Christmas Traditions!

My Christmas Traditions include:

1) putting up a tree
2) a nice fire place
3) hot cocoa
4) Christmas dinner
5) listening to my mom read Christmas stories that my grandfather read every year at Christmas:

The small one (the one about the donkey)
The story of the candy cane (representation of Christ's blood for us)
The tree story (the three trees on the hill)
and of course the Christmas story from the bible.

These stories she tries to read each year at Christmas, just like my grandfather did each year at Christmas.

So Merry Christmas to all, alive and long gone, and to my grandfather who I will see again in Heaven, we love you.

Merry Christmas!!

Love,

Rachel Michelle ;)

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!! Yes I said it, I didn't say Happy Holidays, Joy to the world, Peace on earth, Merry Holidays, whatever. I said MERRY CHRISTMAS!! It seems to me that people are more and more trying to take the CHRIST out of CHRISTmas. Why, I do not know. I guess people on this earth have got so far away from God that they have forgotten what Christmas really is about. Sure it's about family and being together, but that's NOT the reason for the season! The true meaning of Christmas can be found in Matthew chapter 2 There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. The meaning of Christmas can be found more than 2,000 years ago in a manger in Bethlaham. Jesus was born into this world to come to the earth that He created to live and die for all of us. So this Christmas when you see a tree or presents don't think about all the gifts and fun things that goes along with the Holiday, think about the baby that left His throne way up in Heaven to come to a earth that He created to save a people that He created; from their sins, Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas!

Merry Christmas all,

Love,

Rachel Michelle ;)

I do NOT blame God!!

I too have gone through the grief process with having porphyria. I went through the why me part, to the I can get over it part, and the Denial I don't have this part. To the God can heal me and He did so I can live with this part. I understand that it is necessary to go through the grief process with any kind of illness really. Because you have to go through or at least it just seems like you do when your sick like that. Some sort of grief process anyways. I started mine when I was in junior high. After I had been really sick and it wasn't going away. And I think I just come to terms with it just this last year or so, cause I would go through my denial phases where I don't have this, I can do anything stage!! WRONG! Anyways, I agree God does not put on us more than we can handle. But I also have a weird outlook on things myself. I don't think God gave me this diease, I don't think God gave the lady at my church cancer, I don't think God made any little baby be born deformed, I don't think God causes anyone to commit a crime, I don't think God is reasonible for any kind of sickness or cruelty in this world, rape, murder, etc. Because God created a good and perfect world. He created man and woman good and perfect. And WE chose to sin. With sin came sickness, and death. It wasn't God who created those things. We did. The person who murders someone is responsible of their own actions, no body else. You can say he was tricked by the devil, but even the devil didn't comit the crime, that man did. The devil lays all kinds of temptations for everyone, he alone brings in bad to this world, but the people who fall into those tempations are responsible for their own falling, their own actions and sins, no one else, not even the devil. So to me God did not make me with any kind of sickness. He made me a perfect body. As for gentic disorders well my theory is that through each generation with sin and coruptness they some how get worse. Like our body mutates or something. I know it sounds weird, but I have a HUGE problem with people who blame God for ANYTHING, sickness, death, a crime, anything. Because it's NOT HIS FAULT!! He didn't create the crime in this world, people did. And with sin comes all sorts of other things. So even though I do have a rare blood disease, that is uncurable, to some extent untreatable, and has already tried to take my life, and may yet try to take it again, I DO NOT and WILL NOT blame God for it, because I know God did not give it to me, sin did. Look on the positive side of life, there's always a silver lining. I guess no matter what happens, no matter what the devil throws my way, no matter how sick I get, no matter what people done or will do to me, I will always belive in the goodness and perfect grace of Jesus Christ, and I will always know that God is GOOD and no bad comes from good. And that's how I know He died for us, that's how I know He came to save us, that's how I know I had to put my complete faith and trust in Him and NOBODY ELSE! He alone gives me the strength each day to even get out of bed, He alone gives me the happiness I feel through the storms I face EACH day of my life. He alone gives me grace to slid through the storms and overlook all the bad that seems to come my way, it's HE ALONE that GETS ME THROUGH EACH DAY!!!

Billy Ray Cyrus song Somebody said a Prayer

This song was very good. I was so impressed when I heard it, it made me get down on my knees and pray as well, and as you know from reading my blog I do a lot of praying on my own. Check out his song it will move you.

Finally a Cure???????????

Finally there is suppose to come a cure out in 2010 for Porphryia. While I don't know the full extent of this cure, what it is or how it works, or even if it's for all types of Porphyria, I am hopefull that maybe one day I will feel "normal" like the rest of the world?? I am always sepekial when stuff comes out. I want to wait a few months or so and see how other people do with these new found cures before I jump into the action. If something terribly goes wrong, I don't want to be the one it goes wrong on. Apparently they are testing it out now, for two years until they release it. So hopefully it will work as I'm praying for it to. If it does, I will be so relieved that maybe I will be pain free and not have so many Porphryia attacks. But what about the last 26 years of my life that is down the drain because of Porphyria? Who knows, I guess I just have to start from scracth and pray for a new life without Porphyria and without lots of doctor visits, hospital trips, pain medicine, horrific pain, etc. And maybe the rest of my life will fall into place, one can only hope and pray for that. I started crying the other day in church when the preacher said there would be a day that would be when Jesus would call us up to Heaven and change our mortal bodies to immortal bodies. And as he was saying this I suddenly realized that there would be no pain, no heart ache, no pain meds, no hospitals, I would be pain free. I can only hope and pray for such a day..................

My thoughts~~~~

I wonder if pigs could really fly.....
Maybe money could grow on trees, if I plant a quarter would it sprout dimes and nickles.....
Do you think there's gold buried near by......
If I drink something blue, but then drink something purple would my pee be blue/purple.....
Is Luke Wilson gay, or is he just waiting for me to come along.......
I wonder if a TRUE mud bath would work, maybe I should take off my clothes and roll around in the mud and find out.......
What's pie squared... Who cares, not like we ever are going to use it.....
If I could fly I'd visit Ireland right now......
Has anyone figured out what the stupid white block thing acutally does in Mario Brothers 3..
Oh, I would like my stomach to quite hurting, and my pains in my side to stop, maybe if I think real hard about them not hurting, it would make them stop......
How many clothes could Rachel wear, if Rachel could fit in her clothes, Could Rachel wear 20 or 30 or could she only fit a pair.....
Oh Mr. Mail please bring me a treat, wrap in dollars and call me sweet, let me know how much you care, Oh Mr. Mail man please bring me some makeup from Sephora.....
I see London, I see France, I don't have any underpants.....
Jack and Jill went up a hill, Jack was a guy and lost his way, while Jill ran around trying to find him.......
Adam was the first guy, Eve was the first girl and they both had a apple tree. Adam was too dumb to find the tree, but Eve was too smart so she did eat, now she gave Adam an apple, and Adam didn't know what it was, so being a guy he just took it, now they are both being punished by God, cause God forbid them to eat of the apple. So Eve had to bare children and Adam had to work to find food, and to this day it's a wonder way I can't stand apples........
I've held my pee as long as I could, now I must go find an out house, I need to pee, I'm sure you don't care, I must find an out house, maybe I do have indoor plumbing and I could use my toilet, I don't know, and I don't care, I have to pee badly so I'll pee anywhere......................................

Painful days!!

The last few days has been rough on me. So painful. I hate dealing with a rare disease cause it magnifies everything else 10 times to what it normally should be, and no one understands the constant pain I'm in. I will be so happy if they ever come out with a cure for Porphyria. Sometimes I don't think I can make it through any more attacks or painful days, and it's almost feels like I'm sliping away. But then somehow God always reaches down and touches me and makes the pain go away and saves my life over and over again from this horrid disease that's tried to take it so many times. It comes to a point to where you can't even take any more pain pills, because you've already taken enough, and too many aren't good for you. So you just live in horrid pain. If only we had the Pool of Siloam here like they did in the Bible days, I'd rush my tired crippled hurting body to the pool, even though I can't swim, and jump in and let God heal me and completly rid me of this disease. And then pray I don't drown, lol. But life is full of mistakes, bad things, and pain. I guess we just have to shift through the bad and bring out the good in everything. My bad has brought good in my walk with God, it's shown me the healing power of God and how faith can truely save a soul and heal a body, with trust in God.

Porphryia day again!!!

Well today is porphyria day for me again. Blah, blah, blah. I'm on a period from hell, and I hate this disease. But everything can only get better right. I hate it when my periods comes and kicks in and takes over. But, it's a good thing I have my precription pain pills. Now the only problem is feeling groggy or having horrible period pains, oh the horror...

Friends and family will forsake you but Christ will be there forever!!!

In the Bible Christ says that His own did not receive Him. His family and friends turned on Him. Today there are times that our own family and friends will turn on us, just like they turned on Christ. They don't understand our way of life in Christ, or they don't like Christians, whatever the reason may be, not everyone in this world will accept us. But I know that no matter how many family members or friends I loose, I will always have Christ by my side. And He is more powerful then them all and He is the only one I really need in my life. If you have people that have turned their backs on you, do not give up, trust in Christ to see you through. Because just as Christ was an outsider the Bible also says we'll be outsiders too. Some people don't accept a true life in Christ. They will only go so far as a Christian and then back off and walk away. People like that are just not worth the loss. We need Christ so much more than we need anyone else. They are not accountable for our actions or our souls, we are. So don't let some minor set back or small minded person ruin your life and your realtionship, and your ministry in Christ. Press on for the gospel, press on for Christ, be strong like the Apostles, and you'll have the ultimate reward in the end. Press on!

Fullfilling your own dreams

Most people find boyfriends or girlfriends, and eventually get married. But not everyone has to follow this path. Their are those who choose not to be tied down to one person. Some of us do not have to fulfill ourselves in someone else. All I need to fulfill myself in is God. I don't need a man, I don't need a marriage, and I don't need the headache. I want to live my own life, follow my own rules (according to God's rules of course), and make my own mistakes without some domineering person standing over me telling me he has the balls in the house. I'd like to tell him I can easily have them removed! Besides I'm not the kind to change my ways. I have my own life to live, and I'm not out looking for someone else to live it for me. I'm not saying I'm not ever going to consider marriage, if I meet somebody, maybe. But 90% chance I like being single, and don't want to be tied down. I'm not on this earth to satisfy man, God did not give me a second chance, He did not spare my life so I can satisfy the needs of the world. He spared my life so I can further His kingdom. So I can witness and win souls. I'm not here for man, I'm here for God. The Apostle Paul wrote it is better to marry than sin, but it is also better to stay single if you can because you are more dedicated to God than man. I am more dedicated to God than I am to man. That's just the way it is.

Christians who are not Christians

I do not understand people who "claim" to be Christians and then turn around and make fun of other people for their own experiences or beliefs in God. Just because someone else has a closer realionship with God doesn't mean you look down apon them. How can anyone claim to be a Christian and not believe in the works of Christ. If you are a "true" Christians then you would know that God still perfoms miracles today. And if you don't believe that, then your not a Christian. I get so mad at people who don't believe that God healed me or saved me from death. It's none of their business what I believe. If they can't accept my faith and experiences in God, then the bible says if they do not receive you to wipe the dust off of your feet at the door. God does heal, God does save people from death, if you believe God can save your eternal soul, than you believe God can perfom anything and do anything. Otherwise, I must question whether your really saved or just pretending to be. Because if you do not believe in the works of Christ, then you apparently don't believe in the new testament because it is full of the works and miracles of Christ. Christians need to stand up and realize their place on this earth, it's not to confrom, it's not to fit in, it's to transform ourselves and others to the image of what God wants us to be. It's to follow God to the bitter end. And some "Christians" are just not ready for that. If you believe in God, and not his works, than I'm sorry but your either a patheic Christian, or not a Christian at all. It's time to open the eyes of the Christian people and show them they have a POWERFUL GOD ON THEIR SIDE. WAKE UP!!!!

Get Smart Quotes to live by!

Sorry about that chief - Get Smart
And loving it - Get Smart
This is top secret information, I demand the cone of silence - Get Smart
Max, you know the cone of silence doesn't work - Get Smart
Max, What, Chief, What, Chief, this is silly get this thing off of me - Get Smart
Sir, your shoe is ringing - Get Smart
I find that hard to believe - Get Smart
Don't make a move, this is no ordinary lighter, inside it is a gun - Get Smart

My ode to Sephora

Sephora you are Heaven to me. I walk in and see rows of makeup and special beauty treats.
I get memorized by the different brands and colors. Oh Sephora won't you come to me. I can't live without your deals and special treats. You mean so much to me. Sephora there is not a word that can describe your beauty and wonder. I could live in your awesome store forever and ever. I never thought I'd find a makeup store quite as grand as you. I never imagined I'd find a love as true as you when your shimmery lip gloss and ever lasting mascara and your no slip foundations seem to last forever. I think I'm lost in paradise. Sephora I need a fix me up now, please don't close before I get there. Won't you just make me a spare key and I'll put the money in a bag by the door. So when your closed I can still shop for hours and hours more. Sephora what would I be without you. I'd be lost in a sea of meaning less makeup and junk makeup pools. Sephora I'm so glad I found you. Your makeup is best; your makeup is true. Sephora will you ship me out a great big box of goodies now. I don't care what you put in it just ship it to me before I go mad from makeup withdraw symptoms. Sephora I need you. Sephora here I come.

Bernie Mac

Bernie Mac was a great comedian and actor. He recently died a couple days ago from complications of pneumonia. It's very sad and tragic that people we love die. Especially when you grow up watching them on t.v. Like Don Adams who played in Get Smart died a year or so ago. That really broke my heart. But as humans we live and die. I just want to wish their families the best. RIP.

Trivia Time

Here's some trivia you might not know.

The medical show Quincy M.E. that ran from late 70's to early 80's did a two week special on rare diseases. Because of their episodes people in the community started giving money to the rare disease foundation. Jack Klugman who plays Quincy went to congress and spoke on the subject of rare disease. As a result there was enough money given to the rare disease foundation that they were able to make the first drug for rare disease called Hematin. Hematin is like a blood transfusion for people with Porphyria. This is the only medically approved treatment for porphyria. Who said one person couldn't make a difference.

How would you like your sugar?

Sugar one of the worlds best substance ever created. Although it's good in cakes and doughnuts and chocolate. Sugar really is bad for you. The more you eat of it, the more weight you'll gain. And while trying to avoid it completly dosen't work because then you experience withdraw symptoms and start eating even more of it. It is best to cut down on the sugar. But it's just so darn good! You can eat doughnuts, chocolate, brownies, fudge, cake, ice cream, cookies, and so on. And the fitness magazines will tell you that eating more fruits and veggies will help you fill more full and loose weight, while they may help you loose weight, cause your virtually eating nothing, they don't make you fill full. In fact I'd have to eat a mountain of grapes before I was full. But in all honesty as sugar is bad it can be good as well. For those of us with medical problems or who are anemic when we feel an attack coming on, grabbing the sugar acutally helps it and not hurts it. But I know there's got to be some moderation in between the two. Where is it? That I do not know. So now while I type this blog on sugar and eating a doughnut with my other hand, I think I'll just point out that sugar is the best substance ever found! So now with that sad, how would you like your sugar? Krispy kreme doughnuts please!!!

Rachel's weekly review Acid Reflux

Some of us have acid reflux. Where acid comes up and causes our chests to feel a burning sensation. I have taken several different acid reflux medicines. And here's my review on them.

1)Nexium - possibly the best med for this that's out there. Nexium not only stops acid from coming up but heals the esophagus as well.

2) Priolsec - a cheaper version that is now available over the counter. This is effective. Not as good as Nexium, but still helps stops the acid from coming back up, while you might still feel it a few times, it's a good med for this as well.

3) Protonix- I just hate this med. It's suppose to stop the acid from coming back up, but I have never had much success on it myself. I don't recomind this one.

4) Prevacid- Prevacid is a decent med for this condition. It is better than protonix, but not as good as Nexium, while nothing is as good as Nexium. It will help to stop the acid from coming back up. While you may experience some acid with this med, it's probablly just as good as priolsec, it's along the same lines as priolsec.

My porphyria story - Sick Eyes

I have a rare blood disease called porphyria. There are eight different kinds of porphyria. I have one of the acute porphyrias called heredity coproporphyria. It starts in the blood with the heme and the heme makes porphyrins. People who have porphyria have too many porphyrins and that causes us extreme problems. I first had a porphryia attack after I started my periods. My periods was what brought on the disease. You can have porphryia and it lie dormant and you never experience symptoms until a trigger comes along. My trigger was my period. I use to have horrid periods where I would pass out and have sharp tingly knife pains all over my body, be dizzy, throw up, my blood pressure would drop really low and at times I was admitted to the hospital.It's hard to explain. But there is a lot of pain involved with porphyria. It causes stomach pain, back pain, side pains, just anywhere you can have pains from porphyria. And if you get something like the flu it will make the porphyria worse and it takes you longer to recover from it than normal people. Porphyria is a rare blood disease and needs to be addressed. Not very many people understand how porphyria works and how crippling it is. For me it's very frustrating. Because I have family and friends who do not understand what a struggle I go through on a daily basics. They wonder why I can't hold down a job, when I feel like crap and I'm throwing up my instentines. They wonder why I'm not normal when my blood produces too many porphyrins and my stomach hurts like a thousand stabbing knives. They wonder why I can't be on the fast track. I wonder why they can't understand my sickness why they can't see I'm trying my best. I try to go to school and I get sick and in the hospital. I try to work and I get sick and can't. It's very frustrating and annoying. I have no time for people who don't understand what I go through. And who critizes me over something I have no control over. I wished I could be normal and have a normal life, be graduated from college and have a job. But for me trying to get through each day is a challenge. The more I try it seems like the harder it becomes and I'm tired of people judging me. When I was a lot sicker than I am now, I had more attacks more often and I was really bad off. I always had faith that God could heal me. I prayed and prayed and went to the altar at church and the preachers prayed for me. And I know God has speared my life and let me live again. Well I kept going to church and being prayed for and one night while the preacher was praying for me I felt like an invisible hand reach down into my stomach and turn my insides around and make me whole. After that I stopped having as much problems as I was having. I stopped having the horrid periods I was having and I started gaining weight. I could never gain weight and I looked sick from the pictures I have of myself back then. I knew that God had heard my cry, and I knew that God had healed me. Well it wasn't the only time God healed me, He's healed me more than once. But anyways so for several years I got better, I was going to school and working part time. But then things got bad. God had healed me of death and healed me of my sickness.I thank God each day for healing me when He did. I just want people to know more about this rare disease and to understand how bad it can affect people. It's not easy living with something that is crippling and causes you to hold back on your life. While the world goes on around us were stuck sitting on the sidelines while the rest makes fun of us. If you had my disease you'd understand how I feel. Until the day that God completely rids me from this disease or calls me home I still have it. And want the world to know porphyria is no laughing matter.

Porphyria the unkown disease.

Porphyria is a rare disease that starts with your blood. There's a substance in your blood called heme that makes porphyrins, somehow porphyrins contribute to blood flow. People with too many porphyrins have porphyria. Porphyria causes a lot of different problems. There are eight different types of porphyria. The main ones are the acute porphyria's. In these porphyria's there is severe abdominal pain, I like to explain them as sharp stabbing knife pain, or like having an operation without the anstethia. It's not little stomach pain, it is at times intense unbearable pain. Then they have sensitivity to the sun. Something about the rays of the sun affects people with porphyria. I have porphyria myself and I know that when I'm out in the sun too long I start to feel strange and I can't think clearly and I start having the stomach pains. It brings on a whole new world of pain and sickness. Also there are mental side effects and nervous system affects. Such as worry, fear, and nervous side effects, like panic attacks. Thankfully I know a God who heals and has kept me sain throughout all these years. I use to get a horrible fearful feeling that would come on all of a sudden and I'd feel like the world was coming to an end or like I was going to die right then and I'd be hysterical. I'd wake my mom up at night and have her pray for me cause I was so hysterical. Also I have a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. I get real frustrated and start feeling all anxious and then I start hyperventilating and feeling hysterical. There are a long list of medicines that porphyria people have to stay away from. Also there is other triggers such as sun light, smoking, alcohol, and certain foods (which may be different in each person) that will cause attacks. Menstrual cycles for females will cause attacks. Mine were horrible. Right now my periods are all messed up and I don't have a period. But when I use to I would pass out, my blood pressure would drop really low, I would have horrible pains all over my body, Not a place in my body didn't hurt, I would throw up and be dizzy when concuss. It was horrible and on occasion I have been admitted to the hospital because of my periods and I passed out in the doctors office more than once. There's a lot of things that can go wrong with porphyria. Most people do not understand what it feels like or what people with porphyria goes through on a daily basics. It's difficult to see friends and family who live successful lives and don't understand our circumstances. When were trying our best but are shot down by our own blood making too many porphyrins and causing us to have horrid pain beyond description and panic effects. And they wonder why it's hard to hold down a job and rise to the top like all the other successful people do.

What's running through my mind?

Well right now all my crazy thoughts includes....

When am I ever going to buy that classic mario game for game boy advance?
Am I ever going to amount to anything in life?
Why am I always sick, will this crappy disease ever go away?
How can I beat my last score on mario party for advance?
Which church should I go to, the one I'm going to isn't like my last church?
I miss my last church, why can't I find a good church like that one again?
Am I ever going to find someone and get married, or will I be a spinster?
I wonder how many years it will take me to become a famous writer?
How many miles is it from Washington to New York?
Why do they make nasty food like asparagus, calliflower, brussell sprouts, etc?
I want to find some way to be happy in my life.
I'm tired of feeling depressed.
Hey that guy is cute, no don't look at me I haven't lost my 20 pounds yet...
I wonder if I can spray my back yard down and have a mud slide?
What planet did my dad drop from?
I wonder how many people picks there nose in private and no body knows?
How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
That was hard to type out...
I need new clothes.
I can't wait to go shopping.
I'm so impatient, I hate waiting, and waiting, just get here already!
Why do computers get virus, there not human, there suppose to be machines that work forever!
Maybe I should go blonde next month....
Sephora here I come...
That was a good movie, lets watch it again..
I'm hungry, off to the secret stash of food I have hid in my room....

Becoming your life

Most of us have goals or plans for the future. We want to succeed at something. My dream has been to become a famous writer. And to tell people about Jesus through my writing. Sometimes it's hard to finish or accomplish your dreams, especially if you have other things wearing you down, like a rare disease. But no matter what happens you have to push through the mud and muck and make it to the other side. It's finding a way to become your life and not letting your life become you.

Depression

Some of us have experienced some or even severe depression at some time in our life. For those who have severe depression. It's the pits, it's like the world has fallen off it's rotational compass and were all falling down through outer darkness. I find it helpful to push all negative thoughts out. I've found the best way to over come depression is to pray and turn everything to God and He will help you through it. Also thinking about all the positives in your life. Everything that's good helps you to quit feeling sad and depressed. Thank about the things that make you happy or go do something that makes you happy or puts you in a good mood, this will truly help with your depression. And pray and turn it all over to God, he knows the answer for everything, just trust Him!!!

Living with Porphyria

Well I'm 26 years old and I've been dealing with a rare disease called Porphyria since my 7th grade year. My stomach hurts a lot. It's hard to put things into perspective when your seeing a thousand different possibility's for your life. It's like being in a crowded room and seeing no one. It's a horrid disease and I have a hard time coping with it. I pray and take it all to God, and if it wasn't for that I think I would truly be mad already by now. But this is a unique disease, it has to do with the blood and heme in our bodies, mine produces too many porphyrins aka leaving me with porphyria. I don't understand this disease. It's the worst. It's like an obssesion that you try so hard to push out but won't go away.

Following Christ!

In today's world it's hard to be a Christian. But if your going to be a Christian the important thing to remember is to stay strong. The world might try to tare you down, destroy your faith, invade your mind with self doubt. But that's when you need to go to the Lord in prayer and pray for Spiritual strength, help, and guidance. It is good to read the Bible in times of despair. Psalms 91 is a complete Psalm of how God will bless us and keep us safe. When I feel scared I read or pray this Psalm. I also enjoy Psalms 139. This Psalm talks about God's endurance and how He knows everything and sees everything. It is comforting to me to know God is always there watching no matter what, and even if we fall astray God is right there to pick us up again and set us back on the right track. Remember no matter what your going through or no matter how hard it may seem right now, God is always right there by your side. There is nothing that can or will come against you that God can not handle. When the devil comes knocking at your door say just a moment, Father God can you answer this please, and let the devil get a surprise guest!!! The best way to fight the devil and the doubters of this world is to have great faith, even when you doubt have faith, faith is the most important thing in this world that gets stuff accomplished. Also pray, when you stay in prayer it leaves no or little room for the devil to invade or say creep up on you unawares. Read the Word, when you read your Bible your hearing from God, this is His communication to you. When you pray your communicating to Him, when you read His Word He is communicating to you. Never give up, even when you think there's no hope, there's always hope, there's always a way out, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Resist the devil and he will flee from you, this means staying away from things you know will bring you doubt or fear, staying away from places that will bring you doubt or fear, staying away from people that will lead you away from God. Also you can rebuke the devil. The Bible says if you rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus Christ he has to flee. And always, always trust in God!!!

Stay young!!!!!

Ever since I was 10 or 11 I've been using all different kinds of face creams and different methods to keep my face young. Today I'm 26, but everyone still thinks I'm 18, or even younger, I still get carded!!! So don't just trust in your good genes. Follow my advice to stay young looking! You wanna look 40 when your 80 don't ya, so here ya go!!

1) Wash and moisturizer your face everyday. Morning and night if your going out, just at night if not.

2) Always use a eye cream under your eyes every night. (This way your helping to diminish dark circles, and keep your eyes sparkling!)

3) Find the best moisturizer, face cream, eye cream, mask, toner, etc. Try these brands, Sephora toner, Nars essentiual vitamin c serum, Peter Thomas Roth max mattifying gel, Oil of Olay anything, I love that brand, Avon anew product line, it's a good line, maybe not the best, but good, Clinque system, with the step 1, 2, 3 is very good as well, Also try these other brands Murad, Bliss, Kinerese, DHC (Miracle drug!), Dr Brandt, Philosophy, basically anything you can find at Sephora is going to be good.

4) Utilize the modern technology given to you!!! I.E. Buy at home microdermobrasion kits (Oil of Olay is a cheaper one and is good) I am always using different stuff, like once a week I might use a microdermobrasion kit, or a face peel, I always use eye cream no matter what and I'm always on the look out for new stuff that's better than what I already got. I use different stuff to get rid of wrinkle lines (EVEN SMALL ONES!!!)

5) Basically follow these steps and you'll be a happy woman! 1) Wash and moisturizer your face every day, use a eye cream every day to get rid of and prevent dark circles. 2) Once a week do a microdermobrasion treatment, once a week do a face peel treatment, once a week use something that get rid of wrinkle lines. 3) Once every other day use toner after you wash your face and before you moisturizer it, unless you need it more. 4) Once every other day use a face scrub target the areas you want diminish, such as acne, pores, etc. 5) Twice a week use a face mask for 15-30 minutes. 6) Don't pick at pimples! 7) Always wash your face before you go to bed, never go to bed with your makeup on. This is the time your face renews itself, while you sleep, don't leave all that gunk on for it to absorb, you want it cleansed and moisturized so it can replenish itself.

Make purses at home!

There are several ways you can make cute purses at home.

1) The kool aid purse. Buy a bunch of kool aid drinks, the ones in the boxes. After you drink it and it's empty throw away the straw. With each of the left over kool aid packets place together against a cardboard. Use clear tape and tape all around. Do this for 5 different cardboards. Make sure you get the sides how big or small you want them, and the bottom as well. Then place one cardboard like say the front of the purse against the side of the purse. Basically you want to be thinking of what it will look like when it's done. So taking the front and side together like what a purse would look like, use clear tape to tape together, do for all sides until you have front, back 2 sides, and bottom and it looks like a little kool aid box. Then either do kool aid straps the same way, you'll probably want to staple the bottoms into the cardboard where you want the handles or go to wal-mart and buy those pre made handles and put them on there however you want.

2) Use the same cardboard and clear tape method above, but use pictures of your friends and families or pictures out of a magazine instead. This time glue the pictures to the cardboard and then use clear tape to go around it as a protector when done.

3) Grab your fav material, a needle and thread, and sew a sack like or bag like bottom, like a purse. Then sew the handles (your making them), then sew the handles into the finished bag like purse bottom. Whalla your done. They may not be the most expensive purses, but their kind of cute when finished!!!!

Sephora's Best

For every girl who ever loved makeup and skin care product is no stranger to Sephora. For me shopping at Sephora is like a makeup Heaven. There's all different brands, sizes, colors, kinds, etc. I could spend all day in Sephora and come out broke. But it's worth it. Here's a list of my Sephora favs.

Brands:
1) Too Faced
2) Benefit
3) Bliss
4) Philosophy
5) Urban Decay
6) Nars
7) Mac
8) Sephora
9) Hard Candy
10) Laura Mericer
11) Tarte
12) Peter Thomas Roth
13) Murad
14) Mor

Products:

1) Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti Shine Mattifying Gel
2) Laura Mercier Metallic creme eye color in Alloy
3) Nars Essential vitamin serum
4) Tarte Cheek stain in blissful
5) Mor lip delight
6) Urban Decay Brow Box in Honey Pot
7) Too Faced lights, camera, glamour box set!
8) Benefit benetint pockpal
9) ID Bare Escentuals Lips Buxom in Dolly
10) Tarte lock and roll eye shadow duo quartz
11) Tarte Mascara, I buy it just for the packaging, it's leather purple and so darn cute!
12) Bliss fat girl slim
13) Bliss love handler
14) Bliss body butter
15) Benefit eye bright stick
16) Benefit realness of concelness mini kit
17) Benefit benetint
18) Benefit bum deal body scrub
19) Yu-BE mositurizing skin creme to go
20) Dr. Brandt pore concelear

Ok, so that's just the beginning, let's face it when it comes to makeup and skincare there's way too many good brands and products to choose from. My fav brand is Benefit cosmetics. I love their attitude toward makeup, there books are always very colorful full of life. They have the funniest sayings and names for their products, and if packaging isn't enough their products actually work too! So it's a win win situation here.

Rachel's weekly review Computers

Each week I'll review a different product. This week the product is Dell computers. Dell is one of the best brands out there today for computers. I've had several different computers so far, and out of the different brands, hp, gateway, dell. I find dell the most reliable. When my hp crashed it was just done for. But when my dell crashed it was easily repaired. They work faster and better in my opinion. And they give you all kinds of options when choosing your computer. The only downfall in having a dell is that you can't buy the ink for dell printers in stores. You have to go to a dell store or buy it online. Which is ok, unless you need it right away and have no dell stores around you, then your screwed for a day or two until your ink gets to you. But that is the only downfall I've found. So far I love my dell computer.

Dark circles

I get so frustrated with the dark circles under my eyes, and for years I have tried everything possible to make them go away without much success. Lately I have come across a few things that has helped my dark circles go down, and I'm going to share them with you.

1) DHC Eye Bright cream
2) Hydroderm Eye Serum
3) Benefit Eye Bright stick
4) And concealer

So far that's all I've come across that helps my dark circles. DHC and Hydroderm are the best, both of them actually made my dark circles go down. Other than trying different eye creams, concealer helps to cover them up and so does Benefit eye bright stick. I do a lot of facials and masks on my face, and just try a lot of different things to make my skin the best it can possibly be. So far those are the only two eye creams that I've come across that really work. I tried Avon anew eye cream, but it didn't help, mary kay soothing eye gel, it helps with allergies, but not dark circles, and so on. If I come across any more eye creams that work I will add them here.