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Things Not Done Before

The things haven't been done before

Those are the things to try.

Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore,

At the rim of the far-flung sky.

And his heart was bold and his faith was strong,

As he ventured in dangers new,

And he paid no heed to the jeering throngs

Or the fears of the doubting crew.

The things that haven't been done before

Are the tasks worth while.

Are you one of the flock that follows, or

Are you one of the timid souls that quail

At the jeers of the doubting crew,

Or dare you, whether you win or fail,

Strike out for the goal that's new?

-Unknown

"God has made a universe of moral and material law; when we break the laws we break ourselves upon the laws. We will reap the consequences in ourselves."

-Richard O. Brennan M.D.

Applying Hering's Law of Cure, To the Heart

In my ND studies there has been a reoccurring theme based on Hering's Law of Cure which states "All cure comes from within out, from the head down..." for example, if you have digestive issues you can one, take a tums or some other medication to suppress the symptoms and accept you may be doing so for the rest of your life, and also accept that later on in life other issues will probably develop. Or two, address the internal cause of the symptoms, whether it be your pH levels or you simply have an intolerance to a certain food. When the internal or source of the issue has been addressed then the external or the symptoms that we sense will naturally change on their own.

The concept of Hering's Law can also be applied to the heart. In this day and age there is culturally a strong emphases on external physical appearances, and in some cases no more so than in the Christian community. We have set up so many of our own standards as to what "is" and what "is not" appropriate, when a fellow Christian does not conform to or meet our standards we black ball them or write them off as being ungodly. We do not take the time to see where they have come from or in what direction they are headed. People are not marble statues fashioned in one way, then set on display, never to change, they are living changing beings.

Just like the body, the actions we display, how we dress, and the words we use, are the "external symptoms" with an internal cause. That cause being the condition of our heart. (The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45) We can pressure someone to change how they behave, but until their heart has been changed it is equivalent to taking a tums every time you sense your indigestion. Force will mask the symptoms for a while but symptoms inevitably come back.

This is where Hering's Law can be applied, our focus needs to be more on the curing of the heart, the root source of the external symptoms, making sure the heart lines up with God. Then externals will naturally start taking care of themselves.

How do we do this? One of the best ways is by reprogramming our thoughts "All cure comes from within out, from the head down..." (Do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2) What we fill our minds with on an everyday bases will effect us mentally, emotionally, and yes physically. We need to be continually filling our minds with the things of God, critically thinking about and discussing with other believers what we are reading and learning from the Bible, all the while remembering to give grace to others because they are going through the same process of curing sanctification, from the inside out, that we are.

They Should Be Social Faux Pas

I love studying human behavior and with my job I get ample time to watch (I'd say observe but that sounds too much like studying animals in the zoo or something) and interact with them. During this watching and interacting I mentally came up with a list of everyday day things people do that are just tacky, and I think should be considered social faux pas

• Cracking knuckles and other joints, its just a bad habit, and can have the tendency to make you look less confidant.
• Wearing foam flip flops and clogs, seriously they are not shoes people, keep the foam at the beach or in the garden. And we're not going to get into the whole health side of it, chemicals leeching into your skin and the more likeliness of bacteria growing...
• Wearing multiple animal prints, or an overdose on one, animal prints are a great way to add a lil' pizzaz to an outfit. However when the shoes, purse, belt, shirt, and coffee cup are all in cheetah, that is what is known as an over kill. Remember accessories don't need to match just go together.
• Not covering your mouth while coughing, sneezing or yawning, its just tacky
• Cluttering up Facebook news feed with continuous status updates, Don't get me wrong I think Facebook is a great tool for keeping in contact with people, but we don't need to be informed every time you walk the dog or take a pie out of the oven (that is unless you're planning on giving us some)
• Talking on the phone while checking out or ordering at a counter, I know some conversations are important so either finish it first or ask the person on the phone to wait a moment, it makes the person serving you feel slightly less awkward
• Texting while spending time with other people, how often have you seen it or had it happen to you, you're talking to your friend about getting together and it ends with a "can't wait to see ya got so much to catch up" then when you finally do get together you both spend the time texing other people. Enjoy being with who you are with, the text can wait a bit (unless it your parents)
• Gages, seriously why would you want huge holes in your ears, what are you gonna do with when your old? string your oxygen tube through them?
• Spitting, its just disgusting, the end
• Guys constantly hikin' up their pants, thats what belts are for or maybe a size that fits
• Flannel pajama pants, aren't clothes I don't care if they color coordinate with your fuzzy slippers, flip flops or crocks, they should not come out of the house
• Guys not wearing shirts in public, I'm sorry sir its just not cool to see you walking around town with your shirt tucked into the back of your pants, it somewhat resembles a tail, and looks decidedly "Hickish". What happened to men wearing suits when they went out? No shirt at the beach or in the privacy of your own home and yard ok maybe, but not when you go out on the town.
• Cursing and swearing, shows a decided lack of self-control and ignorance i.e. the inability to properly express yourself do to the inadequacy of your vocabulary

It's a Dari-Ripple Night...

Was the cry that went throughout the house.

Growing up this joyous deceleration has always been started by my dad, and is only uttered once maybe twice a year.

Not any ordinary night can be a Dari-Ripple Night, its all in the air, maybe its the soft breeze, the warm sun, the song of the birds...I don't know, but there's something there and it speaks of summer.

Its on theses special nights that the rallying cry goes out, ringing up the stairs through the kitchen and down the hallway, as its passed from one excited person to the next. Everyone in the family knows when they hear it all is to be abandon, shoes found, and a quick dash made for the van. Its amazing how fast 9 people can be gathered from the four corners of the house.

Tonight was one of these nights, the call went out and we all answered, clamoring to the van for the five minute trip to Walworth.

There really is nothing that compares with a spontaneous trip to the local ice cream shop to herald in summer and good memories.

Happy Weekend Everyone

Ma Can We Keep 'Em?

The other day was my day off...Grant my brother/partner in crime and I were sent to the store. That store we haunt the most, the store Americans depend on, the store that is always there for us, filled with people and always low prices. And this day was no exception, it was a cold damp and rainy Tuesday and everyone who was anyone was at Walmart. Grant and I were hoping to to get in and out as quick as possible but our "small" list was growing with every text message. At last our weary feet pushed our loaded cart towards the cash register, and the process of waiting, unloading, paying and reloading began. We weren't really paying attention to all the people passing in the din of voices and bleeep bleeeep of the registers but for some reason I looked up, and when I did so saw a Mother pushing her cart loaded with white bags and a young child. She was met by 3 of the cutest little boys coming from the opposite direction (seriously they looked like they had just stepped out of a Pottery Barn catalog) As the little group approached the mother their faces beaming excitement, the middle boy who had curly blond hair shouted "Look mom, at what we found" and triumphantly held up four green X-box game cases which oddly enough appeared to be dripping wet. She replied with a very motherly "Where did you find those?" and the triumphant response of the three boys in unison was "In the bathroom toilet" You can imagine the chaos that followed in the next 5 seconds amid the squeals of their mother and the suppressed giggles of the on lookers as the boys were rushed to customer service to return their discovery and get germ-x'ed one and all.

When the excitment was over everyone went back to what had previously occupied them, now with a smile haunting the corners of their mouths.

Only at Walmart

+<|:-)

Nineteen years ago today my brother Grant made his debut in the world...making it just a little bit more interesting for all of us.

Happy Birthday lil' Bro, Thanks for being you

Wednesday Evenings Are Just Better With Chocolate Covered Strawberries

It's Wednesday already (well actually almost Thursday:) I've heard the older you get the faster time goes...you never believed it as a kid, especially when counting down the days till your next Birthday.

But here I am, on Wednesday evening sitting cross-legged on the deliciously fluffy red couch that makes its home in our family room, with my laptop and a cup of coffee near at hand...and did I mention chocolate covered strawberries? Yes that decadent treat is here with me too.

The earlier part of the evening I spent with my good friend Brooke at the tennis court, where we practiced our insane tennis skills. To put it more accurately she did and I tried. Tennis is my latest undertaking, I've always wanted to be able to play, so this year I decided to stop talking and just do it. Its one of those classic, somehow more refined sports kind of like golf, but a lot more fun. And while right now I just get excited when I hit the ball in the right direction, I fully intend to have my tennis partner dancing over the court by summers end.

As some of you probably know today is national "May the 4th Be With You" day and with my brothers sitting next to me watching Star Wars (have you ever noticed how Luke Skywalker looks like an oversized Justin Bieber) and eating my chocolate covered strawberries, I thought I should post my favorite version of Star Wars...because what could be better than organic talking food.

Life, In the Recent Past

When I was younger I thought it would be a good to chronicle the everyday events of my young and unfolding life in a Journal...well I must admit I never got far past "Dear Jornel, Today was good I did scool, and playd cant weight for tomorow we are going..." as the time past I got the idea I should start a monthly news letter entitled "The StoneHill Gazette" and fill it with interesting tid bits of randomnesses and of the latest happenings with our family, but I'm afraid to say that publication went from monthly, to bimonthly, to quarterly and then fell out of circulation altogether. Next came the age of the blog, but how much easier it is to post on Facebook "I am sitting on a chair drinking coffee, it is good lol :)" and have it repost to Twitter, MySpace, Buzz and the 20 odd other social medial sites that can all be linked together for the ease of the one posting, than it is to sit down and write a hopefully, semi entertaining, somewhat inelegant post for a blog. But this I shall attempt, as I give a quick recap of the cold,wet and dark days of November, I mean April.

Not much happened in the first half of the month, that is out of the ordinary... those doing school did, those working went, and we all waited for spring to come and stay.

Easter found all 9 of us dressed in our Sunday best, and headed off to church. After church Grandpa and Grandma Strand came over and we like I would guess many did that day, partook of a delicious ham dinner followed by the traditional Bunny cake. The rest of the day

was spent enjoying each others company or resting.

Last Tuesday Faith Christian School held a fundraiser banquet, with Gov. Mike Hukabee as the keynote. The sit down semi formal event was held at the Abbey Resort. Governor Hukabee had many good points on the issues of morals or the lack there of that seems to be permeating the culture at large especially the youth of today in America. There were a few people I knew and many more who's faces I recognized... overall it was a very enjoyable evening.

Yes for those of you who want to know I did get up dark and early in the morning of April 29 to watch the Royal Wedding. I even went a step farther and hosted a Watch party complete with tea, lemon curd and scones (thank you Powers) We had a "Guesses Kate's Dress" game and saw both royal kisses before we responsibly drug ourselves off to a Friday of work.

I think that about sums up April's happenings...it's hard to believe that May is already upon us.

The Wal-Mart Sagas Continues...

The other day I was at Wal-Mart minding my own business (isn't that how they all start). It was just going to be a quick in and out. I was on my way home from spending a few profitable hours at the library, there was a slight warmth in the air the kind that makes you dare to hope spring has once again triumphed over a long Wisconsin winter, and I was wearing a new pair of heels. My mission was to pick up the needed items for my Grandpa's birthday cake and a can of hairspray.

I successfully got the hairspray, eggs, and milk then started down aisle 9 The Baking aisle. It was slightly crowded but not terribly, there was the mother with the crying kid, the guy with the "wal-mart stare" and a very very large old guy on one of those mobile scooter things (graciously provided by the noble establishment for the service of half its customers and the detriment of the other half). He was loudly informing his wife that they needed Pam Spray and "No not the cheap off brand" he couldn't cook with that. And there I was amidst all this looking for the few things on my list when he turned to me and said

"And what are you looking for?" I remembering my manners and not really having any objection to talking to people replied

"Light Corn Syrup"

"Why do you need that?"

"I'm making a raspberry filling for a chocolate cake."

He replied "HmmmH I'm not much of a baker, but I can cook. But I can't cook without my Pam Spray"

I said a polite "Oh" accompanied with a smile and a nod as he then went on his way. Not thinking much about it I preceded on down my list to the aisle where the instant pudding (makes for a moister cake) and marshmallows are. When I heard the soft humm of those wal-mart scooters that we all know so well coming up behind m and the a familiar voice said "Oh there you are Hun I was looking for you" When I turned I was facing the Pam Spray Guy. I replied with a slightly surprised "Oh Yes?"

He then went on to tell me that he worked as cook for forty years, and thats why he could cook but not bake. Then Mr. Pam Spray Guy asked what I did for a living. I told him I worked at a Gluten Free Health food store.

He said "A what?"

So I repeated a little louder "A gluten free health food store"

"Uhhh, Oh, a health food store, I see hun thats why you look the way you do and I look the way I do."

Not knowing how to respond I just uttered another "Oh" with a smile and polite laugh.

He then said "Ok what I wanted to tell you is how to make the best caramel ever with just evaporated milk" At which I nodded respectfully to, and randomly throughout the "How To" that followed. When he was done I thanked him and said it sounded interesting. He said

"Have a nice day it was great talkin' ta ya hun. And then he scootered off on his merry way, that was the last I saw of the Pam Spray Guy and his scooter.

Cupcakes, Black Nail Polish, and a Tacky Red Necklace...it Must be Valentine's Day

Special days, Oh how they come punctually every year on their appointed date. And Valentine's Day is no different, as soon as Christmas is over the hearts, stuffed animals and red heart shaped boxes of cheap chocolate start making their appearance on store shelves. For some its a day to show that special person how much they mean to you and for others well...they refer to it as "Single's Awareness Day".

This year I'm afraid I find myself in the camp of the later group, but being like any girl worth her weight in mascara I won't let the chance to have a themed celebration pass me by. My sisters Eleanor, Maggie and I made strawberry

flavored cupcakes with pink and red heart shaped sprinkles (what is a cupcake without sprinkles? It's kinda the same concept as a rose by any other name...) even the the muffin cups we bought have hearts on them. My Mom is planning on making her delicious traditional Valentine's Day dinner of Lasagna, green salad, and rolls.

A good friend of mine recently told me, this year she planned to paint her nails black for Valentine's Day and every year following till she is engaged, then she will proudly paint them red. I decided I must do the same (I know, I know... I said black nails were for dead people...or those in mourning:)

While I was at Walmart with Maggie the other day picking up the needed items for our "Love Day Cupcakes" as she called them, I stumbled across the most tacky red necklace, with its oversizes red jewels hanging linked together and suspended from a red ribbon. Why in the world would I buy such a tacky piece of adornment you ask? Well for no other reason that it was the exact same red as the heels I plan to wear and I needed something to liven up my otherwise dull outfit of black dress pants and off-white fine knit sweater...Oh and it was 50% off. One must dress for the day you know.

Y'all have a great Valentine's day, and remember we can love because He first loved us.

(1 John 4:19)

Hairdo

February has come, and with it has come the winter blues (somehow I think they come hand in hand) And like most gals when they get the blues, we ether go shopping, eat chocolate, or try and give our appearance a make-over. If we have a real bad case of "Winterocyanosis" (some refer to it as winter blues or cabin fever) then we might do all three. I being much the same as any other female in the great race of females, suffer from my share of this annual affliction. Thus a remedy had to be decided upon. I was pretty sure no amount of vitamin D would help this point (however big a fan of Vitamin D I be), I must change my hair style that was all there was too it. The next question then became "to what should I change it?" You know as well as I that there is nothing worse then going in for a smashing new look and coming out sporting the latest disaster of 2011.
So I went to Google (cuz well it just seems to have an answer for everything)

And after much searching and looking at all the other people who are proudly sporting disasters of their own...I came across Instant Makeover on People.com. And amused myself greatly (probably way longer then I should of) trying on different hair styles and makeup. Still not exactly sure what my new-do will be but I have an idea of what I'm going for... now just how to describe it without it sounding like an overgrown mullet of 2011... :)

In Honor of the Snow

Because as my Dad has always said "What you can't cure, You must endure."