Reaching Outwards, Reaching Upwards
FREE JITTERS AND STAMMERS A young performer finds she’s not the only one with challenges to overcome!
THE LAST UNFINSHED STORY
BUBBLE TROUBLES What do you do when it’s all out of your hands?
RACHEL’S STORY? She let go and let God or did she?
Heart-warming encouragement for the New Year
• • •
Help victims of human trafficking Recognise signs of domestic abuse Learn about an illness-alleviating diet
Fresh Start… 1
ISSUE NO. 3 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
Danke Vielmals ‌ A big thank you to all the contributors to the second issue of Jasmines Place pictured on the left. There won’t have been an Issue No. 3 without it.
Many thanks to: Michele Fleming Debra Bee Jacqueline Nwokeji-Ani Joanna Faillace Marilyn Schnepp Pam Ford Davis Sherrie Coronas Angels in Disguise
Thank You.... JASMINE'S PLACE
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Welcome!
Welcome to the third issue of Jasmine’s Place! With creative Biblical and family fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plus great community and lifestyle features, hope this issue encourages, motivates and uplifts you. Are you sitting comfortably?
Afraid to step out into things you know you should be doing? Are your challenges overwhelming you? Then turn to page 6, smile and be encouraged. What do you do when it’s all out of your hands and you can't do anything about a particular situation? Find out what a bride-to-be facing loss did on page 12. Jealousy, wrangling, anger, she tried them all. Finally she let go and turned to God, see if you agree - Page 18. Need a break? A moment to savour creation’s beauty? Then turn to page 21 for “That’s what I need” and be refreshed. On page 14, we take a look at the Hallelujah Diet which is alleviating so many illnesses and diseases. We also highlight some of the signs of domestic abuse on page 16, your knowledge might help someone. Puresa Humanitarian, a charity that rescues women and children from human traffickers and slavery is featured as well. Find out more about their work on 26. You’ll also find a round up of some great music, inspiring word art and reviews of some great books for your little children! Finally the last word aptly titled “The Last Unfinished Story” , on page 30, is heart-warming encouragement that touches home and then takes us forward with a spring into the new year.
Hope you enjoy this issue! Do e-mail us at jmagazine33@gmail.com if you have any feedback, it would be great to hear from you! Editing and Design: Puaichie Badejo Contributors: Pam Ford Davis, Julie Arduini, Unami Magwenzi, Ruth O’ Reilly and Puaichie Badejo
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Contents JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2013
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Inspirational
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6 Jitters and Stammers A young performer finds she’s not the only one with challenges to overcome!
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10 Taste and See A round up of some great music for you. 11 Word Art The word in art.
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12 Bubble Troubles A rainy day brings hope to a bride to be facing loss. 18 Rachel's’ Story? Did her dreams came true came when she let them go?
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21 That’s What I Need Inspiring imaginative poetry. 30 The Last Unfinished Story Heart-warming encouragement for the new year.
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Lifestyle 14 The Hallelujah Diet A diet alleviating several illnesses.
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Reviews
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22 Children’s Book Club Great books for you and your little ones to enjoy!
Community 16 Restored! Pointers that domestic abuse may be taking place. 26 Puresa Humanitarian Help and hope for victims of human trafficking and slavery.
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All information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. While we do endeavour to make sure that all published information is correct, we cannot be held liable for mistakes or omissions. The inclusion of articles etc. does not necessarily indicate that the editor is in agreement or sympathy with what is written. Clients submitting content to us for publication are confirming that they have a legal right to do so, and agree to neither knowingly or unknowingly submit content they have no right to publish. The client accepts that he/she is responsible for ensuring they have publication rights of use for all material provided, and agree to indemnify any losses incurred to us , the publisher using content supplied by them. This also applies to where articles etc. have been sourced by us. We acknowledge that any logos, photographs, images and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. Disclosure Policy: No payments or products are received for reviews. Our reviews are honest and impartial.
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INSPIRATIONAL
Jitters and Stammers Pam Ford Davis I stand alone in the stifling wings; craning my tension tightened neck, I search expressionless faces of front row patrons.
Tonight’s comedy warm up act might be my big break. I dream of one day seeing my name up in neon lights. Inwardly, I am fear ridden with selfdoubt and feel rounds of nausea; the audience will never suspect a thing. “Ladies and Gentleman, please give a warm Tennessee welcome to a newcomer with a bright future-Ms. Patsy Lynn!” Intentionally, I trip as I saunter onto
stage in rhinestone-studded pink cowboy boots. Waves of spontaneous laughter feel like warm embraces of affirmation.
“I’m worried! He said I have a bright future. Why did he signal the stage hand to dim the lights?” A round of belly laughs lessens my anxieties. They lean back in their Opry seats, prepare to be entertained, and I aim to please. “A funny thing happened to me on the way to the Ryman. I forgot my pepper spray. No, seriously, it’s not Music Row alley muggers that make me nervous. It’s my competition!”
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My fifteen minutes stand up routine is grueling; the overrated underarm deodorant is failing me fast!
hands in crisp jeans’ pockets and looks slyly toward the wings.
My fifteen minutes stand up routine is gruelling; the overrated underarm deodorant is failing me fast.
The crowd begins to cheer and chant.
Don’t lose your grip. You’re funny. Look at them; they really like you!
“Direct from Yazoo, Mississippi-Mr. Jerry Clower!”
With peripheral vision, I see the main attraction arrive. It is my time to step out of the spotlight.
He meanders to center stage as multicolored floodlights enfold him.
“You’ve been a great crowd! My mother thanks you; my father thanks you. My creditors thank you, and I thank you! Good night and God bless.”
Turning his attention back toward the waiting crowd, he pauses for a second. Ceremonially, with outstretched arms, he prepares to introduce the night’s main Opry attraction.
“Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”
I may have a bright future, but Jerry has already reached the pinnacle of success. Applauding, the crowd gives the country boy a standing ovation. Fans from a myriad of backgrounds clap, stomp their feet, hoot-andholler. The man of the hour is about
The people packing the Ryman Theater have not come to see me; yet, their reception is warm. Applause is addictive. I’ve received a strong dose of admiration; an adrenalin rush is heady. The stage beneath my feet vibrates with music, I dance a two-step, side stepping for the celebrity. The emcee courteously claps, then points in my direction. “Let’s give her a big hand!” Grinning, he puts his
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In my wildest dreams, I could never have even fantasized that I, lisping little “Patricia Lynn Punchinello,” would receive accolades from stammering super star “Mel Tillis!” to fill their lives with homespun humour. Once inside my small dressing room, I lock the door, and relish the clicking sound of bargain-priced boots on mosaic-tiled floor. Lowering myself into the vanity table straight back chair, I look into the lighted mirror. Emotionally, I morph into six-year-old Patricia Lynn standing in front of my bedroom looking glass. I rehash the school day before… The kids say I talk funny; they laugh at me. I want them to stop. I tried to tell them! My words came out, “Thop it!” They laughed and made funny noises. Like snakes, they hissed in my face. “Ssss, Ssss!” A firm rapping on the door jolts me from painful self-talk reminiscing. I wipe away shed tears; standing upon shaky limbs, I go to unlock the
door. An Opry gofer says, “Patsy, there is someone here who’d really like to meet you!” “Hi Paaa…tsy, Juuu…st want to tee…l you how muuu…ch I liii…ked your shhh…ow!” I stand speechless, staring into the compassionate eyes of Mel Tillis! He laughs heartily, sensing my shock and verbal paralysis. Daughter Pam steals him away, to attend an Opry Legends awards banquet. In my wildest dreams, I could never have even fantasized that I, lisping little “Patricia Lynn Punchinello,” would receive accolades from stammering super star “Mel Tillis!” Glad I stepped out then! Copyright © Pam Ford Davis http://teapottestimony.vpweb.com/?prefix=www
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Beautiful detailed images in a variety of formats to download and use completely free of charge. www.freebibleimages.org
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INSPIRATIONAL
A round up of some great music‌ Philippa Hanna: I Am Amazing Michael W Smith: Awesome God Israel Houghton: Lord, You are Good Yahweh (The Lifter) Angela Johnson: Jesus is Everything Kirk Franklin: Brighter Day Yolanda Adams: Victory CC Winans: I Pray Liora Virtue: Kele Chukwu Beckae Shae: For Such A Time As This Twilla Paris: This Day Dietrick Haddon: God is Good
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INSPIRATIONAL
Word Art The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 2 Samuel 22: 2-4 & 17-19 (NIV) Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R). Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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INSPIRATIONAL
Julie Arduini Kellie's voice was as flat as her soaked hair. Her fiancé, Eric Bryce, popped open his little sister's Winnie the Pooh umbrella and held it over Kellie. "We won't melt. Wanna talk about it?“
Kellie Jamison knew bottom line her actions in the eyes of the law meant littering. Standing over the railing, she watched the last fragment of the Jamison family picture swirl off the Mill Creek Park suspension bridge into the rushing waters. Running her fingers through her curly auburn hair , she realized her locks were soaked. "Want some company?" Kellie gave a pivot and gasped.
Eric gestured to the wooden bench two feet away. Kellie observed the crusty pigeon droppings and shook her head. They both looked past the railing in silence. Eric gently reached for her hand. She grasped his fingers, her hold tight. She collapsed into his shoulder, his Pooh umbrella bobbing in rhythm to her sobs. "Dad's gone. I gothomeandhis stuff wasgone." He let her cry, knowing deep down this wasn't a surprise to her. The Jamison marriage had been rocky at best as long as he knew Kellie. Images of the two arguing during the third grade book fair came to his mind. "Aw sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?“
"It's raining.“
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"Dad's gone. I gothomeandhis stuff wasgone." She sniffled, leaving a wet stain on his black polo shirt. "You already have. Coming here. The umbrella. Letting me snot all over your nice shirt." Eric reached to his back jeans pocket, pulling out a bottle of bubbles. "You could blow bubbles on my shirt and clean it." "You think of everything." "I just remember you saying that whenever you were upset as a kid you'd find a hiding place and blow bubbles and that you used to love running through this park because this bridge made you feel like a princess. I figured you came here, and maybe you'd still like to blow bubbles.“ Kellie smiled, taking the bottle. She slowly unscrewed the cap. "You know, every time I blew bubbles as a kid, things always seemed better. I used to think that when I blew them, my troubles
were trapped in each bubble and they would fly to Jesus." She started to dip into the solution. “I hope when we're married you won't need to blow bubbles too often." Kellie began to blow. A stream of rainbow colored bubbles danced off into the air. "Maybe it will be a new tradition, a fun thing for the Bryce family."
Eric nodded, liking the sound of Kellie using his last name. The wedding day could not come fast enough. "Absolutely. You gonna be okay?" He asked, watching her blow yet another bubble stream. She dipped into the solution again and put it up to his mouth. "Absolutely. We're going to be okay. And for those moments when we're not" "We'll just blow our bubble troubles to Jesus.“ Copyright © 2009 Julie Arduini, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/, is devoted to writing for Christ in ways that encourage and inspire. A graduate of the Christian Writer's Guild, her writing resume is on her blog's sidebar. Happily married to Tom, they have two children.
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LIFESTYLEL
The Hallelujah Diet Allergies Arthritis and Joint Pain Asthma Back Pain Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Cancer Chronic Fatigue Chronic Pain Citrosis of the Liver Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia Digestive Health Endometriosis Hair Loss and Regrowth Headaches and Migraines Heart Health/Cardiovascular Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Skin Disorders Trauma and Accident Recovery
These are just a few health issues from a list of about 50 health issues and illnesses that have been alleviated or treated with the Hallelujah Diet according to testimonies at Hallelujah Acres. There are over a thousand success stories on the company's website, submitted by people who have regained their health and more by using the diet. The Hallelujah diet consists of 85% raw, uncooked and plant based food and 15% cooked plant based food. It is based on Genesis 1:29. There is a wealth of information on the company's website about the diet’s concept and recipes, as well as foods to avoid. The next page gives an example of what a typical day on the diet would include.
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Breakfast: Raw Apple Blueberry Cereal
Lunch: Hallelujah Blue Salad
Dessert: Fuzzy Mango Ice-Cream
Afternoon Snack: Chopped Vegetables with Basil Pesto Hummus
Dinner: Crockpot Pilaf
The Hallelujah Diet: A typical day for further details visit: http://www.hacres.com
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COMMUNITY
Signs that may suggest that abuse is occurring:
1. A woman may never be seen alone, she is always accompanied by her partner. 3. Her partner may talk over her or for her and she may be reluctant to speak. Her partner may appear controlling or may regularly make disparaging comments about her.
5. If her partner is behaving publicly in an inappropriate manner she may justify and excuse his behaviour.
7. She may appear to be very fearful, jumpy or over careful in her partner’s company.
2. She may become more and more isolated, possibly moving a long way from family. She may not have any friends or may gradually stop seeing them, she may withdraw from church
4. She may have unexplained injuries. However, most perpetrators are skilled in ensuring the injuries he inflicts on his partner are in places that are easily able to be covered up. When approached about any injuries she may make excuses about how they happened.
6. She may lose her job, have regular unexplained absences from work or often be late to work.
8. Her partner may contact her excessively, constantly texting and ringing her.
9. She may have no access to money
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10. She may not want people to visit her at home or may not be comfortable giving out her address or details 12. If she has children she may find it very difficult to control them and they may call her names and ignore her. Her children may be extremely clingy to her and not want to leave her.
14. In a new relationship her new partner may constantly want to be with her and may ‘surprise’ her with visits when he knows she will be spending time with other people.
16. He may seek to present her as unreasonable and himself as the victim of her unreasonable behaviour.
11. Her partner may be unsociable with her friends, family or colleagues, or he may be extremely charismatic and friendly to everyone. He may belittle her in public.
13. Her partner may tell people she is abusing him and that he is a victim of domestic abuse.
15. She may move in with him/become engaged to him/become pregnant very quickly after first meeting him or starting a relationship with him.
17. Her behaviour may start to change after meeting him/beginning a relationship with him.
18. She may stop talking about her partner.
Reproduced with permission from Restored. For more information, please visit: http://www.restoredrelationships.org/
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INSPIRATIONAL
Rachel’s Story? Puaichie Badejo
. The mandrakes tasted like sand in her mouth. Rachel sighed, closed her eyes and Jacob’s face filled her mind. "How did it get to this, Jacob? Fighting over mandrakes with Leah? As if I can’t go to the fields and get mandrakes myself? Fighting over you ... my beloved husband ..." She sighed again - "...you have so many faces, Jacob - you are Leah’s husband, the father of Leah’s children, the father of Leah’s handmaid’s children, the father of my handmaid’s children - but the face I sorely long for - the father of my children - has eluded me...“ She opened her eyes and took
another mouthful. She knew Jacob loved her, she had no doubts about that. The love was there from the first time they met each other and did not diminish even when her father tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, her older sister, ahead of her. It was a harsh reality that Leah had to live with from the day she got married to Jacob. Her pain was evident in the names she gave her sons when they started arriving Reuben: "The Lord has seen my misery and now my husband will love me“; Simeon: "The Lord has seen I am not loved and has given me this so“; Levi: "Now at last my husband will be attached to me because I have borne him three sons."
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"How could she? You were mine from the start, long before you married her!" "Oh yes, Jacob," Rachel continued, "Leah knows you don’t love her, but I have my pain too … I’ve had to bear the shame of being barren, to watch while she’s borne you son after son, to resort to giving my handmaiden to you to bear children for me, to see the looks of pity and hear the sly asides from the tribes-people...“ Swallowing hard, her mind went back to earlier on that day. Leah's son, Reuben, had gone into the fields, found some mandrakes and taken them home to give to his mother. When Rachel asked Leah for some of Reuben’s mandrakes, their deepseated rivalry had sprung up and instead of either saying yes or no, Leah took the opportunity to accuse Rachel of taking Jacob away from her.
wished she hadn't risen to the bait but she had, and had traded her husband’s companionship for the night for Reuben’s mandrakes. Loneliness bit into her like a living thing, twisting and turning, raging and hurting. Pulling her shawl tighter around herself, she whispered to Jacob’s imaginary face, "I never thought it would come to this..." There were still some morsels of food in the bowl, but she pushed it away abruptly, got up, and stepped outside the tent. Her gaze went up past the roofs of the other tents, up to the velveteen sky where millions of stars were twinkling, and her thoughts went to the God who had promised that Jacob’s descendants would be multiplied like the stars of the heaven. She wiped away a tear and asked – "Do I have a place in that plan, Lord? Jacob now has eight sons - I claim
"What an irony, Jacob!" Rachel laughed bitterly, "How could she? You were mine from the start, long before you married her!" As she took a sip of water, she
/ Adapted from Starry Sky by Danny Thompson Jr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dthompson7/6839384738
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…it seemed that at least with Judah, Leah had stopped trying to make Jacob love her and instead had shifted her gaze to God two as mine, but the reality is they will always be known as my handmaiden's sons. Do I have a place in Your plan, Lord?" Standing quietly, still looking at the stars, it occurred to her that Leah’s fourth son had been named Judah which meant "Now I will praise the Lord." When she thought a little bit more about his name, it seemed that at least with Judah, Leah had stopped trying to make Jacob love her and instead had shifted her gaze to God. Looking higher, trying to see beyond the stars, she whispered, "I’ve never seen it that way before, Lord, has my focus been wrong all this time? It’s true that I’m the beautiful one, the one that Jacob loves. But my beauty hasn't taken away my shame and neither has Jacob’s love. Jealousy and tantrums haven’t done any good and my scheming hasn’t helped either."
whispered – "Lord, nothing I have or have done has worked. I’ve run out of myself … out of options…I’m tired and spent. If indeed, my focus has been wrong, I’m sorry, please forgive me. You are the only One I will look to now. Please touch my life, Lord." Then the Lord remembered Rachel, He listened to her and opened her womb. She gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my humiliation..." Copyright © 2011 Puaichie Badejo. All rights reserved. Adapted from Genesis 29-30, Genesis 22:17, and insights from a teaching at a KICC’s Winning Women's Conference.
Then she went back into the tent, slowly went down on her knees, bent her face to the ground and
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INSPIRATIONAL
That's What I Need That's what I need Somewhere where I can sit Where I can sit down And smell the morning breeze Hear the birds singing Feel the cold morning chill against my cheek
That's what I need To sit around green grasslands Captured in a moment of awe The beauty that so covers the earth I know my imagination can take me there
What I need is to sit on a mountain top And look down at the vast plains Down below from where I have just climbed Without a moment of hesitation Take a deep breath and sigh And with that sigh release
Now that's what I need right now.
Unami Magwenzi, wife and mother living in the Western Australia, Australia. Copyright 2012. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
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REVIEWS
Children’s Book Club Books introduce children to vocabulary, help them speak, introduce them to concepts that they might never come into direct contact with in their early years. It’s very unlikely your child will meet a lion walking along the road as you go to your local shops , but lions, zebras, monkeys, bears and more abound in children’s books! Your child may have been to a zoo or the rain forest, travelled to far flung places, ridden in a train or flown in a plane long before he/she may experience those concepts/places in real life. Books stretch their imagination and that’s what we want, isn’t it? On the following few pages, you will find reviews of some great early learning board books, which are sturdy books made with hard paper card that are perfect for little inquisitive hands or teeth as the case may be!
Enjoy!
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I'm a Little Teapot! Annie Kubler
…
Love the rhyme in this book. The illustrations are very apt too. You'll find very cute babies and teapots throughout the book. What is quite interesting is that the patterns on the baby's clothes match the patterns on the teapots that feature on the same pages with them. Lovely rhyme… here we go...
Animal Babies Emma Dodd and Emily Hawkins This book features five animal babies (the baby zebra, baby crocodile, baby lion, baby elephant and baby giraffe) that your child can touch and feel. It's also a counting book, so it can be used to reinforce your child's knowledge of the numbers 1 to 5. A gentle rhyming text eases the transition from one animal scene to the other and aids your child's understanding of sounds and language in the process.
“I'm a little teapot, short and stout. I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Here's my handle, here's my spout. Here's my handle, here's my spout. When I get all steamed up, hear me shout...” Your turn now!
Each brightly illustrated animal scene covers two pages and the book ends with a panorama of all the animals featured in the book. Educational and enjoyable!
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Maisy Likes Driving Lucy Cousins She's such a plucky little mouse! She's bold! She's courageous! Here she is in this delightfully shaped and sized book driving all sorts of vehicles. A car (brmmm! brmmm!), a train (toot! toot!), a tractor (chug! chug!), a fire-engine (nee-nah! neenah!), a plane (vroom! vroom!), a tricycle (rattle squeak! rattle squeak!) and a bus. The size and shape of this book is perfect for little hands and imaginations and your little ones will love the sounds of the vehicles. Of course, the bold and bright illustrations provide plenty to talk about as well. Now, we're off to ask Maisy whether she can take us for a ride in her plane. Vroom!!! Vroom!!!
In My Den Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich This is a very sweet book that reinforces family values. It follows a little bear as he gets ready to curl up on his cosy bed with his family. The text and illustrations in the book combine to convey a warm snug feeling that comes from a loving family. In addition, the graded shaped holes, through which the bear peeks, get smaller as the book progresses and give the impression that the bear is drawing into his den. The little bear is also a finger puppet, so you can animate him while reading to your child as he makes his preparations for his cosy time with his family. Lovely book!
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Truck (Tiny Rockers) Justine Smith and Barbara Nascimbeni Features four busy trucks - two with touchy-feely surfaces, and two in which your child can reveal the truck's cargo, either with a pull-up mechanism or a flap. Did we say four? Well, actually the truck on the cover can also be rocked from side to side, so officially, there are five trucks in the book to play and interact with... We're not sure what we like best about the book - its multi-sensory design or the broad smiles from the truck drivers! Like every great book for young children, the illustrations provide lots of things to look at, learn and talk about. Go, truck, go!
Where's That Monkey? Dan Craig This is a very clever book. A little notice on the front cover of the book says ' you won't believe your eyes and that is true. Monkey is somewhere in the book and it is your child's job to find him. On the first page, you catch a glimpse of him through a peep-through hole, or so your child may think, until you turn over the page and find it's not actually monkey, but a very clever illustration. This happens throughout. Finally and satisfyingly though, monkey is found playing with his friends happily eating a banana. Very good book! Now, it's time for us to get a snack too! And to follow monkey's example, we're getting a healthy one!
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Puresa Humanitarian
COMMUNITY
Giselle Meza used to be a top model working all over Europe. After her modeling jobs were completed, Meza made it a point to meet local women and children in each country where she was assigned. She saw terrible injustices and decided to do something to stop the suffering.
trafficking and slavery between the Nepal and India border and provides them with safe homes and aftercare. It provides awareness and education to at-risk families on the immediate dangers and behaviours used by traffickers.
In 2006, Giselle (pictured top right) founded Puresa Humanitarian, a nonprofit that works toward reaching, rescuing and restoring hope and freedom to Nepali children and women, who are victims of human trafficking and slavery. Puresa Humanitarian is threefold. It rescues young girls from human
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praying‌
Its third program empowers rescued women through its skills training program, which creates self-sustainability, employment and opportunity for independence. Due to its success, Puresa has run out of room at its Life Center, which houses rescued girls. The non-profit, which partners with Life Outreach International and Except Integrated Sustainability, has launched a fundraising campaign to build the first Puresa Humanitarian New Hope Life Center in Kathmandu, Nepal.
counseling‌
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The life center will cater to both rescued women and children of human trafficking. The center will provide housing, food, counseling, medical care, education, complete aftercare in a safe atmosphere to 100 rescued children. For rescued women, the life center will provide a safe and healthy work environment for skills training and fair trade employment program, which employs the rescued women, empowering them with selfsustainability and economic independence.
Puresa Humanitarian’s innovative vision is to provide a healthy green healing sanctuary. Working with Except Integrated Sustainability, the life center will also serve as an ecofriendly example. It will be self-sustainable in energy and water, embedded in the natural landscape and have an area for agriculture.
a handmade bracelet
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It will be a place where souls can find hope, where support is abundant, and boasts Nepal’s beautiful natural setting. Construction is scheduled for February 2013. Help provide hope and freedom to survivors of human trafficking and slavery by visiting puresa.org/donate. For daily updates, follow Puresa on Twitter at @PuresaHuman and Facebook at Puresa Humanitarian. Thank you.
some more handmade products Photos by Š Puresa Humanitarian
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INSPIRATIONAL
The Last Unfinished Story Ruth O’Reilly-Smith
Last winter, I started knitting a bright red scarf for the homeless - it’s still lying in the cupboard, unfinished. That cupboard is full of unfinished work. Trousers and shirts with missing buttons, a hem that needs taking up, a T-shirt that needs mending, a teddy bear with one eye, another teddy with a leg that’s about to fall off and a hole that’s leaking stuffing, pretty much anything that needs fixing. We’re running out of clothes to wear, the children are running out of teddy’s to cuddle, and the cupboard’s running out of space. That cupboard represents something I’m becoming acutely aware of. I am not good at finishing. I have good
intentions, and it’s not that I’m not good at finishing everything. It’s just that I’m not good at finishing the stuff I don’t like or that I’m not very good at. Those good intentions compelled me to volunteer two hand-made teddy bears for orphan children this last Christmas. Our five-year-old twins helped choose the material for the clothes but the rest was left to me to finish. And I did finish. I had to, I’d been given the names of the two children who would receive my handy-work and I had a deadline. Noble-projects yet to be completed, the growing pile of books next to your bed with only a few pages read out of each, the novel you started
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Looking ahead to 2013, I resolve to steer clear of projects I will find difficult to complete, and instead, I will focus on those I am good at and finish them well. writing years ago remains unfinished and then there’s the scrap book. The one you started at the birth of your firstborn. You dreamed of handing it to him on his twenty-first birthday and now, it lies, covered in dust under a pile of other books in the study, with only a few pages complete and it’s his twenty-first birthday next April. Regret at living in a perpetual state of the unfinished seems to be a familiar human trait. Dr. Myles Munroe says the wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery. Here lies the greatest treasure of untapped potential - the books never written, the businesses never started, the masterpieces never painted, the songs never written, never recorded. And the teddy bears never made for orphan children.
But before we get dragged into the miry pit of disillusionment as we
look back at the unfinished, remember, there is much we have finished. I finished making those teddy bears for the orphans. They may not be the most beautiful, but they are finished. I’m relieved I completed that project, but in the stitching, I gained timesaving insight: I am no good at needlework of any kind. However, I am good at many other things. Looking ahead to 2013, I resolve to steer clear of the projects I will find difficult to complete and instead, I will focus on those I am good at and finish them well. What about the cupboard of unfinished jobs? For the most part, I imagine it will remain as it is, although it would be great if I could find a needlework lover who would see it as a glorious treasure trove. Copyright © Ruth O’Reilly-Smith 2012. Christ-follower, wife, mother, freelance radio broadcaster and writer. Twitter: @djruthoreilly, email: ruthoreilly@yahoo.com
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