sophie woman's magazine jan 2014

S phieWo m a n ’s M a g a z i n e

INSPIRATION ~ EDUCATION ~ MOTIVATION

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INSIDE:Girlfriends In God ~ The Unsearchable Greatness of God!| 5

Reaching Your Full Potential ~Become a Brand New You in 2014!| Page 6

Me, Myself, & Inc. ~ Is Your DESIRE Enough?| Page 29

shutterbuggerz pg 36

StorybookBeginnings

pg 23

from theMessage

Heart

Bras will be on display and visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite bras.

Frye Regional Medical Center presents this special fundraiser to benefit cancer patients in our community. You are invited to design an artful bra representing your personality, to honor someone special, or just for the fun of it!Brought to you by Frye Regional Medical Center.

January 2110 a.m. - 7 p.m. at

Frye Cancer Support Center328 N. Center St. in Hickory

The winning bra designs will be announced and the artists will be revealed! Join us for this memorable event featuring light refreshments and musical entertainment by The Harris Brothers!

January 245:30 - 9:30 p.m. atThe Warehouse

18 2nd St. SE in Hickory

The cost to register your bra design is $20. Tickets to the Main Event are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door. For more information,

please call Melissa Teague at 828-315-5092 or Tina Watts at 828-315-5951 or visit us online at www.fryemedctr.com/BrasBecause.

InspiredARE YOU

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?C

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2014 Bras Because Sophie.pdf 1 12/9/2013 10:59:11 AM

From The Editor: Judy Smith

www.sophiewomansmagazine.com | pg 3

from theMessage

HeartJust a date on the calendar…..I don’t think so. New Year’s stirs a lot

of different feelings about the day and the New Year. We jump to make new resolutions…again. If you are anything like me, the same ones go on my list year after year and usually make it, well, maybe two weeks on a good year. On leap years, it might extend to two weeks and one day. Yet, the next New Year rolls around and I think of all the things I want to change, to do better at, to be a better person.

The incredible thing is we get another chance. How amazing that is to

really grasp that concept. The Bible tells us “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion’s fail not. They are new every morning”. I don’t know whether you believe in God or not but think about this. I do believe and I am so thankful for the new chance every single day; actually every single minute. Even if you don’t believe in God you still have a new day every morning you awake. So what do we do with it?

One very important thing is to take responsibility for the day. That

is not always an easy thing to do, especially if you have had a lot of hard knocks. May I share something with you from my heart? We can always find somewhere to hang our hat of failures on. If I was looking for “reasons” why I am not the person I want to be, I could go way back in my life. I could point to so many circumstances that were beyond my control that had terrible consequences. Circumstances that I could always “use” to be less than I am.

Yet today is a new day. Imagine the possibilities! Sophie Woman’s

Magazine is about those new possibilities. I clung to hope as a child. Hope that life could be better than I witnessed. I have found the truth in that Hope of a New Day; of mercies new every morning. It does not matter that circumstances were beyond my control or if they were of my own making. I made plenty of wrong choices and I am sure I will make plenty more. I can blame yesterday or I can change today.

This is the new day. This is the new moment of your life. How do you

want your life to be right now? Are you blaming someone else, bad luck or maybe even blaming God? Right now you have the responsibility to be the person you want to be. I want to be the best person I can be. I want to be the best wife, mother, grandmother, friend, etc. that I can be. I want my life to honor God and I don’t want to make mistakes. But…..I will.

Wait….here comes another breath, another moment, another New

Year’s Day. Hallelujah for mercies new every morning.

**********************************************************Disclaimer: Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC is published monthly. The articles published in Sophie do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. All articles are intended for informational purposes only, and none should serve as a substitute for doctor’s advice and orders. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content and validity of information published within their ads and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. Deceptive or misleading advertising is not knowingly accepted by the publisher. Advertising is accepted with the understanding that all liability for copyright violations is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the sole propertyof the advertiser. Sophie Woman’s Magazine LLC’s publishers, staff, and other persons involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the magazine (in whatever format) or ti’s content, do not assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in the magazine, nor shall they be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of the use of the magazine.**********************************************************

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S phieWoman’s Magazine

Message From The Heart......................................pg 3Reaching Your Full Potential................................pg 6Sophisticated Women............................................pg 8The Front Porch.....................................................pg 11The Fly Lady.........................................................pg 12Girlfriends In God................................................pg 15Health & Fitness Tips...........................................pg 16Teaching Your Kids To Cook............................pg 19Finding Your Passion.. Behind The Rumors.....pg 20Dinner Diva.........................................................pg 22Storybook Beginnings..........................................pg 23Me, Myself, & Inc................................................pg 29Design Inspiration for 2014.................................pg 30Recipes For Life...................................................pg 33Praying Kids Are Scary.......................................pg 35Shutterbuggerz.....................................................pg 36

*Now Available*SUBSCRIPTIONS

We have been asked by many of our readers to offer a subscription to Sophie Woman’s Magazine. If you would like more information about a subscription,

please visit our website at:www.sophiewomansmagazine.com

You can also find more information on page 10 of this issue.

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pg 6 | Sophie Woman’s Magazine | January 2014

by Kim Fletcher, Life Coach, Author, Speaker

REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL: Become a Brand New You in 2014!

“It only takes one person to change your life – YOU.” Ruth Casey

Here we sit perched on the edge of a new year, a fresh chance for a new life. But all too often, we envision change only to get caught back up in the familiar old patterns which lead to mediocrity at best and failure at worst.

Philip Humbert challenges, “Focus on the truth that, ‘Well begun is half done.’ What will you achieve in 2014? Who will you become? Define your outcomes, develop clear and measurable plans, and Start Smart! Habits and routines are powerful things. They are so powerful that without concrete, specific actions, the future tends to look an awful lot like the past, only more so. Do not let that happen! Decide NOW that in 2014, you will Start Smart and Finish Strong.”

I am always excited to receive Humbert’s newsletter, a leader in the coaching realm. His thoughts always seem to spark my best

thought, taking me from mere ideas to deeper innovative ways of thinking. This month, he urged his readers and coaching clients to consider Thanksgiving as the mark of their end-of-year review as a powerful place to begin visioning into the New Year.

His challenge, while more of a chronological and strategic idea led me to another thought: The best place to begin new actions, new strategies, new ways of thinking is from the place of a THANKFUL HEART.

Humbert went on in his newsletter challenge to suggest the following… (perfect ideas as we launch into 2014)

“Take the next few weeks to review your successes and failures for 2013. Notice what worked and what didn’t. List the opportunities, challenges and changes you want to make in 2014. Ponder them. Talk them over with your partners and loved ones. And by January, have a clear list, a new calendar and a budget for 2014.” He went on to highlight several KEY areas we should each consider if we want to turn 2014 into our best year to date.

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About Kim...Kim Fletcher is a Life Coach, Speaker and three-time Author of global impact. She and her team at Kim Fletcher Associates are bringing true transformation to the personal and professional lives of their clients. Contact her directly to learn more about her newest release, The Tension Point: Breaking Through To Where You Want To Be. 828 327 0749 / email: [email protected] / web: kimfletcherassociates.com.

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Start Smart: Income and Spending…1. Review your income and expenses. Any surprises? Any frustrations? Any changes you want to make for next year? Will your spending reflect your values and priorities?Start Smart: Business and Career…2. How did you do last year? Did you hit your goals, grow your business or advance your career? What did you learn? What are your top three opportunities for 2014?Start Smart: Community and Relationships…3. Were your most important relationships rich and satisfying in 2013? If so, how will you keep the momentum going? Or, if not satisfied, what will you change? What do you want for your community, your circle of influence and other contacts in 2014?Start Smart: Fitness and Health…4. How well did you care for yourself in 2013? Are there changes you should make in your weight, fitness, sleep or nutritional habits? Are you healthier than you were 12 months ago? (If not, how can you be by the end of 2014?)Start Smart: Spirituality and Personal Growth…5. This is a broad category, but WHO do you want to become and how will you grow as a person in 2014? What do you believe about the BIG QUESTIONS in life and how are your beliefs expressed in your daily life? What skills or habits will you adopt in 2014?

Start Smart to envision and become a Brand New YOU in 2014.” Philip Humbert

I am grateful for the people who influence my day to day life. For your greatest successes to become reality in 2014, take time to surround yourself with positive individuals who have already arrived at your desired life destinations as well as a few who want to arrive where you are. Life is balanced when we need others while also recognizing those who need us.

When you develop a strong “COMPANY” of like-minded individuals committed to mutual accountability and growth, you are not likely to fail! I love the quote by Ruth Casey that led off this article: “It only takes one person to change your life – YOU.” That is so true. It is also often true that, in order to achieve new heights, we must surround ourselves with success partners.

I want to believe that I left behind a few changed lives in those I was honored to coach and mentor in 2013. Perhaps it is your turn? Consider choosing a coach, a mentor, a consultant to empower you to reach ultimate heights in 2014. Go ahead… send a card, an email or make a call to the person who comes to mind in this moment. Partner up for success and lets change the world together, starting with ourselves! Much love and much success from my household to yours for 2014!!!

By Nicole Greer, PPCC Founder and Principle Coach at Vibrant Coaching Are AccountableSophisticated Women...


Doing what you say you are going to do. This is the essence of accountability. The concept seems easy enough. Articulate what you are going to do and follow through.

No problem. Right?Wrong.It’s been my personal experience that accountability as a

character trait is fleeting. I know it’s a struggle because I have trouble myself.…with myself.

Why is it that I can’t do the very things I say I want to do? A good look in the mirror both literally and figuratively tells me that it’s because I need help in the accountability process. I need a partner to remind of what I say I really want. If I make a declaration in the new year that I really want to lose 20 pounds, I am going to need someone to hold me up, force me to examine my life, and be relentlessly bold in reminding me of what I say I want. What I need is a sophisticated woman or an army of sophisticated women to help me stay accountable. I have stated this before but it bears repeating. A reader of Sophie Women’s Magazine is sophisticated. This means (you reading this) you are developed to a high level of complexity. You operate on the cutting edge, and lack naivete. You have worldly knowledge and refinement or maybe like me you REALLY long for these characteristics. I DO really want to be sophisticated. I want my behaviors to align with the idea that I know what is right and I know what is wrong. I want to have integrity in my words and deeds.

How about you? I invite you to join me! Let’s wake up and get conscious

about the behaviors that will serve us in the new year. Let’s get an accountability partner and do what we say we’re going to do. Then let’s make a resolution and see it through.

A resolution is defined by Merriam-Webster online as: the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict or problem. So, what’s your problem that needs a solution?

Me?I really do want to lose 20 pounds and feel great in my

own skin. I long to be the sophisticated woman that wears her clothes well, takes care to feed herself in a healthy manner, and is ultimately awake not naive to the reality that you only have one life to live and there’s a choice to do it in a fit and fabulous way or… not. I can’t tell you I don’t know how to lose the weight. That would be a lie. I imagine a few of you reading this feel a tweak of your own conscious? I know exactly what to do. I need to eat good food and

exercise. Period. So, what’s your resolution? What do you really want? What problem do you long to resolve for good in 2014?Name it.Now, let’s take some next right steps in accountability.

First: I want to encourage you to seek out another sophisticated woman who is strong enough to hold you up, willing to confront you, and so courageous that she will call you out when you lack commitment. Accountability of course comes from the word: account. To ‘account for’ means: to give reason for a particular action or event. It also means to satisfy an arrangement or to make a payment, which is due. The ideal of accountability is easy enough to understand, but it wasn’t crystal clear until I took my coaching training that I was given a formula for being held accountable as well as for holding others accountable. This formula lays out exactly how accountability is structured.

State what you are going to do. • State when and how you are going to do it. • State when and how you are going to account for your • progress.

I’ll use my personal ‘want’, losing 20 pounds as an example.

State what you are going to do. Write out in detail the ideal resolution to your problem. Example:

I, Nicole Greer, want to lose 20 pounds. I have a closet full of clothes that are just waiting for me to fit back into them! In 2014, I want to reclaim my closet, my confidence and my character by putting back on my favorite Levi’s as well as my green silk Calvin Klein dress. I want to be comfortable in a swimsuit this summer. And once again, I want to enjoy shopping for an outfit for a special occasion. To do this, I will choose the behavior of getting up early to walk or to practice yoga, or strength training. I know that doing these activities will shift my body, its chemistry and my thinking. I do these activities in service to myself, my family,

and in honor of the creator who gave me the gift of life!

If I do this, I will eliminate my problems which include:the dread of facing my wardrobe


Sophisticated Women...At its deepest level, working with a coach frees you to indentify your birthright gifts, discern your deepest passions, and fulfill your highest purpose. A coach can pry you off dead center. As Principal Coach for Vibrant Coaching and Workshop Leader for The Lydia Group, LLC, a collaboration of individuals focused on work, life and spiritual growth, Nicole is on a mission to impact, energize, and influence people to lead a Vibrant Life by engaging the possibilities. As a life and business coach and workshop leader, Nicole views her role as a conduit to release all that you want to achieve. www.thevibrantcoach.com/www.thelydiagroup.com

the frustration of going to special eventsavoiding activities outdoors in the summer (Hello! I live on

Lake Norman.)angst while shopping for something newand finally I confess my embarrassment of facing people

as the “Vibrant Coach” while being overweight.

Second: State when and how you are going to do it. Change the problem into a ‘S.M.A.R.T.’ goal. The acronym S.M.A.R.T. stands for a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Example:

Specific:• I wlll lose 20 pounds moving the scale from 137 to 117.Measurable:• I will eat five small meals a day with equal amounts of protein and carbohydrates with less than 5 grams of fat. I will workout six days a week for at least 20 minutes.Achievable:• I will follow a meal plan that is in fact planned in advance so that I have what I need so I am enabled to succeed.Realistic:• I will give myself one free day a week to rest my body as well as to eat anything I want. This free day will give me the mental model that I have a day to enjoy all that life has to offer. This will be the day that I cook recipes I love while feeding my epicurian desires.Timely:• I will start on January 1, 2014 and report out to you the Sophie Magazine Readers on my progress monthly.

Third: State when and how you are going to account for your progress. Report out to a sophisticated woman who cares about your life and wants to see you SHINE! There’s no room for humility and shame in asking for help. I…you…need accountability! Accountability is essential in life. Find someone who is sophisticated in their life with regard to the problem you have. Ask them to see you through to resolving your problem. Both being held accountable and being the accountability partner refines both women in the accountability process. It gives both parties the experience and knowledge that they have the capacity grow and become ever more sophisticated.

So, will you hold me accountable? Here’s my before picture taken at the Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders program I facilitated. Like I said, “There’s no room for humility and shame, only room for improvement.


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Porch


by Judy SmithFrontThe

PorchThink back over the years and there is a great possibility that a porch

of some sort brings back memories for you. I consider a porch any place you can sit and experience the outside….even an enclosed porch. Heck, even a stoop can be a porch. Many tines, I have just set on a step and had the pleasure of a porch. Do you have the picture in your mind of a favorite porch memory yet?

Why my fascination with porches? To me, it represents many things

but mostly a place to be quiet before God and reflect on things going on in my life, to think of memories past and to “see” the splendor of God’s Creation.

I have to sort through many memories to find a favorite. My husband

and I love the beach and I love sitting on the balcony (another version of porch). There are many great memories from there and all the other balconies I have been blessed to take advantage of. One of our girls has the most beautiful screened porch and we have precious memories sitting, having family events or just watching the kids play.

A brand new experience that I was blessed with was when my “sisters”

invited me over to one of their houses and her porch was transformed into Santa Land. I punctuated sisters because I don’t have sisters and they adopted me in as one of theirs. I told you I was blessed. That evening will be a favorite memory for sure.

There have been unforgettable memories that I am not sure could ever

be put in the favorite category but definitely ones that will never fade. Like the time when I was a young girl sweeping the porch and a hornet flew up my dress. My parents had always told me if I stood real still a bee would not sting me. I am sure as cars were passing by the people thought what a beautiful little statue they have on that porch. Really, I think it was hours before that blasted bee finally flew out and away. I had to literally peel my fingers off the broom.

My own porch is a very favorite place of mine to watch the deer come

out of the woods. I love watching the birds and the butterflies. So you see, I have always had a porch in my life. But what is my favorite memory?

One that is at the very top, of course, involves my grandchildren. Our

youngest grandson wanted a puppy and we got permission from his parents (always a good thing to do), to give him one for Christmas. That morning as we were finishing with all the presents being opened, it did not escape that child that he did not have as much as the rest. Of course we just played that off but then with great drama we realized there was one present left….but we all had to go out on the porch.

The grand expression of delight on his face when the puppy was

brought around the house and turned loose was magical. Plus there was such an added bonus with that. Our youngest granddaughter at the time, just a toddler, laughed and laughed hysterically over the puppy running around everywhere. Our whole family standing on that porch, every one laughing uncontrollable, is one of my favorite porch stories.

We still share that story and still have great laughs just thinking about

that day on the porch. What memories can you share. If you don’t have a porch maybe you can just visit with a neighbor on theirs. There might be a rocking chair just waiting for you to come sit awhile!

Fly Lady

THE

by Marla Cilley

Everything Has A Place


We want a home that hugs us! But where do we start? This has been the underlying question that causes us to procrastinate. I have an answer. We start with shining our sink. That is the ab-solute first habit to establish is keeping our sinks clean and shiny. Then we declutter. That’s when the question comes up again, “Where do I start?” I have been thinking about this and sometime we get the cart before the horse.

Here is the reason we have to address our clutter issues.

Clutter waste time1. Clutter makes our house look messy2. Children pull out everything; less to pull out = less mess3. Too many clothes makes laundry hard to do and to put away4. Clutter causes us to feel overwhelmed tired. It zaps our en-5. ergy.We want peace in our lives and with clutter around there is 6. no peace.

Back to the question of the day; Where do I start? Chicken or

the egg syndrome once again; do I declutter the flat surfaces or the cubby holes. I have the answer. BOTH! Now don’t get up-set! We are not going to do it all at once. I am going to walk you through this one babystep at a time.

The reason your flat surfaces are piled high is because you do

not have a place for the items in your hotspot. The easiest way to save time is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Didn’t your Granny teach you that? Our problem is that we don’t know where to put anything because all of our storage places are cluttered.

Here is my story: I have telephone and computer stuff in lots of places. When I need something I spend a lot of time searching for it. I had to decide where I wanted to keep my geek toys. For me that had to easily accessible when I wanted something. I decided that I would keep them in a Rubbermaid sweater bin that would slid under my extra bed. But wait! My memorabilia was in one of those bins and the other one was full of tote bags and zipper bags. Here is what to I had to do.

I chose my cedar chest to hold my keep sakes. It had a pillow,

two sweaters, a small comforter and other memorabilia; the pil-low got donated along with the two sweaters and the comforter is being washed to give to a precious little girl. That made room for the bin of keep sakes. I picked up the bin and just poured it into the cedar chest. I didn’t get sidetracked by sorting this box of magazines and other papers. That was not my goal. Now the bin was empty. I was still collecting all the geek toys into one place. I took the other Rubbermaid sweater bin and pulled out all the totes


For more help getting rid of your clutter and CHAOS, check out her website and join her free mentoring group at www.FlyLady.net or read her book, Sink Reflections published by Random House. Help me build a Habitat Home this year. http://www.share.habitat.org/flyladybuildproj-ect Please bless others with your clutter by donating it to a Habitat for Humanity Restore near you. Copyright 2013 Marla Cilley Used by permission in this publication.

The NC Foothills Affiliate of Susan G. Komen would like to thank our volunteers, participants, and sponsors for another successful Race for the Cure held on October 26, 2013. The Race raised over $150,000. Seventy-five percent will remain in our affiliate area (Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties). The remainder will be sent to the Komen National Research Grant Program to fund cutting edge research.

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Hope to see you in 2014!

Sophie Woman’s Magazine

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and zippered bags. Put them all in one bag and declutter the ones I don’t like. I placed that in the top of my closet with my other tote bags and purses. Now I had two bins empty. I took the declutter items to the car and put the trash in the garbage can.

Now I was ready to start sorting my geek toys into one bin. With my trusty declutter kit right beside me; Give away, Put Away and Throw away. Now laundry basket is empty. The Rubbermaid bin is labeled and ready to roll under the bed and I have one empty one. See how easy this is. I started by thinking about everything having a place and everything being in its place. As a result of just collecting my geek toys, I have consolidated my memorabilia, my purses and tote bags and I have one empty storage container. Before you start this make sure you are dressed to lace up shoes and you have a done our morning routine. Then put on some fun music. Our Up Kind of Day CD has a lot of peppy music.

I have been corralling my little stash and dash caches of com-

puter and telephone gadgets. What do you need to corral? Clear out the holding area and let’s herd our stuff together. Everything having a place and everything in its place; makes for a peaceful home.


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Unsearchable Greatnessby Gwen Smith


Today’s Truth I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:1-3, NASB).

Friend to FriendI fell in love with my husband half-my-life ago, yet with twenty years

of marriage under my belt, there are still moments that I shake my head and wonder, “who is that man?” And while I may not have every mystery about him solved, I DO know my husband. I know his voice, his touch, and his quirks. I’m can bear witness to his character, his personality, and his ways.

The same is true about my relationship with God. Over the years, I have gotten to know God intimately. I talk with Him regularly in prayer. I have learned to hear His voice, to recognize His touch, and to understand many basic truths of who He is.

There are so many revelations of God in His Word. The Bible boasts of His greatness, glory, honor, and character. We know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), that God’s grace is sufficient for every repentant heart, and that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We know that His name is above all other names (Philippians 2:9), that there is no other like Him (Jeremiah 10:6), and that His wisdom holds secrets that are hidden from before time began (I Corinthians 2:7). And for as much as we know and know about the LORD, our knowledge of Him is but a fraction of a grain of sand as held up to all the beaches on earth.

He is the mysterious master Creator who hung each star in the sky and calls them by name, yet He wants us to love Him, to trust Him, to know Him, and to worship Him. That thought alone blows my mind and sets it to wonder! God invites us to participate with Him in a vibrant dance of abundant life through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our amazing Heavenly Father bids each and every one of us to come to Him with questions, to be held by His love, to find peace, hope, and healing in His Son. He wants us to seek Him through prayer and to experience new revelations of Him through His Word and through the Holy Spirit.

The voices of all of creation shout His praise! I encourage you to pause in this moment to consider Him… to respond to Him… to meditate on His glorious splendor. As you do, He will increasingly become the all-satisfying desire of your heart. Even more than that, as you worship He will stir up a hunger in your soul to know Him even more.

Let’s say with the psalmist, “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:1-3, NASB)

Surely our God is clothed in majestic, unsearchable greatness! Amen?

Let’s Pray Holy Father, Your greatness truly is unsearchable! I pray that you will continue to stir up a hunger in my soul to know all the mystery of You that remains. Please cause me to think bigger thoughts of You, and to

acknowledge You in all my ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn Read Jeremiah 33:3. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” What does this verse mean to you? What does this verse tell you about the rewards of calling on our Lord? Thank Him for hearing your prayers and for healing your pains. Be lost in the wonder of Him.

This devotion was inspired by a worship song that I co-wrote called, UNSEARCHABLE. Take a moment to read through the lyric below.

UNSEARCHABLEBy Sue Smith and Gwen SmithLord, I know that your grace is sufficient for meI know I am held by your loveAnd You’re there when I callYou are strong when I’m weakYou delight over me from above

And You stir up a hunger that I can’t explainTo know all the mystery of You that remains Unsearchable greatnessUnsearchable wisdomUnsearchable mercy to meI am lost in the wonder of all that I knowKnowing there’s much more to seeCause you are unsearchableYou are unsearchableLord, I boast in Your glory that humbles the starsYour name has such power and mightAnd Your goodness and kindnessHave captured my heartYour Word keeps giving me lifeAnd you stir up a hunger that I can’t explainto know all the mystery of You that remains…Hear the voice of all creation crying out

More From the Girlfriends I have posted the song on both my blog and my Facebook page. Come by to hear “Unsearchable” and let me know how this devotion is resonating with your heart. I have some exciting news to share with you! Many of you know that I don’t just write devotions, I also write and sing songs. After many months of writing and recording, my new songs have just been released! The project is called “My Strength, My Song.” Download it from iTunes, or watch the video on my YouTube page.

For more information about the girlfriends, visit us atwww.girlfriendsingod.com

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New Year? New REAR!

A couple of years ago, my best friend bought her dream sports car filled with all the bells and whistles. After about six months of taking the car out only on Sundays, she retired it to the garage. Eventually, the air leaked out from the tires, and the gas became flat and stale.

Your butt muscles are the same way. They are a group of muscles that are designed to be active and moving. Prolonged sitting leads to tight hips and hamstring muscles. Then, random muscles will start to ache and become stiff. Soon your glutes will spread out and appear flat, jiggly and have no tone. The best way to avoid this is to get up and get your butt moving. Make them work!

First you have to understand the anatomy of the rear end. Your glute muscles attach to your pelvis and the top of the thighbone: The gluteus maximus extends your leg, while the gluteus medius and minimus move your leg out to the side and stabilize the pelvis. Your hamstrings run from your pelvis to your lower leg. They bend your knee and help extend your leg. The glute and hamstring muscles are best friends. One rarely works without the other, and when you focus on sculpting them together, the results are super sleek and sexy.

To reshape your rear view and send jiggle packing, complete exercises that capitalize on the glute/hamstring relationship. Exercises like squats that work both areas instead of trying to isolate one. To maximize your efforts, add in some toning tweaks like shooting back your hips as if you are going to sit in a chair when doing squats. Also, always activate your glute muscles by contracting and squeezing them together. Keep them activated during any exercise that you do for maximum results.

Please keep in mind that you will also need to do cardio exercises where you get your heart rate up and keep it elevated. Engage in at least 30 minutes of walking, biking, dancing, or elliptical training each day. Doing this burns excess fat and engages the glute and hamstring muscles. Remember to always eat a healthy diet with portion control to get the results your want.


New Rear Exercises Exercise Number One- Dumbbell Glute BridgeThe Glute Bridge primarily targets your glutes and hamstrings. This exercise also works your calves and core.

Step One- Holding two dumbbells, lie down on the floor or mat. Bend your knees and place the dumbbells on top of your thighs right below your hips.

Step Two- Keeping your abs tight and your core engaged, drive through with your heels and extend your hips towards the ceiling and then bring them back down to starting position. Repeat 12-15 times and work your way up to 25 reps for one set.

Tips -Make sure that the head and shoulder blades are resting on their center and your abdominals are engaged and lifted. Your rib cage should be lifted as well and not allowed to sink toward the floor.

Exercise Number Two- Kneeling Squat The Kneeling Squat is a great exercise to target your glutes and hamstrings. It will also work your core as well as your lower back.

Step One- Place a weighted bar or broomstick across the back of your shoulders. Come down onto a mat in a kneeling position. Stay up on your toes and do not point your feet behind you.

Step Two- Sit back until your glutes touch your calves. Reverse the motion, returning the torso to an upright position. Squeeze your glutes together at the top of the movement. Repeat 20 times for one set. Tips- Make sure your abdominals are engaged and back straight before leaning back. Beginners can do this exercise without the bar. Start with one set and work your way up to three sets.


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Teaching Your Kids the Art of Cooking

By Stephen John

They say the

parents are the first teachers of their children. Education truly starts at home. Before your kids start their formal education at a school, you should start teaching him all the essential things he needs to know, from being familiar with all letters and numbers to music appreciation.

There’s another important thing your child has to learn that is often not taught in the household: cooking. More important than reading or math skills, knowing how to

properly feed themselves is one of the most useful things you can teach them. Below are some suggestions on how to go about teaching them how to cook and start them early in the kitchen:

Find time for it• - When teaching your children something, you need to have a firm resolve that you’ll really find time for it. Instead of spending time online chatting with their friends or posting photos on their social network accounts, they can instead join you in the kitchen for some cooking lessons. What they’ll learn there will certainly be of greater value than all the useless and even destructive stuff they see on the web.Make them love it• - One of the most effective ways to teach little kids is to make them love what they’re learning. Especially because they have a short attention span, if they’re not interested in it, they may not even pay attention to what you’re teaching them. You have to be creative when teaching them how to cook so you hold their attention all the time.Make them do it• - Of course, learning is better facilitated when there’s actual and immediate application of what they’ve learned. It’s an old learning principle called ‘learning by doing.’ Once you’ve demonstrated something, ask your kids to do it themselves. This is another way of getting them into it so you’ll always get them to focus on the teaching session. Safety comes first, of course, so don’t let them do anything that’s potentially dangerous without assisting them.Eat what they cook• - Like adults, children can also get satisfaction when what they’ve cooked is actually eaten and is not just for show. This helps them put value into what they do. Give them positive feedback so they don’t feel discouraged. If

there are things they need to improve on, say it in a manner that won’t hurt their feelings as this can dishearten them. If they feel bad, they may not be too eager to attend your next session.Use simple recipes• - Certainly, you don’t want to immediately teach them how to cook meals that involve a lot of preparation and require advanced cooking skills. Start with basic things like boiling water, frying eggs, and cooking rice. Once they know how to perform basic techniques, you can teach them something a bit more challenging.Teach them how to use kitchen tools and equipment• - Again, safety comes first. Be sure to demonstrate how to properly handle kitchen tools, especially those that are potentially dangerous. You should also familiarize them with the uses of each tool.

Knowing how to cook is one of the most practical lessons you can impart to them. It’s never too early to teach them something that’s essential for survival (you can watch online cooking videos for recipes you can also share with your kids).


“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” – Benjamin Mays

You absolutely won’t believe me when I tell you this. You might even roll your eyes. You might chant a “yeah, yeah” in your head. You might actually use this piece of paper to burn a nice winter fire. You will most likely react the EXACT same way I reacted every time I read another fluffy article on “live your dream” or “do what you love”. Oh please. Don’t these crazy women understand that I have bills to pay? Kids to feed? A shoe budget, for crying out loud.

Not long ago, I attended yet another women’s networking event. Let’s face it…I wasn’t going to network. I was going to chat, see some friends, talk about the kids. I’d do anything to get out of the office for a while. And, inevitably, another speaker was droning on and on about how you can find your life’s purpose, do what you love, hang the moon, plant rainbows, blah blah. It all sounded fiery and passionate, but that nagging voice in the back of my head kept repeating the same ol’ things…

“Dream job? You have bills to pay, idiot”“Find your passion? You aren’t even that good at anything.”“Who am I? I don’t have time for this soul searching nonsense.”“I probably need therapy.”

By the time I was nestled back in my office, I had already forgotten about that woman and her annoying, yet amazing story.

Then, things at work got ugly. Mentally, I was checked out. I was bored. I wasn’t a big fan of my boss and he knew it. The tension got so stifling that I lost my momentum, lost my drive, my mojo….this is never good. We’ve all been there. We’ve all worked at a job we didn’t like. No one can exist in this type of situation on a long term basis and stay healthy.

I’ll spare you the nitty gritty. I know, I know, but it’s a more exciting story over cocktails anyway. Let’s just say I was very unhappy and my performance at work began to reflect the negative tension. I started perusing Craigslist. I started submitting resumes. That whole “sole-searching” thing that all those women were talking about started to sink in.

“What do I really want to do? Can I even afford to do what I really want to do?”

I started to break down the aspects of my current job. What were my favorite parts? What assignments did I enjoy? Which ones did I hate? It would make no sense for me to get a job doing the same thing if I didn’t like what I was doing currently. Why leave one dismal job for another? I realized that I was happiest when given creative freedom. I was on cloud nine when drumming up a new design and when working on our company’s marketing initiatives. I could spend all day making a boring powerpoint presentation into a work of art. I like to create. Hmmm…is this an epiphany? I’ve always been artsy -ish, but I’m not schooled or trained or have any direct experience. However, I took my new found confidence and hit the internet running.

Only to dive head first into a giant brick wall.That lack of schooling, training and direct experience is a real

kicker when searching for a job that requires all of the above. I didn’t have the money to go back to school. I couldn’t afford to be an intern. I was back to square one.

My initial reaction was to just suck it up and keep doing a mindless job and trying to get the most of the opportunities that allowed me to do the fun stuff. But, it didn’t take long to realize that this will never work on a long term basis. So, one afternoon, I did something completely reckless and wonderful. I decided in about 30 seconds that I was going to start my own business. After a few days of thinking of a cool name and pondering how all the pieces were going to fit together, I became a shiny new marketing company. Okay, it was mostly in my head, but I now had a living, breathing goal and like most women, I dared anyone to stand in my way.

Most of the details were still unclear, but I put pen to paper anyway. I started making a logo, ordering business cards and building a website. What I didn’t know how to do, I googled. Keep in mind, I had a three year old and one year old to entertain until their bedtimes, but after they were tucked snuggly in their beds, I would stay on my computer til the wee hours of the morning. Some nights I spent six or more hours on YouTube learning how to use Photoshop. I won’t lie…caffeine became my new best friend.

After a couple of weeks of getting a decent looking blog going and some business cards out to the neighbors, I started to get business. Trust me; I was as surprised as you probably are right now. A lot of my graphic design work began as a bartering

Finding Your Passion…the Truth Behind the Rumorsby Tammi Murphy


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Finding Your Passionsystem with friends…I’ll draw ya something fancy if you sew me some curtains. I bartered clothes for the kids, homemade brewed beer and even got my haircuts for free. I wasn’t making a dime, but I was making a name. It didn’t take long to get a real, paying client. It spread from there. From one client to the next, the word of mouth advertising was incredible. Then, I began to attend networking events to …get this…network!

After a lot of long nights, gallons of 5-hour Energy and some unattractive bags under the eyes, I was finally able to leave my job and ….as cheesy as it sounds….do what I love. I found my passion. And, here I thought I was just plain out. I now take back all the snarky things I ever said about those women and their beautiful speeches. They will never know how annoying, yet marvelous they turned out to be!

I will be honest; I haven’t been able to give up the coupon clipping or shopping consignment. I still drive a very un-sexy minivan. I do not belong to the country club. But….it just doesn’t matter because the bottom line is I did it. I love it. I’m happy. I took five minutes outside the norm to ask myself, “What do you want to do?” It isn’t always the easiest question, but when you find the answer, you find a big part of yourself.

So, ask yourself….if money was no option, what would YOU want to do? I can’t promise an easy road, but I can promise one heck of a victory party.

Tammi MurphyProud Owner, Blarney Stone Marketing & Design

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Leanne Ely is a New York Times bestselling author of Body Clutter and the Saving Dinner series. The Dinner Diva syndicated newspaper column appears in 250 newspapers nationwide. Learn how to cook great and save significant money with the Dinner Diva?s menus, recipes and shopping lists at www.savingdinner.com

Dinner Diva

TheChili for Everyone!

There is something extremely satisfying about making a big pot of chili for your family on a cool day. I find it as enjoyable to make chili for dinner as I do sitting down and eating that chili. There’s just something about putting all those simple ingredients of veg-etables and spices together, in a combination you know your fam-ily will enjoy, and sitting down and eating it together. Chili is extremely easy to make and whether you’re vegan, ce-liac, paleo or an old-fashioned omnivore, you can make a pot of chili to suit your tastes and dietary needs. The only exception would be someone unable to eat nightshade foods because you really can’t do chili without tomatoes. I have added many chili recipes to my cookbooks so I am not going to list out all those separate recipes here, but with chili, once you get the hang of it you can really just experiment and play and make it your own.

Chili - The Basics

There are some ingredients that are pretty standard in a pot of chili. To name a few:

TomatoesOnionsGarlicChili powderChili peppersBell peppersGround meat (pork or beef)Beans

Make It Your Own

If you’re vegetarian, simply omit the meat and add more veggies. Celery, carrots and even sweet potatoes are nice in a vegetarian chili. You could also use one of those ground soy products if you wish. If you’re paleo, omit the beans. If you enjoy beans as part of your diet, toss in a variety. Chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans are a nice combo for a hearty chili.

Some Like It Hot

Depending on how much you like heat, it’s easy to make a chili to please you! Add minced jalapeño, extra chili powder, cayenne and even hot sauce. For a different flavor profile, try adding coriander, cumin and saffron!

Toppings

I love adding avocado to my chili when I serve it. Other options would be cheese, a lime wedge, sour cream or plain yogurt to help cool it off. For a tailgate party, you may want to serve with corn chips! I like to serve chili with cornbread and a great big fresh green salad. How do you like your chili?

By: Leanne Ely


Sophie Woman’s Magazine

StorybookBeginnings

Announcing the Wedding of... Manuel and Kristina (Gonzalez) Faial were married November 19, 2013 on their ten year anniversary at St. Therese Catholic church. Kristina is the daughter of Joel Gonzalez and Evelin Bilich. Manuel is the son of Manuel Faial and the late Gregoria (Gloria) Alexander.

Kristina’s sisters Jennifer and Jessica Dyal were flower girls along with their daughter Aryana Faial. Laura Lopez was the maid of honor and James Curry served as best man. The reception took place at Springhill Suites in Mooresville. Kristina shares their love story. “It started when I met Manny ten years ago when my cell phone broke. He worked at the company that fixed it for me. He fixed my phone and I told him where I worked. A few weeks later Manny went to my job and asked me out on a date. We have been together ever since. He is the love of my life. We share an amazing daughter together named Aryana, who was born in 2011. The longer we are together, the more he amazes me. I am lucky to say that I am married to my hero.” Manuel is employed with Vector Vest in Cornelius and Kristina works at Randy Marion Automotive in Mooresville.

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What Would You Do

Differently?When I talk to new brides soon after their weddings, usually

they start telling me how beautiful everything was and how wonderful it is to finally be married. Then after a few minutes of conversation, they confess there were a few things that they would have changed if they could have. It’s the if I knew then what I know now conversation. While most of us have a mental list of the things we would have changed in our life, with brides it’s different. Her wedding day will be one of the biggest events in her life. Since we are embarking upon a new year, I thought it would be a good idea to pass on information that was compiled after many, many conversations with new brides.

First always is not sticking to a budget. Actually, it’s the lack of

planning a budget. Most go into the wedding process without any kind of financial planning at all. I’ve heard more than once that the down payment for a home paid for their wedding. Another is that they maxed out all of their credit cards without any thought about paying it back. Some have had to delay or forget about a honeymoon because they didn’t plan properly. And FYI, a large percentage of marriages that end in divorce are because of money.

In this day and time, a lot of couples are paying for their own weddings. And so often, it’s the second , or even third marriage. There are many wedding websites that offer information on what things costs these days. Plan, plan, plan!

Another big complaint is the bride’s maid of honor. First, it IS

an honor to be asked to fill this enviable position. But, too many brides think her maid of honor is her lady in waiting. Just about all of the big bridal magazines have a list of “duties” the maid of honor is expected to perform, such as planning bridal showers, the bachelorette party, and so much more. One I read listed 16 things! Get real. In this day and time when women hold a job, has a family and runs a home, their time is limited. Now there are “wonder women” who seem to make multitasking a breeze. but those are few and far between. There is nothing wrong with delegating some of the responsibilities to other members of the bridal party. Plus, if you hire a wedding planner, some of this could be put on her list.

Also regarding bridesmaids, pick them carefully. There will

usually be at least one who is not a happy camper. She’ll complain about the bridesmaid dress you chose, the color of the dress and the cost of the dress, (More about that later.) Some people thrive on other people’s misery. My mother always said, “When in doubt, leave it out.” That goes for just about anyone involved in the wedding. Now you may not have much of a choice when it comes to siblings, but this is where you need to set some ground rules, both with the participant involved and possibly your parents. You are not obligated to have anyone in your wedding just because they are related to you, regardless of their age.


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Announcing The Engagement Of

Bobby Craig Rowe &Diana Connor Rudisill

Craig is from Maiden, NC, son of Bobby Lee Rowe

and Carol Ann Rowe. Craig works at Lake Norman

Marina as a boat mechanic. He has 2 sons, Tyler and

Adam Rowe.

Diana is from Catawba, NC, daughter of Geraldine

Burke Connor.Diana works at Lee

Industries as a manager. She has a son, Taylor Lee

Rudisill and a daughter, Amanda Ranae Lowman.

The wedding will be in Negril, Jamaica for a sea

side wedding May 15, 2014

When you are choosing the bridesmaids dresses, keep in mind the cost. It will head off any problems that may arise in the future. Talk to each girl privately to see if there would be a problem with paying for a dress and the accessories. This is especially true if she is married and has a family. Even though she’s your very best friend, her budget may not be an endless one. As their gift, you could pay a percentage of the cost of their dress, especially if it’s expensive. Keep in mind that just like your wedding gown, no one will know how much the dresses cost unless you tell them. The price tag isn’t worn on the outside. A dress that is pressed and fits well will look better no matter what the price.

Not happy with the venue they chose is another big complaint.

Most venues have you sign a contract when booking the wedding and/or reception. Read it carefully and thoroughly. Make sure you know exactly what you are paying for. Don’t assume anything. Have your own list before meeting with them to see what’s offered. Ask when the final amount is due and make sure you have that money set aside. They have too much at stake and the deposits are usually non-refundable.

Just about everything involved with your wedding should have a contract, flowers, DJ, venue and make sure you stay on top of it. Even if you have a wedding planner, you will need to stay in constant contact with her. By doing careful planning your wedding should go off without a hitch!

By Mackey S. Carpenterwww.mscdesigns.net


As any holiday host can attest, timing is crucial to getting a meal out hot and ensuring each course is ready for the table. Timing is equally important when planning a wedding. Various elements must come together in the right order to create a seamless day for couples and guests alike.

In addition to organizing floral deliveries, ensuring the wedding party arrives on time, and getting hair and makeup done promptly, couples who will be having their ceremony in a different location from the reception will need to spend more time factoring timing into their wedding day equations. Factors like traveling to and from the site, as well as hunger pangs and potential weather-related complications, will need to be considered.

Many couples choose to have their ceremonies and receptions at the same site, a decision that makes scheduling much easier. Once the ceremony is over, guests simply go inside or to another area of the grounds to begin the reception. Some traditionalists, though, prefer to have their ceremony in a place of worship and then travel to a separate reception location afterward. Both scenarios are acceptable, but the latter option requires a little more planning.

Couples will need to know when the church or temple is available for the ceremony and when the reception hall will be open to guests. Some weddings are held after daily masses or other religious ceremonies. An afternoon wedding may end a few hours before the cocktail hour begins at the reception site, leaving guests with time to kill before the reception.

Couples can try to remove as much time between the reception and ceremony as possible by coordinating with their catering managers. If finances allow, couples can request the wedding reception begin early. This way guests can arrive at the cocktail hour and comfortably mingle among themselves. These requests are common, and many catering managers will be happy to meet requests to keep a bride and groom's business.

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If this is not possible, couples have a few alternatives. If the reception site is a good distance away, the travel there may take up the idle time. Otherwise, the bride and groom may need to come up with another plan. In some instances, a family member opens his or her home up to some of the guests, who may enjoy light refreshments. It may be possible to use a cafeteria or gathering space at the ceremony site for a little while as well. If the photographer plans to take outdoor photos between the ceremony and reception, the couple can invite some guests along to witness the shots or be a part of the photo shoot.

Thoughtful couples also can provide other accommodations, such as letting guests know about local restaurants where they can spend a little time and grab a small bite to eat before the reception begins. Hotels affiliated with the wedding party may be able to host guests during these in-between hours as well. The hotel bar or a conference room might be ideal spots for guests to kill some time.

Couples also can arrange something with the reception hall. While the party room or cocktail area may not be ready until the designated time, the site may have an attached restaurant, salon or gardens, where guests can relax as they wait for the start of the festivities.

Timing all of the elements of a wedding day properly can be challenging. Guests' comfort and needs should always be a priority.

Careful Timing Makes Weddings Go Off

Without A Hitch

Preston Junior Smith&Jennifer Nichole Walker

ANNOUNCING THE ENGAGEMENT OF

The wedding is planned for

September 20, 2014 at

Whippoorwill Village in

Ferguson, NC

Ms. Earlene Walker and Mr. Coy Day, of Lenoir, NC and Mr. Jess Walker of Lenoir, NC announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Nichole Walker, to Preston Junior Smith, son of the late

Preston Wright and Altonia Smith from Spartanburg, SC.

The bride-elect is currently attending Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, majoring in Medical Office Administration.

The groom-elect is attending Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, majoring in Computer Programming. He is

employed by Dollar General.


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Bio: Sherré DeMao inspires millions through her monthly columns, weekly Insight eZine and national contributing writing. An expert strategist and marketer focused on entrepreneurs, her unique perspective and innovative approach has earned numerous awards regionally, nationally and internationally including being named among the Top 50 Enterprising Women of North America in 2007. Her books, Me, Myself & Inc. (www.memyselfandinc.com) and 50 Marketing Secrets (www.50marketingsecrets.com) have received national acclaim as Top Business Shelf picks and must-reads.

Is your DESIRE enough?It’s the New Year, a time when everyone is starting with a clean slate in many respects. You may be vowing to make this year “THE YEAR” you will accomplish things that have been on your resolutions list year after year. Or perhaps you have a new goal or commitment that you have deemed will be your focus and fascination in the upcoming year. If you are truly committed to accomplishing what you desire, then you need to be prepared to accept that desire alone is not enough. If you just feel desire, but you don’t do anything, it is merely a whim, and very likely the reason why it never seems to make any progress.

To make this upcoming year one of accomplishment unlike any other, add determination, expectation, satisfaction, inspiration, resiliency, and effort to your desire and you simply cannot lose.

D = Determination: Desire without determination is wishful thinking. Your level of determination to achieve your desired goal directly correlates to how likely you are to achieve it. Determination means that you will allow nothing to sidetrack you or get in your way. You have a level of commitment that is unwavering and relentless in your pursuit.

What are you willing to learn, do, experience or overcome to achieve ◊it?What excuses are you going to eliminate from your thinking to ◊maintain your determination?

E = Expectation: Desire without expectation is wishy washy. If you don’t know the outcome that you expect to realize upon achieving your goal, then you are more likely to veer off course, especially when challenges occur or much is being demanded upon you, distracting you from your effort. When you know with confidence what you can expect from accomplishing your desire, you are more determined to achieve it as well.

What will be the ultimate benefit you will realize once you achieve ◊this desire?How do you envision living your life differently after achieving this ◊desire?

S = Satisfaction: Desire without satisfaction is ungratifying. Through your journey towards achieving your desire, you should feel a sense of satisfaction with each hurdle leaped or small step taken. Satisfaction and acknowledging your strides along the way help make it more enjoyable, and in turn, more plausible. If you are so focused on your expectation that you don’t take time to gain satisfaction from each aspect of the job well done, you may become discouraged or miss opportunities to leverage small successes into bigger ones. A sense of gratitude in appreciating and celebrating each step of your journey helps keep you focused, and less likely to be distracted.

How will you acknowledge and celebrate small successes along the ◊way?How can others play a role in celebrating with you?◊

I = Inspiration: Desire without inspiration is passionless. If you don’t feel passionate about what you are trying to achieve, chances are you won’t be inspired. Inspiration is critical to experiencing breakthroughs that help catapult you towards what you desire. Your passion fed by satisfaction, expectation and determination will manifest ideas and ways to take action that you would never have dreamed of before. You will be more aware of opportunities, ready to seize them without hesitation.

What passions are feeding or behind this desire?◊How will your passion lead you to inspired action?◊

R = Resiliency: Desire without resiliency is doomed. The true test of your desire and how much you really want it is in your ability to bounce back even stronger, wiser and more resolute after a setback or failed attempt. Because you are passionate and know your expected outcome, you will view the challenge with satisfaction in what you have learned or gained in understanding. You’ll be able to quickly put what you have learned to use in trying in a different approach or view your situation from a different perspective. With each experience behind you, you will be able to gain so much more in what lies ahead.

How are you going to respond to failed attempts or unexpected ◊obstacles?What can you instill in your thinking that will keep you resilient in ◊spite of whatever may happen to attempt to distract you?

E = Effort: Desire without effort is hopeless. Anything you want to create for yourself begins with you taking action. Conscientious action nurtures desired outcome. For those of you who have been a loyal reader of this column, you know this stands for CAN DO. By being conscientious in your action, this means you are focused and intentional. By nurturing your desire, you are taking action on a regular basis towards your expected outcome.

What action are you going to put into motion the minute you finish ◊reading this column?How will you assure effort is being taken on a regular basis to ◊continue to move you closer to your desired reality?

To give your “desire” depth and life, remember the acronym DESIRE to give whatever you are doing the heart and soul it needs to be realized. Study anyone in history or in your lifetime who has turned their desire into what seemed like impossible-to-achieve accomplishments, and you will understand the underlying secrets to turning your desire into exhilarating reality.

Susan Guest, ASID is an award-winning interior designer in Hickory and owner of Guest Interiors, LLC. She is one of the designers featured in “Spectacular Homes of the Carolinas”, found in high-end bookstores around the country. President of ASID Carolinas. For more information, visit www.guestinteriors.com.


The hustle and bustle of the holidays was fun! Now it is time for renewal, detox, budget, diets, exercise programs, and reflection of what we want for 2014. I always make resolutions-some are kept, and obviously, some are not! Some years, I have a personal statement to guide me through the year. One year it was “don’t be so nice”. Last year, the mantra was “step it up professionally”. This year, it is “work smarter, not harder”. I spend a lot of time doing things that are fruitless and need to focus on tasks that really count. Even my exercise schedule for many years has left me with joints that are wearing- so it has been time to make changes. Instead of being the Rockette want-to-be of the past, I am now “Esther Willams” –the star swimmer complete with swimming cap and goggles.

As you make plans to improve yourself this year, why not also plan to improve your environment either at your work place or at home. I have listed some ideas to inspire you and help you get started.

COLOR:1) Add some color to your life if you are surrounded in earth tones and neutrals. The hot color this year is “Radiant Orchid”. You will see this color in clothing, small home appliances such as coffee makers and tea pots, paint, and possibly cars. If you want to try to incorporate orchid into your house or office, try it in small doses at first-pillows, an accent wall, or an accessory. If you love color and are ready to commit to something larger such as an entire room paint color, a sofa, or a rug, go for it! Thank goodness, the days of boring and safe colors are over! As the economy has improved, so has the color palette for home furnishings.

MOVE:2) As I have said before, Feng Shui experts say that you should move every item in your home at least a millimeter every year to keep energy flowing through your space. This might happen with a simple deep cleaning or painting. Or, if you have the time and energy, you can rearrange your room or take all your accessories down and put them back in different places. I am astonished at how you look at things in a new

perspective when things are in different places. If you are really adventurous, you might try flipping your dining room and living room for a nice change.

EVALUATE:3) Go through each room with a pad and pencil and make notes. List things that need to be repaired, painted, maintenance needs, and things that should to go live with Jesus. Decide if the projects should be a quick fix or a long term solution. If you are not good at this or do not trust your judgment, ask a friend to help or get a professional opinion.

TAKE PHOTOS:4) Take photos or videos of your rooms. This helps you see things in a new perspective. Also, it is good to have records for your insurance company in case of fire, flooding, or theft. You can keep your photos or videos in a safe deposit box or off-site location. If your photos look like a scene from the hoarder shows on TV, you might need to hire some help with an organizer or therapist.

DREAM:5) Be open-minded to new ways to decorate. One of my favorite TV shows is House Hunters International. The homes in other countries feature central courtyards, unusual bath ideas, solutions for small spaces where property is a premium, and inspire me to think differently. Also, I enjoy looking at photos on Houzz and Pinterest of rooms that are unusual. It is fun to dream or consider ideas that are unique.

TRAVEL:6) I find so much inspiration when traveling. Our favorite trips are to big cities where we stay in historical hotels. These hotels have to adapt luxury accommodations in sometimes small spaces. It is always interesting to see these innovative solutions. I love to see how people live in different parts of the country or world. Things that are common in Hickory are totally unique in another part of the country. If you don’t have the time or budget to take a major vacation, take a day trip. Take a home tour in another city. Walk in the mountains, have lunch at a lovely restaurant with friends, or get a spa treatment package at a nearby resort. You will relax and your mind and body will thank you.

BEGIN:7) in the worst area of your home and concentrate on one space at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed with everything. Make a list and do a little at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Your space is an extension of who you are. You might need to simplify your life by donating some items to others. You might need to upgrade your current sofa, rug, or other item. You might need one smashing piece such as a chandelier to make your room come alive. Hopefully one of these suggestions will inspire you to greatness-both in your personal life and your environment. Happy New Year!!

by Susan Guest, ASID

Design Inspirationfor


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Recipes for Life


by Emily Wickham

!Emily Wickham gently reaches women’s hearts as she teaches God’s Word. Through various writing endeavors, she encourages readers into close relationship with God. Additionally she hosts and speaks at the Connecting with Christ Conference.

Visit www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com to read Emily’s blog devotions and to learn more about life in Christ. Connect with Emily on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emilywickham.author.

Please contact Emily about speaking at women’s events such as retreats, luncheons, and conferences by e-mailing [email protected].

Emily, who is grateful to God for His blessings, enjoys life with her wonderful husband and their four treasured children in western NC.

Food for the Body

Creole Shrimp in Cream Sauce(Recipe by Cindy Clontz, adapted from Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen)

1 stick butter1 c. julienned onions1 c. julienned yellow squash1 c. julienned zucchini1 tsp. cayenne pepper½ tsp. white pepperJuice of one lemon (1 to 2 Tbsp.)2 lb. raw peeled shrimp1 ½ to 2 c. heavy cream½ c. grated Parmesan cheese½ tsp. salt

Preparation: To julienne squash, cut peelings ¼ inch thick; cut these into ¼ inch strips, 2 inches long. Use only strips with skin on one surface. Cut onions similarly.

Melt butter in large non-stick frying pan over high heat; add onions, squash, and zucchini. Sauté vegetables until they begin to get tender, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the 2 peppers and continue cooking about 1 minute. Add shrimp and lemon juice. Cook until shrimp turns pink, about 1 minute. Stir in cream and Parmesan cheese; cook until heated through, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in salt. Serve immediately over rice or pasta. Yield: 6-8 servings.

A Prayer for God’s Blessing

Loving Lord Jesus, You are my Best Friend, the One who sacrificed Your precious life for me. I confess sometimes I’m selfish with Your friendship—not properly sharing it with those who need You. Thank You for enduring the cross, securing my salvation, and reconciling me to God. Please cultivate our relationship so others see and desire You. In Your excellent name, Amen.

Food for the Soul

It’s a birthday club! Several years ago, two friends and I started meeting for meals to celebrate our birthdays. Now it’s a tradition. I’m unsure how many years we’ve gathered, but every one becomes more meaningful.

Cindy, sharer of this month’s delicious recipe, and Jenny, our other dear friend, grow increasingly special as time passes. How grateful I remain for them—gifts from God’s hand.

Sometimes I marvel that I’m the one contributing recipes because Cindy and Jenny are accomplished cooks. Catering weddings and events together, surely their culinary skills out-measure mine. Yet they never make me feel deficient in the cooking department. Excitedly they’ll discuss new dishes they’ve served. I listen, smile, and appreciate their passion. Likewise they support me in my passion for ministry. As true friends, we genuinely care about each other’s interests.

Certainly God created friendship for mankind’s benefit, as Philemon 1:20 discloses, “Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.” While the Lord unquestionably best fills our need for relationship, He wisely knows we need people in our lives as well. Friends listen and share, laugh and cry, help and encourage one another. Faithfully, transparently, sincerely they come alongside on life’s journey. In Christ, friends become family.

The most significant mark of friendship, however, is love expressed in sacrifice. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, NASB). Willingness to expend ourselves for our friends reveals just how much we value them. Rather than friendshipflowingfromwhatwederive,weshouldreadilyconsiderwhat we can give.

Beautifully the Lord Jesus Christ exemplifies faithful friendship. Providing a model to imitate, His life profoundly illustrates how to love well. Undeniably He “… loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Daily the Lord spent time with His disciples—patiently teaching, purposely encouraging, and perfectly interacting with them. Lovingly He handed them His heart, until one day He sacrificed His life … for them. He IS the Best Friend ever.

Incredibly Jesus not only died for His friends—He also voluntarily died for His enemies. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us … For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:8, 10). Through faith in Christ, we gain divine friendship … reconciliation with God Himself!

I’m exceedingly grateful for every precious friend God has abundantly blessed me with. Truly they add love of inestimable value to my life. Above all, I’m eternally thankful for my Best Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, I “… live and move and exist…” (Acts 17:28). His friendship has changed my life.

Dear reader, do you know and enjoy this Friend, Jesus? Just as my friends and I meet for meals and fellowship, Christ longs to meet with us. He’s given everything—including His life—so we can enjoy the deepest, most satisfying relationship with Him. Won’t you draw near to Him today? Until next time, that’s a Recipe for Life …


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by Connie Davis Johnson(printed with permission)

One night during family prayer, our 3 year old daughter, Calan, asked God to give her a brother named George. Kneeling nearby with our 13 month old daughter, Cauriana, I stole a glance at my husband, Craig. He was looking at me with wide eyes

and we both chuckled.When Cauriana was born, she came into the world demanding a manicure and a massage. High maintenance was her calling

card. She would only take twenty minute naps and scream during the rest of our waking hours. If I wasn’t holding her, I was feeding her. And if I wasn’t feeding her, I was changing her diaper. And if I wasn’t changing her diaper, I was trying to figure out what was

causing her ear splitting screams.While I tended to Cauriana, I also tried to give proper attention to Calan by reading to and playing with her. I was exhausted!

All the time!So when Calan prayed for a brother, I decided to help God out. After all, this prayer would not be answered in the way she hoped

so I was a bit concerned that it would crush her childlike-size-of-Texas faith.I gently explained although God is in control of all things, He does let us have a bit of control over some things. And her dad and

I definitely had some control over whether or not she would have a little brother and it wasn’t going to happen, nope, no way, no how, nada, not happening! Okay, maybe it wasn’t so gentle. But I was panic-stricken.

Calan didn’t seem to notice or care so I felt we dodged a bullet.The next day, I began to feel strange. In the early afternoon, I stopped in my tracks as I realized the only times I had felt this way was

when I was pregnant. I immediately looked up toward the sky and said/yelled, “NO WAY!!”I sped to the store and bought a home pregnancy test. By this time, you’ve already finished this story in your head. And you would be right.

The stick turned pink. I was pregnant.I was shocked. Craig was shocked. Calan was not. Calan said, “Of course you have a baby in your tummy. It’s a boy named George.”During the entire pregnancy, she never deterred from, “It’s a boy named George.” Even when we tried to reason with her saying it could

be a girl, she would respond, “Nope! It’s a boy named George.”When delivery day came, lo and behold, we had a boy. I was shocked. Craig was shocked. Calan was not.We called Craig’s parents house where the girls were staying to give them the good news. I said to Calan, “You were right! We had

a boy! But honey, his name isn’t George. It’s Colby.” She said, “No it’s not! It’s George!”She had been right about everything else so I was ready to rip the birth certificate from the nurse’s hand to ensure I had named our

little boy Colby and not George.Calan insisted on calling Colby, “George,” for the first week of his life. She finally conceded after that and began calling him, “Colby

George.”Today is Colby’s 12th birthday. And we are extremely blessed God answered Calan’s prayer. At least the “brother” part. And Calan has

finally dropped the “George” from his name.Calan’s special prayer taught me I never need to try to “explain” God. And I definitely don’t take credit for having control of things I do not.So now when the kids pray for outrageous things that scare us, we let them.

Then Craig and I pray against them. It’s the “battle of the prayers” at the Johnson household.Yep, praying kids are scary! But it just adds to this adventure we call life.

Praying Kids Are Scary!

shutterbuggerzOur Monthly Feature

Photos of Everyday people, places, and events as seen through the eyes of the area's

professional and amateur photographers!

s h u t t e r b u g g e r z . c o m

Here are some of the Best Photos of 2013!!

36 Visit the website to view all the photos and to enter your photo into next month’s contest.

www.shutterbuggerz.com 37

Submitted by Anna Deal Photography

Submitted by: Alicia Rae Photography

Submitted by Angel Digh Photography

Submitted by Alexandra Halsey Photography

Submitted by BlueBird Photography


Submitted by Bill Norton

Submitted by Brandy Watkins

Submitted by Don Anthony


New Changes For Shutterbuggerz

We have played around with a few different ideas in the past to make Shutterbuggerz a friendly and entertaining part of Sophie Woman’s Magazine. We are taking some of the things that have worked along with some suggestions from our readers and are making the following changes starting in January 2014.

1) Showcase - There will no longer be a “Contest” which means there will be NO prizes given. Instead, we just want to Showcase some of the best photos that we receive. Besides, most people were just happy to have their photos printed in the magazine to share with their friends and family.

2) Categories - Instead of having “Themes” for each month, we are going to have “Categories” within each month. The categories will be as follows:

Babies (of course!) - Everyone loves looking at baby photos• People - Children, Adults, Families, and Groups• Wedding / Engagement • Animals / Pets• Landscape•

3) No Voting - We have tried voting through our website and us-ing Facebook Likes to vote. Since this will no longer be a contest, voting is not necessary. However, using our “Thumbs Up” feature on our website or using the “Like” button on Facebook will greatly influence the opportunity for the photo to be printed. Ultimately though, the final decision will be by the staff at Sophie Woman’s Magazine.

4) No Watermarks Printed - This is for professional photogra-phers - We understand the importance of using watermarks on all photos that are on the internet to protect you from piracy. Therefor, if you want your internet photo to have the watermark you must submit two copies of the photo; one with a watermark and one without.

All other submission guidelines will still be in place. You can read the guidelines on our Facebook page or on our website at www.shutterbuggerz.com.

Let’s have a great 2014!

Submitted by Cassie Hansley

Submitted by Capture the Moment Photography

Submitted by Jessica Barnes

Submitted by Jennifer Johnson


Submitted by: Heather Eller


42

Submitted by Jonathan Keller


Submitted by Julie Raper Submitted by Jessica Hemphill

43www.shutterbuggerz.com 41www.shutterbuggerz.com 43

Submitted by Melanie Melton Photography

Submitted by: Lilian Abigail Photography

Submitted by Kandy Jordan Photography

Submitted by: Paige Anderson

Submitted by Krsten Carol Photography Submitted by New Beginnings Photography


Submitted by Lindsay Pelick

www.shutterbuggerz.comwww.shutterbuggerz.com 45

Submitted by Melissa Cockman Photography

Submitted by Mya Saunders

Submitted by Kimberly Classick Photography

Submitted bySweet Nothings Photography


Submitted byvon Drehle Images

Submitted byStephanie Loren Eades

Submitted byTiffany Co. Photography

Submitted byTabby Johnson

Wishing You & Yours A Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2014!

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new day

new chance

new years

new possibilities

brand new

new resolutionsagain

z i n einspiration

new year rolls