Ruby june 2013 by RUBY magazine

Ruby for Women A voice for every Christian woman June 2013

â&#x20AC;&#x153;. . . . her worth is far above rubies.â&#x20AC;? Proverbs 31:10

Ruby for Women May, 2013 www.rubyforwomen.ning.com

June is here and summer has finally arrived! As we plant our gardens, play at the beach, plan picnic suppers at the park, or tackle our summer reading list, let’s remember to be grateful to our Father God for all His gracious gifts – especially for the wonderful days of summer! Also, join with us in celebrating Father’s Day and be sure to tell the “Fathers” in your life how much you love them. Please visit us at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com Senior Editor: Nina Newton Assistant Editor: Amanda Johnson Poetry: Keith Wallis Creative Assistant: Katherine Corrigan Family Fun Editor: Beth Brubaker Gardening: Dorothy Kurchak Devotions: Lynn Mosher Feature Writers: Connie Arnold, Hilary Covil, Theresa Ceniccola, Mimi Spurlock, Daphne Tarango, Angela Morris, Sharon L. Patterson, Elizabeth Baker, Maxine Young, Gloria Doty, Kristi Burchfiel, Elissa R. Peterson, Christena Hammes, Taylor DeVine, Rhea B. Riddle, Amanda Stephan, Tricia Goyer, Michelle Lazurek, Lisa Simpkins, Kristin Bridgman, Maria Greene, Debra Ann Elliott, Corallie Buchanan, Kathleen Kohler, Heather King, Patrice D. Wilkerson, Lanette Kissel

In This Issue . . . Page

Title

The First Father Nina Newton, Sr. Editor

God’s Handiwork Amanda Johnson, Asst. Editor Page 7

My Faith and My Father Hilary Covil

Out of Focus! Lynn Mosher

Strawberry Layer Cake Katherine’s Corner

Strawberry Rose Cupcakes Lisa Steele, Fresh Eggs Daily

A Humbling Experience Amanda Stephan

“Light the Fire, Lord” Sharon L. Patterson

“Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, King” Sharon L. Patterson

It’s Not Mine: 10 Days to Living Hands-Free, Heart-Filled and in God’s Bounty Karon Phillips Book Review by Amanda Johnson

Parents – A Gift from God Lanette Kissel

Make Your Own Father’s Day Banner Card Vintage Mama

Page 10

Page 15

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Ruby for Women is an online Christian women’s magazine that offers words of hope, inspiration, and encouragement to women everywhere. Knowing that every woman has a story to tell, we seek to give a “voice to every Christian woman,” from all walks of life, of every age, from all around the world. For advertising inquiries, please contact Nina Newton at editor@rubyforwomen.com If you would like to share your story with Ruby for Women, please email our Assistant Editor, Amanda Johnson, at ajohnson@rubyforwomen.com Also, please visit our community website at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com where you can connect with other Christian women. Ruby for Women 2731 W 700 N Columbia City, IN 46725 1 editor@rubyforwomen.com

Page 25

Daily Devotionals for June Kristi Burchfiel

Wildflowers! Dorothy Kurchak

Disconnect Four Puzzle Beth Brubaker

Ask Beth Beth Brubaker

Page

Title

Page 25

Page 40

Mini Strawberry Trifles Katherine Corrigan

Pretty Little Giveaway Katherine’s Corner

Avoiding the Summer Blues Heather King

Design Your Own Summer Calendars Over the Big Moon

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Title

Denim Flag Wreath by Kim from “Made in a Day”

Caribbean Cruising Samantha Kroll

A Christian Woman’s Ambition Patrice D. Wilkerson

“When I Cannot . . . “ Sharon L. Patterson

Pushing Pause Amanda Stephan

7-Up Pound Cake with Lemon-Lime Glaze Nancy Creative

“I Want to be a Princess” Corallie Buchanan

Integrity and Truth: Power for Healing and Wellness Shannon Panzo

My Side of the Tracks Gloria Doty

Starting Fresh – No Regret Lynette Kissel

Transition Keith Wallis

Footprints in the Mud: Mom’s Ode to Summer Beth Brubaker

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Page 63

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Zion’s Stream Keith Wallis

Vintage Dresser Make-Over Anne B. from the Ruby community

Turning to the Sun Keith Wallis

Tangy Honey Coleslaw NancyCreative

From a Lectern Keith Wallis

“The Giver and the Taker” Sharon L. Patterson

Angel Wings Keith Wallis

Blood Red Standard Keith Wallis

Strawberry, Pecan, and Spinach Salad Vintage Mama

Page 47

Exercise Profits Nothing . . . . At Least Not the Way You Think! Deborah McCarragher

A Walk in Springtime Elizabeth Baker

Target Practice Double Puzzle Beth Brubaker

Pride

Page 55

Christena Hammes Page 61

Our Father . . . Gloria Doty

Vintage Paper Dolls Vintage Mama

Disconnect Four Puzzle Answer Key Beth Brubaker

Target Practice Double Puzzle Answer Key Beth Brubaker

101

Meet the Ruby for Women Writers

109

Credits and Copyrights

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Ruby for Women We want to hear your story, because God has given a voice to every Christian woman.

Let us welcome you into our community of Christian women! * Daily inspirational posts * Featured bloggers * FREE monthly online magazine * Community groups and forums * Crafts, recipes, poetry, and stories

Join us today at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com

“Pretty Little Giveaway” at Katherine’s Corner June 1 – 25, 2013 www.katherinescorner.com

The First Father by Nina Newton, Sr. Editor

She sat in a corner seat, near the windows of the Houston airport, alone. Houston in June is pretty hot, she thought, as she squirmed around in the vinyl seats, trying to get comfortable. She was seventeen, just a small town girl, and this was her first time ever to ride in an airplane. That would have been bad enough, but she was waiting to meet him. For the first time. Ever. She thought he would be there to meet her, but then perhaps he was just late because of the traffic. After all, Houston must be a really big city, she thought. But then, perhaps he didn’t recognize her since he hadn’t seen her since she was just a baby. She looked around, searching the faces to see that one face she knew she would recognize. The black and white picture that her mother had given her (just one, that was all she ever found) was rather faded and tattered around the edges. But she could tell that he was tall and lanky, with a mischievous grin and reddish-brown hair that kind of flopped down over his eyes. Well, that was how he looked 16 years ago, she thought, so perhaps he looked different by now. As she waited and anxiously searched every face of every man who walked by, she thought about her journey. She recalled how this strange event in her life had come to pass. And she remembered just a few hours ago how terrified she had been, when she lost her airplane ticket in Chicago. What an adventure for this naïve young girl, fresh from the safety and security of her little hometown. Every minute that ticked by she became more anxious. What if he never arrived? What if he changed his mind? After all, she hadn’t heard from him in 16 years, and now suddenly he wanted to meet her – maybe he realized that he didn’t want to know her after all this time. Far from home, alone in this huge airport with all of these strangers passing by as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening, she felt herself sinking into a dark place of terror. Where was he? And then she looked up and saw a man hobbling in her direction, reddish-brown hair now tinged with gray, flopping down over his eyes, still tall and lanky. But was that him? He was walking with a cane, his crumpled white shirt frayed and threadbare at the collar. He looked at her, or did he look right past her? She couldn’t tell at first, but then he seemed to recognize her from the pictures she had sent. As he limped towards her, he smiled a rather friendly, lopsided smile, but in his eyes she saw the sadness and despair of a broken heart. They shook hands, this First Father and his lonely little girl, and after a few polite words of greeting, they walked silently out into the stifling heat of Houston in June. With the windows rolled down and the steamy wind rushing into the car, they drove to his dark, rundown little apartment in a crowded building on a broken-down street in Houston. She stayed there with her First Father for thirteen days – she counted them, so she remembers – and in that dingy, shadowy apartment in the oppressive heat of Houston in June, she realized that her Real Father was her Father God. As she stared at the ceiling with cracked and peeling plaster, and listened to the table fan rotate back and forth, click, click, click, in the simmering summer afternoons in Houston in June, she finally knew why this First Father was never there on any afternoon before or after that time. 5

God’s Handiwork by Amanda Johnson This week while walking my dog, I was privileged to hear the beautiful songs of a variety of birds. One bird sang maybe three or four notes and paused. There was a short silence followed by another bird somewhere in the distance completing the melody by singing the next three or four notes in reply. How beautiful and how amazing! The birds weren’t singing for anyone in particular. They were just carrying out their daily routine of flying, perching on tree limbs, and singing to one another. But it was a beautiful song and as I smiled to myself over the melody, I couldn’t help but think of the scripture in Psalms where creation literally sings and claps in celebration and worship of God the Father (Psalm 98; Isaiah 55:8-13). The trees wave their branches in the air. The birds call out to one another in song. The flowers reach heavenly in all their splendid colors. The clouds pass slowly by and the sun peeks out every now and again to bathe the earth in its warm rays of light. What a beautiful orchestra of sounds; what a beautiful praise team! Sometimes I take God’s creation for granted. I go for walks without giving my surroundings a second thought. I wake up in the morning and expect the sun to be up. I go to bed at night and anticipate the moon lighting up my room. But you know what, creation doesn’t live and breathe and move to make Amanda happy. Creation does what it was created to do in honor and praise to the King of Kings. I’m reminded to do the same. God expects me to do what He has created me to do and be who He has created me to be. I’m not me for others. I’m not me for me. I am me for God. I am a living, breathing, human being created to worship and praise my Holy God. Lord I give thanks for your handiwork in creating me and the beautiful world around me. Help me not to take anything for granted, but instead, take every opportunity to praise and worship Your glorious Majesty!

Ruby Pearls – June 2013 June 6th is National Rodeo Day - Jump on your favorite bucking bronco and have fun! June 8th is Best Friend's Day - Spend a little time today with your best buddy! June 13th is Weed your Garden Day – get your garden gloves on and get busy! June 15th is Fly a Kite Day – you know what to do! June 16th is Father’s Day - celebrate! “Imagination is the highest kite anyone can fly” - Bob Nelson 6

My Faith and My Father by Hilary Covil He sits on the edge of the pew. And when I say edge, he is almost falling off. Occasionally, he will check his watch and then stare at the stained glass window so longingly that it’s as if he wants to become a part of the colors in the frame. He comes on Christmas Eve or sometimes Easter if I am singing. A long time ago, I asked my Dad what he believes, and he said he believes in God, but he thinks Jesus is a man. “I think I am Jewish,” he said. Most recently, he said he is a humanist. So I looked humanist up, and it said something about focusing on human values and concerns. He likes singing Christmas songs: all Christmas songs, not just the holly jolly tunes. And for a moment, I feel hope in that squishy, private part of my soul as he belts out: “It is the night of our dear savior’s birth.” He used to keep the serenity prayer on the wall above his bedside table. I have never asked him why. We joke about it. He says the church’s ceiling will fall on his head if he comes in. My mom’s eyes roll, and she laughs. Then my Dad turns on the television or starts the garbage disposal, and it feels like I can’t breathe. One day, we were in the car and started talking about the movie “The Da Vinci Code,” and he said that is exactly what he believes. I told him that I never saw the movie or read the book, but I believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. And he says well, that is not what I think. Things get tough for me at that point because I still have that little girl respect for him that doesn’t go away. I am five, and he grabs me and playfully throws me half way over the banister at the top of the staircase. He stops when I am getting too far over. And I feel protected. I am 16, parading around in the dress I have just purchased, and he says it looks good on me. And I feel adored. It takes so much bravery to talk to him, even though loving him comes easy. So I get on my knees again and pray for this special man. Hillary walking down the aisle with her father on her wedding day

Out of Focus! by Lynn Mosher What blurs our vision . . . • • • • • • • • • • • •

When the venom of hate is slung at us… When a myriad of voices clamor for our attention… When self is elevated above the concern for others… When doubt and worry replace our trust in the Lord… When heartaches pile up against the door of our hearts… When daily circumstances whir around us and cause confusion… When activities and chores on our schedules become overwhelming… When the pain of gossip behind our backs comes from a so-called friend... When greed for a bulging bank account pushes its way to be #1 on our list… When our spouse breaks his/her commitment to a monogamous relationship… When we pay more attention to how we feel rather than on the truths of God’s Word… When accumulating possessions to keep up with everyone else becomes our main goal…

…what do we do? We usually go into a tailspin and lose our focus. When God seems not to be in a hurry to remedy any of the above trials for which we have prayed until we are exhausted, instead of praying as our first priority that God will be glorified in it, we boo-hoo His tardiness for not taking us out of the problem, or we question His faithfulness. We lose our focus. If we focus more on the stress and limitation of our situations rather than on the peace, power, and comfort of God to rectify them, we will certainly lose our focus and we will give up. I have no magic bullet list of how to stay focused. All I can tell you is that, in my experience, it is in those times we tell the Lord we trust Him for the outcome and continue to thank Him in the meantime. Isaiah gives us the solution, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Is. 26:3 NLT) It takes practice, practice, practice to keep our thoughts focused. In regard to those stray and harried thoughts, Paul tells us what to “refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5 Amp) Solomon warns us in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” (Masoretic Text) Another version says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” (NCV) What siphons your focus away from the Lord? May you recognize those things and practice, practice, practice to keep your focus on the Lord.

From His feet, Lynn 8

Strawberry Layer Cake & Sweet Mascarpone Cheese Icing As featured at Katherine’s Corner from the original recipe by La Bella Vita Cucina http://www.italianbellavita.com/2013/04/strawberry-layer-cakecream-cheese-icing/

• • • • • • • • •

What You Need: • 2 cups white sugar • 1 (3 oz.) package strawberry flavored gelatin • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened • 4 jumbo eggs (room temperature) • 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour • 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder • 1 cup whole milk • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 3/4 cup strawberry puree made from fresh or frozen strawberries (make an additional 2 cups of puree to drizzle over the cake slices or to lay the slices on top of a pool of puree). For the Strawberry Filling: 1 to 2 cups of the mascarpone cheese frosting (ingredients listed next) 1-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced For the Sweet Mascarpone Cheese Frosting: 1 cup butter, softened 2 8-oz packages/tubs mascarpone cheese, softened 8 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar 1 teaspoon butter extract

Let’s make it! • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. • Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans or three 8 inch round cake pans. • In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. • Combine the flour and baking powder. • Stir into the batter alternately with the milk. • Blend in strawberry puree and vanilla. • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. • Bake for 30 – 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. • Allow cakes to cool in their pans over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. • Gently tap the cakes out of their pans to finish cooling completely. • To prepare the frosting: • Beat the butter, mascarpone cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and butter extract until creamy. • Spread the first cake layer with a thick layer of frosting. • Evenly distribute the strawberry slices over the frosting. • Place the top cake layer on top. • Spread remaining frosting on top of cake and all around the sides. • Garnish to decorate: Large, beautiful strawberries presented any way that you like. 9

Strawberry Rose Cupcakes from Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily http://www.fresh-eggsdaily.com/2012/05/easy-strawberry-rosecupcakes-for.html I am all for cooking and baking from scratch. The finished product is always better tasting, more satisfying and more healthy than using a box or package. But sometimes I just don't have the time, or the energy, or the ingredients to start from scratch (ever wonder where that saying came from BTW? starting from scratch....hmmm) so I cheat a little bit. This time I used a boxed cake mix and prepared frosting to bake the cupcakes. It's okay to cheat sometimes...besides this time it's ALL in the presentation! ~Ingredients~ (makes 24 cupcakes) 48 white paper baking cups (yes, 48 that's not a typo, you'll see why later) One box Duncan Hines Signature Strawberry Supreme Cake Mix 3 Fresh Eggs 1-1/3 Cups Water 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil 1 teaspoon Rose Water 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste 3 Tubs Betty Crocker Whipped Strawberry Mist Frosting (or Betty Crocker Whipped Cream Cheese) #2D Decorating Tip and Housing/Pastry Bag 24 Fresh-Picked Tea Roses 24 sprigs of fresh mint or lemon balm •

• •

Mix the cake mix, eggs, water and oil at low speed with a hand mixer for a few seconds until combined. Measure in the rose water and vanilla bean paste and then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fill 24 baking cups nestled in a cupcake pan with the batter using a large ice cream scoop and filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. Let cool completely on wire racks. Place each cupcake on a pretty china saucer set inside a new, clean white baking cup. • Fill the pastry bag with frosting, attach the decorator tip and pipe frosting onto each cupcake in a spiral pattern. • Place a tea rose and a sprig of mint on top of each cupcake. For more beautiful spring recipes, visit Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily

A Humbling Experience by Amanda Stephan

I feel like an utter failure. This isn't a new experience for me. Honestly, it's kind of common. See, I'm one of those people who can see all my miserable failures. All my mistakes and quirks. I don't like to fail, and I try not to let it keep me down, but then...there are times I just want to raise the white flag of defeat. Yet God won't let me. And I'm glad. For a while now, I've felt so far away from God and I've wondered how I got here. Is He there? Is He still listening to my prayers? Sheesh, does He even care about those things I've been asking Him about for years now? While I don't know all there is to know about God, I do know some things. I know that when I feel this way, it's not because God has moved away, it's because I have. I’ve changed. I've let something get between me and my relationship with Jesus. (James 4:8 - Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double-minded.) And usually, I know what it is. Not all the time, mind you. Just usually. Like maybe I'm thinking the wrong thing. Maybe I'm listening to the wrong music. (Yes, music does that to me.) Maybe I'm harboring bitterness toward someone, or haven’t forgiven someone about something. Maybe I've gotten my priorities wrong ~ like perhaps sales and money, rather than souls for God. I'll tell you the truth, I'd love to sell, sell, sell all my books. Let's be honest. Do you have a job that you don't care if you make money with or not? I didn't think so. But I digress. Whatever the cause, lately I've been pulled away from being right beside my Savior. I've let something turn my eyes away and cause me to falter. I've felt far, far away and I've been trying to draw back to Him because that's where I want to be. I pray. I seek Him. I read the Bible...and yet, sometimes I still feel...distant. Even in those dark times, I hear Martin Luther's quote, “Feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God, naught else is worth believing.” 11

And I thought, “What's better than this? What's more important than this?” And now I know why the burdens have been so heavy lately. Why I've felt so tired, lost, and less than a good Christian. Satan wanted those children's souls, and if it meant that he needed to distract me, then he was going to try his best!

That has got to be one of my favorites. It reminds me that my salvation ~ nor anyone else's ~ is based upon feelings. Period. Last Wednesday for our children's club, as usual, I did the devotions. I like doing them. I get up there and I prance around and look like an idiot, make the kids laugh, and teach God's Word. What's better than that, right?! Anyway, as the kids bowed their heads to close out in prayer, I mentioned that if any of them didn't know Jesus as their Savior and wanted to ask Him into their hearts, they could ask any one of the leaders in the room and we'd be happy to show them how. We prayed and we dismissed. Some tromped upstairs like a herd of elephants while others raced down the hallway to play games with the rubber balls. There were three that came to see me. And I knew what they wanted. I pulled up some chairs and I sat on the ground (in my white skirt, but I didn't care. Something more important than a white skirt was at stake here!) and had the privilege of leading those three to Jesus Christ. And I thought, “What's better than this? What's more important than this?” And now I know why the burdens have been so heavy lately. Why I've felt so tired, lost, and less than a good Christian. Satan wanted those children's souls, and if it meant that he needed to distract me, then he was going to try his best! He almost succeeded. 1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world. The Bible is true. God is real. God cares. God loves us, even when we feel so…far…away and He's so very patient to draw us back to Himself. Back so close that He entrusts us with the most important thing of all - winning souls. I am honored and humbled to serve a God such as this. But the thought remains. If I hadn’t submitted myself to God, asked for His forgiveness and drew close to Him again, what could have happened? Would these children have gone to someone else? Or worse. Would they have gotten saved at all? My thoughts? God used those children to teach me a lesson. Yes. He’s still here. And He’s still in control. He hears me when I pray and He still loves me when I mess up. I just need to hit my knees and ask Him to forgive me. 12

“Light the Fire, Lord” by Sharon L. Patterson “Light the fire, Lord,” where it used to be. Burn it brighter That others can see. When the cold, cold wind of mediocrity sweeps across my heart, where your flame used to be, Light the fire, Lord,” where it used to be. Burn it brighter that others can see when I exchange your love for much lesser things, burn the dross out so my spirit can sing.” “Light the fire, Lord,” where it used to be. Burn it brighter that others can see. As I come to your throne in humility let the blood of your cross set my heart free.

“Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, King” by Sharon L. Patterson On a road of dust, two men chanced to meet: One in boots of fine grained leather, the other had only bare feet. Said the one richly shod in boasting tone so loud, as the other stooped humbly in a lowly bow, “Look here on this plenteous field… have you ever seen such golden, ripening yield? It belongs to my father and me… as does that great house on the hill by the old oak tree.” He let out a pompous sigh that shook his paunched belly and dislodged the fancy hat on his head. Next, it was the poor man in soft voice who said, “See this expanse of ground on which we stand? It is merely the foot stool on which my Father planned to display all His created goodswhite-capped mountains and green piney woods filled with creatures as slight as the ant known for its industrious deeds; and swift gazelle and stout-antlered elk beneath whose hooves grow giant redwood seeds. See above us this boundless cloud-filled sky? It is but a portal’s view for my Father and I to a city and a kingdom built from his mercies and grace: it exists beyond the limits of both time and space. Yet it is open to king or pauper there is no requirement or pedigree, if only they call out to my Father by way of Me. There is no fixed price of gold or bounty to be paid, you see, I am the gate that my Father made.” With proud head drooped in hatless display the rich man opened his mouth to say: “My riches are but rags; my possessions empty now. Thank you, my friend, for showing me how to find the Father whose wealth is eternal and kingdom complete. Come now, worthy traveler, it is me who needs to wash your feet.” 14

“It’s Not Mine: 10 Days to Living Hands-Free, Heart-Filled and in God’s Bounty” by Karon Phillips Review by Amanda Johnson Ruby for Women is proud to announce the release of Karon Phillips’ book “It’s Not Mine: 10 Days to Living Hands-Free, Heart-Filled and in God’s Bounty”! This FREE e-book is available at http://www.karonphillips.com . I am currently in the middle of this wonderful journey with Karon and I cannot thank her enough for the daily lessons and reminders to “be more” for God instead of trying to “do more”. If you’re looking for a new devotional for your own study time or for group study, Karon’s book “It’s Not Mine” would make an excellent choice! Through her conversational style of writing, Karon shares from personal experiences that life is a gift from God and with it He has given many unique talents to be used for His glory. In discovering those talents and realizing they first and foremost belong to God, readers learn how to reach beyond self and change lives by freely giving to others. The core of Karon’s 10 day journey takes readers through key areas of transformation including learning to change the mindset from “Keep to Release,” “Worry to Trust,” and “Lack to Abundance” “with one big backdrop: gratitude.” Centered around the words of Malachi 3:7 and 10, Karon illustrates that God is the greatest gift giver and when we learn that those gifts are to be surrendered back to Him, He will double His blessings on us and those we are serving. “God is saying that He has provided everything for us - and our lives work better and fill more abundantly when we simply release back to Him all He’s given us…When we choose to live our lives with “It’s not mine” as our first response, we build a habit—a soothing habit where we’re focused on God and we can live without worry, in peaceful trust that overpowers all our fears…When we see everything in our lives as a gift—and an opportunity—we see where we can participate in the lives of others, where we can be a walking, breathing conduit of God’s grace and generosity. --Karon Phillips, “It’s Not Mine” Pick up your free copy of “It’s Not Mine” and start a 10 day journey to new fulfillment and purpose in the life God has given each of us. http://www.karonphillips.com About Karon Phillips: Karon is a writer and speaker living in the beautiful Florida panhandle with not nearly enough time to spend on the beach. Addicted to words and putting them together, she's written everything from books to magazine stories and Bible studies. She's living proof that God works with the wounded. At one time in her life, she thought everything was lost, but God intervened and she's still here, knowing more gratitude and joy than ever. In her own words: "I'm as low-tech as a carbon copy, a terminal coffee-drinker and a reformed perfectionist. I'm a hit-and-miss cook, a tireless gardener, before daylight riser and slow reader. I love to work, not work out. I color my gray and always have a plan. I'm never bored and regularly amazed. I don't eat seafood, chew gum or go barefoot. I love big dogs, warm weather and authentic people. I find humor everywhere and believe everybody can teach me something. I'm an eager recycler, respectable shot and infant disciple held by the greatest God who loves and leads me without fail. I want to be generous and patient and wise, and on some days, I am. On the other days, God lets me handle stuff on my own." 15

Parents – A Gift from God by Lanette Kissel Jesus knew how to uphold the important commandment to ‘honor thy father and mother’. He felt the utmost love and respect for his mother, Mary, the virgin-child bride who had given birth to Him. He realized the road she had traveled hadn’t been an easy one. I can only imagine what a close relationship must have formed between the two. Theirs was far from the traditional mother-son relationship. They shared the secret that Jesus was only part Mary, and the other part God. That secret likely bonded them together in ways we cannot comprehend. Christ’s earthly life was centered around his duty and allegiance to His Heavenly Father. That didn’t keep Him from loving and respecting Joseph, his earthly stand-in. And He respected and adored his mother, Mary. Although His earthly mission was to be about His Father’s business, He never forgot or neglected His earthly mother and father. Our beloved Lord was in the midst of his own pain and suffering as he hung dying on the cross. Yet his concern was for his distraught mother who kneeled at the foot of his cross, beside herself with grief. He knew that his earthly existence was coming to an end. He would no longer physically be able to watch over Mary. Yet He made sure that she would be cared for and protected in His absence. From the cross, He commanded His dear disciple to take her and care for her as if she were his own mother. “Dear woman, here is your son.”… “Here is your mother.”(John 19: 26-27)NIV. In spite of His own agonizing torment, He fulfilled His obligation to secure the future of the woman who had so lovingly brought Him into the world. Had it been possible for her to do so, I believe Mary would have traded places with Jesus that fateful day. I think she would have been willing to die in her Son’s place. I believe that a parent’s love for a child most closely mirrors Christ’s amazing love for us. Jesus was willing to, and actually did, die for us. There can be no greater love than to be willing to give up life itself, which is a precious gift. A parent’s love is selfless, giving, adoring, and all-encompassing. Most parents would do whatever it takes to protect their child, even to the point of giving up their own lives, should it be necessary. That kind of love comes closest to the love the Lord has for us, His children. Parents are a physical earthly representation of our Heavenly Father. Just as the Lord loves and protects us from the heavenly realms, our parents care for us and protect us here on this earth. Parents are one of God’s beautiful gifts to us. We should view them with admiration and respect. And we should appreciate all that they are to us, as well as all they have done for us. We should remember to thank the Lord for them. 16

Create Your Own

Father’s Day Banner Card Tutorial by Vintage Mama After creating the Mother’s Day Banner (which our Grandma loved, by the way!), I thought it would be fun to create something a bit different for Father’s Day. Since making mini-collage projects has been a craft that we do frequently at our house, it just seemed like a good idea to try to create a mini-collage for each letter in the word “Father” (we are also working on one that says “Grandpa”). Not only is this banner card fun to make, it is a project that you can use up bits and pieces and tiny scraps of ribbons and other fibers, as well as solo vintage buttons and any other ephemera you might have hiding out in the back of your scrapbooking or craft drawer. In addition, it is not only a card that you can send through the mail, is can be displayed year ‘round on a mantle or shelf to remind Dad or Grandpa that they are loved and thought of often. For our Father’s Day Banner Card we chose a color combination of dark red, black, ivory, and brown with a bit of gold rick-rack to give it a little “pop” of color. We also used a few stick-on keys and watches for a masculine look. The paper is scrapbook cardstock that was purchased at Hobby Lobby in the colors we chose. Each piece of the cardstock is 6” X 6” square, but you could use any size you want. Using a square, however, provides a wider base if you want to make a stand-up banner card. Our banner card for Grandpa is going to be in shades of blue, brown, ivory, and gold with letters in either dark blue or dark brown. Probably lots of gold ribbon and rick-rack, too! Vintage gold and brown buttons will add a nice touch, and we have also found websites where we can print out vintage images of cars, or fishing stuff, or tractors (our Grandpa loves tractors!), so this will be quite an adventure finding all of the odds and ends to make our next banner card. Pull out your odds and ends of scrapbooking ephemera, a few ribbons, braids, and buttons and let’s get started making a Father’s Day Banner Card!

What you need: * Scrapbooking cardstock, 6” X 6” squares (you can cut your own to this size or use regular scrapbooking paper cut to this size and glued onto a piece of plain cardstock) * Scraps of ribbon, braid, rick-rack, paper * Vintage buttons, scrapbooking ephemera * Scissors * Glue

* Paper cutter

* Heavy books and tin foil

Let’s make it! Step 1: Begin by deciding which colors and patterns of paper you will be using. Choose twice the number of squares of cardstock that you will need for the word you want to spell (six for Father or seven for Grandpa). Step 2: Glue two pieces of cardstock, back to back, for each letter of your banner card. So, if you want to spell “Father” you will need 12 squares of cardstock and glue them together, two at a time, back to back, to finish with six squares of double thickness cardstock. Cover each square with a piece of tinfoil (to prevent sticking) and weigh down with a heavy book or two and let dry overnight. This is to prevent the cardstock from curling or buckling while it is drying and you will have a nice flat surface to work on for each letter collage. * You can also use regular scrapbook paper, cut to the right size for your banner card letters, and glue one square to either side of a piece of regular cardstock. Use the tinfoil to cover each square and weigh it down with a heavy book so that it will dry flat. Step 4: Print out the letters on plain cardstock to spell out the word for either “Father” or “Grandpa” (or even “Dad” or “Papa” or whatever special name you have in your family for your special Daddy!) You can find lots of alphabet letters at Granny Enchanted’s blog . . . . every style, every season, every color you can imagine! They are all free to print out and use for your craft and scrapbook projects, but be sure to leave a sweet comment and let her know how much you appreciate her generosity.

Step 5: Cut out the letters and prepare them to be placed on the cardstock squares: either cut them out completely or if there is a background to each letter that coordinates with your theme, cut around the background. Match each letter of the word you have chosen to one of the cardstock squares. You will want to glue each letter onto a card square before completing the rest of the embellishments.

* If you would like to create a “frame” for each letter to make it stand out better on your cardstock squares, simply glue each letter onto a solid color background and cut around the letter leaving a ¼” frame all around.

This is helpful if you have a background card square that might be too “busy” and the frame will bring out the letter so it doesn’t get “lost” in the background pattern.

After you have all of your letters prepared, it is time to line up your cardstock squares in order and glue the letters in place! * For our Father’s Day banner card, we alternated the colors, beginning with a dark red card, then a black card, then another dark red card and so on. You could use all the same color background on your card squares, or you could use a different color for each one. 19

Step 6: After you glue one letter to each cardstock square, you will again want to cover each one with tin foil and weigh it down with a heavy book or two, to be sure that it dries flat. Now it is time to begin to figure out what embellishments you want on each of your cardstock squares. * Try different combinations of braids, ribbons, rick-rack, buttons or gems, vintage pictures or other scrapbook ephemera, including chipboard shapes such as keys, or clocks, or gardening utensils, or fishing images, or anything that your Dad or Grandpa is fond of.

For the first mini-collage with the letter “F,” we made a little medallion using a strip of folded paper (simply fold accordion-style the entire length of a strip of scrapbook paper and then bring one end around to meet the other, creating a circular medallion – glue the ends together and weigh down until it dries), and then added a vintage button and four strips of narrow black ribbon. With a gold chipboard key and a black and gold tone button, this one was complete!

Our second card with the letter “A” features a bottom border created using black satin ribbon and a scrap of gold rick-rack that we found in the bottom of our scrap box. Then a vintage watch face from our scrapbooking stash was added at the upper right side of the letter, and three brown vintage buttons are lined up along the left side of the letter, with the largest button at the top, down to the smallest button on the bottom.

The letter “T” is embellished with a strip of wide black rickrack down the left side of the card and a strip of brown braid across the top, creating a little “corner” where a vintage brown button fits just perfectly! A pewter colored chipboard key stands boldly along the right side of the letter and a vintage black button adds balance to that side of the card.

For the letter “H” we cut a strip of dark red paper and glued it on the right side of the card, and glued a narrow ivory satin ribbon down the center. This made a perfect background for four vintage brown buttons. With the black and white polka dot background, and the writing behind the letter, this card really didn’t need very much more embellishment! One pewter colored watch embellishment was added to the bottom left corner of the letter to balance the design.

The letter “E” card has a bottom border of black and white stripes cut from one of the extra cards, and a narrow black satin ribbon strip was glued across the top of that border, as well as along the top of the card. A gold tone chipboard key embellishes the left side of the letter. At the lower right corner we placed a medallion cut from a piece of scrap paper, with a vintage military button in the center.

The final card with the letter “R” has old-fashioned corners cut from scraps of the dark red paper, a strip of wide black rick-rack down the left side of the letter, a pewter colored chipboard key along the bottom of the letter, and a medallion cut from another piece of scrapbook paper that says “Journey.” A vintage black and rhinestone button finishes this last card just perfectly!

Step 7: When you complete the embellishments on each card, it is important that you allow them all to dry overnight. I have found that the best way to dry your cards with the most successful outcome is to place each card between layers of tin foil and weight it down with a heavy book or two. Even if you have a few embellishments that are threedimensional such as buttons or chipboard shapes, a heavy book will weigh it down while it is drying so that it stay more securely in place. 21

Step 8: After all your card squares are embellished and thoroughly dry, it is time to connect them together to make a banner. Begin by punching three holes in the RIGHT side of the first card (do not punch holes in the LEFT side of the first card) using a single-hole punch. Measure the length of the side of the card and divide it evenly so that your three holes are the same distance apart.

For instance, if your cards are 6” X 6”, the top hole would be approximately ½” from the top, the middle hole would be at exactly 3” from top and bottom, and the bottom hole would be ½” from the bottom, so that each hole is 2 ½” apart. Then, punch three holes in BOTH sides of the remaining middle card squares, leaving the last card square with holes punched in ONLY the LEFT side. Measure each row of holes to match the card to which it will be connected. Step 9: After all the cards have three holes punched along the sides, you can begin to lace them together with ribbon, twine, or yarn. We used a fuzzy fiber yarn in shades of brown, ivory, gray and black to coordinate with the colors of the cards. Pull one end of the ribbon or yarn through from the back of the top hole on both cards. Tie a double-knot, making sure that the cards do not overlap (or the banner will not stand up correctly).

You will want to tie the ribbon or yarn tight enough to hold the cards side-by-side, but not so tight that they overlap. Continue tying ribbon or yarn through each set of holes, connecting one card to the other, until you have them all connected.

When you have them all connected you can trim any excess length from the ribbon or yarn if you want to.

Stand your banner card on a mantle, creating a little zigzag design or you can also stand the banner card in a semi-circle.

This beautiful card can be easily mailed in a padded envelope or a hand-crafted box envelope. Because of the thickness of this card, it cannot be mailed in a regular envelope but if you visit me at mamas*little*treasures, there will be a tutorial posted very soon to show you how to create a handcrafted envelope box from lightweight cardboard and more scrapbook paper . . . . you can even make the envelope to match the card! Visit mamas*little*treasures at www.mamaslittletreasures.com Copyright 2012 by Vintage Mama’s Cottage© for RUBY!© This tutorial can be used to make craft items for personal use or to be sold for commercial purposes. No part of this tutorial can be reproduced, reprinted, or redistributed without permission of the author. Contact Vintage Mama’s Cottage© by RUBY!© by emailing us at info@rubyforwomen.com for more information about tutorials for this and other crafts, as well as craft kits for the celebration banner cards, and custom-made celebration banner cards from Vintage Mama’s Cottage© by RUBY!©

Visit mamas*little*treasures© to find craft tutorials from Vintage Mama’s Cottage© by RUBY! ©. www.mamaslittletreasures.com NEW from Vintage Mama’s Cottage© by RUBY! © CELEBRATION BANNER CARD CRAFT KITS

Make your own beautiful, handcrafted banner cards for any special occasion with a CELEBRATION BANNER CARD CRAFT KIT from Vintage Mama’s Cottage© by RUBY!© only at mamas*little*treasures© 24

Daily devotions for every day of the month from Kristi Burchfiel JUNE 1 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 31:10 – . . . and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.” TRUTH: The people were being obedient to the Lord and sharing what they had with the priests. God blessed that and everyone had enough. When we trust God with what we have and are willing to share with others as God leads, God takes care of both. Are we giving and sharing what we have as God directs. RESPONSE: Father, You are the keeper of all things and the provider of all. You bless us as we bless others through our gifts and our giving.

JUNE 2 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 32:20–King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. TRUTH: They were under attack and instead of Hezekiah praying on his own, he gets together with Isaiah and they pray. Do we pray together with others? When we encounter difficulties do we enlist the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ? We must be careful that we don’t become so proud that we refuse to ask for prayer from others. We are stronger as we come together. RESPONSE: Father, You are amazing. You hear me as I come to You with my needs and concerns, but You also bless me as I share together with others in prayer. You bless me as I humble myself before You and that includes as I bring my needs to other believers and don’t try to go through them on my own. 25

JUNE 3 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 33:10–The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. TRUTH: How often would this sentence describe us? The Lord desires that we have a relationship with Him, but sometimes we just try to ignore God and give Him the silent treatment. With Manasseh, eventually God stopped trying to talk to Him and just brought judgment. Then through captivity Manasseh started to listen to God. When we don’t pay attention to God, what will it take for God to get our attention? RESPONSE: Father, I will pay attention to You, I will listen to Your voice and obey Your commands. I will choose today to not be guilty of ignoring You.

JUNE 4 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 34:19–When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. TRUTH: King Josiah was confronted with the words of God and the laws that God had given. He immediately realized how woefully short he had fallen of God’s commands; how sinful he and his entire nation had been. He was immediately repentant and immediately recognized the seriousness of his actions. When we are confronted with our sin, are we repentant, or do we try to hide it or justify it? God knows what we have done. How are we going to respond? RESPONSE: Father, I pray You will forgive me. I humble myself before You and I beg You to hear my cries of repentance before You. I pray You will restore me as I turn and look to You.

JUNE 5 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 35:27–all the events, from beginning to end are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. TRUTH: If someone were to write the story of our life, what would be found there in the pages? Would we be listed as a person who sought God? Whether our lives are being actively recorded by pen and paper or not, we must realize that God keeps a record of our life. What will be included and will it show dedication and obedience to Him? RESPONSE: Father, I praise You and lift You up. You see all things and know the entire story of my life and You love me anyway. I will praise You for all You do and all You have forgiven in my life. 26

JUNE 6 VERSE: 2 Chronicles 36:21–The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah. TRUTH: The disobedience of the people of Israel even affected the land they were on. Because they were disobedient to God, they had not taken care of the land the way God had told them to. As a result, when the people were overthrown and deported, it allowed the land to be able to rest as God had intended. God cares for all of His creation and He has asked us to care for it as well. Are we being obedient to Him in how we treat all of His creation? RESPONSE: Father, You have made such a wonderful creation for us to enjoy. Help me to care about all Your creation as much as You do.

JUNE 7 VERSE: 1 Peter 1:25–but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was preached to you. TRUTH: Of all the things that we possess, only one thing will last forever: God’s word. Knowing that God’s word is above all and over all, are we clinging to it as the only thing that will endure through the ages? God gave His word to us. He allowed us to hear the power and message of His word. Are we listening to it? RESPONSE: Father, Your word is holy just as You are holy and You have given it to us. I pray that I will cling to Your word today as the only thing which will bring me through the day. Your word is the word of life.

JUNE 8 VERSE: 1 Peter 2:2–Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. TRUTH: There is nothing so incessant as a newborn baby’s desire to be fed. They are single-minded in their focus and desire; nothing else will satisfy. Are we that desirous of God’s word? Only through His word will we be nourished and grow up in Him. We must kindle afresh our passion for the Word of God, the spiritual milk by which we are fed. RESPONSE: Father, You are my everything and yet I don’t always trust You like that. I confess I’ve not always been passionate about You and Your Word. I will go back and rekindle my longing for You as only You satisfy my every need.

JUNE 9 VERSE: 1 Peter 3:15–But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. TRUTH: As believers in Christ, we will be asked questions often by non-believers who are watching us. Why do we believe? How can we keep going after something terrible happens? Why do we seem to have hope in hopeless situations? We are to have an answer for them to explain the hope we have. Our answer is to be gentle and respectful, but it is still to be there and is to point them to Jesus Christ who gives us hope. Do we give God the credit for all He’s doing in our life when we are asked? RESPONSE: Father, You have helped me moment by moment through countless situations. You continue to provide me with all I need and I will share with others who ask that You are the only reason I can do anything. All I do is to point others to You.

JUNE 10 VERSE: 1 Peter 4:4–They are surprised that you do not join then in their reckless wild living and they heap abuse on you. TRUTH: Non-believers do not understand our commitment to God. They don’t understand our desire to be obedient to what God tells us and as a result, they make fun of us and are mean to us. When we evaluate our relationships with non-Christians, do they see us as different? Do they recognize that we do not do all the things that they do? Regardless of their response to us, we are to commit ourselves to Christ and follow Him. RESPONSE: Father, I will care only about Your response to me, not the world’s response. They will see me as different because I follow You.

JUNE 11 VERSE: 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. TRUTH: We are to make a conscious choice to give our worries and troubles to God. It does not come easily or naturally to choose to allow Him to carry these burdens. However, God loves us and cares for us. We can trust Him with our troubles and anxieties. Today, we can choose to turn over to Him all that is weighing us down. We can then choose to trust Him to do what is best in each of those worrisome situations. RESPONSE: Father, You are the one who can handle every burden I have. I give them to You and will trust You to You know what is best in each and every situation. 28

JUNE 12 VERSE: 2 Peter 1:3–His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. TRUTH: How can we possible live a godly life? We live it through Jesus as He has given us everything we need to live the life that pleases Him. We are never lacking in anything that we need to be obedient to Him; He has provided it all. Are we living each day through our own power? Do we focus on His glory and goodness or on our own? Only through Him do we have everything we need. RESPONSE: Father, You have all the power and You have graciously given me everything I need to make it through each day. I don’t have to look for anything else or to anyone else; You give all I need. I will trust in You and rely on You in every situation and circumstance.

JUNE 13 VERSE: 2 Peter 2:9 – if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the Godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. TRUTH: Sometimes, as we look around us at the world we live in, the world seems to be out of control. It feels like believers are punished and the ungodly get away with their evil. Yet Peter shares with them that if they will look back throughout history, they will see how God has protected those who believe in Him and He has judged the evil ones. We can trust that He is over all things even in our time and He will set all things right at the proper time. Evil will be judged and righteousness will be rewarded. We can trust in that. RESPONSE: Father, I praise You and I will trust that You know what is best. You see the righteous and evil people and You know all of our deeds. You are faithful and I will trust You to put everything right in Your time.

JUNE 14 VERSE: 2 Peter 3:9–The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. TRUTH: God has promised to return and to put right all things, so many people wonder why He’s not done that yet. The answer: He is being patient and waiting to allow everyone to come to Him and repent. He does not desire that anyone would be found in that day without the saving grace of Jesus Christ, so He waits. He gives us opportunities to share and others opportunities to accept. Are we taking advantage of the time He’s giving us to share with everyone before His return? RESPONSE: Father, You are patient and You are just. You desire that everyone would be ale to come to You, but You will not force them, only wait and provide opportunities. Father, use me as an opportunity for others to hear about You and know You. 29

JUNE 15 VERSE: Ezekiel 1:12–Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. TRUTH: This first chapter is a vision that Ezekiel has of God and His glory. Part of this vision shows how God moves. God moves straight ahead and goes exactly in sync with His Spirit. They move together as one and the same because they are one and the same. This same Spirit God bestows on us who follow Him. If we will listen to and obey the Spirit, then we too will be found moving together in sync with all God has planned. Are we allowing the Spirit to direct our moves? RESPONSE: Father, You have a plan that is perfect and wonderful. You will is exactly what I want to do. I will love and obey You and I will surrender to Your Spirit so that everything I do will be in sync with all You desire.

JUNE 16 VERSE: Ezekiel 2:7–You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. TRUTH: God called Ezekiel and all He asked of him was to be obedient to say all that God told him to say. Sometimes we get nervous or worried about how people are going to respond to the message of God. Instead, we must be focused on our own obedience to do and say everything that God has for us to do and say. Are we being obedient to Him? RESPONSE: Father, You are God and You are the One who is in charge of the results of sharing Your word. I will not be afraid to share Your word with others today, but will focus on being obedient to simply share as You direct me.

JUNE 17 VERSE: Ezekiel 3:18–”When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sins, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.” TRUTH: God, speaking here, reminds us that He will judge evil. People can talk about God’s love, which is abundant, but God is also just and righteous. He will judge evil. Plus, He will hold us accountable for warning people about God’s judgment. We cannot turn our backs in apathy toward our fellow man and leave them in their sin without warning them. We are to share with them the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ because we are accountable to God for sharing His message of salvation with those in need. We are not responsible for the people’s response, as mentioned in the next verse, but we are responsible to share. RESPONSE: Father, I pray for Your forgiveness for my attitude of apathy. You desire to save the people who turn to You. I desire the same passion for people that You have. Please help me to surrender in Your Spirit and speak Your words to everyone I am around who needs to hear from Your word and know of Your forgiveness. 30

JUNE 18 VERSE: Ezekiel 4:17– for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin. TRUTH: Ezekiel was showing the people an example of the impending judgment God was bringing because of their sin. Sin has consequences and it affects every part of our life including how we view each other. This view of sin is important because people are often hard-pressed to recognize the impact sin has on their lives. Never underestimate the destructive power of even the smallest sin. Instead, come to God in repentance. RESPONSE: Father, I pray You will help me see the impact my wrongs have on my life and the lives of others. Please help me to turn to You and repent so that it is Your mercy that is impacting my life and not my sin.

JUNE 19 VERSE: Ezekiel 5:14–I will make you a ruin and a reproach among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. TRUTH: The people had sinned and had refused to repent. Therefore, God was going to bring judgment on them so that everyone around the world would recognize who God is and would turn to Him. God wants to use us to show His glory to others and He would prefer to do that by blessing our obedience. However, if we are disobedient and refuse to repent, He will still make His name known and show His holiness through the defense of His name and judgment of sin. What type of example do we want to be to others? How will God use us to show His glory? RESPONSE: Father, I desire to be obedient and to repent when I stumble. I want to be an example to others of what You desire, not a warning of the consequences of sin.

JUNE 20 VERSE: Ezekiel 6:10–And they will know that I am the Lord; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them. TRUTH: The people had been warned that their sin would have dire consequences. God promised to bring those about. Do we believe that God will do what He has promised to do? That includes the good and the bad. If we do not turn from our evil, He will destroy us. People get distracted by the fact that the consequences often don’t occur immediately, but we must not ever forget that God will do what He’s promised to do in His time. Are we repentant and following Him? RESPONSE: Father, You sent Jesus Christ to pay the price for the evil I have done, but not everyone has accepted that gift of salvation. I know You are faithful to do all You’ve promised and I pray for courage to share the truth with those who need it before it is too late because You will bring about judgment for sin in Your time. 31

JUNE 21 VERSE: Ezekiel 7:25 – When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain. TRUTH: God’s judgment was coming to the people and He wanted to give them an idea of what it would be like so they would repent and seek to avoid it. This verse sums up all that God says about what the judgment would entail. There is terror coming and the people will seek peace and not be able to find it. God is our source of peace. If we are seeking peace in anything else, then we are seeking it in vain. We must turn to Him if we are to understand and experience true peace. RESPONSE: Father, I will seek You for You are the giver of peace. You turn the chaos of life into peace and I will seek You and You only in the midst of my chaos. I will repent and turn to You because I need You in my life.

JUNE 22 VERSE: Ezekiel 8:12–He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” TRUTH: God showed Ezekiel a vision and in it, He told Ezekiel all about the evil practices the people of Israel were doing in secret where they thought God wouldn’t see. God revealed to Ezekiel that nothing is done in secret. God sees everything and knows everything. We cannot get away with sin through secrecy. Are we trying to hide actions from God? He sees and knows what we are doing and calls us to repent and follow Him. RESPONSE: Father, You have not forsaken us. You see me and know what I do, even when no one else is around. You love me and You desire that I follow You even when no one is looking. I will not think I can hide my actions from You but will seek to obey You in every circumstance of my life.

JUNE 23 VERSE: Ezekiel 9:10 – So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done. TRUTH: When dealing with sin and evil, God cannot be something other than what He is. God is righteous and just. He is holy and pure. He cannot tolerate sin and He makes it clear here that He is going to allow people to experience the full consequences of the sin they have done. Are we repentant to God or are we prepared to receive the full consequences of the wrongs that we have done? RESPONSE: Father, You are holy. Without our repentance from the sins we’ve done, You are left with no alternative but judgment. I pray You will hold off on You judgment a little longer so that more people will recognize the need for forgiveness and will repent and come to You. 32

JUNE 24 VERSE: Ezekiel 10:4–Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord. TRUTH: God’s glory fills up every single part of the place where it is. This includes our lives, too. If we are asking for the glory of the Lord to fill our life, then we will see it in every single part of our life. Are we allowing the glory of God to fill us and be seen in everything that we do? RESPONSE: Father, Your glory is amazing! Your glory touches all and You desire to fill my life with Your glory. I surrender my whole life to You and I desire Your glory to be seen in every area of my life.

JUNE 25 VERSE: Ezekiel 11:19–I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. TRUTH: The Lord, speaking to Ezekiel, tells him that even with the judgment that He is bringing on Israel, God will not completely destroy them. God will restore the remnant of people who turn back to Him. God then states in this verse that He will give them a new heart. He will take the old, hard heart and replace it with a new, soft heart that is capable of being moved and prompted by the Spirit of God. Are we following God and being moved and impressed upon by Him? Do we have a heart of stone or have we allowed Him to give us a heart of flesh? RESPONSE: Father, I want to be moved and touched by the things that move and touch You. I desire Your heart in all things. Remove any remaining part of my heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh!

JUNE 26 VERSE: Ezekiel 12:2–Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. TRUTH: What does it mean to be rebellious? Being rebellious means you know what it is that you should be doing but you choose not to do it. The people saw and heard what they should be doing to follow God, but they chose to do something different. Are we seeing and hearing God’s plan for us? Do we obey it or choose to ignore it in rebellion to Him? RESPONSE: Father, You have given eyes to see and ears to hear, so that I will know Your will in my life. Forgive me for my rebellious attitude and help me to follow through with obedience to all You show and tell me to do. 33

JUNE 27 VERSE: Ezekiel 13:10a–Because they lead my people astray saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace. TRUTH: The Lord is condemning the false prophets who have been spreading lies among the people of Israel. They have told the people that everything is fine and there are no issues or problem, when in fact the people have been disobedient to God. Are we honest with people about what God says or do we just tell them what they want to hear? RESPONSE: Father, I want to deliver Your word and message to the people You send me to. I want to speak only the words that You have for me, so that others will hear and turn to You.

JUNE 28 VERSE: Ezekiel 14:5–I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols. TRUTH: God does not sit idly by when His people run after other things. God seeks to do whatever is needed to recapture the hearts of His people. Have we strayed from Him? He is working to bring us back to Him. We must recognize His efforts and turn back to Him. RESPONSE: Father, I love how You chase after me when I stray. Thank You for Your love and for seeking me and looking to reclaim my love and devotion. I will give You my heart forever and for always.

JUNE 29 VERSE: Ezekiel 15:8–I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Lord. TRUTH: Ezekiel tells the people that when they are disobedient to God, they are utterly useless and good for nothing. As a result, God will judge and everything that they have will be destroyed and left desolate. When we are disobedient, our lives are left desolate and barren. We need to repent and return to God in order for Him to cleanse us and bring about new life in our life. RESPONSE: Father, You are the only one who takes the lifelessness of my life and creates new life. I will surrender my life to You and allow You to make something beautiful out of my life.

JUNE 30 VERSE: Ezekiel 16:60â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. TRUTH: God does not forget His promises to us. He sees what we do and knows our thoughts, and He loves us anyway and claims us as His own. He paid the price for our wrongs and we are only to accept His gift to receive that forgiveness. Still, since He established the covenant, He is the one to follow through and keep it. The Lord remembers us and will always come through for us in everything that He has promised. RESPONSE: Father, Your covenant is amazing and You are faithful to it. You will follow through on all that You have promised, even when I slip and fall into disobedience. I repent and turn to You. I will seek You in everything, knowing that You will be over all things, even me.

Meet Kristi Burchfiel The reason I write is to help people not just to understand the truths in the Bible, but to actually apply them to their daily life. I have two styles of books. The daily devotional series of books are designed to be brief and focused on just one truth from scripture that a person can easily remember and hold to for that day along with a response back to God committing to applying that truth. Currently there are 6 books available in that series going through various books from the Old and New Testament. The two Bible studies, Without Regrets and The Decay Within, are designed to be more indepth through a specific book of the Bible. Those go verse by verse and cover the historical background in which the book was written and then how God intends for us to apply those truths in our lives today. Visit Kristi on her blog at www.kristiburchfiel.com for more information about her books. Without Regrets is a 12-session book going through Ecclesiastes and discusses our priorities and focus in life. The Decay Within is a 10-session book going though Amos and deals with the issue of repentance.

Devotional and Bible Study Books by Kristi Burchfiel

For more information about the devotional and Bible study books by Kristi Burchfiel, please visit her blog at www.kristiburchfiel.com 35

Without Regrets If only . . . Each person alive could complete that thought with any number of phrases expressing sorrow, lost wishes, and faded dreams. In a word: regrets. But, are regrets inevitable? Without Regrets: A Study of Ecclesiastes meets this question head on. This study aims to help readers understand the basic principles found in the Bible for recognizing actions and attitudes that lead to regrets, while learning through examples from the life of Solomon. The practical explanations and examples make this study simple enough for a beginner, yet the profound truths will be challenging for even the season Bible scholar. What does it take to live a life Without Regrets? Join author Kristi Burchfiel as she guides you through the book of Ecclesiastes to seek out the answer.

The Decay Within Are you decaying from the inside out? When others look at your life, what do they see? Someone who seems to have it all together with the perfect clothes, the perfect kids, and the perfect marriage? But what’s behind that perfect façade? Who are you on the inside? We may look like we have it all together, when, in reality, we’re rotting away like the bones inside a beautifully decorated tomb. God sent Amos to give the people of Israel a message of judgment and destruction. They looked like they had it all together, but their focus was on the pleasures of this world. In this Bible study, the reader will work through the words of Amos as he pleads with the people of Israel to replace their decaying foundation with one that is living, fresh, and whole. Amos’s words will resonate with 21st-century readers who encounter the same challenges in new forms. Are you tired of acting like you have it all together when inside you’re falling apart? Join author Kristi Burchfiel as she guides you through a study on how to experience abundant life and drive out The Decay Within.

The Daily Devotional Series

Does a cup of coffee or an energy drink typically start your day? While that may wake you up physically, what are you doing each day to wake up spiritually? How do you find time in your busy, hectic schedule to focus on truth from God’s word? The Daily Devotional Series is designed provide each day with a quick and simple devotional that can be read in less than 5 minutes. However, it focuses on one truth from the Bible that a person can take with them, think about, and apply all day long. Each devotional includes the verse from the Bible, a truth from that verse, and a response to pray back to God. www.kristiburchfiel.com 36

Wild Flowers!!! In the Garden with Aunt Dots by Dorothy Kurchak

Well, they were considered wild until I brought them to my garden. There are many more than I can name here that grow in the surrounding woods. In May there are so many Trillium that there is hardly room to place your foot to avoid stepping on one. Trillium are considered to be an endangered species, but in my area that seems unfounded.

The Helleborine is a new wild flower that appeared last summer. It’s in the Orchid family. It came up under the evergreen trees behind my porch garden. Later I looked under the trees and found several others. It is very similar to the foxglove. It’s amazing that all of a sudden a wild flower from God’s nursery will show up in my garden.

The large flowered Bellwort of the Lily family is another wild flower that appeared by the old grainery. It has since multiplied several times and I’ve planted them in various places.

The Yellow Star appears here and there and isn’t very numerous. I transplanted a couple to the back yard near the little house but they aren’t there this spring. The garden by the little house is a problem because it’s dry, sandy and partially shady. It’s also difficult to water as it’s a long way from the well.

I’ll have to give that garden more attention this year as I would like that corner of the back yard to be more attractive. Visitors like the little house as I have dolls inside and a rack on the wall to dry flowers.

I’ll be taking part in a local garden walk again this year. I’m flattered that I was asked again as they wanted new gardens to show this year and I participated last year. I was told my home and yard got very favorable comments. Those who participate in the walk were offered a discount on annuals. The niece of the organizer owns a nursery. How convenient! My friend, Carol, has volunteered to help me get ready for the walk. Carol has a fabulous home and garden. Her garden is so beautiful that it has been used for weddings! I’ll feature her place next month. Maybe I’ll even get a picture of a bride! Within our church a friend and I have planned a garden walk. We have six volunteers so far, which is more than I anticipated. We’ll have it in August so we have lots of time to organize. Today is bread baking day. I love the smell of baking bread, and I also love to eat it! Remember the real Bread of Life and digest a portion every day.

Love in Christ, Aunt Dots 38

Disconnect Four Symbol Puzzle by Beth Brubaker

Answer key on page 95

www.katherinescorner.com 39

Ask Beth by Beth Brubaker Dear Beth, We can't afford a big vacation, and we're tired of 'staycations'- we want to be out of the house! Do you have any ideas?

- Antsy Nancy

Dear Antsy, Have you considered doing day/overnight trips or camping weekends? Campsites are often cheap (depending on the amenities like showers and bathroom facilities), and if you can take a day or two off before the weekend, the rates drop a lot! Take books on the local flora and fauna so the kids can do 'nature scavenger hunts' (to see who can identify something first, find the most leaves, etc.)- just make sure it's something fun for their age level. If you play a portable instrument, bring it with you along with some songs! Take a cooler and ice packs and a few pans and utensils with you and you can cook over a campfire don't forget the marshmallows! If camping isn't your thing, try planning day or overnight trips. Go to your favorite search engine and look for places to stop within a half a day like parks, sight-seeing or shops, or plan an overnight trip that will last a night or two. Better yet- if you have a friend or a relative you haven't visited in ages because they're â&#x20AC;&#x153;just a little too far,â&#x20AC;? go out for a visit! You can even save a little money if they have space for you to stay the night - just bring your sleeping bags in case that space is on the floor! The most important thing is to plan. You can make that plan as loosely or as loaded as you wish, but at least make an outline of where you want to go and about how long it will take to get there. Don't forget to give yourself a little extra time to meander in a new area if you like exploring - some of the best places can be found just by asking the locals! If you have little ones on a long trip, plan on making several rest stops for the bathroom and for playing as a family. Take a Frisbee, a ball, a kite - something to use up some of that kid energy so they settle in when you're back on the road. There are even printables out there for road bingo! Just remember that this is supposed to be fun and relaxing! If there's just too much to do during one trip, you can always break it up into two or more trips - that way things can stay interesting for everyone!

Have fun! Beth 40

Mini Strawberry Trifle from the kitchen of Katherine’s Corner You may have noticed a new crop of fresh berries at your market lately. I buy fresh strawberries every time I go to the market. But soon they will be coming straight to our table from our garden! I eat a lot of strawberries (a lot!). This light and fresh dessert is a lovely way to end a wonderful meal especially on a warm day. I make this one with little sugar and lactose free. But you can use “real” sugar and “real” whipped topping for yours. I sometimes have a bit of difficulty determining the “exact” ingredient amounts. But if you have left overs of these yummy ingredients it just means you can make even more desserts Serve this yumminess right after you make it, fresh is best! What You Need • 3 pints fresh strawberries give or take (reserving a few for garnish) – if not available okay to use frozen • 3 cups angel food cake (from your kitchen or favorite bakery) sugar free is available at my market • 2 Tbsp. sugar or sugar substitute (I use Splenda) • 3 cups whipped topping (I use nondairy) • 1/2 tsp. Mint extract • Spring of fresh mint for garnish (optional) • Bowl • Whisk • 4 serving bowls • Food processor (or blender) Before you start - place your serving bowls / dishes into the freezer to chill for about 20 minutes. Tear the angel food cake into bite sized pieces. Let’s make it! Pulse strawberries in your food processor with a tablespoon of cold water until they reach the consistency you prefer (I like mine with bigger pieces mixed in) In a bowl whisk together whipped topping, sugar (sugar substitute) and mint extract. Line up your serving dishes (assembly line style) Layer a spoonful of whipped topping mixture into your serving dishes, then a layer of strawberry puree, then a layer of angel food cake. Repeat. Top with remaining whipped topping. Garnish with a fresh piece of strawberry and mint leaves if you desire. Serves 4 **Katie’s Tid Bits* try this dessert using raspberries or blackberries too. You can omit the mint from this recipe and it tastes great too! 41

Pretty Little Giveaway at Katherine’s Corner www.katherinescorner.com

This month’s giveaway is all about pretty little things. I’ve purchased a few things for this giveaway that I think will make you smile. Kelly from Arcadian Designs is generously contributing a perfume sample pack from her Etsy shop, too! Entering is easy, log into the entry form using your email address or Facebook and click on the first entry on the Rafflecopter form and confirm you are a follower of Katherine’s Corner. Or become a new follower. Remember to list how you follow in the section of the entry form. Any other entries you choose to enter are all optional additional entries. Open to all over the age 18 ends June 25th. Good Luck! 42

Avoiding the Summer Blues by Heather King Summer break is almost here and I’m determined to be ready for it. It’s a time for rest, relaxation, fun, family and, all too often, boredom! This year, I’ve decided to go on the offensive against the summer chorus of “I’m bored” from my children. It’s not even just boredom that’s the problem--it’s the sibling fights and rowdiness that occur as the result of boredom on difficult days. Summer can be one of the best opportunities to direct our children’s curiosity and encourage exploration and the development of their gifts and talents. That can only happen, though, if we can make these summer days count.

Summer can be one of the best opportunities to direct our children’s curiosity and encourage exploration and the development of their gifts and talents. That can only happen, though, if we can make these summer days count.

To be clear, I adore having my children home in the summer. I’m not a mom who cries when summer vacation begins and dances with glee when the school bus pulls up the first morning in the fall. But, I’m also a mom who likes to see my kids learning and not entertained by electronic media all day and I’m a mom who enjoys a peaceful home without bickering and necessary punishments. So, when my girls emerge one-by-one from their beds on summer mornings, wrapped in their snuggly blankets and still in their pajamas, they’ll get to have a few pajama days and stay-at-home-and-relax mornings. Most days, though, they’ll be pointed to the refrigerator where our summer checklist hangs. Things to do before computer or television: •

Clean up breakfast dishes.

•

Get dressed, brush teeth and hair.

•

Put away blankets and tidy room.

•

Read book(s)

•

Write in journal.

•

Do math—workbook, facts sheets, or math computer game.

•

Practice piano.

•

Read Bible. 43

They might whine a little (“I shouldn’t have to wear clothes if I’m not going to school”), but not too much. My girls actually love to read, draw and write, so pretty soon they are busy and happy and even my youngest daughter can grab some books for some quiet time like the “big girls.” With the morning tasks done, they also have plenty of free time to spend as they choose in the afternoons. Now, most of these tasks are not new to my daughters. Even during the school year, we do things like piano practice, reading, and Bible time every day, but always after school. And some days, I’ll admit it, we’re too busy during the school year to fit it all in. So, by starting the days in the summer this way we keep our evenings stress free and we can enjoy the summer nights without a hassle. Over the summer, I also allow them to try out an occasional camp or class that they’ve never done before, such as soccer, gymnastics or sewing. These are things we don’t have time for in our usual school year busyness. Then, we try to take a field trip at least once a week in the summer. Sometimes I’ll splurge and visit a museum or the aquarium or zoo, where we have to pay an admittance fee. Many times, though, free activities at the library, local parks, and historical sites keep us fairly busy without costing us any money. Our library also runs the Bookmobile in the summer, driving the library truck to local schools once a week. For some reason, there’s something so exciting about picking a book from the library truck! In the summer evenings, we go about twice a month to a free outdoor concert in our area. These usually take place in parks or, in our case, along the beach. These concerts are my very favorite family activities, watching the girls dance to the music, listening to the orchestra play maybe Big Band jazz and maybe swing or maybe classical music. As we drive home, I ask the girls to describe their favorite song or favorite instrument and we talk about what styles of music they like the best. My oldest daughter once announced, “It’s like home school!” In a small way it is. We don’t pack in the full curriculum and we can’t keep this up all year as homeschoolers do. But, this “summer schooling” is for all families--with kids in public school and private schools just as much as homeschoolers.

It’s a way to have a schedule, encourage the kids to learn all the time, refresh and review what they learned the previous year in school, discover new interests, and spend time exploring the community together.

Design your own Summer Calendars from Over the Big Moon

For more FREE printable charts for summer fun and chores, please visit Over the Big Moon at www.overthebigmoon.com For more information and ideas on eco-friendly summer fun and chores for your kids, please visit www.postconsumers.com

On My Side of the Tracks by Gloria Doty The February, 1946, issue of National Geographic states that 1946 marked the 100th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s service to the American people. While that was an interesting anniversary, it meant nothing to me. I was born in 1946, so the ‘Pennsy’ had been around for 100 years before I was. Shortly after my birth, however, it began to mean something to me. My family lived on a small seven-acre farm in Northeastern Indiana, west of Monroeville and east of Fort Wayne. The seven acres formed a triangle with gravel roads on two sides and the railroad tracks making the third side, crossing both roads. I learned later it was the New York to Chicago route and it cut right through my backyard. I have many recollections of the trains; some humorous, some sad, but all are etched in my memory. The ‘bums’ as they were known then, would occasionally knock on the back door and ask my mother if she had any work for them. She never asked them to do anything, but she always fixed them a sandwich and gave them a glass of cold water. I would stand on the back porch, peering through the wooden screen door and watch them as they sat on the cistern cover to eat their sandwich. I wanted to know all about their lives, but I wasn’t allowed to talk to them. They seemed to appear out of nowhere and as quickly as they came, they were gone again, walking along the tracks until another freight train rolled by. Our orchard bordered the tracks. One particularly dry summer, a passing train set the grass at the edge of the orchard on fire. My mother, older sister and grandmother ran a bucket brigade from the well to the fire. I was too little to carry a bucket of water, so my job was to keep the buckets filled. The fire was extinguished and I remember when my father came home from working in town, he said a hot brake box probably caused it. I had no idea what that was, but it certainly caused a lot of excitement on an otherwise boring summer day. My mother had the timing of the freight trains down to a science. She knew when to hang her newly washed white sheets on the line to dry, so the soot from the smoke would not fall on them. Once in a while, the train was ahead of schedule and we would all scramble to grab those sheets before it passed by. When I was outside and a train went past, I would wave so hard my arm almost flew off. The engineers always waved back and sometimes the men in the caboose did, too. 47

I was fascinated by the people who looked out the windows of the passenger cars, especially the ones in the dining car. I wanted to know where they were going and where they had come from. One day, as I walked along the tracks with my father, I found a small sauce dish that had been used in the dining car. It had no cracks or chips. It was pink and cream-colored and bore the logo of the Pennsylvania Railroad. I was ecstatic. You would have thought it was made of gold. I insisted on having my food served in it, of course. When my cousin stayed overnight, she said the trains kept her awake. I thought that was funny, because I didn’t even hear them when I went to bed. I probably learned to count by counting the cars on the lumbering freight trains. I still count the cars if I am waiting at a crossing. I remember the day that a young man on a tractor didn’t heed the whistle of an oncoming train and was hit and killed at our crossing. My dog, Queenie, was also hit by a passing train. Even though those were sad events, nothing curbed my love of the trains. I live in town now, but I can hear the trains as they pass through. As a baby, I fell asleep to the lullaby of those train whistles and I have never lost my love of hearing them.

My Love to You Always An Anthology of Love Stories Jennifer Wessner, Compiler Ramona Tucker, Editor Contributing author, Gloria Doty of Ruby for Women Forever love . . . . when did you fall in love? And when did you know that love would be a lasting one - celebrating life's joyous moments and walking together, hand-in-hand, through challenging times? Or are you still longing for that person to come into your life, as a side-by-side companion? Experience "my love to you always" kind of love through 42 of the sweetest, real-life love stories collected from across the globe. They're guaranteed to make you misty eyed and renew your faith in the power of enduring love. Don't miss My Love to You Always: 42 real love stories guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. Purchase My Love to You Always from Ruby’s Reading Corner, and for more great romances, go to www.oaktara.com 48

The Early Years by Keith Wallis The poems in this omnibus were written quite a while back. Whilst fairly contemporary at the time, some may well have been written differently today. However, some still remain firm favourites in the author's portfolio. “Coaled” (in Marketplace of Masks) found a new lease of life as a short story (“Clive's Journey”) published by Bewildering Stories (issue 333). Read more: http://wordsculptureskeith.blogspot.com/p/earlyyears.html#ixzz2UywCNQDr 52

By Still Waters by Keith Wallis A celebration of life; poems and associated photographs of faith and experience. The light touch of a poet rejoicing in creation. Read more: http://wordsculptureskeith.blogspot.com/p/by-still-waters.html

In Moments like These by Keith Wallis This is a personal journey through the events and responsibilities of Easter . . . This sequence of poems and pictures might be offered as a reflection on the events of Holy Week and the range of emotions which is common to us all.â&#x20AC;? Read more: http://wordsculptureskeith.blogspot.com/p/in-moments-likethese.html#ixzz2UyzBQdqE

Exercise Profits Nothing – At Least Not The Way You Think… by Deborah McCarragher It’s swimsuit season, and you know what that means… There’s just no way to avoid it. It blares loudly on the TV, broadcasts over the radio, and pops up repeatedly on the internet. Everywhere you turn there are gadgets to help you get fit and trim, companies trying to sell you another exercise or diet plan, and various programs extolling the virtues of the latest workout routine. I was listening to a pastor’s message on the Christian radio station in my area, and heard a familiar verse that some have used in a humorous way. But as I listened to his sermon, I began to hear and understand it in a whole new light. I Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Another translation puts it this way: "...physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things ..." A brisk walk lowers blood pressure, your cholesterol, and reduces stress on the body. Engaging in some form of regular physical exercise will generally add years to your lifespan. Exercise helps to reduce harmful chemicals in our bodies, and provides a form of abreaction (letting off steam), builds up stamina, counteracts the biochemical effects of stress, and reduces the risk of psychological illness. As Christians, we house the Holy Spirit, and our temple needs to be strong and fit. Health and fitness are godly goals when they are balanced with common sense and right priority. In biblical times, physical exercise was not touted as necessary because people living in that time period generally walked everywhere and performed manual labor on a routine basis. Their diet consisted primarily of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, sheep & goat dairy products and fish. However, exercise can become a means to an end that can mimic idol worship if it is not properly monitored. Verse 7 prefaces the previous passage with the following, “…and exercise yourself rather to godliness.” Spiritually speaking, when we exercise godliness through prayer, bible study, and self-control, we keep our spiritual man healthy. But what good is it if we take care of the physical body, but neglect our spiritual man and coddle our sinful nature?

The eternal value mentioned in verse 8 is the promise of the life that is to come. Paul makes it clear that whatever we are doing for the here and now is indeed profitable – even commendable, but that which is to come, is of greater value and lasting. Taking care of the spirit man, which is incorruptible and lives forever, is far more important than maintaining a corruptible body that will slowly decay in this world. Matthew Henry explains the passage this way in his commentary: “Those who would be godly must exercise themselves unto godliness; it requires a constant exercise…The encouragement which we have to proceed in the ways of godliness is evident. Will the profit balance the loss? Here is another of Paul’s faithful sayings, worthy of all acceptation – that all our labors and losses in the service of God will be abundantly recompensed, so that though we lose for Christ we shall not lose by Him.” Exercise is not my god, nor do I place my fate in its hands. Sure, I still go to body-pump and cycle classes at the YMCA. I faithfully walk my two dogs every morning for almost an hour. I make it a point to stay active, eat right, and get a good night’s sleep. But for me, keeping my spirit woman healthy and fit is a higher, God-ordained priority. What has God spoken to you about your spiritual workout lately? Do you need a "mini boot camp" to whip yourself into shape - or would a long-term maintenance plan be the best thing for your spiritual well-being?

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

Visit Theresa Ceniccola, The Christian Mompreneur, at www.theresaceniccola.com 56

A Walk in Springtime by Elizabeth Baker “For lo, the winter is past / the rain is over and gone. / the flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, / and the voice of the turtledove / is heard in our land.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11-12 NKJV) The earth had been warming for several weeks. Now, the daffodils had shaken off their cage of brown dirt in an explosion of green and yellow as they reached for the light and a breeze moved among the leaves outside the library window. It was a gentle breeze. Harold knew it must be. That was the only kind allowed on a day like this. The winter had been long and dismal. First there were business reversals; then his daughter announced her impending divorce. Finally, those unwelcome visits to the doctor’s office and the pain. But now he looked out the window and today he saw spring. A walk. That was what he needed: a long, luxurious walk. He would take his walking stick and wear the blue sweater Amanda gave him three Christmases ago. Amanda. Thoughts of her were as warm and gentle as the weather outside his window. Wonderful, strange girl who had always insisted on calling his walking stick a “hiking pole.” But, what could you expect of an American?

It wouldn’t even be like the time they circled Bent Tree Pond on a night excursion. No, this would be a gentle walk. A springtime walk. Amanda would like that. The memory of another springtime came forcefully to his mind; a time when he walked with Amanda not long after they were married. That had been such a special spring. They were in England at the time and decided to walk from Oxford to Abington following the Thames river most of the way. They were both healthy and young and the world looked as if it had been newly made for them alone. For much of the journey they followed narrow country roads where they stepped aside and waved to the occasional auto that passed. Other parts took them cross-country and occasionally through private land. Harold knew the way and had walked it many times. But walking it with Amanda was special. She was such a city-girl that she greeted each flower and bird with the wonder of a child. Never mind that large sections of her own America were identical to the English countryside. To her eyes each sight was fresh with new wonder and guiding her attention to specific details made him feel like a king.

When they met, she knew nothing of the old fashioned English custom of taking long walks in the country. It was Harold who had taught her and together they had covered mile after mile on two continents.

At one point, they came to a small tributary that served as a boundary between two farms. The thin line of water rushed over rocks and twisted around clumps of maidenhair fern eventually making its way to the Thames. I

Something deep inside him needed to walk with Amanda again. It wouldn’t be like the two weeks they spent walking the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia.

t was narrow enough to jump at the ford and cool to the touch as they ran their hands through the water before spreading their lunch blanket under trees. 57

He remembered lying with his head in Amanda’s lap as they engaged in a spirited debate about the color of the water. She insisted on calling the water “crystal blue” when it was obviously nothing more than the color of weak tea. He said it was only her romantic notion of the world that made the water blue and she insisted it was his stuffy habit of precise expression that made the water dull. And they laughed. It was a lesson in perspective they would remember often during their years together. Perspective. That was the thing a walk always provided. No matter the season or circumstance, a long walk put the world back in order. In the early years when poverty threatened, Harold walked the neighborhoods and city streets surrounding their tiny apartment until the future seemed less confining.

And he also knew the reason had more to do with him emotionally kicking at the reality of time and loss than with any pain of the body. “Well,” he admitted, “Perhaps I have been a bit of a grouch.” “That’s putting it mildly!” she accused. Then softening her tone she studied her husband before continuing. “I know the past few months have been hard. But, Harold, they have been hard on us both.” An awkward moment of silence followed as guilt crept over him like unwelcome fog. For fifty years he had been a man on whom others depended. A man who could whip a company into line, turn a profit and solve every problem from late delivery of supplies to his daughter’s need for a prom date. At least, he had been able to solve every problem until now.

When the pressures of family vs. business grew unbearable, a long walk in the park with Amanda and his little girl set the world right. When he and Amanda argued a long walk in the dark allowed tempers to cool and reminded him of how good it was to be able to go back to a place called home.

Now, his company was showing a loss; his daughter was going through the gut wrenching process of divorce; and his body was beginning to show the years of abuse and neglect he had inflicted on it. All his blustering verbiage and forceful manners could do nothing to slow that downhill slide.

How long had it been since he walked with Amanda? He wasn’t quite sure. The pleasurable habit that began in their courtship days had slowly dwindled through the years as the race of life replaced those gentle walks that were designed solely for the joy of being alive.

Worst of all, his sour disposition had made things more difficult for his beloved Amanda.

“Amanda!” His voice boomed as strong as in his youth. A few moments later she came to the library door, her brows knit with concern. “Are you all right?” “Of course I am! Do you think every time I call you, I must be in some sort of distress?” She smiled at him and cocked one eyebrow. Without a word, she reminded him of how difficult and strained the last few months had been. He knew he had not been a good patient.

He was not a man who said, “I am sorry” with easy grace. In fact, he could never remember uttering those words in his entire life. Yet, at that moment they pressured him from inside and wanted to push past his lips. Maybe teaching him how to utter those words, was one reason God had put him through this trial. “Amanda,” he began and then cleared his throat. “I am . . . sorry. I have acted atrociously all winter. Let’s take a walk.” She laughed. “That’s what I love about you English. You throw out a word like ‘atrociously,’ give no time for anyone to respond, and then want to sweeten the deal with an invitation for a morning stroll.” 58

His fallen expression told her that she had said the wrong thing. After all, the man was trying to apologize for the first time in his life. She resisted the urge to simply say, “That’s OK.” The way he had been acting was not OK at all. Yet, in truth she had been as quarrelsome and stressed as he. It had been a long winter. Amanda leaned against the doorway and relaxed with a deep breath. “Harold, I’ve loved you all my life, but I’ve missed the times of closeness we once knew. I think you are right. I’d like to take that walk.” He smiled. “Yes, a walk. A springtime walk.” They gathered their sweaters and he fished his walking stick from the hall closet, but as they approached the front door, he paused. “Amanda,” he said as he swung the door open wide, “We have weathered many winters together. I think it is time we enjoyed a spring.”

Be Encouraged Today: God has given the opportunity of another day. Let a grudge drop behind you. Shrug off a negative attitude that has hung around your shoulders. Take a walk in the sunshine and find a new beginning. After all, you don’t have to wait to find springtime in the soul.

The Happy Housewife by Elizabeth Baker Elizabeth's classic best seller from 1979 is brought back to life for a new generation. Humorous, honest, Bible based and compelling, this ageless primer on the joys and traumas of dealing with kids, husbands, and dirty dishes will have you laughing and bring you to tears. Her practical advice provides realistic solutions to problems that never change. Join her in an exploration that is a fresh and ageless as mother-love. Elizabeth tackles issues that are modern in every respect while her home-spun style makes the readers feel as though they are having coffee with a wise friend.

The Happy Housewife by Elizabeth Baker is now available from Ruby’s Reading Corner! http://astore.amazon.com/rubyforwomenreadingcorne r-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=15 59

Target Practice Double Puzzle by Beth Brubaker

Answer Key on page 96

Be sure to visit Beth at her blog, Footprints in the Mud, for more inspirational and humorous articles www.footprintsinthemudblog.blogspot.com 60

Pride (Jeremiah 13:1-11) by Christena Hammes

“This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” So I bought a belt, as the Lord directed, and put it around my waist. Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time: “Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.” So I went and hid it at Perath, as the Lord told me. Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.” (Jeremiah 13:1-7) Okay, now stop and read verses 1 – 7 again. Can you see how the Lord is using an illustration to help Jeremiah, to help us understand better? You know He is getting ready to open our eyes to Truth, something we need to learn from so we don’t make the same mistake. Now read on with an open heart, one ready to receive what it is the Lord wants to speak to you. “Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 13:8-9) What is pride? Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary says – “The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. I believe it is an attitude of the heart, a choice we make and it takes away God’s glory, leaves Him out. Continue reading to see what happens when we allow pride to come in. “These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! (Jeremiah 13:10) He calls those with pride – wicked people. They refuse to listen to God’s Word, they think they know better than God! They are stubborn and go after other gods to serve and worship them. Do you have ‘other gods’? Are you too stubborn to give up a video game, tv program, a book you’re reading, the clothes or shoes you are buying when your closet is already full?? Whatever you put before God’s Word, whatever you put before your time with God, whatever you put before doing what He has instructed you to do…..that is your god. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be COMPLETELY useless! “For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.” (Jeremiah 13:11) 61

“We have made ‘gods’ out of our ‘things’. We are not learning ‘Truth’ from the one that loves us and wants to direct our steps. We are not wearing our armor which protects us from the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11) If we haven’t even put on the first piece of armor mentioned, how can we wear the ‘full’ armor?”

Ephesians 6:14 says “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” This is the first piece of armor we are to put on; it is the belt of truth. If we are so full of pride that we will not listen to God, will not do what He has commanded us to do, will not put him first over the TV, book, game, etc – then we think too highly of ourselves and not enough of God. We have made ‘gods’ out of our ‘things’. We are not learning ‘Truth’ from the one that loves us and wants to direct our steps. We are not wearing our armor which protects us from the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11) If we haven’t even put on the first piece of armor mentioned, how can we wear the ‘full’ armor? He says we were bound to Him—to be His people for His renown. Renown means - The condition of being known or talked about by many people. We are to KNOW Him and talk about Him. We are to give Him praise and honor. I looked up ‘praise’ and in Hebrew Strong’s #3034 it is Yadah. It means ‘thanks, giving praise, or to confess’!! So, if we know Him and talk about Him, we should be doing it by confession of who He is, giving Him thanks and giving Him the praise. Now what is honor? “Regard with great respect” So, let’s put this last part together…He bound us to Him, put the belt of Truth on us so we can KNOW Him, talk about Him, give thanks to Him, praise Him and do this with great respect. But we lose this when we allow pride to come in and put God on a shelf to collect dust. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather give my time and my honor to a God who loves me so much that He provides the armor, starting with the belt of Truth, to overcome the evil one. Pride will not last, you will fall, and you will become useless. The good news is God loves you and He is waiting for you to lay these gods down, to let go of pride and return to Him. He will put that belt of Truth on you again and you will begin to wear the armor, giving God all the glory, honor and praise! When you begin to see God’s power in your life, when you begin to know it’s Him working in and through you, when you receive your healing, your protection, growth and victory in your life – you want to give Him thanks, praise Him and honor Him! You won’t want any other God but Him!! So lay pride down, get rid of the ‘gods’ you've placed above the Heavenly Father that loves you so much he sent His Son to die for you. http://www.reverbnation.com/robhammes http://blessedandfitturbo.blogspot.com/ 62

Denim Flag Wreath by Kim of Make in a Day www.madeinaday.com School is almost out and the 4th of July is just around the corner~ I made a series of patriotic crafts for you guys to enjoy! First up is my Denim Flag Wreath! I love making wreaths and finding unique items to make into them. So I started thinking about what materials to use…when I think of red white & blue, my thoughts automatically went to denim. What could be more American than Blue Jeans?!! So here is my cute version made from a pair of shorts and some old thrift store jeans! Materials needed: • • • • • • • • • •

1 Styrofoam 18 inch wreath 1 pair of blue denim shorts 1 pair of red denim jeans 1 pair of white denim jeans a few silk flowers, twine patriotic banner (Michaels Stores) small star glitter cut-outs (Michaels Stores) hot glue & gun rotary cutter and mat

STEP 1: Using your rotary cutter, cut all three jeans up into 3 inch wide strips. I cut the shorts across the pockets so I could use them for added texture and design. The jeans I just cut up one leg of each.

STEP 2: Start wrapping the red and white stripes around the Styrofoam wreath, making the stripes an equal distance apart and hot glue.

I then wrapped the blue denim shorts around using the pockets and belt loops for the blue design area.

STEP 3: For the flowers I pulled apart the silk flowers and added a fabric wrapped rosette flowers made from the denim to the center for a more handmade look. Hot glue them back together and add them to the wreath. For directions on making fabric flowers check out my Spring Wreath Tutorial or my Pinterest Fabric Flower Board. I took twine and hot glued it in a spiral pattern and added it to the center of the blue flower. Add a cute little Red White & Blue Paper Banner and some single glittered stars to the blue denim. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it!! So cute & easy!

Tutorial reprinted by permision of Kim of Made in a Day at www.madeinaday.com 64

Caribbean Cruising by Samantha Kroll The Cruise Web Team

The kids are out of school and it’s finally time to forget about the cold winter weather! The planning for your 2013 vacation is probably already completed, but it’s a great time to start thinking about your 2014 family vacation. Start planning a family cruise to the tropical and affordable Caribbean during the kid’s next break from school. You will be happy you did when the cold and snowy weather gets too much next year. The clear blue waters and the white sand beaches attract millions of sunbathing tourists each year. The Caribbean is so big and so popular, that it is divided into three ideal regions: the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and Western Caribbean. Matching your personality with the destination’s personality is one of the best ways to insure an enjoyable trip. With activities for any kind of vacationer, the Eastern Caribbean includes the attractive islands of Saint Maarten, Saint Croix and Saint Thomas (and many more!) For first-time cruisers and families with children, paradise will be found while lying on the beautiful warm beaches, shopping in the duty-free shops or hiking nature filled trails. The locals relish in their singing and dancing talents by playing their island music. Families enjoy countless outdoor attractions like snorkeling with tropical fish, taking a catamaran out to sea, or swimming with the dolphins. Caribbean cuisine combines tropical fruits and spices with the best seafood including grouper and hogfish to show off a popular local highlight. For more exotic destinations, the Western Caribbean shines with natural beauty. From rainforest islands with beautiful waterfalls, to the ancient Mayan ruins of Latin America, every Western Caribbean port is filled with truly addictive adventures. Courageous cruisers can zip-line through the trees, eyelevel with the colorful birds of the rainforest. If you’d rather spend your time on the water exploring the magnificent marine-life, diving into the Blue Hole also located in Belize is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Or, experience the Chacchoben ruins dating back to 200 A.D. in Costa Maya, Mexico. The Southern Caribbean has a unique flavor, and those who visit these southern islands fully understand what it means to “get away”! The region attracts those who seek the exotic for its gourmet restaurants, rainforests, pristine reefs and magnificent volcanoes. 65

Popular ports include Aruba, St. Lucia, and Barbados, three very unique locations full of beauty and history. Look for the smaller cruise ships with itineraries that include additional smaller islands like Saint Vincent or Bequia. These islands proudly display their unique cultures, because of their relationships with different countries ranging from Brazil to Holland. You can salsa dance one night and eat like you are in France another night. A great advantage of the Southern Caribbean is that it is below the “hurricane belt,” so travel during the hurricane season is not only possible, it’s recommended! Between June and November prices are generally more affordable and you’ll find fewer crowds on the beaches and in the attractions. Spending quality time with your family while still saving time and money on a vacation is essential to living life to the fullest. Samantha Kroll works at The Cruise Web. The Cruise Web is a travel agency that specializes in cruising. The expert cruise consultants focus on providing travelers with the best value for their time and money in finding and booking a cruise vacation! www.cruiseweb.com

A Christian Woman’s Ambition From the moment I learned how to read I knew that I wanted to succeed. With God on my side, the possibilities were endless, my motto was “never to settle for less.” So I attended college to make my dreams a reality. It was hard because the guys treated me differently. They wouldn’t call me by my name; instead they called me “honey.” For some reason they just couldn’t take me seriously But I prayed and worked harder because they looked down on me, and in return I excelled. They had to ask me for help because they had failed. I stood firm against those who discriminated against me; I proved to them that Christian women have brains and impeccable beauty. © 2013 by Patrice D. Wilkerson 67

Âj{xÇ \ VtÇÇÉà‹Ê uç f{tÜÉÇ _A ctààxÜáÉÇ I cannot give you what I do not possess; I cannot teach you what I have not learned; I cannot take you where I have not walked. I cannot show you what I have not seen. But … I can lead you to the One Who is the giver of all things: the All-knowing God, Whom to revere begins knowledge and initiates wisdom; He is the Way for every untraveled path and the Creator of both the visible and invisible world: The One who is all in all Three, yet One … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Pushing Pause by Amanda Stephan Some of my friends have noticed that I haven't been on my social media sites nearly as often lately. They were right I've had several mention they've missed my funny Facebook statuses. I've missed them too. Some have even been concerned enough to pray for me and let me know they're thinking of me. And I greatly appreciated them doing so.

In just a week, our daughter will be graduating from high school. I know many of you have already walked this road, and while I appreciate that I'm not alone in this, this is MY first.

More than theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever know. So here's what's been up with me lately. I've hit the pause button in my life. In just a week, our daughter will be graduating from high school. I know many of you have already walked this road, and while I appreciate that I'm not alone in this, this is MY first. I've homeschooled our children from the very beginning of their scholarly careers, and while I knew this day would eventually come, I had no idea it would be this soon. We've spent the last 14 years doing school together, spending every single day together. (Some were good, some were bad, I admit.) But this is what I've done every single day, five days a week for the last 14 years. (She started reading at 3.) And I'm going to miss it so much, that I've hit the pause button on some other areas of my life: Like chasing that book deal? Pause. Writing feverishly for three hours every day? Pause. Marketing both of my books for hours at a time. Pause. (I honestly wish I could have hit the pause button for the 39th birthday, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another post in itself!)

My time with my little girl is limited. She's stretching her wings and starting to strike out on her own. She's finding her feet. She's gaining independence. Pretty soon, she'll be gone. And I'll miss her. I've got one left still to teach after Tuesday. Our son. Smart little bugger, but one day, he'll be doing the same thing. As is natural and normal. I'd be worried if they weren't acting this way, but sheesh, it's a bittersweet job, this parenting thing. We've led them, taught them, prayed over them, prayed with them, fussed at them, played with them, and taught them the necessary skills they're going to need to survive in this world. But still, I wonder, have I done it right? Have I done enough to prepare them for this world? Are they ready spiritually? Are they ready mentally? And I have to admit, that while it's painful, yes. I think they'll be just fine. But their momma won't. At least for a little while, anyway. Pushing that pause button has given me time to focus on the disappearing days I've got left. Don't worry. I'll come back around to writing and chasing my own dreams, but let's be honest here. I've made a career of being Mom. Chasing my own dreams was placed on the back burner the day I held my sweet girl for the first time because I was hooked. I had found my calling and it was worth every single second. Oiy, am I going to be a mess when it's the boy's turn to graduate. I know it's not the end of the world, this graduation. But it is the start of a new chapter and the closing of anotherâ&#x20AC;Śfor all of us. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ~ James 4:14 (KJV)

Pushing that pause button has given me time to focus on the disappearing days I've got left. Don't worry. I'll come back around to writing and chasing my own dreams, but let's be honest here. I've made a career of being Mom.

www.booksbyamanda.com 70

7-Up Pound Cake with Lemon-Lime Glaze by NancyCreative www.nancycreative.com I’m really not a big soda-pop drinker; I usually drink iced tea instead. But every once in a while I’ll l have some soda on hand, usually left over from a get-together or party. That’s how I ended up with some 7-UP recently. Instead of tossing it, I decided to see if there was anything I could make with it. After all, I had made a Coca-Cola Cake, which tasted great, so was there such a thing as a 7-UP cake? It turns out there was–a 7-UP Pound Cake! In fact, it’s been around for a while, since the 1960′s, when Bundt cake pans became popular. I found about 8 or 9 different recipes (http://baking.about.com/od/bundtcakes/r/7UP.htm) when I searched on the web. They all had pretty much the same butter-sugar-egg-flour amounts, with variations on the amounts of flavorings and lemon juice used. So I came up with my own version and added a sweet and slightly tart lemon-lime glaze to top it off. This is a really good, moist pound cake! And the glaze has a lot of lemon-limey flavor. Some recipes called for 3/4 cup of 7-UP in the cake and some called for 1 cup; I used 3/4 cup when I made this cake and thought it had a great pound cake texture; next time I make this I will try 1 cup to see if there is much difference–I’m guessing the additional 7-UP will make the cake a little more moist, though it seemed moist enough with 3/4 cup. Next time you have some extra 7-UP, give this a try!

7-Up Pound Cake with Lemon-Lime Glaze

by NancyCreative What you need: • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), softened • 3 cups granulated sugar • 5 large eggs • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice • 1/2 Tablespoon lemon extract or flavoring • 3 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached flour) • 3/4 cup to 1 cup 7–UP

Let’s make it! Preheat oven to 325˚F. Grease or spray a 10″ Bundt or tube pan; set aside (you can grease and flour the pan if you want it to come out super-easy). In large bowl, cream butter and sugar, blending well. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in lemon zest, lemon juice, and lemon extract and blend well. Add flour to the butter mixture, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add 7–UP, about a half or third at a time, blending well after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 325˚F for 65 to 75 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Note: My cake was done in 65 minutes, using 3/4 cup of 7–UP. If you use 1 cup of 7-UP your baking time may be a little longer, but be careful not to over bake, or it may be dry). Remove cake from oven and let cool for 10 minutes (the cake will be cracked on the bottom–see photo, left–which is fine). Invert pan to remove cake and cool completely on wire rack. While cake is cooling, make the glaze… (A note on the glaze: this makes a lot of glaze! Enough to glaze the cake twice, which is what I did…I generously drizzled a first glaze on, let it set, then put a second glaze over that, for an extra lemon-limey taste. If you just want one layer of glaze, you can halve this recipe.) LEMON–LIME GLAZE: • • • •

3 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 Tablespoon lime juice 3 to 4 Tablespoons 7-UP (start with 3 and if you want a thinner glaze, add another 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon) In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar with lemon and lime juices and 7–UP, blending everything well. Drizzle half the glaze over the cake when it is completely cooled; let glaze set. Then, if desired, drizzle a second glaze over the cake and let set. Cut into slices and serve. Note: If you are doing a double glaze, you can also try this: put the first glaze on while the cake is still warm–some of the glaze will soak into the cake, giving it a sweeter taste. Then let the cake completely cool, and put on the second glaze. Makes one 10″ Bundt cake Reprinted by permission of NancyCreative at www.nancycreative.com

For more great recipes for spring and summer, from healthy breakfast ideas, breads and muffins, granola bars, salads, and so much more . . . . be sure to visit

Nancy Creative! www.nancycreative.com

www.fresh-eggs-daily.com

www.katherinescorner.com 73

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“I Want to be a Princess” When you don’t really feel like royalty by Corallie Buchanan Every little girl dreams of being a princess. Sparkly pink dress (complete with tutu), tiara, magic wand, shiny slippers. It’s the epitome of girlish childhood dreams. If only we could spend all of our time dressing up in tiaras and pretty pink dresses. But life is not like that. Somewhere along the line, our dreams of becoming a princess are thwarted. The innocence of imagination is lost in a world that doesn’t understand the beauty of being a princess. When we look at what we want to be, and what we really are, there is a huge discrepancy. When we look in the mirror, what we see is a picture of a Cinderella type girl dressed in filthy rags. We don’t see the Cinderella dressed up in a beautiful ball gown, eyes (and dress) glistening, as she goes to meet her Prince Charming. In fact, if we will admit it, we don’t even believe that she exists at all. We walk with our shoulders drooped and our head hanging low instead of our head held high in confidence. When do we lose that imaginative child-like capacity to truly believe in ourselves? Where does it all go wrong? 1 Peter 2:9 says, [Y]ou are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. If God says it, then it must be true right? So why can’t we believe it? What is it that stops us from believing that we are very treasured and incredibly valuable in God’s sight? There are times in my life where I feel anything BUT royal. Oh, I know in my head what God says I am, but I don’t believe it with my heart. I’ve been battered by the world and find it difficult to see anything positive in me. I will admit, I tend to be a serial pessimist. That has been working against me for quite some time. I’m a pessimist about other people, but especially about myself. It is no struggle for me to think the worst of a person, including myself. What I do struggle with is thinking of myself in a positive way. Sometimes I feel like a princess locked up in a damp, dark, musty tower. I may be royal by blood, but when I look at my surroundings, do I feel royal? After spending awhile in that tower, does I even look royal? I am sure many of our readers are the same. Battered by life’s storms and told you are no good, you struggle to believe you are worth anything to anyone...especially God! But you are! You are worth more than anyone on this earth could ever show you. You just have to agree with it, and take it into your heart (not just your head).

Now I know it’s not that simple. I still haven’t managed to do it. But with God’s help, I am (slowly) learning to see myself as the princess I really am. I am seriously considering buying a tiara and wearing it around the house just to make the point hit home. Maybe you should do the same. After all, there is nothing like a little dressing up to make a girl feel special, right? Let’s all learn to let our hair loose and be the girly girls we want to be, but are too afraid to because of the judgement of others. Like the little girl who walks around the shopping centre truly believing that her fancy slippers and silver tiara truly make her a princess. Give yourself permission to be a princess of the King. Even if you feel too grown up to be wearing a tiara in public, you can still be standing up tall on the inside. You are a princess of royal blood; the King’s blood has made you royal. Now you just need to believe it!

Integrity and Truth: Power for Healing and Wellness by Shannon Panzo Integrity and Wellness – the Healing Power of Truth Make up a list of the qualities that develop or support your integrity. Don’t use others’ beliefs as your benchmark. Dig deep inside yourself and discover your own values. Integrity Does Have One Common Theme – Truth Once you have developed your list, I want you to “embrace your truth.” Come to terms with who you are. Appreciate the journey you have experienced to date and the lessons you have learned. Remember, the obstacles you have encountered have molded you into the person you are today. Be honest with yourself. That’s how you build integrity. Embracing your truth and rejoicing in your journey does not mean broadcasting your innermost secrets publically. In fact, this is an exercise that shouldn’t be shared. In doing this exercise in discovering your integrity you will find and embrace the marvelous human being you are. You will likely view the world differently and treat others differently as well. This is a good thing. Remember, under the Law of Attraction, how you treat others will be reflected back onto you! The Impact of Integrity on Your Health Your body, mind and spirit become weak and STRESSED when you don’t know your truth. It’s living a lie. You lose integrity and toughness and become vulnerable to Dis-Ease (literally NOT being at ease; translated as “disease.”) When your body is under stress, you aren’t as effective or efficient. By contrast, when you “live your truth” and start embracing the person you are, you gain resilience and strength. You ward off disease and become healthier overall. This doesn’t guarantee you will never get sick, but if you do catch a cold or the flu, your illness will be short-lived. This Is What You Gain By Having Your Integrity When you gain integrity, you also gain momentum you can use to achieve what you want. Your health will rebound new found energy.

http://www.mindtomind.com 76

Starting Fresh … No Regret by Lanette Kissel If you regret what you have done in the past, if you lament how your years have been spent… It’s not too late to turn your life around. It is never too late to repent. Our God is the Father of forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. The Lord will hold you in His merciful embrace with an enduring love that will always last. When you come to that fork in the road, so you don’t regret the road not taken, choose Christ’s path, which leads to light and life, so you won’t find yourself among the forsaken. Jesus loved you enough to die for you, in order to save you from sinful strife. He wants you to spend eternity with Him, in the city of light and of life. Just believe in the holy Word of God, and that each and every word is true. Just accept Jesus into your heart and life. The Holy Spirit will show you what to do. You’ll be set free from the regret and shame. You won’t miss the person you were before. When you no longer have to shoulder the blame, You’ll realize your life can be so much more. If you will seek His guidance from above… He will take the lead. He will do His part to point you in the direction you need to go, to help you to make a fresh new start. 77

Footprints in the Mud Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ode to Summer by Beth Brubaker I remember when my babies were little and summer was peaceful and fun; but now they are teens and summer is loud with all of the whining that's done! 'I don't wanna go out!' I hear them both cry as I toss their butts straight out the door; then three hours later I call them both in and I hear them whining 'What for?' They gripe when they're in, they gripe when they're out, they gripe 'cause there's nothing to do. It's too hot, it's too sunny, too rainy or shady, what's a poor frazzled mom going to do? But I have a plan that's sneaky and sly to stop the monotonous plaint. The second I hear them utter a whine I'll have them do something they hate! You whine- Do the dishes! You gripe, Mop the floors! Complaining means windows get done! You mutter- Go vacuum! You pout- Wash the clothes! (for a mom this is totally fun!) So now when they start to utter a whine they look at me and my big smile. The one tugs the other one out towards the door 'Um, why don't we go out for a while?' . The house is so peaceful (and really quite clean), happy kids with good things to remember. But I will be glad when summer is gone with the kids back in school in September!

This summer, why not give this a try?

Vintage Dresser Make-Over by Anne B. of the Ruby for Women Community This dusty old dresser was just waiting for new life! With a little bit of imagination, creativity, and a lot of hard work, we turned this vintage dresser into a beautiful work of art. Here’s what we did to renovate this old piece of furniture into a charming addition to our home. Tools needed: • Coarse Sand paper, Fine sand paper • Electric Sander • White paint • Green paint • Medium size foam paint brush

• • • • •

Small foam roller brush Stencil brush Screw Driver Stencils Tape

How To: • Remove drawer handles with screw driver. • Begin sanding dresser with coarse sand paper and electric sander till varnish is completely removed. • Sand again with fine sand paper to smooth surface. • Wipe off dresser with damp cloth to remove all the dirt etc... • With small sponge paint brush and white paint start painting all the smaller areas that the roller brush can't get into, cutting in on the bottom of the dresser as well all the way around. • I didn't have a "Primer Paint" thus I had to paint several coats of white paint to get a good coverage. • After I finished painting all the small areas and cutting in I began using my small sponge roller brush to paint the entire surface of the dresser allowing paint to completely dry before painting a second and third coat of paint. • Next I taped the stencil to the areas where I wanted to paint the designs carefully trying to center them in place. • I applied green paint onto my stencil brush blotting off excess paint onto paper towel, then gently patted brush onto stencil design area, peeled off stencil and voila stencil design now transferred onto dresser. • Then I sanded and painted all the dresser drawer handles green, when dry attached all the handles back onto the dresser drawers with screw driver. • Dresser finally completed! Advice: • First coat of paint should be a "Primer" as this will help to cover dark furniture in one coat preparing the surface for whatever color of paint you will be painting your furniture. • Use tape that is easily removable and will not pull up paint. 79

Tangy Honey Coleslaw by NancyCreative www.nancycreative.com Coleslaw is a great picnic side dish, and it’s that time of year for picnics! I really like this coleslaw–it has a little sweetness from honey and a little tang from apple cider vinegar…and those two ingredients are really good for you! There’s chopped onion and green pepper in this, too, which gives this slaw a nice crunchiness! If you’re short on time, you can use packaged pre-shredded coleslaw instead of shredding your own…I discovered that one medium head of cabbage equals about 8 cups of shredded cabbage.

TANGY HONEY COLESLAW by NancyCreative Makes about 10 servings What you need: • • • • • • • • • •

1 medium head cabbage, shredded, or 8 cups of pre-shredded coleslaw (a little less than two 10-ounce packages) 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 1 large green pepper, finely chopped 1 large carrot, grated 6 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 1/2 to 4 Tablespoons honey 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon celery seed 6 Tablespoons mayonnaise

Let’s make it! In large bowl, combine the cabbage, onion, green pepper, and carrot (you can also shred all of these ingredients in a food processor). In small bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and celery seed (do not add the mayonnaise yet); mix together, and pour over cabbage mixture in large bowl. Toss to coat the cabbage mixture with the vinegar–honey dressing. Refrigerate 1/2 hour to 1 hour, then stir the mayonnaise into the coleslaw. Then it’s ready to serve! If you need to wait a little longer before you’ll be eating it, just add the mayonnaise to the slaw right before you serve it. If you’re not having a picnic, this is still a great side dish for lunch or dinner! I think it tastes best the day it’s made, so don’t make it sooner than you need to! Reprinted by permission of Nancy Cockrell of Nancy Creative: http://nancycreative.com/ 80

The Giver and the Taker by Sharon L. Patterson Waiting in line at the coffee shop, a particular favorite where I often stop, I noticed a distraught young woman just ahead. “Can I buy your coffee today?” I said. We found an empty table and sat down. That morning too many others weren’t around. So, between gulps of coffee and tears flowing freely she poured out her story so familiar to me. As I recognized the work of the old Taker who used her abusive boyfriend, a real mover and shaker, who promised her the moon, with money, drugs and fame, but left her broken in body and spirit and memories filled with shame. I asked her if she had ever met the Giver in her life? Wide-eyed, she gazed at me, and then replied: “I thought so when I was a little girl of twelve… But then all hell broke loose, and I thought He shelved me way back in a locked dark closet with no way out. I cried till I had no voice left, no will to shout.”

“I know that closet well, and once believed there was no other place for me until The Giver came to the door, gently knocked, then turned the key, calling my name as though I were someone special to him.” I thought, maybe there might be a chance, even if it was slim. With small shaky voice I said, “Yes, dear Giver, I am here!” We walked out together as I saw the Old Taker give a sneer. “That is the only reason I am here to speak with you, “Because The Giver turned what was crushed and ruined into brand new. “The Taker replaces nothing and extracts more than anyone can pay. “The Giver”, I said, “Will add even when He must take something away…” Before we rose from our chairs and left the table that hour the Giver took her out of the Old Taker’s power. Now, we meet occasionally though we’ve added numbers exponentially. For she tells others of the old place of dread where she sat empty, alone, and felt all but dead. I chuckle as I hear that familiar question I used to say, Can I buy your coffee today?” “Ah, the old Taker is about to lose another one to the Giver of life: Jesus our Savior, God’s only Son!” 82

Strawberry, Pecan, and Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese from the kitchen of Vintage Mama This salad is one of our family favorites! It also holds some special memories of times with friends – we first discovered this yummy spring and summer salad many years ago at one of our regular restaurants. It was the place where we would meet up with friends, old and new, over a cup or coffee . . . . or if it was lunch time, this Strawberry, Pecan, and Spinach salad was always our first choice. Now we like to make it at home in the spring, especially, when strawberries are in such abundance here in our little farming community. This particular recipe is adapted from several different recipes, bringing together the various ingredients to create just the right combination. Hope you like it! What you need: • • • • •

4 cups spinach, chopped 2 cups strawberries, sliced 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled ¼ cup toasted pecan halves, chopped or whole Raspberry vinaigrette dressing (see recipe below)

Let’s make it! • •

• •

Wash and dry baby spinach. Tear leaves into smaller pieces if necessary. Assemble the salad by either laying the spinach on the salad plate and placing the strawberries and pecans on top, or tossing the spinach, strawberries and pecans together and arranging the salad on a plate. Sprinkle crumbled cheese on top, and finish with dressing to taste. Serves 4-6. Raspberry Vinaigrette Recipe

• • • • •

1/2 cup raspberry, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/3 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions 1. Using a blender or hand-held immersion blender, combine vinegar, mustard, raspberries and honey. Blend well. 2. With the blender still running, slowly add olive oil until the dressing is smooth. 83

Our Father…. by Gloria Doty When Jesus taught us to pray, he began the prayer with the words, ‘Our Father’ The image of the perfect father is reflected in our heavenly Father. His love for us, his children, is complete and perfect. It never fails and never diminishes. No matter how often we disobey his rules, no matter how unloving we are, no matter how much we complain, no matter how we disappoint him, our heavenly Father still loves us. He continues to provide for us, protect us, and shower his blessings upon us. He always knows what is best for us. Just like children with their earthly fathers, we quarrel with God’s decisions, we complain about our day-to-day lives, we tell him we will obey, but soon forget. We constantly chafe at his rules. We are rebellious and want to do things our way. Many times, earthly fathers are quick to judge, or they punish unjustly, or take a long time to forgive a wrong or sometimes they leave their children and never return. Our heavenly Father is always forgiving, always just, always patient and always loving and does understand us, even better than we understand ourselves. He will never abandon us nor ignore us. We can keep this image of our perfect Father in mind every time we begin the prayer with the words, ‘Our Father…’

Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele If you are interested in raising chickens or ducks; or if you want to learn more about homesteading; or if you are looking for some gardening inspiration this spring, you really should visit Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily. On Lisa’s blog you will also find articles about other repurposed craft projects, making your own DIY household products, and recipes using fresh, natural ingredients . . . . . like Fresh Eggs Daily! In addition to her blog, Lisa has a book entitled Fresh Eggs Daily (what else?) that is available through Amazon, and is now being carried in Ruby’s Reading Corner as well. Visit Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily for natural, farm-fresh inspiration every day! 84

The National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs was born out of a passion to connect women who are ready to create, collaborate, and contribute to changing the world. We gather people and ideas together through online content, tele-courses, individual/group coaching and retreats. Our desire is to unite under a common goal of helping one another to succeed and thrive in business. We are blessed to share in a common faith in Jesus Christ and yet know that we might each choose to worship in a different way. The National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE) invites you to join our family as a Member!

Join NACWE today! • • •

Get connected to Christian Women Entrepreneurs throughout the United States and Canada for networking, business building, and prayer support Start creating new ideas, plans, programs and products with valuable monthly training calls and webinars Begin collaborating with women who can walk beside you on the journey with love and not competition PLUS, NOW YOU CAN JOIN US FOR JUST $27 a month!!

NACWE Membership & Benefits Membership is open to women entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others who have to desire to launch their entrepreneurial venture. We also serve women business owners who are ready to add new marketing success tools, gain access to other like-minded women through networking, and

Claim your FREE copy of 10 Marketing Secrets to help you Generate Leads, Increase Revenue, and Build a thriving community! www.nacwe.org

Ask Beth! Do you have a question about parenting, home making, organizing, friendship, or family? Ask Beth! Please email her at bethatruby@aol.com She would love to hear from you!

A River of Small Stones by Keith Wallis A beautiful and inspirational book of poetry, perfect for gift-giving for every season of the year! Poems written as â&#x20AC;&#x153;small stones,â&#x20AC;? polished moments of paying proper attention to life Available at www.ariverofstones.blogspot.com

http://wordsculptures-keith.blogspot.com/

Stop by for a visit and find fun and creative FREE e-book patterns and tutorials at www.mamaslittletreasures.com

www.kathleenkohler.com 86

Inspire Me Monday at Create with Joy www.create-with-joy.com

Wilkerson’s Business Support, LLC At Wilkerson’s Business Support, LLC we aid companies without administrative assistance, companies that need help on special projects, and business owners that do not have the time or resources to perform tedious administrative tasks themselves. Please visit Wilkerson’s Business Support at www.wilkersonbusinesssupport.com

Join us every week for our favorite blog hops!

• Inspire Me Monday at Create with Joy

• Wordless Wednesday at Create with Joy

• Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine’s Corner

• Friendship Friday at Create with Joy 88

Vintage Paper Dolls from the collection of Vintage Mama

Betsy McCall Visits the Farm from the collection ofâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Vintage Mama

Ruby for Women Your voice, your ideas, your inspiration! As the ministry of Ruby for Women has been growing over the past three years, God has blessed us with the opportunity to reach out and touch the hearts and lives of women all around the world. Now, God has opened another door for the ministry of Ruby for Women, and over the next several weeks and months you will see the new avenues of opportunity that we are pursuing. As a community of bloggers, writers, and artists / crafters, Ruby for Women will continue to be a friendly neighborhood where we can connect with one another through our groups, our chat times, our prayer request group, and our weekly newsletter which will feature giveaways by our members, as well as all the current news from the Ruby community. The Ruby for Women magazine will continue to be published online monthly, and we will continue to feature inspirational articles, poetry, craft tutorials, recipes, and other fun resources for you and your family. We will also begin bringing you other resources to offer inspiration and wisdom through our publishing company, Gossamer Wings Publications, as well as craft and sewing patterns and kits through our creative team at mamas*little*treasures and Tatters to Treasures. You might have already noticed Ruby’s Reading Corner where you can purchase books for yourself and your family. Every purchase from Ruby’s Reading Corner helps support the ministry of Ruby for Women. But did you know that we also have the RUBY! Café Press Shop where you can purchase tshirts, tote bags, aprons, and other fun Ruby items? We will be stocking the RUBY! Café Press Shop over the next few weeks with new items daily, so please take a minute to stop by and visit us at the RUBY! Café Press Shop. So, you can see that we have been very busy here at Ruby for Women! Your continued support and participation in this ministry is vital to our ongoing success and we so appreciate YOU. Please continue to send us your inspirational articles, stories, poems, crafts and recipes, and we will continue to provide you with the many resources that you have come to know and love here at Ruby for Women. If you any questions, ideas, or suggestions please be sure to email us at editor@rubyforwomen.com or ajohnson@rubyforwomen.com We would LOVE to hear from you! 91

Blog Art by Katherine can help you with all your graphic artwork needs!

Let’s work together and I will create artwork and a style to fit your personality, content or theme. I provide a variety of blog and website art image services including but not limited to: Blog Art, Blog Buttons, Blog Headers, Blog Banners, Advertisement, Social networking links, Giveaway buttons, Page images, Sidebar ,Online Shop Headers, Logos, Website Art, I also provide Blog Set Up and Blog Makeovers too! Do you need something else? Just ask I am happy to help! http://katherinescorner.com/blog-art/ For more information about Blog Art by Katherine, please visit her blog, Katherine’s Corner for all the details!

SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT FOR RUBY READERS! Blog Art by Katherine is offering a 10% discount to all Ruby readers for any blog art or blog design service. All you need to do is mention the code “RUBY” when contacting Katherine. Don’t wait! Spring is the PERFECT time to redecorate your blog!

Avoid a Collision with a Positive Vision by Glenda Staten Glenda Staten is the owner of Positivity 4 Ever. Positivity 4 Ever promotes positivity by providing helpful resources to enrich everyone's life. She created "Avoid a Collision with a Positive Vision", a basic guide used to help young adults make positive decisions and live a responsible life while accomplishing their goals. High school students, college students, young adults, parents, and numerous organizations will benefit from the helpful information in the guide. The guide focuses on "knowing yourself", "being open to change", "setting goals", friendship and bullying. Preview the guide at avoidacollision.com. Glenda also created the Positivity 4 Ever mini magazine to promote positivity, and to share positive conversations from entertainers, authors, and entrepreneurs. The magazines are available at shop.positivity4ever.com. Glenda joined the military after graduating from Albany Junior College in Albany Georgia. While in the military, she worked for numerous organizations in the United States and abroad before retiring in 2004. She worked at The National Defense University in Washington, DC where she performed duties as the senior enlisted leader of the organization. Glenda worked on the National Defense University's Security Team during a visit from the President of the United States, and she was commended for her service. Glenda was selected to be the Senior Non-commissioned Officer in Charge for the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army at the Pentagon. She completed her military career while assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Personnel Administration and Services Division. Glenda received her Master's Degree in Management from City University of Seattle in Bellevue, Washington before she retired. Glenda's military experience enriched her life, and provided the necessary insight needed to help her focus on positivity. For more information or to purchase your copy of Avoid a Collision with a Positive Vision, please visit her website, Avoid a Collision, at www.avoidacollision.com You can also find Glendaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazine, Positivity 4 Ever, at www.shop.positivity4ever.com

Be sure to visit

Ruby’s Reading Corner when you are shopping for books! Every purchase you make from Ruby’s Reading Corner helps support the ongoing ministry at Ruby for Women. The next time you are planning to purchase a book for yourself, for a friend, or for a family member, please consider shopping at

Ruby’s Reading Corner

Becoming the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved: Discover Your Character in God’s Love Story by Michelle S. Lazurek Becoming the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved: Discover Your Character in God’s Love Story by Michelle S. Lazurek (Winepress Publishing, October, 2011) invites readers to engage with the story God is writing for their lives and discover their role as a character in that story. The book also asks the reader “What’s Your Story?” and provides thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter to allow readers to interact with the material. The book is available on her website www.michellelazurek.com , www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com . You can follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mslazurek or Twitter.

Disconnect Four Symbol Puzzle Answer Key by Beth Brubaker

www.kristiburchfiel.com 95

Target Practice Double Puzzle Answer Key by Beth Brubaker

Be sure to visit Beth at her blog, Footprints in the Mud, for more inspirational and humorous articles www.footprintsinthemudblog.blogspot.com 96

Let Gossamer Wings Publications transform your writing into a beautiful digital document to post on your blog or website! Are you a writer, poet, author of devotional or inspirational articles, children's author, writer of short stories, or motivational books? We have been creating eBooks and digital publications since 2006, and we are now offering our publishing services to you at Gossamer Wings Publications. Since 2010, we have published Ruby for Women, a monthly online Christian women's magazine which features family-friendly articles on home making, cooking, arts and crafts, poetry, devotionals, inspirational articles and stories, short stories, quilting tutorials, puzzles, kids' crafts, book reviews, gardening and frugal family living articles. In addition, Ruby for Women has published ebooks for poets and writers of short stories and devotionals, as well as ebook tutorials and patterns for sewing and crafts for mamas*little*treasures which are currently sold on numerous websites, including You Can Make This at www.youcanmakethis.com Beginning in 2012, all of our publications have been produced, published, and promoted by Gossamer Wings Publications, and we are now offering our publishing services to you. We will publish your writing, poetry, sewing and craft books, devotional and inspirational articles, short stories, and any other family-friendly projects that you've been working on. You've been waiting for the opportunity to get YOUR ideas out to the world, but you just haven't known where to start! Now you can have a beautifully formatted eBook created for you at a price you can afford, and we will even help you promote your publication. At Gossamer Wings Publications, we will work with you to design your ebook to reflect your personality and express the words and ideas that God has put in your heart and mind. Email today for your FREE consultation and to set-up your very first publication with Gossamer Wings Publications! gossamerwingspublishing@hotmail.com

Please join us at the

Ruby for Women CafĂŠ for conversation, fun, friendship, and encouragement. Just pop in anytime, we would love to see you there! You can find us in the Ruby for Women community at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com

Introducing the Ruby for Women Administrative Team Over the past three years, the ministry of Ruby for Women has grown into a full-time ministry for several women here in the Ruby community. We have been blessed to be able to partner with women from all over the United States in the work of Ruby for Women, and we are currently in the process of adding four new administrators to our team. If you would be interested in joining the Ruby for Women administrative team, please email our assistant editor, Amanda Johnson, at ajohnson@rubyforwomen.com Here are the current members of the Ruby for Women Administrative team:

Sr. Editor, Nina Newton Assistant Editor, Amanda Johnson Marketing / Business Consultant: Michelle Miller Administrative Assistant, Beth Brubaker Creative Consultant: Katherine Corrigan Publications Assistants: Sharmelle Olson Anne B., Christena Hammes, Lisa Simpkins 98

The Ruby for Women community is a great place to meet new friends, share prayer requests, chat about your favorite books, recipes and crafts! Spring is the perfect time to try out a few yummy new recipes! Here in the Kitchen of Ruby for Women we will be posting new recipes weekly and we would love to have you share some of your favorite recipes with us, too!

Read any good books lately? Think some of them might be a good read for our fellow Ruby for Women members? Come share with us what is on your reading list and your views of the journey it took you on. Join us in Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Club and Reviews and join the conversation!

Do you have a blog? We would love to have you share links to your latest blog posts so that we can tell all of the members of the Ruby for Women community all about it! Please visit us in our Girls Who Blog group.

In our prayer request group, we pray for one another and uphold each other before our Heavenly Father. Please join us at We Are Praying for You and let us know how we can pray for you. And please be sure to stop by the Ruby for Women blog at

www.rubyforwomen.com 99

Shar’s Graphic Haven and Chit Chat Stop by and visit Shar’s Graphic Haven and Chit Chat group in the Ruby for Women community where you will find Shar’s beautiful graphic designs. You can also connect with other members of the Ruby community for a time of fun and fellowship. http://www.rubyforwomen.ning.com/groups/sharmelle-sgraphic-haven

Visit Tricia on her blog, It’s Real Life, for more information about her books

Do you have a family-friendly, home-based business? Here at Ruby for Women we are committed to supporting our members, followers, friends, and readers by promoting your businesses. Our advertising rates are reasonable and will fit any budget! Please visit us at www.rubyforwomen.com/advertise for more information, or email us at info@rubyforwomen.com to plan your advertising in upcoming issues of the Ruby for Women magazine. 100

Meet the Ruby for Women Writers Aunt Dots, Master Gardener Aunt Dots has been writing for Ruby for Women since the very beginning. Her love for gardening started early in her life: “I believe I got my love for growing flowers from my mother. She had a large flower garden with annuals and dahlias. I had my first flower garden after I married and we lived in a garden apartment.” She now has perennial gardens, rose gardens, grape vines, asparagus, currants, gooseberries, walnut trees, apple trees, and hazelnut trees. In the winter months, Aunt Dots sews, making quilts that she has donated to a Mennonite Relief auction.

Beth Brubaker, Footprints in the Mud and Ask Beth Beth is the “Family Fun” editor here in the Ruby for Women community. She is a mother of two very active kids whose antics are sprinkled liberally in her columns. She has been married for 13 years to her Knight in Shining Armor, and she is delighted to share with us that they still hold hands in public! Her day job is working as a fabric artist, a homemaker, and a writer. Beth will be writing humorous articles about life in general, puzzles, and an advice column that is based on readers’ questions, as well as sharing hints and tips for everyday life that she comes across in her travels between her laundry room, living room, and kitchen. Don’t miss Beth’s columns in every issue of Ruby for Women! You can read more of Beth’s posts on her blog, “Footprints in the Mud” at www.footprintsinthemudblog.blogspot.com or email her at bethatruby@aol.com

Lanette Kissel lives in southern Indiana with her adopted Yorkie-Poo, Benjy. She enjoys singing in her huge choir at Crossroads Christian Church. She has been a freelance writer of Christian/Inspirational poetry for twelve years. Recently, she has been writing Inspirational articles and essays, as well as devotions. Her work has appeared in: Mature Living Magazine, Purpose, Live, The War Cry, The Lutheran Journal, The Catholic Yearbook, Silver Wings, Inspired Women Magazine, and others. . I'm Christena Hammes, married to my best-friend. We met at the Outside Inn so God could change us from the Inside Out!! We have two beautiful daughters (Lena and Amanda), two sons-in-law (Cameron and Justin) and one amazing granddaughter (Savannah Jo). I never knew what the Father's love was all about until I had children of my own. They really do hold your heart and forgiveness comes easy. http://www.reverbnation.com/robhammes

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Lynn Mosher, Devotions

Since the year 2000, Lynn Mosher has lived with fibromyalgia and other physical conditions. During this time, the Lord placed the desire in her heart to write for Him. Now, armed with God’s purpose for her life and a new passion, she reaches out to others to encourage and comfort them through her writing, giving God all the glory. She lives with her husband in their empty nest in Kentucky. On occasion, their three offspring, who have flown the coop, come to visit, accompanied by a son-in-law and three granddaughters. Visit Lynn at her blog, at http://lynnmosher.com

Katherine Corrigan, Recipes and Crafts Katherine is a blogger at Katherine’s Corner, an artist, designer, tea drinker and hug giver. She has been a contributor to Ruby for Women for three years. She is originally from England. But she has lived in the USA since 1975. She holds a rare dual citizenship with the UK and the USA and is a proud citizen of both. She greets each day with grace, dignity and gratitude. Thanking God for her strength as she continues to encourage others and moves forward despite her physical challenges. She is happily married and has five grandchildren. After 30 years of working in the medical field and managing other people’s businesses Katherine has her own online shop and graphics business. She never hesitates to contribute to Ruby for Women. She says, “Being part of Ruby for Women is like getting a big hug every day.” Blog http://KatherinesCorner.com Blog Graphics at http://BlogArtByKatherine.com Shop http://KeepsakesByKatherine.etsy.com

Theresa Ceniccola is The Christian Mompreneur, a Mentor to Moms Who are Running a Business that Supports Faith and Family. She empowers entrepreneurial moms to build profitable businesses with wisdom and grace through the Christian Mompreneur Mastermind program and her professional Marketing services, which include copywriting, marketing and strategy consulting and private coaching. www.theresaceniccola.com.

Heather King is a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to three beautiful girls. A former English teacher, she now lives a life of doing dishes, folding laundry, finding lost toys and mending scraped knees. She treks to the grocery store more times a week than she’d like and struggles to keep up with chores, appointments and the to-do list that refreshes itself day after day. In addition to all that, she’s the worship leader at her church in Virginia, a Bible study teacher and women’s ministry leader. Somewhere in the middle of the noise, mess, and busyness of life, she takes time to meet with God at her kitchen table with a Bible, a journal and a cup of strong hot tea with lots of sugar. You can find her blogging about these times with God at her devotional site: Room To Breathe: http://heathercking.wordpress.com/ 102

Donna McBroom-Theriot, Writer. Book Reviewer. Southern Lady. My life is like an episode of "I love Lucy!" I'm a writer, book reviewer, and a Southern Lady who loves her Sweet Tea. My blog: My Life. One Story at a Time. I've been writing since 2009. As luck would have it, the very first short story I wrote was published within months of my writing it. This quote pretty much sums me up: "Deep in my heart, I know there’s no promise I’ll be free from trouble in this life. In fact, I’m usually either getting out of trouble, currently in trouble, or about to meet trouble around the next corner." Well, you know the saying, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" – that’s usually mine! Join me. It's bound to be a bumpy ride!

Sharmelle “Shar” of Sharmelle’s Graphic Haven, Graphic Design I am passionate about graphic design and photography, and I spend a great deal of time developing my talents. Like many, I had set my career aside for a few years while working on other projects, but I found that I missed working with others and feel that many people need support and encouragement to follow their dreams. I have recently resumed the art of design and photography, and I have trained myself in the modern tools of today’s visual artists, using the computer. I’m sure that if, when I was a child, I could have had a computer, I might not ever have gone to school at all! You can find my graphic designs for use on blogs and websites in the Ruby for Women community at Sharmelle’s Graphic Haven. http://rubyforwomen.ning.com/group/sharmelles-graphic-haven Full time mother and author, Corallie Buchanan, is a woman who writes from her heart. Corallie writes regularly for the Christian Woman magazine, Australia's premier magazine for Christian women. In addition to her editing her own work, she contributes material to a number of magazines in the US including The Haven Journal, Inspired Women Magazine, and Ruby for Women. Sharing God's message of love and forgiveness, and mentoring other young writers is her passion. Corallie is also the author of Watch Out! Godly Women on the Loose; a book which won her the award of Young Australian Christian Writer of the Year in 2007. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioural Studies from the University of Queensland, and a Master's Degree in Divinity from Malyon Baptist Theological College. She lives her with husband and daughter in Brisbane, Australia. . http://www.coralliebuchanan.com.au/

Patrice Dianne Wilkerson is 29 years old and lives in Nelson, VA.

She has been writing poetry since she was eight years old and has always aspired to be a poet. She published a book of poetry in 2010 entitled, “Through It All, I’m Going to Make It.” She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia in August of 2005 and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Liberty University Online in Lynchburg, VA in August of 2011. She enjoys writing Christian poetry because she wants to minister to others about the wonderful works of God.

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Rhea B. Riddle was born in Kentucky, in a little town on the Ohio River at the time of the famous flood of 1937, which may have contributed to her sense of drama, and to an amplified love of life. A world view influenced by gentle traditions and strong Christian family ties, boosted her desire to reflect the recollections of a willful (though loving) youngster who was filled with longings to explore, to reason, and write of the vibrations of daily living that surrounded her. She hopes to lure you with current life adventures (truth and fiction) as well as draw you to visit a time of “rewound” living!”

Deborah McCarragher, Devotional Contributor Deborah is the author of a Christian inspirational book for women titled “Mission Possible”. The book addresses living in a spiritually-uneven household. You can visit her website at www.AlabasterBoxPublishing.com for more information about her book. http://www.Twitter.com/unequalmarriage

Gloria Doty: I am a mother of 5 and grandmother of 13. I have owned a catering business, and a Grade A goat dairy. I have managed a restaurant, worked in retail and was Dir. of Children’s’ Ministries for a large church for 10 years. I have been writing since I was in third grade. I currently write 2 blogs about my youngest daughter, Kalisha, and our journey together through the world of mild mental retardation, autism and Aspergers. One blog is written for www.MOMS.FortWayne.com and is titled “Not Different Enough”. The other blog is www.gettingitright-occasionally.blogspot.com I write freelance articles for magazines and am a contributor to two devotional publications: Living the Gospel Life and Hope-Full Living. I do not believe it is possible to make it through a day without faith and a sense of humor, even in the darkest times and I try to always reflect that in my writing. My name is Lisa Simpkins and I have been working online for 15 years now. I have gained enough knowledge over the years to work in many different fields in online business. My specialty: Social Networking and Administration: Content provider, database, public relations, reputation management, member recruitment, marketing manager, link marketing, blog creation & branding/rank and community management.

Coach Deb Luxton: Christian Life & Leadership Coach for Executive and Professional Women I help professional women FIRE UP their leader within to eliminate “having it all together on the outside, while falling apart on the inside,” so they can embrace their authentic priorities and deepen relationships with those they love most. Your life is too important for anything else! Main website: http://debbieluxton.com ~ FREE Gift: http://debbieluxton.com/welcome Inspirational Decor and Gifts: http://myblessingsunlimited.net/debbieluxton Let’s Connect: http://twitter.comCoachDebLuxton http://linkedIN.com/CoachDebLuxton http://facebook.com/truthforlifesjourney 104

Gloria I. is a member of the Ruby for Women community where she is a friendly voice of encouragement and inspiration to all of the other members. Please stop by and visit Gloria on her personal page in the Ruby for Women community.

Jean Ann Williams is a writer and the author of God's Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother's Heart, a devotional book written following the death of her son, Joshua. You can connect with Jean Ann on one of her blogs: http://joshua-mom.blogspot.com/ http://jeanannwilliams.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth Baker is an author and retired counselor drawing on thirty-five years of experience helping individuals apply biblical principles to real-life situations. She currently lives in Pittsburg, Texas where she concentrates on her writing. A widow since her mid 30's, Elizabeth has four grown children, fifteen grandchildren, and six great-grands. You can find Elizabeth’s books at her website at www.elizabethbakerbooks.com

Amanda Stephan is a multi-published Christian romance author who loves sharing God’s love with others. A homeschooling mother and stay at wife, she finds pleasure in many things from sewing, to baseball and karate, to writing. She is currently working on a three book Christian romantic suspense series and resides in Columbia, TN, with her real-life hero husband of 8 years and two children. You can find Amanda at her website http://www.BooksByAmanda.com Her collaborative blog - http://www.thepriceoftrust.com Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/amandastephan and Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/creativehomemomma

Sharon Patterson, retired educator, career military wife, and leader in women's ministry, has written inspirational encouragement in various forms from greeting cards to short stories, poetry, and Bible studies for over thirty years. She has authored three books: A Soldier's Strength from the Psalms (2007); Healing for the Holes in Our Souls(2008); and Where Is Happy?(2011). She is a contributing author for Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayer; also Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps (Karen O'Connor,2004) and Special Strength for Special Parents (Nina Fuller, 2006). She and her husband Garry live in Round Rock, Texas. They have three sons and five grandchildren.

Debra Ann Eliot is a Southern granny who loves to cook. She is the author of several works, including two poetry books. Debra devotes herself to maintaining several blogs, but the one that is most dear to her heart is Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking. http://www.grannyssoutherncooking.blogspot.com/ Debra Elliott anngrayelliott1960@gmail.com 105

Kristi Burchfiel is an author of devotional and Bible study books, and she is also a contribution writer for Ruby for Women. Her daily devotionals for every day of the month are available on the Ruby for Women community website, as well as the Ruby for Women blog. You can also find her daily devotionals in the Ruby for Women magazine. For more information about the devotional and Bible study books by Kristi Burchfiel, please visit her blog at www.kristiburchfiel.com

Maria Greene is the author of twenty-three historical romances and two novellas. She is a mixed media artist. Among other interests she loves to garden, eat healthy, read, and educate people about the health benefits of therapeutic grade essential oils. She lives in Florida by the white sandy beaches, where she is currently at work on a fantasy trilogy. To check out her art, log on to her blog: www.greeneearthoriginals.blogspot.com and for more info about the essential oils of the Bible, please contact her at joyful7@gmail.com .She also has a health blog: www.greeneearthliving.blogspot.com Hey y’all! My name is Taylor DeVine. I live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere but I absolutely love it! Riding horses, working cattle, working with horses, reading, writing, running, and cooking are my passions. A mantra of mine is "Fearlessness." Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in, what you're passionate about, and what you know you have been equipped by the Holy Spirit to do. When you are waiting on God to open another door, praise Him in the hallway. Follow me on twitter: www.twitter.come/tndevine “Like” my page on Facebook: “Love Joyfully. Live Beautifully -Taylor DeVine” Subscribe to my blog www.heartofthewood.wordpress.com

Tricia Goyer

is an acclaimed and prolific writer, publishing hundreds of articles in national magazines including Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family while authoring more than twenty-five fiction and nonfiction books combined. Among those are 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Award winners Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights. She has also written books on marriage and parenting and contributed notes to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia lives with her husband and four children in Arkansas. Connect with Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com

Daphne Tarango is a freelance writer who comforts others with the comfort she has received from God. Daphne is a recovery speaker and writers’ group president. She has published numerous inspirational articles in print and online magazines, including several entries in two collections: Women of the Secret Place and Chronicles of a Walk with Christ. Daphne is married to Luis and in the past several months, has resigned from corporate life to take a position as a stayat-home mom of three adopted children. To connect with Daphne, visit her blog: http://DaphneWrites.com. Pop over and share your brave Mama story! 106

Michelle S. Lazurek has been a pastor's wife for over twelve years. Whether it is through writing counseling material, organizing ladies retreats or mentoring women in her church, Michelle considers each day an opportunity to find her place in God's story. In 2007, Michelle and her husband Joe planted Praxis Church. Michelle holds a Master's degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Liberty University. She has two beautiful children: Caleb and Leah. Michelle provides tips for busy writers on her blog The Writers’ Tapestry: Where Writing and Life Intertwine (www.mslazurek.wordpress.com).

Crystal Mary Lindsey is a retired registered nurse with specialties in emergency medicine and mental health. She enjoys sharing her inspirations of walking in faith in order to inspire and encourage others to live their dreams. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. Crystal lives in Australia.

Hilary Covil

lives with her husband and beagle in

Raleigh, NC. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism, Hilary Covil has written articles for The Wilson Times, The Star News, AOL’s Colesville Patch and The Advisory Board Company’s California Healthline and iHealthBeat. She has also written poems, stories and essays. Hilary finished writing a children’s book last year and is looking to self-publish it in February of next year. My name is Marilyn Porter and I live with my husband in Cary, N.C. I have 2 sons, 2 step daughters, and 6 grandchildren ages 5 to 17. My interests range from “tackling the computer to tackling a new craft, recipe, or writing endeavor” and I’m not sure which is more “enlightening.” I seem to take the “scenic route” and end up a little frazzled around the edges, but somehow manage to reach my destination! ☺ I would love for you to drop by my personal page in the Ruby for Woman community (if you’re not familiar with RFW, you just HAVE to check it out!) and send me a message so we can get to know each other better. God’s blessings wrapped in His love, Marilyn

Aileen Stewart is “just your average mom. A gum chewing, bubble blowing, shower singing, flower planting, cookie baking, craft making, photo taking, reading, WRITING, kind of mom who loves the Lord, her husband, soon to be eight year old daughter, and crazy cat Max. I have many interests and hobbies, but the two I'm most passionate about are writing and photography. I am a published award winning author of the book Fern Valley - A Collection of Short Stories and an award winning amateur photographer who was just blessed with a brand new Nikon 3100D. I'm super excited to start taking fabulous pictures with my dream camera. 107

Keith Wallis, Poet-in-Residence Keith Wallis is an English poet. He is a senior part of the leadership team of Houghton Regis Baptist church. An engineering designer by trade, he brings an eye for detail as well as faith into his poetry. As well as being ‘poet in residence’ at Ruby ezine, he is a moderator at ChristianWriters.com. His blog of ekphrasic poetry is: http://wordsculptures-keith.blogspot.com/ where you’ll also find links to his books and his other blogs. Married to Val in 1970, he has two sons and three grandsons. The eldest grandson is disabled and cannot communicate verbally. Though not an ‘academic’ (school was a disaster!) he was always fond of writing. He began submitting work for publication in the 1980’s after being encouraged by a community writer in residence.

Amanda Johnson, Assistant Editor Amanda has been writing for Ruby for Women for three years, and she has been a free-lance writer for several years, beginning her writing career as a young teen-ager. She also worked for Love Unveiled, a ministry to women in undeveloped countries around the world. Amanda brings experience as well as a passion for ministry to the work of Ruby for Women, and she has a heart for reaching out and touching the hearts and lives of women everywhere. Amanda will be working with all of our writers on their submissions, as well as assisting in keeping the Ruby for Women blog and website up-to-date with new information daily.

Nina Newton, Sr. Editor When all of my four older children were in school, I returned to college as a “non-traditional student.” Eventually, I earned degrees in Classics and Philosophy, and a graduate degree in Medieval Studies: History of Theology. After teaching at a small community college in Michigan for seven years, my husband and I were blessed with the adoption of our two beautiful daughters, Gracie and Annie. Gracie is 12 years old and Annie is 10. They were both born in China, and we were able to travel to China two times to bring our daughters home. We live in northern Indiana in a small farming community where I work on Ruby for Women in my home office. I also work at Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana as the Curriculum Assistant for the Graduate and Professional Programs, as well as teaching as an adjunct instructor in Biblical and theological studies. My personal blog is at www.mamaslittletreasures.com where I frequently post tutorials and patterns for crafts and other sewing projects, as well as weekly reflections on life as a woman, wife, mother, and daughter of the King.

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Credits and Copyrights All stories and articles are copyright by the authors. All pictures and images are copyright by the authors and / or have been purchased, used by permission or are in the public domain. If any pictures or images have been used inadvertently, and they do not belong in this publication, please email us and we will immediately remove them. Nothing in this issue of Ruby for Women may be reproduced, copied, or shared without the permission of the author. Advertising information is available at www.rubyforwomen.com/advertise Questions? Email Nina @ editor@rubyforwomen.com or Amanda @ ajohnson@rubyforwomen.com Ruby for Women is published by rubyforwomen.com All submission inquiries should be directed to Nina Newton, Sr. Editor Ruby for Women editor@rubyforwomen.com or Amanda Johnson, Assistant Editor ajohnson@rubyforwomen.com Advertising inquiries should be directed to editor@rubyforwomen.com Marketing / Business Consultant: Michelle Miller Creative Consultant, Katherine Corrigan of Made It For You www.madeitforyou.com Please visit our community website at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com to see how you can help support the ministry of Ruby for Women. Community Ning theme used by permission of Two by Two Designs.

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