What a Service!

I just had to post about this because to me it is so incredibly amazing! For starters, it was VERY odd that I just "sprang" out of bed this morning feeling refreshed, instantly perky and happy. (normally, its oh its morning....stumble out of bed kind of deal lol) While I was getting ready for church, a title for my book came to my mind. I thought hmm.....that's pretty good but I will pick one later and didn't think anything about it while getting ready.

Then Pastor got up to preach. There had been a lot of things on my mind that I had tried to understand and just couldn't quite grasp the past few years. It wasn't anything particular about the actual message......nor was it what he said that caused this huge light bulb to come on in my mind but somehow.....in the midst of the the preaching, I felt the Holy Spirit and immediately God opened my understanding to this certain past event that had plagued me. It was like a blindfold was taken off my eyes and I was finally able to really understand a portion of what I could not before! Its hard to put in words, but it didn't stop there.

As I was mulling this all over in my mind, I saw that Pastor was preaching but I didn't know what he was saying because I was so ecstatic that I could hardly keep my composure, much less keep my face from showing the immense joy of relief lol. My mind flashed to things that entailed this past event, and it all seemed to flow together in unison and understanding. I tried to stop thinking about it all and get back to the message lol.....but my mind couldn't help itself and couldn't believe the relief I felt.

Once I finally put that on hold till after service, I was listening to the rest of the message when Pastor said something (though it was only one word of the title I had gotten earlier that morning while getting ready for church)......it was like an arrow pierced my heart and the full title came at me with force and I knew it was the title that God wanted me to use for my book. By that time, I wish I could just shout and luckily the message moved towards that direction for altar call and we stood and praised God and I just stood up, raised my hands towards Heaven and told God THANK YOU for giving me understanding and for the title!

You might be confused, but when the book is published and you read it........this will all make sense lol. I just had to tell about the wonderful morning I had!! PRAISALUJAH! ; )

Have you ever had something happen and didn't understand the reasoning of it, even things years ago. And then to have it all come to light in your mind and to see it so clearly and the understanding be so CLEAR, it is an amazing feeling........anyhoo....my husband knows this about me but I won't let anything rest until I have figured it out lol. Thank goodness that God, after 2 years of my wondering and analyzing and nights of tears and crying out to God.......he opened up up my eyes and I understand now!!! The Title was just an added extra and icing on the cake so to speak lol.......it all fits too......I could not have finished writing my book without this crucial understanding, but I might give myself away here.......so got to wait until its released, hopefully in 2009!

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Morning Routine

Every morning (just about), I wake up and fire up my laptop and then start the coffee. Then I mix in my defilements (hehe) and read the morning news via online. Who reads newspapers anymore? Does anyone still actually read those? Maybe once a year I buy a Sunday paper.....but that is just for the coupons. =0

My favorite news network is FOX of course because they are the most conservative compared to the others. Then I read CNN, Huffington Post, London Times, KOMO, and sometimes I just skim the headlines at Google News.

So what is your morning routine? Comment below.

Also, a friend was saying she reads her Bible online. She actually gets an email with that days reading. Occasionally I do read online or listen to the dramatized Bible being read online (makes it feel like you are there!) but for the most part I just read my Bible because I like to highlight (although you now can highlight online with Firefox addon but anyway). I'm sure some of you have your Bible reading for your morning routine. I find I can have more quality reading when I'm fully awake haha....but nevertheless comment below and fill me in, its neat to see what others do each morning!

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1667 sqft TO 478 sqft!

Talk about simple living!  This lady and her husband and daughter went from a 1667 sq ft house to a 478 sq ft apartment.  It is very nice how she has it all set up and how simple and lovely!  Go see for yourself:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/happyjanssens/sets/72157600025082938/

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Man Trampled to Death by Black Friday Shoppers

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ― A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday after an "out of control" throng of shoppers eager for post-Thanksgiving bargains broke down the doors at a suburban store and knocked the Queens resident to the ground, police said.

At least four other people, including a woman eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and were treated and subsequently released.

Go here to read more.

More quotes that made my jaw drop:

Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help the man were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Witnesses said that even as the worker lay on the ground, shoppers streamed into the store, stepping over him.

"When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling 'I've been on line since yesterday morning,"' she said. "They kept shopping."



Related: Drunk with Consumerism

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Drunk with Consumerism

 I posted this last November around this time, seemed like America still needs to hear the same message and I could sure use the reminder lol.

Well it's "Black Friday" and most Americans were shopping today (except me lol). I looked online for a few deals I wanted but they were gone before I could even click on them to purchase! I saw so many deals for my daughter and photo printers for $10 that I felt that uneasy feeling in my stomach, that I refer to as the monster.

"What do you mean monster?" you may be saying. The monster of wanting to put things on a credit card. The "oh I will pay it off later.......this is just too good of a deal to pass up right now!" The one that subjects you to the chains of debt. However, thank the Lord the words rang through my mind of lessons learned in recent years.....If you can't afford it, don't buy it!

How many people today whipped out the plastic? How many got drunk with consumerism today? I looked on a few news websites today to see what I expected to see: people getting into fights over deals, shoving each other, mass crowds lined up for hours to buy buy BUY!!!!! I gotta have it! I gotta get it! GIVE ME GIVE ME!

One of the saddest pictures I saw of this whole ordeal today was one of a small toddler asleep and slung over his mother's arm while she shopped and shopped and shopped, all the while ignoring the fact that her baby could use a nice bed! Chances are she woke him early from his bed to start the spending spree, caring for who?? Herself? The deals? Surely not her child.......

Well I will "try" and step off my soapbox now. I refuse to give into the mad rush of buying, most doing it on credit cards and piling up debt and pulling the chains of their slavery even tighter. Charge it!

My question is, What Would Jesus Do? Could you really see Jesus rushing into a store pushing others in a mad frenzy to get a deal? Nah, I didn't think so either. Can you hear Jesus saying "Charge it!?"

FYI: Mastercard reported their customers alone were spending 20 BILLION dollars TODAY!! Guess who is happy today? Can you say MASTER CARD?? =0 As Pastor Davis said in one of his classes: You are stupid if you pay interest! There is a lot of stupid people huh?

I saw a picture of 1 guy paying with CASH! It was so odd that they videoed it and put it on a clip online HA!!!!! I say for that guy YOU GO!! Way to only buy something you CAN AFFORD! ; )

"Oh wait....how are we going to afford to pay for all this stuff we put on the credit card today dear?" "Why honey, you can just get a job and put the kids in daycare.....!" "What a great idea, let someone else raise my kids so I can go work to have MORE STUFF!"

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

To all my readers, I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! May your mind dwell on all that God has allowed you to have in this life and the many blessings he has bestowed upon you and your family. May it not only last this one day, but throughout the year and may you always have an attitude of gratitude!

Let the past go, and be thankful you were able to survive it.

Let the present be, and be thankful you were able to endure it.

And let the future come, being thankful that you walk with a God that will give you the strength you will need to get through it.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

-- Melodie Beattie


I will resume posting on the Hair Care 101 series after Thanksgiving, until then.....happy stuffing hehe. =0

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Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 6

We left off in Part 5, at my hair being at my backside and in the year 2004. In mid 2005, my hair grew to my mid thighs. It was super healthy, shiny and so easy to style and manage! Time did a story on me (if you didn't know, don't worry bout it!), and they did a few photo shoots too. The first picture below is from one of those photo shoots. I have cut out my daughter because I don't want her face online to the public.

The next 2 photos are me in a dress that my husband absolutely loved on me. He called it my "Lord of the Rings" dress. I still have it, its just a bit too small (for now) but hopefully will fit one of these days lol. Anyway, we are not concerned about the dress....*ahem*.....just the hair! I had washed my hair and left it in a braid to dry. I then took it down and that is the wave that you see in my hair.

This was the longest my hair has gotten, it was at about 50 inches here. I was doing the same thing with my hair as I have described in previous posts. Same shampoo, etc.

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Celebration Giveaway!!

***GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!  THE WINNER CAN BE FOUND HERE.***

In celebration of my new website name: Christian Homekeeping, I'm doing a giveaway! These are the rules so read carefully to be entered! Here is what I'm giving away:

You choose 1 of the items below:

2GB MuVO MP3 player

1 Cup Coffeemaker with Mug

Electric Mini Chopper

$10 Starbuck's Gift Card

Just plain ole' $10

So how does it work? First thing, you HAVE to enter your email and sign up below in my feedburner subscription box. This subscribes you to my posts via email. Then you must follow the instructions and once they send you an email, you must verify your subscription. (if you are already an email subscriber, then just tell me that in the comments below!)

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Secondly, you must leave a comment to this post stating that you did the above and then also state what your choice in items is above, choosing only one.

If you would like the chance to be entered in the giveaway TWICE, do all the above AND blog about this giveaway on your blog/website and then come back here and leave a comment with the LINK to your post on your blog/website!


Giveaway ends next Friday, December 5, 2008 at 1159pm PST

Only in the US and Canada and you must submit your mailing address upon winning. I will announce the winner on my blog and it is UP TO YOU to claim the prize. If you don't claim it within 1 week of my announcement of the winner, it goes to the next person.

I reserve the right to refuse entries.

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I am a DOT COM!

I've had this in the works for a while now! I had a different website address that I had purchased but just didn't like the name, so I'm going to sell that one and I found a new one that fits me well: Christian Homekeeping. So here is the new address:

www.christianhomekeeping.com

However, typing in christianhomekeeper.blogspot.com will still get you here because they are connected! ; ) All of my old links and maybe your links to some of my posts WILL STILL WORK! So my name will still be the same: Christian Homekeeper, but the blog is now on my own website!

Don't worrying about changing the address in your feed reader either because its still the same.

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New Design for Christmas!

What do you all think of the new Christmas design? I love it! :) I also will design the header, just don't have time to do that today. Please scroll all the way down and see the new Christmas music playlist!! There are so many Christmas songs so I couldn't add them all (yet) but I think I got a lot on there. Enjoy and you can play it while you clean the house or cook.

The only thing that bothers me about the new design, is that my old siggie is there on old posts and it doesn't match. But I plan on going back to my old template after the Holidays, so not going to go back and remove it for all the posts (I don't think), but I'm using a new siggie to match this design.

I've been so busy this week and getting so much accomplished (finally lol!).

I've given new designs to almost all of my blogs, go check them out:

Bev's Recipes
Bev's Weight Loss
Bev's Virtual Yard Sale

I haven't given my Frugal Addict blog a new design because I just love, love, love the one I have so much! Also on the yard sale, I have a LOT of new things to add eventually and will post on this blog when I have added them, it may not be till next week or later. I have shoes, house things, etc.

I love having separate blogs for each topic. I can't stand to go to blogs that have everything all mushed into one......I guess I'm a person of intense order LOL. Call me an organize freak, but hey, that is what works for me and I can't stand disorder (and neither can God so back off hehe). =0 Of course, just being silly......to some people who leave comments, you would think they have a permanently scrunched up, angry face 24/7, but thank the LORD we can be happy! Who has time for satan and his minions? I don't! I choose to live the abundant, happy life that God gives His Children!! In the words of the old song: "Ain't Got time for you devil!" PRAISALUJAH!

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Hair Care 101; Hair Care Part 1

Here are some things I forgot to mention! Some of your comments brought them back to my memory, so thank you! : ) This will start the "Hair Care" posts, but I will also be finishing the "My Hair Story" ones as well. Just wanted to insert this in, since I forgot to include them in the first 6 posts.

When I put conditioner in my hair in the shower, I bend over, flipping my hair over my face and put it all over (lots of it) on all the hair, except the scalp. Then, I take a wide tooth comb (I keep one in the shower) and comb through my hair starting at the ends. Then I put my hair gently in a sort of bun (not tight at all, just loosely) at the back of my head and put a shower cap over it. I then wash my body, shave, etc, usually leaving in the conditioner for about 3-5 minutes. Then rinse and you can do your last rinse for a minute with very cold water, its supposed to add extra shine by sealing the cuticle but I don't always do the cold rinse.

Never, ever, ever, never lol..........use a brush on wet hair! If you must comb your hair after getting out of the shower, use a wide tooth comb!

Then a VERY important step that I failed to mention (but will go back eventually and insert into the posts) is using a clarifying shampoo every 2 weeks to once a month. I have done this for YEARS and I believe everyone should do it. Shampoos, conditioners, products, etc build up on the hair over time. Have you ever noticed when you switch to a different shampoo that your hair will look better the first time you used that different shampoo? Well, its not because you need to switch brands of shampoos all the time, it is because that new shampoo is a different formulation and has been able to remove some of the buildup of your regular shampoo. But keep using that new shampoo and then change again, and you will notice the same thing.

So how do you remove the buildup and keep using the same shampoo/conditioner for years? Do what I have been doing! I used to use Neutrogena's Anti-Residue shampoo but now I have found a cheaper version that works the same: Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, I LOVE THIS STUFF! Now, this stuff will remove buildup from your hair and you only need to do it every 2 weeks or once a month. Unless, you use a lot of product in your hair, you will need it more often but not too much. So every 2 weeks, I use it for one shampoo and then follow up with normal conditioner and then the next shampoo I go back to my normal shampoo.

If you never remove that buildup, your hair will look dull, lifeless and limp, not to mention it will clog your follicles and prevent faster hair growth! So keep your scalp and hair free from buildup by doing this step every 2 weeks or once a month!

In a later post (more towards the end), I will do a Product List, which will include all products and hopefully photos too that I use and/or recommend!

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 5

We left off with my hair after I had my daughter at the end of 2003 being at my backside. From here on, it didn't grow so quickly, and I believe it had to do with the fact that I grew 10 inches in a year, most of that during pregnancy! I guess it was taking a break lol.

So now we pick up towards the end of 2004, after I had lost all my baby weight (57 pounds!) and my hair was just a bit longer than my backside, I'm guessing it only great 4 inches the year after having my daughter. I was still doing the SAME thing with the Finesse shampoo/conditioner and NO hairspray and no blow drying (maybe occasionally but I don't remember) and those coconut treatments once a month, sometimes once every 2 months. I didn't need product in my hair still because it looked great after letting it air dry still and when I would hot roll my hair about twice a month, the curls would last days.

Now, I was posing in these photos at the time, to show off my 57 pound weight loss after having my baby, but this is what I found for that time period showing my hair:

This next one is funny because whether you can tell or not, my hair was actually thrown over the FRONT of my face lol. My husband had me do it, we were a bit crazy back then (still are lol). Nevertheless, it was a good shot of my hair at that time. I had shed the normal "after having baby" hair, so it wasn't as thick but then again.....my hair is very fine and thin, I just have a lot of follicles that sometimes make it look thick as I've said before in the Introduction post.

So now we have gone from Dec 1999 when my hair was at my chin to late 2004. That is roughly 5 years and my hair was past my backside, about 38 inches in 5 years.

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 4

I told you all it was going to be a lot of posts, we are just now reaching the halfway point (I think lol). If you are just now coming to my blog, you have a lot of catching up to do! I had the Introduction post, then Part 1, 2 and 3 already! So get to reading.......I plan on going through this quickly because I have more posts for other topics coming next week. ; )

Last post, I ended with my hair being at the middle of my back in mid 2002. Now we jump to Nov 2003, one year later and also right after I had my baby. My hair grew SO MUCH while I was pregnant! It grew in one year, a whopping 10 inches! It also grew in jet black again with some of my hair towards the ends being dark brown.

As you can see it was long (to my backside) and shiny and healthy. It was like silk and I was still only using Finesse shampoo and conditioner with NO other products on my hair and letting it air dry and the occasional curling with hot rollers and still doing the coconut oil treatments, although sometimes it was only once a month.

I long to get pregnant again so I can grow some hair LOL. It was also thicker, because as most people know, you stop shedding hair when you are pregnant and then it is released after the birth of the baby and most people describe it as their hair falling out in handfuls. But don't fret, that is the normal process for hair with pregnancy and birth of a baby. You can google that, not really going to get into a big discussion on that right now.

So from Dec 1999 to Nov 2003, my hair went from my chin to my backside, that is just about 4 years time to get it that long. That is roughly 26 inches in 4 years of new growth; It was about 34 inches above at the time.

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 3

I began to see the rewards of prayer for my hair and use of coconut oil treatments. This was taken in Dec. 2001:

I started using only Finesse Bodifying Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner and that's it! I didn't use products on my hair, not even hairspray! I would do the coconut oil treatment every 2 weeks, instead of every week because my hair was so healthy and shiny. It looked good when it air dried even! I didn't need a blow dryer and didn't want to use one either. I was still just washing my hair 3 times a week.

The next year, after losing 60 pounds, my hair had grown to the middle of my back. This was in 2002:

I loved my hair at this time, it looked good air dried straight, didn't need any products and then looked good when I curled it and the curl would last until I washed it, 2 days later! It was the easiest hair to manage that I have ever had and I couldn't even FIND split ends in my hair.

So now we have covered from Dec 1999 when my hair was at my chin till mid 2002, about 2 1/2 years time, my hair went from chin to the middle of my back, growing at a rate of about 6 inches a year.

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 2

So began the "letting my perm grow out" process. At the time, I was still learning about hair and didn't practice what I practice now. So I started curling my hair all the time with rollers. I used those Caruso steam rollers (ya'll remember those? I still have them lol). Within a year my hair had grown past my shoulders and was very light on the ends from the perm (perms lighten your hair in case you didn't know that):

You can see that parts of my perm wouldn't curl with the steam rollers above, so it was odd but hey.....it got better, wait and see in future posts! I started to PRAY for my hair, seriously......pray for your hair!

I only washed my hair on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays! That is the schedule I followed back then. I started to NOT use hairspray at all around this time also after reading about its effects on hair. So all I used was shampoo and conditioner (at the time it was the Kirkland brand from Costco). I also didn't use a blowdryer, I let my hair dry naturally most of the time.

Here is a photo where it started to get a bit straighter and I started using regular hot rollers:

You can see that my ends were golden from the perm a year before and they were dry from the chemical processing but I dealt with it. This is around the time I started coating my hair (heavily) from root to ends with coconut oil! I had learned this from my Pastor's wife, she had long, beautiful thick hair and she shared with me that she puts it on her ends before she curls it. BUT.....I thought since most of my hair was processed, why not put it all over lol.

I did the coconut oil treatment every Monday and let it stay in there all day and washed it out the next. I did this for years (still practice it today) and it works! I think coconut oil is one of the best treatments for your hair and I didn't just dab a bit back then, I coated every strand on my head! But it worked and you will see in the next post how it helped my hair recover from the perm while it grew out!! That and prayer, my hair grew and became the best hair I ever had in my life!

I will be doing a product post towards the end with the products I recommend and use.

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Hair Care 101; My Hair Story Part 1

I'm going to start the photos from when I became a Christian and started keeping my hair uncut and letting it be long. I started with chin-length red hair (that was dyed lol). This was in 1999:

I was 19 and in the USAF at the time. I had just met my (future) husband and started going to church. Right before I got saved, I got a perm in Hawaii (while on vacation there). The perm was a flop and only left a wave really. Here is a photo of the perm:

Back then, I didn't know anything really about hair care. I had always just shampooed and conditioned and sometimes just used a 2-n-1 when I was working in the Air Force. When I got the perm, I started using gel and letting it air dry. I hardly ever blow dried my hair anyway. It's funny now that I think about it, but I was notorious for wearing my hair wet till it dried to church and around town lol.

I started to ask around and read books to learn more on how to take care of my hair, since I knew God wanted me to leave it uncut and let it be long to honor my head (my husband), and it is my covering (and glory) and also for the angels as the Bible commands.

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Hair Care 101; Introduction

Thank you all for voting in the hair poll! I see that we got 45 votes and here are the results:

What type of hair do you have?

	Straight	16 (35%)
	Wavy	20 (44%)
	Curly	5 (11%)
	Permed	4 (8%)

The majority of my readers have wavy hair, followed by straight, curly and then 4 of us with permed hair. I have naturally stick straight hair but am growing out a perm that I had a year and a half ago.

In case you didn't know, after the hair has grown out of the follicle it is dead. There are different types of hair and also different amounts of follicles that vary from person to person. For instance, I have very fine, thin hair but I have a lot of follicles, so it can sometimes look like I have thick hair.

Here are some hair "facts":

• Average number of hairs on the head: 100,000
• With reddish hair: 90,000
• With black hair: 110,000
• With blond hair: 140,000
• Maximal length of hair: 70 to 90 cm (27 to 35 inches - not so see below)
  
• Annual growth: 12 cm (about 4.7 inches - not so see below)
  
• It is normal to lose 100 hairs per day from the scalp.
  

Now, those numbers can't be facts because my hair currently is 39 inches long curly (not sure what it is straight) and it was longer than that a few years ago before I got a perm (reaching around 50 inches). Then I have grown 10 inches of new hair since I got my perm in March 07. So that was more than 4.7 inches a year. So those numbers don't apply to everyone and it can depend on your health, age and what you eat as well.

Knowing what type of hair you "naturally" have is key to hair care, unless you have processed hair, which needs lots of TLC! I will be sharing with you, my tips and what I have done over the years and the mistakes I've made also and how I'm learning from them. I hope you will glean something useful from this series on Hair Care for yourself!

Next post, starts my hair story......that is the best way I could see to discuss all that I have done over the years. So I will use each photo as a discussion point.

As we go along, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them and I will do my best to answer your questions.

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Morning View from Alaska (Memories)

As I was going through literally THOUSANDS of photos on our computer searching for ones that showed my hair throughout the years (for the Hair Care 101 series)....I came across SO MANY videos and pictures that I had forgotten to share with you all from different trips and then also of Alaska when we lived there for 8 years.

I didn't have time to gather them all, but found one that brought back wonderful memories! I would wake up in our one bedroom apartment and look out my window (in the winter) and see this view of the mountains and snow. I would sit there with my windows open and sip on hot tea and just enjoy the view. Oh how I miss Alaska!

Now we wake up and can see Mt. Rainier here in WA out our living room window and in the summer, from our deck. However, Mt. Rainier can NOT compare to the mountains of Alaska!!

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Christmas Decor & Centerpiece Update

Some of you remember when I asked your opinion about my candelabra centerpiece a while back. Well, I've since bought some candles and decorated it for Christmas! I think it looks great, what do ya'll think?

 

 

Then here are some more Christmas goodies! I got the Gingerbread tea set at Cracker Barrel last Christmas while I was in TN. I also got the salt and pepper shakers in gingerbread man and woman. Then the plate set I have used for a few years now and love eating on Christmas dishes!! I don't have a hutch yet in the Dining Room and may not even get one because I don't own any fine china or anything worthy of showing off in a hutch lol. =0 But our Dining Room will double as our homeschool room next fall and we plan on putting a computer armoire in the corner for my daughter's computer and then a large dry erase board on the wall for teaching.

 

  

 

Hopefully next week, I can put more pictures of the rest of the house because I've already got my Christmas decor up lol. The tree is all we have left to put up!

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Update on Hair Care 101 Coming Soon.....

There is a lot more than I thought I would have for the Hair Care 101 course, and I think you all will be glad you waited. I expect the course to last 10 posts.......we will see, I might get it done quicker than that. I'm trying to get all my photos over the years from when I started with chin length hair in 1999 to when it got to my knees before I got a perm. Some of the photos are not digital, so I'm going to have to scan those. So once I get them together, I will do the slideslow.....so you can see the progression of my hair over the years and the mistake I made by getting a perm but I am recovering from 2 perms and letting my hair go natural now.

I got some new products for testing that were recommended by a lady I trust, whose advice I have used for 10 years now! So bear with me.....plus this coming week is Revival every night at our NTCC, so that will keep me busy. If you are in the area, I urge you to come out!

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Coffee Day a Success!

Thank you to all that came for "Coffee Day" at my house today!  There was 8 of us and I thought it would only last an hour but ended up lasting a little over 2 hours.  We talked about so much and even got on the topic of hair (Hair 101 is coming soon to this blog).  It was fun and everyone that came said they had fun, so it was a success and I plan on doing more in the future.  I want to have a Christmas party next month with prizes you can win, food and of course Christmas music!!

For dessert, I had chocolate covered cream filled eclairs, pecan tarts, creme puffs and powdered donuts along with the coffee and lots of creamers!  Then one of the ladies brought some brownies and left them here for me to eat hehe.  =0 

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Coffee on Friday

If you know me and live in the area, I'm having a "Coffee Day" for women at my house on Friday at Noon! Just email me and let me know if you want to come! All that you need to bring is yourself, I will be having coffee with some sort of dessert!

You must RSVP by email or call me BEFORE Friday, thanks!

I haven't gotten to the hair care 101 course yet, sorry for the delay, I have been decorating "early" for Christmas LOL.  

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Hair Care 101 Coming Soon!

I've been meaning to do a "Hair Care 101" series since I started this blog back in 2006 lol. As you can see, I'm just now getting around to it! I will be sharing advice and tips that I've learned over the years after not cutting my hair for 10 years now. I will also share pictures of my hair over the years.

I hope to start the series soon, I'm just trying to organize it all! If you have any hair care specific questions, ask away on this post or during the series!!

I may be doing a hair care 101 giveaway somewhere in the series or at the end, we will see!

*Also, I've added a poll to the right, choose which category describes you best.

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Proud to Have Served

Veteran's Day is this Tuesday, November 11, 2008.  Having served in the USAF, and having gratitude for those who have served and keep this Country FREE, I would like to honor ALL Veterans and thank them for their service! 

Show your gratitude and thank a Veteran this week!

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The People Mourn.....

I encourage all to go read Sharon's post here:

http://sharonsroses.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-would-be-lying-if-i-said-im-not.html

A verse of scripture she shared caught my eye and how true it is:

Proverbs 29:2

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

It is a day for mourning when a man that is extremely liberal and for the killing of babies and even those born alive and homosexuals is going to be our President.


A post from Voddie Baucham (who he himself is a man of color) has some very thoughtful comments about what lies ahead:

http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/11/5_Is_it_Over.html


Russia today has already stepped out with their first test for the next President by saying they will send out missiles to our Missile shield. In the words of Joe Biden: "Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama."


As Christians, we do mourn that the people of our nation have chosen a man that advocates such wickedness. We must also pray as never before and witness to others about the Gospel of Jesus! The line between the church and the world should become even more so clear! The world (this Godless social system) is the enemy of God and is our enemy according to the Bible! We should be so peculiar and so distinct as a people that there is no wonder what we are!!!

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Ban on Gay Marriage in CA PASSED!!!

We have a reason to rejoice! " California voters pass Proposition 8, overturning a state Supreme Court decision that granted gay couples the right to wed." 

Praise God!!!  Go here to read the rest of the story:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/05/voters-decide-hot-button-issues-nationwide/

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2 Hour Wait to Vote

The polls in our area tonight were crazy! Not only did we wait for 2 hours (1 in the cold outside and 1 inside in line), but the organization was lacking for sure lol. KOMO news came and I was on tv, although I didn't get to see because I don't own a TV lol. They were doing a live news and the camera was at me for about 3 minutes with a huge light shining ha, the lady a few feet in front of me was being interviewed for what I could see, so it was neat to be behind her hehe. It was Joel Moreno that was there and we saw him again on the way out and said hello to us WOOHOO, felt giddy for a moment haha. :)

I turned in my absentee ballot and waited with hubby while he voted, so after 2 hours of waiting, we finally finished.......walked out the door to get in the car only to hear that Obama had just been declared President UGH! Oh well, I can say I voted, which is what ALL Americans should do! If you didn't vote, please SHUT UP and don't complain about anything the government does/did because you didn't try to stop it anyway!

It is sad that our country is continually sliding downward away from God and with Obama getting a large lead, just shows what the majority want.

Psalm 9:17

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

I honestly do dread the next four years but God is still God and we as His children will ALWAYS have our needs met and he will never forsake us. Let's all make a vow to pray for America even more and spread the gospel and witness to others and see a great REVIVAL across our land!


2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

P.S. I sure did get my FREE Starbuck's coffee and after loads of half and half and 2 packets of Splenda, it was good lol. Who can stand nasty black coffee.......yuck! =0 If you get right with God, you sure 'nuff will want to quit drinking from the dark side! heeh

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Vote and Get Krispy Kreme Donut Free!

Not only will you get free Starbuck's coffee for voting on Nov. 4th but you can get a free Krispy Kreme donut too! Just show them your "I Voted" sticker on Nov 4th for your free donut!

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