tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63674460936836750092024-02-20T11:15:04.697-06:00Deep Ponderings and Frivolous WanderingsA blog for those who value faith, family and the odd tangent.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-88012573336417072172015-05-29T07:58:00.003-05:002015-05-29T07:58:52.793-05:00Visit My New Blog!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YEmbvAAYse6UGWU7MmLyRWWv2VNf3wp8ZhtTHIAT1U5pfjXtpPPs81fnkrad9KDFCNqxZQ750Jmo-u_ltxUYxGxH2bLP8j0aKeKz-cB5czRZQ11QDj0mu4JHBb0NylnV6gzRw54jLwnC/s1600/IMG_3315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YEmbvAAYse6UGWU7MmLyRWWv2VNf3wp8ZhtTHIAT1U5pfjXtpPPs81fnkrad9KDFCNqxZQ750Jmo-u_ltxUYxGxH2bLP8j0aKeKz-cB5czRZQ11QDj0mu4JHBb0NylnV6gzRw54jLwnC/s200/IMG_3315.JPG" width="200" /></a>It's been a couple of years since this particular blog has seen any action. Though many of you probably know about my new blog and my forthcoming book, <a href="http://www.heatherllfitzgerald.com/" target="_blank">The Tethered World</a>, some may not! It's long overdue for me to post a link on this Blogspot to my new(er) <a href="http://www.heatherfitzgerald.net/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a> blog, but it's better<br />
late than never, right?<br />
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My newer blog is more "writing" oriented and much less eclectic. You can visit it by clicking <a href="http://www.heatherfitzgerald.net/" target="_blank">here</a>! I hope you'll stop by!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-68761975269859944782013-08-13T11:59:00.003-05:002013-08-13T12:12:46.690-05:00"Dragonwitch" Delivers! <div class="p1">
<i>“In the divine, we find the satisfaction of contradictions. We find the wholeness of broken things and belief in the impossible.” </i>Eanrin, the Chief Poet of Rubidos (who sometimes happens to be a cat). </div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Dragonwitch </i>by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is a tale of a formidable realm on the verge of crowning its first king. The House of Geheris is the seat of power for Earl Ferox. His able administration over the land has given him favor with neighboring earls of the North Country. They are sure to pledge their allegiance to House of Geheris and become one, unified kingdom. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The problem is, the aging and ill Ferox has no heir. It’s been arranged for his nephew Alistair to be groomed for the position of future earl . . . and, presumably, king. But, as fairytales must go, there is nothing straightforward about Alistair’s destiny. Between studies that he loathes, a bride-to-be who is a virtual stranger, and a reoccurring nightmare that plunders his sleep, the young man is a wreck. All this before anything of importance actually happens to Alistair, or for that matter, in the story. One thing that stands out: he is a broken and despondent person. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">This tale of prophecy and predicaments, nursery rhymes and revelations, goblins and faeries, is really three tales that weave together into one reality. The different layers were a bit hard to piece together at first, but I believe that was intentional. Watching the threads intertwine became a delight. The author's transcendent Christian worldview glowed within each stratum, yet never glared.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Those of us that love Christ <i>and</i> fantasy have had limited reading material until the last few years (one reason I’ve taken to writing in this genre myself). The stalwarts of allegory, Lewis and Tolkien, have played the game with a sparse team for quite a seventh-inning stretch. It's great to see Christian publishers, like Bethany House, scouting some serious talent. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Dragonwitch</i> is a heavy hitter on this allegorical team. The beauty of the author’s prose, the depths of truth that were portrayed, and the stellar character development, all made for one pleasurable read. I found myself digging for a pen to underline poignant reminders of the reality that exists, even in fairytales. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Especially in fairytales.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">With adept skill, Stengl offers readers an adventure that encompasses legend, the supernatural, and life within the walls of palace and pagan lands. Such depth in storytelling makes a brief review a challenge. I cannot offer a nutshell synopsis of the highlights, for there were too many. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Instead, I’ll leave you with a recommendation to get <i>Dragonwitch</i> for yourself (as an aside, I do not care for the title. Seems a bit melodramatic for such a savvy tale. And I wish two of the main characters had not had such similar names. I struggled to keep them straight throughout). Beyond that, I found this book a page-turner and a solid motivator for my own writing.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I will also leave you with another quote from my favorite character, Eanrin, the Chief Poet of Rudiobus:</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>“Creature of dust, it’s the truth that counts! And you’ll rarely find more truth than in Faerie tales.”</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span>**I was provided with a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. </div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-13493051985525721832013-06-20T20:53:00.000-05:002013-06-20T20:53:50.884-05:00Tunnel of Gold . . . I Dig it!When Jeremiah (Jem) Coulter learns that the Midas gold mine has been played out (aka: no more gold!), he's afraid Goldtown will become another ghost town. But the angry miners may not leave much for even the ghosts, if they continue to riot. Jem learns the hard way—with a rock zinged at his head—that these miners and the mine owners are at odds. With no gold, there's no pay. Who's going to keep the peace? Why, Jem's pa, the sheriff, of course. A dangerous job, but one that's a great fit for Jem's strong, steady father.<br />
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The Sterling family, that owns the Midas mine, is scrambling to open a new mine so the town can get back to work. Young Will Sterling also happens to be Jem's nemesis. The two mix about as well as oil and water.<br />
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The Sterlings have found the perfect spot to begin blasting a new mine, but there's a hitch: all mines need an air shaft. This new mine's airway would cut right through the old Belle mine that's been shut down for years. Seems like a simple solution except a played out mine is <i>not</i> a collection of deserted tunnels. Chinese immigrants have moved in to scavenge what they can of any gold that is left in the Belle mine. A common practice. In fact, the mine is technically the property of the Chinese and they are not interested in giving it up. Not even for a nice price.<br />
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Things really heat up between the townsfolk, the rich folk, the Chinese folk, and the young folk. The Chinese are not well-liked on a good day. A town on the brink of collapse unless the Chinese cooperate, well . . . let's just say hostility runs rather high.<br />
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Jem finds himself getting more than a rock to his head when he steps in to protect his Chinese friend, Wu Shen, from a group of bullies. Two against three looks to become two against four when Will Sterling shows up. But . . . what's this? Jem is amazed when Will takes up <i>his </i>side of the fight!<br />
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The kids' problems are just a reflection of the prejudices and temperament of the town as a whole. Jem, like his father, wants to be on the side of what's right, no matter the cost. The battles that Goldtown faces will test his faith, his stamina, and his friendships. In Jem's darkest moments, he remembers scripture from the prophet whose name he bears: Jeremiah. He rallys his faith and quells his fear remembering the promises of God.<br />
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<i>Tunnel of Gold</i>, by Susan K. Marlow, is part of the new <i>Goldtown</i> series aimed at 'tween' boys. Mrs. Marlow has packed in the action and suspense in her latest book and it won't disappoint. Nor should it be enjoyed by only the young men in your family. It's a great adventure for all! You may even recognize a character from the <i>Circle C Adventure </i>novels who makes an appearance in <i>Tunnel! </i><br />
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You can read my review of Book One, <i>Badge of Honor,</i> by clicking <a href="http://heathersthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2012/12/marlows-latest-is-real-jem.html">here</a>. And I have several reviews of the <i>Circle C </i>books that you will find if you search "Marlow"on my blog.<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-88381441415701305972013-02-17T22:11:00.000-06:002013-02-21T19:45:03.034-06:00Musical Ponderings and Adventuresome Wanderings<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">If C.S. Lewis wrote songs, his name would be Andrew Peterson. Well, that logic falls apart pretty fast, but I want to draw the connection between the two men as they are both great story tellers. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Allow me to introduce you to the lyrical brilliance of Andrew Peterson—if you are unfamiliar with this talented singer and author. With a folksy, acoustic edge he weaves musical magic that ponders the universe, its Creator, and all of the ordinary stuff of life that becomes extraordinary when touched by God. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">His song “Planting Trees” made me cry the first time I heard it. No, it’s not about conservation and saving the planet. It’s about raising children. “World Traveler” tells the tale (I assume it's his own) of a young man in a small town that longs to be a “world traveler.” He sings:</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">“Soon enough I had my way</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I saw the world the Lord has made</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Mostly from the interstate</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">But I had hardly seen a thing</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Until I gave a golden ring</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">To the one who gave her heart to me</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">(And I became)</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">A world traveler</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">That's the day I hit the road</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">'Cause I walked the hills of the human soul</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Of a tender girl</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I'm a world traveler</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">She opened the gate and took my hand</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">And led me into the mystic land</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Where her galaxies swirl</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">So many mysteries</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I never will unravel</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I want to travel the world”</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">It’s a terribly sweet tale of finding that real adventure lies in the mysteries of marriage and discovering one another. He goes on to say:</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">“Tonight I saw the children in their rooms</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Little flowers all in bloom</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Burning suns and silver moon</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">And somehow in that starry sky</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">The image of the Maker lies</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Right here beneath my roof tonight</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">(So hold on tight, I'm a)</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">World traveler</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Pack yours bags and dig down deep</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Let's ride the storms and sail the seas</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">To the distant pole</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I'm a world traveler</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Into these uncharted lands</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">To blaze a trail in the vast expanse</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Of the heart and soul</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">In the grace of the God of peace</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Let's wade into the battle</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Come on, come on with me</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">And get up in that saddle</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">There's a million mysteries</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I never will unravel</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Come on, let's travel the world”</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">It’s no surprise to learn that Mr. Peterson is a huge C.S. Lewis and Tolkien fan (to the point of going to Tolkien-themed retreats and being invited to speak at a C.S. Lewis seminar). He touts his CD The Far Country as “the highest concentration of nerdy C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien references, if you’re into that sort of thing.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">As a dance teacher, it’s hard not to think about choreography when I hear his songs. I love to tell stories on stage. In fact, I’m using his song “Invisible God” for one of my classes’ recitals this year. As a writer, I have enjoyed listening to his music while I work on my novel. It perfectly puts me in the right frame of mind and inspires me to do what I love.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Beyond Mr. Peterson’s music is a terrific blog called The Rabbit Room where he and many other talented authors collaborate on a plethora of subjects that all seem to have a feel for being a fly on the wall at an “Oxford Inklings” meeting. (That’s the writers' group that Tolkien and Lewis and a few other guys used to be a part of. Yeah. Dream Team.) But peeking into the Rabbit Room is the next best thing and I’d recommend checking it out.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">His writing doesn’t stop with music and blog posts. If your family is a Narnia or Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll want to check out The Wingfeather Saga, that Peterson has penned. It follows the Igiby family through the eyes of young Janner Igiby who is the Throne Warden (or protector) of his younger brother that will one day be King of Anniera. Filled with creatively creepy creatures such as the “Fangs of Dang” and “toothy cows,” you and your kiddos will have a rollicking good time following this family through times of peril and heroism. And how often can one honestly use the word “rollicking” to describe something? That’s not a word to be trifled with. Click <a href="http://wingfeathersaga.com/?page_id=236">here</a> to go straight to the source and learn more. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Just to clarify, I don’t know Mr. Peterson </i></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">and he doesn’t know me. He hasn’t asked </i></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">for props. </i></span></span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good friend (and fellow fan) </i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">introduced me to Andrew Peterson’s music </i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and then shared his books and I have been</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> forever grateful. </i><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm just paying it forward.</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAYr5tTarozEY_mF0yXsbdoCt5Z8n3IsiVaamwBegRvJgIuIVPc0ePttb7s5meqDcA92DxhdmpPCAHkeOAKgv7KpU2QpE-R0gv32EUL5DKC0pal7UE6hAnM4QDSQU4VJQyFoQAA9e9DZD/s1600/Monster_Cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAYr5tTarozEY_mF0yXsbdoCt5Z8n3IsiVaamwBegRvJgIuIVPc0ePttb7s5meqDcA92DxhdmpPCAHkeOAKgv7KpU2QpE-R0gv32EUL5DKC0pal7UE6hAnM4QDSQU4VJQyFoQAA9e9DZD/s200/Monster_Cover1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-40918488776642117822012-12-05T13:45:00.000-06:002012-12-05T16:08:25.753-06:00Marlow's Latest is a Real *Jem!<br />
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<span class="s1">Roasted rattlesnakes! Have you been confounded in your search for an adventure-filled, wholesome story for tweens? That’s a tall order these days. And if you hope to find one with a bent towards boys it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Author Susan K. Marlow comes to the rescue with her new series for boys—just in time for Christmas! Marlow has turned her big imagination from Andi Carter in her <i>Circle C Adventures</i> series, to Jem Coulter in her new <i>Goldtown Adventures</i> series. But, honestly, it’s good, clean fun for <i>everyone—</i>boy or girl! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In book one, <i>Badge of Honor, </i>we meet twelve-year-old Jem Coulter and his little sister Ellie. The two want to help their widower father take care of things around their broken-down ranch. It was with the best of intentions that they both skipped school to pan for gold one fine, spring day. Surely the melting snow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains washed some gold down Cripple Creek to their little family claim, right? It's worth an afternoon standing in the freezing water to find out! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">When their father, Matt Coulter, hunts down his truant children, they’re in double-trouble. Not only are they grounded from gold-panning until school gets out (a whole month away!), but their dad is sporting a six-pointed star on his chest. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Matt Coulter has been named the first sheriff of the unruly, mining settlement of Goldtown, California. Jem is devastated. Goldtown is full of hot-tempered men carrying firearms and that badge seems like a target on his father’s chest. Not to mention the example <i>Jem </i>will be expected to portray as the sheriff’s son. What could be worse?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, the day isn’t over yet. The Well’s Fargo wagon brings an aunt and cousin from sophisticated Boston to live with the Coulters. What are a couple of greenhorns from the city going to do on a ranch in a mining settlement? <i>Change things</i>—much to Jem’s dismay. He and his sister have been making it just fine since their mother passed away a year prior. The only bright side that Jem can find is that his cousin, Nathan, will be another set of hands to help with chores.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And so begins a new chapter in Jem’s life . . . as if being caught between boyhood and manhood at age twelve isn’t complicated enough. When summer finally arrives and the kids can officially return to pan for gold, things really heat up. The creek is nearly dry and Jem, Ellie, and Nathan stumble on something much more life-altering than gold . . .</span><br />
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Using humor and historical accuracy, Susan Marlow weaves a tale of danger and mystery that is sure to please most young men at about this age-n-stage themselves. </div>
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<span class="s1">With godly, moral lessons as an underlying current, you can be sure that Susan’s new series will please the conservative palate without being stuffy or preachy. As mentioned, girls will enjoy the <i>Badge of Honor</i> as much as their male counterparts. It would also make a great read-aloud for the whole family. It's a book I've thoroughly enjoyed and I'm waaaay older than the approximate 9-13 year old target audience!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goldtownadventures.com/Badge_of_Honor_chapters_for_web_site_small_file.pdf">You can read some sample pages from <i>Badge </i>here</a>. Or you can <a href="http://www.goldtownadventures.com/Badge_of_Honor_study_guide.pdf">download the free study guide</a> and make it a very well-rounded adventure!</div>
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<span class="s1">Publisher Kregel books sent me a complimentary copy of <i>Badge </i>in exchange for this honest review. Thank you, Kregel! It is a pleasure to review any of Susan Marlow’s books. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">For three other reviews of Susan K. Marlow’s stories, click <a href="http://heathersthoughtspot.blogspot.com/search?q=marlow" style="color: red; text-decoration: underline;">here</a>.</span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-33390440304345645462012-11-07T10:40:00.000-06:002012-11-07T17:57:36.488-06:00Post-Election Pondering The phone rang.<br />
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"Hello?"<br />
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"Turn on your TV." It was my dad.<br />
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I reached for the remote with a sinking sensation. The last time he called and said this was in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing.<br />
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"Oh my goodness. What's going on?" I asked. Visions of an airplane flying into the Twin Towers filled the screen. It didn't make sense. <br />
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"It's a terrorist attack," Dad said. "After today, America will never be the same, Heather. Our world has changed because of this."<br />
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Prophetic words from my father that have echoed in my mind when I stand at a security check-point in an airport, or have to allow strangers to search my purse at a ballgame.<br />
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If my dad were still alive, I think I would have received a similar phone call last night. Election night 2012. "Things will never be the same."<br />
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As a conservative, it is rather disheartening to see how divided our country has become. It makes me sad to look at the number of people that have left traditional values to embrace the ideals of Hollywood and are in favor of a socialistic standard. Are people really comfortable with the quicksand that we have been sinking in for the last four years? Skyrocketing debt and unemployment, bigger government and less take home pay—those aren't even the moral issues—haven't convinced the 'other half' that this is a failed experiment?<br />
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Yep. Things have changed. The saying, "If you repeat something enough, people will believe it," has been lived out. The liberal media repeats their pet-mantras of a "war on women," and "the rich get all of the tax breaks," etc. Hollywood promotes its anti-family, Christian-mocking agenda, and pours millions into the coffers of the democratic party. It's no wonder that the Obama campaign team has Tweeted multiple times about Jay-Z and Beyonce and once about the attack on the Libyan Consulate. Signs of the times.<br />
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Our ideals as a nation have been turned on their head. It's no longer "liberty and justice for all," but "Let me live however I want, regardless of its effect on the greater-good. And the government should pay for it."<br />
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We have become the "Divided States of America" to quote the headline from the Drudge Report this morning. I think those of us that hoped to reclaim what makes America great have realized that we are becoming outnumbered by those that want to redefine all that America stands for.<br />
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It is a bit chilling.<br />
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Contrary to the so-called "hope" offered by our 44th president, I do have authentic hope in the sovereign hand of God on our nation. As much as I'd like to blame Christians that didn't vote, or point a finger at the snow-job of the media . . . the truth is that God has used our election process to put into power His man for president.*<br />
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Romans 13: 1-7 tells us, <i>"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." </i>(I note that the exception to this is when the governing authorities command you to disobey scripture, it is better to "obey God, rather than men."Acts 5:29).<br />
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I Timothy 2:1-6 says, <i>“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” </i><br />
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In light of verses such as these, we can face the challenges of the next four years (and the aftermath) with confidence that God has everything well within His grasp. That's not to say that what Obama stands for are standards that the Lord is pleased with. Not at all. But one cannot read the Bible without noticing how God used corrupt and wicked governments to execute His purposes. Whether to test His people, to bring judgment, to display His miraculous power, or bring revival, the Lord sets the governing authorities in their place.<br />
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In America's case it may well be that He is allowing our nation to eat the fruit of its ways. Romans 1:18-22, 28-32 explains, <i>"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools . . . Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."</i><br />
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THAT is a pretty accurate "State of the Union." THAT is where we find ourselves this November 7th, 2012. The election has not caught God by surprise—unlike many of us—so we can be comforted in that truth. <br />
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Even so . . . it's still a bit chilling.<br />
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Where will we be on this slippery-slope in four years? What freedoms will we lose? I don't like the answers, to be honest. But I must accept them. I must pray for our country and its leaders and I must be faithful to lift up the truth of scripture and share the love of Christ, regardless of what it may cost. (And I'm pretty sure that it isn't just the cost of living that will skyrocket . . . our freedom of religion will also come with a price).<br />
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Am I willing to count the cost? Luke 14:27-30 warns, <i>"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish." </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">~Lord, prepare me to be able to carry whatever cross you choose to give. Prepare your people to stand for your truth</span> in a land that no longer wants to recognize it.~<br />
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I'm glad my dad, a veteran of the Korean war, is not around to watch the demise of what made our country great. He isn't here to see the freedom he fought for trampled on by big government. He is not affected by the insolent apologies from the President of our country <i>about</i> our country. He doesn't need to wonder why President Obama would ignore meeting with Israel's Prime Minister so he can appear on Lettermen.<br />
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But every so often, when something "big" happens, I think of how my daddy would have called me to talk about it. Last night would have been one of those times. I know what he would have said:<br />
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"America will never be the same, Heather."<br />
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*On the subject of our civil responsibility as Christians, I'd like to share a Facebook post from friend Evan Taylor<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span></i><br />
<i> "Each one of us will be held accountable before God for how we exercise the governing authority that He has entrusted to us in voting. Fear God, and evaluate how well each candidate is seeking to honor the responsibilities of the office and the bounds of that authority. Note that, while legislation cannot solve the moral problems of any society, we are still obligated to seek the good of others through every opportunity afforded us, and law acts as both a teacher of the difference between good and evil as well as a mechanism for praising good and punishing evil. So then, where do the candidates stand on the most wicked acts taking place in the world and the role of law in those battles? When you come face to face with your judge, how are you going to explain the way you are prioritizing “the issues” in weighing the candidates?"</i><br />
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Click <a href="http://lockerroomtalks.blogspot.com/2012/09/citizenship.html">here</a> to read more from Evan on "Citizenship." Or visit Evan's blog at: http://lockerroomtalks.blogspot.com/<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-85339923107140172882012-07-09T19:34:00.003-05:002012-07-09T19:34:38.870-05:00<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">We’ve all known someone who is manipulative and controlling. There’s a good chance you work for someone like that, are related to someone like that, or--perhaps--you are such a person yourself. Though there’s nothing wrong with a Type-A personality, there are times when such dominating characteristics are unhealthy, and become a monster of their own.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enter <i>Confronting Jezebel: Discerning and Defeating the Spirit of Control </i>by Steve Sampson. This revised and expanded edition sets out to help readers understand how to recognize this type of person, how this person operates, and how to fight back spiritually. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzNCh1JguNiO36oTguOh2bj4TVaFDZtFgLnQxZ13PhOT5Myudk9k1fgrm7HsGUFdJilNcmjgthE4dJgjsB0RHdozEdj1P0W7IJLFNy2yBUFzsEd2ptBVB_hwZ8Gi2v7DsWHYDCysM08xt/s1600/51Zk8AM8xlL._SL500_OU01_SS130_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzNCh1JguNiO36oTguOh2bj4TVaFDZtFgLnQxZ13PhOT5Myudk9k1fgrm7HsGUFdJilNcmjgthE4dJgjsB0RHdozEdj1P0W7IJLFNy2yBUFzsEd2ptBVB_hwZ8Gi2v7DsWHYDCysM08xt/s200/51Zk8AM8xlL._SL500_OU01_SS130_.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Sampson explains that the Jezebel spirit, coined after the wicked wife of King Ahab in I Kings, can operate through either a male or female. The controlling spirit is no respecter of persons--and usually the person themselves is no respecter of anyone but their ego.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The person that lusts for control uses a ‘divide and conquer’ strategy. If they can create a little fan club of their own, they will use their minions to cause strife and division for them, while they can keep their hands clean and seem like a bystander in the fray. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">“A Jezebel never works alone; she is most effective with an Ahab at her side to enable the evil spirit to operate fully. ...the clear battle with the Jezebel principality is always over the dominion of people.” (pg. 21).</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sadly, this type of person doesn’t just operate in the world. In fact, the insidious spirit is all too willing to slip into a church and begin dismantling it. A Jezebel will appear very religious. In Revelation 2:20 the Lord describes her with these words, “she calls herself a prophetess.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I chose this book to review (offered in exchange for my honest opinion from Chosen Books) because I have a Jezebel in my life that I have to deal with. Unfortunately, this controlling type of personality is prolific. There is likely someone coming to mind while you are reading this review. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Confronting Jezebel </i>has helped to bring some clarity to the problem, as well as give solid instruction for those that have to interact with this type of spirit. Although Mr. Sampson falls more on the Charismatic side in some of his theology, it is still a good resource for anyone facing this issue. </span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-43993293969665164232011-12-19T11:14:00.000-06:002011-12-19T11:14:57.549-06:00Easy Christmas Recipes!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My hope and intent for the approaching New Year is that I will be more disciplined to carve out a regular article or post for this lonely Blog. In the meantime, I figured I'd stop by and share a couple of favorite and EASY recipes with you! These are two treats that are continually requested by others whenever they're made. They are not original, although I have added my own tweaks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On second thought, I'm going to throw in one more my SIL shared with me after I inhaled half of a container of them last Christmas. They're so easy and yummy, you need the recipe too!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sorry that I'm too lame to have pictures to accompany these recipes. I know that can make or break whether or not you want to try the them, but I'm doing well just get these typed up! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Unbelievable Toffee! (Unbelievably delish, unbelievably easy!).</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>One box of plain or honey graham crackers (you will not use the whole box).</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Two sticks of butter (yes, the real deal, not margarine!)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>One cup of brown sugar (I prefer dark, but either will work).</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Line a jelly roll pan (i.e. cookie sheet with a one inch lip around the edge) with plain graham crackers. You will need to cut and fit in pieces around the edge to cover the entire surface. Baking stone <u>not</u> recommended.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Preheat oven to 350.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In medium sauce pan, melt two sticks of butter, and one cup of brown sugar (dark provides a more serious toffee taste).</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Once melted, turn to high. Allow to boil, without stirring (except maybe once when it starts to bubble up really well. It's particularly important not to over stir with the dark brown sugar. For some reason it has trouble melding with the butter if you stir too much). When it is boiling so that it looks <u>foamy</u>, let it remain in that state for about three minutes. You can give it one more brief stir if it looks like it needs it during this stage.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pour over graham crackers.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Use spatula to smooth over all crackers. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bake for 10 min.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Remove and immediately dump one package of semi-sweet choc chips evenly over pan. (You can use milk choc but they do not melt and spread as smooth. I would recommend mixing them with semi sweet. Plus the semi-sweet off-set the sweetness of the toffee layer, so it's the best!). When the chips become shiny, after about five minutes, use spatula or back of spoon to smooth over the surface.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Place in fridge until hard (half an hour or so). Remove and break into pieces. I usually bend my metal pan a bit like an ice cube tray to get a corner lifted (which is one reason a stone pan doesn't work well).</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Store in fridge to keep crunchy!</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Variations: Add some cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper to butter and brown sugar mixture for chipotle toffee.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Toast almonds or walnuts and sprinkle on top after you smooth choc chips.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sprinkle just a few white choc chips over the top of the melted and <u>smoothed</u> regular chocolate chips. Allow them to melt and smudge them across the chocolate in a marble design.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I've known two different people that have made these to sell for a fund raiser . . . that's how good they turn out!</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Cream Cheese Cookie Bars</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">These dream bars have all of the elements of eating pleasure: gooeyness, a bit of crispness, edges that are similar to brownies, and density. Mmmmm. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">There are also endless ways to vary the taste. I never actually make this basic recipe (though it still tastes amazing), preferring to add lemon or chocolate to make them flavored to my whim of the day. Suggestions given at the end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">1 stick butter 1 box of powdered sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">4 eggs, divided 1 8 oz package of cream cheese</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">1 box of yellow cake mix</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Heat oven to 350.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">While it is warming, place one stick of butter in 9 x 13 pan and melt in oven. Remove when it is melted.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">In a bowl, add 2 eggs to cake mix. Mix with fork until crumbly. Usually seems more like a sticky blob than a crumb mixture but that is how my original recipe reads. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Sprinkle cake mix over butter and pat down. (aka, drop blobs of the sticky blob all over pan and press down with spatula or back of spoon to cover the bottom fairly well). Butter will be swirling around the edges, letting you know this is going to be yummy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mix powdered sugar, cream cheese and other 2 eggs. Pour over first layer and spread evenly.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Bake for about 30 minutes, until lightly browned on top. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Variations: Lemon bars: Add about three to four Tbl lemon juice to EACH layer of mixture. A little lemon extract won't hurt either.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Chocolate Bars: Add 3 - 5 Tbl Cocoa (to taste) to EACH layer and throw in some chocolate chips to the BOTTOM layer. Also can use a chocolate cake mix on bottom layer. May choose to leave top layer plain cream cheese or add some cocoa to it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Experiment with different cake mixes! Carrot cake on bottom with the cream cheese mixture on top would be delicious. Strawberry cake on bottom and maybe 1/4 cup pureed strawberry preserves added to the top layer would be perfect for a little girls birthday!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Praline Mini-Muffins</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the recipe from my SIL. She calls them Mini Pecan Pie muffins. I think <i>Praline</i> captures their essence more succinctly :) Whatever their name, they can lend themselves to overeating due to their small, innocent-looking size. Beware! Or . . . just make a bunch. Thanks for sharing, Pamela!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">**I also think you could easily make this gluten free with a substitute flour. There really isn't much flour in it . . . just enough to bind together.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Cup brown sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1/2 Cup all purpose flour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Cup chopped pecans</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2/3 Cup melted butter</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 eggs, beaten</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Combine brown sugar, flour, and pecans. Set aside.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Combine butter and beaten eggs. Mix well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stir in flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fill greased mini-muffin pans 3/4 full. (If you know your pan has sticking problems, you may want to grease and flour the pan as well. These are a bit sticky for a muffin, and I have trouble getting them out of one pan, but not another).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cook about ten minutes, until light brown. These store well in air tight container.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>One thing that stands out after typing these three favorites: Butter makes for some fabulous desserts! Woohoo!</i></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-18824183420796067282011-10-04T11:26:00.000-05:002011-10-04T11:26:18.162-05:00Authentic Faith for our Families<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">A dear friend just passed on the following article to me via email. It is so accurate and revealing of so many of our 'good' though misguided intentions as Christian families today, that I felt compelled to pass it on to you! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Although the article speaks to a phenomenon happening in homeschooling families, it is just as applicable to any Christian family seeking to raise godly children who own their faith. Who among us doesn't know a Christian family who has lost their children to the world? Maybe even our own children have gone off to see 'what they've been missing.'</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">How do we avoid contributing to our children's rejection of what we hold dear? Or perhaps the question is: will they model what they may see in us: an outward appearance of godliness while the inside is a clutter of problems and hypocrisy? Neither scenario is something we desire for our children, yet this is often the case in so many homes today. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">The following article is quite lengthy, so you may want to click and print it for when you can sit a spell and take it in. I pray God will use it to reverse any negative trends you see in your family as you pursue Christ and seek to glorify Him in every little nuance of your heart!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Click <u>here</u> for the article.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-79857741455818878672011-09-28T15:37:00.000-05:002011-09-28T15:37:13.109-05:00Avoiding What is False<div style="font: 18.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who may stand in His holy place?</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">who has not set his mind on what is false.”</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Psalm 24:3-4</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px 'Apple Chancery'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I came across this verse in Psalms yesterday while I was having my devotion time. Scripture is so multi-faceted that there’s always something new, even in a familiar passage. </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I read the last line, “who has not set his mind on what is false,” I was aware of just how many things I falsely dwell on. Not necessarily sinful things in and of themselves, just <i>false</i> things. Do you see the nuance there?</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There’s nothing wrong with having a pedicure or going out to lunch or even sitting and reading a magazine. However, if that is not what the Lord has asked me to do with my time for the day, and I am neglecting that thing He expects of me, then I am dwelling on what is false. This equates to sin.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Am I listening to the voices of other’s that say, “You need to expect your daughter to go to college,” when it is clear that God’s call is for her to be a missionary? College isn’t a bad thing, and it may even be necessary to become a missionary, but there are other ways to reach that goal as well; am I willing to entertain those options?</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The false voices are often well-meaning: “have a hobby,” “make sure you have some time for yourself,” “you should always have dinner ready by the time your husband gets home,” “you should be helping in the children’s ministry,” etc.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But those voices are not necessarily the voice of the Holy Spirit. If I am falling into performance mode, and becoming a people pleaser, a lover of self, or making an idol of my home in some way, than the Lord will take issue with that thing, and what is a neutral subject becomes sin in my life.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I must always prayerfully evaluate my use of time and my inner thoughts as well. Busyness, good intentions, and thoughts that are not yielded to the mind of Christ can soil my soul, wear me out, and drive a wedge in earthly and heavenly relationships. This is experience talking! </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Been there, done that, prefer to avoid it!</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ask the Father to reveal any falsehood in your life today. Remember that James assures us that if we lack wisdom, we should “ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing.” When we repent of our falsehood, He is faithful to meet us where we have are and allow us to begin again, right then and there.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Amazing grace, isn’t it?!</span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-34627934685290680502011-06-27T16:01:00.000-05:002015-05-29T09:34:27.075-05:00How God Turns Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">God does all things well . . . even when we aren’t paying attention!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">As you may know from my other posts, I have a son who has mild autism. He is eighteen years old now, and he just finished high school! Well, sort of. But I’ll get to that in a bit.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Let’s rewind about 18 years. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Cute baby, full head of hair (so full he had a haircut before he was two months old!), and hungry. Hungry because he has no idea how to suck. Takes him nearly an hour to latch onto anything: a bottle or myself. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Therefore, he’s not sleeping well because he’s hungry. Therefore, no one else is sleeping well. I call doctors and lactation consultants; no one really knows what’s going on. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Sleep deprivation doesn’t look very good on me. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Rewind a bit further, to a week before his birth, and you’d see my husband’s place of employment closing its doors a couple of weeks before Christmas. You’d see us taking Christmas presents back to the store to have money to live on. You’d see that everyone has already hired their Christmas help and so there’s no work for my man. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Exciting times!</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Yet, perfectly timed, because it took two full time at-home parents to function on very little sleep to care for this little guy who was just eating enough to make it for an hour or two 24/7. I was so thankful to have my husband home with me, money or not, to keep me sane. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Oh yes, we also had our first daughter, who was 17 months old, when the little man came into our lives. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I’ll spare you the blow-by-blow of the hard times we had when the kids were young. You could sum things up with the idea of two more girls becoming part of the family, and money being pretty doggone tight for more years than we would have voted for struggling along--if God had taken a vote. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">When my son was 3 1/2 we decided something must be wrong. I tried not to compare him to his older sister, but eventually we knew there was more than a typical “boy delay” happening. We were consistent with discipline but felt that no child would have such a strong will that he would purposefully get himself into as much trouble as he did.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">We knew he could hear because he would respond to noises and he was talking a little. But we wondered if he might have hearing problems, since he ignored most of what we told him to do. Or maybe he changed his name, preferring to keep us in the dark as to what name he would respond to. That was the best explanation we had, so we decided to send him to some experts.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">We had his hearing and language assessed through a free program that the public schools offered. He was found to be fairly delayed in most areas. Their suggestion was to put him in special-education preschool. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Any help that someone was willing to offer was welcome. The elementary school he was to attend was one block from our house, yet he would get to ride a bus. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Sweet</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">. I wouldn’t have to pack up his sisters at the crack of dawn and unload everyone to walk him to class. Yet putting him on the bus the first few days was heartbreaking, even if he was only riding it for all of 45 seconds.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">What was wrong with my little boy? Would the “experts” at the school be able to help? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">His teacher was terrific. She’d been teaching special education for 15 years and was a Christian. She had a heart to help the kids and desired to see them succeed. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">It was soon apparent that Garrett was the highest functioning child . . . with the biggest behavior problem by far. He was constant motion. He could not sit still. He could not keep his hands to himself. He could not be still enough for a nap (he’s had sleeping issues all of his life), and he rarely obeyed. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">His teacher told me that she really wanted to praise him more, since he seemed to always be in trouble, but, “as the words are coming out of my mouth, when I see him doing something right, he inevitably begins to do something wrong before I’ve finished speaking.” This was as true of a statement as I had heard. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Welcome to my world!</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Long story somewhat short . . . we eventually had him tested and found out that he had something called </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Not Otherwise Specified.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> PDD-NOS for short. Autism for super-short. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">By the time he was old enough for kindergarten, his school wanted to mainstream him into regular classes. This was an absurd idea to his teacher and myself, but other “experts” decided he was too “high functioning” to qualify for full-time special education. Said experts hadn't spent much time hanging around class and observing his behavior, I presumed.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">My husband and I were already homeschooling his older sister and it seemed best to do the same with our son. His teacher was in full agreement. “He needs one-on-one,” she said. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Yup.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">So, what did one-on-one look like for this complex little boy? It looked like special diets, experimental herbs and supplements, and lots and lots of therapy. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Years of therapy. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">It would take us from breakfast to dinner to get through all of the things he needed. It was supposed to take 3 uninterrupted hours, but with three other children in the house there was no such thing as “uninterrupted” slices of time.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I can remember describing my day to my husband as follows: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Every morning I get up and crawl into a big long tunnel made out of brambles. I try to make it through with the least amount of scratches and injuries as possible. When I make it to the end of the tunnel, I get to go to bed! Waking up meant I started over, at the beginning of the tunnel.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Exhausting.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">'Everyday' things were a big ordeal. Riding in the car and going grocery shopping were a test of patience and tenacity. Going to bed at night was difficult because it was so hard for him to fall asleep. If he was still for 60 seconds he would conk out, but he wouldn’t stay in bed. We were thrilled to discover the doorknob covers that were hard for kids to grip and turn. He had poor finger strength so we were able to use the doorknob cover for quite a few years. With no possibility of escaping from his room, he would eventually give up his quest and fall asleep.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">He had a penchant for playing with hair. Not just any hair. Freshly pulled hair. His older sister had a head full of springy curls that just beckoned to be plucked on a regular basis. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Scaring animals was sublime entertainment. Anything on a screen would mesmerize him to no end. Repetitive noises were one of his favorite ways to entertain himself. To this day I’m highly sensitive to whistling. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Please refrain</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">But God was at work. We prayed and cried and sought help. We often couldn’t see the forest for the trees, but God was faithful. He gave us patience and strength and friends that were willing to help. He showed us our selfishness and taught us love and sacrifice. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">He convicted me of my pride when He showed me that one reason I wanted my son to behave was so that he wouldn’t embarrass me and make me look like a bad parent. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Ouch</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">The Lord taught me how to parent in His strength and not my own. How to respond to poor behavior for the </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">thousandth </span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">time with sweetness in my voice, rather than scorn and contempt. He showed me my sinful heart and His righteousness, as he taught me how to love in His strength. That’s not to say that I’ve got it all down, but over the years I’ve struggled less and less. Sin still likes to rear its ugly head!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Fast forward to the summer before his ninth grade year. I mused to a friend that I felt “stuck” with my son. That it seemed I couldn’t get him any further (in any area) for the last few years. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">“Maybe I should see if he could get some special services from the local high school,” I wondered aloud. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">“Why not enroll him full-time?” My friend asked.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I had a million reasons why, or so I thought, but I prayed about what she said. I made some phone calls and talked to a counselor, and the next thing I knew, he was enrolled. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">This proved just as providential as our decision to homeschool. Great teachers, new friends with similar challenges and interests, a variety of classes I couldn’t offer at home . . . it was a wonderful fit for everyone!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Four years of high school flew by and June 3rd--graduation day--I found myself prayerfully reminiscing about the mysterious ways of Time. Looking back at what issues my son struggled with that deeply affected him, as well as the rest of us, I had to be amazed at how far we </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">all</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> had come!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Though he still struggles with self-control in certain areas, our day-to-day lives are so different from when he was small. No more “brambles.” Smiles, laughter, and a general feeling of pleasantness are the characteristics that we enjoy on a daily basis. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Riding in a car, going shopping, being in a room full of people (even people with curly hair!) are no longer issues! He sits still and joins in discussions in youth group and school. He shakes hands and looks people in the eye when he meets them and says, “yes, sir/ma’am” when speaking to adults. He’s quick with a joke and will sit for hours and listen to me read (if I can last as long as he would like!). He has an ear for music, a great voice and is considered “invaluable” by his choir teacher. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Yes. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">This is my son</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">And--wow!--what an awesome, faithful God we serve! He doesn’t always give us what we ask, but He does give us EXACTLY what we need. As I sat contemplating all of this I was overwhelmed with thankfulness.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">There are a few particular areas that he still struggles with. Some of them big, big issues. At times it can be so discouraging when we see him overcome by sin. I realized, as I sat contemplating his life that day, that I’d almost given up hope that things could improve in these specific areas.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">And I had to repent.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Change can happen so subtly when we are in the trenches that we’re blind to its occurrence. Hindsight is a great teacher and that day it renewed my hope--and my faith--for victory in these other areas as well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">In fact, on that last day of school, my son, the senior, brought home some projects he’d been working on through the school year. One was a terrific self-portrait, complete with a description he typed with his own unique spelling, that read:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">“My name is _____, I love my friends and love food around the world Love pizza and pasta and the place I love to eat is at Cicis pizza and pull off pranks on people. The three things I want to work on is listen better o bay the last thing is stay out of trouble. I am a funny outgoing kind of person, I have an extended family some I haven’t seen before. I cannot wait win [when] on my big day win I go out in the world and win I graduate and I love my DS and I have brown hair and brown eyes.”</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">The whole project left me choked up; but to read that he was aware and desirous of working on the three things he listed was further evidence of God being at work in ways where I’d been losing faith. And by His great providence, He timed the unveiling of my son’s work with the unveiling of His work in our lives during my quiet time earlier in the day. The impact was so much greater, the blessing that much sweeter.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Watching him walk across that stage a few weeks ago was a milestone none of us will forget. We cheered and screamed and were so proud; he was searching for us in the crowd (he could hear us!) and beaming as he made his way across the platform.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">There’s still a long road ahead. Although he was a “senior” this year, he actually gets to stay in the special-ed program for another three years. He will continue to work on life skills and vocational training. He will continue to have many ways in which he can practice, “listening, obeying, and staying out of trouble.” He has one of the best teachers prayer’s could ask for; someone who holds him to the same standards we do.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">But he only gets to walk the stage this </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">once</span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">. And as we watched him parade into the auditorium with his classmates, take his seat and listen respectfully, stand at the right time, and wait patiently in line to cross the stage . . . we weren’t aware, right then, of how each of those things were a culmination of year upon year, line upon line, precept upon precept, and many answered prayers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">However, slowing down and getting this chance to reflect helps me see how all of those stumbling blocks along the way were used by our heavenly Father as stepping stones on a gently ascending path. Americans crave (even expect) the gratification of instant success; but how satisfying the victory when it happens through sacrifice, hard work, leaning on one another, and being the recipients of graciously answered prayers.</span></span></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-42457950624192081522011-05-20T14:48:00.001-05:002011-06-27T15:30:30.618-05:00Susan Marlow Strikes Again!<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Fans of Susan K. Marlow’s </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> Series will be glad to discover—if they haven’t already—the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C Beginnings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> book series! Geared for the younger cowpokes in your home (ages 6-8), </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C Beginnings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> chapter books brings the earlier adventures of Andi Carter and crew to your younger readers.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">In </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Andi’s Fair Surprise</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">, Andi and her family take a train to the California State Fair. Andi has never been to the fair and has no idea what to expect. She’s not so sure she even wants to go, especially if it means leaving her beloved horse Taffy at home.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5myogaatGHIdTt4JTWCuDOWu54ESTSB-sVA2y9y-ws9Ucr9CyrDnmVeQ7zvxggruO106pbkwVnCd-7ER37unQs2hBeLdnSuNWMgoEVt-1yVSHyEEyH4OF2yBqg8YhJdZxp4V0UBVRIcJ/s1600/4-book_set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5myogaatGHIdTt4JTWCuDOWu54ESTSB-sVA2y9y-ws9Ucr9CyrDnmVeQ7zvxggruO106pbkwVnCd-7ER37unQs2hBeLdnSuNWMgoEVt-1yVSHyEEyH4OF2yBqg8YhJdZxp4V0UBVRIcJ/s320/4-book_set.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The sights and sounds and displays that greet Andi create a world of wonder for the six-year-old in the late 1800’s. Besides getting her own money to spend each day of the weeklong fair, she is also given a ticket that might win a prize! Andi makes some new friends, watches a ‘thrill show,’ and learns that big sisters and brothers can be pretty special. Friends and family take home ribbons for everything from roosters to jelly . . . and Andi has her eyes on a prize or two as well! </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Andi’s first day of school is a memorable one, not necessarily for the best of reasons, in </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Andi’s Scary School Days</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">. Hiding doesn’t keep Andi from having to get dressed up and head to school. Climbing a tree doesn’t keep her from the one room schoolhouse either. As things go from bad to worse from the first day of school to the second, Andi decides that desperate times call for desperate measures!</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Your early readers will enjoy frolicking along with Andi as her impetuous spirit and tomboy personality take them along from one escapade to the next! But Andi isn’t allowed to get away with poor behavior; natural consequences and lessons learned round out each adventurous tale (told from a Christian worldview).</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The black and white illustrations from artist Leslie Gammelgaard add lively impact, reflecting the fun and fearlessness that Andi embraces. Your readers will also appreciate the “New Words” list, at the beginning of each Andi book, explaining terms that may be unfamiliar. “A Peek into the Past,” at the end of each book gives some background on life in the late 1800’s relevant to Andi’s stories.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Parents and kids alike will appreciate the FREE coloring pages and learning activities that are available to print out from the </span></span><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_182447903"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C</span></span></a></i><a href="http://www.andiandtaffy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> website</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">. Also, </span></span><a href="http://www.ajourneythroughlearning.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">A Journey Through Learning</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> has created Lap Books that can be made with the Readers, in order to make the Circle C Beginnings book part of a Unit Study. Adding these teacher helps will make </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C Beginnings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> a truly educational experience, one your child will misconstrue as plain ol’ fun!</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">For a review of other </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C Beginnings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> books, click </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.heathersthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-circle-c-beginnings-early.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">here</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">. If you’d like to read a review from the original </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Circle C</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> books (chapter books for tweens), click </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.heathersthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-andrea-carter-and-trouble.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">here</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">.</span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">To purchase any and all of the Andi books, published by Kregel, click </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.kregel.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">here</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">. And to visit Susan K. Marlow’s website, you can click </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.susankmarlow.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">here</span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-66173292379804137832011-03-24T09:55:00.001-05:002011-03-24T09:58:47.555-05:00If God, Why Evil?<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Earthquakes. Tsunamis. War. Murder. Kidnapping.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">One doesn’t have to look hard to find bad news. It seems to be oozing into every fiber of society on a grand scale. The heartbreak in Japan, the killing of innocent citizens in Libya, the abortion clinic down the street...evil has many faces and can leave us asking the Question of the Ages: “Why?”</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Although Believers have hope in the midst of tragedies, we still find ourselves lacking sufficient answers when the world—or our neighbor—asks, “Where is God? Doesn’t he care?”</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="webkit-fake-url://AD02901B-F414-4702-8184-35248C59A951/If-God-Why-Evil-Norman-Geisler-189x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="If-God-Why-Evil-Norman-Geisler-189x300.jpg" border="0" height="320" src="webkit-fake-url://AD02901B-F414-4702-8184-35248C59A951/If-God-Why-Evil-Norman-Geisler-189x300.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">We may even ask such questions ourselves. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Dr. Norman Geisler’s new book, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">If God, Why Evil? </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">seeks to answer this seemingly elusive and age-old question.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Defining evil and laying out the common arguments from atheists and agnostics, Dr. Geisler explains the dichotomy of how it is that evil exists with permission from the omnipotent and all-good God of the Universe.</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> If God, Why Evil?</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> gives sound answers, taking apart our common questions and objections and exposing the logical end to such arguments. Using clear, common examples in conjunction with scripture, Dr. Geisler clears up many misconceptions about the existence and operation of evil. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">For instance, he explains that evil is not merely the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">opposite</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> of good. The fact is, evil cannot exist without there being good. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Moths can corrupt a woolen sweater, but holes do not exist in themselves. They exist only in other things. Again, a totally moth-eaten garment has ceased to exist. Evil is a real corruption, but it is not a real thing (substance).” (pg. 20)</span></span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Such useful explanations, along with scripture defining God, sin, evil etc. are liberally used throughout this practical book. Some of issues discussed throughout this 167 page easy-read are: The views, nature and origin of evil, The persistence and purpose of evil, miracles and evil, and even eternal evil (aka hell). The complexity of evil is dissected in a user-friendly way, helping the reader grasp issues that normally trip them up.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The end of the book also contains three appendixes that deal with some deeper--yet related--issues, including a biblical critique of the popular book </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Shack. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Although written as a fiction book, the underlying (and mistaken) views of God are seeping into modern theology which in turn causes a watered down understanding of God’s holiness and his nature, leading to misconceptions about evil itself. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">If God, Why Evil?</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> is available from Bethany House publishers, and sells for $14.99. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of the contents.</span></span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-40270179782486098542011-01-01T17:46:00.006-06:002011-12-19T11:34:29.179-06:00It's a Marshmallow World in My Mind<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happy 1-1-11! </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here we are, once again, at the beginning of a brand spankin’ new year. But if you haven’t taken your Christmas decorations down, like me, it may still feel like last year hasn’t officially come to a close. Sort of a befuddled-between-years sort of thing.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happens to me every year. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwdq_P40gi_jkSXrvMwjjXwJprFKGiD9P4MbRn5-U-OvkXXphCoYDuH6n2G59IvmokRquxkxKsqV1vfxC9U8FN1ecZAqWQ8diQdQcfGE3BbgUCs2OXw1FVMPw7rGbqugiphjmbRo9KKVJ/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwdq_P40gi_jkSXrvMwjjXwJprFKGiD9P4MbRn5-U-OvkXXphCoYDuH6n2G59IvmokRquxkxKsqV1vfxC9U8FN1ecZAqWQ8diQdQcfGE3BbgUCs2OXw1FVMPw7rGbqugiphjmbRo9KKVJ/s200/IMG_2723.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another thing that happens is my desire--and failure--to somehow slow Christmas down. Savor it more. Bake more with the kids. Do some special crafts. Take time to shop in a leisurely manner. (Yeah, not really living in reality, I know). Allow the meaning of ‘God incarnate’ to sink in a few layers deeper than the year before. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But life happens. We seem to get plowed over with end of semester stuff. Good stuff, most of it. Rehearsals, recitals, and the like. Parties. Church. Travel. The line between Thanksgiving and Christmas gets blurred in a flurry of activities.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Inevitably, my nostalgic side wonders how I could have done things different, made more memories. The practical side argues that you can’t change things outside of your little sphere of influence. The visionary side looks ahead to the new year and says, “it’s a land of opportunity and you have a huge list of things to conquer!”. The cynical side reminds my optimistic thoughts that the list is the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">same</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> as last year with a few more things added . . . making it longer than ever. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uDKhBlXp9R0cHw7zjfJQvPd5NP4po0YUf-yL2tUJPSpO7p2rF4mf6l1Mw1l3A_0Km7CQPCVfI4KywG7MOOH04aFS1goehve0gDkAwrmUjLcAgHp0k08JvoIObOiqDKbBnj466TNv6cJl/s1600/IMG_2725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uDKhBlXp9R0cHw7zjfJQvPd5NP4po0YUf-yL2tUJPSpO7p2rF4mf6l1Mw1l3A_0Km7CQPCVfI4KywG7MOOH04aFS1goehve0gDkAwrmUjLcAgHp0k08JvoIObOiqDKbBnj466TNv6cJl/s200/IMG_2725.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last night we enjoyed a lovely New Year’s Eve party with some friends. Friends that are organized. The party was structured with time for fellowship sprinkled between times of organized fun such as: a Christian comedian, live music, building a “snowless” snowman, having devotions, communion, and fireworks. Within the course of the evening the hostess remarked that during the summer she made-over both of her girl’s bedrooms.</span> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wow. There’s not a room in my house that doesn’t have a project waiting on me to get my act together enough to tackle. Take my front door for instance. We got a new one about two years ago. It needs to either be stained or painted. I’ve gone to Home Depot and brought home paint swatches. Picked out some trippin’ red paint. I barely had the color picked out when I heard all sorts of awful things about <a href="http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147496231">Home Depot and decided to boycott it</a>. I can get the color swatch matched at Lowes or some other spot, I assure myself. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, I haven’t. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I still have a naked, boring door.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the speakers at last night’s party discussed the importance of setting goals. And writing them down. Seems there’s something sort of magical about making goals more concrete by putting them on paper. Gave some impressive statistics about those that are purposeful in setting goals.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A few years ago, I resolved “not to resolve” anything as far as New Year’s resolutions are concerned. Because all of my best intentions fall by the wayside leaving me deflated and defeated. Year after year. I’m convinced that unless God changes me, it ain’t gonna change. And I still believe that . . .</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcBw4lYZuNyooqqx7ycyfzBoxfzM-wXUb2VnGItNPC3irBMMurCRVMCq02ATWfk14bASII6X0e75m62r524NtBd8PV135iYBkNMABxaAfZMhvwoy0R8VfyRV2mDjJ1i2S6cABuVfAYIzT/s1600/IMG_2729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcBw4lYZuNyooqqx7ycyfzBoxfzM-wXUb2VnGItNPC3irBMMurCRVMCq02ATWfk14bASII6X0e75m62r524NtBd8PV135iYBkNMABxaAfZMhvwoy0R8VfyRV2mDjJ1i2S6cABuVfAYIzT/s200/IMG_2729.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, last night got me thinking. I tend to let life happen to me. I am a “go with the flow” sort of person. I will never be accused of being a Type ‘A’ personality. I see the big picture of what needs to get done but am fairly inept at nailing down the nitty-gritty details of how it’s accomplished. I work much better under pressure than under my own paced out plans. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Probably because I never make paced out plans. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But maybe it’s time for a change. It occurred to me that my best-laid ideas rarely get past the foggy-floating-around-notion sort of phase. Most of the time I think of things that need to get done when I’m in bed; not the most opportune time. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yep, better remember to get on that . . . zzzzzz.</span></i></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoxVuWvivnLiEvWAGSj3D3Ft7FdMOUGLtZoxDhY1cHxh9hI_np3bXQxwlqZ9RlTlCuRB429M75mahy-j431JkNQ6tCFTs-MiHar9SCaSbgFrigV2GdPafG6WE6wGg2L0BT-Fg5f6PcNcG/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoxVuWvivnLiEvWAGSj3D3Ft7FdMOUGLtZoxDhY1cHxh9hI_np3bXQxwlqZ9RlTlCuRB429M75mahy-j431JkNQ6tCFTs-MiHar9SCaSbgFrigV2GdPafG6WE6wGg2L0BT-Fg5f6PcNcG/s200/IMG_2732.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Maybe it’s time to write some things down. I’m not talking about getting overly ambitious, here. I can be a realistic optimist. I’m not going to think that writing down “redo guest bath” will bring in the elves to make it happen while I sleep (devastatingly sad!). But maybe if I make a list with things like, “paint the door in the bathroom,” and, “buy some baskets to organize the shelves,” it will break the project down into doable steps that may actually allow me to redo the guest bath! Amazing concept! (And even if I don’t get it ALL done, anything is an improvement, right?).</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, how about you? Maybe you ARE a Type A personality and you need to have more fun? Hey, schedule it into your Daytimer--I know you own one!!! In the meantime, I’m going to breakdown the big picture into little puzzle pieces that I can work with. A little accountability will do me good. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Feel free to tap me on my cyber-shoulder this year and ask how my list is going! Is it getting any smaller? Is it growing? Am I morphing into a Type ‘A’ little by little?</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whatever your goals, your frustrations, your dreams or needs, I pray God will bless you this coming year. May you have a heart of gratitude for the many blessings, of all sizes, that are part of your life. May you look at trials as opportunities for God to show His glory through you. May your relationships bring you joy! </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And may little elves come and do the dirty work for all of us . . . wash baseboards, dust tall ledges, touch up chipped paint and organize our closets . . .etc. (It could be a long, long list!).</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzlKReHqv1xqiJA7-k3t-LhX3mJMZut5WAW1OJATl0-Hi6IuqwSwW87mcvKGVVKH3cKnaZc8UsfaQWgWG411GFBlg_SOu6lqEe8xDOu3K9sYA0BmDtenea2IDtMmdZhuex5mikZGypEvG/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzlKReHqv1xqiJA7-k3t-LhX3mJMZut5WAW1OJATl0-Hi6IuqwSwW87mcvKGVVKH3cKnaZc8UsfaQWgWG411GFBlg_SOu6lqEe8xDOu3K9sYA0BmDtenea2IDtMmdZhuex5mikZGypEvG/s320/IMG_2716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-67144334246390709512010-12-07T14:48:00.002-06:002010-12-07T14:53:55.658-06:00Signs of the Times.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday was philosophically peculiar. Besides being tricky to pronounce, that means I ran across some things that left me sad about the state of humankind. First there was this large sign plastered on the side of Fort Worth public transportation: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkshLLWN_Tt9if4za2LSBguiR4rpGM99TH0Rp0VQjKfgnH-HBoq23Tw9zgIxyisudX87_aq18FteVVrHR28sRJlp8ZZthfcWcgsMNwGdmCd-Pje5hOqjXgPcJ2UcK9q36QJ-QQwgJepigE/s1600/Third_Moscow_Idaho_billboard_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkshLLWN_Tt9if4za2LSBguiR4rpGM99TH0Rp0VQjKfgnH-HBoq23Tw9zgIxyisudX87_aq18FteVVrHR28sRJlp8ZZthfcWcgsMNwGdmCd-Pje5hOqjXgPcJ2UcK9q36QJ-QQwgJepigE/s320/Third_Moscow_Idaho_billboard_blue.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't the exact graphics, but it is the exact wording. While looking online for an image of the poster on the bus, I was surprised to find what a massive campaign this is on the part of secular humanists. They have chaplains. The word 'oxymoron' comes to mind. Or maybe just 'moron.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, I was very disappointed to see that our local government-sponsored bus system thought it was a good idea, at Christmas time of all times, to display this insulting sign. I was surprised to learn that Dallas refused to display this ad, considering it religious in nature, and having a "non-religious" advertising policy. Normally Fort Worth is the conservative side of the metroplex. I suppose this means Fort Worth </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allows</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> religious advertising? Hopefully there's not a double standard, although I don't know for certain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a time when it's all "Happy HOLIDAYS" and lighting a "HOLIDAY tree," I suppose I shouldn't be shocked. Actually, I wasn't. Just doleful and a bit angry at the false message that many searching souls will try to assuage their guilt with. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night when I was checking email, I was further saddened by an article that described several pastors, some that are still in the "ministry", that have lost their faith and become atheists. </span><a href="http://www.raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2010/12/christian-leaders-leaning-towards.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read it for yourself here.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> How Satan has twisted their minds is a mystery, but one that the Bible warns us to expect, especially in the latter days. Yet, once again, these sinking ships take down many passengers, and allow a gloat-fest from the media.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't a nice, neat little summary, or a clever observation to close this with. It is sobering to see how we must truly </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">know </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">what we believe, and at the same time, understand our enemy. He will appear as an angel of light and draw moths to his flame to be burned.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few words of truth are in order.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: 10.8333px;"></span></div><div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 17px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good." Ps. 14:1</i></span></div><div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 17px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Ps. 14:3</i></span></div><div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 17px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one." Rom. 3:12</i></span></div><div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 17px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13</i></span></div><div class="versionVerse" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 17px; padding-top: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10.8333px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10.8333px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. </i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." 2 Peter 2:1-2</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. </i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them." 2 Peter 2:19-21</i></span></div></span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-61423786009496274622010-12-04T16:20:00.002-06:002010-12-04T16:26:35.912-06:00Review: Circle C Beginnings. Early Chapter Books You Won't Want to Miss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nKezjTGjBMmSjwW-dfHkbGGWZf0_z-2zmghmQic62XMvbwXZlAiLq4cywU6i22OSpJYkbDpkiWe2l8Ml2CC94jzoQtvbOHoWasghjVK_cYlTqjnoKfj6EbCuidyVkefHPDzB9L_ef-q3/s1600/IMG_2514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nKezjTGjBMmSjwW-dfHkbGGWZf0_z-2zmghmQic62XMvbwXZlAiLq4cywU6i22OSpJYkbDpkiWe2l8Ml2CC94jzoQtvbOHoWasghjVK_cYlTqjnoKfj6EbCuidyVkefHPDzB9L_ef-q3/s320/IMG_2514.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little girls and horses just seem to go together like . . .well . . . little boys and puppy dogs. I know that</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">was a horse-crazy kid, and now I have three young ladies of my own that adore all things equine. If you can’t have adventures on your own horse though—oh, what a cross to bear!—the next best thing is to READ about adventures on a horse!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Author Susan K. Marlow has delivered another wonderful series that will have your littlest horse lovers jumping in with both feet. “Circle C Beginnings” is the prequel to Susan Marlow’s other successful series, “Circle C Adventures.” I reviewed </span></span></span><i><a href="http://www.heathersthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-andrea-carter-and-trouble.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trouble with Treasure</span></span></span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, one of the books from the latter series, earlier this year. I just loved the wholesome fun it offered. So much so, that I bought the entire set for my 12 year old daughter. She inhaled every book and proclaimed them to be the best stories her voracious reading appetite had consumed!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I received the first two “Circle C Beginnings” books recently, my daughter snatched them up and read them as well (even though they are aimed at an audience of 6-8 year olds). There’s something about Andi Carter, the main character of all the Circle C books, that is so endearing. She just seems to find trouble like a flea finds a dog. And it’s always with such good intentions that you can’t help but become a fan! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andi’s Pony Trouble</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, Andi is tired of her pokey, hand-me-down pony, Coco. She is almost six years old, for Pete’s sake, shouldn’t she be ready for a full-grown horse? Her family doesn’t think so, but Andi is sure she can prove how mature and ready she really is. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andi and friend Riley go riding on Coco and Riley’s horse, Midnight. Riley let’s her take a turn galloping on Midnight and Andi feels like she can conquer the world! She certainly doesn’t want to ride boring old Coco anymore. In fact, why can’t the two of them ride double on Midnight and let Coco follow them back to the ranch? Good plan, until they realize Coco is no longer behind them. Andi knows that losing Coco will mean big trouble. If she can’t take care of a pokey, hand-me-down pony, then it proves she really isn’t ready for a full size horse! Maybe if she can find Coco on her own . . . (yes, it’s a </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bad</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> idea!).</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andi’s Indian Summer</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> finds Andi and friend Riley (or maybe “partner in crime” is a better description?) between a rock and a hard place. A dime-novel about Indian’s taking white men captive has planted some pretty scary images in young Andi’s mind. What could be worse than being kidnapped by a tribe of wild Indians? The children find that getting lost in the vast, unsettled wilderness proves to be a close second. When real Indians come across their path, Andi and Riley are sure they are goners! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the Circle C adventures are set in the late 1800’s, in the untamed Sierra Nevada’s of California. A perfect place for a young tomboy to find trouble and adventure galore! There’s enough rough and tumble fun in these stories to ensure that boys will enjoy them as well. Although Andi makes bad choices at times, she also learns wholesome lessons through the natural consequences of her actions. Important concepts for young people to grasp!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These delightful early chapter books have a “New Words” list to help readers navigate the tale. Illustrator Leslie Gammelgaard has liberally sprinkled her charming sketches throughout the pages, serving to enhance the story that much more.The author also has a few questions and historical facts at the end of each book to add to the experience. You’ll also be glad to know there’s a definite Christian worldview woven into each story that's never preachy, just a natural part of Andi’s life.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Furthermore, on the Circle C website (</span></span></span><a href="http://www.circlecadventures.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">visit it here</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">), there are activity and coloring pages (related to each book) that can be printed out for FREE, serving to make these chapter books a truly educational experience. If you’re ready to add some Circle C fun to your Christmas gift list, then you can order books by visiting the </span></span></span><a href="http://www.kregel.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kregel Publishing website here</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a pleasure to get to know Andi Carter and crew through the various Circle C books! I know you won’t be disappointed in the quality of writing and integrity of character that Susan K. Marlow serves up with each tale. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-46712871929696017912010-12-02T16:16:00.000-06:002010-12-02T16:16:29.764-06:00Christmas Punch for a Bunch!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Here's an easy, festive recipe for Christmas punch that you can whip up for your next Christmas party. Good anytime, really!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">One gallon of Apple Cider</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">One bottle of 100% Cranberry juice (you can do Cran-Pomegranate, or Cran-Grape, whatever you fancy).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">One 2 liter bottle Ginger Ale, 7-Up or Sprite (Cherry or Cranberry 7-Up helps to keep the drink more pink/red).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Mix in large container and enjoy!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Cheers!</span></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-76711858253691744932010-11-30T13:59:00.001-06:002010-11-30T14:00:26.178-06:00A Different Kind of Prayer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My family is blessed to be able to participate in a fine arts school for homeschoolers that is over 700 kids strong! Yes, you read that right. I'll share more about that fantastic program another time, but I did want to reprint a prayer that was published in the monthly newspaper that the journalism kids publish once a month. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I thought it was a poignant reminder that things aren't always what they seem on the surface and that the world is bigger than population three: me, myself and I.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRAYER</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anonymous</span><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Heavenly Father,</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. </span></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Bless us with patience, empathy and love.</span></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">AMEN!</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-33017486741137708442010-11-28T22:06:00.000-06:002010-11-28T22:06:27.755-06:00Thoughts on Thankfulness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">As Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, I was just thinking how healthy a habit being thankful is 24/7. I once bought a friend a plaque that read, "There's always, always something to be thankful for." That is a great reminder; I like the way it stresses "always" since there are often times I lose sight of that truth in the midst of a trial. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">We are reminded of that truth over and over again in scripture. Regardless of the trial, regardless of the circumstance, regardless of our feelings: REJOICE and GIVE THANKS!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">So, without further adieu, and by no means is this list all-encompassing, I would like to proclaim the many things I am thankful for (and I encourage you to write your own list and display it where you can see it in the midst of the muck of life!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Salvation: The free gift of God, the love He had for me even when I was His enemy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My husband: His unconditional love, his godly character, his patience, his provision, his sense of humor.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My children: Their soft hearts, obedient spirits, love of life, love of God, creative impulses, musical talent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My mom: That she lives nearby and gets to be a part of our lives, that she is in good health, that she has passed her faith on to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My dad: Even though he is no longer with us, I know I will see him again! I'm glad I inherited his creative juices.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My In-Laws: From mom and dad to brothers and sisters and cousins, I now have the big, loving family I didn't grow up with!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My friends: Their love, their support, their prayers, their faithfulness. They urge me on in my walk with Christ. They are so often Christ with skin on in my life!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My church: The leadership, the scriptural grounding, the amount of men that are strong husbands and dads, the youth group, the reverence and awe they add to my spiritual life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My job: Teaching ballet, and now blossoming as a writer, are total gifts from the Father. I have done nothing to earn these gifts, have no merit and training that I can look to as a basis for my pursuits.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My home: Cozy. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, situated in the beauty of the country. It is so much more than a roof over our head. It is where memories are made every day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">My country: Freedom to worship, freedom to homeschool, freedom to vote, freedom of speech...just to name a few things that make America great!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Those things are just the tip of the ice berg. I must also choose to be thankful, today in particular, that even though my refrigerator keeps going out, I have a back up fridge that works! I am also thankful that although said refrigerator went out today, as well as about 10 days ago, IT WORKED THROUGH THANKSGIVING! That was a concern that wasn't realized! Yea God!</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-83473868207635987082010-11-24T20:34:00.000-06:002010-11-24T20:34:00.400-06:00Book Review: A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmoWJEEnmeaa6fO4Z6BJH4e9BRuNwfBF37bmd4P3tQ9kMeCAxE_EkKA-DmrWbxUKG_EAFmbt_QwMOFKXQRGCoSILCVpiZxK9koEL9-GsyBo19GvUWNZX58EUQewfrWwOXHhF6U_JlT0my/s1600/rush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmoWJEEnmeaa6fO4Z6BJH4e9BRuNwfBF37bmd4P3tQ9kMeCAxE_EkKA-DmrWbxUKG_EAFmbt_QwMOFKXQRGCoSILCVpiZxK9koEL9-GsyBo19GvUWNZX58EUQewfrWwOXHhF6U_JlT0my/s200/rush.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Noelle St. Claire has abruptly left her life of wealth and sophistication, leaving behind a stunned fiance and father that adored her. They have no idea where to look for Noelle and she has no idea where she’s headed—she just feels a desperate need to run. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Using cash for anonymity and taking a bus west, Noelle finds herself at a ranch in a tiny mountain town of Colorado. She isn’t sure what to make of the ranch owner, Rick Spencer, who is rugged, introspective and full of faith in a God that Noelle doesn’t believe exists. Then there’s Rick’s brother, Morgan, who is just the opposite of Rick: charming, flirtatious and greatly lacking in faith of any sort. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">The brothers are equally as perplexed about the mysterious Noelle. They can tell she is running from something but she is tight-lipped about her past and who she is. She seems like a puzzle with pieces that play hide and seek. The truth is, even Noelle isn’t sure what it is that she has run away from. Sure, her fiance was a brute when he was angry, but that didn’t explain the sudden fragmented thoughts that caused panic attacks and threatened her sanity. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Rick sees her as a vulnerable young woman in need of God’s love and healing; Morgan sees her as a fragile beauty that needs a good dose of his charisma. Noelle just wants to be left alone to find her way: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">thank-you-very-much.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">I thoroughly enjoyed Kristen Heitzmann’s latest novel, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">A Rush of Wings</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">. An excellent read if you are looking for romance laced with tension and mystery. I’m impressed with the way the author wove the element of faith into the story, giving believable struggles and not offering pat answers. Yet the faith was deep and vivid, not watered down. I also enjoyed the stark contrast of the brothers, Rick and Morgan, and their banter with Noelle. Exceptional characters and lovely descriptions fill the pages of this novel. Looking forward to discovering what else Kristen Heitzmann has to offer!</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> **In exchange for my honest review, Bethany House publishers has provided me with a copy of this book.</span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-86231417528815630702010-11-18T22:16:00.004-06:002010-11-18T22:22:01.972-06:00Homemade Sloppy Joes . . . Let's Call 'em Sloppy Heathers!<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">So, I'm sitting here watching "Julie and Julia," and relating to the thrill of good food and all of those publishers calling Julie Powell and saying they want to publish a book based on her blog. . . not that I have any delusions about this blog being a hot item or anything. But the thought of someone wanting to publish one of my stories IS something I fantasize about.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Anyhoo (see, that word right there shows that I'm just messing around on this blog, having fun), tonight I made some homemade Sloppy Joes that had a surprising "yum" factor, due to the Rotel I tossed in as an afterthought. This was a big hit with my husband as well as the kids, and so much better for us than the pre-made stuff in a can. I feel inspired to share it with you, thanks to the movie . . .</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Brown two pounds of ground meat. You probably will use beef. I used one pound of venison and one pound of Italian chicken sausage. Drain the fat (don't you wish you could do that to your thighs?).</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">In a medium bowl mix together:</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1/2 C BBQ sauce</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1/3 C Ketchup (not Catsup! Who spells it like that, anyway?)</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1/3 C Brown Sugar (I used dark)</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">3 T Yellow Mustard</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">3 T Worcestershire </span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Garlic or seasoning salt to taste</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">One can of drained Original Rotel</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Add above mixture to browned meat and "slop" it into some wheat hamburger buns (because you gave up white bread a long time ago, right?). If this makes too much for your brood, freeze it and have it for "fast food" later!</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">And there it is. A man-pleasing, kid-slurpin' good meal!</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I served ours with sweet potato fries and slices of fresh mango (on the side, not on the Joes!). A great sweet/spicy combo if I do say so myself! </span></span></span></span></b>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-45338863557933988232010-11-06T10:00:00.006-05:002010-11-06T10:06:57.277-05:00Book Review: Warrior of the Son<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeN-e88AnWwZdT5VxAekgJ-h1nA7Oc_KGocJzZDlx4EmZim3ub_tR5kk7mfB4dZi2v4usl90InuTzh5D0XCt0mOIV9auteigIrbZ9O5i3nbcPANN6mAjpKLWWmYKDsben-O-ox1t4vIHi/s1600/warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeN-e88AnWwZdT5VxAekgJ-h1nA7Oc_KGocJzZDlx4EmZim3ub_tR5kk7mfB4dZi2v4usl90InuTzh5D0XCt0mOIV9auteigIrbZ9O5i3nbcPANN6mAjpKLWWmYKDsben-O-ox1t4vIHi/s320/warrior.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When young Evan MacKeth watches his mother’s murder at the hands of his half-brother Osric, bitterness takes up residence like an insidious monster. Although he himself is a wanted, hunted man on the run, Evan is plotting a return to his homeland and vengeance for his mother’s death.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Never mind that his mentor and companion, Julian Antony Vorenius, is a follower of The One True God, and is urging Evan to find forgiveness in Iosa Christus so that he can forgive his brother. Never mind that he has been pursued by trolls and demons and finds himself calling out to this One True God for help! </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Evan MacKeth is driven by his anger; driven to be the best sword fighter, driven to return to the castle and marry his childhood sweetheart, driven to avenge his mother’s murder. He will not know peace and satisfaction with anything less than this ideal. It takes him into exile across strange lands and propels him through many trials. He rehearses his pain and his plan over and over until it resounds like a pulse in the very fiber of his being. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Author Samuel Schiller has written a medieval tale with all of the gallantry and danger of other well loved fantasy books. </span></span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Warrior of the Son</span></span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, the first in his series of Gothic stories, will be a thrilling read for the young person in your home that loves a good adventure laced with the language, legends and chivalry of King Arthur’s day.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mr. Schiller offers up a bevy of characters, castles, peril, and creepy opponents. What he also offers is truth. Laced with scripture, this tale is honest in its look at what bitterness will do to a person without being preachy about God’s antidote to the problem. The consequences of harboring hatred bear out in a natural way. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The story is not for young readers, as it deals with some mature themes here and there. (For instance: Evan is the illegitimate son of the reigning king). The issues are handled tactfully and only touched on briefly. The flowery language would likely be a challenge for younger readers as well.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take a look at all of Mr. Schiller’s exciting stories by clicking </span></span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.christianwarriorbooks.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here</span></span></a></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I think you will be pleased to find an author who can provide the exploits that fantasy readers crave without glorifying the dark side. Rather, Mr. Schiller makes it clear that the truth of scripture is for all men at all time, and in any situation!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-15038182761889893432010-10-26T13:12:00.001-05:002010-10-26T13:13:03.724-05:00Prayer Boxes: An Easy Way to Pray for...Everything!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Do you ever feel like the list of prayer needs grows by the week...and maybe the day? I know that so often the "big" pressing things get the prayer time, and many other things just fall by the wayside or else get rattled off in a rapid-fire list as time constraints dictate. We have found a great solution for just such a problem!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not sure where I read this idea, but I thought it was great! We have Prayer Boxes (I think the original idea was Prayer Jars). We made small cards with prayer needs written on them. I mean everything we could think of: neighbors, family members, our church, our school, our country, our soldiers, the persecuted church, missionaries...you name it. We wrote them down on some card stock (sturdy enough to be used repeatedly) and cut them out.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Then we put them in a small recipe box and wrote "Prayer Needs" on top. We labeled another box "Prayed For." Each day, we pass the box around and each person takes out two cards (pick a number that works for you), then we all have a quiet time of prayer. When we are finished, the cards go to the "Prayed For" box.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">When the "Prayer Needs" box is empty, we start over! This way, everything gets prayed for on a fairly regular basis, and we don't have to feel overwhelmed-- or as if we are dropping the ball. Of course, as new needs arise, we put them in the box and add to the cards. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Besides effectively praying for so many needs, the kids really enjoy the element of surprise each day. Something about pulling the unknown out of a box...that "ta-da" effect! They like that. And they like sharing with each other who or what they are praying about. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And, certainly, there are many needs that we know cannot wait for prayer...and we pray for them all the time! </span></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-8405744269926274212010-10-05T06:37:00.001-05:002010-10-05T14:07:00.464-05:00Ridiculously Delicious and Easy Peanut Butter Cookies (that also happen to be Gluten free!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Here's a recipe with three whole ingredients! Share it with your kids and they may just keep you in a steady supply of delicious peanut butter cookies.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Two cups of your favorite peanut butter (regular or crunchy)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">2 eggs, beaten</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">2 C sugar (I only use 1 1/2 and it is PLENTY sweet. But I like that the recipe calls for everything in 2's. Like Noah.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Preheat oven to 350. Mix dough well with beaters. Of course, you may add in chocolate chips if you so desire, which we do occasionally. Or a Hershey Kiss on top! Roll the dough into ping-pong size balls with your hands. Place on cookie sheet and mash down with fork (the official stamp of authenticity for peanut butter cookies!). Or squish it down with that Hershey Kiss idea. It's all good.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned. Scarf 'em down.</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6367446093683675009.post-51373808840532906442010-09-28T13:17:00.002-05:002010-09-28T16:13:53.733-05:00When the Severe Pain Ebbs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Sunday School. Just down from my husband and me sits another couple that I see every week, yet haven’t had an opportunity to get to know. A “hello”, a nod, a smile. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Their son is a friend of my daughter’s in youth group. She isn’t in Sunday school with him today, she stayed the night with a friend and is visiting another church. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Sunday School is over, we all file into the sanctuary and worship together. Our family, this other family. Many families. Many that I know. Many more that I do not. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Fast forward about 30 hours to Monday night.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Last night.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">We all file into the sanctuary to worship together. Again. Our family. This other family. Many families. Suddenly we are all family.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">But, the family from Sunday School is minus One. The one in youth group with my daughter.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">So many tears. So many broken hearts. So many questions. So much pain. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Yet...So much rejoicing. So much faith. And hope. So much victory in the midst of loss. Prayers unite. Strength surrounding, scripture declaring, songs lifting our eyes from ourselves and our anguish to Christ who has vanquished. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Even so, I cannot keep my mind in the moment. My storytelling brain takes over. The writer in me goes into third person and I find myself observing glimpses of the future that will bring back the pain, fresh and ferocious. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">I do not know these parents. But, I am a parent. I am a mother. I know the heart of a mother. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">The agony that sears and tears with intensity right now will mellow. Who could survive such heartache if it did not? God has sent the Comforter. This mother, this father, and sister...they will be comforted. They will come to a place of acceptance and a place of motion, where the world goes on and they move forward with it once again. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">A place where the severe pain has ebbed. Replaced by the sweet ache of missing someone you love beyond measure.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">But I see the unexpected stabs of pain that loom in the near and distant future. Hiding behind the little things that will catch this mother, and the others, by surprise. Little things that will feel like big things, making them catch their breath. The questions, the “what ifs”, the “remember whens”. These thoughts, these pictures, these stories are what choke me with tears, what makes me pray for this family more. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">A long vigil over time seems like a good idea. Remembering to pray for this family is a marathon and not a sprint. To pray that Christ would carry, would comfort, would heal even as each memory wields a clever strategy to bring heartache. Opportunities for bitterness and anger will spark, hoping to find purchase, hoping to steal joy. We must--- I must--ask God to keep bringing this family to my thoughts so I can bring them to Him in prayer.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">I think we all kind of hope, maybe even expect, that a real-life crisis will occur like it does in the movies. Foreshadowing takes place in scripts. Not in life. It would be so handy to have a string of events to look back on and see how it was all leading up to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">this</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">...as if the person knew it was going to happen.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>I bet this young man left his room a little messy. He plopped some books on his half-made bed, left his shoes laying around, needed to empty the trash. His room seems to be expecting him back at any moment.</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>There is school work left incomplete. What was he going to write about for his assignment in Literature? Was he finally getting the hang of quadratic equations? And, oh, look at that lousy handwriting! No wonder he wanted to do everything on the computer...</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>His basketball schedule is still on the calendar. He was looking forward to the tournament at the end of the year. His favorite movie was going to be released next week; he and some friends already planned their weekend around it. </i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Mail will come addressed to him. So presumptuous. </i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Do the couch cushions hold some treasure from his pockets to be unearthed at a later date? A crumbled up scrap of paper that he scribbled on or folded around a wad of gum. Like a time capsule. That will be a precious find! Precious but painful.</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Notes in his Bible. Notes on his desk. Reminders to himself become reminders of him.</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>A glimpse in a crowd, when-- for the moment-- it will seem natural that he is there. A case of mistaken identity that leaves the family member yearning...</i></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">These stories play in my mind when I contemplate their loss. Each of my children become this young man. Though I cannot imagine their depth of pain...in some small way I can. We all can.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">I wish I could make it all better. Wish I could make that pain go away. Wish I could bring back their young man. Wish I could at least arrange a proper “good-bye”.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Yet, I remind myself of the promises of God. I embrace His sovereignty. I believe he is gracious and loving and good all of the time. And so does this family. It is very evident in their life. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">It is right to encourage them with scripture and hugs and tears and prayers. I believe all of that will help to heal. It must be done. It is being done. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">I just know the unexpected moments and memories are destined to come and I wanted to tell them that it is ok. Those times will be like a brief, sweet connection that can be savored. Like a quick visit. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">It will hurt. It may make them wonder if it will ever hurt less. I don’t know for sure. I just felt like I had to put into words what many of us already have had floating through our minds. We chastise those kind of thoughts. Won’t allow ourselves to “go there”. Such pondering doesn’t seem very spiritual. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">But it is very human. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Sometimes these bodies of flesh and emotion demand attention. Demand to be recognized. Must be allowed an outlet. Not an excuse to sin. Not a reason to be bitter. Just permission to feel and to hurt and to swell up and gush over in tears. We are wired to find relief in releasing our emotions. Jesus allowed himself to deeply love and openly hurt. Jesus wept.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">It must be ok. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">It is ok.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">I pray God will remind us all to keep carrying the burdens of those that mourn as life resumes and the severe pain ebbs.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896377657256591957noreply@blogger.com0