text: OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION IN PRIMARY EDUCATION: THE CASE OF CYPRUS C. Stefanou1, D. Vlachopoulos2 1Open University of Cyprus (CYPRUS) 2European University of Cyprus (CYPRUS) Introduction • • • • • Distance Education (DE) is a scientific field with expanding applications in all levels of education. Its origins are noted in the early 20th century and in the provision of distance education to school-aged children across vast geographical areas [1]. Nowadays, is widely applied in primary education in developing and developed countries, to overcome the difficulties or shortcomings of the traditional educational system [1]. Primary education in Cyprus has gradually incorporated elements of Open and Distance Education's (ODE) philosophy and methodology into the Curriculum, in a broader effort for the Cyprus educational system to harmonize with the European Education process. The purpose of this paper is to describe the stages of incorporation of ODE into the primary education of Cyprus, the opportunities and the constraints arising. Methodology • Qualitative research – Literature review • Focus on the exploration and study of: (a) official documents of the European Union (EU) and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus (MOEC), (b) research data from comparative studies of organizations operating under the auspices of the EU, (c) relevant articles written by independent researchers. • Better understanding of the historical background, the theoretical framework and current trends of the ODE at international, European and national level. ODE in primary education internationally • • • • ODE was originally applied autonomous, for the students in remote areas of Australia and Canada, in order to complete their education at the elementary school, while being at their place of residence [1]. Nowadays, the adoption of complementary DE from conventional schools, to enhance or enrich the existing curriculum [2], is a frequent phenomenon. Autonomous and complementary DE is applied equally in: Developing countries: as an alternative to formal education for 67 million children being left illiterate [3]. Developed countries: for children who cannot attend classes in conventional schools or for the enrichment of traditional basic education [4]. In the European continent, ODE in primary education is mainly complementary, while the guidelines set by the European Union (EU) play an active role in the educational policy of member-states [5], [6]. ODE in primary education in Cyprus • • • • until 1990: the concept of DE was unknown for the educational system in Cyprus. 1990: installation of computers in schools by the MOEC [7], [8], and training courses for teachers in ICT, organized by the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus [9]. 2000: the first evidence for the orientation of primary education towards DE, after the European Council in Lisbon and the inauguration of "E-learning: Designing tomorrow's education" protocol. "Evagoras": a formal training policy designed for primary education for the years 2000-2005: + great emphasis on equipping schools with hardware + teachers' training, sponsored by the EU + Informatics Platform for primary education + Information Consulting group - optional use of ICT - failure for on-time inclusion of ICT in the Curriculum - lack of provision for maintenance or upgrade of the technological equipment [7], [9] ODE in primary education in Cyprus • • • 2006: after the recommendation of the European Parliament and the European Council, digital literacy emerged as one of the key components for promoting LLL [10], [11]. i-2010 Strategic Framework "A European Information Society for growth and employment": ICT as the most powerful means for educating the future citizens [12]. Cypriot educational system follows European trends: "Evagoras II Action Plan" (2005) "Introduction of Informatics in Primary Education" manual [7] Partial reconstruction of Primary Education Curriculum (2006) and incorporation of specific ICT goals and activities, as tools to be used within the learning process of other school subjects [12] Creation of Cyprus Strategic Development Plan 20072013 [5] ODE in primary education in Cyprus • From 2007 onwards: €40.000.000 were spent to extend the integration of ICT in primary education (improvement of infrastructure) the training of teachers from the Pedagogical Institute was systematized the acquisition of educational software suitable for primary education helped to promote the use of computer multimedia [6] the first Learning Management System, the educational platform DIA.S.(Diadiktiako Scholio) was created, as a result of MOEC's initiative [13], [14]. within the wider context of Educational Reform, which began in the 2011-2012 academic year, digital literacy is now considered to be a key skill for the preparation of a sustainable society within the 21st century [15]. Examples of the primary DE application in Cyprus • ICT in primary education in Cyprus was used exclusively as a tool for teaching and learning other school subjects. • The last decade additional DE applications, related to the participation of schools in electronic partnerships, have appeared and applied: Comenius LLL program of EU E-twinning action of EU "Odysseas": a school networking program between Cyprus and Greece (interactive teleconference in virtual classrooms) [16] "Ikade": communication of Greek children from all over the world via CENTRA platform [17] Opportunities of ODE in primary education • Surveys confirm the presence of a range of benefits regarding the integration of ICT in primary education [18], [19], [20]: the student at the center of the learning process strengthening of cognitive processing promotion of autonomy and innovation fostering of critical thinking, teamwork and creativity [21] maximizing the time of pupil participation, due to the quick access to the knowledge and the interactive possibilities offered by ICT ensuring equal opportunities building a richer learning experience [22] Constraints of ODE in primary education • • The actual effect of ICT integration in primary education is not as expected [19]: deviation between the use, by the students, of ICT at school and at home [6], [11] disadvantaged, on digital literacy, groups of children (disabled, sick or with learning difficulties) [5] unprepared for new technologies teachers [20] limited technical and advisory support of schools [14] absence of clearly stated objectives and strategies, for integrating the tools of technology in the learning process [21] minimal financial support, by the public sector, for the renewal or replacement of technology equipment or for the teacher's training [23] The promotion of DE via the institutionalization of e-learning [26], remains a long term goal for most educational systems in Europe [11], [18], [23]. Conclusions • • • The ODE: is a fast growing field with applications in all levels of education covers a wide range from the simple integration of ICT in face-to-face teaching to complete e-learning teaching and learning models [24] offers its participants the necessary knowledge and skills to survive and grow in the Knowledge Society [6], [19]. In primary education in Europe, and especially in Cyprus: voluntary incorporation of the ODE as a complementing element to conventional teaching emphasis to the technological equipment of primary schools rather that to its functional integration in the curriculum. As Bates stated, the good teaching outweighs the technological shortage, but the technology can not save bad teaching [24]. References [1] Vasala, P. (2005). Εξ Αποστάσεως Σχολική Εκπαίδευση. In: Α. Lionarakis (Εd.) Ανοικτή και εξ Αποστάσεως Εκπαίδευση. Παιδαγωγικές και Τεχνολογικές Εφαρμογές (pp. 53-80). Patra, Greece: Hellenic Open University. [2] Lionarakis, Α. (2011). Τεχνολογίες Πληροφορίας και Επικοινωνίας και εξ Αποστάσεως Σχολική Εκπαίδευση. 2ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδρiο «Ένταξη και Χρήση των ΤΠΕ στην Εκπαιδευτική Διαδικασία» (pp. 918). Patra, Greece: ETPE. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://www.cetl.elemedu.upatras.gr/proc2/proceedings/1-0009.pdf [3] Campbell, J., Spronk, B., Rumble, G., Morpeth, R., Creed, C., Cullen, J., Page, E., Raynor, J., Jabeen, N., Perraton, H., Crofts, K. & Edwards, J. (2009). Open and Distance Learning for Basic Education in South Asia: Its Potential for Hard to Reach Children and Children in Conflict and Disaster Areas. Paris: Unesco. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from http://oro.open.ac.uk/25572/1/ODL_for_Hard_to_Reach_Children_Main__Report_.pdf [4] Rice, K.L. (2006). A Comprehensive Look at Distance Education in the K-12 Context. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(4), pp. 425-448. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://www.mdecgateway.org/olms/data/resource/3706/Comprehensive%20Look%20at%20Distance%20Educ ation%20in%20the%20K-12%20Context.pdf [5] Christodoulou, E., Germanakos, P. & Samaras, G. (2008). The Development of eServices in an Enlarged EU: eLearning in Cyprus. JRC Scientific and Technical Reports, European Communities. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC46607.pdf [6] European Commission (2010). Learning, Innovation and ICT. Lessons Learned by the ICT Cluster. Education & Training 2010 Programme. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://www.kslll.net/documents/key%20lessons%20ict%20cluster%20final%20version.pdf [7] Hadjithoma, C. & Karagiorgi, Y. (2008). The Use of ICT in Primary Schools within Emerging Communities of Implementation. Computers & Innovation, 52, pp. 83-91. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://www.pgce.soton.ac.uk/ict/NewPGCE/PDFs09/ICT%20in%20primary%20schools%20emerging%20com munities%20of%20implementation.pdf [8] Kastis, N. (2007). Observing the e-Learning Phenomenon: The Case of School Education. Analyzing the Transformative Innovation of e-Learning. E-Learning Papers, 4. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.elearningeuropa.info/files/media/media12729.pdf [9] Hadjithoma, C. & Eteokleous, N. (2007). ICT in Primary Schools: Explaining the Integration in Relation to the Context. Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies, 12(1), pp. 1-25. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/39380/23_MJES_1212007.pdf [10] Pelgrum, W.J. & Doornekamp, B.G. (2009). Indicators on ICT in Primary and Secondary Education. Βrussels: European Commission, DG Education and Culture. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://ec.europa.eu/education/more-information/doc/ictindicrep_en.pdf [11] Eurydice (2011). Key Data on Learning and Innovation through ICT at School in Europe 2011. Brussels: Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/key_data_series/129EN.pdf [12] Papaioannou, P. & Charalambous, K. (2011). Principals' Attitudes towards ICT and Their Perceptions about the Factors That Facilitate or Inhibit ICT Integration in Primary Schools of Cyprus. Journal of Information Technology Education, 10, pp. 349-369. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol10/JITEv10p349-369Papaioannou958.pdf [13] Ministry of Education and Culture (2012). Annual Report 2011. Nicosia: Ministry of Education and Culture. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.moec.gov.cy/etisiaekthesi/pdf/annual_report_2011_en.pdf [14] Hadjiathanasiou, P. (2009). The e-Learning Readiness of Cyprus Primary Teachers ahead of Dias System Integration into Cyprus Schools. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2009/Panayiota_Hadjiathanasiou.pdf [15] Epitropi Analitikou Programmatos (2008). Αναλυτικό Πρόγραμμα για τα Σχολεία της Ελληνοκυπριακής Κοινότητας. Nicosia: Ministry of Education and Culture. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.moec.gov.cy/analytika_programmata/pdf/keimeno_epitropis_analytiko_programma.pdf [16] Anastasiades, P. (2009). Η Παιδαγωγική Αξιοποίηση της Τηλεδιάσκεψης στο Σύγχρονο Σχολείο. 1ο Εκπαιδευτικό Συνέδριο «Ένταξη και Χρήση των ΤΠΕ στην Εκπαιδευτική Διαδικασία». Volos. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.etpe.eu/new/custom/pdf/etpe1344.pdf [17] Xenofontos, A., Kenevezou, K., Perikkou, A., Hambiaouris, K. Charalambous, I. & Tellidou, D. (2009). Εξ Aποστάσεως Eπικοινωνία μέσω ενός Aλληλεπιδραστικού Περιβάλλοντος στα Πλαίσια του Εκπαιδευτικού Προγράμματος «Οίκαδε». 1ο Εκπαιδευτικό Συνέδριο «Ένταξη και Χρήση των ΤΠΕ στην Εκπαιδευτική Διαδικασία». Volos. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://www.etpe.eu/new/custom/pdf/etpe1454.pdf [18] Balanskat, A. (2009). Study of the Impact of Technology in Primary Schools. Synthesis Report. Empirika and European Schoolnet. Retrieved December 10, 2012, from http://www.crie.minedu.pt/files/@crie/1269619794_02_synthesis_report_steps_en.pdf [19] Commission of the European Communities (2008). The Use of ICT to Support Innovation and Lifelong Learning for All - A Report on Progress. Brussels: European Commission. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc/sec2629.pdf [20] Balanskat, A., Blamire, R. & Kefala, S. (2006). The ICT Impact Report: A Review of Studies of ICT Impact on Schools in Europe. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://ec.europa.eu/education/moreinformation/doc/impact_en.pdf [21] Bocconi, S., Kampylis, P. & Punie, Y. (2012). Innovating Teaching and Learning Practices: Key Elements for Developing Creative Classrooms in Europe. E-Learning Papers, 30. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from http://www.elearningeuropa.info/sites/default/files/asset/In-depth_30_1.pdf [22] Capper, J. (2003). E-Learning: Current Status and International Experience. Washington, D.C: Word Bank. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://empresas.sence.cl/documentos/elearning/Elearning.%20Art%EDculo%20de%20Joanne%20Capper%20(Ingl%E9s).pdf [23] Massy, J. (2005). Study of the e-Learning Suppliers' "Market" in Europe. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://ec.europa.eu/education/archive/elearning/doc/studies/market_study_en.pdf [24] Bates, A.W. (2005). Technology, E-learning and Education. New York: Routledge. THANK YOU!


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Nachrichten ukrainischer Firmen
Februar 2007
Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih to invest USD 130 million in ore mining by 2009
Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih (formerly Kryvorizhstal), aims to spend more than USD 130 million developing its iron ore mining division in a bid to boost output to 30 million tonnes of iron ore by 2009. The mill produced 18.296 million tonnes of crude iron ore in 2006 and aims to produce 20.5 million tonnes in 2007. The company plans to produce 8.25 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate and 8.26 million tonnes of sinter this year. Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih is Ukraine's biggest steel mill and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
28.02.2007 Source: press service of Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih
Ukrainian Powder Metallurgy Plant boosts output 47% in January 2007
The state-owned Brovary Powder Metallurgy Plant in the Kyiv region raised production of iron powder tentatively 46.8% year-on-year in January to 530 tonnes. The plant raises output 7.7% in 2006 to 5,873 tonnes. The plant exports most of its iron powder to Russia, Belarus, Turkey and Germany.
28.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Ukrainian Fabricator ups copper roll production 21% in January 2007
Artemivsk Nonferrous Metals Processing Plant (AZOTsM) of Ukraine's Donetsk region boosted copper roll production 21.1% year-on-year in January to 3,330 tonnes. Production rose 13.7% in 2006 to 48,100 tonnes. The plant is Ukraine's only producer of flat and round products from copper, copper alloys and other nonferrous metals, traditional participant of Metal-Forum of Ukraine. It specializes in sheet, strip, tubes, bars, wire rod, wire, bathroom fittings and consumer goods, selling 85% of its output in Ukraine.
28.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Ukrainian President visited NTRP
Victor Yushchenko has visited the Nyzhnyodniprovsky Tube Rolling Plant in Dnipropetrovsk to attend a presentation of a USD 610 mln project to build an electric steel smelting complex, which will replace its outdated open-hearth furnace.
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27.02.2007 Source: Press office of President Victor Yushchenko
InterPipe and Danieli sign contract for construction of electric
furnace steel-making complex
The Ukrainian company InterPipe and the Italian company Danieli have signed contract on construction of new electric furnace steel-making complex at Nyzhniodniprovsky Pipe Plant. The target capacity is 1.32 million tonnes of steel annually. The project realization will take 26 months. The new complex will completely satisfy the demand of Interpipe wheel and pipe production in steel.
26.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Ilyich Steel Mill to invest USD 100 million in 2007
Illich Iron & Steel Works of Mariupol in Donetsk region will spend more than UAH 550 million on refurbishments this year. Illich plant planned to build or renovate core equipment in 11 divisions. It is planned to install a coal injection unit for blast furnaces and to install a ladle furnace and degasser in its converter division, among other projects. OJSC Ilyich Iron & Steel Works of Mariupol is one of Ukraine's three biggest steel mills and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
26.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Mykolaiv Alumina Plant edges output up 0.7% in January 2007
Ukraine's Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, also known as NGZ, the FSU's biggest alumina producer, raised output 0.7% year-on-year in January to 120,200 tonnes of alumina. Production rose 3.3% to 1.41 million tonnes in 2006. Russian aluminum giant Rusal controls NGZ.
26.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Metalloinvest starts KGOKOR project
The Russian management company Metalloinvest has started to implement a project to complete the construction of the Kryvy Rih Mining and Beneficiation Plant for Oxidized Ores (KGOKOR). The Ukrainian government is forming a joint venture to complete KGOKOR. The state will own 50% plus one share in the venture, and the alliance of Russia's Metalloinvest and Ukraine's Smart Group will own the rest. Preliminary estimates put the cost of completing KGOKOR at $804 million. Canadian engineering company Hatch is now appraising the complex's assets.
13.02.2007 Source: Interfax
EBRD allocates USD 85 million to ISTIL
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has allocated a five-year USD 85 million loan to Donetsk Mini Steel Mill ISTIL (Ukraine). The loan allocated to ISTIL Ukraine is made up of a USD 40 million loan to fund working asset requirements and a term loan of USD 45 million that will be used to increase energy efficiency, to install a quality control system and to refinance debt. CJSC Mini Steel Mill ISTIL is one of the most advanced steel mills in Ukraine and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
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13.02.2007 Source: EBRD press release
Khartsyzsk Pipe Plant doubles output of large-diameter pipes in
The Khartsyzsk Pipe Mill increased production of large-diameter pipes by 110% year-on-year to 55,900 tonnes in January 2007. Production of pipes with anticorrosion coating grew 130% to 50,000 tonnes in January. Production is expected to grow with the implementation of a comprehensive modernization program that is part of the development strategy of the Metinvest group, of which Khartsyzsk is a unit.
10.02.2007 Source: Press service of Khartsyzsk Pipe Mill
Smart-Group to invest about USD 1B into Makiyivka Metallurgical
Plant reconstruction
Zaporizhia-based Smart-group is to invest about $1 billion into the reconstruction of CJSC Makiyivka Metallurgical Plant in order to improve its production efficiency and increase the plant's output capacity. The plan of plant development foresees the construction of own sinter plant, a blast furnace, the modernization of steel smelting facilities and the complete reconstruction of the plant's energy system. The Smart Group is also mulling the construction of a converter plant, which would include two converters with a volume of 180-220 tonnes.
10.02.2007 Source: Press service of Smart-Group
IUD importing coking coal from Canada, Poland
Industrial Union of Donbas (IUD) has begun importing coking coal from Canada and Poland. Ukraine also imported 537,000 tonnes of coking coal from Russia in January. Production of coking coal at Ukrainian mines has been declining since the beginning of this year, forcing consumers to import. Ukrainian steel companies plan to produce 33 million to 35.2 million tonnes of pig iron in 2007, and production of general roll is expected to total 37.5 million tonnes. In order to realize these plans, it will be necessary to import 11 million to 13 million tonnes of coking coal due to supply shortages in Ukraine. The coal is expected to come from Russia, Poland and China.
Source: Coke Industry Association Ukrkoks
AMC allows Industrial Group to control Ukrainian Mining and Metallurgical
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMC) has allowed the Industrial Group to obtain control over the Ukrainian Mining and Metallurgical Company. Industrial Group is owned by Industrial Union of Donbas (IUD) with 40% and Arcelor with 60%. Ukrainian Mining & Metallurgical Company, a partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine, has about a 20% share of the domestic market for steel products. The company has the most extensive network of regional enterprises, which now operate in 20 regions of Ukraine.
08.02.2007 Source: AMC press service
Ukraine boosts iron ore pellet output in January
Poltava GOK (PGOK) raised commercial pellet production tentatively 41.2% year-on-year in January to 802,000 tonnes of pellets. Iron ore concentrate production grew 35% to 929,000 tonnes.
Pivnichny GOK (PivGOK) mine raised commercial pellet production 40% to 851,000 tonnes. Iron ore concentrate output rose 7.7% to 1.05 million tonnes.
Tsentralny GOK or Central Mining and Beneficiation Plant reduced iron ore pellet output 1% year-on-year in January to 203,000 tonnes. Concentrate production rose by 4.8% to 503,000 tonnes.
Inhulets Mining and Beneficiation Plant, Ukraine's biggest iron ore concentrate producer, raised iron ore concentrate production 8.7% year-on-year in January to 1.001 million tonnes. Crude ore production rose 15.4% to 2.589 million tonnes.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Ukraine raises ferroalloy output in January
Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (NZF), Ukraine's biggest ferroalloy producer, raised ferroalloy production 20.8% year-on-year in January to 89,300 tonnes. The company produced 63,900 tonnes of silicon manganese against 56,100 tonnes in the first month of last year, and 25,400 tonnes of ferromanganese (16,900 tonnes). The works raised ferroalloy output 10.2% to 892,900 tonnes in 2006.
Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Works (ZZF) edged ferroalloy production up tentatively 0.5% year-on-year in January to 42,800 tonnes. Production rose 2.7% to 30,000 tonnes of silicon manganese and 7.3% to 5,900 tonnes of ferrosilicon, but fell 24.3% to 5,600 tonnes of ferromanganese. ZZF produces all of the country's medium- and high-carbon ferromanganese and all of its 90%-metallic manganese.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
New CEO named at Leman-Ukraine
Oleg Olshansky has been appointed the new general director of Leman-Ukraine, the largest metals trader in the country. Olshansky, who formerly headed Germany-based nuclear fuel services firm Internexco GmbH, replaces Nikolai Boichenko, who resigned. Leman-Ukraine has nine service centers in Ukraine with combined warehouse capacity for up to 100,000 tonnes of metal products.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Ukraine's Interpipe switching subsidiaries to common brand
The Interpipe group, Ukraine's largest manufacturer of pipe products and railroad wheels, is switching its subsidiaries to a common brand. Shareholders of the group's Niko Tube Seamless Pipe Plant and Nikopol Pipe Company decided at the end of January to include the Interpipe brand in their names. Shareholders of the group's Nizhnedniprovsky Pipe Rolling Works (NDTZ) will also consider a name change at a meeting on February 9. Interpipe has a 4.1% share of the world market for seamless pipes, and 10% share of the railroad wheel market. It was reported earlier that Interpipe is planning an initial public offering in 2008-2009.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Niko Tube Seamless Pipe Plant to invest USD 30 million in 2007-2009
Interpipe said that Niko Tube's investment program for 2007-2009 would total more than USD 30 million. The money will be spent on expanding production capacity and broadening the product line. Key projects will include launching production of long boiler pipes to foreign standards; modernization of continuous finishing lines; construction of a new heat-treatment line; expanding production of tubing string with upset ends; overhauling the rotary furnace; construction of a final finishing shop for smooth export pipes; and installation of new non-destructive quality control equipment. Niko Tube is Ukraine's largest producer of seamless pipe with diameter of 32 to 114 mm for the oil refining, geological exploration and the engineering sector, as well as general-purpose pipes. The plant has capacity to produce more than 280,000 tonnes per year.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Nikopol Pipe Company to invest USD 80 million in the next two years
Nikopol Pipe Company's investment program for the next two years will top USD 80 million. The company plans to build a new heat-treatment line, install a finishing line for oil and gas pipes, and install a new non-destructive quality control line. Nikopol Pipe Co. specializes in seamless steel pipes with diameter of 146 to 325 mm for the oil and gas industry, engineering sector and general-purpose pipes. It can produce more than 200,000 tonnes per year.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Kiev firm buys 97% of Nikopol Pivdennotrubny Pipe Works
Kiev-based Transportation-Investment Technologies bought 96.67% of Nikopol Pivdennotrubny Pipe Works (NPTZ), the country's largest producer of geological exploration pipes, tubing string and rolled pipes for high-pressure boilers. The company won the tender with a bid of UAH 352.62 million, just barely above the starting price of UAH 352.614 million.
07.02.2007 Source: Interfax
Polish Aluminium Kety to launch production in Ukraine
Polish aluminum firm Grupa Kety expects to launch production in Ukraine within ten days and will consider expanding manufacturing facilities in that country, Chief Executive Dariusz Manko told reporters Thursday, February 1. "We have a large order-book [in Ukraine], the market is very receptive," the CEO said. "That is why investments in just one press is unlikely to be the extent of it."
02.02.2007 Source: Interfax
IUD mulls Eurobond in 2007 to finance modernization of steel assets
Ukrainian steel producer Industrial Union of Donbas, or IUD, plans to launch Eurobonds this year. Although the size of the Eurobond was not disclosed, the company said it needed UAH 3.5 billion this year to upgrade Alchevsk Steel Mill and UAH 1 billion for the Dniprovsky Mill.
02.02.2007 Source: Ukrainian Journal
Zaporizhstal had managed to reduce gas consumption
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works had managed to reduce natural gas consumption from 34 kg per tonne of steel to 20 kg/t after commissioning a new heat-treatment furnace supplied by Austria's Ebner. The company managed to save more than 3 million cubic meters of gas last year. Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine and partner of Metal-Forum of Ukraine.
02.02.2007 Source: Press center of Zaporizhstal JSC.
EBRD to issue USD 150 mln loan to Alchevsk Steel Mill
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to issue a USD 150 million credit to Alchevsk Steel Mill for cogeneration plant construction. The overall cost of the 303-megawatt co-generation plant is USD 363.1 million. The unit will reduce annual carbon emissions by an estimated 6 million tonnes in its first four years. This is as much as a large European city like Manchester emits in a year. This is the EBRD's biggest loan to date for a private company in Ukraine. Materials distributed at the press conference said that Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) would lend the Alchevsk plant another USD 120 million for the project and that IUD itself would provide USD 113 million.
01.02.2007 Source: Interfax
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02.02.2007 Source: EBRD press release
Ukrainian biggest Iron and Steel Works in January 2007
Alchevsk Steel Mill boosts roll output 15%
Azovstal reduces roll output 2.7%
Dniprospetsstal boosts roll output 32%
Donetsk Steel Mill boosts roll output 29%
Dzerzhinsky Mill ups roll output 5.8%
Illich Iron and Steel Works boosts roll output 9.2%
ISTIL boosts roll output 45%
Makiyivka Metallurgical Plant boosts pig iron output 46%
Mittal Steel Kryviy Rih boosts roll output 31%
Petrovsky Steel Mill ups roll production 20%
Yenakiyeve Steel Works ups roll output 19%
Zaporizhstal ups roll output 1.6%
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subset: commoncrawl


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Ok, so it's only happened for the first time this week, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend Christa's air conditioning went out at their house, and since the air conditioner fixer people seem to have been inept at getting it fixed, she's spent the last two afternoons at our house with her three kids while they escape the heat. She says she feels bad, which is just so silly, because it's been such a JOY for me to have someone to just hang out with, let the kids be crazy and wild while we do our best to ignore them, and talk to each other as much as the munchkins will let us. Anyone who knows me well at all knows that I would love more than anything to hang out and talk to friends all day. I'd do it every day, if I could! Relationships are important to me. I feel that they are especially important during this season of young motherhood. I'm sure it's true for every season, but since that's where I am now, I can really appreciate the gifts that God gives in friendships with other women. It seems that God is blessing me here by bringing some great girls into my life, and I want so much to cultivate those friendships to a deeper level.
I have really enjoyed getting to know Christa and her family, and I am thankful that God is bringing more opportunities to get to know her better. I first met them soon after we moved here, and I recognized that this couple had such depth to their walks with God, and I was so impressed by their passion for Him. Truly their lives showcase to me God's grace in a big way, and it has been a huge encouragement. I feel like there is a lot I can learn from her. And she is just going to have to be my friend now, whether she likes it or not! Yesterday afternoon, I was holding her three-month old baby boy, and Jonah walked up and put something in my hand and asked, "What's this?" It was a little dark ball of something, and I told him I thought it was an old fruit snack that he must have found on the floor. Upon closer examination, I recognized an odor that would quickly indicate that it was not a fruit snack. Oh yes, it was a little ball of poop. Christa immediately grabbed the baby and I jumped up to dispose of it in the toilet, check Jonah's pants to see what he had done in there, wash my hands a bazillion times, and pray repeatedly and fervently that my son had not put it up to his mouth. We soon found another small ball of poop on the living room floor. I realized quickly that it was not a product of any of Jonah's activity, since he is not yet skilled in pulling his underwear and shorts down and up and there was no way he could dispose of one small poop ball without leaving evidence in his Spiderman undies. It looked suspiciously similar to Christa's daughter Rebecca's earlier diaper inhabitants when she had her last diaper change, so we eventually surmised that the "mystery poop" as we referred to it, must have escaped when Rebecca's dirty diaper was taken out to the trash. Don't know how that happens. Don't really want to know. But Christa, if you are reading this, now you know: you're stuck with me. I'm making you be my friend. And you can't say anything about it, because I held your daughter's poop IN. MY. HAND. It's a done deal. You owe me. =)
I've got to record video of Jonah soon, so he can perform for you a little bit. I'll need the technical support of my very computer-savvy husband for that though, and he's very involved this evening in the first college football game of the season. So I'll try to get right on that as soon as possible. Jonah is just getting funnier by the day. I asked him at lunch today if he thought it was going to rain. He looked out the windows up at the sky for a long time and then replied, " I don't see the thunder......probably not." Just adorable. And you wouldn't believe this kid's imagination. Every mealtime, he tells us that there are elephants under the table. Every time. He is always pretending something. It's pretty funny. It might be the first trait of his that resembles any part of his mother!!! I had quite the imagination as a child and some might say I'm still a little dramatic. Whatever. It's great that Jonah is that way, because it really allows him to play with one or two toys (which usually involves his farm animals or his zoo animals) all week and not get bored because his toys are "doing" so many different things every time. I'm loving it. Oh yeah, and one other funny thing he said this week....He slipped and fell in the kitchen, and I asked him if he was going to be ok. He said, "yes, I'm ok......I'm very happy," and he got up and kept going wherever he was headed. Oh, Jonah, you make your mama very happy.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I LOVE when God asks me to share my air conditioning!
Ok, so it's only happened for the first time this week, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend Christa's air conditioning went out at their house, and since the air conditioner fixer people seem to have been inept at getting it fixed, she's spent the last two afternoons at our house with her three kids while they escape the heat. She says she feels bad, which is just so silly, because it's been such a JOY for me to have someone to just hang out with, let the kids be crazy and wild while we do our best to ignore them, and talk to each other as much as the munchkins will let us. Anyone who knows me well at all knows that I would love more than anything to hang out and talk to friends all day. I'd do it every day, if I could! Relationships are important to me. I feel that they are especially important during this season of young motherhood. I'm sure it's true for every season, but since that's where I am now, I can really appreciate the gifts that God gives in friendships with other women. It seems that God is blessing me here by bringing some great girls into my life, and I want so much to cultivate those friendships to a deeper level.
Posted by Hannah E. at 6:55 PM 6 comments
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Let the Busyness Begin...
I can feel that Fall is coming. We've reached the point when all the "new stuff" of the year seems to be starting or starting back up. I'm thrilled about it all though. We have several new ministry things on the plate. For one, Joel and I will be starting a new community group at our church this September, which is certainly what God has for us right now. It will be for young couples, and God hasn't yet shared with us who those couples will be - apart from our good friends Mike and Ame Hansen. So I'm SO excited to see what all God has in store for the group. I'll keep you posted on here, because I have a suspicion God has great things in mind. The women's fall Bible studies are starting in a couple of weeks. Mom and I have been busy organizing those, and yesterday we had a party for all of the ladies who will be teaching this fall. If I haven't said it before, this place has an amazing women's ministry, and we gathered together for about an hour and a half yesterday afternoon to fellowship, pray, and really celebrate the stories God has given us about what a blessing women's Bible studies have been in our lives. Which leads me to this....
I am not at all pleased with how my public speaking skills went yesterday. Before I dropped off Jonah at my sweet friend's house and headed to the meeting, I ran into Chick-fil-A to get us some lunch. We waited in a long line, and when we got up to the place of being the next one to be helped, Jonah has to go to the bathroom. So we get out of line, take him to the potty, and come back to find an even longer line than before, and we waited through that. Ah, the joys of having a big-boy who's not quite big enough to hold it for TWO MORE MINUTES. Anyway, that's really beside the point. Here's the real story: When I dropped off Jonah at my friend's house so I could attend the meeting, I discovered that my car wouldn't start, and I ended up being late to my own event. Fun times. I was the last one there. And I was the first to speak at the podium. I was actually out of breath. I must have come across as extremely nervous, and I can see why, but I truly wasn't nervous at all. I LOVE sharing my story....God has made me so passionate about this, so it's easy to talk about. However....something happened yesterday. I didn't speak well, I left out entire chunks of my talk so I know I didn't "wrap it all up" well, and I was trying to catch my breath for the first ten minutes. I realize this may not sound like abnormal behavior to any of who you despise public speaking, but I was a communication major in college!!! If my professors could have seen me yesterday, they'd have been REAL SAD, I just know it. Well, once I moved past my introduction/welcome into the time I was sharing about my own personal experience of what Bible study has meant to me (which perhaps I'll blog about soon), things were going much better. Until I started CRYING. I made mention of one name - Betty Whistler - and the tears came. I was not prepared for them at all. And all I could think was, This is SO cliche. Crying at a women's meeting at church? It's to be expected. But I was NOT going to do it. I was going to be peppy, upbeat, cheery, all "YAY God! YAY Bible Study!" Somehow, I don't think my overwhelming tears (and I do mean the kind of tears that you can't talk through) conveyed that message. It was an experience, to say the least. A humbling one. One that I have to trust God with. I felt prepared, confident, and then WHAM came the car trouble, the tardiness, and things I really couldn't control. So I am making the choice - even though I am rather disappointed in my delivery yesterday - to trust that maybe God had someone there who needed to see that, who needed to see someone leading who didn't look like they had it all together. Maybe it was a teacher who was doubting their skills and wondering if they were doing the right thing by leading a study when they didn't feel they communicated well or had the gift of teaching. Then, they better have been convinced!!! Because that was not fun to be put through. =)
I feel like the Lord has brought that truth to light in my life before....that sometimes someone I minister to in my home needs to see a home that is not Pottery Barn. Not perfectly decorated, put together, or ridiculously clean. Sometimes that meets them right where they are and is a better environment for communicating God's love to them. I know I am encouraged and downright blessed when I see people use their homes to express God's love and hospitality even when their house isn't this perfectly decorated Parade of Homes-type house. Interesting how He works that way sometimes.
Anyway, back to yesterday's event...apart from my speaking-craziness, I really consider the day a success. God received so much praise for what He has done in people's lives, and it really was the pep rally we needed to get excited about what God is going to do when our Bible study classes begin in a couple of weeks. I've been getting really excited about mine. I've spent the last several days typing and organizing notes in preparation, and I keep running into people who tell me how huge of a topic (anxiousness, fear, worry, panic, etc.) it is, how they have been delivered from MAJOR fear in their lives. It's something God absolutely loves to free us from, so those who have gone there with Him really have some amazing stories. And I've been blessed by hearing a few of those lately. I am praying for the ladies who will be joining me on this study. I know a few of them personally, and I already know they are going to have incredible insight into the real freedom that God gives from these struggles. I've seen them live it. I can't wait to be in class with these women. Only two more weeks!
This weekend, my brother and his wife and kiddos will be coming for a visit. I. can't. wait. It's been way too long since I've seen them. Well, it's been just over a month since we saw Nathan, but I haven't seen the others since the first weekend of May, and I do believe that four months is the longest I've EVER gone without seeing them. Blake and Amy, I'm hurting for you guys to get here!!! I know some of you think that's crazy for me to be sad about not seeing them in four months, and I would just tell you that you don't know this family, and you didn't have The Best Brother in the Whole World as your brother. (He was actually voted that by a few of my friends in high school, I remember. It's official. So, there.)
I just felt like starting the morning by going over all of the exciting new things happening in the next several weeks. Hope you're not too bored. Forgot to mention that next week is the Children's Clothing Consignment Sale!!! I'm volunteering to work at it this time, so that I can go to the earliest preview sale with my friends. Hoping I find some good stuff! Oh, who am I kidding. Of course, I'll find good stuff I want. I suppose I'm really hoping I can afford all the good stuff I find. If you're wondering what this sale is, here you go. Oh yeah, and here is their actual website.
Happy Ending-of-Summer!
Posted by Hannah E. at 8:04 AM 1 comments
Labels: Heart Work
Monday, August 27, 2007
A Surprise Lesson
Well, this post really isn't about potty training. I can see from the lack of comments that it's probably not at the top of your list of discussion topics! But bear with a few more sentences that concern it, because I want to share a simple truth God showed me this week. I really have been surprised by how well potty-training has gone. I know it's because of this whole process being bathed in prayer (thank you for yours!), and it's just been God's grace to allow it to go so smoothly. But more than that, I've been surprised by how much I've actually enjoyed it. Before we began, I wanted to expect the worst so I wouldn't be disappointed. But I found very quickly that I couldn't really make myself dread it. I found joy, even satisfaction, through the process of teaching my son a skill that is very important for him to learn. Even cleaning up the messes was not a problem, because I knew it was necessary for his development of this skill. I was having fun helping him learn. And then it hit me - isn't that how God is towards us? He is full of desire for us to grow in intimacy with Him, in knowledge of who He is and who He wants to be in our lives. He wants so much to see the life of His Son lived in our lives. But so often, I think that my learning process - including the ups-and-downs and huge messes I make - must annoy the heck out of Him. But I'm convinced this week that He finds joy in helping me grow into who He wants me to be. He understands my nature to take a little longer than is necessary to get to a new place with Him. It doesn't mean that my slowness (or lack of enthusiasm, to be clear) doesn't grieve His heart; I know it saddens Him to see His children walk in bondage when the price has already been paid to set us free. But He is the ever patient teacher, knowing that we're on our way to bringing Him more glory with our lives. I guess the tenderness and graciousness of God is just hitting me in a new way this week. Even though sometimes I get so tired of struggling with the same things and I'll actually wonder out loud to God, "Aren't you sick of me yet?!!", He gently reassures me that He's not. He's my parent. And he's going to help me get there. And He LOVES doing it. The grace will keep coming because that's who He is. If someone had told me how fun potty-training could be, I wouldn't have believed them. But I appreciate how God has used it to give me a tiny glimpse into how He loves me enough to find joy in the process of teaching, guiding, nurturing, and redirecting me.
Need a reminder of the tenderness of God's love for you, His child?
Read this and this.
Posted by Hannah E. at 10:50 AM 1 comments
Labels: Bible, Heart Work
Friday, August 24, 2007
Potty Training, The Diet Plan...
Potty training. It's the new diet plan. Have you heard? Get a jump start on losing weight by spending a week concentrating solely on your child going to the potty. You're watching your child so closely, tending to him every few minutes, so you really have no time to eat other than eating the necessary meals to provide sustenance. And even those have to be quick. But you're really distracted from snacking! No boredom snacking going on when potty-training, because there is NO TIME to be bored! And you don't lack motivation going to the gym, because you'll do ANYTHING to get out of the house for an hour when hubby gets home.
Brilliant, isn't it? Too bad it's already slowing down. Guess that's the bright side of when potty training takes a little longer to be successful. =)
Posted by Hannah E. at 8:16 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Potty Training, The Details....
Don't worry, I won't tell any of the gross kind of details! I just want to say that it has been a very good week. The first day, I expected a lot of messes, and that was the case. But by yesterday morning when Jonah woke up, he really started to get the hang of it. He didn't have an accident until almost lunchtime, and he had two right in a row, and that was it. Today, we went all day with NO ACCIDENTS!!!! YAY!!!! I am so proud of him. It's his biggest accomplishment yet in life, so I'm celebrating. But I'm trying to hold back the excitement too, because I know we are a long way from being able to boldly venture out in public. We are not carefree yet and won't be for a long time. I realize that a lot of the time, I was able to get Jonah to the potty "in time" because of recognizing certain signs and immediately getting him to the potty to go, but I don't count those as real successes because I want him to always tell me he needs to go. He has quite a few times, but it's not consistent. I have to really watch him and keep my eyes open constantly for the signs he gives of needing to go....because if he's enthralled with something fun he's doing, he will deny that he has to go even though he's holding himself and jumping around! So I just want to be clear that even though we've had an accident-free day and he's kept the same underwear on all day, we are far from out of the woods on this one. He's been so cute to watch in his big-boy underwear....at one point yesterday he was wearing just his Thomas the Train undies and a cowboy hat. Wish I had taken pictures!
I don't know why, but I hadn't stopped to think about how sad this was going to be. I'm still not thinking about it yet. I want to just get through the training part and help him to be successful in this area, but I know that as soon as he masters this skill, I'm probably going to have a meltdown of some sort. I keep pushing it back, not wanting to think about how sad I am that my baby is not really a baby anymore. I can tell that it's going to come though. I'm not ready for the emotion. Consider this a warning....if you come into contact with me during the next few weeks, be prepared that I may be on the verge of being a total crazy person. But like I said, I don't want to think about that right now. Just praying that God will pour out His grace for that moment, when it comes!
Just in case anyone wonders what "training strategy" we have used, I thought I would share some of the details because I LOVE hearing the details of different parenting things people do. There are so many great ways to do it, and every child's needs are different, so this may not be helpful to others who will be potty training their child in the future. But I appreciated hearing and reading others' stories and advice, so here it is. Maybe it will be helpful for someone. And if you don't want to hear about little boys going to the potty, then you may want to just skip the rest of this post and join me on the next one!
- We mainly used the strategy set forth in the book Pottywise....yes, it's written by the same people as the Babywise books. You pick the day to start, and on that day, you automatically put them in big-kid undies and start the process. We set the timer for 15 minutes and when the timer wentt off, we checked to see if his underwear is clean and dry. If so, he got to pick a prize from a bowl of little toys I got him. As soon as we checked for dryness, I took him to the potty. If he did something in the potty, he also got a treat, but it was something smaller, like a few M&Ms. You do this repeatedly throughout the day. The main point in Pottywise that makes it so successful is that they stress the importance of rewarding keeping their underwear clean and dry over rewarding the actual use of the potty. It's so logical and is what seems to make all the difference, because lots of kids will have a half-accident, messing up their underwear, but still making it to the potty to do a little in there, and we reward what they do in the potty. So we have to make a much bigger deal over being clean and dry when the timer goes off. So that's what we did. And we stretched out the increments to 20 and 25 minutes later on that first day. I really only did the timer the first day. By the second morning, it was a more familiar process, and he went in the potty as soon as he got up and really never needed the extra motivation of the toy-prizes from that point on. He still asks for candy sometimes, but we don't even give that every time anymore.
- I love these strategies that avoid being in pull-ups during the day. I think it is necessary for them to learn how uncomfortable it is to pee in their underwear. So he only wears pull-ups at nap and bedtime. We are diaper-free now! And I've kept pants off of him during the day, just to make it easier. He's only worn shorts for the first time today (on the afternoon of the third day), and I really recommend that. You have to expect that there are going to be LOTS of messes that first day especially. You just have to be ready to clean lots of puddles, spray carpet, etc. It's a necessary part of the learning process. Jonah had more in the afternoon of the first day than he had in the morning, and I wish he'd had more accidents right from the start. It may have actually sped up the process. Make sense? I'm a huge fan of doing underwear only instead of switching back and forth between that and pull-ups. They really can't feel enough discomfort from messing in a pull-up....it's too similar to a diaper.
- We "talked up" potty-training for about two weeks before starting, saying things like, "In another week, you'll wear big-boy underwear, pee-pee in the potty, and not wear diapers again. You'll be so big!" It doesn't matter if he understands. He just needs to hear it a lot. The weekend before, he picked out some big-boy underwear at the store, and the night before we started, he got to see all the prizes. That got him really excited! Though I must say, if your child is used to getting lots of toys and things bought for him all the time, then I don't know what kind of prize/rewards system of motivation you can do. I'd probably just lay low on spoiling him with stuff before starting potty training.....with sweets too, because you want those to be a big draw those first couple of days.
- I think the most important thing in determining when to start is whether or not your child is a compliant child at all.If you haven't tackled other challenges having to do with their behavior and haven't seen much success with discipline strategies that you implement, then don't expect potty training to go well at all! You want them to be at a place where they trust you, are obedient (as obedient as a strong-willed toddler can be!), and want to please you.
Posted by Hannah E. at 10:20 PM 0 comments
Monday, August 20, 2007
Happy Potty Day
Well, I'd call our first day of potty camp a success. I think. We had several victories and several accidents. Jonah is working real hard to be a big boy, I can tell. I think we're getting there. More updates to come as we march on! In the meantime, keep us in your prayers!
Posted by Hannah E. at 10:44 PM 0 comments
Labels: Parenting
Thursday, August 16, 2007
More Museum Fun
Last Friday, my aunt Jan came from Lufkin, bringing three of her grandkids - Alex, Hunter, and Kate - and we met them at the Discovery Science Place for some afternoon fun. They are some of the sweetest kids. One of the large rooms at this kids museum is full of imaginative play stations....pretend hospitals, veterinary clinics, banks, grocery stores, etc., so the kids acted out all sorts of roles. They were cute! Of course, in that room, Jonah decided to play with the one thing there that he already has at home - puzzles. Go figure. And we couldn't get him to look at the camera in any pictures. Oh well. Jan, you've got those kids trained to pose and take pictures well - you need to teach me!!!
This week has been going really well. As a follow-up to my last post about our intensifying training/disciplining techniques this week, Jonah has had a great week. MUCH more pleasant and obedient and whole lot less whiny. THANK YOU, LORD. He had a couple of typical two-year-old incidents....not done out of rebellion, just curiosity. It's those kinds of things I can't really punish him for, because truthfully I've never told him not to do this stuff. I guess I just assumed he would know that this is unacceptable:
Note to anyone who cares: Never make assumptions. And never leave your two-year-old son unattended for five minutes with a purse nearby that contains writing instruments. My mom gave me some great advice about using natural consequences for this one, and I know now that he knows it's not a good idea to write on himself....or the furniture. Yes, my living room chair has a new look to it. My little artist decided to draw some new designs on it, similar to the ones covering his appendages. Only bigger.
Also. Never leave your two-year-old son unattended for two minutes in the same room as a box of Kleenex. I walked into the living room this morning to find that he had emptied an entire box of Kleenexes and torn them to pieces - LITTLE pieces - and scattered them all over the room. It was a mess. His explanation? He had been playing with his zoo animals, and he told me they got cold and needed "blankies." He had covered each animal with a Kleenex. Maybe I should be proud of his resourcefulness? I don't know. But this kid's imagination is blowing me away.
Other than picking up a whole lot of messes, we're having lots of fun. I just love this age that Jonah is. I have liked all the others too, but it just keeps getting better. It really does. This is so FUN! Remind me of that next week if I sound like I'm about to kill myself over potty-training. Only four more days until the nightmare begins. =)
Posted by Hannah E. at 2:26 PM 1 comments
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Kelli-Time and Thoughts on Parenting a Toddler
Well, I was waiting to post about our trip to see Kelli earlier in the week until I got some pictures from her of the kids. So when I get those, I'll post them. For now, I'll just write about how GREAT and FUN of a time we had there! Kelli is such a refreshing friend to be around. She makes you laugh one minute and really makes you think the next. I always feel challenged in one or more areas whenever I spend time with her. I love her modern-day Proverbs 31-ness. For instance, her neighbor across the street - a young wife who has a new baby - dropped by that evening. I got the feeling immediately that this was someone Kelli had really been investing in. The girl stayed, talking to Kelli for a while, and her husband came over for a little bit too. After they left, Kelli told me that they were not Christians, but that she and Brian had been talking to them and investing, and that they had gone to church with them the previous Sunday. The husband doesn't know if he'll be back, but the wife wants to go. So Kelli is going to be taking her to church and women's things at church and connecting the girl to some of Kelli's godly friends who will also reach out to her. I loved seeing how this girl felt so drawn to Kelli and was comfortable being in her home and opening up to her about life. It reminded me that when we're open to ministry opportunities through our everyday lives, God sends them! And this is just one of the ways Kelli is SO Proverbs 31ish, and I love it. It ministered to me just watching their interactions that night, and I want to live that way - always open to relationships (that may even be unpleasant and hard) just to show them more of Christ. The whole night, I felt God telling me to invest, invest, invest in the lives of people around me who need Him. It takes time. It takes being pushed out of my comfort zone. It takes a whole new kind of vision to see these people and their needs. But oh I believe it is worth it to participate with God in what He wants to do in the lives of people around me.
Now, I know Kelli would hate for me to be saying all this stuff about how great of a woman she is, but we all know it's the Lord working in her life and not anything she's doing on her own. So, I will continue. Whether she likes it or not. =) Just spending a few days with her has totally rejuvenated me in the area of motherhood. I think she is an amazing mommy, and she is unbelievably wise in how she parents, teaches, and disciplines her daughter. I was soaking it all up! Carter is such a well-trained child. I noticed that immediately upon spending time with them. And it really energized me to be doing the time and putting the work into training my son right now and not later. Tuesday night, Kelli and I loaded up the kids and went to dinner at Chili's, and while Kelli would tell you it was the most entertaining night of her life, I would say it was humbling. Humiliating. Embarrassing. OUT OF CONTROL. Jonah put on a show of rebellion that made the previous week's Hobby Lobby incident look like nothing! It was horrible. That made two very bad running-away-not-listening-to-Mommy-in-public incidents within a week, and it was not ok with me.
So we came home from our trip and have been in full-on training mode in tons of areas. We're addressing issues of obedience, manners, appropriate responses to adults, mealtime behavior...you name it, we're tackling it. It's repetitive. It's exhausting. And even though we're still in high-training season (which means discipline, hard work, not very fun), I'm already seeing glimpses into how the work is going to pay off! My child has been sweeter, more pleasant, and just all around more enjoyable the last few days. Here's the thing: Children need to know what their boundaries are and need to know exactly how Mom and Dad will respond to their behavior. It gives them a certain sense of security that then enables them to enjoy life more fully within their clearly-defined parameters. I realize not every child LOVES and THRIVES in boundaries (even though most firstborns and other want-to-please-and-get-approval-children typically do), but all children need them. I just haven't been as consistent with follow-through the last several months as I always thought I would be. So this has been a much-needed encouragement for me to get my act together as a mommy. I mean, it's my child's heart that is at stake. Even though, I admit, sometimes I live like it's my public image that's at stake. That's so not what's important. Whether or not I get made to look like a fool in front of others when my child misbehaves badly at a store or restaurant is NOT the issue. I have to remember that it's not. about. me.
So I've been running a tight ship around here this week! And it's making for a much more pleasant home life. And public appearances too! Jonah is learning respect and obedience. And he is still testing some days, and I know full well that he will test periodically all of his life really. But if we really work on these things now, when he's a young two year old, maybe in a year we'll be where Kelli and her daughter Carter are - where I can just make eye contact with Jonah and he'll stop his disobedient behavior at once because he already knows the drill and what's expected of him and what will happen if he doesn't comply.
But this brings me to the next thing I've been mulling over in my mind this week: How do I train my child with a focus on heart issues and not just rule-following? How do I make it so that he understands God's standard of right and wrong for his HEART and not that it's about pleasing his parents with his BEHAVIOR. Obviously, as it is with us, God cares about our hearts more than our actions, knowing that a right heart will always lead to right behavior anyway. I've known that was important for a long time, but only now are we really in the season of life (intense training) where those concepts of grace-based-parenting have to get really practical. So I'm on a journey to learn more of how to do that. So many conversations with friends lately have had to do with this very issue. By the way, I'm immensely grateful that God has put some friends in my path who are seeking to shepherd their children's hearts and that our conversations about parenting aren't all about how to make our children act right. Thank you, God, because I need the encouragement that comes from journeying with others through these challenging aspects of parenting!
Kate and I were talking about how important it is to use "biblical language" when correcting our children's behavior, because every issue is ultimately a heart one. We talked about things we can say that point to the root sin involved in whatever behavioral offense they made.....For instance, instead of saying, "You need to share that toy with your friend," we now say, "That friend is our guest, and we are his servant. Sharing is how we show him God's love." (I've totally copied that from Kelli as well!) When Jonah is not picking up his toys like I asked, as I am disciplining him, I don't just say, "Pick up your toys!!!", I say, "You need to obey Mommy and pick up your toys." Focusing more on the heart issue than the behavior is what's so important. Make sense? All of this, of course, goes along with and doesn't exclude a consistent response to the rebellious act with an appropriate, logical disciplinary consequence. Understanding their heart sins is what will eventually help my child to recognize his need for a Savior. I don't want him to "accept Christ" just because Mom and Dad say it's a good idea and he wants to please. I want him to understand from a very young age WHY he needs Christ in his life. I really believe that the way I train him now and correct him when he misbehaves can help prepare his mind to understand that need, without beating him down and overwhelming him with rules and regulations. I want him to fall in love with God because of His grace, and Jonah will only understand God's grace if he understands his own sin nature and spiritual neediness. And I think that all starts right now while he's a two-year-old testing his boundaries.
In September, there will be a Shepherding A Child's Heart class for families with young children, taught by two couples who have grown children and are very knowledgeable in these methods of parenting by grace. I am so excited. It's coming just when we need it. With all of these things happening, you can probably expect that I'll be posting a lot about parenting and all of these issues. It's on my mind a lot right now! God has a bunch of stuff to teach me, I just know.
One funny thing to leave you with....now Jonah is starting to correct us on some things! A few nights ago, Joel was putting Jonah to bed, and Jonah asked his daddy to lay on the floor beside his crib. Joel said, "No, Jonah, I'm going to put you in your crib for night-night." Jonah immediately told Joel, "No say 'No,' Daddy. Say 'yes sir'."
Oh my.
Posted by Hannah E. at 12:05 PM 3 comments
Labels: Friends, Heart Work, Parenting
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Here are a few things Jonah said today that either melted my heart or made me laugh!
* This morning I was blowing my nose, and he leaned into the room where I was, and very sweetly said, "Are you ok in there?" (IN THERE??? How funny!)
* I was carrying him from the store to the car, and he grabbed hold of my head and pulled my face up really close to his and whispered, "You're precious." (Are you kidding me?!! I love this kid!)
* I asked him to carry in something from the car when we got home, and I was explaining how I had a bunch of stuff to carry and only two hands, because God gave each of us two hands, etc. He then told me he wanted another hand. Really? "I want another hand for my birthday."
If you haven't spent much time with him, let me just tell you....this child is hilarious!
We had a great time at Kelli's and I will write more about it later. For now, I've got to get dinner started! ASAP.
Posted by Hannah E. at 4:17 PM 2 comments
Monday, August 6, 2007
Girl Day #2
Well, I had the best time on Saturday when Kelli came to visit. She, Kate and I hung out while our crazy children ran around the house, playing and having so much fun together. I did a terrible job remembering to take pictures, even after I had just written about it that very morning...oh well. The day was so fun, in fact, that I almost went home with Kelli Saturday night and spent the night there. Well, then we decided that wasn't going to work out best, so we decided to go on Tuesday instead! So, tomorrow Jonah and I will be heading there to finish all the talking we were doing on Saturday. Kelli and I never seem to have enough time to really get to the good stuff....we just start getting to the deep topics right before it's time to leave. That's just how it is now that there are children in the picture and we don't live in the same town. So we are going to remedy that this time! I'm so excited for our trip and I will definitely post pictures when I return. Especially of sweet baby Campbell whose parents gave him a mohawk Friday night!!!! They are so crazy. And so fun. And soooo don't care if people are talking about them! I just love the Blairs. I wish I was as cool as them.
Yesterday, Jonah and I were in the car on the way home from church, and the following conversation ensued:
Jonah: "What's that?" (Now, he's not looking at or pointing to anything in particular, as far as I could tell.)
Me: "What's what?"
Jonah: "What's that?"
Me: "What is what?"
Jonah: "What's that?"
Me: "I don't know what 'that' is!"
Jonah: "What's that?"
Me: "What are you talking about?!!"
Jonah: "What's that?"
Me: "WHAT is WHAT????!!!"
Jonah: "What's that?"
Me: "Ggggrrrrrrrrrrrr."
Such conversations might be the death of me.
But I must say, he's been much sweeter the last couple of days. And more obedient. I'm loving seeing his precious little personality develop. However, I much prefer how it's developing this week instead of last week! Today, he ran from one end of the house to the other to tell me "Bless you, Mommy! Bless you," after I sneezed. I can't believe he even heard me, but it was so great. I've got to remember those sweet things when we're having a crazy day like last Tuesday and he makes it his life mission to humiliate his mommy in public! I'm sure it's about to get even more crazy around here.....Potty Camp at our house starts in two weeks!!! I'm just expecting the worst, and for most of parenthood so far, that strategy has served me pretty well! I'll be sure to update you all on the drama and messes and adventure that potty training is sure to bring!
Posted by Hannah E. at 12:33 PM 2 comments
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Girl Day #1
My mom was so sweet to plan a whole day for us to hang out yesterday and do fun girly stuff together, things like shopping, pedicures, lunch, and a movie. It was a special day, and I am very appreciative of her giving me so much of herself yesterday to help make this a little sweeter of a weekend. And my dad deserves a big thanks too for baby-sitting the little guy. We saw the movie No Reservations, by the way, which I thought was a good movie, in case anyone wants to know.
Now I must get ready for my second consecutive girl day....only this one has children involved. Kelli is on the way here with her two punkins, and Kate will be joining us with hers, and we're going to spend the day hanging out. I. Can't. Wait. Only now I've procrastinated long enough, I must go do some housecleaning since she'll be here in about two hours. Hopefully I'll remember to take pictures of our day so I can post later.
Posted by Hannah E. at 8:50 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Life of a Two Year Old
There's nothing like declaring a victory in one area of toddler-parenting to bring up several more areas that need work! Lest you think we don't have our share of two-year-old issues, yesterday was one of the most humbling...no, make that humiliating....experiences of my life. It was supposed to be a very simple trip to Hobby Lobby. I expected too much from him, I think, probably because historically he's always met my expectations when we're out in public running errands. Anyway, he did NOT deliver this time. I'm going to spare you all the details because frankly, living through it once was more than enough. Let's just say I was that mom saying, "Stop! Stop!" while her child ran from her all across the store. I feel like everyone in the store saw us - if not, they definitely heard us - and it's a big store! I have to return something to Hobby Lobby and I have not yet gained the courage to go back in there.
If you know me, you know that I don't usually get embarrassed by a misbehaving child in public....public tantrums happen, and I always feel like if I remain calm, it removes from them the ability to try to control the situation by making mom angry. So I refuse to get angry, and then usually Jonah will settle down really quickly when he realizes he can't get me upset. I stay firm but I don't let him get the upper hand in a situation like that - because he'll always scream louder and harder and, frankly, he'll win every time! But yesterday was a different kind of situation all together, one that I hadn't yet experienced. It wasn't a tantrum. It was just blatant rebellion. And he was having fun doing it! He wasn't acting crazy (and oh my, he was crazy) out of anger; it was totally out of a desire to have more fun. He was hyper and was laughing at himself the whole time. He thought it was one big party in there! So, that's a whole new one for me to try to figure out. I've already spent time in prayer about it this morning....but yesterday would have been a better time to do that.
So following that lovely experience, he spent some time at his grandparents' yesterday afternoon so I could go grocery shopping. I was not going to take him to another store and put him in a shopping cart again. Not yesterday. Not with the kind of morning we'd had. Papa T and Gigi saved the day and rescued this desperate mommy for a few hours. Thank goodness for them! Anyway, Jonah didn't discriminate with his behavior but gave them a good portion of his hellish behavior too, just so they wouldn't feel left out of the party. While my mom was on the phone, he got into her pantry and opened a huge container of the tiniest little sprinkles and dropped them all over the floor, making the biggest mess my mom's kitchen floor has ever seen. Yes, that's my boy. My TWO YEAR OLD boy. I seem to be reminded of his age quite a lot in the last couple of days. I'm also being reminded of my desperate need for dependence on the Lord alone for wisdom in shepherding my son's little heart.
But remember what I said about him being charming?
He just ran into the room and pointed to me and said, "I love you the most!"
Nooooooooo, Jonah. I love you the most.
Posted by Hannah E. at 8:26 AM 5 comments


text:
Not wrote:Dog wrote:Craig wrote:Come to Toronto 'nanners. I could use a night out!
You can go find your own whore after. That's not really my scene.
Greg, let's go to Istanbul for 5 days! Me, you and Nanners!
Not's probably a better wingman for you than Nick, banana. Even if Nick's being a nice wingman, all the turkish chicks will be at his feet. Not should be a better choice. I don't think you'll run into this issue with him.


text:
2016 program reveal
Join us for the season opener Cocktail event where the new logo for the 40th anniversary of PMI-Montreal will be revealed!
Ticket price includes hors d'oeuvres and 2 drinks
5PM : Doors open
6:15PM : Speech by Benoit Lalonde, Président of the Board of Directors of PMI-Montréal
6:45PM : Networking
8PM : End of event
It is not possible to register to this event anymore.
Season opener Cocktail
Type of activity : Cocktails / Networking Events
Date : 8 september 2016
Time : 17:00 to 20:00
PMI-Montreal members$ 20.00
Non members$ 30.00
student price$ 20.00
Language : bilingue
Nb of PDUs : 0.0
It is not possible to register to this event anymore.


text:
I don't really know what to say about this. I do love those guys, its hard not too once you meet them a couple of times or more in person LOL. Honestly in my heart I know they have to take care of their families and supernatural can be amusing. I am not seeing where it can go from here, I suppose. As a from day one fan, with many fan fictions all over the internet, I have a lot of supernatural experience. I used to devour news about the show and the people with the rest of the DAY 1 fandom. If you been around a while you know things got pretty crazy for a while, now its settled a bit. I imagine if you have been to any cons then you will have experienced some drama of one sort or another but that is not here or there.
Okay but what is your take on all of this? More supernatural is a good thing for TV or is all greed? I want some feedback. Some real sharing here. I am not your mom or your priest just want to see how you are thinking about this move from the CW.
96 OF 100 TOP SHOWS! Get some of the best shows on television with a Mohu antenna. Shop now!


text:
Okay so if you haven't noticed I use Balsamic Vinegar in most of my recipes… I just can't get away from the sweet tangy flavor. It always adds a rich sweet depth of flavor to a recipe. I normally would have made this with olive oil, but we didn't have any. I have learned how to improvise with only having one car. I did have butter… so that is what I used. So I am sure that you could use olive oil.
1 whole chicken
2 apples peeled and chopped
4 carrots peeled and chopped
4 medium potatoes cubed
1 red onion cut into cubes
1/4 to 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3-4 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp dijon
2-3 Tbsp dried thyme
1 lemon quartered
Melt 1-2 Tbsp butter and mix with dijon mustard and 1/8 to 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar. Set glaze mixture aside for later. Place chicken in roasting pan and tie legs together. Place quartered lemon in cavity of chicken. Brush mustard glaze over chicken and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. Place chopped veggies around chicken. Pour the rest of the balsamic vinegar (1/8 to 1/4 cup) over veggies, sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. Dot with the rest of the butter. Bake in 425 degree oven until chicken reads 180 on thermometer. Let rest for ten minutes. Slice and serve with pan juices spooned over chicken.


text:
Browns QB situation more muddled after rookie Kessler hurt
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower hits Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler in the first half of an NFL football game, in Cleveland. Kessler's pass went out of the end zone for a safety. The pain is only intensifying for the Browns. They had two more quarterbacks injured in Sunday's loss to New England and while there has been some sign of improvement under coach Hue Jackson, Cleveland is 0-5 and headed toward another dismal season. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)


text:
Here is the obituary for
McINTYRE, Annie
In Chateauguay, on January 5th, 2018, at the age of 87, Ms. Annie McIntyre passed away.
You are welcome to come celebrate her life with us, at the funeral parlor:
Alexandre Nicole
Complexe Funéraire Châteauguay
96, boul. St-Jean-Baptiste
Châteauguay, 450 699-9919
on Thursday, January 18th, from 11am to 1pm, with burial to follow in the National Field of Honor Cemetery (703 Donegani Avenue, Pointe-Claire).
Testimonies of sympathy
I was talking to Annie the day before she passed away. She was my younger sister by two years. She will be missed. Her brother Randolph Hope Saint John NB
Randolph Hope
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Your mom was a very special person.


text:
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Ill - at home - fed up
I've been off work for 3 days now. Yesterday I went to see the quack and she said "you've got three diseases as far as I can tell"
one of which is glandular fever.
i feel like i'm about to vomit all the time, even water makes me want to vomit.
what can i do to cheer myself up?
Maybe a drink once in a while
fitter - happier - more productive - a pig - in a cage - on anti-biotics
then have oreos and milk followed by a nesquick milkshake
Look at pictures of ugly people on the internet
and realise how much better than them you are because you are better looking, and that's all there is to life, right?
have a glass fo water
nausia fading
drinking water
tried playing FM, but didn't enjoy iy.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) DePaul coach Doug Bruno's team finally won an overtime game this season, and the Blue Demons did it in front of a record crowd at St. John's.
After losing their first three overtime games this season, the Blue Demons managed to pull away from St. John's for an 84-75 victory on Friday in front of a sellout crowd.
''This is our fifth overtime (period) and we haven't been able to finish them,'' Bruno said. ''It was nice to finish an overtime game.''
Bruno was impressed that 5,602 fans showed up for the annual field-trip day, posting the first sellout in women's basketball history at the school.
''St. John's did a great job filling the place. I can't say enough that you can see people in the stands at every corner for a women's basketball game, it's just huge,'' Bruno said. ''It's a thrill to play in that type of environment.''
Brittany Hrynko scored 25 points to lead DePaul, and she didn't mind the loud atmosphere.
''It was great. Having kids able to watch us play is always a good thing,'' the senior guard said. ''We had kids at our game when we had Butler. It's fun for them coming to watch.''
DePaul (13-5, 5-1 Big East) scored the first seven points of the extra session to take an 80-73 lead and St. John's (13-5, 4-2) couldn't recover. This game was a rematch of last season's Big East tournament championship game, which the Blue Demons won.
''Coach Bruno talked about that before the game,'' Hrynko said. ''We beat them last year. Make sure we we're ready. We did a good job pulling out the win.''
St. John's had a chance to win in regulation, but couldn't hold on to a late lead. The Red Storm led 71-68 when Aaliyah Handford made one of two free throws with just over a minute left.
After a 3-pointer by Hrynko cut it to one, the teams traded free throw attempts. Danaejah Grant only hit one of two and then Brooke Schulte hit both hers with 17 seconds remaining to tie the game.
''We've free throwed some games away,'' Bruno said. ''Brooke hitting those was huge. They were pressure-packed free throws.''
Handford had a chance to win it at the end of regulation but her 3-pointer from well beyond the top of the key was off the mark. Handford finished with 25 points to lead St. John's, while Grant added 23.
''We've been very good at the end of games closing games out, today we weren't,'' St. John's coach Joe Tartamella said. ''When they are on the line, I expect them to close out the game.''
DePaul: The Blue Demons had lost their three previous overtime games, falling to Northwestern, Notre Dame and Villanova.
St. John's: The previous record crowd for women's basketball was 5,018 for another field-trip day against South Florida on Feb. 8, 2012.
DePaul: Visits Seton Hall on Sunday
St. John's: Hosts Marquette on Sunday.


text:
Click here to read the introduction to my 12 Step Series and find links to all of my 12 Step posts in one place as they become available.
Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Well…that sounds intimidating, doesn't it? 😨
With words like "fearless" and "searching" and "moral" being tossed around, Step Four can sometimes sound like it's describing a brave knight in shining armor way more than it's describing someone like me or you.
All jokes aside, I know Step Four can sound scary at first but it's actually very cool. And I've got good news for you, friend. If you've ever had a refrigerator, you can relate to Step Four. Why? Because Step Four is just cleaning out the fridge. You've cleaned out a fridge before, right? If you've worked Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 (and you "get" why you need to clean out your fridge every once in awhile), then you're completely capable of working this Step. And, when you're finished, you're gonna be so glad that you did it!
So why do we clean out the fridge? To take inventory, of course! To see what leftovers have crept to the back and out of eyesight, what's been hiding behind the mayo, and what sticky-something spilled all over the place awhile ago and continues to make a total mess! 😳
Taking inventory is a choice, of course. You get to decide whether or not to clean out your refrigerator just like you get to decide whether or not to take on Step Four. And I know this step can be a little nerve-wracking. Anyone who has skipped cleaning the fridge for awhile and then peeked inside knows what is waiting for them: gunk and junk and funk. But here's the thing: if you continue to just let it sit there, that crap will just get gunkier and junkier and funkier! That's gross. 🤢 Better to deal with it now.
How are you supposed to get anything done in the kitchen without cleaning out the fridge first? You can't make a meal plan if you don't even know what you're working with inside the fridge, right? And you can't make a real plan for your continued recovery if you don't even know the deepest gunk inside of you. See what I'm saying here? You gotta take inventory and see what's been funking up your fridge (a.k.a. your life!) and keeping you sick and sad and sorry. Then, once you're aware of it, you can take positive steps to clean it up and get better. 😊
Enough fridge talk – let's get down to some serious Step Four:
First of all, I know there are different ways of approaching Step Four (within Al-Anon and within other 12-Step programs.) This is just how I did my Step Four. If it's helpful to you, awesome! If not, that's cool too! 👍🏽 You get to work with your sponsor and find the way to complete Step Four that works best for you and your situation.
So what did Step Four look like for me? Well, it looked a lot like this:
This is the worksheet I used to complete my Step Four. Let's break it down by column:
To start Step Four, I simply made a list of people I had resentment towards. And it can be anyone: Friends, Family, Neighbors, Exes, Co-Workers, etc. Whoever you feel that animosity towards goes on your list. You can also list places or institutions that you're resentful towards. Examples of places or institutions would be:
- The Education System
- Marriage
- Institutional Racism, etc. etc. etc.
Your list is whatever you need it to be. And let me tell you, friend: my list was LONG. (I'll spell it like this as well so you really understand what I'm trying to say: my list was LOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG!!!
I had lots of names on there and I even listed myself. Why? Because I'd been angry at myself and disappointed in myself for a long time. Have you ever heard that regret is just resentment towards yourself? I think that's an interesting way of looking at it. And, if that's true, I had a crazy amount of personal resentment!😲
The second column is where you really get down to work. I just started individually plugging people's names into the worksheet and went to town listing all the reasons why I was mad as hell! at that person. This column was almost always the longest column in every worksheet I filled out. And you know what? That's okay! Actually, it's better than okay: I think it's AWESOME! Want to know why?
Because many Adult Children of Alcoholics can spend a lot of time minimizing all the crap that has happened to them and taking on the blame. They say things like:
- "It wasn't that bad."
- "At least I always had x, y, and z! Some people had it way worse."
- "My parent didn't mean to hurt me but they had a really bad life themselves."
- "If I just would've been better/smarter/braver/stronger/more, everything would've been better and I would've been okay."
- "I shouldn't have let it get to me like that."
And the biggest minimizing line:
- "I'm fine. I'm an adult now. It's all in the past and I'm not affected by it." 😕
- You know that's crap, right? Until you actively look at past emotions and experiences, they will continue to haunt you horror movie-style. Scary!)😱
In recovery, you get to give yourself permission and space to really let it all out. You have a right (and a desperate need, if you want to my opinion) to feel all the emotions stuck in you. You get to be pissed off, furious, heartbroken, mournful (or however you feel) for everything that happened to you and mattered to you as a kid and as an adult.
When I did my Step Four, I had to let go of my very Vulcan 🖖 (logical) brain which was playing this song on repeat:
🎤 "Hey, your alcoholic parents didn't mean to hurt you. They were Adult Children of Alcoholics themselves. You've got a love of nerve to be all pissed off at them. Stop acting like your childhood was always a living hell!" 🎼 Catchy, right?
So yes, your alcoholic/addict parents suffer from the disease of addiction and have probably experienced a lot of trauma in their own lives. That's true. And at some point, it will be important to look at that perspective. But for Step Four, I encourage you to take the chance to stand in truth, speak your experience, and get in touch with your anger and ultimately your sadness (because anger is a secondary emotion). Don't start thinking too much about anyone else's background or situation, feelings or diseases, etc. Step Four is about you and your experience – please don't dilute it. (Besides, no one except your Sponsor needs to read your Step Four anyway. You can write whatever you need to write knowing that it's only going to be seen by two pairs of eyeballs.) 👀
After you've listed your resentments, you can write about the affects this person, place, or institution had on you. Dig deep here and ask your Higher Power to make clear to you what you need to see in order to heal. What changed in your heart and your life because of the events that occurred?
Did you become bitter, anxious, or paranoid because of this particular person? Did you lose faith in people? Were you afraid all the time? Lonely? Did you become angry and hateful towards others? Did you hide yourself away in books, food, video games, etc.? Did you feel worthless? What about shameful, did you feel that way? Did you develop compassion and a heart for service? Did you learn the value of honesty and become a truthful person? Basically – write down all the things that you became because of the affects of this person, place, or institution in your life. Whatever comes up, write it down – even if it seems odd to you at the moment. It might just be an important aspect of your recovery revealing itself.
Next, it's on to examining the exact nature of your wrongs. Wait…say what?!? 😲 I know it's easy to brush this part off and go "Well, I know I didn't do anything wrong! Keep on moving to the next column!" This can be especially true if you're an Adult Child of an Alcoholic because, as a child, you didn't do anything "wrong" in a bad sense – you just learned what was being taught and tried to survive. You (obviously) didn't know any better at the time because you were a little person in a tough spot. But some reactions were still "wrong" in a non-judgmental, in-no-way critical of you as an ACoA kind-of-way. (No shade here, friend.🕶) And besides, if can find me one single human adult who hasn't done some wrong things in their life, I'll eat a whole bag of fish-flavored jelly beans! 🐟(Bertie Botts supposedly has every flavor, you know!)
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you start looking for your wrongs:
Did I….
- Believe lies?
- Trust untrustworthy people?
- Give away my power, my choice, or my voice?
- Poorly communicate my needs, wants, and boundaries?
- Try to fix, change, and control other people?
- Play the victim?
When you start to look at all the different angles of the "exact nature of your wrongs," you may be surprised with what you uncover.
Hallelujah! 😇 We've made it to the last column and it's about choices. Ooooh…I love choices! This column is the perfect way to put the focus back on you and end on a high note. 🎵
When you reach this column, you get to decide what you're going to do in your life today. Now that you are in recovery and getting better all the time, what do you choose to do about this person, place, or institution?
Here are some examples:
- Are you going to have a relationship at all with this person/people?
- If so, what will be your boundaries in the relationship
- Will you make the choice to learn how to communicate clearly?
- Will you forgive this person or the people involved in the institution?
- Do you choose to accept the past and live in the present?
When I came into Al-Anon, I felt like I had no choices. None. Everything was set in stone and I just had to go along with it. The truth is that I have TONS of choices in my life and you do too – you just have to open your eyes and see the truth.
I know that sometimes it's hard to start your Step Four without seeing an example (at least it was for me). So because I care about you and want you to get well, I'm going out on a limb here by posting a few examples.
The first example is the Step Four worksheet I wrote about myself:
(pssst…want to know a secret? After completing my personal Step Four, I took all of my choices from the last column and turned them into affirmations (using first person language) so that I could repeat them to myself, write them on post-it notes, etc. to reaffirm that I was making better choices for me.) See them here.
The second example is a compilation of Step Four worksheets that I did just to give you an idea of what a Step Four worksheet about someone else could look like:
The third example is a completely normal thing to do…
I hope the examples I've provided have been helpful. If you'd like to use the same worksheet as I did, you can click here to get the blank Step 4 worksheet as a PDF. (Note: I didn't create the format of this worksheet at all. It was shown to me by my Sponsor who was shown this format by her Sponsor, on and on back through the years since the beginning of time…or something like that.) 😉
So what about you?
Have you worked your Step Four? If not, do you feel ready to do it? Let me know in the comments how you feel about this Step.
Thanks for being here, friend. 💗 And remember to stay in touch on facebook, twitter, instagram & pinterest


text:
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JKPSC Recruitment Job 2017
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www.jkpsc.nic.in Application form 2017
Name Of The Post- Assistant Professor Vacancies
No of the Post– 563
Pay Scale– Rs 15600-39100/-
Grade Pay Rs 5200/-
Name Of the department- JKPSC Recruitment
Category- Recruitment
Job Location–Jammu & Kashmir
www.Jkpsc.nic.in Eligibility Criteria Details
Age Limit- Age limit as per as 18-40 years as on 01.01.2017.
Education Qualification– Those candidates who are going to apply for these sort of jobs they must possess Good academic record as defined by the concerned university with at least with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade in a point scale where grading system is followed at the Master's Degree level in the relevant subject from an Indian University or an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign University with NET/SLET/SET conducted by the UGC, CSIR/AIU.
The process of selection– Those candidates section will be based on Oral test/writing test.
Fee for the application– General candidates have to pay Rs 805/- & Reserved category have to pay Rs 405/- through challan in J&K Bank branch.
How To Apply For JKPSC Recruitment 2017
A Processor to Apply- Those candidates who want to apply for these jobs may apply along with online through this website http://www.jkpsc.nic.in on or before 28.11.2017.
Important Dates
Starting date of apply- 28.10.2017
Last date of submission- 28.11.2017
Last date of submission fee– 30.11.2017
Major Link
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