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...well for now.
The New Jersey Attorney General office is trying to overturn a 32-year old precedent that forbids prosecutors from obtaining phone records without a warrant. The current holding on telephone records was set in 1982 due to the State of New Jersey v. Hunt case. Prosecutors are claiming that they are often unable to access records until the final stages during the trial, when it barely holds any significance anymore.
The State v. Hunt prohibits phone searches without warrants after Thomas Earls, a suspect of multiple robberies, was tracked through his cell phone three times without a warrant and arrested after the police was able to find his location at a motel. Earls argued that he had "reasonable expectation of privacy in the location of his cell phone," so the police should have been issued a warrant before violating his privacy. The Supreme Court ruled in Earls' favor, every resident must feel safe to know that their personal information is not being disclosed. Whenever a cell phone is being tracked, it violates the privacy of someone's location.
The new debate is crucial for prosecutors especially during criminal cases. Many claim that getting access to a telephone record through a warrant takes too much time and by the time that they have a hold on these records, the prosecutors are able to stake a claim with other sufficient evidence.
On the other hand, defense lawyers have another opinion towards the proposal.
President of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Joseph Rotella deems that the idea is "disappointing to see that the agency charged with protecting our citizens and enforcing the law would plan to intentionally violate a citizen's rights just to make them a test case." ACDL-NJ vice president, Christopher Adams, also adds that the reasoning behind to the test is spurious and that warrants for phone records can be obtained within hours.
Many are against the idea because officials would be able to gain access to other private functions on our phones nowadays, such as, pictures, calendar events, emails, social media, etc. Defense attorneys claim that the idea violates our privacy rights and it overturns the State v. Hunt case which set a precedent that does not allow phone records to be discovered without an issued warrant.
Seton Hall's School of Law, Jenny Carroll labeled the idea an "aggressive move" because it works in the prosecutor's favor and it can strongly hurt the defense. Caroll empathized with defense attorneys, saying that if they are not experienced well enough, they could be forced to take a plea bargain.
For now, the Attorney General's Office are having tests, timing how long it takes one attorney, who would have to obtain a warrant before gaining phone records while another attorney would be able to have access to phone records.
There is still much debate and factors to be considered before actually having this legislation regulated. So you are safe from you and your phones for now!
Clausen, Casey. "New Jersey Supreme Court: Police Must Obtain Warrant Before Accessing Cell Phone Location Information." JOLT Digest. Ed. Mary Grinman. N.p., 30 July 2013. Web. 1 July 2014.
Gallagher, Mary P. "N.J. Wants Warrantless Access to Phone Customers' Billing Records." New Jersey Law Journal. N.p., 12 June 2014. Web. 01 July 2014.
Napoliello, Alex. "Attorney General's Office Seeks Help to Gain Warrantless Access to Phone Billing Records." NJ.com. N.p., 16 June 2014. Web. 01 July 2014.


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Blaine Werner is a psychology and religion double major.Werner wrote a senior thesis on peer groups. His adviser is Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Katherine Clemans.
Q: What is your thesis about?
A: What my thesis asks is: Are there universal peer crowds? If so, what are they? And are there any factors that predict the emergence of peer crowds? A peer crowd is ... we think of "jocks," "nerds" and "popular kids." It's not necessarily an interaction-based category — it's more of a reputation-based one. So all the nerds might not interact with each other. It has less to do with interaction of the crowd designated and more with reputation. And there are many different elements of perceived behaviors, of popularity and social status, of those particular peer crowds, the norms and values that are associated with those particular peer crowds.
The reason I'm asking such broad questions is because the literature has been pretty inconsistent in the operational definitions of those peer crowds and the methodologies used to determine those peer crowds that exist. When a psych research team investigates a particular behavior with adolescent peer crowds, it tries to identify peer crowds and identify if there are particular behaviors associated with particular crowds. For example, there's the "deviant crowd," and they're perceived to have high smoking behavior, high recidivism, high marijuana usage. The jock crowd is associated with high alcohol consumption and engages in riskier sexual activity. Most studies look at one high school and they determine the peer crowds, re-label the kids at that school into the peer crowds that they've determined exist, then they investigate the particular behaviors of those crowds based on the kids in them. The problem is, the high schools are generally homogeneous, large, urban, white public schools of a middle socioeconomic status. There's not a lot of external validity because, how can you generalize across all high schools across the country when every high school is very different? There were certain factors that I thought were involved in the type of peer crowds that emerge at a particular high school: enrollment size, public vs. private, academic performance of the school and median household income level in the area.
Q: What was your research process like?
A: The survey I had was released to recent high school graduates. It asked, what are the peer crowds that existed at your high school, what were they like, a free response to describe the crowd and eight different behaviors — how often did members of this crowd smoke, drink, things like that. I was also looking to get as many high schools represented as possible. I got 145 high schools represented in my sample, with a fair amount of geographic diversity, and also socioeconomic and academic performance diversity. Enrollment was from 40 students to 5,200 students. I got 145 different high schools and 165 students. Then, I had 10 Amherst College students code my data. They were told to come up with a coding scheme for common crowds that emerge; I reviewed those 10 coding schemes and determined which ones overlapped. I came up with 11 total peer crowds, including: athlete, high social status, artsy, ethnic-based, academically oriented, deviant, religious kids, outsider and average.
Q: How does this compare with data from the literature that you've read?
A: This is a huge step back from the literature. My criticism of the literature is when you're investigating peer crowds for a particular behavior, you're probably going to end up being biased in terms of the peer crowds you identify because you're looking for ones that are based on those particular behaviors. What my study tried to do was to ask what are the peer crowds, rather than looking to see if they exhibit particular behaviors.
Q: Why is it problematic to think of things in terms of behaviors?
A: My thesis is a response to a meta-analysis, essentially a study of studies in 2007 on peer crowds. The studies they investigated were inconsistent in the methodologies they used to determine the peer crowds. One study might be saying a jock crowd is high school kids who play a sport for more than two hours a week, and another study might say a jock is someone who identifies [as a jock] ... and another study might say a jock is someone who other people might say is an athlete. So those are inconsistent. In the meta-analysis they came up with five peer crowds. The deviant crowd was the most consistently identified, but the deviant crowd isn't the most represented crowd. You're not going to have a large deviant population — you're going to have a rather small one. So the question becomes, how are they so consistently identified? It's probably because their behaviors are the ones researchers are looking out for. There's a sense that there's something awry or erroneous in the methodologies being used.
Q: What's the most valuable thing you think you'll take away from the process?
A: I think my biggest takeaway is what it means to make an original academic contribution to the world. I think my thesis is pretty dope because it's a step back from 50 years of psychology research. It was just cool to read all these studies and say, "my thesis is going to try to improve a field of study." I could also engage in a conversation with someone who studies this and have some arguments to make. And arguments beyond what I read in the literature — arguments based on an experiment I had actually performed myself.
Q: How did you decide on this thesis topic?
A: Initially I was going to do a psych and law thesis with [Professor of Psychology] Allen Hart, and then he went on sabbatical and announced it rather suddenly in the middle of the summer. I was really going to be set far back, so it came down to, either I don't do a thesis or I do a thesis with a professor that I hadn't planned on doing it with. Catherine Sanderson, who is my academic adviser in the department, emailed the whole department and said, who would be willing to take on another thesis student? Katherine Clemans suggested this one, and it seemed the coolest, the most interesting, the most up my alley, so I went with it.
Q: Do you have any advice for students considering writing a thesis?
A: Do it. But do it for the right reasons. There are a lot of different good reasons. I think most of the theses I see succeed are based on an intense interest and passion in the specific topic because when it's March and it's due in two months and you're pulling all-nighters on it, something's got to be feeding your energy. And it should be your devotion to that particular topic. It's going to be hard, even if it's your favorite topic in the world. If I hadn't done a thesis, I don't know what walking away from college would have felt like. It feels like I did something with what I've learned here.

subset: commoncrawl


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So this is my new room were I can scrap in.
My 2yo desided she wants to share a room with her babysister.
We did'nt thought it would work, well it did, both of them are sleeping so much better now.
So we've moved there beds and stuf to our room (the biggest one) and we are moved to the middle room.
And so it is that we had a spare room, a room were now my scrapstuff and the labtop is in, also it's going to be the room were I'm going to iron our clothes!! :):):):)
On the pic you can see my scrap side of the room....!!!! Yeay!!
It's still a bit messy, but I'm still buisy cleaning everything in all of the rooms.
Since I was buisy and all I decided to move everything around and have a big house cleaning!!!
So hoping tomorow I will be finished, love to have the whole house fresh and clean!!!!


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Courtly Life
Medieval historic piece with recorders and drum. The background music to a banquet or king's court.
Medieval historic piece with recorders fanfare and drum. The background music to a banquet or king's court.
Composed by Kevin Kerrigan (aka KK ) and Katharine Blake (of Mediaeval Baebes).
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ZRI describe themselves as a Viennese tavern band and when I first saw them they were producing an exhilarating take on Brahms and the gypsy music from which he took so much inspiration. He was a regular drinker and listener at a Viennese tavern called The Red Hedgehog (Zum Roten Igel…) where he immersed himself in the music of tavern bands, inspired to compose his Hungarian Dances and much more.
These 'Gypsy' bands were diverse included Jews, Greeks and Russians as well as Hungarian Roma, they might even have included the odd tramp or two. Which may or may not have any bearing on the latest step in their evolution, they may well have rushed off to play an evening of Schubert in Stoke Newington but this afternoon they were attempting something completely new: accompanying a silent without a safety net for the first time.
These are all superlative musicians, classically-trained and disciplined, yet also capable of extemporisation and improvisation the two do not always go hand in hand. Matching wits against Charlie Chaplin at his most mercurial in The Adventurer, is probably not the safest place to start but it's what Brahms (probably) would have wanted had he (somehow) been given the choice.
|Henry Bergman, Marta Golden, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell and Charlie Chaplin
ZRI seem to feed off each other as much as their notation and adding a sixth member to the dynamic allowed them to add an extra dimension and, not only were the group watching the film as they played they were also laughing – especially Iris Pissaride who soldiered on with the santouri through every smile. As accordionist Jon Banks said afterwards, even though you know what's coming it's still funny and the band are more than tight enough to roll with every unexpected plop of ice cream, kick and pratfall.
The score was a mix of Charlie-contemporary flavours from Limehouse Blues, Brother Can You Spare a Dime (sung so expressively by cellist and multi-tasker extraordinaire Matthew Sharp) to a final acapella version of Chaplin's Smile which moistened many a watching eye. There were also more "classical" pieces with rip-roaring escalations of Ben Harlan's clarinet and Max Baillie's violin which are trademark ZRI, bringing "the gypsy" out from the more ordered settings of Brahms and others.
They split the film into four parts, freezing the action and playing "interludes" which may be sacrilege for some, but it worked as the tone was maintained and quite clearly the players were enjoying themselves.
|Edna Purviance, Marta Golden and Charlie Chaplin
The Adventurer was Chaplin's last film for Mutual and shows the maturation of his style as he began to reach for longer form comedy. Even though he had settled his tramp persona this film features a more malicious Charlie than some might expect. For a start he is an escaped convict, there's no back story on his innocence or otherwise, and then there's his fondness for alcohol and life's baser pleasures. He nobly dives in to save a drowning woman at a seaside resort but quickly switches target when he sees her daughter (the divine Edna Purviance). He also saves the girl's would-be suitor, big and beardy Eric Campbell, only to drop him back in the water again.
Charlie's battle with Eric intensifies as he gains acceptance in polite society and with the girl's parents, even her father, played by Henry Bergman, who is a judge who vaguely recognises him… Eric also spies mischief when Charlie's mugshot is shown in the newspaper and the police return only to provide our (anti?) hero with more opportunities to humiliate them through swiftness and comic invention few could match. Forget "sentimental" Chaplin, this is Charlie the Punk and he wears it well.
|ZRI: Max Baillie, Jon Banks, Matthew Sharp, Ben Harlan and Iris Pissaride
So punk and classical do mix and this was a thoroughly enjoyable – sold out – adventure for band and audience from which only a live Charlie was missing. As ever the live setting brought out the best in both sight and sound; it's almost as if Charlie knows we're laughing (long before 1917 he was *sure*.)
I hope ZRI carry on this adventure as they are made for jazz-age capering. Chaplin was a world-wide success by 1917 and you can imagine The Adventurer being screened not just in Vienna and Hungary but in New York with jazz, klezmer, classical and all manner of folk music similarly deployed as accompaniment.
Both music and silent cinema were expressions of migrated creativity and ZRI's music shares its roots with the same sources, the melting pot of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which itself fed out West as the Twentieth Century began to take its toll.
More details of ZRI are available on their website - I urge you to seek them out!


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navy and technical experts in international marine services yesterday arrived
in Banjul to assess Gambia Port Authority's firefighting, oil spill response,
and health and safety areas.
Lieutenant Colonel Cedric LE Bigot said their trip was supported by the French Embassy in Dakar, coordinated by the Bureau Varitas in Senegal, in consultation with Charbell N. Elhaji, a local consultant based in Banjul.
The team was received at the Banjul Ports by the GPA managing director, Abdoulie M Tambedou.
Speaking on arrival at the GPA's conference hall, the GPA deputy managing director, Ousman M. Jobarteh, said the ports was honoured to receive the navy expert.
He said that the technical assistance programme would mark the beginning of a long fruitful relationship in the years ahead.
"We are a small port that strives on efficiency and any technical assistance that will improve the set-up of the port will be more than welcomed," he said.
He said health, safety, firefighting and emergency response is a big challenge, not only for the port of Banjul, but other ports in many developing countries.
He said the port is faced with a lot of challenges in terms of the environment, health and safety marine pollution prevention.
"We believe the expert will stay in the country for the next three days or so to conduct assessment on the health, safety and fire rescue issues to help the board identify the gaps that are in the system and recommend remedial actions," he said.
This, he said, would enable the port to count on having a safe and reliable port operation.
The consultant, Charbell N. Elhaji, said the expert will during his stay assess the GPA and some of its materials that maybe under depollution.
"We will also take the opportunity to visit The Gambia Fire and Rescue Services and the airport," he explained.
Meanwhile, the expert, Lieutenant Colonel Cedric LE Bigot, said after the assessment of the ports he would be able to give an overview of his findings and recommendation.


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Wedding Anniversary Poems
Happy Anniversary Maggie
So many years as man and wife.
A lovely way to spend my life.
Has it really been that long, who could know?
The years have passed and none too slow.
My love for you grows stronger with time
Remembering the day I made you mine.
I'd marry you again with love anew
Just to spend the time with you.
Related : Year
Anniversary Poems
Thank you for your love and trust
Your inner beauty leaves all others in the dust.
The best part that I must say
Is coming home to you each day.
I love you for the little things.
That's why you wear my ring
There could be no better life
Than us to live as man and wife.
Related : Month
Anniversary Poems
The love of my life will always be
The one and only Maggie
Love and kisses from Kenny
Our remaining years I pray are plenty.
By Daring Diana
Share our poem on your favorite
social network!
Read More Poems
- Happy
Valentines Day Poems
- Husband Poems
- Love Poems
For Husband
- Love Poems
For Wife
- Marriage Poems


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Last week I talked about how I was inspired by our Missions Pastors wife to bring my girls into the kitchen. You can read more about it here. So that is what I am going to do this Thanksgiving! I am so excited to begin a new tradition in our family and with my girls. The plan for Thanksgiving will go something like this:
- The girls will be helping Mom in the kitchen.
- The boys will be putting up the Christmas decorations and lights on the house.
- Thanksgiving Dinner will be served at 4pm.
Did I say I was excited!! Actually giddy! And to begin this new tradition, I am going to surprise the girls with these:
Their very own aprons! I have tears in my eyes just thinking about seeing their faces when they put them on. This is what being a Mom is all about. Moments like these that will last a lifetime!
I am so THANKFUL at all God has done for me, Jose and my kids. I am so THANKFUL that Lisa shared her stories of the kitchen she grew up in and carrying that over to her children and how it inspired me to do the same with mine. I am so THANKFUL to you, my readers, for the encouragement and kindness you share through your comments. I am so THANKFUL for so much that HE has done. I pray that you have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and may the traditions in your family, old or new, inspire others.
See you on Monday!


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My Experience - by Nathan Mah, MEI 2017
Posted on July 19, 2017
My experience working towards the Certificate in Social Impact is one I relished. In the beginning, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to work with something bigger than just my own business project. Having come from a healthcare background, I was passionate to make a difference in others' lives, and I thought the Certificate in Social Impact would be a perfect way to make that a reality.
As I progressed through the Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation program (MEI), the Certificate remained on my mind, and by following my passions I ended up falling into a great project for the case study portion of the certificate. The same goes for the volunteer outreach MEI Legacy Project; I was working on a something I was personally passionate about, and wanted to complete to help the greater good of my classmates. This internal desire also happened to fulfill the requirements for the Certificate, and it showed me that by having a focus on helping others, you can achieve your own goals too.
A key takeaway that I gained from my experience in the Certificate in Social Impact was that social good does not always have to mean sacrificing wealth. It is often confused that social good and monetary benefit are mutually exclusive, but from several conference sessions and conversations I've had about social finance, I learned that they are entirely supportive ideologies. By helping the world in a positive way, we are empowering and nourishing human spirits, and that is the greatest benefit we can receive, monetary or otherwise.
I've always had an unconventional way of thinking, and that is reflected in my experiences in the Certificate. I try to approach every interaction from a critical perspective, and understand where the speaker is coming from before applying my own opinions. My reflections on speakers, conferences and sessions show this, and I included the talks that inspired the most thought in me.
The case study was especially important to me. In the MEI program, I attempted to start a non-profit here in Canada that is like the one I researched for my case study, OpenBiome. In my journey, I faced major struggles, roadblocks, and found some success, but eventually, I had to change my focus. However, the conversations and relationships I made through my passion project remained, and I look at the experience as a net positive because of it. It is true that we learn more from our failures than our triumphs, and that has never been more true than through my experience in the 2016-2017 MEI program.
I want to thank the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) for supporting the MEI program in so many ways. We are entirely grateful for the support we've had in putting on events, making connections, providing guidance and being overall great to the people in our class. We take nothing for granted from the CSI, and hope that our work and passion towards social causes is a way of repayment for your hard efforts. I hope to remain connected not only to the CSI, but to the Smith School of Business for the rest of my career, and I look forward to the new paths we will go on as a result.


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Starting your own home-based business is an exciting adventure for anyone. If you're turning your passionate hobby into your own business, it's even more thrilling. You can spend your days working on what you love and making money at it too! What could be better?
But to make a success of your new enterprise, it's important to create the best work environment for yourself and your goods. Here are 3 tips for doing just that during all the phases of your making and selling process.
Dedicate Work Space
You may already have a spare room or garage in which you work on your crafts. But if you're starting to run things as a business, you'll need to identify a dedicated space that's free of distractions. Ideally, this space should be away from the high traffic areas of your home and have a door that can be closed. Set regular hours for working.
Choose a spot that is comfortably heated or cooled and has comfortable and supportive seating for you to work in for long and regular periods of time. It should have plenty of lighting—from a variety of light sources—and lots of electrical connections. Extra counter space to spread things out is usually a good idea, as are some shelves or file cabinets to keep things better organized. Label things well so that can find what you need when you need it.
Create a Place to Sell From
Even if you plan to do most or all of your selling online, it can be hard to get things started as a new business. Being able to sell in person at local events—like craft and holiday fairs, local artist co-ops, or trade conventions—may help you establish a business presence and fuel online sales.
To sell at these kinds of events, you'll need to create a booth of some kind. The booth should have ways to feature goods of various sizes and price ranges. Use the vertical space and a bright color palette to appeal to potential buyers from far away. One key to sales at a show is visibility. In addition, try to keep a lot of product available in your booth, as this can have a good psychological effect on potential customers.
Plan Extra Storage
Before you begin selling, you'll probably want to have some inventory in place. A self-storage unit is a great—and inexpensive—way to manage inventory in an area you can dedicate to your business. Look for a storage unit that's a little larger than you expect to immediately use. The advantage of being generous with space is that you can easily move around the area to access your goods, and you'll have the space to create a workable system to store and find things.
It's a good idea to write down a floor plan as you fill the storage unit, then tape the floor plan to the wall near the door. Knowing what went in and updating it as you sell or remove inventory can go a long way to keeping you organized and your inventory full. This is one way to know if any of your products are not selling or whether you should ramp up others.
In addition to storing inventory in a storage unit, you may also find it helps keep extra tools or equipment (or your sales show booth, as mentioned above) from getting in your way. You can also save money by being able to purchase supplies and materials in larger bulk quantities and store them for future use.By spending a little time creating a great work space, storage space, and selling location, you can get your home business off to the best start and keep it going for years to come.


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January 29, 2018
Today's article is by Hindy Pearson, a professional dog trainer and dog care consultant. Her website, Caring For a Senior Dog, focuses on improving the lives of senior pets and their owners.
It's impossible to imagine life without our pets isn't it? They're so much a part of our hearts and homes, we sometimes even "see" them after they're gone. I'll never forget that happening with our dog Bailey. He had a thing for my pup Red so he would follow her down the hall, pin her up against the wall and lick her ear. For weeks after we said goodbye I was sure I saw him walking down that hallway.
In all the years I've shared my life with dogs and cats, I've never actually done anything to prepare myself for the day when they would no longer be with me. Of course the thought of them not being here would cross my mind, especially when one of them was elderly, but even then only fleetingly. When it came time for me to say goodbye to my much loved cat Calypso, the first time I was ever faced with putting an animal to sleep, I had no idea what to expect.
It was quite a few years ago, yet I remember it as if it happened only yesterday. The memory is so vivid I even recall what I was wearing. It was a Sunday, my birthday, and Calypso was barely eating. I called my vet crying and he told me to come down. We knew she had kidney issues for a while – she had been losing weight, not eating as much, so it wasn't something that happened suddenly but it felt sudden to me. He did blood tests and within 30 minutes we knew her kidneys were failing, and nothing more could be done. The tears started pouring down my face, and I literally felt like I was going into shock. The next thing I knew, I was asked to sign a piece of paper with the word "Euthanasia" written across the top in big bold letters. Then it was questions about cremation, burial, urns and I was in a fog. The only thing I knew was that I absolutely had to have her back with me, so the answer was private cremation. I was handed a brochure with urns, I chose a pretty wicker box and then it happened.
My vet was the sweetest most compassionate man you could ever hope to find, which helped so much. He left me alone with her for as long as I needed and I ended up in a heap on the floor.
Being prepared may not spare you from the heartbreak at the end, but I believe it will ensure you and your family make decisions you are happy with and that honour your faithful companion.
Recently a woman who is a member of my Facebook group, Senior Dog Care Club, asked if any of us knew about biodegradable coffins. My first reaction when I read that post was one of utter shock. I thought "oh my goodness how can you talk about that when your dog is still here?" After reading her replies to the comments I realised that she was falling to pieces, and this planning was not only a way for her to ensure she did the best she could for her friend, it was also a coping mechanism.
Even if we do everything we can think of to prepare ourselves, we will still mourn and our hearts will still be broken. So why bother? Read on…
There is something known as "anticipatory grief" which is the psyche's way of preparing for loss. While it is normal, it can impair judgement because the emotions are so powerful it makes it tough to think clearly. That is why end-of-life planning should happen before this kicks in.
Living in the land of denial will not change the sad reality that your pet's life is coming to an end. What it will absolutely do is cause everyone to suffer, your companion included.
How you ask?
Refusing to accept the truth means you cannot or will not see the signs your pet's health is declining. It also means you won't be able to make appropriate end of life decisions which are in his best interest, leaving him to linger in pain.
You may be surprised to learn how many issues there are to think about, and comforted by how many decisions you can make in advance. Imagine what an incredible feeling it is, doing all this to ensure you honour the end of your pet's life as you did every day you shared together. No matter how long or short that time was.
I want to add an important point – sometimes the decisions you make will change due to unforeseen circumstances. For example, you wanted to say goodbye at home but an emergency arose and you had to rush him to the vet. Make your plans, but please accept that sometimes things happen beyond our control, and know at the end of the day you are doing what's best.
Here are several ways to prepare
Do not underestimate or dismiss this very real need to take care of yourself. I know from experience how stressful caring for a sick animal can be, and how that stress can translate into loss of patience and irritability in our dealings with them. Feelings of guilt over raising our voices are normal, as is beating ourselves up about it afterwards. Because our animals so easily pick up on our moods, we can avoid causing them anxiety with some of these suggestions –
It's important to explain to your kids what's going on and to be as truthful as you can, given their age and level of maturity. Please do not lie and tell them Fluffy ran away or is lost. Of course the urge to protect them from the
sadness is a natural response, but you won't be doing them any favours. Your child will worry, wonder if their pet is okay and hold out hope he will come home one day.
If your pet is quite old or suffering from an illness you know he won't recover from, you have the opportunity to talk about what's happening gradually over a period of time. They'll see the trips to the vet, the slowing down, not playing like they used to, medication…
You may even want to discuss what will happen when it's time to let him go, how the vet will give him a quick injection that won't hurt and he will die peacefully. There are obviously words or a word you use when taking your child to the doctor for vaccinations, just be sure you don't use the same one or they'll be afraid they're going to die too.
I've read you can use the words "die" "died" and "death" so children start to understand what they mean. Many of us typically say "put to sleep" or "going to sleep" but you absolutely want to avoid using them in your talks, as your kids may start to associate that with bedtime and be afraid to go to sleep at night.
Be sure to answer their questions and let them know they can talk to you about what's going on anytime. How much your share and how you choose to put it across, will depend on their age and your judgement of their ability to cope.
Use this experience as an opportunity to teach your kids compassion, kindness and the importance of preventing suffering.
It's also a good idea to research what experts in the field of grief and children recommend.
Ideally we'd all love to spend lots of time with them but life gets in the way, schedules are hectic and we aren't always able to devote as much time as we would like.
Make a concerted effort to find those precious moments and –
Having photos to look at can be quite healing, getting lost in the memories of all those fun times you spent together. I wish I had realised that! I was never a shutterbug, quite the opposite in fact. I cared so little I would move the camera before I finished taking the picture, and because of that I only have a handful of pictures of Saffy, only two are relatively clear. It breaks my heart not having those mementos, and even though I have her ashes it's not the same.
I finally learned my lesson and now take tons of pictures. I even bought a camera and took a basic course to get me started. I never want to regret not having photos of my beloved companions.
A paw print? Some fur? ID tag and collar?
I'm not going to lie, being with your pet at the end is heart wrenching and plenty of people are not able to witness it. No judgement and no room for guilt, you can only do what you can do. I do urge you to give it careful thought because it's an irreversible decision and you don't want to live with regret.
Why you might decide to stay
Why you might decide not to stay
Whether you are there or not, many experts in the field of pet loss do recommend at least seeing the body as a way of closure, and to "prove" they are actually gone.
Sometimes the answer is clear cut – the test results are not good and there's nothing more to be done, other times it's less obvious like when it comes to evaluating quality of life. That's a tough one, and a concept most of us
struggle with. There are "quality of life" indicators you can find online, or you can keep track of your pet's good and bad days on a calendar. When you look back over the weeks you can clearly see if the number of bad outweigh the good.
Have a conversation with your vet about the signs to look out for, how to tell if your pet is in any pain and what you can do to help.
Many people say "you'll know" or "they will let you know" and believe it to be true because it has been their experience. I'm sure it's possible but you have to be open to listening, and that's a message we aren't often ready to receive.
Something I heard recently resonated with me, and I think it's an excellent way to judge quality of life. A woman was told by her vet "don't let him lose his dignity." Powerful words indeed!
Is it your decision alone to make? If it isn't, be aware one (or more) of those involved may not agree with you. If you know your animal is in pain and he is suffering, you will have to find a way to help that person understand there is only one compassionate and humane thing to do. You may need to get your vet involved or a grief counsellor, but please do not allow your pet to linger in pain because someone cannot bear to do what must be done.
All of us find it impossible to make that appointment, but at the end of the day our animals rely on us to do what's right, and letting them suffer because we can't say goodbye is not right.
If you've never been through this before the unknown can be very scary, and your imagination is likely tormenting you. Why not book an appointment to have a chat with your vet so he can explain the process. It will give you a chance to ask questions, and maybe even put your mind at ease knowing it's painless for the animal. I was totally unprepared the first time, and as amazing as my vet was, I had no clue what was going to happen.
During your chat please ask your vet about their policy regarding payment, specifically if they hold onto your pet until they get all money owing. I know it sounds a bit gruesome but it's important to know.
I had quite a traumatic experience a few years ago when my cat Night Night had to be put to sleep. I had been going to the same practice for years, and being as upset as I was they trusted me to leave without paying. What they neglected to tell me at the time or in a phone call a day or two later was, my cat would be left in their freezer until they received payment. When I called 2 weeks later to find out why I hadn't received notification his ashes were back, they informed me he hadn't been cremated but was still at the clinic. I went hysterical on the phone, screaming at everyone, including the owner of the practice. They really dropped the ball on that one and I was disgusted. Please don't let that happen to you.
I realise this may not be the best choice of words, because we'd all prefer it not to happen at all. Having said that it's really helpful knowing your options ahead of time.
Saying goodbye at your vet's office is certainly a very common option, something I have always done although more out of necessity or circumstance than choice.
There are certainly pros and cons to this option –
If your pet always hated going to the vet and felt nothing but stress every time, you might want to choose another option. If you do prefer having it done there, speak to the vet in advance and ask if he could do it in the car, or even under a tree outside.
Recently I read about a veterinary practice that had created a dedicated space for saying goodbye. There were couches, plants, calming music and a beautiful fountain where pet parents were encouraged to spend as much time as they wanted with their friend. What an incredibly thoughtful and respectful gift, offering a comforting environment to help during such a sad time. If only all vets would do this!
Having a vet come to your home means less stress for everyone. Your animal can pass in a familiar and comfortable environment – on his favourite bed or in a spot he loved in the garden, surrounded by people who loved him.
I know someone who always has a vet come to the house, the family and other animals are around and it's a very peaceful passing.
If your vet doesn't offer that service, a search for "in home euthanasia for animals" or words to that effect should present a listing.
Allowing a pet to pass in their own time is something many pet parents do, keeping them comfortable and pain-free with drugs if needed. If this is what you prefer, please have a contingency plan in place should your animal require emergency assistance. Are there any hospice vets, for example, who could get to you quickly? What about the number and location of your nearest animal hospital?
Your pet would be cremated with others and no ashes are returned.
As the name suggests, your pet is cremated privately and the cremains (in other words ashes) are returned to you.
Ashes can be –
Planted in your flower be
A note about cremation
Just like not all human funeral homes treat their "clients" with the respect they deserve, the same can be said for cremation providers. Planning ahead means having the time to research companies, read reviews and compare services offered.
Vet clinics do work with crematories so you can either trust they've done their due diligence, or ask about the company they use so you can conduct your own enquiries.
If you prefer burial to cremation, you may find comfort knowing that even if you move, your pet's body will remain undisturbed in the pet cemetery. It also gives you a place to hold a funeral or memorial service and a quiet place to come and visit.
To find a pet cemetery near you try the website for the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC).
Burial in your garden is the least costly option of them all, but please consider the very mobile society we live in. If you move you will be leaving your pets behind.
If you do a search for "eco friendly pet burial" there are some options you may find very interesting.
I know how tough caring for a sick pet can be. It is emotionally draining, a constant worry, wanting to spend every second with them, even being afraid to leave the house in case they die when you're out. Not only can you compromise your own health and well- being, you can compromise relationships and stress out your pet.
Sure it can be tough trying to soldier on, going about your normal routine when you'd rather be crying with your animal in your lap, but it's not healthy for anyone. Thankfully there are many resources out there to help us cope both before and after.
Calling on friends in our time of need is part of what friendship is all about, but in this instance don't expect everyone to understand what you're going through. Some may try to be supportive even though they've never been in this situation, while others may be unable to muster up the sympathy over something that was "just an animal."
You may not have heard of them but they're around, most likely in your community. Do an internet search for pet loss support groups in your area and you may be pleasantly surprised by how many there are. They are usually free, some may ask for a small donation, especially if it's run by a shelter.
They aren't all exclusively for people who have already said goodbye, so if your pet is still with you but you need someone to talk to, ask if you could join.
Many organisations offer free hotlines where grieving individuals can speak to a trained volunteer. Having someone at the other end of a telephone, even if all you manage to do is cry can be therapeutic. People who volunteer their time to man these phone lines are there with the best of intentions, but you may end up speaking to someone who, for whatever reason, you don't find helpful. Call again later and speak to someone else, or try one of the other options.
I mention this because I was having a very hard time coping after the loss of one of my dogs, so I called the hotline of a very well-known organisation. The person on the other end never said a word, and all that happened was I got frustrated and more upset. Don't let my experience discourage you from giving it a try, they are there to help.
The Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) offers one such chat room, and I like that everyone involved knows exactly how you're feeling. I was a volunteer for a short time, but unfortunately the time difference made it impossible for me to continue. It's a wonderful resource but it may take some getting used to. Many people are typing at the same time and there are lots of conversations for the moderators to keep track of but it's worth a try, especially if you prefer the anonymity of the internet.
Lots to choose from offering helpful articles, chat rooms and even candle lighting ceremonies. I lit a memorial candle for one of my dogs and I was encouraged by how much it helped. I guess it was about taking some sort of action when everything else was out of my control.
No shortage of titles to choose from, you may want to read one in advance to help you better understand the grieving process.
Whether we need tips and advice on how to deal with our impending loss, or we're not coping well in the aftermath, one on one sessions with a counselor experienced in grief support, specifically pet grief support if possible, can be the answer.
I know it seems like I may be jumping the gun a bit here, but figuring out ways to honour a beloved pet's memory can absolutely be part of the preparation process. Doing something to honour the memory of someone so important can be extremely cathartic, and go a long way to helping us heal.
When Saffy, my puppy mill rescue, was killed due to neglect by a vet, I had an impossible time coping. Every loss is heart breaking but none more so than her. She was kept in a cage for 8 years breeding and she suffered horrendously. We adopted her and I spent almost every waking moment with her during the nine months we shared our lives together. Her trauma was so great it took seven months before she let me pet her. Two months later she was dead during routine dental surgery. I couldn't cope because the torment of the life she was denied gave me no peace.
Lighting a memorial candle online helped, but one thing that did make some difference was the way I found to honour her memory. I created a free mobile resource centre to help people who had questions about their cat or dog, and I called it The Saffy Pearson Resource Centre. It is a way for me to ensure her name and memory live on.
I know it seems impossible to think about planning for the death of a pet, and who can blame you. The thing is, you may find it helps bring you peace, knowing you had time to make the best decisions that would honour your pet's life until the very last moment.
This is an amazing post and one that will be a huge comfort to many people who find coping with pet grief a real struggle.
Thanks! It never gets any easier, but this article will give most pet parents a guide for getting through the grief without losing their way.
Thanks so much, I'm glad you "enjoyed" it, if I can use that word. I do hope people find comfort in these words.
Wow, great post! It really covers every aspect regarding the death of your pet.
It's my experience too that "they will let you know" when it's time. You just have to pay attention.
Thank you John, such a tough topic but an important one. Better to be prepared than have regrets later on.
I agree that although preparation doesn't take the pain away, it can help with some of the stress later on. Great article. Pet loss sucks!
Reading this article has me in tears, yet it is so important to consider these issues, in order to be prepared. Especially since losing a pet is often belittled. Thank you very much for these hints and ideas <3


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Dwellingup 100 MTB Classic (formerly Dwellingup 100)
Time: 8.30am to 5pm
Cost: Free for spectators
Act-Belong-Commit Dwellingup 100
Event website: https://wa100mtb.com.au/
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Book tickets online: https://wa100mtb.com.au/
Act-Belong-Commit Dwellingup 100 will be celebrating it's 10th year on Saturday 18th August. If you would like to register to participate, visit the website. Registrations close Friday 17th August. Spectator maps will be available on the day at the Dwellingup oval. Activities on the day include a sausage sizzle, bouncy obstacle course and other kids activities on the oval.


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Thank you for your interest in serving the people and City of Mukilteo! This is an online application to one of several citizen groups advising the Mayor and City Council on important issues in our community. To be considered for a vacancy, please complete the application before the application deadline. Term lengths vary by Board, Commission or Committee.
NOTE: Applications are subject to public disclosure laws; however, we do not release your address, phone number(s) or those of your references.
INSTRUCTIONS: After clicking on "Submit", you will be redirected to an online signature page. You can use your mouse to write your name or select "type your name". Look for the blue "Agree and Sign" box in the lower right hand corner and click on it to complete the signature process. Click on "Print Document" if you would like a copy for your records. If you want to return to the website. look in the lower left corner for that link.


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Updated photos with ad 1 -4-13. The watch looks much better to the naked eye then it does with digital photography. Can't believe all the scratches and flaws that showed up in the photos. Photos of the mvt. and caseback are from Ebay seller Michaelh 54619.
Yes I like these a lot, great Watch - having difficulty with the 'AIR QUEEN' ID.
We were presented in the past with a list of Model Names which accepted the Crystal dimension of this bezel. - 'AIR QUEEN' was not amongst those listed.
With the Gents version being named the 'AIR KING' the 'AIR QUEEN' makes perfect sense I completely agree Kids, but, IMO it's odd that the Name did not appear in the list of possibilties.
"ladies crystal 10.4mm fits these bulova watches"
Black Beauty
Carla (6776)
Lady Berkshire
Lady Maxim


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I work as a geographer for a federal government agency in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and part of my job requires extensive traveling. I've been around the world twice and seen 3 continents (most of those were in a haze of jet lag) since I travel for work so much I am always looking for ways to maintain an active lifestyle. I've spent time googling Bikram yoga studios before a visit to Astana, Kazakhstan and searching for hiking trails in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. Not all of my business travels are that exotic, those were the rare exceptions, now I get to go to luxurious places like Dayton, Ohio or Columbus, Mississippi!
Since the majority of the cities I've visit are usually an hour or so outside of a main metropolitan area, there is a lack of available resources for active individuals like myself. (a hot yoga studio in rural Mississippi, they were just surprised that I spoke English) Ramblen offers a valuable resource for the traveling business person like myself; good, honest reviews while not narrowing the venue to people that are runners, triatheletes, etc.
I am not an extensive health and fitness guru like the founders of Ramblen. I'm just your average business traveler that likes to explore what is available in cities like O'Fallon, Illinois or Camp Springs, Maryland that isn't within the confines of a hotel fitness room (because, I mean, the treadmill gets excruciatingly boring after an hour).
If you have any questions or just want to see where I've been, follow me on Instagram (http://instagram.com/fawn817/
P.S. I'm a Cleveland Browns fan, deal with it.


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Life Hacks for Parents
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Whether you're a first time parent or a seasoned pro, Life Hacks for Parents is your handy guide to making the things that little bit easier. Covering everything from nifty storage hacks to clever cleaning solutions, this book has all the time-saving tips you need, so you've got more time to enjoy with your family.
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All deaths carry with them a litany of tragedies, but none more so than the loss of those just beginning their journeys into the world. The emotional toll of a child or teen's death is unparalleled, and for loved ones, it's followed by a lifetime of soul-aching speculation about the life that might have been.
To help visualize that lingering weight—and all the possibilities that are ended in the moment of a fatal accident—AT&T, director Errol Morris and agency BBDO New York have created a new series of "It Can Wait" ads timed with April being Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Read the full article here.
Read the full article here.


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Garlek Invasion
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They came one morning quite without warning
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
June 30, 2016
Colossiana 2: 8 "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spriits of the world, and not according to Christ." Paul wrote this letter to the church at Colossae to encourage them to not be lead away by the very real threat of all the false teachers in the community. Paul claims that the philosopical teachings of the time are outside of God and brought only by human tradition. He warns that the church body should not be tricked into believing any religion outside of the teaching of Jesus Christ. Friends, I believe that this is a message that is very true to us today as well. We are faced with much human tradition and teaching that is outside of the will of God every day. We must not fall prey to that, just as the church that Peter is writing to must not. How do we know what to avoid? How do we know what is true? We must be familiar with the Word of God. We must know scripture... or at least know where to find the right scripture. Take this summer to get back into the Word on a regular basis. You will be glad you did!
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
June 29, 2016
I am still struggling with how God wants me to be a godly woman. I know that God has made me to be a "doer". I am the one at the committee meetings who always feels frustrated because things are not moving fast enough. I am the one who always wants to quit planning and discussing and just get started! Can anyone give me an amen? Well friends, that is not always a good thing. We need to be doers, yes! But we need to make sure we are doing the doing that God intends and doing so in a godly way. James 1:23-25 tells us "for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man (woman) observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be bleseed in what he does." Please God, tell me clearly what you wish for me to do and keep me focused on that today and tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
June 28, 2016
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."" This scripture has been on my mind for several days now. I have been wrestling with God a bit recently asking Him to show me what his plans are for me. I have been asking Him to make sure that I clearly hear his answers to my questions. I have been dillegently requesting God to make my direction abundantly clear. Do you see all the verbs in the last few sentences? I have been, I have been, I have been. No where is there a sentences that says - I sat quietly and listened to what the Lord has planned for me. Hm.....maybe that is why I have not heard his directions.
Monday, June 27, 2016
June 27, 2016
Back home again in Indiana! We had a wonderful visit in the mountains, but it is always so good to come home again. The two little gals that house sit for us left everything in great shape: horses were happy, flowers were beautiful, house was in order. It was fabulous to be home! I feel like I am back where I belong. This is the same feeling I have when I have stepped away from time spent in building my realtionship with God. You know the way that life sneaks in and robs you from your time in the word. Or you find yourself on that busy tread mill of life and can't squeeze in intentional prayer time with the Lord. Suddenly you are too busy to volunteer at church events or take your ill nieghbor a dinner. But then, something changes, usually God gets a hold of you, and then you "come home". You remember that happy feeling that you always get when you are right where you belong and doing right what you should be doing. Whenever we are working at improving our relationship with God, we are where we should be and all will seem right with the world. God created us to have relatiosnhip with Him. That should be our single most significant job and when we are doing it well, we bask in the comfort of "being home". I John 3:1 reads "how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" Thnank you, Father, for bringing me home!
Sunday, June 26, 2016
June 26, 2016
Psalm 37:5-6 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Wow, this scripture is a difficult one. Commit your way to the Lord means we give Him everything, everyday. It means we entrust everything to our God: jobs, family, health, possessions. But look at the benefit. When we commit all to Him, He will let others see us as His beloved. He will allow us to shine brightly for Him. I want that friends. I want people to see a godly woman when they look at me. How about you?
Saturday, June 25, 2016
June 25, 2016
Back on the road, heading back to Indiana. What a wonderful trip we have had, and how nice it will be to return home. I am never ready to leave when we have been trail riding, but I do so miss family and grandkids back in Indiana. I look forward to getting back into routine. I have missed my church friends and Vacation Bible School will be starting up next week. I can't wait to squeeze on grandkids and wave at the neighbor as I get back into my walking routine. Although I have kept up with Bible study on the road, I am excited to discuss it with my dear friend over lunch when we return. God has blessed me with a wonderful life and that makes me desire to bless others. As we stop for fuel and sandwiches I try hard to give those I pass a smile and a kind word. I will never see them again but maybe at that moment they need a touch of Jesus. When we encounter an accident or a person stopped onthe road, I send up a prayer that all will be well. Again I will never know the outcome of that prayer but I know that God is in control and He willanswer prayer so I can rest in that assurance. Share a blessing with someone today. You don't have to know their name to bless them. Try it. Better yet, make it a habit! 2 Thessalonians 1:11. "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling."
Friday, June 24, 2016
June 24, 2016
My husband and I are still in Colorado but we are winding down our stay. Yesterday we rode our horses in the Rocky Mountains for seven hours and felt so close to God and his creations. We saw so many amazing, beautiful things. God has blessed us with so much beauty on this earth. But in the midst of the beauty I realize that these mountains can be very dangerous as well. We have been very careful to carry water when we venture out and always have a map of the trails with us. Last evening a big - mountain size - thunder storm rolled through. We were back at camp and safe, but those storm s can pop up so easily, with little warning sometimes. This experience has made me think about life in general. God has given us so many wonderful things, but if we do not use them in the right way, and pay attention to the dangers, we can lose our way all too quickly. Peter tells us in Acts 3:19 to "repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." This repentence brings refreshment for our soul as well as the refreshment my husband and I have found in the mountains. Thanks for that reminder, Peter!
June 23, 2016
As I was doing Bible study this morning, I was once again drawn to the wisdom of John in John 8:31-32. It reads, "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." I am reminded that Jesus is the Truth. He will always give me the right direction, the right words and actions. Jesus is the perfect standard that we should all be trying to emulate. I know that I will never be what Jesus is, but by His grace, I can move in that directrion. Jesus keep reminding me to seek Your truth and allow it to mold me into the person You wish for me to be. Thank you, Jesus.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
June 22, 2016
As we are traveling this summer I have thought a lot about people taking vacations and leaving God at home. We have done that before. We have spent much time packing and planning but leave our Bibles on the table in the living room and sail out on our adventure without giving God a thought. Fortunately we have grown up in our faith and our Christian walk and we have learned to take God along when we leave home. God so wants to bless us but He wants to have relationship with us to so I beleive He wants to enjoy us as we enjoy the blessings He shares with us. I thank God for my time with my husband in the mountains and as we travel over the highways. I enjoy the times we spend listening to Christian CDs and video Bible studies. I enjoy the people we met and the sights we see and I thank God for creating so much beauty and goodness in our world. The Psalms are are full of wisdom that directs us to priase our Father in heaven and one of my favorites is Psalm 100:1-2. "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Friends, when you slip away this summer for a long vacation or a weekend getaway, take God along too. Use some of that time ti shout out to the Lord that He is good!
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
June 21, 2016
My husband and I are in Colorado right now riding horses and camping in the Rocky Mountains. I love the mountians. I love the clean, crisp mornings, and I love the warm sunny afternoons. I love the evenings when the sun sets light up the sky and highlights the majesty of the mountians. I love the wildlife and the scent of the pines. God was doing some of His best work when he created the mountains! Sitting quietly at our campsight made me think about the mountains that are written about in scripture. Micah 4:2 reads, "Many nations will come and say, "come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Early in this chapter we read that this is referring to the "last days" and then goes on to describe the perfect kingdom we will one day share with God. These mountains refer to Mount Zion when we will find peace and God's love all the time. As wonderful as these Rocky's are to me I can only imagine how awesome the mountain spoken of in Micah will be! I can't wait to share that campsight with our Father!
Monday, June 20, 2016
June 20, 2016
Psalm 146:1-2 "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord o my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."
Yes, today I am praising God! God is so good! I am so very blessed! I am married to a wonderful man who is a terrific daddy to my sweet daughters and a fabulous pop pop to out grandbabies. I have an awesome Father in heaven who loves me unconditionally. Wow! I will praise God again and again!
Yes, today I am praising God! God is so good! I am so very blessed! I am married to a wonderful man who is a terrific daddy to my sweet daughters and a fabulous pop pop to out grandbabies. I have an awesome Father in heaven who loves me unconditionally. Wow! I will praise God again and again!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
June 19, 2016
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline." I am in the middle of a season of doubt regarding what God is leading me to do with my ministry. I am not sure what role He wants me to play in my church and I am not sure how, or if, He is leading me to write and publish more books. I have been wrestling with myself and God for several days trying to figure out how to proceed. I know one of my weaknesses is that I am not bold in publically declaring my love for God. I also know that I am not always as self assured as I should be in my abilities. Can anyone resonate with me on this? God, as He always does, provided me with this scripture from Timothy today. You see Timothy was struggling with many of the issues I have just described and Jesus reminded him that God wants us to be bold in our faith and proclaimation of Him and who He is. I am still not certain what my next step will be in my ministry but I do know that I will begin right now to move with God in a more powerful and bold way. Thank you God!
Saturday, June 18, 2016
June 18, 210
Dear Father,
I am trying to hear your voice. I am trying to really listen to what you are saying to me. Please give me the discernment to know you. Please slow me down so that I can rest in your word. Thank you Father. Amen
Friday, June 17, 2016
June 17, 2016
This morning I began my daily power walk but almost talked myself out of it. It was very hot and humid and I don't like to sweat! But as I got to the end of the driveway and headed east a nice breeze picked up behind me and kind of pushed me along my route. In spite of the heat it was an easy walk and I was even a bit ahead of my normal time and pace. Smugly, I smiled thinking that I must really be getting fit. Well, you know how God has a way of smacking you when you get a bit full of yourself? Yep, He got a laugh out of me because when I got to the end of the road I always turn around and retrace my steps back to my home. Well, this morning that breeze that pushed me all the way to the corner was still blowing when I headed back. This time it was full in my face and made walking much more difficult with the added resistance. Boy did I sweat! In the midst of wipping sweat I came to the realization that my life is sometimes just like my walk today. God so often gently pushes my ahead. He gives me all the power and skills tht I need to move forward in His time and His way. Sometimes, however, I push against God. I resist His hand and try to move past Him and do things my way. I make things so difficult for myself during those seasons. Psalm 18:30 reminds us that "This God - His way is perfect, the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for those who take refuge in Him." Friend let's stop resisting!
Thursday, June 16, 2016
June 16, 2016
Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed by life? Have you ever been so nervous and upset by your circumstances that you think things will never again be calm? I know that feeling. I was in a season where there seemed to be turmoil at every turn. It seemed that every aspect of my life; work, family, church, social, was one big drama. Friend, I came to realize that I could do nothing about my malady by myself. When I tried to take control and remedy my situation, things just got worse. I Peter 5:7 reads, "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." Jesus is the only solution. Jesus loves us so much that He wants to take the drama out of our lives so that we might be calm and peaceful. And yes, Jesus can do that! If we will only let Him! Try it. Take aa deep breath and give it to Jesus. Don't you feel better already? Thank you Jesus!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
June 15, 2016
"God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." Romans 8:28 In what ways is God calling you to rely on Him? In what areas of your life are you struggling against God and His promise to work things out with you? I find myself at odds with God sometimes but realize from this scripture that it is because I am not working with Him, but rather working on my own agenda. God has a plan for us and He wants to make it good for us. If only we would partner with Him instead of resisting Him. Please Sweet Jesus show me the way!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
June 14, 2016
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." I recently have come across this scripture in my study and it has been one that has stuck with me for several days as I ponder the truth in this Word of God. I believe that we all can be that "new creation". We only have to ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior and let him into our hearts. Our old secular ways will diminish and we will become closer to what God intended each of us to be. I think this scripture also points to the time when Jesus will return again and all of us will be walking with Him on the new earth. Oh what a wonderful time to look forward to! Oh how I desire to be made new in Jesus! Thank you Jesus!
Monday, June 13, 2016
June 13, 2016
Just got back from a prayer walk that our church sponsored in our little town and it was wonderful. There were specific stations along the trail where we were encouraged to stop and pray about specific things. I went around 6 so the evening air was beginning to cool the day and all was quiet on the trail. It was a perfect scenario to find quiet time with my Lord. No one was close behind me so I did not feel pressure to hurry along and I really gave my heart to Jesus during the walk. On the way home I was pondering the experience and realized that I very seldom have given God the time and complete attention that I shared with him this evening on that trail. It made me realize that I have probably missed many conversations with my Father because I do not make time to be in relationship with Him. How about you? When was the last time you gave God 45 minutes of your attention? What was the result when you did? My heart was at peace when I drove home from this experience because for this one evening I was totally in line with God. Colossians 4:1 reminds us to "continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." My challenge for you and for me is to give God steadfast attention through prayer all summer and see what changes occur in my world. Thank you, God!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
June 12, 2016
The last several weeks have been very busy for my family. We have had high school graduations, many birthdays, and today a wedding. We have kids getting everything in order to go off to college and newlyweds starting a new life together. Not to mention parents who are facing family dynamic changes as nests begin to empty. Wow! Change is sometimes difficult for me; especially when I have little control over that change. I like to know how things are going to work out and be able to plan the steps and journey that the change will precipitate. Ok. I like to be in control. However, I have learned - and still am learning - that I am not really in control of anything. I have reliquished that to our Father God. Thank you God. He is in charge totally and has my best interest at heart. He knows what I need and how to get me where I need to be but I have to trust Him at every turn. I have to believe that my God "has my back" and then let him have that control over my life. That is the difficutl part! My head knows that I just need to trust God but sometimes my heart says hmmmm....yea, but.....Hebrew 2:13 says "and again, I will put my trust in Him." Father please give me the courage to do just that!
Saturday, June 11, 2016
June 11, 2016
We just spent a wonderful evening with family at my grandson's Little League game. It was the final tournament game and our team was vying for the championship title. The boys played hard but the other team played just a bit harder and we ended up second when the evening was over. The boys had a great season but it was a difficult loss as the official making the calls this evening was not always non partial. This grammy believed that he made two or three calls that were just not correct. Probably his bad calls did not totally determine the game but I can't help but think that bad calls create defeated feelings with the boys on the field. And I know for certain that spectators are influenced in negative ways by questionable calls from the officials. On the way home I was thinking about the umpire and why he made so many errors and I thought about our great God and how his judgement is always just and right. We worship a God who never makes bad calls but always holds us to a high and mighty standard. We must answer to him and be accountable for ourselves and our choices and actions and He will make the right call always to name our penalty and rewards. Revelation 16:7 reads "And I heard the altar saying "Yes. Lord God the Almighty, true and jsut are your judgements." And 1 Chronicles 16:14 tells us that He is the Lord our God; his judgements are in all the earth." I need to heed this and make certain that my actions and words and thoughts are pleasing to the Lord! What about you?
Friday, June 10, 2016
June 10, 2016
Summer might be a good time to pick up a charitable volunteer job in your community or church. Summer brings a change of pace for many of us. Children are home from school. Parents work longer hours so that they might have an extra day off each week, Children can sleep in a bit and have more idle time than they ever have during school. But what do we do with all this free time? I recommend finding a place and time to do something for somebody else. Many times when we do for another, we are the ones that reap the benefit. Have you ever completed a task for someone else and felt so fabulous after the fact? God's desire is for us to take care of His people and we do so every time we help out another with no expectation of any recipication. God just loves it when we do that! 2 Thessalonians 3:13 tells us to "not grow weary of doing good". Maybe we should challenge ourselves to do something good for somebody else every week this summer. I'll bet God would bless our socks off if we did!
Thursday, June 9, 2016
June 9, 2016
This evening my husband and I and three of our grandbabies sat out in the corner of the woods and had a fire in the fire ring and cooked hot dogs and smores and had a wonderful evening. We so enjoyed the kids but all of us appreciated the nature aroudn us as well. The frogs were singing and the cattle were playing in the lot. All seemed serene and right in our world. Then as dusk approached God grazced us with a beautiful sun set and we knew that all was indeed right in our world. Thank you God! Psalm 148: 7-10 (ESV) "Praise the Lord from the earth you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire znd hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds."
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
June 8, 2016
What did you fill your mind up with yesterday? What will you fill it up with today? Sometimes I spend my "ponder time" in a worthy way. Those days I am reading and thinking about scripture or reading something that broadens my mind. Some days I fill my mind with pointless, silly stuff that just takes up my time. It may not even be anything that is distasteful; but nonetheless it is a waste of time and brain power. Phillipians 4:8 reads, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellance, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Hmm. What will you think about today?
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
June 7, 2016
Psalm 111: 1-2 (ESV) Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
This little piece of scripture is packed with learning moments for all of us. First, it commands us to praise the Lord. We should sing of the great works of our Lord every moment of every day. I too often forget to do that! In my busy, hectic pace, I do not stop to experience the joy and beauty in my world, and thank God for it. Lesson number one: Praise God! Second, it tells us to prasie God as a congregation. Friends, God does not take the summer off (thank goodness!) - and neither should we. We need to be with other believers to recharge and regroup. Lesson number two: keep doing church and small group. Lastly, the Psalm directs us to study God's Word. The scripture is one way that God can communicate with us. It is full of His wisdom and His desire for our lives. We should be Bible readers on a regular basis so we can know God's Word and build realtionship with Him. Lesson number three: read the Bible. Hmm. Pretty simple and straightforward. We better get busy!
This little piece of scripture is packed with learning moments for all of us. First, it commands us to praise the Lord. We should sing of the great works of our Lord every moment of every day. I too often forget to do that! In my busy, hectic pace, I do not stop to experience the joy and beauty in my world, and thank God for it. Lesson number one: Praise God! Second, it tells us to prasie God as a congregation. Friends, God does not take the summer off (thank goodness!) - and neither should we. We need to be with other believers to recharge and regroup. Lesson number two: keep doing church and small group. Lastly, the Psalm directs us to study God's Word. The scripture is one way that God can communicate with us. It is full of His wisdom and His desire for our lives. We should be Bible readers on a regular basis so we can know God's Word and build realtionship with Him. Lesson number three: read the Bible. Hmm. Pretty simple and straightforward. We better get busy!
Monday, June 6, 2016
June 6, 2016
Prayer is a wonderful thing. Prayer is the tool that God has given us so that we might have relationship wih Him through conversation. I beleive that we should have continued prayer with God and that when we pray to Him we should do so boldly; expecting Him to respond. God does respond. Sometimes in ways that we do not understand or that are not what we expected. Sometimes long after we have uttered the first cry. But, God will always respond. Last week our 30 plus year old pony died that all the grandkids have learned to ride on. Currently the yougest, three year old, grandbaby had been riding our dear Victor. He was so very old and simply developed congestive heart failure and we lost him. Well let me tell you that finding a replacement pony that is trustworthy to put a three year old on in one very tall order. We had friends from all over the state helping us on this hunt but had not found the right pony, Eailer this week I decided to talk to God about our predicament. My prayer went somethign like, " God I know you are really busy dealing with really big issues but right now I am trying to find a really broke, really quiet pony for our sweet Zoey. God I know that this is not life or dealth, but it is important to our family and especailly to Zoey, so if you have a minute and could help me find the right one, I woud sure appreciat eyour help." I smile now because I prayed that same prayer many times the last few days, and I might have even mentioned to God that Zoey was really torn up about losing the other pony and that it would really make her happy if we could just find a new pony. I prayed that prayer to God believing that He heard my cry and that He cared and guess what today we found an almost perfect pony. Friends, God even cares about little tiny girls and their little tiny ponies! I won't take time now to give you all the sordid details, but suffice it to say that God's hand was all over this day and this new pony and I am beside myself with thansgiving to our God, who even has time for three year olds and ponies. Thank you God! Psalm 138:1-3 ESV reads like this. : I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise'; I bow down toward your holy temple abd give thanks to your name for your steadfst love andyour faithfulness. for you have exalted above all things your name and your word."
Sunday, June 5, 2016
June 5, 2016
Anticipation. Have you ever been waiting for something that you think will never happen? Have you anxiously watched the clock or marked the days off the calendar as that big event approached? We sometimes do that as life changing moments are coming up. Graduations, weddings, new births. We count minutes and prepare furiously as we wait for the time to pass so we can get on with the big event. How much more exctied should we be about the coming of our Messiah? Scripture tells us that no one knows the time of Christ's return but in Revelation Jesus says "I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown." (Rev 3:11 ESV). He is talking to the church at Philadelphia and is pleased with the the way they have done His will and waited patiently for His return. I want to be counted with that church. What about you?
Saturday, June 4, 2016
June 4, 2016
I have so many reasons in my life to praise our Heavenly Father. I am blessed beyond measure. I look about me and see the hand of our Lord in so many aspects of my world and I say Thank you Jesus! The Psalmist put it this way: " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's". (Psalm 103:2-5) ESV. Wow. This scripture is so very personal. Do you feel the power of God is your life? Beloved, I hope so because it is very real and very personal. Claim these promises for your own and then sit back and just see what God will do in your life. Hang on! You will be in for a blessed ride!
Friday, June 3, 2016
June 3, 2016
We are doing a summer Bible study about faith. I have just completed week one and my whole mind set has shifted. When I began the study I thought that faith was simple and you either had it or you did not. Already I have realized that faith is a very complicated matter. Sometimes I have great faith and sometimes I have very little. I am not sure why I believe that God can handle some areas of my life totally while other things I feel that I must take care of for Him. The other revelation I had this week is that I put my faith in many things besides my Lord. Hmmm. That was a bit painful to discover. How about you? Do you have faith in your vehichle? Do you just assume that it will start and get you from place to place? How about electricity? God asks us to put all our faith on Him and Him alone. I am learning to do that and have devoted the summer to growing up my faith. Want to ride along? How big is your faith today? Or how small? God will take our tiny little faith and use it in big ways....if we will let Him! Matthew 17: 20 reads "He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this moutain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." (ESV)
Thursday, June 2, 2016
June 2, 2016
I just got home from a late night summer Little League game. The boys took the field at 7:45pm as the evning air began to cool. Fans cheered as the bat made contact with the ball. Younger siblings playd on the playground as adults encouraged their favorite team. What a great evening! I had to smile and thank God for our community and our grandkids. God is so good to me to put me in this place at this time. Then, as we were leaving for our short drive home, God blessed me again. He filled the western sky with the most beautiful shades of pink, purple, and orange. It was as if God was saying to me, "You thought the ball game was good!" How could I not praise our Lord! Nehemiah 9:6 reads "You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you." (ESV) ans so do I!! Thank you God!
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
June 1, 2016
Finally, summer has arrived! Summer is a time when many of us change the pace of our lives just a bit. We spend more time outside. We travel with family and friends to vacation destinations. Our kiddos don't have the busy school schedule and can maybe sleep in a bit. The park pools get crowded and the ice cream shops get busy. Oh, thank you, Lord, for summer! You probably have some special plans for this summer. Maybe you are going to paint that porch furniture or clean out the flower beds. Maybe summer finds you with some cherished free time on your hands. I would like to challenge all of us to take this summer and fill it up with the voice of God. When was the last time you heard His voice? Do you listen for it? Would you recognize it? Hmmm. Tough questions that I am not sure I really want to answer for myself.
John 10:27-28 reads, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." What a wonderful thing that we can know the voice of the Lord! Friends, let's find time this summer to stop and listen to what God has to say. It might just be our best summer yet!
John 10:27-28 reads, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." What a wonderful thing that we can know the voice of the Lord! Friends, let's find time this summer to stop and listen to what God has to say. It might just be our best summer yet!
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text:
Today, December 8th, a delegation from the Sati Pasala Foundation met the Hon Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya in the Speakers Chambers and introduced Sati Pasala. The Speakers response to introducing mindfulness to the Parliamentarians and the Staff of the Parliament was very encouraging. The discussion revolved round how mindfulness has been integrated into the British Parliament (Mindful Nation UK) and how in the USA it is being advocated by prominent Congressmen, as well as in Canada and in certain states in Australia.
The Parliament Medical Officer Dr. Manoj Kannangara will be coordinating this effort of Mindfulness for Parliamentarians with the Sati Pasala Foundation, in order to commence mindfulness programs for groups of 20-30 from January 2018.
In response to the information shared so far with MPs, to date 13 Parliamentarians and 16 staff members have registered for the Mindfulness programs due to commence next year.


text:
KAMPALA- Court has ruled that Kampala Minister, Ms Betty Olive Kamya cannot be compelled to appear in court to answer allegations of interfering with the executive powers the Kampala Lord Mayor's executive powers, by passing-off as the political head of the city.
Mr Lukwago is the Kampala Lord Mayor.
In her ruling, High Court Judge Henrietta Wolayo said that the minister is not compellable to appear in court but she can only appear voluntarily to justify her actions of claiming to be the political head of Kampala City.
"When a party swears an affidavit in a matter before court, he or she may appear voluntarily but cannot be compelled," Justice Wolayo said before adjourning the matter to August 30.
The judge's ruling followed Ms Kamya's failure to appear before court on several attempts for cross examination by Mr Lukwago's lawyers over her sworn affidavit defending her conduct.
Mr Lukwago, through his lawyer, Mr Chrysostom Katumba had asked court to summon the Ms Kamya to explain why she declared the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council meetings illegal.
She was also expected to explain how Kampala city is governed by the central government , where she gets the mandate to convene meetings with urban councillors and mayors and why she subjects Mr Lukwago to ministerial clearance before travelling abroad.
However, the minister through Mr Mc Dusman Kabega, her lawyer, opposed Mr Lukwago's application and submitted that everything she does is within the KCCA Act and government standing policy.
"There is no reason that has been raised that requires my client to appear for cross examination since most of the points being raised are matters of the law," Mr Kabega said.
Mr Lukwago sued the minister claiming that she assumed his mandate to serve as the duly-elected mayor of the city and even went ahead, on January 23, 2018, to suspend Council meetings yet that is the forum where deliberations and decisions on how to govern the city are made.
According to court documents, the minister stalled council meetings on grounds that they are illegal and no longer relevant to the city, a decision Mr Lukwago describes as irrational and unreasonable.
In his petition, Mr Lukwago seeks orders to quash Ms Kamya's decision regarding the legality of Council meetings and other decisions like subjecting all his out of the country travels as the Lord Mayor to a "ministerial permit".
He claims such decisions are an infringement and abuse of his rights and freedoms.
"Unless court intervenes and restrains Kamya from making such irrational decisions and passing-off as the Lord Mayor, the sovereignty of the people of Kampala will be put in jeopardy and hence forth affect the social contract I made with my voters in May 2016," Mr Lukwago contends .
He further seeks court orders to compel Ms Kamya to put in place a Metropolitan Physical Planning Committee as required by the KCCA Act, arguing that the absence of the committee negatively impacts him in the performance of his execute duties of developing and strategising for the city.


text:
TITLE: A City's Materiality
(click on blue text colour above to read the work in full.)
AUTHOR: Mavarine Du-Marie
DATE: 23 November 2009
"…I'd say that there are concrete ways that a city's materiality affects people collectively living in an urban environment, and that is because it impacts substantially in a city's network structure, as to be inter-related in the social world of people, thereby encompassing what it means to be living in a city due to the fact that it can offer a greater sense of security in society…."
Materiality: is a sociological interpretation of materiality which can be of four things; that it is judged in terms of its inherent nature, that impacts or influences in its value, and by its use of that value regarding the affects in a social world, and the circumstances for the context in which materiality occurs in the social order.
Related blog postings: Reading Maps
Humanistic Geography
Changing Concepts of Knowledge
Weblink Info: Royal Geographical Society