tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52874320907799543432024-03-13T07:35:10.884-07:00Just Journaling...Sharing lifeLindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-29431721533594479762013-08-13T17:52:00.000-07:002013-08-13T17:52:04.400-07:00Giveaway Time! Vertical Sports/Barbie Organizer! <span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, I found a fun package at my back door waiting for my return. Inside, was this cool sports equipment organizational system made by Rawlings....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the time, I was in the middle of my major summer project; Mission Re-organize the Upstairs (to make way for baby #3!) and started thinking. This organizational system was originally designed to hold sporting equipment in a garage or basement, but we don't own very many bats or softballs and our basement is next on the list of organizing. I didn't want to put this shiny new organizer down in the depths of despair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I used it a different way. A much girly-er and pink way.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...on the back of my daughter's bedroom door! I bet <a href="http://rawlings.com/product/vertical-sports-organizer/FSSBV16(Rawlings)" target="_blank">Rawlings</a> never imagined their sports organizer to ooze with so much pink. (excuse the undressed Barbies....) I've used the cinch ties to lower it to my daughter's level and to tie on a doll jeep, rather than the intended purpose of attaching a bike helmet or other such equipment. The little pockets at the bottom (that seem like the perfect size for golf balls) hold a good amount of barbie shoes and brushes! Who knew??</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once we get our scary basement to a place where we are organizing our bike helmets and other outdoor toys, I bet this will be relocated and repurposed to it's originally designed assignment. Until then, it is a barbie organizer! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If this organizer looks fun to you and you'd like to try to figure out a way to use it in your home, office, dorm, homeschool space, garage, shed or other spot that needs a little vertical lift, <b><u>leave a message below and you could win a free one!</u></b> I will randomly pick a winner with help from my little girlies over the upcoming weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S.- Was given a free organizer as a swap for an honest review and opinion. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">P.P.S- Ignore the unpainted wall to the left of the door... I am mustering up the energy to remove the wallpaper goop from their room and repaint. I do hope my nesting energies kick sometime this fall to get this major task done before baby arrives. </span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-56752883886299190052013-04-04T08:45:00.002-07:002013-04-04T08:45:24.432-07:00Book Review: Love's Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />This morning, my girls and I read this sweet e-book about adoption. It's a lovely poem written to document one family's story of adopting a baby from Russia.<br />
My girls enjoyed it and seemed to find it's simplicity easy to understand. The illustrations that accompanied each page were nice. I especially loved the illustration when the husband and wife are dreaming about having their baby home with them one day- the husband has a silly looking five o'clock shadow!<br />
Thanks booksneeze for a chance to read this sweet book in exchange for an honest review.<br />
<br />Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-3722738807241879642013-03-07T15:33:00.002-08:002013-03-07T15:38:40.492-08:00Book review: Everything- a keeper<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">DeMuth does it again. This is a book I’d put in the hands of students in my life group on campus, women I meet with one-on-one and a resource I will keep nearby for my personal refreshment. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everything-What-Give-Become-Jesus/dp/1400203988/ref=pd_sim_b_5" target="_blank"><i><b>Everything, what you give and what you gain to become like Jesus</b></i> </a>(2012) is proof that there is nothing greater than the pursuit of Jesus. When we give up everything, He becomes everything. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I love reading <b>Mary DeMuth</b>’s books, blog and facebook statuses. She is real. She is raw. And she bravely shares parts of her life that so many of us would keep hidden. Everything, one of her recent books, seems to sum up her ministry as a missionary overseas, writing career and personal life; although I doubt she is done with any of them! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After reading her memoir, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thin-Places-Memoir-Mary-DeMuth/dp/031028418X" target="_blank">Thin Places</a>, I wondered something (which I often wonder about speakers and writers when they share personal stories)....how does she tell facts about her childhood when those that “knew her when” are still living? What responses does she get? How does she handle the pressure of their (potential) scorn or support? This subject, among many, is addressed in this book. She answers real questions and cries out life-changing challenges for her readers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I can’t verbalize how thankful I am Mary (I feel like we are on first name basis, here) was brave enough to obey. She continues to write honestly. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Get it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Read it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Buy another copy & give it away. Repeat. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Booksneeze gave me a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I dislike digital books. Have a mentioned that before??The opinions are strictly mine. *happy face*</span></div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-37263405153368066382012-10-26T12:18:00.000-07:002012-10-26T12:37:30.364-07:00Warm and ToastyGil is the master researcher. You can give him a topic and he will look into from every angle possible. This skill came in handy when we needed to find a cheaper alternative to heating our house. Filling our oil tank multiple times over the course of a winter gets super expensive, so we knew wanted to go another route.<br />
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Through his research, we learned about pellet stoves. For those that don't know about them, like us... pellet stoves are similar to wood stoves in that they burn wood, make a room so cozy and comfortable, and are hard to decorate around. But the difference comes in what they burn. Little pellets...that look similar to the food you get at petting zoos to feed the giraffes...are poured into the hopper, then auger fed into a flame. The fire is super hot. The pellets are cheaper than oil and made from recycled wood, making it a "green" source of heat.<br />
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So when you combine buying an old house with installing a pellet stove in your living room, the math adds up to needed some new fire and smoke detectors. Did you know that October is fire prevention month? I didn't either. How convenient!<br />
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Coincidentally (or not), someone from First Alert mailed me a <a href="http://www.firstalert.com/detectors/battery" target="_blank">First Alert Fire Alarm</a> to try out and said they would send one of my blog readers one for free too! Anyone need a updated smoke alarm?<br />
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My new friend, Shannon, will happily mail one of my readers a new First Alert Fire Alarm too. All you need to do is leave a comment below.... tell me about your favorite time around a fire. Was it a camp fire? Did you spend a night without electricity, but bundled warm by the wood stove as a kid (I did!)? Do you have a gas fireplace you switch on?<br />
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After you share your stories, I'll put your names in a hat and let my researching husband pick out a reader to win the smoke alarm! Contest is open to anyone and you can enter multiple times -with different stories- until Sunday (10/28/12) at midnight.<br />
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<br />Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-84125252435913686552012-08-09T16:36:00.003-07:002012-08-09T16:36:52.729-07:0052 Weeks Ago<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPzl7F6oVjc/UCRJPDJnpRI/AAAAAAAABsU/tjM4rUBqvnw/s1600/IMG_0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPzl7F6oVjc/UCRJPDJnpRI/AAAAAAAABsU/tjM4rUBqvnw/s640/IMG_0294.jpg" width="425" /></a>In case you didn't know I had another blog, I wanted to let you know t<a href="http://oaksreplanted.blogspot.com/2012/08/one-year-anniversary.html" target="_blank">hat I just posted over there</a>... all about our first anniversary of being residents of Connecticut, or Connecticutians, or my personal favorite, Connecticuties. ;-)<br />
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Check it out!Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-42465543444156076032012-07-15T16:31:00.001-07:002012-07-15T16:31:42.514-07:0026 followers<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was on the platform first. No signs. No train employees. Just a few benches and a smelly trashcan. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I made my track choice based on the track I arrived on a week prior. Before, I went south and stepped off the train on the far side. So this time, in my limited knowledge of train timetables and track schedules, I assumed I needed to be on this side to return north. I had a 50/50 chance. Now it was time to wait. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My backup plan: Worse case scenario, I grab my bags and make a mad dash down the ramp, under the tracks, back up the ramp on the other side and climb aboard. After all, I do have my “mom sneakers” on...you know the ones. They are drenched in super powers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The a second passenger arrived on the platform and asked if I was going north. I nodded and she sat on a nearby bench. A quick glimmer of worry flashed in my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Four or five minutes after that, a small family asked passenger #2 is she was heading towards Washington, DC. She nodded, scooted over to the side of her bench and the family sat to wait. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Then an older lady and her walker made it to the platform. She’s proudly visiting her new grand baby. That quick glimmer of worry flashed again. I assumed passenger #2 could made the dash to the other track with me. And perhaps since the small family was there, the conductor would wait a few more minutes for them to go down the ramp, through the tunnel, back up the stairs and board the train on other side....you know...in the 50/50 chance I could be wrong? I hope that mom has on her super-power soaked mom sneakers, too. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I remembered the <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html">TED video about influence</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Then reviewed the facts on which I based my original track choice. Going south, I stepped on over there; so, going north, I would step on from this side. I assured myself I had made the right choice.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I hope. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Over the next 10 minutes, 26 more people arrived on the platform. Each asking the first person they see if they were heading north. A quick nod. Drop your bags on the platform and a glance at the watch. For each of those 26 passengers, my glimmer of worry began to grow into a large spotlight on concern. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Isn’t there a Seinfeld episode about standing in a line for nothing?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">5 minutes before the train is scheduled to arrive, a whistle blows and we all look to the right...the far side. It was chugging full-steam ahead and had no plans of stopping at the tiny platform I was leading. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I prepped for my mad dash to the other side of the tracks. The train went by so fast I thought I might get sucked into Narnia. Passenger #2 looked at me with wide eyes. I gave her the little half-smile to assure her of my vast knowledge of train timetables and track schedules. Fake it ‘till you make it. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our train was supposed to be here already. Maybe we were supposed to grab the cargo train door and swing ourselves aboard like the old westerns. That would be quite the workout. But, I do have my mom sneakers on and the super powers might be strong enough to grab the older lady on my way into the cargo doors. As long as she grabbed my arm tight enough. I had a plan. The other 25 passengers would have to fend for themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I decided I needed to find some support to back-up my decision. So, I grabbed my phone and tried to go online to find a schedule. I mentally pleaded with the website to tell me the train was late and that I was on the correct side of the track. Zilch information about this station. Did Amtrak even know this little half platform existed? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Suddenly, the hours I had spent with my husband watching survival shows came to use. I clicked open my compass app and waited for it to calibrate. More mental pleading to tell me I had picked the track. It wouldn’t calibrate. The app told me to turn my phone in a figure eight position to calibrate. I tried and tried. Maybe I did really get sucked into Narnia? Does AT&T reach there? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Finally it surrendered it’s right to not calibrate, pointed north and confirmed my unexperienced choice. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was slightly more confident I made the right choice. I prayed I was leading this platform of people boldly. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The tracks right in front of me began to squeal in a high pitched tone. Whistle coming from the left (which I now know is south because there’s an app for that) and passenger numbers 2 through 26 are now scrambling to grab their bags and toddler hands. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My prayers turned towards the train staff; “God, please have that guy step down from the train and yell what we need him to yell!” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">“All aboard! Going north to Washington, DC! All aboard!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This stressful narrative was brought to you today by the super powers in my mom sneakers, my dearly beloved iphone and it’s compass app, and the hours of survival television I have suffered through. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-70976324726643298592012-07-10T17:10:00.000-07:002012-07-10T17:10:36.656-07:00Book Review: Every Body Matters, by Gary Thomas- a keeper, get your own copy!<br />
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<a href="http://media.zondervan.com/images/product/original/9780310290810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media.zondervan.com/images/product/original/9780310290810.JPG" width="258" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I could make this a quick book review and tell you I just finished reading a great book. However, that would be a simple response for something that needs a more complex commentary. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It re-calibrated my thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Every Body Matters, by Gary Thomas</b>, is a keeper. He addresses an issue that my husband and I have spent many hours talking about already...the health our bodies, especially as Christians. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You see, we hear sermons on having a strong faith, sinful behavior like dishonesty and adultery, and how to be great givers; all of which are important topics. But how many times have you heard the sermon about maintaining a healthy body in regards to gluttony? Or what about food as a idol? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><u>Here’s what I have taken from the book:</u></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-Food is supposed to be a tool, a source of nutrition, fuel for our bodies.... not something we crave, obey, or think about constantly. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-Hunger pangs before lunch or dinner aren’t life threatening. Duh, right?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-I need to have a solid, strong, and steady body (rather than a soft one) in order to complete the tasks God created me for.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Every Body Matters is not a diet book, health or nutrition manual or condemning for any reason. Thomas clarifies his understanding that we can not and must not judge the outward appearance of anyone for any reason and that fitness is not a measuring stick for faithfulness. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">About his own struggle, Thomas shares, “<i>I sensed a stronger resistance to impatience, lust, and other sins. Confronting excessive, indulgent eating was almost like taking spiritual penicillin or antibiotics in that it seemed to cut the feet out from under other demands.” (61) “With my nutritional needs for the day met, I can focus on other things.</i>” (85) </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He says, <i>“One blessing of sin...is that it can usher us into a new honesty. Our frailty is exposed...[we can] be completely honest with ourselves. (181) <b>Did opening the bag of chips, even though your conscience was telling you not to, really help you feel better thirty minutes later,</b> or did you feel worse? Did blowing off the exercise session- even though, many times before, exercising when you didn’t feel like it made you feel renewed and invigorated- serve your long term goal of better health? Or was it simply a matter of coddling a soft spirit? There a times when it’s wise or even necessary to skip working out, but was this one of them?”</i>(180)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One point Thomas makes that I agree and disagree with at the same time (is that possible?) is that “<i>a soft body cannot carry a hard message; a fragile personality cannot endure a harsh response.</i>” (200) I have met a handful of people who have weak, failing bodies; yet have strong-as-a-lion wills, capable of capturing the heart and soul of individuals many times their sizes or strengths. And on the other end of the spectrum, I know people whom are the perfect picture of health; yet are cowards inside. But I get what he is saying and I agree... I don’t want to intentionally do something to cause my physical body to weaken, hindering my ability to accomplish the tasks I have been made to do. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Perhaps I should read this book a couple times a year... like right before the holidays! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Zondervan gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for a thoughtful, honest review...and I am very grateful for that! </span></div>
Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-49303819171513882722012-06-29T06:53:00.001-07:002012-06-29T06:53:48.792-07:00With-ship"with-ship" of Jesus. No, that's not a typo...it's for real. This morning, I read about this new term. Practicing with-ship of Jesus. Pure and simple, time with Jesus. No agendas, just time with him.
What would our hearts look like? What would our schedules look like?
I spent 9 days on the road recently and found myself cluttered. I had things I wanted to process and reflect on...I had thoughts that needed to be completed before spoken...and yet, I went from activity to activity without the time to reflect. It's like I needed to sift them or swirl them around, just as one would swirl a pan looking for valuable gold. I wanted to let the "junk" splash out and allow the desirable things to remain.
I wanted and needed to just be with Jesus.
In my journey along the 7th Year, Chole writes that our top priority, as Jesus taught, is to just be with him. Our actions for him come from our time spent with him. We so often do it the other way around...we work hard for him, then come back and want to see his face.
This is my reflection from week 19 of the 7th Year e-journey. If you want more information about this experience, visit www.the7thyear.com and check it out!Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-16064038919627600862012-06-13T18:49:00.000-07:002012-06-15T06:39:15.535-07:00Disaster to DeliciousMy attempt at creating chewy caramel candies flopped and I was left with a pan full of a floppy mess. I can't stand to waste ingredients, so I risked wasting more by changing it up a bit. I added a few more ingredients and arrived at a delicious surprise....a pan full of Payday Candy bar wannabes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Homemade Payday Candy Bar Wannabes</span></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/4 cup butter</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup white sugar</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup brown sugar</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup light Karo syrup</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Microwave 6 minutes, stirring every two minutes. Then add: </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup powdered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">2 cups salted peanuts</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1 cup crumbled grahams</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Stir with strong spoon until it cools enough and becomes too hard to stir with the spoon. Continue to “knead” with oiled hands to ensure nuts and grahams are incorporated thoroughly. Push down into a greased 8x11 pan to flatten. Allow to cool and cut into bars. Wrap in waxed paper squares for sharing. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrapped and ready to share</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have you ever turned recipe wreckage into delicious-ness by accident? </span></div>
</div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-91249671434801854702012-05-30T18:20:00.002-07:002012-05-30T18:20:16.496-07:00<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQHhoaAHITg/T8bGduFm6gI/AAAAAAAABog/TBExv1cxSjg/s1600/great-for-god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQHhoaAHITg/T8bGduFm6gI/AAAAAAAABog/TBExv1cxSjg/s1600/great-for-god.jpg" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>Great For God</b></u>, by David Shibley, is a collection of missionary stories. I am unsure of the target audience, but the reading level is fairly low and each story is only 3 or 4 pages. The introduction of the book states that the intention was to chose a handful of missionaries to include in this time capsule in order that their stories might live on- which I agree, they should. I love collections of missionary stories...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because of the length the author went to in sharing how he picked which missionary to write about and which to leave out, I was expecting to read about the unknown servants. I had my heart set on learning a little about the lives of those that haven’t been recorded before, the never-before-heard “heroes of the faith”. Perhaps I am not the greatest person to make this judgement call, but I was disappointed to see the same people I’ve already read about before. Not to lessen their great works for God or to say that they aren’t worthy of being included, by any means. I was simply hoping for a different handful. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">One missionary the author did include and I hadn’t heard of was a man named <b>H.B. Garlock</b>. I enjoyed reading about his story because <u>he was from Connecticut </u>and met Jesus as a young man. He served the people of Liberia, Ghana and Malawi and faced the kind of dramatic moments read about in the Bible. That’s what I’m talking about! I was also excited to learn about what H.B. did in his later years of life....but I will leave that to you to find out on your own!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Another missionary story that I knew about previously but hadn’t seen documented in print before was <b>WIlliam Cameron Townsend and his ministry called JAARS</b>(Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), which collaborated with Wyclife Bible Translators. JAARS will remain near and dear to my heart because their North American arm, which was in existence up until a few years ago, served my family. JAARS helped relocate ministry offices and missionaries personal items around the world. When JAARS had to refocus their efforts, one of their own men wanted to keep serving ministries and missionaries in North America, so he renamed the branch to Missionary Transport, Inc. <u>One of their trucks and drivers served our family when we relocated from Virginia to Connecticut.</u> When his truck arrived for us to load it, I could see the JAARS sticker underneath the Missionary Transport, Inc. label on the truck. This made my heart happy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Overall, this was a good book. I will keep it around to use as a source of missionary stories for my kids. I have an electronic copy and am thankful for that, as I doubt I would give up any bookshelf real estate for it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You can pick up a copy for yourself at http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/product_info.php?products_id=981 </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thanks New Leaf for a chance to review your book. I was given a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book! These comments are my own. </span></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-28118236665568981132012-05-29T17:52:00.000-07:002012-05-29T17:52:24.878-07:00Noise = Quietness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can see the water and food splatters and the food-y finger prints.<br />
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I have been staring at this folded up sheet of paper on my kitchen window sill for a few months now. I have read it multiple times a day, trying to "wait" for the "Word to renew me". One of my favorite things to do is sleep and somehow I connected "renew" with sleep. They seem like synonyms to me... doesn't that sound logical to you?<br />
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This verse also made me think of the other verse that says I will be "cleansed by the washing of water with the Word" (Ephesians 5:26) since I was often washing dishes while I re-read this verse...<br />
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But then it struck me last week.<br />
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I had skipped the first part of the passage every time I read it. I skimmed over it in desperate attempts at a desire for renewal....or in my mind, rest.<br />
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"You are a my place of quiet retreat..."<br />
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When the kids are running laps through the dining room, kitchen, hallway, living room, dining room, kitchen, ....over and over.... <b>God remains my place of quietness</b>.<br />
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When the commercials are louder than the news, the dog is asking to be let out, the timer is going off in the kitchen.....<b>God remains my place of silence</b>.<br />
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When the phone is ringing and my mind is cluttered and weighty.....<b>God remains my place of retreat</b>.<br />
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Despite all the noise-literal, emotional, life- around me, I can find quietness in God.<br />
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Since I can find my quietness in Him, I must not need to wait for the literal quiet I seek. I can meet with him right in the chaos of my day.<br />
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Oddly enough, when I fight to find my quiet retreat within Him no matter the noise level around me, His words <b>do </b>renew me.<br />
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<br />Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-91141395161044732752012-05-20T19:11:00.001-07:002012-05-20T19:11:33.149-07:00The 7th Year- Week 13: Put Your Thinkin' Cap On<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">She mentions that our</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“God-concepts inform beliefs, and beliefs influence attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. The latter- the attitudes, emotions, and behaviors- are followers, not leaders. They are responders, not initiators. As such, they are manifestations of something deeper, of our working, applied belief system.</span>”</b> (Chole, 7th Year, Week 13)</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You know it’s deep-thinker week in the 7th Year project when you have to read the same sentence 3 or 4 times. Go ahead, re-read it again, too. Speed reading is useless. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, my deepest, gut-level concept of God will drive my beliefs of who God is. And my belief about who God really is will direct my thoughts, feelings, and actions. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I better have my God-concept right. Better yet, I better allow God to define himself for me. Simply trusting that God is who he says he is should be enough. But we are fickle creatures...allowing our attitudes, emotions, behaviors to sway our God-concept....He is constant and faithful to remind us each day/moment/season who he truly is. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My family began to wonder why my phone made robot sounds at 8am, noon, 4pm and 8pm for 7 days. Even the girls began to wonder what was going on. Emma started imitating the robotic sounds. After a day or two, I let them in on the secret. Each time my alarm went off, I quickly documented a God-descriptor at that very moment. Every four hours, I captured what I thought about God....then and there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I saved the list on my phone and was surprised at how multi-faceted our God truly is. (Duh, Lindsay) In all actuality, we will never know how multi-faceted God is. This assignment shows me that my view of God has so much to do with what I am doing, thinking, feeling, facing at that moment. Yes, I trust God. Yes, I believe God is real and alive. But I can also see that God is all of these things: </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Redeemer</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Creator of bugs</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Patient</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Constant</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Awaken-er (this one must have been in the morning!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Provider</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sustainer</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Leader</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Step-maker</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A proud dad</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rest (Morning, again)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nourisher (Lunchtime)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Speaker (office hours, prepping for a sermon)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Caller</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Constant</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturator (rainy day)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Planner</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Banquet preparer (dinner time, ha.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Educator (homeschool morning)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mover </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Healer</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friend</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Knower (a lonely moment)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Constant</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nearby</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Muscle-giver (After a workout)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Husband, by the agricultural definition- one who gives care, manages (after a conversation with someone about why the field of caring for animals is called husbandry)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Try it. Set an alarm to go off at intervals throughout your day and see what comes to mind when you think about God. Be creative. Be a word-smith....make them up if you have to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I remain grateful for this 7th Year experience. If you want to learn more about it, go to <a href="http://www.the7thyear.com/"><span style="color: #3100b0; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.the7thyear.com</span></a> . </span></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-24752792755623631722012-05-03T18:53:00.000-07:002012-05-03T18:53:28.913-07:00The 7th Year-Week 10: Word Cloud"A word heard is not enough." According to the Parable of the Sower, the difference "in the fourth <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">soil/soul was that beyond hearing, it </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic'; font-size: 12pt;"><i>accepted</i> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">the Word." (Chole, referring to Mark 4:20) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">A verse memorized is not enough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">A service attended is not enough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">A behavior modified is not enough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">A list of rules followed is not enough. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">This concept has struck me deeply this week because I know so many people that know truths found in the Bible, yet aren't applying it. Some are ignoring it. Some are connecting it with hurtful people and trying to forget it. Some are just choosing an "easier" path. None of us get it right all the time, I get that. But my heart breaks for people that know and turn away...never applying the grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, truth found in the same passages they memorized as a child. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"> "God, I think you are_____."</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bzCwZKvdqk/T6M2NX6d4qI/AAAAAAAABnk/_UI21XD97o8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-05-03+at+9.50.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bzCwZKvdqk/T6M2NX6d4qI/AAAAAAAABnk/_UI21XD97o8/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-05-03+at+9.50.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-3971161168780559122012-05-01T18:25:00.000-07:002012-05-01T18:35:16.561-07:00Coffee Roasting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you know me (or have read my blog for any length of time), you know about my love for coffee. You might also know that my wonderful husband roasts coffee for us at home. Home roasting allows us to get a wonderful quality coffee for a great price. We aren't after cheap coffee or spending loads of money on coffee. We are after the best cup of coffee we can afford and this is the way we've found to make that happen. Thankfully, Gil enjoys the process and has done the best he can without the roaster he would like. After hearing of this, several people are intrigued by this process, so I decided to share! Here goes....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PmlvKTNcQ8/T6CGXX5IieI/AAAAAAAABkE/ZJz9Vfliwew/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PmlvKTNcQ8/T6CGXX5IieI/AAAAAAAABkE/ZJz9Vfliwew/s640/IMG_1846.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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When this box lands on our doorstep, we feel loved...even though Gil just ordered it himself a few days prior. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkUEjFvzTYY/T6CGZk6ewBI/AAAAAAAABkM/VhCs0IyznrI/s1600/IMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkUEjFvzTYY/T6CGZk6ewBI/AAAAAAAABkM/VhCs0IyznrI/s640/IMG_1847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Prior to roasting, this is what the green coffee bean looks like. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIdaWUgX5uQ/T6CGddrFtkI/AAAAAAAABkc/kdy2lcCWSbc/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIdaWUgX5uQ/T6CGddrFtkI/AAAAAAAABkc/kdy2lcCWSbc/s640/IMG_1849.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Admiring the goodness. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWaQeyOABK0/T6CGfr2hMMI/AAAAAAAABkk/zMA52xvEC_c/s1600/IMG_1850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tWaQeyOABK0/T6CGfr2hMMI/AAAAAAAABkk/zMA52xvEC_c/s640/IMG_1850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Loving the goodness. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eOQ_imZS4c/T6CGhgIQvEI/AAAAAAAABks/cB_4lv6-jDk/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eOQ_imZS4c/T6CGhgIQvEI/AAAAAAAABks/cB_4lv6-jDk/s640/IMG_1852.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Posing with the goodness. Until this moment, I hadn't realized how closely his red hoodie matched the kitchen walls. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3tBmaXMq1I/T6CGj1pHHqI/AAAAAAAABk0/cBSzM89gkyM/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3tBmaXMq1I/T6CGj1pHHqI/AAAAAAAABk0/cBSzM89gkyM/s640/IMG_1856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Each bag of beans are different and labeled according to the country and farm where it was grown. The label also includes a description of what the bean should taste like when roasted properly. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aQihO7_avE/T6CGl_h9MlI/AAAAAAAABk8/-Nrd-2056Cw/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aQihO7_avE/T6CGl_h9MlI/AAAAAAAABk8/-Nrd-2056Cw/s640/IMG_1857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gil ordered 3 different beans this time. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBf2Zmo4pt8/T6CGoVmA9cI/AAAAAAAABlE/r1cKksk_avc/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBf2Zmo4pt8/T6CGoVmA9cI/AAAAAAAABlE/r1cKksk_avc/s640/IMG_1858.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh, I can't wait for morning! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTp1TxYKE0c/T6CGbrwekzI/AAAAAAAABkU/zjpNBqAnkFY/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTp1TxYKE0c/T6CGbrwekzI/AAAAAAAABkU/zjpNBqAnkFY/s640/IMG_1848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the set up: box fan facing outside, popcorn popper, mesh strainer, large bowl to catch chafe. Kids allergy medicine not necessary for this process. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dllvLfU3dqI/T6CGqJY5kUI/AAAAAAAABlM/qYuNMzlQH0Q/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dllvLfU3dqI/T6CGqJY5kUI/AAAAAAAABlM/qYuNMzlQH0Q/s640/IMG_1859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fan on. Popper on. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ycwp6fhbGCk/T6CGsZ7-heI/AAAAAAAABlU/8Yw_anw8mDU/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ycwp6fhbGCk/T6CGsZ7-heI/AAAAAAAABlU/8Yw_anw8mDU/s640/IMG_1862.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Beans go in, 3 Gil-handfuls per batch. </div>
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Popper lid on, which blows most of the chafe into the bowl. </div>
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We wait while it roasts. </div>
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And have time to take a few silly pictures. </div>
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Those blue eyes. </div>
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After roasting. </div>
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Unplug roaster, pour beans into mesh strainer for a quick cool. </div>
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Shake to help cool as fast as possible. </div>
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Look at the goodness. </div>
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Smell the goodness. Oh wait, you can't. Sorry. </div>
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He's been through a number of popcorn poppers, but this particular brand and model is the one that's held on the longest. If you ever, and I mean EVER, see one of these at a thrift store, BUY it! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9-1Tj_EqcQ/T6CHIHgsR0I/AAAAAAAABnE/D21RBJKi1gs/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9-1Tj_EqcQ/T6CHIHgsR0I/AAAAAAAABnE/D21RBJKi1gs/s640/IMG_1889.JPG" title="home roasted coffee beans" width="640" /></a></div>
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And the beautiful bean. </div>
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No, I was not paid by sweetmarias.com for all of this free advertising. Would have been nice though, eh? This is just how we do it~ </div>
<br />Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-3589803184492300372012-04-20T09:09:00.004-07:002012-04-20T09:09:52.083-07:00The 7th Year- wks 8&9: Monastery or Mission Control<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I met a new mom last week at the playground. She has great kids, is married and is seemingly normal. In this society, she’s a rare gem. I was excited to tell my husband about her later that evening. His response poked a hole in my party balloons. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Is she a Christian?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Yep.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“That’s cool. But we need to make friends with people that don’t know Jesus yet.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He and I have talked about this a number of times. We say that it’s a core value of ours. I have written about it and claim/aim/try to live out our ideas of not being a monastery mommy who raises bunker babies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Monastery mommies raise their kids in a petri dish or a greenhouse. The perfect environment, watering at the proper time, feeding and nourishing in ideal conditions. Not a weed or other bacteria in site. Safety.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bunker babies have lived behind a concrete wall of protection, playing and interacting only with others previously approved to also live in the bunker. The only things that leave the bunker are attacks launched toward anyone not in the bunker. Safety. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our efforts in living in the monastery or bunker are exhausting and exclusive. Out of the world and nowhere near it. In the end, we end up being a people that have nothing in common with the world....so much so, that we can’t even hold a conversation with anyone outside our walls. We don't even make sense to each other. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sounds like Satan’s perfect plan. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“If Satan cannon succeed in his Plan A of taking your soul to hell with him, Plan B is to ensure that you do not take anyone else’s soul to heaven with you.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Chole, The 7th Year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Enemy loves our monasteries and bunkers just as much as we do. He’s pleased when we keep ourselves so busy gathering with others just like us that we have no more time to meet people who aren’t like us. We have willingly relinquished the weapon we have- relationships. He laughs when we make the rules and spend time enforcing them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">“Steal them or sterilize them”, </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chole says</span><b style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">, “might be the kingdom of darkness’ brutally efficient mission statement.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yep, we are going to heaven. But we aren’t taking anyone else with us. Ouch. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Don’t get me wrong. I am total support of having like-minded friends and a support network around your family. We need to brush up against other believers for encouragement, growth, sharpening. I want my kids influenced by great role models and I desperately desire mentors and Christian friends for my family. We need to be in a community of believers and worship together. Going rogue isn’t wise. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But, there is a difference between making your home (or life) a monastery or making it mission control. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control preps and de-briefs before and after intentional interactions. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control sends out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control trains. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control monitors and sends support when extra help is needed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control is visited often for resupply, rest, re-evaluation and recalibration of the original mission. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mission control is pro-active. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we living to make it through unscathed? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we living to multiple ourselves?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we avoiding the thorns because we are afraid of a few scratches and hard work, therefore letting them grow effortlessly?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we fighting them back with everything we’ve got so we can see the real life-giver do his thing?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am glad I made a new friend last week. It’s nice to have people in our lives that we can relax with. But I am also glad my husband frequently reminds me that we are be strategic in who we spend time with. He is a result of a trained agent leaving mission control for a purpose. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Satan won’t steal us or sterilize us. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know it sounds scary. It's terrifying, actually. But that's ok. Mission control has prepped us.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my reflection of the readings from weeks 8 and 9 in The 7th Year, an intentional e-journey of discipleship. You can find out more about it at <a href="http://www.the7thyear.com/"><span style="color: #3100b0; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.the7thyear.com</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Have a great friday! </span></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-8556199682595083172012-04-12T18:39:00.000-07:002012-04-12T18:42:39.636-07:00The 7th Year- Week 7: God math<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"As I consider years past, I see your hand clearly in some spaces.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
In other spaces, I acknowledge the presence of your hand by faith, not by sight.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic';">"- Chole</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic'; font-size: large;">We began a new section in the 7th Year e-journey. Moving from our own personal life scrolls (seeing God in the past) to a task in preparing to see the current and upcoming movements between God and myself. Prior to starting the task, Chole asked us to spend a few moments in prayer. The quote at the top of this post was part of her guided prayer. This line....."I acknowledge the presence of your hand by faith, not by sight".... stuck with me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic'; font-size: large;">How many times have we heard (or spoken) stories of knowing God was near because we saw signs and wonders happen? Those times are valid and wonderful, but what happens when we don't see or feel God moving nearby? It might be easy to think that God left us or backed away somehow. But deep faith is evident when we know God is near without the evidences seen by the eye. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic'; font-size: large;">Looking back through my own life scroll, I can see times that I trusted, by faith, that God was near because I couldn't see with me eyes (or brain or skin or heart) that he was around. I depended upon the past history of him being with me and logically connected God's past history with his current activity. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic'; font-size: large;">He was there when I ________ + he was also there when ________ + I trust his word = He was and is there when I can't feel him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Calibri,Italic';"><br /></span>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-11260733066280482952012-04-04T17:03:00.002-07:002012-04-04T17:04:23.480-07:00Thorns<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We’ve started cutting through the strong overgrowth in the yard. Ten years without attention welcomes 4, 5, 6 inch thick vines to grow and develop the ability to take down trees. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brown and peely is the base of the vine, not a tree.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was knee deep in chopped up thorny brush, Adison was waist deep in it. Her pants became snagged in the thorns and instantly she was worried. I pulled her out quickly and set her down in a place free of thorns. Then I remembered something. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They put a crown of thorns on his head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A crown of thorns on his head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thorns on his head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thorns poking into my finger and scratching my arms hurt. I can’t imagine them pushed into my head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The potential for biblical imagery from this experience is tremendous. But since this is the week before Easter, I have been thinking about the pain Jesus suffered as he went to the cross for us. Surrounding myself in thorns and vines has been a reminder of why Jesus did what he did. </span></span></div>
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Please forgive us, Jesus. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9j_vw7WLF3I/T3zdqFgLHSI/AAAAAAAABj4/xzJaTQYl8CI/s1600/IMG_1586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9j_vw7WLF3I/T3zdqFgLHSI/AAAAAAAABj4/xzJaTQYl8CI/s400/IMG_1586.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree covered in vines, we question<br />
if it's alive or not. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djsJSj5Sx9c/T3zdja1qbtI/AAAAAAAABjw/x_E8uidhDyU/s1600/IMG_1585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djsJSj5Sx9c/T3zdja1qbtI/AAAAAAAABjw/x_E8uidhDyU/s400/IMG_1585.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that remains of this tree is the trunk,<br />
everything else you see is vines...<br />
not branches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband snuck in some shots.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-67350362029592813992012-04-01T19:01:00.002-07:002012-04-01T19:01:15.603-07:007th Year- Week 6: Hemmed In<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You hem me in- before and behind. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You know me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You laid your hand upon me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You are there. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Your eyes saw me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You are familiar with my ways. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You know what I do. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You are aware. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(Phrases from Psalm 139)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This week for the 7th year, I added the last layer to my life scroll. I added my questions, revelations, commentaries and overall summary of all the previous 6 layers. I found common themes running throughout my scroll; both in God’s movements and my responses to His movements and other circumstances. I ask(ed) the same questions, or variations of the same questions repeatedly. Yet, through it all, God remained the same. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He is my:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">(ever) present</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">sustainer</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">energy</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">hand-holder</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">provider</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">protection</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">filler</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">pursuer (as in caller, wooer, chaser)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">These God-descriptors all were all woven numerous times throughout my scroll, reoccurring frequently. I know some of the descriptions don’t make sense to others and that’s ok. They don’t have to. At times, this doesn’t entirely make sense to me. But, I know they are true. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A good hem is turned into itself twice and stitched in a way that is invisible from the outside of the garment. A hem encompasses the fringe of the fabric and ensures future unraveling. A hem surrounds, borders, edges, encircles, encloses, encompasses, corrals. </span></div>
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Sounds a lot like my cinched-in feeling I wrote about earlier in this process. You can read about that <a href="http://lindsaysjustjournaling.blogspot.com/2012/03/7th-year-week-2-tightropes.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Jesus hemmed in my fringe- whether caused by myself or other people- and protected against further unraveling. Jesus hemmed me into himself- before me and behind me- so that his presence was always there. At times, the hem felt invisible- as if one was looking at it from the outside- but it (he) remained present. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">********</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I remain thankful for this 7th Year journey and invite you all to begin participating at any time. You can find details on how to participate through visiting the site, <a href="http://www.the7thyear.com/"><span style="color: #3100b0; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.the7thyear.com</span></a> </span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-76919491499289740032012-03-26T17:24:00.001-07:002012-03-26T17:31:36.319-07:00The 7th Year- Week 5: Space<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This week’s layer makes my life scroll stand 6 layers high. I found security while working through this layer as it asked me to describe God during different times in my life. It was comfortable, but my mental list of adjectives is suffering. I wish my word-smith skills were stronger. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In addition to my life scroll layer, I have been thinking more about space. Just this morning Gil read our Lent devotion to me- Psalm 31. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlzMgGoZhSU/T3EIVJ5ZzTI/AAAAAAAABis/kTjZRWWe09o/s1600/South-Field-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlzMgGoZhSU/T3EIVJ5ZzTI/AAAAAAAABis/kTjZRWWe09o/s320/South-Field-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; </i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>You have made know the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hands of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.</i> (vs. 7 & 8)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One of the phrases jumped out to both of us...<i>you have set my feet in a broad place</i>. We clicked on “broad place” and learned that it is synonymous with spacious place, wilderness, and openness. It’s found a handful of times, a few of the places being scriptures I have already written down; </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter the wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you... Live openly and expansively. </i>2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (MSG)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. </i>Psalm 18:19</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>He brought me out into a spacious place.</i> 2 Samuel 22:20</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here is my brainstorm list:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is peaceful. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is free. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is wide. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is living. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is life-sustaining. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is filtering. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is welcoming. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is calming. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is roomy. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is healing. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is teeming with life. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is beckoning.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A spacious place is stable.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When you think of a spacious place, what do you think of? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">But this seems to be a linear, a flat-lined, horizontal view of space. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What if spaciousness is thought of in a 3-D view, a broad and X-Y-Z axis type of picture?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It would be impossible to list all the ways God is spacious in a 3-D view, a broad and X-Y-Z axis type formation, but here are a few I can think of; </span></div>
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<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God is spacious in his movement with us- he <i>allows</i> us to move at our pace while <i>inviting </i>us to move at his pace. </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God is spacious in his healing- he lavishly provides the space in time and growth for true healing. </span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God is spacious in his presence- he offers contentment and peace amidst our cluttered world. </span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What are some other ways God is spacious in his personhood?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>So, if space is so wildly wonderful, why do we- and why did the Old Testament believers- not abandon everything to find it? </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To enjoy space, you have to look up, glance around and soak up the surroundings. You have to look up from the plow, so to speak. You have to stop what you’re doing and take it in. I forget to stop, raise my head and appreciate the space. I get too busy trying to do it myself- checking off the to-do list, finding my satisfaction in accomplishments. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-47142468729533000812012-03-19T17:34:00.000-07:002012-03-19T17:42:14.390-07:00The 7th Year- Week 4: Clenched fists, open hands<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My life scroll, from The 7th Year.</td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">She spoke of clenched fists and open hands this week. Clench fists provide a delusion of ownership, while open hands require trust and stewardship. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I can see parallels between this truth statement and my life scroll I’ve been creating along with The 7th Year project, but I struggle to verbalize them. </span></div>
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I’m adding a picture of my life scroll with the hopes that it’s blurred enough that it can’t be read by the entire world wide web. I decided to use paper I had at home rather than Alicia’s suggestion of tracing paper, and since I homeschool, I had HUGE paper with seven lines already drawn! (I hope it turns out ok in the end....we still have a few weeks of layers to add.) </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This week, we were asked to add another layer to our life scroll....a layer of thinking about what I thought about myself throughout my life’s ages and stages. What a task this turned out to be! I had to step away from the project for a day to gain perspective on my adjectives and observations. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Looking through this list of descriptors causes enough different feelings to fill a box of crayolas. Times of triumph, hard work are followed by deep pain; an ebb and flow of internal reactions to external actions. Interestingly enough, it seems that as I have grown up, the peaks and valleys have become less extreme. The joys are awesome, but my response is less elevated and the hurtful moments are still present, but my perspective of myself is less low. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As I work on my life scroll and all the layers Alicia adds, I am thankful for her reminder that God is and has always been present. During the second week, I even wrote “I knew God knew” as part of my spiritual movement. I know this probably doesn’t make sense to those not participating in The 7th Year, but I wanted to document it. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EDC0oCMnlg/T0k9d_kQALI/AAAAAAAABhg/Y5GNsa_m4os/s1600/T7Y-LOGO-PSD-RGB.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EDC0oCMnlg/T0k9d_kQALI/AAAAAAAABhg/Y5GNsa_m4os/s320/T7Y-LOGO-PSD-RGB.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So, what is my ultimate reaction to this week’s addition to the life scroll? I am sad that one, two or a few individuals (depending on the time in my life) can have such a strong impact of how I perceive what’s happening around me. People can hurt others. People have hurt me. <i>But God knew and he was there</i> despite their hurt and he hurt too. BUT, I am thankful that people can also help heal. Other people have been a part of my growth and healing. And <i>God knew that too</i>. </span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-86418216515310176902012-03-15T11:06:00.000-07:002012-03-15T11:06:07.999-07:00The Voice New Testament<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Voice New Testament</td></tr>
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Gil received a paper copy of The Voice New Testament when he went to Catalyst last fall. The Voice is a New Testament translation which reads like a screenplay. As you read, you are told where someone goes/is and what he/she has said. This makes the text very easy to follow and allows the reader to focus on the point of the scripture rather than trying to figure out points that are sometimes harder to gather.<br />
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We used his copy of The Voice for our Advent readings last Christmas and it seemed to help our daughters understand more of what was happening. Also, Gil sometimes reads this version to me at night. I love that.<br />
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I was given a digital copy to review for the publisher, so I downloaded it to my iPad. I already have another popular Bible app on my iPad, but since this was a different translation than the ones available on the app, I thought it would be nice to have access to it there as well.<br />
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Lately, I have been processing a statement I heard about the original design of the scriptures being shared orally. For generations, the scriptures were handed down orally with painstaking detail to stick to the original. when I think of the scriptures being read aloud, these words come to mind: soothing, soaking, blanketing... The publishers of The Voice say, <i>"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>This translation promotes the public reading of longer sections of Scripture—followed by thoughtful engagement with the biblical narrative in its richness and fullness and dramatic flow."</i> I love that. Hearing the scriptures read aloud brings an element of the old traditions into our modern day- a community gathering (whether large or small gathering) to hear God's word together, to process what was said/done/created/redeemed for us as a group. </span><br />
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My only complaint is that when it's downloaded to my iPad, it is then stored in my iBooks apps. I would rather it have it's own app so I don't have to click through iBooks to find it. There might be a way to make this happen, but I haven't figured it out yet.<br />
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Grab yourself a copy of the The Voice New Testament- either paper or digital or both.<br />
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Booksneeze gave me a free digital copy of The Voice New Testament in exchange for an honest review of the book.Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-40273923403757662902012-03-12T19:56:00.000-07:002012-03-12T20:00:19.937-07:00The 7th Year- Week 3<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This week Alicia asked us to add another layer to a map we have been creating over the past weeks. The detail and personal moments aren’t something I’d like to share with the current and future world via the internet, so I will keep those to myself. However, I was struck by another part of the reading this week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alicia mentions three points about the biblical 7th year; rest the land and hear the law, release slaves and cancel debts, and make no profit and give generously. Can you imagine being commanded to do these things? This type of leadership model doesn’t sound like it would work in our economy. But that’s exactly it. This isn’t a command given to work within “the system”. God’s ways aren’t bound by our ways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I can not begin to imagine what it would feel like to take a year to simply listen to the Word of God being spoken over me. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What about my school loans? I seriously would not know what I would do if I got a letter from my lenders stating that my college loans had been cancelled. Yes! Bring it on Deuteronomy! </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And since my loans would be paid off and we would no longer have a mortgage, living profitless and giving generously...well, that would just be fun! </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Imagine what it would be like. Imagine the freedom. Imagine the weightlessness. Imagine the possibilities of movement, change, growth. Imagine looking up and enjoying the view rather than keeping eyes down to the plow. Imagine taking it all in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Imagine the space in your mind- the uncluttered thinking. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Imagine the space in your time- the freedom to rest and enjoy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Imagine the space in your heart- the healing that’d take place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alicia writes that space is telling. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">About a year ago, I began thinking a great deal about space. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My understanding is that space equals freedom. Freedom to move about, explore, grow. Freedom to challenge yourself in all areas. Freedom to wiggle, experiment, stretch</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But I also understand that space requires trust. Trust that someone else has all danger at bay. Trust that appropriate and safe boundary lines have been established and marked clearly. Trust that responsibilities will be tended. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think about this idea of space quite a bit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think about fish needing a bigger tank to grow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think about risking it all to tackle something bigger, harder, different, unfamiliar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think about my husband wanting to ice climb (is that what it’s called?), cycle for more miles than I care to think about it, summit tough mountains, and race harder/faster than he’s ever done before. He wants to challenge himself and push past his current experiences. He wants to explore. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I dream of a place where I can drop the worries of my world at the road and enjoy safe space, true freedom, deep rest, utmost protection. </span></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-38216103646809075292012-03-06T15:16:00.004-08:002012-03-06T15:16:56.895-08:00The 7th Year- Week 2: Tightropes<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tightropes</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the second week of my 7th Year Journey. (You can read about the <a href="http://lindsaysjustjournaling.blogspot.com/2012/02/7th-year-week-1.html" target="_blank">first week here</a> and more about the ministry <a href="http://the7thyear.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.) Alicia continued discussing our life map. Last week, we were asked to pick 3 or 4 backdrops of our life- as if our life was a play or movie. I picked 4 different places that I felt were the big ones...and wanted to add Connecticut as a fifth. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This week, we were asked to think deeper about those scenes or backdrops. Here’s what I asked myself: What has made these places stick out to me? What is similar between those places and what changed- other than the obvious location? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After some thought, I feel that my scenes stick out to me because life-changing moments happened there...both good and bad things. Sometimes the life changing moments were mere moments and other scenes were many moments made into one major moment. The scenes varied by location, people present, age, and stage of life. Some backdrops included both happy and hard moments. The only things that remain the same across all of my backdrops was my presence (duh!), Jesus was there, and a figurative tightrope. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During each scene in my “life play”, I walked a tightrope of faith. Sometimes the tight ropes were easier to walk than others. Sometimes I needed to depend on the presence of Jesus more than others. But every scene required me to take the first, timid step onto the tightrope. I had to decide whether I would trust that Jesus would take care of my every detail. I had to choose to believe that he knew what he was asking me to do and was aware of my every move. When I think about these tightrope moments, I feel cinched in, pressure, swaddling, hugged, controlled but intentional breaths. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’ll be a little transparent and give a specific example. One of the scenes on my list was the house I just moved from in VA. So many wonderful things happened in that house. I loved it for a long list of reasons. Many tight rope moments happened there, but one moment that jumps out in my mind occurred just a week or two before we moved to CT. Gil and I packed up our daughters room to make a “landing space” for everything to come down out of the attic and get sorted for packing, trashing or donating. That was the easy part. The hard part was fighting through such deeply rooted security. The problem was that I found security in someTHING. You see, since my daughters were born, all most all of their clothes, toys, essentials were given to us. God used arm loads of people to bless us and provide for our needs. I can tell you who gave us almost every item. I thought about those individuals when my girls wore the clothes, played with the toys and were swaddled in the blankets. These baby and toddler items were proof to me that God existed and that he KNEW I was here and needed him. These things were my little altars- reminders that God cared about me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When it all came out of the attic and I had to make fast decisions of whether something was going to take up room in our moving truck, whether the attic heat (or my kids) had ruined it or if it was to be donated to someone else. Rubbermaid tubs full of little pieces of evidence that my God loved me and my family piled high around me....almost to the ceiling.....and I had to pick through it. The task was huge and felt overwhelming, but that wasn’t the cause of my panic. I had almost packed up our entire house....what’s one more room? No big deal. The fear was a result of my trust in God. Here is what was running through my mind: </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God promised he would provide. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And He did. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He provided, through his people giving, sharing, passing along these items. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Both of my girls wore/played with/used these items. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This dress was worn for E’s pictures when she was 18 months old. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">M** gave it to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">M** loves my girls, I am so glad she is in our life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I get rid of this stuff? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is it frugal or wise stewardship to get rid of it? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What if we decide to have another child- do I risk it being a boy and not wearing all this stuff? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I risk it and take up room on the moving truck just in case? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Would I donate it to someone who would love it as much as I have loved it? Who would that person be?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we really going to have another child? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I trust God enough to provide again? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Is it asking too much from God to clothe another child? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I trust God enough? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do I trust God? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span>See my tightrope? My thoughts got narrower and narrower as I found the source of my panic and fear. Do I trust God? Do I trust God enough to provide for me again? Do I trust God enough to keep reminding me of his goodness? Do I seriously need things in my life to remind me of his blessings- this item (or stacks of boxes of items) specifically? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(PS-I am totally all about keeping things in life as reminders of what God has done- this wasn’t exactly that....nor does anyone need this large amount of stuff to remind them of what God has done.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I knew I had crossed the tight rope when I drove away from the Crisis Pregnancy Storage Area. I donated an entire minivan FULL of beautiful baby things. I allowed myself to keep one tub of sentimental items- or things I want to give my girls one day- and donated the rest. I forced myself across that tightrope and into the trusting, providing, safe arms of Jesus. I threw the ball back into his court. If Gil and I felt led to have more kids after our move, God would come to our rescue once again and be our provider...in one way or another...and I <i>just decided</i> to trust in that. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;”</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Deuteronomy 8:3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5c1101;"> "</span></i></span></span><i>He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD."</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I drove away from the Crisis Pregnancy Storage Area that day, I felt cinched in, swaddled, protected, tight....yet free, light and untangled. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cinched in and free <i>at the same time</i>?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Swaddled and untangled <i>at the same time</i>? </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tight and weightless <i>at the same time? </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While standing on the tightrope, my security just shifted from <b><i>my</i></b> surplus/storage/stockpile....to Jesus. <b><i>Only</i></b> Jesus. </span></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-19116016344324764262012-03-01T12:42:00.001-08:002012-03-01T16:14:13.701-08:00What an honor....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judah, our (85 lb.) Belgian Tervuren, enjoying a <br />snow fall a few weeks ago. </td></tr>
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Today I've had the great honor of guest blogging for my dear friend, Chris. She's written for me before and now I get to repay her the favor.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You can check it out on her blog, <a href="http://thisismomlife.blogspot.com/2012/02/todays-post-is-from-college-friend-of.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">This is the Life</a>.</span><br />
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Don't forget to sign up (just over there, to the right and down a bit) to become a follower of my blog. You can also leave a comment anytime you wish...I would LOVE to hear from you!Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287432090779954343.post-766871205653924512012-02-25T13:04:00.002-08:002012-02-25T13:05:19.386-08:00The 7th Year- week 1<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Two days ago I began a journey- a 52 week journey of spiritual formation. I am walking this journey with a new friend and together we will discuss a variety of topics- everything from mapping our life’s journey to our personal theologies of time and our honest relationship with the Bible. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I will be sharing my thoughts about this journey, called The 7th Year, with you as I go. I hope you’ll cheer me on during the weeks it get’s tough...and maybe begin the journey yourself. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.the7thyear.com/" target="_blank">The 7th Year</a>, written and hosted by Alicia Britt Chole, is an e-journey. Each week I get an email with a some thought provoking material and a guided discussion/activity. My friend and I will discuss our thoughts on the weekly email- in person and electronically...whichever suits our week the best. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was intrigued by the title- The 7th Year. Chole writes that </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“When we study the biblical passages about the 7th, Sabbath, year, this command contains several challenging components:</span></span></div>
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<li style="font: 10.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Rest</b> the land and <b>hear</b> the Law</span></span></li>
<li style="font: 10.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Release</b> slaves and <b>cancel</b> debts</span></span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In an agricultural community, such a year would drastically change the fabric of a community. Space would be startling (and space is very telling).</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The 7th Year</i> is a focused space, neither extra nor empty, but devoted and healing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is something in the name, <i>The 7th Year</i>, that marries <i>hope</i>—a life-giving yet invisible substance—with a <i>participation</i> that is tangible. There is something about the name that fuses a fragrant, timeless <i>mystery</i> with a compelling, timely <i>invitation</i>.”</span></span></div>
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Doesn’t that just make you want to sit still and join me? If this strikes you as AWESOME, you can download a free sample of her email....you can read what I got to read this last week. You can do the activity- mapping your life- that I was able to do. Visit her website <a href="http://www.the7thyear.com/"><span style="color: #3100b0; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Helvetica Neue'; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">www.the7thyear.com</span></a> and see for yourself! </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Heartache and hope- things the 7th year allows. </span></div>
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All this talk about 7 years and life mapping causes me to ask what have I been doing the last 7 years of my life. Thinking back to February 2005.... Gil and I were in our second year of marriage. We were in the first year as directors of Chi Alpha Campus Ministry at Longwood University. We didn't have kids yet. We lived on Franklin Street in a super cute little house. And the previous month I asked Annette to mentor me- certainly a life-changing moment. (You can read her own wise words <a href="http://lindsaysjustjournaling.blogspot.com/2012/01/guest-blogger-annette-hertzler-spend.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.anniesgleanings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.) The last 7 years have brought about such change in my life. I have fought battles that ended in victory and defeat, I have made choices that brought life-long lessons, I have found friends that will remain close despite miles, and hopefully, I have gained some wisdom from all of it. This season of itinerating for Chi Alpha @ Uconn and <a href="http://www.oaksreplanted.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">transition from VA to CT</a> has caused my to ask questions that have never crossed my mind, confront unspoken and internal values I gathered somewhere in life, and walk a faith tightrope like never before. </div>
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I am up for a year of Sabbath. In a somewhat literal sense and entirely figurative sense, I am ready to step back and think through this life of mine. </div>
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Has the soil where life has taken place been stripped of it's nutrients? Would a time of rest/sabbath/fallow replenish the components necessary for healthy life? </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682443684115927256noreply@blogger.com2