Letter from the Editor

Hi Friends,

My brilliant plant to send out a newsletter last week while I was visiting my family in Oregon fell short. I’ve been feeling EX-HAUS-TED as I am sure many of you are too. Weather changes, schedule changes (i.e., no school for kids) and those irritating things called illness in our lives can really mess with the plans, huh?

So. . . at last HopeNotes is here and don’t worry, I am going to send out another one by the end of the week because I just have too many resourceful goodies I want to share to get much further behind.

I won’t bore you with details, but if you could keep Rest Ministries in your prayers it would be appreciated. I am trying to get ready to leave again for the Christian retail show July 10th in Florida as well as plan Invisible Illness Week. I have no energy (and even lack some enthusiasm) plus, this is the tightest money has ever been for our ministry. Personally, I’m feeling it too! We are trying to eat out a lot less, clip coupons, only buy necessities, and drive less. Watch the next newsletter for some ways to share how you are finding ways to cut your costs.

Also pray for our many volunteers who are coping with ill spouses, cancer, grand babies who are sick, etc. Despite the setbacks in their lives, I’ve never seen such an amazing group of people who stand firm in God’s love and continue to share it with others, despite their own losses and pain. You all amaze me every day and I am blessed to call you my friend.

This isn’t a request for you to send money when you are just trying to pay the bills and for your medicine, but it is a request for you to pray for God to provide in whatever way He sees fit. I’ve seen Him do it many times. He knows our needs to keep the ministry going and He’s in charge. So thanks for lifting it up to Him!

Thanks for all your prayers,

 
Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

 

Letter from the Editor

Hi, Friends,

I’ve been trying to get this newsletter out to you for a few days. The new web site is up! I will talk more about all the goodies available there next week, but be sure to check it out.
I am also doing some work to make pages load faster, so if you can be patient now, I promise it will speed up soon.

Monday (tomorrow) the film crew from American Bible Society Presents TV show comes to interview me in my home and then we all go over and visit a HopeKeepers group; they will tape and interview some people there.

To tell you “it takes a village” to get ready is an understatement. After going 3 years of not cleaning my carpets, I had them done Thursday. Except as I was just finishing up this newsletter the circuits blew. After twice, I turned the computers off.

I limped all over the mall Friday night trying to find something to wear. The weight gain from prednisone had ruled out previous clothes, and you aren’t to wear black, white, patterns, brights, etc. (what’s left?) and I insisted on something without a big scoop neck that would only make my face appear more bloated. Have you seen the styles lately of clothes? It’s back to the 70s! I ended up with a brown jacket and a light turquoise shirt.

I think it’s all come together, the house is picked up (I had loads of help) everything on my desk will temporarily be scooped into a box and put in the garage. Plants are potted. I am running to Costoc to get snacks for the crew and HopeKeepers meeting.

Now I just have to want to touch up the gray in my roots. I had my hair professionally done, but I pointed out to the gal that the color didn’t take to the gray at all. (Gray hair? At 39!) She said “I just don’t see it.” I said, “It’s the wiry ones springing out.” “Hmm,” she said, “I don’t see it.” I said (politely of course) “That’s because you’re 18.” (She was; she’d told me.)

I asked for a little makeup lesson to ease the puffy face. “Do you know how to do eye shadow?” she asked. “Uh… well, I’ve been pulling it off for 25 years, but maybe you could give me some tips,” I said. “I stopped buying Teen Beat magazine a long time ago and they don’t really have eye shadow lessons in Good Housekeeping.” She spent 15 minutes with 4 brushes on one eye and it looked idential to my 2-second sweep from Cover Girl. Go figure.

Other than all this, I promise the show will be authentic!

I am excited to see what God will do with it, as it will expose thousands of people to Rest Ministries and provide the assurance that they are not the only Christians out there who have not been healed. I pray God puts the right words into my mouth and that even my appearance can assure them that I am in the thick of illness too and not some model who once was ill for a few days.

The truth is I am exhausted. My knees are flaring and popping out of place. My neck is flaring just enough to not freeze up. My whole body aches from the fibromyalgia. My feet are a mess, barely able to put weight on any area.

You may have watched our YouTube video and my recollections of my grandmother. My walking and swollen feet appear more like hers every day. I grieve and praise at the same time.

My family has been great, but as a mom I blew it yesterday. Despite my busy weekend, I knew my son’s friend’s birthday party would be relaxing (our families are good friends.) We made a quick trip to Walmart to buy a birthday gift for a friend’s pool party and drove 15 miles and we got there and… the party is next Saturday. (And to think I am dying my hair more blond!)

Please cover all of this in prayer. My sanity, God’s ability to be glorified despite any goofs I may make, my ability to represent all of you who work so hard to make Rest Ministries the sanctuary it is. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

As I watch the tragedies that are occurring across our world now, like in Burma and China I am reminded of my pastor’s words that the Bible says the end of times will be like birthing pains. And with birthing pains, the contractions grow closer together and more intense. I do believe that the time of Jesus’ return is not thousands of years away, but perhaps even in our lifetimes. It gives a new sense of urgency to encourage people who are hurting with illness that not only is there hope that they can reflect God’s goodness and faithfulness through their illness, but that their illness could in fact be a witnessing tool for them to bring others to Christ.

Please pray Thy Will Be Done

 

 

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

 

Letter From the Editor

I’m really starting to enjoy having the chance to connect with you all through the weekly newsletter. It’s a great way to be able to share things with you on a more regular basis, from my weekly events to things going on in the worlds of ministry, pain– whatever! Thanks for humoring me and reading my anecdotes.

(Written Thursday afternoon) This week has been a busy one as I’ve been registering Josh for Kindergarten (which means you have to dig out a zillion pieces of paperwork, immunization records, social security number, etc.) I ran all over town last week chasing down his medical records which kept being transferred between two doctors. Monday afternoon we had our weekly visit to Children’s Hospital where he tries new foods and other things for sensory issues. I’m excited that next week I will be interviewed for a national parenting magazine by a writer doing an article on Sensory Processing Disorder. I’m eager to help spread the word about this little-known condition that many kids (and adults!) struggle with.

My husband has been working lots; he plays the keyboards and he had a gig Tuesday night and a recording Wednesday night. Last night about 7:30 Josh saw the cat was in pain. She had an abscess on her cheek so we rushed her to the emergency animal hospital. Likely another cat got her and then it got infected (It’s that mean tabby cat that keeps sneaking into our house. “Our kitty is not interested in you, so go find another love interest!” I want to tell him!) Five hours later and $600 (gasp!) surgery was completed and she came home this morning. Josh and I left to go to his school for more assessment testing and she was sound asleep on the couch, a bit pitiful with her “cone head” on her, but resting.

When we came home she was no where to be found. My sweet son evidently thinks the rapture happened and we missed it because he found her cone sitting where she had been earlier and said, “Why did God take our cat??” We’ve looked everywhere possible and can’t find where she is hiding. My whole house smells like tuna with plates of it in every room, but so far… no cat. (Friday update: 6 plates of tuna all over the house brought her out eventually. Gee, my house smells dandy, but at least she’s doing fine.)

Other things happening. . . American Bible Society Presents has scheduled the filming of my interview and visiting a HopeKeepers Group for May 19th. I thought I would try to cut down prednisone a bit from my 14 mg back to my original 7 mg I was on before Christmas to try to get rid of the puffiness in my face. But two days and two milligrams later my hands feel more like claws and I can feel the fibro aching all over my back like a bad sunburn under the skin. I think it would be better to hire a good make up artist so I plan to visit the beauty school soon to see what they can offer for twenty-five bucks (how much concealer can you buy for $25?)

We’re now off to our weekly Little Gym visit so Josh can “wear out his batteries.” I pray that everyone feels God’s comfort this weekend. I know there are many blessed moms. But after dealing with infertility myself, I know Mother’s Day can also be emotionally draining. Many of you wish you were moms, many of you have lost children who are now in heaven, many of you have prodigals. This week I’ve been told by my son, “I don’t want to be your mommy any more!” (He got his words a bit mixed up) and later, “You’re the best mommy in the whole world.” Being a mom has certainly made me understand the Lord’s relationship with us better, because like kids, we tend to throw up these same odd comments to Him. “I don’t need this! I don’t want to follow your rules any more!” and then moments later, “Lord, what would I do without you? You are the best!”

Love you all. May you feel His peace,

 

Letter From Editor

Hi Friends,

This week has zoomed by in some ways. Other days I’ve wondered if the day would ever end. Monday morning kicked off with a trip to Sea World with my son’s preschool class (a required outing for all parents.) I so wanted to go, but it was still a challenge. We had to be there at 9 a.m., clear across town in rush hour traffic. We got there and it was the hottest day of the year. I took Josh’s stroller simply to have something to lean on. On the way there one of my knees had some broken pieces of bone move into a painful place and halfway through the park the other one went out. I limped along and tried to keep up with everyone else. I made it thanks to extra prednisone and a whole lot of determination (and answered prayer!)

(photo is of my son Josh @ Sea World)

The good news is Josh asked for cotton candy, and since we’re in food therapy, and he’s never even been interested in candy, I grabbed a bag and he actually chomped down–loved it even! I wanted to stand up at the Sea Lion show and yell, “My son is eating cotton candy! This is major progress after months of food therapy!” Instead, I hid the bag between my legs and acted like it was perfectly fine to eat cotton candy at 10:30 in the morning while other kids were eating apple slices and string cheese (Josh has never eaten any of those things.) I don’t think the teacher saw that he wasn’t eating “grow food.”

We were home by 2 pm, but I noticed the car smelled like it was burning and I couldn’t write it off as simply the hot sun baking my car. By Tuesday we’d dropped the car off at the Ford dealership to have them scrape the orange construction bag off my exhaust pipe that had blown under my car on the way to Sea World.

In the midst of everything a friend came through to help me get Rest Ministries orders out, and give me a ride to pick up Josh, and then my car. So I was able to avoid getting a rental car (which is always good since I can’t install the car seat). it’s been a trying week as far as discipline issues, and after trying everything else, yesterday I surprised Josh (after he laughed in my face at the punishment ONE TOO MANY TIMEs…) by turning the hose on him for a few seconds. Hey, it was 80 degrees and I gave him fair warning.

I escaped last night and went and sat in a movie theater by myself (which I love) for a good giggle (”Baby Mama”).

Psalm 5:1 says, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.” Some weeks God provides comfort; sometimes peace; sometimes relief. But some days we just want a bit a sympathy. . . for him to consider our sighing. When everyone around us is tired of listening to us, thank goodness God never is!

Love you.
May He consider your sighing!

 

 

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

PS: I wanted to let you know, the Cuddle Ewe mattress tops are going to raise their prices after Mother’s Day. I’ve had one of these on my bed for years and it’s made all the difference in my quality of sleep–enough so that a couple years ago I bought the travel version too so I can now actally sleep while on vacation. You can purchase them through Amazon here and then Rest Ministries gets a percentage of the sale price too. So it may be something to consider using part of your stiumulus check from the government for. Anything that makes me sleep better impacts my whole quality of life.

 

Letter From Editor

Hi Friends, How are you this week? Sorry this is a day late, but I still wanted to get it out to you!

We’ve had a fun but crazy week around here. My sister left to go back to Phoenix today. This week she has graciously driven Josh and I all over and participated in everything from taking him to Little Gym with me to the adoption mom playgroup. Thank you so much for your kind emails and prayers. She is still actively seeking work and eager to get back to Arizona (and even the heat!)

I’ve been checking emails daily and responding to those I can fast or that need prompt attention. If you’ve emailed or written me via mail about something and I’ve not yet gotten back to you, my apologies. I will soon! I have nearly 500 emails in my inbox. The great news is Michelle helped me clean my office. I still have a few mail bins of papers to go through, but I can walk to my desk from the hallway without doing any acrobats or odd limbo moves. I wish I’d taken before and after photos for you.

My newest medication (Humera) has not kicked in as I’d hoped or at least with the speed as I had wanted. I am flaring badly and trying to just not complain. I know you all understand how it is when you have family visiting and want to show them a fun time and yet trying to walk around a mall (or Sea World in our case) wipes you out for a couple of days.

We made it to a bookstore and I picked up a copy of “The Shack” –one of the hotest selling Christian fiction books out there right now and one that people keep describing as life-altering. I just made it through a couple of chapters last night before going to sleep but I have a feeling I may be recommending it to you next week. Has anyone else read this and would like to share your opinion or feedback?

Love you all. May you feel His peace,

 

 

 

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

 

Letter From Editor

Hi Friends,

I hope that the flowers of spring are blossoming out in your neck of the woods. Here is San Diego even the roadside wildflowers look like purple snow.

It’s been an interesting week, as my sister came for a visit from Phoenix a few days earlier than expected. After moving from Washington to Phoenix for a new job in the hotel industry, her position was cut because of the economy. We’re providing a pull-out-couch and hopefully some encouragement, while she looks for a new position and closes on a house which is in escrow.

My friend, Shelley, called me with a scripture to encourage my sis. Psalm 37: 3-7: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways.”

This is a nice reminder for each of us to remember God is always in control. Despite man’s intentions or decisions that cause us harm or even just poor circumstances, God is still in control. And the day will come when our righteousness will shine. I know many of you are in the midst of struggles: with your family, your medical insurance, and even your body. My prayer is that this verse will comfort you too.

 

May you feel His peace,

 

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

 

 

Letter from Editor

Dear Friends,
It’s Spring Break here in sunny California. My son is 5 and starts Kindergarten in the fall, so I am trying my best to find the joy in each moment. A cold my husband had caught up with me and I’m coughing more than I would like. I’m off my normal drugs to take an antibiotic, and let’s just say things never work out exactly as we’d planned. I’ve been getting orders out (thanks to those of you who ordered books last week! They are on their way)… and working on the web site while yelling, “DO NOT put the cat in the pool. Did you hear me?” (Okay, it’s a kiddie pool all of 8 inches deep but that’s beside the point.)

We’ve been to Let’s Play and Learn, McDonald’s, The Little Gym, had one play date and our weekly visit to the health center. Monday, after the health center visit we stopped by Berean Christian bookstore to drop of some magazines and he said, “I want a book!” Well, I had to give in, right? The kid wants Christian books! Little did I know the real ministry would come when a woman driving her scooter stopped to look at Bible covers near where Josh was sitting flipping through his book.

“Why do you have a scooter? What kind of battery does it take? Do you have to charge it? Does it have headlights? How fast does it go? Why does it have a crack?” He bombarded her with questions she graciously answered. I smiled and said, “We do a lot with Joni and Friends, so he’s eager to know about all the workings of any kind of scooter.”

She thought it was nice. She started a conversation and asked if she could give Josh a ride. He climbed up and held on and they whizzed around the back of the store.

As we got ready to leave I said, “I don’t want to assume anything, but I have a ministry for people with illness and I have a free magazine if you’d like a copy.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“I have rheumatoid arthritis,” I explained.

“So do I,” she said.

She shared a few healing miracles God had done in her life; she wasn’t cured from her RA but God had definitely worked in her life, and surprised a few doctors along the way.

“She was nice.” Josh said as we left. “Her scooter was cool.”

I’m the last one who wants to grab a scooter or wheelchair and admit that I need it. I will admit I dread that day when it comes. And yet I hope I will remember the kindhearted people like this woman in the Christian bookstore who shared her joy and even her fun side with my son. The compassion he has for others, especially those with disabilities, comes from people like her.

May you feel His comfort,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

 

Letter from Editor

Dear Friends,

It’s Spring!

I feel like we’ve been out of touch for so long. Like many of you I’ve been in survival mode since mid-December with multiple infections, colds, time off medications, and way too much prednisone. But we’re back… and we’re moving our newsletter services back to ‘Get Response’ and ‘Aweber’ (depending on how you signed up) so that those of you who have email plans like yahoo, hotmail and aol can actually get the ezine.

I have plans for this ezine to get to you each week, and have it be a brief source of encouragement and updates about what is going on at Rest Ministries. I look forward to your feedback and help too! If you see something that you think others would enjoy knowing about, just forward it on to me (by next week we should have a form for this!)

May you feel His comfort,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder