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From the Desk Š Publishing Rose.studio6@yahoo .com President
Rosanna Christopher rchristopher@circle ofbelievers.com
Editor
Rosanna Christopher Contributing Writers
Wylea Miller Ann Christopher George Christopher Account Executives
Rosanna Christopher Ann Christopher
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LINK IMAGE from designingbenefits.com Cover Image: “Thanksgiving Paisley” from freeholidaywallpaper.com; “Tri-banner” from 123rf.com Intro Image “wreath” from wallpapers5.com; Next month image “Rose” from zapzingows.sessa.net Departments “Paisley” from blingcheese.com; ‘sparkler’ form clker.com; ‘1950’s women cartoon’ from majorityoftwo.blogspot.com; ‘laptop’ from made-in-china.com Page 8 Method© ad: ‘Target logo’ from moneysavingmom.com; ‘method products’ from frugaledmontonmama.com Tools For Everyday Life: ‘fireworks’ from bigfoto.com Page 13 ad: ‘James Fortune CD cover art’ from gospelguru.com Answers from Ann Female with glasses clipart from Clipartof.com Words “cell phone smiley” form Clipartof.com Who’s counting?: What you said:
All images from Clipartof.com
Ann Christopher for Answers from Ann: Ann Christopher who’s maiden name is Owens is married to Pastor George Christopher of Rossville GA. She is the first lady of Midway Independent Christian church and is also the creative talent behind “Divine Manna”, and also a contributing writer for “Tools for living”.
‘dance mat’ from hisupplier.com; ‘bathtub of bubbles’ from
colourbox.com; ‘friends shopping’ 123rf.com; crock pot from clipartmountain.com; “four friends talking” background from clipartof.com Two page Oil of Olay © ad: From olay.com Sparklers in the dark: ‘silhouette’ from myniceprofile.com; right page ‘fireworks’ a mash-up of photos from canstockphotos.com and 123rf.com; ‘sparkler’ from neopoets.com; left page ‘fireworks’ from wcnewmen.com Chic Header image found on meganisfa.blogspot.com; others cited in article Hostess with the Mostess; “1950 Woman” from shutterstock.com; “red and white plaid dinner plate” from vectorartsandgraphics.com Trade off: “no symbol’ and ‘green check mark’ from clicker.com; ‘stressed out woman’ from weprpelle.com; ‘friends talking’ from 123.rf.com; ‘bottles’ from dfw.cbslocal.com; ‘sodas’ from cdffshopdepot.com; ‘buffet’ from sodahead.com; ‘healthy portions plate’ from fatesecrets.wordpress.com Page 33 Cato Fashions© ad: Catofashions.com Tastefully done:
Reverend George Christopher is the Pastor of the Midway Independent Christian Church in Chickamauga GA. Retired from Eureka Foundry of Chattanooga TN as a machinist, he has ministered at Midway Independent Christian Church for 23 years now. His Wife is Ann from ‘Answers from Ann’ and his daughter is the E-Editor of this ezine and owner of circleofbelievers.com
“Corn Chowder” personal photo from e-editor
The last word “Sunset from flickr.com
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AprilandDecember.com © August 2012. Created at From the Desk Creations™; Wallaceville Road Chickamauga, Ga. Direct all inquires to rose.studio6@yahoo.com. Issue ™ website publication tool used to create publications. All the information herein has been checked for accuracy. No responsibility is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. Publisher reserves the right o place any ad on first come first serve basis. No materials contained herein may be reproduced without the exclusive written permission of the original creator of the material. All information, images or references contained has been acquired by permission or general search and is cited, noted or referenced as required by source. Copyright 2012 by From the Desk Creations ™. Created in the U.S.A
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-A letter from the e-Editor: Praise is what we do I thought I would take a moment to share the blessings of God upon my life today. Many of you are reading A&D for the first time thru various avenues and I wanted to say welcome to all of you. For those who walk with us week by week. On circleofbelievers.com and monthly through this magazine, I wanted to let you know that you have been a blessing to my life in ways you could not have imagined! When I first started on this journey I knew God had been good to me and that he was real. He just wasn't real in my life. The things that God has brought me thru are too many to count. There has been alcohol and drug abuse, I have stolen, cheated, lied and hurt a lot of people in my 33 years of life. But God was steady blessing me in the fact that I had (and have) praying parents and family and friends that never gave up on me no matter what I did to them. Most importantly, God didn't give up on me. I will make this short since we all want to spend time with our family we haven’t seen in a while. But I just wanted to tell you that no matter what has happened in your life past or present, you have so much to be thankful for. I don't know what your circumstances are but I do know that there is a God that loves you unconditionally no matter what you put Him thru. You think you are mess, worthless, counted out and out of luck. NOT TRUE! The devil is a liar!!! When God looks at you He sees beauty. He doesn’t see a mess or a failure. He sees His child. God has given us the gift of eternal life through his son Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. This is not the only season to be jolly… every season should be jolly! We should celebrate the liberty that has been brought about by the grace of God, everyday, 365 with no off days. Praise should be consistently on our tongue, even when we can’t see above the pit of despair that we are in. In this issue we will explore what praise is and does (pg9). We’ll give you tips and advice on how to celebrate the miracle of Christ every day (pg. 10-11). Of course there will be the usual fashion (pg 22) and entertainment sections and some great tips on how to be the perfect hostess and I have even included a few of my personal digital diary entries (pg 29). So, let’s raise our glasses (of sparkling cider of course!) and our hearts and toast to the Lord, for HE alone is worthy of ALL the praise.
-Rose
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DEPARTMENTS
LIIVVIINNGG MAATTTTEERRSS FOCUS ON LIVING
PG. 9
TOOLS FOR LIFE
PG. 10
POP: THANKSGIVING
PG. 12
WOORRDD OOFF MOOUUTTHH ANSWERS FROM ANN
PG. 16
WHAT YOU SAID
PG. 17
WHO’S COUNTING
PG. 18
WORDS
PG. 19
LIIFFEE AANNDD STTYYLLEE CHIC
PG. 23
TRADE OFF
PG. 36
TAASSTTEEFFUULLLLYY DOONNEE. CORN CHOWDER
PG. 34
THE LAST WORD
PG. 36
SPPOOTTLLIIGGHHTT ONN TTHHEE 6 W WIITTH H CA ATTO O FA ASSH HIIO ON NSS PGG. 32
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Focus on Living: Continual Celebration put on praise during spiritual warfare, it unlocks a door that the devil has to flee through.
When we hear the word ‘celebrate’ we usually get images of people gathered together, filling the room with smiles and laughter. There is usually food in our image. Some may even include imagery of balloons or specific decorations. We celebrate milestones in our lives. We often commemorate memories that certain people in our lives give us. Birthdays, anniversaries and national holidays also top the list of reasons to celebrate. But aside from the general nature of man to be surrounded by people, what does the word mean to Christians.
King David declares in Psalm 34:1 that the praise of God shall “continually” be in his mouth. That is a long time to be praising God! Imagine the King with his enemies coming against him, and his heart heavy with sorrow and maybe even fear, but still, he managed to praise God. As a matter of fact, David describes such a scene in Psalm 35. You can see the image in your mind. How dreary and how doomed it all looked and then, right after the worst part, he declares verse 18. “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.” Wow.
Before we pull out the Bible, let us first examine what the word means for contrast. Dictionaries define it differently to of course include every variation of the words meaning. Random House uses phrases like “To observe (a day) or commemorate (an event).” It also says the word means to “to have a participation in a party good time. It also carries the definition similar to the dictionary I use. While Random house says “to make known publically; proclaim; praise widely,” Webster’s uses the phrasing “Accord High praise to.”
King David knew that his praise unlocked the power of God. He was confident, not in the fact that he know God was able, but rather that he know God would deliver him from the wrath of his enemies. Praise is the fruition of hope. It is the declaration of a capable and willing God. Praise is the key to the power of Gods greatness and ability. It is our weapon in spiritual warfare. It is great to think of celebrating milestones and events. Yes, even Christ went to weddings. But, when it comes down to practical everyday living, we must find a way to commemorate the gift of God’s grace and hope. It is necessary to learn to rejoice in all things, no matter how bad it is, how dark it is, how hopeless it seems. In the midst of our trials there is the promise of restorations.
Ah, we see it now! Praise. This is the word that sparks the fire in a Christian’s heart. Praise is an intricate part of a believer’s life. Isaiah 62 paints a picture of Gods anointed. In verse 3, he literally describes praise as something to be worn. He calls praise the “garment…for the spirit of heaviness.” How do we put on praise? Well, I would think the same way we put on clothes.
I have had many moments where I felt completely hopeless. I am sure we all have. But God has taught me this. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. But, through the power of praise which is the testament of God’s power, the Lord recompenses, restores and rebuilds. It really reminds me of a song that I have come to love and lean on. In the first verse of “It is well with my soul” the writer exclaims:
Think about it -when it’s cold outside you put on a coat or jacket. If it’s hot out, you wear shorts and sandals. You don’t wear jeans to a formal event do you? No, you put on your fancy digs. It is the same with praise. Just because you are dressed for the weather outside, doesn’t mean you want to go out. You may just have to go out. We know that satan is a tough opponent and he is always ready for war. When he gets on our back, our first response is usually not Godly, but fleshly.
“When peace like a river attendeth my soul, when sorrows like sea billows role; whatever my lot thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. “ This is a testament that praise is what we should do. So celebrate freely the gift of eternal life and let it be continually on your lips and well with your soul.
He makes us angry, depressed, overwhelmed, disoriented and all the other horrible and unpleasant feelings that a human being can have. But in spite of it all, when we
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When it’s time to celebrate we can find ways to
reaches in their coat pocket, they get a scriptural reminder of God’s love and yours.
make it our own. We either pull or all the stops or keep it simple. But, when life gets tough, we don’t often feel like celebrating. We may even feel like there is nothing to celebrate. This is especially true for people who suffer from chronic depression. Whether you battle depression daily or just have a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, here are some ways that you can put praise back into your life and celebration back in your heart.
Sing it back: There couldn’t be a list about celebration and praise without music! If you are like me, you have multiple play lists for different moods. Create one on a site or app that can be accessed from your mobile device and a pc or laptop. Make it a habit of asking Facebook or Twitter followers what their favorite inspirational song is and increase your playlist library.
Approach the throne of Grace…not this one…that one: This should be a part of daily life any way. There should be a time and a place where you go to pray, mediate and read Gods word. However, when the going gets tougher than walking out of a pit of quicksand, it is necessary to find a second ‘special’ place…the place that you take your normal routine to a higher plane. If your normal place is your living room, you may opt to make an outdoors space a special place. This needs to be a space that you are not only uninterrupted by your family but blocked out from every distraction. Find a place that is comfortable and calming.
Pay it forward: It’s cliché I know, but there really is usually someone worse off than you. If you think about it some, there is something you can do each week, maybe each day, to help someone out. It can be anything like picking a co-worker of the week and buying that person a soda. You may choose to keep food or a few dollars stashed somewhere that you could give a homeless person on the side of the road. You can even choose to just go visit somewhere each week and minister or just listen to people. Whatever it is the important thing is that you let God lead you too it and keep your good deeds between you and him.
Play words with friends…Bible style: Okay, I know. It’s not really anything like the actual game. But, we all have that friend or family member. You know that person who always knows what to say and when to say it. You go to this person for trusted advice and they are just as good of a listener as they are a talker. We need those types of people and we also need the word of God. Find the friends that you trust the most with your personal business and ask them to bring over some food and a Bible verse written on a note card pertaining to the situation you are facing. Once the gang is all there, put the note cards in a stack face down and let each friend pick up a card and explain the verse. God’s word and a fresh perspective on the situation could just be what you need to hear the most. Not to mention that good food is always a plus!
Volunteer: This does not have to be with a charity. You could volunteer to help out the football team at your kids’ school. You could volunteer to help a church group, or if you like, you can choose a charity to volunteer with. You don’t even have to volunteer for a spoken need. You could just ‘take it upon yourself’ to pick up trash off the road sides on your street, or clean the common places at your church. Just like the pay it forward idea, this one rest on the simple principle of doing God’s will. Again, don’t brag about your deeds. They should be done because you want to help other, not to receive praise.
Get intentional: Whether things are tough or not, we all have our favorite Bible verses. The ones that just make us feel good no matter what is or isn’t going on. Find decorative paper or you could frame a series of white or chalk boards to match your homes decor. Write your favorite verses on these framed boards and place them throughout your home. Since they are erasable, you can change verses as often as you like. You could even make a little family game of it. Have your family make up some cards and then keep them on the kitchen counter. As the week progresses, pick up a card from the shuffled pile and place them in fun places, like a lunch box or laptop case. When your loved one opens up their case or
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Psalm 69:30
1 Thessalonians 5:18
I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
Psalm 34:1
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Dear Lord. Help us to be thankful for even the smallest things in life. You are the supplier of all of our needs. Lord we long to learn to praise you in all things and we ask that you bless us with a heart of thanksgiving and a mouth of praise. Lord we thank you for all that you have done an all that you will do and most of all, for what you will not give us in spite of what we want because you know what’s best for us. We thank you Father. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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sometimes we do extra. But we rarely celebrate traditionally. It’s not the ‘loathing of the tree’ that made me understand my parent’s views. It was how they taught me instead to celebrate Christian life every day.
When I close my eyes I can hear childhood calling from a mile away. On those days when I’m so stressed with all the ‘grown folks’ things that consume my time, I long for the simple joys of home.
In all fairness, it wasn’t just Christmas and Easter. Any holiday was celebrated just the same….it was treated like every day. I remember on Fourth of July, my cousin had some sparklers. I went to the front porch to see them spark and glitz in the dark. It was beautiful. I remarked how I wish I could see that every day, not realizing that my dad was standing in the door way. His voice startled me. “You can.” He started. “You can see through others looking at how you live your life.”
Of course, in reality home is merely thirty feet outside of my front door. Looking across the street at my child hood home, I recall the 32 years I have looked at the house that I’m in from the very porch I’m staring at now. No wonder it feels as though I have lived here for a lifetime. I look up and down the street of my neighborhood and I can see myself sitting on the front steps and watching while mom tied a string to some June bugs for me and my cousins. We would run around and fly them like balloons. Saturday morning cartoons where cherished. Some morning s I couldn’t watch them because I would help my father in the garden. That red wheel barrel still sits in the garage at my parent’s house. Whenever I walk in the garage I look at it and smile.
My parents were able to use everyday life to teach me to see those sparklers. Wake up with praise on your lips and go to bed with thanksgiving rolling off of your tongue. Rejoice at the sight of the people you love by waving wildly when you see then, even if you just saw them yesterday. When you hear something good happened to someone, there was no need to get jealous. Instead, break out the crock pot and let’s get together and eat and congratulate.
All the simple joys of growing up are fun to remember. I remember the love and the happiness of my life. While there have been plenty of dark moments, I am constantly reminded of how blessed I was growing up. Even though we didn’t have much, we had and have love between us.
As all children did, I sometimes found it hard to celebrate my life. I remember when I was about 6, I was told by my eye doctor that I needed to wear glasses to read. I refused. I even deliberately hid or even bent them to keep from wearing them. But my mom being the smart lady she is, found a way to make me thankful for the sight I had, and the fact that God had blessed us enough to even afford glasses.
As we come upon a time where holiday celebrations are plentiful, I remember the three times in my childhood where my father would actually let me put up a tree for Christmas. He would drag it down from the loft and complain about how he should throw it away. But it was my mom’s tree. And though she had come to love and adapt to my father’s teachings as a minister, she was not going to part with her belongings, even the tree he loathed so much.
One day, after complaining and crying, my mom called me into the den. It was just noon on a bright sunny day. She had been making a dress and had remnants of fabric. She told me to turn around and close my eyes. “Are they closed?” she asked as she shot around me to look. “Yes ma’am.” As I replied she threw several layers of the fabric around my face, covering my eyes at least six times. She told me to walk around the house and find her using only her voice as a guide to where she was. I tried to protest but she shoved me on.
Before you start thinking ill of my father, let me explain. We are Christians and we do celebrate the birth, death and resurrection of our Savior. We just choose to celebrate them every day by the way we live. So, when the actual holiday comes up,
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As I stumbled around our home, which has a very easy and round layout, she would change her location. “Can you find me?” she would ask from different rooms of the house. Finally, I just sat in the floor and cried. My mom took off the fabric and wiped away my tears. She told me that I needed to appreciate the fact that I have sight. I should be grateful that it could be corrected by just wearing my glasses sometimes. She told me to think about how I
just felt. Having sight and knowing my way around my house and then all of the sudden, whether I was ready or not, my sight was gone. Mom was giving me a prelude to life as a teen and as an adult. As I got older there have been times in my life when there has been little to no reason to celebrate. While they were lack luster at the time, God has allowed those things to know be daily celebrations of forgiveness, grace, mercy and victory. The test is now a testimony, the mess a message and the problem is now praise. As I keep on living, there will be many more moments like this. No matter how dark it’s gotten, God has a way of making me see his light. Tiny celebrations everyday equipped with fireworks and sparklers. Sometimes the fire crackers are duds and sometimes they go off in the dark with amazing glory. Some days the sparklers fizzle instead of sparkle. But no matter how dark it is in my life, the light at the end of the tunnel burns so brightly, that I can see my way, even if I can’t see it clearly. We are called in the word of God to let our lights “so shine that men will see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).” When I got old enough and lived enough to understand that verse, I’m transported back to my childhood. I can hear my dad say “you can have sparklers every day.” By the grace of God, I look back over my life and see that I have. The power of God has been my sparkler. The call fo Christ my fireworks. So, excuse me while I put on my party hat. I’ll be sure to wave wildly the next time I see you! -R. Christopher
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Answers from Ann! Someone doesn’t want to celebrate? Let’s chat!
Dear Ann: I really love the holiday’s especially Thanksgiving. It’s so festive and the colors of the leaves are absolutely gorgeous. I love to get together with family, but this year there has been a riff between us. My brother married a woman we don’t like. She is always causing trouble between him and us. He says that to keep down confusion, he is going to spend the holidays with her family. We do breakfast, lunch and dinner for every holiday and he won’t even pick one to come too. What can I do to get my brother to spend some time with us?
With all of this said, here is the kicker. My biological dad had a run in with my boyfriend. The whole thing started when my boyfriend said something out of the way to my adoptive father. My father blew it off but it clearly made him angry. My dad wouldn’t stand for it and told my boyfriend that he should apologize to my father. Not only did he not apologize, my boyfriend blew the whole thing out of proportion and now his parents won’t come through for the holidays. We have been together for five years and I’m sure he’s going to propose. How do I get them all together?
Broken hearted, Norfolk VA
Wants to make this work, Tallahassee FL Dear Broken Hearted: This really is a sad situation. There are many families who are going through similar situations if not the same. I say let your brother do what he thinks is best. Reaffirm to him that you all can put aside the drama for at least one meal during the holiday. I think you should tell him that you trust that he is doing the right thing, even if you don’t think he is.
Dear wants to make this work: What exactly do you want to make work? It sounds like if your dad is taking up for your father, your family is working. My advice to you is to stop worrying about that ring you think you have earned and start demanding that this boyfriend of yours treats you like you deserve! It’s been five years dear, let’s face it.
You may call it lying but it’s not. Think about it. It sounds like he does love his family, but he loves his wife too. If he wants to “keep down confusion” then he is obviously trying to do right by everyone involved and doing it the best way he knows how. If he still can’t get her to commit, then ask if you can set aside some time the next day.
You sound like you feel complete with your adoptive and biological families getting along and loving each other. If the boyfriend is trying to throw a monkey in that wrench, I think it’s time for the boyfriend to hit the road. By my experience, I gather that this is not the first time your man has ticked off the family. If you want to make that relationship work, you have two options; Change your boyfriend or change boyfriends. Since the first is not likely to happen, I suggest you spend the holiday’s with just your family and tell the current BF to go tell it on the mountain.
-Ann Dear Ann: I am 33 and I am adopted. I found out about my biological mother when I was 17. I was able to find her ten years ago. Two years ago, I reconnected with my biological father. Things have been beautiful. My parents (adoptive) have totally embraced my biological mom and dad and we have had an amazing time as a blended and extended family.
-Ann
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Said
When hard work pays off I like to let my hair down! I invite my closest friends over and we play any and every dance game there is! So much fun and so releasing. Bethany Jeffers
What is better than food when it comes to a celebration? My family always finds a reason to celebrate. It can be anything from getting a promotion or getting over a cold! Great or small we celebrate it all with a huge feast. Terry Daniels
To me, a celebration is all about the ‘me time’. A nice long bubble bath and some candles and soft music is just what I need. It helps me get my words and thoughts together so I can share the good news with family and friends. -Cari Montivetti
It’s time to go shopping! A celebration is all about a little reward for my efforts. A keep a credit card paid down for those special moments when the news is so good, you just have to have a new outfit to share it! Donna Montclair
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85,000,000 tons of paper is used each year in the U.S
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h.
Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.
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WORDS
“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction” ~ Harry Ironside
“We ought to shout out our thanksgiving as if every war were over; as if there were no more big taxes; as if there were no sickness, no crime.” ~ John R. Rice
“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” ~ WT Purkiser
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie
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We have to admit that social gatherings are the best. But, it’s easier and sometimes just way more convenient to have a small dinner party instead. If you need help “getting the party started” we are at your service!
Start with the invitations; Include a scripture with your invite text that has something to do with the event. Or if you are throwing an event for someone, put their favorite scripture in the invite. It personalizes the card and it speaks volumes about the attention to detail from the hostess! Add the special touch: Make it a two for one. Instead of just using place cards at the dinner setting, why not use scripture or Biblical themed post cards as thank you cards? On an envelopes that will fit the post cards, write the names of your guests and Place them face up on the plate. Write a simple thank you for coming on the back of the post card and place it only half of the way in the envelope making sure to tuck the flap in first. Give the Gift of prayer. As a guest gift, grab small little gift boxes from your dollar
Epsom salt in the paper bag and set aside.
store. The box is the actual gift, but what’s
Place the newspaper under the area you
inside will be the special part. On the
are going to spray on. This prevents your
inside lid of the box, paste a bright strip of
surface form getting sticky.
paper that says “My prayer for you…”
Using the tongs to hold the fruit by the
Inside the box, place a note card place a
fake stem, spray the adhesive all over the
stamp (or pasted print out) of praying
fruit. Drop the fruit in the bag full of
hands. On the back of the card, write out
Epsom salt. Give it a good shake. Still
a small prayer for your guest. Each one should be short, different and personal.
using the tongs, grab the fruit out and
Put on the glitz: Décor doesn’t have to be
clean surface to dry. Arrange in a pretty
fussy or expensive. All you need some
platter and you have iced fruit!
gently shake off the excess. And place on a
inexpensive fake fruit, spray adhesive, a
Wrap it all up! Empty spray cans make
pair of tongs (ones you won’t use for
great decorations. All you need is pretty
cooking) a frown paper bag and some
wrapping paper, or even newspaper for a
Epsom salt and a newspaper. Pour about
rustic look and some spray adhesive.
a half of cup (for 6 pieces of fake fruit) of
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Measure out how much paper you will
top of shortbread sticks and sprinkle with
need to wrap the can and cut it out, being
cinnamon and sugar.
sure to leave some excess at the top,
If you don’t want sweet treats to start with,
about an each should be enough. . Spray
fruit and cheese trays are simple to fix or
the paper with the adhesive and then wrap
pick up. Just transfer the goods from the
it around the can by rolling the can over it.
stores packaging to something pretty.
Tie off the top with ribbon or leave the excess and place a battery operated tea candle in for a soft flickering glow. Hors do Hors D’oeuvre’s: Hors D’oeuvre’s don’t have to be fussy. Go the ‘semihomemade route’ and jazz up goodies from your grocery store. Put whipped frosting on top of store bought sugar cookies and add sprinkles. You could even put cream cheese frosting on top of brownie bites or brush melted butter on
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…Make a list and delegate tasks to friend or family. Use an auto syncing app like Catch or Dropbox. That way everyone can stay connected and up to date on what’s done and what’s’ not.
…Stress yourself out by trying to do everything yourself and all at once. Post it notes are not suitable to do lists, and being a control freak will just stress you out even more.
…have more than a glass. If you can help it don’t have any alcohol at all! Not only is it a bad idea, but if you get to comfortable, you might overindulge and that is never a good thing when it comes to alcohol.
…If it must be sparking, try Italian sodas instead. Put your favorite fruity syrups in some sparkling or seltzer water over ice. Not only is it better for your health and your conscience, the flavor possibilities are endless.
…Over indulge on the food. If it’s something you only have once a year, allow yourself to have it. But, be careful not to overdo it. Just because you blew your diet at lunch, doesn’t mean you can go ahead and trash the whole day.
…Allow yourself to ‘sample’ everything. This means just a bite. This way you can get smaller but filling servings of the things you love. Use the ‘helping hands chart’ to guide you to the proper food portions.
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“By Friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest usefulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.” -Jeremy Taylor
vanished. I felt as though I could be the most honest about life as I have ever been. Even now, I feel as though I am talking to a room full of friends, and it’s just me, alone in front of my computer.
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It had to be there. I knew I wasn’t the only one suffering from fibromyalgia. I definitely knew I wasn’t the only Christian suffering from it either. Where were the faith based support sites? I had a hard time finding them, and when I did, it showed mainly lack of faith.
As we explore the concept of everyday celebration, I want to share a few of my digital blogs with you. I hope that you read them through and realize that no matter who we are or what we do, we’re human…and God intended it to be that way. That alone is reason enough to celebrate.
As God allowed me to spill my thoughts, mountains and valleys with the world through Cirlceofbelievers.com, I found that when I sat down in front of my computer, all inhibitions, if any,
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On September 29th 2012 the Cato Fashions Women’s Clothing Store in Ft. Oglethorpe GA recently held a charity fashion show for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chattanooga TN. Of course Studio6network was on hand to help out!
Mary Kay Representative Lori Traudt, Premier Jewelry Agent Jan Brown and the following Ft. Oglethorpe Business all gave prizes to raffle; IHOP, Zaxby’s, Studio6netowrk, Sonic, Tootsies Hair and Nails, Body Benefits Doughnut Palace.
Our gorgeous models form left to right starting with the back row: Cassie Morris, Michelle Gohl, Lauren Rogers, Ann Christopher, Stephanie Lewis, Crystal Lewis: Kids from left to right: Hannah, Maci, McCartney and Madison
Stephanie Lewis (on right)really rocked her out outfits. Studio6networks very own Ann Christopher (below) also worked the runway for the charitable cause.
The store was able to fill four collection boxes for the charity. Pictured above form left to right are the MC for the show and Cato Associate Hannah Barrett and Studio6Networks e-Editor and Cato Manager and show coordinator Rose Christopher.
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Nothing says “come in from the cold� like a hot bowl of Corn Chowder!
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“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:16,19
The Common Ingredient:
The Hardware: One large stock pot An emersion blender
Soups, chowders and stews all warm us up inside on a cold day. The warming bowl of goodness fills our physical need of inner warmth and hunger. It makes us feel cozy and satisfied. While the word of God is law and a picture of daily life for a believer, it also warms us up inside. It tells us of the promise of the Hope of Jesus Christ and the love our Savior has for us. What are some of your favorite ‘warming’ scriptures?
The Ingredients: 1 can of cream corn 1 can of whole kernel corn 1 can of black beans 1 can of tomatoes with or without diced chilies ¼ cup of heavy cream ¼ cup of chicken stock ¼ cup of almond and coconut milk or one or the other 4-5 pieces of bacon, fried and crumbled Salt, pepper, cumin, coriander and parsley to taste
Prep time: about 5 mins, depending on how crispy you want the bacon Cook Time: 20 mins Serves: 6 Notes:
Preparation: Use the stock pot to fry up the bacon. Once it is crispy. Remove bacon, but keep grease in pot. Combine all the other ingredients and cook for 15 mins. Using an emersion blender, blend until it is creamy, or if you like you can leave some texture in the chowder. You can use a regular blender and puree in batches, just be sure to place a towel and your hand on top of the blender lid because hot liquid expands. Once the chowder is a consistency you like, pour in to bowls and serve, topping with the bacon crumbles.
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“The Christian community is a community of the cross, for it has been brought into being by the cross, and the focus of it’s worship is the Lamb once slain, now glorified. So the community of the cross is a community of celebration, a Eucharistic community ceaselessly offering to God through Christ the sacrifice of our praise and thanksgiving. The Christian life is an unending festival. And the festival we keep, no that our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us, is a joyful celebration of his sacrifice, together with a spiritual feasting upon it.” -John Stott
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