trying to cram them in the margins and being limited in space frustrated me. <b>I loved that having a Bible app on my phone</b> gave me unlimited space for notes. I could also easily highlight verses without having to remember a highlighter in my Bible bag. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaabSCxeP5MzNAMZGELXN3bDEKh2nJ-mqWnsYafbYkCwmCmdCLPKpMzCAjQPJn2rsIPoeGhIDZLb5OkLlFwv9nAwYrCnYqR2ZKCktFQAcy8UrjRzPbH9xLazHU_RNccyZpcaS6e_I4hn0/s1500/Why+I+Stopped+Using+a+Digital+Bible+in+Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why I Stopped Using a Digital Bible in Church" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaabSCxeP5MzNAMZGELXN3bDEKh2nJ-mqWnsYafbYkCwmCmdCLPKpMzCAjQPJn2rsIPoeGhIDZLb5OkLlFwv9nAwYrCnYqR2ZKCktFQAcy8UrjRzPbH9xLazHU_RNccyZpcaS6e_I4hn0/w426-h640/Why+I+Stopped+Using+a+Digital+Bible+in+Church.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p>I still feel the same way. Being able to easily switch between Bible versions and use Bible commentaries without having to lug around big heavy books is great. I also love that no matter where I am, I always have a Bible with me. <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2020/08/20-must-have-apps-for-christians.html" target="_blank">In addition to the Bible apps I use, I also have found a variety of other apps that have helped me grow as a believer</a></b>.<br /><br />But a few weeks ago, I was listening to a Podcast on discipling my kids from <a href="https://www.familylife.com/" target="_blank"><b>FamilyLife</b></a> and the speaker said something about preferring not to use the Bible on his phone during church because it can easily send the wrong message to our kids even when we're being responsible and not being distracted with notifications and texts. <b>It stuck with me and I decided to make a change.</b> I got my Bible back out of the drawer, found a small bag to carry it in (I like bags like <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3rxnw8B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this</a></b> or <a href="https://amzn.to/3rLURgv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>this</b></a>,) and added a notebook and pen (<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2YWGtp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these are great pens</a></b> if writing is difficult or painful for you like it is for me!)<br /><br />The next time we went to church after that was for Wednesday night Bible study. 13-year-old Katie, recently graduated from the kids' program downstairs to sitting upstairs with us, settled in on the pew next to me, as we chatted about random things and waited for the pastor to start the Bible study. Then she said something that struck me to the core...<br /><br /><b>"You're just scrolling on Facebook or Instagram during church. I know that's why you have your phone out."<br /></b><br />I was horrified that that's what she thought I'd been doing in church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night and,<b> it definitely solidified my decision not to use my phone in church anymore</b>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I tried to set her straight, I realized something. </span></p><p><b style="font-family: inherit;">Using the Bible on my phone in church is not a bad thing and it's definitely not a sin, but if it's a stumbling block to someone else's faith, especially my children, than it's something I need to let go of. </b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul specifically warns about this in several places in the Bible.</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #111111; text-indent: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak."</b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-indent: 16px;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I Corinthians 8:9</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></b></span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-indent: 16px;">Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."</span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-indent: 16px;"><b>Romans 14:13</b></span></div></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Now, I bring my physical Bible to church, use a <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2YYmxCo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">notebook</a></b> to take notes, transfer those notes to my Bible app when I get home, and leave my phone in my purse while I'm at church. If I want to research something further with a commentary, I write that down in my notebook and take care of it after church.</p><p><b>If you choose to use a digital Bible on your phone during church, it's important to be responsible with it, not just for your kids, but for others who may be watching as well.</b> Put your phone on "do not disturb" mode to avoid being distracted by notifications and text messages, and be transparent about what you're using it for during the service. Like I said,<b> there's nothing wrong with using the Bible on your phone</b> at any time, but we want to be sure we're not being a stumbling block to another believer or an unbeliever by doing so. <br /><br />What kind of Bible do you use during church services? Do you prefer a physical Bible or a digital one?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br /></div></div></form></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-24544047261704354352021-01-22T10:43:00.003-06:002021-01-22T10:49:39.548-06:00 January 22, 1973<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">48 years ago today on January 22nd, 1973, Roe v. Wade was decided.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">35 years after that day, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFTUnYhOkpM76RHpFwFPGoPHdRLzvxnIFVmT-jPA3YS-EOd1z_dmXduOZbfc7sf-bKn-6ezEWm8yPZqg60bbr_0HpIjVTSGCERPiWAFetmobZbN-ub1cZe0PDC4Oop1YzfTfzASeX8r4/s604/189263_1003458846383_8165_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFTUnYhOkpM76RHpFwFPGoPHdRLzvxnIFVmT-jPA3YS-EOd1z_dmXduOZbfc7sf-bKn-6ezEWm8yPZqg60bbr_0HpIjVTSGCERPiWAFetmobZbN-ub1cZe0PDC4Oop1YzfTfzASeX8r4/w476-h640/189263_1003458846383_8165_n.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Today, she turns 13, a privilege that 62 million children will never get.<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEe4sZ4MB04wp0KJbfDpJJ1EW-W3yo86RcEgZOfwv5N4QQ5PUVOT9DkccQCYlSLrgiFlCPb4O6rJx8AevCWYDdwN3B8dHRPh-ujbLEA8QUm05P2TwDqI3iU2q7A14VzWxaUKn6bbFpfQ/s960/140524186_10226302201721071_8009250226698437214_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEe4sZ4MB04wp0KJbfDpJJ1EW-W3yo86RcEgZOfwv5N4QQ5PUVOT9DkccQCYlSLrgiFlCPb4O6rJx8AevCWYDdwN3B8dHRPh-ujbLEA8QUm05P2TwDqI3iU2q7A14VzWxaUKn6bbFpfQ/w480-h640/140524186_10226302201721071_8009250226698437214_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you're struggling, know that there is help and hope. <b><a href="https://www.abbyjohnson.org/contact-1" target="_blank">Please call one of these numbers or visit the website</a></b>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How to observe Sanctity of Life Day:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recognize the value of every single life at every stage. Pro-life doesn't just refer to the unborn.<br />Be compassionate with those who are struggling.<br />Volunteer at a women's shelter or pregnancy crisis center.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Donate baby items, formula, diapers, etc.<br />Show the love of Christ to single mothers by serving and helping as He commands us.<br />Pray for expecting women and moms who may be in crisis</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find more ideas and practical suggestions <b><a href="https://www.liveaction.org/news/voting-pro-life-isnt-enough/" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><script type="text/javascript">
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-66473755346878669632021-01-18T11:18:00.001-06:002021-01-18T16:14:01.543-06:00My Story of Being High-Risk with COVID-19<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It finally happened. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After 10 months of caution and feeling like it was hanging over my head the entire time, <b>I came down with COVID-19.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXLuNNKY0_ox8v1Cg6F8xTKJK0xCz0Z0tHTobxjjZFqjBD6DnMycemX4AMYM5WM9wCsghmnMCiDhG7X0zhq2Ihs2hJK-pXUgDMAW2Cmbk_98l2E0FnilHVSYcDdsJF366Pd7SDKR0M-s/s1500/My+Story+of+Being+High-Risk+with+COVID-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Story of Being High-Risk with COVID-19" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXLuNNKY0_ox8v1Cg6F8xTKJK0xCz0Z0tHTobxjjZFqjBD6DnMycemX4AMYM5WM9wCsghmnMCiDhG7X0zhq2Ihs2hJK-pXUgDMAW2Cmbk_98l2E0FnilHVSYcDdsJF366Pd7SDKR0M-s/w426-h640/My+Story+of+Being+High-Risk+with+COVID-19.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have severe asthma that has nearly killed me many times. I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Generally speaking, I pick up just about every germ that I come across, and I get pretty sick. A common cold can put me on prednisone with serious breathing difficulties. In 2018 and 2019, I came down with Influenza A and was very sick for weeks each time. <b>My lungs have never fully recovered from the bout in 2018.</b> When I do finally start to recover from an illness, it takes a LONG time for me to get back to my baseline which, isn't very impressive to begin with thanks to my chronic illnesses. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before I go any farther, here's a brief description of the conditions I mentioned above:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/" target="_blank">Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)</a></b>: A connective tissue disorder that can cause hypermobility of the joints (what some people refer to incorrectly as "double jointed"), stretchy, fragile skin, gastrointestinal issues, and MUCH more. Connective tissue is the glue that holds a person's body together and when that is faulty, the body literally is falling apart from the inside. People with EDS often have the "trifecta" of EDS, POTS, and MCAS.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=34" target="_blank">Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)</a></b>: POTS is a form of Dysautonomia which is a condition where the automatic functions of the body such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, digestion, etc. are essentially "out of whack" and don't operate properly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.mastcellaction.org/about-mcas" target="_blank">Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)</a>:</b> Mast cells are what cause allergic reactions. For most people, they behave normally, but for people with MCAS, they're out of control, reacting to everything and nothing and causing repeated mild to severe anaphylaxis symptoms. When most people hear anaphylaxis, they picture someone with their throat closing up, but anaphylaxis can cause rapid pulse, low blood pressure, itching, hives, flushing, swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and nausea. When I'm not on my treatment plan, I experience mild anaphylaxis symptoms multiple times a day, often with no known trigger, and more severe anaphylaxis several times a year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to my asthma being a concern, my MCAS and POTS also made me think that I should really avoid catching COVID-19. Many patients who recover from COVID-19 end up with POTS-like symptoms for weeks or months after. Also, complications in COVID-19 are often attributed to the patient crashing due to a <b><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/07/828091467/why-some-covid-19-patients-crash-the-bodys-immune-system-might-be-to-blame" target="_blank">cytokine storm</a></b> which involves an overreaction of mast cells (remember what I said about MCAS?). <b>In fact, several of the medications and supplements I take regularly to help control my MCAS have been recommended for people with COVID-19.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-d4e711b0-8df7-4568-976c-f37de0fff78e"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d4e711b0-8df7-4568-976c-f37de0fff78e"></script><div style="text-align: left;">So how did COVID-19 go for me? Overall, I would say <i>surprising</i>. I had heard that people with the virus have horrible coughs, sore throats, and high fevers. I had an extremely mild cough, a mild sore throat for one day, and only ran a fever twice that never got above 101 F. I did experience severe fatigue, body aches, a stuffy nose, and moderate breathing difficulties throughout the whole illness. I also intermittently experienced chills. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On December 16th, I found out that someone I had been in contact with had tested positive for COVID-19. <b>The next day, I started to feel sick</b> and so the day after that, I went in to be tested. The next day (December 19), the results came back positive. I immediately quarantined myself in my room away from my family. On day four of being sick (December 20), my husband began to not feel well either. On day five (December 21), I lost my sense of taste and smell although it slowly came back 4-5 days later. My husband went in to get tested that day and the next day, <b>his test came back positive as well</b> and so he joined me in quarantine. Our kids are 12, 10, 8, and 6 and thankfully, were able to take care of themselves pretty well. They weren't allowed in my room and if Hubby or I left the room for any reason, we made sure that they didn't come near us. We were also very blessed that our family and friends dropped off meals for us so the kids didn't have to live on scrambled eggs, sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese the whole time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Hubby's fever mostly stayed above 100 for the first nine days of his illness, but thankfully let up after that. He never got as sick as me (<i>of course. He's such a show-off)</i> despite having a fever while I usually had none and was able to go back to work once his quarantine was up on January 1st. On December 25th, I spiked a fever during the night and felt very ill, but I think it was my body rallying and fighting the virus off as the next day, <b>I finally started to feel like I was moving into the recovery stage </b>after 9 days of severe body aches, fatigue so severe I could barely walk to the bathroom, a very stuffy nose, and headaches. My quarantine ended on December 27th, but I was still very weak and fatigued so I stayed in bed the rest of that week to let my body recover. Thankfully, none of the kids ever showed symptoms of being sick and after their quarantine ended on January 9th, they were able to go back to school.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today is January 18, over a month after coming down with COVID-19, and I'm still not back to my baseline. I get fatigued very easily and my asthma is not under control as well as it normally is, but overall I'm happy with how I've recovered and the lack of complications while I was sick. <b>Obviously, I know that not everyone's story of COVID-19 will be as good as mine</b>. I have a number of friends and family who have also had it and several had life-threatening complications, but thankfully survived. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you or someone you know had COVID-19? How did it go?<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting/dp/1649600119/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1610990259&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="2050" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05M5lLKVzWPAL0bsbf4cxe6Jv27AgP1TKO3Ny913vK7xA8lQSgjrBUThDRatDhfmC2dPanrUlnCT2odYu8JTiUMmbnsWOEjIypnjALEE-71fGF-TSstnSyYy2IcYnlTJfWQEZKatmf0I/w640-h244/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-55384299205836959162020-12-22T19:05:00.001-06:002020-12-22T19:05:21.374-06:0020 Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Family<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">When you think of Christmas movies, I bet there are a few that immediately spring to your mind as ones that you absolutely have to watch every year. Maybe they're movies that you grew up watching with your family or maybe they're new ones that you've recently discovered and with which you've fallen in love. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Every year, we try to watch our favorites along with a few new ones for some variety. I especially like to focus on movies that help my kids and our whole family focus on the real reason for the Christmas season, the birth of our Savior and sharing His love with others. I made a list of my family's favorites along with a few other suggestions from some other moms in a parenting group I'm a member of on Facebook.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYbBoB8erDnZxnPTFJc7931RCY-NclUliuGSUSSWl6y-OlFl7OqjqXVVwkyjLBGG-kZYwuhNUIqyZjaCWNo6xOciqUlLcpk4qn4TEM0JFarKmrgUSUusQ6SK6l8XzI4kcaKDJwtgtfyQ/s1500/20+Christmas+Movies+to+Watch+with+Your+Family.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYbBoB8erDnZxnPTFJc7931RCY-NclUliuGSUSSWl6y-OlFl7OqjqXVVwkyjLBGG-kZYwuhNUIqyZjaCWNo6xOciqUlLcpk4qn4TEM0JFarKmrgUSUusQ6SK6l8XzI4kcaKDJwtgtfyQ/w266-h400/20+Christmas+Movies+to+Watch+with+Your+Family.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll share a link to where you can purchase each of the movies on dvd, but check your streaming services too in case they're available to stream for free! I like to use the <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kl3u1u" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JustWatch </a></b>app to find out where movies and tv shows are available to watch. FYI, if you have Hulu Live and record anything to your dvr, they won't necessarily show up on the JustWatch app so it's worth it to check that separately. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm also including a link to the movie's review on Plugged In when available so you can make sure it's appropriate for your kids as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Star</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37I3NvT" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvjYxgEY27aGAfS7US4VqHFcXWAfTonbUaVYQz4FvCyvNhMz8AmgfsvV8uH5iJ6VTi73C9PeDeb9QHvxq-hIZDwBC5gLUSNDthuN_3bma4yWGZapuqzuOZtXScmRkewoeQcebAL-zqbg/s320/TheStar.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/the-star-2017/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/37I3NvT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We Three Kings</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/we-three-kings/9781970139884/pd/153051" rel="" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlG3j-18PMZ5O_Cwn0Q5UiE2PcK8naPHUEJ1DgB14CCrOwibK7l4iC5HW4oJEwwHAcjaefKCvE7XwudAxX-LVcX3AdUdwOSq7CCFhgosb6Dz07elmQzUxFM-cRt6YLakXeNF7OQP92X4/s320/WeThreeKings.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/we-three-kings/9781970139884/pd/153051" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Nativity Story</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2WGqrPc" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxoVJ3J-Rke9rPsBfwBrXOpjMGE4cn5hWFzVJVkpOq73nHRdb-R6WhPXbzFdCDReiLs-VFg0h7FJhdf-bw2B5xzqO3kbMZDvqVmzKge7a61xVwn3gdQmPzUEBzEnSeTNeqLXhMsX0w0E/s320/The+Nativity+Story.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/nativitystory/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WGqrPc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a Wonderful Life</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2WH0sa6" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrr_1iP3AD3-Vh4kv_7I-t-fVCY2gsQNy93m961VuSxmJ-I_TQIIJyseY4QnhfULMsafNLaSay9z4t3yRY8gbBwVI3vjyF0kPuLu8QV4ilVIUd4VQle2GiSF-YvndtMK1BjlO8s1-R3s/s320/Its+A+Wonderful+Life.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/itsawonderfullife/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WH0sa6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Charlie Brown Christmas</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mIYJvN" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCycImgBvSOjFFPUsMO7A1O2_AgvQMQhOn4Tm44pFy-4Rhaw78By6TFqZAwo4e-Cmx483I6yCFJt9Sv65_D6P1lN74NDbKQhQ1HaW_VxY7u0IKUHIYAAUNdrIVylyM96HACB1VwpzM9E/s320/A+Charlie+Brown+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3mIYJvN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</span><br />I recommend reading the book with your kids too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2M1Q1Mo" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqzgOqz1v7jvFNpOBYgvu4wlAj1rQ8mrj_kTPj7mcW8y8tcKSML04YXItCoCSn4Rn8nzlZyKfDs_GMT4XcpdOjyE5i5mOC4QybDmoSMi3g27T568i0zss4jzytEhdi0avSmi9_zv28SA/s320/The+Best+Christmas+Pageant+Ever.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2M1Q1Mo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Small One</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mJyJjR" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vWRTRogyf4f7TZ7yvtyykQq1-x5oeZeFZala6bSxtqTRn6kwcmVJOGMjje800wuhgFNdNXvMZbMrzPjZ4TDvAhBAhidbmcKZstqVYwoETKEXTKwsKFaPNG6Ep3eTICCh8h5pTXklcqE/s320/The+Small+One.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3mJyJjR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas for a Dollar</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37IYvjT" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyozzcHLJGWBxSlDL59Y9Bwie8yvO6myrOw9xgefQujxg3MEefji9DQbGQPhLFSOnKYESTOjDoPkS18HCXOpR7Cl-33jNXa4afpk48B1UJLpw3UQ6HbW09rlwgR0E4HrVhRYlJ6Q_VnwE/s320/Christmas+For+A+Dollar.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/37IYvjT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Least of These</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kx2qrh" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa_2f1OUEOSwX35Sl9U9euL623-Uea_QMs5SGA4A1kpMsBeQ-94QZlJutYDbf9JpZyAPcg5yOHJ2We4OJYgJGKZGB0XygLK_tUmESoI-bly4MDrDV2VKjuyHglWh7H7fpyMJkCsHu6ac/s320/The+Least+of+These.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Kx2qrh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Saving Christmas</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3p9DS6m" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcrRwwy7Am_ulP0yJUsqol8Y4fIfq1w65EsQINbuB6WEbjciM0zVLGZkDkSQs6vz2Q8suR6HL4HRnf81j76HZqmnlBYLI8BsbVvhRhXpMlgfPJ4Vietvjj2aVIwcilo9OJJZ-U5AkF1g/s320/Saving+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/saving-christmas/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3p9DS6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Silent Night</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mKjabo" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1733" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8dmR7bFEdBW6ctVifWPLUw26mBM94R3K-b5efODxq5JNvRP145wr9CNpm2qiVFu8BuipXoxscbnN-Ft3FRDerqIN5HSiwAQRUL7XKKP_Y1bTCHmU4M6r-KGowCDYTSLEvo_mKxN-YZI/s320/Silent+Night.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3mKjabo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Miracle</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aCFe5E" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r3uHpIXjZ9WY72zXvrV6xJhCXZ0vhl49_xTGjBrDZDEWV761rK99iyl9ZVm8dEmzVF4vWWDNyQ1QOWdZTQ7YXmyU_isKj21dDEAciIDaPTRXw3t3g0YVE4cjHA8mAR9W3L7MYvW55-Y/s320/Christmas+Miracle.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3aCFe5E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas with a Capital C</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2KSLo6w" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSgSi-Sp3DEnGa68Yh2hylrg4RG8_ch6LaKyaeD1nZ4JURyQgG8t9Kqx2v9VUdK8UI33OSHRTfqYZujQh-KHmJtFsv429MmlgOIUqngY1rZEeY3CC3_Pgjrt_Kclw7UBCd5xFpngwjCU/s320/Christmas+with+a+Capital+C.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2KSLo6w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Veggie Tales: The Toy That Saved Christmas</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3rlqcHh" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxubC8xLvq5xYVCrXrPsRsqHL70HVS6Mejg113KAYWI-Ja1QKKqpX0TLKdJqOGwvccyEkKayuqo7Cp0XtF_bey1NRBYeTDoEyYMiEwm8bj-w2feFOxBsbyALmf4Bpj2SbpsW24vxC3As/s320/Veggie+Tales+The+Toy+That+Saved+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3rlqcHh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas Manger</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2WEdDsp" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x0uNLFvmPJM_3Ke2R0K2Vs3TIkx028kGgZqhHI9B4te9hdYMgcvGlmONsSAaKT_ybdppvFhljcXbObubzihiocyi5JEPNs3i5j-hxnsVWYiEKXWnUw_XLqKrlTimib_FwADmInlcmiE/s320/Christmas+Manger.png" /></a></div></div><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2WEdDsp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div><div><div>___________________________________________________________</div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Christian Carol</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mJ7u99" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33xB9v_8bfLpttlot5F8wb61a0U4OCUll5-Qxhxc0DNEGegGXk3xHfiRQN4xgUVWfKJFpWyNqDr8Q-_GWnBQAv8bj0G7Qf6z-v9PC_ZId-VakK3asKd5_6SVGm6SYJVYqsBsrRVKBM90/s320/A+Christian+Carol.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3mJ7u99" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Man Who Invented Christmas</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aAon3f" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GwD4WTaJWosigAzPRNu0M9S57VQPxktBGSRA4o3arVEQ1_WZPjY2Kf2fkycXa6LEnNInJj6MufyMCLVnPZK6C9WxHByZWQVWdb4wtep-zosGfQUz9k1HwIt63U91IFi2Mci6TCxFk0k/s320/The+Man+Who+Invented+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/man-who-invented-christmas/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3aAon3f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas Candle</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3rfW2VM" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrYhHc_18_MRf-hNzr5Y1FYssxFZnnaJdfPkGV2DnJjM0yljReyK-DJMtuJohjUj_OVnGWcqrw96SP7YBgC5jJsHy1oCkEf3OcjDOYpFHPH0qU90eesc9gBGY8Hx75-mwB64BR3M_IyE/s320/The+Christmas+Candle.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/christmas-candle/" target="_blank">Plugged In review</a></b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3rfW2VM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Veggie Tales: The Star of Christmas</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3rlDPGh" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9h00g0A5t0JG2hlWs2DqREVqpocatEE4m4Bgr2wzAZi5m1LrRGfzTZEyNJarwrFzBPQHhlrYJzB7lMcAWQTvkWxLh9IAkvTejkY6zWIdIPTZFBUA-ORsB00dqDR2bbredzXRKMbGBN4/s320/Veggie+Tales+The+Star+of+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3rlDPGh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________________________________________</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37HZUHx" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYzZtbIwhXqmV-jnhswA4Op6da3sw0Q5rFyaSOvMSWb3S0dCpQhmuORayoDX5ZX86hl6ufLWoipd7R7FZSOYo0sh2KdVyqbPQ7ImWwPJydKEGpTP1mXuqKI-VzM81cxksXpIoRMWLpow/s320/The+Christmas+Miracle+of+Jonathan+Toomey.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>Plugged In review not available</b></div><div><b><a href="https://amzn.to/37HZUHx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy it here</a></b></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><i>20 Christmas movies to watch with your family: https://bit.ly/2WB3OeW </i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/Bj8cK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Is there anything you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-40595539785813928272020-12-05T10:50:00.002-06:002020-12-05T10:53:55.435-06:00Holiday Gift Guide - Ehlers Danlos/Rare Disease Zebra Edition<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're looking for the perfect gift for the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or rare disease zebra in your life (or maybe for yourself), look no further! I've put together a list of gift ideas with something for every budget. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUv7H6lfyIV5UeAmvwmJjwCS0S9qIMabdkczimz6anpYNw4RFaqph42RUttPyO-J106NG9Wl00L_mTfplz_pIjKMNLV1fqImF4rlrFOwR0W0S1L1cy9MPBqR5UTCtqKOtUvIaJla7g0k/s1500/HolidayGiftGuideZebraEdition.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUv7H6lfyIV5UeAmvwmJjwCS0S9qIMabdkczimz6anpYNw4RFaqph42RUttPyO-J106NG9Wl00L_mTfplz_pIjKMNLV1fqImF4rlrFOwR0W0S1L1cy9MPBqR5UTCtqKOtUvIaJla7g0k/w426-h640/HolidayGiftGuideZebraEdition.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/786450402/eds-zebra-word-cloud?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&organic_search_click=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyr9pH_PpJzyMM-tNLql_EIVNpO9m4nO4IxWZwiyqVXRXEX6S_qD2_bIoJtj1q_7_LXfIefPo37h72iRoSqJF8dqLDZOWiSFmUf40fr5dIVJCjgFLUV7A7ftLOrnXwLN045mpsUckqiQ/s320/HolographicZebraSticker.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/786450402/eds-zebra-word-cloud?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&organic_search_click=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holographic Ehlers Danlos word cloud sticker from Etsy</a></span></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/708823261/personalised-mustard-zebra-mug?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-9&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cLqp70hTV4VDlcrjYiCIuildxkiri_xFTmYTXCbp6W5mg_9rdoZP0r9SmNgWDFMtzXQOt-3CfrI3lIe2uOno0OfVqh1GCt_gAqGAVOiEZCwCs4xi8sOxRFZJg12eUu6s7ANXiVaWbHI/s320/PersonalizedZebraMug.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/708823261/personalised-mustard-zebra-mug?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-9&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Personalized mustard zebra mug from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/744795978/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-edshsd-13-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra+ehlers+danlos&ref=sr_gallery-2-7&organic_search_click=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_ecPLtrl1m5Md_7bAnTtu-3-I3cPme7-HqqfkVdY3fbWJHdJ68-nxiwaM34eAyqeA6K3bShXgSOxra4J_c4EblJxFpH_h_OC4AnDjXXrHf5M8nTGeBPCkQexS0YDFu490nV6Nrt9QIA/s320/StuffedZebraCrochetedRibbon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/744795978/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-edshsd-13-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra+ehlers+danlos&ref=sr_gallery-2-7&organic_search_click=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Stuffed zebra with crocheted awareness ribbon in a color of your choice from Etsy</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>__________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2VGsnXh" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_utLby1Z6Ii2I1wmQIeEL_72RytEMlO6Q7RQoAGFMi9CL0IRWBRVcJnJBZM4ghwqhYhR57AEKeNm2xRES3wXeZuEA9nAbKXcl2kz8tKjtwLe8eu2LE4oKsYbCs1snbQhjMLhvlZQ12Hs/s320/ZebraDuctTape.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2VGsnXh">Zebra duct tape from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/673306332/collagen-is-for-wimps-ehlers-danlos-eds?ref=related-3&frs=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrYMlTbkcOhGESQdD7UcCmStTPKjfbU5Mq29IzKNPgNMpXsIKdrJy-_KZC32BC9zADb9yiSoyktK6360NPynOe5Duc3l52iyn-9Upm4KtD396bV1wINUgIRFA2Ia2PHoWBcevFQc6_9o/s320/ZebraHoodie.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/673306332/collagen-is-for-wimps-ehlers-danlos-eds?ref=related-3&frs=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Collagen is For Wimps hoodie from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3geH0dJ" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmvXlhyphenhypheniF_opUQb2RExdXqrqNODdVzgJBcfVUd1NKNfLYGsyn-G6exKDWvtkYv2tBJVdC0ajmImm32h9lM1D7-_kQi3nplJKrNJM9Y3m2OiktEj7CIaKW1EjUVVHaC0WhNKP9u_kzKPg/s320/ZebraHoodieAmazon.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3geH0dJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra print hoodie from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/827447940/zebra-print-fabric-face-mask-with-nose?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-13&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjb4tX_wLbYMixjHbETcA_d6G1Y4bPCDn1Bv0CIUQbTF4Qw3Pc2_9EJwfFkAveZ0PPbUKN5EMncwDRBZYVjba7WXvb4cKzNBXme84cbbvL8gJqafirJtlGtwbXrwwiEb5C0Z5lzlzDXI/s320/ZebraMask.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/827447940/zebra-print-fabric-face-mask-with-nose?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-13&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra print mask from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/851246173/zebra-gift-zebra-wish-bracelet-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-18&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFgZk9aLI73yvbibUoZkCGo8Mmr1_bqhAaMkUsxPE3xJtOr30Matx93sbSb8iMJ4WzU9yxrClbX1LapJtnnyL491PVkctljfHTY5G2Zod_FwdwvLNKBxcPFlWQcbUdiIuMXbmlc-9wmQ/s320/ZebraNecklace.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/851246173/zebra-gift-zebra-wish-bracelet-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sr_gallery-1-18&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra bracelet from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/814405843/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-zebra-christmas?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-2-42&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwOOmKXkNo0W1b5JrsYT1xucLWx6sgsgNkNKoW-ux-fpzfFbEQ7QvKULEhQ3Ry0JID8l-Q8kmrWKFR-89k8QNTWlTjpVscfgTDeO_r-BBr696tRbyfmBVKjM536s02Wx4_MPVthkylqQ/s320/ZebraOrnament.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/814405843/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-zebra-christmas?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-2-42&organic_search_click=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#ZebraStrong ornament from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/36LGBfT" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EUPGaUpkY2-pSykkWZldjwKfrtNKCATIK_XxQD54AQ-QeE7VBAx74-p7THceVkGUOg134zAryi3yZs_WrCZtfwtgwXbCZ3-c1mBFeNw4nm7QJzZAthSwbW_d_KVe_LcTNK9b5MHdQKw/s320/ZebraPajamas.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/36LGBfT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra pajamas from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/656171373/eds-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sc_gallery-6-3&plkey=d4c654401d44bd8f47a914a7a53e6f4171494532%3A656171373" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm4c7Xnkz6E9U2TLtBjUzRJBAGJQstfKFDAw1OPfVo-tbXKz0qY0-cv9hKsgpHnJ6TfTBlz_wzKm1x4MLG2CnZJiVoZjA1OhEALCcjPG4rQTBjU7S_LiZmVibyxjGNgmw3MrHc-yp8_A/s320/ZebraPin.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/656171373/eds-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sc_gallery-6-3&plkey=d4c654401d44bd8f47a914a7a53e6f4171494532%3A656171373" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EDS Warrior zebra pin from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/733718489/zebra-strong-adjustable-ring-eds-ehlers" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLDXay9b_BGuoYICgtyaZTylEwSQVXpbwsMUXqaj7In_rrUm1mgFZx-xribth5FcOyMz3Ce-xDFQZ2RBYM6XbMdv4FqsOIMoa-17WDA1ECxJBgYOsEmz5BOvqnhcxsa3gQyP10p5gTvU/s320/ZebraRing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/733718489/zebra-strong-adjustable-ring-eds-ehlers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adjustable zebra ring from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3lPvGpz" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1050" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBOjt4gujMmHvr182fVjCUzX-oVESf2Yk1OuWvp8ID5XfZryffZmmrYGsLYmZ-354Mzv_9T2s2glSXvIvEoTnZqpwSZ8B4FI8gHY5ib1HCK4qq8dbaz4H04imeimVV8cP7nPccaP2qyM/s320/ZebraSherpaThrow.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3lPvGpz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherpa zebra blanket from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/838746125/zebra-portrait-engraved-tumbler-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sc_gallery-1-7&plkey=a6fe3adeae3a09b6ec1642d43e838d25a97d6f2e%3A838746125&frs=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb5cChvGsmMjoelmhNryA4EeCgxWt-6tGWlmlhGgLQi8kZ5F6kFFSO77UfJIOWn9ZYPKygC1LS7j5_QUBk8ygYxTtf21kgBLG9XYi8b7lmJzCNpS33Bd7wn2YpKos9nxQX_ZoLEeA9hc/s320/ZebraTravelMug.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/838746125/zebra-portrait-engraved-tumbler-zebra?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=zebra&ref=sc_gallery-1-7&plkey=a6fe3adeae3a09b6ec1642d43e838d25a97d6f2e%3A838746125&frs=1&col=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra travel mug from Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37GSuTo" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNVuXvbfBWaM2Srz9VzIxnlzxESPH60cedviBlrfpNVhyRcmbb-MvEqfyWSMjIU5Pdxm9lAacRie60VQ8U2USs2ACxo3iimDURwfaIhUy20HThmaX3KJYG0jAAquu0y_Ze1tM9O7WFwI/s320/ZebraCompressionSocks.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/37GSuTo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra compression socks</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3lKVO59" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1076" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirusHEhWkHhrCrAJLyDGN2cQLHFBkiL_urCW1YfNWEi3qKjfQYpHFktOo85sPgItNVyCXXy4QkWwrvsENenjfapgbQg_aWwAiOMvqKLf23b6zRqQkAEwwIKsF5mw2lXxIPTqGm3M2fYC0/s320/ZebraElectricBlanket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3lKVO59" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra electric blanket from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/10525050-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-ribbons-by-sunshineandspoons" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBAbfgez-PmvhVO-cEpNcHlzreVchXQ37p7AePAiogWe3pt0_rp1Q7QdEjtQ3xC7NLCjJiirclOUicmYM5w2Hy57pCVd8KbkKIiDinBLQFmHjujAUxKFHF8jmyxn42m7kXGVCM_vOjlk/s320/ZebraFabric.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/10525050-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-ribbons-by-sunshineandspoons" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ehlers Danlos Syndrome fabric from Spoonflower</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________________________________</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2VJcBuF" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAL-0MsIg5xk_SuqOGdIX0kVVHB0ZnUf-DGomMSLNtgCtQsnGl-Somls6xwyNRz8y6YNrVsylLBCOKY6RzMM8GwmlDORThKDtG4rOL1HR-4wYkuC60w9TBOz4GFXh2U7ivvV86ZYXpjc/s320/ZebraSneakers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2VJcBuF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zebra print shoes from Amazon</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><i>Holiday Gift Guide - Ehlers Danlos/Rare Disease Zebra Edition : https://bit.ly/2JtX7IL</i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/bVpqh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Did you find anything you liked, either for a gift or for yourself? Drop a comment and let me know what your favorite item from the list is!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br /></div></div></form></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5-XNSeBU4Quje_tpBGFXFN8KzyEI7edCiu4hDdoy5GkiGdeSk_FL2mIdoBsKmaCQPn_6sRJvnfmpE5W9hWJ2xAzsWb-g0H4bkjQiuD9pT1E0asRaAXZYNn-24ot5ambIA6G9lybIqxM/s2050/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="2050" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5-XNSeBU4Quje_tpBGFXFN8KzyEI7edCiu4hDdoy5GkiGdeSk_FL2mIdoBsKmaCQPn_6sRJvnfmpE5W9hWJ2xAzsWb-g0H4bkjQiuD9pT1E0asRaAXZYNn-24ot5ambIA6G9lybIqxM/w640-h245/AvailableAtAmazonBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-27443481130748185392020-11-30T09:10:00.004-06:002020-11-30T09:10:56.110-06:00New Book Release! Yet Will I Praise Him: Living and Parenting with a Chronic Illness<div style="text-align: left;">I can't believe I'm finally able to say this, but....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>I'm a published author!!!!</b><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My book, <i>Yet Will I Praise Him: Living and Parenting with a Chronic Illness</i>, was officially released on November 17th!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYpm1ZMm2rpCiI-pn5QX258SB8xUtoemZM64NjTp6mvTGJvlr1PWNzuYh_T9oikzLcjXm_8MtucVR_2Ii2D8ewOb4UMvPORJ_ZF4dVbkLXXNjX7_YENJu_IEfmbi5XYqPa1EUhzrouBk/s1500/PinterestPin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYpm1ZMm2rpCiI-pn5QX258SB8xUtoemZM64NjTp6mvTGJvlr1PWNzuYh_T9oikzLcjXm_8MtucVR_2Ii2D8ewOb4UMvPORJ_ZF4dVbkLXXNjX7_YENJu_IEfmbi5XYqPa1EUhzrouBk/w426-h640/PinterestPin.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several people have asked me what made me decide to write a book. It goes back to when I was six years old and I wrote my first three-page story about a shipwreck in a pink, spiral-bound notebook. After that, I continued to write and dreamed of seeing my name on an actual book someday. I never thought my first published book would be a non-fiction one about raising kids while living with a chronic illness. But God had His own plan and it's what I was led to write about so that's what I did! I do have plans for more books including a 30-day devotional companion book to <i>Yet Will I Praise Him</i> and some novels, but those will have to wait until this school year is over since I'm devoting a lot of time to distance learning with my kids right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can find <i>Yet Will I Praise Him</i> at the following places online:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting/dp/1649600119/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1606621743&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/yet-will-i-praise-him/9781649600110/pd/600117?event=ESRCG">Christianbook.com</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yet-will-i-praise-him-hannah-wingert/1138012711?ean=9781649600110" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also see the trailer for my book on <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyHZzE2ZDE" target="_blank">YouTube</a></b>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>New book release! Yet Will I Praise Him: Living and Parenting with a chronic illness: https://bit.ly/3lmJszZ</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/5Hntc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you have my book yet? I'd love if you would take a few minutes and leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads to let me know what you thought of it!<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-51251792984222020282020-11-09T14:23:00.001-06:002020-11-09T14:23:43.870-06:00How to Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful<div style="text-align: center;"> <i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">The title of this post is </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><i>How to Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful</i>, but let's be honest...this is something at which we all could be better. What better time to work on this skill than in November, the month of Thanksgiving?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few months ago, I added thankfulness to my daily morning devotions and I've noticed that it's rubbing off on my whole day. I notice and am grateful for more of the little things throughout the day. I've been trying to encourage my kids to be grateful as well and wanted to share with you some of the things I've found to help them with that as well as some free printables that you can use this Thanksgiving with your family.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUpctkJvS84eUxarHR1D1RJlCSM5aJ7C5049_7Z9VamG-gjtwm-nqY3CN0FbeAFKmj8vdWb3cKznhx7HhVLrjo1LdCWNm0UUyWEeOkrz5bRCGje3vQlfH_PuJvGJv3lucvEtasLZX-w8/s1500/How+to+Teach+Your+Kids+to+Be+Thankful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUpctkJvS84eUxarHR1D1RJlCSM5aJ7C5049_7Z9VamG-gjtwm-nqY3CN0FbeAFKmj8vdWb3cKznhx7HhVLrjo1LdCWNm0UUyWEeOkrz5bRCGje3vQlfH_PuJvGJv3lucvEtasLZX-w8/w266-h400/How+to+Teach+Your+Kids+to+Be+Thankful.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Teach by example.<br />Don't just tell your kids to be more grateful... teach them to count their blessings by counting yours and don't forget to credit the Creator of your blessings!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Be purposeful about gratitude.</div><div style="text-align: left;">When one of my kids is having a rough day with lots of whining and complaining, I have them either tell me or write down three things they're grateful for. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Memorize I Thessalonians 5:16-18 with your kids.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-16" id="en-ESV-29621">"Rejoice always,</span><span class="text 1Thess-5-17" id="en-ESV-29622"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>pray without ceasing,</span><span class="text 1Thess-5-18" id="en-ESV-29623"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-18">I Thessalonians 5:16-18</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-18"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1Thess-5-18">4. Start a thankfulness jar.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have everyone in the family write down their blessings in a scrap of paper and put it in the thankfulness jar each night during dinner (or whenever it works best for your family!) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Say thank you a lot!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Have your kids start a thankfulness journal.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I like <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3eJk3yK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a></b> or you can just use a regular notebook. If you're looking for something a little more in-depth, this <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/774201134/kids-devotional-devotions-for-kids" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gratitude Journal and Devotional</a></b> are sure to get your kids focused on thanking God for their blessings, while growing closer to Him. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Read <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2IaC8Kn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this book</a></b>, Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson, to learn more about teaching kids how to be grateful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How to teach your kids to be thankful: https://bit.ly/3n8cuES </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/9ffeS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't forget about your free thankfulness printables! Click on the button below to download them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6gP4PklEY4Ez7zJvyh1qKe7Zc9VmdS2Rbv_MA27cySyPG3_C8-ppTHAdqeifooFW7-hBR__JednR-9lPHUV5TZN1V_zhRen843Lvxf4ZfdLsWkxpS_AOGpc1yrkhaJ-fVcUYLL-IoYM/s2000/ThankfulnessGraphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6gP4PklEY4Ez7zJvyh1qKe7Zc9VmdS2Rbv_MA27cySyPG3_C8-ppTHAdqeifooFW7-hBR__JednR-9lPHUV5TZN1V_zhRen843Lvxf4ZfdLsWkxpS_AOGpc1yrkhaJ-fVcUYLL-IoYM/w400-h400/ThankfulnessGraphic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/products/free-thankfulness-gratitude-thanksgiving-printables?_pos=1&_sid=749f45a09&_ss=r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVq_lr5BhlRP1cEM1_YNMtg-w0nZr7qqoIca4ABm_1l82YMmxv4H60EMsrOpvS7otwVkwC2N0AFD7-0nGTW2BhIRRorguHseUWE03UY6rita35AsJwowCmPJ4U9oDMKLb3NPOjvCGnItI/w320-h85/ClickHereButton.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are some ways you encourage your kids to be thankful?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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It's been almost exactly two years since I wrote my book during NaNoWriMo 2018 (an annual writing challenge with participation from writers around the world) and <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2019/11/i-have-secret.html" target="_blank">a year since I announced</a></b> that I signed a publishing contract with <b><a href="https://ambassador-international.com/" target="_blank">Ambassador International</a></b>. <br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting-ebook/dp/B08L43JBF4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1603397970&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yet Will I Praise Him: Living and Parenting with a Chronic Illness</a></b></i> will be released <b>November 17, 2020</b><b> </b>and I'm so excited to share it with you all! </div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8TLXIbxEpCs50Qd3nt7s8JgN0C09rxljNwDrV_zc_bgB3KI5CPVY2R85BsD_YY6AVkctK91omOf6bPwSFZu9Xf0CxM1aB2RBMMxSbR_wgrLlQ_2HHnc1tcyWtxNS0BrMWLew9qr5qm4/s1500/JoinTheBookLaunchTeam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8TLXIbxEpCs50Qd3nt7s8JgN0C09rxljNwDrV_zc_bgB3KI5CPVY2R85BsD_YY6AVkctK91omOf6bPwSFZu9Xf0CxM1aB2RBMMxSbR_wgrLlQ_2HHnc1tcyWtxNS0BrMWLew9qr5qm4/w266-h400/JoinTheBookLaunchTeam.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book description:</span></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Motherhood can often feel overwhelming and isolating, but for moms with a chronic illness, those feelings are often intensified. When your life is a constant battle with pain, fatigue, and isolation, it’s easy to lose sight of any joy in your life. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wife and mother Hannah Wingert knows this all too well. After finally being diagnosed with a chronic <span style="font-family: inherit;">illness following the birth of her fourth child, Hannah has had to come to terms with her diagnosis and learn to be a wife and mother in the midst of her invisible illness. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In her inspirational book,<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting-ebook/dp/B08L43JBF4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1603397970&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Yet Will I Praise Him</b></a></i>, Hannah opens up candidly about her own struggles of living and parenting with a chronic illness. She will help you understand how to use your chronic illness to grow in your faith, balance your marriage and parenting, and live each day with hope so you can not only survive the challenges you face, but also thrive</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hannah covers everything from the tough questions such as “Why doesn’t God heal me?” to “Why do</span>esn’t my husband ‘get it?’” She also provides savvy advice and practical tips she’s learned along her journey. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting-ebook/dp/B08L43JBF4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1603397970&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Yet Will I Praise Him</b></a></i> is written by a mom for moms, it also covers information such as how the five stages of grief work when you have a chronic illness and what not to say to a parent with a chronic illness, making it beneficial for anyone who has a loved one who lives with a chronic illness. </span></div></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmqPW1WyknVBlvKIR9KeFMdL6fEjc5iXq-0hkFLVH6XlEpcqDYMfjYeYf37X_Cj993OzIIhWxB6q-Q1iKEgGJBpWOUx2soo3O9mNnhCfMt3F_RUUk3wyJOovDalWI2sGMAIXcbAwGt5w/s2000/PsalmFortyTwo11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmqPW1WyknVBlvKIR9KeFMdL6fEjc5iXq-0hkFLVH6XlEpcqDYMfjYeYf37X_Cj993OzIIhWxB6q-Q1iKEgGJBpWOUx2soo3O9mNnhCfMt3F_RUUk3wyJOovDalWI2sGMAIXcbAwGt5w/w400-h400/PsalmFortyTwo11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">So here's where you come into all of this...you're invited to join my book launch team! Here's what it entails:</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b>+</b> Launch team members will help spread the word about <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Will-Praise-Him-Parenting-ebook/dp/B08L43JBF4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hannah+wingert&qid=1603397970&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yet Will I Praise Him</a></b></i> on social media and other places online. Specific tasks will be shared in the Facebook launch group to make it easy for you to do so.</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b>Here's what you will receive:</b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b>+</b> You will receive free sneak peeks and chapter samples of the book.<br /><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>+</b> Your name will be entered into a drawing (prizes will include canvas tote bags, mugs, t-shirts, autographed copies of the book, etc.) each time you complete a task.</div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Join the book launch team for Yet Will I Praise Him: Living and Parenting with a Chronic Illness! Apply here: https://bit.ly/3k7wfeE</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/r8C7Z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Other details:</b></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>+</b> The launch will run from November 5-December 1.</div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>Click on the button below and apply to join the team! We're going to have so much fun and I can't wait to see you there!<br /><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/696097184359234" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tO8uk9KobsOwaCHA1Zf7ffNWYjMSf0h1VdQym0_aBl1QjLI3ZYPqchdULNrHR_Bu_dw2KcybC_HzkoMDqzVrSyQLkxOyhjzTdqG-R6z-u1jneaOF1sCoO19G8US-PcC1XRphKwAQPk0/w400-h200/BookLaunchTeamButton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-37675022726038195722020-10-12T09:31:00.003-05:002020-10-12T09:31:55.424-05:00How to Get Rid of Lice Fast and Naturally<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lice</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Just seeing that word makes your head itch, doesn't it?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2020/10/how-to-get-rid-of-lice-fast-and.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to get rid of lice fast and naturally" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LHSfY4nYfOGB7zsrmJNB-h8ICJUo5mSd5KfjIibbmn3Qyq-mHu_Z_z4kGrBOfQSUJG-sHdz4rQeo36ZQQ7EDcBYT2Tka3E3UiA3B7wpfyUhKTxU_ucSKNJpBurSwubuwUZyd2XJdq9I/w266-h400/How+to+Get+Rid+of+Lice+Fast+and+Naturally.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been eight months and I think I'm ready to talk about what happened last February. The month started out okay, but then I got the flu. After spending a week in bed, I was finally starting to feel well enough to rejoin the family when Anna announced that her head was really itchy. I keep a lice comb on hand to check the kids periodically so I pulled it out of the medicine cabinet and ran it through her hair. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lice. Live crawling lice of varying sizes.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">*<i>shudder</i>*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anna was beyond horrified to realize that there were bugs in her beautiful, blonde, nearly waist-length hair. I knew there were hours of intensive hair combing in our immediate future so I brought up the possibility of a haircut. Up until then, every time I had suggested cutting her hair, I was met with firm rejection, but this time, she was so eager to chop it off that she practically grabbed the scissors from me to do it herself. <b>She probably would have agreed to shaving her head at that point.</b><br /><br />BTW, she looked absolutely adorable in her bob haircut and loved it so much that she still keeps it that short.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGlhb0qPYcEagdgsLac5hppL7LjRH_WQpKXPYuqf7_krl0bqRLfcdyb_fwGYdugeh3GLjtr_8Grfyt8tYXnsMm5_wAMw5ObiaMAr23n8N5g2cR7ztJShhe4bugWGvWYUbdbnsi8d_4y0/s2000/AnnaHaircut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGlhb0qPYcEagdgsLac5hppL7LjRH_WQpKXPYuqf7_krl0bqRLfcdyb_fwGYdugeh3GLjtr_8Grfyt8tYXnsMm5_wAMw5ObiaMAr23n8N5g2cR7ztJShhe4bugWGvWYUbdbnsi8d_4y0/w640-h640/AnnaHaircut.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I emailed Anna's teacher to let her know about the lice and ask if anyone else in the classroom had them. Anna was the only one and no one else ever got them so we think she probably picked them up at the clinic because that was the only other place she had been.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I checked everyone else's heads and sure enough, Davy had them too. The next day, I also found some in Bobby's hair so I pulled the clippers out of the bathroom closet and shaved both of the boys' heads down to 1/2 inch to make it easier to treat them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At this point, I had all three of the lice-affected children sleeping and quarantined in the same room. I spent most of my time vacuuming, washing bedding and pillows, bleaching everything in the house and the van, and combing hair over and over again. I also hit up Amazon for some products to help us kick the lice to the curb aka <b>annihilate every. single. one</b>.<br /><br />Then I noticed that my head was itchy and, with trepidation, I ran a lice comb through my hair. <b>Yup. I had them too. </b>That terrified me more than the kids getting them because it was going to be harder to treat and comb out my hair by myself than it was for me to do it for the kids. Thankfully, I have a friend who had recently regaled me with tales of her days as a nanny which included treating a round of lice for the kids she nannied. I called her up and asked her for the <i>biggest</i> favor of my life. To my shock, she agreed to come help me get rid of the lice in my hair and arrived a short time later with a bag full of <b><a href="https://amzn.to/36TzUsu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tea tree oil shampoo</a></b>, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil, shower caps, and more. <b>I still owe her big. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-aa1faa0f-01fd-4cd9-bd8e-0e5b8c1a4085"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=aa1faa0f-01fd-4cd9-bd8e-0e5b8c1a4085"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Within a week, the lice were all gone and although, I continued to check everyone daily for over a month, I never saw any more. Thankfully, Katie never caught them and neither did Hubby despite sleeping next to me while I had them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are the steps we took to get rid of the lice in a week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>></b>Combing. <b>So much combing!</b> I combed everybody's hair four times a day for the first few days and then went down to twice a day after that until I was sure the lice were gone for good. I tried several kinds of lice combs and found the one that comes in <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2SI1Nf0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this kit</a></b> to be the best one for combing out lice and nits. I also used the Rosemary Repel spray on our hair and continue to do so. I also liked using <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2SKmM0P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these combs</a></b> as they have magnifying glasses built in. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>></b>I vacuumed every single day, usually twice a day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>></b>I washed ALL of the bedding every single day in hot water and dried it on high heat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>></b>I sprayed <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2SNaTHa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this lice killing spray</a></b> on our leather couch and the mattresses twice a day. I also used it in our van.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>></b>Each of us had our hair completely coated in a coconut oil/ essential oil mixture <b><a href="https://www.ouroilyhouse.com/simple-home-remedy-for-head-lice-essential-oils-for-preventing-lice/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=365636536_11768620_414578" target="_blank">using a recipe like this one</a></b> before bed one night and then slept in shower caps. Yes, it was a little messy and kind of uncomfortable to sleep in, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The next morning, we washed it out a round of Dawn dish soap and then regular shampoo. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> How to get rid of lice fast and naturally: https://bit.ly/33RuIDP</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/EsN96" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All in all, it was a lot of extra work (SO MUCH LAUNDRY), but it wasn't as hard to get rid of the lice as I thought it would be and <b>we didn't use any heavy chemicals to do so</b>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While I hope you never have to deal with lice, I hope the tips I've shared here help you get rid of them if you do!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<!--End mc_embed_signup--></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-82336268859575007692020-09-28T08:39:00.000-05:002020-09-28T08:39:06.318-05:0030 Ways to Encourage Others<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">For years, when I've prayed for someone who's going through a rough time, I would ask God to encourage them. I was perfectly happy praying for people and feeling like I was helping them by putting it all in God's hands while continuing in my comfortable life.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">But then one day, while I was praying for encouragement for a friend of mine who was struggling with some health problems, <b>I heard that still, small voice</b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">"<i>That's <b>your </b>job.</i>"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Um, what? You mean I was supposed to get up and actually do something about what I was praying for? Okaaaaay...let's see how this goes. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zhjjQ1Gk0-TTUKlKv0MpfwemP7vWUqOHwRY_8RK2q6b8bUdA0szeg32eZjJCw96TWRhxEKHY6R-aHJ9-EqmFsHLmFSR_8DnsHLQH2b9daNPeCfjWPF5Hbtf-GMsj4wLEIWPMRUlwFcQ/s1500/30+Ways+to+Encourage+Others.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="30 Ways to Encourage Others" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zhjjQ1Gk0-TTUKlKv0MpfwemP7vWUqOHwRY_8RK2q6b8bUdA0szeg32eZjJCw96TWRhxEKHY6R-aHJ9-EqmFsHLmFSR_8DnsHLQH2b9daNPeCfjWPF5Hbtf-GMsj4wLEIWPMRUlwFcQ/w266-h400/30+Ways+to+Encourage+Others.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I sent my friend a quick text and let her know that I was praying for her.</b> She responded quickly with heartfelt appreciation and we ended up chatting for a while which left us both feeling more prepared to meet the day we each had in front of us. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">After that, I decided to add encouragement to my daily devotion routine. Every day, I choose someone from my rotating prayer app, <b><a href="https://amzn.to/369n2OE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PrayerMate</a></b>, and send them a text, call them, mail them a card, or help them out in some way such as dropping off a meal, helping with errands, watching kids, etc. Most of the time, it only takes me a few minutes from my day to show someone that I'm thinking of and praying for them. <b>Not only does it encourage them, but it <a href="http://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2016/04/it-takes-village-when-you-need-help.html" target="_blank">blesses me as well</a>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, one of the things that stops us from getting out of our comfort zone and encouraging someone else in their walk with Christ or their daily life, is not knowing how to do so. Another thing may be the fear of being rejected after putting ourselves "out there." That was a big deal for me and it still scares me sometimes, but <b>in over a year of being purposeful with encouragement, no one has ever <i>not </i>been appreciative of it.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2020/09/30-ways-to-encourage-others.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Lf_IJFGOA4JeCo9pr_VU5AC8yYM-N8kKd1JTMSjyxhblOYApMjJ28UyiTobo8CB-auL0l9MQQjNqJEcXHvjtkdznk3eAVD5dkgL6_uzWDXpqJ3aZGn7gmRUSJQiUjLbu13XqJRbEzyc/w400-h400/Hebrewschapter10verses24and25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">To help you get started, here are some ideas of people in your life that you can encourage and ways to do it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Give unsolicited compliments and not just on appearance.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Send flowers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Instead of asking, "how can I help?" be specific on ways you can help. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Send a note or card.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Ask if they would like to get coffee together.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Use Bible verses specific to someone's situation to encourage them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Listen to a friend talk instead of just talking about yourself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. Write a letter of appreciation or drop off a treat like a cookie tray at police stations, hospitals, teachers, etc.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Write a quick note of appreciation on a napkin to your waitress/waiter and leave it with a generous tip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Let people know how they've encouraged you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">11. Drop a meal off. Bonus points if you use a <b><a href="https://amzn.to/337Uy6a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">disposable aluminum pan</a></b> that they don't have to worry about returning! I like to keep a few on hand just in case.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">12. Help a young mother or elderly neighbor with some chores or yardwork.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">13. When you're talking to someone who's struggling in some way, take a moment to pray with them right then and there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">14. Use post-its to leave notes for family, friends, etc.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">15. Give hugs often.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">16. Pick up an extra coffee for a friend.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">17. Call someone just to talk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">18. Tell people when you think they're doing a good job.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">19. Pay for the meal or coffee of the person behind you in the drive through and ask the employee to give them a note with a Bible verse and one or two sentences like, "I hope you have a great day!" <b><a href="https://amzn.to/368Uncq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">These cards</a></b> make it easy to do that. </div><script type="text/javascript">
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">20. Babysit for a friend so she can go to the store alone or on a date with her husband.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">21. Say thank you often and show kindness, even when the cashier is taking forever or the waitress seems grouchy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">22. Send a care package to a loved one far away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">23. Share a book you loved with a friend.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">24. Visit a nursing home and ask if there's a resident you could sit with for a while.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">25. Send a text message letting someone know you're thinking of them and praying for them. Ask them how you can pray for them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">26. Send a note and stickers to a child you know.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">27. Bake cookies for a friend, family member, or neighbor.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">28. Tell your pastor and his family how much you appreciate them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">29. Gift something handmade.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">30. Buy a $5 gift card when checking out at a store and give it to the person behind you in line.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">31. Tell your kids and spouse how much you appreciate them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>30 ways to encourage others: https://bit.ly/36bThga</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/1b2Kt" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'd love to hear who and how you're encouraging others! Please share your stories with me in the comments.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div id="mc_embed_signup"><form action="//sunshineandspoons.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=8d3f91234f7c5586ffe950171&id=4925a8da38" class="validate" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank"><div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
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Before Davy was even two years old, I noticed that while he babbled and made noises, he wasn't really saying understandable words which struck me as odd since my three older kids were talking up a storm by the time they were 18 months old. No worries though! With the <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/01/davys-tube-feeding-story.html" target="_blank">rocky start he got on life</a></b>, I figured he was too focused on other things, <i>like living</i>, to learn how to talk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m-1TAF8NCuzPXTifABZLkUKN6-PnNjgcEjH5ybcevTKNppCUuzmkQAUGFs3fviRVxlTP-iUeCAE-SgeKSQx19YQZSCCl77YomHYSRmIQqk58uHwfto-Mz0YV2dWyWChWzvx2gVUGi0s/s1500/10+Things+Not+to+Say+to+an+Apraxia+Parent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="10 Things Not to Say to an Apraxia Parent" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m-1TAF8NCuzPXTifABZLkUKN6-PnNjgcEjH5ybcevTKNppCUuzmkQAUGFs3fviRVxlTP-iUeCAE-SgeKSQx19YQZSCCl77YomHYSRmIQqk58uHwfto-Mz0YV2dWyWChWzvx2gVUGi0s/w266-h400/10+Things+Not+to+Say+to+an+Apraxia+Parent.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
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But, then he turned two and then three. </b>But that time, he was talking more, but it still wasn't understandable. I had to translate what he said for other people, his siblings had to translate what he said to me, and there was a lot of stuff he said that none of us could understand. He started speech therapy and I assumed that within a few months, his speech would take off. But while we saw some progress, it wasn't the big change I was hoping for. </div>
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Davy's geneticist suggested that he may have Apraxia and referred him to a Speech Language Pathologist or SLP for an evaluation. When we left that appointment, he had another diagnosis to add to his list...<b>Childhood Apraxia of Speech</b>. </div>
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I pored over the <b><a href="https://www.apraxia-kids.org/" target="_blank">Apraxia Kids website</a></b> and realized that this wasn't going to just resolve itself with a little speech therapy. <b>Apraxia is a motor speech disorder where the brain and the mouth don't quite know how to communicate with each other to form sounds and words properly.</b> While kids with Apraxia may struggle to talk, they generally understand everything that is being said to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Davy is now six years old and still struggles to communicate, but it's finally getting easier for people to understand him when he talks. We still get a lot of comments, questions, and stares though. And as any parent of a child with special needs will tell you, <b>everyone from close friends and family to complete strangers, thinks they know how to fix your kid and tell you where you went wrong.</b> I put together a list of comments that parents of children with Apraxia often receive and give some suggestions of what to say instead. </div>
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1. Einstein didn't talk until he was four.</b><br />While I am flattered that you compared my kid to Einstein, their situations really aren't the same. My son did not just start magically talking in full understandable sentences when he turned four. </div><div><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=%22Apraxia+Warrior%22" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Apraxia Warrior shirt from Sunshine and Spoons" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL3hZ5sePbbXv7p6g2Z7jC2gCIYpfobGfiyReKqMYzZ-au0FBw7_xmyuIGdbjjm3fY83q_yA1a93_zWpLLQ0foo_Y0KPJfz6zNaDR-ap3vLgF3RbTaHkAcQjE6HUjjnsAUQi4rF3Q64Y/w320-h320/1520456977-apraxiawarrior-final-rabbit-skins--3301-5x5_large.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=%22Apraxia+Warrior%22" target="_blank">Available at the Sunshine and Spoons Shop</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
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2. He'll outgrow it and catch up to the other kids. </b></div>
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No one "outgrows" Apraxia. It will take a LOT of work from my son and our whole family for him to ever be able to speak as well as his peers.</div>
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3. He'd talk more if you didn't talk for him. Stop babying him.</b></div>
<div>There's a difference between talking for my child and interpreting for him. I encourage him to talk, but know that other people may not be able to understand him so I interpret for him so that he can communicate with others.<br /></div><div><br /></div>
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4. He'll talk when he's ready.</b><br />
He's ready right now! His brain and mouth just aren't cooperating with him.<br />
<br /><b>5. Teaching him sign language will just hold him back. </b><br />
Giving a child a means of communication is essential to their development and cuts down on frustration. While I do use some sign language with my son, we always make sure to say the word out loud while signing it and encourage him to do the same. <br /><br /><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-6785830b-f408-4451-971a-633e135dde0d"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=6785830b-f408-4451-971a-633e135dde0d"></script><br /><b>
6. He's just waiting until he has it perfect before he talks. <br /></b>
Ha! No, he's not. Perfection is not as important as the ability to communicate to him.<br /><br /><b>
7. What's wrong with him?<br /></b>
Nothing. We all have struggles in life and this is one of his. He's a pretty awesome kid. Oh, and by the way, he understood what you just said so maybe don't tell him that he's broken in some way just because he can't speak well. <br /><br /><b>
8. You need to talk to, interact and work with him more.</b></div><div>When we're out in public, I may not push him as much as I do at home to repeat his words, work on adding more sounds to them, and add more words to his sentences because it's not always the best time or place to do so. At home, speech therapy is a constant part of our day and Davy works incredibly hard. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=Mom+of+an+Apraxia+warrior" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Lr72Rxn9ZVwGpiiRFJ139EeflXdKT5On01cKjC5MjEchioMqHJ4-zJMhvgG5ewAwHB88_XYEtM0tFqU5juQwL3uVLecvAw_TvpsQcYP4555dmDdpNYHvyBUSomV8mQ-v_xr5g9eKD4A/s320/MomOfAnApraxiaWarriorWhite_mockup_Front_Flat_Heather-Dark-Grey.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=Mom+of+an+Apraxia+warrior" target="_blank">Available at the Sunshine and Spoons shop<br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>9. You're so lucky! I wish my kid didn't talk all the time!<br /></b>First of all, just because he's not understandable doesn't mean that he's quiet. He talks. A LOT. And it's exhausting because every time he wants to tell me something, we have to play 20 questions and use a lot of gestures to figure out what he's saying.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. What did you do wrong while you were pregnant?</b></div><div>Why does anyone think it's okay to blame the mom for the kid's medical issues? Not cool. Special needs moms deal with an immense amount of guilt on a daily basis, constantly questioning if they're doing things right, if they're doing enough, and how this could possibly be their fault. Let's not add to that, please.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>10 things not to say to an Apraxia parent: </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>https://bit.ly/362MmWm</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/0c6l7" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w200-h53/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>What a parent of a child from Apraxia really needs to hear from you is that they're doing a good job. </b>While you're at it, maybe spend a few minutes learning more about what Apraxia is (<b><a href="https://www.apraxia-kids.org/new-to-apraxia/" target="_blank">Apraxia Kids</a></b> has some great resources for that!) and how it affects children, <b>often their whole lives</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w200-h64/Signature.png" width="200" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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Hannah @Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01626989815417823218noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-21747134180747125022020-08-17T16:11:00.004-05:002020-08-17T16:13:24.103-05:0010+ Books for Kids of Chronically Ill Moms<i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Having a parent with a chronic illness can be tough for kids. It can make them more resilient, empathetic, and independent, but it can also make them feel guilty, frustrated, and alone. Some ways to help kids deal with these feelings is to talk with them, answer their questions, and make sure they understand as much as is developmentally appropriate. For older kids, giving them a journal to write in can help. Reading books together about what they're dealing with can help as well. </span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FEZFideGGTMTJUJQnbCcpuHFHjPUNnbQ6eZb4KdZI7JsjJhpRRQmSLLyu_qOBvrbFWsszpG3uiNh-UIl93h6L6XGWh3g_nU4KqEuSv5M8yPnR1S9ku9cZsODY5Oj49eevlYtI75YVxU/s1500/10%252B+Books+for+kids+of+Chronically+Ill+Moms+Pinterest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FEZFideGGTMTJUJQnbCcpuHFHjPUNnbQ6eZb4KdZI7JsjJhpRRQmSLLyu_qOBvrbFWsszpG3uiNh-UIl93h6L6XGWh3g_nU4KqEuSv5M8yPnR1S9ku9cZsODY5Oj49eevlYtI75YVxU/w427-h640/10%252B+Books+for+kids+of+Chronically+Ill+Moms+Pinterest.jpg" title="10 + books for kids of chronically ill moms" width="427" /></a></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">With that in mind, I've put together a list of children's books that you can read with your child to help them better understand your chronic illness and limitations. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iS3a5A" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="474" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWX333ZkWN48jSDKeHnWWzp0ZUsDtDPsNd_Lrsfe90-Vwsxmn6ZFKOOBTrUAP3c9TRC4CoxSRh6pZIkQag-BcJvNH2kdL1xiGq6v7Tcu1VzoqiT86LFQSAl_qz6pgy93PX9B9VauTPnA/w304-h304/RavynsDoll.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3iS3a5A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ravyn's Doll: How to Explain Fibromyalgia to Your Child</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Melissa Swanson</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">All the kids in class made paper dolls to show someone they love who is hurt or sick. When it's Ravyn's turn to share, she shows a paper doll of her mom — and it looks like there is nothing wrong!</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ravyn teaches the class that even though her mom looks healthy, she’s not! Ravyn’s mom suffers from fibromyalgia and its evil sidekicks. Ravyn's Doll is a simple and effective way to explain fibromyalgia to your child. In a way that is understandable to children. it shows that not all illnesses are visible and explains how living with an invisible illness affects families' daily lives."</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3awcSrD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="260" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH3APs4K68YFpLkjOsi6WJ0L0DvijrW9GA3MXq9G_UCjmDURHJlQZXrQBz5DL-POWTOcv37FhcMf5uF0B23kJ9Zd7K8Wj2-tc1OLitKusQ4OVDqA6LLqzA6N1SyhbEu-K318CTv7uVpU/w325-h389/WhenMommyIsSick+FerneLanger.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="325" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3awcSrD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When Mommy is Sick</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Ferne Sherkin-Langer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"A<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"> distressed little girl expresses her feelings when her mother goes to the hospital. Time drags and the child thinks of her constantly. Her understanding father helps her to cross off the days until she can visit and takes her to the hospital. When her mother comes home, normal life happily resumes. The nature of the woman's illness is not specified, but she is hospitalized periodically, which would make the book appropriate for children whose parents require chemotherapy, for example, as well as being generally useful for any parental hospital stay."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2FzeOEn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="491" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbn_bmqGh_lcq7Z43J0DvzSxBhYOO2Ux_T4Cz6wxCyLBQ_tlEuOnDKGm61uASgfGnJWNkpVPycG-ATvP8DWAq02lmH-G_r4hrpRndEWp8oqZ48gE8vxYg_0Hm1l_RcHwq2N4NIDesPmWo/w251-h314/BigTreeIsSick.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2FzeOEn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Big Tree is Sick</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Nathalie Slosse</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">This beautifully illustrated storybook describes the anger and emotion that many children encounter when a close relative or friend is diagnosed with a long-term illness, such as cancer. The story of Big Tree depicts how things are often out of your control and sets out effective strategies for dealing with these emotions."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/34agIWm" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="197" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTfcgisXzPIzMtDsCgCT43DPn9H66G4zwsQpsO7yMYZ14bYOqbmzTrgX2FSQ-gXGVT3FCmMj3s7adhULjlX2WadHQNXh1EI4ON_xfw4JGIPmyu4vmowjtkaObwIXkheU5rLDg4qJfNTo/w308-h313/Mommys+Going+to+the+Hospital.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/34agIWm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mommy's Going to the Hospital</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Josie Leon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">When Mommy is having health issues, finding a way to discuss it with a young toddler can be challenging. Mommy’s Going to the Hospital offers parents a way to start a discussion using clear language and illustrations that can help you and your family make a plan for the situations and emotions that may arise as Mommy journeys from diagnosis, through the healing process, and back to full health."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Q2qUrm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="220" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWyQB5IYuKjXumNWsU2E0Wxo95d0lSeOps96pnO9Ufxk6lAQ_H42ixIGdana_otLp948XeJFOL1QY2GhykEPkHcfnuNjZcmLzHIOxPuifIejq1lD_P63b5UBPjz9iF4pdd5F-bL0xKNg/w344-h301/Mommy+Has+to+Stay+in+Bed.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="344" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Q2qUrm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mommy Has to Stay in Bed</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Annette Rivlin-Gutman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Mommy Has to Stay in Bed is for young children who are faced with the trauma of having a parent on bed rest. In this rhythmic and sensitive story, mother and daughter find ways to cope with feelings of frustration and boredom. Whether the parent is pregnant, has the flu, or is on long-term bed rest, Mommy Has to Stay in Bed brings the brighter side of spending time together in spite of a challenging situation."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3hhnOvy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="567" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSABniEaH8xCRbriY9R6ieARf-hbSZ06YBdAQqNVGWfBMo6q3q6zx93gI3-af8gJPDpqezc3IupzbeUVDWM4TXoPq8x3P54GyI0hagXEVyjw6ulCPK_daa1jHykWqv-CLmbFqNkU4PWgA/w250-h328/Feel+Better+Mommy.jpeg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3hhnOvy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Feel Better Mommy</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Risa Kirschner</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Abby's mom has a boo boo, so her Nana takes her to the hospital to visit. Follow Abby's adventures as she finds a magical bed that moves, takes her teddy on a wheelchair ride, and learns that spending time with her mom can make a hospital feel like home. Based on the real experiences of the author's then two-year-old daughter, this sweet story teaches that hospitals are safe places for healing and that parents always love their children, even if they have to spend time away from home."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aFcVl2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="238" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-clBuKyJcE9sH6cOudQYyBg4NOxzTgq9b87yYNk99kLXsTUIrBIdXZ7aHII4PmXl7kwzphnJzqSXEEtrQ1bmXkvCo4zEYV2ozux0T42Yy-VZaeA0S4s3urT8bdYPZTk5mzau3MdPcpHs/w298-h375/Mommy+Cant+Dance.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3aFcVl2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mommy Can't Dance</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Katie Carone</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Mommy used to do a lot of fun things with me, but now she can't. Now it's my turn to help mommy! It can be sad and confusing for both kids and moms when a mother is hurt or sick and can't do all the things she used to. This simple and sweet book helps children understand limitations. It shares ideas on how kids can help, as well as activities a mom and child can can still do together. It reminds children that they are loved, and the best thing they can do is show love in return."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2E0OLp8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="236" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nFP6CegV5JW84yI1NL3PJD3vr_w6OZpUv5rMAnOlheq4ETFPMwg1932KOOFdotyyiS3SNxFZt4tDTZYTE56NLMKr4_JV44FBPsv8T26XL6WStDdy5b9yRlGCeYiRdmMDz1sxIJzeIyY/w295-h290/Why+Does+Mommy+Hurt.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2E0OLp8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Does Mommy Hurt?</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Elizabeth M. Christy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">This is a delightful story told by a young boy learning to understand and cope with his mother's illness. The story creates natural opportunities for families to talk about both the symptoms of chronic illness, and how they affect family life. Even more importantly, the story puts power into the hands of the children. It also offers a helpful "Tips and Resources" section for parents!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/314Yrru" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo69z15FztOmd5BT1g4R5z6evOOBciJ5yx1y28jmuswEVJAtr76IsGnC-9UTFhROvhXJhO8-CuO1uuk9DWYSM8vtVyY11r1ni7uHHnu78MBlojNBkZOrDJsXkWmoaphYpDljQKJjUKps/w300-h300/How+Many+Marbles+do+You+Have.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/314Yrru" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Many Marbles Do You Have?</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Melinda Malott</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">A mom uses a brilliant jar-and-marble analogy to teach her son about her limitations related to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia. The book uses marbles, a toy all children are familiar with, as a measure of the mothers limited energy. Using a jar and some marbles, the author conveys difficult concepts in terms that children can understand."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31ZIhii" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRRdGaHDI5kg6NGROxUwclFNK7cWPW0VgEHFkRq88oQ8me3uzP_Kk08xqVpp9-ZMQ3MjNXxZvPCVh9FeU-czV2AFj0L60JBZMMrGCDcCTu-cdTKWzGMxx0PhSBPJ_3iG7YtomZUYGfko/w274-h410/What+Does+Super+Jonny+do+When+Mom+Gets+Sick.jpg" style="font-family: inherit;" width="274" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/31ZIhii" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Does Super Jonny do When Mom Gets Sick?</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Simone Colwill</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">How do you support a child with a sick relative? How do you empower them (and their family) to help too? You’ll find the answer to these questions and more in “What Does Super Jonny Do When Mom Gets Sick?" Jonny is a little superhero with a BIG problem! His Mom is sick. How can he help? JOIN Jonny and Bear, as they go to the hospital to investigate."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also see the versions of this book written for <b><a href="https://amzn.to/31UYntu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crohn's Disease</a></b> and <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3kSoJF9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heart Disease</a></b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/315ynMK" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1492" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_mhnmzO-WXB75GuMymY5UDfAGpwy5hU84ppV6pSjAXX1qtyOTKYOENB2sOnzO66h8upOSOI1-aBrcXHHrEch9VYlXTL7rJOck3YV0vMmsyzIM7MA87Y3n_vjU1E4Rp5AyQUnIwgqcmE/w410-h331/My+Mom+is+Sick+and+Its+Okay.png" width="410" /></a></div><div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/315ynMK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Mom is Sick and It's Okay</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Angie McPherson</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Morgan's mom has multiple sclerosis or MS, for short. Sometimes she worries about her mom's illness. But she's found out over time, it might not be as scary as she thought. Join Morgan as she talks about what her family life is like living with a chronically ill parent. There is a resource guide at the back of the book if more information is needed on MS and family life."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3aJUXxT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="910" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM7TXGj_Axc4LtjxhjY6CUr51bz9_1ksmkTiI3c3myBp4hdhnLzVgW9XFE1TZoEmvd0sEMZVQyWxWSPZC_xAUxSDjZqDuvsvKAgFZ3PELIGiqFuXBbsMb31yxQhN6u68xvuKrBbJlXcc/w296-h410/My+Moms+a+Spoonie.png" style="font-family: inherit;" width="296" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3aJUXxT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Mom's a Spoonie: A Journal for Me</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Rachel Smith</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">An interactive journal for kids with chronically ill moms. The spoon theory explained, coloring pages, random silly facts, pages for mom and child to do together, and more!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3kSOXaq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="200" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxWubQeXRZqWieIaDlfEKNiM99hSqT2gEiF0fif2aQX074q3nfXxN0atzTbWoEU4i_6w_W3vz6ovI2f3zrFxcAljdsab4vTyoxP9I56D5v6Tnw5pYuLUyqA1lk7a7Zr4EOYJYg1MxWD0/w313-h311/When+Petes+Dad+Got+Sick.jpg" width="313" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3kSOXaq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When Pete's Dad Got Sick</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Kathleen Long Bostrom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">A beautiful book telling the story of Pete, a boy whose dad used to run and swing him around, but now can hardly walk, much less play. Pete is hurt and angry and doesn't understand why this has happened. Pete's dad tells him that even though he can no longer run, he can still be Pete's father. The book includes two pages of suggestions for parents and others helping a child through loss of this kind."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>10+ Books for kids of Chronically Ill Moms: </i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>https://bit.ly/2Ft2qpb</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/qf9Q5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w210-h55/TweetButton.png" width="210" /></a></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="null">If you know of any other books, I'd love for you to share them in the comments!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="null"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w210-h68/Signature.png" width="210" /></a></div><span class="null"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="null"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="null"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<br /></div></div></div></div>Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-7233186030775293502020-08-13T13:28:00.001-05:002020-08-13T13:51:32.804-05:00What Not to Say to a Parent with a Chronic Illness (and What to Say Instead)<i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br style="text-align: center;" />
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Being a parent is hard, especially in today's world where an innocent picture of your kid eating a graham cracker on Instagram can be bombarded with criticism or "helpful" suggestions. <br /><br />"Isn't your kid too young to be eating graham crackers by himself? He doesn't look any older than six."<div><br /></div><div>"Why are you taking pictures instead of watching your kid so he doesn't choke to death?!? You're a horrible parent."<br /><br />"Is that a toy on the ground behind him? Don't you know that a messy house stunts your child's growth?"<br />
<br />I may be exaggerating a little, but you get the picture. It doesn't just happen on social media either. Sometimes people mean well, but their comments can be insensitive to say the least.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, take all of those up-in-your-business, critical, hurtful comments and multiple them by at least 10 and you have an idea of what it's like to be a parent who lives with a chronic illness. I've encountered so many people who think they can "fix" me or tell me how I've messed up my kids and my health. From the lab technician who asked why in the world I would ever have children knowing that I could pass Ehlers Danlos Syndrome on to them, to the “friend” who informed me that I caused my whole family to have EDS by vaccinating my children (um, that’s not how a genetic disorder works…), to the other "friend" who told me that I only had my health conditions because I "wanted" them, I've heard some doozies that have ranged from mildly insensitive to downright hurtful and I can tell you...the <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2018/09/how-to-say-goodbye-to-guilt.html" target="_blank">mom guilt</a></b> is <b>real</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmB44Ksr5HE1-4YLGJQ67dvYAB5sWtOwo7KvewmML35rXf7KBaHZmdrhF7MJI3VVHk4lAhRfbuO0hbkPaTZAVNifRbnfIIudzcqdbKp7ar1dm1oN6uT6DNBHSF1-JpXHI53OBsbCdvpY/s1500/What+Not+to+Say+to+a+Parent+with+a+Chronic+Illness+%2528and+What+to+Say+Instead%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What Not to Say to a Parent with a Chronic Illness (and What to Say Instead)" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmB44Ksr5HE1-4YLGJQ67dvYAB5sWtOwo7KvewmML35rXf7KBaHZmdrhF7MJI3VVHk4lAhRfbuO0hbkPaTZAVNifRbnfIIudzcqdbKp7ar1dm1oN6uT6DNBHSF1-JpXHI53OBsbCdvpY/w427-h640/What+Not+to+Say+to+a+Parent+with+a+Chronic+Illness+%2528and+What+to+Say+Instead%2529.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>People think they’re helping but sometimes all they’re doing is hurting. With that in mind, I put together a helpful list of things never to say to a parent with a chronic illness. Some of them are a little tongue in cheek because I think we could all use a chuckle now and then. <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/08/what-chronically-ill-people-want-you-to.html" target="_blank">Also, every single thing on the list has either been said to me or another chronically ill mom I know</a></b>. I wish I were kidding about that, but I’m not. </div><div>
<br /><b>"You don’t look sick!" </b><div>This is usually meant as a compliment, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. Many of us have spent our whole lives trying to prove to our friends, families, and even doctors that we’re not just faking it and that there truly is something wrong. Telling us that we don’t look sick makes us feel like you think we’re just faking the whole thing. And believe me, we wish we were! <div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>You’re looking good today, but how are you feeling? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=but+you+don%27t+look+sick" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRsmMViOkRtbouC2NCHh0nXj0Ohaye6bHghxVCvt35BHVL8Nh7yk55sFXKazenmTsxr2mSsmVdW6TDabWvUVpxtQxpBNvNDkcbR5_xAFpuAbzRPAneZdqlRKBd9GjMtl5Zgu25cxCdi8/w410-h410/ButYouDontLookSickMug_mockup_Handle-on-Right_15oz.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div><b>"I know how you feel."<br /></b>
Um, no. Unless you also have a debilitating chronic illness, you really don’t. </div><div><i><b>Instead, try saying:</b></i> I don’t know how you feel, but I’d like to understand better. <br /><br /></div><div><b>"Well, I’m tired too." </b></div><div>Yeah, I thought I knew what tired felt like too before my chronic fatigue increased in intensity. Believe me, nothing can compare to this level of “tired.” It’s so intense that at times, I can’t even lift my fingers to type on my computer. </div><div><i><b>Instead, try saying:</b></i> I can’t imagine how you feel, but help me try to understand. <br /><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/11/10-things-guaranteed-to-cure-whatever.html" target="_blank">"Have you tried going gluten-free? Vitamins? Essential oils?"</a> </b></div><div>I’ve found the people who ask these kinds of questions are often trying to get me to buy a product that they sell. Sometimes, they’re genuinely trying to help though, and while I appreciate the thought, it’s not helpful. I spend a lot of my time researching new treatments and possibilities as well as discussing things with my doctors. If there’s something out there that I haven’t tried, it’s for a reason. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>I can tell that you’re working hard to research the best options for your illness. <br />
<br /><b>"You need to get out and do more activities with your kids."</b></div><div>Mom guilt on its own is bad enough (am I doing too little for my kids? Am I a good enough mom?), but when you throw in a chronic illness, it intensifies significantly. Why would you want to add to that? Do you really think that I wouldn’t love to be able to do more with my kids? Having to tell my kids no because of my chronic illness absolutely tears me up inside. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>You’re doing a good job as a mom. Can I take the kids with me on our next trip to the park? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>"You did it last week, why can’t you do it today?" <br /></b>
Honey, I did something an hour ago that I can’t do right now. Every day with a chronic illness is different and sometimes, it narrows down to being different every hour. My body is very unpredictable, and I hate that more than anyone else. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>Are you up to getting coffee with me today? If not, I understand and in that case, can I bring you a coffee? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-97eda470-ebea-44c7-a11d-4b09427419a7"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=97eda470-ebea-44c7-a11d-4b09427419a7"></script>
<br /><b>"At least it’s not cancer!" </b></div><div>Oh. my. word. Comparing illnesses doesn’t help anyone. Ever. We all have trials to work through and each one is huge to the person dealing with it. For example, when I was still relatively healthy and had one relatively healthy baby, I thought that was incredibly hard (Example: my baby has an ear infection...this is the worst thing ever!). Now I’m basically disabled and have four kids with varying special needs who will experience more pain and medical issues as they get older. This is hard. But that doesn’t negate how hard it was with just one child. Your perspective changes as your situation does. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>I know it’s hard right now, but I’m here for you. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>"You look and sound happy on social media so how bad can it be?" </b></div><div>Just because I’m in almost constant pain doesn’t mean that I’m never happy. If I waited until I felt good before I was happy, I would be miserable all the time and that’s not a good way to deal with this. Also, I only share things that I want to share on social media which means that you’re probably just seeing my best moments. Would you really want to be friends with me if I did nothing but complain and exude negativity? </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying:</i></b> I’m glad to see that you were able to enjoy your day yesterday! <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>"You only have your illness because you think you do." </b></div><div>Are you insinuating that I’m faking it and it’s all in my head or are you telling me to be more positive so my chronic illness will just go away? Either way, <i>don’t say this</i>. Seriously. I know people think I’m faking it. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I am faking it. However, I’m actually faking being as well as I am. I work hard and push through a lot of pain so I can lead as normal a life as possible. I’ve had so many people tell me that I’m faking it that I even doubt myself sometimes. Do you have any idea how crushing that is? Thinking positively can definitely have a good effect on mental and physical well-being, but no matter how positively I think, it won’t heal my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I will still have pain, and I will still have defective genes. </div><div><i><b>Instead, try saying: </b></i>I believe you. Tell me more about your chronic illness. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sunshineandspoonsshop.com/search?q=faking+being+well" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJfx8Afh_dv9vYCh0ohTznqQnmM1z5QhsxntezDRDVcWPT2HGnjprrkrZ1plDBPDYOtkaUXwWzfU2Tyr_96uvqM97ASJ5qfWWH-DzWRiSkK3NWi8vexnPC2bkF8-Jq7srpg2Rfl4G64k/w384-h384/FakingBeingWell_mockup_Front_Womens-2_Sport-Grey_large.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>"I could never do what you do." </b></div><div>I didn’t think I could ever do this either. I used to read stories about people in situations similar to my current one and thank God that I didn’t have to deal with that because I knew I didn’t have it in me. However, that shows a lack of faith in God, and it turns out that you do what you have to do to survive when you literally don’t have any other choice, and you do it with God’s help. Also, please stop painting me to be this amazing brave person who can power through something that most people couldn’t. Sometimes, I’m barely hanging on and hearing something like this can make me feel like even more of a failure. If you only knew what goes on inside my head and behind the scenes, you would know that I struggle just like everyone else. </div><div><i><b>Instead, try saying: </b></i>How can I pray for you today? <br /><br /></div><div><b>"If you pray and believe, God will heal you." </b></div><div>Please don’t turn God into a vending machine. That’s not how He works. I can pray and believe all I want, but if God says no or wait, I am not going to be able to change His answer. Instead, I need to focus on what <b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2017/07/why-god-hasnt-healed-me.html" target="_blank">He is trying to teach me through my chronic illness.</a></b> Do you remember Paul in the Bible? Remember how he had a “thorn in the flesh” (II Corinthians 12:7) and prayed for God to remove it from him? God didn’t. Instead, He allowed Paul to continue to go through his trial, knowing that it would strengthen his relationship with Christ. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying: </i></b>How can I pray for you today? </div><div>
<br /><b>"I wish I could stay home with my kids and not have to work." </b></div><div>When I was 17, I had to quit my first job thanks to my health. I cried for days because I was so crushed that I had to give up a job I loved and because quitting made the reality of my health hit me like a load of bricks. Right now, I’m a substitute at the local library and have to turn down a lot of hours because, after about an hour or two on a job that isn’t even that physically taxing, I’m stumbling around like I’m drunk because my legs aren’t working right anymore and practically gasping in pain. I love, love, love working at the library and had originally hoped to be able to go up to full-time when my kids get older, but now, I’m facing the realization that I will not be able to do that. Not being able to work makes me feel worthless at times. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying:</i></b> Tell me about your hobbies. <br /><br /></div><div><b>"It must be nice to be able to park in the handicapped spots." </b></div><div><b><a href="https://www.sunshineandspoons.com/2018/10/10-facts-about-handicapped-parking.html" target="_blank">You can have my handicapped placard</a></b> if you take my disability to go along with it. I’m actually too scared most of the time to use my placard when I need it because people can be mean, judgmental, and forget that not all disabilities are visible. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying:</i></b> Can I help you carry your bag to your car? </div><div><br /></div><div><b>"You go to the doctor too much." </b></div><div>Yeah, I agree. I actually hate going to the doctor, but unfortunately, it’s necessary for my health. If I stop going, bad things will happen. <br /><b><i>
Instead, try saying:</i></b> Would you like me to come along with you to the doctor sometime so we can have coffee afterward? <br />
<br /><b>"God will never give you more than you can handle." </b></div><div>You will go through more than you can handle, but God can handle it if you let Him. I can’t handle this, and you saying something like that to me makes me feel like I must be a terrible Christian. </div><div><b><i>Instead, try saying:</i></b> How can I pray for you? <br /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>What not to say to a parent with a chronic illness (and what to say instead)</i></span><i> : https://bit.ly/2PPor3x</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ctt.ac/e6qr6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1939" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/w210-h55/TweetButton.png" width="210" /></a></div><span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The absolute best thing you can say to someone with a chronic illness is “<i>I believe you.</i>” Seriously. What do you do when someone just isn’t getting the hint about their insensitive words? Well, you actually have several options to choose from and you can use one or all of them, sometimes on the same person. Oftentimes, I go with a combination of the following. <br />
<br /><b>
Ignore them. </b></div><div>When someone says something hurtful to me about my chronic illness, sometimes, I will just smile and then change the subject. Unfortunately, some people just don’t get the hint so you may have to move on to another strategy if this one doesn’t work. <br />
<br /><b>
Realize when it’s not worth your energy to argue. </b></div><div>We all know a few people like this. They just won’t let it go and there’s pretty much no chance of them ever changing their mind on anything. When you run across someone like that, acknowledge to yourself that arguing with them is not going to help and it will more than likely end up using some of your precious energy. Answer their comment or question with something along the lines of, “I know that we don’t agree on this, so I think it would be best if we talked about something else.” Then change the subject and if they bring it up again, use one of the other strategies to deal with them. <br />
<br /><b>
Set clear boundaries. </b></div><div>It’s okay to tell someone that you do not want to talk about your chronic illness with them and that it’s off-limits. Once you’ve let them know that, stick to it because just like a toddler, if you give in once, they’ll think it’s okay to do it forever. Alternatively, you could also send them a link to a website that you know had reputable information about your specific chronic illness and tell them that you would love to discuss their suggestions and thoughts about your condition after they’ve read about it. </div><div><br /><b>Know when it’s time to cut ties. <br /></b>
If someone is intentionally hurtful or just won’t let up with the insensitive comments and questions, it may be time to cut ties or at least limit interactions. You can unfollow them on social media (sometimes you can do this without deleting them from your friends list/followers so they won’t even know), cut down on social interactions, “miss” their phone calls (caller ID really does come in handy sometimes!), etc. <br />
<br /><b>
Look for the intention behind the words. </b></div><div>This one is hard, but sometimes it’s the best way to avoid hard feelings on either side. Maybe your friend makes insensitive comments about your chronic illness but does it with good intentions. Maybe they truly care and want to help. If that’s the case, gently explain to them that while you appreciate the sentiment, saying and asking things like that is actually hurtful and doesn’t help. Be open and honest with them about ways that they can help encourage you. </div><div><br /></div><div>What tips do you have for dealing with insensitive or rude comments?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w210-h68/Signature.png" width="210" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-58873094191114972352020-08-06T20:35:00.002-05:002020-08-06T20:35:20.422-05:00Look What I Found on Etsy!<div><i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I was browsing Etsy the other day, looking for a mask for Hubby to wear to church now that it's a statewide mandate for us when I ran across a mask that looked familiar. It took me a second before I realized that it was made with one of the fabrics I designed for my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Spoonflower shop</a></b>. How cool is that?!? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpiTrThsOJNXMW8bijVvkhFsD-Xcpkatb-rduElj40pn8ajxaeEkneNl_V_KcVMUhlH8SgRQj-TlH7p5dCO09bX1KYW3q4zke8mpiGo6qV6wh8FkOLIess019aacK82rkLKcyxZu3FJE/s1500/Look+What+I+Found+on+Etsy%2521.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpiTrThsOJNXMW8bijVvkhFsD-Xcpkatb-rduElj40pn8ajxaeEkneNl_V_KcVMUhlH8SgRQj-TlH7p5dCO09bX1KYW3q4zke8mpiGo6qV6wh8FkOLIess019aacK82rkLKcyxZu3FJE/w342-h512/Look+What+I+Found+on+Etsy%2521.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><div>That led me to search Etsy for other masks made with my fabric designs and I came up with quite a few. Here are some of my favorites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/818887328/asl-face-mask-covering-reversible?" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="2000" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkgUNWBiXWz_YI6x057jq-W0JmTDiATj5IbkOdKUYoYWIqZR1a9-tMoR6QbAKIgo1Td72QsijezIaoPjisCAyXhNCRBj9i3wI8WZKTLPGarm_mEIuGg0UroxyRCq3GC_D7I8YGoqfdS0/w640-h334/ILoveYouASLReversibleMask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This reversible mask actually features TWO of my designs, <a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8643284-small-scale-i-love-sign-language-asl-aqua-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank"><b>this one</b></a> and <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8643287-small-scale-tossed-i-love-yous-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">this one</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/818887328/asl-face-mask-covering-reversible?" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sew Crazy Vermont</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/849634755/sign-language-i-love-you-facemask" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2TYpFmQ7p6xJR1MpZZbOaKUHXjm0G1uBNcfKCp0YPlSFBQr2kH6uhOHl22WXu-n2T7yvZY96WbbOTZz0B2kaz17TghEC2NAfYG0XVWILqUWO-r-x4k0b1kRmtDELwhPeX1ssprxnwV0/s640/Sign+Language+Mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This mask features my<b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8643284-small-scale-i-love-sign-language-asl-aqua-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank"> Aqua I Love You ASL fabric</a></b> and has a pocket for a filter. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/849634755/sign-language-i-love-you-facemask" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Masks by Momma Ounn</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/845960829/ily-asl-reusable-face-mask-with" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxhy5b62z9-TmRuCQgQzTcI77k0qB3YwsucdWBtdMplQ42iVwPegty2jvaAYHilMtUl8Np-Eaf5lABynDWyr3K2hPz8xEbxMhpPhGN00Zl3ipLR6eL6TQZkcCx9RUDjN57pc0kijBVBw/s640/ILY+ASL+Mask.jpg" /></a></div><div>This mask has a pocket for a filter and a flexible nose piece and is made from my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8643287-small-scale-tossed-i-love-yous-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Tossed I Love You's fabric</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/845960829/ily-asl-reusable-face-mask-with" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KraftieAF</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/823996714/i-love-you-hand-with-red-hearts-sign" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGscVxDo4Hl0fuj8Se-zlKne-_b_f-Ka4joA3uNi27IQgnLAHUXNVf4pFqKycLOSrKz_6pkbF-lX8ejtS_7qEIwYsHWYDbJIZ2HKv1_C5ZcwiiXBeGzcVOBxMutA2lze7J0Txh8j5WWw/s640/ILY+ASL+Kids+Mask.jpg" /></a></div><div>This kids' mask is made in a pleated style and uses my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/8643287-small-scale-tossed-i-love-yous-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Tossed I Love You's fabric</a></b>. It's also available in a <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/837891177/i-love-you-hand-with-red-hearts-sign" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">women's size</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/823996714/i-love-you-hand-with-red-hearts-sign" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mlholm2009</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/831241417/asl-love-sign-face-mask" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPKWPnCqcZOvzLrMTBpKPxzzXG6gEItNG6Ni9Old0kam_IzNdtCV39rAivqY2SQAcHHJxznUDWnqRKKO06FYPZOdh3XHOXE-eRW9nAfU3OCq69mAXQ4bPEH70cVeB92mJnklBAx-xJOY/s640/ASL+Love+Sign+Mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This fitted mask has super soft elastic earloops and is made with my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/7802279-i-love-sign-language-asl-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">I Love You Sign Language fabric</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/831241417/asl-love-sign-face-mask" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BrightlyK</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/831472335/autism-awareness-face-mask-cloth-mask" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFfq7HicXfkDcctHczHWn4wJExCPFkbGIBy9lRIqwfi6r6zVNo1Ob07cumo-Ep1vwPl9JZzYAoLYXyh-keKkYy2UZqv60s5z9KY5AEy11egkEkk-JnDUSa3xKh0DIPQF1jEYMWXdxkoE/s640/Autism+Awareness+Mask.jpg" /></a></div><div>This pleated mask comes in kids' or adult sizes and is made with my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/7733974-autism-awareness-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Autism Awareness fabric</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/831472335/autism-awareness-face-mask-cloth-mask" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Dutch Acres</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/808750967/premium-cotton-jesus-loves-me-2-face" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5mMShpJTWPCJlhrfFXJvWCynaieoUTX7aliMVOJAfiaQqLgdIBuCGbP7_vwXVgfI9AIYFL0kI3t3GiRF9mwvTo8r741CoO2BYkGq5r5mWjDIuJaMG4mbOwgO79twjcSPbeUmbHygS5M/s640/Jesus+Loves+Me+Mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This mask comes with filters, a nose wire, adjustable head tie and more and is made with my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/5300469-jesus-loves-me-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Jesus Loves Me fabric</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/808750967/premium-cotton-jesus-loves-me-2-face" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Premium Cotton Masks</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/840835149/jesus-loves-me-adult-mask" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gbamQdwNMBFbCt6BUMnelx94gwQR7xd4-7P909V-O1LcwsmA2G8TE4KnsT5x4tYQ6RzICJ-wYh22c59SnxKB-T0Y5L8XqLmvonBcEKeHKNIvYSmNdm4mzTzK7IT5OHb9iOaiajHXOXI/s640/Jesus+Loves+Me+Pleated+Mask.jpg" /></a></div><div>These pleated masks have a filter and a nose wire and are made with my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/5300469-jesus-loves-me-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Jesus Loves Me fabric</a></b>. You can find them at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/840835149/jesus-loves-me-adult-mask" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mask Me Over</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/848026583/psalm-23-womens-face-mask" rel="nofollow" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFBLMUR2MynUNeISNXauf3cG6MX4unFOoj05UNR_K-GIZGy3vvok0uFtO8XCYpr_5zfdWcGwTRpT8jnZONXI-tc8mhnL3cPZdscHRHKijfIIBnCaqhhWNLpiV2Zx_gFS7f8sTQoQ0_vM/s640/Psalm+23+Mask.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>This mask has a unique 3D pattern to give you more breathing room and is made with my <b><a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/4968157-psalm-23-by-sunshineandspoons" target="_blank">Psalm 23 fabric</a></b>. You can find it at <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/848026583/psalm-23-womens-face-mask" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It's So Easy Inc</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Which mask is your favorite? If you stop by my fabric shop, I'd love to hear what you think of my designs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/s2000/Signature.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="2000" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MwtyWJVafARFfSMN-6acbooDmBPMggb35ekamB4Z-E2Xugqapz4PR1CEKccVg6Zapx0rusqxhQyzx2WNdNHvWBJLDxeoM6sKlbpRPlArFDH-GHK2agwjqo33HLSUOPb49j-_p31_2E/w262-h85/Signature.png" width="262" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div id="mc_embed_signup">
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343428086984907297.post-77342906805628349982020-08-01T15:17:00.003-05:002020-08-06T18:49:13.734-05:0020+ Must-Have Apps for Christians<i style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!</i><br />
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I used to scoff at people who pulled their smartphones out in church to use a digital Bible instead of using a physical Bible. I mean, what they were using wasn't a real Bible, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWmHBC7bUiLiE8Wq9KydH1XJwH60t6ldmTyBGjqxrojvDKtMDOFBs0Qmgmfgf2whXWmJQ3VIzXSQS43Vl_JwKLj7aNxtKJTJt27zUikb6XTMoH-4b4qgFEyxFxLDT49KZdGz-drBOMlI/s1600/20%252B+Must+Have+Apps+for+Christians.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="20+ Must Have Apps for Christians" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWmHBC7bUiLiE8Wq9KydH1XJwH60t6ldmTyBGjqxrojvDKtMDOFBs0Qmgmfgf2whXWmJQ3VIzXSQS43Vl_JwKLj7aNxtKJTJt27zUikb6XTMoH-4b4qgFEyxFxLDT49KZdGz-drBOMlI/s640/20%252B+Must+Have+Apps+for+Christians.jpg" title="" width="426" /></a></div>
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But then, I got a smartphone, downloaded the Tecarta Bible app and I was hooked. I fell in love with the way I can quickly and easily check cross-references, see maps and notes on a specific passage, compare translations, and take long notes instead of trying to cram them into the margins of my burgundy leather bound Bible.<br />
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Now, I have four Bible apps on my phone, a prayer app, a Bible search app, and 14 sermon/biblical study apps from various preachers and churches. They're all free although some of them do have in-app purchase options. I'm going to share them with you along with what I like about each one and how I use it.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2Pmcvpz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQVuFZTwxi0vdSHZrXBnEISl81Ze1vLoz_gF9r9GypAC7_IMZeHBJHliWfR1n59csixu5ZTVXNkYFv4vh_ZhnyMJVx5g81KU9aNiv2b4nOUzz1XPbOXRvU4-t4LIUhoqx_Ds3Qxh8hO0/s200/Tecarta.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Pmcvpz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tecarta Bible</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
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My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Easily move between commentaries and versions.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Highlight specific words or phrases.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has a notes section for sermon or general notes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>View lists of all highlights, margin notes, and bookmarks.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3gnVqYg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="300" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq899RyHa0kVGGOKam6MTcEvxCcyQpFOYroA_cKzc0d3UE0_IBviMIZIi3g4S3lAWVDenQceGThTwgS_2gZnQJyrgmT8U_qP6sB-cW4722FLKq0F84wvTVmV4r2nr_xiJ94Lv9d-JpfA/s200/Youversion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3gnVqYg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Youversion</b></a><b>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Connect with friends in the app</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Share prayer requests with your friends and pray for theirs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has thousands of Bible studies available that you can do on your own or with friends</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/3hYsPJI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzIE7RDXYqYdPv42zD_kwwVTKf_muQmadddom5-39XkBxmmC4ZMafMmuSEcfd6tdLwFJYTfhzNZ2Gu-GdL7Q5ZuPnskpS-pn54NXVuHDQhI1bZpgv8IpT-PP131qPwtNQ1OxhAf-wcMw/s200/BlueLetterBible.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/3hYsPJI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Letter Bible</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>See a side by side view of two Bible versions at once</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has a variety of translations and languages</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>View the original text of any verse and what specific words mean.</div>
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______________________________________________________</div>
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<a href="https://steprimo.com/android/us/app/spurgeon.commentary.bible/Spurgeon-Bible-commentary/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="180" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrD9F5Q2RcyLLMmbh0vvgKgWkImF4ferSfK2SooemKC_Q8Ume64MNFPOD041LexJhE8kazBe1BPL0Ak77WhunYhWL6FdODlLWPDx2rRhTjsUN28GHlOCq4cZwaa7kQyi-6Xo_hrGjbIY/s200/Spurgeon+Commentary+Bible.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://steprimo.com/android/us/app/spurgeon.commentary.bible/Spurgeon-Bible-commentary/" target="_blank">Spurgeon Bible Commentar</a>y-Available on Android</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>The commentary is built into the Bible so you can easily read it with the appropriate verses</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/3glpgNc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="359" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglESOoNIAmOzo-s5DwwH7ivSbnnBcTLNX2GVOM5arXZvsfLDYEJ5GZVuxEZY8Y4kdggQBkhyphenhyphenFMKKLnU2IAwcjes0DLzBLz0oo7rIQ_QrPniKEW47QLge_ZGo0etY7o6ssD0x2d10-exUc/s200/PrayerMate.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/3glpgNc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prayer Mate</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Make lists of your prayer requests (family, church, school, friends, etc.) and the app will automatically select several items from each of your lists for you to pray each day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Add details and update prayer requests on "index cards"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Makes it easy to keep track of prayers and remember to pray for them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2DcPenD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="787" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyV6Et0SkrVMq4EwWvih1g2CHCEfX3vvM9XASomWYDr0RlhMP1TAvq3pEqMxFu4RRwEsjkjTXMfElNHOc_ZWNXNpCh_kg8aozxQOM0b-H8Dn_Rglvz504TtUhtrJiycJ4oH48k_9u6KI/s200/BibleSearch.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2DcPenD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bible Search! from Tecarta</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Easy to find a Bible verse based on key words or a phrase</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Searches within different translations all at once to find what you're looking for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/3fiazcw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xjq0KnPg9JQc1e8qQ5fljlW_TrTncx7FAP_nnDXNWq07meOdvd5aExd7DBaVJRF2jYThoEJZ61l7c1ihh8ISraD6UKJLsgGTA98B-27vL0QlYUj03xvEaQWQUpC5OQuWPGQaESjoPtI/s200/Unshackled.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/3fiazcw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unshackled</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to a wide variety of Unshackled dramatic radio programs that have aired over the last 20 years</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2DlazuV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaieDjKhqiZpTfgb9nWavnhYv8Pnr_-c9fAu0m0uUus-AM07QhL5hjs7ad5eeR5ne3Ki7ieyFbkX6jUAp-oHNXSTpyN2jAZvoRs71dj-FJ7ZzURCihBjInGFk3L7OAMMj6RLAWysYjJJQ/s200/Ligonier.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2DlazuV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ligonier</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to sermons, read blog posts and watch videos</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Read the Bible in the app or follow the reading plan</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>The Live Answers page is available for questions 24 hours a day Monday through Saturday</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2Xkef7f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="246" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs0R1syxYMX0vsa1Kqkd3ZQSwdbECx4iPsjglITDU9o0VnpQSn9z2c6LC6-uigl9HErc864KABLYqDdxtH-fxE6TqFIGlRw1Qlg6wG1Q50uxxMUBhK3LPvha4j56rIJk0q4SbiZQ0xag/s200/OnePlace.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Xkef7f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnePlace</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to sermons from a variety of preachers and programs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Save your favorite ministers or programs to your favorites list so you can easily find them again</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://genesisapologetics.com/app/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5VnB7r5MBPC7JvZzUWLAmzCRUKT2vEKp2puaXLUYiDq7SURwCVLzOmyzWwWeSH9-rTjT72s17t1TSgxqewBaBoIyzVeWVle15OKoPbJ07EB2dtIzxgVcNJL1M8EJljpGCHlDO2JhYYk/s200/GenesisApologetics.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://genesisapologetics.com/app/" target="_blank">Genesis Apologetics</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has lots of biblically based answers for common questions about evolution vs. creation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Great for kids and adults</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2XjFhvB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="897" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzsr5Cf9hi54nquiPeUDgvye5Z_Hp7KMmwIuRylbL_xPcwOgcnqiGJq6V8awNRs4YHs-SN-sYx7SIU6Q4mWdZPKyvm8w_7UOeSiV7qrqIKC-tkNmsHuRasBPgthS_Rpl7SIQkWPfTqtU/s200/TonyEvansSermons.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2XjFhvB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tony Evans Sermons</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>A new sermon is listed each day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Choose from a variety of sermons to listen to and videos to watch</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/3gm75Hh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="930" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KJIiynMryLQI87H4Yx9ouO8dDIxlcqQNVI_lZwbbCtRJGZi4hjvHZ606xjkLBwNWx9fcxtbPeYQi63rUedi-smuO_oF-WKZWl3PQTG07yYR8jJvVPEUGZKxvlNehEW72rgIkRKCMe3U/s200/TonyEvansMotivationMoments.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/3gm75Hh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tony Evans Motivation Moments</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Browse among tons of quick one-minute audio clips organized by topic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tonyevanstraining.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82hypJsoK3DHtAStDZ9E-89h5Pc9uCGzGEke4qbnvAtkW-B8pzm0QNr_QhQ6O8D0D7qp4RPaGOg1ynC3FXEq-Mo9xZhEGehoOzdn76P-Fr4VQU15QP9Q19BIMP8SDH_kKSpm6cp-ZK1g/s200/TonyEvansTrainingCenter.png" width="199" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://www.tonyevanstraining.org/" target="_blank">Tony Evans Training Center</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Take a variety of courses on Christian living (many are free)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Connect with others and track your progress in the courses</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2Dnmg4q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovUIJptssu8XPaRwugxH1d1LKygG-eMaB5KOH4uD4ilkdO4rrLbpcz9yfjQICa2JE6VEEC224ZO2QQSp_XOKovb8aUoEHoLiphLUSOuLM1Cr12Tqx9976tIW1dfei8gNNmH4tZqAlKv0/s200/CrossExamined.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Dnmg4q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cross Examined</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has a daily podcast to listen to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Quick Answers section is categorized by topic so you can easily find what you're looking for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2Pcs3MG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="910" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTkg52ZfuwiolLKW_wNB-jqsQYkBDnVAMtO2JPw1O601uPvacFtrAzpJnXAFH9ecFuZqIBz2t79mddfRbmW5THoFCgrtJhrhxyOjMmfLbhJImHmIYOGNmsNnNvqn-7EwCO1qtStYtw8I/s200/SermonAudio.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Pcs3MG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sermon Audio</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Has thousands of sermons from various ministers available to listen to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/33iSitk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="630" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPrn9fhI-s687UPy8ZwzTlKUPfzU9SVuFPRt8VU6PKeu86Mb9mUBsvXxLX8k0xenFyXR9kJODkPRNBDLlCuGeqPIQGPIcIJBIq4ENnq9vBD_HDdYxLmhyphenhyphen51gje8yVvDuLKpjwl8rHO8Q/s200/TheVIllage.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/33iSitk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Village</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to a variety of sermons and podcasts from Pastor Matt Chandler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Take notes within the app</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johntibell.paulwashersermons&hl=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="897" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgBsY7XQkXjQ0TbjFx6F5iAhIWNjv2LJFWRtH37Kamhr3PaZTGh7irVBR3BPJSj-nxOBZKKH5WgE7axG597fxdMpn8RZ4pqCYOKRa4gnmyhJ6dc0u-fpladcy8xnIjEPMBvBdL1tRfKs/s200/PaulWasher.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johntibell.paulwashersermons&hl=en_US" target="_blank">Paul Washer Sermons</a>-Available on Android</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to a variety of sermons organized by category from Pastor Paul Washer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/30le3ql" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="747" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kwX8wKiBrC74IH_5EcFSHjo0ZxkQelayIjI1ciOH4hf6jFX02QnUxVUg1UGkJUZOFhdAUnzwzTFlvEiZENagx4jGD8fGs5361_ou2AObS-kkkHX4XZwdGTEm_6GQf4QqKrjbaOEEdKo/s200/MoodyRadio.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/30le3ql" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moody Radio</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to live radio or play previous podcasts and radio programs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2EDMHDn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="517" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC8Uryc6YokHTOcLtpVhRik3G2cITczWYljHd08hMJTzOu3_p4t9Z8SNxiIjMSgf5oOm9RqWEXsnfwD1QcuKMmuc2IKy5JF4YKE73fnP3PDetHPji_uV7dbCvC7EasymdpvstwichI8U/s200/ReviveOurHearts.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2EDMHDn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revive Our Hearts</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to a variety of podcasts and read blog posts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Take notes within the app</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/focus-on-the-family-app/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="897" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8UaoELZ2M9xXn7RI_a52y_UQ6HmqLe7A6W9f4TAcuudPx0KRmBZkVCh5t6My382duTfIoLqggKQrA3vD0lrlBb3sXcYUsDWx1dOdYg-sQkwnP-AbVxrWOl0zL8VOeugSQOc_ARlYEW4/s200/FocusOnTheFamily.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/focus-on-the-family-app/" target="_blank">Focus on the Family</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to some of the most recent Adventures in Odyssey broadcasts for free</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Listen to a variety of podcasts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://twelve.bible/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQi6e_a4v0Ddv86fvy7hauHBMkIDWLQgvtyqgQ1JrzYHyEsiEV8ogCSd9HzlSiwipOlUM99yqkVsp0qr_NKXXSOcqSbD0Ab69eDHTMDrPVE4IZKq3WbJ3WZlQXFtsSiyNEK7WStsqHZCk/s200/Twelve.png" width="199" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://twelve.bible/" target="_blank">Twelve</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My Favorite features:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Connect with your friends and form small groups of up to 12 for Bible study accountability</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Discuss your Bible study with your friends</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Helps you stay consistent and in the Bible</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
______________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.drybarcomedy.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZlYR3iRvAo6ZOOzPZpQV6NLKf9tw-OsjNGJPKlAG2OuddhJgKY5GRZtuhaDQcvbfve6yDHGpj5KSeKi49wtNp6WeibhDdbtl2P7l23oC7lMhXVSPYgBoLJiNskKnXYN9w2yupAjLltw/s200/DrybarComedy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://www.drybarcomedy.com/" target="_blank">Drybar Comedy</a>-Available on Android and IOS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorite features: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
>Watch clean comedy videos from a variety of stand-up comedians </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="null">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>20+ must-have apps for Christians: </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b95e0; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="63tml-1-0"><span data-text="true">https://bit.ly/30zRI8L</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="63tml-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true"> </span></span><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="htthttps://ctt.ac/6QoH3" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="1600" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSGUCv3nJRlLKsSoQnArlqy1Abog8NtrlACX8kmwv6NbfDZCRqQzPrspabbc9-Xd4JHxiNHOyjczH4RSenItYItBjLZjYgLR1QJGvNMOHB1uDpI58BviTcog-ES_nwQEuVfaRgpC1ee0/s200/TweetButton.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />
I hope you find some of these useful for growing your relationship with God like I have. I'd love to hear what apps you use as well!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Sunshine and Spoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218542467607737336noreply@blogger.com1