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To download and use for personal/church use, right click on the image and save to computer and print on thick cardstock or photo paper. Please tag @rebeccaannvandemark (on IG) or @caravansonnet (on pinterest or twitter) when sharing on social media.
Looking for past Sunday Scripture Posts? Click HERE!
It is hard to believe that April is quickly coming to a close and on Monday it will be May 1st!! In many ways this month has flown by hasn't it?!? Today I wanted to share a roundup of all of my fashion posts from this past month! There were so many adorable items that I found that I wanted to do a roundup post for the month!
Last week I shared 5 adorable white and blue tops that I had found from the ASOS website. If you have been around the blog for even a short while than you know that I love ASOS. One of my favorite tops was definitely the Miss Selfridge Tie Shoulder Top! I love the easy look of summer of it and it really is so cute!
Another one of my favorites tops from that same post was the ASOS One Shoulder Top in Cotton - White top! So many one shoulder tops right now and this one is absolutely no exception of being cute and adorable.
Finally, this adorable Miss Selfridge One Shoulder Cutwork Top - Blue top was another favorite from the post. To see all five of the tops you can read the post HERE!
Earlier in the month I shared a post about 5 cute and affordable Easter dresses that you will want to wear all Spring and Summer. This was a really fun post to write and I know several of you commented on some of your favorite pieces, including this LOFT Eyelet One Shoulder Dress. Guess what?!? This dress AND everything at LOFT is now 40% off (simply use the code OHGOODIE)!!! Yea! It is selling out fast so quickly head on over to shop by clicking HERE! (AND don't forget that you can receive $25 Off Your Entire Order with Email Signup!
Another favorite from that same post was this SheIn Lace Cami Dress. I have seen so many dresses that have this look this season but they are so expensive! I was thrilled to see this SheIn dress for $50. It comes in sizes small through large. You can find it in the lace dress section at SheIn by clicking HERE.
Finally, this This beautiful Yoana Baraschi Pepin Sheath dress from Rent the Runway was an a absolute favorite by so many of you and I totally agree. The dress looks absolutely gorgeous and would be the perfect dress to continue to wear throughout the Spring and Summer for date nights or to attend weddings. It reminds me a bit of the dress that Princess Kate wore in India last year and I love the details on this dress. Rent the Runway has the dress available in sizes 0-12. Looking for a larger size? Rent the Runway has tons of adorable and cute plus size dresses available. You can find the plus size section by clicking HERE.
One of the things that I love about Rent the Runway is that they have tons of cute and affordable designer dresses for under $50. You can find out more by clicking HERE. And through April 17th Rent the Runway has a special sale going on where you can rent one dress and get TWO free! Simply click HERE for the deal! And if it is your first time to use Rent the Runway you will receive $25 off any purchase of $75 or more! Lots of great sales!!
Finally if you are still looking for some adorable sandals to wear this season check out my post a few of my favorite sandals from ASOS which you can find HERE!
And finally- y'all coming next week I am SO excited to announce a special project that I have been working on for the last several months relates to my love of fashion! Stay tuned for this exciting announcement!! I hope y'all have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend! The weather has been warm here recently and I am hoping to spend a lot of time outside!
It is hard to believe that there are only FIVE days until "When Truth Refreshes" is Released! You can read more about the book HERE! Thank you to all of y'all for your support and all of your prayers in these final days as last minute items are finished!
Happy Wednesday friends! I am excited to link up with Mel, Shaeffer, and Shay for the "What's Up Wednesday" Link up! I have so enjoyed reading these ladies posts and am excited to join in! It has been so fun to connect with so many other ladies who are doing this each month over last year and I am looking forward to connecting more in 2017. Here are all of the "What's up Wednesday" posts from 2017:
And here are all of my "What's up Wednesday" posts from 2016:
If you would like to join in and have a blog, just answer the questions above!
What We're Eating this Week...
So everyday I work to get approximately 8 cups of greens into me. To me this is just as much a part of my healing process as all of the medicine and supplements that I take. I eat a non-gluten and dairy lifestyle and am also low-sugar (my sugar comes from my fruit smoothie every morning). But this winter I am kicking it up even more and working to get 10 cups of greens into me.
I don't currently juice for a variety of personal physical reasons and have read about all of the health benefits of actually chewing the greens so this is what I am currently eating. Honestly I am so sick with this treatment plan it is a bit rough but I know the healing properties will help so I am pushing through. What is your favorite green to eat? I am currently munching on Spinach as I type this. *smiles*
Interested to find out the benefits of Kale or Basil? You can find a post I wrote about the benefits of Kale HERE, and find another post on the benefits of Basil HERE.
What I'm Reminiscing About... 
Trips and adventures of the past. In the next 18 months I have so many exciting adventures coming up, including a trip to Prince Edward Island, Alaska, and Europe that it is fun to reminisce about trips of the past while dreaming about these future trips.
At the moment I am researching like crazy for my upcoming Prince Edward Island trip. If you missed yesterday's post I am still looking for lots of great recommendations for the upcoming trip to Prince Edward Island (from Boston) and would love to hear of any tips or places to see that y'all would recommend. You can read more about what I am looking for HERE.
What I'm Loving... 
My ESV Journaling Bible, the Interleaved Edition. I absolutely LOVE it. For such a long time I have always loved making notes in my Bible and bringing artistry to what I am studying. At the same time though I haven't wanted to cover other scriptures that I may want to really delve more into at a future date. Enter the ESV Journaling Bible, the Interleaved Edition. Every other page is a FULL blank page. It allows for tons of creativity and lots of note writing and I am loving every single moment of using it. It is a bit big and heavy so I still use my smaller Bible (THIS beautiful flower one from the Bloom Collection) for travel, but I can't say enough about the ESV Journaling Bible, the Interleaved Edition for my home Bible Study. If you have any questions I am happy to answer- it is wonderful!
What I've Been Up To...
Working on lots of orders for my Etsy shop and some charity donations that I do each year from my shop. The most popular request recently has been for the multi-colored custom altered journal order (I think everyone is dreaming of Spring! *smiles*)with the purple custom altered journal order a quick second. Still looking for last minute graduation gifts? These make wonderful presents! (You can find the shop by clicking HERE!)
I have also been working on lots of subscriptions for The Novel Garden! This has been such a wonderful program and I am so thrilled with the impact that it has made already. If you are not familiar with it you can read more about this special subscription box HERE and order your subscription box HERE.
Also, we are always looking for authors and shops to join us in this adventure, as well as affiliates. Find out more about how you can become a part of it HERE.
What I'm Dreading...
I can't say anything different than more treatment. But we take one day at a time, sometimes with a lot of tears and other times trying to laugh more than cry and remember the precious promise of Psalm 125:6:
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy."
What I'm Working on...
Lots of marketing items, interviews, and things related to the release of When Truth Refreshes THIS Monday!! This devotional is my most personal yet with tons of personal stories in each chapter. Writing this over the last couple of years was a growing experience and also a real blessing. I was constantly reminded of the beautiful truth of: "Every day you preach to yourself a gospel of your loneliness, inability, and lack of resources or you faithfully preach to yourself the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Paul David Tripp) I can't wait for the release on Monday and pray it will be a huge blessing to each person who reads it. When Truth Refreshes will be available where books are sold and on Amazon.
I am also working on some final edits for September Caravan that will be released on September 1st! And also...
When Lyme Invades that will be released November 1st!
It is a busy writing year and yet, so exciting. I am so grateful for all of the support! I also announced on Monday some exciting updates for two of my previous books, Praying through Lyme Disease and Path of Hope that you can read more about HERE.
What I'm Excited About... 
Lots and lots of things. Do you remember when I shared my word for this year? There are so many ways that I see this coming to fruition. Small, big, and beautiful ways. Even in the midst of pain I see so many lovely things that are happening.
What I'm Watching/Reading...
I haven't been watching a ton of TV, but I am loving the new season of Amazing Race. Y'all know how much I love the show in general, but I love the twist this season and it reminds me of some of the first seasons of the series which are my favorite. Have y'all seen this season?
What I'm Listening To...
I am looking for some new podcasts to listen to. Anyone have some suggestions?
What I'm Wearing... 
Transitional clothing to Spring. Even though the weather remains cooler, there are signs of Spring that keep appearing and this week we are supposed to get a few days in the 70s! I love this chambray shirt and black skirt combo with a fun necklace for these transitional weather days!
You can find the skirt (similar HERE)//Chambray shirt (similar HERE)// Necklace HERE (find similar ones in my Chloe & Isabel Boutique HERE)// Shoes (similar HERE - LOVE these!)
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month... 
Moving down to camp! We are slowly starting the process of packing up and getting the cabin ready and my little heart is SO excited!
Bonus question this month: What is your favorite spring/summer shoe?
Without a doubt y'all know how much I love Sandals. A couple of weeks ago I shared on the blog a few of my favorites from ASOS. You can find the post HERE! Seriously- there are so many cute sandals that are out there!!
I would love to know your answers to these questions friends! Share your thoughts below in the comments!!
Happy Wednesday!
Looking for Recommendations for Travel Tips for a Roadtrip from Boston to Prince Edward Island
April 25, 2017
Happy Tuesday y'all! Today's travel post is a bit different- I am looking for some suggestions and ideas for an upcoming writing and blogging trip that I am taking in the early fall with one of my dearest friends!
We will be meeting up in Boston and then taking a couple of days to drive up to Prince Edward Island, where we will be spending three days before taking a couple of days to travel back. Our time in Prince Edward Island is pretty much set due to my blogging and writing commitments (but of course would welcome any tips!) and I am very familiar with Boston, but we definitely need suggestions for travel tips for the trip from Boston to Prince Edward Island and back.
I have been to Portland, Maine before, but both times were incredibly brief, including the driving tour on the cruise a couple of years ago (which you can read about HERE).
On that same cruise I did see the Portland Head Light House (which you can read about HERE) which was gorgeous and I would love to see at least one light house on our travels on this trip.
One of my favorite parts of the entire cruise was our brief stop in Kennebunkport, Maine which was simply adorable (you can read more about it HERE). I definitely wouldn't be opposed to going back because it was so quaint and charming but am curious if there are other adorable places like this that anyone would recommend?
Along the way we also will head into New Brunswick and then will be in Nova Scotia (when we visit Prince Edward Island) and so ideas for this area would also be very welcome!! I was in St. Johns, New Brunswick for a day on one cruise and it was charming (which you can read about HERE), and briefly spent time in St. Martin's at the Bay of Fundy (which you can read about HERE), but the time in both of these places was so brief that I am welcome to suggestions for this area again!
Anyone have any ideas or recommendations? We would love tips for places to see along the way, eat (extra points for places that have gluten free menus!), and stay! Our time will be brief (obviously) but any tips and suggestions would be welcome y'all! Also - are there any particular travel books anyone would recommend?
If you are a business that would like to collaborate on this project you can contact me with a proposal by sending an email HERE, or find out more about working with me on a travel collaboration HERE.
Thanks so much y'all! I can't wait to hear every one's fabulous ideas!
Happy Monday friends! I am so excited to share with y'all some exciting updates on my Lyme Disease books.
First, my little heart is thrilled to share that "Praying through Lyme Disease" the 2nd edition(!!) will be released in June! I am constantly overwhelmed by the beautiful support that this book receives. Stay tuned for more updates in the upcoming weeks!
Second, for the past several years I have received thousands of requests to have all of my Lyme books put into larger print versions or on audio. Both of these things have been in the works for a couple of years and I am excited to share that God has opened the door for both "Praying through Lyme Disease" and "Path of Hope" to be released in Large Print Version this summer!
"Praying through Lyme Disease" (the 2nd edition!!) will be released in June along with a Large Print Version. "Path of Hope" (Large Print Edition) will be released in July.
Prayerfully "When Truth Refreshes" (releasing NEXT Monday!!)), "When Light Dawns", and "When Lyme Invades" (Releasing May 1st, 2019) will also be released in Large Print Version in the coming years.
There is also a lot going on behind the scenes to have "Praying through Lyme Disease" released on audio in the upcoming years. Stay tuned for more updates in the upcoming months!
You can also stay up-to-date on all of my writing on my personal website which you can find HERE! Thank you so much for your sweet support of all of my writing. I am so incredibly blessed by each of you. I hope you have a wonderful Monday and beginning of your week!
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To download and use for personal/church use, right click on the image and save to computer and print on thick cardstock or photo paper. Please tag @rebeccaannvandemark (on IG) or @caravansonnet (on pinterest or twitter) when sharing on social media.
Looking for past Sunday Scripture Posts? Click HERE!
It is hard to believe that there are only NINE days until "When Truth Refreshes" is Released! You can read more about the book HERE! Thank you to all of y'all for your support and all of your prayers in these final days as last minute items are finished!
Happy Saturday friends!
Y'all know how much I love ASOS and today I am excited to share 5 adorable white and blue tops from the website!
There are a lot of different one shoulder tops that ASOS carries, but this classic one shoulder white top is gorgeous. I love the fact that it is lovely and makes a statement all on its own. You can find it HERE.
Seriously, y'all- how cute is this?? You can find the top HERE.
3. Miss Selfridge Tie Shoulder Top - White
This adorable white tie cold shoulder shirt is so cute for the Spring and Summer. I love that this top would be perfect in the day time but also would be so cute to wear on a date. I love the feminity of the top. You can find it HERE!
This adorable white tie cold shoulder shirt is so cute for the Spring and Summer. I love that this top would be perfect in the day time but also would be so cute to wear on a date. I love the feminity of the top. You can find it HERE!
This long sleeve top is the perfect addition for a clean and crisp white shirt. You can find it HERE. There is also a navy version of the top:
I think the navy version could transition really well into Fall. If you are looking for the navy version of the top you can find it HERE.
Isn't this one shoulder shirt classy and unique? I love the different detailing on it and I also love the fact that it is only $25! You can find it HERE!
These are just a few of the adorable cute shirts that are available in white and blue from ASOS! I can't wait to share more tops for this sweet Spring and Summer season in the coming weeks!
Also y'all coming in May I am SO excited to announce a special project that I have been working on for the last several months relates to my love of fashion! Stay tuned for this exciting announcement May!! I hope y'all have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Over the years I have been the recipient of the most well-meaning and well-intentioned people as they say and do things to try and encourage me as a single woman. Some of these things were wonderful and I felt incredibly loved and encouraged but other times I have walked away in tears. Sometimes when someone is hurting or longing for something it can be incredibly difficult to know how to encourage them. Sometimes we fear doing or saying the wrong thing so sometimes we avoid the subject (which never works!) or other times we "overcompensate" and things end in disaster. One of my sweet married friends was recently sharing with me their grand attempt to encourage their older sibling (who is single) and what a disaster it was over the holidays. After we both had laughed and cried through the escapade that she described she concluded by saying, "Rebecca, how do I encourage my single friends?" This is a question that I have received a lot so today I wanted to share just a few ideas for this area:
1. Pray for them and their future spouse.
There is no better encouragement and support then praying for your friend and their future spouse. What a blessing!
2. Know the heart of your friend.
It is important to know and understand the heart of your friend that you are communicating with. Some singles are happily content in their singleness while others are really struggling. For some of your friends they might like to joke around and tease about the subject, while for some of your friends they might not want to talk about the subject because it is so intensely painful at this point in time. Understanding the heart of your friend and giving them the opportunity to express their feelings is a wonderful gift of encouragement.
3. Don't say, "You must have so much time on your hands".
While it is true that singles do not have the time demands of a husband and/or a family there are still plenty of other time demands that singles have placed on them. Singles are solely responsible for everything. This means they are responsible for jobs (and the circumstances if they lose a job- no back up income of a partner), keeping house (by themselves), family responsibilities, community responsibilities, church responsibilities, etc. Everyone has demanding schedules and it is simply a shift of time and energy when you are single.
4. Be sensitive to times and seasons.
One of the best ways that you can encourage the heart of your single friend is to be sensitive to the times and seasons that are most difficult for them. Some singles have a very difficult time around Valentine's Day while others struggle over the Christmas Holiday. (Hallmark has hit the nail on the head with this as they produce tons of new Christmas movies every year with the theme that people find their "true love" over the Christmas holiday.) For me personally I actually struggle the most during the summer months as I long for a husband and family to share these precious months with. I have a sweet friend who remembers not only the holidays like Valentine's Day and Christmas Holidays but always sends me a letter at the beginning of the summer with her thoughts and prayers. Her kindness always touches my heart.
5. Don't tell your friend that they are "too picky".
I can't even begin to count the number of times that I have been told that I am "too picky". Honestly, it is incredibly frustrating and I often want to turn to them and say, "and you weren't picky with the most important decision in your life?". While you might encourage a single friend who refuses to date anyone but someone with red hair and green eyes to "branch out" and explore things that are truly important- like the heart of a person, you will want to be sensitive to those who really are open to who the Lord has for them. My best advice is to not tell someone they are "too picky" until you understand what their "requirements" are. *smiles*
6. Set your friend up... with their permission.
If you are going to set your friend up, make sure you have their permission. I have been the recipient of wonderful and not so wonderful set ups. One of the most hilarious experiences happened three weeks after my ex-fiance' and I ended our relationship. I was deeply grieving and one of my students parents invited me over for dinner. I thought it was kind of them and walked into the dinner not knowing that it was a "set up". Imagine my dismay when I arrived, still in shock from my personal experience, to find a young man (who hated Whole Foods and flowers - which he announced in the first two minutes) who was aware of the set up. The night got stranger and funnier as his "best qualities" were continuously portrayed over and over again in a handful of embarrassing and awkward situations. Thankfully a couple of my former students (who are now my friends) who were supposed to not be apart of the dinner stayed and helped keep me laughing instead of crying and to this day we still laugh about the whole thing. I am all for a great set up but I highly encourage you to make sure the timing is right!
7. Cry with them.
Longing for marriage, similar to anything one is longing for in life can be difficult and lonely. Don't be afraid to step in to the pain, cry with them, and be there for them.
8. Watch the timing of sharing your "perfect" love story.
The Book of Ecclesiastes said it well when it states in chapter 3, "There is a time for everything...". This couldn't be better advice in regards to watching the timing of sharing your love story. Every single lady that I know loves a great love story and loves to hear them (myself included). At the same time though timing is everything. I remember one time that this was especially painful for me. I was chaperoning the prom when I was teaching and to be frank it was a difficult personal night for me as it was the one year anniversary of my engagement and I was still healing. In addition to this there had been a young man who had been pursuing me and had suddenly decided that we were better as "just friends". I was hurting and feeling alone and going to a "romantic prom" night as a chaperone was the last thing I felt like doing. Imagine my dismay then when one of the other chaperones thought that it would be "encouraging" for me to hear their entire love story (approximately 2 hours... no joke) in detail. I am sure it was meant to be an encouragement to me, but the timing was anything but. On the flip side though there have been plenty of times where I have asked friends and loved ones to share their stories. It reminds me how God is at work uniquely and intricately in each of us. Timing is truly everything.
9. Include them in your Life.
Many times (due to changing seasons) it can be easy to "lose" your single friends amidst married couple activities, but strive to make this not happen. Continue on hanging out with your friend alone but also include them in group activities. Many times couples think that it will be awkward for a single person to be with couples. This can be true but in the right situations, singles also can feel welcomed, loved, and accepted in groups. (Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is simply not being invited to something.) Worried they might feel uncomfortable? Encourage them to bring a friend or two to the activity.
10. Don't tell them "once (this or that) happens the right guy will come along" or "when the time is right the right person will come along".
Honestly, no one knows when the "right person" will come along. Encourage your friend to continue to follow the plans the Lord has for them and that the Lord will provide at the right timing. Encouraging them to think that once they accomplish something or go somewhere everything "will fall into place" can set your friend up for major disappointment. Instead encourage them to listen to the Lord and His voice as He guides their steps.
11. Drop a Note, Card, or Text as you think and pray for them.
Honestly, the littler things are always the big things. Every time you take a moment to do something you think might be "small" you will encourage the heart of your friend as you remind them that you are praying for this area of their life.
12. Encourage them to find purpose in this season.
In every season there is a purpose and reason that the Lord has for us. Encourage your friend by pointing out their unique gifting, calling, and heart for certain things during this season. This isn't encouraging them to simply "fill their time" but to honestly seek the Lord and find out His purpose in their single season.
13. Don't ask "Have you tried online dating?".
I mean really y'all. Whenever someone asks me this I want to be sarcastic and say, "Is that a thing? I have never heard of it?".
Instead of asking your single friends if they’ve tried online dating, why not show them some dating sites or apps on your phone. Many dating services cater to specific niches, so your friends don’t have to join one where the chances of meeting like-minded people are low!
14. Unless there is a God-given reason don't suggest they go back to an ex-boyfriend.
Enough said. *smiles*
15. Don't let a situation or circumstance your friend is in determine your belief in the right timing of a relationship.
I have had so many single friends tell me that their well-meaning friends have shared that "once you are out debt" or "once you lose weight" or "once you __________" it will be the time for the right relationship. While I do agree that there are certain situations and some timing may be best in certain circumstances, this advice does not encourage your single friend or encourage them to trust the Lord. Instead it puts the pressure and the responsibility on your friend. Honestly, it also puts God in a box by implying that life should be "perfect" before a relationship is right. I never had personally experienced this until I got sick. THEN, all of a sudden, I started hearing from so many people that "once you beat Lyme Disease and Cancer" you will find the right guy. Honestly it is so discouraging and brings me to tears a lot. It is probably one of the most hurtful things I have heard in regards to singleness because what if my health never improves? Look, I love my family and friends and I hate seeing their pain in my sickness, so of course I wouldn't want to involve someone else in that pain. BUT that doesn't mean that my fight for my health has wiped out my desire to get married and be a mama. In fact, it is the exact opposite. It makes me long for it more because I know how precious each day is. Encourage your friends to trust the Lord in His perfect timing - even if the timing doesn't seem perfect to you.
16. Don't say "it will happen when you least expect it to".
I can't even begin to count how many times I have heard this. What in the world. I mean... first someone is saying I should try online dating and now I shouldn't expect it... so confusing! *smiles*
17. Notice the small things.
When you are single you don't have someone noticing all of the "small" things that are going on (new haircut, new shirt, etc.) so by taking the time to pay attention to these things you will truly encourage your single friend!
18. Don't say, "How are you still single" to any single person you know.
Whenever I am told this (which has happened a lot ) I feel that I have to start to justify being single when I long to be married. Its really complicated and usually the conversation just turns incredibly awkward after this question is asked.
19. Encourage them to "Dream Big".
As time passes and the biological clock ticking seems to "get louder and louder" it can be easy for singles to start contemplating the idea of settling "for less". I have so many friends who have been such blessings as they remind me not to settle but instead to keep "dreaming big" in this very important area of my life. This has been one of the most amazing gifts my family and friends has given me!
20. Remind them they are amazing.
Even the most self-confident person can struggle with self-esteem when they see everyone getting engaged and married before them. You simply telling your friend that they are amazing will have a tremendous impact on them.
(Looking for a book to give as a present to your single friends? You can find my singles devotional for women, "Prayers for the Single Journey" where books are sold and on Amazon by clicking HERE. )
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