tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24126672101437516962024-03-14T04:35:38.772-05:00Just ThinkingIf you know me at all, you know I'm full of random thoughts. I hope to share some of these thoughts on life, spirituality, motherhood, food, and whatever else comes to mind!Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-17427047210950982082012-08-01T12:49:00.001-05:002012-08-01T21:45:34.683-05:00Lion Craft<div class="mobile-photo">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAj6peeFfEG4XXJAYOTc8svx1C1iUdP9-506HtYOUQihWVoJ7yasswKdy6JpXRYhjDSRARq6_SJDGSCD4huH7U612B2TAsMPqUPh_RMEX_k6ePwOqb8Kau38ISS3suzSrOW2xF4qPBYQ/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAj6peeFfEG4XXJAYOTc8svx1C1iUdP9-506HtYOUQihWVoJ7yasswKdy6JpXRYhjDSRARq6_SJDGSCD4huH7U612B2TAsMPqUPh_RMEX_k6ePwOqb8Kau38ISS3suzSrOW2xF4qPBYQ/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">A couple of weeks ago, I made this craft with my 2 & 3 yr old preschool class! They loved making their lions, but it was a lot of work! I have had several people request how this was made, so here is a step by step of how I made my lion!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">First off, let me give credit where credit is due, I adapted this craft from Danielle's Place. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/lioncrafts.html" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors="true">http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/lioncrafts.html</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">You will find her instructions there. Mine are similar, but quite a bit different because I wanted mine to stand on its own.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">For each lion you will need:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">1 piece brown construction paper</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">1 paper plate</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">1 paper or styrofoam bowl</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Brown, Orange & Black paint (I used tempera you could use brown spray paint if you use paper bowls).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Thick White paper </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Black and red markers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Regular glue </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Tacky glue (thick craft glue)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Paper clips</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">To start, on brown paper, trace around the paper plate. And cut it out. With the scraps, draw a tail in a curvy "L" shape.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjVqjVkSwYhpNU__KGQHGiA0BCaFAYvmbJMQyaI3HtoV0U5xk0VopS_PQX2lw9vU2NM0w-SY-kpsQS6KeLE2liEl9MWB7VR7cx_h1zLSDoBge16Dtb-WXbe5ilRJP_lBXEUqAzuSPL90/s1600/image%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjVqjVkSwYhpNU__KGQHGiA0BCaFAYvmbJMQyaI3HtoV0U5xk0VopS_PQX2lw9vU2NM0w-SY-kpsQS6KeLE2liEl9MWB7VR7cx_h1zLSDoBge16Dtb-WXbe5ilRJP_lBXEUqAzuSPL90/s320/image%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Cut out a tear drop for the tip of the tail, and 2 "D" shapes for ears. You could also cut out 2 half circles for paws if you want the kids to glue more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">On the white paper, trace around the bottom of the bowl. This will be your face. With the markers, draw and color it in. I originally drew the nose with a pencil and then traced with marker.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqrgqqPN9Zzy8bsXQHt69tWX6ab5A4cSXa4KPk8h7PQz5fZE056eTz7SDbp_b0rYlk4UoPr31_tOOob9Rx4KE8blzLkYwYkJ52yeByeiZJJuECDHv4gpbQD-z9mj8WM83fp5Ph_u3fTA/s1600/image%255B2%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqrgqqPN9Zzy8bsXQHt69tWX6ab5A4cSXa4KPk8h7PQz5fZE056eTz7SDbp_b0rYlk4UoPr31_tOOob9Rx4KE8blzLkYwYkJ52yeByeiZJJuECDHv4gpbQD-z9mj8WM83fp5Ph_u3fTA/s320/image%255B2%255D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">If mass producing these lions on a short time period, here's how I would do the next few steps... I would paint and assemble them on my own. Then I would let the kids glue the face, tail pieces, ears, and paws on. That way you don't have to wait. For paint & glue to dry. If you let them do the painting and gluing, it's easily a 3 day project bc of dry times.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">First, paint the outside of your bowl and paper plate brown. Paint your brown circle and your tear drop orange. I used a dry brush because you can see the brush strokes and they look like hair. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Once everything is dry, cut your paper plate in half. Cut all around your brownish orange circle to make the mane stick out! Using the tacky glue, glue around the lip of the bowl and put it in the middle of the orange mane. I placed a heavy children's book on top of the bowl so it would dry firmly glued to the construction paper. Also using the tacky glue, glue around the lip of the plates and attach them together. I used paper clips to hold the plate together and stuck a 1 1/2 inch section of a toilet paper tube in there for stability and shape. I did not glue the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">tube.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">After everything is completely dried, remove the paper clips and put tacky glue on the plate, toward the top, and around the bottom part of the mane where the lip of the bowl is. Press the mane/bowl against the plate and hold it there as well as you can. You want the bowl connected to the plate, not just the paper around the bowl do its neck won't flop! :) I taped a piece in the middle to help hold it until it dried. Then I pinched both sides of the bowl and plate for a couple minutes until it set.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">The let it dry completely. Once everything is completely dry, glue the face, ears, paws, and tail pieces on. You can use a bit of black paint and add little lines for eyes and paint the paws I you did not glue them. If your lion is having difficulty standing, trim the bottom of your plate until it will stand the way you want. I found the little tp tube helped balance the lions a little, but it is very important the plates are level and smooth along the bottom. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica;">Congratulations! Your lion should be completed! As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them!</span><br />
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</div>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-27271827907787827572012-06-24T13:51:00.001-05:002012-06-24T14:37:33.732-05:00The Passing Shadows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely love fantasy stories and movies. Naturally, my favorite is the stories of Middle Earth by Tolkien. I love the whole world he imagined and wrote about. I also love how Peter Jackson brought that world to life. It is such a great story of good vs. evil, but it is so much more than that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a christian, I often feel like I am on a journey through Middle Earth, carrying the "Ring of Power" around my neck. Sometimes, when I see all of the evil around me, I get discouraged and feel like there is no point in trying to make a difference. I get bogged down and don't want to continue my journey. I think that is why the following scene in "The Two Towers" speaks so much to me.
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frodo has lost site of the goal. He thinks he can no longer go on. He feels the task is too hard for him. Then Sam steps in, and reminds him what is at stake. He reminds Frodo that the shadow is passing, and "A new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer." He redirects Frodo back to the goal of a new day that will come when evil is destroyed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As awesome as that is, my favorite part comes next, when Sam states his realization for why certain stories "stay with you." He said, "But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding onto something." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes, we all need a Sam to remind us the shadows of life on this imperfect world will eventually pass. Evil will be destroyed, the new heavens and the new earth will be, and the sun will "shine out all the clearer." But, for our story to mean something, we can't give up and turn back. We need to hold on to something to help keep us going. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I am writing this, an old folk song from India keeps playing in my head. I've sung this song so many times, but it always reminds me, even in the darkest of days, that with Jesus, there is no turning back. God doesn't want me to turn back, just like He didn't want the Israelites to turn back when they were in the wilderness. Turning back is foolishness. I need to put my hope in Him, and keep going.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have decided to follow Jesus. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="color: #e69139; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have decided to follow Jesus. </span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #e69139; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have decided to follow Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No turning back. No turning back. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The world behind me; the cross before me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The world behind me; the cross before me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The world behind me; the cross before me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No turning back. No turning back. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though none go with me, I still will follow. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though none go with me, I still will follow. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though none go with me, I still will follow. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No turning back. No turning back. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #e69139; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Will you decide now to follow Jesus?</span></div>
<div style="color: #e69139; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Will you decide now to follow Jesus?</span></div>
<div style="color: #e69139; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Verdana; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Will you decide now to follow Jesus?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No turning back. No turning back. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty much the entire book of Hebrews is about not giving up and motivating each other to not turn back. It's about holding fast to the hope we have in Jesus, no matter what comes our way. Don't give up! Keep going! We have something to hold onto, because He is faithful until the very end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Hebrews 10:19-25<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="text Heb-10-19" style="font-size: 16px;">Therefore, brothers,<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30136a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]"></sup> since we have confidence to enter <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30136B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>the holy places by the blood of Jesus,</span> <span class="text Heb-10-20" id="en-ESV-30137" style="font-size: 16px;">by <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30137C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>the new and living way that he opened for us through <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30137D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>the curtain, that is, through his flesh, </span><span class="text Heb-10-21" id="en-ESV-30138" style="font-size: 16px;">and since we have <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30138E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup>a great priest over the house of God,</span> <span class="text Heb-10-22" id="en-ESV-30139" style="font-size: 16px;">let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30139F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>sprinkled clean <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30139G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>from an evil conscience and our bodies <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30139H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>washed with pure water.</span> <span class="text Heb-10-23" id="en-ESV-30140" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30140I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30140J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>he who promised is faithful.</span> <span class="text Heb-10-24" id="en-ESV-30141" style="font-size: 16px;">And <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30141K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, </span><span class="text Heb-10-25" id="en-ESV-30142" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30142L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup></span>not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30142M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span>all the more as you see <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30142N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup></span>the Day drawing near.</span></span></i></span></blockquote>
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</blockquote>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-11020230482859921162012-06-20T14:12:00.001-05:002012-06-24T12:50:04.783-05:00The Bird<div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: 17px;">The Bird</span></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Jackson is almost 3 1/2 years old. He is a curious little guy, and this morning on the playground he caught a bird. This was a young bird. It was still fuzzy. I'm not sure if it had fallen out of the nest trying to fly, or if it just fell out of the nest. Whatever the reason, my son and one of his friends decided to help it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">I'm not sure exactly what went on with the bird, but I did see it hop away out of the playground. Knowing they had touched the bird, I took Jackson and his friend inside to wash their hands. On the way in, I asked, "How did the little bird feel?". The response I recieved was, "It felt nice." My next question was, "Were you nice to the bird?" to which was immediately answered, "I was!! But HE (Jackson) wasn't." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">As cute as this whole situation was, it made me think a little bit. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">When I see someone in need and I try to help, am I really helping, or am I just patting them on the back? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">When I see someone with a need, and I try to help, am I being nice, or am I patting them too hard? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">If I see someone with a need, and I desire to help them, do they actually want my help, or am I forcing my help on them?</span></div>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-91340461365826311102012-06-19T00:12:00.000-05:002012-06-19T00:12:43.056-05:00Sand-burs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On my walk to the church building, I've been noticing a sand-bur here or there the past couple of weeks. Usually, I only notice one when it catches my sandal or gets caught in Jackson's pants leg. Having only been stuck by a couple, I didn't really think we had a problem. Little did I know, until I started looking, I did not know how bad of a problem we really have. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I walked my pathway to the building, I noticed clump another clump of very mature sand-bur producing weeds. I pulled one and saw another; pulled it and found another. I pulled sand-burs for quite awhile, until it was too dark to see them or snakes. I thought I pulled so many that there wouldn't be many left for me to finish in the morning. Then, Saturday morning, I went out to finish the job. Wrong again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the morning light, it was easy for me to see how big the infestation is. At that point, I pulled the rest of the noticeable clumps from my path and decided to come back to the others. Since I had only noticed the weed in that part of the yard, my thinking was I could get some help and pull them before they spread to another area.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That afternoon, I took Scott with me to the backyard. We each had a laundry basket full of wet sheets and towels to hang on our clothes lines. Low and behold, when I went to hang a towel, I was stuck by a sand-bur! I looked down, and all around were giant clumps of sand-burs. Keep in mind, this is in a completely different area than the other sand-burs. There is even a structure in between the areas. As I looked down, I quickly became aware as to how vast of a sand-bur problem we have. There are way too many for one or two people to pull in any short amount of time. Scott ended up hanging almost all of the towels and sheets while I pulled sand-burs. I cleared a pretty big area under the clothesline, but there were many more left. My fingers became sore, and I was overwhelmed by all of the work left to do. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I was uprooting the problem, and pulling stickers from my fingertips and toes, I began thinking...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How long will it be before I can go barefoot again?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where did these all come from?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did they become such a problem without me ever noticing?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can I fix this problem?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The questions go on and on (just like the pain in my fingertips).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then started thinking about other problems that kind of creep up. Things like dirty dishes in the sink and laundry that needs put away, and serious things, such as jealousy and greed. At first, it's just a want or desire for something you don't have and before long you're bitter towards anyone who has what you can't get, or you spend all of your time chasing after the Jones's and you miss out on the important things. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I take time to stop, and really look at my life, I realize it's often full of sand-burs too. The closer I look, the more I see how vast my problem is. I know you know what I mean. I'm pretty sure we all, at one point or another, find ourselves looking at the shambles of our life wondering , "Where did this all come from? How did it get so bad without me noticing? What can I do to fix it?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately, there is an answer to our problems. It's Jesus, pure and simple. He has the ability to fix our problems. If we let Him, He'll do more than mow over our issues. He'll help us dig out the burs from the root. This doesn't mean it is an easy solution. It's far from easy. Just like my sand-bur infested lawn, it will take a lot of time, a lot of hard work, and some soreness to rid a life of the painful weeds that creep up and take over. It may take awhile, and it may hurt, but the end result will be more than worth it!</span>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-26608914835779672552012-06-05T23:56:00.000-05:002012-06-05T23:56:27.579-05:00He Never Disappoints<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I was disappointed. I wasn't disappointed in myself, although that happens quite often, but I was disappointed when something didn't turn out the way I thought it should. That got me to thinking. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started thinking about all of the things that have disappointed me. Usually it's something I have done or said that disappoints myself. I know better, but I do or say it anyway. It's disappointing because I know I am better than whatever I did or said. Therefor, I disappoint myself. Sometimes it's my job, or my friends. Sometimes it's my husband, or a certain situation. Whatever or whoever does the disappointing, it never feels good.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mind usually doesn't stay in the same place for too awfully long. I have all kinds of thoughts just racing around in there. It's unusual if there isn't a million ideas trying to come out at once. So after I thought about the things that disappoint me, I tried to think of things that do not disappoint me. The one and only think I could think of was a given, but I never really realized it is the ONLY thing that doesn't disappoint. Kids, relationships, the Church, jobs, books, and movies, they all can disappoint you. I could only come up with one thing that cannot and will not disappoint you. If you haven't figured it out, I'll make it easy: God. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God never disappoints.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> God NEVER disappoints.</i> That idea is so calming. God never disappoints. Even now, thinking about how perfectly true this is, I get a smile on my face. No matter what is going on in my life or in the world around me, God will never disappoint me. No matter how many problems are thrown in my path or how much I am hurt, God will never disappoint me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the darkest times, He's there lighting my way. In the happy times, He's there rejoicing with me. In the sad times, He wipes the tears away. He is always there to help me through whatever the situation. He never disappoints. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Him, there is no evil. He doesn't cause the bad things to happen. He never disappoints. Disappointment comes from some inadequacy, or failure. He is perfect, never failing, all knowing, all powerful. God will never disappoint.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-61492360101940058692012-05-17T13:47:00.000-05:002012-05-17T13:47:21.292-05:00The Evolution of a Dream<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far back as I can remember, there have been two foods I absolutely love, ICE-CREAM and CAKE. I think it's no mistake that the two go so well together (but not in the same bowl, I don't like the ice-cream making my cake soggy, or my cake making my ice-cream gritty). I can eat <strike>good</strike> cake and <strike>good</strike> ice-cream until I'm sick! Given my love for both, it was no surprise to myself when I first realized I would love to have a bakery and decorate cakes and bake all day.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started about 11 years ago when my college roommate and I started baking cookies (LOADS OF COOKIES) and putting them in decorated bags for our friends at the <a href="http://www.universitycenter.org/" target="_blank">UC</a> (secretly of course). This spread to more baked goods and dinner parties. I started baking and "decorating" cakes for the birthdays of some of my close friends. I knew at that moment I wanted to keep doing this and learn more so my creations would look (and taste) better. When I was planning my wedding, I even thought about making my own wedding cake. Thankfully my mom talked me out of that one. After all, I was already arranging all my flowers and making my really long veil during a very busy semester my last year of college. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact all of my baked goods up to that point tasted great, but lacked a little in the looks department. I wish I had some pictures to show you of some of my first stacked cakes, but if you were one of the "lucky" ones, you probably remember all too well and were just nice enough to not let me know it wasn't exactly pretty.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I was married and finished with college, I realized the dream I had of taking some decorating classes wasn't really going to fit with my budget, schedule, and location. I put this hobby aside and went on making an occasional cake or something for church and work pot-lucks. Then we moved to <a href="http://www.cityoflg.com/" target="_blank">La Grange, TX</a>. I stayed home with our 1 year old and decided I would like to start baking again and since I wasn't going to be able to take some decorating classes, I decided to get the materials and teach myself with the aid of the internet. Some of my cakes did not work as planned, but I still learned, and had a blast. With every cake I have baked and decorated I've improved and learned something important about the art.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlnr9FRBSpJtawhlMddHfPEWysV6-DbNyjceUij4LBqHYHNBeVoHcibxJHGhJJsX1lK25JqXJkEkerHW5s0KwKpqFmpE_suugspC3yHhw4AQC2m4zbepTcB1jVg6kI9kPGOi0vb_Hz20/s1600/23644_111460485531291_100000020213229_265290_2706680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlnr9FRBSpJtawhlMddHfPEWysV6-DbNyjceUij4LBqHYHNBeVoHcibxJHGhJJsX1lK25JqXJkEkerHW5s0KwKpqFmpE_suugspC3yHhw4AQC2m4zbepTcB1jVg6kI9kPGOi0vb_Hz20/s200/23644_111460485531291_100000020213229_265290_2706680_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of the first cakes I decorated when I was still dabbling. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had not decided to really learn how to do things the right way. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still had the idea stuck in my head that I had to take a class in a classroom to teach me how to decorate a cake. I didn't realize I could learn, on my own, with some great resources.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRpPHi7Sxk6TdUpkm-giNuHLFetgCgrB7cgKGGrvz7uy84ce-fDTpWjN9yCducs9i-R0NGuYHodNf0O3myoidMoG_jiuLvXSTvv-NHGk4d3Lgm_jEiC1K38kNLWh3ZJzT_s-MdNmQh-Q/s1600/30071_763568780052_17127434_41360300_2635797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRpPHi7Sxk6TdUpkm-giNuHLFetgCgrB7cgKGGrvz7uy84ce-fDTpWjN9yCducs9i-R0NGuYHodNf0O3myoidMoG_jiuLvXSTvv-NHGk4d3Lgm_jEiC1K38kNLWh3ZJzT_s-MdNmQh-Q/s200/30071_763568780052_17127434_41360300_2635797_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are some cupcakes I decorated about the same time I made the butterfly cake. I still thought it was possible to use canned frosting (yuck!) to decorate. It really does not taste that great, and it doesn't have the right consistency or body needed to decorate a cake, or cupcake with! It does take color fairly nice, but that's about it! If you need to use a canned frosting, make sure it is a decorators frosting like Wilton or a brand like that. I recommend making your own. It tastes better, and you can make it the consistency you need for your project.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a little while, I made a bunch of cupcakes. These are my favorite ones. They are strawberry with a 2-toned buttercream. I think they are some of the prettiest, and tastiest cupcakes I make! These would also be wonderful with a cream-cheese frosting.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Naturally, the more cakes I made, the more I improved. I started bringing a cake each month to our church potluck so I could get the practice. Originally, these were to celebrate the birthdays in the month, but I just decided to start bringing cakes. Here are some of my favorites.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66hrvtaGgDcWEJZTm36awOSIJsOoWQiR46YNuBjsH7lJlyxgS5sIKHiZUt7G1k4S-XVGlxc8m7PiErMwac6dm-gWyeP52wD2GAjBrl1tQoCkxLwpW-XXEiTndGgYUHawcQRa3HykodNs/s1600/65396_806002682172_17127434_42704891_4603238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66hrvtaGgDcWEJZTm36awOSIJsOoWQiR46YNuBjsH7lJlyxgS5sIKHiZUt7G1k4S-XVGlxc8m7PiErMwac6dm-gWyeP52wD2GAjBrl1tQoCkxLwpW-XXEiTndGgYUHawcQRa3HykodNs/s200/65396_806002682172_17127434_42704891_4603238_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This cake was the first time I started using scrollwork and I realized how much I like to pipe. I think it's pretty fun. This is one of my favorite cakes because of its simplicity.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsoHlsdv5bcuBCCj6XO8yD2CzP7yZDLSyiMPKS2xXwIKTKPbsO6q3Zo7dtgSlp0K1yAC-LjTCb5-ZE-z5nkgOvy38TjwbC9eZdmshqhuT4TZkLB_Gl2qHL8Fkk6TSoQoHYEQ1DbTYULI/s1600/71995_841472794782_17127434_43357164_4998891_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsoHlsdv5bcuBCCj6XO8yD2CzP7yZDLSyiMPKS2xXwIKTKPbsO6q3Zo7dtgSlp0K1yAC-LjTCb5-ZE-z5nkgOvy38TjwbC9eZdmshqhuT4TZkLB_Gl2qHL8Fkk6TSoQoHYEQ1DbTYULI/s200/71995_841472794782_17127434_43357164_4998891_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who doesn't like cheesecake right? This is my favorite cheesecake to make. It is called Cinnabon Cheesecake. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rose cake was inspired by the hymn "Where the Roses Never Fade." This was the first time for me to make buttercream roses.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first "big cake" I made was for my sons 2nd birthday. It was the first time I had ever worked with fondant. I had several ideas for his "Toy Story" party and went for it. It was definitely a learning experience, but I am still proud of this cake! I learned a lot about working with fondant and gum paste, and I learned a lot about stacking cakes! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lEWe3sPauLMWlpyEI4naaP7BkLvmNQEDEiNMl9ojatK52exyzBvPxbUFq77S8spoGEelmaTl9QpeJz_KqWURC4NtoQ4rhGltSqHog7FkVNbCMl5jEmFBMjH0YgEmIZXV59eIPxQlCVk/s1600/165321_860053029842_17127434_43777077_2470800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lEWe3sPauLMWlpyEI4naaP7BkLvmNQEDEiNMl9ojatK52exyzBvPxbUFq77S8spoGEelmaTl9QpeJz_KqWURC4NtoQ4rhGltSqHog7FkVNbCMl5jEmFBMjH0YgEmIZXV59eIPxQlCVk/s320/165321_860053029842_17127434_43777077_2470800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made everything on this cake except for the Buzz and Woody figures. I thought they would be a little too ambitious for my first attempt with fondant. Plus, we already had those figures. I just washed them and added them to the cake with all of the other pieces. My favorite figure was Slinky Dog. He even "slinked." I was also very proud of my "Barrel of Monkey's" monkey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOMsoFxIGgQjmjsIJnZcS1ZgX19kP9-lx8wWoZYRgpnGbW0dxYLqXQc8Ln7mScinfTLn74FZbL6732C47e4QSm2fJjW6PYSAiS7qrR9O_lpECJEYJ6sx2qfjIjW7cIMAfU08Ktp_42yM/s1600/204595_989772655672_17127434_44548529_2393160_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOMsoFxIGgQjmjsIJnZcS1ZgX19kP9-lx8wWoZYRgpnGbW0dxYLqXQc8Ln7mScinfTLn74FZbL6732C47e4QSm2fJjW6PYSAiS7qrR9O_lpECJEYJ6sx2qfjIjW7cIMAfU08Ktp_42yM/s200/204595_989772655672_17127434_44548529_2393160_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMqWioYehFqk7efh4tVilX5kyQ6xHcYQCWUgFSToMBG9-QC3ENUlna70wz79YGJ_g5FLYACthB1AmiLoDIEd_cTNd4bGRK4yYUt5ozfT8o4Gt90zRJr8vq6btOjlle0lfV3fsTucK-6A/s1600/210142_989778214532_17127434_44548725_6146383_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMqWioYehFqk7efh4tVilX5kyQ6xHcYQCWUgFSToMBG9-QC3ENUlna70wz79YGJ_g5FLYACthB1AmiLoDIEd_cTNd4bGRK4yYUt5ozfT8o4Gt90zRJr8vq6btOjlle0lfV3fsTucK-6A/s320/210142_989778214532_17127434_44548725_6146383_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I made more cakes for different occasions, friends started asking me to bake cakes for them! In one month, I made several graduation and birthday cakes. I finally began to feel like I was realizing my dream!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This going away cake is one of my favorites. It was my first attempt at sugar flowers. I didn't have any cutters at the time so I hand cut all of them. I like the way they turned out. The colors and scrolling also turned out nice.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0v8PWCxcusdgWo79tCZYOzwc1xipZaxZYWhZSS1-YEIXoRFvXR7uuWjEF2mJHnjws4mWQpT8bvF8T1hoAUw-MiTZG21WJJCeRNYgzknMjURZhc6G9aWwr5Brc4AivQHlnNj_hrZW6Dg/s1600/156286_10100608397029442_17127434_47635979_484465471_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0v8PWCxcusdgWo79tCZYOzwc1xipZaxZYWhZSS1-YEIXoRFvXR7uuWjEF2mJHnjws4mWQpT8bvF8T1hoAUw-MiTZG21WJJCeRNYgzknMjURZhc6G9aWwr5Brc4AivQHlnNj_hrZW6Dg/s320/156286_10100608397029442_17127434_47635979_484465471_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made this daisy cake for a wedding shower. I used daisy cutters for it. I purchased them after I made the going away cake. Cutters make it a LOT easier to get nicer flowers with uniform petals. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zvRKdampO7KwCTNWBm2jcq5jVYRVgjLVWjDxu3JB-f5p7WtY8IS6razztaIUvDY7tFGKWQ0xDei_5QqCjl9jmwtE9-AcbkqXJfjV4VqMMqBOzeiQ0PG9GGl653ktQMakk4TqBPln1fg/s1600/543343_10100631981431112_17127434_47683234_1843634876_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zvRKdampO7KwCTNWBm2jcq5jVYRVgjLVWjDxu3JB-f5p7WtY8IS6razztaIUvDY7tFGKWQ0xDei_5QqCjl9jmwtE9-AcbkqXJfjV4VqMMqBOzeiQ0PG9GGl653ktQMakk4TqBPln1fg/s320/543343_10100631981431112_17127434_47683234_1843634876_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This graduation cake was fun! I used a paper template to cut the silhouettes. I did a lot of grey and black because the two graduates this cake was for are both boys and their school colors clashed. They both liked the cake, so I was pleased with it! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the year and a half since I have been baking and decorating cakes "seriously," I have always came back to my dream of having my own bakery. In the fall of 2011, Texas passed a cottage food law enabling me, and other home bakers, to have our own home bakeries, LEGALLY! That means I can bake and sell my goods from my home as long as I follow the specifications listed in the law! This wedding cake is very special to me. Not only is it my first wedding cake, it was also the first cake I made from someone I never knew before, and it was my first official cake to make from my at home bakery! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I still have a part-time job, I am realizing my dream. I may not have a store-front bakery, and I may never have one, but I finally feel like I am living my dream. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My dream has finally evolved into a reality. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And perhaps, one day, my dream will evolve a little more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you have a dream or goal, and something is holding you back, don't let it! Go for it! It may take awhile, but you will never achieve it if you don't try. I'm not sure who originally said this because it has been attributed to so many different people, but I love this quote!</span> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars."</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>If you are in the La Grange, TX area, and would like to talk to me about cake, feel free to leave me a comment or shoot me an email. </i></span></div>
<br />Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comLa Grange, TX 78945, USA29.9334606 -96.8779926-20.498122900000002 -177.7373676 80.3650441 -16.0186176tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-83952816857124948242012-05-10T13:24:00.003-05:002012-05-10T13:24:38.733-05:00Technology Dilemma?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning, as I woke up and went through my morning ritual of checking facebook and twitter from bed, on my phone, I ran across this <a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/" target="_blank"><b>blog post</b></a> that was tweeted by a friend. It immediately caught my attention because I was doing exactly what the blogger was talking about! Last night, in my post, I mentioned how I gave up my phone time in the evenings while my son is awake. When I read this, I realized it wasn't just about giving it up for a couple of hours a day, I need to give it up a lot more. For the same reasons I mentioned last night, I realized I need to axe the phone time when I'm with other people. It used to annoy me so much when my husband would be on his iPhone at a restaurant, now it is common for us both to be at the same table, on our phones at the same time. What is this doing to our relationship with each other and our son? It makes me wonder. I'm sure I'm not the only person with this problem because I see it everyday at restaurants and other places. I really recommend you read<a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/" target="_blank"><b> this article </b></a>by Rachel Mary Stafford. Then, put it into action. Don't miss out on your relationships!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/" target="_blank">How To Miss A Childhood</a></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all, who would want to miss a moment like this?</span></h2>
<br />Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-73525448342643922162012-05-09T23:13:00.002-05:002012-05-09T23:14:32.784-05:00New Beginnings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-xc28QE88NUktu1zdLkwPJH2pzVEUp4TW2VDBWFRVf-HMXwMI-EyQ2t6WVlZlMhpFfM3BAK7HYbk9b1EtaL4i7bdJjWQa5dZNVZYvoCQCPIdRFnSwULBVzOdi9qYNc29xDAQRul_Tcc/s1600/36662_770142606052_17127434_41614088_5374392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-xc28QE88NUktu1zdLkwPJH2pzVEUp4TW2VDBWFRVf-HMXwMI-EyQ2t6WVlZlMhpFfM3BAK7HYbk9b1EtaL4i7bdJjWQa5dZNVZYvoCQCPIdRFnSwULBVzOdi9qYNc29xDAQRul_Tcc/s320/36662_770142606052_17127434_41614088_5374392_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></h2>
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There is something about spring that just screams New Beginnings! It seems, as our beautiful planet wakes up, we do too! The flowers, warm temperatures, and especially after last year, the much welcomed rain seem to all work together to give me extra energy and a renewed sense of well being. I feel extra motivated to get things accomplished. I want to eat healthier, and do healthier activities. Every spring simply seems like a new start.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amongst all of the springtime awakenings outside, I also feel a spiritual awakening. It may have something to do with my physical disposition, but I think it's mostly because of the extra time spent in the Word. Every year, I try to set a goal for myself to read my Bible more than I did the previous year. By the time spring arrives, I've spent a lot more time reading and meditating on the Scripture than I had before. It's had time to soak in and permeate my being. It's had time to transform my life just as the warm temperatures and gentle rain transform the earth. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It makes me think:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>If I would continue to spend as much time in prayer and in the Word as I do leading up to spring, how much more would I be changed?</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always think of Romans 12:1-2 as a "springtime" passage because the transformation Paul is talking about is the same type of transformation butterflies go through. I guess I think of the "end result" when it comes to metamorphosis and not the lifetime of change it takes to become that beautiful creature. The more and more I reflect on that passage and what it means to go through a spiritual metamorphosis, the more I realize how the christian life truly is a lifetime of change and spiritual renewal.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That being said, I've compiled a short, nowhere near exhaustive list of some things to help me keep this "spiritual renewal" going on. Feel free to share your ideas as well!</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend time daily in the Word. God's Word has the power to change us. If we want change and renewal, we must spend time reading and meditating on it. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find 1 or 2 short scriptures (or more) that lift your spirits and put a smile on your face. Memorize them, and when you get frustrated, upset, or sad calm your mind and recite one. Hopefully this will help put your mind at ease and in a better place. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend some quiet time with your BFF! 1 Thes. 5:17 "pray without ceasing..." Throughout the day, I try to find ways to talk to God like I would a friend. I like to think of this as my running conversation with God. I like to have little conversations and tell God about the funny thing that just happened. I imagine Him laughing and smiling about it too. I like to tell Him my innermost thoughts that I dare not share with anyone. I simply try to tell God everything through the day, just like I would if a close friend was with me. The more I do this, the easier it becomes and the more I catch myself in these little "conversations" without even thinking about it. For me, this is how I pray without ceasing.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give something up and replace it with something better. Recently, I decided to give up phone time in the evenings while Jackson is awake. Instead of being on my phone facebooking and tweeting, I save it until after he's in bed. I realized I was wasting a bunch of time doing nothing. I could be doing something fun and productive with him. If I don't want my son to be lazy and self absorbed, why would I model that behavior? We can do these types of things spiritually as well! Find something consuming your time and replace it with something that will help you grow closer to God.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pray, pray, and pray some more! Find a time to pray. Since I try to have a conversation with God throughout the day, I try to cap it all off in the evening before I sleep. Maybe praying in the morning is how you like to start your day. It doesn't matter when, just do it! Find a group of friends and pray with them. Sometimes the best remedy for anxiety is to tell your friends and let them pray for and with you. It's hard to put a value on how important prayer is in our lives. It puts our mind on God, gives us comfort and peace, lifts our spirits, and brings us closer together. Don't neglect it!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meditate. Meditate on the Word, meditate on God, meditate on the beauty of His creation. It doesn't have to be daily, but find some quiet time, however frequently you want, and meditate. One of my favorite relaxing things to do is to find a quiet place in nature, sit and empty my mind, and try to listen and see God.</span></li>
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</div>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-4676053388977671042012-05-09T23:08:00.001-05:002012-05-09T23:11:24.385-05:00Is Anyone Out There?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it has been almost 2 years since I have posted ANYTHING on here, but I'm working on getting some more stuff going. In addition to some of my random thoughts, I plan on posting about my new hobbies, like my cake decorating. Since I last posted, I have taught myself how to decorate cakes. I would like to share a few of them with you. Anyway, if you're still out there, I hope you enjoy looking at my updated blog! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><br /></span>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-41908740104358822402010-09-24T13:14:00.000-05:002010-09-24T13:14:08.803-05:00Exile?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">As many of you know, Scott has been teaching and preaching 1 Peter. In his letter, Peter is writing to people who are going through a lot and who would continue to go through a lot simply because they wear the name of Christ. It is easy to see how christians suffered for their beliefs and the way they lived. It was even present in their everyday lives, not just martyrdom, but the way they were treated. Perhaps they were unable to buy goods from some non-christians, or perhaps people wouldn't purchase their items. Whatever it was, these christians did not have an easy life. They suffered on a daily basis because of their beliefs. They truly were exiles. Later on, people gave up all of their earthly possessions in order to 'suffer' for Christ. Now, when we apply this letter to ourselves, while we're sitting in our air conditioned buildings on padded pews, we seem to think we too are suffering terrible things. This thought really disturbs me because </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as christians today, in the United States, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't think we suffer for our beliefs.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">As christians, we purchase whatever we want from whomever we want. We eat whatever we desire, and participate in whatever we think is fun. We live <u>exactly</u> like the rest of the world except we go to worship when we don't have some other activity planned. This really bothers me. Notice, I'm including myself. If you've been in my home, you know we have some really nice things. We wear nice clothes, we drive a nice car, and like to have fun just like everyone else. When reading and studying 1 Peter, I am VERY uncomfortable. For example, in 1 Peter 1:17, Peter says, "...live in reverent fear during the time of your exile." Exile? I don't know about you, but I look around at how I've been so blessed and I don't see exile. I know I'm not in heaven now, but I really don't see me living the life of an exile. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I wonder if I would live more like an exile, would I suffer more like an exile? I wonder if all christians did these things, would we see the church grow? I wonder if we gave up more, would we be more excited about leaving this world? I wonder if when faced with death, we would be able to say, "to die is gain" and truly mean it?</span></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>"The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom, and do you seek rest and enjoyment for yourself? You deceive yourself, you are mistaken if you seek anything but to suffer, for this mortal life is full of miseries and marked with crosses on all sides. Indeed, the more spiritual progress a person makes, so much heavier will he frequently find the cross, because as his love increases, the pain of his exile also increases." </i> -Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Book 2, Chapter 12</span></span></blockquote>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-35560570576190515512010-09-22T02:21:00.002-05:002010-09-22T02:26:42.335-05:00Letting Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/index.jsp"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_Mz7N2WdXamQh9B5Sr2I9gWSAWfFv7RD8Nq5fqJ1otZY-7oQjW7boJVzwfgx_jhLFjUfPvQc1mFEUeNKKKuesSk6sIjVjSCLfTEn5mUsN0AkyL2Tf7b2oHP0NHSoKgGVlLfifQmaSwY/s400/Hoarders1-300x268.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Most of us have probably either seen an episode, or at least have heard something about the </span></span><a href="http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/index.jsp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">A&E show "Hoarders."</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> In cause you know nothing about the show, each episode follows two compulsive hoarders as they try to "clean up" their homes. Sometimes these people have lost their children, or they are an inspection away from it. Some people are forced out of their homes, and many lose their spouses over their disease. During the episode, each individual works with a professional who attempts to organize, and help the hoarder learn new behaviors. Large trucks and dumpsters are brought in, along with several workers to help the individuals sort and clean their homes. The show ends with significant progress or failure of the person to change.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I've watched horrific scenes of clutter and trash being shoveled out and sorted by men in rubber suits and masks, and I have always wondered how the home owners could let their problem get so out of control. This question is almost always answered by the person saying they just can't let go. They can't let go of shopping habits, stray animals, trash, or home improvement items. Whatever it is, they can't let go, and eventually they are trapped in a very destructive behavior. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Every time I see an episode of this show, I am encouraged to do some type of house cleaning. I sort through clothes to give away one more time, or I clean out my "scrap booking" items that will probably never actually go into a scrapbook. I am always terrified of becoming a hoarder. This morning, as I was washing dishes, I thought about the show a little differently. I wondered if I'm a secret hoarder. I thought about when we moved and how much "junk" we were able to get rid of. I decided I don't have a problem with hoarding physical things, but I began to wonder if I hoard anything else. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I thought back to the days in college when I was going through a really tough time. I felt trapped in sin that I couldn't escape. Just like all of the hoarders on the show, I was trapped in a destructive behavior that was slowly killing me. No, I wasn't physically dying, but I certainly was spiritually. Then one day, I realized I couldn't clean up my life on my own. I knew I needed help, so I turned back to God. This was not easy for me. I'm a very prideful and stubborn person. Having to accept the fact that I failed and couldn't fix the problem myself hurt really bad. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Once I humbled myself to ask God for help, the first thing I needed to do was purge my life of everything I had trouble letting go of. God knew I would need help, so He provided a clean up crew, my brothers and sisters in Christ. This was very humiliating because all of my garbage, the skeletons in my closet, the very things I tried to keep hidden from everyone, including myself, was just laid out and being slowly sorted through and thrown out. When I say slowly, I mean R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W. I remember for weeks on end, night after night, of not going back to my dorm room until it was so late, there really wasn't anything to get me into trouble. Instead, I would hang out at the </span></span><a href="http://www.universitycenter.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">UC</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> with several people singing, talking, reading the Bible, and just being around each other. I avoided all the things that triggered my destructive behavior, and eventually these things weren't a temptation for me anymore. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I truly believe we all need a cleaning crew to help us sort through the stuff and throw it out, but without God being there to show us how to change the behavior, we are just going to get trapped again. I also think it takes us being completely broken and our souls laid bare before God can teach us to let go.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><i>"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><i>and saves the crushed in spirit."</i></b></span></span></div><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Psalm 34:18 (ESV) </span></span></b></i></blockquote>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-64742570263506933922010-09-16T09:39:00.000-05:002010-09-16T09:39:42.589-05:00The Curtains; Pt.2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XXfgZihFdCfpYGY8oRlmbQc96XFmtXnyiz65xtIoU_IuQ2MBiWM_4UKOS7UKrAOlLjO5DW32oyslQnIRQeSiAtk7quEWazCBtRCnUpYHS5POUDKTRA4ZbcNj5VUW-li9nwWLE0XzfkI/s1600/DSCN0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XXfgZihFdCfpYGY8oRlmbQc96XFmtXnyiz65xtIoU_IuQ2MBiWM_4UKOS7UKrAOlLjO5DW32oyslQnIRQeSiAtk7quEWazCBtRCnUpYHS5POUDKTRA4ZbcNj5VUW-li9nwWLE0XzfkI/s400/DSCN0053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">On Tuesday, I put in a couple of hours at the sewing machine and finally finished Jackson's curtains! It's about time huh? After finishing, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I finished something I had been putting off for far too long. While I was hanging the curtains, Jackson didn't even try to help! He was too proud to do anything but look at them. I think it is safe to say he likes his new curtains. I've attached a couple of pictures so you can see I actually did finish! </span></span></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgmfuHc6XVOI4DMuBFvamNvNoHvfC_971cz3I3kjF5cx5NHSpleFc1hDcwwpIxgkZN8LyAPgE2TAg2smCBr-wHaxstzRGHl0GGqi5cpvOr3ReWiKZhi9VKb7C_UKChcvkJlh8lmJ6lOM/s1600/DSCN0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgmfuHc6XVOI4DMuBFvamNvNoHvfC_971cz3I3kjF5cx5NHSpleFc1hDcwwpIxgkZN8LyAPgE2TAg2smCBr-wHaxstzRGHl0GGqi5cpvOr3ReWiKZhi9VKb7C_UKChcvkJlh8lmJ6lOM/s400/DSCN0042.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson and Sheriff Woody are enjoying a book together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPGbjgwy-o3Ql2JYpn3_9bSixiqrINivQSZeKwIs41nFVByed7ZKsU-d8hgMUmw-VviYgbuKG6W7-A0jYWWg2Cnup2eGChvCO98V8FhXVDw7QwuCks81ZLvmwjx7-Bmc0Aar5AomqvMc/s1600/DSCN0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPGbjgwy-o3Ql2JYpn3_9bSixiqrINivQSZeKwIs41nFVByed7ZKsU-d8hgMUmw-VviYgbuKG6W7-A0jYWWg2Cnup2eGChvCO98V8FhXVDw7QwuCks81ZLvmwjx7-Bmc0Aar5AomqvMc/s400/DSCN0046.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson's room doesn't stay clean for long...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-87245871464382513302010-09-15T00:25:00.002-05:002010-09-15T00:38:41.133-05:005 Reasons Why I Choose Organic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6uR1f1PrTLAJuiKU1fHcPp5z2DrCgLJ2JenuT7mYNaa3FSQ-WF0C4IQ_0VTpdrfSv7hwVlssOtB6GMe-taZenekqN4ZKjsOXCKYS7gQAR3AcXRVQBMu_E5SeDUFcb_RNP8dRtSGi9_E/s1600/usda+organic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6uR1f1PrTLAJuiKU1fHcPp5z2DrCgLJ2JenuT7mYNaa3FSQ-WF0C4IQ_0VTpdrfSv7hwVlssOtB6GMe-taZenekqN4ZKjsOXCKYS7gQAR3AcXRVQBMu_E5SeDUFcb_RNP8dRtSGi9_E/s320/usda+organic.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Several people ask this question, "Why do you spend more money to buy organic?" I have often wondered the same thing. It does seem like many organic foods are quite a bit pricier than the non-organic varieties. However, some items are pretty much the same price. To me, price doesn't matter as much when I see the benefits to eating organic. I'll try to explain some of the benefits as I explain my reasons for choosing organic. To preface this, I will be working on additional articles that will go more in depth on some of the subjects addressed. These reasons are not in any particular order.</span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1. Buying organic supports the local farmer. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Organic foods are not filled or sprayed with preservatives so they do not have the long shelf life other foods have. For this reason, many organic products are purchased from local, or almost local farmers (even in the large chain stores). Therefore you are helping someone close to you. In addition, organic farmers are not subsidized by the government so you are helping farmers who are not over producing their crops for a larger paycheck.</span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">2. Organic foods are more like God made them.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> By law, organic foods can not be genetically modified (the seeds made in a laboratory). In addition, the animals cannot be given antibiotics, hormones, or be offspring of cloned animals. Vegetables and fruits must be grown without being GM, without the use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge (I don't want my strawberries to be grown in sewage sludge, do you?), or irradiation (basically chemo for produce). I will write a bit more on the problems of these things later.</span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">3. Organic foods have serious health benefits.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Some of the benefits include: Strengthened immune system, improved sleeping habits, reduced cancer & heart disease risks, and they also promote weight loss. I don't know about you, but I need all the help I can when it comes to weight loss!</span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">4. Organic farming is better for the environment. </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Since plants can't be doused in chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the chemicals are not poisoning our air, water, and soil (not to mention our bodies). </span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">5. Organic foods often contain more nutrients.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> It has recently been shown that many fruits, veggies, and even meats contain more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients than their non-organic versions. Perhaps this is because they are grown in nutrient dense soils, and are fresher.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Like I said before, I will be expanding on some of these areas soon. I'll probably start with GMO's. It's shocking what I have learned!</span></span>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-65319216602604003922010-08-27T16:36:00.000-05:002010-08-27T16:36:34.552-05:00525,600 Minutes<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Recently, 40 billionaires <a href="http://givingpledge.org/">pledged</a> to give at least half of their wealth to charity. That is a LOT of money going to good causes. I know these billionaires have more money than they can spend, but it's still an incredible thing they are doing. I know we don't all have money like that, as a matter of fact, most of us will never come close to having that kind of money. However, there is something we can give back, something worth far more than millions of dollars. <a href="http://givingpledge.org/#warren_buffett">Warren Buffett</a>, who pledged to give away 99% of his wealth, stated the following about his pledge:</span></b></span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #565659; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Moreover, this pledge does not leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is <em style="color: #565659; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">time</em>. Many people, including -- I'm proud to say -- my three children, give extensively of their own time and talents to help others. Gifts of this kind often prove far more valuable than money. A struggling child, befriended and nurtured by a caring mentor, receives a gift whose value far exceeds what can be bestowed by a check. </span></blockquote><b></b><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> I think he hit the nail on the head. Our time is valuably important. We never seem to have enough time, so how are we supposed to give more of it? Let's think of it this way:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>There are 24 hours in a day, and 7 days in a week (168 hours). </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Since there are 52 weeks in a year, there are 8736 hours each year. </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lets go back and think about each day and week. The column on the left will show the activity the middle column will show the approximate time spent on the activity each day, and the last column will show the approximate time spent on that activity each week. </b></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Activity Hrs per wk day Hrs per week</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sleep 8 56</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Eating 2 14</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dressing/Shower 2 14</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Work 8 40 </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><u>Driving 1 7 </u></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> Total 131</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">That leaves 37 additional hours that we usually have something going, lets figure out how we fill this. Most of us say we pray and study our Bible every day, lets be generous, and say we do this an hour each day. That brings our total hours to 138 per week. We still have 1 1/2 days to fill. Let's say we go to worship each Sunday morning & evening and go to Bible class on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening these activities are <u>only 4 hours a week.</u> I know there is also house cleaning, kids activities, etc. But We've only filled 142 of 168 hours! That means we still have more than an entire day each week, or 14.25% of the week that we can devote to other worthwhile things! Just imagine how that adds up over a year!</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tips on spending time wisely:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1. <u>Make a list of your time priorities.</u> Worship and Bible class, family, work, sleep, etc...</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2. <u>Make a time budget.</u> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Write down how you spend each hour of the day for a week. Look to see where you spend most of your time. Make a list of things you want to start doing, or continue to do, and things you do not want to keep doing, or habits that need change. Now make a schedule for the week of how you want to spend each hour of every day. Make sure to include the changes. Sometimes this takes sacrifice, but it'll be worth it in the long run. This is a good activity for kids too. They also need to learn the value of their time and how to spend it wisely.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3. <u>Always make sure there is time for God.</u> We often fill our lives so full that we don't have time for what is most important. It's one thing to say God's a priority, it's another thing to make God a priority by giving your time to Him.</b></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Five hundred twenty-five thousand</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Six hundred minutes,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Five hundred twenty-five thousand</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Moments so dear.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Five hundred twenty-five thousand</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>Six hundred minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>How do you measure, measure a year?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i>-</i>Jonathan Larson,<i> Seasons of Love</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When we moved to La Grange, I did run across a slight problem: Jackson's new room had two windows, not just one. So I devised a plan, but never put it into action. Five months quickly passed and then my Mother In Law came for a visit. My MIL decided to motivate me. We went to the store, purchased the additional items, cut everything out, and pinned it all together. When she returned to Oklahoma, I was motivated to finish the curtains the next day. The next day turned into the day after, then the day after turned into next week. This kept happening, and a month and a half later, I still have not completed the curtains.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This honestly sounds incredibly lazy of me, but I promise I really haven't been sitting around doing nothing the entire time. I've done some deep cleaning around the house more than once, ran errands, visited some people, and have done all kinds of other things. However, I seem to always forget to sew the curtains together. I have moved then from one place to the next to get them out of my way, but I haven't taken the couple of hours to sew them so I can hang them in the windows. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The more I think about the curtains, the more it irritates me that they are not finished. One day I'll say, "I need to finish these curtains, tomorrow should be good." When the next day comes along, I just say the same thing. I lack the motivation to finish.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My High School Bible class teacher taught my class over and over not to say, "I'll do something tomorrow" for a couple of reasons. The thing that has stuck with me the most is the first reason he gave. He said repeatedly, "Tomorrow never comes." He explained how we never make it to tomorrow. We're always looking toward tomorrow, because it's always in the future. We're just chasing after tomorrow. The other reason is we're not guaranteed another day so we need to take care of things today. I thank you for teaching that to me Bill, but I haven't always put it into action. I'm real good at letting others know "tomorrow never comes" and if they want to see something done, then to do it themselves, but rarely do I take action myself. I guess I'm just caught up in chasing after tomorrow.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thinking on this makes me wonder if I'm chasing tomorrow on my walk with God. I wonder about the cards I'm going to mail tomorrow, or the Bible study I'm going to start tomorrow. Am I going to say that encouraging word tomorrow, or am I just going to keep putting God off until tomorrow? Sure, I may be busy going to class, worship, and all the youth activities, but am I putting God on the back burner when it comes to my personal relationship with Him? After all, I'm not guaranteed tomorrow, even if I could catch it.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.'</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."</span></span></i></span></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">James 4:13-14 (NIV)</span></span></i></div><blockquote style="text-align: center;"></blockquote>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-58363080097878741882010-08-11T12:52:00.000-05:002010-08-11T12:52:12.157-05:00Watering the Grass<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">I had not planned on posting anything today, but something happened this morning I think is quite funny. I decided to share it with you.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Jackson is now 18 months old, and he has been interested in the bathroom and the toilet for several months now. Since I like to be informed, I decided it was time for me to read up on potty training. I purchased a book the other day at </span></span><a href="http://www.halfpricebooks.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Half Price Books</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"> that is supposed to explain everything you need to know about potty training. As a matter of fact, the book is titled, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">The Everything Potty Training Book </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">by Linda Sonna, Ph.D. "Everything" seemed like a good place to start learning, so last night, before going to bed, I began to read potty success stories. Even the failures turned out nicely in the long run. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">After reading the first couple of chapters, I understood several things I needed to do. First, since Jackson's always worn diapers, I have to teach him where his waste comes from and about wet and dry. The book explained a good way to do both of these things is to take the child outside without a diaper and let them "water the grass." As it was only 80 degrees at that point in the morning, I decided today was a great day for Jackson to start learning. So I took his diaper off and we went to the backyard. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">At first, everything was just fine. Jackson was playing in his sandbox and having a good time. I was relaxing in a chair on the porch with a new book in hand waiting for the opportune time for a teaching moment. Potty training couldn't be going better. Pretty soon Jackson left the sandbox and was wandering around towards the porch. He walked around for a little while and then stopped by his toy boat. That's when I saw my chance! I set my book down and waited. I knew he was about to do his business, and sure enough pretty soon he was watering the porch. That wasn't quite what I had hoped for, but I wasn't too upset by it. The next thing is what caught me off guard. He wasn't just watering the porch he was fertilizing it too! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">I decided to go with the flow and tried to explain and show him what he was doing like the book said. He didn't seem too interested in what I was saying, so he walked away to a different area of the porch. Cleaning off the porch was simple, I just wrapped it up in a big leaf and went to bury it. The next thing I know Jackson was at it again. I was thinking, "This is a little messier than I anticipated, but at least he's really getting several learning opportunities." However, this time was different from the first time. As he walked away, he began to trip. What happened next is kind of a blur. The outcome was poo smeared into the concrete and all over Jackson. I soon gasped in horror as a little hand went towards a little mouth. Fortunately I was quick enough to keep it out, but just barely. I quickly washed Jackson off with the water hose and sent him back to play in the sand as I washed and scrubbed the porch. While spraying the water towards the mess (the hose is only about 3 feet long) I also managed to spray my chair and my new book. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">As soon as I had the porch cleaned up and my book wiped off, I took Jackson inside for a bath and began to blow dry my book and think about what had just happened. The amount of blow drying I had to do allowed for a pretty good think. I decided several things. First, it's not always as easy as the "true" stories in the books. Second, I should wait to start patting myself on the back until after something happens. Third, I'm not an expert after reading a couple chapters in a cheap resale book. Finally, the most important thing I learned from this is experience is: if a book tells you it has everything you need to know about something, unless it's the Bible, it's lying! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Have a happy day!</span></span></div><br />
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</div></div>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-6031443124343655952010-08-10T14:16:00.004-05:002010-08-18T12:37:04.118-05:00When It Clicked<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPdNTaxKrjv4aPKQKNkZ46McU2MvYZ6MzGJv8x1grFEh3W3esVgWUUDJSoH0DCLHRLL11nBltJzov_FvJCMnsEzMVVZfvzJzS0MVmlKayo36pUlbaT3WoDYqitOWc6D7tCT2xgGz2CI0/s1600/song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPdNTaxKrjv4aPKQKNkZ46McU2MvYZ6MzGJv8x1grFEh3W3esVgWUUDJSoH0DCLHRLL11nBltJzov_FvJCMnsEzMVVZfvzJzS0MVmlKayo36pUlbaT3WoDYqitOWc6D7tCT2xgGz2CI0/s400/song.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunday night at worship, as we were singing, a powerful memory resurfaced. One thing I love about music is its ability to transport your mind to another time, or to conjure powerful emotions and feelings. While singing the other night, both of these things happened to me.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At first, I was reminded of singing the same song every worship for the six weeks I was in Japan. It wasn’t just a casual reminder of singing the song. I remembered the voices of my brothers and sisters singing this song in both their native tongue and in mine. I could hear how earnestly they sang with passion in their voices and on their faces as they pleaded for Jesus to fill their land with His grace and mercy. I heard them as they prayed for His Word to be spread. I felt the tears I cried with Akiko, the 70 year old woman who understood her condition and wanted to change it, but she was too scared to be baptized. She was scared because she would be left alone, by herself with no home for dishonoring her family. Then I remembered how I met Akiko and why I even went to Japan.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I call it, “The Night It Clicked.” It happened late one Wednesday in August of 2001. I was meeting under a gazebo between the two main dorms on campus at </span><a href="http://www.okstate.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OSU</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The gazebo was located in a grassy lawn in the middle of a HUGE parking lot for the 1000’s of students living in the dorms. At the </span><a href="http://www.universitycenter.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UC</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, we had a tradition to meet at the gazebo on Wednesday nights from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. and in the darkness sing. People in their dorm rooms could hear us, and people walking by or playing volleyball would often stop to listen for a while. Sometimes others joined us. It was an amazing experience similar to the awesome late night, tennis court devotionals you have at church camp under the stars, or around a fire. Only this was better. It was better because we all </span></span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">wanted</span></b></span></span></i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to be there. We all had work to do and sleep to catch up on, but we chose to spend another hour together praising God and reaching out to a lost campus in song. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I described all of that, because I want you to understand what it was like when it all came together for me. It was one of those nights, at the beginning of a new school year. We were singing, and as I looked around the circle of new and familiar faces, I looked beyond them. I looked out into the parking lot at the 1000’s of cars, each representing a person. Each car representing a soul. Then I looked back at our circle of 30 - 40 and it clicked. I was so suddenly aware of how many people need what I have but don’t care, or don’t even know it’s there for them. I realized that night how vast our task is as Christians. I realized that night I could no longer sit idly by and let other people do the work I should be doing as well. That was my “Ah ha” moment. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the weeks to come, one of the things I decided to do was participate in a Let’s Start Talking campaign. The following summer I went as part of a team of 5 to Curitiba, Brazil. The next summer, in 2003, I was part of a team of 3 to Mito, Japan. It was the memories from Mito that hit me like a brick Sunday evening as we sang “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” Singing that song made me think not only about the past, but about now, the present. As I sang, I knew my brothers and sisters in Japan had already sung that song earlier in the day. I knew they didn’t just sing it, they meant it. It was their prayer to an Almighty God who can do anything.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thinking of them made me do something thinking of myself and the commitment I made to God when I put His Son on in baptism. The commitment I made to share the love He gives me to everyone I see. I was reminded part of that commitment was also to others. I made a commitment to the world that I would show them Jesus in my everyday actions, words, and life. If I’m not fulfilling my commitment, I’m not just letting myself down. I’m letting down those around me who need God’s love. I’m letting God down.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Singing that song Sunday night gave me more than just strong memories. It also challenged me to make good on my promises to God and to others. It reminded me I promised God I would be like his Son, so I need to do be more Christlike. It reminded me to not just think about doing something, but to do it. Instead of just saying I’m going to bring food to the homeless the next time I go to the city, I need to bring food to the homeless. Instead of just saying I want to send some money to a children’s home in India, I need to write and mail the check. Instead of just saying I’m going to send cards to the sick, I need to send the cards. Instead of just staying I’ll pray for someone, I need to get on my knees and pray. Instead of just singing some words to a pretty song, I need to earnestly mean them with all of my heart.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks Tom for leading that song Sunday night. I thank God for the reminders and the challenge.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shine, Jesus, Shine</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By Graham Kendrick</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lord, the light of Your love is shining</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the midst of the darkness, shining;</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us,</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Set us free by the truth You now bring us:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shine on me, shine on me.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Send forth Your Word, Lord, and let there be light!</span></span></span></span></div>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-1761005901245760742010-08-08T00:06:00.001-05:002010-08-18T12:36:18.421-05:00All the Dust<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Tonight I settled into bed, got my book ready, looked up at the ceiling fan and gasped in horror! For several months, we've had the fan on continuously to help circulate the air in the house. Tonight, for some reason, it was off. What I saw completely grossed me out! I saw thick gray dust completely covering the fan blades! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Immediately I put my book down, jumped out of bed, and ran to the closet which houses my cleaning supplies. This had to come down tonight before I did anything else. As I came back into the room, equipped with a full arsenal of rags, dusters, and spray, I realized I needed to cover the bed or it would become the new home to all the dust currently living on the fan. I quickly draped the bed with old ratty towels that are usually in the car protecting the back seat from Jackson. Then I went to battle. The war was on and the dust was putting up a good fight. It was so thick the Swiffer Duster wasn't doing the job. I had to really wipe hard to clean the blades. I was amazed by how much dust had collected so quickly. It really had not been very long since I cleaned the blades. I know I've wiped them down a few times in the six months we've lived here!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">All of the dust really got me to thinking about life in general. Sometimes I'm a lot like that fan. My life is dusty, and I need it cleaned. There are so many distractions, annoyances, and just stuff in my life that clutters things up and makes me dusty. I don't know where it all comes from, but it always seems to cloud my vision about what's important. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">While I was cleaning my fan, I looked around to see what may be causing so much dust. As I turned around, I noticed the AC vent just two feet from the fan blades. When I looked closer and saw the dust inside the vent, I knew I had found the culprit. I also came to the realization if I didn't get to the source of the problem, then I would always have a dusty fan. No matter how well I clean the fan blades, with the dusty air blowing on them, it's not going to take any time at all for my fan to be just as dusty as they were tonight. Until I clean the ducts, or at least install a filter over my ceiling vents, I will always have a dust problem.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">My life is like that as well. As long as I just clean up the surface of my life, Ill just keep getting dusty. It's a superficial clean, something everyone can see, but it doesn't solve the problem. What I need to do is call in a specialist to clean out my ductwork. I know that is easier said than done. It takes time and sacrifice, but it's definitely worth it in the long run. Not only will my life truly be clean, when my fan blades start to get a little dusty again, the dusting will not be quite as tedious.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life."</span></span></i></div></span></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Psalm 51:7 (The Message) </span></span></div><br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412667210143751696.post-71790949413662254692010-08-07T23:24:00.000-05:002010-08-07T23:24:19.231-05:00Hi!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Hi Everyone!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">I'm obviously new to the blogging sphere. I decided to start this blog on a whim. I think this may be a good way for me to decompress all of my thoughts. If you know me at all, you know I'm full of random, off-the-wall things. I think it may be a good idea for me to let them out instead of keeping them all inside. Plus, it may be entertaining for you!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">I plan on posting some of my random thoughts on life, spirituality, motherhood, food, and really whatever comes to mind. So, here it goes. I hope you find this interesting... :)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Laura</span></span>Laura Elliotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10381804485645087399noreply@blogger.com