Maurices~ A Store Review by Madeline Hunt

Maurice's is an affordable, trendy, cute, fabulous store! They offer a wide variety of clothing, which is cute and AFFORDABLE!!! I love how they have jeans that don’t look like they are painted on you can they don’t have many immodest shirts. I found this adorable outfit all for only $106 dollars for a pair of jeans, a shirt, a cardigan, a necklace and earring set and a pair of cute flats.

I love these dark wash boot cut jeans. The fading is perfect, the pocket detailing is darling. The best part is they only cost $29.00!!!!

I went with basic black for this top because it paired nicely with the gray cardigan and is essential for every girl’s closet. I like that this top is fitted and has a pretty modest neckline though it may depend on the person wearing it. This top is steel you can grab it for only $16.00

This cozy gray cardigan doesn’t only work with jeans and a shirt but would look awesome layered over a girly dress or with a skirt. The gray complements the black in the shirt but doesn’t overpower it. You can pick it up for $34.00 it’s the most expensive piece in this outfit but is totally worth the money!

These sweet black flats with darling feminine bows will become one of your go to pairs of shoes. The inside lining is an adorable paisley print, while the outside is made of suede. Perfect price for the perfect shoes is $22.00

This sweet Necklace and earring set is like the cherry on top that ties this whole outfit together. The flower pendant brings summer right into fall. You will reach for this necklace again and again, its works so well to dress up a plain tee. You can snap this set up for $14.00 dollars.

Stand Up~ A Spiritual Article by Rachel Melillo

It started out as a normal Friday morning. They had just finished going over homework when the teacher asked seven specific students to go outside the classroom. Without warning, a minute later they were blindfolded, pushed down a hallway and into a back stairwell and then tied up. The hostage takers and their hostages sat there blindfolded and tied up.

Is this what we think will happen if we stand up for our faith?

I see too many Christians walking around like spies in a foreign country; afraid to be detected and overly focused on fitting into the culture. We don’t have time for disguises. We don’t have time to fit in. For those of us who are in a public high school, you have four years to make the difference in someone’s life. The chances of someone coming to know Christ goes down dramatically after they leave high school. So what’s keeping us from making our faith plain to see?

Our reputations have become more important than our faith. Where would we be today if Joseph had been too concerned with his reputation as a good carpenter and honorable man to continue his betrothal to Mary? What would have happened if Paul let his desire to have a good reputation in society be more important than standing up for Christ and the Church? Are we going to let our desire to have a good reputation in our school be more important than standing up for our faith?

We can’t let that happen. I have a friend who calls me Jesus freak, or J freak, everyday, all the time. At first I thought to myself “Hey, I’m a witness for Christ!” Now I’m sick of it. Does that mean I turn from my conservatively Christian beliefs and let them decide how I should live my life? Does that mean that I should hide the most important part of who I am because I’m tired of a nickname?

High school is four years of our lives. We cannot let ourselves be pushed into whatever our friends want us to do. We can’t let our reputations be more important than our faith. We cannot allow fear define who we are and what we do. We need to stand up.

Note from Rachel: The opening scenario was a planned activity by a teacher and known by all students. It was also not aimed at Christians. Do not fear that you will be taken hostage if you stand up for your faith.

Note from Haylie: Has there been a time in your life where you took and stand for your faith? Do your friends know that you are a Christian? Do they know because you said you are or because they have seen it in how you live your life? The LAT staff and I encourage you to take a stand for your faith. If you have a story of how you took a stand, please email it to us. Click here.

                                             Remember, when you stand up, you are not alone.

Organizations~ Operation Christmas Child~ By Emily Ciszewski

Dedicated to Giving to the Forgotten
If you have ever wanted to give to that poor child on the TV who seems to cry out to you, then this is an awesome outlet!

How it started
In 1990, Dave Cooke sat in his living room watching TV. Seeing the abandoned children in Romania put a burden on his heart to give them love. Dave went into action and asked friends to help him fill a semi truck with gifts and head out of North Wales and off to Romania. Soon people were giving in overwhelming numbers. Now O.C.C. is all over the place. Even non Christians give because of the joy they receive when they see children in Third-World countries opening their boxes.

What your gift does
Children all over the world experience the joy of Christmas because of a simple shoe box stuffed with a few trinkets and candies. Often, the children receive small picture Bibles and other books explaining the gift of Jesus. Children who are otherwise forgotten realize someone out there cares for them!

Since 1990, over 81 million children have received a shoe box because of a couple friends feeling the love of God pushing them to fill a semi truck.
If you would like to give a child joy this Christmas - if you would love for another kid to know the happiness you've felt on Christmas day - you can.

What you can do
If you want to be apart of this amazing God-thing, get your Church family, some friends, or just your family at home to help you pack some boxes! You can make a child smile inside and out. All you have to do is pack a shoe box!

 Here are some things you can put into your shoe box.

Toys~ small dolls, small cars, slinkies, stuffed animals, jump ropes, yo-yos, etc.
School Supplies~ pens, pencils, crayons, writing pads, stamps, stickers, coloring books etc.
Hygiene Items~ toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, washcloth, etc.
Others~ ball cap, hair slips, lollipops, gum, etc.
A Personal Note~ “In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)” Taken directly from Operation Christmas Child website.

Also, your shoe boxes should not include the following…
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
Also, O.C.C. asks that you send $7 or more along with your shoe box to cover shipping and other project costs.
To learn more or how to organize an event go to;http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/
　
Luke 6:38
"Give and it shall be given unto you; a good measure, pressed down and shaken together, shall men give into you bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

Love According to First Corinthians 13~ "Table for Three; Me, You and God"~ A Column by Haley Oscar

For my first article I was gonna tell you my life story so you could get to know me a little better; but as I started to write I realized that it would take forever for you to read. When talking face-to-face with someone about my life story it normally takes about two hours. So, I'm just gonna give you the basics of who I am. My name's Haley Oscar, I'm a 17 year old girl from a city in Wisconsin, USA. I've lived here my whole life and never plan on leaving. My "love life" as been far from successful through the years. I've been through it all for the most part. I've been cheated on and have cheated, I've been abused and emotionally scared, I've been used as an object and have used, I've dealt with lustful thoughts and actions. But through the grace and love of God I've been freed of the baggage I've picked up from these many relationships. I’m far from perfect and I'm still learning how to be a good girlfriend and someday a good wife to the man I will someday marry. Through it all I've learned a few things about guys and God has given me a real passion to share my life and experiences with you. I hope and pray that you will get something out of my thoughts, I hope it makes you think and maybe even change. I'm truly thinking and praying for you, God bless!

1 Corinthians 13, many of us know this as the love chapter. It happens to be one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It shows us how to be a friend and how to show love. What is love to you?

I know that, as females, we all want love. We all want prince charming to hurry is big butt over to us and do his job of happily ever after. But what else is love to you? Is love a fixer to all your problems? Is it something you give out freely hoping and praying that you'll get it back in return?

Love is patient. If you haven't found "the one" yet don't go on a mad hunt looking for him.(Song of Songs 8:4) God knows when you'll be ready for a real, mature, promising, and long lasting relationship with a man. Give God your time as a single. Enjoy this time of freedom you have to do things for God. Be patient, your prince charming is also waiting on God to give him the go to pursue you.

Love is kind. God wants us to have kind and peaceful hearts toward everyone we come across. Even to those guys who we may think are pigs. We need to be respectful toward all men, are you? Do you dress or act in ways that would be kind and respectful to him thought life? Is dressing or acting in a way that would make your guy friends or boyfriend lust after you showing kindness or love? If it's attention you seek out of mean words, actions, and showing too much skin with your clothes, you will get the attention you seek, but trust me you don't want this attention. This attention that you may be seeking out of this has messed up relationships that would've ended well if treated right. Even in some cases I've seen it ruin lives.

Love does not envy or boast and it is not proud. This one's pretty simple; do not want something your friend has. Be happy that they've been blessed, because you, in your own way, have been blessed. Do not boast about the things you have or can do; doing such things will make your friends sin by envying you, and doing such a thing is not showing love in anyway.

Love is not rude or self seeking. Why are you in or want a relationship with a guy? Is it to fit in, feel love, to get back at someone, or to fulfill lustful thoughts or wants? Love is not, and I repeat NOT self seeking; meaning you should not be in a relationship for you. It's not about you. When you're married, you're that persons help mate until the day you or him dies. You're HIS help mate...Not the other way around; you're in it to help, encourage, love him, and fulfill his needs. He should be the same for you. Again, you're not in it for you; you're in it for him. When you love someone, you shouldn't even matter. It should be about helping him. If you're not ready or think you can't do that, then you're not ready for a real relationship.

Love is not easily angered and it keeps no records of wrongs. In a relationship and marriage you will hit hard times. There will be fights and wrong things said and done. You must forgive quickly and listen to him. Men are just as hot headed as we can be and they also need you to hear them out. When they do something wrong you can't keep bringing it up or using it as a weapon. Constantly bringing it up will ruin a guy’s self esteem and make him feel useless. Like I said before, be quick to forgive and let go, doing this will show real love.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. If you love someone, you're not gonna be happy when the one you love does something wrong. If he's doing something or saying things that are wrong to you, do not accept it! It's not gonna change. Talk to him and tell him the truth as to how you feel and if he doesn't see your way or agree with your views, I'm sorry it's not meant to be. But, maybe it's not him; maybe it's you doing the things that bother him. I believe that, in every relationship, the couple should sit down with each other and talk about what kind of bugs them about the other. This shouldn't be a point the finger time, but a time of truth and acceptance of each others failures.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres; Love never fails. You must always protect the reputation of your man; this means if he ticks you off don't go and tell all your friends what a jerk he is. Keep your relationship problems to yourself; if you go around telling everyone your problems then your friends will start to look down on your boyfriend or husband. If he is ticking you off don't go around messing up his reputation. Sit him down and talk things out and PRAY about it. Doing this will help you guys to grow closer.

Always try to trust your boyfriend or husband. Don't just think he checked out the "babe" that just walked by you guys. Trust in him and if he really loves you, he will keep his eyes on you and not someone else. If you're worried about it, sit him down and tell him your worries. He'll like that a whole lot better than you just thinking the worse of him.

And finally, love always hopes for the best, it always perseveres herself in thought, body and mind, and it never fails. You will run into hard times in a relationship no doubt, but if you're mature about the problems you may have with the other and push to work things out through communication and prayer, I believe God can do anything.

I hope and pray that I gave you some things to thing on and prayer about. You girls are in my prayers. Until next time.

With Sisterly Love,
Haley.