What To Say and Not To Say To Someone Diagnosed With Cancer

In July of 2015, I went into a doctors office to have an annual gynecological exam. That exam ended with me in tears.

During a pelvic exam, the doctor felt a mass inside, sent me for an ultrasound, revealing the mass was a tumor on my left ovary.

I was sent to a gynecological oncologist, a surgery was set, performed, and I was diagnosed with stage 1a, Grade 3 immature teratoma. A very rare form of ovarian cancer.

And my life was forever changed.

During my cancer battle, I had to hear A LOT of opinions from everyone around me. Some of those thoughts were helpful. Others not so much.

And I vowed that once I had the opportunity, I wanted to share what words or actions I found helpful. And to share what was not, so anyone that is around someone that is facing cancer will know how to help and bless that person.

I will start with what you should do to someone battling cancer.

DO Say You Are Praying For Them
I was pretty open with my cancer battle. And that came with pros and cons. But the biggest pro was the support that came in the form of prayer. I can never express enough gratitude to those that took the time to lift me before our Father, and to those that told me they did so. There was no greater form of encouragement.

DO Acts of Kindness
I had so many people bless me in my journey, with many acts of kindness. I had one person that I met through blogging send me the sweetest package of chocolate, bath sitz, a scarf for my soon to be bald head, and a pretty lace cover to go underneath to help keep the scarf from slipping.

Others sent cards regularly. And some gifted coloring books. Which were amazing to occupy myself with while in the chemo chair for 6 hours a day.

I also had a special family that at the end of each round of chemo, they would come and decorate my front porch with a balloon, a Bible verse, and pretty banner.

Another act was bringing us food. While I did not have an appetite, Justin did, and it was such a relief to know he was taken care of, and we did not have to worry about cooking.

DO Continue To Ask them How They Are Doing LONG after Chemo
Cancer is not just a physical battle. Its a mental one. And the scars will last long past the end of chemo. Four years later, and the memory of the battle is still in my mind, and I am easily triggered by the memories of those days.

DO NOT Assume They Are Dying
Yes. Cancer kills. And had it not been caught, I would probably be dead by now. But praise the LORD, we live in a day and age where new treatments and advances are being made in treatment. And more people are living. With that being said please don't say to someone, "I was hoping to see you grow old...". Yes. Someone said that straight to my face after hearing the news.

DO NOT Talk About Someone You Know That Died of Cancer
Someone that is newly diagnosed is VERY aware of their mortality. And we want to fight with hope. Hearing about someone who has died does nothing to us but cause anxiety about our own state.

DO NOT Look At Them Like They Drank A Bottle of Roundup
Not long after treatment ended, and before my hair grew back, I made a meal for a family. The woman came up to me later and said she was surprised I made such a healthy meal for them. And proceded to ask if I eat healthy now because of cancer. I shared to her I had been eating very healthy for years before my diagnosis. I had even completed a second WHOLE30, two weeks before diagnosis. She had pure shock on her face, and asked what did cause my cancer then.

Most cancer casues are unknown. And the type I was diagnosed with is one of those. Don't assume because someone gets cancer its because of something they did. Because cancer just happens sometimes, and even the healthiest can get it.

DO NOT Compare Treatment or Offer Healing Advice
And I would have to say this might be the biggest piece of advice.

So many people would ask about my treatment and offer so much useless and pointless advice.

Cancer is different for everyone. And it comes in many different subtypes. My subtype called for one type of chemotherapy regimen. The regimine I was on was different from what another woman I know that has another subtype of ovarian cancer.

And along the lines of offering treatment "advice", don't talk to someone with cancer, about any type of "natural" treatment for cancer. Unless you have solid medical research behind you.

I have always been a more natural medicine type of person. I believe in food being your medicine. Admitting that I needed, more than an herbal remedy to heal my body required a huge slice of humble pie. I did not need to have multiple people, with NO medical background come back to me and say I just needed to eat some special berry seen on Facebook (true story) or eat a raw vegan diet to cure myself. Those types of comments cause nothing but more mental distress.

Unless you have been in that situation, you do not know the mental anxiety hearing the words you have cancer creates. You go into survival mode. And you are going to do anything in your power to survive.

And Above All Else...
Just treat them with kindness. Treat them as you would any other human being in your life. Yes they may have a scary disease that takes a lot of their time and energy. But they are still the same person they were before diagnosis. A more tired and scarred version. But still the same. Remind them of that. Invite them on outings you know they would enjoy. Spend time talking about non cancer things.

Be patient, and don't leave them fighting alone.

Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer? What are some helpful insights you can offer those not in the fight?

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

2015's Surprises, And Who Holds the Future

 Never in my wildest dreams, would I have predicted the year 2015 to hold what it did...

 

Like gorgeous blue skies on the very first day of the year...

 

 

 

Finally being able to own a flock of chickens...

 

  

Celebrating a second wedding anniversary at the beach...

 

 

Early spring days spent at the farmers market with my mother and sister....

 

 

Purchasing our own piece of property, and constantly being surprised by all its wonders and beauties.

 

 

 

I went to the doctor, and was told I may have cancer.

 

 

Then came the news I did have cancer, and so began the begging to GOD for these not to be my last days.

 

 

My hair was chopped off, to lessen the shock of loosing it during chemo.

 

 

 

And I spent countless hours in this chair...

 

 

While this medicine was pumped into my veins.

 

 

My birthday morning was spent doing chemo. But then a small party from family was held in the evening.

 



 

I learned how to wrap up in a headscarf for when I ventured out.

 

 

But quite a few days were spent here, due to lack of energy.

 

Blessings also abounded in the form of cards, and gifts from old friends, new friends...

 



 

 

And even a complete and total stranger.

 

 

Much time was spent in the Word.

 

 

And I received the news there is no sign of cancer in my body, and celebrated with my love.

 

 

 I even got a tattoo, to remind me of GOD's goodness during the years trials. :)

 

 

 Days of recovery were spent with these little girls.

 

 

 And watching the rain fall on many a day.

 



 

 I was even blessed to travel twice this fall. To West Virginia...

 



 

And the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC.

 



 

 And the year finally ended with being able to be back at my beloved weight lifting for 6 weeks.

The year 2015 held so many surprises for me. Both good, and bad. And GOD taught me so much.

Like how incredibly good HE is, and that we truly can take no thought for tomorrow.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:34

What does 2016 hold? I have no clue. What I do know is the one who holds tomorrow, and I know HE is holding me. :)

What surprises did 2015 hold for you?

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

How To Draw Closer to GOD

 

Trust In God's Timing.

 

Rely On HIS Promises.

 

Wait For HIS Answers.

 

Believe In HIS Miracles.

 

Rejoice in HIS Goodness.

 

Relax in HIS Presence.

 

Draw Closer to GOD, and HE will draw closer to you.

James 4:8

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel



Learning To Trust, If I'm Not Meant To Be A Mommy

I'm sitting here in my favorite computer nook of my house, wrapped in a blanket, with an outstanding cup of coffee sitting beside me. I look outside the window, and I see my birdfeeder hanging, and several birds flitting back and forth to it, even with a light rain beginning to fall.

My workout for the day is done, laundry is caught up, 1 batch of laundry detergent has been made, the house cleaned, Bible reading is in, and 3 chapters in "Babies First Bites and Beyond" is done.

I've been reading quite a bit on parenting, child care, and pregnancy of late. Which is nothing really unusual for me. I was reading every book on the subject I could get my hands on before I was even in a courtship. :D

With rainy days, come contemplative days. And I can not help but wonder today, will the LORD bless Justin and I with children? And if not, can I be content in that fact?

I am going to be open and honest on here with ya'll. I hope you don't mind that. ;) I just feel like getting some thoughts out in the open air, to help clear the mind. Any who...

Before Justin and I were married, we talked about whether or not were going to use a natural means  of birth control (Fertility Awareness Method, I am FIRMLY against the pill, with it's abortive, and hormonal effects).

We decided that we would. I'm not sure we had a great reason to or not. We just wanted to spend a year, getting to know one another better, before children. ( I am not saying children will cause a strain on a new marriage. I've known several couples become pregnant with months of being married, and they praised the fact it brought them closer together as a couple. I'm also not saying everyone should avoid pregnancy for a year, or more. This is just what we felt led to do in our lives )

Our one-year anniversary came in April of 2014, and we talked about whether we would stop trying to avoid a pregnancy or not. At that point Justin said he was ready to be a daddy. But I did not feel as if I was ready to be a mommy.

I was going through some health issues, and I was trying to resolve them through natural means (herbs, nutrition, etc.) Physically, I did not feel I was ready to become pregnant.

Justin was fine with that, and with his AMAZINLY patient self, said it was fine with him to wait until I felt ready.

By October, I was feeling as if my health was returning, and I caught baby fever.

When my cycle started that November, I asked Justin if he was still ready to be a daddy, and he responded with are you ready to be a mommy.. I said I was ready, and we stopped "avoiding".

I will admit I was terrified those days that led up to that first period. I just "knew" I was pregnant.

But, as GOD would have it, I was not.

And so it has been for my last 3 cycles.

I'm not worried about not being able to get pregnant at this point. I am however, in awe at the fact that, as a friend put it one time, sex doesn't mean a baby.

It is only GOD's hand at work in your body, when you and your husband are expressing love toward another, is what makes a baby.

Will I become pregnant as time goes on? I don't know.

Maybe GOD has other plans for mine and Justin's lives.

Would I be joyful if HE did not see fit to bless us? I'd like to say yes, but I know it would be hard.

I'm not saying it would be impossible to be okay with that. GOD has brought me through so many trials in my life. There are countless times I have made plans for the future, to have GOD show me that HE has something different in mind.

Giving up hearts desires are just plain hard. But, in the end, we can rest in the knowledge HE is in control of our lives, and only wants what is best for us.

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

I fully trust the LORD with this aspect of my life. I just pray that if the LORD does not have children in my future, I will be able to trust in HIS grace, and wisdom.

What is the LORD teaching you to trust HIM about?

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Hopes For The New Year

Happy New Year!

 

If you count January the third as still being the New Year...

 

With the New year, it's typical of most people to look back at what was accomplished from the previous year, and to set forth goals for the year ahead. I'm no exception to this. In fact I love this time of hoping for the future.

 

I look forward to goal setting every year. No, I don't always follow through. But, I find the New year to be a wonderful time to let hope bloom, for a new day, and new goals to work on.

 

What are some goals I hope to accomplish this year?

 

~ Read the Bible every day. No skipping days, if at all possible. I became really slack in this area last year. I did not make it a priority most days, and I can tell that my spiritual life really suffered because of it. :(

~Be completely alert to my husbands wants and needs. I tend to struggle with listening to him, and to my shame zone out when he's talking sometimes. With the LORD's grace, I hope to be fully "there" in a conversation, ALL the time. :)

~Become hospitable. This will be a huge challenge for this quiet introvert. Aside from family, we have not had any guests in our home for a meal or fellowship. It's a challenge I am ready to accept, with the LORD's help of course. ;)
~Read more, learn more. I'm pretty sure I can count on one hand how many books I read last year. I have about 60 healthy living books on my Kindle that I need to go through. And there are several on my shelf I purchased last year, that have yet to be read. :P

~ Branch out in my culinary skills. I just basically want to experiment with as many recipes as possible. I have several that I've been sticking to since being married, and to my husbands dismay, may cook on one too many occasions... :P

~Complete 2 sewing projects. I did not do ANY sewing last year. This year I hope to polish up some old skills, and get to sewing! :D

~Research and possibly start a soap making business. Not so sure if this one will come to pass, but I am giving it a lot of thought and prayer. :)

~Keep up my habit of exercising. Last year I made my usual resolution of exercising daily. For the first time ever, I kept it up. :D With the LORD's strength, I plan to keep up weightlifting 4 days a week, with 3 days of HIIT. I would even love to try and incorporate some Yoga in there a couple days. :D

~Find a naturally minded doctor. We currently do not have a primary care physician. I would REALLY love to find one in our area, that is geared to natural healing practices. Not just someone to hand you a bottle of pills. If any of you know how to go about finding one, I'd love to hear about it! :D

~Grow our family? This one is not really a goal, but a hope. We are not "trying" to become pregnant, but we're not naturally avoiding it either. I leave this hope in GOD's hands. :)

 

In fact, I leave all of these hope and goals in GOD's hands. No matter how much I might try and think I have my life in my own hands, it's not. I rest in the knowledge that GOD is holding my future, and I leave it ALL up to HIM. :D

 

What are some of your hopes and goals for the future?

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Changes: From With Her Hands to Shy Country Gal

I have been doing quite a bit of thinking about this little blog, I have been so blessed to have, for a bit now. And I have decided it is in need of some changes.

I have had this little space, with the same URL of shycountrygal.blogspot.com since 2010. The title of the blog then was "Seeking HIS Guidance In All Things".

At that point in my life, I was not married and did not see marriage in my near future. As a matter of fact, I had no idea what the LORD held in store for my future. So, I wrote about how I was seeking the LORD's guidance, while HE showed me the path in life I would take.

Sometime during that time period, the LORD showed me HIS path, as clear as day. I was to become a "stay at home daughter", preparing myself for the possibility of marriage. And so the blog name changed again.

It was renamed "With Her Hands". I wrote about how the LORD was using my time as a stay at home daughter, learning to be as the Proverbs 31 woman...

 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:10-13

 

Two years went by, and I did marry the man of my dreams in April of 2013. I am now a mostly stay at home wife (I teach a preschool class, two half days a week).

 

And somehow this little blog has gone somewhat neglected.

 

I never meant to be so inconsistent with my blogging upon being married. It just happened.

 

When I did finally get back to blogging regularly this summer, I was at a loss on what to write. It's like something inside me was screaming to write, and share my thoughts, but there was something blocking me from doing so. So I have just been posting fashion, or recipes.

 

While I dearly love sharing those things, it's not what I want to spend all of my time sharing.

 

I considered a new blog, but voted against it.  So, I have changed the name of this blog, once again, to simply "Shy Country Gal" (that is what I am). (finally it matches the URL!!!)

 

I want to get back to sharing this life the LORD has blessed me with.

 

It is not an exciting, spectacular life, but GOD has given it to me. And I see HIS goodness in it EVERY DAY! And I want to share that goodness with others, so they can look, and see GOD's goodness in their own wonderful lives.

 

So you can count on some more personal posts, and much of the same old same old. Like fashion, or photography, or homemaking.

 

Things won't look HUGELY different around here. But hopefully, you'll see me a bit more. :D

 

So, welcome to "Shy Country Gal". My prayer is that you see GOD's goodness, in ALL that is said here. :)

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel

 

P.S. I am open to any post suggestions! Or if you have a question about me, ASK! I'd love to answer you! :D

Summer Bucket List

My job as a K-3 teacher is done for the year, it's 91 degrees outdoors and for the summer I am a full time stay at home wife! Oh, it doesn't get much better than that folks! :D I am looking forward to extra time at home. I have had quite a few people ask me what I am going to do with so much free time. Trust me, with daily chores, and quite a few upcoming church functions, I shall have no problem filling up my schedule. :D

So, here is my summer “bucket list”.

To Do…

 

 ~Start and Complete Chicken Wire Ornaments

~Start Wedding Photo Album

~Dry Herbs

~Freeze Beans and Squash from our garden

~Start and Complete Dried Flower Wall Hangings

~Read More on Herbal Remedies and Uses

~Read at Least One Natural Pregnancy/Birth Book

~Try new recipes

~Try Very Hard to Trim Grocery Budget

~Organize Our House

While I am making no promises in this area, I hope to blog about some of these topics…

~My Fitness Routine

~Are My Priorities Straight?

~Natural Cleaners

~Recipe

~Craft Projects

~And I am open to any of your dear friends making a suggestion on what you like to see more of here! :D

Aside from the above there is a white water rafting trip in the near future, and I am in charge of our church’s VBS crafts. Can't wait for those!

What does your summer hold for you?

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Ideal Birth Experience

I wrote a post back in January talking about how I have made a decision in my life not to be uneducated in the realm of pregnancy, birth, and child rearing. My reasoning for this is to wisely use the time I have now, as an unmarried woman, learning as much as I can, so as not to feel overwhelmed and ignorant when I am faced with those challenges some day.

Since making that decision I have read just about every book and article I can get my hands on regarding such subjects. My research has been an eye opening experience. It has also confirmed that I have made the right decision to learn all I can now, instead of waiting until I am faced with the test.

Pretty much every thing I have read has said over and over, to not take information at face value, but to delve deeper and challenge the facts at hand, especially in regard to the type of birthing experience you wish to have.

I've done that quite a bit over the past few months. I have strived to learn all the facts with an open mind and attitude, and have become quite knowledgeable on pregnancy and child birth. I'm no expert, but I have learned a good deal about this awe inspiring part of GOD's world.

So what kind of birthing experience would I want? My ideal birthing story would be an all natural home birth. I would love to have my first child in the comfort and security of my own home. How awesome would it be to have your child in the atmosphere you are most comfortable with? And one where love surrounds every corner?

Why do I want an all natural birth? My primary reason for this is wanting to get as close to the way GOD created child bearing to be. Not as the major medical crisis most people treat it as today, but as the very natural part in the circle of life it is. When we start altering the way birth occurs, in the way of meds and monitoring, we upset the balance that GOD so perfectly set in place at the beginning of time.

Now I'm not saying I am against medications, and human intervention of any kind in the birth process. GOD has given us a great advantage in those tools. Modern medicine has saved many a life when trouble arises. And I am thankful for that. What I don't agree with is the whole attitude of birth being treated as a disease. True, things can go wrong at times. But why try to improve something that is running just as it is supposed to, and does the majority of the time when left alone?

I realize that I am basing these thoughts on what I have read, and not experienced first hand. I also know that until I get married, have children of my own, I cannot say that a home birth is really the best. That decision would have to be made with my husband, after a lot of prayer.

This just happens to be a conviction I hold right now in my life. :)

How about you? Do you have any thoughts regarding child birth, and what you believe to be the best? I would love to hear! And yes, I would even love it if you challenged me on my beliefs. :)

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

From Fast to Slow

Good day Friends and family! I pray that you are all having a wonderful day in our LORD! It's been a cloudy and somewhat rainy day here in my neck of the woods. It's been rather nice though. It has really set the tone for a relaxing day indoors. :D

So, the official fall camping season is over and I survived! This is so exciting. For awhile there, I was starting to get so run down, I was afraid that I would not be able to keep up the daily schedule. But praise the LORD! HE gave me just the strength I needed to make it to the end. For that, I am so grateful. :)

Aside from a few weekend retreats to be worked, my time will now be spent focusing on teaching the three year olds, farm work, and helping mama out wherever she needs me. I will admit, even though I am thankful for the time at home, it is going to be a bit of an adjustment. I have been going full blast for so long, going to a bit slower pace is going to be a bit of a challenge. ;)

Now don't get me wrong, my days will still be busy. I have several projects, sewing and cleaning, that I can't wait to tackle. It's just that now work will go at a bit slower kind of pace. :)

Here is what I would love to accomplish within the next several weeks...

~ Sew panels for our back doors
~ Finish sewing napkins for my hope chest
~ Sewing two, maybe three rag quilts for Christmas gifts
~ Sew several other Christmas gifts
~ Scrubbing the chicken coops (washing roosts, laying boxes, and walls)
~ Organizing my disaster of a closet
~ Get back into a regular exercise routine ( this has been sadly neglected due to the intense work schedule and total lack of energy when done at the end of the day...)
~ Plan my second teen girls get together ( just like my tea party held in July, this time it will be for the girls at my church, and less formal)
~ Finish reading several books I have started the past few weeks
~ Finish memorizing 1 Peter 3 ( I started this back in June, then put it off when working for my neighbor, then camp started, you get the picture...)
~ Review buisness math, and a few other subjects

Then of course there will be the regular routine preparing for school, washing eggs at my neighbor's, and whatever else mama needs me to help with around here.

I'm just so thankful for the LORD's goodness in my life. I love how HE has given me this wonderful opportunity to work, serve, learn, and prepare for the future, in this special time of stay at home daughter hood. :)

Have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Change of Thoughts...

So awhile back I wrote out a few things that I have been wanting to post about. I mentioned that one of the things I wanted to hit on, but wasn't so sure I was going to, is courtship. I posted about some of my convictions on the matter back in April. (here's the post if you would like to read it).

I briefly went over some of my thoughts on the matter, and made some convictions known. But after some prayer and reading and lots of talking with others, I'm not all that pleased with what I wrote, and what I thought. I was going to wait to write on this, but the thoughts are here now, and if they are not wrote out soon, I'm afraid it will never happen. And I feel that what I am thinking now needs to be brought out...

Like I said, after quite a bit of prayer lately, I'm afraid my attitude toward courtship has not exactly been the best. I've had a bit of a mind set that the only way that I am ever going to get married is by following a set of rules, set by another person. Let me explain a bit.

I have had the mind set over the past year that the only way I will ever get married is by following strict guidelines written by people and not necessarily what GOD has placed in my life. I have read countless stories of what I want my love story to be like. I have wanted the typical courtship story where a guy takes interest in a girl, asks the girls father to court her, they spend lots of time together only in the midst of family, never alone, they're engaged, then married, you get the picture.

I have had an almost legalistic thought process concerning this. A process that unless it happens this certain way, it's wrong. But that is wrong. Who am I or anyone else on this earth to say that if courtship does not happen that certain way it is wrong?

GOD has made each of us different individuals. Who is to say that what is right and perfect for one, is going to be right and perfect for another? Why does it matter what avenue we take in getting to know someone better for marriage, whether it be dating or courtship, so long as what we are doing is to honor and please GOD?

I would still love for that typical courtship in my life. But GOD may have a another plan. Perhaps what HE wants me to go through is different than what I desire. Maybe I'll be close friends with a guy, and we'll go straight into an engagement. (I have known and heard of several couples to go this route) Maybe we'll date one on one, with the close guidance of family, and get to know each other better that way. Or, it could be something such as this guy went through, (he only knew this girl briefly through family and friends, and they became betrothed and knew they were going to get married from the start of the relationship).

I don't know what is going to happen. Only GOD knows, and I am so incredibly thankful for that fact. All I know is, that I need to focus more upon HIM, and solely rely on what HE has placed in my life, and not look to others longing for what they have, when the time comes.

Here is a quote that describes what I have been thinking quite well...

"Terms don't define our lives; our lives define our terms."
— Joshua Harris (Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship)

So, what do think about this? Is there anything I have said you have a problem with? I would love to hear your thoughts! :D

Have a wonderfully blessed day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Angel

Side note: Even though I have let up on my thoughts as to the process of courtship, my convictions have not. I still do not believe in aimless dating. I believe that no matter the route you take, marriage should be a clear goal, so as not to play with each other's hearts. I believe that a most GOD honoring way to approach a relationships. I would also like the man to gain my father's blessing in a relationship.

A Skeleton of Thoughts

Before I get into this post, I want to say thanks to all of you dear readers out there that posted such encouraging comments yesterday. I'm not giving up the notion of my prince just because I turn 21. (the whole mourning garb thing was a joke) ;) I know the LORD has a Mr. Right for me. I just have to wait on HIS great timing. I have just been reading up on some history of late, and in just about every book that mentions a young woman getting married, if it didn't occur by the time she was 21, she was typically labeled an old maid. And well, it makes a girl wonder at times... ;)

Okay, now that's done I can get on with the topic at hand. As I stated in last weeks "Random Fridays" post, I have not been writing on many serious topics. I have been on this kick of posting photos and music all the time. Which is okay, just not ALL the time.

I've had a lot on my brain lately, just not the time to post it all out. But anyhow, I thought I would use this post and list some topics I would like to hit on within the next few weeks, as well as gain your input in what you the reader would like to see more of. Here's the list...

~ day in the life posts- always fun to write, and alot of you seem to enjoy them
~ a devotional on service- I would love to share with you the devotional I served at my afternoon tea. It was such a blessing to me, that I thought all of you would enjoy it.
~ poems- I have this book just full of poems targeted specifically at young ladies, and are such a joy and comfort.
~ how GOD has worked in my life since being saved at the age of 14
~ my views on self sufficiency- a huge topic with my family, as well as many bloggers. I realize that I have never truly expressed my thoughts on the subject, and I think now is a great time to do so.
~ thrift store shopping- basically I want to talk about how the LORD used this pastime to teach me quite a few character traits.
~ outfit of the day posts- I love to share with you gals an outfit that I have come up with. It is always alot of fun coming up with modest GOD honoring outfits, and sharing them with like minded ladies. :D
~ sewing projects- some of my most recent
~ a craft tutorial- you'll have to come back to see exactly what that is.
~ courtship and dating?- I realize that I have posted my views on this before, but after some prayer, a chat with my mom, and after reading a bit, some little things have changed in my thoughts there. Not sure if I will post this or not...
~ how the LORD is working in my life currently- witnessing, contentment, work, etc.

I think that covers the majority of it. There will be other posts in between these. This is just sort of a skeleton, to help organize my thoughts a bit.

What are your thoughts though? What would like to see more of on this blog? Or maybe something you would like to see less of? Are you looking forward to one of the above? Maybe there is a topic you would like to hear my thoughts on? I would love to hear about it :D

Well, I better get off of here for now. I pray that you all have a wonderfully blessed day! Thanks for stopping by!

Angel