March/April 2018

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This is Me Laura Frankl Pedersen I am a girl who grew up in a small town in Northwest Iowa, who loved helping my dad on the farm. A girl who was introverted, shy and often unsure of herself. A girl who was responsible, loved helping others, and wanted to live in harmony. A girl who thought she would never leave home. I am a girl who took a leap of faith and left home to attend college, made lifelong friends and was nominated by peers to be part of the homecoming court. A girl who studied hard to make it through college, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. I am a girl who was married and blessed with two beautiful children, was later divorced and thought my world was falling apart. A girl who believed that God and my family were disappointed in me. A girl who was blessed with family and friends who supported me and reminded me that our Father’s love is unconditional. A girl who later found love again, married and was blessed with a stepdaughter. An introverted girl who learned through my struggles how strong I was with God by my side. I am a girl who experienced breathtaking shock with a call saying my dad had died. Died from a bee sting while boating and skiing with my mom and his in-laws. A daddy’s girl, my support, my everything, a girl who had no idea how to live without my dad. A girl who was reminded by walking through the pain, that only God knows that day or hour, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. A girl who is now happy for my dad to be in ultimate peace with his Father. I am a girl who a year later lost my beloved baby sister, my best friend, my soulmate. A sister who had struggled for years with disease and yet changed the lives of thousands by sharing her struggles and showing how to choose joy in spite of them. A sister whose relationship with God was stronger than anyone I had ever known. A sister who is the true definition of living a life of surrendering. I am a girl whose faith only became stronger through the trials and hardships. A girl who made it my goal to continue my sister’s legacy. A girl who kept that legacy alive by walking the path of the publishing industry. A girl who believed and trusted that God would open the doors needed if this was His will. A girl who was blessed to have my sister’s words published in a book titled, Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. I am a girl who finds joy in speaking God’s words, using my sister’s legacy as an example of how we can choose joy, even when life hurts. I am that introverted, shy and uncertain girl who speaks now with passion, certainty and love to anyone who seeks inspiration and motivation on how to “choose.” I am a girl whose world was again shaken in 2017 with a diagnosis of breast cancer. A girl who had to let go of my goals in 2017 and trust in God’s goals. A girl who learned that instead of asking Why me, to ask what can I do, how can I serve? A girl who thought I understood my sister’s words and found an even deeper meaning them. I am a girl ready to say Yes to God in <strong>2018</strong>. I am a child of God. I am a disciple. I am a survivor. I am blessed. I am loved.
Avoiding the Avoidance Trap Ginger Kolbaba I’ve struggled most of my life with weight. At birth I was a mere 5 pounds, and from the moment I took my first breath, I decided to make up for it and never be underweight again. The problem is that as I became chunkier, I let it affect who I was. I began to avoid little things like having my photo taken. Then worse, I began to avoid people. Friends and family I hadn’t seen in years had to wait even longer because I didn’t want them to see me and think, My, how hefty she’s gotten. A few years ago, when I received an invitation to attend an event I knew was going to be fun, I panicked. How could I go looking like . . . this? I started on a crash diet, but that only made me yearn for pizza. When the event came closer, and I was no thinner, I decided my best option was to avoid going. I chose to miss out on life and relationships because I feared I didn’t look good in a dress. I avoided because I was ashamed of myself. John Stott said, “True freedom is to be who God created you to be.” I’d lived enslaved to fear and worry. It was time to be free. The truth is that I was putting more judgment on me than anybody else was. And if some folks did judge me by my thunder thighs, then how sad for them. So when another invitation came, I decided to attend. Oh, I still dieted! But when I didn’t lose the weight, I refused to let that hold me back. I looked in the mirror and said, “This is who I am. My weight doesn’t always have to be this way. But I won’t let it keep me from being who God created me to be.” I may have gone to the event as a chunky gal, but at least I went. And that gave me an amazing gift of freedom and joy. I was me—all of me. And I was okay. 20
Page 1 and 2: Positive Note Magazine March/April
Page 3 and 4: Contributing Writers Jannette loves
Page 5 and 6: Dawna is a national speaker, author
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Page 9 and 10: GayeLindfors.com Author, speaker, s
Page 11 and 12: This Is Who I Am Jannette Fuller Ev
Page 13 and 14: GingerKolbaba.com GottaTellSomebody
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Page 21 and 22: JannetteFuller.com DawnaHetzler.com
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March/April 2018

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