Awards for anything

Even though we are abroad, we all look forward to our “legacy”, as my sister called it, in our community, the Watch Night on New Year’s Eve. It’s going to be a real fun, meaningful and memorable party and gathering, also the fact that it is time for reflections, and giving gifts and awards for those who made a great impact during the year. There will be group and individual games, and of course awards for the winners and consolation for those who don’t win. In whatever contests you hold, you can get awards for anything at a one stop shop for plaques, medals, and of course football trophies.

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Best Christmas

I am so grateful for having a very wonderful Christmas experience. I spent it with my relatives out of state. I drove all the way to Oklahoma to be with the very fun, kind and loving kinsfolks of mine, no matter how far. I really enjoyed it. A lot of things has happened, and I was so glad of the timing of things, and I was able to be with my aunt and distant cousins, talk and share feelings and stories, and so much fun and laughter together, and memories. It is so fulfilling to reconnect, and trace back our family histories. Oh how they inspired me! I am so ready to start. It was one of the best trips I have taken, even though most of them said they couldn't believe nor wouldn't dare do what I did :) I had no fear, worries or any inhibitions at all, there was just some kind of driving force pulling me to be with my aunt. I went back home so fulfilled and the experience somehow changed some things in me. It was a very positive experience, I thank God for everything. I am thankful for my freedom, and for the best Christmas I have spent away from home.

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Chocolate ginger Christmas cookies

Guest post written by Breanne Kyle

This Christmas my boyfriend is coming home with me to meet my family. He's also spending some time with his own family, which is just a two-hour drive away though so I guess it won't be as stressful as it could be for him. I'm really sure that it's not going to be that stressful for him because I have a feeling that everyone's going to get along really well.

But anyway, we were wanting to bring some kind of Christmas treat to my family and so I was online looking for something that would be different but that wouldn't be all too hard to prepare. When I was looking up that stuff, i came across some stuff about clearwire wireless internet pricing and after I saw that I decided to change over my internet service to the company. I had been having a lot of trouble with my old internet service so i was glad to find that.

I found the recipe for chocolate ginger Christmas cookies and thought that would be great for us to take.

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After the flood

There is eternal wisdom in building on higher ground. However, we cannot just pluck our houses out and move. There are times we would be stuck in the place considering all the conditions. Our house is not on a real high ground, but luckily, we just had a couple of floods through the years. We are still thankful to deal with flood, than fire, where everything will be burned into ash, whereas with flood, the damage is not that huge, as the flood waters usually were just up to the knees.

The issue comes recedes the flood. The first thing we do is to have flood damage assessment Austin to do the evaluation for the flood water damage, as well as assessment and estimates for furniture, home and property repairs and costs, and most importantly, for flood damage insurance claim from our insurance company.

A few times we clean after the flood ourselves, and they were ‘fun’ with every sibling doing the work making it enjoyable and done fast, but now that most of us are out of the home already busy in each other’s lives, we resolve to hire flood damage clean up Austin to spare our parents and young brother from tedious work. We sisters are so glad for companies like the steam team that do emergency service for seven days a week. They don’t just assist flood homeowner victims, but also cleaning service for carpets, air ducts, furnaces, and all other type of cleaning in your home. House damage? They do construction services too. They are more than a cleaning and assessment service, but of full pledge restoration from emergencies like flood.

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Nativity set from my pottery class

Guest post written by Lana Rice

A few months ago I finally got the guts to do something that I had wanted to do for a really long time, (I'm talking years). I signed up for a pottery class! I had always thought that it sounded so fun and would be a great way to relieve stress and it is.

During the last class, the teacher told us that this week she was going to have us start working on something holidays-related. So I went online to try and find some ideas for what I could make. As I was looking up that stuff I found this site http://www.clearwirelessinternetservice.com and after I read through it a bit, I ordered one of the internet packages from it.

Well, the idea that I've decided on is to make a pottery nativity set. I think that it would be a really neat gift to give to my parents for Christmas that they can keep and put up for many holiday seasons to come. I just hope that I'm actually going to be able to have it ready in time to give it to them.

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Baby's First Christmas...in NYC

Guest post written by Audrey Simpson

This past weekend, my daughter Jenna brought our lovely grandson Jeffrey to New York. He is now a little toddler, and he's as happy as a lark. They have never brought Jeffery to the city before, so arriving so close to Times Square left a strong impression on the little one. We met them for lunch at the Olive Garden, and our grandson was so well behaved, it was great to spend time with everyone again. I was wearing my new Hearing Aids by Miracle Ear, and I was grateful to clearly hear everyone again.

After lunch, everyone really wanted to see all of the famous New York Christmas displays, so we took our family to Fifth Avenue. My husband pointed out everything and took us Rockefeller center to see the big tree and all the decorations. Our family was pretty blown away by what we saw. Little Jeffrey was in awe, and his father held him high on his shoulders so that he could see above the crowd. My husband and I were so happy to have our family for the weekend and share some of New York with them. We can't wait till they come back for Christmas day.

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The Chronicles of Narnia

Today I decided to go out get some air, enjoy some time in town, watch movie and yeah, shop - window or door, hah. I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the theater. I enjoyed watching it. I feel for one character in the movie, the boy Eustace. I laughed, and he made me cry, I couldn't help it. He was so good actor, I wish Will Poulter 'more' success in life.

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Fat burners for men

Thankfully no one is overweight in our family, especially our dad and our brothers. If one or all of them are, we ladies in the family would make then lose weight together, supply them with all the needed exercise tools and fat burners for men, along with some lectures of how healthy it is to be fit, not just for the heart, but for all of us too, especially one’s own self. Indeed, burning fat can be fun too, and if we look at and feel it that way, it will be very easy to lose weight.

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The Sheltering Sky

Skywatch Friday:

Road trip. On our way to Texas last June.

I long for scenes where man hath never trod A place where woman never smiled or wept There to abide with my Creator God And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, Untroubling and untroubled where I lie The grass below, above, the vaulted sky.

-Clare,John, 'I  Am'.

(To view images from Skywatch Friday please click here)

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Contemporary furniture

Moving in into a new place is very exciting, never mind that with that feeling comes the reality and somewhat can be difficult time of starting all over again. Or even if you just think of redecorating your house and replacing old furniture with new ones, it can be tedious especially if we don’t have a plan, much less a budget. But I have found a solution to this for my dear friends: the modern and contemporary furniture at Boconcept. I really like the elegant designs, very chic and modern, and fits our budget! I know where we will get ours from too.

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Not a lonely leaf

Ruby Tuesday:

The song "The Last Leaf" is playing in my mind while I am posting this, but the first leaf is definitely not a lonely leaf. Bonus red stalk :)

(To view images from Ruby Tuesday please click here)

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Humbling lesson

I I went to town today to buy few groceries and things that I need, and I felt good that I accomplished what I planned for today. It feels good to be back home. However, I heard a very bad news today. The whole family is mourning. I am so crushed, my heart is really wrenched deeply, I am mourning and crying inside. Twelve other lives has been taken away. Looking at the event on the other side, it is a very humbling experience to give back to God the best and everything without reservations, even though it gives so much sadness at the moment and for some time. How could I comfort my sister more?

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Couples at the park..

Scenic Sunday: 
Spending quality time under the afternoon sun.

It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

(To view images from Scenic Sunday please click here)

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Fresh, and colorful seafood

Ah, how I missed fresh sea food! Straight from the shores of the 'pearl of the orient seas', you cannot get any fresher fish, not processed nor frozen fishes and food! Seafood is not just my favorite food, it is indeed very good for our health. In the depths of the seas are hidden nutrients the fishes eat, and it is so good sea food for us. I guess I'm just missing home and great food. Not to mention the beach :D

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Broadway Blueshirts, the King of New York

Post contributed by Patricia Singleton

I love hockey, but somehow I love the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League even more. They have a rich history, as they were founded in 1926 and have had a number of great players and great teams since then. They haven't won too many Stanley Cups, but when they do win, like 1994, it's sweet.

I love sitting back on my couch, watching the Rangers on my BestChoiceTV, and enjoying my team as they fight for victory. They are led by their goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, who is one of the top goalies in the game today. Their star forward is Marian Gaborik, a speedy sniper who can bring the fans out of their seats with a simple rush. The team has some established veteran talent, but also has young, up and coming players leading the way. Guys like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Artem Anisimov at forward, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, and Michael Del Zotto on D, and other players in the Rangers system certainly point to the Rangers having a bright future.

Their coach is John Tortorella, a firebrand who made his reputation as the coach of the championship winning Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. His style of hockey is fast, aggressive, and exciting, making watching every Rangers game a treat, because you never know what to expect next out of the team.

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High quality VGA cables

I have decided to go for it! Our community has asked me to make a video of myself only since I am alone at the moment, and send message to them, as a supporter or primary sponsor of the ministry there. Soon they will celebrate Thanksgiving and one feature is our “video messages” from us members abroad. A lot of people, whom I know and even I do not know, will see it, and I want to make a one big shot at this so there are no embarrassments. :D That means I have to take a high quality video and a nice message. We always want to make our best, don't we?

This is my project for today, and of course I have to review it before I will send the video through email. One thing I am thankful for with regards to this is having high quality vga cables. Everything is at the right timing. You can get the video and audio vga cables with no sales tax at av-cables.net! I just got my new digital video camera/camcorder a couple of months back, and now I'm about to make full use of the vga cables, in a high resolution video message for thanksgiving. There could be no better first use than that, I think.

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An angel is born!

One the first day of December, the second grand baby in the family was born. It's a boy! I am so happy that everything went well, and my sister-in-law delivered safely, without complications. I was worried inside because the other day her BP was so high, way beyond normal., and she is still so young! She has been sick while pregnant, I just hope my nephew will be a very healthy baby boy. My heart is crushed just by looking at him. I wish I was there to carry him in my arms.

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New York City Wedding

This guest post from Daryl Glass

Lucas and Shelby Wright's wedding was one of the best weddings I have ever attended. It was located at Central Park in New York City, and ten of my close friends flew from Florida and stayed for over a week so we could check out the city after Lucas and Shelby left for their honeymoon. At the airport in Florida we all questioned each other about setting our home security alarm system (ADT Home Security prices)s. Everyone sat theirs so we knew our homes would be safe while we were gone.

Once we got to the New York City we were blown away with how the big the city was and were so excited about seeing Lucas and Shelby get married. Shelby looked beautiful in her dress and and three of us girls were her bridesmaids and we all wore dark blue dresses. I must admit we all looked rather amazing too.

After the wedding ceremony we all went to a local church for their reception and watched Lucas and Shelby open their gifts. I think they were very pleased with the gifts they received and they could not get over how many people had bought them something.

Us girls enjoyed checking out the city, and we are super excited about hopefully attending more weddings in New York City in the future.

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