I’ve often found myself wondering how I, just one gal from South Carolina, can make a difference in the globe.  I’d be willing to guess that you’ve asked yourself the same question too.  And sadly, I think somewhere along the way, I resolved that I wasn’t entirely sure that I could do anything myself, but I could at least support missionaries who were…or who seemed to be.  So for a long time, I think I just became part of the status quo…and therefore, probably part of a problem as well.  Do-gooder somewhere buried amidst feelings of some sort of hopelessness.

About 6 years ago, something began to really stir within both my husband and my heart.  We began to realize that somehow we were missing out on who God must really be.  We’d both grown up in typical Southern churches and had spent lives of mediocre christianity that floundered around through high school and college.  I guess for both of us, our individual faiths began to take more shape one we had each entered the world as young adults.  But still…by all intents and purposes, from the outside looking in, there didn’t appear to be anything special about any callings we had or lives we were living.  I was steeped somehow in mediocrity that for the most part beyond trying to invest in a few individuals around me, was pretty much not changing anyone’s life…least of all my own.

Then something happened.  We were in a group of people who all pretty much felt the same.  And we began to ask questions, and search the scriptures, and really figure out about the person of Jesus.  Suddenly, something snapped in us.  A light came on.  Walls began to blow off of the tidy box that I’d wrapped God in somewhere in my younger years, my life began to get pretty messy, but somehow even amidst the mess, I began to feel more alive….more interested in God, energized by time spent with him, and completely shocked and in awe of this person of God I’d somehow missed my entire life.  Suddenly, the Living God became just that…Living.

And as I’ve begun to get to know God in this fresh and intimate way over the past few years, he’s done something in my heart.  He’s set it ablaze to make a difference.  As I recognize who God says that I am, I suddenly realize the intense love and compassion that he has for others.  As I’ve begun to walk with the Living God, I find myself wanting to be a breather of life into others.

There are chances to do that EVERYWHERE.

And by all intents and purposes, I wouldn’t say that there has been any completely radical thing that I’ve begun to do just yet.  Just like everyone else, I’m trying to figure it out.  Trying to understand who God has made me to be, to walk boldly in that calling, and to love and serve others along the way.  To use any influence that I have to that degree as well, both online and in my actual life.

A couple of years ago I led a group study that dove headfirst into some ideas of hospitality.  I searched the Scriptures to learn more about it, and about the people who were characterized by it.  While every spiritual gifts test I’ve ever taken tells me that I’ve got it, the scriptures taught me something different about it…sometime real.  I realized that hospitality isn’t a gift given just to some, but it’s a requirement of all believers in Christ.  That it’s not just an outward expression of service, but rather an inward posture of the heart.  Hospitality is learning to open our hearts to others, to love others well, and to serve from that place of love.  Hospitality isn’t a thing to do, it’s a way to live.

When I was in Bangladesh with Food for the Hungry back in January, the Lord reminded me that serving isn’t a matter of doing, but of loving.  I guess some part of me went with the idea to serve people…to do things for them…to make their life better somehow.  But somewhere in there, the Lord told me to “just love.”  To be who He created me to be, and to love.  To meet people in their need and to fill it with love.  That serving people is loving them in their space of need.  And sometimes serving people is just loving them plain and simple.  There are no untouchables in the Kingdom of Heaven.

So I’ve been learning that if I want to matter in the world…I have to love people first.  I won’t ever make a hill of beans true difference if I just do without being rooted in loving others.  But there are things we can do too.  I can invest in my neighbors.  I can take a meal when my friend across the street has heart surgery.  I can love on my friend Melissa’s kids and remind them how much their mommy, who is in heaven now, loves them.  I can sponsor a child with Food for the Hungry and invest into her community, and ask others to do the same.  I can meet people in their need and stoop to pray for them in the middle of a grocery store parking lot.  I can invest into young marrieds to train them how to prepare a meal for their families. And I can spend my dollars in ways that give life to others.  I may not be radical yet, but I can tell you that I’m sure wanting to get there more.

I think that “the church” as a whole is failing our culture.  And growing up conservative in the South certainly didn’t condition me to be open-minded by some standards, but I think what I’m learning is that open-mindedness isn’t necessarily what I want to be…but open hearted is.  I want the love I’ve been shown by a good heavenly Father to spill out of me and soak others…not matter how similar or different our lives may be.  We have to love well…love ourselves and love those around us.

My heart is learning to love without boundaries.  My life is bending towards helping others learn to do the same.  And my travel plans for this year include a meeting of like-minded, and like-hearted people in September in Austin, TX for the Idea Camp.

“We will facilitate fresh, honest and transformative conversations with leading thinkers and practitioners on topics including how the church cares for the vulnerable, the other and self while unpacking how differences of gender, race, mental health, and age influence our approach.  Our desire is to live life as God’s loving expressions of grace and hope to our world through tangible acts of care for all of humanity.”

Yes…that.  And I can’t help but wonder, and be excited by how much we can begin to change the world by each being the one that we are called to be, and banding with others who are walking in their callings as well.  Strength in numbers, power in connecting, and a group moving together to bring change.  A sandstorm doesn’t make a difference if it’s only composed of 1 grain….but hundreds of grains, thousands of grains in motion together can change a landscape entirely.

Join us un September at The Idea Camp as we gather to encourage, inspire, and have conversations to put into motion more effective, and practical ways to not just live differently, but to love differently.

The following excerpt is from a post I wrote back in January when I was in Bangladesh.  And though I live in the US, and these women in Bangladesh…at the end of the day, our mother’s hearts are the same whether we’re American or Bangladeshi….British or Japanese…Canadian or Russian…Brazilian or African…French or Iraqi.  The thread of motherhood may not look the same, but in the end we all love and sacrifice and give more than we ever thought we could give for our kids.  So to Mother’s everywhere…this is for you.

*          *          *

I’ve been away from my family now for almost 6 days.  I miss them.  Not in a falling apart, totally pitiful sort of way so much as a my-son-got-sick-and-I-wanted-to-help-cuddle-him-myself sort of way.  That’s just how moms are you know.  I want the best for my kids, and I want to be there to see it myself.

Just like these Bangladeshi women we’ve met, I understand what it is to make sacrifices for my children.  We want what’s best for them…we want even better for them that what even we’ve had.  We often put aside our own dreams to help our children achieve theirs.  Heaven knows that I understand how it’s easy to lose yourself amidst raising a family.  When days go by doing washing…

and you get buried under what seem like endless loads of laundry…

but you still try to keep a smile on your face, even though you know there will be more of the same the next day.

I know what it’s like when you’re doing your best to train your children to be helpful and responsible and well-behaved…

 but the baby still pitches a fit and might even pee all over your out-of-town guest no matter how hard you tried to get the sleep schedule right the night before.

I know what it is to remind your children to feed and take care of your pets. And sometimes that doesn’t quite look like it should.

 We all have dinners to prep for and start…

and bath times to muster through.

 We want our homes to be places of joy and welcome.

A place where our doors are open for friends to come and stop by for tea.

And then there’s the back-breaking work of carrying jugs on our heads…

Oh wait!  I got carried away. I’m not much of a head jug carrying gal.

But the truth is that just like us, these women love their children and cuddle them when they need it.

We all want to see our children succeed, but still have dreams of maybe starting our own small business?

Or after raising them all and then paying for weddings and dowrys of 4 daughters, once in a while we just wish we could save enough to buy that ring we’ve been wanting for years.

And it’s the times we gather with friends, and learn how to challenge one another, to educate ourselves, to work towards a common goal and grow together…

We remember what it is to dream again, and suddenly we can see ways to turn a life of street sweeping into a life with glimmers of hope.

And there’s something very satisfying about knowing that you’ve accomplished something that without this group would have never been possible.

That joining together as women, you can build each other up and make an even greater difference in the lives of your children.

And then together, they can make a difference.

Together…WE can make a difference.

It’s then that we find joy and are better mothers for it.

Because we know the old saying is true…

“If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

Sponsoring a child isn’t just helping that one child.  It’s an investment into families.  And a beautiful thing we’ve found in Bangladesh is that families stay together.  Despite the extreme poverty, they aren’t selling their children into sex trafficking or slavery.  There aren’t even orphanages spilling over here or international adoptions available for young kids.  These people value family, and as a mother who feels the same way, I understand that by empowering mothers and training them, they raise kids who with the opportunities provided through FH, will grow up to change the next generation.

I only wish I’d realized this all long before now.  But it’s never too late.  Join me and make a difference? Sponsor a child with Food for the Hungry.  

If you were that mother, wouldn’t you hope that if someone could, they’d do the same for your family too?

And then one day when someone does, when we’re old and gray and see our children grown and know that we did all that we could to see them live well, think how happy we will be!

**This story would not have been possible without the phenomenal photography of my talented friend Esther Havens.

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson

Some days feel like a punch in the face…or that everyone seems to be trying to punch you in the face.

Let’s just be honest about that.

And a lot of the time, it’s not that they are even necessarily intentionally dealing out a jab or a left hook to your jaw…it just feels that way.  Because people disappoint.

People will always disappoint.

Even if you’re an optimist and the kind of person that gives a million chances and truly in the depth of your soul believe that this will be the time that things are different, you’ll probably just end up disappointed more.

That’s me….

But it’s not an excuse to become cynical…or to start thinking the worst of people.  It’s just calling up another chance to think the best of others, even if they’re going to disappoint you again.

And maybe there’s somewhere in there that we can give the benefit of the doubt and have high hopes, but not rest our hopes on the shoulders of others so much as on the shoulders of Jesus.

His yoke is light…and his shoulders are strong enough for all our hopes and disappointments to be piled there.  And just as he died on the cross for our sins, he came to bear our hurts and disappointments too.

And while some days I just feel like punching back…probably I just need to get low, on my knees, and hold the frustrations high above me to be lifted off.  My soul will find rest when I lay down my frustration and learn from his gentleness.  And, I’m pretty sure that while Jesus felt righteous anger (and we can too) that he never punched anyone in the face.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Image: Mike Tyson knock out via Tumblr

My son turned 7 on Monday.  I’m not sure when or how 7 years just passed, but somehow they have. And, the pictures of that baby beside the doorway above have evolved into a really handsome, clever, and spunky young boy.

I’ve had some “moments” this week…he’s 7, this year we’ll celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, and I’ll also turn 35. Suddenly I’m settled into my 30′s, my parents are getting into their 60′s, and life is very much not ruled by my own youth anymore.  Interesting…maybe I’ll leave it at that and just sashay back over towards denial.

Anyhow, the boy wants to have a campout party.  I decided last year that after age 5, we’ll just do birthday parties every other year.  Mostly I think last April I was exhausted after just having lost a baby.  The truth is that I really like having parties.

So I got to work thinking about what makes a campout great and of course, without much time pondering, I realized that no campout is complete without…

S’mores

I thought that a fun and easy favor would be s’mores kits.  So I snagged some boxes and bags from Hobby Lobby, used an old tent stamp that I had, and got to work stamping!  They turned out pretty cute! Each box has 2 graham crackers, 4 marshmallows, and a full sized Hershey bar.

I realize that 7 year old boys don’t care one iota about pretty packaging or tent stamps, but I do, and I’m throwing this party for my kid, so by golly, I’ll have fun doing it.

I created the boxes for the boys, and since we’re having a cookout before the campout and families will be invited, I made bags with the same contents for the siblings.  It doesnt’ show in the picture because I couldn’t figure out how to get a decent picture of it, but each s’mores kit also includes a roasting fork (which I found in packages of 4 for $1.60 at Walmart.)

And since the number of kids coming is pretty small, I created really fun additional bags for his buddies.

Each bag includes a camping mug, a flashlight, a fork/spoon combo, a mini slim jim, a box of raisins, a chinese finger game (mostly because they were cheap and cute), and a toy snake or insect.

I’d been keeping an eye out for a neat lantern for a long time but didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg. I finally found a cool one on sale for 50% off so I scooped it up and used it as a centerpiece in the dining room where we’ll have all of the food.

Between some moss, old boy scout books, a giant army man and some other random boy toys and figures I found, I created the centerpiece.  The candle was just a cream one that I wrapped in a piece of bark we found hiking in Montana a couple of summers ago.  Most of the time when I’m creating centerpieces, I just start wandering around my entire house looking for little items that could be included that make sense.  My mom affectionately refers to this as “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”  And for boy stuff…check your yard! Rocks, sticks, sweet gum balls, whatever seems interesting.

I brought out baskets and bowls that are mostly wood and more natural looking to create the entire set up too.

Just happened to luck out and find camo napkins too!

So, that’s what we’ve got going on so far!  Hopefully the rain will hold off and my little man and his friends will actually be able to camp out!  Thought you might all enjoy seeing a few pictures in the meantime though!

I’m off to make a carrot cake ( And, I’ll definitely have to share the recipe for that with you! It’s amazing!)

]]> http://lifefordessert.com/2013/05/02/the-campout-party/feed/ 1 http://lifefordessert.com/2013/05/02/the-campout-party/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LifeForDessert/~3/YiNHj577Iac/ http://lifefordessert.com/2013/04/30/for-bangladesh/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:59:00 +0000 Logan http://lifefordessert.com/?p=2848 Send to Kindle

You must know that the news of the Bangladeshi factory collapse has broken my heart.  I’ve been thinking on it for the past couple of days and wondering how a people group has ever become so dispensable for the sake of cheap clothes.

As most of you know I spent a week in Bangladesh in January with Food for the Hungry.  I logged my journey for you to follow along.  Here are all of the posts in case you missed them.

The Adventure

Adventure is an Uncomfortable Thing

Just Love

Meeting Ritu

A Mother’s Heart

The Eyes of Our Hearts

Readjusting to Small

Bangladesh…A Beautiful Video

Almost 400 people died in a horriffic factory collapse four days ago.  It’s thought that while about 2500 people got out, there could be nearly 1000 still trapped inside.  I’ll let you google it all to get more news.  Sufficed to say…it’s heartbreaking.

And having seen Bangladesh, I can say…the conditions for working are horrendous.  People work for pennies.  I rode in rickshaws for like 15 cents, bought fancy shoes for just $7, and gorgeous fabrics for just like $3/yd.  And here…check the tags of your clothes…if they’re not made in China, chances are high that what’s on your back, came from the breaking of backs in Bangladesh.

People matter.  Bangladeshi people matter.  And while we all want to save a dollar on what we buy here in the States, I have to say, that I for one can’t not care what’s happening on the other end of the threads that I’m wearing anymore or the goods that I’m consuming.  If we don’t care…and if we demand cheap goods, then at some point we Americans must be willing to recognize that our desire for more …for cheap…is coming at the expense of human lives elsewhere.

And I’m just not ok with that.

Maybe you think you can’t make a difference…and I’m not sure how I’m going to either….but I will.  And I will do it because people matter to Jesus…and people matter to me.  It has to start at least with awareness and consciousness when I make purchases.  For one…maybe start with sponsoring a child in Bangladesh.  Give someone a chance to live better than slaving for next to nothing in a factory that will collapse on them.

I don’t know what else to tell you to do…but please, don’t just do nothing.

It’s funny really….to be planning a blogging conference and to simultaneously struggle with even getting blog posts written.  I mean, I’ve had a couple here and there, but I tell you what…balance isn’t something that gets handed to us on a silver platter is it?

So that’s what I’ve been trying to do. Trying to find balance…and realizing that it’s not something that’s so much found, as created. It is intentionally stepping away from my phone screen, and computer screen, and to engage my life.  There is part of me that thrives in planning Allume, but there is a part of me that’s been getting swallowed up in it all too.  I find myself reaching and grabbing out for Jesus to fill me up, and to fill my kids and my husband…because most days, I find myself really drained.

I fell asleep 20 minutes into a movie with my husband last night just a little bit after 9.  I’m just really tired all the time.

But 2 weekends ago, we escaped the city and high speed internet, and I took 2 days and breathed in friendships and mountain air and felt my soul fill up again.

We played outside with friends, and flew kites, and foolishly ate s’mores AFTER bathtime.  And I loved every single second.

On the way home, we stopped at one of my favorite antique spots ever, and I found a vintage scale for just the right price (after looking for years for one!)  And it’s my favorite color even!  Sometimes God just likes to give us good, albeit unnecessary, gifts.

And in the past week, I spent a couple of days ignoring laundry so that I could immerse myself and my kids into some creative projects…and I built a coat rack from a cool salvage piece of wood, and just 2 days ago I built a table from a vintage French wine crate and a piece of barnwood.  And those things felt good.

And I didn’t take a million pictures to illustrate how to do it…I just did it to enjoy the process for myself.  (You’ll be pleased to know though that it really was as simple as cutting a board into equal sizes and screwing them to the side of the crate and then sanding and waxing the entire thing.)

So lately….I’ve been living, and sometimes I’m trying to blog about it…and sometimes I’m just not.  And I think that’s ok….even if you’re planning a blogging conference.

I’ve just got fun stuff happening to share with ya’ll!

So, a few months back I was chatting with my friend, the talented singer/songwriter, Christa Wells.  She was telling me about the new CD that she and Nicole Witt are releasing called More Than Rubies.  And because she’s awesome, she sent me a few advance copies to give it a listen and to be able to give 2 away to celebrate the official release with her today!

And, to make things even more fun, I have the privilege of hosting Christa and Nicole at my home on Friday June 21st for a special More Than Rubies concert!  The concert will be in honor of my dear friend Melissa Means who passed away on February 28th this year. All proceeds will be donated in Melissa’s honor to Let There Be Mom.

Let There Be Mom was created to help moms when they, or their child’s father, are diagnosed with a life threatening illness by preserving the legacy of the ailing parent. We are here to assist moms in preserving the traditions their families have started, the memories they have made and the hopes and dreams they have for their children. We hope that each mom & dad that we work with make a full recovery, however in the event that one of them is taken from this earth, Let There Be Mom will have helped them leave something for their children to embrace.

Let There Be Mom is a really phenomenal organization that has done some special things to help preserve the memory of Melissa.  They collected and bound letters from Melissa’s friends and family for each of her children, made necklaces with her fingerprint to give to her girls when they turn 18, created quilts from her clothes for her children….seriously, some really dear stuff that makes me cry every time.

So….mark your calendars for Friday, June 21st and join us for an evening of music with Christa Wells and Nicole Witt.  You can get your tickets HERE!  The doors will open at 6:30 for wine, coffee, desserts, and appetizers, and the show will start at 7:30.  Weather permitting, we’ll have the concert outside.  As of right now we only have 35 tickets available.  Tickets are $25 each and as I said before, all proceeds and additional donations will go straight to Let There Be Mom.  It’s a date night for a good cause!

Hop on over and snag your copy of More Than Rubies today, and get ready to usher peace, calm, and the power of a totally incredible lineup of music into your home!  I’ve been listening to the CD for the past couple of weeks on repeat and seriously love the way that it sets my heart in the right place even during the chaos of dinnertime madness in my house.  You know what I’m talkin’ about!

Honestly though…I love every single song on this album!  Get a load of the lineup…

Tracks:
1. Image of God
2. Set Free
3. Dawn of Grace
4. Lay Us Low
5. Pray
6. Visible Invisible
7. Live and Breathe
8. Shepherd God
9. Even Though
10. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
11. Coming to the Light

You will LOVE!  So…snag a copy HERE, purchase a ticket HERE and come join us at my home to hear it all LIVE on June 21st!  And…for fun, enter below to win the album!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am so excited to share something with ya’ll today!

Awhile back I wrote about my dear friend, Sarah Mae’s book, Desperate – Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe.  

Embarrassingly enough, I hadn’t even completely finished reading it myself at that time and hadn’t gotten far enough to realize that 3/4 of the way through I’m mentioned in it!  And I have to say… it’s fun to find yourself in your friend’s book.  Regardless of my literary cameo though, I have to say, this book is amazing, and the women behind it are the real deal!

Today the Desperate – Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe DVD Companion Study by my friends Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson releases! So, what is the Desperate Companion Study? Glad you asked! At the end of each chapter in the book there are QR codes which lead the reader to a 2-3 minute video of Sarah and Sally talking about the chapter. Those little videos are now available on a DVD to make group viewing much easier (speaking of groups, get a Mom Small Group Guide for free here!). The DVD also includes a bonus Q & A time with Sarah and Sally.

If you don’t have the book yet, take a peek at this video to get a feel for the videos:

A Sale!

The Kindle version of Desperate is on sale TODAY ONLY for $3.99! Get it here!

A Special Deal!

If you have been wanting to start a book club or group in your church using Desperate, now would be a great time to get the books! If you buy five *paperback* copies of Desperate this week (through Friday) you can get the Desperate DVD for FREE! And if you are among the first 50 to buy the five paperback books, you also get these lovely DaySpring Redeemed – Everything Beautiful Earrings!

Go HERE (or your favorite store) to get the books! Then just take a picture or scan your receipt and send it to: desperatebook@thomasnelson.com. (Remember, the books have to be in paperback to get the DVD and the earrings!)

Sarah Mae has some fun giveaways running on her site this week too, so hop on over there to enter to win a whole bunch of other prizes!

I’m so proud of my friend and SO excited to share with you this exciting DVD and study!  So check it out and let me know when you happen to run across lil’ ol’ me in there too!

Our house didn’t sell.  Which is ok really.  In the past week however, after almost 2 months of silence, I’ve had 6 calls to show our house.  It’s off the market now though since another neighbor is buying the house we’d wanted just 2 doors down.  I’m not moving just to move!  We love our house and our neighborhood, so we’re staying put!

But that brings me to what our next plan is….

Renovation!

We’ve met with an architect and I’ve done some rough sketching on graph paper to give him a starting point for “the plan.”  The most exciting thing to me is taking our current kitchen above, adding some significant space off the back of the house, and hopefully ending up with something akin to this dreamy situation!

One thing I’m most excited about is putting large drawers in the base cabinets instead of standard cabinet doors.  It’ll be so nice to open a drawer to get out pots and pans, sippy cups, and the dreaded tupperware that currently falls on my head from an upper cabinet at least 4x a week.

And I’m wondering if you lovely readers would help a sister out with planning this beaut?! In addition to the lower large drawers, I’d like to include some upright baking rack storage to make it easier to get cookie sheets and whatnot out. Sort of like so perhaps…

So, for all you clever thinkers out there, and for those of you who have renovated a kitchen before (or have grand plans in your mind to do it), what would be the thing that you would most want to include?  Or what is the little detail or storage solution that makes all the difference for you?  I’m wanting to collect ideas here to make this kitchen into a high beauty, but highly functioning and efficient place!

Share your thoughts and ideas with me in the comments below?  I’m excited to take you all on this journey with us! (Remind me of this later when I’m griping about our 85th microwave meal down the road mkay?!)

Thanks friends! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts and ideas!  And if you’re curious to see more of mine, follow me on Pinterest and check out my Renovation Ideas board to see what’s inspiring me!

So friends, after being a totally sparse blogger, I figured I’d show back up in the blogosphere with a fun giveaway today!

Jennie Leigh Designs is now Vintage Made Modern!!!   Vintage Made Modern is the exclusive distributor for Annie Sloan, and my new friend Lindsay Oehmen, who is a blast and a half, is running the well-painted show now!

Also, there is a dedicated area where Lindsay holds workshops ranging from beginner to advanced techniques.  UM…can we say, “Grab a group of friends and make a night of it?!”

The Intro Workshop is the most popular and is really for anyone who has never touched Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, all the way to people who have been using it for a long time.  In this workshop you will discover the versatility  and ease of application of Chalk Paint®.  (It’s SUCH a great product!)  You will learn 5 different painting techniques and finishes with clear and dark wax. It’s a hands-on workshop where you learn modern, rustic, two-color distress, lime washing, and color washing techniques.  You will also get up close and personal with both the clear and dark wax, mixing the two and learning how to apply and appropriately take off the excess wax. You will experience the different ways to obtain a soft, beautiful, durable finish. This is a 4-hour workshop and all the materials are provided.  Just bring yourself!

So pop by the store to scoop up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and tell Lindsey that I sent you! And enter below to win the workshop for you and 3 friends!!!  You don’t have to live in Greenville to enter, but it’d probably be easier unless you want to drive in from out of town since the workshop will be held at Vintage Made Modern.  The giveaway runs til this Thursday, 4/11/13, at midnight!

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