BACK UP YOUR
FILES!
IF YOU'VE GOT A
BUNCH OF IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ON YOUR
COMPUTER, MAKE A
COPY (AND UPDATE IT
FROM TIME TO TIME)
AND STORE IT IN A
SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX
AND/OR AT A FRIEND's
OR RELATIVE's HOME.
In light of the
floods, fires, etc.,
it would be very
good to make copies
of your important
papers, documents,
policies and take
them or the
originals and file
them in the
safe-deposit box,
too. I have
some other notes
that our friend
Laura sent me today
that I'll share
tomorrow. It's
too late for bloggin'
and my time is up!
;-)
October 31,
2003
Happy Birthday,
Laura!!
Ahhhh... no
bloggin' yesterday!
Too many things to
do around our home
and too many people
on this system ;-)
I've been watching
the news on the net
regarding the
California fires.
Our hearts go out to
those who're in
desperate
situations... all
the uncertainties,
the grief, fear and
loss from the
relentless fires.
We commend all the
Firefighters, all
the volunteers,
Police & Rescue and
the courageous
citizens who've
selflessly done
whatever it takes to
help others.
My mom sent me a
neat link this
morning---fire
update---it's
quite something to
see the far-reaching
effects of this
fire. I was
born in San
Bernardino and
raised in Redlands
so I've been sort of
tracking what's been
happening in those
areas. Our
friend here told of
a relatives
devastating loss of
their home. My
sister in law lives
near Saddleback
Mountain and called
my mother-in-law
last night to let
the family know that
they're all "fine"
but everything is
covered with ash. As
a result of the
fires she's been
working "a ton of
extra hours" because
all the hospitals
(one of which is
where she works) in
the area are full
and busy. Oh,
how many lives are
touched one way or
another by the
tragedies.
I love to hear
results of something
I've written or
links I've
highlighted here...
my friend wrote
yesterday and shared
her delight in
finding links for
her patterns of
dishes and china.
I was thrilled to
see the
patterns---and
amazed that her
pattern of china is
the same as our son
& daughter-in-law's
china.
Now... when I'm at
their home, and I
see their china,
I'll be thinking of
my friend.
I'll continue to
look at
Replacements or
on
Ebay for dishes
for our daughter.
I never see my
pattern on
Ebay, but you
never know...
In the scheme of
things, this is a
very very low
priority.
I had another
beautiful letter
this morning from
the owner of the
Simply Graceful
website where you
may purchase
beautifully modest
dresses for little
girls---"Handmade
with care for
Special little
girls." You
know what I was
pleased to see...
she's offering a
jumper for mama's!
Go and see... I
love home industry!
October 29,
2003 Now tonight
I was looking at a
wonderful needlework
website! As a matter
of fact, just today
I was showing my
daughters some
stamped cotton-linen
placemats that my
grandmother was in
the process of
making. I
think I'll ask my
mom to finish them
with our oldest
daughter.
She's been busily
arranging her closet
and looking over the
things in her
hope-chest and
yesterday was
looking through my
mother's china which
is being stored in
boxes for her.
I decided to take a
look at
Replacements to
see what they have
available in that
pattern. I was
pleased to see all
the different pieces
they had!
Whew! The prices are
high, though!
Then I decided to
take a look on
Ebay... there, I
was not so
successful! I
did, however, browse
through the
different sets and
patterns of china
and smiled as I saw
all sorts of
different sets of
china and remembered
different friends
and family members
as I saw 'their
china' patterns.
Dealing with loss...
oh, the things I've
remembered as the
days have passed...
things that were on
this computer.
Much like an address
book which I have on
my desk, I had a
nicely set up
address book and
personal info files
that I'm regretful
to have lost.
I have been sorry
about this today.
But, as my friend
wrote this
morning... my loss
was NOthing like the
losses being faced
and experienced in
California (and,
obviously
elsewhere!).
Oh, the devastation
of those fires.
My very small
disruption is as
nothing
compared to the
losses they face.
It's a good thing to
see things in proper
perspective.
I'm so grateful to
have been reminded
of this!
October 28,
2003 What
a blessing to
fellowship with
other believers
around the "'net
table" here!
I'm grateful for the
opportunity the
LORD's given and His
working in our
lives. It's a
blessing to have the
good of the 'net at
our disposal---but
we must be ever
careful, ever
vigilant to the
downside or dangers
of this great tool.
One thing about not
having anything to
work with over the
last week, was the
reality of the time
grabber this machine
is! Actually,
it's both a time and
attention siphon! I
am more keenly aware
that every moment
I'm facing this box
is a moment I'm not
facing my children.
Likewise, every
moment they're using
the machine, they're
not doing something
else. So...
perspective was
gained by the loss
of the files and use
of this machine.
Debbie G once wrote
about the dangers of
email lists... I'd
sure echo that and
add, the 'net in
general. It's
a tool---and like
all tools, in it's
proper place and
purpose it's
marvelous---I pray
we never lose sight
of this or else our
expensive lesson
will have been just
that: expensive.
October 27-8,
2003
Good Good Morning!!
We're up and
running! After
losing all the files
on my system, It is
with great thanks to
the LORD that this
site was on a server
and is restored.
I am grateful for
the salvaging of
these files as they
are the only files I
have of the 139,000
files lost when my
computer crashed.
I am grateful to my
husband and to our
friend Sean for
their patience and
kindness... yes, and
time and finances to
get new components,
programs and all
that went into
reinstalling them.
This was a very very
expensive lesson for
me... my prayer has
been that in all of
this the LORD would
be glorified and I
would be gracious
and accept as of His
Hand all that
transpires. I'm
sorry to have lost
five years of
files... sorrier
that I never backed
them up properly and
now have lost
thousands of
important records,
files, orders, etc.
that I cannot
replace. Some
of the more
important lessons
I've learned in life
have come at great
expense, but I've
also seen the LORD
bring rich and
lasting fruit from
the difficult
plowing I've
experienced.
I'm sorry to have
lost beautiful
letters of
correspondence,
marvelous articles I
always intended to
post on the site...
pictures and
chronologies through
e-mail of events and
phases family and
friends have gone
through. I'm
regretful that I
don't have
addresses, and
journals and letters
to my children that
I've been keeping
over the last five
years... because as
you know, I'm a
saver-of-quite-a-lot.
One neat blessing
that's come of this
loss is MORE ADVICE!
In addition to my
standard
admonitions:
Get right with the
LORD.
Brush and floss your
teeth today so that
you'll have teeth to
brush and floss
tomorrow.
Drink MORE Water.
Try to cut down on
BSF foods.
Life is too long to
fret about
everything.
And NOW... here's my
new mantra:
BACK UP YOUR FILES
TODAY
Really.
If you don't know
how...
Don't remain
ignorant... find
someone to teach you
how.
You may live to
regret NOT doing it.
October 16-17, 2003
Now HERE's something f-u-n-n-y considering the negative report CBS on Homeschooling. This spoof is as ridiculous as the CBS piece. Don't you wish you could invite the CBS crew in for a week and show them how a homeschooling family works?!?! In addition to seeing how much teamwork goes into each day... they'd be treated respectfully, treated to beautiful music, great stories, tasty food, lots of story books, trips to the library, taste-testing new creations in the kitchen, prayer time and Bible
study and lots and lots of questions and more stories... and maybe a little too much socializing. It's too bad they won't be coming tomorrow... it'll be another full day here in the life of a teaching home. It's sad what's happened to some people---but to label it: the sinister side of Homeschooling... hundreds of prisons are packed with inmates who've committed heinous crimes, do we call this the sinister side of government education? Will there be a sequel to the "Dark Side of Homeschooling" presentation? Public Schooling Nightmares: A report, how children
nationwide have been put in danger, even killed, while public schooling. O, but then... by other names & descriptions, these reports fill newspapers every week, don't they.
We receive a
bi-monthly newsletter called Pen & Sword, published by the Amy Foundation. This, from the Amy Foundation site: "The Amy Foundation, founded in 1976 by W. James Russell and his wife Phyllis, was named after their daughter. The Foundation is best known for its Amy Writing Awards, which is a call to present biblical truth reinforced with scripture in secular, non-religious publications. First prize is $10,000 with a total of $34,000 given annually. It is acclaimed as
the most popular journalism contest in the nation."
We so appreciate the timely and well written articles. In fact, our children recently recalled that Daddy was reading one of the newsletter feature articles the night before our Ami was born. At that time, there was no preparation for a girls-name, nor did the "amy" newsletter prompt
her naming, it was simply a sweet coincidence. [She's named for a precious saint of the LORD, a woman named Amelia who's been a spiritual mentor in our lives.] You can take a look at the Amy Foundation Home Page and read past article contributions.
Looking for good eats???? I forget to suggest great cooking websites that we've really enjoyed---so here's one for you today! This site has terrific recipes and a great search tool, plus you can set up a personal recipe box. Try Epicurious today!! Then, you might want to go to
Our Favourite Cooking Websites page. It's loaded with links for you.
NEWS
Terri Schindler-Schiavo's feeding tube has been removed. "The tube removal came just hours after Gov. Jeb Bush told Bob Schindler and his wife, Mary, that he was instructing his legal staff to find some means to block the court order allowing Michael Schiavo to end his wife's life. "I am not a doctor, I am not a lawyer. But I know that if a person can be able to sustain life without life support, that should be tried," the governor said, adding the "ultimate decision of this is
in the courts." The father of the woman said the family was heartened by the governor's last-minute effort. "The family has not given up hope on Terri," Bob Schindler Jr. said following the meeting with Bush." [FoxNews] |
October 15, 2003 I'm reading The Family Meal Table and Hospitality by Nancy Campbell. What a valuable manual it is! It's a blessing to me because I've allowed busy-ness to creep in and steal time and 'tradition' away from the gathering at the table for meals. O, how much is lost when, as the family goes many directions, the mealtime is reduced to merely refueling. So... I've just begun reading the book and will be quoting some of the
rich truths and suggestions for the family meal table.
In our 'welcome page' I have listed a request to pray for our friend Diana. What a blessing it was to me to recently be able to see her and the miraculous way the LORD is using this illness to His glory. She's absolutely radiant---another testimony of the grace of God! I'd still request prayer on her behalf as the road ahead is quite difficult and she daily faces challenges associated with her illness. What a precious and courageous sister in the LORD
she is!
Do you have GRAMMAR questions? Need to know proper sentence structure or any other answer pertaining to grammar? This site's for you!!
Don't forget the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. It's such a sad situation that could've been improved in so many ways! Worldnet Daily is also reporting the story.
And it goes on... HOMESCHOOLERS: SEND CBS NEWS BACK TO THE BOOKS! Click on the "Hot News" on the right side-bar.
October 14, 2003 Oh, the media has a heyday with it's twisting of stories and scandalous news, doesn't it! CBS aired a two-part program on "the dark side of homeschooling" last night, concluding tonight. One thing I try to remember in all of this is to not get all hyped up or ruffled... that media thrive on sensational stories to get ratings and ratings---not complete stories or truth---are paramount in that industry. We don't hear all the evils linked to government education, just as
we're not being told the truth on what really goes on in the schools today and the brainwashing of the humanist agenda. Home educators, take heart... press on, study hard, learn all you can, serve all you can, be obedient to the Word (Deuteronomy 6) and teach well! All this threatening news has temporarily cast a dark shadow on homeschooling... but we know the truth. The enemy of our souls is at enmity with God and will never relent---but he is a defeated ---defeated--- foe. On the other side of the coin, there's a very interesting, great article regarding homeschoolers in
World magazine. This is HSLDA's alert for today:
October 14, 2003
Dear HSLDA Members and friends:
CBS National News ran a negative homeschooling report last night titled "The Dark Side of Homeschooling" and will run a further report this evening. The reports focus on a handful of child abuse cases during the past 5 to 10 years involving families claiming to be homeschoolers.
Last night's segment discussed the murder of Kyle, 13, and Marnie Warren, 19, by their brother Brandon, 14, and his subsequent suicide. The Warren family is from Johnston County North Carolina.
To view the CBS story go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=1139
Missing from the CBS story was that: Social Services had contacted the family eleven times, were well aware of the condition of the home and had been working with the family.
However, to any fair-minded reader the story leaves the impression that homeschooling equals child abuse.
We are outraged that CBS would ignore the obvious facts and draw the erroneous conclusion that homeschoolers need to be strictly regulated. The story is a shameless attempt to smear an entire community of committed, dedicated parents.
The real story is CBS's bias against homeschooling and it is using this distorted story to encourage the regulation of homeschoolers.
Please call Viacom (parent company of CBS) and CBS to express your opposition to the biased reporting and smear campaign against homeschooling. Highlight the fact that homeschooling was not the cause of the childrens' deaths and that you expect CBS to have higher journalistic standards.
Viacom President and CEO - Mel Karmazin
P - 212-258-6000
CBS Evening News - LA Bureau
P - (323) 575-2202
Sincerely,
J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President |
October 13, 2003 Home from retreat... what a blessed time it was! What inspiration, what affirmation for what we know and what the LORD has taught us through His Word. It's a blessing to be able to spend time under the teaching of a woman who's walked with God---trusted in God and has a testimony of a pattern of good works. I'd like to spend some time reflecting and then write a bit about it. My initial thought is that I am so grateful to God that He didn't allow my early [and erroneous] assessment
of Nancy Campbell to remain but allowed me to see and hear the message behind the messenger. O, we can be so critical sometimes---so quick to judge, so quick to misinterpret actions, words, inflections, manner or appearance of an individual and perhaps totally miss the great blessing God intended us to receive. Oh, am I glad to have not missed the blessing of the Above Rubies retreat and all the marvelous affirmations of God's Word---His precious and marvelous plan for wives and mothers... the utmost---really--- was that I was able to
share it all with my daughter; it was wonderful. What a great and awe-inspiring God we serve and how gracious He is to provide these opportunities for us.
Oh, the great blessing of faith... the strength of faith. I loved reading this story in the local paper... an inspiration to me... a church member who, early in her life, endured great dishonor: judged by the colour of her skin---not the content of her character--- and yet she pressed on, she kept the faith---her church was a refuge.
Now, while I was away, I had a letter in the email from a reader who was wondering the fate of the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo---it's a discouraging conclusion. Worldnet Daily also reported on the story. Now, why does this matter, or why should we care? You see this is just as dreadful as abortion and yet another act of mocking God by the enemy--the sanctity of human life is at stake. Already, millions of babies are
killed at the request of mothers to whom these babies are inconvenient, unplanned, unwanted. Now this decision to allow the starvation of Terri Schindler-Schiavo is yet another turn in the slide of degradation of life... who's next? The elderly? The disabled? The no-longer-useful? The inconvenient? Who chooses life? Is it ours to decide? Is it any wonder that there is judgment on America---or other nations who forget God.
October 9-12, 2003 Retreating to Olympia... no time for bloggin' so we're off to listen and learn what the LORD has for us! I'll blog details when we return!! Blessings! ---ps
But first, one more thing...... this story ----the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo is unbelievable. Even so, we cry, Come, LORD Jesus.
October 8, 2003 Only a couple of days till the Olympia, Washington Above Rubies retreat! There may still be some room... so if you want/need to attend, make plans right away---today! Click on Above Rubies and go to the "American Retreats & Seminars" link on the menu bar. From there, look at the info for the Olympia retreat set for this weekend!
Well, so, Cal-eeee-fornia has a new governor---amazing. His speech was gracious, and history will declare his genuine sincerity in his determination to make Cal-eee-fornia "again the greatest state of the greatest country in the world. Thank you very much. Thank you. And God bless all of you. Thank you." What'll his stand be on God's place and role in our nation.
The rally for preservation of the "Ten Commandments" continues; The 'Spirit of Montgomery' caravan stopped at U.S. Supreme Court on Monday!
It's getting wet & chilly here! And chilly means it gets dark earlier and that means the family is gathered inside earlier and that means we have more 'sit-down' meals t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r! So when it comes to autumn, my mind turns to autumn recipes like soups and stews. I decided on a few meals this week that I've not prepared in a while... meatball stew, baked chicken & rice and lasagňa! Need some ideas or fall recipes? Here you go!
Some more on: The Open Church---I received an encouraging letter by email this morning and a caution regarding open church getting 'out of control' (which I heartily agree could be/become a real problem but can be firmly addressed in the formation of the "open church" plan of the worship service---much like families have 'boundaries' or behavioral guidelines/suggestions for how different functions/events are handled---and the Bible is pretty clear on these). Anyway, I thought it important to reflect on an aspect of the "open church" that may be misunderstood and that is the dissolving or doing away with a
traditional Sunday worship service---and that's *not* what's desired or intended here (or in the book, The Open Church) at all. What *is* desired is a plurality of messengers of the Word, a plurality of bringing fresh bread to the congregation. What's desired here is the liberation of pastors from the position they hold of being the only vessel in the bunch to share the Word *AND* running the church show, so to speak. Most pastors are so involved with the day to day working of the 'church' that they don't have genuine time in quiet study, prayer and meditation on the Word and so they succumb to following
whatever trend they can follow in order to prosper the way driven churches are [seemingly!] prospering---but if lives are to truly be changed, set apart for the Master's use, then a more biblical model of 'church' must be sought---for the worship of God, for the equipping of the body and edification of the saints---saints, being those who are chosen in Him from the foundation of the world. Very little true equipping and truly very little edification's going on in the 'church today.
October 7, 2003 Stuff in the old and new News... What's to become of the Episcopal church in America? The Headline: Conservatives Rally as Episcopal Church Faces Possible Split
Another one; a bit older: Marriage: the union between one man and one woman A CNN poll It's dated 07/03 An article quoting Bush... on Marriage
So, lots of contemplating "Open Church" and what it would be like in our local assembly. It's continually a grievous situation to me here and I suppose all over America---perhaps the world as the Sunday ride is taken by millions. I imagine that church parking lots all over are as local "Park 'n Ride's" where each car pulls in, locates their usual parking space, nods at the others in theirs, goes in to the local church sanctuary [read: bus] and takes the weekly ride on the church bus. O, for many it's a thrill---what'll it be this week? entertainment? new songs?
slides? a tear jerker? a memorable day? O, for many it may be a combination of all these every week. But for many, there'll also be another common phenomena: one of the loneliest places in the world is a seat in the sanctuary of a church full of people. Everyone on the bus knows they're there to observe the ride: the Sunday Show, they know in their heart they've got fresh Bread: things they're aching to contribute, prayer requests or answers(!) they're aching to share---but they won't, they don't, they never will---it's the Sunday show, you know. So... dutifully, as if scripted to do so, the seats are taken,
the ride is endured and afterward the proper exit, kind words spoken, and parting gestures are made before returning to the lot of the Park 'n Ride with obligatory or customary waves and nods to the oh-so-familiar(?) faces before the departure and weekly journey homeward. Alone. An interesting page from Open Church ministries: Start Now!
On our son's birthday... I love it when our sons come home and the kitchen if filled with family again!
October 6, 2003 Another Monday, a new week... a new week with endless possibilities but clouded with memories of days gone by, memories of faces and tears, grief and sorrow over what was and what could have been. If someone you know has been visited with tragedy or sorrow, why not write them a note today; let them know that the God of all comfort, the God of all strength, the God of Peace and Hope will carry them, will guide them through the valley and that there is peace, there is joy, there is hope in Jesus.
Nancy Campbell has been an inspiration to me and so I very much look forward to taking our oldest daughter to a retreat this coming weekend, where Nancy will be the main speaker and two of her daughters will contribute as well. I'm always refreshed when spending time with like-minded women, women who're seeking the LORD in their lives, desiring to know, understand and obey Him and live in accordance with His Word. In this world there is such contradiction, such disobedience to the Word---to Christ; that when one would stand against the tide and proclaim His faithfulness, there is great anticipation and joy and
great value---this isn't a time to "get away" to hang out with girlfriends to avoid responsibility---rather, quite the opposite: it's a time of anticipation of what the LORD will do and how He will direct through prayer, through the messages, through His Word and through conversations with sisters in Christ. This retreat is well attended and is likely full already... It will be held at the Black Lake Conference Center in Olympia. For information contact: Robin LeClair, robinleclair@juno.com
and for further information, see the Above Rubies site.
I receive Nancy's devotional newsletter... and maybe you or someone you know would be blessed by the encouragement of an older woman in the LORD and would like to receive her newsletters by email. If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org If your husband would like to receive the
Bi-weekly Message to Men, (written Colin Campbell) they can send a blank email to menslist-on@aboverubies.org Colin is currently writing a series called, WHERE ARE THE REAL MEN OF GOD? All men will be blessed and challenged by receiving this series.
It's time to think about the planting of the winter garden... it's not too early to think about SPRING!! Dutch Gardens has some beautiful tulips and many other flowers... so beautiful! Costco has a wonderful selection of bulbs for the spring garden and the prices are really incredible. I bought my husband different types for his birthday and in a few weeks I'll plant them---but first I'll remove all the geraniums in the ring around our front light. I'm
going to try a few new (to me) techniques for preserving and propagating the plants through the winter.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2.11-14
October 4, 2003
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Hebrews 3.12
Parents... please keep on encouraging your young people to make right choices...
Don't drive fast... the consequence of folly is deadly!
Join me in, so far as it is possible with you, setting an example:
Pay attention, and please don't drive fast.
Nolan 2-14-1982 to 9-29-2003
One wrong Choice.
two men dead.
Marlin French has just died as a result of this accident.
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October 3, 2003 Today our thoughts and prayers are for family friends who're grieving the death of their son... a tragic loss... a seemingly senseless loss---but nothing is senseless with the LORD, and so we ask: LORD, what is the lesson here? What are we to make of this? This was a very very expensive lesson...
Over the years we've collected and read books and materials for the encouragement and strengthening of marriage and family. Many things we've collected are scattered throughout our site for the purpose of edification and instruction. It was great to discover another neat site:
Christian Marriage & Family Ministry. A great marriage takes work and it's worth it---it's worth it for today and it's worth it because of the legacy left to the children and to society... it's never a 50-50 deal; it's always 100%-100% on both sides... I wrote an article a number of years ago ---a message that I continue to wish to convey to our children as well as to others. It all began with a thought that one day all our children will have is memories... one day they'll be married with lives
and homes of their own... what am I going to leave them? What are the heirlooms we'll leave our children? We don't have a lot in terms of valuable "material" things to leave them---but what we DO have is faith... hope... and love... and we're working on a
someday an heirloom marriage... a legacy of faithful love for the LORD and each other.
October 2, 2003 I've recently lost weight and am continuing to maintain and lose slowly by continuing to eliminate (as much as possible)
BSF foods. One of the hardest things, though, is to find alternatives to our "normal foods." I just made a special
low carb page and I'll try to fill it with good alternatives. Probably the best or easiest thing to do though is to get some Atkins books or some Zone books as they are filled with recipes, the philosophy behind low-carbing
and suggestions for alternatives and substitutions for foods you like. I don't know what's best for everyone... I just know this has worked very well for me. O, and another thing I know... my mom's advice would simply be
Drink water---low carb your diet... eat less, move more and drink more water ;-)
For one of my meals each day, or when I don't know what to eat for a meal or when low carb isn't available to me, I just have a cup of tea or coffee and an Atkins bar or Zone bar---this limits my time in the kitchen, limits my portion and solves out-of-control eating and satisfies my chocolate & chewing craving!
a good-bye for now to the one leaving for the mission field next week
October 1, 2003 The first day of the month... fresh and new stretched out before us...
I'm partial to Susan Branch stuff---Cookbooks, Keepsake books, Calendars... stuff! I just received an email update about her site... I think you'll like it! Her work reminds me of Karla Dornacher whose work I so admire---probably much more because it's inspirational!
I receive a weekly newsletter from History's Women It's a "...magazine highlighting the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history and recognizing the obstacles they have had to overcome in order to reach their goals." To SUBSCRIBE to this FREE weekly newsletter, email your request: historyswomen@pcpublications.org or you can sign up at http://pcpublications.org/subscribe.htm
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