I am pleased to have Liz join our Cherished Caregiver Circle community! Liz is not only a fellow caregiver but also a passionate advocate for those walking this path with us. Her heart for supporting caregivers aligns so beautifully with what we’re building here, and we’re honored to have her wisdom and encouragement join us. Please welcome Liz, with an emoji or a GIF!

Its long history in Scripture and worship reminds us that honoring and healing can be small, sacred acts we make part of our everyday care. For many caregivers, the aroma of frankincense helps lower stress hormones and bring emotional balance, making it easier to choose words that heal instead of words that wound. Practical, simple ways to use frankincense: - Diffuse frankincense during a short journaling time. Write a prayer or a healing affirmation and let the scent settle your heart. - When guilt or harsh self-talk rises, pause, inhale frankincense, and replace the lie with truth. These small rituals help rewire how you speak to yourself and create an emotional home rooted in grace. A matching scripture to carry with you: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21 NIV. Let this remind us that our words matter—over ourselves and over those we care for. Frankincense can help center your spirit so the words you choose are life-giving. - Would you share one healing phrase you’re choosing to speak this week? I’d love to hear it and hold it with you. - Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, just as you are progressing spiritually. (3 John 1 NIV) - Blessings 💜

Caregivers… after talking with one of our newer members on Friday, my heart has been thinking back to a tender season in my own life—when I was caregiving for my mother-in-law with dementia. One question kept coming up for me: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻? 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵? Because yes—breaks and self-care matter. But I’m realizing something just as important: 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆. The kind that loosens your shoulders, softens the room, and reminds you that you’re still a whole person—not just a helper. For us, 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲. It helped my mother-in-law relax. It helped me relax. And sometimes it gave us a moment that felt almost “normal” again—smiling, humming, even laughing. So today, I created a brand-new category in our Circle: 🎵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 & 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 A place to share songs that bring comfort, happiness, or a sweet memory—whether it reminds you of the person you’re caregiving for now, someone you cared for in the past, or simply reminds you of God’s goodness in the middle of hard days. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 (𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆): Drop 𝗼𝗻𝗲 of the following in the comments: - A song title + artist - A YouTube link - A worship song or secular song (both welcome here) - A quick memory: “This song takes me back to…” 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀: “This Little Light of Mine (I’m Gonna Let It Shine)” Because caregivers—please hear this: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲. Your loved one doesn’t just need your tasks and your responsibility… they need you. Your warmth. Your presence. Your joy when you can find it. So let’s build a little playlist of light together. 🎶 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆—𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?