Mailbag Monday ~ Keeping You In the Loop

Hi Friends!

Thanks for all your sweet notes after my week of being a frazzled, emotional mess. Thankfully I'm doing much better this week! Woo Hoo! :)

I spoke at a wonderful Mother/Daughter Luncheon in Prescott, Michigan on Saturday. The committee was extremely warm and gracious, and would you believe, about 70% of the women did NOT know Jesus. Wow! What an amazing outreach event. I loved every minute of my time with this sweet group, and it fired me right back up again! Yay! I feel like I'm back to being ME! Thank you for your prayers! (Not to mention, 7 hours of worship time in the car did wonders for my weary soul!)

I've been getting lots of mail from y'all lately (thanks!) ~ so here are the answers to some of the questions you've been sending my way! (Be sure to stick with it to the end - I have a SUPER fun surprise to share with you!)

When does "He Loves Me" come out? How can I get a copy?

Starting May 11th, you'll be able to view the "He Loves Me" program at the Day of Discovery website. (You can also purchase copies there too).  When they are in, you'll also be able to purchase DVD's from *She Sparkles*. I'd be humbled to send a copy of "He Loves Me" your way!  

Doesn't Jake graduate this year? Where is he going to college?

Yes, my baby is graduating this year! Jake hasn't made any firm decisions yet. He was invited to go to a hockey prospect camp this July in Canada. His hope is to play hockey somewhere in the fall (I knew when his first was "hockey: I was in trouble!). I'll keep you posted!

Cindy, Are you speaking at Speak Up again this year?

Yes! I'll be teaching 3 workshops during the Speak Up Conference, as well as sharing at one of the main sessions. I can't wait! I love, love, love meeting all of the great women from around the nation ~ not too mention, Carol and her team are as Christ-centered and encouraging as they come! For more info (including what I'll be teaching) - visit here.

When does your study filmed in Turkey come out?

The filming we just completed in Turkey is for a new 8 session, video driven Bible study. The filming is finished, but now there is lots of work to do on the study guide. RBC Ministries is hoping the study will be available next spring/summer, so a church could plan on launching it Fall 2013. Only God!

Are you celebrating May Day this year?

For many years we celebrated May Day faithfully every year. Believe it or not, I'm not sure if we will this year. I'm trying not to "over-do", so we'll see. :) You can check out our previous May Day adventures here.

Are you teaching a Summer Bible Study in Grand Rapids??

Y'all know how much I love sharing God's Word! Julie and I are praying about "something"...details to be announced as soon as we know more....  Grand Rapids friends, would you be interested in coming to a little something in July?? What if the topic was "Living Balanced in an Unbalanced World?"

Lastly, although you didn't ask....I want YOU to be the first to know!

Coming VERY SOON *She Sparkles* will have a new look! Yay! I've been working with an incredible web designer, and we hope to do the big unveiling very soon! Not to worry, it'll still be sparkly! :)

I'm trying to think how to make the "Grand Unveling" fun and celebratory. Any suggestions???

Thanks for sending questions my way. Please keep them coming! :)  And thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*, my friend!  I thank God for you!

God's richest blessings to you~

Coping Strategies for the Frazzled Female

Hey Friends ~

I'll be painfully honest...it's been a tough week.

I'd love to tell you my week has been filled with family fun, creativity, warm fuzzies and snuggle time ~ but this mama is struggling. Big time.

I keep saying to John, "Why do my feelings still get hurt so easily?", "When am I going to grow past this?" "What do I do with these feelings"???

Yesterday I was listening to a powerful teaching and a gifted teacher said these 4 words that have rocked my world ~ "....YOU CANNOT SELECTIVELY NUMB.....".

If we numb the hurt, the pain, the fear and the insecurities ~ we also numb our joy, our love, our happiness, our peace.

And friends, I refuse to live numb. I will feel the feelings...even if it hurts. 
Can anyone else relate??


You may remember, last year one of my precious little ones was meeting with a therapist for some extra help. She spent one session learning "coping strategies" ~ her mini toolbox of tips to pull from when she's faced with a difficult situation.



Thankfully one of her assignments was to copy the strategies and hang them all over the house. They are still hanging! This week I decided I need to revisit them and put them back to use in my life too!!!


**Here are my Top Ten Coping Strategies for the Frazzled Woman**
(adopted from my daughter's list)

1. Deal with your feelings

It's ok (and very helpful/healthy) to share, "I feel......".

Our feelings are our feelings and we need to get them out in healthy, safe ways. And yes, we use the feelings chart in our home (a lot!). Unfortunately this Mama has forgotten that her feelings matter too.


How are YOU feeling today???

2. Think about the good side

Today I'm choosing to think on thoughts that are good, healthy and positive. Philippians 4:8 (MSG) has been wonderful to reflect on...

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

3. Focus on what can and can’t be changed

We can't change people, their responses, or the pain they are dealing with and their unhealthy reactions....but we can change how we respond and what we do with our feelings.

4. Nobody’s perfect

That's freeing, isn't it? I don't have to be a perfect mom/wife/woman (and you don't either!)

5. Take a break.

What a good reminder during the busy Spring season. We can't so everything. Someone else can drive on the field trip or bring the cookies for the parent meeting. The emails can wait. Moms need breaks too.

6. One step at a time

7. Take care of yourself.

This week I went to the gym 2 nights after I tucked the kids in. Of course, they whine "Don't leave me. I can't sleep if you're not here." (Good grief. Their dad is home. All is well). 

I went anyway, and let me tell you I felt VICTORIOUS! It 's great to model "Mom needs to take care of herself too"

How will you take care of yourself today???

8. Plan ahead

I'm learning that it is very helpful to plan ahead, but then to hold the plan loosely. Life happens.

But if I plan ahead and think about, for example, what I will feed my family at 6 PM ~ it sure helps alleviate a lot of chaos in the home (and then I end up ordering pizza. again.)

9. Ask for help

Aren't you glad we don't have to journey alone? Who are your 3 people that you could call at 4 AM in the morning and they'd help you in a heartbeat? We all need those people!

10. Pray! (Added by me!)

After my "mini meltdown" this week, it was GREAT to go to the coffee shop yesterday for 3 hours and just pray, lifting all of my concerns/needs/worries to God! I'm leaning hard on Him and His Word as I learn how to "cope" with these "tight spots" in life!

How about for you? What coping strategies do you have in your "tool belt"? How do you live "frazzle free"?

I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!

May your weekend be filled with love, real face to face connections, joy and oodles of peace!



P.S. One of my good friends (and graphic designers) turned this "coping strategies" list into a pdf file. If you'd like a copy, send me your email and I'll send a copy to you (next week)!

Calling all Speakers, Writers & Leaders (& Carol Kent Giveaway)

If you didn't see the new "Sneak Peek" of Day of Discovery's upcoming DVD featuring my life story, you can view a clip here!

Hi Friends!

I'm curious...what is it you are most afraid of??

As many of you know, for years I wrestled with a fear of public speaking.

When I was little, I often wet my pants at school because I was too afraid to raise my hand in class. The thought of everyone looking at me was just too much for this shy, insecure, red haired little girl.


After I came to know Jesus, I sensed God wanted me to share my testimony with others.


I was terrified.


In 2003, I heard about Carol Kent's Speak Up Seminar. I knew I should go.
 I chickened out.


FOUR years later, I faced my fears and attended Speak Up.


Can I just tell you....Speak Up with Confidence changed my life. Literally.


I vowed I'd never allow FEAR to hold me back from what God is calling me to do.


From the messages Carol and her team share, to the empowering workshops, the opportunity to meet gracious women from around the country, and the encouragement received in a small group setting ~ God has used Speak Up in very significant, transformational ways.


Most importantly, Speak Up with Confidence has given me tools not only to help me grow as a speaker, but to develop as the woman that God desires for me to be.


If I had all of the resources in the world, I would fund every single woman I know to attend Speak Up with Confidence in Grand Rapids this June 21 -23, 2012!

Carol has an AMAZING schedule planned for this summer's Speak Up Conference (here).


This year she is combining the best of her Original and the Advanced Speak Up Seminars into a single speaking track....plus a writing track, and a leadership track.

Not to mention recording artist Babbie Mason will be the worship leader. Yippee!

Whether you sit in PTO meetings, share at your MOPS group, attend a Bible study, or simply want to be more comfortable talking in front of others ~ I think everyone can benefit from the prinicples Carol and her team share at this amazing conference.


You can learn more about the details of Speak Up Conference here. You will LOVE it! (Please don't allow expenses to hold you back ~ there are scholarship dollars available to help ~ contact Bonnie for more information.)


And guess what??! Just like last year, I'll be there as a facilitator and workshop leader. Woo Hoo! I would love to see you there! :)


Also, for any *She Sparkles* friend that signs up, please write *She Sparkles* in the memo line, and Carol will present you with a personally autographed copy of her book Speak Up with Confidence.

And now, dear bloggy friends, whether you are able to attend the conference or not ~ I would love to give you a personally signed, autographed copy of this resourceful book!


To Win my Speak Up with Confidence book Giveaway: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:

Why would you like to win Carol Kent's book Speak Up with Confidence??
Extra Entries:
•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
•Add my *She Sparkles* button to your blog
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.

RULES: Starts today, Wednesday, April 25th and ends Sunday, April 29th at 9 PM. Winner will be posted on my blog during the week of May 1st.

If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy.bultema@gmail.com with the subject "Giveaway".

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Have a wonderful, fearless, power-filled, day!!

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this review (I just love the Speak Up Seminar!) and, as always, all opinions expressed in this post are fully my own.

"He Loves Me" Behind the Scenes Secrets (& new Video Clip)

Hey Friends ~

I'm excited to share some "He Loves Me" Behind the Scenes secrets today!  First, let's see if you can figure them out! Want to play along?

1. Where was "He Loves Me" filmed? What city??

If you guessed, Kokomo, Indiana you are correct! (Recap of why Kokomo - here)

I think Kokomo is super appropriate, especially since it it the "City of Firsts" ~ and this is my first video project! Yay, God!

And if you are familiar with Kokomo, Indiana and wonder if I saw "Big Ben" while I was there, the answer is YES! Picture below is me and Director Fred Hollis (another Kokomo native) with the historic Big Ben of Highland Park.

2. What was the first scene I had to film?

Although the promo is the first scene the viewers will see (promo here), it was actually one of the last scenes we shot. For the first scene, all I had to do was pull pedals off of a daisy and let the pedals fall to the ground. No speaking. No facial expressions. Just pull the pedals, Cindy.

Simple enough, right???

Can I tell you I was a shaky, nervous wreck?? At that moment I thought to myself, "Oh good grief, what in the world did I get myself into? It's going to be a looong 2 days. Lord help me!" Thankfully God heard my cries and helped me get through the opening daisy scene, as well as the other scenes where I actually talked. Whew! (Thank You, God!)

3. How many of my family members (from my home) participated in this video production?

If you guessed ALL SIX you are correct!

When you watch the video in its entirety, you'll see 5 familiar faces (from my home) and recognize 1 voice (besides mine). Another close family member is in the Christmas scene - but that's another secret for another day!

See if you can tell from this mini clip which family members are involved. :) 

Did you recognize anyone??? 

(Special thanks to Jeanine, RBC's Editor Extraordinaire  for coming up with the idea to have my Sarah pull the daisy pedals, and to have my Amanda's voice in the background. I love that my girls are a part of one of the opening scenes!)

Thanks for stopping by and learning some of my "Behind the Scenes" secrets. :)  Most importantly, thanks for the special role YOU have played praying on the journey! May God use this "He Loves Me" project to share hope, joy, and TRUTH with ALL who have the opportunity to view it!

Sweet blessings to you~