Louder Than the Voices

 Happy Friday- I am a day early! I'm posting a little early this week because I'm heading to my sister's for Lincoln's Balloon Festival, and tomorrow morning I plan to be up early watching the balloons instead of sitting at my computer writing a post! And maybe choosing to make room for something I enjoy fits pretty well with what we're talking about this week anyway. We are back for Part 3 of Self-Care Isn't Selfish , and I have to admit, this one may be harder for me than caring for my body. In Part 1, we talked about learning to rest before we run completely empty. In Part 2, we talked about caring for our bodies and actually listening when they tell us they've had enough. This week, we're talking about our minds—and apparently life decided I needed some real-life material for this one too! Earlier this week, I went to the periodontist. I've had periodontal disease for years, and I had a troublesome spot on my gum that just wasn't clearing up....

 I’ve been dealing with periodontal care for many years, so taking care of my teeth and gums at home has become a pretty important part of my daily routine. I’ve tried a lot of different products over the years, but there are a handful that I continue to use because they work well for my routine . I thought I’d put them all in one place in case you’re looking for ideas for your own dental-care routine. Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Of course, I’m not a dentist or periodontist. These are simply products I personally use. If you have periodontal disease or other dental concerns, talk with your dental professional about what is appropriate for you. 1. Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush My Sonicare is the foundation of my daily routine. I prefer an electric toothbrush because it makes it easier...

 Good morning! I'm back! I missed you last Saturday, but as it turns out, life gave me a pretty good lesson in the very series I had just started. I was on our girls' trip, trying to enjoy a few days at the beach while also dealing with a splitting headache and what was believed to be shingles. I had plans for that trip. I wanted to be out enjoying the beach, doing all the things we had planned and making the most of our time away. But my body had some other ideas. There were times I had to go back to the room, get out of the heat, rest and accept that I simply wasn't going to do everything I wanted to do. And apparently, I didn't completely learn the lesson, because I came home and jumped right back in! In Part 1 of Self-Care Isn't Selfish , we talked about how easy it is to keep putting ourselves at the bottom of the list, promising we'll rest or take care of ourselves after everything else is done. And we decided there is just one problem with that: everythi...

 Learning to Rest Before We Run Empty Happy Saturday! It has been a big, scary week for me! I started a new adventure, pitched an idea to our tourism council that means a new project and hosted a meeting yesterday that one of funders experience. I am really, really glad for a change of pace this weekend and I am taking full advantage. IT led me to this next topic and another series so we can break it down. Today we’re starting a new four-part series called Self-Care Isn’t Selfish . Over the next four weeks, we’re going to look at what self-care really means and why it matters, then dig a little deeper into caring for the three parts of ourselves that God has entrusted to us—our bodies, our minds, and our spirits . For a long time, I think I misunderstood self-care. I thought taking care of myself was something I could get to after everything else was done—after the work was finished, after everyone else was taken care of, after the house was handled, the responsibilities were met,...

 Good morning! As we've walked through this series together, I hope one thing has become clear. The goal of a Money Diet isn't simply to get out of debt. It isn't just to have a healthy savings account. It isn't about becoming wealthy. The goal is freedom. Freedom from worrying every time another bill comes in the mail. Freedom from wondering how you're going to make it until payday. Freedom to enjoy the blessings God has given you without guilt or regret. But there is another kind of freedom that I believe is even more important. The freedom to be generous. God actually began teaching me this lesson years ago while I was sitting at a Women of Faith conference listening to Luci Swindoll. She shared how she had struggled with worrying about money and wrestled with God over tithing. She couldn't understand how He expected her to give when there never seemed to be enough. But as she trusted Him, she discovered something that completely changed her perspective. She...

 Good morning everyone! Happy Saturday! I am excited about today because I get to go see my cousin Anissa. We had lunch a few weeks ago and I am thrilled for the reason we are getting together today.  While we were visiting, she had mentioned that one of the regrets she had was saying no when her mom asked her if she wanted her grandmother's rain lamp. You remember the rain lamps? It was normally a bronze hanging lamp that had a statue in the middle and what looked like rain running down little lines around it? Well, she made that statement and then said, I don't know what happened to it. I was able to say immediately, "it is sitting in my attic, and it is yours if you want it." She said no, but on our way home, she texted me and said if I meant it she wanted it. It does need a new motor, and that and the fact that I just didn't have a good place for it anymore had sent it to my attic. I am so excited that it is going to be used again and I am so excited that I wa...