Guest Speaker -Jami Kaeb

Meet our speaker for this coming Wednesday. She will be speaking to us about how God worked in her life to see others through His eyes and to love the Forgotten among us.

Jami Kaeb has an enthusiasm and passion for the Lord that spills over onto those she meets. She shares from her life with authenticity and humor in a way that others relate to. Jami lives in Bloomington, IL with her husband Clint and their six children, three of whom they are adopting from foster care. She is also founder of The Forgotten Initiative, which is a ministry dedicated to bringing joy and purpose to the foster care community.

Jami’s blog: www.lifewithapersonalgod.blogspot.com

Ministry Site: www.theforgotteninitiative.org

Guest Speaker-Deb Dambacher

Guest Speaker: Debra Dambacher

Family stats: I’ve been married for a long time and God has been so faithful in working through some very serious marital and individual issues to keep our marriage together and bring us closer and closer.  We have one son who now lives in London with our daughter-in-law and our two granddaughters.  Thanks to God’s intervention, literally, we have been able to spend a lot of time together despite the distance.  But that is another story.

Spiritual gifts: Faith, mercy, helps

Spiritual Pathways: Contemplative, Worship

Passions: Because of the events in my life as a prodigal, I am passionate about the spiritual healing that Jesus brings us.  When He introduced Himself and His ministry, He said this:  “I have come to heal the brokenhearted, bring freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to comfort all who mourn, to bestow on them a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”  That is what He has done in my life and He wants to do it in yours, too!

Secret shames:  These are the things that hold us captive, that we hide and repress…the places in our heart where He wants to bring healing.  God wants truth in our innermost being and He wants to bring freedom.  In my life, those shames have been a sense of worthlessness, deceitfulness, self-soothing from substances, disloyalty, fear, self-righteousness, abandonment, and on and on.  But He’s brought healing.  No more secrets, no more shame, just freedom and honesty, thanks to Him.

Book that you love:  It has to be Psalms, from the Bible.  These poems and songs capture the depth of emotion we all have and with it open a window into God’s faithfulness.  (OK just so you don’t think I’m over-spiritualizing, I am currently reading the third in a 3 volume biographical series on Theodore Roosevelt.  But if I was on a deserted island with only one book, it would be Psalms.)

Favorite things: Books.  I love to read, I love to learn.

Favorite room in your house:  Living room – it’s a place that I have experienced many intimate moments with Jesus as I have cried out to him in times of desperation or have expressed my thankfulness to Him for what He has done.

Favorite tradition:  For twelve years now, my husband and I have gone to a friend’s house each November and prepare a Thai meal for the family while they decorate for Christmas.  Their daughters grew up with it and now as teenage girls, they have given up sleepovers and parties because they do not want to miss the evening!  The tradition ties us together in ways that just routine interaction does not.

Guest Speaker-Maggi Pivovar

Guest Speaker: Maggi Pivovar

Family Stats: Married to John for 17 years. Children:Mitchell (15), Blase (14), Ben (9), Grant (6)

Cats: Snoopy and Lily  Dogs: Ranger (sheltie) and Miles (mini aussie)

Spiritual Gifts: Faith, Wisdom, Knowledge, Encouragement, Teaching

Spiritual Pathways: I connect with God most through Christian music. I hear Him best when I am driving by myself, and the car is completely quiet. Faith that has developed over many years keeps me tied to Him daily. Scripture cards I keep on my bedside table keep me focused on particular areas I  struggle with. When I am alone and quiet, I feel most connected to God.

Passions: Sharing my story to encourage others, Mentoring and encouraging others who have experienced similar health related experiences, advocating for meningitis vaccines, watching documentaries about how others love in different cultures around the world, nutrition

Pet peeves: Cups and dishes scattered around the house, computer technical issues, having picky eaters in my home, when my GPS can’t find a signal, being gluten intolerant, televised sports

Secret Shames: Reality tv (I stay up late to watch recorded episodes of the Bachelor, Bachelorette, America’s Supernanny  and others I can’t mention…on a regular basis). I am also addicted to candy and dogs.

Books I love: The Shack, Anything historical fiction or biographies that allow me to step into another woman’s life and world and experience their daily lives

Can’t live without: TV, dogs, Kerastase Nectar Thermique, Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine (My hair is very dry and fizzy without them) Liguid gold, Clinique double face powder, my family and my legs.

Favorite room in my house: My bedroom, because it means it is time to sleep!

Favorite tradition: Every New Year’s Eve, we interview our kids with a series of questions. (favorite things, pet peeves, etc) We share the answers together, read from the journals I keep for them, set goals for the new year as a family and as individuals. It ends up being hilarious and with boys, the conversation always includes all of the funny and silly things they have all done to each other over the years

My family has had a prayer list for the last 20 years. Each family member is assigned a week where everyone in the family prays for them.  It helps us focus prayer on one special person each week because we have a large family. We have seen many, many answers to prayer!

Guest Speaker-Erin Henry

Erin is an independent wellness professional who practices in domains of exercise, nutrition, and behavioral change as a dietitian, personal trainer, and wellness coach. She provides one-on-one consultation and group education on these topics as well as free-lance writing services.

Erin earned a dual degree in dietetics and hotel/restaurant management from Kansas State University and completed her dietetic internship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. She has counseled hundreds of patients throughout the Topeka and greater Kansas City area on the areas of nutrition, exercise, and behavior management. Erin has also been featured in news and radio spots offering expertise on the subjects of health and nutrition.

Erin is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Fitness Professional through the Titleist Golf Institute. She has experience with a vast variety of clients having worked in gym, medical clinic, and personal home settings. She is also a Certified Wellness Coach through the American College of Sports Medicine’s WellCoaches program. From this area of her practice, Erin concentrates on the entire “well-being” of her clients, assisting them through the transformation of change in any and all areas of their health and lifestyle.

Guest Speaker: Erin Henry

Family Stats: Husband Perry, married 10 years. Son, Hade, 5. Daughter, Elle, 3.

Spiritual Pathways: I enjoy my own church Bible study and hearing and sharing with others how they are developing their relationship with Christ.

Pet Peeves: People who are unkind, and people who talk too long and off-topic at meetings… Was that unkind?!

Secret Shames: My favorite TV show is Modern Family

Book that I love: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Favorite Things: naps on Sundays, Dove dark chocolate, and a girls’ night out

Favorite Room in My House: My kids’ rooms because they’re young enough that these rooms tend to be the cleanest in the house!

I’m not in there often during the day, but when I am, at bedtime, it’s a peaceful, magical place. They are sweet and lovely. We cuddle and share positives, stories, and loves,.. If only the rest of the day could go so smoothly!

Favorite Tradition: Most every night, when we sit down for dinner my husband puts on music – playlists of the songs that the kids really enjoy. After the kids get done eating, they give us a little dance show, complete with my 3-year old in petticoat skirt, tiara, and high heels. The music will always be a tradition, but I’ll be sad when the plastic high heels no longer fit