text:
Happy Fourth of July weekend everyone! We have a very special Four Leaf Events anniversary for you today. Loretta and Caleb were married last year over the holiday weekend in Noblesville, Indiana. The tiny old church, historic buildings, country backdrop, and intimate reception could not have been more perfect for a Fourth of July family gathering.
We loved having creative freedom while working with the couple's fantastic vendors which included our vendor buddies Nathaniel Edmunds Photography, bouquets by the sweetest Royal Creations, yummy food by Dodd's Catering, Ace Party Rental, and Forest Park.
A single violinist played the bridal party and bride down the aisle. In a church as small and old as this one, that simple sound made a beautiful statement.
Four Leaf Events Money Saving Tip: The reception details were created from recycled green wine bottles collected from family and friends throughout the course of their engagement. The gorgeous green hydrangea was gathered from a friend's garden the day before. Very budget savvy!
Bonus Tip: The couple served a summery and refreshing non-alcoholic signature drink to their guests before dinner.
The wine bottle theme continued with custom labels on the serving wine that included a picture of the couple and their logo.
A wonderful thing about getting married over Fourth of July weekend is all of the fireworks that are sure be be around as your evening comes to an end. Caleb and Loretta were serenaded with an orchestra of fireworks from all around town as they rode to their hotel at the end of the night. Very romantic!
Caleb & Loretta
July 3rd, 2010
Happy One Year Anniversary, Loretta & Caleb!!! I love you and miss you and wish you nothing but an endless lifetime of happiness... and lots of babies soon! =)


text:
CORRECTION: It seems Ken Lewis doesn't advocate separating commercial banks from investment banks. Bloomberg corrects the original story, with Lewis claiming he was misinterpreted. Bloomberg reports:
Bank of America Corp.'s Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lewis said he doesn't advocate a legal division of commercial and investment banking and that his comments about separating the two referred to rhetoric and public perception.
"I was talking about the rhetoric, not physically separating the two," Lewis said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "We have an investment bank, we have a commercial bank as well that is the fabric of every community in which it operates."
Original post follows...
Ken Lewis, CEO of Bank of America, suggested that he will advice Barack Obama to split commercial banks from investment banks:
Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lewis said today the U.S. should consider separating commercial lenders from investment banking activities.
Lewis made the comment on his way to a meeting with President Barack Obama and U.S. banking chiefs. Asked what he would tell Obama if given the chance, Lewis said it would be that "commercial banks are the fabric of any community in which they operate and we probably need to separate the commercial banks from the investment banking activities."
I have held a similar view for a long time--basically I think the anyone that finances the shadow banks should be detached from normal banks--but the question I have is the following. If that is what Ken Lewis, who I actually think is a good CEO, says then why did he, acting on behalf of Bank of America, purchase Merrill Lynch? Is this an opinion he formed after getting entangled in Merrill Lynch's toxic assets or did he hold that view before?
Ken Lewis almost bankrupted Bank of America, which largely avoided the toxic mortgages and various other toxic assets, when he purchased Merrill Lynch. Granted, Merrill Lynch may not be a pure investment bank like Goldman Sachs or Lehman Brothers. It is more of a broker and was once affectionately known as America's broker (it was considered the average citizen's broker.) Nevertheless, it probably does belong in the investment bank category more than the commercial bank one. I don't know why Ken Lewis purchased Merrill Lynch.
Before someone mistakens what I'm saying, let me say that I am not as critical of Ken Lewis as many others. Some are calling for his head, for the buyouts of Merrill Lynch and Countrywide, but I think he should be given time. Do note, though, that I'm speaking as an observer and not as a shareholder. Tags: commentary

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Light is On, But Nobody's Home
"Hi Chris. This is Roger from Lucky Lugnut's Auto Repair. I have a bit of bad news for you."
"Great. What's up?"
"Well, I found the leak. It's being caused by a pressure build-up in the transmission that forces the fluid out through the fill pipe. I'm going to have to refer you to a specialist."
Suddenly I was imagining a surgical team led by Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd working feverishly to repair the damaged transmission fluid arteries or whatever.
"A specialist?" I asked Roger. "What's that gonna cost me?"
"Hard to say. Best case about $750. But if the transmission needs to be replaced, it could run a couple grand."
That's when I came up with Plan B.
I took the piece of crap (due to potential litigation I'm not at liberty to tell you what kind of car this was, but I'll give you a hint . . . it rhymes with "bored florist") to our local Carmax and traded it in for a lovely 2008 Chrysler Sebring.
The Chrysler is awesome. Since it's a newer model, there are none of the problems that I had with the Bored Florist. No leaks, no weird rattling noise from the back end. I was enjoying complete automotive peace of mind.
For about a month.
A few nights ago, Theresa and I were on our way to the movies when I heard a "ding" and noticed that one of the dashboard lights had come on. It looked like this:
I had no clue what this light meant. The "low fuel" light looks like a gas pump, the "check engine" light looks like an engine, but this? It looks like a harp. Or a horseshoe. At first I didn't get all worked up about it because the car had been running fine. But when I took a second look at the warning light, I noticed the exclamation point right there in the center. An exclamation point! Certainly, the Chrysler Motor Company wouldn't use such a dramatic symbol unless something was terribly, horribly, about-to-cause-the-vehicle-to-burst-into-flames wrong. We would have to get this taken care of at once!
Or maybe it could wait until after the movie. We left the theater at about 9:30 and I started the car.
"Hey! The light's not on anymore!" I said.
"Oh, cool," said Theresa. "Must've just been -"
"Crap, the light's back on."
I drove home and logged on to chrysler.com, where I was able to download the Owner's Manual for the 2008 Chrysler Sebring. As it turns out, the light on my dashboard indicates that the air pressure in one (or more) of my tires has fallen below the recommended level.
Seriously? There's a "check the air in your tires" light? You ask me, this is a waste of electricity and a major pain in the ass. What next, a "turn down the radio" light? A buzzer that goes off when the drink in your cup-holder is running low?
I checked the tires, and what do you know, there was a nail in the left rear. The tire wasn't flat, but apparently the car noticed the slow leak.
The next day, I replaced the two rear tires because, as my dad once said, never replace one tire at a time because the tire guy has a couple kids in college and needs money for their tuition. Or something like that. Is it just me, or does it seem like tires cost a lot more than they should?
I picked the car up at America's Tire Center, and sure enough, the light was no longer illuminated.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy one of those scented pine trees. The "check air freshener" light just came on.
14 comments:
- Mariann Simms said...
Dammit, Chris...I want a low tire pressure tire, light, too!
That is too nifty. Hell, I'm still standing around in awe with my automatic trunk opener doohickey. "Yeah, that's right...it opens automatically...fall to your knees and worship the chick with the 1999 Cadillac." (Of course everyone probably has one, but I didn't as I had a piece o'crap Dodge Grand Caravan.)
- September 24, 2010 at 12:06 PM
- that disney blog said...
HEY! i bought a new car a couple months ago too....and it looks like i'll be car shopping again in November....ugh
i probably won't be able to get anything nearly as fancy as yours. tire pressure light? that's way out of my league.
- September 24, 2010 at 12:18 PM
- Quirkyloon said...
Ha! That's funny.
Strange, when I saw that pic, I thought it looked like a doorless toilet stall with an oval seat.
- September 24, 2010 at 12:25 PM
- Debbie(single;complicated) said...
ha ha ha!!! Having had a LOT of car issues this post cracked me up!! If my car was able to tell me everything that was wrong with it, the battery would wear down powering all the lights on the dashboard!!...just sayin!:)
- September 24, 2010 at 1:30 PM
- Eva Gallant said...
My car sends me an email with an air pressure reading of the tires plus a fluids levels check. Technology is amazing.
- September 24, 2010 at 3:15 PM
- ReformingGeek said...
Congrats on the new car but is it a convertible? If so, wear a hat. ;-)
Yes, tires are outrageous. My car, which rhymes with "Bakula" and "Hardy Mex", will have to wait until Christmas to see new feet.
- September 24, 2010 at 3:17 PM
- Candy's daily Dandy said...
I knew immediatley what that was cuz my car did that a while back too.
Welcome to the smart car revolution. There's a Mercedes that parks itself...no shit, really.
- September 24, 2010 at 6:18 PM
I also used to have a car that rhymes with "bored florist." After putting thousands of dollars into that hunk of junk I finally tried to sell it. No surprise, nobody wanted to buy it :( The best price I got was at a junkyard for parts.
- September 24, 2010 at 9:41 PM
- I'm Jane said...
I had a bored florist too. Hated it. Traded it in for a car that rhymes with Beep. Much better.
- September 24, 2010 at 10:21 PM
- corfubob said...
My car is a scooter that rhymes with Jane Fonda - it's got three warning lights. One at the front that tells people to get out of my way, and a red one at the back which says beware of blue smoke.
The third one says 'the engine has stopped - please catch the bus' Life is so much simpler on Corfu, Greece.
- September 25, 2010 at 1:28 AM
- J.J. in L.A. said...
My a/c had been out since June and mom said, "It's fine." Then came the 1st REAL heat of the summer. She took it in and the whole system was shot (it's a '98). $850 and 2 days later, I had my car back. And I'm sooooooo enjoying that a/c this weekend!
- September 25, 2010 at 8:21 PM
- Mik said...
Now you mention it, it does look like a tire going flat! Would've taken me longer to figure it out, I mean who reads the manual?
- September 26, 2010 at 11:30 AM
- Peter Varvel said...
I just saw an article online last month about this very same warning light/signal, and how the majority of people have no clue what it means.
Did you write it?
- September 26, 2010 at 4:24 PM
- Nick said...
I have a light on my dashboard that comes on whenever there is a problem with one of the lights on the dashboard. Very handy.
- September 26, 2010 at 5:30 PM


text:
Hi Friends and Family! Over the last few years I have been posting updates to share what the Lord has been doing in my life personally. My prayer for this blog is that you may be built up and encouraged in the Lord, and that these updates may bring you to deeper intimacy and intercession! May we grow to see that He is alive and active, and intimately involved in our lives! He is jealous for us! Be blessed as your grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and how passionate He is about you!
Monday, March 19, 2012
God's comfort when we experience a loss
Last night we got to celebrate the life of one the students that went to be with the Lord. It's still a shock to think that just a few days our beloved brother was walking next to us, and to try to imagine him now walking with Jesus, it brings a deeper revelation of how quickly it will come the day the Lord calls us to be in His presence. Patrick walked with the Lord. He loved Jesus and spent the last 2 years at the Bible College studying the Word of God- Now Patrick transitioned to see the Word of God. This brings a great understanding of what a great privilege it is on this earth to not just "know" Jesus but to "know/experience" Jesus. I heard this quote this last weekend while in Mexico: "he isn't just a fan of Jesus but he is a follower." You see to be a fan of someone implies that you can factually know about that person. To be a follower implies that you have experienced that person; you know how they would respond, what their expression would be, what the tone of their voice would be like. Patrick wasn't a fan of Jesus only... he was a follower.
So how does God comfort those who Patrick's life impacted? We know that Patrick is tangibly comforted by the hand of God and in His presence, but what about his family that misses him? I was so blessed by this this morning from a study I am doing with a group. The passage was from John 11 and how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. When he came to where Mary and Martha were mourning amongst a crowd, seeing them crying, He too wept. The important thing to note is that Jesus knew the outcome of what was to come of this situation and the reason behind it. But He still wept. Why did Jesus weep if He knew the bigger picture of the "why's"? Jesus wept not because of Lazarus' death, but because of the ones who were hurting and left behind. For those who are hurting, God demonstrates His comfort by accompanying us in our pain. Jesus comes along side of us and weeps when we weep. We can be comforted in knowing that Jesus cares and He meets us in the place we are at. Not only does Jesus meet us where we are at, but He gives us an eternal hope as an eternal comfort. While Jesus was talking to Martha, he revealed Himself as the resurrection and the life! Jesus has conquered death and has given us resurrection life, that although we may pass from this earth, we will raise with Him where He is seated. He is the door- our access, He is the life- able to bring new life, He is the way- the only way to the Father, He is the hope I hope- a hope that overcomes sin and death! I hope this blesses you in whatever state your heart is at when you read this. I pray that you allow God to teach you more intimately through pain or even in the calm that He is your comfort; that He offers the answer to your comfort in hope of eternal life. Please keep Patrick's parents and loved ones in your prayers!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
God.. of Comfort
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
4Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.
5For just as Christ's [[a]own] sufferings fall to our lot [b][as they overflow upon His disciples, and we share and experience them] abundantly, so through Christ comfort (consolation and encouragement) is also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us.
Above is 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 in the Amplified Bible. I Enjoy this translation because it pulls the original meaning from the Greek and expands in explaining it.
In the next few postings, I'm going to begin a study on the God of all comfort, who comforts now and has comforted many who have been recorded. Excited to see the heart of God and His desire through Jesus recorded in Isaiah 61:1-3
1THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,(A)
2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] [a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,(B)
3To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Ladies- please watch and be blessed
Ladies, I hope this encourages you and brings revelation to you of your worth and identity as a beautiful daughter of the King. Ladies, I pray that this also gives you the beautiful perspective of the honor that it is also to build up your brothers to be men after God's own heart!
"He... preserves the way of His saints" Proverbs 2:8
The Lord your God... went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day. Deuteronomy 1:32-33 ~ As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him. Deuteronomy 32:11-12 ~ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:23-24 ~ Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 ~ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1:6 ~ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 ~ With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles. 2 Chronicles 32:8 ~ The Lord you God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness. Zephaniah 3:17
Monday, February 27, 2012
Christ and the Church
Jesus called His bride by name. He initiated a relationship with her and woos her to Himself. He redeems her from a destructive and reckless life and gives her new life. He gives her truth. He forgives her completely. He cleanses and washes her with His life-giving words. He introduces her to His Almighty Father. He dies for her that she may experience freedom from bondage and be one day risen with Him. He goes to prepare a place for her while all the while still wooing her and preparing her for Him. He sends His comforter to her. He speaks to her telling her who He sees her as: you're flawless, you're perfect, you are made righteous, you are pure, you are all together lovely, you are without blame or spot. He sings over her and calls her to walk in deeper intimacy trusting Him. He prays over her and intercedes on behalf of her. He speaks to her of His plan for her life. He gives her promises to sustain her during dry times, and gives her instruction to guide her. He leaves her with guidelines, and teaches her how to live. He loves others through her and allows her hands to be like His hands. He gives her a purpose and a hope. And one day He will present her to Himself. I imagine He looks forward to that day eagerly... and until that day, He leaves her with a letter he wrote to her..
Thursday, February 23, 2012
God's grace displayed through Noah
I sat in Genesis class tonight as we went through chapters 5-8. There was this one major point that stood out to me... God's grace through His sovereignty. Let me explain because that's kind of.. huge! So think on this: Noah is a man that found favor in God's eyes; a man that God called "righteous" (6:8-9). That's a crazy thing to think about- he was still considered righteous/set apart for God during a time of corruption and a violent people.
You may know what happens from here. God communicates His plan to Noah; a plan to build a boat to bring safety to Noah and his family from the judgement God was going to bring to a perverse people. Noah had the responsibility of obedience, not planning, for God had told him His plan. So Noah built the ark, taking some 100 years to finish it, and no doubt being mocked by the people he knew as he spoke of the little details he had of what God had told him to do. God revealed through Noah a character that was displayed through 100+ years of work ethic. He was devoted to what He knew was to come... he knew there was a day of destruction coming, and he was preparing the way God had told him for his family. Friend, I tell you that we today have this same knowledge of a destruction that is coming. What are you being mocked for in your devotion? Are you devoted to the things that will bring safety to those whom God loves? (John 3:16) This encouraged me to continue in a way that makes a stand for God's promise; that speaks of a message of hope beyond this world. His obedience required a long term commitment until the appointed time of God's plan.
When the day came for God to bring the rain, God also shut the door. I had to stop and think on this. We talked about this in class too: what was going through the mind of Noah? Could he not shut the door to the people he knew his whole life, and so God did it for him? Or was it that God shut the door because it was His plan that Noah was being obedient to. "God opens doors that no man can open, and closes doors that no man can shut." It would have been a hard door for Noah to have to shut. Think of God's grace in this... Noah didn't do anything to deserve such salvation. Yes, God considered him righteous in His heart toward the Lord, but Noah didn't earn salvation. Noah stands as a man that brings protection to his family (a picture of the leader of the household and a picture of Jesus Christ). So this is the punch line of what was going on in my head after class. Fast forward with me to when they step off the boat. Noah's family sins! And God knowing this still chose them to receive His grace from judgement! God called Noah righteous, and Noah's covering over his family brought them to salvation.... it gets better! Noah also sinned! (I guess you wouldn't say better) But in Noah sinning you see a huge point... God's grace for Noah's life didn't neglect His sovereignty. God knew! Just like He knows in our life that we are going to sin and fall short, but He doesn't base His salvation for us on the merit of our righteousness. He bases it on His grace! This is why grace is so good! God chose us while we were yet still sinners (for all have sinned and fall short), but thank God that He doesn't base salvation on what we have done or could possible do for Him, but on what He has done for us through Jesus. His grace is so good because it involves sovereignty of our lives!!


text:
This is my new favorite thing. A vegetable disguised as a condiment.
Now, most people (who shall remain nameless) have an aversion to eggplant and wouldn't go near caponata even though it tastes about as much like eggplant as chocolate cake tastes like flour. Eggplant is the Jimmy Carter of vegetables. The victim of broad condemnation for no good reason. So, of the people who eat caponata, most use it as a dip, a topping for bruschetta or a kind of chunky sauce, something with a serving size of a tablespoon or two. I eat it by the cup full.
Caponata is an ideal platform for my culinary tradition of more.
I begin with a recipe from Martha Rose Schulman's Recipes for Health. She starts you off with celery, and even though I don't generally submit to the tyranny of celery, I added it here. Maybe the unfamiliarity of the dish made me anxious, maybe there just aren't that many ingredients and I wanted to have enough finished product, a different form of anxiety. Maybe I was just feeling compliant.
Back to the recipe. So you have sautéed your celery and onions and then you add some chopped red bell pepper, and after that has softened, you toss in some garlic but don't let it brown, then add the flesh of the eggplant which you have previously roasted. Add some chopped tomatoes and let the whole thing simmer and soften while flavors meld.
Dispense with compliance and on to the good part, raisins, capers, olives (black, of course) and then more of each. Pour in a TB of sugar and 3 TB of sherry vinegar. More softening and melding of flavors. Really, at this point you can't even identify the eggplant.
With so much more, the final result is very flavorful, which is, I imagine, why people think of it as a condiment. But I like flavor and there are a lot of vegetables in there, so I eat it like a vegetable, hot or cold, with a pan-sautéed chicken breast, in a salad or straight from the bowl.
Even you might like it.
Love, Margaret


text:
We are the view from above. We are the shortcut that doesn't cut corners. Most of all, we are the bridge to greater healthcare revenue stream efficiency that doesn't just help you keep up with the bigger guys. We get you ahead with technology that leapfrogs their old ways of thinking. Instead of just leveling the playing field, we tilt it in your favor. Isn't that what they would do?
For over three decades, we have saved our clients tens of millions of dollars. In fact, our software can find you millions of dollars within 30 minutes. But most importantly, once our software has identified the revenue stream currents that are holding you back, it shows you how to prevent them from ever slowing you down again.
Don't believe us? Trial your revenue cycle data for free to see how simply Obsidian can build the bridge to where you want to go.
Right now, you are rowing against that current. You are taking on water, and what are your options for moving ahead? Most software companies will offer to patch that leak in your boat, or give you a second paddle. But then you'll still be fighting that current, still a step behind that bigger hospital with its fancy motor. You need a new way of moving forward.
That's what makes us different. Together, our team has over 50 years in healthcare technology and services experience. We got tired of fighting the currents, not seeing what lies ahead. So we built a new way of doing business. Instead of playing by the same rules, we move you ahead by getting you above the revenue stream. We break down healthcare revenue cycle inefficiencies and pull everything into a simple single solution.
Now, we are inviting you to cross over to the new side of revenue stream management.
Why Obsidian, you ask? Because we've found and recovered tens of millions of dollars in lost receivables. More importantly, we can help you from losing millions more. Isn't that money you could use? While you're at it, how about making your organization more efficient, productive, and accountable at all levels. Yup, Obsidian does all that for you too.
And you don't have to wait months to see results. We can get you moving in as little as two weeks!
We have been in your place, so we know what you are looking for. Obsidian is the tool that we wish we had years ago. You can have it now. Trial your revenue cycle data and see how simple it is to get ahead.
Remember values? Your healthcare revenue cycle is about money. But it's about more than that, too. Really. At Obsidian, you are the focus of our values, because we have been there. We all want to make and save more money, but we also like to sleep at night. When you work with us, you experience:


text:
Friday, September 21, 2007
Floor Boards
I have to admit, at first glance, it doesn't look like we got much done. You might be thinking "Whoopti-doo, they just put down some wood to make the floor. Well, there was more to it than that...
We had to put 12x12x2" paver bricks around the perimeter and up the middle of the floor platform to make it level and to keep it from sinking in the dirt and becoming un-level in the future. What a pain! And when I say "pain" I mean pure physical pain! We had to dig under the platform boards and position the bricks, then pound dirt under the bricks with a rubber mallot to raise or lower it depending on what the little level said. And, despite what everyone may think of me, I am NOT 1/2 a bubble off, I am .2 of a bubble off!
But it was a beautiful day, unlike the day before when we had to light up the fire pit to stay warm. We are hoping to be able to get the lumber to do the walls on Sunday and Monday.
Posted by Dragyn's Fyre Designs at 12:08 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Only in the South: Two boys are expelled from school for playing with a toy gun-----at home
A school board in Virginia decided earlier this week to suspend a pair of boys for playing with an airsoft gun. I'm assuming it's a toy gun, but the issue here is the boys were playing with the gun at home, which, the last I checked, is outside the jurisdiction of the school board.
The paranoia over guns, whether they're toys or the real thing, hasn't abated, 9 months after the incident in Newtown. This particular case comes a little more than a week after a mentally disabled man shot up the Washington Navy Yard. The school board, as usual, won't acknowledge who was on the disciplinary board that not only suspended the students, but extended it into a full expulsion for the season, pending what amounts to a glorified "parole" hearing in January. From an article in the Daily Caller comes this statement from the school board:
4 comments:
- magicdog said...
"This is not an example of a public educator overreaching. This was not zero tolerance at all. This was a measured response to a threat to student safety."
And... 2 + 2 = 5.
This is stupid and the direct result of zero tolerance/political correctness. This incident and those similar ones across the country are examples of bueaucrats trying to condition children to fear guns and authority. While guns are not toys, I can show you plenty of examples of kids not much older than these boys who were very well experienced in using firearms safely. In fact, in NYC (especially in Brooklyn and The Bronx) it wasn't uncommon for middle school age students to belong to gun clubs at school and keep their .22 rifles in their locker!
The weapons in question for the Virginia incident indeed was not a real gun- but a harmless toy. I hope the families sue the butt off the district - then homeschool their sons for their own good.
As for the RI boy, it's ridiculous to think a keychain gun is a threat to anyone! I hope his parents sue too!!
- September 30, 2013
- hobbyfan said...
The silliness will never end until the government finally 1) muzzles Wayne LaPierre and the NRA and stops kowtowing to the NRA, and 2) stops traumatizing the kids.
- September 30, 2013
- magicdog said...
Sorry but this isn't the fault of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre or other 2nd amendment advocates. This is the fault of anti - American, progressive, psychotic bureaucrats.
- October 01, 2013
- hobbyfan said...
Ok, so we can still put a stop to the traumatizing of today's youth. Let's get these brainless administrators to open their eyes and recognize toys for what they are.
The next thing ya know, they'll ban GI Joe, Transformers, et al and go back to whining about how they're glorified informercials because some characters have weapons.......
- October 01, 2013


text:
The new Bruce Arians book contains dozens of amusing stories from a lifetime in football, including several about former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. I'll defer most of them to the actual book itself (after all, he wrote it for you to buy, not for me to summarize it here), but here's one I couldn't resist passing along.
When it comes to quarterbacks who are practical jokers, most of the stories we've heard over the years relate to guys like Brett Favre and Tom Brady. Manning apparently was a master, too.
"When Steve Walsh was his backup in 1999," Arians writes, "Steve brushed his teeth like ten times a day. So one day Peyton bought a toothbrush that looked just like Steve's. He then took a dump in the toilet, threw the toothbrush in there, and snapped a Polaroid of it.
"At lunch that afternoon he asked Steve if he had brushed his teeth that day. Steve said he had. Peyton slid the photo over to him, and Steve almost started throwing up."
The Quarterback Whisperer will be released officially on Tuesday. It doesn't come with a free toothbrush, but maybe it should.


text:
What an experience.
We had to undergo a safety + how to shoot briefing. By the time the safety one was over, I was regretting sitting there. I was terrified of shooting a gun. Seriously, it was the most sobering briefing I have ever been to. It's good that it was because live ammo could kill someone. I held real bullets in my hand and it really sank in. Shooting is no joke. I mean, I may have gone in feeling excited but the sheer power of that little piece of metal is scary. A single bullet can travel through 36 inches of human. 36. Our instructor, David told us stories of his friends mishandling their weapons: one died. Reality sinks in and you get jittery listening to that.
We had to learn the proper stance for shooting a gun and so, he asked to assume the positions we assumed were correct, before he went around and pushed against our fists (you pretend like you're holding a gun) to simulate the recoil of a gun. Everyone basically rocked on their heels. We were taught how to place your hands properly with the KEY idea of "DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU ARE 100% READY TO SHOOT WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU".
We each had 50 rounds to shoot and my mom went up first and kinda freaked out a bit after shooting just one. It's not easy because you have to focus on the right parts of the gun (We used Glock 19s) and get them in the right balance. If you have eye problems, it take a while. She took a break after one shot, and it was my turn. My first time shooting a real gun. That first shot.. you can never quite forget it. Your arms are shaking, you're trying to get into the right stance, you're trying to focus on the target and balance the front and rear sight (the bits of the gun), you have to maintain a firm but not too tight grip on the gun, you pull the trigger slowly but firmly with increasing pressure.. and it goes off. The shell ricochets back. That amount of power in your hands.. it either overwhelms you or exhilarates you. It was both for me. The actual sound of a gunshot in real life is not exactly what you hear on TV, even through earmuffs.
As each person goes up for their first time, you shoot one bullet before the instructor loads up the magazine with the other 19 for the first distance of 6m. It gets easier to shoot with time but what you're not always ready for is how tiring it is to maintain that posture. My arms began to tremble and I had a hard time trying to focus with only one eye. In hindsight, I think I shot better with both eyes open.
That's how it went: me, Aaron and then my mom. We did 6m, 11m and 15m. I didn't do too badly at the first round: 18/20 rounds hit the target paper. But it got subsequently worse because my arms could not take it. I clearly need more upper body strength. It didn't help that the shells kept hitting me in the face. So, it went 18/20, 9/20 and 1/10. Bad, I know. My brother got the instructor to film my mom and me, and according to Aaron, I looked far calmer than my mom did. However, my mom's track record was amazing: 16/20, 18/20 and 7/10. Aaron got about 14/20, 7/20 and 3/10. My mom was the one who freaked out the most but clearly, her skills superseded mine. But I looked badass doing it. haha. It helps if you go in with a storyline in your head: mine was Jamie Moriarty from Elementary. I may have looked like shooting was no biggie for me but I missed a lot of shots. But as you can see from my target sheet, if I ever shoot at someone, they're likely to be sterile or suffer from serious digestive organ damage. So, yay me.
Aaron wants to join the shooting range. I can't because I won't be here. It's an expensive hobby though. We managed to get Groupons for it, for a trial so it wasn't that expensive this time but all in all, it's costly to maintain.
I have total respect for actual gunmen now. It's tiring. It's difficult. You know how in movies, bank robbers just randomly aim the gun places.. that part isn't too hard, if you don't care that bullets can bounce back and hurt you, too. There's so much that goes into it, that you don't notice. I'm at least proud to say that I can be critical of actors that handle firearms, kinda.
Shooting a gun can officially be crossed off my bucket list. Will I do it again? If it wasn't that expensive, maybe yeah, I think I would. Would I OWN a gun? Probably not. You'd really need to be thoroughly skilled to handle it and keep it in a drawer beside your bed. I can't fathom something like that at this moment in time.


text:
The cousins did NOT break out with the chicken pox
which translates - no pox for us.
Good News...
We arrived home last night.
Did loads of laundry today.
Ready to celebrate our Risen Savior tomorrow!!
i'm guessing you wanted the
chicken pox?
glad everyone had so much fun.
cousins are the best!
i will be singing at church at 6:45
and then hosting 25 for lunch.
busy, busy day!
He is risen!
Awe...sorry! But glad ya'll had a great time!!!
Hope your day was blessed as your worshiped the King of KINGS today!
Yup, same here. False alarm - no chicken pox with my friend's daughter!! Glad you had fun anyway!
Oh well, I'm sure getting away and having some fun was worth the try:)
hey ashley!
how sweet of you to ask about
the palm sunday song! it went
very well, and i felt His enabling
throughout. thank you.
you have eight children and
thought of me? amazing.


text:
Elbow injuries to Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin may have had fantasy owners down on the Oakland Athletics' starting rotation entering the season, but Jesse Chavez's excellent start has become worth some attention. After holding the Los Angeles Angels to two runs (one earned) on four hits Monday night, Chavez now has a 1.35 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just two walks over three starts (20 innings) this season.
Should fantasy baseball owners view Chavez as a top waiver wire addition?
Chavez has had fairly favorable matchups in each of his first three starts, facing the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins prior to the Angels. That trend will continue when he faces the Houston Astros in his next scheduled start on Easter Sunday, but there's a fine line between having favorable matchups and taking advantage of them and Chavez has done that to this point.
Chavez only had two major league starts under his belt prior to this season, so there's some risk that his innings will be limited late in the season regardless of any success he is having. That would obviously be bad news for fantasy owners as league titles are being decided in August and September, but in the overall context of Chavez's fantasy value from here it should not be blown out of proportion.
Chavez is currently available in 68 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and he's likely available fairly widely right now no matter what league host you use. But that may change quickly with pitchers going down like flies on seemingly a daily basis, so Chavez is a top addition in AL-only leagues and mixed league owners should at least have him on their radar.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.


text:
Yeap, last night was Prom Night. I dont wanna start the real big topic about it yet.. cause its too AWESOME to talk about. XD Its going to be one long son of a bitch post. XD
Im just gonna show off my prom suit. XP
Okay. I was kidding.. No wait.. I wasnt. I was wearing that during prom. But it was for the show. XP (Be surpirse to hear this.. but i was a model. XP XP) Nyahaha~
Alright Alright.. Enough for the the jokes. XP Lets just get on with the real damm thing.
Some of you who went on Facebook, you guys would have probably saw a status/wall post on my profile that says..
"After trying out my full prom suit, I really think I dress like Chen Zhen!! XD But just that his is pure white and mine is pure black. XD"
I was not kidding.. and to prove it, here are the pictures of me. XP
Yeah, i definately love my suit. XP Thanks to my bro for lending it to me of course. My sister loved that suit too, and be very surprise. She thinks that im HOT in it. XD (Dont worry, I was surpise when she said that too.) XD
The real story of HMC Prom Night will come soon. Be patient. XP XP XP


text:
Short Stories
Wild Horses ( The New Avenue )
Different than before, the reason it lasts so long. You'll never know exactly what to expect. The actual moment of truth is the only way to unveil. Be present in this travel. Breathing, it is the most innate human ability. And if your breath isn't lost the minute you've realized what is meant, then you should question everything you thought you knew about life.
I requested an open field for many reasons, claustrophobia, plenty of vegetation, a literal runaway in the forest. The air was brisk and moist, perfect. The only thing that could ruin this mood doesn't exist in this terrain, It can not survive here. This level of power and control increases one's capacity of fear. Makes you a little wilder. Freedom without restraint. Naked. Beautiful and dangerous, each one brave and insane.
There's something in this water I believe. Look at our strength. Imagine if eyes could feel everything seen. You must wash your hands with grace before touching me. A culinary feast, inhaling locust trees before we eat our collard greens. Wet concrete under our feet, our mane drenched from the rain. Wild as we want to be, land of the free. We live in peace and harmony, the elements are a friend indeed. A true exchange of power, guided by sunsets and moonlight. Mystical creatures of the nightlife.
United advantages over every living thing, but why? The reasoning is sickening. We're worth more as stock in this industry. We do not harm one another, yet we are forced to make love with only domesticated breeds. Let me be, let me breathe my locust tree in peace. I insist, appreciate me, don't bite the hand that feeds. Treat me well, beat me to it. Open doors of opportunity.
(Before I opened it)
We were preparing our pillow pallets for a nice evening. The girls planned big glass bowls of hot kettle corn with chocolate chips, marshmallows and roasted nuts with sparkling water. I added cranberries to my bowl and had a glass of red wine. I can only drink red wine with my chocolate. It's more about the feeling than the flavor. For me it's like my mini Valentine's day for the moment.
I felt so satisfied; admiring my beautiful daughters, my eyes danced watching their personalities flow like pretty little exotic flowers. I felt pretty, feminine even, not classic at all... just pretty. Maybe it was the clean face with a high pony. I had applied lipstick after my shower but, they made a " NO MAKEUP rule ". So it was fine, I didn't mind.
There it was again, this sensation that something was about to happen. No one knows where we live so why did I feel a presence at the front door. I'd finally made a nice spot between pillows and wasn't looking forward to getting up from that position. Looking at the girls I said "Someone is at the door."
I stood slowly... the mood had changed by now. We'd all gotten used to being in a good space in life and finally started feeling like a normal family. I dreaded opening that door, but no one was there. Instead there was a box. The moment I saw it I felt different. I felt my eyes fill up with light, I felt curious and not afraid. My heart was beating fast from excitement and I couldn't stop smiling. I was anxious with anticipation, I wanted to open it immediately, but I felt I should be alone (Before I opened it).
The Raven.
I have a special relationship with this mysteriously alluring creature. Obvious reasons are it's intriguing beauty... A bird so black it showcases hues of blue. The Raven has centuries of hidden stories in plain view.
Many see her as ancient deities or messengers, a prophet or the creator. Some believe the Raven is dangerous a sign of darkness to come while others see her as fire, wind and rain. A symbolic replica of power & purification.
Such a wide spectrum of ancient, spiritual & religious interpretations. However my favorite story is that of the indigenous people.
They believe the raven is somewhat the creator of Love. A curious, playful lover who one day found a male being alone in a shell by the sea. A clam shell to be exact. The raven grew bored quickly of this single soul and felt saddened as she returned him back to his sea shell. She then decide she would search for the male being a female companion.
The raven was on a self pleasuring mission seeking adventure and passion to amuse and stimulate her for more creations to come. She branded a beautiful female creature from all of the elements surrounding her.
She didn't unite the two at first. She allowed time to pass to plan a strategic, yet natural introduction. Once the emaculant union took place, a wealth of emotions overtook the male beings body and mind.
Pride, honor, desire and strength. He had been rebirthd' from his female beings energy! He made a promise to protect her with the only things he owned in the land. So he covered her with his clam shells...
Protecting her pride and honor, her desire and her strength. She became his everything.
The raven grew overwhelmed and weakened as she celebrated her vision come to fruition and she began to drift uncontrollably from the sky.... As she began to fall, a sensation of melodic frequencies lifted her delicate soul and threw her back into the sky!
Interested in Unique?Get in touch with us


text:
Make your own Hairy Backs Whiting rigs! A kit with all you need to make 6 double paternoster rigs.
Choose your Hook Style, choose your colour.
Each pack contains:
12x Whiting Hairy Hooks of your Choice
12x 6mm Soft Red Oval Beads
6x Barrel Swivels
6x 20lb Looped Double Paternoster DIY Fishing Rigs
$9.95 ÷ 6 = $1.65 per Rig


text:
Natural horsemanship is a philosophy of training horses that focuses on building a positive experience with your horse through partnership rather than fear and intimidation. It uses the principles of natural herd communication and equine behavior to position you as your horse's leader. It is a journey where you put yourself in the horse's world rather than try to adapt the horse to yours.
The Result: You become empowered with the savvy to teach your horse and solve behavioral challenges. In addition, you have a horse that is braver, safer, more responsive and more athletic. You end up with the relationship with your horse that you have dreamed of.
Although not affiliated with any natural horsemanship organizations, the NWNHC endorses and promotes these learning systems for their excellent results:
- Parelli Natural Horsemanship
The Center also has its own training, colt starting les, as well as conducts natural horsemanship classes in Foundational Horsemanship (HS101), Beginning Driving (DR101) and In-Hand Driving (DR102).


text:
My Asho is an online fashion concept developed to celebrate and promote the talent of African designers based throughout the world. We aspire to become a one-stop-shop for the best in authentic African inspired designs.
We work closely with all our designers and stylists, choosing beautiful pieces from their collections to offer to a savvy fashion-forward international audience. In addition, we work with local markets throughout Africa to bring you distinctive, one-off pieces which you can check out daily in the My Asho Market.
Most of the products on myasho.com are ethically handcrafted and produced in limited quantities, which means our customer can always be assured to find high-quality, inspired boutique style pieces at very affordable prices.
The designers: Aimas, Fosuism, Jewels by Lisa, Zebra, Uhuru clothing, Toju Foyeh and yours truly!Need I say more!!!! Check it out http://www.myasho.com/


text:
At Home: Engadine Inn and Cabins
Story Jennifer Fulford | Photos by Adrian Etheridge
It used to be that no one could see Engadine Inn from the bottom of its short driveway. A thick belt of greenery concealed the view of the wraparound front porches and three stories. But Rick Bell and Tom Watson saw possibilities and purchased the property in 2014. These owners of the bed and breakfast in rural Candler are pleased to be the current stewards of this stately historic home, and they're proud to show it off.
"We see ourselves as the stewards of this place," says Rick. "It's just our time to take care of it."
And it has been well tended. For a home that predates the Biltmore Estate by as much as a decade, the building is an incredible example of care. Built around 1885, the bed and breakfast is a beautiful step back into history. Hardly a place inside the five-bedroom inn shows much sign of its age. The only occasional clue is a slanted doorjamb, but in two years as co-owner, Rick says the atmosphere has never felt better.
"It's amazing," Rick says, as he heads up the hardwood risers to the second floor, "that none of the wood was ever painted."
The property of Engadine Inn, formerly called the Honey Hill House, encompasses a dozen rolling acres of what used to be a retired Confederate captain's prized home. Captain John and Mary Hoyt departed New York for the Smoky Mountains and built the grand house for their family. They ran a vineyard and winery. They entertained guests and, for that era, were probably the talk of the town, though any town was far away. Today, it's fifteen miles to Biltmore Village.
Rick and Tom scouted the property two years ago to seek a change of pace from Florida. Experienced as successful event planners, they began searching for a bed and breakfast that had potential. On their checklist: good views, plenty of room for expansion, the right vibe. They found it all in Engadine.
"John Hoyt named it Engadine because this part of North Carolina, this kind of topography, reminded him of the Engadine Valley in Switzerland," Rick says.
The 6,000-square-foot home has been an inn since the late 1980s. Prior to that, it had been lived in by a few families whose descendants occasionally come knocking on the front door.
Engadine Inn offers five ensuite rooms featuring grand beds that set the standard for pampering. In colder months, what's known as the Captain's Room is the most popular bedroom because the fireplace is adjacent to a clawfoot tub. Guests can enjoy two sitting rooms, eat breakfast in a formal dining room, and chat up the innkeepers in an enviable chef's kitchen.
The inn itself is just part of the story. Over the years, six cabins were added around the property to accommodate more guests. In total, the inn and cabins sleep about 35 guests. Most of the cabins are one-bedroom and resemble log cabins. The surrounding views remind visitors that it's okay to breathe a little deeper. Relaxing includes spending time on one of the inn's first- and second-floor porches. A circular porch with a turret provides a robin's nest view.
For guests in the inn, breakfast is a two-course affair of fruit and a warm entrée that varies daily. Those staying in the cabins can add breakfast to their stay, but each cabin is outfitted with a kitchenette and utensils. Barbeques are also available.
For events, such as weddings, areas on the grounds are available for use. Since buying the property, Rick and Tom have been clearing undergrowth and leveling land to make sites more attractive for outdoor weddings. In the meantime, they've been welcoming many who elope or want intimate ceremonies.
Rick and Tom still have plenty on their to-do list. They'd like to add an event center and more cabins. They often drive around the property and see more potential on every trip.
"If only I could win the lottery," Rick says.
Engadine Inn and Cabins is located at 2630 Smoky Park Highway in Candler. For more information and reservations, call 828.663.1110 or visit www.engadineinnandcabins.com.


text:
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
En Bogota
Bienvenidos a Bogota...
2,500 meters
And I'm unbelievably tired.
The flight to Bogota wasn't necessarily bad as it was brutal. As much as I think Continental has an overall nicer product than United, it's United's Economy Plus seating that trumps Continental coach. True, you can pay for DirecTV but flying five hours overnight in a packed plane is absolutely brutal.
And I was paying for it now sitting in the judges training room fighting desperately not to pass out from exhaustion.
Bogota. We had been here before. It's a cool city both figuratively and literally. Chilly weather and the altitude makes climbing anything a chore.
We're in town to judge Colombia's national barista championship and things so far are so good. It's going to be a busy week and we're getting cracking.
So long as I don't pass out.
More as they progress.
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Every year it gets more difficult to find the right clothing in traditional outlet and department store clothing sections. Prices are always high and the selections are far too slim. Fortunately, rugged work wear and comfort for men, women and children can be found easily online. For over 95 years, G&L Clothing have sold top-quality brands of clothes in an easy to shop environment for the people of Des Moines, and now they are offering their great selection to everyone with an Internet connection. If you want to avoid the crowds and inconvenience of the brick-and-mortar clothing stores, you can't do much better than G&L. Whether you're looking for Levis jeans, safety clothing for the work site or a gift for the big and tall man in your life, you can find it at www.gandlclothing.com. With regular sales and a wide selection of all the top-quality work and safety brands, you can get all your shopping done in one stop. The choices at G&L make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, vacations or just special occasions. With 1-2-3 free returns and cheap shipping, clothes shopping is faster and easier than ever. A great way to pay attention to sales and special offers is to sign up for the newsletter. It's clear why individuals and businesses nationwide are going there to get the best in work and comfort clothing.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love comments! I will answer your comment.
(Sometimes I get lazy and it takes me a couple of days)
Feel free to leave your blog address I'd love to come return the favor!!
Have an AWESOME DAY!!! Comments sure make mine!!
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Grab my cute lil' button. Copy the Code in the Gray Box


text:
Events for May 18, 2017
Day Navigation
7:00 pm
Nick Jaina – Performance and book reading
Biography There are things we do that we can't forget, things we do that we can't remember, and things we do that we'd never thought we'd do. And there are things that WE do, US, Nick Jaina and his band. Somehow most of those things don't fall into the first three categories, though they be very broad.Find out more »


text:
Sadly, he was stuck under these lights all day for the 2 days he was in the hospital due to jaundice.
Grandma Hess came to the hospital and was in the room when he was born. She's a very proud grandparent!
He looks a lot like Parker to me. Thanks so much for posting pictures! I feel so far away!
Oh I am so glad you could find the connector thingy so you could post these pictures. P.S. He is adorable
It takes our tech-savy college student coming home for the weekend to help us figure out how to post pictures! It also helped that I cleaned out Joey's toy box, and found the connector thingy! ;)
(John's mom)
(AND Jenny's mom!!!)
yeah for the dunns!!!
Hes adorable! So glad to see some pictures. Wish we could have been there to celebrate! Such a cute family picture (minus Angela sadly) Love and miss you all!


text:
"Sully" seems to have everything that you could hope for in an Oscar nominee: a strong performance by Tom Hanks, direction by Clint Eastwood, a topical event in American history, the emotions of a plane full of victims, and a fascinating disaster sequence. Surprisingly, it hit well below the mark of expectation. I can't imagine that anybody would walk out of the theater disappointed, as it satisfies our curiosity about the events surrounding the Hudson River landing. But it seems like such an obvious Oscar pick on the surface that it simply does not live up to that standard. The script hits all of the right notes, focusing on the humble yet heroic Sullenberger, serving as an homage to New York's first responders, and utilizing the vast array of emotions displayed by the passengers on the plan. The script also hinders the story's development. It presents the events from several perspectives including the pilot, the passengers, the ferry boat operators, and air traffic control, but it becomes one too many reenactments of the crash sequence. We walk into this film wanting to learn more about the events surrounding the Hudson River landing but by the time the last enactment rolls around, it is nearly a direct repetition of the previous one. I was also disappointed to discover that the film's portrayal of the NTSB is inaccurate, painting them as a group of prosecutors trying to force guilt upon the captain. It makes for good drama as it emphasizes the humility of Sully in the face of his detractors, but it also strays from the true events of the hearing. The film boasts good performances from Aaron Eckhart, Mike O'Malley, Laura Linney, and particularly Hanks. He is convincing with gray hair and the role fits his likeable personality; however, when you rank this performance within his larger body of work, it comes out as average. The largest disappointment was some of the airplane special effects that resembled a video game or simulation, while other moments would easily be confused with live footage of this catastrophic event. If some of the special effects can be realistic, they all should be realistic. "Sully" will not live up to your Oscar expectations but if you can view it outside of that lens, it successfully delivers a heroic story about a selfless man who saved a plane full of people.
[Pictured: Hanks rocks the gray hair, Eckhart's mustache is off the cuff, and then something happens involving an airplane]


text:
Cloud software company Xero reported this week that it has topped the one-million subscriber level. The New Zealand-based publisher did not break down its user base by geography but should be expected to do that when it reports financial results for the year that ends this week.
Xero reported it doubled its subscriber base in less than two years, with nearly 300,000 users added in the last year. CEO Rod Drury noted that five-and-a-half years ago the company had 50,000 subscribers.
In contrast, rival Intuit reported 1,876,000 users for its QuickBooks Online as of January 31, the end of its second fiscal quarter. That company added nearly 620,000 subscribers from a year earlier.
Name (required)
E-mail (required, but will not display)
Notify me of follow-up comments


text:
I don't have a ton of pictures again this week, I keep not pulling out the camera. Why? Because I'm too busy to even think about it! But no worries, I'm not missing pictures of important events..just the day to day school with the kids...but even sometimes those are fun, so I'll try to catch a few this week. We have so many things going on from now until Christmas...our normal school days are going to be rare! Lots of school on the road the next 3 months....ick! But....for starters, here's our Sunday best!!! (and can you believe it's almost been a year since we started!? Only about five more weeks!)
5 years ago


text:
"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing." Psalm 34
God is good. Do I believe that? Do I really believe that?
Larry Crabb wrote in his book, The Pressure's Off, "It's time to shed our cynicism, to move beyond non-sacrificial living, and to abandon everything in the way of a deep experience of God. I hope you're desperate for a divine encounter, a genuine, non-contrived, deeply felt meeting with God that both exposes sinful pleasures as cheap counterfeits of soul joy and reveals to us that our nervousness about whether our lives will turn out well is an insult to the God who gives Himself and says, 'Enjoy the feast!'"
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
I have become convinced that everything that comes to me has been filtered through the love of God. I can be confident, because of His love, that whatever comes my way will be used to grow me, refine me, humble me, or bless me.
It's as if there is a heavenly filter between this physical existence and the spiritual realm; a filter, comprised of His love, His sovereignty, His plans and His purposes.
One afternoon a question came to mind, "If everything that comes to me is filtered through my Father's heart, and I really believe that then why do I so often miss His love and goodness?" "Why am I so quick to question or accuse?" The answer came so quickly it startled me; "You have filters coverings you, too, Jami – and your filters aren't like Mine."
Well that had never crossed my mind before... I have filters covering me. We all have filters; perspective or perception from which we form opinions, make assessments, pass judgments, and construct evaluations.
Jesus told His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount that, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."
If our filters are dirty we won't be able to properly perceive or receive God's love. We'll miss His goodness; miss seeing His divine providence.
My filters certainly aren't like Gods; mine get yucky – clogged with things such as rejection, hurt, failure, frustration, disappointment, judgment of myself, judgment of others, shame, guilt, fear, anger, bitterness, desire to control my life, self-protection, self-righteousness, selfishness, self-pity, self-condemnation, negative talk, and plenty of other things; you get the idea. With junk like this no wonder my perspective and perception gets skewed.
I want clean filters so I can perceive and receive God's love - so I can experience His goodness.
A few years ago, I woke up with these words on my heart, "sanctify and consecrate yourselves, for the Lord is about to do a new thing." Weird...kinda...then again...not-so-much.
God is seeking to do a new thing in me. He's pouring over me the truth that He is sovereign and in COMPLETE control. I am a slow-learner. (Can i repeat that...I am a sssslllloooooooowww learner.) It's not easy. Sometimes it hurts. Yet, If I don't set myself apart as His...then I will miss His work in me and around me...even through me.
God is asking me, "Will you go with me?"
God gives us opportunity after opportunity to prepare ourselves - to be cleansed – to allow Him to wash our filters clean. He never grows tired or impatient with us...I think most us qualify as remedial-learners. ...because He will present us as holy and blameless. He will do it. He will.
He is asking, "Will you go with me?"
Everything we go through; every ditch in the road, every obstacle in the path, every blessing beyond measure is an invitation from our Father to go with Him; to be cleansed by His presence; to perceive and receive His love and live in unity with Him and with others. Moment by moment giving and going.
Let us come before Him and be washed in His love so that we can join Him at the table and partake of the FEAST. Taste and see...that He is good.


text:
Please don't be offended, but Kelly doesn't like pumpkin in her mouth. She feels pumpkins should be seen, but not tasted. Frankly, I agree.
As does Rufus.
|(BTW: This was the first and last time we dressed the Edward Cullen loving pumpkin up.)
Pumpkin pies, cookies, cakes, pancakes, soups, beers...it doesn't matter. In any form, we think you are pretty gross.
Despite our dislike of your flavor, your presence is still requested on Halloween night. Hope to see you there.


text:
PinPorts™: Miniature Access Ports for Laboratory Animal Research
Instech's new family of PinPorts™ provide fast, aseptic access to externalized laboratory animal catheters, tubing or cannulae for dosing or sampling. They can reduce study costs and improve compliance with the 3Rs. The system consists of a lightweight port, just 3mm in diameter, and a mating injector or connector which can access the port hundreds of times.
- Quick. Infuse or withdraw from the catheter in a fraction of the time it takes with plugs and blunt needles.
- Clean. The PinPort is a closed system that permits aseptic technique. This can reduce infection, improve patency and ultimately reduce the number of animals required for a study.
- Safe. The injector is recessed and provides complete needle stick protection for personnel.
See the product list at left for more information.


text:
New owner enters NASCAR and vows to race
Credit: AP
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR's newest team owner bought into its premier series with every intention of building a competitive team.
Brandon Davis vowed Tuesday he won't collect quick paychecks — send driver David Stremme on the track to "start and park" — to build his foundation.
Davis, CEO of independent oil and gas company Swan Energy, announced Tuesday he acquired Inception Racing in late August. His first race as owner was at Richmond, where Stremme pulled off the track after 127 of the 400 laps.
|The article you requested has been archived
- More On:
- Brandon Davis
- David Stremme


text:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This quick pot holder is for use on the handles of your hot pots, works great on that cast iron skillet.
Size F or G crochet hook
Sugar and cream crochet cotton.
Chain 5
Working in back loops only 2 sc in second ch. from hook,
1 Sc in each of the next two stitches, 2 sc in the last st.
Do not turn the work. What was the front loop will now be the back loop,
2 sc. in the first st. 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts., 2 sc. in the last stitch.
Now working in both loops sc in each stitch around continually till the piece measures about 5" bind off end cut and weave in ends.
Posted by CRAFTER at 5:16 PM
Labels: Crochet Projects
5 comments:
Cool, thanks, I have some new pans that handle gets hot.ReplyDelete
Susan I hope it is ok that when I post things I made from your blog and post on mine that I add the link to your project I did.ReplyDelete
Thanks again Susan, I made one in Bernat cotton in color Strawberry :), I crocket a little chain on mine so I can hang by stove so I do not have to dig around in the draws looking for it. :) Im going to make more :)ReplyDelete
Thanks Again :)
Renee that is fine! Our site is all about sharing crafting. Glad that you are making our crafts.ReplyDeleteReplies
- AnonymousFebruary 13, 2013 at 10:38 AM
I made 3 and loved them. For hanging,on the last row I chained 2 and skipped 2 sc to make a little hidden loop. Thanks for the pattern!Delete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
What are Sunday's for? After a solid week of practice and a nice scrimmage to end the week, it's nice to hang loose. Football is the sport of choice on a Sunday and although Big Ben is out this weekend, I'll still be cheering on my Pittsburgh boys against the Pats. Sundays are great because nothing is expected, and sometimes with the insane schedule of a student-athlete, doing nothing can be the best for you. Back to the grind tomorrow,
#21 Bobby Polachek


text:
|Originally posted on Splerin.
With summer teasing itself to be here with this arrival of lush but rather humid weather, you wouldn't be wrong to wonder what exactly to wear to keep cool but remain stylish. This particular style guide takes inspiration from Karl Largerfield's Chanel resort 13 line. Extremely pretty and uber feminine but with a Lolita/bad girl twist.
Usually worn in winter, the classic Chanel tweed jacket has been updated with embroidery and appliqué in sugar-tastic colours like sherbet pink. Wear your knitwear in the same way but over a beautiful ombre dress for when the summer chill sets in. Florals, pastels and mermaid like textures all join to create a trend that can be easily interoperated into your weekend wardrobe!
Look 1*;
Fringed box bag-Topshop £30
Belt-Valentino £385
Leather sandals-Reed Krakoff £645
Sweater-Nina Ricci £760
18Carot gold necklace-Isharya £175
Freda dress- Jonathan Saunders £940
Look 2*: Boucle biker jacket- Balmain £3,940
Printed cotton t-shirt- Meadham Kirchhoff £130
Leather wedges-Karl £325
Leather shoulder bag- Marc Jacobs £1195
Printed dip dye skirt-Topshop £32
Ice cream necklace-Topshop £20
Look 3*:
Knitted crochet dip dye shorts- Topshop £36
Leather and stainless steel watch-Michael Kors £180
Checked cotton shirt-Boy by Band of Outsiders £175
Celeste Stein blue lace socks-mytights.co.uk £5.95
Stretch espadrille-Zara-£20
Mint cross body bag-River Island £18
*Prices/stock available at time of original posting.
Images; www.style.com, net-a-porter.com, topshop.com
Written and Compiled by Melissa S for Splerin.