tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56724265084739806722024-03-12T21:42:33.646-04:00live to lovemelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-43200173476322322082012-08-17T08:38:00.000-04:002012-08-17T08:38:32.892-04:00we've moved. <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">word on the street is, wordpress is better. i already like it more. please visit us <a href="http://oliveitall.wordpress.com/">here</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">x,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">melanie & olive</span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-29453146579966088342012-08-16T07:26:00.004-04:002012-08-16T07:29:36.985-04:00thoughtful thursday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">in december, my friend jamie and i went to </span></span><a href="http://www.wineanddesignus.com/Home_Corporate_Locations.html" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">wine & design</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> in raleigh. i was so excited when i saw this tree on their calendar. even though this date very clearly stated that it was "full," i called and told the girl on the phone that i <b>had</b> to paint that tree, that i had been wanting to paint it for a while. and i may or may not have thrown in there that i was moving in a few days. yep, that's how bad i wanted it. i was playing the sympathy card.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"> thankfully, she let me finagle two more seats in. when she and i were almost finished, she commented that mine looked sort of like an olive tree. we actually both had no idea at the time what an olive tree looked like, but i think the black circle-ovals on the limbs encouraged her to say that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">i knew olive trees were important, and i remembered reading about them in the bible. but i couldn't tell ya the significance. so i did some homework so that i could proudly proclaim this new wall art to be an olive tree. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">the Hebrew word for "olive tree" is </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">es shemen, </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">which means "tree of oil." it is from a primitive root meaning "to shine." it means "richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, olive." related to </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">shemesh, </i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">"to be </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">brilliant," which is also the Hebrew word for sun. they produce fruit well into their old age, and continue to increase in circumference each year. if the trunk is cut down, the shoots from the root continue to grow, allowing for continued existence. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">olives are crushed, beaten, bruised, and stomped on to produce oil. in biblical times, the beaten oil was used to light the lamp of the Tabernacle (exodus 27:20, leviticus 24:2) and as key player in rich feasts. it was also used to anoint those favored by God (1 sam. 1:10, 1 kings 1:39, 2 kings 9:1, 6). </span></span><a href="http://www.triumphpro.com/olive-tree-mystery.htm" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">[mystery of the olive tree]</a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">just as olives beaten and bruised, followers of jesus are persecuted and endure suffering. but with each, fruit is produced. so many times i've sat in bewilderment during a trial wondering, "why is this happening? why am i getting blamed? what have i done to deserve this?" it's only after stepping away from the scene that i can see that that, too, was for my good and His glory. we are to model our lives after jesus and love the way that he loved, not placing anyone above another. to become more like jesus, we must endure the suffering that he did. hopefully not crucifixion! but if so, glory to God. the blame, the deceit, the anger, the hurt, all of it molds us to be like-minded. the good news is - God will never abandon us during these trials! and </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">don't forget, the root of the word means "to shine." this beating and bruising we endure as we stand tall and proud for Him will allow us to shine for Him. this is just one moment, one day, and He is greater.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">2 corinthians 4:7 - 9 says, </span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">"but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">just like that little olive. the good news is, God <b>always</b> wins. </span></div>
melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-59479863799348273152012-08-15T06:56:00.000-04:002012-08-15T06:57:34.151-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter";"><span style="color: #444444;">i just found this song this morning and ohmygosh it's amazing. i haven't heard of jesus culture before today, but they are incredible. i hope you enjoy it as much as i did!</span></span></div>
melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-62809698080409424972012-08-09T10:53:00.003-04:002012-08-15T06:57:14.275-04:00thoughtful thursday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9Uo-XHVJ44K0mInsrrPYCV25qSSeAss28SPWoz05R9_ab5KJRRbU-RM9_ohyVkNMsyzaGxeFC4ukkm0UifiNtngR4R_A2Oa86EKWr2V6QId064o88YJqowAOCY4mGrmaHyBvsNxZlfl1/s1600/279504720593768194_Nf25zA62_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9Uo-XHVJ44K0mInsrrPYCV25qSSeAss28SPWoz05R9_ab5KJRRbU-RM9_ohyVkNMsyzaGxeFC4ukkm0UifiNtngR4R_A2Oa86EKWr2V6QId064o88YJqowAOCY4mGrmaHyBvsNxZlfl1/s320/279504720593768194_Nf25zA62_c.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">[get-thinspiration.tumblr.com]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">i dislike running. mostly because i am not good at it. i used to run, but s l o w l y i tapered off. school, work, life, etc. i was fine walking with olive. she sniffed around and kept a look out for the squirrels, i people-watched. everyone was happy. it wasn't until recently that i ran into a problem: almost all of my friends run. i want to <strike>be like</strike> hang out/run with them. i decided that once the deathly-hot summer passed, i would start up and get moving.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">but on monday, i felt a </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">little nudge. why was i waiting? i just kept putting it off. because i hated it. maybe because i was hoping that my brain would forget about it. walking was easy. running took dedication, commitment, and my inhaler. i already had several serious commitments, one more was just too many. but, it was time to get serious. after reading reviews, i downloaded the 5K runner and the nike apps:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/5k-runner-0-to-5k-run-training/id439852091?mt=8"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhzrr_G5L4AdHcwmACHsJzl5x_M4nX8JW7XGYjf9cGmGxPF-kjcqBktU-76MEKR0Cr66hRKyFkelbF7LjPA8xDF_PyIpd0BFMO-IL8uYczJjhFF40Mw-eVbYD73c4t5vVNkdT5JUhgXd8/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-08-09+at+10.51.28+AM.png" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nike+-running/id387771637?mt=8"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKWUeg9Wt8mL8mOBdpZASFsgfe2Y4Gapf9If-aoHRECDbCgCLcaVkTHx51mHVo-LHE3oajZzeNwRlHqOwDJRCq9hiTl0CRrhwuqajjbRULNep6lRvO9dXZMqKZ3d-B-NY__UHl1sFA_wv/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-08-09+at+10.51.47+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">i opened the nike app first, then the 5k runner, then pandora, then</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;"> i grabbed my trusty walking partner and told her we had big, new plans for the day. little did she know that she, too, would be training for a 5k!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">the nike app is great - it has a built-in GPS that tracks where you go. it also lets you know when you've reached a mile, two miles, etc. it has a lot of other great features, too! the 5k runner talks you through everything: begin with a 5 minute walk. ding - start running! ding - slow down and walk [over and over]. it breaks it down into 8 weeks, and recommends not trying to speed through the program. each week is broken down into 3 days with the recommendation of a break in between each day. so </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">not only did i have my best 4-legged-friend with me, but i also had a girl [nike] and a boy [5k] with me to encourage me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">during the run, i earned a new role of "coach". olive started to lag behind after run interval three, and i gently tugged her and told her how good she was being and to keep it up! we have completed two days already this week, and overall i think we thoroughly enjoy it! yes, i speak for the whole house, because this is the aftermath: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">immediately after [gosh, she is so pretty!]</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7fCAXmuFg-hqJwE4719QQHxDhe3FSKvDt0A4_19naT04_r2wx_bmoytcb0MgXcKJhtPNKwDHCaTTDPRXzIbaD9UIbH8GIsKBNOlHTk7TTv92umgm9ANs-F4kfJSwRzmJWdlGbItHCsWy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-09+at+11.03.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7fCAXmuFg-hqJwE4719QQHxDhe3FSKvDt0A4_19naT04_r2wx_bmoytcb0MgXcKJhtPNKwDHCaTTDPRXzIbaD9UIbH8GIsKBNOlHTk7TTv92umgm9ANs-F4kfJSwRzmJWdlGbItHCsWy/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-08-09+at+11.03.51+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">a tired dog is a happy dog! ecclesiastes 11:4 says, </span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #666666;">"Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." </span><span style="color: #444444;">instead of putting things off, commit to them today! we aren't even promised tomorrow! the reward <b>will</b> be sweet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">x,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">melanie & olive</span></span></div>
melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-83794861729214577702012-08-06T10:28:00.001-04:002012-08-10T13:58:18.129-04:00why i wouldn't be a good mental health nurse.<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">i'm too trusting. i will believe just about anything that i am told. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">i listened to multiple different stories yesterday during clinical and i became empathetic, then in shock, then i wanted to laugh, and then i was concerned. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when i </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">approached my instructor about it, she laughed and told me that they were testing me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">after said first encounters, i found it difficult to believe them. i felt like i had been played for a fool. that led to me questioning every little thing that they told me. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">this roller-coaster- thought process was making me start to feel as if</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> </span><b style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i</b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> was the one with a personality disorder. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it also opened my eyes to the reality of mental illness. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">mental illness has to do with an imbalanced amount of neurotransmitters. their brains do not produce the same signals as that of a mentally healthy individual. in learning that, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this class and clinical experience is helping to reveal why people function the way that they do.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">have you ever heard someone blatantly blame another for an action that they committed? it could be an unconscious way of protecting themselves. maybe they aren't a jerk...maybe they were abused in the past. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">have you ever watched someone isolate themselves to their room when others were around? it could be another protective measure. maybe they aren't weird or a loner, maybe they've just been rejected one too many times.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: American Typewriter;">whatever the case, this is still a person who desperately needs jesus. romans 3:23 says, "for <i>all</i> have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (NIV, emphasis added)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">do i stop trusting? no! what i want to take away from this is that i need to be more aware. i do not know everyone's intentions, nor can i relate to everyone. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but what i </span><b style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">can </b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">do is love them the way that jesus would. </span></div>
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<br /></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-13328981872044285952012-08-02T07:37:00.000-04:002012-08-10T13:58:57.818-04:00thoughtful thursday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter";"><span style="color: #666666;">it's been a very long time since i have done a "thoughtful thursday" post. mainly due to the fact that the past several thursdays i have been awake and out the door by 5:30 to get to clinical at the hospital!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">i think a lot of one's life is spent looking forward to the next step. the next day, the next season, the next job, the next level of a relationship. this can prevent us from being open to what is being given to us, and what we have <b>now</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">spending rare quality time with my 8-months-pregnant sister is such a blessing. this past weekend was one of those times. we were checking out at a store, and the lady behind the register looked at her rounded belly, then smiled at me and said, "be careful - don't drink the water!" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">"oh!" i smiled, "i think there'd be a big problem if i was pregnant right now! there is no husband or man in the picture!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">"immaculate conception!" she replied.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">as we left, she yelled behind us, "good luck with that man thing!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;"><i>yep</i>...that is <i>exactly </i>what i want to be yelled at me anywhere, much less as i am leaving a busy store. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just smile and wave, smile and wave. just like in madagascar.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">while i know that kind lady had good intentions, the fact is, i don't need luck. God is working right now in that man's life, and mine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">yes, i would love a significant other at this moment in my life. and i would love to be where i thought i'd be right out of college - married with 2.5 children. but, this journey that He has me on is different. and it's a <b>better</b> different. if i was married with 2.5 children, i might not have gone back to school to be a nurse. this singleness is a gift that He's given to me for this season of my life. some might not <i>want</i> the gift of singleness, but should we be able to decide what gift we receive? </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">psalm 84:11 says, </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: American Typewriter;">"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;"> He withholds <b>no good thing.</b> that means this is what He sees as best for me right now!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">i think the more i allow myself to take things moment by moment, day by day, i free myself from the expectations that could quite possibly let me down. today is a new day, and today i am open to whatever comes next!</span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-40379973217434253712012-08-01T09:06:00.003-04:002012-08-10T14:01:32.790-04:00back the pack!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUCAFvRmSAkQHhjXE4TGCi78RdsHDmVTPXxSDjLYursQGhwBdB5tBgC6oToMzZL010wEl3Vq2UHrIh7Ar-hgQGCoSeERJkv_nilEwvrAM1ut_DRilgYGZhy83jqnuSeYDKzkSJFatj9i7/s1600/cullen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUCAFvRmSAkQHhjXE4TGCi78RdsHDmVTPXxSDjLYursQGhwBdB5tBgC6oToMzZL010wEl3Vq2UHrIh7Ar-hgQGCoSeERJkv_nilEwvrAM1ut_DRilgYGZhy83jqnuSeYDKzkSJFatj9i7/s320/cullen.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">nathan, michael, <b>cullen</b>, and ryan </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: American Typewriter;">after winning the silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay on sunday! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; text-align: justify;">cullen jones sat beside me at the beginning of my creative writing class at nc state. he doesn't know this. hi cullen! he disappeared a few weeks later, and clearly he had über important olympic training to attend to! </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; text-align: justify;">i think we can all agree that he chose the better of the two options. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; text-align: justify;">i applaud cullen in dedicating more time to perfecting his stroke over refining his imaginative writing abilities. he quite possibly could be great at both! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">there was a lot more critique than i imagined there would be in that class. we wrote stories then passed them around the classroom, only to be told how one would have preferred the story to end. kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me! but i did learn another way to artistically express myself. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">yay, cullen [and all the other beautiful men beside you]! and yay, U-S-A!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> </span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-65548033333735502402012-07-26T09:17:00.001-04:002012-07-26T09:38:13.812-04:00misunderstood.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">"necesita un intérprete?" i asked the woman coming toward me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">she gave me a puzzled look, and with broken english, she told me that she didn't understand that much english.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;"><i>right</i>, i thought, <i>which is precisely why</i>...my thoughts trailed off as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">a lady i was working with overheard our conversation and quickly ushered the spanish interpreter in our direction. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">we sat down, and i looked at her chart, listening attentively as she did her best to articulate her words. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">the interpreter smiled at me as she sat quietly beside the sweet lady. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">after finishing her health history and admission requirements, i thanked her and asked her to go back to the waiting room.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">there, in plain sight, i read: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">Ethnicity: <b>Asian. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">awesome.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">in my defense, her last name rhymed with corazón (heart in spanish), and she looked to be more of Pacific Islander descent. anyone else would be understandably confused. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">i pointed to the chart, smiling at the interpreter. "whoops," i said. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">"i know," she smiled,"i noticed that right after sitting down." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">this made me think of my interactions with others. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">i get so excited to share my faith with nonbelievers, only to sometimes feel somewhat defeated. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">why? because i am not speaking their language. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">i tell them why Jesus is so amazing, and i'm sure it sounds pretty, but sometimes someone just isn't ready to receive it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;"> i'm sure that sweet lady in the clinic <i>wanted</i> to understand everything i was saying. but she was only capable of picking up on a few words because she wasn't equipped with the adequate resources to fully comprehend. i didn't have the right interpreter present.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Isaiah 55:11 says, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; line-height: 20px;">"so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">do i stop? no. i have so much hope for the unreached people. i remember listening when i was younger, but i wasn't able to grasp the magnitude of the message. eventually, it will click. God always wins!</span></span></div>
</div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-66178691901145290192012-07-24T21:48:00.001-04:002012-07-26T11:19:39.270-04:00you are enough.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">do you ever feel like you don't measure up?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't smart enough. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't thin enough. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't rich enough. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't beautiful enough. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't creative enough. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you aren't happy enough.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">me? yes to all. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">newsflash: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">someone will always be smarter, thinner, richer, more beautiful, more creative, and happier than you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><i>but they will never be <b>you</b>. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i can sometimes spend so much time focusing on the awful lies that Satan plants into my mind, that i tend to forget what i <i>am</i> good at, and what i <i>do </i>have to be thankful for.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">in Ephesians 3:16 - 19, Paul wrote, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (NIV 1984)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you will never be perfect, but Jesus thinks you are to die for! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when he died on the cross for you, he said, "it is finished." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">not <i>I am finished</i>, but <b>it: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the cleansing of YOUR sins. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the next time you think you don't measure up, remember that Jesus picked up that extra slack for you! you are loved, redeemed, renewed. you are <b>chosen</b>, blameless, and holy. God knows every single inch of you, and He still longs for your affection. He has plans for your future that include hope, not harm (Jeremiah 29:11).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i pray that you are able to grasp just how wide and vast and deep His love is for you.</span></div>
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</div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-62963261417917605662012-07-17T19:01:00.002-04:002012-07-26T09:32:42.238-04:00half.com<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">for starters, this is <b>not</b> a review for half.com. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">if you popped in for that, i'm very, very sorry and i hope you forgive me for my semi-false advertisement. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">to make you feel better, i have had great success with selling my books! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you should do it too!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">a month ago, i put a handful of my unused nursing books up on half.com to get rid of some clutter. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this weekend, i received an email letting me know that one had sold.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">hooray! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i threw the book (not really. it's still in perfect condition per description!) in the car yesterday </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and had every single intention of stopping by the post office on my way home from clinical yesterday afternoon. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when i walked up the steps to my house, exhausted, i stopped halfway up the stairs and remembered that book.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">darn it! i pivoted and looked at my car, then pivoted one more time and looked at my door. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">door to the house won! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i had until tuesday [today!] to ship it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i stopped by the post office after leaving school today, and was greeted by a friendly man with an australian accent. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he saw me put the book into the padded envelope and asked if i had success with the experience. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"sure! i have more money now than when i woke up this morning!" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he told me that my optimism was infectious, and that he wished he had it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"you can," i said. "just take it!" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he told me that he could never be like that and that he had already made up his opinions. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"everyone is a work in progress," i smiled back at him.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"listen to you..." he said, "what is that that you have?"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"it's jesus," i smiled.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"i thought that might be what it was..." he trailed off.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"T, i am going to pray for you," i told him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"you will!?" he lit up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><i>pause</i>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this smile that was on my face was literally stretched from ear-to-ear. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it was taking every ounce in my body not to leap for joy at the divine intervention that was occurring.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"of course!" i told him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he went on to tell me that he doesn't think anyone but his "mum" has ever said that to him...and he thought she had said it because she was worried about him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i thanked him, and smiled some more as he made more comments about how i was just standing there and "jesus-ing" him". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">hmm...he can say whatever he needs to understand it, i suppose! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he told me he just wasn't sure, that he had so much that had happened to him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"everyone has stories! trust me, i've got <i>plenty</i>," i reassured him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"i guess you're right," he commented.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i smiled even bigger at the amazingness that was unfolding in front of me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he and i both probably had no idea that one could smile so big. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i waved goodbye and thanked him, and scooted on my way, thanking God for redirecting my paths today from my exhaustion yesterday.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">The Lord is so purposeful with His work. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">every rejection is a redirection. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">every crooked path is to divert you to something better. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and you just never know who He is going to place in your life each day.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that postman said he had <b>never</b> had anyone (other than mom) tell him they would pray for him. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he had to have been at least 50. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">in fifty years,<i> just one </i>person. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but he needed to be here, in my city, and at work <b>today! </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so that i could tell him that <i>even he</i> was a work in progress.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">NOTHING is pointless with God. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">every single moment, time, and meeting has a purpose! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He is working for our good and His glory. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we just don't know what that looks like when it's right in front of us...only when we are able to take a step back and see why everything had to fall in place the way it did are we able to get even a glimpse of His plans! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">even still, we must learn to trust in His plans for our lives and allow Him to write our stories, and be intentional with the time He has given us on earth!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Proverbs 19:20 - 21 says,</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">thank you, half.com!</span></div>
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</span>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-11245460116369849272012-07-13T11:48:00.002-04:002012-07-13T15:06:40.781-04:00great is thy faithfulness.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">a year ago, i was applying to several different nursing schools, while praying earnestly that my dreams would be fulfilled.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">as i sit here today, i am taking a break from studying for my second peds test.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">at the end of the month, i will be halfway through my accelerated BSN program.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just one year, and so much change has occurred.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it is unbelievable how faithful He is.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and it's beyond imaginable what God's plans are for my life.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">to say that this has been difficult is an understatement, but i also know that this is <b>just a season.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i know that this journey is </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and that He is > than any obstacle i face</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">(yep, bringin' back the old-school math equation!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i am sitting in my parents living room studying </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and listening to the familiar sounds that i abandoned to follow my dreams.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">while every single bit of this journey has been worth it, i have a love-hate relationship with coming home.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">since arriving last night at 7 for my sistercat's baby shower, i've already cried twice.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"why are you crying?" she asked me</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"because i just hate coming home...i hate being reminded of this normalcy that i left...where my family, my life, my friends, my church, my small group girls, my comfort are," i said.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i love being here, but i hate leaving.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but i am so, so thankful for these moments that i need to cherish.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she said some über sweet sisterly words that weren't too earth shattering, but they were well-needed for my soul.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">after about 8 crocodile tears rolled down my face, i stopped and smiled.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i think the overwhelming days of feeling inadequate in school, plus feeling in over my head in schoolwork, plus seeing this adorableness in person:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://mcwonderful.blogspot.com/2012/07/twenty-eight.html">too cute for words</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just made me lose it with the emotions!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">however, those are all feelings.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">feelings are constantly changing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">our circumstances are constantly spinning around us, leaving us feeling like wreckage from a tornado afterward.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but God's promise, and His amazing mercies, grace, and rock-solid foundation</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">are helpful in remembering that i <b>am</b> inadequate without Him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i would be a disheveled mess during the storms of life if i didn't plant myself on His rock.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it's because of His faithfulness that i am standing strong, and that i have the ability to make it through this rigorous 13-month program.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">2 Corinthians 4:17-18 is just <i>one</i> glimpse of this:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">may you allow him to be > than your circumstances today!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-57774579464542254212012-06-17T07:44:00.003-04:002012-06-20T12:09:11.969-04:00how [un]sweet it is.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">have you ever forced yourself to like something? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i have.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it's called a grapefruit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i grew up thinking they were the nastiest things.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">they're so bitter, so tart, so un-orange-like.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i remember accidentally pouring myself a heaping glass of </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"orange juice," only to find out that it was </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">grapefruit juice.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">ick!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">not a good surprise.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but lately, i've been really trying to like it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">reason being?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it has a ton of health benefits.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">1 grapefruit <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25#healthbenefits">has</a>:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">73% of your daily vitamin C </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[helps in healing & strengthens your immune system]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">23 % of your daily vitamin A </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[necessary for vision]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">lycopene </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[fights free-radicals - hello, anti-tumor activity!]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">liminoids</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[more anti-tumor activity!]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">lowers cholesterol</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">prevents kidney stones</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">protects against colon cancer</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">---</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it's amazing how something so bitter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">can be so good for you.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">before i bought one to give it another spin, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i considered looking up recipes to make it taste better.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i decided against that, but i do believe that eating one like this wouldn't hurt:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3ABV76jKJrmFVnTaviP5WaElHV6HPz11iw2qqJ4ZqL5BaFZU0hQJC6ei1iKD3ArhVvoxHUjsjAyUVguVc06yvtjrJuObCcOZZ2SUQpGIXnrCOnS8MLxkm_ecamsN_saI_bKl1JSQORkP/s1600/grapefruit-gals-recipe-photo-420-0397-FF03136X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3ABV76jKJrmFVnTaviP5WaElHV6HPz11iw2qqJ4ZqL5BaFZU0hQJC6ei1iKD3ArhVvoxHUjsjAyUVguVc06yvtjrJuObCcOZZ2SUQpGIXnrCOnS8MLxkm_ecamsN_saI_bKl1JSQORkP/s320/grapefruit-gals-recipe-photo-420-0397-FF03136X.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i can't imagine having any hesitation in eating this each morning.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">unlike forcing myself to like grapefruits,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God never has to force himself to like me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He just does.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He doesn't imagine what he can add to me to make me better,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and He doesn't think i'm bitterly-awful.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Genesis 1:27 says, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">"God created man in his own image..."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and Jeremiah 31:3 says</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">, "I have loved you with an everlasting love;</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">I have drawn you with loving-kindness."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God drew man in his image.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">perfectly created.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but because of temptation and sinful desires,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we screwed everything up!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that slithery-snake, Satan, encouraged Eve to doubt God's goodness,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and to take a bite.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it was her lack of willpower,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and her husband, Adam, and his decision to keep mum & not stop her,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that led to our downfall.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">yes, they were a team. no more pointing fingers at Eve!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i look to Him in amazement and wonder each day:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how could someone love us <b>so much</b>?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how could He see us in all our filth and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">still want to spend time with us?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we who have all of the fears,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">all of the complaining, arguing, boasting, resentfulness;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">all of the attitudes that would make us </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">turn our noses up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">because His son died for every single one of our sins, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that's how.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He just does.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">before taking his last breath,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Jesus said, "it is finished."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">not "I am finished,"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">IT.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the cleansing of our sins.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the forgiveness we don't deserve.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the grace that we need to get into heaven.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God looked at him and saw every awful thing we've done or will do,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and wiped it clean.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so when we choose to love Jesus,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and choose to accept his love,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God declares us innocent,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">justifying us, by grace through faith in Christ.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Romans 3:23 - 25 says,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i look at my grapefruit with a new perspective.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i see it in its purest form:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God created that fruit for me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He made it for my well-being and health.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i will attempt to look at it similar to how he sees me: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">perfect, and beneficial to multiplying his kingdom.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how amazing, and what grace.</span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-84088066000373853832012-05-12T10:54:00.002-04:002012-07-13T15:09:03.125-04:00how rudeee.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCCzcnr3AV_G7WyVnYv-jA03WmZsYpCMkJkZ9Yfr-QuIEblBDSCbe6UHOkLJNN_DMwF11_nkIBCN26ZFbFdB_Kh4fBkJWIMLU8tyRFcrqH3Guu1GW-PqhhadrlD-1LM0_7VlMjxQ2WxHS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-05-12+at+10.39.36+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCCzcnr3AV_G7WyVnYv-jA03WmZsYpCMkJkZ9Yfr-QuIEblBDSCbe6UHOkLJNN_DMwF11_nkIBCN26ZFbFdB_Kh4fBkJWIMLU8tyRFcrqH3Guu1GW-PqhhadrlD-1LM0_7VlMjxQ2WxHS/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-05-12+at+10.39.36+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">whyyy must target send me an email to let me know that they have</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">an orange kitchenaid mixer on sale,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when it doesn't exactly fit in my nursing school budget?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">yes, my white one is fine.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but it's <b>fine.</b> not orange. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i think stephanie tanner said it best, "how rude!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUIu8cIzKKzqHhMSYmkhFM_Vq723MD-K6-UkcjxjPDVsR-c44fRwDIRzhQ9oUffDQgj5V_t15KNWI6DOWffwfc2krwUec8uk37BBi8EcEkYOOI8tIJsU4LODq85AcqOqv7LT1qByBXER-/s1600/medium_screen_shot_2011-03-01_at_10.07.16_am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUIu8cIzKKzqHhMSYmkhFM_Vq723MD-K6-UkcjxjPDVsR-c44fRwDIRzhQ9oUffDQgj5V_t15KNWI6DOWffwfc2krwUec8uk37BBi8EcEkYOOI8tIJsU4LODq85AcqOqv7LT1qByBXER-/s1600/medium_screen_shot_2011-03-01_at_10.07.16_am.png" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i miss good tv & pretending to live in the tanner household.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>fact</b>: when i was little, i asked my mom if i could change my name to stephanie.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>fact</b>: i changed my middle name to "jackson" on my graduation announcements. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why? because my parents had boy names picked out when i was in utero.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and they were cool, strong names: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">william kyle & kyle jackson, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">after my mom's dad, who had since passed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but then i popped out, and they were unprepared. whoops!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">since they gave me a family middle name that sort of rhymes with "walrus,"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and that spawned lots of lovely nick names,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i decided to take matters into my own hands and change those silly announcements.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i told her i was going to march right down to the social security office</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">to take care of business.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">long story short,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i never changed my name.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">mom decided to go to kinko's and print off little cards with my real name,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">making sure that i knew what a pain in the butt i was along the way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">thankfully, she learned patience and how to love me in another way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">hooray!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i don't know where i'd be without that woman.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she prayed and prayed and prayed for me and my stubbornness and </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">lack of obedience, and risk-taking abilities.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and tada - God answered!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i was pretty great at being bold and pushing the limits.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and now God is using all of that boldness for His glory.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how amazing, and how perfect are His plans.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">without that beautiful, sweet mom of mine showing me </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Roxygirl';">love and discipline,</span> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just like God does for us,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">I wouldn't be here today.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">job 5:17 - 18 says, "Blessed is the man <b>whom God corrects</b>; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">thank goodness for that!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">His blessings for us are plain to Him!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He doesn't know pain, He just knows what we need.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we are the ones that hurt or receive joy from the gifts He gives us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but whatever that gift looks like, it is only for our good, and His glory.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He wants us to reach out to Him in need and use that gift to grow closer to Him!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">not allowing our circumstances to define us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just like job. what a life that guy had!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">thankful today, and everyday, for one of the greatest gifts and blessings in my life:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">mom, i love you! your joy for this world and your huge heart have </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">shown me what true love looks like. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">if i become <b>half</b> the woman that you are,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that would mean <b>a whole lot</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Sugar Noodles';"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: 'Pea Sugar Noodles';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Kadee';">Happy mother’s day!</span></span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-36811266694328372412012-05-01T21:03:00.001-04:002012-05-01T21:03:54.617-04:00i choose jesus.<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rL2bZfHmsDs" width="560"></iframe></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-49024230900697532222012-04-27T10:07:00.000-04:002012-04-27T10:26:44.408-04:00love is a choice.<br />
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">"My command is this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Pea Sugar Noodles'; font-size: 16pt;">Love each other as I have loved you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">Greater love has no love than
this, that he lay down his life for his friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">You are my friends if you do
what I command. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master's business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Pea Lisel Caps'; font-size: 13pt;">Instead, I call you friends</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter Condensed'; font-size: 13pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Pupcat; font-size: 14pt;">You did not choose me, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Pupcat; font-size: 18pt;">but I chose you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">and appointed you to go bear
fruit -- fruit that will last. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">Then the Father will give you
whatever you ask in my name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">This is my command: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Pea Righton'; font-size: 13pt;">Love each other." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">- John 15:12-17</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Pea Righton'; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>FACTS</u></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">we are called to love just as
he loved us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>what his love looks like: </u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">he laid down his life for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>what he calls us:</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">his friends<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>friend </b>(frend) - <b><i>n</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">a person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty; </span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">an intimate</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 15px;"><b>friendship </b>(frend-ship) - <b><i>n</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">1. the state of being a friend; association as friends</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">2. a friendly relation or intimacy</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>what it all means:</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">love like him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">love our friends like he loves
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">lay down our lives for our
friends<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><b>he is our friend.</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">what do you do with your friends?</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">do you spend time with them?</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">do you talk to them?</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">do you ask them for advice? </span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">do you laugh with them?</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">perfect! </span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">Jesus is exactly what you've been looking for!</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">we are to spend time with him like the friend he is.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Pea Righton'; font-size: 17px;">with liking, affection, and loyalty</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">this gives devotion a new meaning to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">my morning devotions are literally that. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">i am devoting my time </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 15px;">to uncover more about my friend.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">i want to devote myself wholly to him,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> giving him the attention he deserves.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">just like any friend i have on earth.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">daily</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">hourly</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">thinking of him F I R S T </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 15px;">before acting.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">are my actions going to be detrimental to our friendship?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">we are to lay down our lives
for him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">because he did it for us,</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">and because</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">that's what's friends do when they love you!</span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><u>putting it all together:</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">put aside selfish desire and
want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">and serve him out of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">serve him by sitting by
someone you don’t want to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">someone that you know doesn’t
know him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">serve him by reaching out to
someone in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">serve him by shining, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">even when a lost person tries
to put your light out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">they want that light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">and eventually their darkness
will crack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">love is a choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Pupcat; font-size: 20pt;">he chose us.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter Condensed'; font-size: 13pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">and we must choose to love
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">love must be learned again and
again; there is NO end to it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">just like His love for
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">unending and everlasting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;">be
blessed & keep shining!</span><span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-23330750778018323302012-04-16T10:59:00.002-04:002012-04-17T17:48:36.353-04:00update.<div style="text-align: center;">
what i'm doing:</div>
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i just finished my first round of clinical!</div>
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hooray!</div>
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i was blessed with a great instructor,</div>
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great nurses who loved to teach me,</div>
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great patients who allowed me to learn,</div>
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and a great group to learn with!</div>
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back to school tomorrow to learn more,</div>
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and to help me to continue to grow to be a great nurse.</div>
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<br /></div>
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what i'm eating:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1LF7k-W13gFCuKo3h7SAU2Ex-G90pxYs8M79Z80ycTvf5e509N6TOfqmw278q5H7p4v1joQtKO850owTo1k3J7ulicUF_UvTy9rmlFfFZB9PW83OKScft46tNCdOEa2W9qWYuu0b-xP2/s1600/green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1LF7k-W13gFCuKo3h7SAU2Ex-G90pxYs8M79Z80ycTvf5e509N6TOfqmw278q5H7p4v1joQtKO850owTo1k3J7ulicUF_UvTy9rmlFfFZB9PW83OKScft46tNCdOEa2W9qWYuu0b-xP2/s320/green.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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yep, it's green.</div>
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and it's called a green monster.</div>
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this isn't my first rodeo, </div>
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i blogged about it <a href="http://oliveitall.blogspot.com/2011/02/green-monster.html">here</a>.</div>
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it's probably full of nickel.</div>
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and i <strike>probably</strike> don't care.</div>
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at all. because it's good.</div>
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and it's good for me.</div>
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and because God said in Genesis 1:29,</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."</span></div>
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so, thank you very much, God, I will eat it.</div>
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and I will rejoice in doing so.</div>
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<br /></div>
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what it's made of:</div>
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spinach</div>
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frozen bananas</div>
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frozen pineapple</div>
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strawberries</div>
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1 T chia seeds</div>
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1 T almond butter</div>
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1 t maca powder</div>
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1/4 c coconut yogurt</div>
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12 oz water</div>
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what it tastes like:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'clementine sketch'; font-size: 36px;">amazingness</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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fact: that's an actual word.</div>
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i thought i made it up,</div>
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but it seems that someone else out there is just as clever as i.</div>
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see <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=amazingness">here</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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what i'm learning:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gB20lC7WRpE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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final product:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsM2qpxYpKhEnNsaPtS68kXr3ztljW9DnU_5oezpqMHRZzGXo_oprCXTaAo4IuOU0dGEqQGq6IUFwDxzu7RTOL1OU7oTlVUTqyi8JqrFdgWxm4N7LkbvxPDkv7Tn1X-3E0FDVbGyikxZBB/s1600/236790892878001037_nuEXj9Xf_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsM2qpxYpKhEnNsaPtS68kXr3ztljW9DnU_5oezpqMHRZzGXo_oprCXTaAo4IuOU0dGEqQGq6IUFwDxzu7RTOL1OU7oTlVUTqyi8JqrFdgWxm4N7LkbvxPDkv7Tn1X-3E0FDVbGyikxZBB/s320/236790892878001037_nuEXj9Xf_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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i have attempted this twice.</div>
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twice at 5:30am before going to the hospital.</div>
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before finding a video and attempting to just braid then bun.</div>
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but as it turns out, there's an art to it.</div>
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and it takes time. not 5 minutes.</div>
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will repost later when i master it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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what i'm living:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GffphIMwci36blba6kpcEx7DPlMMAputnWmw4G9DnT9YWswCZUoDeTh_s0BJjWTvq00ejJBL7oR1gEcubNx4TVZ-ggrUDNuQFHC1XMKeNo550ABCJCKloMVc4ci8oyliTNm-E2l0i5wd/s1600/attitude.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GffphIMwci36blba6kpcEx7DPlMMAputnWmw4G9DnT9YWswCZUoDeTh_s0BJjWTvq00ejJBL7oR1gEcubNx4TVZ-ggrUDNuQFHC1XMKeNo550ABCJCKloMVc4ci8oyliTNm-E2l0i5wd/s320/attitude.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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striving daily to have an attitude worth catching.</div>
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loving like jesus.</div>
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he died for me,</div>
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being bold for him is the least i can do!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil & he will <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Mee-Mee';">FLEE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'clementine sketch';"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'clementine sketch';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">from you." - james 4:7</span></div>
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keep shining!</div>
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<br /></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-22149887619106284752012-03-30T09:10:00.001-04:002012-03-30T09:13:56.800-04:00how to survive a nickel allergy.<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i found a study <a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/content/114/7/1280.full.pdf">here</a> that tested the correlation of </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">nickel and iron metabolism in rats.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">on page 1285 at the bottom left, it says: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> "high intake of nickel was toxic [100 mcg]...these rats exhibited the lowest hematocrit [percentage of red blood cells - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">if this is low, your RBC's are low] and hemoglobin [this is the iron-containing protein that delivers oxygen to the RBC's - each heme contains 1 iron atom, so if your hemoglobin is low, your iron is low]...manifestations were not seen when the rats </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">were given 100 mcg iron with the 100 mcg Ni/g diet."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this means that they correspond to one another.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so eating a diet high in iron [or supplementing]</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">will prevent impairment of iron metabolism.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">vitamin C fits in because it enhances iron absorption.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
i also found a study by the FDA</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/TotalDietStudy/UCM184301.pdf">total diet study</a>]</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
that looked at the different amounts of elements in food from 2006 - 2008.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
nickel is documented on pages 106 - 116.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
looking at the mean, some of the higher nickel-containing foods are:</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">pinto beans</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">lima beans</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">granola with raisins</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">whole wheat bread</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">avocado [awesome, just yesterday i thought it was fine]</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">oat ring cereal [i don't know what that is, but it sounds weird]</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">sunflower seeds</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
...</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>creamy peanut butter </b>[0.474 mg/kg]</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><b>plain milk chocolate candy bar </b>[1.00 mg/kg]</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">this has milk in it. which dilutes the chocolate a bit.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">so dark is higher.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">which is what i eat.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
...</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
ohmygoodness i am going to die.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
i am going to detox for a couple of weeks,</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
then slowly introduce things that i'm used to eating.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
this will allow me to see what in particular is causing my reaction.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
then i can always eat a handful of vitamin C with a handful of pb m&m's</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
or my pb chocolate chip cookies </div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
[or as my friends call them, "crack cookies," because they are so so so amazing].</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
men and women should consume no more than 1 mg/day of nickel,</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
found <a href="http://iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/ULs%20for%20Vitamins%20and%20Elements.pdf">here</a>.<br />
so that means that 1 milk chocolate candy bar is your day's worth<br />
of nickel.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
i feel a little better.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
and a little less chicken-little-esque.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
the sky is <b>not falling</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MJ-iMvrLcEJAjCsHdI_a_TqVhWuej2vp1H9zvmG7dk8ZJV8FP559PIZaeggfyz1XwcWuGP8T9iYxzTo2k7yHxoSmcFEpz0me44MuG4ucJiZ1Z6UdWs5bBkFUd5msC6WvYxCkdt2PTMDo/s1600/chickenlittle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MJ-iMvrLcEJAjCsHdI_a_TqVhWuej2vp1H9zvmG7dk8ZJV8FP559PIZaeggfyz1XwcWuGP8T9iYxzTo2k7yHxoSmcFEpz0me44MuG4ucJiZ1Z6UdWs5bBkFUd5msC6WvYxCkdt2PTMDo/s320/chickenlittle.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
worrying about what to eat is crazy.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
we are told in matthew 6:31 - 34,</div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"so do not worry, saying 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?'</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">or 'what shall we wear?' for the pagans run after all these things, and <b>your heavenly Father knows that you need them.</b> but first seek his kingdom and his</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">itself. each day has enough trouble of its own."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">so to all you chicken little's out there,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">the sky is not falling.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">today is a new day.</span></div>
</div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-58173061899466630442012-03-29T10:21:00.000-04:002012-03-30T08:20:47.966-04:00nickel-free?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this is going to be a fun post to write...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and long. so i'm sorry in advance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">ever since i was 12, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i have been very intuitive </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">about what i put into my body.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i've driven both parents crazy with my "weekly diets,"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">as they would call them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">if dad was grilling steak - it was steak or nothing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i chose nothing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">mom would make something for me to eat & eat it with me,</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">just so she knew i was eating.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">fast forward 4 years.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">sitting in high school i have itchy hives all over me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the wheals would dissipate as soon as i rushed to the doctor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">three visits later, i finally got those suckers to stick around</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">only to be told that it was urticaria.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">what?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"we don't know why you have it," my PA said,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"too tight of clothes, stress, fragrances in laundry detergent..."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i wasn't really sure how a t-shirt fit into the "too tight of clothes" column,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i assumed it was the two later.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so <a href="http://www.all-laundry.com/freeclear/">all free clear</a> was bought & that was that.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">fast forward 10 hive-filled years and i go to the allergist</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">allergies to cats, grass, dustmites, cockroaches, pumpkin and maybe cinnamon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">fast forward 6 months later,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">still have 'em.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and added to that, i have the worst case of "athlete's foot"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i've ever seen.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i even decided to take it with me to africa,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">where it spread to my hands.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i went to my dermatologist upon returning last july,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and she ran to get her book.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"did it look like this?" she asked,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">after i described the nightmare i'd had three weeks earlier [itchy, painful,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">embarrassing, debilitating blisters].</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"YES!" I said</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"that's not athlete's foot, that's <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001835/">dyshidrotic eczema,</a>" she said.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">awesome. makes sense. i have eczema in the winter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i have asthma, i have seasonal allergies. i <b>should</b> also have that.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">no cure, just creams. avoid wet hands, avoid things that irritate it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so three ago i welcomed it back [hooray!].</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and yesterday it was exacerbated as i was frequently using </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the hand sanitizer at the hospital.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and last night, i did some fun research:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1122527-overview#aw2aab6b2b2aa">dyshydrotic background, epidemiology, etiology, etc</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this site mentioned nickel.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i remember seeing that last year, and thinking "i'm not around a lot of nickel,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that can't be it..."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">well, haha joke's on me.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">what foods contain nickel?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">apparently nickel is basically in everything that i eat.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">since i have decided to be quite the health-nut & picky eater,</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i consume an abundance of nickel. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">basically because it's in the water, which is in the soil, which nourishes the foods that i eat.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i found this article that interviewed a super cute doctor in ohio:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/releases/Pages/Nickel-Food-Allergies.aspx">rash of nickel food diet linked to healthier diet</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">symptoms: rash on palms of hands [check], elbows [check], fatigue [check], nausea [check], headaches [check], joint pain [idk]</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so sistercat, when you say "you're <i>always</i> nauseous and tired", </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">turns out that it makes sense for me to be, and i'm allowed to say that.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>my mom two weeks ago:</b> "do you think your skin allergies have anything to do with your diet?"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>me</b>: "NO mom! of course not! what could i possibly be eating that would cause this?? i eat so healthy!!"</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">ok. i'm glad i asked myself.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">while i've found conflicting websites (high amounts on one site, low on another),</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">here they are:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[from the <a href="http://www.melisa.org/nickel.php">MELISA MEDICA Foundation</a> - dedicated to the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">science of metal allergy & its diagnosis when treating so-called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"incurable diseases, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or ME), </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Mutiple Sclerosis (MS), or other autoimmune and allergic diseases."]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLO0CLjaH77xoKoHAFO1SLZAKlTS5JGCcSG59N6pp72cT2t9dky8hH-zJB_Loma2oMpPlgqpqADD0lS4KmZBJGBdE_bnILQAQDU9dna9a90ySe5Ph7f5wRk0nGqUFexYIw5zhkIsr_dU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-28+at+11.06.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLO0CLjaH77xoKoHAFO1SLZAKlTS5JGCcSG59N6pp72cT2t9dky8hH-zJB_Loma2oMpPlgqpqADD0lS4KmZBJGBdE_bnILQAQDU9dna9a90ySe5Ph7f5wRk0nGqUFexYIw5zhkIsr_dU/s640/Screen+Shot+2012-03-28+at+11.06.48+PM.png" width="539" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">this list is from Sweden - so what's high there could be low here & vice versa.</span></div>
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again - dependent upon the soil.</div>
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<a href="http://www.athenaallergy.com/Nickel-Allergy-Diet.html">athena allergy [the nickel allergy experts]:</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1gOY6j8Yr9XNTiIksxF1RidLfEx6VswHCNmPznqMux88VcfFwnnYpiQsAoowwHSsm-TQh2J4Odkr2f36wCLDK0DV1tj5rmTa2gGbDintRTMmIjFJj8xTsmeY2cDapZRe9cx2Mcq-56WJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-29+at+10.06.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1gOY6j8Yr9XNTiIksxF1RidLfEx6VswHCNmPznqMux88VcfFwnnYpiQsAoowwHSsm-TQh2J4Odkr2f36wCLDK0DV1tj5rmTa2gGbDintRTMmIjFJj8xTsmeY2cDapZRe9cx2Mcq-56WJ/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-03-29+at+10.06.50+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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from america: huntersville, nc to be exact [my home state!]</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">other dietary nickel to avoid:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">chocolate & cocoa powder [especially dark - the best for you]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">all nuts [walnuts, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, soy nuts]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">all seeds [sunflower seeds, linseed</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">licorice [nooo problem avoiding this]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">baking powder [they have aluminum free...i wonder if i can get nickel free]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">gelatin </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">marzipan [almond paste, makes sense]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">margarine [maybe because it's made w/ soybean oil/plant sterols?]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">commercial salad dressings</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">vitamins containing nickel</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">canned foods</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">stainless-steel cooking vessels used for cooking acidic foods </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[ex: cooking oranges/strawberries/apples in stainless steel pot will allow nickel to seep into foods - so either don't do it or use non-stick pots/pans - caphalon, tefal, rachael ray, paula dean, etc.]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the first quart of tap water drawn from any faucet in the morning </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[hopefully water filter will help this, need to look into it more what it's actually filtering out.]</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">ways to prevent your body from absorbing nickel from each meal:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">eat vitamin C supplement with each meal</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">eat high-iron diet</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">vitamin C helps iron absorption</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the vitamin C apparently binds to nickel,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">preventing your body from absorbing it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">do i have a nickel allergy?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i don't know. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but i'm willing to avoid foods to give it a shot.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">what will i eat?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">um...good question.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">still working that one out.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">maybe just avocados, apples, oranges, salmon, coconut milk yogurt, celery, and salmon.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">those are the only things i can think of that i currently have in my refrigerator </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">that don't show up on the second list.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the good news: i LOVE coconut milk more than almond milk.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i have the creamer, the yogurt, the milk, the kiefer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the bad news: no more almond butter, no more beans, no more</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">soy anything, no more hot buckwheat cereal, no more nuts, no more chocolate, [insert </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">anything else yummy that love to eat and that's healthy]</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">also, i need to avoid alcohol on my hands for work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i am investing in some more of this stuff: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PQM8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p121_d0_g121_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=152SJ4VHX04BHHP2Q1F2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846">cleanwell all natural hand sanitizer</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i've used it before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it smells "earthy,"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but i guess it's worth smelling like that</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">than getting blisters all over my hands. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">day 1 of food diary starts now.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">more helpful websites:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://www.nsc.gov.sg/showpage.asp?id=137">national skin centre</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/287917-nickel-free-diet-acceptable-foods/">livestrong</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-50494632498567889432012-03-20T09:50:00.000-04:002012-03-20T14:14:27.782-04:00thoughtful tuesday.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">it's been a while!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">my first semester is winding down,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and it's the first day of spring.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">today i was reading my bible, and i found this:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"who can straighten what he has made crooked?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when times are good, be happy;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but when times are bad, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">consider:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God has made the one as well as the other.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Therefore, a man cannot discover</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">anything about his future."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">- Ecclesiastes 7:13 - 14</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God has made today.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He has blessed me with this amazing weather,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">my time to study for finals,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">my sweet friend, lauren,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">who is the perfect study date,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and <a href="http://www.krankiescoffee.com/">Krankie's</a>,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">a coffee shop perfect for studying </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[and who has outdoor seating!].</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBnwLQIpmW7iIXLJ4C7aCc2UoVSL5IXauvKh_kdVSJbPZs5MPeYTs-F2nV1v9P9BTBSwsdcuqrYY937twU9ysz54AHNDT5wBYwrdVxQHpPN93TUx3a8_axJh3vkLT6hP87OBVgdcsl3qh/s1600/photo-39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBnwLQIpmW7iIXLJ4C7aCc2UoVSL5IXauvKh_kdVSJbPZs5MPeYTs-F2nV1v9P9BTBSwsdcuqrYY937twU9ysz54AHNDT5wBYwrdVxQHpPN93TUx3a8_axJh3vkLT6hP87OBVgdcsl3qh/s400/photo-39.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i think about that verse that i fell upon today,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i think about the "why's" that i've asked God lately.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why is this happening? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why am i having to learn this?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why do i feel alone in this new city?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why don't i have peace with disorganization around me?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i feel like a 5-year-old when God answers me </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">with this verse, as if saying, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"because I said so."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i straighten up my posture and thank Him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and my why's now turn to,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why would i want the straight and narrow?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why should i expect to learn anything from an easy path?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">why should i expect to grow without any zigs or zags?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"> i don't <b>need</b> to know anything about my future.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i don't <b>need</b> to squint far off into the horizon.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i <b>need</b> to rest in Him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i <b>need</b> to look to Him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and know that He has already been through today.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He knows what it looks like.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and my yesterdays turned out ok,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so why wouldn't my tomorrows?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i want to be thankful for more things.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and recognize the blessings and gifts he has given me,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and entrusted me with!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">so i am going to challenge myself</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">[and you!]</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">to slow down and live fully </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><b>right where you are</b>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">read this book,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">one thousand gifts</a>,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">by ann voskamp,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">if you have time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but if you don't, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">celebrate each day with three things you are thankful for,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and reap the blessings that God will bestow you with.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5j_6Q4TSTJloXC9eBO_ytXYUhss83rvTGzOF7LBU7O6KIJ64As2tstVHejoQmvp_GE0M5SF-pukEbWwGmhVli15NT_hRaHKZwnh1qMuJPE92Y4TB7ouGR0FFKKJ7o8yysfj_MmIcFmqf/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-20+at+9.55.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5j_6Q4TSTJloXC9eBO_ytXYUhss83rvTGzOF7LBU7O6KIJ64As2tstVHejoQmvp_GE0M5SF-pukEbWwGmhVli15NT_hRaHKZwnh1qMuJPE92Y4TB7ouGR0FFKKJ7o8yysfj_MmIcFmqf/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-03-20+at+9.55.59+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: 'Pea Righton'; font-size: 24px;"> . . . keep shining . . .</span></span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-64136074286168917522012-03-13T06:54:00.001-04:002012-03-13T06:54:39.974-04:00birthday brain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i have a test today that includes the CNS system.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and today is also the birthday of one of my newest bffs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3HX8bKgw_A9GV0-0pVB0rJyClygEC3jC23zNYybnLm421yfO4HKvnWGZ7b9rnjFg52iukO2MvQz5sWpVHLA4mDCUyJZJFZO4saKy6fhBpX-Pznq53TBfcyq4IuPxrTnx8RzK5Yqy4x56/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-03-13+at+6.53.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3HX8bKgw_A9GV0-0pVB0rJyClygEC3jC23zNYybnLm421yfO4HKvnWGZ7b9rnjFg52iukO2MvQz5sWpVHLA4mDCUyJZJFZO4saKy6fhBpX-Pznq53TBfcyq4IuPxrTnx8RzK5Yqy4x56/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-03-13+at+6.53.17+AM.png" width="308" /></a> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">happy birthday, lauren!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i've only known you for 10 weeks and</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i already can't live without you!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRJqUxh0XpZ75vzzO2WKfCDieyI7wSG4PF3sBn_sUIuu1gFwZYsRFLUddAbHSdqIMF3duAVi7uVyUGmr8Yvoics_eoCmbfGB8h_iVmwUn5Hlb4sfPgUq3e1sWVLGKpY8bvp0lm6nCC2EP/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRJqUxh0XpZ75vzzO2WKfCDieyI7wSG4PF3sBn_sUIuu1gFwZYsRFLUddAbHSdqIMF3duAVi7uVyUGmr8Yvoics_eoCmbfGB8h_iVmwUn5Hlb4sfPgUq3e1sWVLGKpY8bvp0lm6nCC2EP/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-25235188492923981912012-03-10T09:50:00.000-05:002012-03-10T09:50:00.570-05:00jc's in the house.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i empathize with this girl.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i had back surgery 8 years ago </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and afterwards was so high on pain meds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i remember talking about the strangest </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">things with my friends who were visiting me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">but what's so cool about this video,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">is that she raps about jesus while high on pain meds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">sharin' the gospel, no matter your circumstances :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m1IKPV9Emds" width="420"></iframe></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-3828805999349969382012-03-08T18:49:00.003-05:002012-03-08T18:50:12.621-05:00don't give up on us.<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Tif84uSNz0" width="420"></iframe></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-32693097906001511562012-02-18T14:33:00.001-05:002012-02-18T14:33:32.927-05:00this is my story.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DP4Kl0Cfywc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i hear these people askin' me</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">how do i know what i believe?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">well i'm not the same</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and that's all the proof i need.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">i felt love and i felt grace.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">you stole my heart that day.</span></div>
<br />melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-14283521437145211292012-02-09T19:22:00.000-05:002012-02-09T19:24:27.689-05:00thoughtful thursday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSTdWPQ6PmEzWCKpe1a1gC5OUGZYNHHcR6PjnKUo8IDIU6HGJxHbddUh98FLLmbTr8-ncrbfrP7kAKgOrfHVkDDvAoqvtQvKxSrVTnE5gpu8liXDv1Oys-M77YnexDGVG3tDjgiYQp6xq/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSTdWPQ6PmEzWCKpe1a1gC5OUGZYNHHcR6PjnKUo8IDIU6HGJxHbddUh98FLLmbTr8-ncrbfrP7kAKgOrfHVkDDvAoqvtQvKxSrVTnE5gpu8liXDv1Oys-M77YnexDGVG3tDjgiYQp6xq/s320/photo.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">God sees you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and He knows you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and just like in poker, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">He wants to "up the ante."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">He knows what you've got going on,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and He is going to use it for His glory </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">on His timing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">one day you will get to a point where you can stop and look back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">but this time you will be able to look back with a different perspective.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">you will be able to see what you've done,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and look at the messes you've made,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and see the pits that you've put yourself in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">then you will realize that even in those pits,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b>God never left you.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">you will realize that He was actually the One that pulled you out of them,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">before He set you back on solid ground.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and then you will realize that the messes and the pits </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">molded you to who you needed to be for Him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">one day you will realize that </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He actually<b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">doesn't care</span> </b>how big of a mess you think you've made.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He's got people who can take your story and raise you one.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">one of the things that makes scripture so amazing,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">is that God uses regular people to do extraordinary things. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He uses <b>you</b> to do His work for His glory.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Samson loved the ladies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he pursued them like crazy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he went against what God had said was right.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">when one special girl pursued him, he gave in.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he told her his secret & she spilled it to his enemies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">the Philistines cut off his hair, the source of his strength. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">then they gouged his eyes out. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">after imprisoning him </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and torturing him,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">Samson asked God for just<b> one more</b> ounce of strength.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">then he pushed the pillars of the temple down,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">killing himself along with all the Philistines who captured and persecuted him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">he killed more enemies when he died than while he lived.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and he gave all the glory to God while doing so.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and then there was Rahab. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she was a prostitute.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">God didn't use her <b>after</b> she was a prostitute.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He used her <b>while</b> she was a prostitute.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she trusted God & allowed Him to help her assist the Israelite spies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she hid the spies that were sent to do God's work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and when they left her</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">they promised to spare her & her family.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">she betrayed her city, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and honored God.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and He rescued her from captivity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">so...your story.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">your mess.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">your disaster.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">is <b>His</b> story.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and regardless of your messy, disastrous life,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: large;"><b>He still loves you.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and He's making beauty from the ashes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He writes this story.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">He has the pen and paper.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we are the ink that moves it forward.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">do you believe that He could use you?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">"I have loved you with an everlasting love; </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">I have <b>drawn you</b> with loving-kindness." </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">- Jeremiah 31:3</span></div>
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<br /></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672426508473980672.post-60911243884198658182012-02-08T06:12:00.001-05:002012-02-10T05:58:20.321-05:00what i've been doing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">wearing Grey's Anatomy scrubs,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and wishing I could be on it in real life.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">while also wishing they were real life people,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and i was real life friends with them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYwglFekSdjymRXj_Ce4nrSoGEFDQrIUdPGk0mpY3csbyfjBf110sDdPVV0Ev1uNwgf3M7Gnzjhx1oY1UwPyBjjNVu9VmiMfdjpND8bMF3pMENZ8zUy_agABCsQ6LGsQ0X96ZzVgmVJiy/s1600/photo5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYwglFekSdjymRXj_Ce4nrSoGEFDQrIUdPGk0mpY3csbyfjBf110sDdPVV0Ev1uNwgf3M7Gnzjhx1oY1UwPyBjjNVu9VmiMfdjpND8bMF3pMENZ8zUy_agABCsQ6LGsQ0X96ZzVgmVJiy/s320/photo5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">practicing vital signs on Olive,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and giving her treats for being such a good patient.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsOfJ85NbWPfN11JPIV95MS23oW2BtDjRuh8-_DeeHpRk38-QphMR3u2aMDBwhX43eq4jTw2wk7vmpcb8IIOMbsLVT3JNmqntZ-6OPL1UYQfbSYbMVDbgHUFigwnRtk-qBHzJgx_hlyRY/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsOfJ85NbWPfN11JPIV95MS23oW2BtDjRuh8-_DeeHpRk38-QphMR3u2aMDBwhX43eq4jTw2wk7vmpcb8IIOMbsLVT3JNmqntZ-6OPL1UYQfbSYbMVDbgHUFigwnRtk-qBHzJgx_hlyRY/s320/photo2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">practicing ROM on Olive:</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/U92rXhKc-yA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">reading truth in my Fundamentals book:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE7Zr956zHcNhCk-OT6ZmC_Ja3SMGCOoDcC9ayZ2EF3aOdHH_pWNPW_Cr4nTSG_CEgqrdrP2-DNV2vt8vcxDxvmx5v7Un5aCqqNgYCTBzzPzUuCFUZzxHQ7Vmg5amXCVeoIKRFAJroL1v/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE7Zr956zHcNhCk-OT6ZmC_Ja3SMGCOoDcC9ayZ2EF3aOdHH_pWNPW_Cr4nTSG_CEgqrdrP2-DNV2vt8vcxDxvmx5v7Un5aCqqNgYCTBzzPzUuCFUZzxHQ7Vmg5amXCVeoIKRFAJroL1v/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">keeping myself <strike>sane</strike> entertained on a saturday night:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5B33r0xhRYEVOLtijUp_OGjDdmdOOrUlHalWqp8rb8WOXZZLs0TGH6GPbam9vP57HlRFIEx424sqBA2amKZG27r06l3BwFkubJ6sORGFvW9Bt87WaEkZmeVh6Az4sMuF4eEjIxexlsa1/s1600/photo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5B33r0xhRYEVOLtijUp_OGjDdmdOOrUlHalWqp8rb8WOXZZLs0TGH6GPbam9vP57HlRFIEx424sqBA2amKZG27r06l3BwFkubJ6sORGFvW9Bt87WaEkZmeVh6Az4sMuF4eEjIxexlsa1/s320/photo4.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">falling in love with my patients:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFdlNen1XKLd5aP7zPHdV4x5WI8AdAMjOmJRl226YEGMww0d3X5cj-K5Nl495g7Gr_AI3ZCopR89wlPbhXetEeRG3xtkoniPDGWWeup-CxBVTUNH_G3tzCLg4A6ta8U3veCgln09-1sB2/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFdlNen1XKLd5aP7zPHdV4x5WI8AdAMjOmJRl226YEGMww0d3X5cj-K5Nl495g7Gr_AI3ZCopR89wlPbhXetEeRG3xtkoniPDGWWeup-CxBVTUNH_G3tzCLg4A6ta8U3veCgln09-1sB2/s320/photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and falling in love with my nursing family:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgVy8CluPRh26eIFn2h1ZOFzuc_SgB3fsPfdYvdDUfx7995IWRUGpdhPJ-cserB4sduKYKqJ90JAHKpiTLR7UfMftmeie34hjYI9YlN2jc9s178ooguwt0gdBdwW6Nw2bObDMapJy9alL/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgVy8CluPRh26eIFn2h1ZOFzuc_SgB3fsPfdYvdDUfx7995IWRUGpdhPJ-cserB4sduKYKqJ90JAHKpiTLR7UfMftmeie34hjYI9YlN2jc9s178ooguwt0gdBdwW6Nw2bObDMapJy9alL/s320/photo1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">and taking time to laugh with them</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">(why yes, we did make a group chat & </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">we may or may not text each other at least 100 times a day)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';">because apparently everyone from Kentucky loves Jesus :)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'American Typewriter';"><br /></span></div>melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845420577315194866noreply@blogger.com1