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I was the room mom during my children's first few years of school. I went to every ball room dance, class party, parent day, and field trip I could possibly go to. I kept a job that would allow me to bring my kids with me to work so that I knew they were safe and not having to be raised by someone else.
I turned down any jobs where the client wouldn't allow them to be there. I literally sacrificed each and every dream, desire, or plan that didn't include my boys.
Why? Because love gives it's best, so that's what I tried to do.
Do I get credit for any of that now? Ha! Not at all. My kids see me through judgmental eyes just as I am sure many of us see our parents. They notice my faults and failures more than my accomplishments.
They see and remember all of my mistakes rather than remembering how hard I worked and how much I sacrificed for them. They see what I don't do for them rather than what I do.
As a single mom for the majority of their young lives, I corrected my kids much more so than most people do now days and yes I was tough on them because I wanted them to turn out well. I also tried to give them love, forgiveness, and grace to balance it all out.
I raised them as best as I knew how with the tools and support I had to work with (which was very little until I got remarried). I kept my boys with me even when things looked completely impossible.
Yet, nothing was ever good enough and still isn't. They are from a selfish generation where all of their friends get exactly what they want and they think they should as well.
Unconditional Love
When I think of unconditional love, I think of a mother's love.
Mothers tend to overlook the faults of their children and find it easy to forgive them. Mothers go way out of their way to care for their children, sometimes to an overwhelming and endless sacrifice of themselves.
I have seen my mother overlook or forgive my brother's behavior through things that I personally wouldn't be able to handle nor tolerate from him.
But I don't love him like a mother, I love him like a sister. I can cut him off in a split second if necessary and his drug and alcohol addiction has caused me to have to do that for most of his adult life, to protect myself from his behavior.
My mother, on the other hand, doesn't cut him off, ever, for any reason. Her tolerance for him is unchangeable no matter how much his addiction hurts her.
I think of my love for my own children and I'm the same way toward them to a certain degree. They don't have any addictions that I know of but they are still young enough that their behavior is hard to deal with at times.
My love, however, isn't conditional on their behavior or on how they feel about me at the moment. Feelings change. Behavior changes. My love remains consistent and always will. However, I do not tolerate bad behavior no matter how old they get.
I think of a mother as someone who should be gentle, giving, loving, kind and compassionate; yet there were times that my children didn't see that side of me. As a single mother, I had to discipline them, since their dad wasn't around to do that.
I didn't get a break from being a mom very often so I was always stressed. My ex taught the boys to not respect their mother, so my job was even harder than it had to be because of that.
What a mother does in that kind of situation appears to hurt her child because she then has to correct them even more, which makes her look not so loving and compassionate like a mother should be.
But that discipline doesn't mean she doesn't love her children, actually it means quite the opposite. It means that she cares about that child's future and the consequences they receive for their actions as they grow. Disrespecting people will most definitely reap negative results in life.
The number one thing I tried to teach my kids throughout the years was that you reap what you sow. It is apparent in creation and even in science that every action receives a reaction. Every seed planted receives a harvest.
Life works that way too. Everything you do, comes back to you in some way. So I tried to teach my kids to be smart with their actions. To stop and think about what they do before they do it.
Despite what I taught them, they still seemed to go in their own direction doing their own thing.
Did that stop me from teaching them? No way. You teach a child to do right because you want to see them have a good life in the future. When they have negative behavior and continue on that path, it will most certainly create negative consequences in their lives. If we as parents don't try to change that in them, who will?
Not correcting a child is the same as not loving them and children who are not loved, become children who hate.
Not correcting a child is the same as saying, "I don't care about what you do or where you end up." It's the same as saying, "Go ahead and get hooked on drugs, drink, smoke, and party."
If you don't care what your children do, then you don't care about what your children become. Each and every action a person makes brings a consequence and your children are no exception to this rule even if you think they are special. Trust me, we all think that our kids are special but yours are no different than mine, they will reap what they sow.
I don't want my children to end up in jail, with bad credit, owing on a lot of bills, or with some sort of bad habit they can't beat so I've always corrected them when they did wrong and tried to help them to see a better path for themselves.
One of the biggest problems I've had in raising my boys is they think everything should go their way. They think they should get everything they want, despite the repercussions of getting what they want. And why wouldn't they think that way when they see their friends getting literally everything they ask for?
We have too many people not correcting their children now days and giving in to their every whim.
Last night we ate out at a local restaurant. There was a child there purposely pushing the lever on the tea container so it could dump out onto the floor, pushing the ice machine so it could dump ice all over the place, and running around like a wild animal.
Instead of the father grabbing him up and taking him to the bathroom, like I would've done with my own children, he just pulled him by the arm all over that restaurant dragging him away from things.
Bullied by a 9 year old.
As I was standing there waiting for my turn, with this child in my way literally dumping ice all over the place, I leaned over and said, "HEY, don't do that!"
Is it my place to correct other people's children?
If what the child is doing affects me or hinders me or my family in any way at all, and the parent is not correcting them, then yes it is. I know you're gasping at that statement right now but hear me out.
I wouldn't spank someone else's child of course, but verbally telling someone they are wrong and need to stop what they are doing is actually our born given rights as citizens of the United States.
Did you know that? You have the right to tell someone to stop doing something that is wrong and you also have the right to verbally correct them. And many times just saying something will cure the situation.
One of our rights is "Freedom to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If someone else's actions hinder that pursuit, we have the legal right to speak up according to the first amendment, and our rights to peace are protected by law according to the fourteenth amendment.
You think I am worried about offending a 9 year old or his father who is obviously ignoring him? Not at all. That man needs to know his child needs correction and he needs to be snapped out of ignore mode.
Hey, I had people snap me out of ignore mode several times.
My youngest son had the worst issue with being hyper I had ever seen, and was hard to keep up with. My oldest son had the worst negative attitude I've ever seen a child have. Put the two together and you have a mom who constantly has to correct and discipline, and who stays consistently stressed.
Was I going to give up just because they were difficult? No. Love doesn't give up. Love is unfailing.
When they would come back from their father's house (back when he actually showed up), their behavior was almost unbearable for at least several days afterward. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was feeding them caffeine and sugar intravenously.
As a single mother I didn't have it all together and found it hard to handle that at times. Especially in public places. I carried a small paddle with me because of it.
Oh, I know that is totally unheard of now days, and yes it did get negative attention from other adults, but my boys sat still and behaved themselves on a regular basis despite their childhood emotional issues. They didn't push tea or ice buttons in restaurants, I can tell you that for sure.
One day I had a lady yell at me from across Wal-Mart that she was going to call the police. I had a paddle in my hand (not using it) but she saw me hit the handle bar of the buggy with it as I told my son to hush, and it infuriated her.
I held the paddle in my hand as a firm affirmation and said, "Go right ahead and call the police. These are MY children and they will do as I say because I am responsible for their actions."
Was I being mean to my children? NOT AT ALL. I was making them behave. When I hit the buggy with that paddle, they would hush every single time and knew that mom was getting serious.
Discipline is a long lost art, apparently.
As a whole we have become too complacent in our own little worlds and have gone into ignore mode. Now rebellion is rampant because of it.
The child that was pushing the ice machine didn't know what to think when I leaned over and corrected him. The father didn't either. The dad came over and grabbed him to pull him away from where I was. If he had said something to me I would've have responded with, "Is it MY place to correct your children, or is it YOURS?"
Yep, people do let their kids get by with just about anything now days and THAT is why we have shooters at our schools, churches, and malls.
Stop blaming gun laws for what parents are failing to do. There is no gun law out there that is going to protect you from a child that the parents failed to discipline and correct, because a child like that thinks they should be able to do whatever they want, and get by with it.
The condition of this country is OUR fault.
We have allowed rebellion in our homes and brought up a rebellious generation. I mean, I am not blaming anyone in particular because I get it. Single parents are having to raise their children alone without the other parent involved.
Mother's have a harder time correcting their kids because their natural instincts just want to "love" them through everything. Dads are afraid DHR will take them away if they spank them, and everything is all messed up now.
I get it.
But I didn't let that stop me from correcting mine and you shouldn't either. You should take a stand for what is right no matter how others respond to your stand. Your children's future depends on it.
Parent failures are all around us and it isn't the schools responsibility nor the youth group at your church's responsibility to fix this. Trump's decisions, changing the gun laws, and the government can't fix what we as a whole have broken. Only we as a whole can fix it by standing up for what is right and changing the way we parent our future leaders.
Like I used to tell my selling clients in my real estate business, "I can't fix what you have failed to repair. Your job as the seller is to prepare the house and get it ready to sell, and my job is to sell it. If you fail at your job, I will most certainly be set up to fail at mine."
Our children are like houses. They have to be maintained from the inside out. If they get ignored they will most certainly fall apart and when they do, they won't be worth very much in the end.
If we fail as parents, this country fails as a whole. This country is falling apart because we have failed to train, teach, and discipline our children and prepare them for the consequences their actions can bring.
Now those children are raising children too. Can you imagine the difficulties these kids will face when they realize they reap what they sow and that life isn't all about what they want?
Negative actions bring negative consequences. Period. Our children need to know this. They need to know that if you cause pain, you reap pain in return.
Rebellion Breeds Chaos
We allowed the right-standing morally correct backbone of this country to change because it went against what a few thought was "fair," and we allowed our schools to be stripped of prayer, the bible, and God.
We allowed some parents to tell other parents that speaking of God is offensive because not everyone believes in God the same way. Certain non-believing groups got what they wanted by association. WE LET THEM have our prayer, our bibles, and our children. WE did this.
These issues will not change until we take full responsibility for it and stand up to make a change.
We can start by correcting our own children.
Peer pressure caused the so-called "Christians" to shut up, sit down and become ashamed of what they believe. When they shut up and sat down everyone else spoke up and started preaching the wrong thing, which twisted and perverted our children, our schools, and our nation.
Our kids are now taught equal rights for all including lifestyles that we know are morally inappropriate and against God's best for our lives. Yet, instead of teaching our kids those lifestyles are wrong, we shut up too and sit down and let it happen. We let it continue to be preached to our children as "fair" and "normal."
Kids don't even know what gender they are anymore because parents have told them they have the right to choose who and what they are. They do this because they give them whatever they want.
How confusing is it to tell your child who has a penis, he has the right to identify with a girl?
I don't care how hard you try, if you have a penis with no womb, you will NEVER know what it's like to give birth to a child. It isn't fair to my gender for men to say they identify with me, and I personally find it disrespectful.
If you don't have the organs to give birth, you can't POSSIBLY identify with me. You don't have the hormones I have, nor do you have the menstrual cycle, pains, and sensations I've had. You will never have to go through a hysterectomy or take birth control pills.
Men have no idea the pain I went through to bear my children, that is a pain they will never experience no matter how hard they try to identify with it. It's just pretending, and that pretending will keep you confused in life if you don't stop lying to yourself.
All of these lies that we tell our children are "okay" are confusing them and teaching them to live just a shadow of the life they were truly meant to live.
Now we've replaced positive books in our libraries at our schools with books on how to commit suicide (yes, that was an actual book at my sons school).
It was, at least, until I found it.
How many other parents do you think knew about that book before someone finally said something? I never got a response from the school. It just quietly disappeared from their list.
When my kids first arrived at their current High School I found out that my son attended a gay-straight alliance club meeting during school. I spoke with the principle and completely raised a raucous because I had no idea that was even an option at school.
WHY can they have meetings like that if my kids are not allowed to bring their bibles to school, wear the American flag on their t-shirts, or openly pray in the class room?!
I made several phone calls about that meeting because I don't want my children being bombarded with other people telling them that being gay is normal and acceptable.
I agree that we should love and accept people in a kind way, but that meeting was not necessary for my children's education.
School is NOT a place for gay clubs. If school is not a place for religion, NO other club or organization should be allowed either. PERIOD.
We have allowed our christian heritage to be removed because it offended those who don't believe in our God or those who believe differently. Why is it not okay to believe differently? I mean don't we all, Christians included, believe differently?
There are Baptist, Methodist, Catholics, and the list goes on and on of those who believe differently from one another but we don't have to take God out of the equation to get along with one another or to keep from offending one another.
No, this wasn't done because of those who believe differently. This was done because of those who don't believe. This is supposed to be a Christian nation, yet we sat back and let the foundation of what makes us believers get stripped from our society.
WE did this.
We stopped talking about it in public because other people from other countries brought their own religions here and we don't want to offend them. By doing so, we stripped our country of morals and now our children's consciences don't work properly and because they can do no wrong in our eyes, we make them believe that they can do no wrong- period.
Churches preach grace so much that people believe they can get by with anything, and God will forgive it; forgetting to let people know that repentance and taking personal responsibility are an important part of grace's equation.
We pull our kids away from tea pictures and ice machines without teaching them why we pull them away. We don't help them to relate their negative actions to pain therefore they consistently rebel, run over others, and do stupid things hoping everyone else will overlook their behavior like their parents have.
Well, excuse me but I will NOT overlook bad behavior, not from my own children, and certainly not from yours if their actions affect me or those around me in any way at all. I am a mother with a backbone and if your children need to be corrected in front of me then YOU had better do it or else I will say something and call you out on it. Not to be mean, or offensive, but to snap you out of ignore mode like I was done several times.
Last year I had a girl give me the finger while we were driving. This wasn't the first time I've had a problem with her and after trying to take it to her parents, found out that she was a legal age "adult." After she purposely nearly hit my car, purposely ran over my real estate signs, and almost ran over my youngest son on his bike from driving crazily and acting stupid, I'd had enough.
She's just a rebellious teenager but realizing her parents were not going to handle it, I stopped my car and confronted her for her actions. It scared her so badly that I got out of my car to confront her, I haven't had another issue with her since. Not only that, she now drives better in our neighborhood, and no fingers go up now. Correction works.
She is another one who's parents turn their heads and they are creating a monster because of their own ignorance toward making their child do what is right. Let me tell you something, if your child lives at home, you are still in charge. You don't have to put up with negative behavior.
Do you know how many times I was corrected by people who were not my parents? It's the way it was back then. You didn't have to raise your kids alone when I was a kid because neighbors, teachers, and even strangers would correct a child. Back then parents didn't get angry that you tried to help, they actually appreciated you trying to teach their child what is right.
Why do they not feel that way now? Because they were raised in the "me, me, me" generation and their kids can do no wrong because they are "special." They were raised in the generation that thought it was wrong to correct their children because it might "hurt their feelings."
They were raised with their parents pampering their feelings and coddling them when they did wrong and now those very same kids take off work when things don't go their way.
They give their children the freedom to choose their own gender, and a year's paid vacation after high school to give them time to "explore themselves." They provide car insurance, fuel, and pay all of their kids bills even at the age of 25 when the child should be fully independent.
This country is messed up and it's our fault because we've allowed rebellion.
We need to stop placing blame everywhere else and realize the condition this country is in is on us, the parents. Back in my day grandparents helped to raise the children. Now parents would call the police if the grandparent corrected the child. Heck, kids call the police if the parent corrects them. SMH.
Isn't Unconditional Love Supposed to Look the Other Way?
Unconditional love doesn't give in to a child's every wish or every whim. My mother did that with my brother and it created a rebellious monster of a child. She allowed her unconditional love to cause her to bury her head in the sand and look the other way to his faults.
Yes, we as mother's want to do that by nature but if it is YOUR place to correct that child, you have to go against your nature and do what is right for them instead. Do you think I liked correcting my kids? No, and I didn't do it as often as I should've because of that. But, I did do it as often as I realized they needed it despite who judged me for it.
I was willing to make a stand in front of the police, DHR, or whomever necessary to be sure that my kids didn't turn out to be thugs.
Love doesn't enable a child to be rebellious or to be stupid. Love only enables the child to do good things. When the child does bad things, love disciplines and teaches instead.
Discipline in any form hurts the child's feelings, almost without exception. Discipline is hard on that child while it is being given but the parent shouldn't yield to to their reaction.
A good mother (I am using "mother" as an example because I understand a mother's unconditional love) has an internal instinct to know what's best for her child.
True, unconditional love like a mother has, was designed in her to never give up. I believe a mother's love is a picture of God's grace. Unconditional love never fails or in other words it never ceases to exist.
It's like we have a God-led intuition in knowing what the child needs next, and a good mother will not allow anyone else or even that child's behavior to thwart her efforts in creating the best possible outcome for that child's life.
Let me warn you though, the day comes when that intuition is hindered by the child's own will. They will not always allow you to guide their lives in a positive direction.
I can also tell you from my own experience, a good mother will protect her child to no end, and even in the face of danger will put herself in front of a bullet if she has to, to be sure her children are safe.
Then, the day also comes when that child wants to protect themselves. We aren't needed forever so we need to make our actions count while we can.
I can remember the difference between when I was abused and when I was appropriately corrected as a child. The correct punishment for my actions created respect for my parents, nothing less.
Making it Count
I was shy growing up. I didn't speak to people much because of my abusive past. It wasn't until my first son was born that I rose up on the inside and began developing a backbone enough to talk to strangers and look people in the eye. I was backward and awkward and felt funny around other people because of the way I had been treated all of my life.
All of that changed very quickly after my first son was born. I took him with me to the grocery store for the first time ever about a week after he was born. That was the hardest trip to the store I had ever made. I didn't want to put my baby down not even for a second and it caused me to carry him the entire time I was getting groceries.
I held that baby so close to my heart because I felt it was my duty to protect him. My arm nearly went limp from holding him for so long. Finally at check-out I realized I was going to have to put him in his car-seat for a moment while I paid for my groceries.
That was hard for me but I did it.
Wouldn't you know it, that's when a fellow who had been drinking walked right up and started touching my baby! BIG MISTAKE. The moment I smelled alcohol on his breath my claws came out and the shy little girl I used to be flew out the window!
I suddenly had a backbone like I'd never had before and fury ran up and down my spine. After asking him nicely to stop touching my baby, he didn't. Apparently amused at my overreaction he continued to get right up in his face. I screamed at him and blocked his arm from touching Samuel and said, "HEY, I TOLD YOU TO STOP!"
I then looked at the cashier and told her and threatened to call the police if he didn't remove his hand. They ended up sending the security guard over to escort the man out of the store.
I didn't know what that man's intentions were toward my child so I reacted in the only way I knew how. I protected my baby because that was my job as his parent. I still, to this day, try to protect my baby.
He's a grown man now and I can no longer yell at strangers on his behalf or pull him away from danger. He must do that on his own now. But my goodness, I sure do love him just as much as I did that day in that grocery store and my instincts still alert me when danger is ahead. However, the baton has been passed to him now and all I can do is trust God for his wisdom and safety.
I protected my boys from every possible pain or danger in life that I had control over. Anyone who had hurt me or failed to protect me as a child, I avoided allowing them to watch my children or spend a lot of time with them without me there. I don't feel an ounce of guilt about that either. I was doing my job at being a good parent and despite who talked about me badly, I would go back and do it all again the exact same way.
What's hard, is when they no longer need you to be their hero. Or, when they don't even see that you were their hero. When they have no idea the sacrifices you made for them, or can't see your good side. What hurts the most is when your children think they no longer need you. When they are grown and think they can do it all on their own. Or, when THEY hurt themselves, or make mistakes, or choose the wrong thing.
Rebellion Gone To Seed
What about when your child gives you the finger? What then? After all of those years of sacrificing yourself, taking up for them, and literally laying down your own life for their happiness; what happens when they become their own worst enemy therefore rebelling against you?
When a child doesn't yield to their parents will and chooses to be rebellious instead, what is a parent to do? If they are small children, you deal with it in a form of discipline.
When my children were small I grounded them, and took things away that they enjoyed doing as a punishment, and even dealt with them in an old fashioned way when necessary for negative behavior and it typically worked, at least for a while. Now that one of them is grown I can no longer do that.
My only option at this point is to love him unconditionally, and try to help him from afar.
A child who refuses to listen, refuses to learn, and refuses to change, reaps a hard life because they then begin to experience negative results from their own actions.
A rebellious child, no matter what age, will soon feel abandoned, hurt, irritable, sad, depressed, and maybe even angry especially if they blame others for what they're experiencing.
When things go in a different direction than what the grown child wants them to go, their first inkling is to blame their parents rather than themselves.
They focus in on their parents faults and mistakes, not realizing that no one is perfect, parents especially because we have to deal with things like ex-husbands, hyper behavior, and bad attitudes. We do things like overreact in grocery stores and hinder others from developing relationships with our children trying to protect them from being hurt, because that deeply embedded love we have for our children drives us to protect them.
But if the child is "grown" and in "rebellion," is it the parents fault the child is experiencing negative things, or the child's fault? Past the age of about 19, the child will head out to make their own decisions. Once that happens, they are responsible for the consequences of those actions.
Rebellion will cause poor behavior, and that behavior is the problem but the one who is being rebellious will blame everyone else for their troubles.
I've seen some great kids who got into an attitude of rebellion and that rebellion totally changed the direction of that child's future leaving them hurt, emotional, and maybe even scared or hooked on some sort of bad habit.
Their rebellion got so bad, they got themselves into a world of trouble and a world of hurt that didn't have to happen had they just been willing to listen to their parents and continue to allow them to help.
Nearly everyone I know that I've discussed this with, that has had a teenager reach young adult age, told me this happened to them. The child becomes a young adult and rebels against the parents wishes because they want to do what they want to do now without anyone judging or sticking their nose in.
They want to do things that are wrong without you knowing or being around to judge it therefore they bad mouth you and push you away. That's when all bets are off and the parent gets whiplash, wondering where in the world their sweet little boy went?
I've experienced it myself. One day I'm joyful, helping my son move out into his first apartment, excited to paint for him, making sure he has the groceries he needs, and that all of his bills are paid. I even took him shopping and helped him pick out furniture for his new place.
Mom is happy, son is happy, everyone is happy.
The next month, my son turned 19 and WHAM!!! Whiplash.
What happened to mom being a part of his life? He replaced her with dating, cell phones, computers, and army buddies. Mostly he replaced her with rebellion. I'm still right here where I've always been, doing what I've always done. He's the one who changed.
I get it though. I saw it coming but nothing prepares you for the rebellion. Nothing prepares you for that sweet little boy to see you trying to help as an invasion of their privacy. Nothing prepares you for the hurtful words that sting deep down inside. Nothing prepares you for the sleepless nights wondering if they're safe, hungry, or happy.
As a mom, you are not prepared you for the day you have to say, "Do it yourself," or that child no longer needing you, or worse, wanting you around.
There is nothing I wouldn't do for my kids but I will not enable nor support bad behavior or stupid decisions. When they need me and want to act right, I am right here where I've always been. I will love them to no end, unconditionally and forever but I will not yield to rebellion or bad behavior nor will I tolerate it. No sir.
I will not be like my mother is with my brother because that is not love, that is enabling. Big difference.
Unconditional Love Isn't Reciprocated
It's sad but true. A mother's love isn't returned in the way she gives it. Our kids don't love us "unconditionally." They allow our faults, mistakes, and lack of understanding to guide them in the way that they treat us. The sad truth is, unconditional love usually isn't reciprocated by anyone but God.
Oh, I know my kids love me (despite what they may say). But not like I love them. Not unconditionally.
Think about it, most people don't give unconditional love. You think you love your spouse unconditionally? Let them cheat on you a few times and see if your mind isn't changed about that.
We love our spouses, parents, our siblings, and our friends but that love is different and not even comparable to the absolute unconditional love we have for our children. There is NOTHING we wouldn't do for our children. Yet with our parents, we see their faults and mistakes just like our kids see ours.
Our kids love is also different in that same way. Our kids love us back, but their love is conditioned based on how you've raised them, how good you were to them, and how well they feel you did your job as their parent. They don't see all the sacrifices you made for them, or all the times you stood in the face of danger on their behalf. They only see you through their perception of who you are.
I can tell you from experience, a child's perspective is much different than the parents. My mother sees the way she raised me as acceptable. I, on the other hand, do not. I forgive her for it now, but that took some time and prayer on my part.
She knows how she struggled and what she fought through to get me grown. I know how I struggled to respect her despite whatever she went through. I now realize that she didn't leave me on the side of the street somewhere or abandon me when things got hard and as an adult who is no longer bitter, I truly appreciate that.
Knowing that she kept me with her when things got tough gives me something to respect her for now. But I didn't see that as a child or even as a young adult.
My mother and I both have two different perspectives, we both lived two different lives, and had two different kinds of experiences and love for one another.
The older I've become, the more I realize I will not have my mother forever. That bitterness no longer keeps me from having a relationship with her because I understand that no matter what happened in my childhood, I am here. I am alive, and I am well. I now look for reasons to love and respect her for what she DID do because that is truly all that matters now.
It's easy to blame a single mother for everything, but keep in mind the responsibility for raising a child is on both parents.
None of us as parents have it all together. We don't know it all and we literally just sort of have to feel our way through our kid's childhoods. I made a lot of mistakes raising my children, A LOT. But I can tell you this, I didn't always know that I was doing it right, but I did always know that I was doing it well.
Here's what my children do not yet realize about me, or may never realize about me- I do things with excellence. I don't do anything half way. I give it my all. And I did that in raising them. I tried my best to show integrity as a mother and teach them the way they should go.
I had moments of failure, and that we ALL do, but overall I was a success as a parent, despite however they or anyone else sees me. My conscience is clear.
I raised my kids with all of the knowledge I had, not always doing the right thing in their eyes, but always trying my best from my own perspective.
Isn't our best all anyone can ask of us?
You see, your child has no idea what you were faced with when you made certain decisions and therefore may not understand your choices. They may even see you from a negative perspective because of the choices you made but I truly believe if we will continue to show them unconditional love, that love will prevail.
Why? Because true unconditional love, NEVER fails.
A parent doesn't base their love on how the child responds to them. The love is there regardless.
So, whether or not my little boy who is now a man, ever understands me, or sees eye to eye with me, I am right here where I've always been. If the rebellion persists, then so be it but at least I did my part in teaching him the right thing in life. If he chooses to forget that, then that's on him.
Ironically to this article, one of the easiest ways to lose your rights as a U.S. citizen is through rebellion. Think about it, the law covers your rights as a citizen unless you rebel against the law or other people. If you rebel, you can lose your rights and can even get punishment for your rebellion because at that point the law isn't for you, it is against you.
The only time the law doesn't protect your rights is when you rebel. That's something deep to think about. Think maybe parents knew something back when those laws were written that we have forgotten? Like biblical laws, for example?
The Ultimate Unconditional Love of All
I know and have experienced no greater love in my life than God's love. I mention it here in my articles because without it you can't be happy and whole in this life.
I have found during the worst, most unhappy times of my life, those were also the times I was in rebellion toward God.
Think about it. We live our lives even as adults in any manner we choose. We expect no repercussions for our actions, rarely ever giving attention to God's will for our lives or heeding His commands, and because we are adults and can do whatever we want to do, we expect good results from that behavior.
Then when doing whatever we want results in bad consequences we blame God and throw fits and experience negative and hurt feelings toward Him like our kids do us. What sense does it make for us to blame God for everything when we KNOW deep down inside it is our fault and WE are the one who changed?
It's rebellion.
And what does rebellion reap? Negative consequences.
Why do we rebel? Is it because God loves us unconditionally and we know He will forgive us? Is it because we know He would do anything for us, and will never leave us no matter how we treat Him, no matter how much we brush Him off, ignore Him or rebel against Him?
Understanding the unconditional love that a mother has for her child, helps me now to understand the unconditional love God has for us. He has given us the ultimate sacrifice- His own son (I can't even imagine giving that up) yet we blame him for our own emotions, mistakes, bad habits, and for everything negative we experience.
Why? Because we need someone to blame. We don't want to take responsibility for own mistakes. We want it to be someone else's fault and why not blame our Creator since He ultimately gave us our free will to do as we please? We think that our decisions are His fault.
But is it His fault we are experiencing these things? Or, is it our own rebellious nature?
WE did this. Now, how are we going to correct it?
To use stock photos that are not trademarked, or copyrighted, click here: There is a fee for using this service but it keeps you from being sued for copyright infringement. http://depositphotos.com?ref=25897250


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Orange Star Keychain
ZJC Jewelry is moving to Etsy.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send along an email to:
firstname.lastname@example.com (THANK YOU!)
Orange Star Keychain
This star is a lovely shade of orange, and made from howlite. It measures 2 3/4" long total, (that includes the chain and keychain ring).
It's ready for gift giving in a pink organza pouch. A lavender gift box can be purchased separately in my shop as an upgrade.
All wires were hand-twisted by me, just using simple tools, made lovingly in my studio in Wisconsin.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Dietetics Internship Now Accepting Applications Published: November 1, 2019 | 12:53 pm The Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences offers a graduate Dietetics Internship (DI) program. The internship can be completed with the M.S. in Exercise Physiology (sports nutrition major) or M.S. in Nutrition and Food Science. Specializations are available in either clinical nutrition or sports nutrition, depending on the degree which is sought. Info & Application To apply & read more information visit the NFES DI webpage.


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Imagine an extremely accurate, highly effective broadhead for about a dollar! That's right! The stopping power and performance you need for even less than the price of a cup of coffee! 100% made in the USA, with multiple patents pending, the Cheap Shot™ ushers in a new era of bow and crossbow hunting potential. Made from space-age polymer developed specifically as a substitute for steel, the Cheap Shot™ is tough, sharp and practically impervious to the elements! Unlike a steel broadhead, it will never rust, tarnish or corrode, and it will endure all but the most extreme weather conditions. Available in two sizes, each patent-pending Cheap Shot™ is outfitted with Cold Steel®'s signature "grip n' rip" style serrations – developed for use on military tactical knives – specially designed to cut tough fibrous tissue, and capable of making short work of any mere flesh and blood target, dispatching even big game quickly and humanely. Easy to use and quick to replace, every Cheap Shot™ is accurate, lethal and above all – affordable! Specifications: PART # CSBH1Z WEIGHT 125 Grain STEEL/MATERIAL Space – Age Polymer ADDITIONAL FEATURE Length: Width: 1 1/4″
Save 31%
Cold Steel
Cold Steel, Incorporated was founded in 1980, a company dedicated to making the strongest, sharpest knives in the world. Superblades has been a retailer of Cold steel's for over 15 years now and we are convinced they are among the best knives and swords in the world. Over the last three decades, Cold Steel has been at the forefront of the many innovations that have helped to define the knife industry as a whole. Progressive accomplishment, including the introduction of the checked Kraton® handles, and the tanto point blade styles have gone from curiously interesting features to industry-wide hallmarks of quality and sophistication. New ground was also broken with the introduction of unique new blade steels like San Mai III® and Tri-Ad™ Lock & locking mechanism for folding knives. Tri-Ad™ Lock for example, has never been equaled by any of Cold Steel's competitors and nothing they have produced yet has been proven to outperform it. We have tested the Tri-Ad lock here as well and found it to be second to none in strength and durability. Of course, Cold Steel will always look to the future, constantly striving to make the world's strongest, sharpest knives. That goal as elusive and difficult to achieve as it is, has been the same for the past thirty years. We here at Superblades will always continue to support and represent Cold Steel as a premium brand. Shop all Cold Steel Knives and Cold Steel Swords
Additional information
|0.6 lbs


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More About Domino's on Yucaipa Blvd
Spicy, Sweet or Savory: Get Pizza at 33562 Yucaipa Blvd
When you've got a hankering for a cheese-loaded slice of mouthwatering pizza, we know you're craving the best pizza in Yucaipa. You want a hot, delicious pizza with a flavorful tomato sauce, a hearty blend of mozzarella and parmesan, expertly diced bits of pepperoni, and a golden crust that's simultaneously chewy and crispy. You want only the best pizza. You want Domino's.
At Domino's on Yucaipa Blvd, it's never been easier to get the fast and fresh pizza you want. Order your pizza online or by calling (909) 790-2903, or stop by and place a takeout order in person.
Start off by picking from our menu of crusts. Choose a fluffy, hand-tossed crust that's dusted with garlic seasonings and buttery flavor, a pan crust featuring two whopping layers of cheese, a crunchy thin crust, or even a gluten-free pizza crust! Next, pick your sauce and load up on your favorite, most delish toppings. Whether you want to combine sausage, bacon, salami and green peppers, or stick to a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, feta, and asiago cheese, your local Domino's has it all.
We've got slices to suit any taste. How do we know? Because there are more than 34 million ways to craft a single Domino's pizza. Build your own pizza from bottom to top or choose one of our many crowd-pleasing specialty pizzas, like the popular Spinach and Feta, Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch, or MeatZZa™, and have it delivered to your doorstep, today!
Is Hunger Calling? Order Pizza Delivery Near Yucaipa Blvd
Order from your Yucaipa Blvd Domino's and you'll see—we're pretty serious folks when it comes to pizza delivery. In fact, we're so serious about it that we'll make you a promise. We guarantee that your pizza will arrive toasty hot and fresh at your doorstep, straight from our oven! Want to know what's happening with your order like, right now? Use our expertly engineered Domino's TrackerⓇ to follow along as your order is prepped, baked, checked for quality, and sent out our door for delivery... and in the meantime, try not to drool on your phone or computer.
Call (909) 790-2903 now or order online for the best pizza delivery near you! Why keep your hunger waiting?


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Chelsea's forgotten men show Conte they can be trusted
Chelsea may have given up on the Premier League title, but a truly dominant display from some fringe players against lowly Huddersfield Town has shown that they are still taking this season seriously.
Antonio Conte admitted that the title race was over for his side after Saturday's 1-0 defeat against West Ham United, but he wanted to see improved finishing and a response from his wounded side.
Eden Hazard led the line with Willian and Pedro as the 3-4-3 formation that won the title last season returned. Conte demanded to see improved finishing from his side but he had Alvaro Morata missing out due to a back injury, so it was his fringe players who stepped up, with Willian getting a goal and two assists.
Editors' Picks
- 'Never stop believing!' - Henderson, Klopp & Liverpool bask in Premier League glory
- Back Arteta, Kroenke out: Arsenal's transfer situation is not so straightforward
- Ramos still 'the f*cking boss' as Real Madrid prepare to wrap up La Liga title
- 'Best target man in the world' - Giroud showing Pulisic why Hazard loved playing with Chelsea forward
Tiemoue Bakayoko's run into the box caused havoc for the opener, while Pedro also netted with a stunning strike to make it 3-0 after Willian scored his first header in the Premier League.
It was these forgotten men who were decisive as Chelsea dominated to get a 3-1 win at the Kirklees Stadium, where Manchester United lost and Manchester City struggled.
David Wagner's men will be disappointed with their display as they looked more like a Championship team than a Premier League team on the night, but Conte's fringe players took full advantage to stake their claim for more starts.
Chelsea are going to rotate heavily all through the winter period, but when the dust settles and the schedule gets lighter, these players will be fighting for spots in the side against Lionel Messi and Co. after drawing Barcelona in the Champions League.
Willian has improved in recent weeks and is giving Conte a reason to abandon the 3-5-2 and switch back to the 3-4-3 alongside Hazard and Morata. Pedro hasn't got going after dealing with injuries this season.
Meanwhile, Bakayoko has been criticised more than anyone else, but his display was great all night. His first touch of the game was to hit a lovely cross-field ball to Victor Moses which set the tone for his evening.
The 23-year-old put in a display that may see him put an indifferent two months behind him in a Chelsea shirt, as that sluggish stretch seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. Bakayoko also has dealt with constant comparisons to Nemanja Matic, who left for Manchester United for £40 million, with the fee being reinvested in the former Monaco man.
For Bakayoko, it has been a case of needing that time to adapt to English football and his responsibilities at Chelsea. Conte has previously complained about the size of his squad, which has undoubtedly been one of the factors that has seen the side's title defence ended so early, but in some positions he can be thankful.
Chelsea were so dominant that they even gave their teenage sensation Ethan Ampadu a Premier League debut. At 17 years and 89 days old, he became the club's second youngest to appear in the Premier League.
Pedro and Willian have proven that they have the required class, and they can be a force in the months to come. Chelsea have eight fewer points in the Premier League than they did last season, as they were mid-way through an incredible 13-game winning streak, but they can still achieve glory in all three cup competitions.
The season isn't over for Chelsea, and the fringe players have provided Conte with a reason to be hopeful that he can still win something important.


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Job Seeker-Book Design
Jamie Tipton
Enthusiastic Book Designer seeking remote position or freelance/contract position.
Nearly 20 years of graphic design and print production experience round out and greatly strengthen my ability to approach a new project or experience with confidence. My everyday tools are InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator and I'm happiest when I'm working on book interiors. I greatly enjoy the puzzle of organizing large amounts of complex content into a new evolution that is beautiful, interesting, easy to read, and sparks action. Joining these skills and my enthusiasm for this work will be an asset and dependable resource for those seeking design done beautifully, accurately and efficiently!
Of particular interest is work with progressive, environmental, social, scientific, spiritual, academic and scholastic individuals and organizations.
Your Name: Jaime Tipton
Your E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Your Phone: 406-360-7141
Your Website: www.openheartdesigns.com
About the PubWest Job Seekers Program
PubWest's new Job Seekers program offers PubWest Individual Members a way to attract the attention of potential employers.
Individual Members are welcome to submit a brief overview of their skills and work experience along with the positions they are seeking. PubWest will post their Job Seekers profile on pubwest.org for one month and run their profile in one of the association's weekly News & Events newsletters, which reaches thousands of publishing professionals.
To take advantage of this new member benefit, join PubWest as an Individual Member, complete the Job Seekers Profile below and submit it to PubWest at pubwest1 at gmail.com.
PubWest Job Seekers Profile
Your Name:
Your E-mail:
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Your Website (or LinkedIn profile):
Job Titles You Seek:
(e.g. "Project Editor, Acquisitions Editor")
Your Statement:
(Please provide a brief description of your skills and experience in 100 words or fewer.)
(Please attach a logo, headshot, or other image. We need a web-res jpeg whose longest edge is no longer than 400 pixels.)


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THIS morning, on the first leg of my flight to California where I'll be speaking this week (see Mark in California), I peered out the window of our jet at the ground far below. I was just finishing the first decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries when an overwhelming sense of futility came over me. "I am just a mere speck of dust on the face of the earth… one of 6 billion people. What difference could I possibly make??…."
Then I suddenly realized: Jesus also became one of us "specks." He too became just one of the millions who lived on earth at that time. He was unknown to most of the population of the world, and even in His own country, many did not see or hear Him preach. But Jesus accomplished the Father's will according to the Father's designs, and in so doing, the impact of Jesus' life and death has an eternal consequence that extends to the very ends of the cosmos.


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Emerald Matte Lipstick
This variant is currently sold out
- Product Description
- Product Details
The green color of emerald is the sign of spring, and ancient Egyptians believed that Emeralds stood for rebirth, fertility and eternal youth.
Capture that same spirit of youthful glee with this beautiful emerald green lipstick with sparkles that rival the most majestic emeralds in all the world.
Scent: Watermelon
Ingredients: Isododecane, disteardimonium hectorite, trimethylsiloxisilicate, mica, magnesium stearate, silica, dimethicone, jojoba oil, propylene carbonate, polysilicone-11, tocopherol, vegetable oil, vitamin E, stevia.
Product Size: 7g Tube


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We are sure the folks at The Steve Harvey Talk Show, including Steve Harvey are loving the reports of the numbers that were released today, AND the idea of debuting a week before all of the other talk shows planned to debut. Harvey debuted to a 1.5 household rating and 4 share in 48 markets, a 50 percent jump in the time period average, year over year. That's over 1 million folks who tuned in!
Check out the article from The Hollywood Reporter who breaks down the numbers;
Steve Harvey may have been onto something by premiering his new talk show a week ahead of his biggest competition.
Six days before the premiere of new daytime outings from Katie Couric, Ricki Lake and Jeff Probst, the comedian launched his new syndicated series on Monday to solid ratings according to Metered Market returns.
The first episode of the self-titled talker received a 1.5 household rating and 4 share in 48 markets, a 50 percent jump in the time period average, year over year. It's also a 25 percent gain from its lead-in.
No series has posted stronger MM numbers since Dr. Oz premiered in 2009.
Among the especially sought after female demographics in his time period, Harvey was up 133 percent, year over year, with women 18-34, 100 percent with 18-49-ers and 80 percent among 25-54-year-olds.
Elsewhere in syndication, the official end of the 2011-12 season gave another win to Judge Judy, easily the top performer with an average 7.0 HH rating. Dr. Phil won among talk show hosts with a 2.9 rating.
In third, just behind Dr. Oz, was Live! With Kelly. Her largely solo outing last year averaged a 2.5 rating. That number, of course, was eclipsed on Tuesday with the highly-rated addition of Michael Strahan. The new co-host's first day on the job pulled in a 3.9 rating.
Leave a comment below and follow us on Twitter @thehumormill


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Luxury designer Elisabetta Franchi opts for a bold and vibrant aesthetic with this chic new-season style. Cut from breathable cotton, the mini dress features a tonal mesh yoke with a layered hemline that's embellished with elegant beaded trims. Style it with gold-tone earrings and strappy stilettos for an effortless after-dark edit.
• We recommend purchasing your normal size – this design has a true fit
• Mid-weight, non-stretchy fabric
• Model is 180cm/ 5'11", Bust 85cm, Waist 60cm, Hips 89cm and is wearing an Italian size 40" an Italian size 40
• Mesh insert at neckline
• Centre-back button and keyhole with zip closure
• Beaded fringe at hem
• 100% cotton
• Dry clean onlyProduct Code: 213009843
Free for orders above 100 BHD 6 BHD for orders below 100 BHD


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Gratitude * Sunday
Quote of the Week – "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou
Sunday Haiku
Yellow daffodil,
snow defier, green stalks bright
against steel gray skies.
Sunday Musings
Do you know me? Do you read my words and think you know me? How do those words make you feel? How does my face and body make you feel if you know me in real life? When you are with me, are you on edge wondering what wild thing will come out of my mouth, or do you trust I've done my homework and know of what I speak?
Does my resting bitch face make you think I am unapproachable or even scary? It's just my face. The way my eyes and mouth droop at the edges does not mean I'm angry. My eyes don't shine with love and joy, though my heart carries those emotions as well as the weight of sadness and struggle of everyday. It shows on my face. I cannot deny it because it is right out front there to see.
Does my fat body make you feel ashamed to be seen with me? Fat means nothing. Bodies are not within our control despite the myths the beauty and medical industries have created. Fat is not contagious and should not be a source of shame. A body, whatever its size and shape, is a vehicle for the soul.
An unattractive face or body does not indicate a defective soul. A beautiful face and body can disguise an evil heart. Neither, however, are hard and fast rules about evaluating people from their appearance.
Does my voice upset you? Do my words make you feel uncomfortable, provoked, offended? Do you hear echoes of your disapproving mother or your strident grandmother or caustic aunt? Or do my words of dissent inspire you to do your own research, to learn and think critically for yourself, and not just take my word for it? Do my words leave you feeling like you've spent time with some wacky crank who blows smoke through her hat? Does my sarcasm upset you? Is my wacko sense of humor alienating?
My intentions are good, though I feel I don't always have quite the result I seek. My social skills are such that I struggle for the right things to say and the right way to say them. Sometimes I open my mouth when I shouldn't and vice versa. What I say and mean is often filtered by what you hear or want to hear and like the game of telephone, bizarre twists can happen between words and feelings.
What I want you to feel when you are with me or from reading my words is I see you. I hear you. You are glorious. You are loved. I don't care if you stand before me with spotty green hair, blue smurf make-up, sleeved with tattoos, quarter-sized gauges in your ears, layers of mismatched clothing, and have never succeeded at anything. I don't care if you stand in front of me with your thousand dollar suit, your hundred dollar haircut, and your arm's length list of recognized social accomplishments. I don't care if you share my beliefs, spiritual, political, or otherwise. I don't care what color your skin is, what shape you are, if you speak with the accent of another language, who you love, what you are able to do or how smart you are, if you are old or young or in-between.
I see you in the beauty of you. Nobody else is you. You are unique and special and a treasure and resource for our society. I may not know your history or understand you, but I'm not sure I need to. I don't know your story. I haven't lived your life, though I know the weirdnesses of my life so I think we probably all have weirdnesses we deal with. I don't need to know anything about you to see you and hear you and honor you as you are. The past is the past; it is what made us the people we are today. The future is unknowable, as much as we plan and set goals and work toward successful outcomes events are not always in our control and crazy derailing stuff can happen in the blink of an eye. We have only this very now, this moment in time, and now is when I see you. I have lost a bit of naïveté here though: if you show me lies, or cruelty, or hate I see that part of you as well as the beauty of you.
If you know me or if you read me, know that I'm for you. I am not waiting for you to become a better person or fulfill your potential. I hope you don't hear only the cranky part of my words, but know that as you are right now, I see you. I hear you. I stand beside you and for you.
Alternate Museland
Possibly you noticed all my quotes for the month of February were from Maya Angelou, whom I've always had a writer's crush on. I thought it was appropriate for Black History Month, though I'm sad we haven't gotten over all those differences and are able to honor everyone despite skin color, nationality, or difference. It also makes me sad how blacks (and all people of color, considering our entire nation is built on immigrants) have been treated in American history and to this day. We can't change the past, we only move forward. I've admired Ms Angelou's work for many years as a voice for all people. If I'd known her in person I'm guessing I would have had a full blown crush. She reminds me of my paternal grandmother who was as white as a woman could be, and I can't quite put my finger on what makes them similar in my heart.
Here's something you may not have suspected about me. Don't judge me for my naïveté. When I was in high school, besides protesting the Vietnam war and getting into trouble for helping to organize walk-outs and sit-ins, I wanted to be black. I thought Billie Holiday, and BB King, and Sarah Vaughn, and Tina Turner, and Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles, and Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin, and other musicians were glamorous. I thought the color of their skin was rich and elegant, their facial features full and soft, and their curly hair like angel's halos. I didn't know enough about history yet to know how they were so heinously mistreated and exploited, and when I did learn it crushed me that people could treat each other like that just because their skin was different. When I discovered authors of color, of course, the incontrovertible truth was laid bare as I read their stories. Reality prevails. One cannot change the color of one's wings and mine are and always will be white, though only in color, not in purity. I am, by no means whatsoever, a perfect person.
I know better now, and assumptions and attitudes about differences don't stand and aren't taught in my house, because that is the thing: hatred, bigotry, prejudice, or discomfort with difference is learned behavior, just as acceptance and honoring each other is learned as well. My dad tried to indoctrinate me into the racist bigotry attitude after his experience serving in the military, because he was taught to hate the "enemy", but I don't remember him hating or hurting another person. The indoctrination didn't take with me; I resisted.
I'd rather teach my family empathy and caring than hatred and division. I think the words of Ms Angelou are right there with me.
Color Watch – colorful attractions in my neighborhoods this week – A sprinkle of snow this week on my hardy sedums. Bright yellow harbingers of spring, daffodils bloom in spite of this last week's snow. Wavy frothy forsythia branches with yellow blossoms. Love the soft heather purple with the spears of nearly blooming daffodils.
Current View – {These are only my opinions about movies and books, but don't let me stop you from trying these reviewed items yourself; your opinion may differ.} 2018 Winter Olympics are almost over. Back to our regularly scheduled programming soon. * Enter the Dragon (1973, rated R) with Bruce Lee. How I admire those crazy-mad martial arts defense skills. As long as the good guys win.
Currently Reading – I started Walking to Forest Grove: The Life and Times of the Prettiest Town in Oregon (2014, local history) by Ken Bilderback with Kris Bilderback. Our local lending library system owns only two copies of this book which is shameful because it is local history, and our youth should know from which they came; it should be required reading in 6th grade, but I can't imagine our school district owns more than one copy. With only two copies there is no way I can complete this before somebody else requests it, as is the way of libraries: we share. The Bilderback's do not write dry history; they create pictures of the past in which our town and the people in it live and thrive. I've read enough during this short check-out period to know I will need to own my own copy of this book. * Learning To Be Old: Gender, Culture, and Aging (2003, aging and psychology) by Margaret Cruickshank. Do not believe everything you've been told about aging. It is more likely to be a cultural construct than have real basis in reality.
This week I have been grateful for:
- Ibuprofen and microwave hot packs for the boogalou in my hip I woke up with this week.
- Still being able to move, boogalou and all.
- February being the shortest month and yet it brings the light.
- The difference a few degrees makes.
- The high school I attended offering an open house before they tear down the old building. I still dream about that building and will miss it with mixed feelings, the good with the bad. Sadly the building, built in 1925, is one of the oldest still standing in the town I grew up in, and was falling apart when I attended in the late 60s and early 70s. I'm glad and sad progress is taking place.
- Not having to go anywhere in inclement weather. In Oregon's Willamette Valley, inclement means any threat of a dusting of snow or ice. We just aren't used to it.
- Not having any power outages during our "inclement" weather.
- My local lending library who granted a special renew period for an item I could not return because of the "inclement" weather. Read: I was too chicken to drive with the threat of icy roads.
- A renewed interest in Neighborhood Watch programs in my community.
- Appreciating other cultures and heritages beyond my own.
- Chocolate.
- Water.
Hoping you have a lovely week.
Namaste. Peace. Blessings.
Floral ribbon border by Laurel Burch


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World Osteoporosis Day: Do you know the signs of a breaking spine?
Around the globe, people are uniting on 20th October 2019 for World Osteoporosis Day. This annual campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal diseases. With the aim of putting bone health in the spotlight, this year's World Osteoporosis Day wants everyone to spot the signs of a breaking spine.
Did you know that spine or vertebral fractures are the most common type of fragility fracture?
They occur in 30 to 50% of people over the age of 50.1 You can sustain a spinal fracture from a fall, or something as minor as a sudden movement, sneeze or even bending down to pick something up off the floor. Despite this, these types of fractures can be missed by healthcare providers – up to 70% can remain undiagnosed.2 It can be for the simple reason that sometimes spinal fractures aren't painful, or people might think they have a 'bad back' and take medication without investigating further.
So, do you know how to spot the signs of a broken spine?1
- Warning Sign 1: Pain
Sudden or severe back pain in the mid or lower spine can be a sign you have a vertebral fracture. This is probably the easiest sign to notice! Spinal fractures occur most commonly near the waistline, or slightly above or below it. The pain can be present all the time, and it often feels worse when you move or change positions. Never assume that your back pain is due to arthritis or muscle strain – ask to be investigated for osteoporosis.
- Warning Sign 2: Height loss
Height loss of more than 3cm can be a sign of a broken spine. While it is normal to lose a little height as you age, too much height loss over a short period of time can mean that osteoporosis is causing bones to break in your spine. If you recognise this sign, make an appointment to see your GP and have a discussion about your concerns.
- Warning Sign 3: Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a word that most people wouldn't know – in medical terms it means a stooped back or curvature of the spine. Kyphosis can occur as the result of multiple osteoporotic fractures in your spine. As your vertebrae collapse or fracture, your back begins to hunch forward and it is important to be aware that this process can happen quite gradually. If this rings a bell for you, it's always a good idea to check in with your doctor.
The impact of a vertebral fracture can be serious and long-lasting, reducing your quality of life and limiting your independence. Outcomes can be anything from spinal deformity like kyphosis, severe back pain, difficulty in participating in daily activities, depression and more.2
So if you think you have one or more of the signs of a broken spine, go and see your doctor today.
World Osteoporosis Day: Do you know the signs of a breaking spine?
Around the globe, people are uniting on 20th October 2019 for World Osteoporosis Day...read more
Let's talk about the treatment of osteoporosis
For many, the first sign of osteoporosis is a fracture. For others, taking action early can prevent the first fracture...read more
Osteoporosis - affecting millions of australians
Everyone needs to be aware of their bone health as they age. Osteoporosis is a chronic health condition...read more
- International Osteoporosis Foundation. Spot the signs of a broken spine (brochure). 2018. www.worldosteoporosisday.org/resources.
- International Osteoporosis Foundation and Osteoporosis Australia. Spot the signs of a broken spine (infographic). 2018. osteoporosis.org.au.


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Spring 2019 MenswearLes Benjamins
The mostly unisex streetwear brand Les Benajmins specializes in "journeys of discovery," a strategy that points up the personal story of its creative director and founder, Bunyamin Aydin, who is German of Turkish origin. Presumably this was also the logic behind the brand's stylized camera logo. Aydin is fond of saying that, as a designer, he likes to "capture moments" and transpose them into clothes: Those 35s you see everywhere are a reference to now-vintage film cameras.
This season, Aydin looks eastward to Japan, not just because he's always been slightly obsessed with that culture, but because the Japanese share his love of basketball. From that algorithm come more of the brand's best-selling zip hoodies, tech-infused kimonos, 3-D basketball prints with upended lettering, or collages with Tokyo imagery shot by Aydin himself, plus an optical white tracksuit with fluorescent green striping that will probably go viral. The designer nods to his roots with a red-and-black carpet print; camouflage pieces run through with red lacing will also likely prove popular. The "dumplings rather than flowers" slogan is probably one of the more perplexing neologisms of the season, but Les Benjamins fans will likely find it ironic: The brand already has eight stores in China.


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People need to see the real Jesus…
still healing, still at work through His people.
That's what CURE is all about, presenting Jesus to people in a way that connects. Learn how you can connect your church to the healing work that Jesus is doing through a CURE Sunday. Request a free planning guide today.
Yes, please send me a CURE Sunday planning guide.


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Get new music from Zoro – Upandan ft. Mr Real out now!
Relentless Nigerian rapper Zoro puts out another brand new tune 'Upandan' featuring Mr Real barely 36 hours after he dropped 'One On One'.
'Upandan' by Zoro is the latest piece of music he has put out in recent times like 'One On One', 'I Dun Care (Cover)', 'Stainless'.
The eastern rapper attempts to wake everyone up to his sound even with his new tune with Mr Real titled 'Upandan'.
Listen, enjoy Zoro – Upandan ft. Mr Real below.
Download: Zoro – Upandan ft. Mr Real


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Telstra, an Australian based mobile broadband network service provider has just announced its next generation 3G network available for mobile consumers. With its impressive high peak rate of 21Mbps, it has been recognized and declared as the world fastest mobile broadband network by the Guinness World Records recently.
In conjunction with the announcement, Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo has also unveiled a new Turbo 21 modem that can be used to access the ultra high bandwidth available from the broadband services with seamless network connectivity on the move. According to the source, users will be able to experience real time net surfing with download speed ranging from 550kbps to 8Mbps, which is four times faster as compared other Australian telecommunication service providers at this moment.
Telstra further disclosed that they are consistently upgrading the infrastructure and consumers can expect a two fold improvement of 42Mbps Telstra Next G network with HSPA+ technology by end of this year.


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Each and every item offers its damaging as well as strengths therefore choosing great floors in the home is really a complicated job. Exact same floors doesn't match to any or all the area and many more possess their very own features.
With regard to floors objective you have in order to very first choose regardless of whether to visit with regard to floors in most space or even a few made the decision areas just after which examine the actual visible appear as well as high quality from the item.
Opting for carpeting choice, if you're using a loved ones after that carpeting may be the much better choice for you personally because carpeting provides the temperate as well as sleek sensation in the home. With regard to loved ones existence, the actual going out as well as get-together requires locations often therefore organization floors aren't recommended because smooth carpeting may be the obtainable smartest choice.
In case your location is definitely using a cold temperature after that carpeting might function greatest since it offers heat as well as carpeting will work for cushioning. However the damaging facet of carpeting may be the these people obtain split as well as ruin quickly after that evaluate in order to difficult floors additionally no proof in order to unsightly stains as well as upkeep. This usually needs for that normal guarding through setting it up vaccumed as well as producing the ground thoroughly clean.
Wooden floors are actually times sought after and also the Atl wooden would be the the majority of evaluated floors with regard to entire part of the home. The outside appear from the wooden floors seems excellent as well as for this reason the reason why lots of people like the hard wood floors. The inside design of the home appears fantastic with regard to they may be coordinated along with something.
As soon as wood floors set there's nothing in order to be worried about with regard to all of those other existence as well as needs minimal treatment. Their own damaging elements tend to be they don't obtain thoroughly clean much and do not provide the sensation associated with heat as well as recommended for that washing location as well as bathrooms.
For that floors from the primary entrance, bathroom or even washing location the actual tiles or even the actual flooring created using granitic tend to be the most accepted option for his or her excellent appear. Getting the characteristics associated with strong strength as well as need complete absolutely no guarding along with only a small cleansing the possibility with regard to floors is the greatest.
With regard to granitic floors it's possible to state the actual if you wish to conceal your own dropped locks as well as this kind of grime after that do it now. It takes installing heating unit techniques in the home because they aren't comfortable and thus enables you to really feel anxious.


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Internet-based Spousal Communication during Deployment: Does it Increase Post-deployment Marital Satisfaction?
Keywords:Communication, marital satisfaction, Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the question: Is a service member's post-deployment marital satisfaction correlated with frequency and mode of communication during deployment? This study used an anonymous exploratory design with a sample of 119 Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) married veterans. Service members who communicated daily during deployment with their spouses had higher marital satisfaction scores than those who communicated less than once per week. Additionally, participants who used US mail had the highest marital satisfaction scores compared to telephone and internet-based communication. This study expands the overwhelmingly qualitative current literature to include quantitative analysis of this topic. This study also depicts the veterans' experiences since many of the previous studies of this topic used samples of spouses.
Additional Files
Copyright to works published in Advances in Social Work is retained by the author(s).


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We've already looked at 2019 books from pervious Newbery, Caldecott, and Geisel winners – today is for nonfiction.
Below are books publishing in 2019 from previous Sibert Award Medal/Honor winners.
*Note* I tried to keep it nonfiction here (I like themes). So I didn't include the couple instances of past Sibert winners with fiction books out this year.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments.


text: Bernie and Todd vs. Baseball 1 E&A Technicolor #48 of 89 ‹‹ First ‹ Prev Comments(0) Random Next › Last ›› Anson's interest in baseball was mentioned once before, in E&A Classic, Sports 3. After this, wouldn't be mentioned again much. Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. Name (required) Mail (required) (will not be published) Website


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Avaxia Biologics received $145,000 in funding to develop an "anti-gluten antibody."
Avaxia Biologics, Inc., a biotech company focusing on orally-delivered therapeutics, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support the development of an antibody therapeutic for celiac disease. This Phase I award provides Avaxia with approximately $145,000 in research and development funds. If early results are promising, the company could receive an additional $1 million in Phase II funding, according to a press release distributed by Avaxia.
"We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from the NIH in recognition of the potential of our novel approach to the treatment of celiac disease," said Barbara S. Fox, PhD, Avaxia's founder and CEO. "This NIH support provides the funding we need to advance the development of our anti-gluten antibody into pre-clinical models of celiac disease."
To learn more, read the full press release.
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by A L Kennedy
Alfred Day - a young man caught up in conflict. A sort of cross between the Good Soldier Svejk and Oedipus, with a dash of Dad's Army. And that's not to mention the rest of his crew, who have escaped from - who knows? But they are all completely bonkers. And then there's Joyce, with whom he has a not so brief encounter.
There is nothing quite like this book, so if you're up for a reading adventure, give it a go.
There is nothing quite like this book, so if you're up for a reading adventure, give it a go.
'Tea, I was thinking of tea.' Tea and toast - the operational diet. Tea without end and toast. 'Tea the drink. Not the meal. Tea's not really a meal you'd ever eat, is it? It would be dinner to you, or supper?' He's left the milk right by the stove and it's turned with the heat - only bloody place where there is any heat in the shop.
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
All For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway


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Successful promotional campaigns depend on reaching the right audience with the right message at the right time. Get your business in the game with affordable TV advertising teaching customers in Elkader, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, and Marquette in addition to thousands of customers across the state. ICAN, Inc. works with independent telephone companies to help area businesses develop markets through the use of cable TV networks such as HGTV, Discover, ESPN, and Fox News. Alpine Communications is partnering with ICAN to offer a special program designed to help our local businesses take advantage of these national networks and more!
We invite you to attend one of two informational sessions on:
Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast will be provided.
River Park Place, 302 S. River Park Place, Guttenberg
Thursday, June 19 at 5:15 p.m.
Hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
Cobblestone Inn, 100 North Street, Marquette
Each session will last one hour . The morning session will be held in Guttenberg at the River Park Place and the late-afternoon session will be held in Marquette at the Cobblestone Inn. Space is limited so RSVP's are necessary. Please call Alpine at (563) 245-4000 or send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com to reserve a seat.


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Flight deals from Abbotsford
If you're in search of flight deals from Abbotsford, you've come to the right place. At WestJet, we offer great deals on some of the most exciting destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. No matter if it's a weekend trip or a leisurely vacation you're planning, you can rest assured we'll get you there safely, affordably and on-budget. Book with us today.
Low fare finder
Don't see what you're looking for? Find all of our great low fares in one place.
What makes WestJet different?
Airport Details: From YXX, Abbotsford International Airport
Impeccable customer care and flight deals from Abbotsford are part of our daily routine here at WestJet, but we're also dedicated to giving back to the community and investing in a cleaner, healthier environment. That's why we support eight national charities and nurture a culture of care through various social responsibility and sustainability programs. That means travel with WestJet doesn't just get you to your destination — it gets you closer to a better future.
What sets WestJet apart?
On top of our high-value deals and desirable destinations, there are several reasons why we're the name to look for when it comes to flight deals from Abbotsford. We strive to minimize our impact on the environment, so we're proud to operate a young fleet of Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft that make air travel more comfortable and fuel-efficient than ever before. On top of that, we invest in our people and the communities we serve on an ongoing basis. WestJet Cares for Kids, for example, collaborates with a number of national charities to improve children's health and wellness, while WestJetters Caring for Our Community supports WestJetters who want to donate their time and skills to local charitable initiatives. They're a crucial part of our activities as we focus on our approach to guest experience, corporate culture, environmental sustainability and more. Arrange your journey from Abbotsford with WestJet today and you'll soon discover how we're making a real and lasting difference.


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There's more to every story if you take the time to tell it. The Why gets to the "why" behind an issue that matters in your community, diving deep to give you a fuller view – and an illuminating listening experience.
Help us get to 100% of our membership goal to support the reporters covering our region, the producers bringing you great local programs and the educators who teach all our children.


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How far would you go to avenge your family and save the one you love?
In nineteenth-century England, Alaina Claiborne had a loving family, a cherished friend, and devoted servants. She spent her days riding across the grassy hills of the English countryside, joyful and at peace.
Then tragedy strikes and her world is forever changed. Searching for those responsible is her only focus . . . until she meets Tristan.
Tristan Sheffield, a man of many talents, searches out those who don't want to be found. His past is filled with secrets and deeds he would rather leave deeply buried. However, when his life unexpectedly entwines with Alaina's, he soon discovers they share more than a mutual desire to catch a murderer.
On their hunt for a man driven by greed, Tristan and Alaina find that love is the greatest weapon against evil, and they'll stop at nothing to survive.
Purchase Now on Kindle
Enjoy Excerpts from Alaina Claiborne
MK McClintock is an entrepreneur, baker, photographer, and multi-genre author.
Over the years MK McClintock has traveled the country and abroad, experiencing the beauty of other lands and cultures. She dreams of a time when life was simpler, the land rougher, and the journey more rewarding. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, McClintock will always call Montana home.
MK McClintock is a member of Romance Writers of America, Montana Romance Writers, and Women Writing the West.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter | YouTube
BookBlast $50 Giveaway
Ends 1/22/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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- Six levels
- Three different Force Pods
- Password save
With that said, the game is a great looking arcade-style side-scrolling shooter that, at the very least, puts the Game Boy Advance's hardware capabilities to use. Raylight Studios prides itself in its BlueRoses graphics engine, popularized in its games such as Wing Commander Prophecy for DSI as well as Ozzy & Drix for Midway. For R-Type III the graphical demands aren't quite as enormous to require fully 3D objects since the original design resorted to background and sprite tricks for many of the game's effects. The engine can definitely handle a lot of sprites and objects on-screen, and the design puts this ability to use in several places throughout the game's levels. But Raylight's engine comes in handy for when the level designs require object and background scaling and rotating, much like the Super NES' Mode 7. In one challenge, for example, you're required to move the ship in a safe zone while a structure slowly rotates around.
Other effects are subtle and don't affect the gameplay at all. Watch the background where a tumbling monolith floats on by. I imagine something like this wasn't in the Super NES as these background items are fully 3D, texture mapped objects. They're few and far between, but it's obviously thrown in so the developers can say, "See? This is what our engine can do.
But as good as the game looks, at least on the level of old-school side scrolling shooters anyway, the game is full of little annoyances that add up to big problems, and it's these problems that hurt the game so much that it makes it not so much fun to play. For instance, the fact that the ship's collision detection extends a few pixels beyond the sprite causes so many problems with the gameplay that it borders on system-chucking frustration. Creep too close to an enemy and the ship will explode simply because the sprite's programming said, "oops, too close!" Even when the sprite never even touched the hazard.
Level designs are also a bit of a drag. They go on for far too long, and the game's pace is incredibly slow. And even though this is apparently a R-Type trademark, it doesn't make the game all that exciting...and since much of the game's challenge comes from negating corridors and "mazes" you'll find yourself wishing the game moved more quickly just so your ship doesn't have to stay inside a predetermined, narrow corridor...all the while the environment automatically scrolls sluggishly on either side. And when the game does move quickly, there are gameplay "cheats" in place to make the game feel more challenging; too far to the right of the screen and you might be killed simply due to a fast-moving wall popped up with zero warning.
And though the audio initially impresses on start-up with a very dynamic and retro-sounding "SHNNNG!" when the R-Type III logo pops up on the screen, the rest of the sound falls flat; the soundtrack, something that could have given the game a powerful boost, ends up muddied, muffled, and drowned out by the sound effects.
Fans of the original SNES version from all over unanimously state that the conversion to the GBA is far from a faithful one. For a newbie to the design like myself, a few minutes into the game it doesn't seem all that bad. But after repeating a level from the beginning after ten minutes of success, only to have the ship explode without hitting a hazard, the game's problems start to grate on the nerves. It looks great, absolutely. But the level design and collision detection, as well a sluggish pace and poor use of background music...well, it all adds up. R-Type III is, simply put, a bad Game Boy Advance game.


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Econet Under Fire Over Business Deal
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) has received a complaint against Econet Wireless Zimbabwe over allegations of possible unauthorised use of another company's interlectual property. The complaint comes from M Comm Africa Limited who have already gone to court.
The allegations stem from a pitch for a security product, "Panic Button" made to Econet by local company M Comm Africa Limited in 2011 with intent to form a partnership with the mobile network operator.
M Comm alleges Econet negotiated in bad faith and launched the product on their own under a new name. M Comm Africa Limited director Ignatius Munengwa wrote to Potraz director general Dr Gift Machengete on April 19 seeking assistance to get compensation for intellectual property.
The complaint comes after M Comm Africa approached the courts seeking legal recourse.
In October 2011 M Comm Africa approached Econet to partner in the development of a unique security response product.
The business model entailed linking security companies' rapid response to the MNO and create a new revenue stream for the MNO as this was not their core business.
M Comm Africa argues it had already secured the services of one of the largest security firms for the response aspect and only required a MNO to provide the key interface with the security companies.
In the interim, Mr Munengwa said, Econet requested further information in order for them to assess whether this would be a viable project for them to be involved in.
Mr Munengwa supplied information as requested and held several meetings to discuss the details of the project including cash flow projections and profit sharing between Econet and M Comm Africa based on a model provided by Econet.
"After extensive review by the finance and business development departments the project received preliminary approval. However, I was informed that new projects had been suspended," wrote Mr Munengwa.
Mr Munengwa continued to follow up over a period of two years until such time as he received a definitive answer from the chief commercial and customer services officer Stanley Henning the initiative would not be possible after taking into account the potential in terms of revenue and subscriber growth or retention impact as key objectives fitting into the MNO's business plan for 2015.
Econet launched its 'Connected Home' package in November 2015.
"After making several attempts to appeal to the Econet management team, I ended up seeking recourse through the courts as a last resort. While this issue is presently before the court, I felt compelled to register a formal complaint with your office," Mr Munengwa said.
"Econet has not acted in good faith and displayed a lack of integrity in the manner in which they have dealt with me. It is evident that Econet will disempower young entrepreneurs like myself for their own gain, rather than reward those who have genuinely engaged with them with ideas that develop their business I am therefore appealing for your intervention to review this matter as I seek equitable recompense for the utilisation of my business innovation which has been launched by Econet."
This Article was originally published in The Herald.


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By now we've all heard about a number of common sense precautions to help keep us from getting infected with flus and colds. Along with drinking lots of fluids (especially water), getting good rest and sleep, avoiding sugar and eating a good diet high in fresh vegetables and fruits we know that frequent hand washing will clean off any viruses we may touch before we can transport them to our mouth, eyes or nose. Well, here's an interesting and effective variation on the hand-washing theme.
For years I've recommended using a nasal rinse or nasal "douche" for sinus infections. I've helped many patients clear out even severe infections with this approach. For established infections I recommend 1 teaspoon each of sea salt (not regular table salt which contains sugar and other additives) and apple cider vinegar in 8-10 oz of warm water. This makes a good gargle and nasal rinse.
Recently I've run across some interesting studies using the nasal douche to prevent or speed healing from the flu. One found that it takes up to 48 hours for the flu virus to establish itself in the mucus membranes of the sinuses and throat. If you can wash these areas out during that 48 hours it can keep the virus from getting established and growing into a full-fledged flu. Another study was done with school children, some who had the flu and some who didn't…..yet. As compared to the control group, the kids who used a nasal douche 2-3 times/day got over the flu faster and fewer kids got sick to start with.
In both these studies the nasal douche solution was simple salt water. It seemed the benefit was two-fold. The solution washed viruses out of the body and also cleared the "filter" mechanism of the cilliary escalator in the nose and throat. Kind of like changing the filter on your furnace when it gets clogged up.
I'm suggesting using the salt water (one tsp/10 oz coffee mug) for prevention and to speed up recovery. The salt is important. You want to keep the solution about the same salinity as your cells or slightly higher. Otherwise your nasal cells will suck up the water, swell and cause painful nasal congestion…not the effect we're trying for! Use the salt water as a gargle daily. To rinse the nose, you can pour a little salt water into your cupped palm, block off one nostril and suck up a little water with the other. Tilt your head back and let the water run back into your throat and spit it out. Do this 3 times on each side, 1-3 times/day, once a day for prevention, up to 3 times/day if you're actually sick. To make things easier and get more volume through your nose, you can use a "Netti Pot" to pour salt water through your nose. They're available in most health food stores and we have them for sale at the office.
So, to help prevent flu and colds, wash your hands frequently and keep your nose clean!


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SOLD! for $960.00.
(Note: Prices realized include a buyer's premium.)
- View Final Price on Live Auctioneers
- Low Estimate: $700.00
- High Estimate: $900.00
- Realized: $960.00
- More Information:
For more information on this or any other item, email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Share this:
1st & 2nd items: Two (2) American William & Mary side chairs, comprised of mixed woods including walnut and maple, both with rush seats, Spanish style feet and turned stretchers. 40 1/2" H x 20" W x 14 1/2" D and 39 3/4" H x 20 1/4" W x 13 1/4" D. 18th century. 3rd item: American Hepplewhite wing back chair with modern cotton Jacobean pattern upholstery. 45" H x 33" W x 25" D. Late 18th/early 19th century. Provenance: the estate of Christine Rehnke, Nashville, Tennessee. CONDITION: 1st & 2nd items: Refinish to both, general use wear. 3rd item: Front feet with old replacements to lower sections measuring 1-1/8" H x 1-1/2" W. Stains to upholstery, primarily to seat, general wear to legs and stretcher.


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Introduction: How to Recycle Jewel or CD Cases Into Picture Mounts
Instead of buying frames, and throwing away used jewel cases, make the cases serve as picture mounts. This instructable will show you how. Any number of photos or souvenir programs, cards, memories, etc., can be mounted this way very cheaply, and you are being green by recycling or reusing the cases. Make them different sizes for variety, and they can be displayed on a wall by adding the appropriate hanger(s).
Step 1: Get a Case and Some Tools Together
These cases are everywhere, it seems, I used to get them at work from manufacturers reagents (chemicals) that included one case with every lot. They can also be purchased and are a good source for small pieces of plastic. Tools are simple: straight edge, box cutter knife or craft knife, a drill or drill press to make holes in the plastic, some paper and some glue. An awl or ice pick is handy for making holes.
Step 2: Dismantle and Trim Jewel Case
Gently pry the case apart so that you end up with two good pieces of plastic (top and bottom of the case). I discard the molded part that holds the CD, but that too could be used for something. To get the cover for our photo, we need to trim off the edges. Following the photos, score at the inner angle of the piece, and snap off the edges. You may need a pair of pliers, but do this gently so that you end up with a flat piece of plastic that can be used as the face of your project. Be extremely careful when "cutting" or scoring plastic. Make sure the parts don't move, and never cut towards yourself. Not to be attempted by children!
Step 3: Cut Cardboard to the Size of the Trimmed Plastic
When you have your plastic piece ready, use it as a template to make a square of cardboard. This piece of cardboard can be covered with black paper, or any color for that matter. Cover the edges of the cardboard too by using edging strips as shown.
Step 4: Drill Holes in Plastic
Simple enough, but I have found the best way to drill this plastic is with a glass bit as shown. If you use regular wood bits, there is a very good chance you will shatter the plastic. That doesn't happen with the glass bit.
Step 5: Glue Picture of Choice
To glue paper and picture in place, I used white glue for the black paper. Then a glue stick can be used for the photo, and the white frame surrounding it. All are sandwiched together, then the plastic is screwed on.
Step 6: Screw All Parts Together
Once plastic is drilled I placed it on the black mount exactly in the position that I wanted it to be. Then using an awl (you can use an ice pick as well), mark the four screw holes, remove plastic, and enlarge the holes so that you can insert the bolts. These bolts don't need nuts as the cardboard will hold them secure enough for this small piece. (Don't make the holes too large).
Step 7: Make a Stand for Your Photo
Cut a support, or stand, out of a strip of wood. I think my blank was a strip 1 and 5/8 in. wide. I set my saw to 15degrees, and cut out the piece. You can do this with a miter box, or just use a protractor, make two marks in the shape shown, and then saw on the marks. Here, I have painted this support black. This will make a pleasing angle to view as the photo(s) sits on the shelf or desk.
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The wall in my guest bathroom is made of stupid marble (previous owners) so I can't hang a picture so I have been using CD cases for awhile to put up pics that would normally live out their life on my computer, your way is way better and would look great on a desk or a stupid marble wall. I just wanted to show you what a whole bunch would look like. I use removable adhesive foam tabs to keep them on the wall but every now and again one falls down. Great 'ible Cman, you are amazingly prolific!
Thanks Ninzer, I value your feedback! Cman
This is a great use for something that would normally be discarded. Thanks for the tip regarding a glass bit, I cracked the plastic everytime drilled. I will try this.