tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44985459474944434012024-03-05T00:32:06.267-06:00A Life RedeemedPaulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-17880690784816515412015-05-02T07:24:00.000-05:002015-05-02T07:24:00.184-05:00<br />
I have not done blog posts faithfully - most of my life shows up on Facebook, and my books on Goodreads. But, I thought I would publish my "What I Read In April" book reviews and try to get back in the habit.<br />
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<u>Countdown in Cairo (Russian Trilogy #3) </u>- 5 - Noel Hynd - these are in the Christian Lit section, but while her faith is a driving factor in her life, it is not the whole point of the story. Alex is a Federal Treasury agent and deals with the ugliest aspects of the world. She has a strong faith in God, and a "traditional" belief system, but I would almost call her more spiritual than Christian. She struggles with her faith, especially after the events she lives through, but there is no mention of Christ, repentence, etc. <br />
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These are excellent spy stories, and Alex is a very strong moral character. There is plenty of violence (not graphic compared to most contemporary novels, but more than most Christian ones), but no profanity and very little sexual content. She herself is very chaste. I enjoy the background (though it does get too heavy at times) for current political events she is involved in. Putin plays a role in this one. I highly recommend these books to anyone who likes action but doesn't like the gore/sex/profanity of most contemporary thrillers. <br />
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<u>Hostage in Havanna (Cuban Trilogy #1)</u> - 3 - Noel Hynd - this is the next trilogy, with Alex matching wits with a female South American drug lord. Lots and lots of details about Cuba - Batista, Castro, Che, etc. Not as good as the first so far - I really miss Yuri Federov, the Russian crime lord from the first series.<br />
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<u>Mara, Daughter of the Nile</u> - 3 - Eloise Jarvis McGraw - picked this up at Rainbow Resources booth at a homeschool conference last month. I had been wanting to read it since my oldest was 5 and I was drooling over the Sonlight catalog. Very good look at ancient Egypt, made me go back and reread some materials on Hatshephut (I know I did not spell that right, too lazy to look up) the female pharoah. My older boys are now past this in history, but I will have my younger ones read it when they get to world history.<br />
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<u>The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey Into Christian Faith</u> - 5 - Rosaria Champagne Butterfield - I wish I had copies to hand out to everyone. Excellent, excellent book. Rosaria was a lesbian activist, tenured English professor, serious bigshot in the academia/gay/feminist world. She was disdainful of Christians, and one of her very good points is that the Christians she met did not engage in conversation, ask questions, debate, etc. They came and preached morality to the unconverted.<br />
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Rosaria wrote an article in the 90s when Pat Robertson made a comment about feminis leading women to witchcraft, etc. She began receiving mail, and had two boxes - fan and hate. Then she got a letter from a pastor that did not go in either. It was full of intelligent discussion, and questions. She eventually contacted him and developed a relationship with him and his wife. How this couple ministered to her was very eye-opening to me. Anyway - cutting to the chase - she began to study scripture, study Christian writings, had him at her home to speak to her friends, went to his home, and after a few years the Lord began to draw her to Himself and she became a believer. She had to give up her entire life that she had built in order to serve the Lord. Right now she is a pastor's wife/church planter, Reformed Presbyterian, homeschool mama to four adopted children of different races. <br />
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The book isn't just about ministering to homosexuals, it spoke to me about the role of Christians in ministering to everyone around us, and what that can look like. It was definitely a "think outside the box" book and I highly recommend it.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-67802391366801242072015-01-04T10:01:00.001-06:002015-01-04T10:01:57.564-06:00What I LearnedI am on a homeschool forum with a great bunch of ladies. One of the topics brought up this weekend is, "What did you learn this year?" I learned a lot of things educationally, etc. But along with all the fun stuff (biology and history can be amazing when you get to learn along with the kids). But there are some lessons that are ongoing, that even when you think you have learned them they keep coming back. These I have pondered this morning.<br />
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I also started reading <u>Broken for a Purpose</u> by Gisela Yohannan (wife of found of Gospel for Asia) this morning. When God tells you things from two different sources within an hour, it is time to listen.<br />
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"When the Lord saved us, He gave us His joy, peace, assurance of salvation and eternal life. But somehow in our minds, we often expect God to remove all the difficulties and hardships of our life from now on, so as believers we can enjoy an easier, more comfortable life than the rest fo mankind. But Jesus did not make such a promise. He only promised to be with us always. In fact, He told us in advance that we would suffer persecution and trials - as He did - if we are to become His disciples.<br />
This actually means that aside from the difficulties a "natural" (unsaved) person faces, we will be in a continuous spiritual battle, one that is not against flesh and blood. Yet in the midst of all this, Jesus assures us of a peace that is not of this world and enables us to be more than conquerors."<br />
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Things I have learned, and continue to learn this year, and probably for my entire life:<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Don't believe anything you hear unless you see and hear it yourself straight from the horse's mouth.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Give everyone the benefit of the doubt.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Keep your mouth shut.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Do not grumble.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">We have plenty of critics. Be an encourager.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Trust in the Lord.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Nothing stays the same.</span></i>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-86625969988730107592013-06-04T08:46:00.001-05:002013-06-04T08:46:42.065-05:00Status report, some book logs<div style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #151e4b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.453125px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em;">
It has been a loooonnnnggg time since I posted anything! This winter and spring has been crazy busy - mostly good busy, though. Lots of fun stuff with the kids, our science co-op, all kinds of fellowships with friends, and the cabinet shop has been inundated with orders! We also got to host a little guy from Safe Families for almost a month. He is coming back out today for a few days to visit. So excited! In the meantime, though, here is a bit of status, hopefully I can update some reading logs, and maybe get a few pictures in as well.</div>
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Stole the questions for the Status Update from Kim at <a href="http://philippians314.squarespace.com/display/Login?returnUrl=%2Fjournal%2F2013%2F6%2F4%2Fstatus-report-june.html">The Upward Call</a></div>
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<strong>Sitting</strong>: in my big recliner, where I do most of my reading and studying.</div>
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<strong>Glad</strong>: that I got a bunch of cabinets ordered last night so I can chill this morning.</div>
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<strong>Thankful</strong>: to have a beautiful day, since we are driving over an hour each way to pick up our little Safe Families guy for a visit.</div>
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<strong>Re-evaluating</strong>: my plans for school this fall.</div>
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<strong>Looking ahead to</strong>: time on Saturday that I am going to make some jewelry. The guys will all be gone at a Mens' Breakfast at church and I am going to sort my goodies and string some beads. It has been way too long.</div>
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<strong>Feeling bad</strong>: for some of my friends who are going through some really tough times. I know prayer is the most important thing we can do, but I wish there were some physical things I could do as well. Sometimes there are, but most of the time it is too big.</div>
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<strong>Relieved</strong>: that Joe, who was droopy all yesterday and not feeling good last night, is up and back to his normal self today!</div>
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<strong>Happy</strong>: to be working on a new Bible study from <a href="http://www.cruciformpress.com/">Cruciform Press</a> titled "Joy! A Bible Study On Philippians for Women" by Keri Folmer and reading "Ties That Bind" by one of my favorite authors, <a href="http://www.cjdarlington.com/">C.J. Darlington</a></div>
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<strong>Curious</strong>: about so many things.</div>
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<strong>Thinking</strong>: about how to mesh sports and homeschooling.</div>
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<strong>Proud</strong>: of my husband. </div>
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<strong>Wondering</strong>: if it is too soon to start stressing out about our biology co-op next year.</div>
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<strong>Praising God</strong>: for this gorgeous day that I get to enjoy.</div>
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And now, onto some books....I really wish I could just cut and paste my logs from Goodreads...here is a link to my shelf of books I have read so far this year <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7272131-paula?shelf=2013-log">which I have creatively titled "2013 Log"</a>. All my current reads are over to the right. I have pretty much gotten away from writing reviews, just doing stars. I know, I know.....</div>
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Other than that, not much to tell. But, I will anyway, with just a few from the family album!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFueBrXMai156Rcic2VQatMgqJW0xMZmAvau9dIVv2kzLVq4exW1tprt3Dd-zuMg2sa9gD87jblNOZKPLfIyRwIDEsE5oyci_lnQHHwBlxq6IOSM7_5uw-LM5Wgp1xMRdDfDh76c43aE/s1600/IMAG0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFueBrXMai156Rcic2VQatMgqJW0xMZmAvau9dIVv2kzLVq4exW1tprt3Dd-zuMg2sa9gD87jblNOZKPLfIyRwIDEsE5oyci_lnQHHwBlxq6IOSM7_5uw-LM5Wgp1xMRdDfDh76c43aE/s320/IMAG0029.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben at his 13th birthday party. He had a dodgeball party. The cake is Rubik's Cube themed. He does not like having his picture taken, can you tell?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFuWoccMQYb1cfOVQ8c5xvg217ehyphenhyphenzt1n1QYdCp5rjst0zWM88QIaDuUG1PsF30jr8cJiVHl2YY7STSfRxXrztC5EqpmT2whHXYUgH33l1o8mQyo_MPzM6drtlHOD0Xuw769gDIioQ0U/s1600/IMAG0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFuWoccMQYb1cfOVQ8c5xvg217ehyphenhyphenzt1n1QYdCp5rjst0zWM88QIaDuUG1PsF30jr8cJiVHl2YY7STSfRxXrztC5EqpmT2whHXYUgH33l1o8mQyo_MPzM6drtlHOD0Xuw769gDIioQ0U/s320/IMAG0031.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe, performing a science experiment<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRLazuA2rKktIKzLj2au-MtWlXh9T_17IAQpS0w39mIDfBPVKT8sTz9UCyZSmbFPsZMPlwMy9XifwxoT8MHs7IWQLFgh5x54WtizlG4l-_Bg-0ypPrgcoKMeUAmaobzAfj0sQzQ-bWe0/s1600/IMAG0114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRLazuA2rKktIKzLj2au-MtWlXh9T_17IAQpS0w39mIDfBPVKT8sTz9UCyZSmbFPsZMPlwMy9XifwxoT8MHs7IWQLFgh5x54WtizlG4l-_Bg-0ypPrgcoKMeUAmaobzAfj0sQzQ-bWe0/s320/IMAG0114.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Nevin. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP21lwZmkbNV87dobQOSwRO1hzdtTrS2cY5b1NrX_6fam9rAToCLVuLQbMLyUlpTrYxBZoVxBnuzpOKvTh1Jn1HZ5XELjo3lcecS8VjytetiZadiuUroZxZabbQLsRanNIs35jhfU4GE/s1600/IMAG0348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP21lwZmkbNV87dobQOSwRO1hzdtTrS2cY5b1NrX_6fam9rAToCLVuLQbMLyUlpTrYxBZoVxBnuzpOKvTh1Jn1HZ5XELjo3lcecS8VjytetiZadiuUroZxZabbQLsRanNIs35jhfU4GE/s320/IMAG0348.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry showing us some Darth Maul moves with the double light saber his dad made for him.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uoO8nUPLDOYYzksZ0MJcN9Z2NeovNJdCVIr1GaRxVTaXiOcjT5LmDbKO7e9VtvkNSD7XqhbU1Gam1TE0DeEIG3gDkp4GHSYp3EFrd7XQTaOhDuChdo5UVAi4ceoFymkHEA42EE_C75Y/s1600/IMAG0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uoO8nUPLDOYYzksZ0MJcN9Z2NeovNJdCVIr1GaRxVTaXiOcjT5LmDbKO7e9VtvkNSD7XqhbU1Gam1TE0DeEIG3gDkp4GHSYp3EFrd7XQTaOhDuChdo5UVAi4ceoFymkHEA42EE_C75Y/s320/IMAG0356.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my mom at a ladies dinner at her church. Yes, we are wearing paper hats. Don't ask.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGy-_wBMxJqeOlw2znYkAV8pmmCfDB7N5qq6j3onTdgMmzjH4f0y-Jo8Wz8o-X7iE5Gxc84HV5rxt7gU-lrI2w1R5xRU_WuhLD7q4d2ki2VjB9Xx_pPGH_JOf06AfVv6UyW-1u3uL3UQ/s1600/airsoft+42013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGy-_wBMxJqeOlw2znYkAV8pmmCfDB7N5qq6j3onTdgMmzjH4f0y-Jo8Wz8o-X7iE5Gxc84HV5rxt7gU-lrI2w1R5xRU_WuhLD7q4d2ki2VjB9Xx_pPGH_JOf06AfVv6UyW-1u3uL3UQ/s320/airsoft+42013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo from our last airsoft war. We usually do one in the fall and one in the spring. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGtF1OtkFLEH0unKq7umPd1u8SYDEtTGbPiz4fEPSk9wzQ20_le9DhoIpPPCy4vhOnji_guRSO4zTlGKXxPMnzFP-ep1WIVpq7OS_mkMA3Bj-qdlF3CSK01VZQ4kC3xczliadDYUPULE/s1600/facebook_241463264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGtF1OtkFLEH0unKq7umPd1u8SYDEtTGbPiz4fEPSk9wzQ20_le9DhoIpPPCy4vhOnji_guRSO4zTlGKXxPMnzFP-ep1WIVpq7OS_mkMA3Bj-qdlF3CSK01VZQ4kC3xczliadDYUPULE/s320/facebook_241463264.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the latest family portrait, from Mother's Day. I think Nevin and I are starting to resemble Phil and Miss Kay, what do you think? With our four boys, we could be some Robertsons in the making. Tony especially plans to have a beard, as soon as physically possible. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6nsMtKcoW5w63yRaHO3KCYVUdogvhM_837KIFaiXe7qPwmTCJI1KFV3kvmD2j3579bEZZqWJzo_wg2uayKEUovu3gwiT_5Hd69qTNiCzGshCPT8Y4YmavXKZsm6fiR9DEWgVZK3i0qE/s1600/IMAG0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6nsMtKcoW5w63yRaHO3KCYVUdogvhM_837KIFaiXe7qPwmTCJI1KFV3kvmD2j3579bEZZqWJzo_wg2uayKEUovu3gwiT_5Hd69qTNiCzGshCPT8Y4YmavXKZsm6fiR9DEWgVZK3i0qE/s320/IMAG0096.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Tony's 15th birthday. Me and my four men, plus Tony's buddy Caleb. Caleb seems to show up in a lot of our pictures. </td></tr>
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And that is it! Hopefully I won't wait four months to write again. I need to update the pictures on the sidebar as well. But not today. Today I am going to go get the little guy!</div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-92028218775000812452013-02-09T08:36:00.000-06:002013-02-09T08:36:01.859-06:0048 Things<br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cherise over at DSMA posted a <a href="http://diabetessocmed.com/2013/48-things-about-me/" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">list of answers to 48 questions. </a></span><a href="http://diabetessocmed.com/2013/48-things-about-me/" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Others have followed suit and I thought I’d just jump on the bandwagon…Just for fun! Here are 48 things about me. (sorry for the wonky formatting but I'm tired of trying to fix it.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">My full name is Paula Ann. My Uncle Paul and my Grandfather Benjamin. "Ann" in Yiddish is Ben. Or vice versa. I am relying on my mom for this information, as I do not know Yiddish. My grandfather was Jewish.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Last weekend when I heard my friend Becky's son had died.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Not really. It is sort of schizophrenic. Sometimes it will change from slanted to straight up and down within the same paragraph.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Turkey</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU HAVE KIDS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Four incredible men-in-the-making. Tony will be 15 next month, Ben is 13 next week, Joe will be 10 next month and Henry is 8.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I'd have to be pretty thick-skinned. I tend to say awkward things without really thinking them through. And I have a wierd sense of humor that can be off-putting. But I think I am fun to hang out with, and will return calls and texts. What more can you ask for?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Probably too much. See "off-putting sense of humor" above.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Indeed I do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Not of my own volition.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?</span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Special K Fruit and Yogurt. I really don't like cereal that much. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">11.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Not usually.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">12.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I am one tough cookie, and that is a fact.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">13.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Spumoni</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">14.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Their countenance. Are they smiling or cranky-looking? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">15.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">RED OR PINK?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Red.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">16.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I tend to get impatient with my kids, and not give them the grace I should. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">17.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">My dad. It is hard to believe he has been gone 27 years now. I miss him every day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">18.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Consistency</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">19.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Brown Chacos, cream and red trim</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">20.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Coffee right now...probably a pack of Smarties last night.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">21.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Moneyball on tv. I recorded it months ago, waiting for a chance to watch it without the kids around. Wasn't sure about the language, and I hate having to turn off a movie we have already started. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">22.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Some sort of burnt orangey color</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">23.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE SMELLS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Laundry detergent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">24.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Probably way too important. At least they used to be. I have found myself so discouraged, with both parties, that I have lost interest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">25.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Probably the beach.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">26.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Professional baseball - St. Louis Cardinals, of course. My next favorite is college basketball. I don't watch it much, but then I get all excited for March Madness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">27.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">HAIR COLOR?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Dark brown, with some interesting (!) streaks of silver</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">28.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EYE COLOR?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Hazel, greenish brown. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">29.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">No, my glasses are becoming more and more a permanent fixture on my face. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">30.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE FOOD?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I guess if I had to pick one, it would be Mexican. Though I love seafood so much. And McDonalds. Don't judge me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">31.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I don't like scary movies at all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">32.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?</span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Right now I am watching Moneyball. Last week we watched Remember the Titans and Rudy. I think Remember the Titans was one of the best movies EVER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">33.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Black "Predator" monster truck shirt that I bought in 2002 at our first Monster Jam.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">34.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">SUMMER OR WINTER?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Summer. Bring on the camping, park days, and hanging at the pool. And no school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">35.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE DESSERT?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cheesecake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">36.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">A little of both. I mix steps/aerobics with light weight toning. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">37.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Can I choose a book instead? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">38.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I always have a few going, but my for-fun right now is Evans to Betsy by Rhys Bowen. I love cozy mysteries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">39.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">A picture of Bro. Bob Schembre baptizing me in the Plattin Creek, 8/18/10.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">40.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE SOUND?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Nevin coming in the door.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">41.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I don't think I have one. It depends on what kind of mood I am in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">42.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Sayulita, Mexico. I am probably not spelling that correctly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">43.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">I am good at seeing the big picture and putting all the pieces together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">44.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHERE WERE YOU BORN?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Crystal City, MO</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">45.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Festus, MO. I haven't gone far.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">46.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">Beige, brown, white. Belends in with the forest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">47.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">The Suburban is black. I think of that as being "my" car. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">48.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">It kept me from doing any real work for the last twenty minutes.</span></span></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-1066690961068387932013-01-06T20:48:00.000-06:002013-01-06T20:48:22.246-06:00<br />
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Borrowed this from Staci at <a href="http://writingandliving.net/">Writing and Living</a></strong></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Status Report for January, 2013</strong></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Sitting… </strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">at the kitchen table</span>.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Drinking…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">nothing. Should probably have a glass of water. Will most likely have milk before I go to bed</span>.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Waiting…</strong>for the kitchen timer to go off, so I know to go check my blood glucose.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Recovering…</strong>from way too many holiday treats, late mornings, and lack of exercise.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Slowly…</strong>getting everyone moving off to bed.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Thankful…</strong>that I got most of the school stuff ready for next week, and all my science lab reports and tests graded.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Chagrined…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">I have fallen back into check FB way too often</span>.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Reading…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">a Molly Murphy mystery by Rhys Bowen. Not the most intellectual of pursuits, but I enjoy a good clean mystery.</span></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Also reading…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">The Silver Chair by CS Lewis to the littles and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to the bigs.</span></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Hearing…</strong>too much chatter, not enough getting ready for bed. I guess I'd better get off the computer and go supervise!</div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-36068350192379106312013-01-04T08:28:00.002-06:002013-01-04T08:28:55.509-06:00December 2012 Book Log, and 2012 Superlatives<br />
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With Christmas break, I ended up getting a few mysteries under my belt, and finished up with 65 books read this year.</div>
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December:</div>
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<b>Death in the Floating City</b> - Tasha Alexander - 4 - next in the Lady Emily mystery series. Much better than the last few. Not my favorite series, but I enjoy them.</div>
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<b>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</b> - JK Rowling - 4 - finished on New Years' Eve, so we could watch the movie New Years' Day.</div>
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<b>An Impartial Witness: A Bess Crawford Mystery</b> - Charles Todd - 4 - I really like this series. Bess is a normal person, and I noticed it never mentions anything about her appearance. I like that! I have never read much about WWI, so I am enjoying this.</div>
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<b>A Beautiful Blue Death</b> - 4 - Charles Finch - a new series, with gentleman Charles Lennox solving mysteries in Victorian London.</div>
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<b>The Mayflower Adventure</b> - Colleen L. Reece - 3 - Christian American historical fiction, written for kids. Covers the Mayflower to the end of WWII. Read this aloud with the younger boys.</div>
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<b>Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness</b> - Susannah Cahalan - 4 - excellent book, reconstruction of events by a young woman whose body began attacking her brain, and the month she lost.</div>
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And now, for the year-end wrap up....a few years back I started doing a Superlatives list on a homeschooling forum. You remember superlatives, right? Best Smile, Most Gullible, Super Senior, etc. Well, these are for the yearbook of the past years' reading. So, without further ado....</div>
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<b>2012 Year in Reading Superlatives</b></h3>
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<i>What was the best new (to you) author you discovered this year?</i><br />
A tough decision, as I found so many new authors this year! I am going to go with Janice Holt Giles<br />
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<i>What was your favorite new (to you) series?</i><br />
Bess Crawford Mysteries, by Charles Todd<br />
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<i>Best parenting book?</i><br />
Only read one, an Ebook "True Christian Motherhood" by June Fuentes. It was ok. Mainly just a series of blog posts, at least that is how it read.<br />
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<i>Book that made you cry?</i><br />
None of them did<br />
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<i>Book that made you laugh out loud?</i><br />
I am sure something must have, but I can't recall it now. Must not have been all that funny.<br />
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<i>Book that totally changed your perspective on something?</i></div>
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Maybe Hard Times in Paradise, by David and Micki Colfax. They were VERY politically liberal, and I am.....not. Reminded me that we don't have to agree on everything to agree on some very important things.<br />
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<i>Best homeschool(ing) book?</i><br />
Hard Times In Paradise, by David and Micki Colfax. By the way, one of the best homeschooling books EVER. Back to the basics, before homeschooling was such a trendy thing to do.<br />
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<i>Worst book that you managed to finish?</i><br />
I had two with only 1 star - Fairy Tail Interrupted: What JFK Jr. Taught Me About Life, Love and Loss by RoseMarie Terenzio (just never liked the author at all), and Six Horse Hitch by Janice Holt Giles. Loved most of her books, but this one was just too melodramatic.<br />
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<i>Book with the best surprise plot twist?</i><br />
The Hidden Flower, by Pearl S. Buck. I always think I know how her stories are going to go, and they never go that way.<br />
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<i>Best book-that-was-better-than-the-movie?</i><br />
The Hunger Games<br />
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<i>Most over-hyped book of the year?</i><br />
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Very disappointed. Lame, lame, lame.<br />
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<i>Best online-reader recommendation of the year?</i><br />
I don't think I got any I really enjoyed from individuals this year, most of them came from goodreads, or even better, <a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.com/" style="color: #453826;" target="_blank">www.fantasticfiction.com</a><br />
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<i>Book you have recommended to the most people this year?</i><br />
The American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes<br />
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<i>Best feel-good book of the year?</i><br />
Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen by Joe Draper<br />
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<i>Best childrens/young adult book of the year?</i><br />
A tie: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A re-read, read aloud with my younger boys; and Hittite Warrior, by Joanne Williamson. I read it with the older boys for school.<br />
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<i>Book you’ve been meaning to read for years and finally got to?</i><br />
Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of WWII by Darlene Deibler Rose<br />
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<i>Read aloud that the family enjoyed the most?</i><br />
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire<br />
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<i>Best cookbook/knitting/gardening/or other household how-to?</i><br />
Complete Guide to Carb Counting by Hope S. Warshaw<br />
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<i>Best non-fiction?</i><br />
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susanah Cahalan, or Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen by Joe Draper<br />
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<i>Best religion/theology/doctrine/philosophy?</i><br />
Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Horger Alsup. Her blog is in my blogroll, over to the right.<br />
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<i>Best political book?</i><br />
Didn't read one. Sick of it.<br />
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<i>All-around best story of the year?</i><br />
The Believers by Janice Holt Giles<br />
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<i>Book that you feel is SO INTEGRAL to your library……you’d even pay full price for it?</i><br />
I paid full price for a couple - most notably, Practical Theology for Women<br />
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<i>And the Award for Best All-Around Book of the Year is Presented To……………</i><br />
Hannah Fowler, by Janice Holt Giles</div>
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5 Star Books </div>
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I rate my books 1-5, and so does Goodreads. I had a whole bunch of 4 Stars, but only a handful are worthy of that 5th star. These were the books this year that earned my coveted 5 Star rating:</div>
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<b>Hannah Fowler</b>, by Janice Holt Giles</div>
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<b>The Believers</b>, by Janice Holt Giles</div>
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<b>Hard Times in Paradise</b>, by David and Mickey Colfax</div>
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<b>The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe</b>, by C.S. Lewis</div>
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<b>Hittite Warrior</b> by Joanne Williamson</div>
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<b>The American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfbd2; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">__________________</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfbd2; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Fiov</span></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-82594655838008584212012-12-04T08:12:00.000-06:002012-12-04T08:13:24.698-06:00Status Report, Book Log for November, etc.<br />
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Sitting…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">in my big recliner</span>.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Drinking…</strong>coffee. Stevia in the Raw sweetener, and a touch of Coffeemate Caramel Machiatto.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Complaining…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">mentally about not complaining. I had a big, silly, self-centered day of shopping planned. I had gotten money for my birthday, and was going to just go and have a day of it. Then one of my kids began throwing up last night. So, I realize that scrapping my silly, self-centered plans for the day is not a big deal. And I am not complaining. But I would like to. Does that make sense?</span></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Realizing…</strong>that complaining about anything is a useless waste of time, and more importantly, is not pleasing to the Lord.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Convicted…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">that </span>I should really be quiet and get over myself. </div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Reading…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">nothing right now - though I have <u>A Beautiful Blue Death</u> by Charles Finch on the table next to me. I will probably start it today. I get all excited when I am trying out a new author for the first time. </span></div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Anticipating…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">going on a family road trip soon, as long as no one else starts barfing</span>.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Listening…</strong>to the dryer on "fluff" now, as it is full of throw pillows from the sofa. Where the barfer was sitting last night. Just saying, you fill in the blanks.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Almost ready…</strong>for my science co-op tomorrow, which is a shame, because if the barfer is not 100% better in a few hours (and no one else is sick) I will be cancelling.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Wondering…</strong>if I am going to get sick, too.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Thankful…</strong>that my life is such that we can re-arrange for sickness, etc. Thankful that we homeschool, and that our business is in our home, so I don't have the stress of having to be somewhere else. Also thankful that as I get older I am learning to "go with the flow" more. </div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Ready…</strong><span style="word-wrap: break-word;">for whatever the Lord brings my way today!</span><br />
<span style="word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span>
<span style="word-wrap: break-word;">And now, since I read so few books last month, I might as well just pile these posts together!</span><br />
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<span style="word-wrap: break-word;">November</span><br />
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<span style="word-wrap: break-word;"><u>A Duty to the Dead</u> - Charles Todd - 4 (out of 5) - first in the Bess Crawford mystery series. Bess is an English nurse serving in World War I. While home recuperating from an injury, she takes a deathbed message from one of her patients to his family. There she finds a mystery, an family secret surrounding a murder, and a few more suspicious deaths. I would say that if you like the Laurie R. King "Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes" books you will probably enjoy this one as well. </span><br />
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<span style="word-wrap: break-word;"><u>A Shilling For Candles</u> - Josephine Tey -3 - this is only the second Tey that I have read. She wrote in the same time period as Agatha Christie, so her books have that sort of feel to them. Lots of characters, at some points it was hard for me to keep track of who the minor players were. </span><br />
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<span style="word-wrap: break-word;"><u>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</u> - C.S. Lewis - 4 - a read aloud with my younger boys. Always like Narnia, this is one of my favorites.</span><br />
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<span style="word-wrap: break-word;">And that is it! I picked up and put down lots of books, and really just had a hard time finishing anything. I am blaming it on too much social media.</span></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-13029768127831969822012-11-17T02:25:00.003-06:002012-11-17T02:26:07.049-06:00Saturday on the HomesteadIt has been a very nice, very relaxed week. Nevin has spent the last two weekends deer hunting. This is the last weekend of rifle season, so he is gone for a few more days. So far Ben got one during youth season, and Nevin got three last weekend. Our freezers are filling up! We did some processing this week, and for those who don't get all squeamish over fresh meat, here are picks from our activities!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil375gSzQbBPbW2SV3LpHI-2rzZqiKlceNq2F5er6Cb8fGYNo3qNdn0-t6oDekBIs3rNTuN1nM43mvig7nhFV9__v1jq35ahimyiDfAIb4iQkQZLDU3PeBseRNRYTFuDt254PI6iGyeus/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil375gSzQbBPbW2SV3LpHI-2rzZqiKlceNq2F5er6Cb8fGYNo3qNdn0-t6oDekBIs3rNTuN1nM43mvig7nhFV9__v1jq35ahimyiDfAIb4iQkQZLDU3PeBseRNRYTFuDt254PI6iGyeus/s320/IMG_1202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahwzR_XmO5bVLK0V176mWWAbv7quYPEi6D_kYSL9dhSipfi3EwAWMjkXiHSdxyU1r0cbZ4ckxL4sJGlAC5KKTI8Hhtcxj45KjUvglE_a70mGqGFTgycQsZK8T64J2HCKh1KQKTT-_Ck/s1600/nevin+and+ben+processing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahwzR_XmO5bVLK0V176mWWAbv7quYPEi6D_kYSL9dhSipfi3EwAWMjkXiHSdxyU1r0cbZ4ckxL4sJGlAC5KKTI8Hhtcxj45KjUvglE_a70mGqGFTgycQsZK8T64J2HCKh1KQKTT-_Ck/s320/nevin+and+ben+processing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nevin and Ben, hard at work. They cut up the meat out here, I package and label it inside.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnK3wK8s3tZ9vtBYoXuuO82Lz5HYYEDIX8X5Vwt6dMQGHcCbKR2VFxGZlhRomAgZH1GYMNe4fpCtojl19cCEQ2wVWKzry_fzFAURDJGVmes6WOqJrMXUk8SyolI5YpDet8FEQhQFH5fg/s1600/IMG_1206%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnK3wK8s3tZ9vtBYoXuuO82Lz5HYYEDIX8X5Vwt6dMQGHcCbKR2VFxGZlhRomAgZH1GYMNe4fpCtojl19cCEQ2wVWKzry_fzFAURDJGVmes6WOqJrMXUk8SyolI5YpDet8FEQhQFH5fg/s320/IMG_1206%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone gets in on the project.</td></tr>
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I love having a full freezer, and I especially love that we have done it all ourselves. Looking forward to some good eating this winter!<br />
<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-64110956842842186892012-11-09T19:56:00.000-06:002012-11-09T19:56:00.136-06:00Happy Birthday to My Twenty Year Old SelfMy friend Anne at <a href="http://www.notasupermom.com/">Not A Supermom</a> posted this earlier this week - a letter to her twenty-year-old self. There is a linky thing on her website so that you can blog on the same topic and link it to others who have done the same. <br />
<br />
I don't have a good picture of my twenty-year-old self right now. Maybe later.<br />
<br />
But, without further ado, here is the birthday letter:<br />
<br />
Dear Paula,<br />
<br />
Happy 20th birthday, December 2nd, 1985. Tonight you are going to go out with some friends, drink cheap draft beer and overall have a pretty good time. Your life is generally a mess, it is true, but right now you have a smidgen of hope. You moved out of the dorm, you have joined a sorority and living in the house. Basically, you have done another "geographic." You don't know that term yet, but you will in 1993. A geographic is when you move from one place to another, thinking that if you could just get away from there, then everything would be fine. Problem is, you keep taking you with you. You have a few more geographics to come, but that is later.<br />
<br />
For today, I am glad you are happy. You just came home from Thanksgiving break, your father bought you a beautiful bright blue wool coat. All is fine. A few more weeks of school, finals and then Christmas break at home. Christmas parties are being planned with your sorority sisters, possibilities are in the air. Enjoy today, because in eight days it is all going to collapse.<br />
<br />
On December 10, your mom is going to call. Your father and brother are going to be in a terrible accident. Your little brother is going to be physically okay, but the scars are going to go deep. Your dad, on the other hand is going to be in persistent vegetative state for the next 7 1/2 years.<br />
<br />
And you, Paula, are going to fall apart. Over the cliff, no holds barred, freefall.<br />
<br />
If I could give you one piece of advice right now, it would be, "Whatever you think is a good idea, do the opposite." Every choice you make is going to be wrong. Literally, every.single.one. I would love to tell you about how the Lord is going to preserve you, but I don't know that you would listen to religious talk. You have been to church, done all that. Didn't work. I know. But listen to this - there are going to be some dark, dark moments coming up - times when you honestly don't think you can go on another day. And something - someone - some small remnant of a Sunday School lesson or a sermon or a hymn from long ago is going to give you just enough to keep going. Just enough. <br />
<br />
You are going to pull yourself up by your bootstraps a few times, take those geographic cures several times, and in the meantime you will finish college, and go through a series of jobs. You will leave a path of wreckage behind you, like a tornado whirling through peoples' lives. <br />
<br />
Be nicer to your mom and your grandma, by the way. They are going to pull you butt out of the fire more times than you can count. Appreciate them more. <br />
<br />
But hey -it isn't all gloom in doom. <br />
<br />
In late June of 1993 you will finally reach the end of your rope. You've tied a knot and hung on so many times, and at 27 you are too tired and too worn out to do it anymore. <br />
<br />
And finally, FINALLY - you will be broken enough. And God will save you. He will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. You will cry out to him with this new heart and repent. <br />
<br />
And it is all different. Suddenly, it really is. You will quit drinking. You will see life through new eyes. You aren't going to realize at the time that this, this moment, is when God saves you. You are still deluded by the theology of your youth, that walk-the-aisle-repeat-the-prayer notion of salvation. That is going to lead you on a spiritual journey to understand what salvation really means. But, maybe another letter. When you are forty or so!<br />
<br />
In July of 1993 Daddy will die, never having woke up from the permanent vegetative state. The night before is the last time you will drink or use a drug up to and including today - over 19 years so far. Not bad for someone who couldn't go more than a day or so for years and years.<br />
<br />
You are going to make new friends. You are going to meet him. The real HIM, that God has for you. You will build a life together, build a home, build a family, be part of a community. <br />
<br />
You are going to homeschool your four (yes four, I am not joking!) sons.<br />
<br />
Yes, it is legal. No, you won't worry about socialization.<br />
<br />
Your husband (his name is Nevin, don't go looking for him now though, he is a big mess at twenty, too) is going to build you a little house out in the forest, with his own two hands. He is going to grow into a Godly man, and he is going to lead you. Yes, lead you. You will understand later, don't start panicking now. It is going to be good.<br />
<br />
Life will not always be perfect, as the world sees perfect. The house is going to get crowded and messy, the kids are loud (you cannot imagine how loud four boys can be), you will own your own business and that is going to have its' ups and downs and lots of stress. <br />
<br />
But Paula, the Lord is good. He is merciful, and his grace and mercy have no end. God is going to reveal himself to you, over and over, and it is good. <br />
<br />
It is good.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-63297774645468650612012-11-03T13:55:00.000-05:002012-11-03T13:55:34.907-05:00Can You Be Grateful All Month Long?November is always the Thanksgiving month, the gratitude, the thankful month. A whole month of gratitude? We should certainly be grateful every single day for our blessings. But (always that "but") - how often do I find myself ungrateful, or grumbling, or complaining? Any is too often. Whatever is in the Believer's life is there because the Lord has allowed it. All the Lord does is good. He is sovereign, He is all-knowing. For me, sinful and with extremely limited knowledge to complain or grumble about what he has given me is..well, it is ludicrous!<br />
<br />
I just looked in my concordance for verses on thanks, thanksgiving, and all forms of blessings. Way too many to list - that can be your project for today - look up a few of those verses and meditate on them! It is going to be mine.<br />
<br />
If we are to give thanks always, maybe focusing on it every day -through this little blog- could be a way to start. To get in practice, as it were. <br />
<br />
And I am already three days behind!<br />
<br />
I can start off with gratitude to my Lord, Jesus Christ, for my salvation. Here is a section of Psalm I read a few weeks ago that has plastered itself to my heart:<br />
<i>Some were fools through their sinful ways,</i><br />
<i>and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;</i><br />
<i>they loathed any kind of food,</i><br />
<i>and they drew near to the gates of death.</i><br />
<i>Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,</i><br />
<i>and he delivered them from their distress.</i><br />
<i>He sent out his word and healed them,</i><br />
<i>and delivered them from their destruction.</i><br />
<i>Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,</i><br />
<i>for his wondrous works to the children of man.</i><br />
<i>And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,</i><br />
<i>and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!</i><br />
Psalm 107:17-22<br />
<br />
That was me, dying and miserable in my sin, and the Lord reached down and softened this hard heart of stone, gave me a heart of flesh that I could have faith in Him. He saved me, plain and simple. Through no works of mine (so I can't boast!) but strictly by His mercy. <br />
<br />
Day 2, for my wonderful family - Nevin and the guys. I never dreamed of the life I would have, and some days I just wake up amazed at what the Lord has done. This life is not perfect in the sense that the world uses - often the work is hard, the money is tight, and sometimes people just plain get on my nerves. But, this is where God has put me, and even on days where I am struggling, I stop and realize that this blessing, this family, is so much more than I ever thought possible. <br />
<br />
<br />
Monday was our 18th anniversary. Some years have been harder than others, but it has always been an adventure. When I married Nevin I was one who never thought "outside the box". I would have bought a newer house, with the income from my 8-5 job (where you got a regular paycheck with benefits), had 1.6 children, and done all the things you are just supposed to do. Nevin not only thinks outside the box, I don't know if he'd recognize a box if he met it. He was self-employed when I met him, and except for a brief foray into regular employment (because he knew I really wanted him to get a regular job, I think) he has always been. He has gutted a very old house and made it our home, then he built this house in the middle of a forest. He built a business, and then convinced me to leave my regular job and work with him. Live in the forest, own a business, homeschool the kids, raise chickens, process your own deer meat....crazy, I know. But here we are. Anything is possible, and there are opportunities everywhere. <br />
<br />
He is deer hunting this weekend, so maybe absence makes the heart fonder! But truly, I am so grateful for the husband God gave me, how he follows the Lord and leads us.<br />
<br />
And for today.....grateful that I am almost done grading lab reports for my science co-op! And so very grateful to see that they seem to be getting it, in spite of the somewhat haphazard instruction they are getting. <br />
<br />
So, today, start practicing daily gratitude - let's do it together! After a month, hopefully it will be instant and automatic!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-55101925174027257582012-11-02T12:00:00.001-05:002012-11-02T12:00:19.423-05:00Reading Log for October, 2012<br />
I only read three books this month - I am having a terrible time FINISHING any lately!<br />
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<u>The Moonstone</u> - Wilkie Collins - 2 - considered the first (and the longest) of the English detective novels. Mr. Collins seems to have a cult following. It took me two months to finish 500+ pages. I had a hard time staying focused. And....I knew who did it. <br />
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<u>Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery</u> - M.C. Beaton - 4 - okay, so sue me, I liked this better. Read it in about 24 hours. Now, have to hold on a few months until the next Hamish Macbeth comes out, then another 11 months until we see Agatha again.<br />
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<u>Contending: Defending the Faith in a Fallen World</u> - Aaron Armstrong - 3 - pretty good. <a href="http://www.cruciformpress.com/">Cruciform Press </a>publishes short, to-the-point books on weighty subjects. They have a subscription service, where you pay as each new book is published every other month. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed them. This was a little slower going for me that some of the others.<br />
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And that is IT. I am planning to make up for it over Thanksgiving!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-9711185226045691442012-10-19T08:26:00.002-05:002012-10-19T08:26:47.803-05:00To Facebook or Not To Facebook...I am seriously considering getting back on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Yes, I said it.<br />
<br />
I have been off for ten months. Have I missed anything in that time? Well, I have missed keeping up with some friends that don't live near me, or that I don't see regularly. That is definitely a loss.<br />
<br />
I have also missed out on political one-liners that get on my nerves, seeing parties or outings that I didn't know about, and being irritated with people who put on a fake face for the world to see. That is definitely a gain.<br />
<br />
I have gained the time I used to spend looking at Facebook on my phone. If something really exciting happens Nevin or Tony (who are on Facebook) will tell me, anyway. <br />
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I thought I would do better at sending emails (maybe even real cards) to those friends I kept in touch with on FB, but it hasn't happened so far.<br />
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What to do, what to do.....Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-32809474147375024702012-10-02T08:31:00.002-05:002012-10-02T08:32:07.078-05:00Status Report for October<br />
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<strong>Copied from: <a href="http://philippians314.squarespace.com/journal/2012/10/2/status-report-october.html">Kim, at The Upward Call</a></strong></div>
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<strong>Sitting</strong>: at the coffee table with my laptop.</div>
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<strong>Thinking</strong>: the boys better get up if they want breakfast before Bible study.</div>
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<strong>Sensing</strong>: that I will have to get off the computer and go pull them out of bed.</div>
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<strong>Wondering</strong>: if I can just mentally will them to get out of bed.</div>
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<strong>Debating</strong>: whether to make Chicken Enchilada Casserole of Alice Springs Chicken for dinner tonight. Both recipes come from Pinterest (note, below on your right, you can follow me there). </div>
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<strong>Wishing</strong>: someone would magically show up with dinner tonight.</div>
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<strong>Asking myself</strong>: why I moved to the country where no one delivers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT3fB6yK1tY_73UGntv5a9w3fwXnrpntnKv8oeI5HPSPvm5aHBcngYzlIcSwEX5eojvAFPTf8tbPNR34oc02xI2KcXpqOxoQb8NWcWruKyaiclNinU_M55CPmabTyuBgJ5_OaMYCgymo/s1600/IMG_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT3fB6yK1tY_73UGntv5a9w3fwXnrpntnKv8oeI5HPSPvm5aHBcngYzlIcSwEX5eojvAFPTf8tbPNR34oc02xI2KcXpqOxoQb8NWcWruKyaiclNinU_M55CPmabTyuBgJ5_OaMYCgymo/s400/IMG_0627.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, yeah, this is why we moved.</td></tr>
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<strong>Deciding</strong>: to go with Alice Springs tonight, and make the casserole tonight for dinner tomorrow. Glad that is settled.</div>
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<strong>Telling anyone who wants to know</strong>: that I woke up this morning and did my individual Bible study and did (most of) my wii fit exercise, and I am ready to face the day.</div>
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<strong>Glad</strong>: that my dvd of Richard Simmons Sweatin' to Disco (something like that) is supposed to arrive from Amazon today..</div>
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<strong>Perplexed</strong>: at why everyone doesn't like Richard Simmons.</div>
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<strong>Hoping</strong>: that the weather will be good this weekend for <a href="http://www.rockportbaptist.org/">Rockport Baptist Church's</a> Family Camp!</div>
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<strong>Counting on</strong>: a good time of fellowship, no matter what the weather may bring.</div>
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<strong>Thanking God</strong>: for my husband and sons, our home, the beautiful weather outside my window today, plenty of food and overall good health, the opportunity to share in my sons' education today.</div>
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<strong>Looking forward</strong>: to Family Camp!</div>
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<strong>Tasting</strong>: my freshly <a href="http://philippians314.squarespace.com/journal/2012/10/2/status-report-october.html#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MjYwMDQ6MTA2MDpicmV3ZWQgY29mZmVlOjk2YmI2MjU1YTA5ZGI4YzZiZGMxOWUwNWMzYjYzMTI5OnotMTI0Mi01ODIxMzpwaGlsaXBwaWFuczMxNC5zcXVhcmVzcGFjZS5jb206MTU5NzU6aW1hZ2Vfb25seQ" style="color: #100b61; font-size: 16px;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">brewed coffee</a>, and already considering my breakfast options!</div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-55126359691334674832012-09-30T17:02:00.002-05:002012-09-30T17:02:39.661-05:00Reading Log for September, 2012<br />
Finished a few good ones this month. I have a whole lot of books "started" with bookmarks moving slowly through them.<br />
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - JK Rowlings - 4 <img alt="Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327625733s/2.jpg" width="136" /><br />
The big guys and I have been reading this all summer, at bedtime. We finished it last night, so tonight we can watch the movie! <br />
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<img alt="Hittite Warrior" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1348677284s/613497.jpg" width="127" />Hittite Warrior- Joanne Williamson - 5<br />
This was some excellent historical fiction, taking place in the time period of the Judges. Generally I don't care for historical fiction using Biblical people, because I don't like the liberties that are taken with scripture. A recent "not finished" of this sort was Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechik. The characters of Deborah, Barak, Sisera and Jael are fleshed out, but nothing happens that is contrary to scriptural accounts. This is on a lot of homeschool reading lists, and for good reason. My older boys and I read it together.<br />
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<img alt="Garment of Shadows (Mary Russell, #12)" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335202568s/13330537.jpg" width="135" /><br />
Garment of Shadows - Laurie R. King- 2<br />
Ms. King better get some good stories going again, or I am going to be done with Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. The last couple books have been lame, and not only lame but hard to follow. <br />
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<img alt="Walking in Power, Love, and Discipline: 1 & 2 Timothy/Titus" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1348793805s/908076.jpg" width="130" />Walking In Power, Love and Discipline (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) - Kay Arthur - 3 - used this as a guide for my ladies' discipleship group. If I had never used any of Mrs. Arthur's other studies I would love this, but it was only okay by comparison.<br />
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<img alt="The Expats" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325641431s/12617758.jpg" width="130" />The Expats - Chris Pavone - 4<br />
This was a fun book. Kate has left the CIA, without ever having told her husband she was in the CIA. Now they are living in Luxembourg with their two sons, and strange events make her wonder if she is being tailed, or her husband. Overall, an interesting thriller. Some of the situations toward the end defy credulity, and the story being told out of chronological order was hard to get settled into, but still a good story.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-16255644989221483152012-09-29T09:44:00.000-05:002012-09-29T09:44:39.482-05:00Saturday Morning on the HomesteadIt is a beautiful morning here. Couldn't be better. Except for me and my failings. Sniff.<br />
<br />
This week, after having done (imho) so well with my diabetes control....fell off the wagon. I have found that as long as I exercise almost every day, I can eat a bit of sweets and not have it affect my blood sugar levels much. All has been going well. And then this week.....no exercise. No Wii Fit, one time on the treadmill, much hanging around the house. And no cutting back on the carbs to correspond with my lack of exercise. So, last week my fasting numbers were in the 104-111 range, the last few days they have been 126, 128,124, and we won the prize today with 130!<br />
<br />
So, I got off my butt, slid the Wii board out from under the loveseat, and ran/stepped/boxed with my Mii. <br />
<br />
Are Wii and Mii supposed to be capitalized???<br />
<br />
Anyway, here is my strange dichotomy. I have done great with my Bible study this week. Got up every day and really studied and wrote. I am using a new way I learned last weekend at <a href="http://www.truewoman.com/">True Woman 2012</a>. Priscilla Shirer gave a teaching on the<u> 5 Ps of Bible Study</u> (Pore over it, Ponder it, Paraphrase, Pull out the spiritual principles, Plan obedience) that has revolutionized my time in the Word. It is supposed to be 10-15 minutes, 1-2 verses a day. Of course, I get carried away and spend about 30 minutes, then I text what I wrote to my friend Julie who was with me. I am in James, she began with Titus. <br />
<br />
But......by the time I get done it is time to feed the cats, get the kids up, they want breakfast...then we start school, with our family Bible study and prayer time. The next break I have is at lunch, and I want to a)eat and b)read. Afternoon is spent finishing school, housework, laundry, working on stuff for our business (the accounting never ends!), besides the myriad of other things to do - then fix dinner. After dinner, finish folding laundry, read science for the co-op I teach, bedtime reading, get my own shower in...and I am done, it is 10:30 and all I want to do is check my email, play Words with Friends, and read three pages before I fall asleep.<br />
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Obviously, this system needs some tweaking. But, it is all a growing process, and overall, things are going well. <br />
<br />
So, if you think about it, pray for me, that I will keep it simple, that I will keep my focus on my priorities, and that I will seek wisdom from the Lord in every aspect of my life.<br />
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And here, a few pictures of autumn on the homestead:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLdXYXU9vWuoigvfYNRpKG1hpt6ql2XdX0CY1dA3chriKK1ZKFsaIoOOha-IM8ijFAH1ClSOPCX1wFQR02QgFKZwrhA__Et8VMfzogfbpJpachUS94BFq27WJFJOL4fKUc0ef6ZhNw3o/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLdXYXU9vWuoigvfYNRpKG1hpt6ql2XdX0CY1dA3chriKK1ZKFsaIoOOha-IM8ijFAH1ClSOPCX1wFQR02QgFKZwrhA__Et8VMfzogfbpJpachUS94BFq27WJFJOL4fKUc0ef6ZhNw3o/s400/IMG_0856.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garden, still lush-looking, but settling down for the fall. Nevin replaced the wildflowers with mums. The huge green plants to the left-center are sweet potatoes. This is our first year with them. Queen Esther is front-right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatIKi3D9SlnkMZHGxzHKeF_A_aqKe3UjOGrNJKTUKkhNGacJd24O4bkBfvE_-qdidjRuLkV_V_LdnTzgHCkOx2xDY2ZrHeOPJGIFt0MGoeLlaRt6_VmbelNwF8fhNS2mJlunP9UW6Xlo/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatIKi3D9SlnkMZHGxzHKeF_A_aqKe3UjOGrNJKTUKkhNGacJd24O4bkBfvE_-qdidjRuLkV_V_LdnTzgHCkOx2xDY2ZrHeOPJGIFt0MGoeLlaRt6_VmbelNwF8fhNS2mJlunP9UW6Xlo/s400/IMG_0852.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunter the Tomcat in his tree. He is just a little over a year old, and has turned into a beautiful fellow. </td></tr>
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-16484846360335812452012-09-18T08:12:00.002-05:002012-09-18T08:13:04.611-05:00Tuesday Morning on the Homestead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A busy week behind me, a busy week ahead of me. This weekend I am going to the </div>
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<a href="http://www.truewoman.com/">True Woman 2012</a> conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. I went in 2010, and had an incredible time, so I am really looking forward to this year. I am road-tripping with three other ladies, so you know it is going to be a blast! </div>
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But, for now, a few scenes from the homestead:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ_qBM4EWz-T8f9ulh-vZmtjHFolITOkAI8D5_TGBfkrxOLAVGzd6gbm6Y5nrM4YyMZ3mAKCo-zDzHR4Nk22vxg81JGgXA2PdwrLliSybP6Y62c7AdO2nVkHPJ3H4pkDpc8P0GD3ttDc/s1600/IMG_0851%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ_qBM4EWz-T8f9ulh-vZmtjHFolITOkAI8D5_TGBfkrxOLAVGzd6gbm6Y5nrM4YyMZ3mAKCo-zDzHR4Nk22vxg81JGgXA2PdwrLliSybP6Y62c7AdO2nVkHPJ3H4pkDpc8P0GD3ttDc/s320/IMG_0851%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mr. Hunter was chased up into the tree by old Esther kitty. He tried to make it look like he meant to be there all along.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAhkK0BRByiZV8vPMp18sFfA04CUzseQyW1gykftyoD-kPF1Vam3RqWB_vNy7pwkeJz5jErnV5JvoeWVMj_LJiNYJxbyDFg7ykMmZR4aDcxnnVbBeo89sk05eU3O0tt04pxnDDPDYrwI/s1600/IMG_0855%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAhkK0BRByiZV8vPMp18sFfA04CUzseQyW1gykftyoD-kPF1Vam3RqWB_vNy7pwkeJz5jErnV5JvoeWVMj_LJiNYJxbyDFg7ykMmZR4aDcxnnVbBeo89sk05eU3O0tt04pxnDDPDYrwI/s320/IMG_0855%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is what the garden looks like in the fall! Nevin replaced the now-deceased wildflowers with mums. The giant sprawling vines on the left are sweet potatoes - I cannot wait! We have never grown our own before. I have a killer sweet potato biscuit recipe.</div>
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And that is it for today. Going to get my haircut, run some errands, have lunch with a friend, get ready for science and all my Wednesday craziness here........</div>
<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-2070788872966063412012-09-12T07:08:00.001-05:002012-09-12T07:09:08.058-05:00Support Comes From All Around MeLast night I attended my first Diabetes Support group. It was pretty much what I expected, though it was more of a "class" and less "discussion" oriented. It was very similar to the sort of teaching I am getting from Joan, my Diabetes Instructor from <a href="http://www.letskickdiabetes.org/">Kick Diabetes - St. Louis</a>. We had a workbook of scenarios, dealing with nutrition, medication, feelings, exercise, etc. and had to get into pairs, read the "word problem" and then answer questions about what we thought the person needed to do. My partner and I had "hypoglycemia", which is low blood sugar. I have not experienced this in my brief diabetes journey, and my partner was a nurse who was observing the class as part of her continuing education. So.....I think we did pretty well, but I did note that our information was strictly theoretical. <br />
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I keep thinking I am outside of the norm for Type 2. Joan told me I was "the skinniest newly-diagnosed Type 2" she'd ever met (bless her!!) and last night I was definitely the youngest person in the room. Maybe not by much, but the next youngest were in their 50s with grandchildren, and there were a lot of ladies my moms' age. Everyone was very welcoming, and I do plan to go back. Next month we are meeting at Schnucks and then going through the store and learning how to shop. My initial thought was, "I am NOT doing this! And I already know how to read labels." But you know what - I need to do this. I thought I knew how to read labels and Joan showed me some things I didn't know. <br />
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I see it as a defect of character that I always think I already know so much. When I went to Weight Watchers four years ago I thought I already knew it because I had had gestational diabetes three times and had to learn to do meal plans, food journals, read labels, etc. Now I think I know it all from the incredible combined knowledge of that and Weight Watchers. And you know what? A lot of what I "know" is wrong. Or has changed. Nutrition science moves forward, constantly. The things I learned about food exchanges in 1998 when I had my first son are not the same as they are now. <br />
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Be Teachable - that is a good theme for life.<br />
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Yesterday I got a letter from a Christian sister who is in prison. I will give more info later when I have time, but for now, just know that Michelle is saved, and she is leading Bible studies and ministries within the confines of a womens' state penitentiary. The Big House, as it were, not one of the little jails. <br />
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It would be very easy for me, as a good church woman (and deacon's wife, have I mentioned that? Don't forget I used to teach Sunday School, too) to feel that my years of church experience and Bible exposure put me in the position of being somehow "more" Christian than this lady who is a fairly recent convert, and btw, is in jail. <br />
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Nothing could be farther from the truth. This lady is a spiritual giant, standing next to my puny faith. Yesterday I was grumping about, basically having a few extremely minor things not go my way. Then I get this, my first letter from Michelle. I had written her a month or so ago, sent a few pictures from the garden (the frog and butterfly over to the right, there) and a couple pictures the little guys colored. <br />
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She blows me away. She made me a card, with the inscription:<br />
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Jesus Is:<br />
The light that is Brightest<br />
the word that is Surest<br />
the peace that is Calmest<br />
the counselor that is Truest<br />
the friend that is Nearest<br />
the companion that is Dearest<br />
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And this is part of the letter:<br />
"God has not only made us alive in Christ, but He has gifted us for His purposes. His Holy Spirit fills us and we are equipped to do any task He has ordained for us. Our service to Him must flow out of our <b><u>joyful </u></b>praise and adoration of Him. It must be more than an academic or mechanical theology or knowledge of God. It much be <u><b>to</b></u> God. W are not merely trophies of God's grace. Show signs of life! The born-again nature is FIT to do good works. How can a light not shine?"<br />
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I began to cry as I read this. This women, sitting in an incredibly dark place, reaches out and ministers to me, whose world is only light right now. I was ashamed of my attitude, convicted of my sin. And I have learned. <br />
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Keep learning today!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-64405896620255915332012-09-07T16:14:00.002-05:002012-09-07T16:15:18.108-05:00Status Report: September<br />
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting…</b>on the couch.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eating…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nothing right now - ate a Weight Watchers ice cream a little while ago. Might have another soon.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Plugging…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a couple Diabetes blogs I am following, <a href="http://kates-sweet-success.blogspot.com/">Sweet Success: My Life With Type 2 Diabetes</a> and <a href="http://www.diabetesmine.com/">Diabetes Mine</a> - check both these ladies out!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Adjusting…</b>to living with Type 2 Diabetes, and getting back into the full swing of school this week - including our science co-op!</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thankful…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for so many things, especially our home-based life right now. We have cut out a lot of running and "busy" and I am being very selective in what makes me leave the house. I love having Nevin home, and love being with the boys. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Missing…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ordering tickets for the student programs at Powell Symphony Hall this year. One of the things that got cut. I will miss it. The boys won't. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wishing…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that Nevin would get home from his installation before the thunderstorms hit.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Preparing…</b>.a pot roast. Also having a green bean casserole I found on Pinterest. Where you can follow me, by the way.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anticipating…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A whole day tomorrow to get some cleaning and organizing done; Sunday worship with my church family, and then an afternoon and evening of rest with Nevin and the boys. Also eagerly anticipating True Woman 2012 in less than two weeks!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thinking…</b>about 1 John 1 that we read together this morning. If we are in the light, and have fellowship with Christ, we are no longer in darkness. So how come sometimes we still act like we are in the dark???</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Noticing…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that many people really don't understand Type 2 Diabetes, and that includes people who have it and primary care doctors. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reading…</b><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Moonstone </i>by Wilkie Collins and having a hard time getting into it. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Realizing…</b>that these piles of folded clothes are not going to put themselves away.</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Copying…<a href="http://writingandliving.net/">Staci</a></b></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-50546335535320750612012-09-01T08:24:00.000-05:002012-09-01T08:24:01.824-05:00Reading Log for August, 2012August was a good book month here -certainly a lot of diversity!<br />
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First up is <a href="http://cruciformpress.com/our-books/the-organized-heart/">"The Organized Heart: A Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos" by Staci Eastin</a>. This one is a 5, and one that will be re-read.<br />
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<img alt="working cover 364h 263w" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/solarhost/cruciform-9/assets/18/working%20cover%20364h%20263w.jpg" />
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I read most of this on the train coming back from Kansas City. It is published by Cruciform Press. Cruciform is a small publisher with a nifty idea - thin, to-the-point books dealing with deep theological topics, but put into very concise language. These are the sort of books I'd be happy to share with friends/ Sometimes I would love to share books on topics like, say....idolatry. Or sanctification. But the sheer mass of the book keeps me from doing so. No one likes to be handed a really thick book with, "Here, read this." But these books, generally around 100 pages or so, do the trick. And - to top it off, they publish books every other month or so - and you can subscribe to them, just like a magazine.<br />
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The Organized Heart is different from every other "how to be more organized" book that I've read (and I have read A LOT) because it is not a new system - no index cards, no Excel spreadsheets, no giant calendars with post-it notes. It gets to the heart of the issue - my heart, by addressing the idols that keep me unorganized - perfectionism, busyness, possessions and leisure. The author, Staci Eastin, is a Missouri homeschooling mom of three, and her blog (how I discovered this gem) is over on my blog roll. I highly recommend this book.<br />
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Next up, just a 2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Me-SouledOut-Sisters-Novel/dp/1595548645">Stand By Me: Souled Out Sisters</a> by Neta Jackson<br />
<img alt="Stand by Me (A SouledOut Sisters Novel)" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PkfQ2JQEL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" />
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I loved the Yada Yada Prayer Group books, some more than others of course. I enjoyed the House of Hope series. This one....I will probably read the series, just to keep up with my friends in the Yadas, but the new characters are ANNOYING. I have noticed that the main characters tend to get on my nerves - Jodi Baxter was the least interesting of all the Yadas. Gabby Fairbanks was someone whose impulsiveness and poor judgment would get on my nerves badly. But Kat, the environmentalist-college student-busybody was beyond irritating. Will Kat and Nick live happily ever after? Most likely (it is Christian chick lit, after all) but really, who cares? <br />
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Next up, more dealing with diabetes in <a href="http://www.shopdiabetes.org/557-The-Complete-Guide-to-Carb-Counting-3rd-edition.aspx">The Complete Guide to Carb Counting</a>, which I will give a 4.<br />
<img alt="Complete Guide to Carb Counting: How to Take the Mystery Out of Carb Counting and Improve Your Blood Glucose Control" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aIyY17wWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /><br />
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Carbs (flour, sugar, starches....you know, the good stuff!) turns to sugar when you eat it. Glucose levels go up in the blood. One of the ways I maintain my blood sugar levels is by planning how many servings of carbs I have each day, space them out, eat them with protein, etc. This, along with exercise, is really helping to keep my blood sugar controlled.<br />
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Another diabetes read is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Nation-Hidden-Americas-Deadliest/dp/1401323448">Sugar Nation by Jeff O'Connell</a><br />
<img alt="Sugar Nation: The Hidden Truth Behind America's Deadliest Habit and the Simple Way to Beat It" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VvJkZQp0L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" />
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Jeff discovered he had pre-diabetes and went on a personal journey to discover research and treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. He is pretty radical - comes down hard on the medical profession (some of which I definitely agree with), the American Diabetes Association, and anyone else he can find. He also goes on a fairly radical lifestyle of next-to-no carbs, supplements and working out. There was a lot I took with a grain of salt, but this book did cause me to think more about what I am being told and who is telling me, and to educate myself about this disease. It is a 4.<br />
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<u>The Hidden Flower</u> is one of Pearl S. Buck's lesser-known novels. Immediately after WWII, American troops occupied Japan. There an American soldier fell in love with a Japanese girl. This book went to a lot of places I was not expecting. The Japanese girl was actually Japanese-American - she and her father were both born in the USA, but moved to Japan to avoid the camps Japanese citizens were shamefully placed in. Her brother died fighting for America against Japan. Then, for her to marry an American and go back to the USA, and face the discrimination there....let's just say this started out all love-love-kissy-kissy and I did not think I would like it, but once again, Pearl S. Buck's characters don't do what is expected and the story explores elements I never imagined. I don't know if this is still in print or not, I found it used on either Paperbackswap or Bookmooch. I give this one a 4.<br />
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<a href="http://cruciformpress.com/our-books/modest/">Modest: Men and Women Clothed in the Gospel</a> is another offering from Cruciform Press.<br />
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<img alt="Modest 364" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/solarhost/cruciform-9/assets/111/modest%20364.jpg" />
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This book does not even touch things like how long your skirt should be or whether or not a woman should wear jeans (praise God!). It goes straight to the heart - what is modesty, as an issue of the heart? What does scripture say about being modest, for both men and women, and what does this mean? Much deeper than a legalistic list of do's and don'ts. I give it a 3, because I think it was almost a little over-edited and could have gone deeper. But hey, it is one of those to-the-point books from Cruciform!<br />
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<u>Prince Caspian, Chronicles of Narnia</u> by C.S. Lewis. I hate to say it, but only a 3. Caspian was not one of my favorites, nor the little guys'. Too much backstory, not enough action. But, hey, it is part of the Chronicles, and so we love it as part of the bigger whole.<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13513646-the-beautiful-mystery">The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #8) by Louise Penny</a><br />
<img alt="The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #8)" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334866061l/13513646.jpg" />
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Hard to believe, but only giving this one a 3. I have loved most of the books in this series, but not this one. The mystery was interesting, though a little drawn out. Then, in the middle of the book the Inspector's nemesis on the force shows up, and it just goes from ugly to uglier. One of my favorite characters disappoints and I am just going to leave it at that. I left the last book (a year ago) all hopeful about an exciting turn of events. Now I feel like I have a year to wait and see how badly some lives are screwed up. Thanks, Louise. Maybe at least next year she will take us back to Three Pines, the setting of most of the stories, and we can at least have some fun with the crazies there.<br />
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And that is it - my nightstand is piled high with the goodies I am anticipating for September!<br />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-58196531312104413382012-08-31T15:32:00.001-05:002012-09-07T16:15:37.243-05:00Field Trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not that anyone but me gets excited about this stuff, but I thought I'd share some pics from our field trip yesterday. We went to <a href="http://www.stlouiszoo.org/">The St. Louis Zoo</a> for the day. We hadn't been in a few years. The St. Louis Zoo is world-class, and did you know it is FREE???? That is right. You can park somewhere in Forest Park and walk on in. You can pay for extras, like food, the train, some of the shows....but you don't have to. You can even pay $15 to park, but I wonder why anyone would. We parked about 1/4 mile away, if that, in the Art Museum parking lot.</div>
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As it was getting warm, I did suggest we go to the (air-conditioned!) Art Museum instead, but was loudly voted down.</div>
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I did not take many pictures of the kids - actually, only a few of Joe and Henry. Mainly, I photographed the Zoo residents.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0LVG9OeI5F1BR-CpKAdf_Dmwm9ap1wm2j4ySllvLegN863cstnBO5EVfC3UHza03GFsy_US0pWR4E2ZHdq1bHctEuDN1RwOfFIF6tNlMLl8eAHvTFqHrYmCSn032PljC4CJAsbF13bs/s1600/Henry+and+Joe+and+seals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0LVG9OeI5F1BR-CpKAdf_Dmwm9ap1wm2j4ySllvLegN863cstnBO5EVfC3UHza03GFsy_US0pWR4E2ZHdq1bHctEuDN1RwOfFIF6tNlMLl8eAHvTFqHrYmCSn032PljC4CJAsbF13bs/s320/Henry+and+Joe+and+seals.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry really enjoyed watching the sea lions being fed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhgX8LwkwA0R97LJgTzrgEM-A69uwsgEgykQHyy62Yxe0pqpUFcG9QSfS69wxptWR9hVEFUJAkH24e8cfivXV9HfO4Cs2f6TWKCKCdwz5r0JE-airzpPTEtXOgCwUZXGkbyTPHTQJyrk/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhgX8LwkwA0R97LJgTzrgEM-A69uwsgEgykQHyy62Yxe0pqpUFcG9QSfS69wxptWR9hVEFUJAkH24e8cfivXV9HfO4Cs2f6TWKCKCdwz5r0JE-airzpPTEtXOgCwUZXGkbyTPHTQJyrk/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a cool insect museum, and a small butterfly house you walk through. Imagine being in an overgrown garden, with butterflies all around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqlBueoso8FpldnbHGErhnY9R9uJpBXRNBZBNB8bQRV0EnJk2w3PqrSl_j4p9qXrhOctaLivkVFGPEPnfZsKly6gKy-TGFfllZDWPvWrNVriVFKsBCIs1rsheEN3yucwJ9UybQfW_Eow/s1600/capabarra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqlBueoso8FpldnbHGErhnY9R9uJpBXRNBZBNB8bQRV0EnJk2w3PqrSl_j4p9qXrhOctaLivkVFGPEPnfZsKly6gKy-TGFfllZDWPvWrNVriVFKsBCIs1rsheEN3yucwJ9UybQfW_Eow/s320/capabarra.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, it is Capyboppy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w9GMs1Yw92Fn9-4YCvoqcw8xZuYK3cEsMuSIpLnFHibyCfO1cm72EHcsOmC9IrI-JdUkNbt35KbWR-QUK3i7KOngOfGlLHF2iM3LxHuAFeipE6RxackiXxtrjVYy-8Mjuz1PFN1UpZw/s1600/cotton+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w9GMs1Yw92Fn9-4YCvoqcw8xZuYK3cEsMuSIpLnFHibyCfO1cm72EHcsOmC9IrI-JdUkNbt35KbWR-QUK3i7KOngOfGlLHF2iM3LxHuAFeipE6RxackiXxtrjVYy-8Mjuz1PFN1UpZw/s320/cotton+top.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't recall this fellows' name, Cotton Top something or other. He is only about 8" tall. Joe was fascinated by him.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVF44f5o9RHg-DU-Gwd3XBt6jcJhHxP5xc0ZxFmyMe0bSMTCcsHNrYESCfpbmRgFupZHQPb8Zs6sSko1AEIXhrxaQJGx25m4Diphnxy9Ewtr7tBLeYIbaK6KezCq6v-1W5pDndc_o2W8/s1600/feeding+seals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVF44f5o9RHg-DU-Gwd3XBt6jcJhHxP5xc0ZxFmyMe0bSMTCcsHNrYESCfpbmRgFupZHQPb8Zs6sSko1AEIXhrxaQJGx25m4Diphnxy9Ewtr7tBLeYIbaK6KezCq6v-1W5pDndc_o2W8/s320/feeding+seals.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal at lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF4zVpbTlv7lIBxnGj7_2jsHZBV85YAU9gUaLuLbyBavWtzsyGJlJNA_8lyqWIyBB76fYVUDPQOiRu3-korUgKKcZlRCg1EGElu_TIXMe4mScYH5uMmArwFen5kJZf3YupMgZboUXDnk/s1600/feeding+times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF4zVpbTlv7lIBxnGj7_2jsHZBV85YAU9gUaLuLbyBavWtzsyGJlJNA_8lyqWIyBB76fYVUDPQOiRu3-korUgKKcZlRCg1EGElu_TIXMe4mScYH5uMmArwFen5kJZf3YupMgZboUXDnk/s320/feeding+times.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal and sea lions at lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKnLm_lYNCZ9AMLo42GHc6dF94wMHAvau8-V_SUXTqBUco5GcACSjtBwQcBEecZSotPvk-YvPqJ91S0ziphKzquQeh49CXrwK9QxB5toCMOOi6LftnKFsH0SaJA3WTFFOT4qboY76vow/s1600/hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKnLm_lYNCZ9AMLo42GHc6dF94wMHAvau8-V_SUXTqBUco5GcACSjtBwQcBEecZSotPvk-YvPqJ91S0ziphKzquQeh49CXrwK9QxB5toCMOOi6LftnKFsH0SaJA3WTFFOT4qboY76vow/s320/hippo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIbJqDnWjTU0ynVV0RHIi6gbCPh7FlYoqr6jo1xv5A0P1gUEHWy0xqgGcUw3TYB9vA4-cu2AbQTQGH5pBQvfZtD6VoJ3-bHxudr8P0rByjj5T8eYJlD9Wo0n2DRJ9VgncJ3y8VyPDHs4/s1600/joe+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIbJqDnWjTU0ynVV0RHIi6gbCPh7FlYoqr6jo1xv5A0P1gUEHWy0xqgGcUw3TYB9vA4-cu2AbQTQGH5pBQvfZtD6VoJ3-bHxudr8P0rByjj5T8eYJlD9Wo0n2DRJ9VgncJ3y8VyPDHs4/s320/joe+frog.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe posing by the Childrens' Zoo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxov7BIfSdF9yHpkO_e2HgzM8Vp1RpAFyoM9NSwRygwmlUHY9TxceThtZzZwmyJubEt48wIX64W9GEdUVdr0pYJPqze9twMwRPnLfaW7aF8BoCRQ9MAyH1p15EuznL5jMrx7GZPXEo8c/s1600/lemur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxov7BIfSdF9yHpkO_e2HgzM8Vp1RpAFyoM9NSwRygwmlUHY9TxceThtZzZwmyJubEt48wIX64W9GEdUVdr0pYJPqze9twMwRPnLfaW7aF8BoCRQ9MAyH1p15EuznL5jMrx7GZPXEo8c/s320/lemur.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sort of Lemur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAbABR9ukMjcVYkNKJZAW0cktDHOMd1oxjg-ju_NV3XCxPeURDVzB1V_SGWxXYyIQC104T5ZKUZdANHmb73RvhBMzV3gIz7ZjTqdosn41AI73jxlHnIXxdUFwiodnG-86p_NGjhtezYE/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAbABR9ukMjcVYkNKJZAW0cktDHOMd1oxjg-ju_NV3XCxPeURDVzB1V_SGWxXYyIQC104T5ZKUZdANHmb73RvhBMzV3gIz7ZjTqdosn41AI73jxlHnIXxdUFwiodnG-86p_NGjhtezYE/s320/lion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lion. Note the females on the rocks to the right. Usually I don't get to see the lions, they tend to be inside when we are there.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1zr-USBCUo47F0HKoPYXur6EN6XX3BazjM-lI4kLJkBJ-oV_qbi94678yk_KF-G0-AVxSEnAbQWKtlWxDwNcJgdk-RADphl7-KULYNmdPgtHAabeRQEkbsc9hxL7GBb6qGx7BJFzg2M/s1600/meerkat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1zr-USBCUo47F0HKoPYXur6EN6XX3BazjM-lI4kLJkBJ-oV_qbi94678yk_KF-G0-AVxSEnAbQWKtlWxDwNcJgdk-RADphl7-KULYNmdPgtHAabeRQEkbsc9hxL7GBb6qGx7BJFzg2M/s320/meerkat.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meerkat showing off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfJHHHi90zHSLdiwiRgr15Gjw1qINoQCtoH2mstYQAhCqvu_TQE40C7s7E9sX7m4_FctJWs7SxisnID9poR9z0rgOaWc30o3mIZihx-oRSqefThK1Th9T90jtJzRNLLsM5-ZQi85Dsys/s1600/penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfJHHHi90zHSLdiwiRgr15Gjw1qINoQCtoH2mstYQAhCqvu_TQE40C7s7E9sX7m4_FctJWs7SxisnID9poR9z0rgOaWc30o3mIZihx-oRSqefThK1Th9T90jtJzRNLLsM5-ZQi85Dsys/s320/penguins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably my favorite is the Penguin Exhibit. Besides it being very chilly (nice, when it is 92 degrees outside) you can get up close to them. If no one had been looking, I bet I could have touched a few.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7w2qjCxZ9SgC3MYMTbu1B7EN-VBoODbG1jjtaZNo2de2Xgw19wvPeEwNV5ZyBJsZVp2afwv5E6bylXORb3DfcnBE1ccENJRlJ3dsvi_C1J91wVpvyx46pmtadGdhRqouQq_TzbjozVg/s1600/zebras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7w2qjCxZ9SgC3MYMTbu1B7EN-VBoODbG1jjtaZNo2de2Xgw19wvPeEwNV5ZyBJsZVp2afwv5E6bylXORb3DfcnBE1ccENJRlJ3dsvi_C1J91wVpvyx46pmtadGdhRqouQq_TzbjozVg/s320/zebras.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't the Zebras sort of look like an optical illusion?</td></tr>
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Next week school starts back up here - I wanted one more day of just fun before we got back to our routines. And I am logging it as science!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-71459505578219778752012-08-28T20:14:00.000-05:002012-08-28T20:14:11.741-05:00All These Died In Faith, ConfessingHere is a <a href="http://gfmanchester.com/2012/08/28/all-these-died-in-faith-confessing-bob-jennings/">link for Bob Jennings' sermon this past Sunday</a>. Yesterday I posted a link to his journal. This is very much worth listening to. Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-20298774908132709542012-08-27T07:06:00.000-05:002012-08-27T07:06:45.372-05:00From Another's Journal<a href="http://bobjenningsjournal.com/">This is a link to Bob Jenning's Journal</a>. Bob Jennings is a pastor from the northwestern part of Missouri. My husband and I have had the privelege of hearing him preach twice at our <a href="http://www.rockportbaptist.org/">our Grace Camp Meeting</a>s. He has been battling pancreatic cancer for the last few years, and it looks like his time here is almost over, and his new life with Christ forever is about to begin. Please read his journal. You can also find many of his sermons at <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/">SermonAudio.com</a>, just search by his name. You will be blessed.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-65106835714502027442012-08-26T07:05:00.004-05:002012-08-26T07:11:29.657-05:00Sunday Morning on the HomesteadOnly 6:30, so everyone else is still asleep. I think this qualifies as a "stream of consciousness" post.<br />
<br />
Last week was very productive - spent a couple of days cleaning out and organizing the office/schoolroom. We don't actually do much of our schoolwork in there, but it is where everything is stored, and we have desks and a nice big island top. It is good for the older boys to have a place that is quiet to do some of their work. When we built the shop here it also became the office, so a big chunk of the space is devoted to desk area for Nevin, room for job files and bid files, office supplies, etc. Last year it was sort of a mess. This year, I think we can do better, now that I have an idea of what our needs are. <br />
<br />
Last year was a "finding our way" year - with Nevin working from home, us having the huge commitment of the science co-op here, having joined a new church and getting involved in the lives of people there, and Nevin becoming involved in ministry there. Now, I feel like we have a good idea of what the "flow" of our day can be, and we have eliminated a lot of outside activities and "running". <br />
<br />
Simplify, simplify! We had already been looking at ways to be more intentional and focused on our family and on God's calling to raise these boys. And then this diabetes thing shows up and now I really do HAVE to stop and take the time and care for myself. I HAVE to fit in time to exercise, to check my blood, to plan meals, to get pedicures.....okay, no one told me that specifically, but foot problems is a HUGE issue for diabetics. Diabetics should check their feet every day, any dark spots or cuts with pus are a trip to the doctor, and pronto. <br />
<br />
I am not a diva about this stuff, I checked with the cosmetology school in town. The students do the work, under supervision, and you can get a pedicure for $10, and toss in a manicure for another $5. Cannot pass that up!<br />
<br />
While I am on the topic of being frugal, I found another great deal. At <a href="http://www.stlcc.edu/newsroom/2011/03/News14.html">St. Louis Community College</a> at Forest Park there is a dental hygienist program <img alt="Dental hygiene students work in clinic." src="http://www.stlcc.edu/Media_Library/Photo_Library/FP/Dental_hygiene_clinic_FP1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
that needs teeth to clean. We have not had dental insurance since I left my office job in 1999. Consequently, for me to take the boys and myself for a basic checkup, cleaning and x-rays once a year is in the neighborhood of $700. That was not a typo, for those of you who have insurance and no idea of what things really cost! Still, the $700 is cheaper than any dental insurance we can find. But, if we have the dental hygiene students do the work, all five of us can get it done for.......maximum $115. Total. For all five. An added benefit is that it is next door to the <a href="http://www.stlzoo.org/">St. Louis Zoo</a>. So, this Thursday we are going to the Zoo, and then I go for the consultation. A drawback is that we do have to make two trips, once to meet with the student who will plan our work. The student will then get a "team" of other students together to take care of us and schedule an appointment. So, we get to make two trips to the City, but I will plan some other outing for the day we go back. I was explaining the process to Nevin and grumbled a little about having to use gas for two trips to St. Louis (it is about a 45 minute drive to the College) and he noted that I won't be using $600 worth of gas, so it is well worth it.<br />
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I met with my Educator from <a href="http://www.letskickdiabetes.org/">Kick Diabetes St. Louis</a> again yesterday. Joan is great, I am learning so much. When dealing with any kind of "chronic condition" - knowledge is power! Yesterday we talked about food, reading nutrition labels, making good choices, what were some of my pitfalls (church fellowships!). I have been humbled in this. I always think I know so much, and having had gestational diabetes three times AND having been in Weight Watchers I just know all about it. Not so, and I learned more about how fiber plays into counting carbs, how to deal with the "food police" who want to watch what you eat (and comment on it!) in a kind way (educated them, don't berate them!). Here is a <a href="http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/downloads/Etiquette-Card.pdf#zoom=100">Diabetes Etiquette Card for those who don't have diabetes</a> - very nice! I remember reading something like this in college, when working on a paper about the Americans With Disabilities Act, on how to treat someone in a wheelchair. It was very eye-opening.<br />
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Well, lots more going on here, more decisions about simplifying our life, just celebrated "my baby" Henry's 8th birthday Friday night (of course there are pictures!) but it is time to get moving and get breakfast going. Have to get everyone out of bed and ready for church and then off to our annual church picnic! <br />
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You have a wonderful day, out there!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-5301636426061605712012-08-17T10:35:00.001-05:002012-08-19T07:01:09.977-05:00I Am StrongThis morning I took an early walk down to the barn and back. Our "road" is just gravel and big rocks -most vehicles cannot travel it. We generally go on foot or 4-wheeler. After the thunderstorm last night, big gullies were washed out, revealing huge chunks of rock. Walking down this hill is an exercise in caution -walking up the hill is easiest in mountain-goat mode.<br />
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I made my way down the hill to the bottom, then cut into the woods and began running up the dry creek bed. I heard Tony going by on his 4-wheeler, so I cut up a hill through the woods and back to the road. As I waved to him I started a jog/climb up the hill, over the rocks.<br />
<br />
And the Lord spoke to me.<br />
<br />
"I made you strong."<br />
<br />
Yes Lord, through you I am strong. Three weeks ago, BD (before diabetes) I could not have done this.<br />
You have given me strength every day to get on the treadmill, set at an uphill walk. You have given me strength to walk and walk around the house, through the woods, to the barn and back. You have given me strength through my weakness, to eat this meal plan, to take my supplements, to monitor my glucose, to write down every.bite.of.food. To only eat one piece of pizza yesterday, and IT WAS DOMINO'S!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt4vXHS3MRJujCnIgdOO9NssKNumwbKlxBrNZXRq_WM6p2Ov6R2UzRnEo35SRrEPUmytxwHH6leNEeZqgfairQvcyGrdCJeP1JWbNQaKiW2ibmeY3sc6y3GT8BOzr6wQqirLWt523v7w/s1600/yes+you+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt4vXHS3MRJujCnIgdOO9NssKNumwbKlxBrNZXRq_WM6p2Ov6R2UzRnEo35SRrEPUmytxwHH6leNEeZqgfairQvcyGrdCJeP1JWbNQaKiW2ibmeY3sc6y3GT8BOzr6wQqirLWt523v7w/s640/yes+you+can.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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God, thank you - you have given me strength. I am not just a middle-age woman whose blood resembles a Krispy Kreme - I am created in your image. Through this affliction, I will trust in you.<br />
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And I WILL rejoice!!<br />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4498545947494443401.post-2892394386040600222012-08-16T09:52:00.002-05:002012-08-19T07:01:40.130-05:00Thankful ThursdayI love the idea of having a "theme" some days - life on the homestead on Saturday, thankfulness on Thursday. And on this particular Thursday, I have a lot to be thankful for!<br />
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First and foremost, thankful for salvation through Christ my Savior. On Sunday mornings our preaching elder is teaching through Ephesians. Probably be a few years! Lord Jesus, thank you that my salvation did not depend on my weak will, for before you saved me, I was dead in my sins and trespasses. How could I choose you? I was dead. A dead man (woman) does not do anything. Thank you that you are sovereign in all things Lord, that even while I was dead in my sins and trespasses and deserving of Hell, you showed mercy.<br />
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Here's a little Ephesians, in case you haven't had time to do your Bible reading yet today. Blue notes are my own "amplifications".<br />
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<i>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us (<span style="color: blue;">he is sovereign!</span>) in him (<span style="color: blue;">not in ourselves but in Christ</span>) before the foundation of the world (<span style="color: blue;">when?</span>), that we should be holy and blameless (<span style="color: blue;">what am I now?</span>) before him. In love he predestined us for adoption (<span style="color: blue;">in what?</span>) as sons through Jesus Christ (<span style="color: blue;">through who?</span>), according to the purpose of his will (<span style="color: blue;">his will!</span>),to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him (<span style="color: blue;">in who?</span>) we have redemption through his blood (<span style="color: blue;">how are we redeemed?</span>), the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished (<span style="color: blue;">lavished, I tell you!</span>) upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose (<span style="color: blue;">whose purpose?</span>), which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in heaven and on earth. </i><br />
<i>In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will (<span style="color: blue;">his own counsel, he needs no other</span>!), so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory (<span style="color: blue;">all is for his glory!</span>). In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (<span style="color: blue;">when you heard the gospel and believed, you were saved, and received the Holy Spirit - right then, right there, not later, not through your own effort</span>) who is the guarantee (<span style="color: blue;">promise</span>) of our inheritance (<span style="color: blue;">Heaven, eternal life with God!</span>) until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (<span style="color: blue;">all for his glory, ALL for his glory!!</span>)."</i><br />
<i>Ephesians 1:2-14</i><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Stand up and shout for joy!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<img src="http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.4436157.1547/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg" />
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06482605092565314258noreply@blogger.com0