You may be called upon at some point in your life to be a family caregiver. It could be for an aging parent, a spouse who’s recovering from an injury, a child who’s developed an illness or for a number of other reasons. Taking on this role can be very difficult, and at times you’ll feel overwhelmed and alone. It can, however, also be very rewarding and there are lots of ways you can make the experience easier and more pleasurable. Here are some tips to help you get the support you need when caring for someone you love.

What is a Family Caregiver? 

An increasing number of people are living with chronic disabilities and illness which means more and more of you are caring for loved ones at home and being a family caregiver. You’re tasked with providing care and attention and improving their quality of life. Being a caregiver is a challenging role to take on, especially if you have no formal training. It is, however, possible to be a good caregiver with the right help and support.

What You Need to Know 

• Research – it’s important to find out as much as you can about your family member’s condition and how to care for them. 
• Look for Support – you’ll feel much better about things when you realize you’re not alone. There are other caregivers you can go to when you need to talk to someone or ask advice. You can also ask family and friends for help. Caregiver support groups, social workers, counselors, national caregiver organizations and organizations specific to your family member’s condition can also provide support.   
• Listen to Your Gut – you know your family member better than the professionals so while you shouldn’t ignore what they’re saying you should also trust your gut feeling. 
• Encourage independence – if you’re a caregiver, it doesn’t mean you have to do everything for them. There’s a wide range of tools and equipment you can get to help them take care of themselves. Byram Healthcare, for example, can provide you with medical supplies delivery. 
• Be Prepared for a Range of Feelings – when you become a caregiver, it can trigger a host of different emotions, some of which you might not be prepared for. You could feel angry, resentful, helpless or afraid. Having these feelings is normal so don’t beat yourself up about them. They don’t mean you love the person any less. 

Don’t Forget to Attend to Your Own Needs 

You’ll be no good as a caregiver if you don’t take care of yourself. It can be easy to get caught up in the daily grind of caregiving and forget about your own needs. Take the time to relax every day. Find someone you can talk to about your situation and your feelings as it never helps to bottle things up. You might find it helpful to keep a journal because it can make things appear much clearer. Make sure you do things you enjoy to keep a balance in your life. Try to include exercise in your routine and make sure you eat right.

When it comes to garden furniture, there is no better choice than rattan. But why is this? What is it about this natural, sustainable material that makes such a popular choice?

Garden furniture has an important role to play – it needs to be functional, yet stylish, as well as easy to keep clean – and there is no better material rattan. Incredibly popular, there are many reasons why it is the material of choice. Suitable for the domestic garden, it is also a material increasingly used in commercial settings, from cafes to restaurants. Here’s why;

#1 Stylish, yet blends in

There are times when simplicity is key to a stylish room, and the garden is no exception. The thing about rattan is that it is available in a range of colours, the majority of which could be described as a neutral backdrop which is perfect for decks.

For example, black is universally known for matching and complementing every colour. If you want a stand out colour, you can introduce it with coloured cushions, throws and rugs.

As well as a contemporary grey, there are dark and lighter tones of brown to choose from too.

As well as color, style and shape are important too. Both domestic and commercial customers are choosing rattan cube garden furniture, because they can be easily pushed together, giving a streamlined, non-imposing appeal to the outside space when not in use.

#2 Versatile

As well as a range of neutral colors, there is a growing range of different styles of rattan garden furniture.

Want an informal seating deck area…?

Choose a rattan garden sofa, including the impressive L-shape ‘corner’ sofas complete with showerproof cushions and matching coffee table. If you haven't built a deck yet and are wanting to invest in one for a beautiful place to put furniture, look into Decks & Docks Lumber Company.

Want a stylish dining set…?

As well as the compact rattan cube garden furniture set, there are some impressive examples of more formal in style dining tables and chairs.

Want super-relaxing seating…?

Rattan garden furniture can also be found in super-relaxed, quirky styles from the minimal but curvaceous sun lounger to a self-supporting hanging pod seat. Manufacturers are able to produce such a wide range of appealing furniture because rattan is a mouldable material. It can be used to make boxy angular chairs and tables, or it can be used to create a piece with stunning curves.

#3 Light and strong

Possibly one of the main reasons why people opt for rattan garden furniture is that it offers everything they need. When it comes to practicality, the days of lumpy, heavy garden furniture are long gone.

Rattan is a fast-growing plant, found in tropical, rainforest climates. Once cut and dried, the long thing fronds become incredibly strong. When weaved, they become even stronger. And because it is such a tough material and able to survive hot, humid climates, a temperate climate like the one we have doesn’t bother it at all.

You don’t want your garden furniture in the same place all of the time but moving it can prove problematic when pieces are heavy. Rattan items are lightweight but don’t assume this means it is flimsy.

Providing it is not damaged, its weave keeps everything about the furniture strong. And with modern manufacturer creating pieces with a metal framework too, the whole thing is even stronger but without adding unnecessary weight.

#4 Easy to maintain

Who wants to spend their summer repairing, staining or painting garden furniture so it is safe to use?

Our summers can pass in the blink of an eye so wouldn’t it be great that, when spring arrives, you whip off the protective cover, use a soft bristled brush to wipe away the cobwebs and detritus, and then simply sit on it?

With rattan, you do just that. It can be washed and allowed to dry in the sun without washing away its color or damaging it. A simple brush down is all that it needs. Nothing more.

Need any more persuasion?!

When it comes to investing in garden furniture, you will have similar criteria to when you buy furniture for the interior of your home. Stylish, a joy to use, easy to maintain are all great reasons but you also want value for money.

Investing in rattan garden furniture means investing in a material and a product that is not only beautiful but long-lasting too. Can you get any better?

For the past month, we've had the pleasure of taking a closer look at the places the Bible mentions from Acts to Revelation. In a fun series called Drive Thru History® “Acts to Revelation”, you follow Dave Stotts as he uses the Bible as a road map. In this series, he starts in the book of Acts and takes you to the places mentioned in the Bible, including the Island of Cyprus. Drive Thru History® also has the Gospel series which is a prelude to this one so that would be a fun watch as well!

The first episode starts you in Jerusalem right in the book of Acts. You get to see the place where the Holy Spirit came onto the new believers, the church that Stephen was buried at, and many other amazing places that are mentioned in the Bible. It's wonderful to put a picture with a name, especially if you're a visual learner.

For our family, we all sat down together to watch the episodes together. We also had a study guide that had corresponding questions for each episode that we would answer afterwards.


Inside the study guide, the questions would make sure you understood what you had watched and it also gave you reading in the Bible as well.

The entire set included 3 DVD's and 18 episodes:


Episode 1: The Gospel shared at Pentecost
Episode 2: The Church grows at Jerusalem
Episode 3: The Gospel Spreads to the Gentiles
Episode 4: Saul of Tarsus & the Road to Damascus
Episode 5: Paul’s first Missionary Journey: The island of Cyprus
Episode 6: The Journey Continues: Pamphylia, Glatia & Asia Minor
Episode 7: The Jerusalem Council & Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Episode 8: The Second Journey Continues: Philippi and Thessalonica
Episode 9: A Road Trip to Athens
Episode 10: Ancient Corinth
Episode 11: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey: Ephesus
Episode 12: Paul’s Final Trip to Trip to Jerusalem & Caesarea
Episode 13: Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem
Episode 14: A Final Journey to Rome
Episode 15: The Martyrdom of Paul & Peter
Episode 16: John and the Island of Patmos
Episode 17: The Seven Churches of Revelation
Episode 18: The Book Closes on the New Testament Period


Now I do have to say that since our family is Messianic Jewish and not Christian, we did have some theological differences with certain episodes. One thing is particular was that they do show a lot of Catholic type artwork throughout the episodes which we feel could have been left out. We also don't believe in a pre-tribulation rapture so the interpretations of Revelation might not agree with everyone. Honestly a lot of people have their own opinions and interpretations on the book of Revelation but this series seems to come from a pre-tribulation rapture point of view.

Also I do know that the episodes mention that this was the beginning of the Christian church but it actually was the beginning of the Messianic Jewish church. The gospel was being preached to Jews who then started to believe in Jesus as the Messiah so that is actually Messianic Jewish, not Christian. Jews that started to believe in Jesus as the Messiah wouldn't have just forgotten their Jewish heritage; they would have still obeyed Torah which Christian's don't do. They follow the Ten Commandments but not Torah, like with eating pork. A Jewish person who just came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah would have never just started eating pork because it's commanded not to in Torah. And Jesus even said himself that He didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. So we know Jesus didn't eat pork either or else He would have been breaking a law of Torah.

Even though we had differences with the series, your family might not. As Messianic Jews, we take the Bible as its literal meanings so it depends on how your family studies the Bible.

Overall the series was neat to see all the places mentioned in the Bible and it gave an in depth look at a Bible study for homeschool.

If you want to see what other crew members thought of the series, check out the picture below!

This week I had the privilege to check out two brand new Amish coloring books that just hit the market! Color the Amish: Amish Memories and Color the Amish: Amish Quilts by Ashley Emma. Ashley Emma is mostly known for her Amish fiction like Undercover Amish but since I love anything Amish related, I knew I had to check these out.


The coloring books each are 60 pages long and contain a lot of fun pictures inside ready to be colored. If you're looking for more of a challenge, I would suggest Amish Memories because the pictures have a lot more detail.

If you're into an easier way of coloring with geometric patterns, then I suggest Amish Quilts because it's less intense and simpler.

Both of the coloring books have a lot of promise for anyone who loves coloring and the Amish!

While many people choose to shop at their local furniture store, if you are looking for unique and different designs that are sure to impress your guests, you may have to look further afield. If you want a unique home design, but don’t know how to achieve this, read on to discover the best ways to bring unique décor into your home, including thrift stores and antique centers.

1. Shop with Unique Furniture Companies

Firstly, although many people choose to buy from large chains, there are an assortment of high-quality and designer furniture companies which can provide you with attention-stealing and elegant pieces of furniture that you will find in no other houses. If you are looking for Miami modern furniture, Anima Domus provide everything from chairs and beds to textiles and even accessories such as mirrors. Therefore, they can find you furniture pieces that will suit your house while also being unique to you and away from the everyday furniture of big chains.

2. Visit Vintage and Thrift Stores

Another excellent place for perfect home décor is in vintage shops, where vintage furniture can be found. Not only will their pieces be completely unique, but you will also be adding the allure of history into your rooms, injecting your house with the bright and vibrant patterns and designs that some eras are known for. Found in most cities, vintage stores can provide you an excellent opportunity to browse and get your lucky find - and their age will set them apart from your neighbor’s designs too. Not only this, but your local thrift store is also a great place to find amazing products and expensive furniture. Although you might have to do some searching through the bric-a-brac, cast-offs can be another person’s treasure, and you may find a unique gem that will suit your room in amongst the trash.

3. Look in Antiques Centers

Similar to the idea of vintage stores, the USA’s array of antiques centers can normally give you the opportunity to discover rare finds that are much older than those in vintage stores. Additionally, antiques stores usually specialize in furniture, while most vintage stores focus more on clothes. Antiques centers can provide you with the best of the past at a hand-picked and high-quality value, as well as having affordable and realistic prices for every budget. Through these, you will be able to find furniture staples which may not have been displayed for centuries, giving your house an utterly unique and distinguished aura straight from your favorite time period.

4. Buy to your Style

However, the best way to find unique décor that will differentiate your house from others is to simply buy towards your style. You should invest in whatever takes your fancy, choosing the prints and patterns that suit you. Forget basic and focus on vivid and unique prints which can take your guests by surprise.

If you want unique ways to decorate your home, choosing alternative options is a great way to find interesting and different furniture that can add vibrancy to any room.