Namesake - The Last Week

I must confess that Namesake has been a difficult study for me. But I have learned a lot about my views of God and how to strengthen my relationship with Him. I'm on the look out for a new study, if you have any suggestions please let me know. Otherwise I will post which study might be next in the coming days! I hope you follow along for the last few days of this study!

Namesake Week 1 Day 1: What's in a Name?

Today's scripture Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 29:31-35, 30:1-12

Our names are not given as much thought these days as back when the Bible was written. Our names are given to us for many reasons, to tell a story, description of inner character, or to carry on a family name or tradition. But back when the Bible was written parents would invest a significant amount of time choosing just the right name, a name for their child to grow into, a dream to be fulfilled.

Here are the names of Abraham and Sarah's great-grandchildren and some words that came to my mind after reading the reasons for their names.

Reuben - Love shared between a husband and wife

Simeon - The loving bond shared between a mother and son

Levi - A son for a father to love

Judah - Praise to God for the last son

Dan - Vindication 

Naphtali - Struggles towards a win

Gad - Fortunate

Asher - Joy and celebration

Isaiah 43:1 "But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O israel, the one who formed you says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by names, you are mine."

I love this verse! The Lord created us, formed us, and ransomed us. He named us out of love and we're His.

I have always thought of God is a fatherly way, my father and teacher. It truly makes me happy to have such a close relationship with God, to be his child.

Act on It:

I never really have thought much about my name or why my parents chose the name they did. So I called my mom this afternoon and asked her. "Well....." I heard the name Lindsy somewhere, someone said it and I liked it. It was unique and wasn't very common at the time." I looked up the definition of my name after I got off the phone with my mom.  

Lindsy - Island of Linden Trees. Near the Island of Linden Trees. ( The linden tree is a large long lived tree that is also know as the lime tree for its sent.)

My middle name Marie - Loyal

I guess the name fits me better than I thought. I love water and all the colors of water. I consider myself to be a loyal person, hopefully those around me feel the same way.

What does your name and the names of your family members mean? It might give you a better idea of who you are, or rather who your parents dreamed that you might become. Who God is calling us to become.


The first step in the transformation to becoming Jesus' namesake is to trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 and Ephesians 3:20 are great examples of this plan. 

Cloe's Butterfly Little Girls Inspiration Board

Cloe is only 3.5 and although her ideas for her room change by the second I really like the idea of brighter colors. She is not longer a baby so those super pale pastel colors are not really fitting. One of her most recent ideas is a butterfly room, and I love it.

She is not sure if she wants blue or pink walls, but she wants pink, aqua, blue, and white. Butterfly garlands or a wall installation of butterflies. I can't wait to get this all together for her!

Ideas:

1. Bright pink, aqua, and and blue

2. Butterfly bedding

3. Accent wall with frames or her name

4. Banner / pennants

5. Mobile and or hanging butterflies

6. More organized

7. A completed theme

8. Chalk board painted closet doors

9. New dresser

10. A place that Cloe wants to play in

My Living Room Inspiration Board

I love creating inspiration boards it helps me to see if all my ideas are lining up to create the perfect room.
I'm thinking of a eclectic / rustic living room. I don't want a log cabin or hunters retreat, just touches of rustic here and there.

There are also some difficulties to the living room in the house that we are purchasing there is really only one wall the flat screen can he hung (of course my hubby thinks this should be the focal point of the room LOL), there is a fireplace with an insert that is not flush, and on the opposite wall is the breakfast bar for the kitchen. I'm still not sure about what colors because I don't want it to be too dark and I love lighter/brighter colors as accents.

So here are some of my ideas:

http://traceryinteriors.wordpress.com

One of the other problems that you might be able to tell is my husband really likes darker warmer tones and I like things a little lighter. Combining these two is the goal.

So tell me what to y'all think?

MS Update

Well its been a week since I started Copaxone. I was so scared of the idea of injecting myself before I started I was sure that I was going to break down that first time, but I didn't. I have yet to break down about any of it...do you think I am in DENIAL?

The injections are going perfectly, no problems yet. It really doesn't hurt as much as you would think, the needle is so small and its all over in a few seconds. It will take time for it to help, and I know that there are sure to be bumpy roads ahead, since MS is one of the most unpredictable diseases...there are no road maps.

For those of you reading this that have MS and take Copaxone what were/are your side effects? I have been feeling sleepless, a little more tired than normal, and some nausea (but it could be nerves and the stresses of trying to buy a house, which prepare yourself you will be hearing alot more about in the weeks to come.)

It's strange to reach out to complete strangers and I now have something in common with because I have MS.

"Friendship is born at that moment 

when one person says to another

 'What! You too?' I thought I was the only one."

 ~ C.S. Lewis

MS Update

I feel really bad about not posting on a regular basis and not having a current devotion / study going. But with Dr. appointments and trying to do all the research I can on MS and medications, I just haven't had the time to sit with my bible and then with my blog.

I went to the Dr. on Tuesday and went with a long list of questions. My doctor was great he answered each question and explained everything. I have Relapsing and Remitting MS (RRMS) this is the best to have compared to Progressive MS. The thing that worries me the most is my doctor said that I have a well established case, meaning I have alot of lesions (also called plaques) which are areas of scare tissue. I have them from my brain down my spinal column to the T10 - T11 area (mid back).

"Treatment needs to be started NOW." thats what my doctor said. He is worried that if I don't start treatment it would be detrimental. And starting now will slow the disease and my symptoms....balance issues, memory / brain fog, tingling and burning from the waist down, itching, etc.

After talking about 8 different medications we decided that we would start with the medication that has the longest / best track record and has the least amount of side effects (this can differ greatly from patient to patient) Copaxone. It has to be injected 3 times a week and it is a pre-loaded pen similar to an Epipen. I wont start the injects for about 2 weeks, they have to be mailed to me and then a nurse has to come out and show me how to inject.

The thing I am worried about the most is the possible side effects, fatigue, nausea, body aches, and weight gain. I am a stay at home mom to a VERY active 3.5 year old daughter and with my limitations from my back injury (an impingement and herniation in my low back) I need to be at my best all the time. I need to go to the gym and do what I can do to stay in shape (ha in shape, well going to the gym and doing my limited workout so that I can try to keep losing weight and trying to get in shape). I don't want to be sick and stuck in bed, having to rely on my family and friends to take care of my kids and my house, etc.

I guess I have to take my husbands advise to stop worrying, we will deal with it as it comes. I have to remember to give it to God, stop trying to handle it all alone for He is the one who controls the situation. I pray each day that He will continue to hold my hand and keep me in his loving arms through this whole thing. God would not have put where I am if there was not a purpose!

Blogger and Google Analytics

I could just pull all my hair out and jab a fork in each eye when I try to figure out how to reach more people with my blog and using Google analytics is even worse.

I have done countless hours and thousands of searches on the best way to do all of this and have had very little luck. But this evening I found help, hallelujah!!!!!!!!

I found a blog post Click here to read 9 Awesome Things You Can Do With Google Analytics from KISSmetrics. I finally understood what I was doing and how to change my reports around so they are easier to read.

I have also found some new blogs by using Technorati.com - its a great blog directory for any kind of blog your are looking for. Its also filled with tips for how to make your blog better and understanding different elements of Google+, Adsense and Google Analytics.

If you are having trouble with this issue check out KISSmetrics. Also if you have any tips are how to reach more followers please comment below.