Hi, friends,
I moved my "note" up to the top because I just felt I had a lot to share with you and wanted to make sure it didn't get lost at the bottom of this. There are things I want to make sure you pray for and also praise God for with me.

Please keep our volunteers in deep prayer. In the last month, 2 volunteers have lost their husbands very unexpectantly. Others have had loved ones diagnosed with cancer or are going through divorce. I can't tell you how much it frustrates me that I am half a world away from some of these people and can "just" pray for them... yet I know prayer is the best thing I have to offer under any circumstances. Please join me in prayer for all of our volunteers, those with quiet requests, those going through bouts of depression. I know God can heal pain, but sometimes it just feels so slooooow.

Thank Him for some unexpected blessings we've received.

(1) we had an article published in Faith Writers Magazine reaching thousands (yay, God!) about how the church can let those with chronic illness know they care. I hope we can make a small difference.

(2) Next Friday, Feb 23rd, I will be videotaped at my home for a program called Christ Alive Ministries. The program will aire at a church March 17th in San Diego-- but here's a great perk! We get the video to use for our ministry! I've been wanting to do a promotional video and have even been asking hk leaders to send in clips. But I wasn't sure how the costs would be covered. Christ Alive will donate all the footage to us, plus the finished 3-5 minute program. So we will have something immediately and more to use to produce a longer piece later. Please pray this goes smoothly. It will be with me alone, later with my husband and son, and then visiting a local hopekeepers group.

(3) hopekeepers Magazine. Yes! We are going to print soon with our April-June issue. Thank you for your patience while we took care of our debt. All subscriptions will be honored with 4 issues. We'll keep you posted on how it's going, but be assured that it's in the works and back on track!

(4) We are spreading articles all over the internet! We purchased some software to help us get articles about living with illness out there faster and it's making a difference. Just Google "lisa copen" and you can see the variety of links we're collecting. Yipee! Read below on how to include any of our articles in your ezines or on your web site.

(5) Podcasts are coming! I am putting together topics and planning recordings and hope to have them up soon. You can listen to them online or on an mp3 player. One of the additional benefits is that is multiplies our outreach considerably, being able to be listed in dozens of Podcasts directories, etc. If you have some subject ideas for about 3-5 minute Podcasts, or would like to be interviewed on a topic related to your illness, coping, etc. please email me!

(6) Pam has stepped up as our new hopekeepers coordinator, helping us spread the word about groups and much more. She's diving in big time as soon as she recovers from surgery. Welcome, Pam!

You are making a difference. Your pain is not in vain,

Lisa Copen, founder and director

A Diva?

Okay, I've never really considered myself a "diva" but I'm honored someone thinks so, according to her definitions of divas. Check out an interview I just did for the Divine Diva web site. The founder of Divine Divas, Donna, is an inspirational writer who loves bath and body products. She was diagnosed at the age of 30 with interstitial cystitis and two years later fibromyalgia. She says, "I started buying bakery scented bath and body products." Now she has her own collection and is giving away 2 products to our readers. Names will be chosen from those who respond to our "church interest" request below. ~Lisa

Scrapbook your illness!

Are you a scrapbooker or a journaler? Have you found solice in writing about your illness journey? The experience of living with illness Can have its ups and downs, but a scrapbook is a wonderful way to reflect on what God is teaching you through it all. We have new scrapbooks designed, 8x8 inch albums with 20 pages of overlays. You just fill out the paper behind it (or some colorful paper), add anything else, like stickers or whatever... and presto! A very nice memory book of this journey you are on. And a great book to look at when you're feeling down about this illness thing. Seeing how God has worked in your life will lift your spirits!

We are in the process of choosing our 2 volunteers who will do example books and help lead a group through Yahoogroups for those who buy the book and want a bit of assistance/advice. No scrapbooking experience is necessary to participate. Glue isn't even necessary.

See the album pages here.

We're caught up! Devotionals now available via a blog!

We now have our daily devotional available via RSS feeds. If you're familiar with RSS you will be able to sign up easily. If you are not, you can still view the devotionals at: http://chronicillnesssupport.typepad.com and sign up to receive an email notification each day when it's posted by sending a blank email to: chronicillnessdevotionalsblog@getresponse.com

Why are we doing this?

At the devotional blog you will be able to comment on the devotionals and also post feedback for the authors.

1. It will help us be able to grow in the search engines and reach more people.
2. People who use RSS have been asking for it for awhile and we've finally responded!
3. You can easily sign up to have the RSS feed on your website! Just link to us at http://chronicillnesssupport.typepad.com

Sign up to receive the weekly sales from Shop for Charity and Igive to get the best prices on items or see what new stores have been added.

Does someone in your church need to know about Rest Ministries?

We are sending out an introductory email to churches about Rest Ministries. Rather than buy a list of emails that would cost over $1000, we'd rather ask you to recommend who in your church should be contacted. It will be a personable email, letting them know we exist, and an offer to read the first 50 pages of some of our books free online. We'd particularly like to reach congregational care pastors and whoever is in charge of the library.

Please email us with the info here . It will be most helpful if you can put a comma ( , ) in between each answer. (The form online kept giving me problems this week!!)

** 2 names will be chosen to receive some Divine Diva Bath Products!

Thank you to Faith Writers!

Also, we had an article featured in FaithWriters Magazine last week! Feel free to forward this to your pastor or anyone in your church who would be interested! The editor writes, "In her article, "Six Ways to Let Those with Chronic Illness in Your Church Know You Care," Lisa Copen encourages us to put our love into action by making our churches an oasis for every member-including those who are suffering with chronic pain and illness. This article is not some pie in the sky, wouldn't-it-be-nice, type of message that sounds good, but doesn't really provide any practical solutions. It's full of down-to-earth, quite achievable suggestions and I really do recommend that every Christian takes the time to read it this month-and let others know about it as well."

Tired of the romance articles when you're single?

Read this great interview "Sassy, Single, & Satisfied" with author Michelle McKinney Hammond. She dishes on men, marriage, and why she loves being a woman...

"I know what it's like to have low self-esteem, to count on other people to validate me," says Michelle McKinney Hammond, author of the best-selling Secrets of an Irresistible Woman. "My parents went their separate ways when I was two, and I moved around a lot. I guess I was always looking for love and security—with the wrong kind of guys."

It's hard to believe this 41 year old with the sparkling brown eyes, infectious laugh, and dramatic flair for living ever struggled through years of unhealthy relationships in an effort to feel good about herself. After all, today she's a veritable Renaissance woman with a résumé that sports the titles writer, singer, speaker, art director, playwright, voice-over announcer, and cohost of the Christian television talk show Aspiring Women. Michelle's finally made peace with being single—and unabashedly loves being a woman. But she's quick to point out her self-worth—and accomplishments—didn't come without a price.

---Read the rest of the article done by Today's Christian Woman

Sale of the Week

Deidre Reed has won a $20 gift certificate to The Comfort Zone!
Please contact us to redeem it.

HELP! As the opportunities abound so does the need for more help! All of these are high-committment positions that require dependable, able-to-meet-deadlines, organized and eager volunteers. That can be hard to find when everyone has a chronic illness, but I can't do it alone so I am putting the feelers (and prayers!) out there. Please send any experience and passions you have for the position of interest.
Thank you! ~ Lisa

Volunteers with experience selling advertising (or a REAL willingness to jump in and learn on your own) for both hopekeepers magazine and possible online. Paying position on commission. Requires national unlimited long-distance phone service and ability to commit to this as a real job.
==>Email Lisa for more info

A volunteer to coordinate/oversee all of our volunteers who is willing to take on about 10-20 hours a week. Assist Lisa in setting up online sessions where all group leaders will meet 1-2 times per month, organize all leaders, check in with them, etc. Establish organized database, get photos of volunteers, assist coordinators, etc Requires ability to work independently, have fabulous organizational skills and "wing it" when needed. You'll be working with about 250+ people but a really fun job!
==>Email Lisa for more info

A volunteer to step in as Chat Host for our "Time of Refreshment." It's been on hiatus for about 6 months. Our former volunteer, Carolann will help you with specifics. You would be finding guest, organizing their info for web site, overseeing chat sessions, etc. About 10-15 hours per week.
==>Email Lisa for more info

A volunteer to help out with all aspects of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week held in September, but able to step in IMMEDIATELY and help Lisa start planning guests, press and more. Event planning and media relations are helpful. Need to be organized and not be intimidated by speaking with press.
==>Email Lisa for more info

A volunteer who is a published writers who would be willing to query various consumer magazines with articles about Rest Ministries. I have slants on stories ready to go. Any profit from publications is yours to keep!
==>Email Lisa for more info

A volunteer who can help with internet marketing... Visiting web sites, finding web sites where we can share our articles, connecting with those that have received our award, letting people know about our syndicated articles, etc. High speed internet is a must and an ability to do internet research quickly without being tempted to read all the pages of every web site you visit (I know... I do it too.)
==>Email Lisa for more info

Are you an author? We're looking for stories about creative ways you've spread the word about your book for a book on book marketing that Lisa is working on. Did you dress up at a book signing, include a candy bar with a press release? What's worked for you, especially on a limited budget?
==>Email Lisa your ideas

Sometimes taking a bath
can be hard, but at least we
don't have it this bad!

Send us something to make us laugh!
A photo, a story, a quote
we want to hear what tickles you!

Romantic Ideas for
When You Have a
Chronic Illness

"Hot and bothered!" For most people these words create images of being twisted up in sheets, breathlessly reaching out to the one you love. For those with chronic illness, however, "hot" is more likely to refer to one's thyroid condition, night sweats, or a heating pad on high. "Bothered. . ." Well, let's just say when your body aches, everything makes you feel bothered: a cat that won't move off your leg, a joint that continues to throb, and a spouse that is able to snore through minor earthquakes. It can be hard to be romantic!

Nearly 1 in 2 people live with a chronic illness in the U.S. which means that a lot of marriages are disrupted by this uninvited third party of illness, often including mental illness as well. Seventy-five percent of them end in divorce. Romantic ideas don't have to be used just on Valentine's Day.

So! How are some ways to get the spark back? Here are some creative romantic gift ideas and ways to say, "I love you."

If YOU have the chronic illness:

1. Make an effort. Stop with the excuses. "I'm tired, I don't feel good. I am in so much pain." I've said them all. Guess what? You'll probably always be tired. Put on some music, sit back and relax. You're in pain? If you can push past some of the pain you'll soon be distracted and forget at least a good part of it.

2. Make romance a priority. That means not spending the whole Saturday cleaning your house and then being exhausted. Rest up, even if it's just so you can have a conversation without falling asleep.

3. Be enthusiastic during your romantic evening. Even if you're just going out for dinner, don't say, "I'm doing this just for you. I don't really feel like it." (Oh, yeah, that will turn him on.) Smile and talk about pleasant memories or dreams you have. Promise yourself not to talk about your illness for just one night.

--Read the rest of the article

Special Thanks

To Carolann Page who has stepped in to post devotionals while Katie takes a break for health reasons. Please keep both Katie and Carolann in your prayers.

"You have no ideas what this ministry has come to mean to me. I don't know what I would do without it. It's where I go first thing in the morning to read the devotional, where I check out chats for encouragement in the afternoons, and where I socialize with friends when I am feeling down. Praise God for your ministry! May He bless you!" --Trish Y.

• New Report Finds Pain Affects Millions of Americans

  One in four U.S. adults say they suffered a day-long bout of pain in the past month, and one in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more, according to the government's annual, comprehensive report of Americans' health, Health United States, 2006, released in November by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics. Click here to read more results from the report.

• Free Tips Sheet

The National Pain Foundation has put together "Tips for Finding a Pain Specialist." It also includes how to find a pain physician. See article here.

• 1800 Illness Resources

Visit Healing Well for TONS of resources about chronic illness. It's one of the largest illness directories online and it has a lot of articles for those living with illness-not just medical jargon.

• Participate in an Online Study

The subject: The impact of personal relationships on coping with chronic illness - To participate in this research click here.

Researchers at Brock University are investigating how people cope with serious chronic illness, such as Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, through personal relationships with others. While it is well known that people who have strong social ties have better health and recovery, we do not well understand the pathways by which this occurs. Through the survey responses of people who actually cope with such conditions, researchers hope to better understand these processes. Participants will be asked to complete a survey online (approx. 20 min.), which does not need to be completed in its entirety in one sitting. Eligible participants: Anyone suffering from a serious chronic illness, such as Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is encouraged to participate in this research.

Pill boxes -
they don't have to be ugly!

We all carry them, whether it's jeweled or an old mint tin, they're never that much fun. Here are some great pill boxes that will make you smile whenever you have to dig a pill out. Smiles through medication? Now that's worth cheering about!
See "Forgetting the Pill"

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Tidbits. . .

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You are reading a page of hopenotes, the online supplement to hopekeepers Magazine. Go to the home page of hopenotes or Rest Ministries web site. Copyright 2006, Lisa Copen