DELIBERATE LEGACIES l Jessica Benzakein l Speaker

Friday Forwards R...

This one came courtesy of my new Facebook friend, Dasha, who also has a really funny blog: Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo. And now the picture… Image Property of TeddytheDog.com Note: I am not affiliated with TeddytheDog.com nor do I earn any sort of reward (monitary...

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July 9th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Bend or Break?...

Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die. – Tao Te Chang, Lao Tsu’s teachings In my teens, I was quite into country music. I’d listen and sing along for hours after school.. practicing for the day when I’d...

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June 29th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Tadpoles, Mystery Ra...

Summer officially began June 21. Tell us the story of a favorite summertime memory! Growing up, we didn’t take family vacations. We didn’t share family meals. We weren’t reminded to brush our teeth before bed or prompted to say our prayers. We walked on eggshells…...

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June 23rd, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Mixed Berry Pavlova...

Have I mentioned that I love cookbooks? I have tons and tons of them (ok, maybe not, but lots for sure), and when I have nothing else to do, I will pull one off the shelf and flip through it looking for something that inspires me. A few weeks ago, that something was Ina Garten’s...

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June 22nd, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Just a Few Reasons t...

I have been blessed with a great husband. Not only is he my best friend, but he is also the most amazing father to our two children. Credit for this forward (which I was going to post on Friday but clearly didn’t) goes to Charlotte Latvala and Parenting magazine (comments...

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June 20th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

First Crush...

We knew it would happen… We knew that one day, Eli would go off to school, and there he’d see her – maybe she would be walking down the hall or across the campus with the sun hitting her hair just right, or maybe she’d sit in front of him in class or maybe...

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June 8th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Celebrate Your BFF &...

Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things. ~Author Unknown Best Friend Day (June 8th) is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It’s a day to honor and cherish the relationship, not that it shouldn’t be honored and cherished...

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June 7th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Living a Meaningful ...

The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. –William James, philosopher and psychologist “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question we’ve all been asked at least a time or two… often as children, sometimes as...

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June 6th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Top Ten Oscars YOU O...

Loved this recently received email forward, so thought I’d share it. I also should confess, I don’t actually watch the real Oscars. Frankly, I don’t care who got an award for what or which picture won 7 out of 10 awards or who wore the tackiest outfit. But,...

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May 21st, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

5 Traits of Shiney, ...

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abraham Lincoln I once had a conversation with a friend of mine who said to me, “With all that you’ve seen and experienced, how is it that you are such a happy person?” My response, “I choose...

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May 4th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

The Buck Starts and ...

The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. -Swedish proverb Asking for help is not one of my stronger character traits. Call it stubborn. Call it independent. Whatever it is, I’ve got it in spades… usually. Early in my life, I came to...

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April 18th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Giving It Your All...

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could… - Ralph Waldo Emerson Confession: I am a cookbook junkie. I have 50+ cookbooks and whenever I am at a book store, Sam’s Club, or garage sale, I always linger over the cookbooks that are either on display...

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March 26th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Conversations with a...

Since it’s just a few days (scheduled delivery on Friday) until the birth of our daughter, and I am not feeling overly “writey”, I thought I’d share some of the conversations I have had with our 4 year old son in the last few weeks. For those of you who...

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March 3rd, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein

Random Thoughts...

I have decided that periodically (perhaps once a week, maybe less but always on a Friday), I will post a forward that I received that I felt was outstanding. Now, I should disclose… I do not pass on forwards. Okay, maybe once in a blue moon, but the likelihood of getting...

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February 26th, 2010
Posted by J Benzakein