Tag: family

Whirlwind Desert Walk

On By PhillippiIn Chronic Illness, Lyme, and Mold, Faith and Trusting God, Surrender and Acceptance7 Comments

It’s been a whirlwind of a past few days—er or years. I haven’t written much about about our family recently, but to be honest, we are still walking in the wilderness. We left Alaska a few months ago, after struggling with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Environmental Illness.

Our youngest and I were especially ill, but all four of us were definitely not well-so much so, we thought death was knocking on our door if we didn’t get out before winter hit.

This wasn’t new to us. As mentioned in previous posts, we left a home with toxic mold in 2018 after it made us extremely sick. It’s been five years since we left that nightmare, yet that was really only the beginning. We are still being affected, having become hypersensitive to not only mold, but other environmental toxins that plague cities and small towns alike. Finding clothing, bedding, and household items that we can tolerate without too many chemicals is a whole other challenge in and of itself that we deal with constantly. It has been very difficult to tolerate conventional housing and we’ve had to move more times than I can count in the past five years, trying to find air that we can stand to breath and housing livable enough for us. Our world has become so toxic, most aren’t even aware of the number of chemicals and toxins we are taking in at one time, and how it’s affecting our health. For us and our doctors though, it has become obvious.

For the past few months, we have been going downhill health-wise, but the kicker was on Friday. On that day, our youngest and I were so ill at our cabin in Utah. We watched the air quality climb to the unhealthy number of 150. It was our bodies though, taking in those toxins, that were the first to notice. And boy, did they take notice of that poison.

This poison settles in the valleys of Utah, holding the pollution down and appearing like L.A. on a bad day. Apparently, these inversions are common in the winter in Utah, something we weren’t aware of when we felt God leading us there to heal. We still aren’t sure when that healing will come.

It’s now Monday evening, and I sit here writing from a hotel room in Idaho, three hours from our other temporary dwelling that we “have” until May. Our youngest and my husband appear to have possibly just come down with the flu and I do not know what tomorrow will bring. To say we have answers for why we are in this situation or place, is an understatement. Maybe it is just not for us to know. We have no idea why we were brought to Utah or why we are still unwell.

I liken our situation a teensy bit to a refugee fleeing a war, only we are fleeing a war on our bodies, and a civilization that is literally poisoning itself. This week, it’s Idaho. We’ve been here for four days and we are heading back to Utah soon, the place where we have not been feeling “well”. Our next move? We have no clue. What I do know is that I’m fearful of us going back to that cabin and feeling awful again, however, I am going to continue to walk in faith and pray for health and healing for our bodies, as well as our next steps. I will continue to work to build the Kingdom of God, and I will be grateful for the extra funds we received from our taxes just in time to use for some relief in a hotel for a few days. I will continue to do my best to walk in love even when life is chaotic and stressful. And I will continue to stand on the scriptures below.

Will you join me in praying for health, healing, finances to be able to afford this desert walk, and housing and clean air our family can thrive in please? Thank you for lifting us up!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. -2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
‭‭-Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. -Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

Come See What We’re Up To

On By PhillippiIn OtherLeave a comment

Our new Christian family blog, PhillFamily Ministries, is posting and adding new content weekly to help you and your family grow closer to God and to each other. Come see what we’re up to!

Be sure to subscribe at the bottom so you don’t miss out on our fun content and free printable and digital materials. There will be something for everyone!

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

There’s Good “Stuff” Coming!

On By PhillippiIn OtherLeave a comment

If you haven’t done so already, please come take a peek at the new blog my family launched, PhillFamily Ministries! We are thrilled to bring you some fun, family-friendly content that will help you grow closer to each other and Jesus! There will be a minimum of three posts per week, including some exciting new printables, free to subscribers. Be sure to follow us by subscribing at the bottom of our website so you don’t miss out!

Stop by the New PhillFamily Ministries!

On By PhillippiIn OtherLeave a comment

As I mentioned in a previous post here, a my family has started a started a new blog for our ministry, PhillFamily Ministries. There will be at least three posts a week with short stories, audio encouragement, free printables, and digital materials. We have a lot of incredible content coming your way to help you keep your family plugged in and growing together in Christ. Check out our new blog here and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

Sockfuls of Christmas Kindness

On By PhillippiIn OtherLeave a comment

Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. -Proverbs 16:24

If you’re looking for a new Christmas tradition that’s simple, keeps Christ in Christmas, yet makes a big impact in your family’s life, checkout this free download of Christmas Kindness Notes below that I posted last year, in Our Christmas Eve Rundown. While not my original idea, (I got the idea for these notes on Pinterest) the notes below were created by me. You can get your free download here and start making memories:

christmas-kindness NotesDownload

This new tradition begins in our family as soon as we hang our stockings. The first week of December, we begin writing short messages of kindness, words of encouragement, short personal prayers, or snippets about what we love about each family member. Then, we slip the notes into our stockings. On Christmas Eve, we open our sockfuls of kindness and take turns reading the notes to each other.

Last year, this was a hit in our family. It was so uplifting to hear all the loving words we had written to each other. And when I told our girls we were going to do it this again this year, one of them replied (air pump and all), “yesssss!! I love doing those!” Not only is this a wonderful memory maker, the notes can be treasured for years to come! So, why not add this free stocking stuffer tradition and give the gift of kindness to your family this Christmas!

Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give. -Unknown

I Will Forgive

On By PhillippiIn Poetry, Trauma2 Comments 
I can forgive
but this the pain I can't forget
Flashbacks pay visits
reminders of the night you left

I can forgive
but this hurt still trickles from deep
slips out of me
When I least expect it, it seeps

I can forgive
but the tears, down my cheek they crawl
dribbling rain
thoughts and memories of it all

I can forgive
but, I'm not sure I want to talk
This heart so crushed
I'm still learning how to walk

I can forgive
but the relationship seems dead
Sought for too long
Not caring, too much left unsaid 

I can forgive
but I'm ready to move ahead
I need freedom                      
It's been too long that this heart's bled

I can forgive
but, not sure what the future holds
I just want peace
Sick of digging up all the old 

I will forgive
but these scars I won't forget
I'll move forward
making sure this I won't regret 

I will forgive
because that's what God said to do
I will forgive
so I will be forgiven too 


Copyright © 2021 Aimee Phillippi

A Time to Laugh

On By PhillippiIn Other4 Comments

Because I really needed to laugh and maybe you do too, I thought I’d share. While not my typical post, my ten-year old was on fire last week with the funnies. What made her words all the more hilarious, was that she wasn’t trying to be humorous. So, I present to you, out of the mouths of babes…

1. I overheard her painting her nails with her older sister:

“I wish I had six toes because then I could paint them rainbow.” (because why not add an extra toe just to be able to paint them prettier!?)

2. Seriously upset that someone would do such a thing, she asks:

“Who put a toenail in my sock!?!?” (as if someone would intentionally place their own toenail there)

3. My daughter: “Mommy why’d you buy Charly a mullet?”

Me: “A muzzle, honey. I bought him a muzzle to go to the vet.”

4. And she pops this question on me the other night:

“Do you wanna be called Momzilla or Mama Bear?”

Me: “Umm…what would make you think I’d wanna be called Momzilla?”

My Daughter: “I was looking up cool nicknames for moms and there was Momzilla, Mommy-o and Mama Bear.”

Me: “Yeah, definitely not Momzilla.”

(Apparently she didn’t know who Godzilla was)

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, -Ecclesiastes 3:4

Snipped and Pruned

On By PhillippiIn Faith and Trusting God4 Comments

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. -John 15:2-6

When I was younger, I hated my hair. Then, I grew to love it. It was usually long, and always curly. Growing up, I’d hear the typical straight-haired comments- “Do you know how much money I spend at the salon to get hair like yours, getting a permanent?” or “You’re so lucky to have that kind of hair.” After I got married, and because we were trying to be frugal, I began letting my husband cut my hair-yes, I know-pretty shocking. I previously spent an upward of $65-not including a tip, just for a decent cut. Realizing my husband could do a better job than most stylists, I slowly began to trust him with my precious curls.

Well, about a week ago, I decided I wanted it a few inches shorter. I was tired of washing it, tired of styling it. It always ended up in a messy bun anyhow.

Sitting on the stool, he began hacking away like Edward Scissorhands. I realized I didn’t even care if he chopped too much off. This was pretty huge for me. Any other time and I would be constantly feeling and looking to make sure he didn’t cut an extra millimeter more than what I had instructed him. Tonight was different though. As the ringlets fell to the ground, it was as if a weight was dropping off of me and I just let it happen-without the worry, without the control. I let go and let whatever happen, happen.

Then, it dawned on me. This was symbolic of me dropping the weight of my life-my will, my ideas about how I think I should live, how we should raise our family, and instead, surrender to His will and what He wants for me and my family. It was about acceptance, surrendering to what is and where He has placed our family temporarily. That simple moment was about letting go and accepting right now for exactly what it is.

And as I sat there, I began thinking about how I’m in this season of pruning. God is in the process of trimming all of the dead branches to make way for the new shoots, the new fruit that he is beginning to produce in me. As He does this, I’m feeling a bit empty and bare. He’s stripping me of all I thought I was, in order to become more Christlike. It’s as though I’m being stripped of the bark to allow the good clean wood underneath to be used. Like when a log cabin is built, if the logs aren’t peeled first, the wood will begin to rot. It will decay. My life was once like this. It was in a state of decay because I wasn’t abiding in Him. and I didn’t even realize it. I was swimming up stream, getting caught in a vortex, and I couldn’t get out. I was getting nowhere, but I continued to live like I thought I knew best. This is self-will, my friends. And self-will never got me to where I truly wanted to be.

What I thought made me me, maybe wasn’t really me at all. Once, this social worker with a career that I worked so hard to obtain, running in this perpetual rat race, striving to be this super mom by chugging coffee all day long in order to fuel this fatigued body that was slowly breaking down, I was only sleeping three to five hours per night at most. I was the mom trying to make sure our girls got a top-notch education at a private Christian school, aiming to throw them Pinterest-worthy birthday parties, stressing about the perfect Christmas, making sure they were in the right after school activities. It was always about having the best and trying to be the best, but I see now that I wasn’t really living for Him at all. I was striving and striving and I didn’t need to.

I had it all backwards. See, I thought my identity lain in what I accomplished, but once those things were ripped from me and I drove myself into the ground too far for my health to bounce back, He kept me down so I could learn to have faith in Him-especially in the trials, to find my identity in Him-not in the world and not in my accomplishments, and He taught me and continues to teach me to trust Him more fully. I’m learning that my sole purpose in life is to love Him and love others like He does-His way, not mine. And despite the trials, His way is so much better. I’m home with my kids, homeschooling them and teaching them about Jesus daily. My husband has a work from home job, so we can travel and live wherever He wants us. I have less stress in my daily life and I’m healing. Our life is much simpler. We no longer own a lot of “stuff”, but we have Jesus, we have each other, and I’m slowly regaining my health. It is just enough and I have His peace, which far surpasses anything this world can give.

Even with all of the hardship we have experienced, we are extremely blessed. I see these blessings more frequently and more abundantly when I step aside and He is able to work, but this requires me to pick up His cross daily, and die a little more to myself. It’s a conscious effort and decision I must make every single day to turn my life and my will over to Him.

So let us continue to abide in Him, surrendering completely to His will. For only He can produce the fruit we truly desire. And only He can make us more like Him each and every day, But, and it’s a humungo BUT-we must continue to do this big thing-remain in Him. If we remain in Him, He will keep producing the good fruit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Because apart from Him, we can do nothing. My efforts on my own, have proven futile.

Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit -John 12:24