A New Beginning

    Over the next six weeks you will see a shift in our little space on the web. It's with immense joy and great honor I release a preview of this labor of love I feel divinely led to share. It's an exciting season to watch God unfolding plans to heal wholly, bring strength through community, and steward us in caring for our sacred temples. It's time for us, wellness warriors, to unite! I know there's a tribe out there that the Great Spirit is leading this way. It's time for a health revolution and we're going to walk it out together! To give our whole selves a fighting chance to show us just how amazing we've been created to feel. 

    This project is much bigger than me and I see that more and more each day. It's my heartfelt prayer that those who need this- a platform to be heard, a tribe to be supported by, and an atmosphere for the authentic you to flourish will be guided here. When we heal wholly we'll be promoted into our full calling, I truly feel like these two go hand in hand. I watch with such excitement as R + F continues to grow and it's tribe comes together. 

    Stay tuned as we release more sneak peeks and bring you information 

on how to become part of our tribe.

Dreaming with Adonai

  
I'm finding myself consumed with dreams of my ministry and what it looks like. What I seek to create is also what I long for and feel so many others do as well. Its so easy to get caught up in the world, left feeling isolated in your beliefs and way of living. (My spirit tells me this is a lie of the enemy. A way to further separate us because when two or more are gathered together He is among them. There is much power in uniting.) 
    There were many years I wasn't "into" church as a building, the thought almost made my skin crawl. I have always loved Jesus but what I'd seen, what I'd experience was not who I knew Jesus to be. It bothered me so much that when I would share my faith I'd make sure to include that I wasn't your "typical christian". I know that selfishness is one of my many downfalls, its something I'm becoming more aware of and working to correct. I say this because I realize now that while there was nothing wrong with my not agreeing with modern day "church culture", it was a selfish act to remove myself from the body of Christ. (What the church is called to be) I'm getting better at discerning my feelings and picking up on what Holy Spirit wants me to hear. I can see now that this was the beginning of my awakening to the irreplaceable role I play! 
    My role as wife, my role in the "church" community, my role in ministry (whatever that looks like), even my role for generations to come. Its my heart's truest desire to serve God and share His love! This is the foundation I live from, may all that I do stem from this. When I allow myself to dream about what this might actually look like I see things like this blog, my precious little white space, growing by leaps and bounds.
    An online presence that ties all outreaches together, a blog- style ministry that promotes Christ- centered living and wellness in mind, body, and spirit. A YouTube channel exploring holy wellness with vlog- style updates, a dash of real life stuff, mixed with feel- good soul food like bible studies and devotions. I see classes, meet ups, and retreats where our community can get together to love and grow! Even a studio space where classes take place to strengthen you physically and walk you deeper into relationship with Him.
    God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called and I am so thankful for this. When trying to turn these dreams into logical steps I can get overwhelmed easily by my inadequacy. Those swirling creative thoughts can quickly brew a tornado of self doubt; "I am nothing special", "No one's going to pay attention to me." So I react taking my thoughts captive and resting in the truth that He does not stir my spirit without providing a way for His will. 
    A new season is on the horizon and change is in the air. Be sure to stay tuned for exciting new beginnings as these dreams start to manifest. It makes my heart so happy that you are here, I know its by divine appointment that you are. So let's connect, let's continue to cultivate a community of like- souls living in a world we are not apart of. 

Turning Broken into Beautiful

    It's no easy task to explain the heartache and frustration that comes from diagnosing and healing from an invisible illness. Western medicine scratches it's head when patients come in ill but all tests come back "normal". We are taught to trust medical professionals and their opinions wholeheartedly but what happens when you feel like your concerns are falling on deaf ears. After all, I live in this body full time and you're telling me what I'm feeling isn't real or I'm wrong?!

    What happens when you accept the facts that God has given you the power of healing, the power of His kingdom lives inside of you, all that He can do can be done through you? It awakens a light, a fire inside of you that cannot be extinguished. Because He lives in you, you begin to change on a daily basis, from the inside out. Suddenly life doesn't become something that happens to you but something you are happening to!

    Let me explain a little more, I've spent nearly the last three years of my 24 year old life so sick, my life stopped moving forward. It got to a point where I literally felt like I was watching life happen around me. My husband going to work, picking up every responsibility of what was once a two person partnership simply because his wife could no longer physically keep up. These trials are not typical of a newlywed couple and certainly wasn't something we ever prepared for. Life is chocked full of ups, downs, and sudden direction changes but throw an invisible illness into the mix, then, its like riding that rollercoaster backwards and blind folded.

    Even though I am not completley healed, yet, I have learned to not let this illness steal my peace. Are there still days spent in bed? Yes. Are there still nights spent tossing and turning in pain? Yes. Do I feel like it overwhelms me still? Sometimes, but for the most part no. I can't quite put into words all that's changed inside my spirit but I can tell you with utmost confidence that God wants to give you the same peace even in the midst of your storm. 

    Two years ago when I felt a flare creeping up, I almost surrended to it. After all I know what a flare means for me, an all out assult on my physical body. Unfortunatley, the physical aspect isn't what has changed but how I get through it has! Now I allow the pain to make me run to God, to lean into Holy Spirit in a way I never have before. It wasn't that long ago I would wake up with that heaviness of a chronic illness in it's peaking glory and cry out with such grief, allowing it to strip away the simple beauties that can always be found. 

    If there's one thing I've learned about chronically living it's that it is not a linear process. Instead of focusing on the back slides or your short comings, remind yourself of your progress. Waking up for a new day means another day we conqured! We aren't called chronic illness warriors for no reason. Run to God, rest in His presence, and allow His unwavering strength to flow through you.   

Watch the Battaglia Tribe

    We absolutely love taking you along on all of our adventures! We are so excited to invite you over to our channel where this wanderlust tribe of three share what it's like to live in a twenty- eight foot camper, pursing our dreams of owning our own business, and doing it all while dealing with a chronic illness. Our life is far from perfect but we seek God's light and truly want to show how He is fiercely present in those seemingly simple moments. 

    One thing David and I understand is tomorrow is NOT promised so why live it putting all your hope into the future. & I don't mean that the way it sounds. We have such a tendency to think and say things like; "We'll be so content when...", or "We'll feel so successful when..." instead of realizing all the blessing we have right now! So if nothing else, if not a single person watches our channel, I pray it will help us preserve those "seemingly simple moments" and will be one more way to live in God's light. 

Watch the Battaglia Tribe

Traveling Spoonie Essentials

    As we prepare our home- on- wheels to head back on the road I find myself buried in To Do lists, Supply lists, and lists to not forget all our lists. Our last couple of weeks have consisted of lots of preparation for our 3,000 mile journey ahead. Some of the usual RV work to ensure our safety and comfort in our first real winter season coupled with some not so usual travel essentials. 

    Mixed in with our "RV- safe" toilet paper, our generator for boon-docking in style, and four full size propane tanks are some items that would seem completely out of place to the "typical" camper. After over two years of living with this invisible illness. sometimes, I forget how much its changed my daily life. Sometimes, I forget how much this illness dictates my decision making. Knowing there's a huge Spoonie Community out there, I feel compelled to share any and every tip, trick, and hack I come across to make even just one part of our lives easier. 

    Traveling can be exhausting for anyone but to do it in a body that feels under attack can seem impossible. When we moved into our home- on- wheels full time I was in terrible condition, we were concerned about how I would cope in our tiny conditions. We've been stationary for almost eight months now so I've confidently equipped our small quarters to handle the spontaneous flares while constantly working to make it an environment conducive for healing. 

    Some of my must- haves in the truck for a day of driving are...

1. A good pillow and a comfy blanket
2. Yoga pants or leggings are non- negotiable 
3. The largest bottle of BioFreeze
4. Your new best friend- Battery Operated Heating Pad
5. Pain busting Essential Oils (soon to come from Spoonful Creation)

     *For my pelvic pain sisters: Invest in a support cushion. It'll help relieve the pressure of long rides

    Like any adventure in life nothing can prepare you like real- life experience does. So I'm sure when we're about 1,000 miles in or have our first strong wifi connection, whichever comes first, I'll have additions, adjustments, and exchanges on my list of must- haves that will be updated for your reading pleasure. :) 

   I truly hope this helps bring comfort to any fellow traveling spoons out there and if you have helpful suggestions it would warm my heart to read a comment from you. Sending spoonie hugs and healing vibes. 

    
     

Living Fulfilled

 It can be so easy to get caught up in status, success, and proving yourself to the rest of the world. Our society drills into us from the beginning of our days that there's a set standard to live by, an expected way of life, a checklist that once complete equals success.

• College
• Marriage
• House
• Children/ Furchildren
• Retirement 

    Not that there's anything wrong with this idea of the "American Dream" but as I got older I rapidly realized this was not my idea of fulfillment. Even though most days I struggle with this underlying feeling that somethings wrong with me, that I should be content working towards these goals. When my gaze is stuck inward, it can feel so isolating, like I'm living in a world I don't belong in. It isn't until I seek community, reach outside my clouded perception of reality that I see the thread- work of our Heavenly Father. He has crafted each of us in likeness of Him, we will never be Him nor will we all ever be the same.

    One Two of the hardest things about growing up is;

1. Realizing you will never feel like the most adult-est person in the room
2. Accepting your ever changing self 

    There's no magical age, or at least I haven't reached it yet, where you wake up feeling like you know what you're doing with life! There might be moments, maybe even days those feelings come, you accomplish one of those life goals and feel like your path has been revealed. Just in time to be side- swiped by a tidal wave of emotions that pull you into deep thoughts of your greater existence. Or at least, that seems to be what my Gemini, Empath, Spoonie self has experienced...

    Now that I've given you, probably more information then you care to know about the going- on's of my rambling brain maybe you can relate to my mess of emotions mixed with aspirations. One of my hopes in sharing the words that stir in my spirit is to connect with similar souls. I know Mr. Battaglia and I can't be the only ones fighting our way through a quarter- life crisis! (Insert crying, laughing smiley emjoi here.) 

    So here's to hanging on for the ride! Here's to living! Here's to every hurdle, blessing, and surprise that has or is yet to come our way. After all, success isn't a check list, it doesn't look a certain way, and there's no one way to achieve it. Learning to enjoy the success you're currently living in is the key to enjoying your success that is to come.