tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34864028120791459312024-03-13T07:27:07.506-07:00Pure FemininityFreedom to be Feminine!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979008263861384176noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-64426683900292568862014-02-23T13:37:00.001-08:002014-02-23T13:37:57.220-08:00Incredible Update & Farewell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Update & Farewell
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Incredible Testimony – Look What the Lord Has Done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Missy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">**Much of the information in this document is sensitive –
This information has been only shared with a few selected local people who know my family but more widely with
those out of state. My purpose in
sharing the following information is to glorify the Lord – He has brought us
through so much**</span></i><span style="color: #351c75;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Two years?!?:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am shocked to realize that it has been more than two years
since Sarah, Chip or I have posted anything on Pure Femininity. Because of what has been happening in each of
our lives, we did decide to stop writing for this blog – however we at least
meant to write a fond farewell post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is just a little bit of what has been happening in each
of our lives:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sarah: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Sarah, her husband and small son were relocated by the Cost
Guard from Oregon to Virginia for her husband’s new position. They miss the small town feel of where they
lived in Oregon but overall, Virginia has offered them with a much better home
and job position where they can be together every day instead of her husband
leaving for weeks at a time. It has been
a much better life for them there. Sarah
has just recently started teaching a sewing class for a homeschool group of
young girls. Her students range in age
from 6 to 13 and she is enjoying the experience very much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After much thought, prayer, and discussion, Sarah decided to
stop writing for Pure Femininity in order to focus more attention on her
husband and son. Although for the most
part she has given up blogging, she still occasionally writes posts as a guest writer
for the following blog. <a href="http://www.wherejoyis.blogspot.com/">http://www.wherejoyis.blogspot.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarah and I (Missy) are still in touch every single day and
I am so thankful for her encouraging friendship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-YFnfGo5Ew/UwpjqSkf-mI/AAAAAAAAEd0/jK8N2oHQdZs/s1600/576671_485793024823538_1694618761_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-YFnfGo5Ew/UwpjqSkf-mI/AAAAAAAAEd0/jK8N2oHQdZs/s1600/576671_485793024823538_1694618761_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah, James and I when I visited them in Oregon<br />shortly before they moved to Virginia.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Chip: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Chip is still and will always be the best sister ever to
me! Early last year, she got her first apartment
and moved an hour south to Spokane where she took a job as office manager,
accordion repair tec, and piano and accordion teacher for Able To Play
Music. She is also still heavily
involved with the Portatos Accordion Band and anything else to do with accordion
and music! Last year, Chip took first
place in one of the performance sections of the Leavenworth Accordion Competition. Not only was it her first time to win first
place - the best part is that she did it
with her own composition! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chip has continued to grow steadily with the Lord and He has
taken her through some hard trials. She
is such a huge inspiration to me and to others who know her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VYBLjM_zgo/Uwpj3s_1mwI/AAAAAAAAEd8/FW5c29FqBoY/s1600/295859_4964432872635_1826654107_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VYBLjM_zgo/Uwpj3s_1mwI/AAAAAAAAEd8/FW5c29FqBoY/s1600/295859_4964432872635_1826654107_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chip and I in November 2012 at the end of the<br />World Accordion Competition when it came to Spokane</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Missy:</b> (That’s me! )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- - <!--[endif]-->And an update on my dad, mom, and grandpa as
well – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A bit of the past: </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> A few of you know that the past few years have been
extremely difficult and harsh for my family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> For more than three years, my dad, Chip and I took care of
my mom and grandpa – both of whom were suffering through different mental
illnesses. During that time, we kept
what we were going through a secret and even now, for my mom and grandpa’s
sake, I will be very vague about the details of the horrifying things that we
went through. As the only one through
that period of time who did not have a job, I turned into the main caretaker
for my mom and grandpa. Thankfully
either my dad or Chip were able to be home at least a little almost every day
to give me a break. At times, when
things were at their worst, they would both have to take off work in order for us
all to provide 24/7 care for my mom. We
could not afford to place my grandpa in a home and we could not get medical
attention for my mom – not unless she were to try to take her own life. Looking back now, I can say that it was only
by the grace of God that we ever made it through. It was a physically and mentally crushing and
spiritually trying time in all of our lives and even now we still have much
recovering to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> After taking care of my mom and grandpa for almost three
years, my mom (due to her mental illness) was completely done with me and
kicked me out of the house on the night before Thanksgiving. (2012) At that point, I was so crushed and
overloaded that I was unable to handle anymore.
Thankfully, at that time, both my dad and sister were home and I was
able to spend that night, Thanksgiving, and the next night living out of my dad’s
sleeper on his semi-truck. The day after
Thanksgiving, I called an older couple (D&D) who I had known for a few
years and asked if it would be alright for me to stay with them for a few
nights. They were more than happy to
help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The days after that event were horrible. I felt as though I had deserted my family
when they still badly needed me – but at the same time, I knew I had given my
all and that I was not able to take anymore;
Not without hurting someone or myself.
I sobbed and prayed and sobbed more.
Then D&D shared something with me that astounded me. D&D had not heard from me in months and
they had no idea what was going on in my life - but while praying, they felt
strongly like I was going to need a place to stay for a while. Acting on faith, they began to remodel their
basement. The remodel took a couple of
months – All this time, they did not hear from me at all. Two HOURS after they finished remodeling the
bedroom (the last part of the basement that needed remodeled) - I called them asking for a place to
stay. I had no idea that I would be
needing a place to stay – but God knew and D&D acted by faith with much
prayer. That was the first major
confirmation that I was supposed to leave my family – even though it felt
completely wrong at that time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The second confirmation came shortly after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">D&D let me stay with them – not just for a few days but
I was welcome for as long as I needed a place to live. I began immediately searching for a job. I searched everyday – online and in
person. I filled out stacks of
applications but jobs are scarce – especially full time. During that time, I prayed much about a job,
and I had peace. I knew that if the Lord
wanted me to have a job, he would guide me in the right direction. I was calm about finding a job and trusting,
but I was still emotionally wrenching from the harsh circumstances that I had
just left and the thought that I had deserted my family. D&D were very supportive and prayed very
much for us even though it was not until two or three months later that I was
able to open up and share with them what had been happening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdUSzjp6oxY/UwpkVfN0IgI/AAAAAAAAEeI/sM_FA9munXo/s1600/205382_366880366714805_514429738_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdUSzjp6oxY/UwpkVfN0IgI/AAAAAAAAEeI/sM_FA9munXo/s1600/205382_366880366714805_514429738_n.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My Job:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The phone call was completely unexpected. Yes, I was hoping for phone calls – hoping that
someone would contact me regarding a job, but this phone number I already had
as a contact in my phone and I hadn’t spoken with them in two or three years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tristan from Stickit Signs called me – asking if I would be
interested in a job working for him as the Chewelah Office Manager. The best part is – he had NO IDEA THAT I WAS
LOOKING FOR A JOB! When Chip worked in
Chewelah, her office was right next to Stickit Signs and that is how I had
originally met Tris three years previously.
I had done a little bit of photography work for him in exchange for some
vehicle magnets. We had not been in
touch since then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After I interviewed with Tris and started work, I found out
that he and his wife had been in deep prayer about who they should hire as an
office manager. It was going to be a big
job. Until that point in time, Tris had
run the business alone. He did
everything out of his head and so there were no set systems or price sheets and
he had no need for them running it solo.
However, his business needed to grow and he was looking for the right
person to build systems and price sheets and help him build the business up. He had to find the right person, and he knew
that God had the solution. For weeks, he
and his wife had been thinking of me as a possibility but they did not call me
until that day. If they had called me
two weeks earlier – I would have turned the job down because I was still caring
for my mom and grandpa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, God’s timing was so perfect and he had laid out a
complete plan before me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSaj8EsoxIc/UwpkrXz_gwI/AAAAAAAAEe0/E-b7BuJJE0s/s1600/1526863_592112770858229_1262820115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSaj8EsoxIc/UwpkrXz_gwI/AAAAAAAAEe0/E-b7BuJJE0s/s1600/1526863_592112770858229_1262820115_n.jpg" height="128" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful view out the side window of my office at Stickit Signs in Chewelah</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Two months later:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> After a long paperwork battle, my dad was finally able to
get enough financial support to have my grandpa moved into an assisted living
home. I had regularly changed my grandpa
every day when I was taking care of him, but after I left, he became much much
worse to the point that even if I had been there, I would have no longer been
able to take care of him anymore. Dad
was the only one that could handle him and it was very rough. As soon as my grandpa was relocated, I began
to clean out his cabin and work on remodeling it. My intention was to move into the cabin
(right across the creek from my parent’s house) so that I could help again with
my mom without actually living in the same house with her. Even moving into the cabin would have been
horribly difficult for me with the state she was in, but Chip had been offered
a new job and was planning her move to Spokane and I couldn’t just leave my dad
with the way things were. I continued
to live with D&D but I worked on the cabin whenever I could. Sadly, it had been badly damaged by my
grandpa and was going to take a lot of time, repair and money to fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My Miracle Car:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> It was a huge blessing being able to live with D&D,
however the drive to my new job was 40 minutes one way IF the roads were good….
And they were not good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every day, as I drove to work, I could feel the worn out car
I was driving shake and moan and I felt as though it was not going to last too
terribly much longer. It was extremely
high in miles and not worth fixing at all – but it was what I had and once it
died I was going to be stuck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Thankfully the Lord had a plan for that as well!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Every day, I thanked the Lord for the car and how far it had
been able to go. Then I would also thank
Him for my next car. I told Him, “I have no idea where it is coming from – But
God, THANK YOU for my next car! I know
it is going to have to be another miracle!”
- And it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The day finally came.
While I was just about to pull out of a parking lot, the old green car
suddenly began to shake horribly, I lost power steering and most of the
brakes. THANKFULLY there were just
enough brakes left for me to slam on them with all of my might to keep myself
from ending up right in the middle of oncoming traffic. I was somehow able to get the car into
reverse and it had just enough noisy, shaky strength to back up into a parking
space where it died for good. I sat
there for just a minute and thanked God one last time for the car that had
taken me so very far – and then I thanked him once again for the next car that
I had no idea how I would get!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I happened to have my bike in the back so I called my dad,
pulled out my bike and rode around for an hour until he was able to come and
get me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stayed the next few nights at the house with my family
sleeping on my sister’s bedroom floor.
At the time she still worked in Chewelah and so she was able to take me
to work when she went, then either her or my dad would pick me up later. Chip worked part time and I worked full time
so it was difficult for a few days but we did it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That weekend, I called my grandma in Montana to chit
chat. While we were talking I mentioned
what had happened to the car. There was
silence on the other end of the line and then she asked, “Do you need a car?” She owned a car and a pickup and she wanted
to get rid of her car. She fully
intended to give it away to a family member but she was uncertain who to give
it to because none of her family really “needed” a car. It had been heavily on her mind and she had
been praying hard about it for months.
She kept feeling like she should give the car to us, but she didn’t want
to cause friction with other family members since at that time, none of us
really “needed” it. Now I was
desperately in need of a car and it was an answer to her prayers and a huge
delight to her to be able to bless me with it.
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chip and I drove to Montana right away and I drove back my
new car! It is a humble little car, it
had belonged to my Great- Grandma, then my Grandma, and now me. That makes the car sound old – but it was
very low in miles and well taken care of.
The Lord is the best planner and provider imaginable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Traumatic Event:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I had now been living with D&D for over 5 months and was
working hard on the cabin so that I could help keep an eye on mom again. Grandpa was in assisted living care and Chip
had just moved to Spokane. Dad had to
work on and off but that left mom alone a lot even during the times when she
still needed 24/7 care. We were all so
burnt out from the past years there very little we could do any longer. I stopped as often as I could to check on her
and bring groceries. On Friday, April
the 19<sup>th</sup>, I stopped at the house after work to do more repairs on
the cabin and to check on my mom. Both the driveway to the cabin and the
driveway to the house were completely covered in broken glass and random other
broken items that were everywhere. When
I went inside of the house it was much worse.
Mom was in a very bad state and I could not leave her alone. I stayed there and dad arrived later that
night. It was a horrible weekend. On Monday, April 22nd, I had to go to work
while dad stayed there. The house was
quiet when I left and it seemed like my mom must have been sleeping – or so I
thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I received the call at about 12:15 pm. It was my dad… he was sobbing… My mom had tried
to commit suicide. At times she would
not sleep for days at a time and so when she finally did sleep – she slept hard
and long. Dad had thought she was
sleeping and so he did not want to disturb her.
The room had been quiet and he didn’t want to wake her and so he didn’t
check on her until that time. However,
instead of sleeping, she had been quietly torturing herself to death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I rushed home and arrived shortly after the police and
ambulance. I was able to say goodbye to
her before they took her away – I really didn’t know if I would see her again. Then I climbed in the car and drove to the
hospital with my broken dad next to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mom went through surgery that night. They had to remove air from around one of her
lungs, remove a large section of her intestines, and stitch up several other
holes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I packed my things from D&D’s and moved back into my
parent’s house to take care of the animals and to be there for my dad. Chip had moved into town only two weeks
before and she lived only a couple of miles away from the hospital. This was yet more proof of God’s perfect
timing! Dad was able to stay with Chip
at her new apartment to be close to my mom.
If she didn’t have the apartment, he would have had to drive an hour
one-way every day to be there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My mom ended up being in a few different hospitals over the
next seven months. I worked hard to be
able to drive the hour and a half one-way drive every weekend out to see her
and dad and Chip went as often as they were able to as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> During those months, my physical body went through a series
of different stages of shock. There were
times that my health was so bad that I wanted to die. Thankfully I had some very close friends that
helped me through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Shortly before Thankgiving 2013, my mom was relocated to a
better place where she has more freedom and she is close so I can be there for
her. Since she is now stabilized on
medication, she is like a completely different person and thankfully, there are
a lot of things from the past years that she does not seem to remember at
all. I feel like I am gaining back some
of the mom that I never thought I would see ever again. I am so incredibly thankful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad has been such a huge inspiration to me. He has proven himself to be so faithful and
patent even though he has suffered so much.
He still is suffering and is very broken from the things we have been
through. He is in need of friends and
prayers. I feel as though I can do so
little for him – but I am thankful that I can make the house into a home for
him and be here when he is home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0MPp5I-N5c/UwpkZFK2gbI/AAAAAAAAEeo/0gpsql2uhcU/s1600/599651_459689790767195_654167700_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E0MPp5I-N5c/UwpkZFK2gbI/AAAAAAAAEeo/0gpsql2uhcU/s1600/599651_459689790767195_654167700_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Present: February
2014</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Grandpa is still in an assisted living home and it is a much
better place for him. He has old friends
and family members who visit him often and even though he can’t remember who
they are – He enjoys the company.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I am still living with my dad and we have been working hard
to repair all the damage inside and outside of the cabin and the house that was
caused by my mom and grandpa’s illnesses.
Paint, repair, and new decorations are beginning to make the house into
a home and it is helping to slowly wipe away all of the bad memories. The house is really beginning to look like a
different place now and it has been healing for both dad and I. To our best knowledge, my mom will never be
coming back here again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1eiSd8Yo_Z4/UwpkVS82ExI/AAAAAAAAEeM/pfrR4r_035U/s1600/1532044_585369924865847_138075206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1eiSd8Yo_Z4/UwpkVS82ExI/AAAAAAAAEeM/pfrR4r_035U/s1600/1532044_585369924865847_138075206_n.jpg" height="100" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad's fire place remodel project - didn't he do an amazing job!?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WECas0hMYpA/Uwpof-AU8iI/AAAAAAAAEgA/-LuJRLfSxmg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WECas0hMYpA/Uwpof-AU8iI/AAAAAAAAEgA/-LuJRLfSxmg/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean up and repair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGTt0bVqcho/Uwpod3W8hjI/AAAAAAAAEfw/Xjsfc4lmbNg/s1600/1553590_586392088096964_1477345062_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGTt0bVqcho/Uwpod3W8hjI/AAAAAAAAEfw/Xjsfc4lmbNg/s1600/1553590_586392088096964_1477345062_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj4WcujUISs/Uwpoe68NDyI/AAAAAAAAEf4/YRCe5gQkQE0/s1600/1560769_586392048096968_154132872_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj4WcujUISs/Uwpoe68NDyI/AAAAAAAAEf4/YRCe5gQkQE0/s1600/1560769_586392048096968_154132872_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After #2</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I am still working at Stickit Signs and am so thankful for
my job. After hard work of building price
sheets and systems, we opened a second store and have hired two new employees
that we have been training. This has
been a very humbling process, because as I train others – I realize just how
much I have yet to learn myself! I am
just about to move out of the customer service angle of the business and will
work as our main artwork designer, book-keeper, and do a little bit of
everything else that I possibly can! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My health has still be quite bad, but it is much better than
it was over the summer! I am really
focusing hard on natural healing and am doing a lot of physical exercise as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Things are changing and getting better. We have much to heal from but even more to be
thankful for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is well with my soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> GOD IS GOOD – I hope you are encouraged and inspired to
trust Him though all of life’s storms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This is an update and a farewell. I may someday post another long update of what else the Lord has been doing, but for now - This is our final post on Pure Femininity. Thank you for being a follower and for all the encouragement that you have given us through your comments and emails.</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for reading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~ Missy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Want to stay "Somewhat" connected? Sarah, Chip and I are all on Pinterest! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: http://www.pinterest.com/missyrose14</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chip: http://www.pinterest.com/chipmunkscorner</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarah: http://www.pinterest.com/sewbeit11</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We hope you will follow our boards and we hope to see pins from you! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can also feel free to contact me by email: Missyrose14@gmail.com</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>SPECIAL THANKS!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">There are a few friends that I really want to thank for standing by me and helping me get through the hardest times of my life. (You know who you are so I am only going to post first names)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">My dad and sister, Sarah (and family), Joe, Brenda, Steven, Anna, Matthew, Sally, Andrew S. and Yev.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">I also want to thank everyone else who wrote encouraging cards, emails, and sent little gifts to encourage me even though none of you knew what exactly was wrong or happening in my life. You all helped to get me through and I am thankful for every one of you!</span></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-38728516537654450572012-12-07T07:25:00.000-08:002012-12-07T07:25:00.607-08:00Video Blog - Rag Curls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_6mz-Yr5tRM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_6mz-Yr5tRM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_6mz-Yr5tRM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever wondered how to make rag curls?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watch and learn how!</span></div>
<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-78960344548003248972012-11-16T09:43:00.000-08:002012-11-16T09:43:00.256-08:00Discovery Fridays: Thanksgiving DecosThanksgiving is rapidly approaching! It is a beautiful time of the year, and while I believe we should be thankful each and every moment...it is nice to have a holiday dedicated to thankfulness. My husband's parents and sisters will be visiting us for this holiday, and I wanted to make the time special and memorable. I wanted to decorate...but I didn't want to have to pay an arm and a leg for decorations. So here are some creative things that you could do for very little money to make this upcoming holiday special. :)<br />
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Why not make a beautiful fall wreath - with paper and glitter? It is definitely much cheaper than most wreaths you could buy. I also love this one as it is unique, sparkly, and, yes, inexpensive. :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ouIAKLgIbj8/SyKoZpeaYEI/AAAAAAAAGGg/KqzAIeVl75w/s640/glitter+wreath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ouIAKLgIbj8/SyKoZpeaYEI/AAAAAAAAGGg/KqzAIeVl75w/s320/glitter+wreath2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/12/glitter-wreath-tutorial.html">Photo Courtesy & Tutorial</a></td></tr>
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What about making a garland with leaf shapes spelling out "Give Thanks," "Be thankful" or something similar? It is very inexpensive and a simple afternoon project.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://savingnaturally.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/thanksgiving-leaf-garland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://savingnaturally.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/thanksgiving-leaf-garland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://savingnaturally.com/2010/11/ideas-for-frugal-homemade-thanksgiving-decor/">Photo Courtesy & Tutorial</a></td></tr>
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Many people have vases, popcorn (unpopped), and candles lying around the house. Why not combine these for a beautiful centerpiece? Check out this (and other) decoration idea from My Heart's Desire!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myheartsdesireblog.com/search/label/Fall">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
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Simply Vintage Girl has an amazing idea of a "Thankful Tree." I love this idea and hope to implement it this year. Ever played that "game" (for lack of a better word) where everyone goes around the table before the Thanksgiving meal stating something they are thankful for? I've got to admit, I was never a fan of that game. Not because I'm not thankful, just that by the end everyone was coming up with crazy and silly stuff because they didn't want to be repetitive. I also just don't like talking in front of people, and I know many people are the same way. So why not set up a thankful tree where everyone can leave their thanks. This allows for a beautiful decoration, a place to leave thanks, and, when people have nothing else to do, it would be fun to read about what other people wrote!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5213117410_789aba8b48_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5213117410_789aba8b48_o.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/2010/11/27/the-thankful-tree/">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
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Something cute to hold utensils is also a great idea, and the Idea Room came up with a winner (at least in my book). This could work for both plastic and regular utensils, and it would just add a little spice to the table or buffet. I am definitely going to print these out and use them for this holiday season!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VR-CvKI14us/UFJPVyDb-zI/AAAAAAAAMVo/-T0Oi3fByvs/s640/be+thankful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VR-CvKI14us/UFJPVyDb-zI/AAAAAAAAMVo/-T0Oi3fByvs/s320/be+thankful.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theidearoom.net/2012/09/thanksgiving-table-decor.html">Photo Courtesy & Free Printable</a></td></tr>
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What are some of your ideas for this Thanksgiving? I hope that you all have a wonderful, thankful season!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-85880179927666188312012-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:002012-11-09T09:40:00.519-08:00Discovery Fridays: Kiddo GiftsFor my last installment on kid gifts, I thought I'd hit a broad range of age here... Some of these can be used for little kids and big kids, but they were just a couple more ideas I found and really wanted to share!<br />
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I can remember being a little girl and really wanting to have beds to put my stuffed animals and dolls in. So why not make some sleeping bags for their special toys? Creative, inexpensive, easy, and just plain fun!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6270536367_f7686bd808_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6270536367_f7686bd808_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.com/2011/10/stuffed-animal-sleeping-bags.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you know a family that is often on a road, a portable checkers game is an excellent idea! This idea from Stacy Vaughn is brilliant! (I don't know where some of these people get their ideas -- but I wish I was that creative!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m30lymdmLa1rotz6ao1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m30lymdmLa1rotz6ao1_500.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stacyvaughnblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/travel-checkers-board.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As a little girl, I can remember wanting to cook with my Mom all the time. She made me an adorable little apron that I still have to this day. I am sure any little girl would love an apron like this! And if you changed the themes, some boys might even want to help Mom cook, too!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/momaloy/Blog/Apron/_MG_5982-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/momaloy/Blog/Apron/_MG_5982-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flexibledreams.com/2011/01/i-heart-this-apron.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So there are a few more hand-made gift ideas for kids! What other ideas might you have for all the different ages? Happy crafting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-2767803084250158562012-11-02T09:16:00.000-07:002012-11-02T09:16:00.672-07:00Discovery Fridays: Toddler GiftsLast week we came up with a few ideas for baby gifts... And this week I thought we could look at a few toddler gifts along the same lines! Hope you enjoy more gift project ideas! :)<br />
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Quiet books are amazing. They are quiet and keep the kid quietly playing with his book. They can be very simple...or completely beautiful. For my little boy, I so want to make him a beautiful quiet book. I believe my Mom and sister may help me with some of the pages and that will make it even more special! One lady has come up with some AMAZING quiet book pages and patterns - and I do hope to use some of them. :) Here are her links, but I think the idea of a quiet book is just to be creative... Use your imagination and have fun! Most likely, the toddler will love it no matter what!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_4388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.imagineourlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_4388.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagineourlife.com/2011/09/19/penguin-igloo-quiet-book-page/">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As a toddler, kiddos can definitely begin to learn their letters. But a toddler is less likely to be interested when sitting down with a book and studying. So why not make all the letters out of fabric scraps. The toddler will be entertained by the bright, fabric letters and Momma will be thrilled to have the toddler learning at the same time!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/3691186402_b5d900b29b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/3691186402_b5d900b29b.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.happytogethercreates.com/2009/07/rag-quilt-letters-tutorial.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />At the toddler age, little people love coloring. But, quite honestly, combating that flimsy cardboard box can be trying and impossible. So why not make a cute crayon tote?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/crayon-roll-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/crayon-roll-1.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Want something a little larger, extravagant, and certain to bring squeals of delight? Make your own tent out of hula hoops and sheets! I can't wait for when my little one is old enough to use this idea!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8TfUQDuqwzw/S3ocHNSKaaI/AAAAAAAADdE/vISE0G5S-fM/s400/DONE+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8TfUQDuqwzw/S3ocHNSKaaI/AAAAAAAADdE/vISE0G5S-fM/s320/DONE+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://obsessivelystitching.blogspot.com/2010/02/tent-week-day-two-hula-hoop-dome-tent.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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How about something that allows a toddler to have their own "space" while out and about...but is also very cute and useful? Moms might like this one, as well, as it has a distinct purpose! Create a nap mat! :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennygarland.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/19/img_3569_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://jennygarland.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/19/img_3569_3.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jennygarland.typepad.com/jenny_garland/2008/09/not-your-everyd.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What other ideas do you have for toddler gifts? We'd love to hear some of your thoughts!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-79863091082236096712012-11-02T07:24:00.000-07:002012-11-02T07:24:00.634-07:00Video Blog - How to Make a Swirly Hair Bun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8pwF1D5uzWI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I rarely ever put my hair up in a swirly hair bun</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">without someone asking me how I do it - </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and so I finally decided to make a</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">video to show others how. :)</span></div>
<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-32020908230163613092012-11-01T08:24:00.000-07:002012-11-01T08:24:00.413-07:00What Do You See? By Guest Writer, Emily<span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="font-family: Forte, cursive;"><b>What do you See?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">From Guest Writer, Emil<span style="font-size: large;">y</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
recently watched a DVD that taught me a very good lesson. The DVD was
an old-fashioned story about a man who had an awful lot of problems! He
was about to lose his land because there was an awful drought which
meant he couldn't grow anything on his land and make any money to pay
his bills. His well dried up, so he had to haul water from the river.
When he tried to dig new wells, he just hit rock. Secondly, his wife
died of scarlet fever. Then his young daughter caught their house on
fire trying to make dinner.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">He
was complaining about all his problems to his father. His father took
him up to the top of a hill which overlooked his house and land. The
father said to him,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">“</span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you see?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">”
All the son could see was the dry fields, his land that he thought he
was going to lose, the house that had nearly burned down etc. His dad
said to him,”That's your problem. All you see are the bad things. You
don't see all the blessings that God gives you.” Their discussion went
on further, but I learned a
lesson right here. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we look at things in our life,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do we see?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we look at our parents,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do we see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">? Do we just see their mistakes and faults? Or do we see all their good points (which are usually far more than
their</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">faults)? When we look at our family,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do we see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">? Do we see how annoying they can be sometimes and all</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">the
ways that they could be nicer and better? Or do we see the things that
we can appreciate? When we look at our school or schoolwork,</span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> what do we see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">?
All the work that it takes? Or the big blessing that we are able to
learn and get education when there are many in the world who never can?
When we look at our church,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do we</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">?
Just the things that we think should be done differently or that ways
that it could be much better? Or are we thankful for the good things?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was a lesson for me! When I look at my home,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>do I see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">? Lots of never-ending work?! Or a lovely place that God has provided us with? When I look at my children, </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do I</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">?
Dirty nappies, noise, interrupted sleep etc?! Or do I see the fun they
bring, their cuteness and the joy they are? When I look at my</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">husband,</span></span></span><span style="color: #b80047;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>what do I see</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">?! His few faults? Or the great blessing and help that he is?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes
it's like we are wearing dark sunglasses and everything seems so dark
and gloomy! But if we would just take them off, we would see the sun and
the blue sky.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let's be thankful and focus on the positive things, and then pray about the negative things! It will make a world of difference.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="font-family: Forte, cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Focus on the good things!</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="font-size: 40pt;"><span style="font-family: Forte, cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ae00;"><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-family: Forte, cursive;"><span style="font-size: 32pt;"><b>“In everything give thanks.”</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">To Follow Emily, please visit her blogs here:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">http://forchristianteengirls.blogspot.co.nz/</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span><span style="color: #6b0094;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, cursive;">http://encouragementforbusymums.blogspot.co.nz/ </span></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-62998922131679847802012-10-26T09:08:00.000-07:002012-10-26T09:08:00.289-07:00Discovery Fridays: Baby GiftsChristmastime is steadily approaching! Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year as it is a time of giving. I love giving! However, oftentimes as I walk through the store I am very much turned away by all of the plastic and impersonal gifts. They just don't mean anything. This is where my love for creating comes in. I LOVE making gifts! Some of the hardest people to make gifts for are babies, in my opinion. In reality they shouldn't be - if you gave them a cardboard box filled with paper they'd probably be very content! But I like to make things that are just a little more creative. :) So here are some ideas to entertain the littles or help the parents out! I hope you enjoy them! And if you have other ideas, I would love to see them! :) Happy creating!<br />
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If you are a Mom, older sister, or baby sitter...or if you are just someone who is around kids a lot...you have probably seen a baby methodically sitting with a diaper wipe container quite contentedly pulling the diaper wipes out. This is actually a great coordination skill, but it wastes the wipes, and it can be a source of irritation for a Momma. So why not provide a baby with a diaper wipe container filled with his own fabric scraps! You can make those scraps complex, or just squares of fabric... Either way, that baby will enjoy pulling the fabric out of that wipes container!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.aspottedpony.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/toy9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cdn.aspottedpony.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/toy9.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://aspottedpony.com/fun-for-kids/turn-a-wipe-container-into-the-best-infant-and-toddler-toy/876/">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Fabric blocks are another great idea. You can make them simply with fabric and cotton stuffing, or you can put bells and crinkly paper inside to make noise, or you can appliqué to the outside. Use your imagination! The baby will love them no matter what - especially if you use bright colors! This is a great use for fabric scraps.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.merrimentdesign.com/images/colorful-fabric-baby-stacking-blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.merrimentdesign.com/images/colorful-fabric-baby-stacking-blocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.merrimentdesign.com/colorful-fabric-baby-stacking-blocks.php">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
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You know those ring stacking toys? The plastic ones? Babies love them (at least in my experience) and they are also great for coordination and size identification. But the plastic ones just leave me feeling like something is missing. So why not make your own? There are several tutorials out on the web which are very easy...and oftentimes you can even make them with fabric scraps!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.create-baby-stuff.com/images/softstackingtoy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.create-baby-stuff.com/images/softstackingtoy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.create-baby-stuff.com/soft-stacking-toy.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Babies and Moms, alike, are often fans of soft, cuddly blankets. My favorite material for baby blankets is minky. It's sooo soft and cuddly. My little boy has a small one with minky & flannel and it is my go-to blanket, especially when we are out and about, as it is relatively small. It is warm (a must for our location) and soft. So why not make a small blanket that will provide for some cuddletimes between Mommy and Baby?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6141240509_54e92246f9_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6141240509_54e92246f9_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://melissadark.blogspot.com/2011/09/easy-baby-blanket-tutorial.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hooded towels for bathtime is a "must" in my book. But the little ones are soon outgrown and are often made of thin fabric. And the big ones are ridiculously expensive. However, you can easily make some for about $6 by using a regular towel and a hand towel! Genius, cute, useful, and inexpensive! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLLxmHh-Oto/TLZnm1D2EBI/AAAAAAAADvc/o9CsGu-YIUQ/s1600/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hLLxmHh-Oto/TLZnm1D2EBI/AAAAAAAADvc/o9CsGu-YIUQ/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecottagehome.blogspot.com/2010/10/embellished-hooded-towel-tutorial.html">Photo Courtesy & Idea Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are many, many other ideas out there, but I hope you enjoy these selected few! More gift ideas coming in the upcoming weeks! And please share your ideas if you have any, as well. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-50860965181939549672012-10-25T07:56:00.000-07:002012-10-25T07:56:00.555-07:00What's at the Heart of Modesty?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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A friend and I were talking a while back (you may notice a
trend in my posts…oftentimes I get ideas from conversations with others) and we
were discussing what is at the heart of modesty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some think of it as shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modesty and fully covering one’s self is
because you should be ashamed of what you could do with yourself…like use your
body wrongly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is completely not
the reason why modesty is so important.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonanzleimages/afu/images/2996/6280/DSC_0786_thumb200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/bonanzleimages/afu/images/2996/6280/DSC_0786_thumb200.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bonanza.com/listings/White-pearl-inside-gold-double-heart-pretty-delicate-necklac/6929655">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
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Modesty, on the contrary, is to protect a precious
pearl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God created you beautiful and exactly the way
you should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, God also created you to share your
life in that special way for that one special guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modesty, covering one’s self appropriately,
and acting in a ladylike and godly manner, protects that pearl and saves it
from the harsh elements of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
exposed, that pearl is beaten and chipped until it is barely recognizable as
the beautiful pearl that God created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But if we behave according to how He would want us to, it is a beautiful
thing that we cherish and modesty is one of the means we have in protecting
that. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.starglitterjewelry.com/Brooches/heart%20pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.starglitterjewelry.com/Brooches/heart%20pearl.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.starglitterjewelry.com/heart_jewelry.html">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-58244792395792894362012-10-23T08:01:00.000-07:002012-10-23T08:01:00.371-07:00Getting to Know Him<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It’s 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pretty
girl is sitting at her computer going through the list of things that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must</i> be done today: homework, chores,
family time, work, and other odds and ends that make up a huge list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems impossible to get it all done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, there is, of course, Bible
time that should take a priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a
sigh, the girl decides she needs a break or she’ll go crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She logs into her computer, checks her email,
chats with a few friends, and reads some Christian blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While reading the blogs, she posts a few
comments while talking to her friends for about an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she returns to the crazy tasks of the
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/07/young-teen-girl-texting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/07/young-teen-girl-texting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/967397/cell-phone-safety-tips-for-back-to-school">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
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Sound familiar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
guessing it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve all done it at
some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for a day or two, it’s
actually somewhat understandable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t think it is excusable, because Jesus should be our all and we should
always make time for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, life
does get crazy and it does happen, whether it should or should not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with this scenario is that it can
often go on for days, weeks, or months – always so busy that we never make time
for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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What is interesting to me, is that in order to make
ourselves feel better, we often read Christian blogs online and post short comments
saying that we agree or longer comments expounding on some topic…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that somehow makes us feel spiritual or
like we have spent our Christian-time that was required of us for that
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christian blogs are good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can be very encouraging and
helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they should never ever
be a substitute for reading His Word, the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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It is curious to me how we work as humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t make time for reading and studying
His Word – but if you think about it, we probably have plenty of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just think of texting and chatting with
our friends, email writing, and blog reading as one of the priorities of
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We probably (or at least, most of
us probably) spend 2-3 hours doing these activities each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we even took ¼ or ½ of that time, we would
have plenty of time to study His Word and truly get the time we need to learn
about Him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://c1cleantechnicacom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2012/01/young-girl-working-on-computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://c1cleantechnicacom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2012/01/young-girl-working-on-computer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/12/7-ways-to-protect-your-computer-equipment-files/">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I’m not trying to judge anyone or condemn anyone here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, I’ve done this too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am trying to encourage all of us to
truly make time for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave us His
all, the least we can do is at least make sure He gets some time of day from
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to spend time in His
Word – it’s what gives us direction, helps us grow in Him, helps us make wise
decisions, and so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oftentimes
I think we do things because we want others to think positively about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This drives us to read what everyone else
reads, comment on posts, and write blogs that say a lot of good things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And none of these are bad things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they can be very good things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy, Chip, and I like writing for our
blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like commenting on other
people’s blogs and we love reading your blogs and comments on our blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we did only those things and didn’t
spend time in His Word, that would be very serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word keeps us grounded…not blogs and
comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I hope that you will be encouraged to really get to know Him
– to study, read, and pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend time
with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is amazing and He leads and
guides us faithfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The least we can
do is give Him some of our time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
know you won’t regret doing it! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-10559749629821129702012-10-20T12:52:00.000-07:002012-10-20T12:52:00.030-07:00How to Grow Long Hair - Pt 2<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tips for growing your hair long:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1:) The first and best possible tip for growing long hair is: Learn to be content with the hair that you already have. If you are constantly wishing for different hair and trying to change the hair you have, then it is very likely that you will become discouraged and end up having it chopped off. Contentment is the first step to long hair.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2:) Avoid using heat whenever possible. Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons are detrimental to your hair. Constant use of these items permanently damages the hair you have and even effects the hair that you have not yet grown. This doesn’t mean to completely end the use of these items but at least dramatically limit the use of them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3:) Rinse your hair with cool or cold water whenever possible. I have friends in the hair industry that could scientifically explain to you why hot water irritates your hair and causes frizzy ness, but I don’t remember the smart sounding explanation so just trust me - Cold water is better for your hair. I don’t use cold water all of the time when rinsing my hair because I don’t like to be cold, but if I can do a final rinse on at least most of my hair without freezing myself, then I make the effort to. I usually notice that it is much less frizzy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4:) Limit the use of styling products. Hairspray, gel, moose - all such things are typically not good for your hair. If you need something to help, try looking up natural alternatives that are actually healthy. There are some neat options out there! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5:) On the days when you do end up using a curling iron or another heated object on your hair, make sure that you DO use a lot of hairspray, moose or other styling products. Such products coat your hair and help prevent it from the damaging effects of heat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6:) Trim your hair often. (Every 8-10 weeks) If you are trying to grow your hair out long, trimming it often may sound like a horrible approach to achieving your goal - but it’s worth it. I used to have hair down past my hips but it was full of split ends, very unhealthy and hard to take care of so I finally cut most of it off. After that, I determined that if I was going to have hair that long again, it was going to be healthy! I have not regretted it. Healthy long hair is so much better! Plus, supposedly your hair will grow faster if you trim it more often, and even if it doesn’t, it’s still more healthy and that is much better! When you trim your hair that often, very little has to be taken off. I have learned how to stylishly trim my own hair and save a bit of money - I also enjoy doing it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7:) Be gentle. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched as girls rip a brush carelessly through their hair or thoughtlessly pulled out a hair band while not even considering what they were doing to their hair! When brushing, be gentle. Start at the bottom, brushing out the tangles and work your way up. When removing a hair band, remove it just as you put it in by unwinding it instead of just pulling it out. Avoid the use of hair items that tend to take hair with them when they are removed. Treat your hair with care as your glory instead of like it‘s damage proof!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8:) Get the proper nutrition you need. The typical American diet does not promote health and most of the food packages that say they are healthy and provide the minerals and vitamins you need, usually don’t actually do what they say. Consider taking minerals or a green or fruit powder drink in the mornings when you wake up. Getting proper nutrition is worth looking into for much more than just healthy hair.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9:) I read once that messaging your scalp regularly is supposed to stimulate hair growth and help rid your head of toxins. I also read that rubbing peppermint oil into the scalp can help with stimulation. I have not yet tried peppermint oil but I plan to if I can remember to do it before I wash my hair instead of after!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10:) You probably have heard it before, but gelatin is supposed to do wonders for hair and nails. Try drinking a little bit of plain gelatin mixed into warm water every day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">11:) Different herbs are great for the health and color of hair. I have blonde hair so I use chamomile tea as a rinse after washing my hair. It’s great for the health of my hair and it really brings out the natural color. My sister has brown hair and so she uses rosemary and sage Different herb tea’s are great for different hair types.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12:) 1-2 times a month, it’s great to give your hair a honey - olive oil treatment. Warm olive oil and honey on the stove until the honey is pure liquid. Make sure not to boil it or the honey, when cool, will harden and be horrible to get out of your hair! Just make it warm to the touch but not hot and that will be perfect. Generously coat your hair rubbing it into your scalp and combing it through the rest to be sure that every strand is coated. Put your hair up in a shower cap or plastic bag with a towel turban. (How cute!) This helps the oil stay warm and your hair will soak it in better. Leave the oil/honey on your head for an hour, any longer will not make a difference. When showering, using shampoo twice is usually necessary to remove all of the oil. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope these tips will help you to grow long, healthy hair. Let me know what you think!</span><br />
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<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-49935832088511406012012-10-18T07:50:00.000-07:002012-10-18T07:50:00.521-07:00How to Grow Long Hair - Pt 1<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"The Gift Of Long Hair"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> I was recently asked the question, "Do you have any tips for growing long hair?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The answer is YES! I do! As I started to write a list of growing long hair tips, the list turned into this article about long hair. I hope you will read it and look at your hair with new eyes and then come back later for the helpful tips on how to grow long, healthy hair.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In a world of feminism where women are trying to become like men, long hair is becoming increasingly rare in our culture. So why have long hair? </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In 1 Corinthians 11 we learn that a woman’s hair is her “Glory.” It is a special crown that God made especially for women to make them distinctly different from men. Today, we are taught that we must compete with men, to be better than them and that we can do anything they can do. Women are deeply offended when they read verses such as 1 Peter 3:7 when it says, “…husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel….”</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> “The Bible just called us WHAT? I’m not weak! I can do anything that a man can do, in fact, I can do it better!”</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The writer of this verse did not mean the word “Weak” to be as in wimpy or not capable of doing anything. A husband is to treat a woman gently like one would treat a rose. A rose is precious and beautiful, but it needs to be treated gently so it can bloom, if not, it will wilt and die. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> In Proverbs 12:4 it says that “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed (Or she who brings shame) is like rottenness in his bones.”</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> To understand this properly we have to look at the word - “Virtuous” This word means, “Good, righteous, worthy, honorable, moral, upright, honest”</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /> If you have ever tried, or are working to become a virtuous woman, then you should know well by now that to become virtuous takes a very TOUGH woman! It’s so much easier to be bad then good, unrighteous then righteous, unworthy instead of worthy. To do things that are not honorable, moral, upright, and let’s not forget honest! It’s much easier to force our opinions then to humbly listen to others, to insist on our own way then to consider others as better then ourselves, and it is much easier to be served then to have a true servant’s heart. Though most women would never admit it, they are not the virtuous woman in this verse but rather the one that brings shame upon her home and upon her husband. One of the biggest reasons for this is our increasing desire throw away a crown and want to replace it with a dirty shovel instead. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> So what does this have to do with hair?! I’m getting to that…</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When God gave woman her long hair, He gave it to her to be her glory, as a precious gift from Him to make her distinctly different from the man. I find it fascinating that when God created humans to be made in His likeness, His image, to show His glory, that the distinguishing comment that He made about what He had just created was not of how smart they would be, or how beautiful they would be, or how creative, but rather He glorified the fact that He made them as “Male,” and “Female.” As “Man” and “Woman.” He created them so that working together they could form an image that portrayed His ultimate beauty. Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible never degrades women nor does it demean men but exalts both as being the most precious creation of God. (But that’s a whole other blog post)</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Our world says that gender no longer matters and that there is no need for anything distinctive difference between men and women, in fact, you can now even chose what gender you want to be! But to the Lord, gender does matter and so do distinctive factors like hair and outward displays of pure, true femininity. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If you have long hair or you want to grow it long, what is your motive? Is it to draw attention to yourself? To try to fit a certain style? Or is your heart to treasure the special gift, the “Glory”, that your Heavenly Father has given you as a woman? If you have short hair, what is your reason? Insecurity? Fashion? Rebellion? Or just annoyance and not wanting to take care of it if it were long? Would you be willing to view your precious hair, whatever color or texture it may be, as a special gift from your Heavenly Father and be willing to care for it and treasure it as the glory He has given you? Will you use it to ultimately use it to point back to His perfect glory?</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We look at hair as a way to express ourselves, to display our style and our personality. To be chopped off or dyed in one impulsive moment. But would we be so rash if we could see our hair as the precious gift that God has given us as women? Imagine a Father who loves His daughter so very much that He gives her a precious crown to wear on her head and she takes it and discards it in the dirt as if it were nothing. That would hurt…</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Most of you will probably never have knee length hair or ever hair that reaches your elbow, but would you be willing to look at your hair as the gift that it was intended to be? Not comparing your gift with the hair of others and trying to constantly change it, never happy with what’s been given to you. Would you be willing to truly look at it as a gift and something that you can use to point to God’s ultimate goodness and glory? I hope you realize what a special treasure that you possess.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If so, then you are now ready for tips on how to grow long, healthy hair! To be posted on October 20th.</span><br />
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-8015117462674354792012-10-16T07:48:00.000-07:002012-10-16T07:48:00.150-07:00Video - "What Kind of Guy Should You Date?" From a man's perspective<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello Ladies! I recently discovered this video and thought that it would be awesome to share with you what kind of guy you should date from a Christian man's perspective. I hope you will watch it, be inspired and encouraged to look for a 6/11 type guy.</span></div>
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<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-61358072622650838932012-10-11T07:36:00.000-07:002012-10-11T07:36:00.209-07:00When Queens Ride By - Short Story<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">"This is an amazing story that I highly recommend to any woman or girl of any age. It's a big long to read online so unless you're very dedicated, I suggest downloading the PDF file and printing it out or reading it on your computer. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"> Enjoy!" <a href="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/queens.pdf">When Queens Ride By - PDF</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">By Jill Cooper</span></span></div>
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http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/livingonadime.htm<br />This is a wonderful, inspiring and important story that I really want<br />to share with you. I first read this myself 30-some years ago and it<br />has had more of an impact on my thoughts, feelings and attitudes<br />toward being a wife, mother and homemaker than anything else in<br />my life ever has.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Even though it was written in 1926, its basic principles can still be<br />applied to today’s world. At first reading, it may not seem that way<br />but I’m going to give you some things to watch for as you read it to<br />see if you couldn’t apply them to your life today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I get so exasperated when I hear people say “but things are so<br />much harder and more stressful now than years ago.” That is so not<br />true. People are the same and life is the same. That is why the<br />Bible’s principles can still work as well today as they have for<br />thousands of years. The basic human nature, the wants and needs<br />are still there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Here are some things to watch for and notice while you are reading<br />the story. As you read, note how even though Jennie worked on the<br />farm she had all the same things to deal with as if she were a<br />modern woman who left to work her full time job each day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />• She couldn’t keep up with the laundry and housework<br />• She had to leave the kids “to their own devices” (like videos<br />games or coming home to an empty house)<br />• She didn’t bother with her appearance. (Is that like wearing<br />sweats all the time?)<br />• She spent time eating on the run. She didn’t have time to<br />prepare proper meals or often didn’t feel like it.<br />• She felt like she had no time or relationship with her spouse.<br />• Jennie and her husband had a large mortgage and were at the<br />point of losing their home.<br />• She constantly had feelings of self pity—making comments<br />like, “You don’t know my situation, I have no choice”.<br />• She thought, “This is too hard of work for a woman,” but was<br />convinced that if she left the job to her husband they would<br />starve and he needed her help. She was sure that they<br />couldn’t do it on one income.<br />• She had the desire for more and wanted to keep up with the<br />Joneses.<br />Keep your eyes open for these things and others as you read it.<br />I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.<br />-Jill</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">When Queens Ride By</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Agnes Sligh Turnbull, 1926</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennie Musgrave woke at the shrill rasp of the alarm clock as she</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">always woke—with the shuddering start and a heavy realization that</span></div>
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the brief respite of the night's oblivion was over. She had only time</div>
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to glance through the dull light at the cluttered, dusty room, before</div>
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John's voice was saying sleepily as he said every morning, "All right,</div>
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let's go. It doesn't seem as if we'd been in bed at all!"</div>
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Jennie dressed quickly in the clothes, none too clean, that,</div>
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exhausted, she had flung from her the night before. She hurried</div>
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down the back stairs, her coarse shoes clattering thickly upon the</div>
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bare boards. She kindled the fire in the range and then made a</div>
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hasty pretense at washing in the basin in the sink.</div>
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John strode through the kitchen and on out to the barn. There were</div>
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six cows to be milked and the great cans of milk to be taken to the</div>
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station for the morning train.</div>
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Jennie put coffee and bacon on the stove, and then, catching up a</div>
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pail from the porch, went after John. A golden red disk broke the</div>
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misty blue of the morning above the cow pasture. A sweet, fragrant</div>
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breath blew from the orchard. But Jennie neither saw nor felt the</div>
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beauty about her.</div>
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She glanced at the sun and thought, It's going to be a hot day. She</div>
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glanced at the orchard, and her brows knit. There it hung. All that</div>
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fruit. Bushels of it going to waste. Maybe she could get time that</div>
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day to make some more apple butter. But the tomatoes wouldn't</div>
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wait. She must pick them and get them to town today, or that would</div>
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be a dead loss. After all her work, well, it would only be in a piece</div>
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with everything else if it did happen so. She and John had bad luck,</div>
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and they might as well make up their minds to it.</div>
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She finished her part of the milking and hurried back again to the</div>
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overcooked bacon and strong coffee. The children were down,</div>
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clamorous, dirty, always underfoot. Jim, the eldest, was in his first</div>
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term of school. She glanced at his spotted waist. He should have a</div>
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clean one. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't get the washing</div>
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done last week, and when she was to get a day for it this week she</div>
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didn't know, with all the picking and the trips to town to make!</div>
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Breakfast was hurried and unpalatable, a sort of grudging</div>
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concession to the demands of the body. Then John left in the milk</div>
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wagon for the station, and Jennie packed little Jim's lunch basket</div>
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with bread and apple butter and pie, left the two little children to</div>
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their own devices in the backyard, and started toward the barn.</div>
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There was no time to do anything in the house. The chickens and</div>
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turkeys had to be attended to, and then she must get to the tomato</div>
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patch before the sun got too hot. Behind her was the orchard with</div>
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its rows and rows of laden apple trees. Maybe this afternoon—</div>
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maybe tomorrow morning. There were the potatoes, too, to be</div>
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lifted. Too hard work for a woman. But what were you going to do?</div>
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Starve? John worked till dark in the fields.</div>
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She pushed her hair back with a quick, boyish sweep of her arm and</div>
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went on scattering the grain to the fowls. She remembered their</div>
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eager plans when they were married, when they took over the old</div>
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farm—laden with its heavy mortgage—that had been John's father's.</div>
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John had been so straight of back then and so jolly. Only seven</div>
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years, yet now he was stooped a little, and his brows were always</div>
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drawn, as though to hide a look of ashamed failure. They had</div>
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planned to have a model farm someday: blooded stock, a tractor, a</div>
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new barn. And then such a home they were to make of the old</div>
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stone house! Jennie's hopes had flared higher even than John's. A</div>
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rug for the parlor, an overstuffed set like the one in the mail—order</div>
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catalogue, linoleum for the kitchen, electric lights!</div>
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They were young and, oh, so strong! There was nothing they could</div>
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not do if they only worked hard enough.</div>
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But that great faith had dwindled as the first year passed. John</div>
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worked later and later in the evenings. Jennie took more and more</div>
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of the heavy tasks upon her own shoulders. She often thought with</div>
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some pride that no woman in the countryside ever helped her</div>
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husband as she did. Even with the haying and riding the reaper.</div>
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Hard, coarsening work, but she was glad to do it for John's sake.</div>
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The sad riddle of it all was that at the end of each year they were no</div>
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further on. The only difference from the year before was another</div>
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window shutter hanging from one hinge and another crippled</div>
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wagon in the barnyard which John never had time to mend. They</div>
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puzzled over it in a vague distress. And meanwhile life degenerated</div>
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into a straining, hopeless struggle. Sometimes lately John had</div>
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seemed a little listless, as though nothing mattered. A little bitter</div>
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when he spoke of Henry Davis.</div>
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Henry held the mortgage and had expected a payment on the</div>
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principle this year. He had come once and looked about with</div>
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something very like a sneer on his face. If he should decide</div>
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someday to foreclose—that would be the final blow. They never</div>
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would get up after that. If John couldn't hold the old farm, he could</div>
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never try to buy a new one. It would mean being renters all their</div>
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lives. Poor renters at that!</div>
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She went to the tomato field. It had been her own idea to do some</div>
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tracking along with the regular farm crops. But, like everything else,</div>
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it had failed of her expectations. As she put the scarlet tomatoes,</div>
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just a little overripe, into the basket, she glanced with a hard</div>
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tightening of her lips toward a break in the trees a half mile away</div>
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where a dark, listening bit of road caught the sun. Across its</div>
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polished surface twinkled an endless procession of shining, swift—</div>
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moving objects. The State Highway.</div>
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Jennie hated it. In the first place, it was so tauntingly near and yet</div>
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so hopelessly far from them. If it only ran by their door, as it did</div>
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past Henry Davis's for instance, it would solve the whole problem of</div>
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marketing the fruits and vegetables. Then they could set the</div>
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baskets on the lawn, and people could stop for them. But as it was,</div>
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nobody all summer long had paid the least attention to the sign</div>
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John had put up at the end of the lane. And no wonder. Why should</div>
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travelers drive their cars over the stony country byway, when a little</div>
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farther along they would find the same fruit spread temptingly for</div>
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them at the very roadside?</div>
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But there was another reason she hated that bit of sleek road</div>
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showing between the trees. She hated it because it hurt her with its</div>
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suggestions of all that passed her by in that endless procession</div>
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twinkling in the sunshine. There they kept going, day after day,</div>
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those happy, carefree women, riding in handsome limousines or in</div>
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gay little roadsters. Some in plainer cars, too, but even those were,</div>
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like the others, women who could have rest, pleasure, comfort for</div>
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the asking. They were whirled along hour by hour to new pleasures,</div>
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while she was weighted to the drudgery of the farm like one of the</div>
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great rocks in the pasture field.</div>
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And—most bitter thought of all—they had pretty homes to go back</div>
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to when the happy journey was over. That seemed to be the strange</div>
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and cruel law about homes. The finer they were, the easier it was to</div>
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leave them. Now with her—if she had the rug for the parlor and the</div>
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stuffed furniture and linoleum for the kitchen, she shouldn't mind</div>
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anything so much then; she had nothing, nothing but hard slaving</div>
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and bad luck. And the highway taunted her with it. Flung its</div>
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impossible pleasures mockingly in her face as she bent over the</div>
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vines or dragged the heavy baskets along the rows.</div>
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The sun grew hotter. Jennie put more strength into her task. She</div>
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knew, at last, by the scorching heat overhead that is was nearing</div>
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noon. She must have a bit of lunch ready for John when he came in.</div>
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There wasn't time to prepare much. Just reheat the coffee and set</div>
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down some bread and pie.</div>
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She started towards the house, giving a long yodeling call for the</div>
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children as she went. They appeared from the orchard, tumbled and</div>
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torn from experiments with the wire fence. Her heart smothered her</div>
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at the sight of them. Among the other dreams that the years had</div>
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crushed out were those of little rosy boys and girls in clean suits</div>
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and fresh ruffled dresses. As it was, the children had just grown like</div>
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farm weeds.</div>
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This was the part of all the drudgery that hurt most. That she had</div>
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not time to care for her children, sew for them, teach them things</div>
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that other children knew. Sometimes it seemed as if she had no real</div>
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love for them at all. She was too terribly tired as a rule to have any</div>
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feeling. The only times she used energy to talk to them was when</div>
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she had to reprove them for some dangerous misdeed. That was all</div>
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wrong. It seemed wicked; but how could she help it? With the work</div>
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draining the very life out of her, strong as she was.</div>
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John came in heavily, and they ate in silence except for the</div>
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children's chatter. John hardly looked up from his plate. He gulped</div>
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down great drafts of the warmed-over coffee and then pushed his</div>
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chair back hurriedly.</div>
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"I'm goin' to try to finish the harrowin' in the south field," he said.</div>
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"I'm at the tomatoes," Jennie answered. "I've got them' most all</div>
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picked and ready for takin'."</div>
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That was all. Work was again upon them.</div>
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It was two o'clock by the sun, and Jennie had loaded the last heavy</div>
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basket of tomatoes on the milk wagon in which she must drive to</div>
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town, when she heard shrill voices sounding along the path. The</div>
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children were flying in excitement toward her.</div>
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"Mum! Mum! Mum!" they called as they came panting up to her with</div>
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big, surprised eyes. "Mum, there's a lady up there. At the kitchen</div>
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door. All dressed up. A pretty lady. She wants to see you."</div>
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Jennie gazed down at them disbelievingly. A lady, a pretty lady at</div>
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her kitchen door? All dressed up! What that could mean! Was it</div>
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possible someone had at last braved the stony lane to buy fruit?</div>
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Maybe bushels of it!</div>
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"Did she come in a car?" Jennie asked quickly.</div>
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"No, she just walked in. She's awful pretty. She smiled at us."</div>
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Jennie's hopes dropped. Of course. She might have known. Some</div>
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agent likely, selling books. She followed the children wearily back</div>
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along the path and in at the rear door of the kitchen. Across from it</div>
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another door opened into the side yard. Here stood the stranger.</div>
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The two women looked at each other across the kitchen, across the</div>
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table with the remains of two meals upon it, the strewn chairs, the</div>
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littered stove—across the whole scene of unlovely disorder. They</div>
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looked at each other in startled surprise, as inhabitants of Earth and</div>
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Mars might look if they were suddenly brought face-to-face.</div>
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Jennie saw a woman in a gray tweed coat that seemed to be part of</div>
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her straight, slim body. A small gray hat with a rose quill was drawn</div>
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low over the brownish hair. Her blue eyes were clear and smiling.</div>
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She was beautiful! And yet she was not young. She was in her</div>
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forties, surely. But an aura of eager youth clung to her, a clean and</div>
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exquisite freshness.</div>
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The stranger in her turn looked across at a young woman, haggard</div>
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and weary. Her yellowish hair hung in straggling wisps. Her eyes</div>
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looked hard and hunted. Her cheeks were thin and sallow. Her</div>
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calico dress was shapeless and begrimed from her work.</div>
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So they looked at each other for one long, appraising second. Then</div>
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the woman in gray smiled.</div>
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"How do you do? " she began. "We ran our car into the shade of your</div>
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lane to have our lunch and rest for a while. And I walked on up to</div>
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buy a few apples, if you have them."</div>
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Jennie stood staring at the stranger. There was an unconscious</div>
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hostility in her eyes. This was one of the women from the highway.</div>
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One of those envied ones who passed twinkling through the</div>
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summer sunshine from pleasure to pleasure while Jennie slaved on.</div>
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But the pretty lady's smile was disarming. Jennie started toward a</div>
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chair and pulled off the old coat and apron that lay on it.</div>
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"Won't you sit down?" she said politely. "I'll go and get the apples.</div>
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I'll have to pick them off the tree. Would you prefer rambos?"</div>
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"I don't know what they are, but they sound delicious. You must</div>
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choose them for me. But mayn't I come with you? I should love to</div>
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help pick them."</div>
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Jennie considered. She felt baffled by the friendliness of the other</div>
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woman's face and utterly unable to meet it. But she did not know</div>
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how to refuse.</div>
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"Why I s'pose so. If you can get through the dirt."</div>
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She led the way over the back porch with its crowded baskets and</div>
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pails and coal buckets, along the unkept path toward the orchard.</div>
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She had never been so acutely conscious of the disorder about her.</div>
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Now a hot shame brought a lump to her throat. In her preoccupied</div>
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haste before, she had actually not noticed that tub of overturned</div>
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milk cans and rubbish heap! She saw it all now swiftly through the</div>
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other woman's eyes. And then that new perspective was checked by</div>
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a bitter defiance. Why should she care how things looked to this</div>
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woman? She would be gone, speeding down the highway in a few</div>
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minutes as though she had never been there.</div>
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She reached the orchard and began to drag a long ladder from the</div>
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fence to the rambo tree.</div>
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The other woman cried out in distress. "Oh, but you can't do that!</div>
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You mustn't. It's too heavy for you, or even for both of us. Please</div>
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just let me pick a few from the ground."</div>
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Jennie looked in amazement at the stranger's concern. It was so</div>
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long since she had seen anything like it.</div>
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"Heavy?" she repeated. "This ladder? I wish I didn't ever lift anything</div>
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heavier than this. After hoistin' bushel baskets of tomatoes onto a</div>
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wagon, this feels light to me."</div>
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The stranger caught her arm. "But—but do you think it's right? Why,</div>
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that's a man's work."</div>
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Jennie's eyes blazed. Something furious and long-pent broke out</div>
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from within her. "Right! Who are you to be askin' me whether I'm</div>
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right or not?" What would have become of us if I didn't do a man's</div>
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work? It takes us both, slaving away, an' then we get nowhere. A</div>
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person like you don't know what work is! You don't know—"</div>
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Jennie's voice was the high shrill of hysteria; but the stranger's low</div>
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tones somehow broke through. "Listen," she said soothingly. "Please</div>
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listen to me. I'm sorry I annoyed you by saying that, but now, since</div>
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we are talking, why can't we sit down here and rest a minute? It's so</div>
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cool and lovely here under the trees, and if you were to tell me all</div>
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about it—because I'm only a stranger—perhaps it would help. It</div>
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does sometimes, you know. A little rest would—"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Rest! Me sit down to rest, an' the wagon loaded to go to town? It'll</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hurry me now to get back before dark."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then something strange happened. The other women put her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cool, soft hand on Jennie's grimy arm. There was a compelling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tenderness in her eyes. "Just take the time you would have spent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
picking apples. I would so much rather. And perhaps somehow I</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
could help you. I wish I could. Won't you tell me why you have to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
work so hard?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie sank down on the smooth green grass. Her hunted, unwilling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
eyes had yielded to some power in the clear, serene eyes of the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
stranger. A sort of exhaustion came over her. A trembling reaction</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from the straining effort of weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There ain't much to tell," she said half sullenly, "only that we ain't</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gettin' ahead. We're clean discouraged, both of us. Henry Davis is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
talking about foreclosin' on us if we don't pay some principle. The</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
time of the mortgage is out this year, an' mebbe he won't renew it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's got plenty himself, but them's the hardest kind." She paused;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
then her eyes flared. "An' it ain't that I haven't done my part. Look at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me. I'm barely thirty, an' I might be fifty. I'm so weather-beaten.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's the way I've worked!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"And you think that has helped your husband?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Helped him?" Jennie's voice was sharp. "Why shouldn't it help him?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The stranger was looking away through the green stretches of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
orchard. She laced her slim hands together about her knees. She</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
spoke slowly. "Men are such queer things, husbands especially.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes we blunder when we are trying hardest to serve them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For instance, they want us to be economical, and yet they want us in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pretty clothes. They need our work, and yet they want us to keep</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our youth and our beauty. And sometimes they don't know</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
themselves which they really want most. So we have to choose.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's what makes it so hard".</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She paused. Jennie was watching her with dull curiosity as though</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she were speaking a foreign tongue.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then the stranger went on:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had to choose once, long ago; just after we were married, my</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
husband decided to have his own business, so he started a very tiny</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one. He couldn't afford a helper, and he wanted me to stay in the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
office while he did the outside selling. And I refused, even though it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hurt him. Oh, it was hard! But I knew how it would be if I did as he</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wished. We would both have come back each night. Tired out, to a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dark, cheerless house and a picked-up dinner. And a year if that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
might have taken something away from us—something precious. I</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
couldn't risk it, so I refused and stuck to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"And then how I worked in my house—a flat it was then. I had so</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
little outside of our wedding gifts; but at least I could make it a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
clean, shining, happy place. I tried to give our little dinners the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
grace of a feast. And as the months went on, I knew I had done</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
right. My husband would come home dead-tired and discouraged,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ready to give up the whole thing. But after he had eaten and sat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
down in our bright little living room, and I had read to him or told</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
him all the funny things I could invent about my day, I could see</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
him change. By bedtime he had his courage back, and by morning</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he was at last ready to go out and fight again. And at last he won,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and he won his success alone, as a man loves to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Still Jennie did not speak. She only regarded her guest with a halfresentful</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
understanding.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The woman in gray looked off again between the trees. Her voice</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was very sweet. A humorous little smile played about her lips.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There was a queen once," she went on, "who reigned in troublous</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
days. And every time the country was on the brink of war and the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
people ready to fly into a panic, she would put on her showiest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dress and take her court with her and go hunting. And when the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
people would see her riding by, apparently so gay and happy, they</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
were sure all was well with the Government. So she tided over many</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a danger. And I've tried to be like her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Whenever a big crisis comes in my husband's business—and we've</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had several—or when he's discouraged, I put on my prettiest dress</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and get the best dinner I know how or give a party! And somehow it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
seems to work. That's the woman's part, you know. To play the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
queen—"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A faint honk-honk came from the lane. The stranger started to her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
feet. "That's my husband. I must go. Please don't bother about the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
apples. I'll just take these from under the tree. We only wanted two</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or three, really. And give these to the children." She slipped two</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
coins into Jennie's hand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie had risen, too, and was trying from a confusion of startled</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thoughts to select one for speech. Instead she only answered the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
other woman's bright good-bye with a stammering repetition and a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
broken apology about the apples.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She watched the stranger's erect, lithe figure hurrying away across</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the path that led directly to the lane. Then she turned her back to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the house, wondering dazedly if she had only dreamed that the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
other woman had been there. But no, there were emotions rising</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hotly within her that were new. They had had no place an hour</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before. They had risen at the words of the stranger and at the sight</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of her smooth, soft hair, the fresh color in her cheeks, the happy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shine of her eyes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A great wave of longing swept over Jennie, a desire that was lost in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
choking despair. It was as though she had heard a strain of music</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for which she had waited all her life and then felt it swept away into</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
silence before she had grasped its beauty. For a few brief minutes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she, Jennie Musgrave, had sat beside one of the women of the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
highway and caught a breath of her life—that life which forever</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
twinkled in the past in bright procession, like the happenings of a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fairy tale. Then she was gone, and Jennie was left as she had been,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
bound to the soil like one of the rocks of the field.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The bitterness that stormed her heart now was different from the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
old dull disheartenment. For it was coupled with new knowledge.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The words of the stranger seemed more vivid to her than when she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had sat listening in the orchard. But they came back to her with the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pain of agony.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"All very well for her to talk so smooth to me about man's work and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
woman's work! An' what she did for her husband's big success. Easy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
enough for her to sit talking about queens! What would she do if</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she was here on this farm like me? What would a woman like her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
do?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie had reached the kitchen door and stood there looking at the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hopeless melee about her. Her words sounded strange and hollow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the silence of the house. "Easy for her!" she burst out. She never</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had the work pilin' up over her like I have. She never felt it at her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
throat like a wolf, the same as John an' me does. Talk about</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
choosin'! I haven't got no choice. I just got to keep goin'—just keep</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
goin', like I always have—"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She stopped suddenly. There in the middle of the kitchen floor,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
where the other woman had passed over, lay a tiny square of white.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie crossed to it quickly and picked it up. A faint delicious</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fragrance like the dream of a flower came from it. Jennie inhaled it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
eagerly. It was not like any odor she had ever known. It made her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
think of sweet, strange things. Things she had never thought about</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before. Of gardens in the early summer dusk, of wide fair rooms</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the moonlight shining in them. It made her somehow think</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with vague wistfulness of all that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She looked carefully at the tiny square. The handkerchief was of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fine, fairy like smoothness. In the corner a dainty blue butterfly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
spread his wings. Jennie drew in another long breath. The fragrance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
filled her senses again. Her first greedy draft had not exhausted it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It would stay for a while, at least.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She laid the bit of white down cautiously on the edge of the table</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and went to the sink, where she washed her hands carefully. Then</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she returned and picked up the handkerchief again with something</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like reverence. She sat down, still holding it, staring at it. This bit of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
linen was to her an articulated voice. She understood its language.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It spoke to her of white, freshly washed clothes blowing in the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sunshine, of an iron moving smoothly, leisurely, to the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
accompaniment of a song over snowy folds; it spoke to her of quiet,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
orderly rooms and ticking clocks and a mending basket under the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
evening lamp; it spoke to her of all the peaceful routine of a well</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
managed household, the kind she had once dreamed of having.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But more than this, the exquisite daintiness of it, the sweet, alluring</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
perfume spoke to her of something else which her heart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
understood, even though her speech could have found no words for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it. She could feel gropingly the delicacy, the grace, the beauty that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
made up the other woman's life in all its relations.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She, Jennie, had none of that. Everything about their lives, hers and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John's, was coarsened, soiled somehow by the dragging, endless</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
labor or the days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie leaned forward, her arms stretched tautly before her upon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her knees, her hands clasped tightly over the fragrant bit of white.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Suppose she were to try doing as the stranger had said. Suppose</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that she spent her time on the house and let the outside work go.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What then? What would John say? Would they be much farther</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
behind than they were now? Could they be? And suppose, by some</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
strange chance, the other woman had been right! That a man could</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
be helped more by doing of these other things she had neglected?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She sat very still, distressed, uncertain. Out in the barnyard waited</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the wagon of tomatoes, overripe now for market. No, she could do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
nothing today, at least, but go on as usual.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then her hands opened a little; the perfume within them came up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to her, bringing again that thrill of sweet, indescribable things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She started up, half-terrified at her own resolve. "I'm goin' to try it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
now. Mebbe I'm crazy, but I'm goin' to do it anyhow!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a long time since Jennie had performed such a meticulous</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
toilet. It was years since she had brushed her hair. A hasty combing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had been its best treatment. She put on her one clean dress, the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dark voile reserved for trips to town. She even changed from her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shapeless, heavy shoes to her best ones. Then, as she looked at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
herself in the dusty mirror, she saw that she was changed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Something, at least, of the hard haggardness was gone from her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
face, and her hair framed it with smooth softness. Tomorrow she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would wash it. It used to be almost yellow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She went to the kitchen. With something of the burning zeal of a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fanatic, she attacked the confusion before her. By half past four the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
room was clean: the floor swept, the stove shining, dishes and pans</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
washed and put in their places. From the tumbled depths of a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
drawer Jennie had extracted a white tablecloth that had been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
bought in the early days, for company only. With a spirit of daring</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
recklessness she spread it on the table. She polished the chimney of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the big oil lamp and then set the fixture, clean and shining, in the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
center of the white cloth.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now the supper! And she must hurry. She planned to have it at six</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
o' clock and ring the big bell for John fifteen minutes before, as she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
used to just after they were married.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She decided upon fried ham and browned potatoes and applesauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with hot biscuits. She hadn't made them for so long, but her fingers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fell into their old deftness. Why, cooking was just play if you had</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
time to do it right! Then she thought of the tomatoes and gave a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
little shudder. She thought of the long hours of backbreaking work</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she had put into them and called herself a little fool to have been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
swayed by the words of a stranger and the scent of a handkerchief,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to neglect her rightful work and bring more loss upon John and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
herself. But she went on, making the biscuits, turning the ham,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
setting the table.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was half past five; the first pan of flaky brown mounds had been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
withdrawn from the oven, the children's faces and hands had been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
washed and their excited questions satisfied, when the sound of a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
car came from the bend. Jennie knew that car. It belonged to Henry</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Davis. He could be coming for only one thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The blow they had dreaded, fending off by blind disbelief in the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ultimate disaster, was about to fall. Henry was coming to tell them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he was going to foreclose. It would almost kill John. This was his</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
father's old farm. John had taken it over, mortgage and all, so</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hopefully, so sure he could succeed where his father had failed. If</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he had to leave now there would be a double disgrace to bear. And</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
where could they go? Farms weren't so plentiful.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry had driven up to the side gate. He fumbled with some papers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in his inner pocket as he started up the walk. A wild terror filled</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie's heart. She wanted desperately to avoid meeting Henry</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Davis's keen, hard face, to flee somewhere, anywhere before she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
heard the words that doomed them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then as she stood shaken, wondering how she could live through</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
what the next hours would bring, she saw in a flash the beautiful</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
stranger as she had sat in the orchard, looking off between the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
trees and smiling to herself. "There was once a queen."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie heard the words again distinctly just as Henry Davis's steps</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sounded sharply nearer on the walk outside. There was only a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
confused picture of a queen wearing the stranger's lovely, highbred</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
face, riding gaily to the hunt through forests and towns while her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
kingdom was tottering. Riding gallantly on, in spite of her fears.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie's heart was pounding and her hands were suddenly cold. But</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
something unreal and yet irresistible was sweeping her with it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There was once a queen."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She opened the screen door before Henry Davis had time to knock.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She extended her hand cordially. She was smiling. "Well, how d' you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
do, Mr. Davis. Come right in. I'm real glad to see you. Been quite a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
while since you was over."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry looked surprised and very much embarrassed. "Why, no, now,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I won't go in. I just stopped to see John on a little matter of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
business. I'll just—"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You'll just come right in. John will be in from milkin' in a few</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
minutes an' you can talk while you eat, both of you. I've supper just</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ready. Now step right in, Mr. Davis!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As Jennie moved aside, a warm, fragrant breath of fried ham and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
biscuits seemed to waft itself to Henry Davis's nostrils. There was a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
visible softening of his features. "Why, no, I didn't reckon on</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
anything like this. I 'lowed I'd just speak to John and then be gettin'</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"They'll see you at home when you get there," Jennie put in quickly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You never tasted my hot biscuits with butter an' quince honey, or</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you wouldn't take so much coachin'!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry Davis came in and sat in the big, clean, warm kitchen. His</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
eyes took in every detail of the orderly room: the clean cloth, the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shining lamp, the neat sink, the glowing stove. Jennie saw him relax</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
comfortably in his chair. Then above the aromas of the food about</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her, she detected the strange sweetness of the bit of white linen she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had tucked away in the bosom of her dress. It rose to her as a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
haunting sense of her power as a woman.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She smiled at Henry Davis. Smiled as she would never have thought</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of doing a day ago. Then she would have spoken to him with a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
drawn face full of subservient fear. Now, though the fear clutched</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her heart, her lips smiled sweetly, moved by that unreality that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
seemed to possess her. "There was once a queen."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"An' how are things goin' with you, Mr. Davis?" she asked with a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
blithe upward reflection.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry Davis was very human. He had never noticed before that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie's hair was so thick and pretty and that she had such pleasant</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ways. Neither had he dreamed that she was such a good cook as</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the sight and smell of the supper things would indicate. He was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
very comfortable there in the big sweet-smelling kitchen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He smiled back. It was an interesting experiment on Henry's part,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for his smiles were rare. "Oh, so-so. How are they with you?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie had been taught to speak the truth; but at this moment there</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dawned in her mind a vague understanding that the high loyalties</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of life are, after all, relative and not absolute.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She smiled again as she skillfully flipped a great slice of golden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
brown ham over in the frying pan. "Why, just fine, Mr. Davis. We're</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gettin' on just fine, John an' me. It's been hard sleddin' but I sort of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
think the worst is over. I think we're goin' to come out way ahead</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
now. We'll just be proud to pay off that mortgage so fast, come</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
another year, that you'll be surprised!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was said. Jennie marveled that the words had not choked her, had</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not somehow smitten her dead as she spoke them. But their effect</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on Henry Davis was amazingly good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"That so?" he asked in surprise. "Well now, that's fine. I always</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wanted to see John make a success of the old place, but somehow—</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
well, you know it didn't look as if—that is, there's been some talk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
around that maybe John wasn't just gettin' along any too—you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
know. A man has to sort of watch his investments. Well, now, I'm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
glad things are pickin' up a little."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie felt as though a tight hand at her throat had relaxed. She</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
spoke brightly of the fall weather and the crops as she finished</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
setting the dishes on the table and rang the big bell for John. There</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was delicate work yet to be done when he came in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Jim had to be sent to hasten him before he finally appeared.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was a big man, John Musgrave, big and slow moving and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
serious. He had known nothing all his life but hard physical toil.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Heaviness had pitted his great body against all the adverse forces of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
nature. There was a time when he had felt that strength such as his</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was all any man needed to bring him fortune. Now he was not so</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sure. The brightness of that faith was dimmed by experience.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John came to the kitchen door with his eyebrows drawn. Little Jim</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had told Jim that Henry Davis was there. He came into the room as</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an accused man faces the jury of his peers, faces the men who,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though the same flesh and blood as he, are yet somehow curiously</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in a position to save or to destroy him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John came in, and then he stopped, staring blankly at the scene</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before him. At Jennie moving about the bright table, chatting</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
happily with Henry Davis! At Henry himself, his sharp features</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
softened by an air of great satisfaction. At the sixth plate on the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
white cloth. Henry staying for supper!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the silent deeps of John's nature served him well. He made no</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
comment. Merely shook hands with Henry Davis and then washed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
his face at the sink.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie arranged the savory dishes, and they sat down to supper. It</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was an entirely new experience to John to sit at the head of his own</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
table and serve a generously heaped plate to Henry Davis. It sent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
through him a sharp thrill of sufficiency, of equality. He realized</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that before he had been cringing in his soul at the very sight of this</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
man.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry consumed eight biscuits richly covered with quince honey,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
along with the heavier part of his dinner. Jennie counted them. She</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
recalled hearing that the Davises did not set a very bountiful table;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it was common talk that Mrs. Davis was even more "miserly" than</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her husband. But, however that was, Henry now seemed to grow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
more and more genial and expansive as he ate. So did John. By the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
time the pie was set before them, they were laughing over a joke</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry had heard at Grange meeting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie was bright, watchful, careful. If the talk lagged, she made a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quick remark. She moved softly between table and stove, refilling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the dishes. She saw to it that a hot biscuit was at Henry Davis's</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
elbow just when he was ready for it. All the while there was rising</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
within her a strong zest for life that she would have deemed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
impossible only that morning. This meal, at least, was a perfect</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
success, and achievements of any sort whatever had been few.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Henry Davis left soon after supper. He brought the conversation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
around awkwardly to his errand as they rose from the table. Jennie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was ready.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I told him, John, that the worst was over now, an' we're getting' on</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fine!" She laughed." I told him we'd be swampin' him pretty soon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with our payments. Ain't that right John?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John's mind was not analytical. At that moment he was comfortable.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has been host at a delicious supper with his ancient adversary,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
whose sharp face marvelously softened. Jennie's eyes were shining</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with a new and amazing confidence. It was a natural moment for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
unreasoning optimism.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Why that's right, Mr. Davis. I believe we can start clearin' this off</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
now pretty soon. If you could just see your way clear to renew the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
note mebbe. . . ."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was done. The papers were back in Davis's pocket. They had bid</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
him a cordial good-bye from the door.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Next time you come, I will have biscuits for you Mr. Davis." Jennie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had called daringly after him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Now you don't forget that Mrs. Musgrave! They certainly ain't hard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to eat."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He was gone. Jennie cleared the table and set the shining lamp in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the center of the oilcloth covering. She began to wash the dishes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John was fumbling through the papers on a hanging shelf. He finally</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sat down with and old tablet and pencil. He spoke meditatively. "I</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
believe I'll do a little figurin' since I've got time tonight. It just struck</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me that mebbe if I used my head a little more I'd get on faster."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Well now, you might," said Jennie. It would not be John's way to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
comment just yet on their sudden deliverance. She polished two big</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rambo apples and placed them on a saucer beside him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He looked pleased. "Now that's what I like." He grinned. Then</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
making a clumsy clutch at her arm, he added, "Say, you look sort of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pretty tonight."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie made a brisk coquettish business of freeing herself. "Go</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
along with you!" she returned, smiling and started in again upon the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dishes. But a hot wave of color had swept up in her shallow cheeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John had looked more grateful over her setting those two apples</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
beside him now, than he had the day last fall when she lifted all the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
potatoes herself! Men were strange, as the woman in gray had said.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe even John had been needing something else more than he</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
needed the hard, backbreaking work she had been doing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She tidied up the kitchen and put the children to bed. It seemed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
strange to be through now, ready to sit down. All summer they had</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
worked outdoors till bedtime. Last night she had been slaving over</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
apple butter until she stopped, exhausted, and John had been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
working in the barn with the lantern. Tonight seemed so peaceful,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so quiet. John still sat at the table, figuring while he munched his</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
apples. His brows were not drawn now. There was a new,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
purposeful light upon his face.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie walked to the doorway and stood looking off through the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
darkness and through the break in the trees at the end of the lane.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bright and golden lights kept glittering across it, breaking dimly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
through the woods, flashing out strongly for a moment, then</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
disappearing behind the hill. Those were the lights of the happy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cars that never stopped in their swift search for far and magic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
places. Those were the lights of the highway which she had hated.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But she did not hate it now. For today it had come to her at last and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
left with her some of its mysterious pleasure.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie wished, as she stood there, that she could somehow tell the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
beautiful stranger in the gray coat that her words had been true,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that she, Jennie, insofar as she was able, was to be like her and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fulfill her woman's part.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For while she was not figuring as John was doing, yet her mind had</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
been planning, sketching in details, strengthening itself against the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
chains of old habits, resolving on new ones; seeing with sudden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
clearness where they had been blundered, where they had made</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
mistakes that farsighted, orderly management could have avoided.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But how could John have sat down to figure in comfort before, in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the kind of kitchen she had been keeping?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jennie bit her lip. Even if some of the tomatoes spoiled, if all of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
them spoiled, there would be a snowy washing on her line</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tomorrow; there would be ironing the next day in her clean kitchen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She could sing as she worked. She used to when she was a girl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even if the apples rotted on the trees, there were certain things she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
knew now that she must do, regardless of what John might say. It</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would pay better in the end, for she had read the real needs of his</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
soul from his eyes that evening. Yes, wives had to choose for their</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
husbands sometimes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A thin haunting breath of sweetness rose from the bosom of her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dress where the scrap of white linen lay. Jennie smiled into the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dark. And tomorrow she would take time to wash her hair. It used</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be yellow—and she wished she could see the stranger once</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
more, just long enough to tell her she understood.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As matter of fact, at that very moment, many miles along the sleek</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
highway, a woman in a gray coat, with a soft gray hat and a rose</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
quill, leaned suddenly close to her husband as he shot the highpowered</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
car through the night. Suddenly he glanced down at her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and slackened the speed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Tired?" he asked. "You haven't spoken for miles. Shall we stop at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this next town?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The woman shook her head. "I'm all right, and I love to drive at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
night. It's only—you know—that poor woman at the farm. I can't get</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
over her wretched face and house and everything. It—it was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hopeless!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The man smiled down at her tenderly. "Well, I'm sorry, too, if it was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all as bad as your description; but you mustn't worry. Good</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gracious, darling, you're not weeping over it, I hope!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"No, truly, just a few little tears. I know it's silly, but I did so want to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
help her, and I know now that what I said must have sounded</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
perfectly insane. She wouldn't know what I was talking about. She</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
just looked up with that blank, tired face. And it all seemed so</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
impossible. No, I'm not going to cry. Of course I'm not—but—lend</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me your handkerchief, will you dear? I've lost mine somehow!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-67114904378463985282012-10-09T09:19:00.000-07:002012-10-09T09:19:00.928-07:00What is Normal?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have caught myself several times this week saying to myself, “I
just wish things would go back to normal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that has put those cogs in my brain to turning and thinking, “What <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is </i></b>normal?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I stopped and looked at it from that
perspective, I had to laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life has
been anything <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but</i></b> normal the past approximately two years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was two years ago this month that Ben broached the subject and
asked Dad to officially begin dating/courting me (whatever we did – we didn’t
do it in a normal fashion or according to any sort of tradition).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That began a four month intense correspondence
between my Dad and Ben (they had talked for the previously 4-ish years, but not
nearly like this).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then came
December…Ben and I celebrated Christmas with his family (his parents, sisters,
and grandparents)on a Florida vacation and then flew back to Colorado on
Christmas to be with my family for another week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In late December of 2010, Ben proposed to me
and I said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The wedding was tentatively set for between December of 2011 and
April of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time Ben returned
to the Coast Guard Academy in early January, we had decided on September of
2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By mid January it was moved up
again to May or June of 2011, right after we both graduated college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end of January, the date of May 28<sup>th</sup>,
2011 was chosen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The next five months were very busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that amount of time my family sold both of
our mountain homes (one where we were living and one where my grandmother was
living).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We dealt with some very
personal family issues that, to this day, still rock our world as we work
through them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren’t “bad” but they
are challenging and they have changed our family forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben and I worked hard to finish our schooling
and degrees, learned we were moving to the west coast for our first Coast Guard
station, and planned and worked on the wedding with our families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben and I both graduated in mid-May from
college.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On May 28<sup>th</sup>, we stood in front of about 175 family and
friends and took our vows to be man and wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a wonderful day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
the easiest thing in the world to say “I do” to my new husband…and it was the
hardest thing I have ever done to say “Farewell” to my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a honeymoon and time with our families,
we moved, arriving at our new home in mid-June of 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben reported to his new unit in the end of
June.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But before he reported for duty, I took a test that changed our
lives drastically again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After suspecting it for
quite some time, I finally had the guts to find out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three pregnancy tests later, I finally
believed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next eight months were
a whirlwind with the Coast Guard work that Ben was involved in and with us
preparing for our little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
first six of those months I worked from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two months before the due date, I resigned my position to focus on what
I thought was most important – my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In February, we welcomed our little bundle of joy – James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past months, we have gone from
expecting, to having a helpless precious newborn in our arms, to having an
infant to adjust with, to now having an active, communicative, extremely fun
little baby to chase around our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has changed our lives forever and there will never be a regret of
having him early in our marriage like so many said we would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he is constantly changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day there is something new to see,
explore, listen to, etc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since reporting to our unit in June of 2011, Ben and I have never
had more than seven days/nights together in a row – with the exception of when
I accompanied him to a school in Virginia last August and when he was granted
paternal leave for 10 days after James was born. In August of 2012, we had an
18 day leave to visit family and friends, and that will be the longest straight
we have had since officially beginning work in the Coast Guard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This past summer, I have learned, to a certain extent, to be more
gentle with those who are called “single mothers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they got there by some
wrong-doing…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe some of those who you
see struggling aren’t really “single” mothers, but have a husband deployed to
serve our country…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what
though, they have a hard job to undertake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I know most of them want to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I have a wonderful, supportive husband…the truth of the matter is
that he is not here all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
approximately 90 days during the summer, I saw him for a total of about 18-20
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been hard…but we are making
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it gives me a higher level of sympathy
for those I see trying to make it work on their own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This coming winter, we will learn of a new change in our
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be moving in the summer of
2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know where.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know what Ben will be doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray it is some place and some job that
Ben can do and come home almost every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it is yet another bend in the road that we can see, but don’t know
what is around the corner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So…. “Normal?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure if I thought about it that life has
never been “normal.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since getting
married, I can definitely say that our “normal” means “constantly changing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I realized that when I said I
wanted life to be “normal” what I really meant is that I wanted my life to be a
certain way that I thought up and dreamed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But maybe that really isn’t what God has for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this past year or so has been
wonderful, it has also had some extremely rough spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why they were there and I have
sometimes wished they just never happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I have begun to realize that…I might never know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>know that the Lord has put them there for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have learned much from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I don’t know what we have learned
and sometimes I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that down the
road I may look back a few years to this time and have a lightbulb moment of
“So <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i></b>
is why that happened.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And at other
times, I am sure I will still look at an occasion in bewilderment of why we
actually had to go through something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I do know that God has a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And this is where He has us for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do I really want life to be normal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe I’d be too bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
have dreams….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how many
times a day I pray that the Lord will bring us to a place where Ben will be
home more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I ask the Lord to
put us in a good assignment next year when we move so that he can come home
every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that he can watch James
(and any future children, if the Lord so wills) grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that I can talk with him about what is
going on every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that he can see
James change on a daily basis instead of leaving one week and coming back
sometime a few weeks later to find a totally different baby than when he
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for now…. I think I need to accept
that my normal is actually abnormal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That my life is how it is because that is how God wants it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not like portions of it, but I can
still be thankful for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am
sure that the Lord has a plan and a reason that I can’t begin to comprehend….</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So here is to life being abnormal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To the quirks and instability in our schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the tears and disappointment that I have
shed wishing that something was different, that Ben was home more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to the tears of happiness that I’ve
shed of seeing James grow, yet wishing more than anything that Ben was at my
side watching it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to the
smiles of joy and happiness I have had with my husband and son as we explore
our new life together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to the
quiet moments of contentment that I sometimes enjoy while rocking James or
quietly curled up on the couch while watching James and Ben do something
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s to the storms that have
rocked our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here’s to the
rainbows that have peeped out behind those storms every single time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*deep breath*</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s to that bend in the road that we know is coming up, but do
not yet know what is around the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s to the plans that I know the Lord has in store for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here is to the changing winds that propel
us in this life: sometimes a soft breeze comforting us in a stable period;
sometimes a thunderstorm that gusts and tosses our ship about as we go through
a time of needing to seek Him more than anything; but always and forever
carefully guiding us through the seas that we are supposed to travel.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-79514271331037223982012-10-07T09:17:00.000-07:002012-10-07T09:17:00.693-07:00The Importance of Dressing Modestly: Why I Believe What I Believe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days ago, a friend and
I were discussing my beliefs on modesty and I have to admit I was rather aghast
when I realized I didn’t really have as good of documentation as I thought I
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe
strongly in dressing modestly and I think most of you who read this blog (if
not all of you!) would also agree with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also realize, however, that many of us might disagree on what would be
considered modest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before I go into this, let me say that I believe and know that I
fail at this some times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t claim
to be the most modest person out there, and I know there have been times that I
have acted, behaved, or dressed in a manner that was far from modest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not perfect – I am far, far, far from
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I try very hard to act, behave,
and dress modestly and I hope that I succeed most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do believe that the Lord can, and will,
forgive us of our faults and I am so thankful for that forgiveness and
mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I still believe that it
is important to be an outward and inward proponent of modesty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is one reason why I write about it
and try to encourage others in the ways of modesty.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take for instance my previous blog on swimsuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I personally believe that showing any sort of
cleavage or stomach is “immodest.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Halter-tops, in my opinion, are also very immodest – in any way, shape
or form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can see too much of my
back with a swimsuit, I quickly toss it aside as “not appropriate”…almost as
fast as I cast aside a swimsuit that shows too much of my front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even believe a lot of one-piece swimsuits
are immodest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of you would
probably find my opinions radical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know we are all entitled
to our own opinions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still believe
that being modest is important, and I believe that showing too much skin is
immodest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, I promise this is not another swimsuit post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just using it as an example of my
opinions. But let me share with you why I believe these sort of clothing items
are immodest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A big part of it is “think
like a guy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds crazy, doesn’t
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And trust me, as a girl – it is hard
to think like a guy in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
clothing that is too revealing (on both boys and girls) makes me extremely
uncomfortable, it does not lead me to think impure thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually I find myself thinking, “Please,
please, please cover up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t know
what you are showing about yourself and even if you have a beautiful heart, it
is so hard to see that with that much skin showing!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I find myself blushing and thinking, “This
is so sad. Someone who could be so beautiful is flaunting something that should
be saved for their husband/wife.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But guys don’t think that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seeing certain things on a girl leads them to think thoughts which are
impure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, how we dress <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can </i></b>encourage
a guy to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am not saying that
it is our fault for a guy sinning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
am saying that I think it is important not to be a stumbling block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I knew some about how guys think about
clothing and modesty from reading and researching and previously formulating my
opinions, when I got married and could have any sort of talk I wanted with my
husband, it astonished me how much affect looks and the way girls dress have on
a guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is a little frightening to
me how innocent, modest, immodest, and impure girls alike can tempt guys, be we
knowledge of the fact or not, just based on how we dress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are commanded by God to look out for our brothers and sisters
in Christ (and I think I should be just as concerned as the unbeliever, as
well) by making sure that we present ourselves in such a way that makes them
think of us as a sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want others
to view me with pure thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in 1
Timothy 5:1-2 it is instructed that the young men should “not rebuke an older
man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as
mothers, and young women as sisters, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>with all purity.</u></i></b>” (Emphasis
mine.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, it is our jobs to make
sure we act and behave in such a way so as to encourage the young men about us
to think of us in a pure fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that means we do have to dress modestly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whether you think it is okay or not, we all have to agree that
that most two piece swimsuits are little more than what we wear as
undergarments. I know this might come across as offensive to you if you like
those, but let’s set aside emotions and just look at the fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there is a little bit more thickness in
the fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there is a tiny bit more
yardage of fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, be it right
or not, it is about the same amount of cloth and it is just as revealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But because it is worn swimming at the pool
or on the beach while tanning, it is somehow viewed in our culture as being
“okay.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But…for now, let me take a quick tangent and let me introduce (or
reintroduce, if you have already been introduced) to the <a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/overview">Rebelution’s Modesty
Survey</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Modesty Survey gained
the opinions of 1,600 Christian guys on how certain clothing, attitudes, etc.
of girls affected them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s glance at
a few of the swimsuit topics at first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the survey questions stated “<a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_36">Bikini swimsuits
are immodest</a>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of those who replied,
59.3% of the men strongly agreed (626 altogether) and 25% agreed (264
altogether).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the men who
responded to this question (and strongly agreed) even wrote this: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">If you don't understand this, you need to start at square
one. The more skin that is revealed, the more of a stumbling block. You can't
reveal more skin than with a bikini. If you understood the purpose of
publications like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, or the objectification
of swimsuit and lingerie models, you wouldn't want to wear a bikini -- unless
you actually want men to sin as they look at you.</span></i><span style="color: black;">” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another survey question stated, “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_34">Halter-top
swimsuits are immodest</a><span style="color: black;">.” Of those who replied,
21.7% (228 men) strongly agreed and 34.4% (362 men) agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One guy wrote:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 2.25pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Like all halter-tops, these are very
difficult for guys to ignore.</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While another said, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s hard to be modest and wear that. I don’t think a girl attempting
to live out her modesty would be attracted to wearing it in the first place</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another wrote:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This sounds stupid, but I’ll be honest; the strings kick the
imagination into “what if” overdrive.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s step away from swimsuits and look at other
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such as the survey questions “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_99">strapless dresses
are immodest</a><span style="color: black;">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the survey, 29.5% (292 guys) said that they strongly agreed they were
immodest and 36.4% (361 guys) stated they agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the comments about them included, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They make you look half-naked and then they look like they could fall
off, which makes it worse.</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or what would you think if you were wearing a
strapless, but knew that a guy could think:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s as though there’s nothing preventing more exposure, and that
invites impure thoughts</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or what about the survey question “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_85">Spaghetti-strap
shirts and dresses are immodest</a><span style="color: black;">.” The majority of
guys seemed to think so with 21.3% (212) strongly agreeing and 39.6% (394)
agreeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the guys wrote these
comments:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These are very immodest as they are skin
tight, low-cut, and have big holes where the sleeves should be, thus showing
even more skin,” </i>And:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I would say neutral, but here’s the deal:
With these things it’s kinda hard to not show a bra strap, and without a bra…
Well, you get the picture.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What about skirts that hit above the knee?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the guys involved with the modesty survey,
17.3% (172 of them) strongly believed “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_38">Skirts that fall <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">above</b> the knee are immodest</a><span style="color: black;">” and 41% (407 of them) agreed they were immodest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the comments from the guys
participating included:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
depends on the specific height above the knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d be fine with skirts just above the knee, but when they start getting
shorter, then we have real problems</i>,” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A little above the knee is fine as long as a girl is careful how she
sits.” </i>And:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If it’s
considerably up your thigh when you are standing up, it’s quite a stumbling block.
If it creeps over your knees when you sit down, it’s no big deal.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or how about short shorts (above mid-thigh).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_123">Any shorts that
are shorter than mid-thigh immodest”</a><span style="color: black;">? A large
majority of the guys thought they were immodest with 402 (41.9%) strongly
agreeing they were immodest and 402 (41.9%) agreeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the comments show how powerful a
statement how we are dressed is such as: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes, there comes a point when it starts to look a lot more like
underwear and a lot less like shorts,</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By the time you get to mid-thigh it can be difficult to stop attempting
to look,</i>” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Respect yourself through your wardrobe. Short shorts are not
respectful, and, at best, they are a distraction to guys</i>,” And:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If it goes above mid-thigh, why bother wearing shorts?</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do you see that how we dress affects other guys?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I totally agree that guys must learn to
control their thoughts…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we, as
girls, must also help them by dressing modestly and purely as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, “In like manner also,
that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and
moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but,
which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These verses state that we must be sure to
have a pure and Christ-seeking heart, but also that we wear clothes that are
modest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we follow these guidelines,
we will also be doing our brothers in Christ a huge favor by encouraging them
to follow what Christ has commanded them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Matthew 5:28, we are told that “whoever looks at a woman to lust for
her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Don’t we want to
dress modestly so as to encourage guys to look at us as sisters to protect and
care for instead of them looking at us with lust?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are many other verses that speak of how women
should dress, but also conduct themselves. 1 Peter 3:3-4 gives us further
instruction: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair,
wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person
of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which
is very precious in the sight of God.” While how we dress is a huge part of
being modest and feminine and acting in a pure manner, there is more to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we do with how we dress and act
is a symbol of what is truly within us – Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the questions on the Modesty Survey
also dealt with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The statement was “</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse_195">A modestly dressed
girl can still be a stumbling block because of her attitude and behavior.</a><span style="color: black;">”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the
participants, 649 (53.5%) strongly agreed and 489 (40.3%) agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the guys even went expounded on their
reasoning by saying:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Modesty and true godliness must go together.
1 Timothy 2:8-10 is calling women away from hypocrisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s saying that the outward needs to match
the inner (and vice versa),” </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“A
modest girl that enjoys flirting is just as bad as a girl that is immodest that
does not flirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modesty is not only the
way a woman dresses, but how she acts,” </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Modesty
is primarily a matter of the heart that will manifest itself in a number of areas
including dress and attitude and behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dress may give the appearance of modesty but the heart will find a
way to telegraph immodesty in other ways such as attitudes and behavior.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t believe that how we dress is everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do believe it is extremely important…just
as important as our attitudes and behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ultimately, yes, the heart is what really matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I believe our outward appearance should
be a reflection of our inward faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe we don’t see it as immodest, but we are girls and we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do </i></b>think
differently than guys. Yes, guys do need to learn how to control their thoughts
and a guy can think impure thoughts about a girl who is dressed and acting
modestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is far less likely to
happen if we dress and act in a pure and modest manner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are interested in the topic, I do highly
recommend perusing the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/overview">Rebelution’s Modesty
Survey</a><span style="color: black;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t agree with everything pertaining to the survey but it is food for thought
and many of the results are highly enlightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I believe that dressing modestly is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also understand that everyone has their own
individual standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think that
there can be some overall guidelines that can be gained which would be
acceptable for anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wearing things
that reveal too much skin (skirts/shorts too far above the knee, halter tops,
bikinis, too-revealing-tanktops, spaghetti-strap shirts/dresses, or camisoles
only, etc.) are obviously not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must remain modest to not only keep ourselves pure, but help keep our brothers
in Christ pure, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the heart
is the most important – but our outward appearances should always reflect our
inward faith and beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is
why I believe it is so important to dress modestly and am an active and
hard-core promoter of it.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-3962464356900883472012-10-02T09:15:00.000-07:002012-10-02T09:15:00.558-07:00Real Men and Real Women<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever wondered what sort of qualities real men and
real women possess?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are some things
that we can do to show that we follow Him and love Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How should we conduct ourselves?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I don’t believe these are by any means “complete”
lists, I thought these two articles were extremely valuable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to the <a href="http://www.therebelution.com/blog/">Rebelution</a> to read these
articles! I actually have the PDF versions of them printed out to have handy
because I like them so much (the PDFs are linked within the sites below)!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read: “<a href="http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/01/teen-girls-define-a-real-man/">A
Real Man</a>”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read: “<a href="http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/02/three-teens-define-a-real-woman/">A
Real Woman</a>”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I do not believe that you need to have all of these
qualities to be a real man or a real woman, I DO believe that we should be
striving and working to have all of these qualities. I hope this might
encourage you to be Real Men and Real Women! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-62666622314727774542012-10-01T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-01T06:00:10.436-07:00Recipe Monday - It's Spelled "J-E-L-L-O"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXMHbU9HKrc/T6bRDoe1sOI/AAAAAAAAB_0/6RKrKyBH5bc/s1600/159033430561716680_poVYnTTc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXMHbU9HKrc/T6bRDoe1sOI/AAAAAAAAB_0/6RKrKyBH5bc/s320/159033430561716680_poVYnTTc_c.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/267893877804620518/">Photo Courtesy</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #bf9000;">It's spelled J-E-L-L-O!</span></i><span style="color: #f1c232;"> Yes, that yummy, unhealthy stuff made of sugar, gelatin and colored junk! I don't remember the last time I ate JELLO because it's such a rare occasion due to how unhealthy it is. So why am I making a post about JELLO? Because I found some really awesome JELLO ideas that were too awesome not to share with someone! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the cool pictures - and then don't let your JELLO craving overtake you!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(In other words, this is a torture post, Mwahaha!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">^^ What an awesome idea! Turn something healthy into something completely unhealthy! How creative! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YY0Looqm0O8/T6bREKNmWQI/AAAAAAAAB_8/vI7reOWulrs/s1600/202732420695914026_hhb8Y7f3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YY0Looqm0O8/T6bREKNmWQI/AAAAAAAAB_8/vI7reOWulrs/s320/202732420695914026_hhb8Y7f3_c.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/2012/02/valentines-jello-hearts.html"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Eb2m3qNYWA/T6bREveDrZI/AAAAAAAACAE/ZbSC5NxD578/s1600/204139795579618070_PRGEwq2c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Eb2m3qNYWA/T6bREveDrZI/AAAAAAAACAE/ZbSC5NxD578/s320/204139795579618070_PRGEwq2c_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Credit Unknown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> This might really gross some of you out,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">but it made me laugh! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MbE3j9XKkY/T6bRFMzc6AI/AAAAAAAACAM/GbimwgSyLmY/s1600/96053404522707349_1SxHSBgr_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MbE3j9XKkY/T6bRFMzc6AI/AAAAAAAACAM/GbimwgSyLmY/s320/96053404522707349_1SxHSBgr_c.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274922/60-summer-activities-for-kids/@center/276964/60-days-summer#/262265"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My favorite! A JELLO aquarium! </span></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LwEWDESjAdU/T_D_P9FaBJI/AAAAAAAACp4/A1v3sOlhGRA/s320/171910910745806142_asATOjol_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/jellojigglers"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Wash out Legos/Mega Blocks and then</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">fill with jello for Lego Jello!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VL5wtN5oLk/T6bRFWT7a7I/AAAAAAAACAU/R8w4furL880/s1600/99994054196772147_knfuYpVg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VL5wtN5oLk/T6bRFWT7a7I/AAAAAAAACAU/R8w4furL880/s1600/99994054196772147_knfuYpVg_c.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Credit Unknown</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> So, now that I have thoroughly tortured you, let me introduce you to a healthy version of Jello. (Well, much more healthy!) That's right! there is a healthy version and it is delicious! <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXDZa9CWLLk/T6bS5wn47vI/AAAAAAAACAc/AcpF1xqUx5w/s1600/berrygelatinbetterview_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXDZa9CWLLk/T6bS5wn47vI/AAAAAAAACAc/AcpF1xqUx5w/s1600/berrygelatinbetterview_6.jpg" /></a> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Find the recipe on this website, try it,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">then let me know what you think! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thehealthycookingcoach.com/2008/06/hello-jello.html">Healthy Jello</a></span></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-54938920549754665402012-09-30T08:59:00.000-07:002012-09-30T08:59:00.110-07:00Stoop and Drink<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Stoop and Drink</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><i>After a hot and dusty </i></b>drive a commercial traveler stopped his car in front of a hotel in Jonesville, Arkansas, one day in the spring. As he entered the hotel he noticed a drinking fountain with the invitation written above, “Stoop and drink.” He went toward it in anticipation of a cool, refreshing drink. Upon reaching it he put out his hand to turn the water on, but found no handle. Then he looked for a button to press, but found none,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Sitting down near by he tried to study out the perplexing situation. Here he was thirsty and anxious to drink, and the invitation to stoop and drink only seemed to mock him. As he thought of it, the words “Stoop and drink” began to make an impression on him. Surely, he though, if those words are true I am to do nothing about turning the water on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Again his thirst reminded him of his need, so he left his seat and walked across the lobby. Ignoring the curious glances of any who might be watching him, he went to the drinking fountain and stooped - and lo, even before his mouth was opened, the cold, clear water flowed, so he drank and enjoyed the refreshing drought.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>When his thirst was satisfied, he examined more closely the fountain that had so mystified him. He finally discovered that it was controlled by an electric eye, so arranged that when a certain beam of light was interrupted a switch was thrown which opened the faucet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>What a picture this is of another fountain at which men are invited to drink! It is the fountain of the Water of Life. Many, because they do not understand all about it, refuse to drink. Others think of the onlookers, and because of personal pride refuse to stoop and drink. Many others are trying to do something, as this traveler would have done, could he have found a handle to turn or a button to press. But no, there is nothing to do but stoop and drink. Reader, if you are not saved, do this simple deed today. Christ has died for your sins; simply humble yourself, open your heart, and let Him enter. - M. Kenneth Morris</span></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-27626120244351962832012-09-28T06:00:00.000-07:002012-09-28T11:25:46.678-07:00Discovery Friday - Dish Water Cell Phone<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeKO8xEwB_I/UEPAw7BGD6I/AAAAAAAAC8c/ETo3eS79Jz8/s1600/dry-cell-phone-in-rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeKO8xEwB_I/UEPAw7BGD6I/AAAAAAAAC8c/ETo3eS79Jz8/s320/dry-cell-phone-in-rice.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> My sister works part time at a home restoration company. One day while talking with the plummer, he was telling her about his problem of constantly getting his phone soaked and what he has to do to dry it out. (Being a plummer and having your phone get soaked... Somehow that is just a disturbing image)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Only a few short days later, Chip was washing the dishes when she reached in the water and pulled out her cell phone! She still had no idea how it got in the water or how long it had been there but it most certainly was NOT working. She placed it in a bag of rice and it worked! It gives an amazing extra flavor to the rice too. Yummy! (No, really, I'm joking... Please don't eat the rice if you try this. )</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you have it! A way to fix your wet cell phone. I imagine this would probably work on other small electronics as well. Great information to have but hopefully you will never need it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Additional comment! After I scheduled this post, my mom managed to send her cell phone through the washing machine - on the HEAVY cycle! She thought her cell phone was done for but she decided to try the rice trick anyhow and it WORKED! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-13125758576124235692012-09-27T07:49:00.000-07:002012-09-27T07:49:01.101-07:00Raising the Standard - An Apology & Challenge to Blog Readers<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “Why do we have several pictures of girl’s shoulders on Pure Femininity?”</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My mouth dropped open and I stared at my sister for a moment, unable to answer the blunt, unexpected question that she had just asked me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “What do you mean?” I finally responded.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I was looking through our posts on Pure Femininity recently and I noticed that there were several pictures of girls wearing strapless dresses.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I knew in an instant which pictures she was talking about, they were displayed in one of my favorite posts. Being tired and in a hurry, I had chosen pictures to corrispond with that particular article that I thought were “OK.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To most people, such pictures would have been no big deal and would have gone completely unnoticed. After all, the only thing the pictures really showed were girl’s shoulders - from the back! Most girl’s today would even look at such dresses as “modest,” but if they could only hear what “thoughts” such dresses trigger in the minds of men, I hope they would think otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have made it an object in the past to learn how men think about how women dress and how it dramatically effects them and causes them to stumble. Because of the things I have learned, I have made it a priority in my life to dress in a way to promote men to think like real men instead of in a lustful, animalistic way. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I typically am careful about what images I post, but I had let myself become off guard and fall into the lie that it really was not that big of a deal. But why would I ever even consider posting a picture of a girl wearing something that I myself would never wear when I know that even an image will cause the same lustful thoughts in a man as the real thing? Granted, this blog is geared towards women, but we do have men who occasionally stop by. It’s so easy to let little things slip in as “no big deal” until they grow and grow until there are no moral values left. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To many of you, this post may seem ridiculous and unnecessary, perhaps even offensive. I mean no offence whatsoever, but I need stand strong in my faith. In Isaiah 7:9-b it says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a Christian, I want to joyfully and eagerly live my life as pleasing to the Lord in every possible area with strength and boldness - Not letting myself be concerned about what others think when I stand firm. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Showing shoulders in a picture may not seem like a big deal, but I know that it causes my brothers to stumble. “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” Romans 14:21</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know that I am called to set a good example: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1Timothy 4:12</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And I know that I am do be different from the rest of the world: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Since I know these things and have been made aware of my mistake, I humbly ask the forgiveness of you, my blog readers. I believe that true leaders have a heart to serve others, to be good examples, and this sometimes even means repenting of small, insignificant sounding issues. I want to set a good example to you in every possible way and to live my life in a way that will continue to point to God’s ultimate goodness and the true freedom in following Him.</span><br />
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-17856828900984344372012-09-25T08:58:00.000-07:002012-09-25T08:58:00.349-07:00Be Prepared!<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An outstanding lesson that has emerged from World War II is this: a nation must be prepared. An army and navy cannot be improvised when the enemy comes in like a flood. Once the enemy is within the gates, the opportunity is gone. And the nation pays the bitter penalty for its lethargy and lack of foresight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>In His story of the Two Builders, Jesus emphasized the need of foresight in the higher realm of character and destiny. He relates that two men built houses. The first was in a hurry and built upon the sand. “How will it look?” was the chief consideration with him. But the second man was concerned with the question, “How will it stand?” and so took time to dig down to a rock foundation. We can imagine the first pointing a mocking finger at the other, and saying: “That foolish man is wasting too much time and money on his home. I was smart enough to make quite a saving.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Both houses were finished and looked alike until the storm came, and the fall of the one and the stability of the other revealed who was the fool and who was the wise man. The tragedy is that so many men who think themselves smart will one day find out how foolish they are.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Each one of us is building a house of character. We are either building upon the shifting sands of human philosophies or public opinion, or upon the eternal principles taught by the Christ. Into that building we are putting either shoddy material of sinful, crooked, or selfish living, or the solid material of righteous deeds. One day the storms of life - sickness, sorrow, loss, temptation, death - will come to test our building. Then only those who have based their living upon the words of the Divine Teacher and who have received Him as their Deliverer will meet the crisis with faith, courage, and endurance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Too many wait until they are broken by life before they come to God. Better late than never, for God is merciful. But how much better to be prepared before the troubles of life overwhelm us! Foresight is an attribute of wisdom. Are you a wise man? (Or woman) Are you prepared? If not, come to Christ the Builder, and He will help you build a character that will stand the test of life, death, and the judgment. - M. P.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. </i></span></blockquote>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-15935401488025054112012-09-24T06:51:00.000-07:002012-09-24T06:51:00.543-07:00Recipe Mondays: Lemon Garlic SpaghettiEver want a light meal that won't take a long time to cook? I get that feeling all the time...ESPECIALLY in the summer! I just don't want to eat much or cook for long in the heat. So I am always looking for light, yummy, refreshing meals to cook during summertime. That's why this lemon garlic spaghetti is so good -- and as a benefit, it is relatively healthy! Serve with a glass of iced tea, some fruit, and maybe a salad and you have yourselves a very quick, refreshing, summer meal! Check out the link below!<br />
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<a href="http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1756">Lemon Garlic Spaghetti</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4442614828_60b6339306_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4442614828_60b6339306_o.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1756">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-88452513491798078112012-09-23T08:35:00.000-07:002012-09-24T10:06:29.795-07:00The "New" Bucket List<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The “New” Bucket List</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i><b>What is a</b></i> “<b>Bucket List</b>?” It’s the list of life goals to be accomplished by an individual before they “<i>kick the bucket</i>”, or to put it more bluntly, before they stop breathing…permanently. The point of a bucket list is to write out all of the numerous and usually awesome or crazy things that you want to complete before the end of life strikes. Recently, I have noticed people posting a lot of different things that they would like to add to their bucket list. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things such as:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Swim with dolphins</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Go sky diving</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Climb Mt Killimonjaro</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Go scuba diving</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Meet someone famous</i></span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQkZR6HeDmg/UCwu6zbKL5I/AAAAAAAAC08/YxJIpCceIW4/s1600/121949102380139786_XCleFzWG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQkZR6HeDmg/UCwu6zbKL5I/AAAAAAAAC08/YxJIpCceIW4/s320/121949102380139786_XCleFzWG_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Credit Unknown)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> If I myself were to creative such a bucket list, I would have quite a good start on the kinds of things typically found on these lists. For example, things that I could check off my bucket list that I have already done in my life are:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Watch fireworks over the Atlantic ocean</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Have a raccoon and a fawn as pets</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Travel to Mexico and play in the Pacific Ocean</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Spend two months in the Alaska wilderness</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Drive through the deep jungles of Tanzania in knee deep mud</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Visit more than half the states in the US</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>See the famous lakes and mountains of Canada</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Own my own small business</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Visit down town New York multiple times</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ride in a 3 seat airplane in dangerous wind conditions (Now THAT was FUN!)</i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Stay overnight in an ancient hotel in Ethiopia</i></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> …… Quite honestly, my completed bucket list could go on and on and if I look at that list, I have done a lot of really awesome things for someone my age. My question is… <i><b>What’s the point?</b></i> Do I really want to be remembered for doing all of those things? And when it’s all said and done, how long do those around me even remember the cool things that I’ve bragged about? I don’t think my family even remembers half of them!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even more importantly, did any of those things in themselves really make a difference <i>in anyone else’s life? </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> There’s nothing wrong with wanting to travel and do neat activities. ( I would still someday like to fly in a helicopter!) The problem comes when that becomes our <i>‘life’ </i>focus. Creating the typical bucket list involves focusing on ‘self’ and what ‘I’ want to do. It focuses on material possessions, money, travel, pleasure - all things that when life is over, really don’t amount to anything at all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <b><i> So what does a good bucket list consist of? </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><i><span style="color: #660000;">A good bucket list is a life focused on others, and above all, a life that is focused on Christ. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> How about creating a “New” Bucket List with me? A list that dramatically changes lives and hearts in a positive way, instead of dying and leaving behind sky high credit card debts from all the ‘cool’ things that were accomplished.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few<i><b> new</b></i> bucket list ideas:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Lead a dying person to the Lord</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Change a woman’s mind about aborting her baby and then watch the child that was saved grow into a young man/woman. </b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Personally give away 1000 Bibles (One at a time) and share with individuals how to practically study it.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Be part of bringing dramatic life change to someone on the edge of committing suicide</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Inspire purity, joy, perseverance and faithfulness to all who know me</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Write a life impacting book</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Provide a shelter and necessities for someone in need</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Brighten the day of every cashier in every store that I enter</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Win my family members to the Lord by the way I chose to live my life</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>(And the very last thing on my bucket list is:) Lay my life down to save someone else</b></i></span></li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ORiWZz_KZKA/UCww3aR4LYI/AAAAAAAAC1E/fQLb_gYkRSw/s1600/blueshoes.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ORiWZz_KZKA/UCww3aR4LYI/AAAAAAAAC1E/fQLb_gYkRSw/s320/blueshoes.tif" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Little kids that we distributed shoes to in Tanzania"</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Some people might look at this list as a way to make sure that people remember them after they die, but that is not the point at all. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> If a rock is thrown into a lake, it sinks to the bottom and is forgotten, but the waves that it leaves behind will reach more water than the rock could have ever touched. That is what I want for my own life. If I die and am remembered no longer, I’m fine with that. The goal is not to be remembered but to make waves that will reach far beyond into lives that I could have never touched in my lifetime. The goal of this kind of bucket list is not even to make a ‘list’ at all. The goal is to get our eyes off of making a foolish, self-centered list and to live a lifestyle that will change our world and bring glory to the one true Savior, Jesus Christ. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6ZITbYi8oM/UCwxdXv3fyI/AAAAAAAAC1M/XNWdvX6tjaA/s1600/newshoes.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q6ZITbYi8oM/UCwxdXv3fyI/AAAAAAAAC1M/XNWdvX6tjaA/s320/newshoes.tif" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A little girl with new shoes in East Africa"</td></tr>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486402812079145931.post-86635624226275920782012-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:002012-09-21T06:00:13.119-07:00Discovery Friday - Kitchen Organizing<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4HSsBPDSvQ/T6TMTXRfcMI/AAAAAAAAB24/EOvMbDfX21g/s1600/101612535312172067_KocxfjxD_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4HSsBPDSvQ/T6TMTXRfcMI/AAAAAAAAB24/EOvMbDfX21g/s320/101612535312172067_KocxfjxD_c.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbjstories.com/2011/08/kitchen-pantry-reveal.html">Photo Courtesy</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amazing </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>what</b> a</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span><i><span style="color: #20124d;">bit</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> of</span></i><span style="color: #351c75;"> good kitchen organizing can do! Here's a few ideas that might help you to organize your kitchen. (Or if your like me, save the pictures and ideas for when you have your own kitchen!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a fun and easy way to organize canned food! >></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztAqTDaD2Do/T6TMWhtVAGI/AAAAAAAAB3A/jNIELPLqUdI/s1600/120541727495937308_VhqGm62C_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztAqTDaD2Do/T6TMWhtVAGI/AAAAAAAAB3A/jNIELPLqUdI/s320/120541727495937308_VhqGm62C_c.jpg" width="254" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theentertaininghouse.com/"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The above picture is not actually organizing per-say, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but using an old ladder for decoration - </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what could be more fun and creative!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tw0HkNWuao8/T6TMfP_RntI/AAAAAAAAB3I/9nFrWl42ZwI/s1600/129267451773902280_PwwNlyP8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tw0HkNWuao8/T6TMfP_RntI/AAAAAAAAB3I/9nFrWl42ZwI/s320/129267451773902280_PwwNlyP8_c.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://monas3rd.blogspot.com/2011_09_04_archive.html"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a fun idea! Use a cheap cookie sheet to create a menu board to plan out your weekly menu! I am going to make one of these someday! </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4BBahbW3Xmc/T6TMjjCceGI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/M2woybs2pmc/s1600/129267451774001372_PwZBeGEW_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4BBahbW3Xmc/T6TMjjCceGI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/M2woybs2pmc/s320/129267451774001372_PwZBeGEW_f.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-11-04T10:00:00-07:00&max-results=6"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Photo Courtesy</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course, refrigerator organizing! I love this!</span><br />
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<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18093377992038829168noreply@blogger.com3