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After what was a really rough week for me, I have found myself very refreshed and renewed and ready to move on past the issues that took me away from where my focus should be, and always has been.
I am really a private person. The reason for starting Liviana's Journey in late 2007 was to keep family and friends up to date on what was going on with Liviana since we were moving out of state for her medical care and birth. It has ended up being a resource and a help to other CDH parents and now MLD parents. Completely unexpectedly it has touched many, many other people. I always insist I am not doing anything that any other parent would not do when faced with the same thing with their children. I am not special...I am just a mom.
I am actually an introvert, which would surprise a lot of people. When I was in graduate school I had to take many personality assessments, since I needed to understand the instruments we may use. I was always 50/50 Introvert/Extrovert. I think that was a result of where I was in my life at the time that I even was 50/50. I needed some extroversion to be attending and presenting at conferences, teaching classes and working in a team with other people. I have no doubt if I took the same assessments right now I would have shifted clearly to introvert, which is my natural comfort area. That does not mean I do not like people, or socializing or groups. It simply means that I don't get my energy from being with other people but rather can get that energy from being alone and solitary. I think little people are excluded...they give me energy no matter what.
So, when all of this drama happened I really wanted to just fold it all up. I will always do what I am doing, the way I am doing it for my children whether everyone can read about it or not. I just questioned whether I needed to sharing so much with everyone since it opens you up to so much judgement, scrutiny and really, just plain old gossip. I don't think anyone ever wants to be talked about in a negative and untrue light but in a situation where all you are doing is going day to day hanging onto what you have with your babies it makes it feel like you are being kicked while you are down. I never even wanted our story to be made "public". I never sought out news stories or anything else....it makes me really uncomfortable. Good friends did what they could for us contacting those people because I never, ever would have and they were thinking more rationally about our needs than I was at the time. I appreciate all of them more than words could ever say and know they did what was best for us and our family...I don't ever want that to be misunderstood.
I am moving on now and going to return to what is important and what I have been focused on since the beginning.
I was so blessed to have met a local Milan woman, an American, married to an Italian man. We met on the expat board a couple of week ago when I was looking for help with Tarah's Visa issue. We got back in touch this weekend and they were so kind to invite all 7 of us over to her In-Laws house for Easter dinner. We were all like little kids, all giddy and excited that we would be going somewhere to be with other people for a traditional, Italian Easter. Michelle and her husband have a 3 year old son and the kids were so excited to have someone else to play with. It was really a wonderful, relaxing day focused on the family. It was something we all really, really needed. We are so grateful for the invite and for new friends. Almost all my socializing for the last 3 months has been with people in hospital masks. Even us introverts need to have a chance to spend time with other people. Thank you, thank you, thank you Michelle, Cristiano and family. You have given us so much more than you even know.
The "Easter Bunny" (AKA, Brad hunched over with a bad back) hid eggs in the courtyard early yesterday morning and the kids headed out for an egg hunt, complete with whatever basket like item they could find to carry their stash. I am sure the neighbors wondered what in the world we were doing out there. It reminded me of last years hunt and Liviana running around trying to collect eggs. It is hard to not reflect on the same time last year when everything was "normal". This year brought new, special joy though with all four together and lots and lots of smiles all around. Here are a few photos. I also have photos from our Easter dinner I will get posted soon too.
Today is still holiday and feels like a Sunday around here. It is referred to as Pasquette. The courtyard is a buzz of activity and you can smell BBQ grills going...a heavenly smell to us. It is going to be a good day.
Giovanni has a regular appointment tomorrow to check blood counts and Liviana will have a neurological evaluation because of her increasing muscle spasms. I will update when I can.
6 months ago


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My hand designed, artificial reptile terrarium plant & succulent (silk and plastic) designs provide a natural looking, realistic environment that both of you will appreciate. My primary focus is on the life-style…the interior you create and the space they flourish in. You'll find many of my silk & plastic reptile terrarium plant design choices to be an "alternative" idea for faux reptile decor plants. These unique and realistic plant designs will enhance your reptile, terrarium or snake habitat. shop | ronbeckdesigns.com ebay | etsy | custom order information
Best view is full screen images To view the design portfolio as a slide show, click on any image to enlarge and begin. There are direction arrows on either side of the images during the slide presentation. To just see the plant designs name | ID, place your cursor over the image.

subset: commoncrawl


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Music News- Brit Singer Joe Cocker, best known to many for his cover of the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends, has died aged 70, his agent has confirmed. The UK born singer-songwriter had a career lasting more than 40 years with hits including You Are So Beautiful,a She Came in Through the Bathroom Windownd Up Where We Belong.
His agent Barrie Marshall said Cocker, who is reported to have been battling lung cancer, was "simply unique". Sir Paul McCartney said he was a lovely guy who "brought so much to the world".
Known for his gritty voice, Cocker began his singing career in the pubs and clubs of Sheffield in the 1960s before hitting the big time. He was propelled to rock stardom when his version of The Beatles' With A Little Help from My Friends reached number one in the UK in 1968. His performance at the Woodstock Festival in New York state in 1969 is one of rock's most memorable moments.
His duet with Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong, from the film An Officer And A Gentleman, hit number one and went on to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award in 1983. He was made an OBE in 2007.


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Baccano! (DVD 4)
Title: Baccano!
Volume: DVD 4
Running time: 100
Distributor: FUNimation Entertainment
Release date: 2009-06-16
Suggested retail price: $29.98
Age rating: TV-MA
The train is pulling in and the mobsters and monsters who populate this caper are ready to settle a score that's been a long time coming. But this ain't about revenge or pride. This is about the ins and outs of living forever. It's about making your way among thieves with honor and politicians with dirty hands. This is about sticking up for the guys that do you right and the gals that love you good.
For now, how's about we start at the end of the story, where a ruthless alchemist is gonna get his after a couple of centuries of shady soul eating. It's as good a start as any for a story that never ends.
Contains episodes 13-16.
Special Features: Episode 15 Commentary (Eric Vale, Joel McDonald), Textless Songs.
Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.
(added on 2009-04-18, modified on 2009-04-18)
- Reviewed by Carl Kimlinger (August 9, 2009)
- Reviewed in Shelf Life (June 22, 2009)
- Encyclopedia information about Baccano! (TV)


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Music video by Simple Minds performing Belfast Child. Digital Remaster (P) 2003 The copyright in this audiovisual recording is owned by Virgin Records Ltd
Belfast Child" is a 1989 Number 1 UK Charts hit single by Simple Minds from their album Street Fighting Years. The single is also known as the "Ballad of the Streets" EP, highlighting both "Belfast Child" and "Mandela Day" (originally its B-side).
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Award winning performers to welcome Pride of Place Judges to Attymass
A host of VIPs and dignatures and Attymass parishoners will join award winning musicians, singers nd and dancers to wecome the judges of this years IPB sponsored Ireland's Pride of Place to Attymass in Mayo on Tuesday 18 July at 2pm in the Fr Peyton Centre.
The small rural parish in North Mayo which is situated just 7 miles outside of Ballina and has been nominated by Mayo County Council to represent the County in the presigous national competition. The free event is open to the general public and will feature performances from the Bofield Ceili Band, the Atttymass Youth Choir and Senior Choir plus the recently crowned five times Attymass World Champion Irish Dancer, Stephen Gallagher.
The judges will then be shown a short video presentation of the features of the parish which is nestled between the majestic Ox Mountains and the Salmon Laden River Moy. The judges will then be taken on a short tour of the parish to visit its historic sites and its hidden gems.
Tony Hennigan from Mayo Manchester commented "We are delighted that Attymass has been nominated for this prestigous award to represent Mayo in this national competition is a great honour for the parish. We have been working with the Parish since 2012 to develop its Tourism Stratergy by helping it organise an annual festival to celebrate its unique landscape and its award winning musicians singers and dancers as part of the Mayo Manchester Tradfest. It is great to see it being nominated for the award which will put it firmly on the tourism map."
A social media campaign on Twitter has already been started on www.twitter.com/attymassdotie with the hashtag #AttymassPOP17 with messages of support coming in from all over the world from as far away as Beijing in China to famous celebrities like the Lord of the Dance to award winning authors.
For further information about the Parish and the event visit www.attymass.ie


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Douglas County, Illinois
"It's always our privilege to serve you!"
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Douglas County Mental Health Department
Douglas County Mental Health
Notice of Privacy Practices, Effective September 16, 2013
This notice is to comply with the federal law "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996". Protecting the privacy of information about your medical conditions and health is a responsibility we take very seriously. We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal and it is important to you that we keep it confidential. We are committed to the practices and procedures we have established to protect the confidential nature of information about your health.
Douglas County Mental Health, hereafter referred to as DCMH, is required by law to protect the privacy of your personal health information and provide you with this notice that explains our legal duties and our privacy information practices. Each time you visit a healthcare provider a record is created to capture the care, treatment or services provided. This information is kept and put together in order to follow certain laws, rules and to keep track of business practices. This notice will describe some of the ways we may use or share your personal health information, your rights, and our obligations to protect and safeguard this information.
Health information includes and relates to:
Your past, present, and future medical or mental health conditions
Your past, present, or future payment for the care or services you received
Care and services provided to you
How your PHI will be Used
The following categories describe the different ways your personal health information may be disclosed by DCMH. In order to provide effective care, it is sometimes necessary to share your information.
We may use personal health about you to provide you will appropriate and effective treatment or services. We may disclose personal health information to psychiatrist, nurses, interns, or other agency personnel who are involved in your treatment or care. We will share information with others outside DCMH only with your written authorization to do so.
We may use and disclose your personal health information about you so that the treatment and services you receive from DCMH may be billed and payment collected from you, an insurance company, or a third party.
We may use and disclose personal health information for DCMH business operations. These disclosures are necessary to maintain agency efficiency and ensure you are receiving quality care. This may include reviewing your plan of care in staff trainings.
Revisions / Changes to Privacy Notice
DCMH reserves the right to revise or change the contents of this notice. Should we change the contents; a new notice will be available within 30 days from the effective date of the change. This new notice will apply to all personal health information maintained by DCMH, regardless of where the information was gathered. The new notice will state "Revised" and will include the date the change becomes effective. Each time you come to DCMH for services you will be offered a copy of the current notice.
DCMH Responsibilities under the Federal Privacy Standard
All employees, volunteers, and contractors must protect the privacy of your information. Employees, volunteers, and contractors may only access/use your information if it directly relates to the job or services they provide. DCMH will penalize employees, volunteers, and contractors who do not protect your information.
Uses and Disclosures
DCMH will not use or disclose your personal health information for any other purposes unless you give DCMH your written authorization to do so. For example, DCMH would need your prior, written authorization to use or disclose your personal health information for marketing purposes, for most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes (where appropriate), or if we intended to sell your personal health information. Other uses and disclosures not described in this document will be made only with written authorization.
In most cases, you may revoke your written authorization at any time. Your revocation will be effective from the date we are notified of your request. Authorization and Revocation Forms are available from the receptionist. DCMH may use or disclose other health information that is not covered by this notice or by the federal and state laws only with your written authorization.
HIV/AIDS Status
The AIDS Confidentiality Act (410 ILCS 305) and the AIDS Confidentiality and Testing Code (77 IL Adm Code 697)(AIDS Code) protects the identity of a person upon whom a test for HIV is performed and the results of a test for HIV on an individual. An HIV antibody or AIDS test cannot be required as a condition of treatment, and an individual cannot be required to disclose or sign an authorization for release of information concerning his/her HIV antibody test or HIV/AIDS status as a condition of treatment. See separate agency confidentiality policy entitled "Confidentiality Regarding HIV/AIDS".
Purposes for which DCMH may Disclose your Personal Health Information without Authorization
1. DCMH may disclose information necessary to comply with a court order and subpoena for your records. A subpoena alone would not permit us to disclose any information. (Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110).
2. DCMH may also be required to disclose personal health information to comply with abuse and/or neglect laws to governmental or social service agencies, including court proceedings. These include laws under the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/1) and Elder Abuse and Neglect Act (320 ILCS 20/1 et seq).
3. DCMH may also be required to disclose personal health information if it is determined that the probability of immediate, physical harm to you or others mat occur and information is needed to prevent it. We may notify persons who are directly being threatened as outlined in the duty to warn law as well as law enforcement personnel. (Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110).
4. In accordance with the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act (725 ILCS 207/1).
5. To initiate or continue commitment proceedings or to otherwise protect you or another person against clear, imminent risk of serious physical or mental injury, disease, or death being inflected upon you or by you on another. (Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110).
6. Records and communications may be disclosed in a proceeding under the Probate Act of 1975 to determine a recipient's competency or need for guardianship, provided that the disclosure is made only with respect to that issue. (740 ILCS 110/10(5)).
7. To the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to determine if DCMH is compliant with privacy laws and to investigate complaints received regarding privacy violations. (45 CFR §160.308).
8. To the Office of Inspector General to investigate complaints of abuse and neglect to consumers of DCMH. (740 ILCS 110/10bf; 405 ILCS 45/Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Persons Act; Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act).
9. Information may be provided as mandated by law to provide public health information of a communicable disease.
Information may be disclosed for communications within DCMH between staff who have a need for the information in connection with their job duties that stem from a diagnosis, treatment or referral for treatment; supervision; and consultation. This also includes information shared for other functions such as billing.
DCMH may disclose your information to our business associates so that they can perform services for which they were contracted. We require our business associates to properly safeguard your information. Examples include when sharing information is necessary to collect sums or receive third party payment for mental health services received from this agency. This may also include accreditation, audit and evaluation activities; however it is DCMH's policy to obtain your authorization prior to your personal health information being reviewed for these purposes. Disclosure is limited to information needed to pursue collection.
Information from a consumer's record that is necessary to enable him/her to apply for or receive benefits may be disclosed without consent when despite every reasonable effort, it is not possible to obtain consent. This may be because the person entitled is not capable of consenting or is not available to do so. The information disclosed may only include the identity of the consumer, therapist, and a description of the nature, purpose, quantity and date of services provided. The consumer will be informed of disclosure made without consent. (740 ILCS 110/6).
Restricted health information, may be disclosed to another health care provider to provide emergency treatment when immediate medical intervention is necessary. We will request that the other provider does not make further use/disclosures of your information.
DCMH may disclose your information if a court orders you to be examined for conditions related to mental health or other disorders. This occurs only if the court has documented you have consented to this disclosure and are aware information about you condition, evaluation and services will not be kept confidential.
DCMH or an individual therapist may consult with an attorney or legal advocate about their legal rights or duties in relation to you and the services provided.
For the purposes of continuing care, the Department of Human Services, community agencies funded by the Department of Human Services, prisons operated by the Department of Corrections, mental health facilities operated by a county, and jails operated by any county of Illinois may disclose your record or communications, without consent, to each other, but only for the purpose of admission, treatment, planning or discharge to another setting.
The Medical Review Board shall be entitled to inspect and copy the records of any recipient. Information obtained may not be redisclosed without written authorization.
Information necessary to complete the requirements of the Census Bureau may be provided without consent.
Rights Regarding Your Personal Health Information
You or your authorized representative has the right to inspect and/or receive a copy of your health information (in most situations) to include medical and billing records. Authorized representatives may include:
1. The parent or guardian if the recipient is under age 12
2. The guardian of a recipient who is age 18 and over
3. An attorney or guardian ad litem representing a minor 12 years or older with a court order.
4. An agent appointed as Power of Attorney for Health Care or Property
5. An attorney-in-fact named in a declaration of preferences or instructions regarding mental health treatment under the Mental Health Treatment Preference Declaration Act (755 ILCS 43/).
6. A parent or legal guardian of a recipient of services who is over 12 but under 18 may have access to records about the child's current condition, diagnosis, treatment and medications provided and treatment and services needed. The parent or guardian may have access to other kinds of mental health records if the child does not object or if the therapist does not feel there are strong reasons to deny the parent or guardian access to records. If the therapist or child denies access to those records, the parent or guardian may file a court action to seek access.
Under state and federal laws, health information does not include personal psychotherapy notes or information compiled about your health in reasonable anticipation of litigation, administrative action or administrative proceedings. You can obtain a form to request access to your information from the receptionist. The form must be filled out and signed and state a specific time period for the records you want to view or have access to. If you request for access is approved, you will be contacted to schedule a convenient appointment. DCMH may charge a fee for processing your request. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
You have the right to ask DCMH to amend or change the information in your chart if you feel it is incorrect or incomplete. You may obtain a form to document your request/amendment from the receptionist. In order for your request to be approved:
Your request must be in writing
It must include a reason why you want to add or change your record
It must state a specific time or episode of care
If we accept the request (in whole or in part), we will notify you that the amendment has been accepted within 30 days and ask you to identify others who should receive it. DCMH will then make reasonable efforts to inform and provide the amendment to identified individuals. The amended information is added to the chart and maintained by for six years after services are discontinued.
If your request is denied, you have a right to submit a written statement to disagree with the "Denial of Amendment." You may obtain a form from the receptionist to write your "Statement of Disagreement" which will be forwarded to the Privacy Officer. We will include both the copy of the "Denial of Amendment" and the "Statement of Disagreement" with any future disclosures. In addition, we may choose to write a written response to your statement.
You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on your personal health information that we use or share for treatment, payment and health care operations. You also have a right to limit the information we share to providers or payees. We will consider your request; however we are not required to agree to a restriction. DCMH is required to agree to a request to restrict disclosure of personal health information to a health plan if the disclosure is for payment or health care operations and pertains to a health care item or services for which the consumer has paid out of pocket, in full. We cannot agree to restrict disclosures that are required by law.
Termination of Agreement of Restriction/Limitation
DCMH may terminate the agreement to a restriction if you agree to or request an end to the restriction in writing. DCMH may also end the agreement without your permission as long as you are informed of the termination. This will only effect your personal health information that was created or received after you have been informed of the termination.
You have a right to request an accounting of disclosures of your personal health information. This is a list of each time we have shared health information about you. You may request an accounting for a period shorter than six years or for a specified date within the six-year period and may only be for disclosures that occurred after October 31, 2006. Your request must be in writing and we may charge you a reasonable fee.
You have the right that we communicate to you in confidence about you health information through another means or to an alternate location when this can be reasonably carried out. You may obtain a form to document your request from the receptionist. We will not require an explanation for why this is needed and we will make every attempt to satisfy reasonable requests. Examples of alternate communication include but are not limited to: contacting you only at work, mailing information to another address or speaking to you in your own language through the use of a translator.
You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice at any time. To request additional copies of this notice or additional information, contact the Privacy Officer at DCMH.
You have the right to receive written notification if DCMH discovers a breach of your unsecured protected health information, and determines through risk assessment that notification is required.
If you believe any of your privacy rights have been violated by DCMH, you have the right to file a complaint with our privacy officer. A formal complaint form can be obtained from the receptionist. You may also file a complaint directly with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Jan Aten, Privacy Officer at DCMH Privacy Officer of U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
114 W. Houghton St 233 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 240
Tuscola, IL 61953 Chicago, IL 60601
Phone/TTY: 217-253-4731 Phone: 312-886-2359
Fax: 217-253-4733 TDD: 312-353-5693
Email: email@example.com Fax: 312-866-18
For a printable version of the Privacy Policy please click here:


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I really hope you like my unicorn drawings. If you want to signup for my newsletter where I talk about unicorns. You can signup below.
From Era:
Hi. I'm Era Moon Hernandez...and I love Unicorns. I love love love love unicorns...and I draw them every single day. I hope you like my drawings.
From Era's Daddy:
I've been an entrepreneur since I was 18, and that's one of the one trait I really want to pass on to my beautiful daughter. I want her to know that she can create things from thin air, and if she does them well people will see value in them. On top of that I want her to learn about business & process.
I knew I wanted to make sure she was passionate about the product she was making. So since she draws unicorns everyday, I started asking her what she thought about having a company all about unicorns. She obviously loved the idea, but I thought she would totally forget about it the next day. But to my surprise, she kept asking me if we can work on her company.
So while she was drawing, and creating the inventory, I made her a little square space site to start selling her drawings. I hope she sticks with this and learns that she can do anything she wants. Even turning her drawings into a real company.
I love you Era.


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The DVD provides an overview of the issues that must be considered in maintaining fire safety in holiday parks.
Divided into two sections, it provides induction training for all staff with additional information on management responsibilities. It includes coverage of regular checks that should be conducted in holiday accommodation, footage from a caravan fire, as well as highlighting common hazards and safety measures that should be in place in holiday parks.
- Fire safety induction training: Fire hazards, fire alarms, fire doors and fire exits, fire extinguishers and fire evacuation.
- Management responsibilities: Monitoring and maintaining fire safety systems, fire evacuation and training, fire extinguisher training, caravan fires, emergency lighting and fire alarm testing.


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If you attended my "What's New in Project 2013" webinar on February 14th you saw a short preview of Project 2013's cool new reports. The following tip was presented during the webinar.
Reports in Project now contain charts, tables and user configurable fields. The options seem endless. When used in combination with other Views, the reports become powerful analysis tools.
The figure below is the "Project Overview" report. I have noted for you the near milestones and the completion state of the project's phases. That's a great start! But since there is no graphical view of time shown, it is difficult to relate the passage of time between milestones. (Click on the figure to enlarge.)
With the report full screen, turn on Project's Timeline feature so that you can see the relationship of time to the milestones. (See the figure below.) Note that the milestones can now be easily and readily compared.
There are many combinations of Reports and Views in MS Project 2013. Explore them! I'm betting you'll find at least one that makes your job easier.
If you enjoyed this blog entry, please let me know. If it was informative or piqued your interest – then consider training! My training offerings can be found HERE.


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Are You A Christian?
What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?
In the Bible, the word "Christian" only appears three times. In Acts 11:26, Luke writes "...The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa tells Paul; "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." And, in 1 Peter 4:16: "...but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God." In each case, the Greek word Christianos (khris-tee-an-os') is used, which is translated "follower of Christ."
So, what does it mean to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ? It means you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. Simply believing in God is not enough. Being a good person is not enough. Nor is going to church, being baptized or taking communion, although all of those things are done by Christians. Let's look at what the bible says:
Man is Separated from God
When Adam and Eve sinned, they ruined it for all of us. From that point on, we were separated from God by sin. Not just Adam and Eve's sin, but our sins as well. Although you may believe that you are a good person, the bible says differently:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -- Romans 3:23
"All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." -- Romans 3:12
The Bible is pretty clear that we are not "good" on our own merit. We cannot earn God's forgiveness:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." -- Ephesians 2:8-9 (Emphasis added)
The only way we can be saved is through faith. We cannot earn God's forgiveness through works (things we do), and we surely don't deserve it, because we will never live up to God's standard. And, even if it was possible to be good enough for God, how would you know? What would be good enough? It's easy to say a mass murderer is bad and Mother Teresa was good, but most of us fall somewhere in the middle. Do you see that there would be no way to know if you were good enough or not? And the Bible says we can know with certainty if we are going to heaven or not:
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -- Romans 8:1
We don't have to wonder if we will go to heaven when we die. We can know for sure. How can that be? Please read on.
Jesus Died for Our Sins
The only way for us to be reconciled to God is through the His son. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be reconciled to God:
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -- Romans 5:8
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." -- John 3:17
Not only did Christ die for us, but we see that God did this while we were still sinners. He didn't wait for us to "clean up our act," or "get our life straightened out." He took the first step. It is up to us to take the next step, which is accepting this gift through faith in Jesus Christ.
You Must be Born Again
Many people believe "born again" is a modern day expression to describe people who hold up John 3:16 signs in the end zone or stand on street corners yelling "Repent or go to hell!" The truth is, Jesus first used the expression when he was talking to Nicodemus, a religious leader:
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." -- John 3:3
He also said:
"I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -- Matthew 7:13-14
You see, many people believe in God and believe that by being a "good person" they will go to heaven (the wide gate), but significantly less have a personal relationship with Jesus (the narrow gate). Only those who enter the narrow gate by way of Jesus are forgiven and will spend eternity in heaven. Many more people will be surprised to find that everything they did counted for nothing without that relationship with Jesus:
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out many demons and perform many miracles?' Then, I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'" -- Matthew 7:22-23
In other words, none of the "things" we do count for anything without a personal relationship with Jesus. Not going to church. Not giving money to the church, or to charity. Not doing good deeds. Not being confirmed or going through catechism classes. Not even being baptized. All of these things may be done by Christians, but they do not MAKE someone a Christian. The ONLY thing that matters is whether or not Jesus knows you, and the only way that happens is by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Saviour.
Accept God's Gift
Maybe this is the first time you've really understood what it means to be a Christian. If you have never asked God to give you His free gift of forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ, there is never a better time than right now. Maybe you've never done this, or you're not sure if you have. Pray this prayer:
"Dear God, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for my sins. I believe that you raised Him from the dead. I accept Jesus, right now, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please help me to begin to live my life in the way you want me to from this day forward. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Perhaps you prayed something like this a long time ago, but you've fallen away from God. If you would like to recommit yourself to Him, pray this prayer:
"Dear God, please forgive me for not living my life the way you want me to. I recommit myself to you right now, and I ask you to help me start living my life for you from this day forward. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."


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However, this update concerns something entirely different and could even be considered an ode to insomnia. For about the last decade or so I've been having trouble getting sleep, so far without any serious side-effects. Although my weekends generally involve more sleep than usual, as compensation. Now normally this is nothing more than a nuissance and has led to some frantic reading over the years. You have to do something to pass the time right!
Last night was another rather sleepless night and a combination of inspiration and frustration finally got me working on my FW Trygon. Sure, the original deadline I set myself has passed, but that doesn't mean I don't want and need to finish this awesome miniature.
So here's a quick, and rather overlight picture of how far the Trygon stands right now:
I know he looks rather shiny at the moment, this is partially due to my crummy camera, my poor photography skils and the recent application of a coat of red/brown ink. Still tons and tons of work left of this critter, but I hope to get him sorted before the end of the week. Moving on to preparing the carapace next, so the next update should really see all the elements of this mini come together into a rather scary looking burrower!


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Group Trips Manager
Ian is in charge of our Group Trips programmes. He regularly visits schools and groups around the UK to talk about plans for group trips, as well as attending many general school talks and career fairs. Ian has been involved with Projects Abroad since 1992, when he was one of the very first Projects Abroad volunteers in Moldova. Ian has since worked in a variety of roles in the UK and in many of our destinations.
Ian has visited Argentina, Ghana, India, Myanmar, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo and Vietnam, Costa Rica and Thailand.
Where is the most beautiful location / country you have been to?New Zealand takes some beating. The Lake District in England is beautiful.
What would be number 1 on your bucket list? (Things to do before you die)Good question. Watching a Test Match in India is definitely on the list
What is your favourite dish?Roast beef preferably cooked by my mum.
Who is your role model, and why?My father in life. A good fellow.
David Gower on the cricket field. Pure class!
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?Definitely scoring a hundred.
Tell us something about yourself that we might not expect?I worked in Tropical Agricultural Research over three years.
If you could be a professional in any sport, what would it be?Cricket
What would you say is your favourite aspect of Projects Abroad?The great people you meet. Like working for the United Nations but better!
Group Trips Advisor
Dom joined the Group Trips team for Projects Abroad in 2015 after graduating with a Geology degree from the University of Brighton. He is the Content Creator for the UK Groups website as well as assisting the team in visiting schools, groups and careers fairs. Dom enjoys playing gigs with his band and numerous sports including skating, skiing, surfing and mountain biking.
Dom has visited Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
Where is the most beautiful location / country you have been to?Without a doubt, I'd have to say standing on Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park in California; USA was truly breath-taking. No wonder it's a popular desktop background!
What would be number 1 on your bucket list? (Things to do before you die)Aside from things like skydiving, mountain climbing, travelling the world and seeing the northern lights, my number 1 would definitely be to eventually get married and raise a child.
What is your favourite dish?Having recently turned vegetarian this is a bit trickier, but it would definitely have to be either Mexican or Italian, mmm!
Who is your role model, and why?I'd have to say one of my biggest role models would have to be Jack Johnson. He has the most relaxed and positive outlook on life through his career as an acoustic musician and professional surfer, but he uses his status and wealth to fight for environmental causes, charities and initiatives.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?Winning the award for graduating top of my class with a degree in Geology was amazing.
Tell us something about yourself that we might not expect?I play bass in a metal band based over in Brighton, UK. We usually play gigs around the south of the UK but we had the chance to do a tour of England a number of years ago.
If you could be a professional in any sport, what would it be?It would definitely have to be anything extreme; surfing, mountain biking or skateboarding.
What would you say is your favourite aspect of Projects Abroad?My favourite aspect of Projects Abroad, aside from the fantastic staff that I work with globally, would have to be the fact that it benefits people, animals and environments from developing communities and habitats all over the world, as well as giving unique opportunities for those willing to give their time so that they can help, connect and experience a completely different culture to their own.
Deputy Director of UK Marketing
Bessie first started out with Projects Abroad as a volunteer in 2011; she travelled to Peru and spent time on both the Archaeology and Conservation projects. Bessie graduated with a degree in Philosophy and History from the University of Exeter. Following graduation she spent some time working as a Volunteer Coordinator in Nepal and with the Group Trips team in the UK. Bessie loves reading and taking her two Labradors for walks in the South Downs. Bessie has visited Peru, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Where is the most beautiful location / country you have been to?This has to be the Himalayas in Nepal… breath-taking!
What would be number 1 on your bucket list? (Things to do before you die)I would love to do a trek on horseback through the Mongolian Steppe.
What is your favourite dish?My mum's lasagne.
Who is your role model, and why?David Attenborough. He's lived an incredible life and his passion for wildlife and our planet is really inspiring.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?So far, it'd have to be graduating from university
Tell us something about yourself that we might not expect?I've been on Blue Peter twice, but lost my Blue Peter badge when moving house and now no one ever believes me!
If you could be a professional in any sport, what would it be?Probably rock-climbing; something with a fair bit of adventure involved.
What would you say is your favourite aspect of Projects Abroad?I not only get to work with a brilliant bunch of people, but Projects Abroad is truly dedicated to making sure we make the best impact we possibly can through our projects. That's not just an impact on our volunteers, but on the countries and communities that we work with too.
Executive Chair
Before starting Projects Abroad in 1992, Peter Slowe was a distinguished geographer and author, specialising in political biography, political geography and military history, based at the University of Chichester. As Chair of the Labour Party's Finance and Industry Group, Peter was an economic advisor to Tony Blair and his government. Over the last two decades, as Projects Abroad has grown, it has taken up more of Peter's time. He is actively involved with all aspects of the business from setting up new destinations to supervising recruitment campaigns in the US and Continental Europe. Peter was born in 1953, and he and his wife Karen have one son.
Director of UK Marketing
Beth joined the Projects Abroad Administration team in 2012 before joining the Recruitment team as a Programme Advisor a year later. She manages recruitment and print and online advertising in the UK, and also speaks to potential volunteers and attends career fairs. Beth enjoys spending time with friends or family, going to music festivals and loves to travel.
She has visited South Africa, Ethiopia, China, Mongolia, Tanzania, Argentina and Thailand.
Programme Advisor
Sarah is part of the recruitment team and speaks to potential volunteers about our projects. Sarah has a background in marine conservation and is a keen SCUBA diver; she completed her PADI Divemaster training in 2014 and has assisted on marine conservation projects in a number of places.
Alumni Coordinator
Nadeesha joined Projects Abroad in April 2010 to the Social Media Team. In 2012 she joined the Alumni team and gets in touch with UK volunteers after they finish their placements and helps to develop the UK Alumni Network. She holds a degree in IT. She has also completed higher studies in World affairs and is very interested in reading books.
Overseas Recruitment
And we have people helping us recruit volunteers from around the world too.
in Australia
Will first joined as a volunteer teacher in Moldova in 1992. Since that eye opening experience he has gone through a variety of jobs and travels and now runs the Australia office from Adelaide. He is a regular sportsman who is frequently found with a cricket bat in his hand.
in India
Ashish has been working with Projects Abroad since January 2009. After working for operations in Nepal and India, Ashish has joined Recruitment Team in India in 2013. He believes that Indian students should get a chance to explore the world. He is a cricket player and is often seen with a bat during his free time.
Japanese Country Director
Shigeki joined Projects Abroad in 2017 as the Country Director for Japan. His love of travel began when he first visited Hawaii with his family at the age of nine, and he later decided to study Development Studies at the University of Leeds in England. He enjoys exploring historical places such as Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and Petra in Jordan, and he hopes to add Samarkand in Uzbekistan to his expanding list. If he had the chance, Shigeki would hop on a plane and join the volunteers and team on the Building Project in Tanzania.


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The fratty style guide, The Preppy Handbook, is considered to be a modern-day Guide to Style for the well-pedigreed fratstar. If a copy of the book wasn't put in your stocking as an adolescent, (if you don't own one, buy one used and act as though you've always had one) use this abridged guide to sartorial sophistication to make sure that you are prepped out to the max at every occasion. Written over 30 years ago, this handbook, while originally written as a parody, is a helpful and useful guide for the fratstar in everyone. Or if you can't find a copy, pick up Lisa Birnbach's latest updated tome True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World which, thirty years later, modernizes the traditional preppy staples like L.L. Bean monogrammed canvas bags and Sperry topsiders. Her contemporary look at the age-old world of prep brings the frat world into the twenty-first century.
Remember, without these helpful tools, there's always someone else whose argyle, seersucker, or poplin is making you look like a G.D.I.


text: At Marshall Family Dentistry, we can help give you the radiant, flawless smile you have always wanted with our high-quality cosmetic dentistry in Birmingham, Alabama. Our talented dentist goes above and beyond in improving the appearance and function of our patients' teeth. If you would like to enjoy a more confident smile, please call our office today at 205-853-4600 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Reid Marshall.


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With this post, I am doing something I try very hard to avoid, especially when communicating to my clients, and that is blurring the line between investing and gambling. But after reading all of Reuven Brenner's books and finishing Ralph Vince Leverage Space Trading Model, I think blurring the line can offer additional insights and methods not traditionally available.
As a starting point, let's apply basic probability methods on the most widely used bond index Barclays Aggregate Total Return to test my belief that the 1980-current bull run in bonds has offered one of the best games ever for any investor in the history of the markets (see my post "Bonds Tumble and Questions Start Getting Asked"). In the Microsoft Excel pivot table shown below, the Barclays Aggregate has been up 70% of all month since 1980, and the up months generate on average 1.44% return compared to the down months –1.02%. If we put this in casino terms, it is like winning 7 of every 10 games with a payout of 1.4 to 1.
|From TimelyPortfolio
source:Barclays Capital and thanks to the fine contributors to R and PerformanceAnalytics
Now that we have the basic probabilities secured, we can have all sorts of fun in later posts with the Leverage Space techniques and Monte Carlo simulations.
R code:
#load index data given as date and total return value
#convert to monthly return series for PerformanceAnalytics
#use discrete ROC to get simple monthly return
#((value this month-value last month)/value last month)-1
par(mfrow=c(2,1)) #2 rows and 1 column
chart.Histogram(BarAggReturn["1980::"],main="Barclays Aggregate Total Return Monthly % Histogram since 1980″,cex.main=1,xlab=NULL,breaks=15,methods="add.centered")
chart.Boxplot(BarAggReturn["1980::"],main="Barclays Aggregate Total Return Monthly % Boxplot since 1980″,cex.main=1,xlab=NULL,names=FALSE)
R-bloggers.com offers daily e-mail updates about R news and tutorials on topics such as: Data science, Big Data, R jobs, visualization (ggplot2, Boxplots, maps, animation), programming (RStudio, Sweave, LaTeX, SQL, Eclipse, git, hadoop, Web Scraping) statistics (regression, PCA, time series, trading) and more...


text:
For the second time in as many days, we get to be the bearer of bad news regarding server closures and discontinued achievements. Yet again, it is PC titles that are involved. The first title, Warham
Posted 5 years ago by Rebecca Smith
Today we're going to go over industry news that did not deserve their own articles but are still worth being discussed in a public forum. It's that awkward grey zone of news that matters, but is not
Posted 6 years ago by Dog of Thunder
This week's deal yields a real-time strategy title exclusive to the PC at a low price. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) – $9.99/£9.99 $4.99/£4.99 This download will net you a potential of 1000 g
Posted 7 years ago by litepink
The Xbox LIVE marketplace is holding a Countdown to 2012 Sale from December 20th to January 2nd. There are a variety of XBLA games, DLC, GWFL games, and Windows Phone games on sale through the new ye
Posted 8 years ago by litepink
You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but I've only just discovered that the Games for Windows - LIVE client's Games on Demand service offers Deal of the Week offers just like the Xbox 360 does! I don'
Posted 9 years ago by zigs00
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The Perth Mint has released the 2016 Norse Gods – Thor Silver High Relief Antiqued Coin, which is composed of two ounces of 99.9% silver and has a mintage limited to 2,000 pieces. This is the second coin in the Mint's three-coin "Norse Gods" series; the previous issue featured Odin and sold out in three weeks.
Available for $180.91 AUD ($132.93 USD), the Thor coin has a diameter of 40.50 mm, a thickness of 6 mm, and carries an antique finish.
The reverse is designed by Ing Ing Jong and features an image of Thor raising his hammer and grabbing a fang of the serpent Jormungand. THOR is inscribed in stylized letters beside an image of a goat's head, and the Perth Mint's "P" mint mark is located along the coin's rim.
Thor was the ancient Norse god of thunder, and a press release points out that he was also associated with lightning, storms, fertility, and healing. He was the son of Odin and the Earth goddess, Fyorgyn.
The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Included along the rim are the inscriptions QUEEN ELIZABETH II, 2 DOLLARS, 2 oz 999 SILVER, 2016, and TUVALU, the issuing country. The coin comes in an engraved wooden display case with a certificate of authenticity.
The next release in this series will feature the Norse god Loki. For more information on the 2016 Norse Gods – Thor 2 oz. Silver High Relief Antiqued Coin, please visit the Perth Mint's Web site.


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SEEKINGKeyboard, Bass Guitar, Vocalist - Bass, Vocalist.
I am a guitarist that has played in a number of bands.Pretty much all of them original. Lots of different styles from noisy avant garde experimental stuff to singersongwritery guff. Currently looking for some BASS, & maybe some KEYS to complete new band,vocals would be nice but not essential.
Contact me at; bjonesfitter@.co.uk
- Screen name:
- purp
- Member since:
- Oct 10 2010
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Very Committed
- Years playing music:
- 15
- Gigs played:
- 10 to 50
- Tend to practice:
- 2-3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 2-3 nights a week
- Most available:
- Nights
zappa,sonic youth,radiohead,fugazi, melt banana,pjharvey, qotsa,Primus, etc etc
gibson sg, fender twin,rehearsal space.
ha!version3 Track number: 1 Year: 2011 Album: death by nostalgia Genre: Alternative
Recent Jammage.


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Saturday, July 21, 8pm • $39 - $59
Green Chile Chicken Lasagna Buffet at 6pm • $20
Led by violinist and arranger Nina Di Gregorio, FEMMES of ROCK have rocked audiences worldwide with their blistering solos and unique arrangements. The classically trained artists take Bella Strings to a whole new level. All-new arrangements, original material, a live rock band, video, lights, choreography, comedy, and more can be expected in this high-energy show that leaves audiences awed. Hear riveting arrangements of hit tunes by Queen, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. Expect blazing classics like Kashmir, Black Dog, Back in the USSR, Eleanor Rigby, Bohemian Rhapsody, Comfortably Numb, Purple Haze, and so many more!


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If Trump is a Russian Stooge...
By Dennis Loo (7/22/18)
This is Part 1 of a Series
It is sometimes very helpful to reverse-engineer something, so you take a certain outcome and look at the steps that would have to have been taken to end up with that result. We will look at Trump's behavior towards Putin in this regard. This article is going to be in parts.
The furor over Trump's Helsinki press conference so far continues, in which the US commander-in-chief openly sided with Putin and against his own intelligence agencies. This would be unthinkable for a thinking stooge because he would not be believable to his own side for doing that. However, we know that Trump is mentally challenged (shall we charitably say?) and he is certainly of capable of doing and saying stupid things. We have seen him do this many, many times. He is not a reader and non-readers consequently make a lot of spelling errors, the latest spelling error being the "No Colusion" (sic) Error by Trump.
Now you would argue that a real stooge would know better than Trump and not be so obviously reading from the same scriot as Putin, but Trump is known to be vey stupid, so he is capable of not doing a good job of being subtle.
There are number of factors in play here and certain inescapable deductions must be drawn.
First, it should be pointed out that the Steele dossier wasn't supposed to be in every detail correct. A spy/counter-spy document is, by its nature, somewhat speculative in nature, but it has proven so far to be remarkably on target.
Second, Trump protests and blocks too much to be totally innocent. An innocent person would want the investigation to finish its work so as to clear your name.
Third, from his overt acts, Trump is acting as if he has lots to hide. Does Putin have compromising info on Trump? Trump is acting as if they do. The fact that he screams and yells that it's a "witch hunt" tells us he is hiding a lot and that when it comes out totally, the fact that he will be irremediably compromised is practically a guarantee at this point.
To Be Continued
Part 2 is here.
Elaine Brower of World Can't Wait speaking at the NYC Stop the War on Iran rally 2/4/12


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I look forward to the day when Darlin and Jan can curl up on the couch with their twin boys, and share this book with them!……… I'm in love with some of these double page spread layouts! check 'em out…… use the expand icon – go to full screen, and flip through the pages just like a
Continue Reading »
This is the third time I've driven -all the way into the Idaho backcountry – to the Diamond D Ranch to photograph a wedding for this most awesome family. I love coming early and shooting all the events surrounding the wedding, and getting to know everybody before the big day. I love these guys!
Continue Reading »
click on the image or follow http://www.sunvalleymag.com/Blogs/Hitched/Summer-2014/Baker-Hegewald/ to see the feature in SunValleyMag online.
One of my favorite commercial clients – making addictive solar lanterns that I just LOVE……..
Thanks, maptia for featuring my stories! Click on my pic to see my maptia profile and to see all my stories (so far…) click on each image to see that story I'm billing them as 'somewhat funny'……..
It always looks good when you design it, Britt! I shot these pics for Heal Goods' website and launch as an ode to Rodney Smith, just with colorful socks…
from my favorite wedding of the summer, here is Whit and Alan's coffee table book …. click on the bottom right hand corner icon to expand to full screen and flip through the pages like a real book!…….. Whitney and Alan by | Make Your Own Book
I'm so proud of my friend, Sonia! We worked together this summer to take some portraits for her 'corporate identity' – and look what she's done with them-fantastic new website! Well done! You might just want to check out her site and sign up for her newsletter….
ok, so I have a big crush on these solar lanterns by Allsop. Loved running around and capturing all these glowing silk, paper, glass treasures for their packaging and social media. And they're solar! Awesome! Guilt free pretty lights! They are addictive, though… you buy one, and then you want more…..


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This looks really good. The images really make this simple and easy recipe look really appealing.
Don't you think everything looks better in a cute jar? That's what I love about these no bake strawberry cheesecakes in a jar. I think they are such a pretty dessert. You just have to have one. I'm Candi, and I am back with Jen's readers to share this delicious dessert with you. The great thing is you don't have to turn on the oven. They would be perfect anytime of year and you can change up the fruit to what's in season.
I like strawberries this time of year and they look pretty in these jars. I like to make them look special, but you can dress them however you like.
- 1 large carton fresh strawberries
- 2 TB granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 8 oz package of cream cheese
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 TB vanilla bean paste or extract
- 2 TB fresh lemon juice
- ¾ cup of graham cracker crumbs
- 2 TB unsalted melted butter
- Wash and slice strawberries and sprinkle with sugar and toss to coat. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whip the cream with an electric hand mixer. Add powdered sugar once it starts to thicken. Place whipped cream in the refrigerator.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, milk, vanilla and lemon juice. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- In small bowl mix melted butter with graham cracker crumbs.
- Divide crumbs into bottom of 4 glass jars
- Add cheesecake filling, divide evenly between jars. Top with ¼ of strawberries in each jar. Add a dollop of whipped cream.
- Refrigerate 2 hours or ready to serve.
- Best if consumed the same day. (Whip Cream will start to dissolve and loosen)
- Optional: Add ribbon to jars and fun candies on top.
- Enjoy
These can be decorated for the season by adding ribbon to each jar. You can also add fun sprinkles to each dessert.
If you like these no bake strawberry cheesecakes in a jar, try these desserts also.
I look forward to seeing you next month. You can see more of my recipes over at A Day in Candiland.
Who will be getting a great no bake strawberry cheesecake in a jar?
Thanks Candi for another great recipe post! Be sure to head over to Candi's to show her some love!
Tags : dessert recipe, guest post, no bake strawberry cheesecake, recipe post, Valentine's Day


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Life is short, I've figured. Was thinking (and I've been thinking a couple days) about this. Think of how old you are now, and then double it. Like when did you get here, and soon you'll be there.
I'm realizing that life isn't about material things that can fade off, it isn't about pride, or hate, or unforgivingness. It's about Love – gosh loving people and dropping pride, negativity, or hate. It's about GIVING – whether it be time, material, money or whatever. I'm usually not a 'people person' – I'd rather much mostly be on my own, but lately I figured more that friends and relationships are things that make the world go round. I also figured that: it's just good to have people around; good company and like-minds that is. Also, it's important to go on all out and give yourself qualitatively – let people know you genuinely care about them…it doesn't reduce you actually, rather you gain trust, friendships & openness from these people. Because in the end, I think that's what really satisfies us inside: knowing that we helped change people's lives, and that we were able to leave marks of goodness on someone's heart.
So two questions I asked myself. One: 'What are you doing with life?' Two: 'What are the motives behind what you're doing?'
Life isn't long like I said earlier. You think you have too much time, until you realize that you don't. So Enjoy life, don't endure it. Love people consciously. Learn to see the goodness & beauty in the things around you, even in the simple things GOD has placed around you… even in the people you meet short-term… and even in the people you have long-term.
Well I'm not here to write some really long post (I think I'm learning brevity & conciseness these days). But I'm here to just write what i feel this evening, and I think it's a great message, so…
A teeny weeny Bible verse:
Psalm 90: 12 – "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should."


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|Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen Photography
26 March 2011
Sneak Peak Graduation Photos
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 11:40:00 PM 4 comments Links to this post
24 March 2011
Who I am in March 2011.... April is coming..
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 7:15:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
23 March 2011
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 4:16:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Truth Be Told...Distorted Perception Happens..... Sorry folks...it does
|quote by: Mark D. Chamberlain
I have been a victim, and I have been guilty too.
However, I have been healed of this distorted perception as I looked into my own life
and watch out for situations where I could fail.
my business: my own faults
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 3:40:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
22 March 2011
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 10:57:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
21 March 2011
Hitting the pavement
Hitting the pavement on Monday is a completely different feeling than hitting the pavement on a saturday or friday...why is that so?
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 11:02:00 AM 1 comments Links to this post
20 March 2011
Grief and Time
I was in the Victoria and Albert museum in London, I saw a card it read: Time and Tide wait for no man.
I bought the card and still have it.
I always believed it.
I think about Japan daily.
In certain areas there are not enough alive to even take care of the died.
And the grief they experiences bares down upon my mind...but they are thoughts.
I feel the emotion of grief and have shed tears as I watched
the footage of what they are dealing with.
and my thoughts change... Grief is so powerful it has the illusion that one's life actually does stand still, while all of us go on in our lives,
while there are those that weep in the rubble for those that passed on
including those that are yet to be found.
And as we deal with the deal with grief, we still have to battle the illusion that time does not stand still.
it was said once.... or twice....or repeatedly by those that have embarked on the thought of time.
To realize the value of one year, ask a student who failed a grade,
To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby,
To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper
To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who missed a train
To realize the value of one second, ask a person who just avoided an accident
To realize the value of one milisecond, ask the person who won a silver medal in the olympics
Treasure every moment you have, whether its frozen you in your grief or expanded your experiences.
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 6:37:00 PM 1 comments Links to this post
When we Draft Bylaws for ourselves...
The Lord accepts our humble offerings but almost always has a better way:
March Visiting Teaching Message here:
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 10:05:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Why the move
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 1:36:00 AM 4 comments Links to this post
15 March 2011
what is essential, is not visible to the eye. Then why, often times, do we pursue what we consider essential, with our eyes....
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 12:00:00 PM 1 comments Links to this post
13 March 2011
Favorite past time... "kicking it with myself"
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 10:22:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
11 March 2011
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 6:25:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
10 March 2011
Wise words that changed my life.
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 5:36:00 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 4:49:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
09 March 2011
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 11:17:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Walking on the other side,
its my mother's side
of me.
And passing all the photographs
of my lifeless past
you'll see
I'm troubled by double meanings,
but do they mean much to you?
And I'm done with these half cut
like with everything else
you never see it through.
Was it wrong? Was it right?
Does it matter?
Does it count if we found what none of
us were after?
Raindrops are dropping on me like your heart in the coulds above me, but one day they'll drift right away, I never wanted that rain to stop the sun you loved.
I always knew it was the sun you loved.
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 12:11:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
08 March 2011
down into the river baby
listen to the sound
it's something only god knows
you figure it out, i can't stay
water's in the clouds
is my life about to change?
who knows, who cares
so we took a van down to colorado
where we ran into the dead
i took you by the hand
know that even with your doubts, it's ok
take into account that it's not about to change
who knows, who cares
you could let it down
jump into the river baby
easy as it sounds
it's never quite as easily done
the current has us now, it's ok
take into account that it's all about to change
who knows, who cares
no one's been there
but i don't care
i know all have been there
i don't care
i know
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 3:23:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
06 March 2011
Cure Cancer
I like too many things
and I don't know how to handle it. Or it is only just now,
I'm beginning to figure out the strength of this....but its been an irregular road for me...
at least in my mind...
i carry multiple notebooks with me for
all the different subjects...
Artist lectures, religion courses
documentary films,
everyday thoughts,
church, scripture journal,
class notebooks
I take notes and feel impressed by many things..
the crazy stuff my teachers say and what my fellow students respond to
under their breath...
I'm guilty of even taking notes while watching television
.its overwhelming how spongely I feel sometimes...
yes....figurately, spiritually and even physically.
but sometimes it takes me awhile to review the words
i chose to record.
and sometimes I dont even revisit what I wrote..and that is where I feel bad..
Most of my records are for me and yet open and honest enough for anyone else to read and respond...if they do dare.
Is this process okay?
Secondly, mediums are becoming more of tools and vehicles for me..
The pen, the color of ink, paint and camera... my voice....interactions.
outside of the Fine Art Degree...
I feel like I am letting the world down when I can't tell a client
"Photography is my passion, I can't sleep at night, because it's all I think about, and when I sleep, I dream about it too, and when I wake up I eat it for breakfast."
I'm sorry.
but I'm sorry only a little bit..
When I hiked the Inca Trail in Peru, I began to feel bad for lugging around this photo gear, while the local men passed me on the trail, their backs were curved, they carried our tents and our propane tanks, with Cocoa leaves in their mouth to give them energy, while the people in the villages use it to supress the hungry, besides poverty is a reality to them.
Something happened on the Inca Trail... I remembered why I even bought the camera..
I wanted to connect with you visually. I want to know you and I want to know you through the experience we have as I take your photo. I want your friendship, I want to know you... which adds irony to this complex.... because the end result is a 2 dimenisional flat surface...a simple image... But as an artist.... the connect made remains... and the relationship grows. It happened when I was 11 and I used my dad's SLR to photograph my one year old brother...and I have been composition building ever since... ( I experienced this as I was a model @ school for a fellow friend/photographer working on her seminar piece. We met at my studio/warehouse and discussed her work, which included dreams....this shoot, my dreams...which of late, have been about me dying and others, trying to bring Josh back alive through my dreams....and going to sleep for that sole purpose....it worked for the first little while).
But if the best way to get to know you was a lunch date or a late night in the printmaking lab..or at church...so be it...
I am beginning to feel that I want my medium to cure the questions I have.... so this is less client based, which means I'll take your photos and you can take me to lunch....It will remain a vehicle to build memories, but it won't be the only vehicle.... and I won't lose sleep over it either.
Personally, owning and operating a camera has yet to cure cancer... You know how I figured this out... I got cancer... and I never knew it existed as cancer.
In 2006, The first Indain Summer i experienced on my mission in Arizona, I grew what I thought was a zit, which settled into a wart.. I left it there, on my nose...for years...
and then I started photo shopping it out......and I didn't notice it in my life in photos....Then @ the end of January, I scheduled an appt to get it removed.....
and there in the Dr. office I learned it was not a wart but cancer....
Speaking of cancer, I have encountered people judging me for using the medium of hair in my thesis project. As I have been collecting scraps and ponytails.... They reply to me in disguist, they cannot gather the guts to donate hair for art, but to the Locks of Love society....
News Flash
donating hair to cancer doesnt cure cancer...side note... all healthy hair in the according lengths will be donated to cancer...for wigs...for those strong survivors..whom I admire and commemorate their lives by donating and do my part to help other survive in different ways.
It was actually a botany class that inspired me to think about the cures for cancer...and the progression therein is breath taking.... more breath taking then all the things on my bucket list...excluding motherhood.
anyways.... happy Sabbath.....Be true...Be you. The best you.
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 10:59:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
05 March 2011
Please come play with me this summer!
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 6:26:00 PM 1 comments Links to this post
04 March 2011
I walk around with this overwhelming gratitude in my mind and heart... its for my family.....
Their compassion consumes my small mind... They do so much for me!
and I loved them before I even grew in this gratitude.
Posted by Jenny Hansen Lane at 11:05:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post


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We often hear our friends, colleagues, strangers talk about those people as if they could some how contaminate us, our place of worship, our community. Maybe we have even joined in the conversation about those people. Yes, we talk about them but what can we do about them or for them?
Rev. Lee A. Schott, a United Methodist pastor of Women at the Well UMC, has a few ideas and suggestions. Women at the Well UMC is one of only two United Methodist churches in the U.S. that are within prison walls. Scott's church is in the women's prison in Mitchellville, Iowa.
Before you read Schott's suggestions about how to meet, embrace, and assist people who are different from us, think about your church community. How open is your church to someone who looks, dresses, talks, acts differently from your members? Is your church welcoming and friendly to guests? What happens during the Passing of the Peace? How involved is your church family in the community around your church building?
If you could not answer those questions quickly with significant examples of connecting with brothers and sisters in your community, perhaps you and your members need to study and practice the suggestions that Schott offers in her article, Connecting with Those People. Here is her list of suggestions; you will have to read her article for the full explanation:
- Watch
- Wonder
- Be a safe listener
- Reduce your church's barriers
- Watch your language
- Reach across the walls
- Don't just "do missions." Build relationships
- Maintain boundaries
- Pray
You can read Schott's entire article here: http://www.churchleadership.com/leadingideas/leaddocs/2015/150513_article.html.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is evaluating your church's participation in mission, outreach, and nurture in light of Schott's comments and then re-commit your church family to truly see and connect with THOSE PEOPLE.


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Join us Saturday October 22nd 8:00pm-1:00am for the most thrilling party this fall: a masquerade! Bring a mask (or get one from us) and immerse yourself in this all-night experience. Indulge in an unmatched evening of music, dance, entertainment, and most importantly an OPEN BAR!
There will be live music, live performances, food, and an OPEN BAR sponsored by Four Roses Bourbon, Virtue Cider, Revolution Brewing, and New Belgium. The only rule is that all partiers must wear a mask (it is a masquerade after all). Bring your own mask and get $5 off at the door!


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BLACK TRUFFLE SALT - 45 g
This Sicilian sea salt is mixed with dried summer truffles. You will enjoy discovering the many nuances of crunch and natural flavor that this truffle sea salt brings to your favorite dishes. This product is Kosher.
Recommended uses: Feel free to use this seasoning anywhere a recipe calls for salt, including marinades, dressings, corn-on-the-cob, French fries, steak and popcorn.
Size: 45 g