Just What I Needed

Yesterday was a tough day. I woke up perfectly fine, walked into MOPS fine, but walked out feeling sad, lonely and missing Chicago. Really bad. On the drive home I was thinking about the city and everything about the city that I miss and I just lost it. I realized too that since we've moved here, every October we've gone home for a weekend trip. This year we aren't doing that. I cannot imagine flying solo with Lucas right now! But that doesn't make me miss it any less. Yes, yes, I know God called us here so this is where we're supposed to be but I just miss the city so much and this ache seems to get worse the longer we're here.

As the day progressed, I couldn't seem to shake my sadness. I was on Facebook (which certainly doesn't help!) but I noticed that our home church (Willow Creek) is now streaming their services every week.  Not just the message (which I usually listen to every week) but the music too!  The entire service. I lost it. Sobbing mess. God knew exactly what I needed.

This morning, when Lucas took his first nap, I poured myself a mug of hot apple cider and went outside where I could listen as loud as I wanted and sang along to the worship songs. Our new neighbors surely saw and heard me and now think I am the crazy "religious" girl. But it was the most beautiful 25 minutes of my week.  I was crying, I was laughing, I was just an emotional mess. In those 25 minutes I heard God speak to me in a way I haven't heard from Him in a long time. I miss our church so so much. I miss the city. I miss my parents. I miss home. But God met with me today in the most perfect way. I am so very thankful that I am now able to worship along from 1,000 miles away each week.  God is good, so very good.  And for that I am thankful.

To join in or sing along go to http://willowcreek.tv

Time for your MONTHLY Self Exam! - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It's October...breast cancer awareness month! Have YOU been doing your monthly breast self exam!? I'll admit, since getting pregnant I was a little more obsessed with the fact that I was actually sporting some real, normal sized boobs and was too preoccupied with everything else that goes on with your body during pregnancy. Then I've been breastfeeding the past 8+ months so I've slacked big time! All of that is NOT okay. However, I'm happy to say that I have gotten bad into the routine and you need to too!

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. 

The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2014 are: 

• About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). 
• About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer  

Prevention is key!! 

Remember those little pink visual breast exam instruction cards you used to see hanging in your dorm showers? Yeah, I picked up one of those and stick it in my tampon box so once a month I remember to hang that in my shower to remind me to do my exam. Once done, the card goes back into the tampon box. (This obviously explains why I forgot to do it while pregnant...next pregnancy I'll have to figure out a different plan!) 

Check those boobies girls!! It literally can save your life!!