Katy Texas Lifestyles & Homes Magazine ? Victoria Osteen ...

Victoria's popular 2008 book.

Marriage, motherhood and her passion for childhood literacy

By Melanie Saxton

Ask anyone who knows her, and you?ll hear that lifelong Houstonian Victoria Iloff Osteen has a contagious energy. She motivates the people around her, including her husband Joel, her children Jonathan and Alexandra, those who worship at Lakewood, and the many volunteers who help with her literacy campaign.

But she wasn?t always so outgoing. ?As little girl I was extremely shy. Like most kids I didn?t want to talk, especially if I could get my mom to do it for me,?? Osteen recalls. She has discovered over the years that building confidence is a lifelong process. She grew up near the Johnson Space Center (her father worked for NASA) and although she was terrified of interacting with customers, her mother encouraged her to work in the family?s fine jewelry business when she was just 13. It was then that she began to understand the power of encouragement.

?I learned such a valuable lesson in those early years,? says Osteen, who believes that speaking words of faith and victory into families shapes and defines everyone. Whether cheering children on to be confident readers, confident store clerks, or confident citizens, Osteen believes that positivity drives home the message.

?I worried about the 101 ways I could embarrass myself, but my mother gently nudged me out of the nest while making sure I wouldn?t fall too far. She was always there.? In hindsight, those years were very formative for Osteen. Some of the most difficult situations can be the most valuable. ?As hard as it is, I have to apply the same lessons to my children. I love them with all my heart and want to be present in their lives, and their children?s lives. It?s difficult, but much like a mother bird I have to give them their wings.?

Case in point: Alexandra will soon be 13 and Jonathan, at 16, is now driving. ?I never thought I would be able handle Jonathan?s transition to driver so calmly. It?s amazing how we receive grace for every season. I certainly didn?t have it before he was 16. But we prepared him (and ourselves), signed him up for a driver?s ed course and drove with him. We started slowly, giving him boundaries for the places he was allowed to drive.?

As a teen, Osteen enrolled at the University of Houston as a psychology major. She met Joel when he stopped by the jewelry store for a watch battery. That serendipitous meeting evolved into a marriage that is fast approaching a 25- year anniversary. For eight years they invested in real estate, renovated houses, and traveled. It prepared them for full-time parenthood. But what they were not prepared for was a dramatic change in 1999.

?Joel worked behind the scenes in television ministry and suddenly found himself in the forefront doing something he never dreamed of ? public speaking. When Joel?s father passed away we had a 3-month-old daughter and 4-year-old son. Again, we were headed into a new season.?

That challenge led them to the place they are now. As a mother and an author, Osteen?s concern for literacy is natural and her initiative aims to get books into the hands of children, especially those in need. She started with an orphanage in Africa, and now in partnership with her publisher donates new books to children and holds reading events in Houston and Round the Clock Nursery in New York City.

Victoria Osteen

?As women, we have the most influence over our children. Reading to them and having them read to us is the most basic thing we can do to promote literacy ? one of the bedrocks of confidence,? says Osteen. ?The statistics say that if a child can?t read by fourth grade, he or she faces a greater chance of juvenile delinquency. As parents, we are responsible for our children?s education far more than the school system.?

For this reason, in addition to her wildly popular book, Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy, and Whole, which was published in 2008 by Simon & Schuster, she wrote her first book for children. When Unexpected Treasures was published in 2009, she included important lessons about sharing and being kind, woven into an adventurous tale. Next came her new series for very young children ? My Happy Heart, a boxed set of three touch-and-feel books.

?I wanted to create books that kids can interact with, lifting flaps and looking for touch-and-feels as they join in the refrains? ?Hooray for Today! Hooray for my family! Hooray for wonderful me!?? Again, Osteen feels that positive messages touch young lives as parents, grandparents, babysitters and siblings sit patiently and read with their little ones. ?If you think about it, having a happy heart really is the first step to leading an inspired life,? she says.

With the date of Sept. 30 on the near horizon, Osteen is busily preparing for her 2011 Charity Fashion Event benefiting her literacy program. Lakewood Church will once again hold its annual women?s fashion show in the main auditorium at 7 p.m. The fashion show is sponsored by Dillards, and more than 60 shops will display exceptional gifts, clothing, and accessories. Proceeds from the ticket sales, which are $20 and available at the Lakewood bookstore, go directly towards putting books into the hands of children.

Osteen is pleased to see it evolve into a fun, festive fall tradition in Houston and receive such strong community support. Although Osteen won?t walk on the runway herself, well-known names like Deborah Duncan of KHOU?s Great Day Houston, Dominique Sachse and Lauren Freeman of Channel 2 and Melissa Wilson of Fox 26 will model in the show. Miss Alexandra Osteen will also model, to the delight of her proud parents.

Osteen manages to balance it all with sense of humor and an intense focus on her family and her church. ?The truth is, we spend a lot of time together. We take family vacations, travel together and include the children. Jonathan plays in our band and Alexandra sings at the end of each ?A Night of Hope? outreach. In fact, a few years back we were traveling so much that we had to take them out of school. Now our children are home schooled,? says Osteen, who tries to be careful about discussing them from the pulpit.

?I have to respect their feelings and privacy, but it?s hard when you?re a proud mom. The time left for me to continue to interject myself into their lives is shrinking. So I try to always tell them the truth. I tell them I?m sorry when I?m wrong and ask for forgiveness. I respect their viewpoint when it differs from mine.?

In the meantime, she?ll continue to be a joyous mom to Alexandra, Jonathan, two Shitzus and a rabbit. She?ll stand by Joel?s side on Sundays and during travels. And she?ll continue to advocate on behalf of literacy with the help of many volunteers who care as much about the cause she does.

For more information about Victoria Osteen, her blog, and her ministries visit:

victoriaosteen.com

joelosteen.com

lakewood.cc

The children?s book author donates new books to children and holds reading events in Houston.

An Osteen family Christmas photo at Big Ceda

Joel and Victoria on the podium at Lakewood Church


Source: http://www.katylifestylesandhomes.com/?p=5942

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Property tax relief programs for the elderly : a compendium report ...

 Property tax relief programs for the elderly : a compendium report / prepared by Abt Associates, IncProperty tax relief programs for the elderly : a compendium report / prepared by Abt Associates, Inc

This book was digitized and reprinted from the collections of the University of California Libraries. together, the more than one hundred UC Libraries comprise the largest university research library in the world, with over thirty-five million volumes in their holdings. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found online in the HathiTrust Digital Library.HP?s patented BookPrep technology was used to clean artifacts resulting from use and digitization, improving your reading experience.

Price: $ 14.99

Source: http://www.dailyrosetta.com/property-tax-relief-programs-for-the-elderly-a-compendium-report-prepared-by-abt-associates-inc/33394.html

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Parents, Do You Think 4 Year Olds Should Have Friends At Their Party?

Question by mamaisland: Parents, Do You Think 4 Year Olds Should Have Friends At Their Party?
I?m in between inviting friends & family for my daughter for the 4th Birthday stuck. Do you think it is important for 4-year-old with friends or other children have on their birthday, or just family & relatives into do? You see, I really do never want friends mix with family, being more than friends from aqquaitences & I do never feel comfortable with them mingled with my family, never into mention, I really do never want certain parents in my house, but when I load one then I invite the rest, so I?m never rude or repellent. So, I had three plans, you could look at the 3 & tell me what you think? first Party at Gymboree (Kid-conditioning) $ 200 (for an hour & a half), shortly after a family celebration & the next day after school into buy toys. $ 4002nd Friends come into our house for 2 hours (I rent a table & some chairs ($ 80), then the family party for families, & then toy shopping the next day after school. $ 3103rd pizza & cake at the school on Wednesday, a family festival on Sunday, & toy shop Monday after school. $ 210Ich live in an apartment, so there is never much room into roam. I want into have only my daughter, fun. I have $ 400 set aside for this party set.

Best answer:

Answer by founck
Its never much of a party without friends is it?

What do you think? Answer below!

Related posts:

Source: http://kids-table-chairs.com/parents-do-you-think-4-year-olds-should-have-friends-at-their-party.html

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writer | writing | motherhood

Never True Tales, the blog, is "really all about one thing: the writing. The bare bones. The proverbial black on white", and I, for one can't read enough. Not only is Amy SO. VERY. NICE in real life, her prose is exceptionally entertaining, intriguing and just plain delightful.

Screen shot 2011 08 22 at 10.39.31 PM 610x94 Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart.

Tell us about your blog title. ?What does "Never-True Tales" mean?
The Never-True Tales was actually coined by my then-three-year-old, who always?and I mean always?spun fantastical tales (still does, come to think of it). In each of his stories, he was super-something: super speedy, super smart, or super strong. He cast himself in the role of the hero he needed to be as the smallest and youngest in our family, and I found myself rooting for him, because at the end of the day, we all need to be heroes of our own making. We all need stories to tell (and to star in), and we all want a happy ending. Sometimes it just takes a while to get there.

SITS landing page photo 610x408 Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart.

On any given day, what can readers expect at The Never-True Tales?
I consider The Never-True Tales to be one part memoir, one part essays and adventures in parenting, and one part community. Despite the fact that I had absolutely no foresight when I began blogging and invited all my relatives and real life friends and neighbors to read, I am steadfastly transparent in my posts. It?s not all heavy however: I?m known for my self-deprecating humor, I correct poor grammar in very obnoxious ways, and every Friday (ok, almost every Friday), I post what I call Retro Family Movie Night, where my family and I review a different movie we watch as a family. (The catch: the movies have to be at least a decade old.) I?m a big believer in community, and quarterly, I host a round-up called Won?t You Be My Neighbor, during which I host other bloggers on my site and encourage them to do the same in a pay-it-forward manner.

103 1691 610x457 Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart.

Have you always been a writer? ?What is your muse these days?
I have always been a writer, in a literal sense, anyway. I published a children?s book when I was nine through a national contest then-called Written and Illustrated By?, which led to firsthand experience with the hard work of publishing and public speaking at an early age. It was a defining event in my life, one that would shape my self-identity for years to come, both in good ways and bad. I went on to earn a B.A. in Creative Writing and spent the next few years in journalism within the travel writing sector. When my children were younger (my husband and I had three kids in five years), I lost my sense of self in many ways; one casualty was my desire to write. I?ve since regained that love?along with a feeling of success at it?one baby step at a time. My first year or so of blogging, I?m quite sure no one was reading, but I now have a freelance travel writing career in conjunction with my family travel website, Pit Stops for Kids (blogging really can launch a revenue-earning job?as long as you?re not picky about how much revenue!) and was just last week selected as a BlogHer Voice of the Year for a post I wrote for The Never-True Tales (trust me, my jaw hit the floor).

Amy Vancouver profile 1 610x457 Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart.

I?m not sure about muses?they tend to be flighty creatures ?prone to disappearing when the Cheerios hit the fan (that doesn?t happen in your house?), but most of my writing ideas come to me when running. I hit the pavement every morning at 5 am (yes, I?m one of those people), and often, it?s the only time of day I?m able to think untethered. I?m a very linear person, and once I?m sitting in front of a keyboard, I rarely give my mind permission to wander. My best ideas come while Lady Gaga?s pounding in my ears, and my biggest challenge is getting home fast enough to write them down.

103 1877 610x813 Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart.

Where do you see your blog in 5 years?
Much more so than my travel writing sites, The Never-True Tales is representative of myself: who I am and what I believe at the core. It?s very much an extension of my fingers to my keyboard, to, well, you all, and as such, I?m interested far more in community and connection than in monetization. In five years, I hope The Never-True Tales continues to be a place where I can meet and collaborate with other writers,? where I can hone my craft, and where I can represent myself as a writer who is also a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an athlete, a professional?you get my drift.

If you had one day all to yourself, what would you do?
I?m one of those people with awesome parents who live nearby and devote their time to their grandchildren (yeah, go ahead and hate me), so despite two jobs, three kids in competitive sports, and two blogs (one of which involves extensive travel), I actually get time to myself fairly regularly. The key (aside from the super supportive extended family) is selfishness. Down with this mothering martyrdom business! Start taking your ?me? time! When I do have time to myself, I usually spend it at home, in a quiet house, with my laptop. (How sad is that?)

Favorite Posts:
Laundry Day: ?Don't let the title deceive you. ?This isn't just about laundry.
Best Left to the Imagination: ?You are going to love the imagery in this introspective post!
Open Letter of Apology to the Subway Sandwich Guy: ? Sometimes an apology is necessary.

pixel Never True Tales...of the super speedy, super strong, & super smart. -->

Source: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/2011/08/never-true-tales-of-the-super-speedy-super-strong-super-smart/

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Amazing Amazon Lightning Deals for Home Improvement | >

Amazon has come a long way in the years and they offer more products today than ever before. From books, to electronics, as well has home improvement items, Amazon is sure to have it. Also, the chances of there being a huge saving are very high.

Amazon lightning deals can be found all over their site. They come at a cheaper price than some of the more popular big hardware stores. If you need a new modern over head light, right now Amazon has a gorgeous Berkshire lighting fixture, brand new, for under $20. There?s more, if you join the free Prime trial program, the light fixture will arrive in 2 days with FREE SHIPPING. It gets even better, popular social group sites may have a discount code to get an additional savings off on this exact lamp. You can install five separate rooms for way under $100. That?s a huge WOW factor for Amazon.

Let?s look at some more Amazon lighting deals shall we? Chandeliers are expensive; however, a typical household will only install one of them in their front entrance or dining room. A basic search on some very popular home improvement sites render prices for the chandeliers supporting the same materials and beauty for well over $200. Right now on Amazon there is a gorgeous Brushed Nickel Chandelier for under $50. Now add your Prime trial plan to that and the shipping is free. This price seems unreal, however it?s true. This particular light fixture comes with 27 user reviews all at 5 stars! That?s another thumbs up for Amazon.

How about track lighting? Typically track lighting is expensive and doesn?t really have much design detail because they are strictly used for functionality. Some of them have a metal shine and are in fewer shapes, but for the sake of price comparison, let?s look at the basic cylindrical track lighting kits. A very popular custom light center is selling the Cylinder Track Light Kit with a 50% savings at $129 with free shipping. On Amazon, the exact same light kit is selling for $60.29. WOW, Amazon offers the free 2 day shipping, but even if you did pay Amazon?s shipping fee it would still be $40 dollars cheaper.

It just goes to show that with the Amazon lightning deals, a home improvement project can cost up to three fourths the cost of shopping at the other big named box stores. Not only that, a DIYer really looking to save can combine the savings with discount codes or coupons to get an even bigger deal. As well, shipping can always be free as long as the DIYer is enrolled in one of the many free shipping programs that Amazon has to offer.

Source: http://apromotionalcodes.com/amazing-amazon-lightning-deals-for-home-improvement

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Online Gaming News August 25 2011 | Online Gaming Association News ...

Acquisitive Playtech eyeing ?exceptional? opportunities

Leing multi-channel gaming software and services provider Playtech Limited has deferred a decision over its interim dividend payment until the end of the year in order to retain maximum flexibility to act on ?exceptional joint venture and near term acquisition opportunities?.

Growth in online betting les Fortuna to record H1

European retail and online betting operator Fortuna Entertainment Group has reported record results for the six month period ended June 30th, with revenues increasing 6 per cent to ?41.9m following strong growth from the company?s online betting businesses in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Sportech revenues soar following racing integration

Benefiting from the first significant contribution from Sportech Racing following the completion of its acquisition last October, Football Pools operator Sportech plc has reported total revenues of ?57.4m for the six month period ended June 30th, more than double last year?s comparative result.

Fortuna targets rival in Polish betting market expansion

European retail and online betting operator Fortuna Entertainment Group said Thursday that it is currently in negotiations to acquire the Polish subsidiary of rival Tipsport, as the company looks to strengthen its hold on the recently liberalised Polish betting market.

Fenerbah?e out of Champions League for alleged match fixing

Fenerbah?e SK, Turkey?s most successful football club, has been kicked out of the UEFA Champions League due to the club?s involvement in match-fixing.

Net Entertainment loses chief financial officer

Online casino games developer Net Entertainment has lost its second senior executive in less than a month after its chief financial officer Bertil Jungmar followed CEO Johan ?hman in announcing his departure from the company.

Latest Industry Vacancies

- Sportsbook Operations Manager ? Mainland Europe

- Poker Product Manager ? London/Europe

- Senior Football Trer ? London, UK

- Horse Racing Trer ? London, UK

- Chief Technology Officer, E-Gaming ? London, UK

- IT Director of Engineering ? London, UK

- He of Campaigns & Propositions ? London, UK

- Sportsbook Marketing Manager ? Malta

For a complete listing of the latest job opportunities in online gaming, visit our Industry Vacancies section.

Latest issue of GIQ magazine out now

Featuring interviews with:

EU Commissioner Michel Barnier, William Hill CEO Ralph Topping and Intralot USA CEO Tom Little.

Plus in-depth coverage of European and US regulatory efforts including the opinions of the industry?s most prominent lobbyists; and a full round up of the quarter?s B2B deals, new product launches, mobile news, marketing deals and people moves.

Source: http://www.onlinegamingassociation.com/online-gaming-news-august-25-2011/

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Internet Home Based Business ? common mistakes that will lead you ...

Internet Home Based Business ? common mistakes that will lead you to failure

Lately, a lot of people venture into home business specifically Internet home based ones. It provides opportunity for stay at home moms and dads, physically impaired people and many others who lacks the time and budget. Apparently, many internet home based business don?t succeed and fail miserably. Here are some of the most common mistakes of people starting this kind of business that you should remember NOT to do:

Selection of Business

When deciding to go for an Internet home based business, selection of the business type is crucial. Make a bright decision about what you want to do from your home. Understanding the necessities of your planned home based business completely is crucial for success. Chart out all the requirements like space, equipment, storage, employees etc. All of these should fit inside your home that?s why space available is the most important factor when starting. Choice of appropriate business is very crucial for the success of an Internet home based business, Service oriented businesses is probably the best one as it can be profitably run from a home setup. But a manufacturing or a retail business may not flourish that well from a home environment. It would prove a costly mistake if you realize that the choice of business is wrong later so go for a business that is appropriate for your setup.

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Source: http://wpcube.com/internet-home-based-business-common-mistakes-that-will-lead-you-to-failure.htm

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Charleston, S.C., Prepares for Hurricane Irene (ContributorNetwork)

FIRST PERSON | CHARLESTON, S.C. -- When you're at the beach with girlfriends, there's not a lot of newspaper reading going on. We're not keeping up with the world; we're here to celebrate birthdays. It's only through social media and the telephone that I learned I'm in Hurricane Irene's expected path. Whether I stay at our vacation spot on Ocean Isle Beach or go home to Charleston, I'll face tropical storms or worse.

Hurricane Irene is now a Category 2 storm with 100 mph maximum sustained winds. According to the National Hurricane Center, she's expected to reach Category 3 strength by Wednesday morning. The hurricane has my full attention now.

My husband called this morning so we could plan. When faced with the potential of a hurricane, we strive to have supplies to carry us through a week with no electricity. He's responsible for finding flashlights, a transistor radio, and making sure we have batteries. Additionally, he'll get our primary and backup canisters of propane topped off (if he can find any propane) and get his car filled with petrol. Then he'll hit the ATM.

Groceries are my responsibility. I went to the store here on OIB to load up on beanie weenies and chicken noodle soup for Eddie, black bean soup, canned cheese ravioli and canned vegetables for me. I also stocked up on fresh fruit, peanut butter, bread and water. These groceries, combined with our Charleston inventory, should last a week. There's already plenty of dog food and cat food at home.

My plan is to drive from Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., to Charleston, S.C., on Thursday. The National Weather Service forecast predicts tropical storm conditions will reach Charleston on Friday, so I should be ahead of the storm. When I get home we'll gather up the candles and matches and fill the bathtubs with water. We'll bring the potted plants, outdoor furniture and anything else that can become a missile inside.

If Hurricane Irene stays a Category 3, we intend to ride it out-unless Charleston is told to evacuate. If the storm reaches a Category 4, we don't need to be told what to do. We'll head west, up to the Ashville area.

Out-of-town friends have called offering places of refuge, so we know there are accommodations available for me, my husband, our cat and our dog. Whether we stay or go, I'm comforted by the fact that we have done what we can to prepare for Hurricane Irene.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/weather/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110824/us_ac/9009953_charleston_sc_prepares_for_hurricane_irene

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