tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5454428261804480502024-03-13T07:31:29.401-07:00One Bright Corner"It's not the darkness of your corner, but the brightness of your light."Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.comBlogger525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-78012455395244392312020-12-02T21:44:00.002-08:002020-12-03T23:22:29.918-08:00Why 2020 Might Be the Most Important Year of Our Lives<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mevKGUO7PHs/X8XFi17V2YI/AAAAAAAADH8/E-AzKz3iB5gTd3LZvZfpp13TlY_Lw3c9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CameraZOOM-20170522150645358%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mevKGUO7PHs/X8XFi17V2YI/AAAAAAAADH8/E-AzKz3iB5gTd3LZvZfpp13TlY_Lw3c9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/CameraZOOM-20170522150645358%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Pacific City
is one of my favorite stretches of beach on the Oregon Coast. I love climbing
the huge sand dune there and overlooking the frothy, wind-foamed waves. But at
the height of this peaceful viewpoint there is a sign as out of place as a ringtone
in the midst of a lullaby. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Danger!” it
proclaims. “Beware of unstable areas and shifting sand.” It seems dramatic, and
a definite fun-killer, but when you learn the back story—how many people have
fallen off the unstable bluff and drowned—you realize the kindness of such a
sign. It’s not a disruption, but a revelation.<span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>And that what I’ve come to
realize 2020 has been for me.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>I never would have said my
faith was in my freedom.</span><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>I never would have claimed
my hope was in the predictability of my life and job.</span><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>I never would have
admitted that I found my joy in what I could accomplish.</span></span></span>
</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But my
emotions this year have often revealed it for me. I have certainly felt the
unstable areas and shifting sands in the world around me and the ground beneath
me and my heart within me. 2020 has put on display all that is unstable in this
world, and all that is unstable in my heart and affections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly have not suffered like I know so
many have, yet even missing my minor comforts, conveniences, and companionship
has made me feel the gloom and isolation of the year. And I have had to ask
myself: why is my heart so heavy when others are suffering so much more? God,
where are you in 2020?</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Standing
atop that dune in Pacific City, if you let your eyes trail beyond the garish
“Danger!” sign, you will see Haystack Rock. It is as solid and steady and
unmoving as the bluff is shaky and temporary and sinking. Therein lies the
symbolism of why 2020 may just be the most important year of my life. Because through all the hardship
it has been like that sign, not just warning me of the dangerous ground my
fleshly heart clings to, but also pointing me beyond. Pointing me to the Rock that
is higher than I, who has been here this whole time.<br /></span></span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>My faith is not shaken,
for it rests in the unshakeable God.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>My joy can never dry up, for the Lord is its bottomless wellspring.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>My hope cannot die, for it
is in Christ.</span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“God is not
dead, nor does He sleep”—even in 2020! So what greater mercy could there be than
to remind me to place my hope on the solid Rock of Christ instead of the
sinking sand of earthly comfort? What richer kindness could exist than for the
Lord to reveal where my heart was beginning to cling to unstable ground? It is not cruel to take away the things that distract me from God, for in Him is my ultimate satisfaction.<br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I am reminded
of why the persecuted Christians of North Korea said they were praying for us:
“Because Christians in the West still have some wealth and freedom and power.
Most have not yet experienced what it is like when all you have in life is
God.*”</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">2020 has begun to answer their prayer. I am still learning to view this year and the next not so much as disruption but
more as a kind revelation that all I have in life really is God. A sign warning me
the unstable bluff is sinking, but also reminding me the Solid Rock still stands against the
storm. What could be more important than that?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">_______________________________________________________</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">*<i>These Are the Generations, </i>Mr. and Mrs. Bae, as told to Eric Foley <br /></span></span></span></p>
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<![endif]--><p></p>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-38137403732858259152017-03-13T11:10:00.000-07:002017-03-13T11:10:08.814-07:00You're Never Too Young to Consider Your Epitaph<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8HMtHCCQvs/WMbfU88iEhI/AAAAAAAADAs/8TyjDDpQw-kdCEOaLpF1hpPIaJFG3tVVACLcB/s1600/1-IMG_20170313_102753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8HMtHCCQvs/WMbfU88iEhI/AAAAAAAADAs/8TyjDDpQw-kdCEOaLpF1hpPIaJFG3tVVACLcB/s320/1-IMG_20170313_102753.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork from yesterday: Uncle Mel's epitaph verse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yesterday I sat before the coffin of my Great-Great-Uncle Melvin, a man who watched kamikaze pilots dive for the deck of his ship during WWII and providentially miss. A man who graduated high school even after his father left him to make his way in the world as a hired farm hand--at 12 years of age. A man who did everything from pastoring to jet engine testing. A man who celebrated 100 years of life just a few months ago, and, when he realized his memory was failing, decided that meant he needed to memorize more Scripture. A man who read a chapter of the Bible every day of his life. A man who wanted his epitaph to list not his accomplishments, but what was accomplished in him: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">100 years--and he lived them so faithfully. As a 26 year old sitting before his coffin, beginning my race as he crossed the finish line, I had to ask myself if I was on track to being the kind of 100 year old that Uncle Mel was. Because I want to be. And as a young person, it is easy to get bogged down in daily, seemingly important goals and forget the marathon goal: if God grants me old age, I want to be an old woman who still faithfully loves and follows Jesus. 100 years puts things into perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So here are the top lessons I've learned from my 100 year old Uncle Mel:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. Unabashedly love the people God puts in your life.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was my Great-Great-Uncle, and the only Great-Great-Uncle I even ever knew. He could have categorized me as a distant niece whom he was fine with seeing now and again at family reunions, yet he and Aunt Ina and his whole family chose to invest in my family and treated me with such love each time we were together that he made me feel precious to him. He was not stingy with his love...he loved wholeheartedly and unabashedly. He risked relationships even when he might get nothing out of them. He went out of his way for people, because he loved whomever God had him cross paths with.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">2. Bitterness is not worth it.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His father, for various reasons, moved to the East Coast when Uncle Mel was a young boy and started a new family. Uncle Mel had every reason to indulge bitterness at his father, yet when as a man he heard his father was dying, he scrounged gas ration coupons to drive cross-country to make sure his father heard the Gospel before he died. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Uncle Mel's mother died when he was young, and two of his brothers died one right after the other just when WWII was ending, and he could have shaken his fist at God and lived a shriveled life of anger. I have met wizened old men who chose just that path. But not Uncle Mel. He trusted and loved God implicitly, and although I'm sure he walked the valley of grief in a real and human way, he never allowed his heart to be walled in with bitterness. He chose forgiveness and trust instead.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">3. Spend time with God every day.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwVnjtYAocc/WMbenpqDwmI/AAAAAAAADAo/dEziDHBnXTsqR52BumVsQWUeU8phRo_GACLcB/s1600/Amy%2BEllen%2BWedding%252C%2BUncle%2BMel%2BJuly%2B2010%2B087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwVnjtYAocc/WMbenpqDwmI/AAAAAAAADAo/dEziDHBnXTsqR52BumVsQWUeU8phRo_GACLcB/s320/Amy%2BEllen%2BWedding%252C%2BUncle%2BMel%2BJuly%2B2010%2B087.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While in the Navy in WWII, his destroyer took part in the Battle of Okinawa. Uncle Mel had no idea if he would survive from one day to the next. But one day during that time he made a promise to God that if he did survive, he would read a chapter of the Bible every day of his life. And by all accounts from his son {who heard this story as a young boy while watching him read the Bible} to his son-in-law {who watched him in the last years of his life reading each day}, he was faithful to that promise. And not as a ritual that he was compulsively bound to, but because he truly loved his Jesus and wanted that precious time with Him each day. As a result, the Gospel was profoundly important to him, and even through his death the Gospel was preached and souls were saved!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I rejoice that Uncle Mel is in Heaven, and I thank God that I had a spiritual giant like him in my life for as long as I did. It may take me 100 more years to implement all the lessons I learned from him, but I honestly cannot think of a better life goal than that.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-90220783589733001622017-02-27T10:09:00.000-08:002017-02-27T10:09:16.305-08:00Definitely Maybe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTQNu5jYqec/WLRkHWR5EXI/AAAAAAAADAI/j50esbb1TTM7Us46PuCVyBNPBxuxQFJkgCLcB/s1600/6667486747_0404faf48a_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTQNu5jYqec/WLRkHWR5EXI/AAAAAAAADAI/j50esbb1TTM7Us46PuCVyBNPBxuxQFJkgCLcB/s400/6667486747_0404faf48a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Maybe" is a difficult word for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Definitely yes": I can plant myself deep in that
solid ground, entwine my life around that anchor, and write it in permanent
marker on my calendar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Ain't gonna happen": I can loosen my grip on the
dream, rent a U-Haul to move out of that plan, and pull out the white-out to
erase it from my memory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But "maybe" is another story. Do I turn the page or
not? Do I plant deeply or not? {Because spring is on its way and I need to know
now...} And when do I pull out the permanent marker versus the eraser?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yesterday the maybes were eating away at my thoughts. They
were a tumble that was rapidly turning into an avalanche. "I can't decide
this until I know this, and I can't know that until I figure out the other, and
I can't know the other until..." It was an avalanche of unrest and
disquiet until God reminded me that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do
have a lifeline: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
{I Peter 5:7}</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I wrote two columns for 2017: "Maybes" and
"Definites."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I filled in the columns and sat back, surprised. I was surprised
by how few maybes there really were. And I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was shocked to stare at them in black and
white and realize this: <b>they were all enjoyable possibilities, but I was
letting the possibility of not enjoying them steal my joy.</b> Not only that, but I
knew I couldn't do all of them and couldn't choose between them, yet I had been
expending fruitless energy in worrying that God would make a mistake in
choosing which things should define my year. S<span style="font-size: small;">o <b>instead of being defined by my
definites, I </b><b>was trying to define my life by my maybes, </b>and the result was an avalanche of anxiety.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The definites, on the other hand, the things I can write in
permanent marker, were far more crucial than the maybes:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I will definitely not find the end of God's love this year.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jesus will definitely not leave me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God is definitely sanctifying and refining me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was a simple exercise of pen and ink, but truth was
suddenly illumined. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God has given me
such solid, anchoring, permanent definites, then why don't I trust Him to
define the maybes? In what universe does it make sense to let anxiety over the
possibility of missing a maybe steal from the joy I could be relishing now
because of the definites?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>And at what point do I let anxiety over the maybes define my
life?</b> I say definitely never. Instead, I will plant myself in the love of God,
anchor my soul in His faithfulness, and broadcast in permanent marker that He
is good! Because He definitely is.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Maybe:(,” © 2012<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/priscila_tonon/6667486747/" target="_blank"> Priscila Tonon Ramos,</a> used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-73979347231825930022016-09-17T08:00:00.001-07:002016-09-19T11:49:21.117-07:00Sherbet Cupcakes<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMFaDvXya90/V9wNYH2NykI/AAAAAAAAGq4/whaGFPu16X4JZm5iCYukgJhlDjFBDbdSgCLcB/s1600/Copy%2Bof%2BIMG_20160327_135524568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMFaDvXya90/V9wNYH2NykI/AAAAAAAAGq4/whaGFPu16X4JZm5iCYukgJhlDjFBDbdSgCLcB/s320/Copy%2Bof%2BIMG_20160327_135524568.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hello, my name is Mikaela, and I still write and blog...occasionally...every so often...sometimes. Oh dear! How do all you mommy bloggers do it? For five months, I've been thinking about posting a delicious cupcake recipe, but today is the day, my friends! Sarah, my best friend, flew out here over Easter (yes! I said Easter!) for a visit. We got to introduce Liam to her for the first time (definitely the highlight), show her the DC cherry blossoms, spend Easter together, tour a DC art museum, and make cupcakes!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huM3PaWNVkE/VxFjRmSwL7I/AAAAAAAAGqI/6-bGeER0k0Iq4Qns4bGurmzzLx1QYbYkQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160323_172202960%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huM3PaWNVkE/VxFjRmSwL7I/AAAAAAAAGqI/6-bGeER0k0Iq4Qns4bGurmzzLx1QYbYkQCKgB/s400/IMG_20160323_172202960%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm delighted to add another cupcake recipe to my arsenal--especially this one. We knew we wanted to do a bi-flavor fruit cupcake, and it was I who suggested grapefruit, and Sarah who thought of blueberry. We altered a recipe to suit our needs and ended up with an incredible cupcake--my favorite so far, actually!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCdapN7e9hw/V9wN7xmxDuI/AAAAAAAAGq8/ni4A51Ratig0pYVPsKsCxwHF-yTqryBGQCLcB/s1600/16-03-26-12-56-05-806_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCdapN7e9hw/V9wN7xmxDuI/AAAAAAAAGq8/ni4A51Ratig0pYVPsKsCxwHF-yTqryBGQCLcB/s320/16-03-26-12-56-05-806_photo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here on <i>One Bright Corner, </i>I'm presenting the recipe for the grapefruit flavor, but you'll have to click over to Sarah's blog <i><b><a href="https://lordslass.blogspot.com/2016/09/once-upon-time-story-of-cupcakes.html?showComment=1474310851604&m=1#c3611928174441920078" target="_blank">The Lord's Lass</a></b></i>, to get the recipe for the blueberry flavor (her post will be live on Monday)! They are the exact same recipe base, just with the flavor ingredients changed. I'll also show you how to combine both batters into each cupcake to make a beautiful two-tone, two-flavor cupcake, and I've got an incredible icing recipe (It's so fluffy I could die!) that we came up with after altering another recipe.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please note: Just the grapefruit recipe will make about a dozen cupcakes (and it's brilliant by itself if you don't want the bother of two flavors!), but if you combine it with the blueberry recipe, as it's meant to be, then you'll have 2 dozen cupcakes. The icing recipe is meant to frost two dozen cupcakes, so keep that in mind depending on what you need!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grapefruit Cupcakes</span></h3>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsYXzh7LYZY/V91UmEAIFnI/AAAAAAAAGrU/-KMJV_QLO4IoeZawn0iudpwXrKScw9JDgCEw/s1600/16-03-25-17-16-42-002_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsYXzh7LYZY/V91UmEAIFnI/AAAAAAAAGrU/-KMJV_QLO4IoeZawn0iudpwXrKScw9JDgCEw/s320/16-03-25-17-16-42-002_photo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 cup brown rice flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 cup coconut flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/3 cup tapioca starch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 teaspoons baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/4 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 cup granulated sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 cup coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/3 cup grapefruit juice (approximately half of one grapefruit)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 - 3 tablespoons grapefruit zest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4 drops grapefruit essential oil, optional (but really brings out the grapefruit flavor! Make sure it's one safe for ingestion; I use <a href="http://www.onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-favorite-ways-to-use-essential-oils.html" target="_blank">Young Living</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 - 4 drops red food coloring, optional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 cup 2% milk</span><br />
<ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvXGgxeKPWI/V91UfQTvHVI/AAAAAAAAGrM/Too12ysnZmIHjhriqlge8szdCRktOdAZQCLcB/s1600/16-03-25-17-23-28-512_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvXGgxeKPWI/V91UfQTvHVI/AAAAAAAAGrM/Too12ysnZmIHjhriqlge8szdCRktOdAZQCLcB/s320/16-03-25-17-23-28-512_photo.jpg" width="240" /></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 12 -cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a medium bowl, combine the brown rice flour, coconut flour, tapioca starch, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt. Whisk until well combined, and set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a large bowl, beat the sugar and coconut oil together with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until a thick, smooth yellow mixture forms.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Combine the grapefruit zest, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit essential oil and food coloring (if using) with the milk in a small bowl. (The milk will thicken and "curdle" somewhat--this is normal.) Add half of the milk mixture to the egg mixture, and beat on low speed until just combined. Add half of the flour mixture and beat just until combined. Repeat with the remaining milk and flour mixtures. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. If you are making two-toned, two-flavored cupcakes, use a cupcake divider placed in the middle of the muffin </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5RUFjPseK44/V91UgOiJhxI/AAAAAAAAGrk/F22no8UKquwPnU3W7TVcGN3b4u10iwp1QCEw/s1600/16-03-25-17-29-37-692_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5RUFjPseK44/V91UgOiJhxI/AAAAAAAAGrk/F22no8UKquwPnU3W7TVcGN3b4u10iwp1QCEw/s320/16-03-25-17-29-37-692_photo.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">cup, and fill one side with one batter and one side with the other batter. Slide the divider out and repeat with each muffin cup!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cupcakes spring back when the tops are pressed or until a toothpick tester comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the muffin tin and let them cool completely on a wire rack.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fluffy Grapefruit Icing</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Makes 3 Cups</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 large egg whites</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 cup (7 ounces) sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 teaspoon grapefruit zest plus 1/4 cup juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1 tablespoon corn syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/4 cup butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1/2 cup powdered sugar</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Combine egg whites, sugar, juice, and corn syrup in bowl of stand mixer and set bowl over medium saucepan filled with 1 inch of barely simmering water (do not let bottom of bowl touch water).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture registers 160 degrees, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fit stand mixer with whisk and whip egg white mixture on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high and continue to whip until mixture has cooled to room temperature and stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes longer, adding zest, butter, and powdered sugar during the last minute of whipping.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope you enjoy these scrumptious cupcakes (without frosting, we called them muffins and ate them for breakfast)! Do let me know if you decide to make them! Since the time I've made these (and the pictures were taken), Liam has progressed to crawling and now (as of five days ago) walking. He's a big one-year old and the most delightful, cheerful guy you've ever met! Perhaps a Liam update is in order next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Cupcake Party: Chocolate Edition</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" target="_blank">Lauren's Double Peanut Butter Chocolate</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-sarah-hearts-chocolate.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Chocolate Chunk Lava Fudge</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-hazelnut-mocha-in-cupcake.html" target="_blank">Mikaela's Hazelnut Mocha</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Cupcake Party: Savory Edition</u></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" target="_blank"><b>Lauren's Spinach Feta</b></a><br />
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/cupcakes-and-croutons.html" target="_blank">Mikaela's Cupcakes & Croutons</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/04/oh-my-cupcakes-ormuffins.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Carrot Ginger Coconut Muffins </a></b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Cupcake Party: Flower Edition</u></b></span></span><br />
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</u></b></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/07/lauren-hearts-lavender-chocolate.html" target="_blank">Lauren Hearts Lavender Chocolate</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/07/tasting-world-through-rose-flavored.html" target="_blank"><b>Sarah Tastes The World Through Rose-Flavored Cupcakes</b></a></span>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-39396501509723180462016-09-09T12:13:00.000-07:002016-09-09T12:13:09.217-07:00What I Would Tell My Younger Self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cherish the old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love the sun-fading on your quilt that speaks of sunny days stored up for <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">W</span>inter's chill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Smile at the bent pages of your Bible that has fed your soul <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">so<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> many times</span></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Value the tell-tale wrinkles around the eyes that reveal someone's habitual smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Appreciate the outdated technology that encourages you to live real life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Enjoy that annoying quirk because someday you will give anything to have that person annoy you one more time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Return to the song that was the soundtrack to so many valleys and mountaintops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Make that same-old recipe that is somehow just as good as when you were five.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Treasure who you have because they are yours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The constant pursuit of the next new thing becomes a pursuit of newness itself. It is frivolous, fruitless, and deeply unsatisfying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Embracing the old for contentment's sake t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ransforms</span> the shabby into the loved, the repetitive into the comforting, the not-good-enough into the simple joy, the despised into the treasured.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." Philippians 4:11</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“One Big Circle- Day 05,” © 2012 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenworster/8055996807/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Steven Worster,</a> used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-68825917504496111862016-08-26T07:00:00.000-07:002016-08-26T07:00:20.165-07:00Was Jesus an Introvert or an Extrovert?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I remember the first time a friend enlightened me as to the definition of an introvert: "It means you get your energy and recharge from being by yourself."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had never heard the concept explained so simply before, and the definition definitely described me. I was fascinated, and I soon noticed this topic cropping up everywhere. In the beginning I chalked it up to the phenomenon that occurs when you learn something new and inevitably the new word stalks you from radio shows and bumper stickers and sky-writing. But as a few years have passed since that first discovery, one would think the phenomenon would pass too, but instead I have noticed two ever-increasing trends:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">s</span>cientific statistics alert}</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. A whole lot of people whom I would have dubbed extroverts actually called themselves introverts. And...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. A whole lot of people in general like to talk about this topic at length. In fact, if you have a self-described introvert who won't make conversation about anything else, simply bring up the topic of introversion, and you will be hard pressed to change the subject. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Understanding personality types has helped me understand others' perspectives and shape my responses in some very effective ways, but I began to wonder: <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">W</span>e're talking about it <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a lot</span>, but does the Bible have anything to say about introverts and extroverts? Is one more godly than the other? Is all this focus on personality really good or is there a limit to the benefits of navel-gazing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fast-forward to another conversation with a different friend, and as I was beginning to ask these questions of myself, I asked her if she were an introvert or an extrovert. She declined to classify herself as either, saying simply that she was trying to avoid a self-focus, and couldn't help but see the wisdom in her response. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So is there any redeeming value in learning about your personality tendencies? I turned to God's Word, and here is what I discovered:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are uniquely different, but united in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">glorifying God</span></span>.</span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Personality groupings are helpful, but ultimately fall short.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whether you're an INFP or an AARP, it feels good to belong and fit in with a group of people who "get" you. I know the feeling! It's not wrong to seek commonalities with those around you, but you have to realize that any grouping is ultimately simplistic. Even experts on the subject will <a href="http://www.psychiatryonline.it/node/2203" target="_blank">readily agree</a> to the fact that these types are generalizations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">T</span>he truth is that God has created us all unique <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{Psalm 139:16, 1 Peter 4:10-11}</span>, with subtle differences in our personalities<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and perspectives, our strengths and weaknesses. These differences can<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">not be wholly grasp<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ed by a personality test<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, helpful though it may be</span>.</span></span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And although we are all differen<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t, whenever the Bible speaks of gifts<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> or strengths, it speaks of using them for the unified purpose of glorifying God. So if <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I box myself into the type of an introvert and tell myself that because of my intro<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">version </span>it is fine to not push my comfort zone<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I am missing th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e whole point<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and indulging in the self-focus my friend mentioned.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Selfishness</span> was <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span> nagging problem I had with this whole topic<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> as</span> it <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">is my weakness and can be</span> the weakness of the
personality-obsessed as well. "Discover your
personality, not so you can better serve God, but so you can keep
yourself happy and satisfied."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2 Timothy 3:2 prophesies that <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"men will be lovers of themselves" in the last days. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">F<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eeding my desires for introverted comfort</span> can definitely le<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ad to becoming a l<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">over of self just as feeding extroverted desires could lead to being a m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span>n-pleaser. </span></span></span>Those are the extremes<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I grant you. But here's the bottom line: <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">w</span></span></span>e were created to glor<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ify God {Isaiah 43:7}<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and any understanding of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">personality type</span> is only helpful as far as it aids in that purpose</span>. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">W</span></span>hich brings me to the next thing I've learned...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. We are new creat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ions</span> when we are saved, and all things have become new.</span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Personality tendencies can be insightful, but should not be used as an excuse.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Are personalities too sacred to be sanctified?</b> Not according to 2 Corinthians 5:17: " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">K.B. Napier <a href="http://www.christiandoctrine.net/doctrine/articles/article_00019_introduction_to_christian_personality_web.htm" target="_blank">writes</a>,"<i>Man cannot alter his own personality, it is argued, because his personality and 'drives' are inborn and handed-down by evolution. Any defects, nasty as some of them are, must just be accepted as they appear in each individual. This idea runs through much of our social sciences and it is unfortunately expressed by the majority of Christians. And it is wrong. </i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB">People become <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new creatures</i> when they are saved....</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span lang="EN-GB">The change of personality by
the Holy Spirit is not an option for special types of Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It is required of us all</i>,
by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></span></span>"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thankfully, God's principles and commands in Scripture provide balance to our lives and personalities. Knowing that I want to be alone when I'm tired or not cram every day full of activity is a helpful insight to not burning myself out. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">B</span>ut I have to understand that sometimes these desires turn selfish. God doesn't call me to take the road of ease or least stress, but He does call me to obey Him even when it is the last thing I want to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So if a friend or family member needs help, and I find my blood pressure rising because I was just about to have some "me" time, I have two options: I can use my "introvert" status as an excuse, or I can realize that I am now at the end of myself and my strength, and turn to the power of the Holy Spirit like I should have been doing all along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the right perspective, insight into my natural <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">weaknesses and strengths</span> can actually help me mature in Christ {Mt. 26:41, 1 Cor. 1:27}, but it does not give me a free pass to ignore certain <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">commands of God</span> because <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">they go</span> against my personality. And whether I am an introvert or an extrovert, above all as a Christian I am wholly a new creation in Christ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. Understanding how Jesus related to God <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span> others can help us think Biblically about <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">our personal<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ities.</span></span> </span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Neither being introverted nor extroverted is automatically more godly, but both can have this weakness in common: looking to man for fulfillment.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So was Jesus an introvert or an extrovert? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Asking this question <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">revealed a much de<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eper answer <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">than I was expecting</span></span></span>! Matthew 14:23 provides a great example of what was<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> a</span> habitual <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">occurrence</span> in Jesus' life: " And when {Jesus} had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus spent time with the multitudes, and just that word "multitudes" challenges the introverted me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But there came a time in His day when He sent them away, a difficulty for the extroverts out there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, it was what He did in that alone time that is key: He didn't look within, and He didn't look to others; He looked to His Father in Heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So there you have it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Introverts<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, we like to</span> look in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Extroverts, th<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ey</span> tend to look out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Believers need to look up.</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/htakashi/9754012931/" target="_blank">“Recharging Danbo Power,”</a> © 2013 Takashi Hososhima, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-89366125622219893262016-08-02T07:00:00.000-07:002016-08-02T08:21:35.889-07:00I Want All the Books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbUb5GBqvMQ/V6BJyWaMjrI/AAAAAAAAC-s/_reYXEIeYcg_LdAtFAXK51fyD8KGCtOPgCLcB/s1600/SAM_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qbUb5GBqvMQ/V6BJyWaMjrI/AAAAAAAAC-s/_reYXEIeYcg_LdAtFAXK51fyD8KGCtOPgCLcB/s320/SAM_1572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I vividly remember the day that a book first captivated me. Mama sat me down, handed me <i>Little House in the Big Woods,</i> and told me to read for an hour. I was less than thrilled, not sure what the "big woods" were all about, but certain that the "big words" would be dry and dull. Several hours later I had to be pried from the pages, and I was hooked for life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So in the spirit of sharing this passion with you, today I am answering a book-lover's tag! (I compiled the questions from several different sources.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Name a book you’re embarrassed to say you haven’t read yet.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Silver Chair </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by C.S. Lewis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S</span>omehow, someway, I have read every other Narnia book except for this one...</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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<b>2. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The receipt for the book itself.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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<b>3. Look at your bookshelf. What’s the first book you see with a yellow spine?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My beautiful Anna<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-</span>Bond-illustrated edition of Heidi.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>4. If you could have one new book from a deceased author, who would it be?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is difficult<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, but I will <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">choose </span></span>Jane Austen. I still haven't read all of her books, as I am <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">legitimately concerned</span> about my mental state when I finish the final page of her final book and realize I have to go the rest of my life without a new Jane Austen. So I resort to rationing myself to an Austen a year and admitting that I am a weird book nerd.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>5. Name an author who deserves more readership.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">G.K. Chesterton, without a doubt. Have you read his books? If not, get thee to a bookstore or library and pick up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Man Who Was Thursday</i>!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>6. Bookmark or random piece of paper?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I want to be a bookmark person, I really do. But most of the time I resort to a random piece of paper (or receipt, as the case may be!).</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>7. Can you stop anywhere in a book or do you have to finish the chapter?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anywhere is fine<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> unless the chapters are quite s<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">hort.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>8. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One book at a time or several?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Always several!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently reading: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Innocence of Father Brown </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Book That Made Your World.</i></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt5JaL_Ha9Q/V6BKf8H_xHI/AAAAAAAAC-w/wJZe4oco4DUtz_jQ3JyajGBKJ1q_zab1gCLcB/s1600/SAM_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt5JaL_Ha9Q/V6BKf8H_xHI/AAAAAAAAC-w/wJZe4oco4DUtz_jQ3JyajGBKJ1q_zab1gCLcB/s320/SAM_1570.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>9. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you read ahead or skip pages?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Gasp</i>. Is skipping allowed?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>10. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Keep it like new as long as possible!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">11. What books do you regret reading?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Light that Failed</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> by Rudyard Kipling. It was one of those books that you keep trudging through, sure that it cannot get any worse, and that after the main character loses his childhood sweetheart, goes blind, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">finds</span> his last masterpiece destroyed by a bitter servant there must be some redeeming ending. But then he died in his best friend's arms, and I was angry at Rudyard Kipling for a year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
12. On average, how many books do you read per year?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't really know. Up to 30, I would guess.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
13. What book can you read hundreds of times and never get tired of?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Scarlet Pimpernel--</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is the best adventure/mystery tale ever!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
14. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a book?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I read the old book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ester Ried</i> when I was 11, and it played a huge part in my maturing process from a baby Christian to a dedicated Christ-follower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me realize that I could be sleep-walking through life without even realizing it, stagnant and unfruitful while thinking that I was fine. This book woke me up to the reality of living for Christ daily.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">15. What is the most recent book you’ve read?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The Jungle Book</i> by Rudyard Kipling. I only decided to trust Kipling again because I wanted to read the original story before I watched the new movie, and I actually very much enjoyed it!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">16. What quote from any book will you never forget? Why is it significant?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“In all they said, in their actions, in their looks, in their persons, could be detected a soft spot, the place of decay, the determination to lounge safely through existence.” -Joseph Conrad, <i>Lord Jim</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The book itself was very forgettable, but this quote has stuck with me as a challenge, for I never want this to be true of me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">17. How many books do you own?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hold on...<i>3 hours later</i>...a total of only 218 books. "Hi, I'm Lauren, and I'm addicted to real books. Kindle just won't cut it."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>18. Of the past year, what is the greatest book you’ve read?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">by Vishal Mangalwadi. Although I am not quite done reading this tome, it is one of those books that I find myself constantly bringing up in conversation or referencing in my own mind as I observe culture around me. It is a truly amazing read by an incredible man from India who challenges the West from the perspective of someone from the East, saying, "The Bible created the modern world of science and learning because it gave us the Creator's vision of what reality is all about. That is what made the modern West a reading and thinking civilization. Postmodern people see little point in reading books that do not contribute directly to their career or pleasure. This is a logical outcome of atheism, which has now realized that the human mind cannot possibly know what is true and right. This book is being published with a prayer that it will help revive a global interest in the Bible and in all the great books."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So let's start a revival of global interest in all the great books together! </span>If you are a fellow book-lover, I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">would <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">greatly</span> enjoy hearin<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">g</span> your answers to these questions</span>! So comment below<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with your thoughts</span> o<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">r <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">do the tag </span>on your <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">blog and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">comment with the link<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> so I can get some new book ideas.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, if you don't mind, I think I have some books to read!</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-1634060054764575602016-04-11T14:23:00.002-07:002016-04-11T14:23:42.342-07:00Single Identity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHpf86aUf6Y/VwwUKUVn-DI/AAAAAAAAC-c/wbYGRrcDDFoMNNCr57cd82W7QfHuu-4mg/s1600/6432357463_ebaf4635c4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHpf86aUf6Y/VwwUKUVn-DI/AAAAAAAAC-c/wbYGRrcDDFoMNNCr57cd82W7QfHuu-4mg/s320/6432357463_ebaf4635c4_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I recently shared <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my</span> testi<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">mony <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with a special group of women</span>, and now I am posting a portion of<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> it</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> here in hopes it might bless <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">someone else</span>!</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was actually quite content to be single all through my teens<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. But there came a day</span> in my early twenties<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> when</span> a good friend told me out of the blue that she had begun a courtship, and suddenly my "contentment" evaporated. It was very easy for me to think that I was content and happy with my singleness until He gave others relationships. And, like the child whining because a sibling got a bigger scoop of ice cream, I started to feel sorry for myself, wondering, "Why does she get to get married and I don't?" And it was then that the first lie about singleness began to creep into my thinking and subtly affect how I viewed myself.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lie #1: This lie says that if marriage is a gift from God, then it is inherently unfair that I am doing what is right and still am not married.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I indulge this attitude I am loving God only for what I can get from Him, not for Himself. I am saying that the reward for my righteousness is whatever makes me happy--like marriage--and if I don't get it, then life is not fair!</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Truth #1: The reward for righteousness is God Himself, and salvation. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I remain single my whole life that doesn't mean that I didn't win the prize--because the prize is Christ! If I have Him in singleness or in marriage, I have enough.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lie #2: I am not married because I am not good enough. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not beautiful enough, not interesting enough. Or I'm too introverted, too much of a book worm, or too conservative. This is not only a lie of Satan, but it was a huge warning sign that I had placed my identity in what others thought of me, not in my position in Christ. If you have struggled with falling for this lie, it may be a warning sign of a misplaced identity in your life as well. Many women of the world also recognize these thoughts as lies, but they respond with equally as empty proclamations of feminism. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Truth #2: Only God defines my worth.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The truth is that I was expecting marriage to validate that I was worthy of being loved: I was making marriage my god, and I was unsatisfied, for only God defines my worth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are so many amazingly encouraging verses I could share, but I will just share this one that tells me that God chose before the foundations of the world to adopt me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ephesians 1:3-6 " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My value is not found in what others think of me: if it were, I would be sunk! It is not even found in my own righteousness, for my righteousness is no cleaner than filthy rags! My identity, whether in this stage of singleness, or possibly in marriage in the future, is found in my position in Christ. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">art of my purpose right now is</span></span> preparing myself with the qualities and skills a wife and mother would need to have, those are characteristics any godly woman should have! But <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my purpose</span> also includes living for Christ now. Being content with what I have now. Being a servant now. Don't wait for "later" or for a magical wedding day to jumpstart your life! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">God brought me through this identity change several years ago, and when I realized that my place of singleness is not just a waiting around time but is actually God's best for me right now, I was able to then discover that God has a purpose for this time in my life. The amazing providential thing is that at that point when I was learning contentment I never could have dreamed that in just a year or so my contentment would be tested in an even bigger way. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I went from having friends begin relationships to having my identical twin sister and best friend starting a courtship, getting married, and moving across the continent. I am so grateful to look back now and see that before that happened God was preparing me to trust in Him, to take Him as my reward, to find my worth in Him, to rest in His will for me, and to identify myself by my relationship with Him, not my relationship status. When I truly accepted and believed who I am in Christ and that this time of my life is His very best for me right now, it made going through all of those life changes so much easier!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The beauty and mystery of each of our life stories will come into focus only from the vantage point of eternity. For then we will realize that even the God-ordained relationship of marriage is only temporary, and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">that when I stand before Him in Heaven I will be accepted as part of His Bride, the church. And <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">t</span>h<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at is my beautiful and true identity!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
P.S.To read about a third and fourth lie we can be tempted to believe about singleness, check out these posts:<br />
<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/single-jesus.html" target="_blank">Single Jesus</a><br />
<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-myth-of-no-mans-land-between.html" target="_blank">The Myth of the No Man's Land Between Childhood and Marriage</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/_flood_/6432357463/" target="_blank">“I Spy,” </a>© 2011 Flood G, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-61246290039589954052016-03-25T05:54:00.000-07:002016-03-25T07:16:33.741-07:00Purposeful Easter<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I ponder traditions a bit more, now that it's up to Joel and me to make them happen! Easter has so many fun traditions (dyeing Easter eggs, receiving Easter baskets, enjoying church breakfasts, and gathering with family and friends), but I especially cherish the more meaningful moments that point me back to Christ and His resurrection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{1} Good Friday Service</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Growing up, Ron and Sandi (my grandparents in everything but blood relation) always took my siblings and I to a community-wide, midday Good Friday service. This is such a beautiful tradition, because it helps me to slow down and pause on Good Friday. In the midst of busy Easter preparations, it's a time to contemplate the sorrow and suffering my Savior endured on my behalf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{2} Resurrection Cookies</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/easter-cookies-a-memorable-way-to-teach-kids-the-resurrection-11571112.html" target="_blank"><b>Find the recipe here</b></a>, which guides you through making meringue cookies in which each ingredient symbolizes an event in the arrest, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{3} Resurrection Eggs</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love how easy these eggs make it to focus on Christ's sacrifice for us in the days leading up to Easter Sunday! Each adorable egg has a miniature object inside representing a part of the story. Children love opening the eggs and finding the treasure inside! I saw them at Hobby Lobby this year, but you can also <a href="https://shop.familylife.com/p-3504-resurrection-eggs.aspx" target="_blank"><b>order them online</b></a>. </span></div>
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<a href="http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Step_by_step_instructions_for_how_to_make_an_Easter_Garden_files/IMG_6099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Step_by_step_instructions_for_how_to_make_an_Easter_Garden_files/IMG_6099.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{4} Easter Garden</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My Mom makes a lush miniature garden every year, usually incorporating hyacinths and pansies into her recreation of the tomb scene. Easter morning brought the excitement of waking up to find the stone had been rolled away--and the tomb was empty! <b><a href="http://www.catholicicing.com/resurrection-garden/" target="_blank">Learn how to make one here</a> </b>and<b> <a href="http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Step_by_step_instructions_for_how_to_make_an_Easter_Garden.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{5} Passion Play</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2013/03/pastor-in-dreadlocks.html" target="_blank"><b>Attending a local play</b></a> is such a great way to refocus on the agony of Holy Week and the joy and hope of Easter Sunday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{6} A Graveyard Walk</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're planning to begin this tradition this year, made all the more convenient by the fact that we live mere blocks from a 150 year-old cemetery which holds more than 34,000 graves. Cemeteries are sobering places, but did you ever consider how Jesus' disciples and followers spent a good deal of time tombside on the day Christ rose from the dead? Seeing so many markers representing so many souls now absent from their physical bodies is also a reminder of how our Lord conquered death--and the victory Easter brings to every person who trusts in Jesus Christ as his Savior!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are your Easter traditions? I'd love to hear them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Past Easter Celebrations:</span></h4>
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<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/resurrection-sunday-in-color.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Resurrection Sunday in Color {2011}</b></span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2012/04/celebrating-because-he-lives.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Celebrating Because He Lives {2012}</b></span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-favorite-celebration.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My Favorite Celebration {2013}</b></span></a></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good Friday Blog Posts:</span></h4>
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<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2010/04/final-chapter.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Final Chapter</b></span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/once-dead.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Once Dead</b></span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-worst-timing.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Worst Timing</b></span></a></li>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andreapacheco/2365170096/in/photolist-4B17EL-6dDAM1-FJjSv-FHGRA-bx5tDL-bxfFBu-9EZQFU-9hciGK-FbV6x-9C5W4o-7QUgzt-nj7kk7-9zDs4Q-edC1qK-FJjSc-9weSNy-6eXpcV-buW86b-a4Vt9J-edC1uk-n551Y8-bTkaiM-rC9wKc-nfikCs-bKrKrt-82vY2r-oW8Z8E-cz87P-9GBogH-a6CNeA-7QEkhu-r1dW2s-bKrMhZ-9B1sL2-4JB6tS-9BRfQS-rWZFby-nguRvb-6eCUb2-by7D5W-68kDxP-FJhhv-bKzgzr-7QU3fx-a6CNdG-6cdQhY-bK1Yjr-nz5QTs-9Bh5bg-bddVvx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photo Credit</span></a>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-3255765669994887652016-03-18T16:58:00.001-07:002016-03-18T16:58:47.805-07:00What Would You Do for $13 Million?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--j-yjepSXeY/VuyVe0EaDkI/AAAAAAAAC-M/ujdvGF6pv0QY8XgXnIbVavQ5qDQaYG1Ng/s1600/5859108948_29b203d25b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--j-yjepSXeY/VuyVe0EaDkI/AAAAAAAAC-M/ujdvGF6pv0QY8XgXnIbVavQ5qDQaYG1Ng/s400/5859108948_29b203d25b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yesterday I learned of a baseball player who made a decision that is inciting both controversy and passion, and I am fascinated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam LaRoche is a White Sox player who I (an admittedly sports-illiterate person!) had never heard of before I <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/adam-laroche-chicago-white-sox-retire-ken-williams-son-clubhouse-drake-family-031616" target="_blank">read this article</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I read I was inspired by this man who brought his son to baseball practice every single day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His 14 year old son would clean cleats, help out, and just watch his dad, and last year the Chicago Tribune dubbed him the team's "26th man."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But recently, Adam's boss gave him an ultimatum: he had to reduce or eliminate the days he brought his son in with him. (After all, the boss reasoned, where else can you bring your son in to work with you?) Adam LaRoche chose to retire early, losing out on $13 million dollars left in his contract.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">$13,000,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The story is still unfolding, but nevertheless I am blown away by what his decision proclaims to the world. After all, this is not an issue of right or wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would certainly not be morally wrong to simply reduce the number of days his son came with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Adam faced a choice, and he knew his decision would send a clear message of who or what he valued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If Adam had allowed the promise of personal gain to keep his son home, he would have been admitting to his son what really mattered to him and what really controlled him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would have been saying that he prioritized his son when nothing better was on the horizon, but when money was on the line his son took second place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason we are even talking about this situation is because Adam didn't do that: he "put his money where his mouth is" in the most literal turn of that phrase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And even $13,000,000 could not change his mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How strong am I--how strong are you--on the beliefs that are a core part of who God made us to be and that equip us to fulfill the mission He has given us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there any rationalization by which we could be convinced to change those values for personal gain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me put it this way: what is your price?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can curious sideways glances keep you from praying before a meal?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How much money would it take before you agreed to skip church to take a job?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Does your family take backseat when better offers come along?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Adam LaRoche walked away from $13,000,000, and in doing so he made a powerful statement his son will never forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His son will never wonder if money is more important to his dad than he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His son will never question whether or not his dad has a price at which his priorities will implode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His son will never doubt that his dad means what he says.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I am convicted because I wonder if I would have been bought out for a lot less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as painful as it is to think about, every time we are bought out, we negate to the world who watches the sincerity of everything we have done before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If my life values are not important enough to withstand the pull of personal gain, then how much did I ever truly value them?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A plaque in my room reads in bold, all capital letters: "If you stand for nothing you will fall for anything."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So ask yourself honestly what you stand for: Would 13 million dollars be enough to buy you out?</span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/adam-laroche-chicago-white-sox-retire-ken-williams-son-clubhouse-drake-family-031616</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/adam-laroche-white-sox-manager-told-bring-son/story?id=37758766 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“A<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/clappstar/5859108948/" target="_blank"> Great Moment at the End of a Great Season,</a>” ©2011 clappstar, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span><br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-53445761295964195632016-03-15T09:28:00.000-07:002016-03-15T14:01:48.305-07:00Backwards Contentment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_z1MOevvyU/Vug2fjvGQcI/AAAAAAAAGpc/RxT1wLifFO0kAqKIXM5wEJf-qMZE8Zhmg/s1600/IMG_8702%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_z1MOevvyU/Vug2fjvGQcI/AAAAAAAAGpc/RxT1wLifFO0kAqKIXM5wEJf-qMZE8Zhmg/s400/IMG_8702%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If youth and old age could be combined into one non-contradictory person (think: Energizer Bunny with a brain, or Labrador puppy without a penchant for chewing and jumping), we would have it made. I've often wondered why it is we can't have both. Why do I have to make all the amateur mistakes now, when I've got the energy to go 70 miles per hour?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet somehow, with increasing smarts and wisdom (because, although I am most definitely not on the honor roll for Life Lessons Mastered 101, at least I have progressed from my 15 year-old self) comes increasing wistfulness. I first noticed this, not in myself--because who notices flaws in himself first?--but in the scores of sweet middle-aged women who ooh and aah over my baby. Every single one of them says some variation of, "Enjoy this time! It goes by so fast! It seems like mine were that age just yesterday, and now they're 27 and 31!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To all the middle-aged mothers out there, I am trying, I promise! You tell me the days go by incredibly fast, so I am doing my very best to savor every nighttime feeding, every sleepy morning smile, and every splish-splash in the bath. But I find in myself the very real tendency to be "backwards content." I don't think this is just a mom problem, because it's not only a struggle for me with my nearly seven month old who is sitting up, waving, and eating avocado (how? how did we get here so fast?), but also in many other areas of life. High school seemed interminable until I was finished and could look back with satisfaction. Getting married would neeeeveeeerrrrrr happen until it did, and now I wonder how my single years went by so fast. My body was never quite perfect; then I had a baby and I became perfectly content with my body...the way it used to be. Somehow, being content is always easier in retrospect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe there is no cure for this. Maybe every woman everywhere will look in the mirror and criticize her appearance at the age of 20 and then long for that appearance at the age of 40. Maybe every woman everywhere will wish for a good night's sleep, or a nicer house, or a new stage of life, but when confronted with that very wished-for thing, will look back with contentment upon the interrupted nights of sleep (representing precious wee ones crying in the night), the small house (representing close proximity with loved ones), or the old stage of life (representing productivity and energy). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And then I met a woman at Wegmans (no, you don't have them on the West Coast, and yes, they're awesome) who was adoring Liam; he, in turn, was giving her priceless smiles and giggles. She repeated the exact same mantra in the exact same way. Except she kept going. After the "just yesterday" bit, she said, "My son is 14 now, but 14 is such a fun age too. I'm so proud of him, you know? It's just cool to see your children growing and learning and becoming more independent. You'll love that stage too." I admired this woman for her ability to love the past and embrace the present--a delicate balance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't think the situation is hopeless. I think it is a beautiful thing to look back upon life with contentment. Hindsight is 20/20 after all. But I think it is an even more beautiful thing to embrace the here and now with vigor and delight. Maybe that's what all these older, wiser women have been trying to tell me all along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a></span>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-73296883227983701122016-02-27T07:00:00.000-08:002016-02-27T07:00:10.674-08:00The Leap Day Phenomenon<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2Lx8Lc7MoE/VtFM1CR-evI/AAAAAAAAC9w/iIlGNHaulwI/s1600/2711789618_6a28086979_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2Lx8Lc7MoE/VtFM1CR-evI/AAAAAAAAC9w/iIlGNHaulwI/s400/2711789618_6a28086979_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leap Day <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fascinates me. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">L</span>iving</span> a day</span> that only exists once every four years<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is curiously like</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">living</span></span></span> in a time traveling time warp. After all, how else could you add <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a day to my month</span>--a whole <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">24 hours that appears out of thin air</span>! Certainly not through a mere paper-shuffling, calendar-quibbling, name-game formality. Time <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">warp</span> is a much more delightful and intriguing theory behind Leap Day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">am convinced</span> that we need to</span></span> celebrat<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e</span> Leap Day to its full potential. Honestly, who doesn't need an extra day in their lives? I for one am imagining all I could accomplish on a "bonus" day: catch up on every email I've been procrastinating on, plan the next six months of teaching, dig myself out of my (let's just be real, shall we?) disastrously messy room, file my taxes, and finish that big project I've been working on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But while I'm being real I should probably also admit that I'm going to need a whole lot more than one Leap Day to get it all done<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. So, all <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fantastic</span> time warps aside, </span>I've been pondering this problem of "getting it all done" lately and <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have realized <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">something.</span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I am always feeling that I need an extra minute or hour or day, then perhaps </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>what I really need is less packed into that minute or hour or day</b>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perhaps </span>the real problem lies not in the constraints of time but in my lack of constraint. Perhaps the root of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my stress</span> is that I am a chronic over-committer, finding it stupendously difficult to say no to things without feeling guilty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And perhaps...just perhaps...I am not alone in this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We women know how to choose the best-tasting watermelon. We can decide in seconds if an outfit is adorable or homely. Yet we somehow lose our decision-making skills when it comes to regulating what we do or don't commit to. The worst part about this is that if you take on too many <b>good</b> things, you are overbooked, unavailable, and worn out when the <b>best</b> things come along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So here are just a few questions that I've resolved to ask myself when considering adding something additional to my plate:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is this going to advance God's kingdom or myself?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Am I tempted to refuse this commitment simply because it would take me outside my comfort zone?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Where is my mission field right now? <i>Everyone has a mission field for each season of your life. So if you don't know what yours is, discovering God's mission field for you should be your first step. Knowing this will give you much clearer vision for what you should take on and what you should turn down.</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is saying no painful because I am <b>more worried about <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">people not liking me</span></span> if I don't please <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">them</span> than I am concerned about what God wants me to be doing right now? </b> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These questions are <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">only the beginning</span>--I would love to hear what questions you ask when facing<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span>decisions!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sachin_sandhu/2711789618/" target="_blank">.TimeMachine.</a>,” © 2008 Sachin Sandhu, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-29495521861711384282016-02-19T04:32:00.000-08:002016-02-19T20:25:10.219-08:00The Birth of Liam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zaAZkfNLpI/Ve9ZpNwXE6I/AAAAAAAAGOs/eMe3NyZud8o/s1600/Liam%2B074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zaAZkfNLpI/Ve9ZpNwXE6I/AAAAAAAAGOs/eMe3NyZud8o/s320/Liam%2B074.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lessons on self, life, and God are a plodding process, but there are rare moments where God seems to turbocharge the lesson and condense it into a whirlwind that leaves me dizzy.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After 42 weeks of leisurely lessons--lessons in patience, body image, and discomfort--labor began, and with it, the whirlwind.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BE85Yl4xIRc/Ve9ZDPcmX5I/AAAAAAAAGOQ/nfKavA1vmog/s1600/Liam%2B015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BE85Yl4xIRc/Ve9ZDPcmX5I/AAAAAAAAGOQ/nfKavA1vmog/s320/Liam%2B015.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">12 hours later, I was admitted to the hospital; 17 hours after labor began, Pitocin was started to move things along; 18 hours in, my midwife broke my water, and not long after that, hard labor began. I remember feeling as though this was something I couldn't do. <em>"My strength is made perfect in weakness." </em>I remember feeling intense gratitude for the support of my midwife, my mom, and Joel. <em>"Two are better than one." </em>I remember feeling as though I was in an interminable place of pain. <em>"Why is my pain perpetual?" </em>I remember feeling challenged emotionally, spiritually, and physically. <em>"Our sufficiency is from God." </em>I remember the moment when I wasn't progressing--only halfway dilated after 26 hours of labor!--and I wasn't at all sure that giving birth was something I could do. "You can do this," a nurse whom I had never seen before that day told me. She looked me straight in the eyes as she commanded me to relax.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4 hours later, Liam was born.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It didn't happen in that one second of his arrival at 1:18 AM on August 18, but in the 30 hours leading up to his arrival; and in the panicky moments after his birth when he was examined for meconium aspiration and, struggling to breathe, whisked away to the NICU after only a few moments on my chest; and in the 24 hours he stayed in the NICU (he is completely healthy now with no ill effects, praise the Lord!); and in the six months since then wherein Joel and I have learned what it means to have a son. Somewhere in the whirlwind of all that, I feel as though I have learned a lifetime of lessons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Never were tears and smiles so often blended together. I cried in pain as I gave birth. I cried when my brand new baby, whom I had yet to see, was across the room and surrounded by neonatologists with grave-looking faces. I cried when I held my baby for the first time and had only a precious minute to meet him and then say goodbye to him. I cried when I woke up without him, and I cried when he was discharged from the NICU. I cried when Liam smiled at me. I cried in weariness from a night and day of little sleep. I cried to say goodbye to my mom after four weeks together. Held in my husband's arms, I cried over my body I didn't seem to recognize anymore and which seemed to look flabby and unattractive in any outfit I tried on (my opinion--but, thankfully, not his!).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">October 2015</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I beamed when I found out that we had a son, and I beamed as I breastfed Liam for the first time in the NICU. I beamed as I watched Joel hold him close for the first time. I beamed as we posed for our first family picture together. I beamed when the nurses gushed over him (and the waitress, and every four year-old girl, and the cashier at Goodwill...). I beamed through those aforementioned tears when Liam first smiled at me. I beamed as friends and family met him for the first time. I beamed as I heard Joel talk about our son. I beamed at how adorable he was the first time I dressed him (and the 139th time).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">February 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have learned what love is in a way I never knew before. Perhaps I understand just a little bit better the love my parents have for me. Maybe, just maybe, I grasp God's love for Jesus in a way I didn't before. And God's gift of His only Son for the sake of the salvation of the world becomes an even greater sacrifice than I previously fathomed it to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">P.S. This was written three weeks after Liam was born. It's hard to believe that he turned six months old yesterday!</span>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-64707403592290848112016-02-12T10:15:00.000-08:002016-02-15T13:54:56.892-08:00I've Been Waiting My Whole Life for This!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Would you believe that in the last year I have experienced more "firsts" in my life than I ever thought possible? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The truth is that nearly every day brings an opportunity for a "first" if my eyes are open in childlike wonder to them. I want to be like my four-year-old student who exclaimed when it finally snowed this January for the first time in his memory: "I've been waiting my whole life for this!" And he quite literally had!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But in order to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">this</span> joy in the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">new</span></span> I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have</span> to</span></span></span></span></span></span> welcome the fringes of my comfort zone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have to keep</span> my priorities sturdy enough to motivate me yet soft enough to be moldable by the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have</span> to never lose a child's zest for exploration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">maybe</span> today's first is as seemingly banal as going to a new cafe or reading a new book, but it might be as <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">life-changing</span> as meeting a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">friend</span> for the first time or starting a new job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I</span> should celebrate all of these firsts with child-like joy: I've been waiting my whole life for this<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">! So here is m<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">e choosing to celebrate:</span></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. As Mikaela already <a href="http://www.onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2016/02/its-so-nice-to-see-you-again.html" target="_blank">alluded to</a>, I became an <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span>untie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">type fero<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ciously for an hour on how adorable I believe my nephew is <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span></span></span>nd I could bog down your internet with pictures <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by the hundreds</span>, but since Mikaela already promised some of that for next week, suffice it to say that I am in love. And when I met him at only a few weeks old, I could hardly let him go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Last September a lifelong dream came true the moment I stepped onto a plane bound for the UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">unbelievable</span> dream of a trip to Ireland, England, and Scotland brought: <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a </span>cascade of first-time experiences {first t<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ime to use <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my passport!}</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">flood of delight {c<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">harming castles by the side of the r<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">oad!}</span></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">an insatiable wanderlust {can I move to Scotland?}</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and an awe at this great world God has created {the world never before seemed so <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">reachable</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">yet so vast</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at the same <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">time}</span></span>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is just a taste of my two weeks:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> First time touching the Atlantic Ocean <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{</span>in Scotland, no less!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">}</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> First time realizing what it feels like to step into a storybook castle...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Devotions at sunrise in Edinburgh with an amazing group of people</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Threave Castle. First love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Edinburgh, my favorite city in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> My travel partner in the most amazing trip ever! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What wonderful memories we made together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. Some firsts I've recently experienced aren't so delightful as a trip to Europe or a new ne<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">phew</span>, but nevertheless they have shaped the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">story</span> of my life these last months: things like being sick on Christmas Day for the first time, or having my bank account information and $1500 stolen from me, or being a passerby in the street at the perfectly wrong moment and getting pepper<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-</span>sprayed in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if those tiny drops of suffering <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">soften me</span> to be moldable by the Holy Spirit, then they are just as important and needed as the sunny days of joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. 2016 in <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">itself is a brand new experience with no mistakes in it yet</span>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>January is already old news<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">--</span>folded up and shelved--</span>and February is swiftly joining, but <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">here</span> is what I want to remember this year <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for</span> all the firsts that await:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've been waiting my whole life for this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What firsts have you experienced lately?</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("data:image/png; border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-11782542851334635382016-02-05T13:42:00.001-08:002016-02-12T06:51:46.934-08:00It's So Nice to See You Again!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yeqoB1KYpJg/Vr3xW-o4DoI/AAAAAAAAGoE/reW9RM_0FtQ/s1600/IMG_20160131_173314725_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yeqoB1KYpJg/Vr3xW-o4DoI/AAAAAAAAGoE/reW9RM_0FtQ/s400/IMG_20160131_173314725_HDR.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="goog_983205225"></span><span id="goog_983205226"></span><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suddenly, it has been 227 days, 8 hours, and 19 minutes since I last posted here. In that time, my firstborn has arrived! Does the exhaustion of the last two months of pregnancy, the haze of recovering from labor, and the steep learning curve of being a new mother excuse me from my unplanned absence? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I debated about whether I should just post as if everything was normal (sort of sliding into my desk in the back of the classroom, hoping the teacher doesn't notice my tardiness), or whether I should call attention to my long silence by announcing: "I'm back!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've missed writing and am elated to be at it again. Furthermore, as I was coming up with my new and improved bio (read it under the <b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/p/mikaela.html" target="_blank">"about us" tab</a></b> if for no other reason than the fact that it contains a picture of my son!), I realized just how much of my life this blog has encompassed. This month marks the 7th year that One Bright Corner has been around, which is nearly a third of my life--and certainly the most eventful seven years of my life. It's a record of events and thoughts and trivial interests and lots of growth for which I am so grateful, and a record I am so excited to continue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Look for new posts most every Friday around here. Lauren will be posting next week, and in two weeks I'll be back with heaps of pictures and as many words as I can manage to describe the birth of Liam and how he made me a mother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></span>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-58368684584269498732016-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:002016-01-26T07:00:28.594-08:00The Parable I Learned From An Orchid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtXy0eL50S0/VqaGyCGUg-I/AAAAAAAAC7c/31PLC2HwaZA/s1600/ORCHID.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtXy0eL50S0/VqaGyCGUg-I/AAAAAAAAC7c/31PLC2HwaZA/s400/ORCHID.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was orchid watering day<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> when I nearly beheaded <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">one of <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">my p<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lants.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every couple weeks I spend a few moments over these flowers
of mine, pretending to <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have</span> a green thumb, enjoying the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">quiet</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it simply because orchids have
enthralled me for as long as I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, as a<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> teenager </span>I was<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> sadly</span> disappointed to read in one of the Anne of Green
Gables books that orchids were too exotic to strike Anne's fancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">T</span>o me, you<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> see,</span> the wide open blooms are like a
welcoming smile on an honest face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blossoms floating from the stem conveys a grace I can only marvel at.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">..</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But back to my <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">story</span>...</span>on this particular<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> watering</span> day I was delighted to notice
new buds <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and</span> blossoms on each one of my orchids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S</span>miling happily<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">,</span> I worked to
stake up a few of the stems burgeoning with heavy buds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suddenly, I felt a sickening snap under my fingers as I
straightened one stem against a stake, and realized to my horror that I had all
but entirely snapped <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the</span> stem in two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was hanging on by only a thread, and as I held the still-beautiful stem in my
hand, I could hardly believe that I had really just broken it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The four or five buds it held, promising
beautiful, luscious flowers in just a few weeks' time, now seemed to be
taunting me of what I had destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I didn't know what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should I snap it off the rest of the way and put the stem in a vase with
the slim hope I would still get to see a few blooms?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I leave it there and hope the stem didn't
grow diseased and infect the entire plant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although a quick internet search encouraged me in the snapping direction,
I couldn't bring myself to do the deed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I just left the stem hanging on for dear life and ignored my sad
little orchid for the next week or so, resigned to the fact that I had probably
just killed any chance of blossoms from it for awhile.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But little did I know that while I left the broken stem for
dead, something very alive was happening within that broken plant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For fragile though orchids may appear, fussy
though they may seem, they are actually among the most miraculous pictures of
new birth that you will find in nature.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some weeks later when I finally brought myself to assess the
damage I had done, I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">coul<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">d hard<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ly</span> believe I was looking at the same <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">plant</span></span></span></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only had the broken stem begun to grow
back together and continue to send life to the buds, but a new stem had begun
to sprout from the break, and another little nub of a baby stem was beginning
to peek out in a different spot.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was astounded and humbled, and as I stared at the miracle
blooming before my eyes, I realized the greater miracle the Creator of this
orchid was teaching me: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that God is in
the business of healing "the brokenhearted and bind[ing] up their
wounds." {Ps. 147:3}<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He is the master of
not just re<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pair</i> but re<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">{Romans 6}</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My orchid was not simply "just as good as
before."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better than before</i>, and isn't the analogy to our lives breathtaking? God takes the broken stems of my life<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and</span> the barely-born buds <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">of vision that seem<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> doomed to die and He <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">sends life through them, growing stems and flowers <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">beyond what I could have imagined</span>. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When a friend betrayed me, He became my Friend more truly
than ever before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I was proud and tripped over my own ego, falling flat on
my face, He picked me up and taught me humility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I was brokenhearted, He comforted me with His great
grace, and I grasped for the first time just how un-graspable the well of His
grace is.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So every time I look at my broken taped-up orchid and see
not one, not two, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">three</i> potential
stems and all the beauty they <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">are pregnant with</span>, I see myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see my brokenness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the tape holding my life and my heart
together, and I see the new things God has done in me that He never could
have accomplished had I remained unbroken. And I marvel that, just as He has done throughout history, God used a humble <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">flower</span> to show me these truths. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{Matthew 6:28b-29}</span></i></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0;" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-18685837485323091792015-11-24T07:30:00.000-08:002015-11-24T07:30:00.277-08:00Look Up<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOBYR0bTR9U/VlQIyxQEW5I/AAAAAAAAC6A/AWlMAyF9rNk/s1600/14334475229_797b59da47_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOBYR0bTR9U/VlQIyxQEW5I/AAAAAAAAC6A/AWlMAyF9rNk/s320/14334475229_797b59da47_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June brought in warm evenings like summer's heralding banner, and the rich woolly sky blanketed the sleepy house where some friends and I were cuddled up for a late night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My phone suddenly buzzed at me with a message from my mama, but not the one I was expecting: "Go look outside!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Girls--listen to this!" I cried, and we all jumped up, heavy eyelids instantly opened in wonder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We leapt outside in our bare feet, spiraling in circles with our arms outstretched and our eyes heavenward, trying to spot Jupiter and Venus <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/venus-jupiter-convergence-june-2015/" target="_blank">converging</a> into one visual spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Desperate to beat the expiration of a perhaps once-in-a lifetime sight, we ran down to the golf course, but trees shut us in on every side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We charged back up to the main road and sprinted down the asphalt, past dark houses that scowled at our wakefulness at such an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I rounded the last bend in the road, coming to where it sprouted off from a busy street, the sky unrolled across the horizon above a treeless field, and there the great conjunction of the two planets shone in a star-of-Bethlehem-like brilliance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The two planets danced so closely together that their brightness was mesmerizing to anyone who laid eyes on the sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we were no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The four of us made a rock our arm chair, and I sat in awe with my hands clasped around my legs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was no clock to fetter the flitting moments down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There was no rhythm ticking an impending deadline besides the unison beating of our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So we watched in reverent silence, our backs masked by the darkness, but our faces lit by the light of the star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With such a sight glittering in our eyes, we couldn't help but sing hymns of praise to the Morning Star, and there was something special about that worship by the roadside that I won't ever forget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time lapsed...cars streaked by...but the star, my friends, and I remained.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It struck me as we sat how <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">odd</span> we must have looked to the passersby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when a busy, harried soul drove by and saw four women with their eyes rapturously fixed on the sky, I wondered if he would follow our gaze and look up, even if just out of curiosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I</span>n that moment on that warm <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June evening</span> a chill went down my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">through my</span> wondering<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span>I found <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">rich nugget</span> that I've carried with me these<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> past six months.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shouldn't my eyes perpetually be fixed with equally rapturous delight on Jesus the Morning Star?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And shouldn't I be so enthralled by and illuminated with His light that all who pass me can't help but follow my gaze and stare, not at me, but at Who I am looking to?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes and yes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And if at the end of my days it is said that the best analogy for the thrust of my life was that beautiful, worshipful evening of looking up<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I will <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">be satisfied. If it is said of my life that all <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">who looked at me couldn't help but <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">look to Jesus because of me,</span></span></span></span> my mission will be complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/amountaineer/14334475229/" target="_blank">“We Choose to See Vol. 002,”</a> © 2013 AMRenault, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-51637036262248484992015-07-07T14:40:00.001-07:002015-07-07T14:40:33.848-07:00Lauren Hearts Lavender Chocolate Cupcakes!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You may have noticed that the cupcake department has been somewhat quiet around here lately. No, we are not throwing in the towel on our grand scheme of filling the year with cupcakes, but "busy" doesn't quite do justice to the last two months: running a half marathon in California, running 5ks in Washington in California-worthy weather, setting off fireworks, helping run a week long music camp, eagerly anticipating a niece or nephew's imminent arrival, enjoying time with Mikaela and Joel while they were here on a visit, finishing good books, teaching, and trying to get my life organized. You know how it goes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But Sunday afternoon found me in the kitchen once again, with another grand slam of a cupcake! This one is so good that it is rivaled only by my very first foray into the world of cupcakes--my <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" target="_blank">double peanut butter chocolate cupcakes</a>. If you observe the coincidence that both of my top favorite cupcakes involve chocolate, then you have noticed a very important trait of mine: I LOVE chocolate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My love for chocolate is only equaled by my love for all things floral, which is why Sarah, Mikaela, and I knew we had to have an entire category dedicated to floral cupcakes. And let me tell you what, these lavender cupcakes taste like a big mug of frothy lavender hot chocolate in cupcake form. What could be better?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wDSmk5Mfzo/VZwqsBQR0cI/AAAAAAAAC2s/fYZ6mgzuWPE/s1600/01-IMG_7216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wDSmk5Mfzo/VZwqsBQR0cI/AAAAAAAAC2s/fYZ6mgzuWPE/s320/01-IMG_7216.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I started off with a basic gluten free chocolate cupcake recipe featuring coconut flour </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and farm-fresh eggs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sarah inspired me to use my favorite measuring cup set--why don't all measuring cups come in the form of a nesting matroyshka doll? They range in size from a cup to a pinch, and I'm sure they contributed to the tastiness of this recipe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Olive oil and honey make these cupcakes moist and delicious! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I added just one drop of Mama's <a href="http://mamasessentialoilcabinet.com/" target="_blank">Young Living Lavender essential oil</a>, and it gave the perfect hint of lavender flavor to the cupcakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fresh out of the oven, and begging to be stuffed in my mouth! This is the point at which I begin to doubt the necessity of frosting, but I stayed strong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z86E8v933bM/VZwrz5M7w7I/AAAAAAAAC3g/W7GEp1LxDqY/s1600/08-IMG_7238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z86E8v933bM/VZwrz5M7w7I/AAAAAAAAC3g/W7GEp1LxDqY/s320/08-IMG_7238.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you remember Mikaela's <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/05/coconut-chai-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">rave reviews</a> of the <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/05/coconut-chai-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">German Buttercream frosting</a> she made in April, you know why I decided I had to try that frosting for myself! I started with dried lavender...the best flavoring in the world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6xZiWpZcC7M/VZwr2YFKcQI/AAAAAAAAC3o/Uzqq0kh_-CA/s1600/06-IMG_7231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6xZiWpZcC7M/VZwr2YFKcQI/AAAAAAAAC3o/Uzqq0kh_-CA/s320/06-IMG_7231.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Simmer the lavender with milk, and let it steep for ten minutes, then inhale the lavender deliciousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-taSd3hxZ1as/VZwr4U1craI/AAAAAAAAC3w/WylDKZEoEMY/s1600/1-Cupcakes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-taSd3hxZ1as/VZwr4U1craI/AAAAAAAAC3w/WylDKZEoEMY/s320/1-Cupcakes3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Next comes the sunny yellow yolks, sugar, vanilla, and lots of stirring and butter. And I'm afraid I have to agree with Mikaela: this is the best stuff in the world! I found it thickened more quickly than hers did (perhaps because I had my burner on medium low, or perhaps because I only made one recipe.) In any case, the ratio of difficulty to deliciousness was quite good! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swt5YLsEdGQ/VZwtpuKmJPI/AAAAAAAAC4g/xDxXbiCiwXw/s1600/11-IMG_7303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swt5YLsEdGQ/VZwtpuKmJPI/AAAAAAAAC4g/xDxXbiCiwXw/s320/11-IMG_7303.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now...get ready, set, frost! {And I promise, the frosting is more purple in person!}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not a crumb was left behind from this beauty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let me know if you make these cupcakes, and what your opinion is on floral flavors in general!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chocolate Lavender Cupcakes </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>with Lavender German Buttercream Frosting</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">{Adapted from Elana Amsterdam's <i>Gluten Free Cupcakes</i>}</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup coconut flour</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBcOAe264N0/VZwt1VBK4YI/AAAAAAAAC44/4JueFRfdsVY/s1600/14-IMG_7310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBcOAe264N0/VZwt1VBK4YI/AAAAAAAAC44/4JueFRfdsVY/s200/14-IMG_7310.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 teaspoon sea salt</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">4 large eggs</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 olive oil or grapeseed oil</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup honey or agave nectar</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 drop food grade <a href="http://mamasessentialoilcabinet.com/" target="_blank">lavender essential oil </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 9 muffin cups with paper liners.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, honey, and essential oil. Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost and serve.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lavender German Buttercream Frosting</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Adapted from <b><a href="http://thetoughcookie.com/2013/12/02/battle-of-the-buttercreams-iv-german-buttercream/" target="_blank">The Tough Cookie</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">150ml milk </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 teaspoon dried lavender</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">50g (or ¼ cup) granulated sugar </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 teaspoon cornstarch </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3 egg yolks </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b> 1. </b>Mix milk with lavender in a medium saucepan and heat just to a simmer. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon taste, and then strain the lavender from the milk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>2. </b>Make a simple custard. In a small saucepan, combine the milk, 50g of sugar and the vanilla. In a heatproof bowl, combine the cornstarch with a little splash of the milk mixture. Stir to a smooth paste. Add another splash of milk an stir to incorporate. Whisk in the egg yolks and sugar until frothy and well combined; set aside. Gently heat milk/sugar/vanilla mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally. Once the milk mixture has reached boiling point and bubbles start to appear around the edges of the pan, slowly drizzle the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Once all the milk has been added, pour the mixture back into the saucepan and heat over low heat. Whisking continuously, wait until the first bubbles appear and the mixture has thickened. Pour into a clean heatproof bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Allow to cool to body temperature (set bowl in cold water to hasten cooling process). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>3.</b> Once the custard has cooled sufficiently, mix in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting until each tablespoon of butter is incorporated before adding the next. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until needed. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or for up to 2 months in the freezer in a freezeproof container or bag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>4.</b> To use buttercream that has been refrigerated, allow to come to room temperature (this takes about 3 hours in a warm kitchen) or microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until it's soft. Then mix through until it's spreadable again. Thaw frozen buttercream in the fridge overnight, then allow to come to room temperature before use and, once at room temperature, mix briefly until smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>5. </b>Serve at room temperature. If you've assembled a cake or decorated cupcakes, allow cake or cupcakes to come to room temperature before serving (about 3 hours in a warm kitchen). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>Cupcake Party: Chocolate Edition</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" target="_blank">Lauren's Double Peanut Butter Chocolate</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-sarah-hearts-chocolate.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Chocolate Chunk Lava Fudge</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-hazelnut-mocha-in-cupcake.html" target="_blank">Mikaela's Hazelnut Mocha</a></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u>Cupcake Party: Savory Edition</u></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" target="_blank"><b>Lauren's Spinach Feta</b></a><br />
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/cupcakes-and-croutons.html" target="_blank">Mikaela's Cupcakes & Croutons</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/04/oh-my-cupcakes-ormuffins.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Carrot Ginger Coconut Muffins </a></b></span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-27805815458121293932015-06-23T08:11:00.001-07:002015-06-23T08:12:12.012-07:00Married to a Traitor<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Benedict Arnold, the most infamous traitor in American history, did not act alone.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27147/3352693951" title="thEiR diFferENceS by Sippanont Samchai, on Flickr"><img alt="thEiR diFferENceS" height="266" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1095/3352693951_e461aaef18_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For in his charming, young, well-connected, and Loyalist wife, Margaret "Peggy" Shippen, he had his co-conspirator. Passionate Tory she was, but that is not the whole story. However much we'd like to convict her of some grand conspiracy to trap a colonial general with her wiles, marry him, and then lead him into treachery, the story may very well be a less sinister one: man and woman fall in love, marry, and woman influences man. Regardless of motive, this we do know: Peggy's influence—unconscious or deliberate—helped to change a Patriot war hero into a Loyalist traitor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"He had, let it be remembered, no domestic security for doing right - no fireside guardianship to protect him from the tempter. Rejecting, as we do utterly, the theory that his wife was the instigator of his crime - all common principles of human action being opposed to it - we still believe that there was nothing in her influence or associations to countervail the persuasions to which he ultimately yielded. She was young, gay and frivolous; fond of display and admiration, and used to luxury; she was utterly unfitted for the duties and privations of a poor man's wife. A loyalist's daughter, she had been taught to mourn over even the poor pageantry of colonial rank and authority, and to recollect with pleasure the pomp of those brief days of enjoyment, when military men of noble station were her admirers. Arnold had no counselor on his pillow to urge him to the imitation of homely republican virtue, to stimulate him to follow the rugged path of a Revolutionary patriot. He fell, and though his wife did not tempt or counsel him to ruin, there is no reason to think she ever uttered a word or made a sign to deter him [1]."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story is really not a new one. It's the same one that played out in Eve with Adam and Sarah with Abraham. Those women of old, and countless women since then, sabotaged the course of their own lives, the lives of their husbands, and the lives of innumerable others through one small choice or suggestion. And while Adam, Abraham, and Benedict all clearly bear the responsibility for their sin, the role of their wives in their sin is unmistakable.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I may never deliberately manipulate my husband. I may never consciously encourage him to sin. But the fact remains that I have the chief influence in my husband's life, and if I act or speak out of fear, selfishness, or pride, I could very well aid my husband in sin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"If Benedict Arnold had died in his greatest achievement on the battlefield, he would have died a hero’s death....But in following his greatest achievements with the greatest of betrayals, he lived and died only one thing in the minds of all Americans: a traitor of reprehensible proportions (from Lauren's excellent post <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-traitor-within.html" target="_blank"><b>The Traitor Within</b></a>)."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even ascribing the best of intentions to Benedict Arnold's wife and recognizing the responsibility Benedict bears for his own choices, Peggy likely could have been the difference that made her husband a hero instead of a persona non grata. I'm painfully green at this wife business, and history is just another reminder to me of how considerable my influence is in my husband's life. How desperately I desire for his heart to safely trust in me, with him knowing that my influence is for good and not evil! (Proverbs 31:11-12)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[1] Griswold, Rufus W., William Gilmore Simms, and Edward D. Ingraham. "Major-General Benedict Arnold." <i>Washington and the Generals of the American Revolution</i>. Vol. 1. Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1848. 264-65. Google, 2 July 2007. Web. 23 June 2015.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27147/3352693951/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Credit</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2013/septemberoctober/statement/love-and-the-revolution" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Credit</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/images/arn-andre1.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Credit</span></a></div>
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Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-29156848858983482522015-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-10T07:00:01.136-07:0013.1 Miles in a Tutu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0oDwt7Mgk0/VXYmWMsh_ZI/AAAAAAAACyQ/gSn76fReDxA/s1600/01-CameraZOOM-20150507091011058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0oDwt7Mgk0/VXYmWMsh_ZI/AAAAAAAACyQ/gSn76fReDxA/s320/01-CameraZOOM-20150507091011058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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T<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">his story began, as most good stories do, with an idea. It was over a year ago when <a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarah</a> started planting the seed of an idea that she and I should run a Disney half marathon together. It was several more months before that seed sprouted, and we actually signed up to run the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland. The most I had ever run before was a 12k race, so the growing process quickly began!</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The obstacles seemed enormous (You can read more about the beginning training process <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2014/11/but-i-will-never-run-marathon.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) The first time I ran, let's just say I didn't feel so great. Three months into my training, I experienced shooting pains in my knee that were so terrible I limped for weeks after a long run. I was forced to take a several month break right when my training should have been ramping up, and prayed that I would even be able to run the Tinkerbell. </span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This story is an entire blog post in itself, but suffice it to say that God was mighty to save, and the week before the race I ran 14 miles feeling blessed to <b>be able</b> to run 14 miles rather than blessed to <b>be done</b> with them! I wasn't experiencing any pain, and my knee was good as new!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EC4DGO88kPI/VXYmZP91R-I/AAAAAAAACyY/SPPkJtQYgPA/s1600/02-B612-2015-05-07-12-50-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EC4DGO88kPI/VXYmZP91R-I/AAAAAAAACyY/SPPkJtQYgPA/s320/02-B612-2015-05-07-12-50-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May 7th, Sarah and I loaded our paraphernalia up--convincing ourselves that we were justified in over-packing because it was a road trip and we had all that car space, so why not fill it up? We zipped through Oregon with the sun in our faces, a pit stop for daisy-chain-making, and the suspenseful words of Agatha Christie to fill the miles of I-5 roadside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RSAte3yPfE/VXYmcOeO5XI/AAAAAAAACyk/bWfmD-KYv24/s1600/04-B612-2015-05-07-20-12-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RSAte3yPfE/VXYmcOeO5XI/AAAAAAAACyk/bWfmD-KYv24/s320/04-B612-2015-05-07-20-12-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When we finally made it to our first destination--Redding, CA--we were overjoyed to get to spend time with our friend Charae who was living there at the time. We had so much fun going shopping at the mall, catching up, and talking with her grandparents! Of course, we also had to make time for the California-famous In-N-Out Burger! Delish!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The next morning, Charae made us an amazing breakfast, and thus fortified, we set out for our next destination: Disneyland or bust! It was with great apprehension that we headed Los Angeles-ward, and we stopped in Sacramento for an extended lunch in order to make sure we avoided LA rush hour. After touring old town Sacramento, we got back on the road, and when the time came to enter Los Angeles, Sarah gripped the wheel, we said a prayer, and dove in!</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Amazingly, we made it out alive with nary a horror story to share! God blessed us with fairly smooth sailing. (Although there was that time that the lanes seemed to multiply from everywhere, and Sarah asked desperately: "How many lanes are there?!" Only 8 lanes going each direction...no biggie.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5KzFeZN6gg/VXYml1nZamI/AAAAAAAACyw/I6kkORAviW0/s1600/11-2015-05-09-17-46-37_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5KzFeZN6gg/VXYml1nZamI/AAAAAAAACyw/I6kkORAviW0/s320/11-2015-05-09-17-46-37_photo.jpg" width="198" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The next day, our mission was to pick up our race packets, which was easy as pie. After that, we were doing some shopping in Downtown Disney when we came across a curious hubbub. Across from a theater in Downtown Disney was spread a long blue carpet, with fences on either side and people already milling around. When we asked a worker what all the fuss was about, she informed us that the world premier of the movie <i>Tomorrowland</i> was to be held there that evening and if we wanted to see famous people, we could wander back over at 4:30. </span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well, wander we did, and as you can see by the photographic evidence above, we saw George Clooney, and also Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, not to mention the scores of celebrities who elicited shrieks from the fans and blank shrugs from us. (-;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5J4Hu6U1Ww/VXYmmUmbHtI/AAAAAAAACy4/OcvKWrtkPeA/s1600/13-CameraZOOM-20150510050009383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r5J4Hu6U1Ww/VXYmmUmbHtI/AAAAAAAACy4/OcvKWrtkPeA/s320/13-CameraZOOM-20150510050009383.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That evening, early to bed was our goal, for the race started at 5:30 am! We rolled out of bed, swallowed some water, and loaded up our race gear. As soon as we walked outside our hotel into the cool, crisp, California morning, we were joined by hundreds of other women heading the same direction. Everyone was decked out with various nods to the Tinkerbell theme: Sarah and I donned tutus, tiara headbands from Mama, and shirts that said, "I don't sweat, I sparkle!"</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We waited in the dark dawn while fireworks exploded overhead and the National Anthem played.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We sprinted forward along with 16,000 other people when the starting gun went off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We raced through the Sleeping Beauty Castle with huge grins and faces upturned to the rapturous morning sky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We wove through Disneyland, dashing around the teacup ride, past the horse stables behind the scenes, and around Paradise Pier in California Adventureland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Inspiring anthems in the background kept us paced, and the onlookers that packed the sidelines kept us inspired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Past the block full of Red Hat ladies, into the city of Anaheim, with the sun now warm above us we ran. And while each mile had its own challenges, each mile had its own delights: the Chinese coach who yelled at all of us to keep going, and the woman in the wheelchair who would not stop wheeling even though all her comrades had disappeared in the distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, I sprinted for all I was worth, and the finishing was indeed worth every mile of training and every ounce of pain. The official stats are that I came in at 2 hours, 10 minutes, 77th in my division. It was the most amazing race I have ever participated in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the rest of the day, as you can imagine, we limped around like old grannies, but the camaraderie of the other thousands of women limping around was special in its own right! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NGZdzOhVAi8/VXYnRHwUmPI/AAAAAAAACzw/GEbfAwFKB3A/s1600/22-CameraZOOM-20150510212559057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NGZdzOhVAi8/VXYnRHwUmPI/AAAAAAAACzw/GEbfAwFKB3A/s320/22-CameraZOOM-20150510212559057.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We started and ended the day with fireworks, and the evening fireworks over the Sleeping Beauty Castle were especially breathtaking.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But we still had two more days in the "Happiest Place on Earth" in which we...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WbFmotrYVg/VXYnIkDbrLI/AAAAAAAACzY/stW8T-HIQBg/s1600/2-2015-5%2BCA%2BTrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WbFmotrYVg/VXYnIkDbrLI/AAAAAAAACzY/stW8T-HIQBg/s400/2-2015-5%2BCA%2BTrip.jpg" width="106" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...Collected adorable stuffed animals! We started the trip with only Sarah's panda, and ended it Hello Kitty and the adorable menagerie of Tsum Tsums (the mini Disney characters) to fill any nooks left in the car!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OP0SGvcRXA0/VXYnPP7LWAI/AAAAAAAACzg/2d8JYsvEoYs/s1600/19-2015-05-10-20-15-30_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OP0SGvcRXA0/VXYnPP7LWAI/AAAAAAAACzg/2d8JYsvEoYs/s320/19-2015-05-10-20-15-30_photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ae5qIGgVRs/VXYnuLjJ1NI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/YQHndy5vf8g/s1600/30-2015-05-12-15-27-05_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ae5qIGgVRs/VXYnuLjJ1NI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/YQHndy5vf8g/s320/30-2015-05-12-15-27-05_photo.jpg" width="246" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...took pictures with Disney characters!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGC2AFT3dEQ/VXYnQWZPqfI/AAAAAAAACzs/12VLMwD_I0s/s1600/21-CameraZOOM-20150510204136125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGC2AFT3dEQ/VXYnQWZPqfI/AAAAAAAACzs/12VLMwD_I0s/s320/21-CameraZOOM-20150510204136125.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ...rode the teacup ride at night, and both agreed it was the best way to ride it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_MEX7khTgc/VXYnVoQ8g2I/AAAAAAAACz4/PRJXmngvo2k/s1600/26-B612-2015-05-11-12-05-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4_MEX7khTgc/VXYnVoQ8g2I/AAAAAAAACz4/PRJXmngvo2k/s320/26-B612-2015-05-11-12-05-33.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...rode California Screamin' twice, and screamed loudly, and Tower of Terror twice, and were delightfully terrified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...took a lot of sunlit selfies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhG55k0Ttrw/VXYncE5SiDI/AAAAAAAAC0I/9TXPW1M7ksw/s1600/28-CameraZOOM-20150511194515352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhG55k0Ttrw/VXYncE5SiDI/AAAAAAAAC0I/9TXPW1M7ksw/s320/28-CameraZOOM-20150511194515352.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...observed part of a proposal (at one of those portrait booths, the artist was painting the couple with the man down on one knee, ring in hand! At the reveal of the portrait, the guy would enact it, pulling out the ring and going down to one knee.). And we also got to watch a snippet of <i>Tomorrowland.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKJxaDutaT0/VXYnelEgu6I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/KSvWx7l16wU/s1600/29-CameraZOOM-20150512103136097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKJxaDutaT0/VXYnelEgu6I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/KSvWx7l16wU/s320/29-CameraZOOM-20150512103136097.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...found Flynn Rider himself. (They just can't get his nose right, sadly.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzvm8Ksor2s/VXYoPEhwS8I/AAAAAAAAC1A/V55uS3Zuk6U/s1600/34-B612-2015-05-12-19-51-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vzvm8Ksor2s/VXYoPEhwS8I/AAAAAAAAC1A/V55uS3Zuk6U/s200/34-B612-2015-05-12-19-51-27.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZySKMl7uZ4/VXYnusWw4CI/AAAAAAAAC0c/Afkz7TWNBG0/s1600/32-B612-2015-05-12-17-08-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZySKMl7uZ4/VXYnusWw4CI/AAAAAAAAC0c/Afkz7TWNBG0/s200/32-B612-2015-05-12-17-08-39.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...and when we weren't busy with other things, we ate. Clouds of Cotton Candy and the most gigantic turkey leg you have ever seen in your life gave us a very balanced diet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The World of Color show was the fitting finale to both of our other two nights in Disneyland. The second time we saw it was our last night, and as the last fountain fell back into the water, and the last light turned out, we said good-bye to Disneyland and walked back to our hotel full of happy memories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHweoU_rzcY/VXYny9D8zwI/AAAAAAAAC0w/QAH0KoGQkv4/s1600/35-B612-2015-05-13-14-00-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHweoU_rzcY/VXYny9D8zwI/AAAAAAAAC0w/QAH0KoGQkv4/s320/35-B612-2015-05-13-14-00-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The next day, we drove by the Hollywood sign and up to Santa Barbara where we ate a picnic lunch and enjoyed the feeling of being beach bums for one blissful hour!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then we made it up to Sarah's Grandma Nancy and Papa Jack's house, where we were welcomed even late at night by her energetic and young-at-heart Grandma. She is definitely a kindred spirit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GcbAIAXdB0Y/VXYo3sbBv9I/AAAAAAAAC1o/urCiHcFYpTo/s1600/41-2015-05-14-14-57-14_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GcbAIAXdB0Y/VXYo3sbBv9I/AAAAAAAAC1o/urCiHcFYpTo/s200/41-2015-05-14-14-57-14_photo.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQKBG0OC0Hw/VXYo01cGqLI/AAAAAAAAC1g/U7vSHmd8qr4/s1600/40-2015-05-14-14-56-51_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQKBG0OC0Hw/VXYo01cGqLI/AAAAAAAAC1g/U7vSHmd8qr4/s200/40-2015-05-14-14-56-51_photo.jpg" width="155" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The next day brought new wonderful adventures: It was Sarah's birthday, and since her grandparents were busy in the morning, we headed over the Golden Gate bridge and into San Francisco for a few hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jK9tkICbr2o/VXYolhfs59I/AAAAAAAAC1I/soqBKvueEiQ/s1600/37-CameraZOOM-20150514111546682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jK9tkICbr2o/VXYolhfs59I/AAAAAAAAC1I/soqBKvueEiQ/s320/37-CameraZOOM-20150514111546682.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There we discovered piano stairs. <i><b>Piano Stairs</b></i>, people! And they played notes as you stepped up them! Of course, we were nerds and walked up in thirds, 'cause that's just what you do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOdyTCQZrBE/VXYop1M2bUI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/boAw6wM5580/s1600/39-B612-2015-05-14-14-34-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOdyTCQZrBE/VXYop1M2bUI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/boAw6wM5580/s200/39-B612-2015-05-14-14-34-47.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqxFTh2Gixs/VXYooG2LtnI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/e0PoYJknVX4/s1600/38-CameraZOOM-20150514135159472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqxFTh2Gixs/VXYooG2LtnI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/e0PoYJknVX4/s200/38-CameraZOOM-20150514135159472.jpg" width="176" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I scouted out a Victorian tea room that I had seen the last time I was in San Francisco, and was thrilled to find it was still in business! Of course we had to visit the "Crown and Crumpet", and reveled in the pink girliness of it all! (Notice also our matching Minnie shirts from Disneyland!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sarah with her Grandma Nancy at her birthday dinner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzkVOShgSGY/VXYo8-AkjqI/AAAAAAAAC14/ldMXK-7Z9bI/s1600/43-2015-05-14-19-25-39_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzkVOShgSGY/VXYo8-AkjqI/AAAAAAAAC14/ldMXK-7Z9bI/s320/43-2015-05-14-19-25-39_photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Papa Jack, Sarah, and Grandma Nancy, with the beautiful bay behind them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The following morning brought the bittersweet moment of the trip: the final day, and the hours seemed to be slipping through our fingers too quickly. We packed up our suitcases, lovingly stowed our souvenirs, and wistfully said goodby to Grandma Nancy and Papa Jack. <i>Thank you for letting us stay with you! </i></span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We attacked the 10 hour drive that loomed over us. The route was familiar now, but the tale of <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> now occupied the hours, alternated with Korean soundtracks and balanced with good conversation. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbHUGjuoyRs/VXYpD7E5MUI/AAAAAAAAC2A/wS5X3xMJ1d4/s1600/44-2015-05-15-19-31-12_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbHUGjuoyRs/VXYpD7E5MUI/AAAAAAAAC2A/wS5X3xMJ1d4/s320/44-2015-05-15-19-31-12_photo.jpg" width="257" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our "fast food" dinner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As we crossed the border into Oregon we felt instantly back in the Northwest when we drove into a cloud and rain (that we hadn't seen in 10 days) descended on our homecoming. As home drew closer, we itched to hug our families and regale them with all of our adventures. But when the moment finally came to say good-bye, it was hard to believe the road trip to remember was now over. I fell asleep that night to the memories of the road bumping under the tires, the sun warming my face, and the smile of an amazing friend, knowing I made memories for a lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqQllzk96gc/VXYpNVThgVI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/vAd1mU9T5UQ/s1600/1-blog%2Bpics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqQllzk96gc/VXYpNVThgVI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/vAd1mU9T5UQ/s640/1-blog%2Bpics.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-2091132624542946632015-05-26T18:56:00.002-07:002015-05-26T18:56:49.610-07:00Coconut Chai Cupcakes<div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life is beautiful and busy, and suddenly April has come and gone with no cupcake posting from me (we were doing tea flavors, if you recall)! Susanna visited me for two weeks (post on our adventures forthcoming!), and she pretty much whipped up this project for me. I made dinner while she made cupcakes--isn't that a nice trade-off? I loved having another woman in the kitchen with me! Not only did she make the cupcakes, but she also took pictures, and collaborated on the frosting. So, you see, I can hardly take credit for these delicious beauties, but I can certainly post them on my blog and rave about my sister's baking prowess!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Feast...joy...savor...coming as soon as these cupcakes are finished!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cooking: a beautiful mess. The smartphone seems to be used just as much as the hard-copy cookbook these days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cooking: a not-so-beautiful mess</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The frosting was a fun adventure! After a tip from a friend, I went and devoured (figuratively, not literally) <a href="http://thetoughcookie.com/2013/12/02/battle-of-the-buttercreams-iv-german-buttercream/" target="_blank"><b>"The Battle of the Buttercreams"</b></a> in which an adventurous cook makes more buttercreams than I knew existed and tests them out in a blind taste taste with a final winner and overall scores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Susanna and I opted to make the winning buttercream, but before we got to taste it, we had to stir...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and stir</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...and stir! It was a long process. Prepare yourself. I was ready to call it "good" several times, but Susanna kept saying that it wasn't truly bubbling yet, and we needed to keep going. She was right, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it turned out amazing. Such a silky texture with a rich, buttery flavor that simple powdered sugar and butter could never achieve. German buttercream has ruined me forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh the joy! Can we eat them yet?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HwwuppczXP4/VUuHqqyXlWI/AAAAAAAAF4k/UfJLWBk-wfI/s1600/Anna's%2BVisit%2B167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HwwuppczXP4/VUuHqqyXlWI/AAAAAAAAF4k/UfJLWBk-wfI/s320/Anna's%2BVisit%2B167.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not quite--first you must have a staring contest with the cupcake.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knNNok7ZNoU/VUuHwjjvT-I/AAAAAAAAF4s/zl1C4l3b4ac/s1600/Anna's%2BVisit%2B170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knNNok7ZNoU/VUuHwjjvT-I/AAAAAAAAF4s/zl1C4l3b4ac/s320/Anna's%2BVisit%2B170.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have it on good authority that Susanna won this staring contest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These cupcakes turned out incredibly moist with good coconut flavor, though I wish I could have increased the coconut flavor without resorting to artificial flavoring that didn't taste quite as good as true coconut. The tea flavor is delicate, and an excellent background for the coconut. These were also probably the easiest I've made so far (and not just because Susanna did all the work!), but the complex buttercream kept us in the kitchen for a good while. There really were no negatives to this recipe, and I'd certainly make it again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Coconut Chai Cupcakes</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Adapted from <b><a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/coconut-flour-cupcakes" target="_blank">Food and Wine</a></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Makes 1 dozen cupcakes</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 cup sifted coconut flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon kosher salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon chai tea powder (an unsweetened concentrate, such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Lotus-Traditional-Masala-Chai/dp/B0049K99RW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432691345&sr=8-2&keywords=chai+tea+powder" target="_blank"><b>Blue Lotus</b></a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6 large eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 cup honey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup coconut oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 tablespoons coconut milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 teaspoons coconut flavor</span></div>
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<li class="first" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;">Preheat the oven to 350º. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, baking powder, salt, and tea powder until blended. Whisk in the eggs, honey, coconut oil, milk, vanilla, and coconut flavor until completely blended and smooth.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;"><span class="step-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-transform: uppercase;"></span> Divide the batter equally between 12 lined muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the baking tin to a wire rack and let the cupcakes cool for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cupcakes from the tin and place on the wire rack to cool completely.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">German Buttercream</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Adapted from <b><a href="http://thetoughcookie.com/2013/12/02/battle-of-the-buttercreams-iv-german-buttercream/" target="_blank">The Tough Cookie</a></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">150ml milk </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 bag or 2 teaspoons good quality black tea</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">50g (or ¼ cup) granulated sugar </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon cornstarch </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 egg yolks </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">50g (or ¼ cup) granulated sugar </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teaspoon coconut flavor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">200g (or ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b> 1. </b>Heat milk in the microwave and add tea (if using a bag, open the bag and empty the leaves into the milk). Allow to steep for 5 - 10 minutes, depending upon taste, and then strain the tea leaves from the milk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. </b>Make a simple custard. In a small saucepan, combine the milk, 50g of sugar and the vanilla. In a heatproof bowl, combine the cornstarch with a little splash of the milk mixture. Stir to a smooth paste. Add another splash of milk an stir to incorporate. Whisk in the egg yolks and sugar until frothy and well combined; set aside. Gently heat milk/sugar/vanilla mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally. Once the milk mixture has reached boiling point and bubbles start to appear around the edges of the pan, slowly drizzle the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Once all the milk has been added, pour the mixture back into the saucepan and heat over low heat. Whisking continuously, wait until the first bubbles appear and the mixture has thickened. Pour into a clean heatproof bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Allow to cool to body temperature (set bowl in cold water to hasten cooling process). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3.</b> Once the custard has cooled sufficiently, mix in the coconut flavor and the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting until each tablespoon of butter is incorporated before adding the next. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until needed. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or for up to 2 months in the freezer in a freezeproof container or bag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4.</b> To use buttercream that has been refrigerated, allow to come to room temperature (this takes about 3 hours in a warm kitchen) or microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until it's soft. Then mix through until it's spreadable again. Thaw frozen buttercream in the fridge overnight, then allow to come to room temperature before use and, once at room temperature, mix briefly until smooth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. </b>Serve at room temperature. If you've assembled a cake or decorated cupcakes, allow cake or cupcakes to come to room temperature before serving (about 3 hours in a warm kitchen). </span></div>
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<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cupcake Party: Chocolate Edition</span></u></h4>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" style="color: #007cbb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lauren's Double Peanut Butter Chocolate</span></a></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-sarah-hearts-chocolate.html" style="color: #007cbb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sarah's Chocolate Chunk Lava Fudge</span></a></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-hazelnut-mocha-in-cupcake.html" style="color: #007cbb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mikaela's Hazelnut Mocha</span></a></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cupcake Party: Savory Edition</span></u></h4>
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<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" style="background-color: white; color: #007cbb; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lauren's Spinach Feta</span></b></a><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/cupcakes-and-croutons.html" style="color: #007cbb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mikaela's Cupcakes & Croutons</a> </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/04/oh-my-cupcakes-ormuffins.html" style="color: #007cbb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sarah's Carrot Ginger Coconut Muffins</a></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cupcake Party: Tea Edition</span></u></h4>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #007cbb; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-favorite-things.html" target="_blank">Lauren's Green Tea Cupcakes with Peach Buttercream</a></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/04/would-you-like-that-in-teacup.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Lavender Earl Grey Cupcakes</a></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-44182504393151457592015-04-10T23:32:00.002-07:002015-04-10T23:33:40.164-07:00My Favorite Things!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkPtiy1U9YM/VSiPmWE16UI/AAAAAAAACw0/jlbC9gZIBE0/s1600/05-IMG_5102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkPtiy1U9YM/VSiPmWE16UI/AAAAAAAACw0/jlbC9gZIBE0/s1600/05-IMG_5102.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Embarking on this cupcake adventure two months ago has convinced me that anyone who is unhappy needs a cupcake in their life. Cupcakes and tea. And daffodils. We would all be much happier people if we took some time each month to measure a sand castle of flour, crack some golden eggs, and inhale the mood-lifting powers of vanilla extract, don't you think? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I certainly do! And since our theme for the month melds two of my favorite things--cupcakes and tea--I am a happy girl! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How did I arrive at my Green Tea with Peach Buttercream Frosting flavor for my cupcakes, I can just hear you asking? It was simple, really. I decided that since peach green tea lattes are like nectar from heaven, it would only be logical that a cupcake version would be just as delightful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--5jUttKKE4Y/VSiOwQSiMiI/AAAAAAAACwQ/KQwm2ODYepE/s1600/2-Cupcakes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--5jUttKKE4Y/VSiOwQSiMiI/AAAAAAAACwQ/KQwm2ODYepE/s1600/2-Cupcakes2.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My gluten free flours! (Not quite a sandcastle, but you can use your imagination, right?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LhYplmUyhA/VSiOzrVJpLI/AAAAAAAACwY/Fe_HRbIHZI8/s1600/07-IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LhYplmUyhA/VSiOzrVJpLI/AAAAAAAACwY/Fe_HRbIHZI8/s1600/07-IMG_5107.JPG" height="206" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The stars of the show! I used 1 1/2 tablespoons of matcha powder (Japanese powdered green tea) in the cupcake batter to give it the green tea flavor. Although you can't tell in the photos, the flours and batter were distinctly green! Once baked, the green color faded, and the green tea flavor was subtly present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R9SVXjXCXYI/VSiO3R5NPFI/AAAAAAAACwg/0yHhteSxArI/s1600/03-IMG_5098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R9SVXjXCXYI/VSiO3R5NPFI/AAAAAAAACwg/0yHhteSxArI/s1600/03-IMG_5098.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmsgSEhK6qQ/VSiO6Pqw-nI/AAAAAAAACwo/1yxD0SQyN8s/s1600/04-IMG_5101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmsgSEhK6qQ/VSiO6Pqw-nI/AAAAAAAACwo/1yxD0SQyN8s/s1600/04-IMG_5101.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hh0OQsdNN98/VSiPyKS0dTI/AAAAAAAACw8/vc0XRSL3r48/s1600/06-IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hh0OQsdNN98/VSiPyKS0dTI/AAAAAAAACw8/vc0XRSL3r48/s1600/06-IMG_5105.JPG" height="217" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These cupcakes turned out more crumbly and dry than I liked, so I took inspiration from a favorite cake of my childhood. I poked the cupcakes with a fork, and then spooned some of the peach syrup over top to moisten them. It definitely improved the texture! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Next up: frosting! Why is it that I always spend more time looking for the decorating bags and tips than I do actually frosting? Please tell me I'm not the only one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Topped with dried peaches and sprinkled with matcha powder, the little darlings are picture perfect! Note my adorable spring cupcake liners!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vvzAj3E3ZG4/VSiQrlLHFoI/AAAAAAAACxg/GYKLhuR-0vo/s1600/13-IMG_5155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vvzAj3E3ZG4/VSiQrlLHFoI/AAAAAAAACxg/GYKLhuR-0vo/s1600/13-IMG_5155.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>The Verdict</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My instincts were spot on with the nectar from heaven inspiration, and the flavor was amazing! This particular cupcake recipe, however, definitely let me down on texture. I'm going back to my tried and true almond and coconut flour recipes next time for the moistness and flavor they pack in! However, I will definitely be adding matcha powder to more baked goods, as well as making this delectable frosting recipe again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you ever bake with tea flavors? I'd love to get some of your favorite tea recipes!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iB00I5tMWDE/VSiQuBEqHwI/AAAAAAAACxo/yN6657MFvT0/s1600/10-IMG_5118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iB00I5tMWDE/VSiQuBEqHwI/AAAAAAAACxo/yN6657MFvT0/s1600/10-IMG_5118.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Green Tea Cupcakes with Peach Buttercream</span> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Recipe adapted from <a href="http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2009/08/vanilla-cupcakes-with-mocha-icing.html?spref=pi" target="_blank">this one</a><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 cups sorghum flour or brown rice flour </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 cups potato starch (not potato flour!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 cups white sugar </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3/4 teaspoon sea salt </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 tablespoons Matcha Powder </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 cups milk </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Heaping 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 1/2 tablespoons bourbon vanilla extract </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1/4 teaspoon lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1/4 cup peach syrup </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Instructions: </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line cupcake tin with 18 paper or parchment liners. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, starch and dry ingredients together. Add in the milk, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Beat with a mixer until the cake batter is smooth. Do not over-beat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into the cupcake tins. Smooth out the tops with wet fingers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bake in the center of a preheated oven until firm and dome shaped<span style="font-size: small;">, about 15-18 m</span>inutes, depending upon your particular oven and altitude. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cool the pan on a wire rack briefly, then gently pop out the cupcakes and continue cooling on a rack (this avoids steaming the bottoms).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When cupcakes are entirely cool, poke the tops with a fork and spoon the peach syrup over top. Let sit while you make the frosting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Peach Buttercream Frosting</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From <i>The Cupcake Diaries </i>by Katherine Kallinis and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">16 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 teaspoon whole milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1/8 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1/4 cup peach syrup </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Toppings: matcha powder, dried peaches </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Combine the ingredients in a mixer and whip together at high speed until light and airy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Scoop the frosting into a large piping bag fitted with a large round tip and frost each cupcake with a swirl. Sift matcha powder over each cupcake, and top with half a dried peach.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/bellabelle/a04745386d15ec18c734a9ede053da6c.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cupcake Party: Chocolate Edition</span></u></h4>
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lauren's Double Peanut Butter Chocolate</span></a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-sarah-hearts-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sarah's Chocolate Chunk Lava Fudge</span></a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-hazelnut-mocha-in-cupcake.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mikaela's Hazelnut Mocha</span></a></b><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cupcake Party: Savory Edition</span></u></h4>
<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lauren's Spinach Feta</span></b></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/cupcakes-and-croutons.html" target="_blank">Mikaela's Cupcakes & Croutons</a> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/04/oh-my-cupcakes-ormuffins.html" target="_blank">Sarah's Carrot Ginger Coconut Muffins </a></span></b>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-38697090713027469912015-04-01T14:09:00.000-07:002015-04-01T14:09:45.688-07:00My Favorite Ways to Use Essential Oils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDjTOEiT5Sg/VRxdkWIYQJI/AAAAAAAAE4g/MKLDJcQUG9Y/s1600/8756694939_acb6858181_o%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDjTOEiT5Sg/VRxdkWIYQJI/AAAAAAAAE4g/MKLDJcQUG9Y/s1600/8756694939_acb6858181_o%2B(1).jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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My mom taught me how to use <a href="http://www.youngliving.com/" target="_blank"><b>Young Living</b></a> essential oils for everything from earaches to helping our pets. I've loved using them in my own home now--in fact, they make an appearance almost every day!</div>
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1. Headaches</h4>
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I use essential oils most often to ease headache pain. I've heard it said that the type of oil that works for you depends upon what is causing your headaches. As one who has found headache relief through chiropractic care--diminishing my headaches from three a week to one or less--the oils that help me may not help you. But I've found myself especially grateful for oils since becoming pregnant, as I'm trying to avoid pain medication! The oil combination, which I apply to the base of my neck and wherever the pain seems to be most prominent, is:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Stress Away</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Valor</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Pan Away</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Deep Relief</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Peppermint</li>
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This has been the only "concoction" that diminishes my discomfort--succeeding sometimes when pain medication won't even help!</div>
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<a href="https://static.youngliving.com/en-US/IMAGES/ylu-oil-safety-tips-infographic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://static.youngliving.com/en-US/IMAGES/ylu-oil-safety-tips-infographic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. Colds</h4>
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Just last week, Joel was battling a cold. With lots of internally ingested oils, vitamins, and diffusing oil at night, his bad cold fizzled within three days. I took smaller amounts as a precaution and amped it up when I began to get a sore throat, certain that I was in for an unpleasant illness. I was delighted to wake up the next morning feeling completely fine! Who ever heard of a one-day cold? Some of the oils we took internally to strengthen our immune systems were:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Thieves</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">DiGize</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lemon</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Oregano</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Euclyptus radiata</li>
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Some of the oils I diffused were:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Thieves</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Eucalyptus radiata</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Raven</li>
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3. Mold</h4>
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Oh yes. We found mold. In our bedroom. Last fall. It's a long story that includes ripping up the carpet and replacing our mattress. Maybe I'll tell it sometime. But for now, let me just say that diffusing Thieves in the room for 48 hours was my go-to approach for killing any unseen, unknown mold spores. </div>
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4. Bruises and cuts</h4>
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I love putting a drop of lavender on the wound! It is soothing and helps disinfect and heal!</div>
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5. Hot Chocolate</h4>
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Have you had lavender hot chocolate? It's amazing. Especially for this pregnant mama who is craving chocolate all the time. One drop is usually too much--try dipping a toothpick into the oil and then into the hot chocolate. Stir and taste. This amount provides the perfect balance of chocolate and floral for me! </div>
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Obviously, I'm not a doctor (unless your doctor prescribes hot chocolate!). These are just my own experiences from daily living, but I hope that they help you! Feel free to leave a comment for me if you'd like more information, and if you're interested in purchasing oils from <b><a href="http://www.youngliving.com/" target="_blank">Young Living</a></b>, I'd love for you to use my member number in both the sponsor and enroller boxes: 1981538<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">. </span></span> </div>
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Wondering why I use Young Living's essential oils? <a href="http://www.thewelloiledlife.com/why-i-use-the-young-living-essential-oil-brand/" target="_blank"><b>Here's a good, succinct summary on my choice</b></a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85744/ladynarcissa/5671924ae2b13679c7b53a47c10a4a17.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /><br />
</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/68909241@N07/8756694939/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Photo Credit</a></span></div>
Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-28595074286167542392015-03-24T07:00:00.000-07:002015-03-24T07:00:03.571-07:00Single Jesus<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last week I took a selfie of my heart and <a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/selfie-of-single.html" target="_blank">wrote honestly </a>of the selfishness that plagues many of us, but especially young unmarried women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week I want to ask, "Have you ever considered Christ's singleness?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I can almost see many of you purse your lips, squint your eyes, and ponder that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We consider Amy Carmichael's singleness, we consider Corrie Ten Boom's singleness, and we consider Paul's singleness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we never quite stop to consider that the only perfect example we have was also single!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realization that Christ was single on earth, still looking ahead to the glorious day when He could receive His bride, the church, was paradigm-shattering for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/dont-act-your-age.html" target="_blank">Click here to read</a> what I wrote when I first recognized this.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What does this mean for me?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If Christ was tempted in every way that I am, then that means that He too was tempted to discontentment and selfishness .</b></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hebrews 2:17-18 provides two of the most comforting verses in Scripture<span class="QuoteChar">: <span style="color: #444444;"><i>"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Pity attempts to throw you a party, remember that Jesus admitted in Matthew 8:20 that He had "nowhere to lay His head."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Selfishness attempts to suck you in to put "Me Me Me" at the top of the priority list, remember that Jesus only had 33 years on earth to accomplish His purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fear these are the years that we singles waste the most, using them to grow up in the world rather than to change the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus was not defined by singleness, but by His Sonship to His Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I should not be defined by my relationship status, but by my daughtership to the King!</b></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nowhere in Scripture is Christ called "unmarried."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nowhere in Scripture is Christ called "single."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So while, yes, it is encouraging to consider that Christ is our perfect example in singleness, it is telling to understand that He is called Son of God at least 45 times, and that He refers to God as His Father even more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The beauty and mystery of each of our life stories will come into focus only from the vantage point of eternity. For then we will realize that even the God-ordained relationship of marriage is only temporary, and the fullness of eternity brings with it the marriage of us, the Bride of Christ, to Christ Himself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">With an engagement like that, who could waste this betrothal period of life in selfishness?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Camargue Horse,” © 2008 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfgangstaudt/2434405362" target="_blank">wolfgang staudt</a>, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275901948825550198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545442826180448050.post-6176573640018544212015-03-19T14:53:00.002-07:002015-03-19T14:53:18.626-07:00Cupcakes and Croutons<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTjr_k8wst8/VQtFEBDwe3I/AAAAAAAAE38/FO6jQ7BLYFY/s1600/ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTjr_k8wst8/VQtFEBDwe3I/AAAAAAAAE38/FO6jQ7BLYFY/s1600/ingredients.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My savory cupcakes started out with nothing more than my imagination--what taste combination sounded most appealing? Almost immediately, I thought of kalamata olives and sundried tomatoes. Explosions went off in my head--and thanks to Ratatouille, I'm hopeful that you'll think I'm completely normal, instead of officially obsessed, to experience mental explosions over beautiful food combinations.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt0KzKAUSM4/VQtFHa-kwvI/AAAAAAAAE4M/k7VGHyMAXvw/s1600/eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt0KzKAUSM4/VQtFHa-kwvI/AAAAAAAAE4M/k7VGHyMAXvw/s1600/eating.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But alas, mine is a cautionary tale. As in--don't make my cupcakes. As in--make </span><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lauren's cupcakes</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Make Sarah's cupcakes (coming next week). But don't make mine. I spent several hours putting them together, and was delighted to take them along for a portable lunch as Joel and I toured the Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. But I found them to be dense, heavy, and with a flavor I didn't like (far from attributing this unpalatableness to the afore-mentioned brilliant pairing of olives and sundried tomatoes, I rest the blame squarely upon the shoulders of the gluten free flours I chose). Joel helpfully offered that the chunks of sundried tomatoes were perhaps too big, but that the cupcakes were really not all that bad. So here, I present to you the lessons learned from this experience:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loosely based my recipe upon </span><a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes.php?recipe=1803" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">this recipe</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> which did not call for eggs. I don't recommend egg-free gluten free baking if you can at all help it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you include olives and sundried tomatoes in your next savory cupcake venture, mince the sundried tomatoes (I slivered them, thinking that chunks would be pleasant to bite into, but I must agree with Joel that the chunks were not pleasant).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Include more starches and less flours in your gluten free combination (I did 1 cup sorghum flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, and 1/2 cup gluten free flour mix).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do try my savory cream cheese frosting on your next batch of savory cupcakes! It made them look good and taste somewhat better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 TB butter, room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Combine ingredients and whip for five minutes, or until smooth and fluffy. Add herbs if desired. Frosts 12 muffins.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQrbH1WBkX4/VQtFGxQlcGI/AAAAAAAAE4E/13WU_PQzSpE/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQrbH1WBkX4/VQtFGxQlcGI/AAAAAAAAE4E/13WU_PQzSpE/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thankfully, my tale has a happy ending. Last night, I cut all the remaining cupcakes into chunks (because neither of us could bear to eat them), tossed them with melted butter, salt, and garlic powder, and baked them in the oven until they were crispy. The previously inedible cupcakes transformed into deliciously golden-brown croutons which married perfectly with a green salad. And they lived happily ever after.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The End.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cupcake Party: Chocolate Edition</span></h4>
<b><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-double-peanut-butter.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Double Peanut Butter Chocolate</span></a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://lordslass.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-sarah-hearts-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chocolate Chunk Lava Fudge</span></a></b><br />
<strong><a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/02/cupcake-party-hazelnut-mocha-in-cupcake.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hazelnut Mocha</span></a></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cupcake Party: Savory Edition</span></h4>
<a href="http://onebrightcorner.blogspot.com/2015/03/welcome-back-to-my-kitchen.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Spinach Feta</span></strong></a></div>
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Mikaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07861115573554594526noreply@blogger.com0