Nov. 10, 2009 - Popular Muffins

  These are a favorite around here from Betty Crockers antique edition cookbook... Popular Banna Nut Muffins!

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  Perfect just out of the oven with a glass of milk on a cold evening, sharing with the family!

  Smiles all around!

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Nov. 1, 2009 - Antique Book Collection

   Here is another book from the antique book collection that is hosted by my library shelf.  It is a self-pronouncing dictionary from 1937.  It is a small and cute size dictionary that provides wealth's of information on how to properly articulate the words in your vocabulary.  Hmmm... I may need to check this out more often!

  Did anyone know that Compatriot refers to a fellow countryman?   

I was unaware of the meaning of this word.  In all honesty I did not know of its existence, and I would feel bad about this fact.  But this edition was printed a bit before my time....  :)

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Oct. 31, 2009 - Life is...

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Life is a delicate balancing act,
 
So easy to lose tract,
 
The things you want to do,
 
Crowd the things you ought to,
 
And loving words that should be said,
 
Often float through my head,
 
But lately I have caught myself,
 
Pushing them like on a shelf,
 
Always to the back of my mind,
 
Waiting to for a better time,
 
But now the kind thoughts come less often and slow,
 
And I hope that I haven't lost my  inner, happy glow,
 
Bringing smiles from heaven to earth,
 
(Myself) This vessel the Lord to me did intrust,
 
Should be used for bring blessings,
 
Encouraging thoughts, words that are uplifting.
 
Forgive me mom, for being obsorbed so,
 
In my own life that I don't give off that inner glow,
 
Which God gave daughters the ability to show,
 
This is a gift, that is a choice I know,
 
For I have chosen to use it and to hide it,
 
But from now on I hope to shine with it,
 
For the glory of my King,
 
Let His praises ring!
 
The world tries to replicate the glories of holiness,
 
But first hand I have seen the difference!
 
May I dedicate this vessel for authenticity,
 
Only pure, holy, clean and lovely!
 
Be on heart, mind and lips,
 
For God's consent, may all might and soul be His!
 

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Oct. 28, 2009 - Gossip

    One of my favorite artists, which I have many, is Norman Rockwell.  This picture is titled "gossip."  If you look carefully at the first and last lady you will notice the gossip came back around to her! 

   Tonight our pastor taught a great and very convicting sermon on this topic.  It reminded me of this picture.  I can't help but laugh because this is exactly what it looks like!  We think it is all so confidental when really everyone knows!  lol 

~

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Oct. 23, 2009 - Hour of Honesty

How do I feel about homework right now?

*yawn and stretch*

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Oct. 20, 2009 - Beauty Tips

Beauty Tips

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   Here are some sure fire beautifiers they may not be conventional fashion-mag fare, but they come 100% guaranteed...

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Laughter:  Ask a child to share with you his or her favorite joke.  The telling can be as fun as the punch line.

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Kindness:  Do something good for someone who can't pay you back.  Leave an extra $5 to help pay for the meal of the person in line behind you at the drive through and savor the expression of surprise on his or her face.

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Servanthood:  Fix a favorite, labor-intense double-portioned meal for your family and take the other half to your next-door neighbor.

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Perspective:  Make a scrapbook for special family members, celebrating activities, accomplishments, and all the things that make them special.

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Patience:  Look for something good in someone you're in conflict with.  For optimum results, tell them what you found.

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Love for life:  Smile at everyone you meet for one whole day!

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Self-Confidence:  Make a list of things you like about yourself and keep it somewhere you'll see it often.

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Oct. 19, 2009 - The Cowgirl In Me

   Well... y'all, I can't hold back the cowgirl in me.  I recently did some freshin' up to my room and here are some pictures.  I also want to throw in a few good ole cowgirl quotes....~

   Oh and in case y'all don't know this... we are out in the sticks right now and I just found out...  the website up here isn't called yahoo.com it's YeHaw.com!  Thought I'd fill ya in cause it's good to know in case ya ever came up here in these parts

Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket.

   The saying goes "Your not a Cowgirl until you’ve fallen off a horse, but aren’t you a really good cowgirl if you haven’t ever gotten back on."   ( I was thrown by a horse once, and it definitely makes ya shaky! But I got back on! )

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Oct. 16, 2009 - Antique Author

   Things with old fashion charm seem to be a weakness of mine... especially books.  In my collection of antique books, the oldest is from 1858.  I think it is too cute!  It is authored by Countess Madam Montez; the name is enough to intrigue my interest!  The book is titled The Arts of Beauty.  I just love the vintage cover...

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Details on the front cover.

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Copyright 1858.

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Looks as though women have common worries, in any era... *smile*

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How amusing, a section for gentlemen.

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Advertising for other works, at the end of the book.

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Details on the back cover.

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Oct. 14, 2009 - Win the Battle

    This excerpt was in my Psychology textbook, and I thought of how much I needed it!   :)

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 How to Win against Procrastination

             Have you ever thought of all the things you could do if only you had more time?

       If so, it makes sense for you to learn how to overcome the greatest time waster of all - procrastination.  Research indicates that procrastination arises partly out of a lack of confidence in one's ability to meet expectations.  Once procrastination begins it often persists for years.  Nevertheless, anyone can overcome procrastination, and gain self-confidence in the process, by using behavior modification techniques.

      Identify ~  what areas and environments do you habitually put off tasks.  Are things distracting you, why?  Use these distractors to motivate you to complete the task so you can return to them. 

       Schedule ~  make lists, calendars, and whatever creative tools you can to serve as reminders and don't forget deadlines!  If you set a date and time to start on a project instead of a date and time to be finished you will get the task done ahead of time.

     Get Started ~ this is the hardest part!  Doing something now disturbs the joy of doing it later, it moves you from the comfortable state of ease and laziness.  Give yourself rewards for doing it now.  This is very important!

    Don't Skip ~ beware of jumping to another task when you reach a difficult part of a project.  You end up with more things left hanging and less time to complete them!  You will see the adantage of progress if you stick to it.

    Preparation Overkill ~ you may actually spend more time preparing for a task rather than working on it.  This only postpones your completetion!  Just get started and do what is necessary.  Procrastinators love preparation overkill.

    Reasons ~  make a record of the reasons and rationaliztion for postponing a project.  Do these reasons seem justifiable and proactive to you?  What could you do if you had the project completed?  Begin now!  Don't procrastinate.

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   This article was written on procrastinating in homework and studying, but I made it general because it seemed a great quick reminder of the advantage of action! 

    I am a procrastinator who is making steps to change!  (I am at the checklist part! lol)

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Oct. 9, 2009 - Lists To Live By

Photo Design ~ Joysprout     Taken At ~ Jonesboro AR

Knowing Yourself

1. What we want most.

2.  What we think about most

3.  How we use our money.

4. What we do with our time.

5.  The company we enjoy.

6.  Whom and what we admire.

7.  What we laugh at.

~

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Oct. 7, 2009 - Quote

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Oct. 2, 2009 - College Shockwave

The College Experience

   So what are the values we desire to transmit? 

    Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

   Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus 2: 6-8, 12-15  

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Oct. 2, 2009 - Are You Willing?

Will You Go Without Knowing?

Utmost For His Highest

   Have you ever "gone out" in this way?  If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing.  One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?"  You don't know what you are going to do.  The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing.  Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting God entirely.

  He went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

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Sep. 29, 2009 - A Tuesday Truth

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Sep. 27, 2009 - How Small

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   Lately I was looking through my folder where I keep my scraps of songs that I scribble down "while it's in my head".  I found several pieces of unfinished songs and put them together to make this one, filling in with phrases to connect the meaning of the song.  It is about the greatness of God to us through His mercy, love, and blessings.  Sometimes when you take a look at how good the blessings that God gives us are, you feel very small compared to it. That it the expression of this song.

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There is a vastness of blessing upon me

From places in the heavenly

Knowing me I'd already be gone

You're the One who has held me here this long

   By Your mercy I feel Your love

   Your truly more than enough

   To keep my heart true

   And wholly given to You!

Things You do in my everyday

Seem to be like parts of a story

Like You're putting together the pieces of my life

For the day Your glory shines

   How small am I

   That You hear my cry     (3x)

It's like glancing on a star in the galaxies of stars

It's like taking drop of water from the ocean

It's like a day of a thousand years

It's like taking a grain of sand from the desert

It's like a firefly in the shadows of the dark

   From everlasting to everlasting You are

   And You care for the smallest star

   From everlasting to everlasting You are

   You care for the smallest star.

~

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Sep. 27, 2009 - Enjoy Life

Photo Taken and Words Composed by Joysprout 

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Sep. 20, 2009 - Lake Benson

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Sep. 20, 2009 - From the Henhouse

    Here is an update on the chickens.  They are almost full grown, and we expect to find eggs any day now!  They have officially 'graduated' the starter feed and are eating laying feed.    

   We have one dominant hen, a yellow one, who always leads the show!  This hen finds my camera very interesting and loves to play tug-a-war with the hand strap.  I try to focus on her up close before she reaches the strap, she is usually faster than me and so her pictures turn out somewhat blurry but very funny!

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A Five Star Henhouse

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Lined Up Military Fashion

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"Left, Right, Left!" 

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Stretching For A Closer Look

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Nest Occupied ~ Take A Number Please

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Dorthy Checking Out The Camera

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The Chicken Walk

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The Funny Look

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Looks Like A Worm, Tastes Like Rope

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How To Tell If The Chickens Have Been On The Porch

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Sep. 10, 2009 - Study in Sepia

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Sep. 5, 2009 - Raising the Bar

Do Hard Things  ~ authored by Alex & Brett Harris

        Here is an excerpt from a book that I have read and have on my bookshelf.  I recommend it as a fantastic read!  If you need a little kick of motivation look no farther!  The author is by twins Alex and Brett who have created the idea of Rebelution, teenage rebellion against low expectations.  A new idea to a culture so accepting of immature teens. 

    After reviewing this chapter and deciding to share portions of it, I found convictions being brought up in my own mind.  And standards that I want to put back up where they used to be.  I am guilty of so much of this!  I have a list of the areas that are being freshly turned over! 

Raising the Bar

How to do hard things that go beyond

what's expected or required

The trap of “Just Do Your Best”

It's easy to be content with less than our best, especially when our halfhearted efforts seem to satisfy everyone else around us. And being “good enough” can turn into a special hazard. Those who could do a lot better or tackle a much bigger challenge seldom do so when they're already “good enough” by other people's standards.

What about you? Maybe you've procrastinated on a school project because you knew you could stay up late the night before the deadline and throw something together. Or maybe you've accepted your place in the middle of the pack even though you know that's not where you belong. In many ways you can deliver less than 100 percent and still get away with it-on a team, at work, at home, in your personal life and spiritual life.

We will look at one of the most important but challenging steps you can take to beat the tide of low expectations: reject complacency and choose to do hard things that go above and beyond what's required or expected of you.

This choice goes right to the heart of what it means to be rebelutionary. Without a doubt, pushing yourself to do more than is asked, expected, or required is nearly always a lonely choice. It can set you apart from friends, co-workers, other Christians, even family. As we'll see, the desire to do your best- even when no one around you requires it-takes a special kind of character. It puts you at odds with the accepted culture, which says “Just do your best” but means something very different.

Think about it. This common phrase, “Just do your best,” actually encourages the opposite, when someone says “Just do your best,” are you inspired to reach for more or does it feel more like permission to just get by? Before long you'll become blinded by complacency, which is defined as a smug feeling of satisfaction with who you are and what you've done. (“Hey I did my best...”) We slide into mediocrity and excuse making. The first symptom is satisfaction with things the ways they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be.

Proverbs 1:32 is even clearer: “The complacency of fools destroys them.”

Over time, refusing to reach higher, try harder and risk more robs us of the glorious purpose and wonderful future God has created us for.

Three Strategies For Stepping Higher

    Do what's hard for you.

    Be known for what you do (more than for what you don't do)

    Pursue excellence, not excuses.

Do What's Hard For You

A rebelutionary takes the time to identify the areas where he or she could accomplish more by stepping across the line of what comes easily and coming out from behind past accomplishments, complacency, and low expectations.

Be Known for What You Do (more than for what you don't)

Lindsey is in her second year of high school-her first at a private Christian school. Even among other Christian teens at school and Church, Lindsey is the “good girl” who seemingly never does anything wrong. She won't watch R-rated movies, wears a promise ring that her dad gave heron her thirteenth birthday, and won't even date (or “court” as she puts it) until she's ready to get married. It doesn't make her highly popular among some of her peers, but she cares more about what the adults in her life think. And they praise her constantly-usually while they bemoan all the “bad stuff” other teen today are involved in.

She loves it when she gets compliments for being such a “wonderful girl,” but when Lindsey is honest, she knows she's become exceptional for what she doesn't do. She doesn't attend wild parties, cause trouble, or want a tattoo. But what does she do? Is the Christian life all about avoiding “bad stuff” or is it about doing “good, hard stuff” for God? Deep down Lindsey knows the answer, but she's already praised for being such a godly girl. Isn't that enough?

Bre, a high-school senior from Indiana, experienced low expectations firsthand. She, along with other young people, had participated in some community service projects and afterward gave a report to her church. Following the service she overheard a man saying, “Aren't you glad these kids aren't out smoking pot or drinking?”

“That comment just broke my heart.” Bre wrote to us, “because there truly is a level of mediocrity that has infiltrated not just our culture, but our churches as well.” Is it enough to be known for the negative things we don't do, or should we also be known for the positive and difficult things that we do?

Pursue Excellence, Not Excuses

God set His standards high so that that won't make the mistake of aiming low. He made them unreachable so that we would never have an excuse to stop growing. A commitment to growth kills complacency, we can identify it in our lives by asking the following hard questions and answering them honestly.

  What areas of my life do I not care about that I know I should care about?

   In what areas have I fallen short of God's standards and my own potential?

   In what areas have I settled for just getting by when I know I could do better if I  really tried?

   In what areas have I decided that things “will always be this way” without ever putting in the kind of effort that changes things?

From Wimp To World-Changer

As a young teenager, Theodore Roosevelt didn't strike anyone as the kind of person who would become one of America's greatest presidents. From the time he was a toddler, severe asthma overshadowed everything he did. He was considered too delicate for school and too weak to stand up to other boys. On doctors' orders his father and mother rushed him to seashore resorts and mountain cabins in hopes that changes of air would help him breathe. The sickly boy seemed unlikely to survive childhood-let alone amount to anything if he did.

Of course we all know that Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt did more than survive. More than any of his contemporaries, Roosevelt led America into the twentieth century. He was a cowboy on the western frontier, a police commissioner in New York City, a military hero in the Spanish-American War, and the governor of New York. He was the first president to fly in an airplane, be submerged in a submarine, to have a telephone in his home, or to own a car. And in 1906 he became the American Nobel laureate, awarded the Nobel peace prize for almost single-handedly negotiating a peaceful end to the Russo-Japanese War.

How did a severely nearsighted, asthmatic kid who wasn't suppose to live past his twenty-first birthday go on to experience a life of such incredible accomplishment? The short answer is that as a teenager, Roosevelt chose to go beyond what was easy by reaching for what seemed impossible.

Shortly before his twelfth birthday, his father took him aside and challenged him to dedicate himself to the “hard drudgery” of building himself a strong body. Convinced and determined, young Roosevelt gave himself to it, spending hours each day lifting weights, hammering punching bags, and straining at pull-up bars. This was the beginning of the transformation-more than just physical-that would shape the rest of his life. Decades later, with conviction birthed in the “hard drudgery” of his teen years, Roosevelt said that the highest form of success would go only to the man who “does not shrink from danger, from hardship, of from toil.” Listen to what what he said about what he called “the strenuous life”:

“I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of effort, of labor and strife; to preach that the highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.”

Of course, nowadays we don't talk the way Roosevelt did. But what would happen if we embraced the values he did-of reaching above and beyond what comes easy? And what would happen if a new generation of teens lived that way?

Start now.

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Sep. 3, 2009 - 1 Cor. 13

      Love...

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           suffereth long

            is kind

            envieth not

            vaunteth not itself

            is not puffed up

            doth not behave itself unseemly

            seekth not her own

            is not easily provoked

            thinketh no evil

            rejoiceth not in iniquity

            rejoiceth in truth

            beareth all things

            believeth all things

            endureth all things

            hopeth all things

            never faileth

   And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three but the greatest of these is charity.

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Sep. 1, 2009 - Piano Lessons

  A few months before I finished high school, I started wanting to take music lessons.  I was thinking about the violin or guitar because I play those already and would love to get better at them.  Dad and I decided to have a 'date', like we often do, to talk about the possibilities.  He wanted me to take piano lessons and at first I was somewhat reluctant.  But we started looking for teachers and he found a great teacher right at our home Church!  It has turned out that I enjoy piano and have been able to use the fundamentals that I have learned in piano, with all my instruments!  (It usually pays to listen to those who are older and wiser!)  Thanks dad! 

   Above is a picture of my piano and the next book I'll start.  My teacher has been moving me along pretty fast so hopefully it won't be long before I begin it!  I am excited! 

~Blessings

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Aug. 31, 2009 - Spring River Canoeing Adventure

    What a wonderful time we had with family and friends last weekend!  We loaded our campers and headed to the Spring River in Arkansas!   The weather was beautiful and the water was cold!!!  

   The rapids were pretty smooth and we stopped and floated down with the little children in several spots!  We only had two or three canoe turnovers and that was during a water war in a calm spot!  (I blasted one canoe with water and thought I had gotten away only to find that their revenge made me lose all pride!)  

   We actually got to picnic at our campers since our campsites were right on the river!  And thank you grandma for making that great lunch!

   Unfortunately I didn't take a waterproof camera on the river and so all my pictures are after the canoeing.   In the evenings we enjoyed listening to the exciting life stories of our friends!  Wow they are some pretty amazing people!  Thanks for inviting us to go with ya'll!

Welcome Ye Adventurers!

Camp Sweet Camp   

Our Campsite View

Who's Shoes Are Who's?

 Nearby Creek

Peaceful River Spot

Can you see the small concrete rim under the tracks?

 Dad and I went under the tracks!

Lovely Refelctions

Dad and I played Rummy

 Just for fun we chose nicnames, who do you think is Snake?

We visited the source of the Spring River

~ Twas a beautiful park!

 Nature's Bounty

The Long Road Home 

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Aug. 31, 2009 - Modest Swimwear

     For ladies who love the outdoors and swimming, it can become complex to enjoy it modestly at times!  You know what I mean!  Just recently we found a great resource for modest swimming suits!  They are made out of regular swim material and are can be customized to the length you want!  Mrs. Cori Ellis makes these herself!  They are really cute and well made!

http://modestactivewear.blogspot.com/ 

   Here is the one I recently purchased off the clearance bin!  It was perfect timing!  It came in right before the canoeing trip to Spring River!

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Aug. 27, 2009 - When All You Need Is Jesus

  While reading in the gospels I found the story about Jesus healing the man with the crippled hand.  These words are inspired from that story.  Sometimes we listen to everyone around us and forget to look to Jesus for the final say in our life!  But those who leave the choice totally up to Him will recieve the very best He has to offer!  Praise Him!

When All You Need Is Jesus

On that Sabbath morning a common man

That had been born with a withered hand

Came to worship His creator

Though he knew not why the burden he bore

Many stood around him

And tried to find a reason

Why he shouldn't be healed

But Jesus knew the miracle He'd reveal

Chorus:

When all you need- You need is Jesus

  I know of His peace and mercy

  His burden isn't heavy

When all you need- You need is Jesus

  Wordly distractions try to grab my time

  But only full commitment can bring peace of mind

When all you need- You need is Jesus

  He'll trade your old man for a new

  Restore your heart with love and freedom too!

All you need- You need Jesus

And all you may see now is confusion

Everyone wants to give their opnions

On how you got where you are, and how they'd solve it

When all you need is Jesus!

It seems like its been so long

Not quite sure where you went wrong

You just know you have to find a place

Seek His face and find His grace

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