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Even though you do your best to stay safe, the time may eventually come when you're involved in an accident where the other party's is at fault. When this occurs, you could be stuck with loss of wages, damaged property, and medical bill expenses. Whether it's just property damage or personal injury, you need to know that the at fault party's insurance is willing to indemnify you in the case of a claim. Writing a demand letter is the best way make sure that all your expenses and losses are taken care of. This article will be a step by step guide on how to write a convincing demand letter to settle your insurance claim.
Imagine returning to the comforts of your home, after a long two-week summer vacation. Drained by the Georgia heat, you briskly run to turn on your thermostat anxiously waiting to feel the cool sensation of air circulating through your home. However, there's a problem! Ten minutes have passed and there isn't any air blowing! Naturally, you begin pressing all buttons just to get a reaction from your air conditioner, but there is still no response. Hoping that the issue is something simple, you decide to: change the batteries in the thermostat and flip the AC valve switch on the breaker. But nothing is working. This is the moment when you know you need to call a HVAC specialist. He assesses the situation, only to tell you the one thing that no homeowner wants to hear: that your AC unit needs to be replaced! The replacement could cost anywhere from $500 to $4000 dollars! Unexpected home repairs can be a devastating financial strain. At some time or another, many homeowners will find themselves in this situation or one that is similar. Therefore, it is important to have a home warranty.
Despite the availability of live agents, toll-free call centers, and an almost endless supply of information on the internet, policyholders everywhere still hold a multitude of misconceptions about insurance. Why do these fallacies persist? The reasons are almost as numerous as the misconceptions themselves. Some people are afraid to be ridiculed if they ask a question that they think is stupid. Others take the advice of friends or family members who may have good intentions but do not truly have a firm grasp of how insurance works. Whatever the reason, do not fall victim to any of these insurance misconceptions
Home insurance carriers offer homeowners a lot of ways to save money on their home insurance premiums. Yet, many policyholders are unaware of these fantastic savings opportunities. For example, many insurance companies provide cheaper home insurance rates when living in areas with less natural disasters or having a home that can withstand a natural disaster. Homeowners can also save between 5 and 20 percent on their premiums by making changes to their homes that increase safety and security, such as installing new house wiring, protective roofing materials, natural gas and water leak detectors and burglary and emergency event alarm systems.
Before most people say, "I do" or ask "will you?" someone usually has to say "I'll take that one." So in a way, buying an engagement ring is really the first step in a life-long commitment. It makes sense to want to insure the symbol of your love, in order to guarantee that it will be around for a long time. But is engagement ring insurance really necessary or is it just a way for insurance companies to make a profit in the wedding industry? The truth about this coverage may surprise you.
If you have been considering increasing the deductible on your policy, you may want to reconsider. Even though a higher deductible will result in a lower premium, there are long-term consequences to think about. Unfortunately, for many policyholders, the deductible is just one of many numbers on their policy that they don't understand. Before you make any changes to your policy, do your research and make sure that you're making the best decision for your personal financial situation.
There's no need to be concerned that you won't be able to get insurance on your favorite work of art. In fact, if you already have a homeowner or renter's policy, the process is fairly simple. A standard home, renters, or condo insurance policy should automatically include some coverage for artwork. However, the limit isn't very high, so it may be necessary to add coverage if your needs exceed what has already been provided.
No matter what type of insurance you need, navigating the available choices can seem like a big hassle. Perhaps the first decision you'll need to make is whether to use an independent insurance broker or a direct writer. What's the difference? Simply put, independent brokers and agents will work for you and connect you to insurance products from a wide range of companies. Direct writers work for one company, usually one of the "big name" companies like Geico, and only have access to that company's products. Some large companies like Liberty Mutual and Allstate make use of both independent agents and direct writers, but many employ only direct writers. In some cases, using a direct writer is the only way to purchase a policy from a particular company.
Insurance provides peace of mind by knowing that when a disaster or illness strikes - you're covered. Peace of mind can be expensive though, especially if you live on a fixed or low income or have dependents to cover. Fortunately, with the help of mass retailers, there's a cheaper way to buy insurance plans from trusted providers.
When you are facing an issue with your insurance company, it can be quite a difficult task engaging them in legal battles on your own. Whether it is a case involving your car insurance, health insurance, workers compensation or other type of insurance, you are better of hiring an insurance lawyer. The following are some tips on finding an insurance attorney.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Hi I m looking at VJ Grand for use with Ableton but I have a few questions:
Why is rewire an advantage compared to just Midi interfacing
Are there any issues/requirements using Ableton and VJ Grand on the same machine.
Can I use VJ Grand to mix full music videos and if so how does it handle beat matching the two videos.
Ideally I would like to swap beween audio DJing on Ableton and triggering effects etc in VJ Grand and then swap over to mixing full music videos and then back again. Is this possible and if so how does the audio from both Ableton and VJ Grand get handled?
Regards, Chris.


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A Spanish Language Study Guide for All Levels
Are you planning to learn Spanish but don't know where to start? Do you feel like you do not have enough time and motivation to learn Spanish? Or have you been studying Spanish for a while but cannot see any improvements?
If you find yourself saying "yes" to any of the questions above, then you definitely need a study guide for learning Spanish.
The Roadmap to Learning Spanish
If not addressed immediately, these questions and concerns can cause you to become demotivated in learning Spanish, and some will eventually abandon their goals for learning Spanish. You can avoid all that with a guide to help you along the way, whether you are a complete beginner, at an intermediate level, or an advanced learner.
A roadmap with:
Tools to speed up your learning
Language hacks specific to the Spanish language
Proven methods to build your motivation
Meet the ULTIMATE Spanish Language Study Guide
What this e-book is
It's a study guide for all levels which will organize the way you study Spanish and help you develop an approach to learning Spanish.
What this e-book is NOT
This is not a textbook that will teach you grammar concepts or new vocabulary.
Motivate Yourself to Start and Continue Learning Spanish
Whether you're just starting to learn Spanish or you have been studying it for some time, proper motivation is needed to keep you going. This book will teach you how to build a learning habit that will keep you motivated to learn Spanish effortlessly every day.
You will also learn how to turn Spanish-learning into a fun activity to suit your personality type and interests.
Identify Common Issues in Learning Spanish and Learn to Address Them
There are a lot of myths about language-learning, specifically learning Spanish. This book will help you identify them and help you address the most pressing issues and mistakes commonly faced by learners of Spanish.
Effective Methods to Speed up Your Learning
Whether it's effective study methods to improve your listening skills or tips to make the best out of reading in Spanish, this book will help you accelerate your learning process. You will also learn top ways to speak, sound, and write better in Spanish.
Aside from these, you will also learn awesome hacks that will save you time and energy in learning Spanish.
Perfect for All Levels
Whether you are:
…this book is written for you. This study guide has original useful techniques and tips you can use to enrich your vocabulary and get you on track in learning Spanish, regardless of your level or situation.
Get Amazing Bonus Materials WITH AUDIO
When you purchase this book, you will also get the following bonus materials:
+ One More BONUS!
Aside from the items mentioned above, there's one more amazing freebie that comes with your purchase: a study guide based on your level and the length of time you can commit to learning Spanish daily.
So whether you are a beginner with a super busy schedule or an intermediate level learner with an hour to spend each day, the study plan will tell you which lessons to prioritize every day!
No more excuses! Regardless of how busy you are and what level you are at, the study guide will help you squeeze in just enough time to help you learn Spanish each day, and in the process, you'll be able to create a daily learning habit that sticks with you until you reach fluency.
This product and its accompanying audio are covered by the My Daily Spanish 30-Day Refund Policy. Not satisfied with the product? Get a full refund within 30 days.
Get your copy now


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Die hard Doctor Who fans who readily admit to worshiping the show may well have sympathy for recent claims that the long-running BBC sci-fi drama has aided our cultural understanding of religion.
Dr Andrew Crome, a lecturer in the History of Modern Christianity at the University of Manchester, says Doctor Who has given viewers a much wider understanding of many religious traditions during its 50-year history – and even recommends that it be used to help teach Religious Studies in schools.
"In many ways, Doctor Who charts British attitudes to religion over the course of those 50 years," said Dr Crome. "Over the show's long history on television – and in various spin-off TV shows, audio adventures, novels and comic books – religion and religious themes have consistently been a subject of interest. The show has attracted everything from Church of England conferences dedicated to its use in preaching, to guest appearances by [high-profile atheist[ Richard Dawkins."
Dr Crome, himself a Doctor Who fan, is co-editor of a new book, Time and Relative Dimensions in Faith, examining the relationship between Doctor Who and religion. And so convinced is he that the series has valuable things to say about the subject, he believes it could be made part of the educational curriculum.
"Religion has always had some role within the universes of Doctor Who and I would argue there is a good case for using Doctor Who to teach Religious Studies" said Dr Crome.
Crome has identified numerous examples of the appearance of religion and religious allegories in Doctor Who but says the exact focus has varied throughout the years "There's no single theme: in the 1970s, you might argue there was subversive element in that a number of Doctor Who episodes were critical of religion. But other episodes have endorsed different beliefs in that believers see the show as a way to define themselves."
Barry Letts, an influential director and producer on Doctor Who between 1967 and 1973, was a Buddhist who regularly referred to his religion through the show – perhaps most notably during the 1974 episode in which Jon Pertwee regenerates into Tom Baker's fourth Doctor with the help of Tibetan Buddhist monk.
The Doctor's original foes the Daleks have been depicted as religious fundamentalists according to Dr Crome, while current showrunner Steven Moffat is said to have shown the Church of England as a paramilitary Christian group. The 2007 Christmas Special Voyage of the Damned caused some Christian groups to complain about overt messianic imagery, while Gridlock, an episode show later that year, was viewed by others as a Christian allegory, and nominated for an Evangelical award in the US.
Does Doctor Who (or any show) affect how you view religion, ONTD?


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Oct. 19, 2020
Biola University today celebrated the opening of the Mosaic Cultural Center, a new space that will play an important role in the university's ongoing efforts to celebrate and foster diversity on campus. The center, which will house the office of Cross-Cultural Engagement and Multi-Ethnic Programs & Development, will serve the campus-wide community and external groups with a wide range of educational opportunities and events.
"My prayer is that this Mosaic Cultural Center be the gathering place, actually one of many, in this community where we reflect our commitment to prepare students who are ready to take on the challenges of the world, to live in diverse settings and provide servant leadership where the world most desperately needs it," Biola President Barry H. Corey said at a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"May we celebrate the multi-ethnic mosaic of this campus ... and increasingly be a community defined by the image of God that is beautifully formed in each of us."
As part of an effort to foster diversity on campus, the center will expand study abroad and domestic off-campus programs as well as host campus events for students, faculty and staff — including workshops, trainings, lectures, film screenings, cultural celebrations, music performances, poetry readings and more.
Outfitted with new technological tools including video conferencing, provided by a $100,000 grant from The Ahmanson Foundation, the potential impact of the center is far-reaching, as Biola desires to make the university's most beneficial educational resources widely available online, said Doretha O'Quinn, vice provost of multi-ethnic and cross-cultural engagement. With its innovative use of technology, coupled with the specialized training and programming it offers, the center will lead the way in the cultivation of cross-cultural citizens, serving as a model for other institutions that wish to do similarly on their campuses, she said.
The center directly supports Biola's commitment as outlined in theUniversity Plan to cultivate competent and courageous graduates and nurture a cross-cultural Christian community.
"The center provides safety, hospitality, accountability and learning," O'Quinn said. "It provides an opportunity to advance the biblical mandate for diversity through engaging in critical thought and dialogue; intercultural competency development; and educational training in community-based instruction and learning through civic engagement and study abroad. It is a place where all are welcome."
The facility, located at the west end of Rose Hall, is equipped with a large community space, four staff offices, a conference room and a kitchen area. A brief ribbon cutting ceremony followed by tours, live music and global hors d'oeuvres took place Monday, April 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the new center.
Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Specialist. For more information, contact Jenna at 562.777.4061 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Youtube video at the end of the article doesn't work. It says "This video is private."
Manager of Media Relations
Director of Communications
media [dot] relations [at] biola [dot] edu


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The warm colors of fall are a natural choice for Autumn weddings, but Lauren at Every Last Detail created a collection of bouquets for fall that go beyond the traditional color palette. These unexpected arrangements are pretty enough for any time of year! Click this link to see them all. Lovely!
Thanks so much for sharing!! 🙂


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President's Graduate Fellowship
The President's Graduate Fellowship (PGF) is awarded to candidates who show exceptional promise or accomplishment in research. A number of PhD research students are selected each semester by the University for the award.
The Fellowships are open to all nationalities who will be admitted as a full-time candidate for a PhD programme at NUS.
The PGF is initially awarded for one year. It may be renewed each semester on the basis of the scholar's performance in the previous semesters and the recommendation of the Faculty. The maximum award is four years.
Each award covers:
(1) A monthly stipend as follows:
|Monthly Stipend
|Singapore Citizen*
|Singapore Permanent Resident
|International Student
(2) Full Tuition fees at NUS;
(3) A one-off air travel allowance# for one-way ticket of up to S$750 (only for overseas students); and
(4) A one-off settling-in allowance of S$1,000 (only for overseas students).
* With effect from 1 August 2015, Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions shall be provided at a rate pegged to the prevailing employer's contribution rate set by CPF, on top of the monthly stipend received.
#All airfare claims must be made within 1 month from date of travel. Please attach original receipt(s) with the relevant completed form and submit it to Registrar's Office.
PGF recipients must be in Singapore during the duration of the scholarship award, except during period(s) of approved leave. Recipients may be required by the Head of Department/Programme concerned to assist in teaching or departmental work.
The University does not provide additional assistance towards travel or other costs, besides those indicated above, nor does it guarantee employment to the scholar on the successful completion of the programme.


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There are those in the "Lame Stream Media" who claim the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement is no different than the Tea Party Movement. The two could not be any farther apart.
Unlike the highly dysfunctional OWS Movement, which spread like an incurable STD across the country rife with widely disparate, obscure, and incoherent messages (endorsed by the White House and liberal Democrats), and the stench of the masses of unwashed, America-hating, anti-capitalism hippies, great things can and do happen when passionate, talented, pro-America, pro-military, conservative artists join forces to effect positive change to a culture in dire need of some major "transformation."
[youtube TW-x2YMVJCc Madison Rising – 'Honk If You Want Peace']
That's exactly what attendees at the recent GOPink Women Working for Change conference observed first-hand when they stopped by the BigDawg Music Mafia booth. Our visitors admired some fabulous artwork from members Richard Gibbs, Kate Barnett, and Frances Byrd, enjoyed some great music we were playing from several member artists, and later attended a great listening party for Madison Rising's debut CD Madison Rising and FTR (From the Rightr) Radio's airing of the first-ever weekly top ten countdown of the most requested conservative artists' songs on our new internet radio show, Culture Warriors & The Fan Jam. Thankfully, it appears the OWS movement is fizzling out.
When BigDawg Music Mafia was invited by GOPink to participate in their conference as a sponsor we just knew we needed to be there considering the primary purpose of our mission is to effect positive change in our pop culture. BigDawg Brigade member Reese and I, joined by Madison Rising's manager, Richard Mgrdechian; lead guitarist, Chris Schreiner; and rhythm guitarist, Alex Bodnar; who drove down from New York for the event, had a great time working the BigDawg Music Mafia booth for the 3-day conference.
We spoke with visitors about our mission, gave away free CD Samplers with 19 songs from our member artists, handed out BigDawg buttons and business cards from multiple artists and radio hosts, passed out fliers inviting attendees to the listening party and advertising our new radio shows (more on this later), signed up new members, and raffled off some beautiful liberty art generously donated by member artist Frances Byrd, to raise money to support our favorite non-profit, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a wonderful organization that helps our wounded warriors begin the healing process.
We were especially excited to share with our visitors the great news about how we are broadening our reach by jumping into the internet radio show arena, partnering with Liberty Bell Radio and FTR Radio to bring their listeners two great new weekly shows to help shine a bright light on the amazing talent at our site. We have dubbed this next chapter in our barely-over-a-year-old site 'Operation Occupy Airwaves.'
- BigDawg's Music Hour, which debuted Nov. 5, is a fun, fast-paced, entertaining show aired every Saturday at 10 a.m. EST and Sunday at 11 a.m. EST on Liberty Bell Radio. Each week listeners are introduced to five amazing songs from our very talented artist members in the first half hour with hosts Matt and Reese who bring every song to life with the story behind each one. They spend the second half-hour chatting with a featured guest artist from BigDawg Music Mafia. I had the great honor of being their first guest artist and primarily focused on how and why Andrew (BigDawg) and I (both retired vets) launched BigDawg Music Mafia. Madison Rising's lead singer, David Bray, who is also a vet, was their guest artist for their fabulous Veteran's Day Tribute show. Their debut show was such a hit with one of our terrific bloggers, Candi Goldman, that she wrote about the effect the show had on her … correction … her puppy named Patton wrote about how the show affected her. Yes, the show's very first review was from a dog's perspective, appropriately called Patton's Point. How cool is that?
- Culture Warriors & The Fan Jam, produced and directed by BigDawg Andrew and hosted by yours truly is the internet's only top ten count-down of great, original music by conservative artists. Fans determine which songs we play by emailing their requests to firstname.lastname@example.com for their favorite song(s) and may request up to ten songs or cast all ten "votes" for one song. It is not necessary to be a member of our site to send in requests but the artists must be members. Our debut show on Nov. 10, however, was not a top ten count-down but was, instead, a Veteran's Day Tribute show which coincided with the Marine Corps' 236th Birthday and was very well-received. Each show closes with Chip Murray's wonderful song Tip Jar which has such a great message and leaves the listeners with the same good vibe we all used to get from the "Cheers" TV show theme song. The Fan Jam countdown airs at 9 p.m. EST Friday nights on FTR Radio and replayed on Liberty Bell Radio on 6 p.m. EST Saturday and again at 8 p.m. EST Sunday. Archived shows can be accessed for free on our site any time and are posted every Sunday night. UPDATE: Culture Warriors & The Fan Jam has a new start time every Fridays on FTR Radio at 9 p.m. EST.
Both shows afford listeners the opportunity to chat with the show hosts and fellow 'BigDawgers' in the Culture Warrior Chat Room which adds a fun, interactive experience for all who tune in – a virtual BYOB listening party. We are thrilled to see that our average daily site traffic has practically doubled in just the few weeks since we launched the new shows thanks to fabulous keyboard warriors like Candi Goldman and Larry Bethea and several of our other wonderful members who are helping us spread the word through their blogs and social networking sites.
It is the fabulous talent being showcased that has more and more fans tuning in to the shows each week (and often times for the replays). During the listening party at the GOPink conference, Madison Rising members heard one of their great songs, "In the Days That Reagan Ruled" (which fans can download for free) debut at #7 in our first Culture Warriors & The Fan Jam top ten count-down. This week they moved up 4 spots to #3. Will they take the #1 spot next week? You'll have to tune in to find out!
We just love this depiction of Madison Rising by Conservative Daily News' official political cartoonist and fellow BigDawger, A.F. Branco:
Conference attendees got the chance to meet and snap photos with Madison Rising at their CD listening party Friday evening and enjoyed watching their new videos. They truly do bring great rock music back into the forefront of popular culture. As their website says:
"With songs ranging from the lyrically powerful and guitar heavy opening track "Right To Bear," to the hauntingly epic sounds of "Honk If You Want Peace," to the beautiful violins and cello of "Hallowed Ground," it is clear that this band is on a mission to not only make great music, but to also send a message that American culture is alive and well. The songs represent the best elements of modern American society and the characters are replete with individuality, intelligence, gratitude and ambition. Madison Rising is the quintessential American band."
They just played their debut NYC gig at The National Underground to a packed house. Their manager, Rich, posted on his FaceBook page "We KILLED IT at the National Underground in NYC tonight!!! Room was packed. People were coming in off the streets to hear us."
No, the OWS protestors are nothing like conservative activists. While OWS protesters are busy hurling fecal and urine bombs at police officers, vandalizing public and private property, raping women in tents, selling drugs and shooting up, hurling anti-Semitic slurs, stealing each others' laptops and iPads, defecating on police cars, burning the American Flag, getting arrested in the thousands, and the list goes on…"God bless them", the amazing Culture Warriors at BigDawg Music Mafia are ramping things up and we could not be more proud.
We are truly blessed by all the new partnerships forming and collaborations taking place on several cool new projects and upcoming local and national events to bring pro-American, pro-military ideals back to the forefront to include our new joint-ventures with Liberty Bell Radio and FTR Radio enabling us to bring the great music of our members to a wider audience via the "internet airwaves." The dedication, innovation, spirit of cooperation, and good will between our members is what makes being at our site feel like "home" and is emblematic of American exceptionalism. That's just how us conservatives roll (as "frightening" as that may be).
As BigDawg likes to say: "The only true rebels in the artistic community today are conservatives."
Operation Occupy Airwaves has begun. We invite you to join us. No tents required.


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Get my exclusive, limited edition "No Shade" tee! Available for 2 weeks only then gone forever so grab one quick!" - Loren
[More Styles available in drop down menu]
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Show your support for fellow muser, lipsyncher extraordinaire and musical-making sensation Loren Beech, a.k.a. Loren Gray, as she launches her "No Shade" campaign!
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Unlike its more glamorous dairy cousins – cheese, ice-cream and flavoured yoghurt – curd has been a staple of most Indian diets and hence, much ignored.
Curd has a number of health and nutritional benefits, and eating curd every day helps your system stay cool, improves your digestive system, and helps get rid of stomach problems. Here's why you should make curd a part of your everyday diet:
- It boosts your digestion system and works best for stomach upsets, indigestion, bloating, etc.
- High in calcium and protein, beneficial for those who are lactose intolerant and can't take in milk.
- Best cure for a hangover – Drink responsibly, but if you have side-effects occasionally, curd could be a big help.
- It works as an energy booster. It also hydrates your body and works as an antioxidant.
- Great for hair and skin – You can apply it directly, but consuming a cup a day shows results too.
- Best form of fat – curd has the same nutritional value as milk.
- Stress buster and mood lifter – Curd is a great mood lifter. Flavoured yoghurt especially helps deal with lows.
- Increases immunity and defence mechanism of the body.
- Improves the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods in your body.
- Best comfort food for all seasons, swear curd-eating people in South India – especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh!


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I already hear you yelling, "WHAAAAT, Fang did a vlog?", and yes, I did.
Well actually no it isn't a vlog, but secretly it is. Don't tell anyone though!
Just recorded me saying hi to you guys, playing guitar, and saying bye. I had it all planned out and it would be so much more awesome, but fuck me, it's hella awkward being in front of your own camera with nobody around like that.
I'd be my normal crazy self, because that would make for a much more enjoyable video, but I couldn't. Also I keep hating myself for my English pronunciation. It may sound decent, but the way it comes out of my mouth feels so wrong. (Oh boy, innuendo, right there.)
But due to iMovie being a douche and YouTube uploading times being a tad long (mostly the latter, though the former is true too) you won't get to see it until tomorrow! Mwuhahaha!
Fuck it's going to be the worst "hey internet this is me"-premiere ever to be in existence.
Wish I could've done better. Hope I'm not as fucken nervous next time!
~ Fang


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KBeads is a federation of Chinese factories and also the Chinese Small Merchandise online market. We retail and wholesale Beads & Findings including jade, silver, pearl, gemstone, lampwork glass and crystal items etc. We also can source many products for you. We are a Squaretrade Verified Seller. Whether you have a company of jewelry making or personal jewelry store, KBeads can offer different solutions according to your needs.
Save this coupon


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Cape Town - South African investors are looking to join a Dutch class action against retailer Steinhoff, according to a report.
Business Day on Friday reported that the Dutch Investors Association (VEB) had been approached by SA shareholders to join its class action launched on December 7.
This after Steinhoff's CEO Markus Jooste abruptly stepped down towards the end of last year, and the firm hired PwC to investigate "accounting irregularities". The PwC investigation is still ongoing.
The VEB is yet to respond to Fin24's queries on the matter.
Jooste's resignation was followed by the exodus of a number of top executives, including chair of the board Christo Wiese and the group's chief financial officer Ben le Grange.
The firm's share price has dropped by more than 80% in five week, from about R46.24 a share ahead of the announcement of Jooste's exit, to single digit levels.
As of Friday, January 12, Steinhoff shares were trading at R6.75 by 08:30 on the JSE, having opened at R7.55.
The Dutch class action suit is one of a number being considered by various European law firms and investment bodies.
German law firm TILP in December filed a investor lawsuit against the embattled retailer, saying in its legal opinion Steinhoff made itself liable for damages after providing its shareholders with incomplete market information.
"Aggrieved investors, shareholders as well as bondholders, have the opportunity to extensively recover damages sustained due to these revelations," said TILP litigation attorney Maximilian Weiss.
On its website the German lawfirm is calling - in German and English - for affected investors to sign up for the class action suit, saying that billions of euros in value were lost in a matter of days as Steinhoff's share price nosedived.
It has also criticised Steinhoff for denying previous allegations of wrongdoing and discrepancies.
"For example, the second largest European furniture company was said to have left its shareholders in the dark regarding rather large shifts among affiliates. Steinhoff, however, has persistently denied these allegations," the TILP website states.
"Due to this history of denying accounting irregularity allegations, the news of the company's irregularities in its balance sheets was met with even greater surprise by the capital market."
UK-based litigation firm Innsworth, meanwhile, has said that it is "contemplating funding proceedings against Steinhoff International" on the grounds that it allegedly overstated its assets, issued misleading statements and kept investors in the dark about its true financial situation.
South African investigations
In Cape Town, parliamentary hearings into Steinhoff are set to start in late January, Yunus Carrim, chair of parliament's finance oversight committee, said on Thursday.
Carrim said the hearings into what happened at the global furniture conglomerate to cause its stock price to decline by over 80% would be held jointly with parliament's watchdog committee Scopa (the Standing Committee on Public Accounts), starting on January 30 or 31.
Meanwhile, rumours that another SA company is the next target of Viceroy Research, the organisation which had published a critical report on Steinhoff shortly after Jooste resigned, has been driving volatile trade on the JSE over the past week.
Companies affected include Aspen, which saw its share value drop as much as 8% before recovering after it told shareholders it had not been in contact with Viceroy.
On Thursday property stocks experienced a sell off, with Resilient Reit losing as much as 19% of its value, before recovering, also, in part based on speculation that Viceroy may be investigating one of them.


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The mission of the TRiO Talent Search program is to provide student-centered support to 600 individuals who are first-generation and/or income eligible, and who might not otherwise have the opportunity or personal support to graduate from high school or enroll into post-secondary education.
TRiO Talent Search has coordinators in three area schools, including Trimble and Miller middle and high schools, and Tri-County Career Center. Services include but are not limited to the following:
Contact info: 740-753-5451 or email@example.com
Hocking College
Funding for TRiO Staff and Services is provided by the US Department of Education


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Merry Christmas to all and to all a good book
Merry Christmas! Hard to believe this wonderful holiday is almost upon us. This special "holiday edition" of the newsletter will be light on details. For a longer, more in-depth look at the year gone by (2015) check out my post on Looking Back, Year 3 in the Books. This post is just to say thanks to all who encouraged, read, and supported my work in 2015 and to give you a little "virtual" gift of sorts. Whether it was on this website, elsewhere on social media, or reading my books, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for every comment, review, or book read.
I was hoping to get you the final book in The Chronotrace Sequence by Christmas, but alas that was not meant to be. She's still cooking in the oven at the moment. But I think you'll enjoy all the added spices and seasoning as well as the absence of a few rotten tomatoes that this extra time will yield.
In the meantime, there are plenty of wonderful books out there to keep you warm over the holidays. And I'd like to present you with the list of the top five books which I read over 2015 for your consideration (and maybe some last minute gift ideas). As you will see, I've a predilection for older books…
#1 – Little Women
Christopher Columbus! I knew I would love this book because I had listened to it several times in radio theater format, but I didn't think I would love it as much as I did. This one will forever have a special place in my heart. This is the sort of story that makes you realize what reading and writing is for. You can read my full review for more details about why this heartwarming and masterful tale.
#2 – Watership Down
Because rabbits. This was certainly the biggest surprise of the year for me. To be honest I'm not sure why I even decided to pick this book up, but other than a few language issues, I enjoyed every minute in this lovely story. It was surprisingly gripping emotionally. I mean they're just rabbits for crying out loud, but not in these pages. There are epic adventures and larger than life characters at every bend in the woods. Read my review for the low down on the Down.
#3 – Princess of Mars
On this one the book was way better than the movie (John Carter). This fast-paced read had so much detail and such a rich feel. It's hard to believe it was written over a hundred years ago. It still felt fresh and futuristic, not dated at all. It's an adventure story through and through with only brief moments of reflection. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in inventiveness and heroism. A great read.
#4 – Robin Hood
This one defies time as well, but in the opposite direction. It's hard to believe that this book was written in 1956. The style and feel of the writing is much older. This is an episodic story with no over all narrative other than to inform us on the life and times of one Robin of Locksley. The pleasure here comes from the iconic characters and feats of derring-do. This one definitely hits the mark, and Roger Lancelyn Green, the author, was also an Inkling. Go figure! Here's my review for that one as well.
#5 – Phantastes
Ah, what to say about George MacDonald? He was gifted with his fair share of imagination 'tis true. And nowhere is that more on display than in this, one of his best known books, the tale that "baptized the imagination" of C.S. Lewis. It's rather dark and somewhat disjointed, but full of enough wisdom and spiritual insights that to deserve its place as a somewhat lesser known classic. This one is a Fairy tale with a capital "F". Perhaps not for everyone, though be sure to read my review if you're interested.
So there you go. A poor "present" perhaps in lieu of my failure to get my next novel out, but it will have to do. Whatever you choose to read over Christmas or in the coming year, I hope you get as much enjoyment and benefit out of your selections as I did. Thanks for stopping by and for your interest in my work.
Merry Christmas!


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ҒнФҙЈәЦР№«ҫWРЈ °lІј•rйgЈә2017-04-22 12:50:00 ьc"фБҝЈә
ЎЎЎЎЎ¶ЛЩ¶ИЕcјӨЗй8Ў·ҪьИХФЪұұГАәНЦРҮшЙПУіәуЖұ·ҝұн¬FК®·Ц"ҢСЫЈ¬Ж¬ЦРөД№Е°НпjЬҮзRо^јӨЗйЛДТзЎЈФЪ°ЛІҝЎ¶ЛЩ¶ИЕcјӨЗйЎ·АпЈ¬№ККВЗй№қТСЧЯПтҜӮҝсЈ¬ЦчҪЗӮғТСҪӣҸДНөлҠЧУФOӮдөДҹoЩҮпjЬҮьh•xјүіЙБЛһйЧиЦ№әЛ'р¶шЕ¬БҰҠ^¶·өДХюё®МШ№ӨЎЈһйПВТ»ІҝЎ¶ЛЩјӨЎ·ҙтФмҫ«ІКөДЗй№қ•юәЬлyЈ¬лmИ»А§лyЦШЦШЈ¬ө«КЗЎ¶ЛЩјӨЎ·ПөБРҫНКЗФЪ·N·NІ»ҝЙДЬЦРіЙйLЖрҒнөДЎЈФЪОҙҒнөДөЪ9ІҝЦРЈ¬·¶•өПИы –әНөА¶ч•ҸҠЙӯөИИЛЯҖ•юёгіцКІГҙҙу"УЧчДШ?
ЎЎЎЎIt really is only natural that Dom and his crew head to space.
ЎЎЎЎ[Warning: This story contains spoilers for The Fate of the Furious.]
ЎЎЎЎOne of the great joys of the Fast and the Furious franchise has been watching the filmmakers top themselves in each entry with car-driven action. The Fate of the Furious goes as far as having the good guys take on a Russian submarine so they can stop World War III.
ЎЎЎЎWith two more films already announced, the question now can only be: What on Earth will Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and the rest of the cast do in the ninth film?
ЎЎЎЎ"юПӨЈ¬Ў¶ЛЩ8Ў·Ңў•юәНөЪ9ІҝЎўөЪ10ІҝҪMіЙРВөДИэІҝЗъЎЈДЗГҙҶ–о}ҒнБЛЈәФЪОҙҒнөДөЪ9ІҝЦРЈ¬·¶•өПИы –әНөА¶ч•ҸҠЙӯөИИЛЯҖ•юёгіцКІГҙҙу"УЧчДШ?
ЎЎЎЎNow that you've seen The Fate of the Furious, you know a couple of big new developments: First, Dominic Toretto is a father, from his now-ill-fated relationship with DSS agent Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky). Second, and perhaps more importantly: Charlize Theron's nefarious hacker Cipher avoided capture or death at the end of the eighth film. It's hard to imagine Theron not returning in a future entry to cause some kind of trouble for Dom and his family.
ЎЎЎЎИз№ыДгТСҪӣҝҙБЛЎ¶ЛЩ8Ў·Ј¬ДЗТ»¶ЁЦӘөАБЛЯ@Р©ЦШТӘЯMХ№ЈәөЪТ»Ј¬МЖАПҙу(¶аГЧДбҝЛ•НРИR¶а)•xЙэДМ°ЦЈ¬ЕcәўЧУөДДёУHЕ®ҫҜ°ЈБХДИ(°Ј –ЙҜ•ЕБЛюЖжп—СЭ)кPПөЯMТ»ІҪҗә»ҜЎЈөЪ¶юЈ¬ЦШьcҒнБЛЈ¬ІйАнЖқ•ИыВЎп—СЭөДР°җәәЪҝНИыёҘФЪУ°Ж¬Д©ОІ¶гЯ^Т»ҪЩЈ¬јИӣ]ұ»ЧҘТІӣ]УРЛАЈ¬әЬУРҝЙДЬФЪОҙҒнөДДіТ»ІҝЦРУЦҪoМЖАПҙуәНЛыөДјТИЛҺ§ҒнһДлyЎЈ
ЎЎЎЎThe easy joke is to say, "Well, now they have to go to outer space." Even series screenwriter Chris Morgan acknowledged the suggestion, replying that if he "had something so good," he'd consider sending Dom and friends to the stars. He hinted at an unexpected crossover there, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, with the Riddick series, but here's another idea. For the ninth film, have Dom, Luke Hobbs, Letty, and the others go to space in an Armageddon-style situation.
ЎЎЎЎImagine it: Cipher has holed up somewhere secret and broken into the mainframe of various nations' and corporations' satellites. Unless she gets as much power and money as she desires, she'll make the world go dark. Maybe, even worse, she could figure out a way to draw debris floating in space towards Earth, utilizing the satellites as a series of magnets. (The Neil DeGrasse Tysons of the world would quibble with the hard science of this storyline.)
ЎЎЎЎПлПуТ»ПВЈәҙу·ҙЕЙИыёҘ¶гФЪ°өМҺЈ¬әЪБЛәЬ¶аҮшјТәНҙу№«ЛҫөДРlРЗЈ¬І»өГөҪЧгүтБоЛэқMТвөДҷаБҰәНҪреXҫНТӘЧҢКАҪзүҷИләЪ°өЎЈ»тФSёьФгёвТ»ьcЈ¬ИыёҘ°l¬FБЛДЬҝШЦЖУоЦжЛйЖ¬өД·Ҫ·ЁЈ¬АыУГРlРЗ®"ҙЕиFЈ¬ҝШЦЖЛйЖ¬ЧІ"фөШЗтЎЈ(МмуwОпАнҢWјТДО –•өВёрАӯЛҫ•М©ЙӯЛ№»тФS•юҒнЙМУ'ЖдҝЖҢWРФЎЈ)
ЎЎЎЎOnly Dom and his family have fought Cipher and survived to tell the tale, so who better to stop an asteroid, or a series of asteroids, from decimating the planet? Here, the motivating factor to stop Cipher wouldn't need any further explanation; in Fate, it's established that Dom is only working for Cipher to ensure the safety of his infant son, but if the entire world is at stake, that should be good enough for our heroes. And since Cipher spent most of Fate in a plane, it only makes sense she'll be in some sort of space station in Fast 9.
ЎЎЎЎOf course, should the filmmakers and cast pursue this line of thinking, it leads to another inevitable question: What do you possibly do for Fast and Furious X? (You have to assume they'll start employing Roman numerals in the titles soon.) Where could Dom and the family go after space? The best answer may be to expand the genre the Fast and the Furious series occupies. What was once a car-driven take on Point Break morphed into heist movies by the time of 2009's Fast and Furious, and has since morphed into a James Bond-esque franchise. Taking the family into space pushes them into science-fiction, but in bringing them back to Earth, Universal Pictures could push them into another genre: action-horror.
ЎЎЎЎLater this summer, the studio is going to begin building out its monster-movie universe with a reboot of The Mummy, in which Tom Cruise will not only tangle with an Egyptian mummy but Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe) himself. The intent is clear: Universal wants to turn characters like Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, the Mummy and the Wolfman into the equivalent of the Marvel or DC cinematic universes. Should that experiment be successful, why not go a step further, and crossover with theFast and the Furious franchise?
ЎЎЎЎOf course this idea is ridiculous: Squaring off with criminal masterminds is one thing, but doing so with the Wolfman and the Mummy is entirely different. But even in the eight Fast and the Furiousfilms, the action is rarely less than insane, not to mention the operatic twists and turns of the character dynamics. These people have gone from rogue drivers stealing electronics to government agents working to stop a nuclear war. In 2001, when Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were racing each other so the former could evade arrest from the LAPD, facing off against Universal's monsters would have seemed insane. In 2017, it's a lot closer to reality. (The series' longtime producer, Neal H. Moritz, also produces the 21 Jump Street films, which at one time was going to crossover with Men in Black. Anything can happen.)
ЎЎЎЎЯ@ҳУПл®"И»әЬҝЙРҰЈ¬әН·ёЧпМмІЕЦЬРэКЗТ»»ШКВЈ¬ө«әНАЗИЛЎўДҫДЛТБДЗҫННкИ«КЗБнТ»»ШКВБЛЎЈИ»¶шФЪ8ІҝЎ¶ЛЩ¶ИЕcјӨЗйЎ·АпЈ¬№ККВЗй№қТСЧЯПтҜӮҝсЈ¬ёь"eМб'т"Ў»ҜөДЗй№қЮDХЫәНҹoАео^өДИЛОпЧғ»ҜБЛЎЈЯ@Р©ИЛТСҪӣҸДНөлҠЧУФOӮдөДҹoЩҮпjЬҮьh•xјүіЙБЛһйЧиЦ№әЛ'р¶шЕ¬БҰҠ^¶·өДХюё®МШ№ӨБЛЎЈ2001ДкЈ¬өПИы –һйМУГ"ВеЙјҙүҫҜ·ҪөДЧ·І¶Ј¬әНұЈБ_ЙПСЭБЛТ»іцНцГьЧ·ЦрЈ¬ДЗ•rҝҙҒнЈ¬ӯhЗтУ°ҳIөД№Ц«FКАҪзЦшҢҚ»ДХQЎЈ¶шөҪБЛ2017ДкЈ¬ҜӮҝсөД»ГПл…sіЙһйБЛ¬FҢҚЎЈ(Ф"ПөБРЦЖЖ¬ИЛNeal H. MoritzНЖіцөДЎ¶эҲ»ўЙЩДкк Ў·ПөБРФшЕcЎ¶әЪТВИЛЎ·ПөБРҢҚ¬FЯ^ИЪәПЎЈХжКЗТ»ЗРҪФУРҝЙДЬЎЈ)
ЎЎЎЎThink of it: This could sate Diesel's clear desire to indulge in genre fare like The Chronicles of Riddick and Guardians of the Galaxy. Plus, it would be a hoot to see Dom and Luke and Letty battle the Wolfman. The logistics of how it all goes down might seem shaky, but a world where a hacker can take control of cars, missiles and submarines could easily be a world where monsters lurk beneath the surface.
ЎЎЎЎПлТ»ПлЈәЯ@ҳУЧцҝЙТФқMЧгөПИы –іБҪюФЪЎ¶РЗлHӮчЖж2Ў·әНЎ¶гyәУЧoРlк Ў·Я@оҗЖұ·ҝҙуЩuөДУ°Ж¬ЦРөДФёНыЈ¬¶шЗТЦчҪЗӮғҙу'рАЗИЛҪ^ҢҰУРТвЛјЎЈИзҙЛЯүЭӢ»тФSҹoАнҝЙҢӨЈ¬ө«КЗФЪТ»ӮҖәЪҝНҫНДЬЭpТЧҝШЦЖЖыЬҮЎўҢ§Ҹ—Ј¬ЙхЦБқ"Н§өДКАҪзАпЈ¬№Ц«FІШДдЖдЦРТІҫНІ»ЧгһйЖжБЛЎЈ
ЎЎЎЎThe challenge is set for F&F writer Chris Morgan, the rest of the crew and castmembers like Diesel. Topping the action in The Fate of the Furious will be difficult, and bringing the characters into a shared universe the right way would be even more challenging, as Dominic Toretto and his family must be more than pawns in a larger realm. It won't be easy, but these movies thrive on the impossible. Truly thinking outside the box is the only way to top what's come before.
ЎЎЎЎЯ@Р©ҢҰУЪҫҺ"ЎҝЛАпЛ№•ДҰёщЎўЦЖЧч°аөЧЈ¬ТФј°өПИы –өИЦчСЭҒнХfКЗТ»ӮҖМф'рЎЈһйҪсәуөДИэІҝЗъҙтФмҫ«ІКөДЗй№қ•юәЬлyЈ¬ИзәОіЙ№ҰөШ°СҪЗЙ«ӮғҺ§ИллҠУ°УоЦжТІҳOҫЯМф'рЈ¬МЖАПҙуәНЛыөДјТИЛФЪёьҙуөДКАҪзЦРТІІ»ДЬЦ»КЗ·ҙЕЙөД»IҙaЎЈ¶шлmИ»А§лyЦШЦШЈ¬ө«КЗЎ¶ЛЩјӨЎ·ПөБРҫНКЗФЪ·N·NІ»ҝЙДЬЦРіЙйLЖрҒнөДЎЈҙтЖЖіЈТҺ»тКЗФЩЙПТ»ҢУөДОЁТ»В·ҸҪЎЈ
- 1ЛДБщјүйҶЧxЈәЛДБщјүйҶЧxАнҪвЖЖҪвҪ^ХР
- 2ЛДБщјүВ БҰЈәЛДБщјүВ БҰіЈҝјҲцҫ°Ф~…R
- 3ЛДБщјүВ БҰЈәВ БҰИзәОЕЕіэеeХ`Яxн—
- 4ҝјЙъЧўТвАІЈ¬ҪсМмҝЪХZй_КјҲуГы!
- 5Х"Т»Х"ПөБРлҠУ°Ў¶ЛЩ¶ИЕcјӨЗйЎ·(лpХZ)
- 6КАҪзЧx•шИХәГ•шНЖЛ](лpХZ)
- 7ЛДБщјүҝЪХZӮдҝј3ҙујјЗЙ
- 8ЛДБщјү·ӯЧg3ҙуҝјьc
- 9ҫдөД·ӯЧgЦ®ХZРтХ{Хы
- 10ЛДБщјүйҶЧxЈәҙтлҠФ'ЕВНөВ Ј¬ҝҙЯ@ҝоЙсЖчЈЁ


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A few weeks ago I was kindly invited back to the 7Lemons House for one of their beautiful retreat weekends.
As well as all the lovely local freshly made on site seasonal vegan and the vegetarian food they prepare I also joined them for a pilates class. This was a mat pilates class practiced in the 7Lemon House outdoor studio in the Canarian Island of Fuerteventura where the weather is always beautiful, well for 360 days of the year.
There are many Benefits to Pilates:
- Improves concentration and body awareness
- Manages stress and relaxation
- Improves Flexibility
- Prevents injury
Pilates was designed as a way for injured athletes and dancers to maintain their fitness and now has been adapted for all.
Thanks again for having us 7Lemons House look forward to seeing you again soon.
7Lemons House runs retreats throughout the year check out more information here.
Today I was wearing all Nike gear it is last season but there is the new version of the leggings and wool top here.
Have an amazing day and please comment below if you're coming to Fuerteventura.
Big Love


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Data recovery after logic board defect
Dear everybody. My Macbook 12" dosn't charge the battery any more but i need to retrieve the data before letting it repair (apple swaped the usb-board and now wants to exchange the logic board).
i then connected the logic board directly with a laboratory power supply and supplied it with 7.55 volts (that's what it is written on the battery). The computer seems to start up, but ends with the sign, that i need to charge the battery first.
Does anybody have an idea, how to get the Macbook running for one last time? How hight would you go with the voltage?
Or would it be possible to charge the battery with just the + and - contacts?
Can i just check with you because my Mac 12" was liquid damaged so do you think if we moved the logic board to another Mac, would it work so we could move the data? We think maybe the Keyboard has shorted out with the damage. W have already cleaned out the rest of the computer with no success. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Taluth. This seams difficult to say. My Macbook still worked for a short tim after the incident. I just couldn't charge or use the usb-connector. Was yours dead immediately? It's rather painful to buy a new Macbook just to exchange the logic board. And it's very inconvenient that Apple has no tool to save the data from a wrecked Macbook (jet). I would say it all depends on the value of the data. And there is no guarantee that it will work.


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« More (Anecdotal) Evidence of Girls Thriving in Single-Sex | Main | More Than High School, Less Than a Four-Year Degree »
Finally, Something Literary Where Men Excel: Op-eds
Among those submitting op-eds to newspaper, there are nine men for every woman. And that puzzles the WaPo ombudsman (who must be short of topics to write about). I can venture a guess: Men are angrier than women.


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Special Diet Information
Click on the name of the category to expand the area for the list of available files.
Below is a list of files containing the carbohydrates values for each food item.
Below is a list of files containing food labels for special diet food items served in the schools.


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Harrison Lord Photography, 5 Bradford Road, Brighouse, HD6 1RW
01484 722 462
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm
Closed Sundays
We are easy to find: 1 mile from Junction 25 M62, Half a mile from Brighouse Railway station,
400 yards from bus station.
Parking: free for one hour on street, from 40p an hour in town car parks.
Our West Yorkshire Gallery and Framing Workshop is ideally situated in a prime location close to the M62.
We are within easy reach of Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, Dewsbury, Wakefield and Leeds.


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Gah, I had a really bad time at work last night. Once again something happened to make me go all panicky and anxious and just blah... I felt like crying but had to feign happiness for two hours until my shift ended.
I never did see a doctor about my anxiety issues, but highly considering it again, just to kinda talk it through if anything. After talking to my dad today, I think I'm suffering from something similar to what he has for most of his life... in the end, I'll probably just have to live with it, as he has, but I really REALLY need to find a new job, one I can cope with better, but currently at a loss as to what, the one I did think of went down the drain pretty quickly (The library).
I think making me realize I'm possibly suffering from a similar thing he is was the only thing that really came from my discussion with my dad, the rest of the time he was just seriously telling me things I already knew as if it would improve how I cope with things.
Dad, of course, pointed out the whole "less compuuuuter" thing that parents always seem to do, granted I could use to stop staying up so late when it's not needed. But then I pointed out that I kinda didn't have much to do away from the computer, he suggested my photography to which I replied that I've taken photos of Worksop like a zillion times and I'm really restricted on other places I can go due to not being able to drive and not being able to go many places on my own. He agreed that's an area he's very restricted in too, I think he wants to go places, but his own nervousness stops him a lot of the time.
Least I feel better now than I was last night and this morning anyway. I think working on the photos I put up onto dA today helped calm me a bit.
Also, avast, stop thinking LJ has trojans :|


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The Aftermath
Tultamaan stood on a hillock in Base Camp, and most of the dragons and small people stood or sprawled around to listen to him.
"We have had some Excellent Fortune in finding Cussa. It is precisely the sort of world that we are Looking for, or, in the Cussite idiom, Listening for. It is Populous. It is not overly Dangerous. It is Wealthy. It holds many Very Delightful Magic Items. The natives are Tasty. If I may be permitted an Uncharacteristically Brief Phrase, it is Just What We Wanted.
"Which makes it a particularly Unfortunate Matter that we have chosen to Ruin it.
"Allow me to repeat the Desired Result of this Expedition. I do not refer to the Gratification of Urning Bodily Desires, which I am given to understand is a Desired Result of Many of You. I refer to the Desired Result of the Exploring Company as a Whole.
"We are trying to find worlds which would be good for Other Parties of Dragons to Conquer and Colonize.
"Perhaps certain of you were under the impression that we are an Other Party of Dragons. Surprisingly, even oddly, we are Not. We are the Same Party of Dragons. We are scouts, we are explorers, we are researchers, we are preliminarians!
"This does not mean that we are Cowardly. I am, and I suspect Roroku may be as well, but the rest of you are Not. We are risking considerably more Danger and Other Excitement than the Other Party of Dragons who go to conquer Cussa, or worlds like Cussa if we happen to Stumble Upon Any.
"But the Thing that is the most Valuable to Us is a Pristine and Eminently Colonizable World.
"Cussa was, before we came here, quite Delightfully Pristine. They had no idea what a dragon was, much less what we could do or how to deal with us.
"Now, it is Considerably Less Pristine. The natives know that their Own Sorceries are able to contend with ours on an even basis. They know about our Preferred Tactics, our Favorite Weaponry, and our Particular Interests. Perhaps they will be able to Mount an Effective Defense next time. Surely they are Preparing One Right Now."
Tultamaan paused to scowl at everyone, more intently than usual. "Not to put too fine a point on it, we have Ruined this World for the purposes of the expedition. We will get very little by way of Glory or Profit from revealing it.
"It is worth no more to us than an another Dull Glow or Dark Victory."
"In the next useful world, we must take a Far More Circumspect Attitude. We must Explore. We are, if I may remind you, the Hoven Royal Exploring Company. We must not Exploit. We are not, if I may remind you, the Hoven Royal Exploiting Company. We must be secret, we must be sly, we must be scientific! We must not be greedy now; we must know that our greed will be appeased twelvefold upon Publication and Colonization."
He sat down, which is always a troublesome matter for him. Osoth climbed to the top of the hillock for a few last words.
"As wise Tultamaan has said, we have lost a delicious opportunity in Cussa, for reasons that are entirely our own fault. Next time, we shall be far more circumspect and insidious! However, the world is not entirely useless to us. We shall use it as a pavilion of exercise. Let whoever wishes to ravage and destroy and loot, go to Cussa to ravage and destroy and loot! Get such urges out of your psyche; calm them down; render them satiated and sluggish." He grinned, and held up the Staff of the Quiet Lord. "And beware! The natives are not entirely helpless."
Four days later, a dozen cities of Cussa were aflame, their jewelry stores and treasuries emptied, their populations reduced by half or more. However ruined for colonization the world was before, it was twelve times as ruined now. The more bloodthirsty dragons, Hyxy and Vaareng and their ilk, were satiated. Every dragon who wanted an increment to the hoard had at least a nice pile of jewelry and gemstones and intricate art. (Ugly stuff — I saw a lot of it — but it is meant to be seen by echoes of sound, not by sight.)Support this project! Show that you're reading it by exchanging notes with the characters, other readers, the writer, and occasional other entities at sythyry.livejournal.com. And/or buy Bard Bloom's books on Amazon, especially Mating Flight and World in My Claws, the prequel to this story. Also: Glossary and Dramatis Personae.


text:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Princess and the Temper Tantrums
I'd love to hear some of the creative things you're doing to calm the storm. Every child is so unique and special, but some of you really have GREAT ideas!!
A special badge for the Mihnovich family...please share
Mihnovich Family- blog
We received some disturbing news about our children on Friday and need an army of saints skilled at wielding the Sword of the Spirit to lift up our children and pray for God to move powerfully and quickly on their behalf. We are so very confident that He is faithful and will work everything out according to His purposes! We are asking everyone to begin praying for them at 11:00 each day...when it is dusk in Ethiopia, for protection and release from bondage!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Woman with a beautiful smile
I will never know her name or her story, but we had our moment. She reminds me that I don't want to miss out on the small opportunities to show love.
Simply love one another!!
(I have to add....we have a lot more in common now!!! I lost MY 4 front teeth in an accident:)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Simply Sunday
simply LOVE, because He loved us first."
(thank you Katie)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
I can't believe today is our Referral-Versary!!! I have noooo idea who made up this fun name to describe the DAY we received the CALL, but I love it! We are celebrating all day long the most sought after, prayed for, yearned for, begged for, cried for day....referral day! We were on a business/vacation trip in Palm Beach Garden, FL when we received our CALL!!
I will never forget waking up at 5AM and Roger driving the two of us to the beach at sunrise. There is something about the ocean, for me that is one of the surest places to find peace. To see in person, God's mighty beauty. We sat on the warm sand, held hands and thanked God for what was to come. We had no idea that today was the day that would change our lives forever. All I knew was the sight of the waves crashing over and over reflected the *power* of my Savior. He was in total control of my life. I had waited so long to meet our baby girl. The glorious sunrise was a renewal to my spirit.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in the local Starbucks for coffee & scones. It was still early, but there were a few customers waiting. I gestured for the nice man in front of me to order (he smiled & said good morning) We chatted for a second, but when I looked at my hubby, his mouth was gaping wide open. What's wrong...I asked with a puzzled expression?? He sat down & sheepishly whispered to me...do you know who you were talking to??
That's my golf hero, Jack Nicklaus?
Whattttt???!!! I yanked his golf hat off his head and raced up to the nice man.
I smiled...Excuse me, Mr. Nicholson...you are my 15 year old son's golf HERO and he would be thrilled if you would sign his hat!!!! He won't believe I met you. (I really said that:)
He graciously signed my "sons" hat and shook my hand. I got a little shy & tongue tied, but I muttered a sweet, thank you!!!
Rog couldn't believe I got his autograph...he was quite impressed. Of course, I told him it was now his son's golf hat, but it was soooo cool to meet a huge legend, Mr. Jack Nicholson in person.
Rog gave me a funny look... honey, his name is Jack Nicklaus, not Nicholson...that's the movie star. Ohhhhhhh nooooo....I messed up my big moment, but I had the signed hat!!!:)
At 8:45 AM...we received our referral call from Terra Bailey!!! How do you even express the moment you first see the child God has chosen for your family? There are no words to describe the excitement opening up the email with the VERY first photo of your child. Love.
The day was magical from sunrise to sunset. Rog drove me back to the beach that evening and the sound of the waves took on a whole different meaning to me. Celebration. We have our Zoie. It's hard to believe it's been a year since we first met our girl. The adoption process is different for EVERY family, but the journey to love unites us all.
Look at me now:)
Here is our hilarious "Referral Call" video. There are 2, but I'll only make you watch the one that counts.... Enjoy:)
Friday, April 24, 2009
Please vote for Susan Parry....a special adoptive mom!!
My Adoption Hero: Part 5... Forgiveness & Grace (Erin Smalley!!)
My fifth adoption hero... who exemplifies forgiveness and grace, is
Erin Smalley. She is a daughter and a sister and a friend. Everyone is drawn to her amazing spirit, hilarious sense of humor, passion for Jesus and joyous zest for life!! I no longer call her *just* my friend. She is my sister-in-law, my children's Aunti and one of the biggest cheerleaders during our adoption.
I first learned that Erin was adopted early on in our friendship and was amazed at her attitude and spirit toward her adoptive parents. They adored their daughter and she adored them. Erin was always comfortable sharing or answering any of my questions concerning her adoption. Her favorite thing to say was….I grew in my mom's heart.
I will never forget when Erin made the decision to contact her birth mother. Her adoption was domestic and closed, but with lots of support and encouragement from family and friends she started her search. It was not the reunion that Erin had dreamed about…the kind you see on Oprah. Her birth mother chose not to have contact with her for very personal reasons. She had not told anyone...her baby was a secret. She was a closet birth mother. I can't imagine the pain this decision made in Erin's heart, but I watched her respect and honor the decision with dignity and grace and forgiveness. She recently told me...I thought the contact was for my own needs, but in reality the phone call was for her, to bring her some type of freedom and peace.
Erin, thank you for showing me what it truly means to love someone unconditionally, to selflessly let go of your own needs and forgive someone despite their circumstances. You are a woman of grace. I'm thrilled to support and encourage you during YOUR adoption journey to your daughter waiting in China.
Adoption radically changes your life...from the inside out!
I'm thankful you are my sister.
Its been so special for me to share my 5 adoption heroes!! Each one played a unique part in helping us bring home our Zoie.
Now I need YOUR help...please take a moment & let me know who your adoption hero is & why. Someone that was a source of encouragement, support, inspiration, cheerleader, prayer warrior... My goal is to use these stories in the future to encourage anyone who is thinking about adopting.
You can email me at email@example.com
Let's inspire!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
My Adoption Hero: part 4... Mentor (Jamie Jo Braner!!)
Adoption is a combination of all the things I'm afraid of. For years, I wanted to make the big jump, but was too afraid. I had no idea what was below... would the waters be too deep or dangerously choppy? Roger and I believed with all our hearts God wanted us to adopt a child. But we always came up with every excuse in the book NOT to adopt: *we have two older children *we are getting old *it's very expensive *life is too convenient... the bottom line, we were afraid!!
My third adoption hero is Jamie Jo Braner, who mentored me through the process from A to Z. She was the one who finally said….no more excuses!! Jamie was tough as nails when she needed to be, but promised she would hold our hands. She never let go. Our mentor helped us with every single piece of paperwork or document to complete the home study and dossier. I would often call confused about a form and she would race down the hill to help me (we're neighbors:) In the adoption world…we call this part of the process *paper pregnancy* and its challenging and miserable and painful and frustrating.
She never let go. When I would whine about how hard the waiting was, she would pray and support and encourage. She never let go.
Jamie and her husband, Andy have dedicated their time and resources to help many families during the adoption process. During our wait for Zoie, they adopted a precious baby girl from Rwanda and are still waiting for their daughter in China. They host an adoption fellowship group… mentoring families every month in their community. Jamie Jo, thank you for holding on and never letting go during our crazy adoption journey. You held our hands so we could JUMP!!
The Braners are moving to Durango, CO on May 3rd....you will be dearly missed!!
Here is their blog to stay in touch...branerpartyof7
AnNi Designs- Braner's non-profit ministry!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
My Adoption Hero: part 3... Hope (Chapman Family!!)
Shaoey and Dot. It's the cutest Chinese face with a bug on her nose. I picked it up and knew instantly I would need to get this for my daughter for Christmas. As I read the introduction from the authors… I started weeping. Just like their daughter, our nine year old daughter had prayed faithfully for an entire year that we would adopt!!
My third adoption hero... who exemplifies hope, is the Chapman family. They have been the voice for millions of orphans. They founded Shaohannah's Hope, "which exists to enable children living without the love and hope of any earthly family to be adopted into "covenant homes." This amazing family adopted three beautiful girls from China. They have provided thousands of families financial grants to offer support and hope.
This was the statement that moved me to tears…
"Adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us in making us His children through Christ. Psalm 68:5-6 tells us that as the Father to the fatherless, God delights in setting the lonely in families. It has been our experience that the scriptural mandate of caring for orphans, such as the one found in James 1:27 is really a wonderful invitation to experience God in a profound way by being a part of His sovereign plan for His precious children."
I signed the front cover of the book…dated Christmas 2005. Dearest H, you are our ambassador in this adoption journey. God is using you to help us move forward! Please keep praying and never give up!! Someday God may have a "miracle girl" for us to call our own. Love, Mommy
Thank you Chapman family for giving our family hope to adopt! You have set the bar high and poured out a tremendous amount of resources that give families hope all over the world. We are honored that God directed us to America World Adoption (your agency, too) and even though we did not adopt from China like we first had planned….God had our precious Zoie waiting for us in Africa. Thank you for your ministry, your support, your encouragement and your faithfulness to advocate for orphans!!
I can't wait to share my hero #4!!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
My Adoption Hero: part 2... Awareness (Angelina Jolie!!)
- On September 5, 2005, I was flipping through the pages of a People Magazine and I noticed a beautiful photograph of a huge movie star and her recently adopted daughter. Roger and I were at the "talking" phase at that time, but still had not made any plans yet to adopt a child. We had no idea where to adopt or who would help us. I cut out this article and saved it in my Bible (I still have it) just in case.
My second adoption hero ... who exemplifies awareness, is Angelina Jolie!! For me, I knew in my heart, if this actress could adopt, maybe so could we!! We had no idea about the process, but I finally had one name of one adoption agency that we could trust. Regardless if you agree with Angelina's career, you CAN'T disagree with the fact that she has helped spread incredible awareness concerning adoption all over the world. She did something only a superstar could do ... splash photographs in every major magazine and interviews about the problem of millions of orphans in need. She has adopted from countries that still have their doors shut tight, but they let her in!! It's incredible the resources she has poured into making the world aware and understand that there is a way you can make a difference!
Just like her character in the movies, she is a real-life Lara Croft. We have this strong, independent, intelligent, passionate, independent woman who has let us watch action packed adventures, battling the bad guys, eliminating any obstacles that stands in her way, and in the end discovers treasure in 3 third world countries: Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam!! Bravo!!!
- Thank you Angelina Jolie for being passionate about orphans & helping the public *awareness* of children's needs all over the world!! I hope we can all join you in helping spread the news...
My hero #3 coming soon!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
A dog-gone bad day!!
My Adoption Hero: part 1... Courage (Randi Shetley!!)
My first adoption hero...who exemplifies courage, is Randi Shetley. She and her amazing husband, Shane received a referral for 2 sibling boys from Awassa, Ethiopia in 2001. Randi's mom owned an adoption agency, but this was brand new territory for them. Americans had rarely had a successful experience adopting from Ethiopia. They waited 15 months to travel to Addis Ababa to bring the boys home, but tragically, they lost the boys to circumstances that were out of their control. The day they heard the news, they were shocked to hear they received another referral for a boy-4 and a girl-6
This time, Randi completed her new paperwork and updated her home study in record speed and 3 months later headed to Addis Ababa to officially complete the adoption procedure…ALONE!! The family that traveled right before her had spent 10 weeks in Ethiopia to bring their children home, so she knew she was heading into the unknown... the road less traveled, literally. Every morning she headed to court, but was turned away day after day due to the judge out fishing (for real!!) She hit every obstacle imaginable during her extended time in Ethiopia, but never gave up. Finally meeting the judge, he took one look at her completed authenticated dossier and threw it in his garbage can…yelling at her (and I quote) NO GOOD…START OVER!! She left his office completely discouraged, but not destroyed. She would pull out all the tools she had and start again. I always had a hard time believing this part of her story, but it was true. My adoption hero started over from scratch in a foreign country. For all of us that understand the incredible amount of paperwork that is involved…this was truly a heroic, action packed, massive undertaking. Randi never gave up. She trusted in God to help her through every single detail and He showered her with mighty miracles every step of the way. She was protected from the corruption at every level, but slowly… page-by-page, she completed a new dossier. She felt beat up, bruised and punished emotionally, but in the end, after spending over 3 weeks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she WON the race and came home with her beautiful children!!!
I met Megin, her first week in America. My husband and I were helping out at Kindergarten indoor recess, due to the rainy day. I recognized her immediately as the precious girl recently adopted from Ethiopia, but had no idea her new mom was going to be my hero:) I smiled at her & she immediately came over and sat in my lap. I was in heaven. I signaled for Roger to come over and say hi. He smiled and reached out to pat her shoulder. All of a sudden, this quiet calm little darling let out a blood-curling scream & went into hysterics. Poor Rog waved his hands up in the air, so no one would think he was pinching the screaming child.
Beautiful, courageous, radiant, vivacious Megin is now 12 years old and is our adopted niece. She still teases Roger by screaming at the top of her lungs when she sees him!!!! LOL
My adoption hero started a ripple effect in our community. There are dozens of families that are adopting from Ethiopia, but I have had the rare opportunity to know one of the *pioneers* who helped pave the way to make these adoptions even possible. Thank you for being so brave and strong and passionate about the children of Ethiopia. Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for holding my hand through the crazy ups & downs, never doubting for a second that we would bring Zoie home.
Randi & Shane currently live in Kansas with their Awesome 5 children …2 biological and 3 gifts from Ethiopia!!!!
We love you!!!
*Please share YOUR adoption hero story*
I can't wait to share my Adoption Hero #2
Sunday, April 19, 2009
AWAA Africa Families...can you help us spread the word?
All you need to do is cut & paste the HTLM code provided. This will allow families to find the Reunion Blog with one click!
Even if you don't plan on making it to the reunion, help us spread the word:))
THANK YOU for supporting this special event.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
My Adoption Hero.
In my next 5 posts, I'm going to share with you my 5 Adoption Heroes. The individuals that inspired me, as well as others, to join the incredible community of adoption. I want to honor my adoption heroes and celebrate their compassion, their perseverance, their strength, their faith, their hope, their passion, their courage to make a difference for children in need in their own community and all around the world.
On Monday, I will share with you who my first adoption hero is.
Be inspired!!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I got a *HAPPY* today
One Day Without Shoes...April 16th!! *TOMS*
* Fact #2: Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
* Fact #3: Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
* Fact #4: In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
* Fact #5: Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.
The impact a pair of shoes has on a child can be life-changing. Help TOMS raise awareness this April 16th. Take off your shoes today!!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
My new niece....she's coming from China!!!!!
Over two years ago, Rog & I started the process for a baby girl from China. We had just finished our homestudy & social worker visit. Rules changed & one in particular was so gray. We no longer could move forward. We never dreamed God would take us to Africa, but we are forever grateful that He knew all along!!! We just needed to be obedient & keep our hearts free to do what He wanted for our family. God knows the deepest desires of our heart. Now, after all these years, we'll get to love our sweet niece....a beautiful treasure from China!!
"A" we already LOVE you!!!
Now I'm working on them to start their blog:)))
Monday, April 13, 2009
It Began with Bale....Drawn from Water (video!!)
Be blessed!!!
Drawn from Water from Drawn From Water on Vimeo.
This is from Joanna Branson.
Please click on her name and read her newsletter to be totally blown away at God's amazing love for all He created!.....and watch this video about the Mingi children sentenced to die because of evil superstition by their tribal leader leaders....the very ones put in charge to protect them.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
This Changes Everything!!
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! (Living Bible) Experiencing the resurrection power of Jesus in you life literally changes everything!
Our heart's desire is that you will experience all that God has for you today!!"
God Changes Everything!
(JRA Easter Sunday)
Ethiopian Easter Bunny
Redemption. Adoption. Celebration.
We give thanks today for our family and friends, but most of all the ultimate gift of love. In America, everyone celebrates Easter. It's a holiday, its a day to spend with family, its a time of renewal. Spring. Saturday night, my family spent the evening roasting hot dogs, playing with cousins and decorating eggs. Its tradition. We love stuffing plastic eggs, anticipating the big bunny hopping to our home and hiding baskets full of candy & tiny treasures.
I will never forget the day Awesome M asked me if there was a Santa Claus. I knew the time had come to confess. After hearing the "secret" he gave me a sad puzzled look and with a tear in his eye (those big ones that just hang there ready to drop) asked, Mom, does this mean that there is no Easter bunny, too? Ohhhhh my mommy heart hurt telling him that secret too. He finally looked at me and said calmly. If its OK, can I start getting chocolate eggs in my basket. I really hate jellybeans!!
Adoption and Redemption go hand in hand. The best way for me to share God's great love for us is the verse, John 14:18. Jesus said, I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. We walked the streets of Addis Ababa and saw first hand the pain and poverty. We saw precious young mothers with babies tied to their backs helpless. My husband would gently gesture for these mothers to follow him inside tiny markets lining the streets. He would buy them food and leave them alone to eat. Most never said a word, but always smiled with gratefulness. What does being an orphan mean?
Lost. No home. No family. The truth is we are all orphans. Every single one of us are orphans. Without the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, we are all lost, we are all without a family, we need love, we need redemption. When you believe in the miracle of Jesus. When you accept His gift of love. When you let go of everything and give Him your life. We become a child of the King. We are chosen. We are adopted into an eternal family. This new life is more incredible that you can even imagine!!
God Changes Everything!!
Happy Easter.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Adoption Dream Team...thank you!!
Zoie was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We had the honor of staying there for 2 weeks. At the time, we did not feel like it was a honor, but now understand the value of the time we spent in our daughter's homeland. We were able to see and touch and feel and hear and taste Ethiopia. We continue to stay in contact with our ET Dream Team...Duni, Rachel, Furtuna, Robel. (nannies & caregivers, too) They were our constant in all the craziness that comes with adoption. Our friends, Rachel & hubby are home now in TN. The rest remain there and help every AW family make it to the end of the marathon. The race is hard, so hard, but the treasure is worth the pain. Thank you for ALL the work you do for children and forever families.
Amharic. It's the beautiful language our daughter would have learned to speak .
We cherish these 3 words... Jesus- Eyesus, Family-Beteseb, Love- Feker
As we prepare for celebrating Easter, please keep the ones in Ethiopia, our family in your prayers. They make a difference for love, for family, for Jesus.
**AWAA has 10 families (its a record:) in Ethiopia this week bringing home their children. WOW!
Dubose Family
Kulp Family
Lunceford Family
Koby Family
Jones Family
Rovang Family
Crowell Family
Moffatt Family
Bartel Family
Watson Family
Friday, April 10, 2009
Happy 15 months Zoie...it is a Good Friday!!
15 months is our lucky number:)
I walked at 15 months. Awesome M & H both walked at 15 months. Zoie is soooo close. She walks everywhere, but needs a finger to help. Her favorite things right now: walks outside, tearing up the kitchen cabinets, eating plant dirt, singing, dancing, eating top 5...cheese, bread, bananas, cherrios & baba (OK...she's still on the BRAT diet) and her family. She's saying new words: Tate-doggie, cheese, up, out, sissy, zozo...we say coffee-Zoie says "hot" (I know, that is so smart:)
We are blessed today!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Camping + college kids + motorcycle gang + rain...Priceless!!
Roger and I were soooooo excited the first time we took Awesome M camping. He was 1 and full of life. We wanted to start him out young and start the bonding right off the bat. I remember like it was yesterday packing the car with all the camping goods and our brand new Coleman tent. We thought of everything. We interviewed several avid campers and decided on the perfect spot for our 1st trip. The drive was long and winding. I remember feeling car sick, but my joy of camping held me over thru the 4 hr. drive to camping paradise.
It was beautiful. The best spot. We set up our camp site in a flash. We had a few tumbles trying to figure out how to balance out the tent, despite the slight lean...we did it!! I headed to the "potty" but stopped short. The not-so-clean, super nasty toilet was crawling with bugs. Dear Lord it was disgusting!! Refusing to *go* there...I insisted Rog drive us to the nearest clean restroom. There was noooo near clean spot. Where was the gas station? Where was the park restrooms with showers? I realized quickly I would really have to rough it up!! 100% nature calling in the wild outdoors.
The night was long and everything went wrong. It started raining. A motorcycle pack rolled in and set up camp right next to our tent. A college group catty corner partied all night. It was cold and wet and loud and miserable. I begged Rog to go out there and tell the college kids and motorcycle gang to BE QUIET!! We have a baby trying to sleep in here!!! Long story short, we packed up our brand new tent and all our camping goods in the dark and headed for home. We were mad and really sleepy. I felt like a total failure. What happened? I was a camping pro. Our family bonding depended on this camping trip to be a success.
We learned a lesson. Our un-camping trip WAS a success. We bonded. We had our memories. We could laugh at the messes. Maybe we weren't cut out to be campers, but we were cut out to be a family. A family that loves being together. We never popped that tent up again, but we did invest years later in a pop up camper. We are now the Gibson 5 and I cherish our
memory-making-messes deeper than ever. I guess the moral of this story...you can bond pretty much doing anything as a family. Trouble will find you where ever you go:)
Make every memory count!!
Ooops....I forgot to ask. Bloggy friends, I'd really love to hear your favorite memory-making-messes.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Giggles & Big Sis
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Haregewoin Teferra *goodbye*
Praying for ALL her children!!
(thanks Nikki)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
It's Time...to Celebrate Everyday (girls night out!)
I realized I was starving for fellowship and pressed the gas a little faster. Its been a long two weeks home with a sweet sick baby.
I need my friends. I need to worship. I need to serve.
The church was decorated with all things girlie. They didn't miss a single detail...it was going to be a night to remember. The most exciting thing for me was our Cherish Kids Expo. JRA is advocating for foster care, domestic & international adoption. My passion. I'm so honored to be a part of a team & church family who are serving the needs of children *in need* in my community and around the world.
Giddy gals everywhere...women of all ages buzzing in the halls. Here we go...the doors opened at 7pm sharp...I zipped in to save seats. I'm thankful to sit and relax. I was soaking in the pure joy of the event with some of my very favorite girlfriends...Juju & Kim. Chocolate, princess music, worship, prayer, Prince Dance-A-Lot, laughs, incredible speaker, new sisters in the Lord...need I say more:) During one of the songs, a lump stopped me from singing and the Lord captured my thoughts.
I drifted to the place that's so hard for me to go. I'm praying for a young woman I deeply care for. I think about her during the quiet moments, but this time I felt a longing that I had not experienced before. I started sobbing. The love I feel for a women I have never met, takes my breath away. I see her everyday. I see her stunning eyes, her perfect lips and precious nose. She is my hero, the vessel that God used to create my daughter. I wept that she could not share this special night with me. She is my friend. Does she know my Savior? She has taught me more about love, sacrifice, courage..she is true beauty. I wish I could personally thank her for allowing me to have something so priceless. Selfless. Determined. Dignity.
We are Mothers and love the same daughter.
I pray that Zoie will know Truth. That she is fearfully and wonderfully made.
She is chosen.
Oh, I am thankful for a special night to give thanks for the powerful women in my life. That have shaped and helped mold me. I'm grateful for a night to renew my energy and spirit. A night to remember I'm a daughter of a King.
The message was clear....It's Time. It's Time for us to embrace the treasures He has created for us. It's Time to let go of the things we hold so precious. It's Time to make a difference. It's Time to seek clear direction. It's Time for inconvenience.
It's Time to live radically. It's Time to celebrate Everyday!!
It's Time.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Sissy & lots of kisses
Zoie's new word of the week....Sissy!!! She has been working so hard to teach "Zizi" to blow kisses, so this morning when Z said sissy, blew her a kiss & waved goodbye....lots of melting:))) We love having a baby in the house!!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Zoie's *very* first step!!!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
James River Women's Rally....friends come join me:)
Jamesriverwomen's RALLY "IT'S TIME "
April 3 @ 7PM (Main Auditorium)
Come see me @ 8:30PM at "Cherish Kids" booth...foster care, international & domestic adoption info available:))
A gathering of women for a spectacular evening!Last year, our hearts connected with a beautiful woman and powerful speaker-Alicia Chole. We are thrilled that she'll be back with another dynamic message from her heart! You will be encouraged, uplifted, and inspired to flourish in every avenue of life. You won't want to miss the yummy treats, pampering, and after rally fun! Free childcare provided for moms with children walking - 10 years.Childcare opens April 1, 2009. Contact Denise Wicks at 417-581-5433 or firstname.lastname@example.com
About Alicia
As a speaker Alicia Britt Chole delights and disarms her audience with genuineness and vulnerability, captivates their attention by wrapping vivid illustrations around life-changing truths, and delivers her message with conviction (and a good dose of humor!). Her messages awaken hearts and minds to consider the intimacy and intensity of God.Alicia Britt Chole speaks to leaders, professionals, women's groups, ministers, and college students concerning spiritual life, self-deception, conflict, disillusionment, commitment, choices, mission, and mentoring. Loved by young and old, Alicia's unique and refreshing style connects with seekers and leaders, modern and post-modern alike from a wide variety of Christian traditions.Today, Alicia Britt Chole and her fun-filled tribe of five live in the country off a dirt road in a home devoted to reflection and writing.


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With Balloon Sinuplasty™, ENT doctors open inflamed sinuses in the same way that heart surgeons open up blocked arteries during balloon angioplasty. The procedure is less invasive than traditional sinus surgery, and effective at relieving symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Balloon Sinuplasty allows patients to return to normal activities quickly. Unlike conventional sinus surgery, it does not include removal of bone or tissue from the nose.
If you have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and are not responding well to antibiotics, you may be a candidate for sinus surgery. There is now a less invasive option used by ENT doctors to treat chronic sinusitis that is clinically proven to be safe, effective and improve the quality of your life.
Sinusitis affects 37 million people each year, making it one of the most common health problems in the U.S. It is more prevalent than heart disease and asthma and has a greater impact on quality of life than chronic back pain or congestive heart failure. Symptoms may significantly affect people physically, functionally, and emotionally.
To understand sinusitis, it is important to first learn about your sinuses and their role with your health.
The sinuses are air spaces behind the bones of the upper face, between the eyes and behind the forehead, nose and cheeks. The sinuses are covered with a mucus layer and cells that contain little hairs on their surfaces called cilia. These help trap and push out bacteria and pollutants.
Each sinus has an opening that allows mucous to drain - this drainage is essential to keeping your sinuses working well and you healthy. Anything that obstructs that flow may cause a buildup of mucus in the sinuses and trigger symptoms that range from minor to severe.
Experts agree that healthy sinuses are a key to a good quality of life and that unhealthy sinuses may cause some unwanted complications.
Sinusitis is defined as an inflammation of the sinus lining commonly caused by bacterial, viral and / or microbial infections; as well as, structural issues such as ostial blockage. Symptoms include nasal congestion, facial discomfort, nasal discharge, headache, and fatigue.
There are two main categories of sinusitis: acute and chronic.
Sinusitis is usually preceded by a cold, allergy attack or irritation from environmental pollutants. Often, the resulting symptoms, such as nasal pressure, nasal congestion, a "runny nose," and fever, run their course in a few days. However, if symptoms persist, a bacterial infection or acute sinusitis may develop.
Most cases of sinusitis are acute (or sudden onset); however, if the condition occurs frequently or lasts 12 weeks or more, you may have chronic sinusitis.


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As channeled by JOB:
Knowing that nothing is solid and everything is malleable is a law to understand properly, and to not confuse with the Law of Attraction. This is the made law of the call to create, because rhythm is where creation emerges from and harmony is all of creation woven together.
This law is to know that balance occurs within the universe by the varying tones of rhythm, which is the song of the need for all to be able to exist.
Using this law as a principle in your life is allowing your rhythm and movement to be in harmony with creation. Let your tone and intention be purposeful, and allow your voice to sing the proper songs. Allow your body to move gracefully and let your steps be made to bring you always closer to your goals.


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Jolly jumper rocking basket stand – The crib is the key element for obvious reasons, but it is also the element that can break the design of the room. You can leave for the comfortable and functional or for the aesthetic. There are cots that are made beds and the investment will be less strong, since you will use it for more years. The design they choose has to carry their crib protector, to protect the baby's arms and hands.
To complete your safety in jolly jumper rocking basket stand crib environment, try placing soft things nearby. Do not leave pictures and shelves at your height. It could be dangerous. Have your things always at hand. Everything you need to care for your baby needs to be easily accessible so you do not leave your child unattended for a second. It will be your top priority.
I recommend looking for a credenza where you have your diapers, bibs, pacifiers, blankets, etc. near jolly jumper rocking basket stand baby. When the baby is few months old it is when more time passes together with you. That is why having a reposet or rocking chair is a necessity to have where to rest and to coo it while you put it in your arms. Add it to your furniture list.


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Consecrated life
St. Agnes
Born: 291
Died: 304
Feastday: January 21st
Patron of: young girls, chastity, rape survivors, and the Children of Mary
St. Agnes of Rome was born in 291 AD and raised in a Christian family. Agnes was very beautiful and
belonged to a wealthy family. Her hand in marriage was highly sought after, and she had many high ranking
men chasing after her. However, Agnes made a promise to God never to stain her purity.
Whenever a man wished to marry Agnes, she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."
According to legend, the young men she turned away became so angry and insulted by her devotion to God
and purity that they began to submit her name to authorities as a Christian follower.
In one incident, Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He tried to win her
for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to
the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave
In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The
Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to
change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy.
Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the
pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her
wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. "I would offend my Spouse,"
she said, "if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!" Then she prayed and
bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.
Other accounts of Agnes' life hold the Prefect Sempronius responsible for her martyrdom. It is said he
condemned the young girl to be dragged through the streets naked. Some versions of the legend state that
Agnes' hair grew instantly to cover her entire body and all the men who attempted to rape the beautiful virgin
were immediately struck blind.
The stories go on to explain that another man presided over Agnes' trial after Sempronius excused himself.
The new man sentenced Agnes to death. At first, Agnes was tied to a stake, but either the wood would not
burn or the flames parted away from her. This prompted an officer to draw his sword and behead the girl. It
is believed that her blood, which poured out to the stadium, was soaked up with cloths by Christians.
-from Catholic.org
Prayer to St. Agnes
O Little St. Agnes, so young and yet made so strong and wise by the power of God, protect by your prayers all the young people of every place whose goodness and purity are threatened by the evils and impurities of this world.
Give them strength in temptation and a true repentance when they fail. Help them to find true Christian friends to accompany them in following the Lamb of God and finding safe pastures in His Church and in her holy sacraments.
May you lead us to the wedding banquet of heaven to rejoice with you and all the holy virgin martyrs in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever.