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You've probably trained your students to follow up interested students from surveys or gathering events. You most likely have given them some very practical how to's on what to say and how to develop relationships.
Dale Schlack, Director of the South Asia Network with Bridges International, sent me a great piece that David Stuckenschmidt and Steve Edwards developed in connecting with International Students from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Engaging South Asian Students
Bright smiles, a harried countenance, and a desire for friendship, often describe our newly arrived international students. Those from South Asia are no different. They may not be sure what to make of you (as a Christian staff worker or volunteer) and they might be initially shy and cautious. But don't let that discourage you…most really would like to meet and get to know you.
Some South Asian students are familiar with Western culture and fit in with our typical methods and events. Too often, though, our methods to meet, follow up and filter large numbers of contacts create formal or awkward situations. If that is your experience or you have difficulty meeting South Asian students…consider doing some different things or a few things differently.
General Tips
- Pray specifically for these students on your campus. There are real spiritual barriers.
- Aim to connect well with at least one new student from South Asia. When you meet one, you'll soon be friends with many more.
- Drop by and visit them in their apartments or labs. You can just knock on their door or text them before going.
- Consider setting aside [time] each week to engage South Asian students in a way that fits them (rather than what is familiar to you or just inviting them to your events).
- Be a good host. This is your city/country so you get to welcome them.
- Introducing yourself: "We are a faith-based non-profit student organization that serves the social and spiritual needs of international students." or "We are a faith-based (or Christian) group but serve students from all backgrounds."
Using Technology
- Social media—students connect and communicate using Facebook. Sharing Facebook contacts when you first meet makes it easier to put a name to a face and to contact them again.
- Text instead of email—Texts, Facebook messenger or Whatsapp are the best ways to communicate. For an event it is better to start with a general future plan to meet (let's meet up next week for lunch) and then text a day or so in advance.
- Except for really big events most students make plans on short term notice. It is okay to text with last minute invitations.
- Pull up an India map on your phone and ask them to show you their hometown.
Follow-up and Appointments
What do you do with that stack of response cards? It is hard to know what South Asian students really intend from their follow up card responses. The questions may mean something different to them. For example, "Yes, I would like to visit a church" probably indicates a cultural curiosity like "I'd like to see one of your cathedrals". Interest in a Bible study could indicate more spiritual curiosity. Here are some follow up tips to consider:
- Sending an email to suggest a follow-up appointment to meet on campus for coffee or a coke will occasionally work, but typically this will be met with no response. It feels awkward and formal to them with someone they don't know.
- If you get no response, it is still okay to try to meet them another way.
- Go visit them. Really! Go knock on their apartment door and welcome them and see how they are doing and if there are any ways you can help them. You'll usually get invited in treated with hospitality and meet their roommates. They will be honored that you visited them. What are you waiting for?…just go!
- You can text them earlier in the day (or the day before) and see if there is a good time to visit them. But you can also just drop by.
- If you'd like you can bring a plate of home baked cookies or some salty snacks from an Indian store or something like that to leave for them to enjoy.
- Best times to visit would be in the late afternoon or early evenings. Indian students will usually come home to cook dinner around 8 or 9 pm and eat at 10 pm.
- Don't bring a Bible to give away. This might be misinterpreted and it will be more readily accepted after a connection is established.
- Feel free to invite them to your weekly meeting or other welcome ministry events when meeting them for the first time. But do not leave the impression that your main reason for seeking them out is to get them to come to your event.
- Go visit one of their events. Try to find and attend an event sponsored by your campus Indian student association.
- August 15 is Indian Independence Day (their July 4th) and some organizations might have a cultural event for the occasion.
- Some student associations will have a welcome party for new South Asian students (called "freshers"). If you are friends with students from India, you might get invited. If so, make it a priority to attend. But don't use their party as a place to invite to your events. Just go.
Practical Needs and Service Opportunities
- Furniture: Inexpensive furniture (mainly desks, tables and chairs) are needed for their apartments along with help moving any furniture they purchase. Some ministries have a furniture giveaway or mobilize pickup trucks and divers to transport furniture from second hand stores or state/campus surplus auctions.
- Transportation: Getting around is often a challenge. Uber or Zipcars help provide new options but a personal ride is very welcomed and saves time. A ride to Walmart…or more importantly to a local Indian grocery store for cooking supplies is helpful. Some can use help obtaining a driver's license.
- Food: Offer to take some students to a local Indian restaurant. After a few weeks of American food and cooking on their own, students are often happy to get a ride and go out to eat. Let them choose the time and the restaurant.
I thought that if you have had the thought of reaching out to South Asians, this might encourage you to take the first steps. But, also, while this is South Asia specific, it also might spur your thinking in how to train students to reach out to other contexts.
Fall Coaching Tips
Summer Tip Series
- "Organic Church" by Neil Cole.
- "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell.
- "I Once Was Lost" by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp.
- "The Starfish and the Spider" by Brafman and Beckstrom.
- "Go, following Jesus to the ends of the earth." by Dave Dishman.
- "God Space" by Doug Pollock.
- "A Cry of Hope, A Call to Action" by Charles Gilmer.
- "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell


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In Tic-Tac-Swap there is always a winner, no more draws. Now when taking turns to choose a square to place their X or O in, players may instead choose to swap two occupied squares adjacent to each other. This results in a strategic showdown with many more possible outcomes. Tic-Tac-Swap supports only player vs player game play, meaning you will need to have a friend around to play.
|File Size
|229.94 kB
|Operating System
|Windows 2003 Windows Vista Windows 2000 Windows Windows XP
|System Requirements
|Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

subset: commoncrawl


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One day after picking up "The Big Bang Theory" for THREE additional years, CBS decided that the Chuck Lorre comedy and the previously renewed "Survivor" needed some company, so the network announced a whopping 18 series renewals for the 2014-2015 season.
CBS now has at least 17 hours of primetime programming already in place for next season. The 18 renewals announced on Thursday (March 13) include nine dramas, five comedies, two reality shows and two news programs.
"The best way to launch new shows in the fall and throughout the season is to surround them with a strong and stable lineup of successful series," blurbs Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment. "The shows we"re picking up today cut across every night of the week and feature genre leaders, time-period winners and the most-watched shows on broadcast television."
Let's start with the nine dramas renewals, none of which constitutes even a minor surprise.
"NCIS" and "NCIS: Los Angeles" are the two most-watched dramas on TV and they'll both be back next year. For the second straight year, CBS will have a potential "NCIS" spinoff, with a New Orleans-based crew getting an introduction this spring, though "NCIS: Red" was snubbed last year.
Also earning drama renewals are regular time period champs "Person of Interest," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Blue Bloods." "Criminal Minds" and DVR favorite "Elementary" were also sure-things to be back and, indeed, they've been renewed. Based solely on ratings, struggling Sunday drama "The Good Wife" might have been on the bubble, but the Emmy-winning drama is easily CBS' most acclaimed series and it will also return.
On the comedy side, there was probably a little bit more ambiguity, though none of today's renewals were huge shockers. "The Millers" has been hugely boosted by "The Big Bang Theory" and it will return, along with "2 Broke Girls," which already has a syndication deal, "Mike & Molly" and "Mom," which has the weight of Chuck Lorre, as well as some critical supporters. "Two and a Half Men" has gotten a major bump thanks to its recent time period swap and it will also return.
Conspicuously unrenewed, at least for now, is the Robin Williams comedy "The Crazy Ones," which hasn't exactly tanked since moving to 9:30 and will spend the next few weeks on the bubble.
Emmy-winning favorite "The Amazing Race" and Friday success "Undercover Boss" were both no-brainer renewals, as were "60 Minutes" and "48 Hours."
As you already know, CBS is TV's most watched network for the 11th time in 12 years, averaging 10.84 million viewers in primetime.
Stay tuned for more updates as the spring progresses.
Yay? Boo?


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Dress like Mickey and Minnie in our contemporary interpretations of their outfits! This red pinafore dress comes with brown vintage buttons and a fully detachable velvet tail. Pictured here with our Big Dot Relaxed Top - a perfect outfit for a little Disney magic
Black velvet ribbon tail that can be removed.
Brown buttons on waist, with gathered skirt.
Adjustable shoulder straps, with button holes at back to fit according to your child's height.
95% rayon, 5% polyester.
Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, do not tumble dry or bleach, low iron, do not dry clean. Wash dark colours separately.


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HARWICH — Maria Sorz died peacefully in her home in Harwich after a quick yet courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Hospice of Cape Cod was wonderful during this period.
HARWICH — Maria Sorz died peacefully in her home in Harwich after a quick yet courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Hospice of Cape Cod was wonderful during this period.
Maria was born in beautiful northeastern Italy, close to the Adriatic Sea and the Alps. In 1961, she moved to New Jersey with her family where she spent many memorable years in Washington Township. In 2001, she moved to Cape Cod with her son and family where she quickly began new friendships but never forgetting her New Jersey friends.
Maria had a passion for gardening and enjoyed sharing her skills with her granddaughter. For those lucky to have known her, she also loved children. Maria treated so many kids as if they were her own grandchildren and cherished moments spent with them all. She also would never let any visitor leave her home without cooking a meal for them. That's OK because her food was delicious.
Despite several tragic events in her life, such as losing her husband, Nereo, in 1976, and her daughter, Nevia, in 1990, Maria always looked at life as the proverbial "glass half full." She used her talent as a gifted seamstress to earn a living after the death of her husband and created invaluable friendships in doing so. She was open-minded about many issues and always listened to problems of many.
Maria is survived by her granddaughter, Kate Sorz; and her son, Franco and his wife Carolyn. She still has many family members throughout Europe that she kept in close contact with throughout the years.
Maria insisted that no one's Christmas be disturbed on her account, so she will be buried with her husband in the spring at George Washington Memorial Cemetery in Paramus, N.J. A notice will be given approximately a week prior to the event.
Memorial donations may be made in her memory to: The Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601; or to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (tribute account #27320602), P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148; or by calling 1-800-822-6344.
Notes of sympathy and comfort may be made to the family at www.MorrisOConnorBlute.com.


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APRICOT-GLAZED PORK ROAST (from http://www.recipegirl.com/)
Monday, September 27, 2010
APRICOT-GLAZED PORK ROAST (from http://www.recipegirl.com/)
Posted by K Walton at 9:36 PM 0 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Get out the Kleenexes!
I LOVE these videos! Enjoy. You may want to scroll down and hit pause on my music player in the sidebar before you watch it so you can hear the beautiful music.
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Saturday, September 25, 2010
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT-Importance of Scripture Study
"...being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost. Of course, scripture is given through the Holy Ghost in the first place (see 2 Peter 1:21; D&C 20:26–27; 68:4), and that same Spirit can attest its truth to you and me. Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation." (D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture," Ensign, May 2010, 35 )
Posted by K Walton at 8:39 AM 0 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Feasting Upon His Love
I read the most beautiful verse this morning and wanted to share my thoughts. I was reading in Jacob 3 and I LOVE verses 1-2:
". . . Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause. . . "
"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and fest upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm forever."
It struck me that all the promises in these two verses are CONDITIONAL. Do you remember in high school geometry, learning about "if, then" statements? This verse is an "if, then" statement as well, meaning that in order for the promise to be fulfilled, something must first be added to the equation. So, in my nerdy way, I wanted to write verse one in equation form:
look to God+firmness in mind+prayer+exceeding faith=consolation in afflictions+mediation+justice
There are tons of these "if-then" statements in the scriptures. I had an institute teacher once teach us to look for three different types of scriptural passages:
1. Principles
2. Doctrines
3. Storylines
Principles are "if-then" statements. They are conditional upon something. Doctrines are true regardless of actions on our part. An example of a doctrine would be "there are three degrees of glory." Storylines are just that; they are verses that tell the history. I have used this framework to study my scriptures for many years. As I am marking my scriptures, I simply write "P" for principle, "D" for doctrine, or "S" for storyline in the margin. This has been a great help for me in my scripture study. It helps me to better understand and focus on what I'm reading and understand what I need to do to claim the blessings that can be mine through righteousness.
Posted by K Walton at 8:19 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Friday, September 24, 2010
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--My Father in Heaven
I love soup! Can you tell by the last few recipes I've posted? Growing up, my mom was FAMOUS for her soups. She made THE best beef stew, taco soup, chowder, vegetable soups, ham and bean, chicken noodle. . . you name it! I loved watching (and smelling) her prepare it, too. None of this canned convenience stuff. Her soup was truly a work of art and a labor of love. A good pot of soup would take her at least an hour to make, often more. She was expert at turning a fridge-full of leftovers into a tasty, masterpiece of a meal. This week I've made soup three times, in anticipation of Fall and to better utilize the bounty of my garden. And each time, I was so grateful for the lessons my mother gave me. As I served up these bowls of love, I felt closer to my mommy.
Thinking along these same lines, I wondered what my own Heavenly parents are like. I wonder what they have passed down to me. I wonder what things they long to teach me. I know that some might feel that thinking this way could be considered sacrilegious, but our church teaches that our Heavenly Father loves us tenderly and intimately, which is doctrine I cherish.
In college, I sang in the institute choir and served in its leadership program. Our director, Brother Castleton was an amazing man. He loved each of us so much. He had white hair, a round belly, and twinkling eyes. He was so kind to us as he taught us not only about music, but about life. I remember once after we finished singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," in rehearsal, the spirit was so evident. Many of us actually had tears running down our cheeks that day. He stopped and waited for a minute or so, respectful of that moment, then quietly and reverently said: "Brothers and Sisters, that is the Spirit of God. Remember how you feel right now and never do anything that will offend the Holy Ghost."
I imagine my Heavenly Father to be a lot like Brother Castleton. In fact, sometimes when I pray, I imagine his face. I love the quote by Ezra Taft Benson:
"Nothing will startle us more when we pass through the veil than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us."
I look forward to that day! I love him so, and it means worlds to me to know that He loves me even more dearly.
Posted by K Walton at 12:05 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Thursday, September 23, 2010
"When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21 )
Posted by K Walton at 11:28 PM 0 comments Links to this post
"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect."
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience," Ensign, May 2010, 56 )
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"[The] early Saints were indeed homeless, but they were not hopeless. Their hearts were broken, but their spirits were strong. They had learned a profound and important lesson. They had learned that hope, with its attendant blessings of peace and joy, does not depend upon circumstance. They had discovered that the true source of hope is faith—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." (Wilford W. Andersen, "The Rock of Our Redeemer," Ensign, May 2010, 16)
Posted by K Walton at 8:02 AM 0 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Press Forward
It's time for another verse dissection! I love to pick apart verses that I've heard a million times to make sure they haven't become so familiar that I miss out on their beautiful messages. Today I was reading a good old scripture mastery verse. . . 2 Nephi 31:20:
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father, Ye shall have eternal life."
Wow! What a beautiful passage this is! It almost seems like a little syllabus from a Professor, doesn't it? First, we are told to press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. I noticed in the footnotes, the words commitment, dedication, perserverance, steadfastness, and walking with God. Am I fully committed to live the gospel of Christ? Am I dedicated to the cause of building up Zion? Am I willing to perservere through adversity, doubt, my own weaknesses, and all other difficulties that are simply part of life? Am I steadfast in my devotion to the Savior? Do I walk each day with God, exercising faith in His will for me?
Then I love the phrase "a perfect brightness of hope." I love that we are actually commanded to hope. God knows that it will take time for each of us to reach our spiritual potential. He also knows that at times, we are bound to become overwhelmed with the task of becoming our best selves. But here, He offers us a lifeline...hope. What a beautiful message of abiding and understanding love from a Father who cares about each of us on an intimate level.
Next I wonder if I truly love God. I mean, of course I love Him, but do I show it in all my actions? Do I love my fellow men or am I so caught up in the minutia of life, that I rarely think of others?
Do I have the courage to press forward, even when life is hard? What about during the times when my faith is tested? Am I feasting upon His word as if my very spiritual life depended on it? Do I hunger and thirst for what He alone can offer?
Will I endure to the end? I have often wondered exactly what "enduring" implies. I think I now have a glimpse of its meaning...in verse 16 of this same chapter it explains: "...unless a man endure to the end, in following the example of the Son..." Again, this is such a beautiful message!
If I can live my life according to this verse, I get....eternal life! Exaltation! To live with my Father and with my loved ones FOREVER! Sounds like a pretty good deal, doesn't it? I am so thankful for this specific verse and for the lessons it teaches me about the gospel and about the love of a Father and a Brother.
Posted by K Walton at 7:42 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, September 19, 2010
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"He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. . . . All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan." --Dieter F. Uchdorf
Posted by K Walton at 9:42 PM 2 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--One Year
Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of Tyler's losing his job. I thought for today's post, I'd reflect a little on what this IMMENSE and challenging detour has meant to our family. It has been significant enough, that we have a invisible line through our family's timeline, delineating the before and after. All of us have experienced pain, confusion, anger, frustration, helplessness, and grief, but what has come as a sweet, merciful surprise is, that more often, we have felt guided, protected, and cared for. Here is a short list of some of the lessons of the last year:
1. Never take anything for granted. Now that Tyler and I are both working crazy schedules just to keep food on the table, our time together and at home is limited. As a result, we really make our family time count. No more sitting around, watching TV or playing video games. No more feeling picked on because of the countless tasks that need to be done. On my days off, I actually ENJOY cleaning now. In fact, I look forward to it! I now love doing homework with my kids. It has become a special, more appreciated part of family bonding. I love Saturdays, when I am able to clean, cook homemade meals, and take the dog for a walk: all things that I wouldn't have even thought twice about before Ty lost his job. I even love the opportunity to sink my hands into a sink-ful of hot, soapy dishwater, while watching my kids play tag in the back yard.
2. Always make time for family. Tyler and I have really had to improvise with our date nights, since money has been so tight. We now work in the garden, borrow movies from our parents, rather than rent them, go for long walks, and experiment with new recipes, where before, we would simply go to dinner and a movie. We have found these new activities to be even more romantic and FUN! A few weeks ago, we all wound up at home...together...at the same time! It was so unheard of, given the craziness of our hectic lives, that we decided to take an impromptu road trip to Arctic Circle in Tremonton, where we went inside and ordered 59-cent ice cream cones. It was actually heaven on earth, to sit there with my cherished family, all together and share such a sweet, appreciated moment with them. It's hard to explain how sweet that night together felt...
3. Just do it! The day after Ty lost his job, we both started the hunt for alternate employment. Three days later, I was hired to work at Farmers Insurance. Since that time, I have studied for and taken my licensure exam and now I am a Licensed Property and Casualty Producer. I also started my own little photography business, something I never would've had the guts to do, if not for the need to make more money a year ago. I am so grateful that I was led down these paths because my confidence in myself, and in the Lord's ability to help me, has grown immensely.
4. Put yourself in someone else's shoes. Tyler and I have sort of switched roles during this whole ordeal. I have had to put myself in more of a breadwinner role. I understand more about what he struggles with day-to-day: the anxiety of going to work in the morning, the stress of work-related problems that are difficult not to bring home, etc. And meanwhile, he has had a chance to step into my shoes. He's realizing that it is hard work keeping a house, making meals, and helping the children with the schedules and studies. We really have learned to love and appreciate each other on a whole new level. I think we've grown closer in the last year than we'd ever been before.
5. Lean not unto my own understanding. Before this last year, I'd always just thought, "If we ever lose a job, we'll just find another one." But that wasn't God's plan for us. After applying for hundreds and hundreds of jobs--in his field and not--without much luck at all, we started realizing that maybe this is a crossroads for us. As we began praying and really searching to understand HIS will for our family, we came to the decision to have Tyler go back to school.
We are still learning new lessons daily. Though at times, I long for everything to just be "all better," as I look back on this trial, I can see glimpses of the good that have come. I long for stable employment, financial security, and fun trips, but even more, I long to be close to my Heavenly Father and to do things His way. And I know that He leads us daily and that His angels are around us to buoy us during the hard times. I can truly say that I wouldn't have it any other way!
Posted by K Walton at 9:10 PM 6 comments Links to this post
Friday, September 17, 2010
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
4 slices smoked bacon, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 yellow-fleshed potatoes, such as Yukon gold, cut into small cubes
2 ribs celery from the heart with leafy tops, finely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
1 bay leaf
2 T. fresh thyme
Salt and pepper
2 canned chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
One container vegetable or chicken broth (32-ounce) or (4 cups)
2 c. evaporated skim milk
Lime wedges, chopped flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped scallions and crumbles cotija cheese or queso fresco, for garnish (all optional)
Posted by K Walton at 9:38 PM 0 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Sheri Dew Gems
"It is in moments of disappointment, heartache, and loneliness that we often make decisions that forge our faith, mold our characters, and fortify our convictions about the only source of strength and solace that satisfies. And that is J e s u s C h r i s t."
"Our ability to successfully negotiate this spiritual minefield called mortality improves dramatically if we are clear about who we are and what is important. And what is important is eternal life."
"Yielding ourselves to the Lord, from whom we may obtain greater strength than we will ever muster on our own, is the only source of strength in this life and happiness in the life to come."
"If there were ever a time when the Lord needed righteous, determined women who can distinguish between the adversary's deceptions and the voice of the Lord, it is now. If there were ever a time when the Lord needed women who stand committed and consecrated, it is now. If there were ever a time when the Lord needed women of integrity and purity who live in the world but rise above it, it is now. If there were ever a time when the Lord needed His daughters to be alert to what is happening in society and to defend the sanctity of the home and family, it is now. If there were ever a time when the Lord needed us to have a clear vision of who we are, where we are, and what is important—it is now."
"We no longer have the luxury of spending our energy on anything that does not lead us and our families to Christ."
"There is one thing the power of God and the power of Satan have in common: Neither can influence us unless we allow them to."
"The last days are not for the faint of heart or the spiritually out of shape."
Posted by K Walton at 9:21 PM 4 comments Links to this post
"If only we could catch the vision . . . that we will in due time inherit eternal life, if we could only glimpse it, I tell you there is nothing that we are called to pass through but what we would willingly describe as a blessing." --Brigham Young
Posted by K Walton at 9:14 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, September 16, 2010
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 half red bell pepper
1/4 c. fresh parsley (or cilantro)
5 bell peppers (red or green)
14 oz. shredded cooked chicken breast
adobo (or salt)
1 (15.5-oz.) can white beans
1/2 c. shredded cheddar
Posted by K Walton at 11:01 PM 1 comments Links to this post
"When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective." --President Spencer W. Kimball
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FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--A Good Turn Daily
Did you ever hear your mother or grandmother use the phrase: "Do a good turn daily?" I've been thinking those words a lot lately and I'm not quite sure why. It may have something to do about all the "Me, me, me" prayers I've been praying lately. I'm sure that at this point, it would make great spiritual sense to start thinking more of others.
I have one friend (and hero), Becky, who is battling AL Leukemia. She is a young mommy of three beautiful, sweet kiddos, and despite her physical pain and discomfort, she is always thinking of others. She faithfully posts thoughtful, spiritual, optimistic status updates on her Facebook page. Just the other day she wrote: "When trying to fight these difficult and painful days of this lousy cancer, it helps to remember the suffering my Savior did for me. I am so grateful for my Savior."
Her attitude is a much-needed reminder that the Savior loves all of us. There are so many suffering all around me, and so much I can do to help. It's truly time to "forget myself and go to work!"
Thank you Becky, for your sweetness. Thank you for reminding me of all the Savior was called upon to bear. Thank you for reminding me of all the miracles and tender mercies in my own life. And thank you for helping my heart to become softened, more willing to bear the sufferings of others. What an example you are to me!
Posted by K Walton at 10:40 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
You're never going to believe what my new calling is! I'm scared silly, but very excited too. On Friday night, the Stake President called and asked my husband and I to come in to his office on Saturday. I thought maybe Tyler was getting called to the Elders' Quorum Presidency, but in the back of my mind, I also knew that they would be releasing the Stake YW Presidency soon, too. I was called to be...the Stake YW Secrectary! I truly feel so inadequate for this calling. Secretary-ing has never really seemed like something I would be good at, and by nature I am a little...how should we say this nicely...DISORGANIZED! But the wonderful thing about the gospel is that Heavenly Father gives us so may opportunities to turn our greatest weaknesses into amazing strengths. I feel so loved to know that He has confidence that I can do this. I know that He will prepare a way for me to be an AWESOME secretary and "accomplish the thing that the Lord commandeth..."
Tonight is my first meeting, so I've got to run! Love you all!
Posted by K Walton at 5:07 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Saturday, September 11, 2010
1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese, preferably pepper Jack
1/2 c. prepared fresh salsa, divided
4 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas
2 tsp. canola oil, divided
1 ripe avocado, diced (optional)
Posted by K Walton at 9:44 PM 1 comments Links to this post
"Paced progress not only is acceptable to the Lord but also is recommended by Him. Divine declarations say: 'Ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now' (D&C 50:40); 'I will lead you along' (D&C 78:18). Just as divine disclosure usually occurs line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, so likewise we will achieve our spiritual progress gradually." (D&C 128:21; 98:12) (Neal A. Maxwell--"Men and Women of Christ" [1991], 23).
Posted by K Walton at 9:42 PM 2 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Small Answers
I was at my brother's house tonight and for some reason picked up their copy of the "New Era," which I hadn't read yet. I was so touched and moved by the First Presidency Message by Elder Bednar, entitled "Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept." The article started out with a question which I have OFTEN asked myself: "How can I tell the difference between my emotions telling me what I want to hear and the Holy Ghost telling me what I need to hear?"
I would highly suggest that you read this deep, informational article, but I would also like to share some key quotes that helped me understand this principle better:
". . . we tend to believe the Lord will give us A BIG ANSWER QUICKLY AND ALL AT ONE TIME. However, the pattern repeatedly described in the scriptures suggests we receive "line upon line, precept upon precept," or in other words, many small answers over a period of time."
"Most typically we receive a series of seemingly small and incremental spiritual impressions and nudges, which in totality constitute the desired confirmation about the correctness of the path which we are pursuing."
"Remember, Nephi tried several different approaches before he was able to successfully obtain the plates of brass from Laban (see 1 Nephi 3–4). And he did not learn how to build a ship of curious workmanship all at one time; rather, he was shown by the Lord "from time to time after what manner [he] should work the timbers of the ship" (1 Nephi 18:1).
"As described by Elder Richard G. Scott: "When we receive help from our Father in Heaven, it is in response to faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency" ("Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayers," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 30)."
"If you and I would distinguish our personal emotions from the impressions placed in our hearts and minds by the Holy Ghost, then we must desire and seek, ask and discern, hear and obey, and then again desire and seek and ask and discern and hear and obey. Our faith and diligence and obedience are ongoing invitations for additional spiritual knowledge and insight. Faith leads to obedience, which yields wisdom and an even greater desire for added light and truth."
"It is not just that we have grown older, nor have we simply become smarter and had more experiences on which to draw, as important as those experiences are. Rather, the Holy Ghost has over time been expanding our intellect, forming our feelings, sharpening and elevating our perspective, such that we increasingly think and feel and act as the Lord would under similar circumstances. In short, we have made steady progress in obtaining "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16)."
"As you ponder the principle of 'line upon line, precept upon precept,' you will be able to discern more clearly the consistent help from heaven you have received in your lives. And your faith in the Savior will be stronger, and your hope for the future will be brighter."
Good stuff, right? Here's the link to the article: http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=07d3321a03faa210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Posted by K Walton at 9:30 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired." — Gordon B. Hinckley
Posted by K Walton at 10:14 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
1/2 c. apple juice
1/4 c. white vinegar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 c. plus 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. chicken cutlets
4 small zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, cut lengthwise in half
1 large red onion, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rings
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 (5 oz.) bag salad greens
Grill the chicken and vegetables, turning occasionally, for about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board and roughly chop the ingredients. Divide the salad greens among individual bowls and top with the chicken, vegetables, and the reserved dressing.
Posted by K Walton at 9:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post
"Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life." --President David O. McKay
Posted by K Walton at 9:09 PM 0 comments Links to this post
". . . may I say to mothers collectively, in the name of the Lord, you are magnificent. You are doing terrifically well. The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you." (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Because She is a Mother," Ensign, April 1997).
Posted by K Walton at 8:57 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, September 6, 2010
POINTS: 5 (including couscous)
1 T. lemon zest
1 T. chopped fresh thyme
1 lb. chicken cutlets
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 T. olive oil
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. uncooked couscous
3/4 lb. zucchini (about 2 medium), halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 lb. yellow summer squash (about 2 medium), halved, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 c. fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
Chopped fresh thyme, for garnish
Place the lemon zest and thyme in a small bowl; toss. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Sprinkle half of the lemon-and thyme mixture evenly onto one side of each cutlet. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; cook the chicken, herb side down, turning after 2 minutes. When the chicken is golden and cooked through (about 4 minutes), transfer to a cutting board. Cover chicken, and keep warm. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan; gradually stir in the couscous. Remove pan from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Cover couscous, and keep warm.
Sauté the zucchini and squash (in the same skillet used for the chicken) over medium heat, stirring frequently, until golden and tender (about 4 minutes). Stir in the remaining lemon-and-thyme mixture, chicken broth, and couscous. Spoon the couscous mixture evenly among 4 plates; top each with a chicken cutlet. Garnish with thyme.
Posted by K Walton at 11:48 PM 0 comments Links to this post
"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." (Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, Feb. 2000).
Posted by K Walton at 11:45 PM 1 comments Links to this post
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Gratitude Journal
Today I was looking at my list of 30 things to do in my 30th year and I have picked start a gratitude journal as my next task. Since I already have this blog, I'll probably be periodically posting these blessings here to share with you. Here are a few gems for which I am grateful from the past week:
I love teaching. I love that I get so many opportunities to teach in Young Women's and to help fill in for my hubby, who is the Sunday School President. I love preparing the lessons and handouts, studying, learning, presenting, and bearing my cherished testimony to others. On Sunday, I had the opportunity to teach the Gospel Essentials class AND my YW in the same day, and for me, it was heaven. The GE lesson was about the millenium, which was a wonderful lesson. I learned quite a bit in studying that I didn't know. I look forward to the millenium, a time when I will be able to rest from my labors and truly enjoy my family as well as serve in God's kingdom. It was truly refreshing to read about the time when all my hopes will come to fruition and I will be able to live with the Savior in my midst. Just imagine! No contention, no temptations, no sin, no heartache, no disease. Ahhh. Sign me up for that!
My YW lesson was about temple marriage, and I could hardly speak at some points, as I shared with the girls the love I have for temples and the opportunity I have to be with my sweetie FOREVER and EVER if I do my part to live a righteous life. It was so sweet to reflect on how good our life has been in our almost ten years of marriage. I am so grateful for this man: his willingness to serve our family, to honor the priesthood, to care for each of our needs. He makes me smile daily and laugh often. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. The most wonderful part of our love story is, that through the plan of salvation, I can be with him for "eternity and beyond!"
(More gratitude coming soon to a computer monitor near you!)
30 in 30 update: This week I wrote an unexpected thank you note, forgave someone who's hurt me, and smiled big on a very hard day. Plugging right along!
Posted by K Walton at 11:27 PM 0 comments Links to this post


text:
Leader contact details and activity meeting details are hiden. Members please log in for full details.
|8 Dec, Sat 9:00AM
|Deep Pass Canyon
|Sydney Branch
|Mark G.
|Deep Pass is regarded as one of the prettier and most accessible canyons in the Wollemi as there's no abseiling and if careful you don't get wet past your knees. Rock hopping and scrambling and slippery rocks.
Location: Wollemi NP
Map: Rock Hill 89312N Limit: 15. View
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I'm reading the fourth installment of Molly Harper's Half Moon Hollow series, The Single Undead Mom's Club. I love Molly Harper's books; they are lighthearted, fun stories that contain deeper truths for those who care to look (for those who don't, that's fine, too, but it's nice that they're there for those who like their fantasy with a side of truth, like me!). This book is about a mother who gets terminal cancer after her husband dies (I know, not particularly lighthearted, but Ms. Harper doesn't dwell on these sad facts—they just set up her story). The protagonist, Libby Stratton, decides to solve her problems with a sire-by-hire, a vampire paid to turn her into a blood-sucking creature of the night who also happens to be immortal—or at least cancer-free. Apparently, this is a no-no in the vampire world, so Libby is getting some supervision, up close and personal, from the local vampire council representatives until she can prove she's not a danger to her human neighbors.
s Libby adjusts to her undead status, she contemplates her new identity. She doesn't know who her sire is (there may have been better dying through chemistry on her part to cope with the whole drain-you-till-you-die-and bury-you-in-the-ground aspect of being turned—so she doesn't remember who turned her). She observes, objectively, that she wasn't really sure of her identity during her human existence, having been raised by a single mother who kept the identity of her father an uncomfortable truth that was best avoided. So poor Libby comes to her reborn life as a vampire who doesn't know her sire, after having been a daughter who didn't know her father. Libby feels untethered and diffuse, with limited knowledge of her origins that, in turn, make it difficult to contemplate a future.
In reading about Libby, it occurs to me that for many, if not most of us, the ability to know ourselves is contingent on knowing where we came from. But it's harder to know from whence we came in certain circumstances, and the not knowing makes finding ourselves that much harder to do.
I have a close friend who is really into genealogy. She has traced the origins of her family back to Jamestown, William the Conqueror and Charlemagne. Pretty cool stuff. She has binders full of documentation proving her ancestry, and she, her mother and her daughter enjoy the connection to their greats and great-greats and beyond. I envy her. I'm the daughter of immigrants whose parents all died before I was born. I can't trace my family tree beyond the names of my grandparents, none of whom I ever knew. One grandfather died in the early 20th century in Russia, while the rest died a long time ago here in the States. I'm pretty sure I come from peasant stock all around; no conquerors or kings in my family history.
But, then, I don't really know. What I do know is that if I were looking for places to belong, the Jamestown Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the British aristocracy are not places I would look. The children of my wonderful sister-in-law are in the same boat, having been adopted from China. They have no idea where they come from genealogically or genetically. Like our protagonist, Libby, my niece and nephew must leave their genetic history blank in high school biology class because they don't know anything about their DNA donors.
I know that my sister-in-law works hard to give her kids a sense of community in many ways, partially as an antidote to not knowing anything about their biological families. My sister-in-law is involved in her kids' school communities, they are all active in their church, and they belong to a group that honors the Chinese heritage of the children. It is very sensitive and insightful of my sister-in-law to make sure her kids are well grounded, to offset the lack of 411 on their origins.
I've had many people ask me if I am interested in going to Russia to explore my heritage. But the truth is, I wouldn't know where to start. I'm not even sure exactly where my father's family was from; he never liked to talk about it, so I never pressed. He's long gone, together with every close relative he had besides me and my brother. So, no information there. My maiden, Uchitel, name means "teacher" in Russian. I've often fantasized that my ancestors we're teachers and philosophers, and maybe that's where I get my didactic tendencies. But my desire to belong to a greater community of which I'm a hereditary member will likely be unfulfilled. Because I don't know where I come from I don't know all there is to know about who I am.
So I've had to make my own way forward without the benefit of clear vision in the rearview mirror. I think it would be cool to know my family crest, or even to have a family that has a crest. But even with my similar lack of knowledge about my origins, I try to make better decisions than Libby did—no hire-a-sire for me (I also avoided the dial-a-moyl when we circumcised our sons, unlike one of my friends). I've had to find myself without a roadmap, so to speak. And I've done a pretty good job, I think, although it's taken me longer than it might have if I'd known where to look in the first place. And, in the end, we all must determine for ourselves who we want to be, regardless of from whence we came. Identity is a tricky business, and it is the work of a lifetime to figure it out or to create an identity that fits like a second skin. If we want to be comfortable in those skins, we must choose who we are with care. It may be easier if we know our ancestry, our genealogical tables, the patterns of our DNA, etc. But those same facts, if known, can sometimes constrain us, so who knows whether it's better to know? I don't know that, but I do know—now—who I am. I trust that Libby will also figure it out by the time I get to the end of the novel.


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Most lasers are either friendly tabletop devices or so small that you don't even notice them. But if you want to do something special like image the structure of a delicate protein, you need a very short wavelength and very high-power laser. That means a free electron laser (FEL).
I love FELs, but they're expensive. A laser produces one beam, and that beam is usually limited to one or two users at a time. So competition for beam time at FELs is fierce. That may be about to change, though. An unexpected experimental result at the Linac Coherent Light Source may be the key to making multiple beams from a single FEL undulator line.
Enough gibberish
OK, time for some physics-to-almost-English translation. Let's start with some FEL goodness.


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Experience the stunning legend of Okami on Nintendo Switch on August 9th!— Okami (@OkamiOfficial) May 16, 2018
🖌 eShop pre-orders are now live. pic.twitter.com/Zme3OATasF
Just yesterday we learned that Okami HD was going to release in Japan on Aug. 9th, 2018. Today Capcom followed up that news by announcing the game for an Aug. 9th, 2018 release in NA/EU as well. Looks like we're getting a worldwide simultaneous release for this one!


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Fight Schedule
|Jan. 11
At StageWorks of Louisiana, Shreveport (SHO), Devin Haney vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, 10, lightweights.
|Jan. 13
At Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles (FS1), Jose Uzcategui vs. Caleb Plant, 12, for Uzcategui's IBF super middleweight title; Brando Figueroa vs. Moise Flores, 10, featherweights; Ahmed Elbiali vs. Allan Green, 10, light heavyweights; Ivan Redkach vs. Nicolas Atilio Velazquez, 10, super lightweights.
|Jan. 18
At Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, N.Y., Bryant Jennings vs. Oscar Rivas, 12, for Jennings' IBF International-WBO-NABO heavyweights titles; Jason Sosa vs. Moises Delgadillo, 10, super featherweights; Carlos Adames vs. JUan Ruiz, 10, super welterweights.
At Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, Demetrius Andrade vs. Artur Akavov, 12, for Andrade's WBO middleweight title; Jorge Linares vs. Pablo Cesar Cano, 12, for Linares' WBC International Silver super lightweight title; Chris Algieri vs. Daniel Gonzalez, 10, welterweights.
|Jan. 19
At MGM Grand, Las Vegas (SHO), Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner, 12, for Pacquiao's WBA welterweight title; Badou Jack vs. Marcus Browne, 12, for the WBA interim light heavyweight title; Rau'shee Warren vs. Nordine Oubaali, 12, for the vacant WBC bantamweight title; Jhack Tepora vs. Hugo Ruiz, 12, featherweights.
|Jan. 26
At Barclays Center, New York (FOX), Tugstsogt Nyambayar vs. Claudio Marrero, 12, for the vacant IBO featherweight title; Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez, 12, for Thurman's WBA Super World welterweight title; Adam Kownacki vs. Gerald Washington, 10, heavyweights.
At Toyota Center, Houston, Jaime Munguia vs. Takeshi Inoue, 12, for Munguia's WBO junior middleweight title; Jesus Rojas vs. Xu Can, 12, for Rojas' WBA featherweight title; Joshua Franco vs. Lucas Fernandez, 10, for the vacant NABF bantamweight title; Alberto Ezequiel Melian vs. Edgar Ortega, 10, super bantamweights; Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Abraham Cordero, 10, super lightweights.
|Feb. 2
At Ford Center, Frisco, Texas (ESPN), Eleider Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev, 12, for Alvarez's WBO light heavyweight title; Richard Commey vs. Isa Chaniev, 12, for vacant IBF lightweight title; Patrick Day vs. Ismail Iliev, 10, super welterweigts; Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Elvin Ayala, 10, super welterweights.
|Feb. 9
At Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, Calif., Alberto Machado vs. Andrew Cancio, 12, for Machado's WBA super featherweight title; Rey Vargas vs. Franklin Manzanilla, 12, for Vargas' WBC World super bantamweight title; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Charles Huerta, 10, super featherweights.
At StubHub Center, Carson, Calif. (SHO), Gervonta Davis vs. Abner Mares, 12, for Davis' WBA featherweight title; Erickson Lubin vs. Ishw Smith, 10, super welterweights.
|Feb. 10
At Save Mart Arena, Fresno, Calif., Jose Carlos Ramirez vs. Jose Zepeda, 12, for Ramirez's WBC World super lightweight title; Raymundo Beltran vs. Hiroki Okada, 10 super lightweights; Genesis Servania vs. Carlos Castro, 10, featherweights; Bryan Vasquez vs. Enrique Tinoco, 10, super featherweights; Andy Vences vs. Dardan Zenunaj, 10, super featherweights; Saul Rodriguez vs. Aelio Mesquita, 10, lightweights.
|Feb. 15
At Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minn. (ESPN), Rob Brant vs. Khasan Baysangurov, 12, for Brant's WBA World middleweight title.
|Feb. 16
At Los Angeles (FOX), Leo Santa Cruz vs. Miguel Flores, 12, for Santa Cruz's WBA featherweight title; Omar Figueroa Jr. vs. John Molina Jr., 10, welterweights.
|Feb. 23
At Minneapolis Armory (FS1), Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim, 12, for the vacant WBC super middleweight title.
|March 9
At MGM GRand, Las Vegas (FOX), Shawn Porter vs. Yordenis Ugas, 12, for Porter's WBC welterweight title.
|March 16
At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (PPV), Errol Spence Jr. vs. Mikey Garcia, 12, for Spence's IBF welterweight title.
|March 24
At MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Md. (FS1), Lamont Peterson vs. Sergey Lipinets, 12, welterweights.


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Do You Resist Change Or Are You Oblivious To It?
Here's something none of us has ever heard before: change begets change. While this is trite and a cliche, it's the obviousness of life that often jumps up and bites us in the butt when we stop paying attention to it. It's received wisdom that change is hard, but I wonder if it is actually the opposite? Change is too easy. There is so much change around us that, as we spend our days coping with the tyranny of the urgent, we no longer notice it. We don't resist change as much as we've become oblivious to it.
Look around. We live in a period in history that has never experienced as much change as what we're experiencing now.
One minor example, utterly banal because it's so commonplace these days. A client connected me to an overseas colleague via email. Within 10 minutes we had exchange email introductions, added each other as Skype contacts and were talking to one another face to face. Hello Canada. Hello England. Here's another: when did voice-to-text become so good? I'm just now trying to break the typing habit that my wife abandoned 6 months ago.
It's axiomatic to say we're experiencing greater change today than at any time in our history.
If the pace of change increases then it must be true that any given period of time will witness more differences in habit, content and form than those that preceded it. The difference now seems to be that the drumbeat of change is so constant that we've integrated it into our lives and no longer notice it in the way we once did. Another obvious example: Five years ago software updates were an occasional nuisance. Now, with the slithering and nesting of apps in our pockets and purses, they've become an almost daily routine!
The landscape is constantly shifting and changing under our feet. We've become so accustomed to dealing with its constant tremors, unconsciously adapting and integrating, that we risk missing the signals of a pending earthquake. I wonder how many of us will even stop to do a double take when we pull up next to a driverless car for the first time? Our obliviousness to change engenders both danger and opportunity and unless we approach it intentionally, it will pass us by and we'll wake up one day realizing we've missed an opportunity that others didn't.
How should we break the spell constant change has cast?
The first step is waking up to this simple idea; honor the tingling spider sense telling you that what got you here won't get you there.
The second step is to define your organization's relationship with change. This requires you and your leadership team to detach from the daily grind. Together, take the time to determine the story you want to tell. Think about how your organization could and should bring something new and different into existence. This is important because without the clarity this exercise drives into your own thinking, it is impossible to undertake the hard work of aligning your team around what needs to change and why. That story of change then becomes an important part of your organizational narrative. In turn, the energy needed to turn the intentions of your strategic plan into action is generated. It also minimizes change fatigue because it aligns the hard work of change to a sense of purpose. Finally, while naming and framing change is necessary, it isn't sufficient.
The third step is to walk it out. This, of course, is the most difficult part and is the ongoing project of creating unique value in the marketplace. Leaders, managers and employees won't embrace change until they understand what they can do within their Circle of Influence to think and act differently. There are practical tools to bring into the workplace to help people think differently about their relationship to the status quo. One such tool we often use in our strategic planning workshops is Implicit Assumptions.
Change is like a haircut.
The right amount is a good thing but too much is a decapitation. In a world where the pace of change is so rapid it feels like the status quo, weaving the story of change into your organizational narrative lays the groundwork for ongoing discussions about the what, how and why of the right kind of change for your company. It not only helps overcome the quite natural resistance to it, but also the complacency created its ever-increasing pace.


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Photograph by Mark Cocksedge
I'm an artist & designer of Argentine, Japanese and Israeli heritage based in London. I trained in Architecture and Fine Art, and work in those areas as well as products, interiors, writing and teaching. My work has been exhibited in London, Paris, New York, Milan, Rome, Eindhoven, Minneapolis, Portland, Kortrijk, Veszprem, Vienna & Glasgow, is held in the collections of the Design Museum, the Sir John Soane's Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Abet Museum, & the Architectural Association, and has been published widely. The atelier has completed, and ongoing projects both internationally (Europe, the US, S America, the Middle East, East Asia) and in the UK. I have lectured at the RIBA, Harvard GSD, UC Berkeley, the Carnegie Museum of Art, Cardiff University, Innsbruck University, the Casa dell'Architettura Rome, the BSR, and the Biennale Interieur, amongst others, and have taught courses at several universities as well as having been Studio Master at Central St Martins in London, and am co-director of Saturated Space at the AA.
One of Icon Magazine's "100 talents of 2018-19"
Blueprint Award for Best Small Project 2018
Progress 1000, one of the Evening Standard's "most Influential Londoners of 2018"
Elle Decor Italia "New Talent for 2018"
Metropolis Magazine "New Talent" 2017
One of the Observer's four "Rising Stars" of 2017
L'Uomo Vogue Italia "Design Star" 2016
Architecture Foundation "New Architect" 2016
UK Rome Prize for Architecture 2014-15
Blueprint Award for Design Innovation 2014
Design Museum Designer In Residence 2013-14
AA Prize 2007
RIBA Bronze Commendation 2005
I bring equal parts pleasure, colour, and joy, as well as critical consideration, reflection and depth to everything I am lucky enough to be involved in.
In my work I explore the relationship between memory, imagination, history and communication at multiple scales, always with a critical eye towards the way in which sensual architectural form, in a dialogue with the past and the future, can communicate complex issues through eloquent and expressive shapes, colours, and environments. My multicultural background, and personal connection with queerness, are a big influence on what I do, and are always fused with a keen interest in broader universal themes. I've laid out an approach to the relationship between form and the conveyance of content, which simultaneously draws on new technologies and mediums, whilst anchoring itself firmly in the wealth of past traditions; a dialogue between progress and positivity, memory and loss, the ephemeral and fashionable and the eternal and immutable, which is vital to the production of designs that accurately reflect our contemporary condition.
I am open to unsolicited (paid) commissions, please email me with your proposal.


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MiSTingsRecommendations by mjhayes (Niagara Falls, NY)
In the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000, some games were so bad that somebody decided to come along and spoof them. Not all of them work on all interpreters, but it's good to play through each one for a few laughs.
1. Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents "Detective", by C. E. Forman, Graeme Cree, and Stuart Moore (1995)
Average member rating: (51 ratings)
mjhayes says:
The first MiSTing, based on the "first attempt at a text adventure game" called Detective. All the jabs at how awful this game was, make this worthwhile to play through once.
2. Mystery Science Theater 3000 Presents "A Fable", by Graeme Cree (1996)
Average member rating: (6 ratings)
mjhayes says:
The second MiSTing, based on an obscure old game. Obviously the game was more of a "stream of consciousness" set into a "maze of twisty little passages," but the comments injected into many of the rooms are hilarious!
3. Stiffy Makane: Mystery Science Theater 3000, by Anonymous (1998)
Average member rating: (12 ratings)
mjhayes says:
A MiSTing of a crummy pseudo-erotic IF piece whose full name is "The Incredible Erotic Adventures of Stiffy Makane." Neither the game nor the MiSTing is all that good.
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To answer your question, something that can help is writing good descriptions of whatever you would like to teach in your instructable. Write with people in mind, provide detailed explanations and resist the temptation to assume that people know what you are writing about. Invest in a good digital camera and take good pictures of your project. Give credit to those sources where you got your information and do not forget to have fun. The most important thing is to share some of your knowledge with others.
How do you get featured? Answered
How do you get featured on the site? How does the process work? Does it involve the # of views or is it a private vote from a group? To me, anything that's featured is more likely to win and it feels slightly unfair for other entries that are just as good. And how do sites refer to your Instructable? I've seen some with a long list of sites that reference them, which gives more publicity.
Just wanted to point it out. For my first contest I felt that entries beat me because of views, so I felt discouraged to enter more contests. If it's just a popularity contest, then I'm not likely to ever win. Almost all the older members always gets tons of views right from publishing.
I'm sorry if I sound jealous, but that's just how I feel.
As others state, features are performed by the feature team who use the list CameronSS linked to decide if something is front-page feature-worthy. Does it influence contests, you bet it does. The challenge then, is to ensure all your submissions to a contest are feature-able in the first place. Those are the ones that would be selected by the judges anyway in the final judging rounds.
check it out :D
I make a ible for the cupcakes contest..
it was poor and did give me so much work.. I was featured :D
now I made other much better .. but .. I'm not featured.
I din't understand :P
I think 'Ibles are featured because of quality. Mine don't have that many views but they get featured. There's some guy trying to find the most interesting ones, and if he finds one, it gets featured. Just try to have clear photos, good instructions, and an interesting name and you should be good to go. The entries that get featured are like nominees for the winner, and then they probably choose from those.
Competitions have a large amount of popularity in them, but the winners are chosen by a group of fair people.
Features are selected as the best of the thousands, things which the staff want to show to visitors, it's not a standard certificate / grade which anyone should expect. But if a person does something that can legitimately be called awesome or well-cool, it ought to be.
Your stuff is good, but perhaps not exciting enough to be featured?
Sites referring to your Instructable means that the site listed has put a link to your Ible and someone arrived here through that link. If someone finds it through a Google search, Google shows up. If Lifehacker decides to mention it, Lifehacker shows up. That's entirely outside featuring, which has nothing to do with Instructables.


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Lapin Kuivaherkku is a small company, specialized in making healthy, additive free dried food meals out of clean materials. All materials are dried and packed by hand.
The taste of the wild North - wild mushrooms, blueberries, reindeer… Hikers, backpackers, paddlers and touring cyclists are among the customer groups especially interested in these products and for good reason - highly portable and healthy - what else could you ask for?


text: Oliver on the Farm 20 10 14 goats, sheep and llamas. oh my. Posted in Personal,Winnipeg baby Photographer,Winnipeg Child Photographer,Winnipeg Family Photographer« Kevin & Hayden | Winnipeg wedding photographerCharlie | Winnipeg Newborn Photographer » no comments link to this post Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked * Name * Email * Website Comment


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If you've ever felt betrayed by someone in your past, here's a powerful forgiveness practice my mentor taught me that you can begin applying starting today.
Are you harboring any feelings of bitterness and resentment toward someone you feel may have wronged you in the past?
If you're ready to finally clear these toxic feelings, so that you can move toward loving all aspects of your life, what you're about to read will help you do this! (more…)


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Ep. 16 – Artificial Intelligence In Marketing
For businesses, the opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence in marketing has really skyrocketed. How is your business planning on making use of this technology this year or next?Read Article
Linux vs. Windows Web Hosting: Which Is Better?
When looking for a web hosting provider for your website, you will most likely be choosing between the 'Big Two' operating systems (OS)…Read Article
Ep. 15 – Is My Website In The Cloud?
Cloud hosting provides the flexibility and security that dedicated, shared or VPS hosting cannot.Read Article
What is Anchor Text and How is it Relevant to SEO?
What is Anchor Text and How is it Relevant to SEO? SEO is a complex technical field laden with hard to understand industry jargon.Read Article
Ep. 14 – The Difference Between Shared And Dedicated Hosting Explained
Choosing a hosting platform can be tricky but is an essential decision that contributes to the success of your website. Explore the differences between shared and dedicated hosting.Read Article
Critical Questions to Ask Before Choosing A Dedicated Server
As your business begins to grow and your site expands to deliver more services to more customers, chances are you'll need to upgrade your…Read Article
Ep. 13 – What Is WordPress And Why Do I Need It?
Easy to use and user-friendly, WordPress is the perfect content management system for businesses of all sizes and experiences.Read Article
Most Popular PHP Frameworks Of 2018
PHP is a much preferred server-side scripting language for web developers around the world. Since it was first created in 1994 by RasmusLerdorf as…Read Article
Ep. 12 – The Impact Of Online Reviews
Online reviews do more than just provide star-ratings for businesses. Learn how online reviews can impact SEO and so much more.Read Article
5 Key Video Marketing Strategies to Boost SEO
Online video content has grown significantly over the last few years. Based on Cisco's Visual Networking Index, video content will account for 82%…Read Article


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Stephanie Thornton — Living a Life of "And"
Posted by Rodan + Fields on Tuesday, June 5th, 2018
Stephanie Thornton started her Rodan + Fields journey while she was still working a demanding schedule as an accountant. She found herself torn within an "either/or" kind of life. "I'm a Certified Public Accountant by trade but not by personality. I worked all the time, and even though having more time is a core value for me, I had zero in my 20s and 30s. I didn't make time to get married until age 36 and we had our first baby when I was 40. As a mom, the busy schedule and frequent travel became a lot less desirable. When we moved to Alabama I chose to stay home for the first time in my life."
Examining an alternative
Unfortunately, after having her second child, circumstances drove Stephanie once again into accounting. "I went back to work as a CPA because it was one thing I could do to shore things up financially while we figured things out. I worked massive hours. I knew I needed flexibility and freedom, and to earn an income. I needed to work, and I wanted to work. Going into tax season in December 2009, I started a prayer and a question: What can I do in Dothan, Alabama that will allow me to earn some income and be there for my family?"
Three weeks later, Stephanie received a call from Michele Armstrong out of the blue. "Michele invited me to an event in her home to take a look at her new Rodan + Fields skincare business. I went out of curiosity. Ironically, I thought it might be a good networking opportunity for me if I ever wanted to start my own CPA practice. I went into that meeting with a very closed mind about the opportunity, but as everything was laid out in front of me, I realized this could be exactly what I had been looking for. My gut instinct was that this is a heck of an opportunity, so I took the leap of faith and enrolled three days later."
Diving into work
As the year began, though, Stephanie again found herself in the midst of a serious time crunch. "Along with the start of tax season I also had two young children, my husband and I were trying to run a startup, and I barely had time to brush my teeth. My kit sat in the garage for three weeks. I finally got it back out and started using the right products, and by the end of May, one of my co-workers had complimented my skin. That's when I decided I didn't have another tax season left in me. I put my head down and for three months, filling every nook and cranny of my life, I started calling my network of friends to share R+F."
Stephanie hit Level V in August 2010. She then got to meet many of the leaders that inspired her along the way. "I still cherish the picture of the first time I met Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields at our Level V reception that fall. There were fewer than 50 Level V leaders at that time, and that moment solidified everything for me. I knew I was moving towards leaving public accounting at that point, so all I felt was pure joy. I met our Home Office team and then stumbled upon an incredible top leader at Convention. We had a great conversation, I listened to her speak on stage, and felt really inspired."
Reflecting on the challenge
At that point, full of excitement, Stephanie suddenly ran up against a wall of self-doubt. "Looking at her website and seeing all the incredible things she was doing, I just froze. At that point, I was growing my team by two new members every single month, but I still found myself calling Michele and telling her I didn't know how to work my business. Everything came to a standstill. I started questioning, doubting, and comparing, and ended up taking a lot of detours along the way to where I am now. Why was I trying to be someone else? Why wasn't I just trying to be me?"
Looking back, Stephanie finds herself feeling thankful for the growth this situation brought to her life and to her business. "We've all got to stop comparing ourselves to others. By self-sabotaging and doubting myself, I kind of shot myself in the foot a few times. I'd love to start over knowing what I know now, but that's not how personal growth goes. For me, the true jewel of R+F is the opportunity to learn more about myself and to grow personally. That's the piece you can't put a price tag on."
Consistency is key
Over the next eight years, by working at least 15 hours per week, Stephanie moved past self-doubt and started to build the life of "and" she'd always dreamed of. She followed the first Lead the Way program to Milestone V and eventually earned her Lexus in January 2018. "It was never about the car — it was all about the Milestone. It felt good to know when I put my head down and really set a goal and intention, my business grew. Also, The Real Team clearly wanted it. They wanted to call themselves a Lexus team, and they really showed up on New Year's Eve to meet that goal."
"Now, looking forward, I want to be an RFX Circle Achiever — but not for the sake of comparison. I've learned to be open to letting this journey be whatever it's going to be. Granted, you've got to be faithful to the activity. You've got to be consistent and you've got to be positive. I do have my sights set on RFX Circle, but I'm open to wherever my business may go from here."
Her encouraging message
Stephanie is incredibly thankful for the additional freedom and flexibility that allow other, more important priorities to come to the forefront. "This experience is just so much more than skin care. My Rodan + Fields business has given me the chance to fulfill my life's purpose and become the best version of myself, both as a business owner, and mom, and wife. I'm not saying that I'm there today, but I'm certainly more self-aware because of this business and I'm very grateful for that. I'm not finished with my goal setting by any means, and I'm more committed than ever to getting out of my own way. I'm incredibly passionate about sharing this with other people who want to live a life of 'and.'"
To contact Stephanie about joining her team or purchasing products, connect with her here.
Tell Me More…
• Have there been any especially significant people in your R+F journey?
My team members that I have the honor of walking this path with every day, my Sponsor Michele Armstrong, my incredible friend Stephanie Sarazin, my husband King Thornton who cheers me on every single day, and my children Evie and Luke who are my "why".
• Where do you draw your inspiration from in life? God, Bono, and Oprah — in that order.
• Favorite TV show? Sex and the City
• What's your biggest quirk? I won't eat meat on the bone. But my friends say it's my desire to set the table with fine china, crystal, and sterling flatware every chance I get.
One response to "Stephanie Thornton — Living a Life of "And""
Amazing story! So happy i get to call you friend! Keep it up!


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A piece of elegance for your home - discover the noble household items in Mercedes-Benz look to refurbish your everyday life or as present. Mugs, thermos flasks, paperweights, bottle stopper, magnets and much more - there's something for everybody.


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We all experienced the satisfaction of seeing our home prices soar during the 90's and into the 2000's. We also saw our property taxes go up in unison.
However, many of us have seen our home values decline in the past few years… but have we seen our property taxes decline as well? Probably not. The National Taxpayer's Union estimates that up to 60% of the country's homes are assessed too high.
You can fight city hall, if you feel your home has been assessed too high. It's not easy or automatic, but it can be very rewarding.
First thing you need to do is exam your property tax bill closely and look for mistakes like incorrect square footage or the lot size being wrong. If you find inaccuracies you can go directly to the assessor's office and you may get a reduction right away.
If you are not lucky enough to get this quick fix then you are going to have to do some homework and change your mindset. You want to look at your home as a very picky buyer would… point out all of its flaws.
Here are a couple of things you want to consider:
External Obsolescence- This issue deals with your homes location. You are looking for any reason that your home's location is less than ideal. Some examples of this is near a noisy playground, airport or smelly, city dump. (You need to pretend that you are a home buyer looking for reasons to give a low ball bid on the home.
Remember… you are looking for reasons to LOWER your home value for tax purposes… so this is one instance you want to be very critical of your home)
Functional Obsolescence – If your home has a bad layout or other problems, you'll want to point these
things out. This can be things like having to walk through a closet to get to another room or you have a single car garage. Really, it would be anything that a potential buyer would say, "Hmmm… I don't like the way... (you fill in the blank). Again, we are looking for reasons to say our home was valued too high from the assessor.
There is a 20-page Tax Appeal Guide that gives you step-by-step instructions about the whole process that we can provide you if you or someone you know is interested - just let me know.
Eric C Hagen


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This Late Season Gobbler Hunt Will Inspire You
If you think tagging a late season gobbler on public land is impossible, watch this.
This hunter has been hunting hard throughout the Tennessee spring turkey season. He's finally able to make a kill when this late season gobbler comes strutting into his position.
Watch the video to see how it all went down.
Hunting late season turkeys, particular on public land, can be tough. There are a few keys to remember that will help you be more successful.
Keep your calling soft and only give a late season gobbler what he needs to hear to keep coming. This is a lot easier to do when you are hunting field birds like the ones shown in the video, but even if you can't see the birds, use the knowledge you've gained on previous scouting and hunting trips to determine the turkeys' mood and adjust your calling accordingly.
Evening and afternoon hunts can be extra deadly in the late season. The birds are not used to being hunted at this time of day and will concentrate on open food sources. Be there when they are and your chances of success will go way up.
It's not as sexy as calling in a hot gobbling tom off the roost, but parking your rear end in a feeding area or strut zone in the late afternoon could be your best chance to harvest a late season gobbler. The only question is, are you willing to sit for a turkey the way you would for a whitetail? Only you know the answer.


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getting started/
New Year? Is It Time for You to Get Started in Real Estate Investing?
Starting your own business is a fulfillment of a long-cherished dream. Making your own decisions, being your own boss and earning more money are the prime expectations of any entrepreneur. Apart from that, anyone can experience the sense of accomplishment and the pride which is hardly found when you work for someone else. Besides, in order to fulfill this dream, you need a systematical approach.
- Build self confidence
The secret behind the strong foundation of success is nothing but the self confidence. Therefore, if you expect to achieve success for your business, you surely need to develop self confidence. For an entrepreneur, self-confidence is an exceptionally powerful tool. Businesses are always associated with calculated risks; willingness to take these risks increases with the self-confidence. Call it 'going extra-mile', 'break new ground' or 'achieve success', you cannot achieve none of them if you lack of confidence.
- Make a business plan
In fact, making a plan for your business is the very first step you must make after deciding to start a business. This should include all the information including the type of the business, the operational structure, partners (if any), deadlines etc. The amount of money you expect to invest and the way you wish to raise the capital is an exceptionally important aspect. Make sure that the goals you set are practically achievable. Setting up unrealistic goals can discourage you very soon.
- Be ready with knowledge and skills
It is always good to possess expertise knowledge in the field of business you are going to start. However, if you don't have such expertise knowledge, you can consider hiring an expert/coach (either on permanent basis or freelance basis). Deal-making, marketing, SEO, web development etc. are the most common areas you would need the assistance of a professional.
- Start promoting
No matter how good your products or services, you cannot expect to succeed if you don't promote it. What you spend on advertising and promoting is a compulsory investment for your business. Don't be shy about letting people know you would like to get started in Real Estate Investing. The more people who know about your business, the more people have potential to bring you an investment, valuable service or partnership.
Most business ideas remain unexecuted due to financial burdens; however, the use of hard money allows new investors to get started with less cash requirements than traditional financial institutions. Browse our previous blogs for how to evaluate properties.