Encouraging Words: ‘Magic in a tube’ story continues

Posted on May 9, 2012 by klemes

Published in the Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

Continuing our discussion on skincare, today’s Encouraging Words takes us back to the Roanoke Valley’s Polley Clinic of Dermatology and the professional services of one Sandri Johnson, MSN, FNP-C.

Several months ago, in the course of my preparations for world travel, I scheduled a consultation. There, I described to her my ingenious, albeit futile, attempt to self-medicate a slight facial irritation with diaper rash cream. Ever the professional, her composure was perfectly maintained — only giving in to a slight twitch in her forehead, suggesting that she truly thought she had absolutely heard it all.

But she shed no shame upon me for she recognized that my right-brain ill-fated attempt to scientifically apply a product to one end was upended by the fact the product was manufactured, bought and sold for the purposes of application to another. I sensed she was grading me an E for Effort!

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Encouraging Words: Shells of Wonder Found in Meherrin

Posted on May 2, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/MeherrinSeashells

Taking advantage of this pleasing tolerable spring weather, we’re going on a Roanoke Valley adventure today!

But first, let’s wrestle a riddle: Heading to a place today; not that far away; minor effort, if any at all; buried deep in muddied walls; untouched by man, not one; unveiled by the shine in the sun; smoothed by the grit of the sand; hulled out by the spade of the hands!

Give up?

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Encouraging Words: Wrinkles, Be Gone! To be continued

Posted on April 25, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/GoodbyeWrinkles

For personal toiletry purposes, I will try a home remedy in a heartbeat. I’ve used lemon juice on my hair to turn it blond, mayonnaise to give it body and vinegar to remove any unwanted residue; oatmeal paste to alleviate the itch caused by poison ivy and baby oil to swipe away raccoon eyes.

I am also very interested in repurposing everyday household products for the purpose of promoting perfection. My wonderful husband is beyond being surprised by whatever my latest attempt to achieve documented results.

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Encouraging Words: John 3:16 Center Work Rewarding

Posted on April 18, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald

http://bit.ly/ReplicatingTheJohn316Center

If ever I would, knowing never I could, create a multi-functional, not-for-profit organization to serve the needs of my community, I would duplicate the template of the nigh near 8-year old ministry in Littleton, the John 3:16 Center.

Having sought and received permission, I would photocopy the processes used to envision, manifest, maintain and sustain the hardwired aspects of the vibrant ministry — its bricks and mortar, nails and sheetrock, roof and shingles. Then I would clone the softwireds: The staff, board members and volunteers who serve the children, families and elderly; and, the occasional somebody who may temporarily be the nobody, anybody claims.

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Encouraging Words: My Love for the Calming Camellia

Posted on April 11, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/CalmingCamellias

The Roanoke Valley has delighted us with a recent dose of perfect days — silvery dust-bunny clouds playing hide and seek with a smiley faced-yellow sun against the backdrop of a baby blue-bonnet sky; topped off by magnificent evenings, especially the one showcasing the big round as a cake-plate moon.

It hovered along the Eastern horizon like a Chinese paper lantern tied to the branches of a tree. It wasn’t orange or golden, or white — just bright. And the midnight sky was midnight blue — so blue it was black, so black it was blue. And the strands of sparkling stars were wound, round and round, those same branches.

What a spectacular spectacle!

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Welcome to the Home of the BAG Ladies Business Accountability Group!

Posted on April 7, 2012 by klemes

With a heart full of encouragement towards women who are called to a higher purpose, I proudly post this, our first proclamation to the world “Welcome to the home of the BAG Ladies, the Business Accountability Group, which holds women accountable – one to the other – for the accomplishment of their visions and dreams. Let all who enter, depart for the better, for having visited.”
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Encouraging Words: Ode to Hersy Boy

Posted on April 4, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/OdetoHersyBoy

Sometimes throughout a lifetime, a relationship exists with another life that becomes irreplaceable. Most likely, it is the life of another human being that cannot be replaced.

On rare occasion, the irreplaceable life is that of an animal, more specifically, a canine; more specifically, a doggie; more specifically, the best friend a human being could ever have.
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Encouraging Words: Floating in Dead Sea wonderful memory

Posted on March 28, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/DeadSeaFloating

Returning from our Middle Eastern excursion, my wonderful husband and I have planted our four feet firmly on the fertile soil of the Roanoke Valley, and may I say it is good to be home!

I have never experienced so much in such a compacted span of time, and it would take a book to enlist every detail. In fact, I feel led to write a book — one in which I would provoke you jealously to seek for yourself, the spiritual connotations of historical sites, political position, religious heritage, ethnic diversity and cultural aesthetics of such a foreign land as Israel. This may well be the introduction to the book’s introduction!
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Shalom from Israel

Posted on March 18, 2012 by klemes

And Shalom to all of you who have been so faithful in your prayers and encouragement to me and Terry. I went alone to the Western Wall, placed my hand upon it and prayed for each of you. Here is a really interesting link to a Live Cam on the Western “Wall of Tears.” It has served as the homepage on my computer for the last six months. I never dreamed I would be standing before it in total humility.

We are currently staying at the Ein Gedi Resort.

This morning, we hiked to the waterfalls at the David Wadi (where David hid from King Saul) and later this afternoon, I floated in the magnificent Dead Sea and with the mountains of Jordan as a backdrop. (The photos of my mudcake makeover are forthcoming!)

Tomorrow, I ride the camel and have lunch with the Boudeins desert people. I’m still waiting to receive the invitation for a private audience with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I understand it may have gotten delayed in the snail mail system.

Blessings to you!

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Encouraging Words: Gifts from Jerusalem

Posted on March 14, 2012 by klemes

Published in The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald.

http://bit.ly/GiftsfromJerusalem

Shalom, Roanoke Valley! I report to you from our smartly appointed hotel room in Jerusalem’s Dan Panorama Hotel with Encouraging Words from the beautiful land of Israel.

Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

My internal clock continues to lag behind the El Al jet that delivered us here, and I’m trying desperately to remember my “right” from my “left” during our tour group’s military line formation exercises (so that we might remain as one unit to safely maneuver throughout the land)! Continue reading →