the kaleidoscope

• Read labels and avoid purchasing over-packaged, non-recyclable single-serving products.
• Purchase natural, biodegradable, non-phosphate, non-toxic, non-aerosol, non-plastic products.
• Avoid items produced by companies that are known exploits of the environment.
• Avoid temptation to purchase marine life – dead or alive. Coral reefs around the world are being decimated by mass harvesting for the “curio” (i.e. souvenirs/dust collectors, jewelry and aquariums).
• Conserve energy by sharing rides, buying fuel efficient cars, riding bikes, and walking when possible.
• Call the municipal power company to conduct a free energy survey of your home or office, and then act on it.
• Conserve water by using water-reduced fixtures, limit shower time and fix leaks promptly.
• Landscape with native plants and trees and avoid species that require watering. Mulching around trees and shrubs helps retain moisture.
• Reduce rainwater runoff through landscaping and porous pavements.
• Composting organic kitchen and yard waste is a free and healthy alternative to chemical fertilizers.
• Hand-weeding and removal of insects and eggs is an effective alternative to chemical pesticides for minor pest problems. Try natural pesticides like tobacco water or hot pepper for more serious infestations.
• Encouraging natural predators, panting a variety of species together (versus clusters of one species), planting pest resistant plant and companion plants that have insect-repelling properties all are great options for pest control.
• Sort your trash according to local recycling laws; try to compost organic matter and yard waste, and purchase recycled products to support the industry.
• If curbside recycling hasn’t reached your area yet, call your municipality to find the nearest location of your nearest receptacles.
• Recycle old clothing and other unwanted items through yard sales. What does not sell, donate to a local charity.
• Recycle old motor oil and antifreeze at gas stations that have the facilities.

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord’s voice. The young man couldn’t help but wonder, “Does God still speak to people?”

After service he went out with sine friends for coffee and pie and hey discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them to different ways.

It was about ten o’clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just bean to pray, “God… if you listen. I will do my best to obey.”

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, “God, is that you?” he didn’t get a reply and started on toward home. But again he thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. The young man though about Samuel and how he didn’t recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. “Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk.” It didn’t seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased a gallon of milk and started of toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, “Turn down that street.” This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, “Okay,. God, I will”. He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi commercial area of town. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst of neighborhood either.

The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people of the houses were already in bed. Again, he sensed something,” Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street. “ The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. “Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid.” Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door,” Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don’t answer right away, I am out of here.” He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear so noise inside. A man’s voice yelled out, “Who is it? What do you want?”

Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and t-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn’t seem to be happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.

“What is it?” the young man thrust out the gallon of milk, “Here, I brought his to you.” The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying.

The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, “We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn’t have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me. How to get some milk.” His wife in the kitchen yelled out, “I asked him to send an angel with some. Are you an angel?”

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put it in the man’s hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers our prayers.

according to drs. sari harrar and rita demaria in their book 7 Stages of Marriage, the fourth stage is called the cooperation stage. this usually happens to those who have been happily married for more than five years, have dynamic professional careers, have busy schedules and money management is a big issue. because of all these, how then do you keep romance alive? check this out:

• schedule regular date nights. however important your home and work schedules may be, your time alone with your spouse is even more so. so keep that date!
• ask and communicate. don’t take your other half for granted just because you’ve been together for a long time. keep your communication line open, asking each other how you both are ("how’s your love tank?" for example). this will keep you both happy with each other.
• do the things you used to do. go  back to the things you used to do during the early stages of your relationship. enkindle the fires of early romance and keep it burning.
• get away from the hustle. a weekend alone with your spouse, or even just a night, will be a great help towards adding spark to your marriage.
• date at home. there are pockets of child-free times when the kids are out or in school. use these times to be together.

when you do these suggestions, make sure you focus on each other, not on children, the finances, etc. get to know each other again and be surprised anew at this great gift of a person just waiting for you to discover.

(rd.com)

Aren’t these a very glamorous jewelry to look at? But you too can have this set of these much wanted accessories by just visiting mod2vint.com. You can now enhance your style by pairing it with their featured very beautiful necklaces, bracelets, rings, and trendy earrings. Whatever style and color of dresses you have, you can always look for matching lovely accessories in here with an affordable price to spend for a luxurious “blings”.

Most ladies would feel incomplete if they have the very elegant dress but missed the jewelries to let them glow, so pairing them with stylish accessories with the dress they wear will satisfy any occassion. So here’s more of fashion rings for your gentle fingers for a romantic holding hands. Look for the color and style and you’ll all find it here with a reasonable price of course for a better and exciting jewelry shopping. Diamonds are girl’s best friend indeed.

These aren’t for ladies only, men also can choose different accessory from here to give as a gift to their wife may be, or girlfriends or mother or even the most fitted for grandmother.

Gold, silver or crafted, as long as fashion is there you can always rely on this site for a number of choices for your accessories that girls will surely be interested and be loved.

are your kids on a loose end this summer? why don’t you teach them to do a little business on the side? or if they don’t have the inclination to be the next child millionaire, start them off by earning extra cash with some of these ideas:

• bake sale. teach her a simple cookie or cake recipe (there are no-bake recipes at supermarkets) and sell these items at the church yard or in front of your house. or let her prepare a flyer to distribute to friends and family.
• summer jobs. some companies have summer job openings. let your child check out the company he’s interested in working for and let him apply.
• school job. your kid’s school might even have an opening this summer for him or her. ask and you might be surprised at the answer.
• hire him yourself. you might have some housework you’ve been meaning to do for a long time but has never had the time to do. why not hire you own child? this will give you a chance to teach job responsibilty in a practical way, and to observe how he uses money. (parentingtweens.suite101.com)

Experiencing the fun and exciting activities done in circus is likely to be the dream of everyone especially during our childhood days. We tend to be amazed by the entertainers, magicians and other circus characters by their extraordinary skills and talents.

This time, it’s time for our kids especially those who are near Westchester County, New York to join the Circus Camp New York. This activity aims to fulfill one’s dream of a child to be part of a circus family. As young as 4 ½-6½, parents can already engage their kids learn in the Circus Arts Camp New York.

This Summer Camp is a worry-free for parents because you can always entrust your child to their directors and staff and that they are in a very much well-known location for an easy searching because what matters to them is the wellness of your child when it comes to both physical and presentation skills since this will showcase their hidden talents and skills.

Sure your child will love to experience juggling, balancing, aerial parts and trapeze, unicycle, trampoline, clowning and performance, wire-walking, and acrobatics. Sounds like challenging? With this Circus Summer Camp New York your child will not only enjoy, it will also serve as one of their lessons both physical and mental aspect.

So kids, pull out mommy and daddy now to enroll on this. I’m sure you’ll love it.

It’s summer time once again! As we welcome the sun, the sea and vacation days (at least for the kids), let’s keep these things in mind to prevent heat-related illnesses for ourselves and for our loved ones:

·   Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, and avoid alcoholic beverages.

·   Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing that will cover as much skin as possible.

·   Plan outdoor games and activities for early morning or evening.

·   Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.

·   Avoid extreme temperature changes.

(mass.gov)