SALT Christmas Party

Hey guys!
Last night we had our SALT Christmas party with a white elephant gift exchange. Some people took home interesting gifts such as a toilet seat or ballet shoes.

For those of you who might be attending Christmas parties in the next few weeks, here are some helpful definitions/ideas of some funny Christmas gag gifts!

Definition of White Elephant:
1. A costly possession requiring so much upkeep that it becomes a burden.

2. Something no longer wanted by its owner.

White Elephant gift Ideas:
A laughing mirror
Cow flashlight (complete with moo sound effect)
A Fart Ringing Phone
Radio controlled Rat
Wind up fish out of water
Donut Cologne
Two headed quarters
Billy Bob teeth and pacifiers
Avenging Unicorn Play Set
A “Starting an Ebay business” for dummies Book
"Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Kit".
Chia pets
a 20 inch tall chubaka pez dispencer- with sound effects
Treet (a cheep version of spam)
a Milli Vanilli cd
an electric plunger
Pull my finger Fred

Brain Teasers

Here are some fun brain teasers from my uncle's website BillFransz.com
Can you see all the deer?








Can you find all 7 horses?

Dole Whip

If you have ever been to Disneyland, and have visited the Tiki Lounge near Indian Jones, (AKA the Tiki Room), then I am sure you have heard of this amazing dessert-like treat called DOLE WHIP. If you haven't had the INCREDIBLE dole whip, I strongly urge you to. It is a creamy coconut-pineapple sorbetish soft serve that is so refreshing on a hot summer's day, (and winter day too for that matter!).

My friend Nikki Hess told me there are recipes for this world famous Dole whip online, and I managed to find one!
Here it is in case you fall in love and want to make a homemade dole whip of your own!

Ingredients
1 quart pineapple juice (Dole)
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups cream
3 cups sugar
milk

Mix the pineapple juice and sugar...make sure that the sugar is dissolved.

Next add the cream and vanilla.

Poor the whole mixture into the Ice Cream container.

Add milk to finish filling to the "fill line"

At this point simply follow the instructions on your ice cream maker.

When the ice cream is ready you can serve it as is...

or you can stick it in the freezer for a while and let it set up a bit.

Enjoy!

hey guys and gals!

Hello everyone! Here is a great devotional that moved me the other day. Just thought I'd share. It's from the Oswald Chambers' 'UTMOST FOR MY HIGHEST' devotional book.


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"She has done a good work for Me"
—Mark 14:6

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If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

driving up the 101 with friends...

Hey everyone! So it's been quite a while since my last blog, so here are some pics that show a little trip from last week. Since school starts tomorrow, some friends and I (Nikki Hess and Katie Kennedy-TNL Leaders, whom I'm sure you know), decided to take a road trip up to Cal Poly San Louis Obispo to see our friend Kristen.

Our adventure began last wed morning after TNL as we left at 4am. On the way up, we just had to stop in Hollywood, and took pictures near some great places on Rodeo drive. Here's Katie and I hanging on a Beverly Hills sign up there.



Here is Nikki and I on a fun sculpture piece near Rodeo Drive in front of an office. We must have looked like nuts running around taking pictures before sunrise that morning.



Around breakfast time, we became a little hungry for food and for shopping, so our next stop was in Santa Barbara. The girls had heard Santa Barbara's Vegitarian Cafe was a great place to eat, but we got there too early, so instead we settled for some omlettes and hot cocoa at a little random breakfast place. Then we hit up the Thrift shops and jewelry stores. So much fun! Here are some more pictures near the beach.




When we finally got up to Cal Poly, we had so much fun seeing more awesome sites like the famous Montana De Oro beach, going to farmer's market, seeing bubble gum alley and eating at the city's famous Firestone known for their tri-tip sandwiches and fries. At first we felt overwhelmed with having so much to do, go and see, yet now we felt we accomplished most of what we came for. After this little mini vaca, I think we are all ready get into school mode this next week.