Seminar: Closing Seminar with Lisa Copen

Lisa Copen

Join Lisa as she talk about how it can “feel” to go to a “virtual” conference. How Invisible Illness Awareness Week impacted others, what she hopes you will take away from this week and more. She is interviewed by her husband, Joel.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

 

Wondering what the “headquarters” for Invisible Illness Awareness Week looks like? Lisa takes you on a 3-minute tour of her home office.

About Lisa Copen

Lisa was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 24, in the midst of a typical life, finishing college and discovering where her passions resided. In less than a few weeks she went from significant pain in her feet to her entire body flaring. After changing doctors, searching for answers, she was diagnosed short thereafter. She has never been in remission and her rheumatologist has said that 80% of her pain is due to deformity.

She began Rest Ministries in 1996 after searching for a place where she could share her faith. Through this she has found her true purpose in having the opportunity to speak and write, encouraging others through whatever she pursues. She has written various books including Bible studies, and How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry.

Lisa considers every day precious. She is a survivor of the flesh eating bacteria in 2008 and had four joints replaced in her left hand in 2009. Despite her daily pain and fatigue, her 9-year-old son keeps her going. She lives in San Diego with her husband and son and deals with insomnia by working at 3 AM.

Get to know Lisa: Lisa’s webpage | Rest Ministries webpage | Lisa on Facebook | Lisa on Twitter | Invisible Illness Week on Twitter | Invisible Illness Week on Facebook

Lisa’s books: Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend, Why Can’t I Make People Understand, Mosaic Moments: Devotionals For the Chronically Ill, see more

Popularity: 4% [?]

Seminar: Communicating With Your Spouse When Chronically Ill

Pam Farrel

Marriage can be difficult. Add into that the tension of a spouse living with a chronic illness and it’s a perfect storm for stress building. But you can find skills to help communication in marriage. What are some ways you can more effectively communicate with your spouse? How can you make sure each person feels as though they can share? How can you find a balance between what you share with your spouse that is helpful, versus what is overwhelming? How do men and women communicate differently? Pam addresses all of these and more and will leave you nodding in agreement, “Yep! That’s us!”

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Pam Farrel

Pam Farrel is a challenger, cheerleader and coach. With her husband Bill, the Farrels are international speakers, and authors of over 35 books including best-selling Men Are Like Waffles–Women Are Like Spaghetti: Understanding and Delighting in Your Differences

They are relationship specialist and seek to help people become “Love-Wise” Pam has a heart for women, first as a mentor and youth pastor’s wife, then serving for 15+ years as Director of Women’s Ministry alongside her husband, Bill, a senior pastor. Now the Farrels speak full time for women, men, couples, singles, and families and are frequents guests on radio and TV.

Pam is also a sought after women’s speaker encouraging women from her books: Woman of Influence, Woman of Confidence, 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make, and Devotions for Women on the Go! Her newest are 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband, Raising a Modern Day Princess, 10 Secrets to Living Smart, Savvy and Strong, LOL with God, and Becoming a Brave New Woman.

Pam has experience as a radio show host, Director of Women, pastor’s wife, and mentor. She is also the founder and President of Seasoned Sisters, a ministry to women 40-65. (www.seasonedsisters.com)

A few of their books include: Single Men are like Waffles, Single Women are like Spaghetti, The Marriage Code, Red Hot Monogamy, Why Men and Women Act the Way They Do, Love, Honor and Forgive, and 10 Best Decisions a Parent Can Make, 10 Best Decisions a Single Can Make, and 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can Make (Harvest House).

Pam is a mentor to numerous authors and speakers, nurturing leaders through her Circle of Influence program. Pam is a busy conference speaker for women’s events including speaking for over 12,000 moms at Hearts at Home, and more intimate groups, like pastor’s wives or leadership events, business seminars, military wives, church women’s retreats and conference center venues.

Both Bill and Pam travel globally to encourage audiences, together as well as solo, most recently to Singapore, Canada, Korea, Mexico, and Germany. They have been happily married for 32 years and are parents to three children, and two sons are married so their family now includes two daughters-in-laws and two small granddaughters and a new grandson. The Farrels live in San Diego, CA.

Get to know Pam! Pam’s web site | Pam on Facebook | Pam on Twitter

Some of Pam’s books: Woman of Influence: Ten Traits of Those Who Want to Make a Difference, Woman of Confidence: Step into God’s Adventure for Your Life, 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make, and Devotions for Women on the Go! Her newest are 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband: How to Put a Smile on His Face, Raising a Modern-Day Princess, 10 Secrets to Living Smart, Savvy, and Strong, LOL with God: Devotional Messages of Hope & Humor for Women, Becoming a Brave New Woman: Step into God’s Adventure for You.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Seminar: Transitioning to College and Career with a Chronic Illness

Naomi Kingery

If you or someone you love is a teenager with illness, you will find Naomi is a wonderful encourager to you. But even if you are not a teenager, you will find this young woman wise beyond her years and a real inspiration when it comes to living with an invisible illness. She discusses the journey of being a tween with an illness to teenager, and then through college and career. Hear her tips for those with illness for going to college and career aspirations.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Naomi Kingery

Naomi Kingery, also known as The Diabetic Diva®, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a decade ago. Kingery made a decision to begin to help others embrace their chronic illness as she learned to do the same while growing up with diabetes.

Through the years her work in the diabetes community has included being the author of The Sugar Free Series, a blogger, and a Diabetes Advocate. She also currently working as an employee for Medtronic and is attending college for a degree in Kinesiology.

Get to know Naomi! | Naomi’s website | Naomi on Facebook Facebook |Naomi on Twitter

Naomi’s books are all from “The Sugar Free Series” (1 paper back called SUGAR FREE ME and 2 eBooks called Sugar Free Teens: The Diabetic Diva’s 5 Tips on Reaching Your Potential and Sugar Free Support: The Balance of Supporting Your Diabetic Through Every High and Low. She is working on the last book in the series.

Books are available online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble but direct purchase links are available on her website.

On her web site, Live to Love Diabetes you will find a weekly blog where she documents what it is like to live with diabetes; her yoga Cd-Rom and DVD; A list of media resources that have shared Naomi’s story, including previous radio interviews for Invisible Illness Week.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Seminar: How Can You Become An Advocate When You Are Ill?

Jennifer Pettit

Have you ever wanted to be more of an advocate for your disease, or even just all people who live with a chronic condition or disability? Does the idea of being an advocate appeal to you, but it seems overwhelming? Where do you start? Jennifer explains how she had become an advocate in her college, workplace and community–all while fighting various illnesses and fatigue–and how you can too.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Jennifer Pettit

Jenny Pettit is an auditor by day and health activist by. . .well. . . day, night, and any other time she can fit it in. First diagnosed with invisible chronic illnesses over a decade ago, Jenny has spent the years since reshaping the world around her. With experience developing programs for everyone from college students to corporate leadership, she’s happy to share what she’s learning.

The typical person being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s Syndrome is a woman in her 40s. Jenny was diagnosed as a high school sophomore at 15. She believes being diagnosed with a progressive chronic illness so young coupled with the lack of familiarity her community had with Invisible Illnesses is what propelled her into activism. Her additional diagnoses, including Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, and more, only add to her conviction that people with Invisible Illnesses have many experiences and needs in common.

Jenny wants to leverage these common experiences to achieve three goals: raise awareness, connect patients with each other, and help them find the resources they need. Modern e-patients put a lot of effort into self-education and research, but each person is creating their own wheel. Imagine how much more we could accomplish – and how much faster we could do it – if we used each other’s wheels as a framework upon which we could build.

Through her grassroots organization UII – Understanding Invisible Illnesses, Jenny works with the different communities in our lives to achieve these goals. From local parishes to colleges to national (and international) companies, UII and Jenny are using social media as well as live programs to change the way our communities perceive and respond to people with disabilities. Her work has earned her several recognitions including KPMG LLP’s new Chairman’s Award for High Performance.

Get to know Jenny! Jenny’s web site, Understanding Invisible Illnesses | Jenny on Facebook | Jenny on Twitter

Popularity: 4% [?]

Seminar: How To Keep It Together When Everything Around You is Falling Apart

Maureen Pratt

Do you ever feel like the crises in your life just keep stacking up? Sometimes it becomes a real challenge to remain optimistic when our friends are going on vacations and we are just trying to get through our newest battle with our disease–plus the rest of life! It can all feel like it’s falling apart –financial battles, painful relationships, raising children or grandchildren. The stress adds up. Maureen will help us to understand how to face crises with confidence and how to avoid spreading ourselves too thin in serving others, while trying to take care of ourselves.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

Audio file – Maureen Pratt

About Maureen Pratt

Maureen Pratt has lived with serious, chronic illness and pain for most of her life. Before she was 18 years old, she’d had pneumonia 13 times, and since then developed multi-organ involved lupus, cardiovascular disease, scoliosis, autoimmune thyroid disease, iron deficient anemia, Sjogren’s disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), and Plummer-Vinson Syndrome, among other illnesses. She’s also bald, as a result of alopecia totalis!

Despite her health challenges, Maureen dreamed of being a writer.

When she was diagnosed with lupus, God put her on a path that has led to her writing books, articles, and giving seminars like this one, always with the intent of inspiring and educating others on ways to live as fully as possible no matter what hardships, illnesses, pain or challange might occur. Maureen’s books include, “Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joys,” and the bestselling, “Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness.”

Get to know Maureen! Maureen’s web site | Maureen on Facebook | Maureen on Twitter

Maureen’s Books: Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy and the bestselling, Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Seminar: The Recovery Continuum, Getting Through it Without Losing Your Mind

Trish Robichaud

Recovery. A simple word that can mean all kinds of pain, fatigue, and you never know for how long. Trish shares her story about recovering from open heart surgery last year–along with her illness, multiple sclerosis. She discusses some things she did to help her recovery along, the emotions involved, including depression, and how she used the time to grow, despite the weariness of it.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Trish Robichaud

Trish is a multiple award winning Disability Awareness Coach, Maximum Life and Business Coach, Author, Advocate and Motivational Speaker who lives with multiple sclerosis, major depression & heart disease. She is a woman with a disability but she is NOT a disabled woman.

Trish teaches women living with chronic illness or disability how to honour and accommodate their health while striving for optimal health, work/life balance and even entrepreneurial success.

Her clients build the confidence necessary to establish effective communication, set comfortable boundaries and nurture trust in their loving relationships. And entrepreneurs learn how to set up and manage systems that leverage technology to incorporate automation into all of their business processes. From client intake to social networking, from scheduling appointments to collecting and capitalizing on client testimonials.

Trish coaches her clients on how to work smarter, not harder and enjoy more free time doing what they enjoy most! To learn more, go to and signup for a complimentary Optimal Health or Business Automation Strategy Session.

Get to know Trish! Trish’s web site, Changing Paces | Trish on Facebook | Trish on Twitter

Popularity: 5% [?]

Seminar: Avoiding Destructive Relationships When Chronically Ill

Leslie Vernick

When you think of destructive relationships, what comes to mind? Is it different than abusive relationships? Most people think of some kind of physical, verbal, or sexual abuse. However, there are many other harmful relational patterns that are not necessarily recognized as “abusive.” This session will help you see more clearly what’s wrong in relationships that hurt you and help you decide if you have the power to change them. For example, if your spouse complains all the time about how you are “lazy” instead of understanding your illness, where do you go from here?

You’ll learn to identify the underlying heart issues at work in these relationships and Be empowered to respond to problems in a biblical, life-giving way. You will learn to say “No “ without feeling guilty. Take a positive step toward building healthy relationships in your life and avoid those abusive relationships.

.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Leslie Vernick

Leslie Vernick is a popular speaker, author, licensed clinical social worker and life coach with a private counseling practice in Pennsylvania. She has over 25 years of experience helping individuals, couples and families heal, rebuild or grow their relationships. Whether counseling, speaking or writing, Leslie gently leads people to make real changes in their lives. She loves helping people learn to:

• Confidently speak thoughts and feelings in a constructive way.
• Encounter God’s peace and presence in the midst of suffering or difficult loss.
• Develop the discipline to turn dreams and desires into reality

Leslie is the author of six books, including the best selling, The Emotionally Destructive Relationship and her most recent Lord, I Just Want to be Happy.

Leslie currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lighthouse Network, a Christian mental health outreach ministry and Beneath His Wings, A Christian outreach for women needing shelter from abusive relationships. She has had the unique privilege to teach in Iraq, Russia, Romania, Hungary, and the Philippines. She is also featured in three of the American Association of Christian Counselor video teaching series including ExtraOrdinary Women and Marriage Works.

Leslie and her husband, Howard, have been married for over 34 years and they have two adult children and she loves being a new grandmother.

Get to know Leslie! Leslie’s web site | Leslie on Facebook | Leslie on Twitter

Some of Leslie’s books: The Emotionally Destructive Relationship: Seeing It, Stopping It, Surviving It, How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong, and her most recent Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Seminar: Parenting Teens and Tweens When You Have a Chronic Illness

Dena Dyer

If you have ever wondered how to survive those tween and teen years, while you are living with chronic pain yourself and already exhausted, Dena will inspire you to hang in there.  How do you keep kids busy? How important is it to have friends that help you out? How do you juggle parenting while working from home?

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Dena Dyer

As a busy mom and minister’s wife, Dena Dyer constantly loses things—but she’s holding onto her sanity (barely). Her favorite forms of therapy? Talking and laughing with her sons, date nights with her hubby, reading, cooking, and watching movies. Dena is thankful for her creative life, which is varied and full. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. . . especially because she has had health challenges, including battling auto-immune disease and chronic neck/back pain, since her college days at Baylor University.

“Jesus truly is my strength when I am weak,” she says. “His love, mercy, and grace have been incredibly instrumental in my life. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing Him with other people, how- and whenever He allows me to.” In between helping her boys with homework and shuttling kids to karate and music lessons, she writes, speaks, and participates in the music and women’s ministries at Lakeside Baptist Church, where her husband serves as the Worship and Music Minister.

Dena’s publishing credits include the books Let the Laugh Lines and Wrinkles Come!, Mothers of the Bible, the Groovy Chicks’ Road Trip series and Grace for the Race: Meditations for Busy Moms. Her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Woman’s World, HomeLife and many other magazines, and her tips have been published in Working Mother, Thriving Family, Redbook, Family Circle, Parenting, and Scholastic Parent. She currently serves as a contributing author and Facebook editor with The High Calling.

Get to know Dena! Dena’s website | Dena on Twitter | Dena on Facebook | Dena on LinkedIn

Some of Dena’s Books: Mothers Of The Bible (Barbour), Let the Laugh Lines and Wrinkles Come (Barbour); upcoming in summer, 2013; Wounded Women of the Bible (Kregel), and e-book, Grace for the Race: Inspiration for Busy Moms (Patheos).

Popularity: 4% [?]

Seminar: Finding Yourself Through All The Muck of Illness

Renee Johnson Fisher

When you are diagnosed with an illness it can truly change your life. And when it happens and you are just a teenager, when you are supposed to be “finding yourself,” what then? Renee knows, and now she can share what she has learned through this journey and how it can apply to your life–regardless of the age you are. Yes, it is possible to keep finding yourself, despite your invisible pain.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Renee Johnson Fisher

Renee is a spirited speaker to twenty-somethings and the author of Faithbook of Jesus and Not Another Dating Book.

Before she wrote any books she experienced the lost of skin on her face, hands, and feet. It took her body ten years to recover. During that time she learned how to journal and find her strength in God.

It is her joy to have rescued a pit bull who recently had hip surgery and she lives with her new husband (whom she thinks is the most gentle guy she’s ever met).

Get to know Renee! Renee’s website where you will find 2 free eBooks and daily devotionals | Renee on Facebook | Renee on Twitter

Renee’s books Faithbook of Jesus: Connecting with Jesus Daily and Not Another Dating Book: A Devotional Guide to All Your Relationships.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Seminar: How to Work From Home When Dealing with an Invisible Illness

Jill Hart

If you ever wondered how to work from home, or if it may be an answer to your financial support, you won’t want to miss Jill’s glimpse into what it is really like to. How do you pace yourself, how to work at home with kids running around? Should you “go for it” and try it, or just get a temporary job outside the home. Learn more about it and see if working at home for you may be an option.

When you are done listening, we appreciate you clicking “like” for Facebook, or Pinning it to Pinterest. We would love to be able to encourage your friends today.

About Jill Hart

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Ministries, CWAHM.com. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies/Bible. Jill has worked from home since 2000 when she started her own home-based business to assist other Christians who desire to work from home.

In 2008 Jill was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease and, after a period of treatment and adjustment, is still successfully working at home while raising her two children.

Get to know Jill! Christian Work at Home Mom website | Jill’s website | CWAHM on Twitter | CWAHM on Facebook | Jill on Facebook

Books by Jill: So You Want To Be a Work-at-Home Mom (Amazon, local bookstores) and Work at Home 101(ebook- Kindle – Amazon)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Next Page »