tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83812628977705746882024-03-12T20:32:46.247-04:00 Today Is SweeterThe former bloggy home of the Polderman family...
we've moved to:
www.maureenpolderman.blogspot.com!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-86383611688069435012014-01-17T14:55:00.001-05:002014-01-17T14:55:38.230-05:00True ThatAs of right now, I have 14 minutes to write this blog post....by my own choosing, or I will sit here all the ding-dong-day trying to decide what to write....and then I will log off this laptop having written nothing. <div>
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So here goes...</div>
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Christmas was great. New Year is here. Baby # 3 will hopefully cooperate and ahem, reveal it's gender on Valentine's Day. My house is a disorganized, beautiful mess and I am learning to be ok with that...although most days I have to constantly surrender that to the Lord. My kids are growing up SO fast...Blake will be 4 in March. Stop. No, really. We're talking about things like preschool and I am sitting here going, Um...did I blink?? Kelcie is a climbing, dumping, hold-her-own kind of girl...and going to be a big sister before her 2nd birthday! </div>
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So the one thing that I keep going back to is how life just doesn't stop. No matter how much you think you're taking it all in, making the time count, doing your best to hold down the fort and Instagram it all into remembrance...life just keeps moving, at lightning speed. It's the busy-ness. It's the sleep deprivation. It's the incredibly looooooong days that feel like lifetimes...that add up into a month, a year flying by quicker than you can even imagine. </div>
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And for what? At the end of the day, the only thing I will ultimately get to "keep" is what I did for the coming kingdom...His kingdom...and I really think that means I've got the world's biggest and most important job. I'm a mom. I'm either guiding and training, loving and leading these little hearts into a deep love relationship with God, through Jesus...or I am saying to them that other things are more important to me. </div>
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So this year, I am asking God to show me how to love Him....what does that mean and look like? The first thing He's shown me is to love Him with my every day life and the minutes that matter in a big way. Minutes with my kids...loving them, teaching them...doing all the monotonous tasks of motherhood with a happy heart and a gentle spirit. And to not fill up my minutes with things that really have no value...it's so easy to slide off into the ditch of social media, tv, "errand running" just to get out of the house...I have SO far to go! </div>
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But at the end of the day, I can not fathom letting my life dwell in mediocrity. I can not handle the thought of standing at the throne of God someday and saying, "Well it had been a long day...and ya know, Honey Boo Boo was on...so yeah, I didn't really feel like praying with my kids before bedtime that day." And frankly, true confession time, there are days where that is ME. </div>
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I am seeking to be different and grow into a more mature, self-less, need-meeting person with the grace of God sustaining me. There are many days at this stage of life where I DO feel like plopping down on the couch and vegging out for 3 hours...but I don't want to have regrets either. And mostly, I just don't want to tell God with my life that what Jesus did for me on the cross wasn't enough. If my life is a thank you to Him, than I want it to be the best darn thank you I can give Him...and that takes more than a half hearted effort to "make it through the day". </div>
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So on days like today, when I am eking out every last drop of Holy Spirit power just to microwave Hot Pockets for lunch...I am going to do it with a smile and a kind word to my kids. So that hopefully, what they will remember is not all the Pinterest worthy lunches of their childhood...but a gentle and loving example that leads them to love God and to love all the "others" in their lives in really big ways. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44PqZ5C8lUQ/UtmJdHXNThI/AAAAAAAABkA/PnQ35EXnZoI/s1600/2014-01-10+10.01.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44PqZ5C8lUQ/UtmJdHXNThI/AAAAAAAABkA/PnQ35EXnZoI/s1600/2014-01-10+10.01.22.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Schooling mommy at Rescue Bot Memory</div>
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Showing off her mac & cheese smile</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-81986677560367705512013-01-25T12:08:00.001-05:002013-01-25T12:12:15.341-05:00Wanting Nothing<div style="text-align: center;">
There is SO much on my mind today...</div>
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alot of things I could write a blog post about all by themselves. </div>
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This may come out a bit jumbled for that very reason! </div>
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But today I just need to write...be expressive...and put some thoughts out there. </div>
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I'll start with the most prominent.</div>
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I have the blues. </div>
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There. I said it. </div>
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I haven't figured out if it's postpartum or "I live in Michigan" blues. </div>
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There's a distinct lack of sunlight around these parts from November to, <i>eh</i>, April give or take =)</div>
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Some days I just wake up completely unmotivated, discouraged, exhausted, and angry. </div>
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The next day I could be totally fine. </div>
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I'm struggling...but staying afloat. </div>
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This is new to me.</div>
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I have always been a deeply emotional person, but have not had this intensity of feeling before!</div>
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I'm thankful for the Word of God and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit...</div>
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it is such a comfort to know that I am not alone.</div>
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And on the rare day that the sun comes out from behind the clouds, I sit by our slider door</div>
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soaking in all the Vitamin D I can get!</div>
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So that leads me to yesterday and my thoughts on not being a perfect mommy...</div>
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Blake just had a really hard day obeying. </div>
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He asks, "Why?" after everything I say lately...no really, <i>everything</i>.</div>
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Dinner time rolled around, and I- being the organized person I am- had nothing thawing.</div>
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Blake got upset about something ( thankfully I don't even remember what today!), </div>
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and all of a sudden 25 minutes were spent calming him down, dealing with</div>
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the consequences of his choices,</div>
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reading the story of Jonah disobeying God,</div>
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praying a little "I'm sorry" prayer,</div>
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hugs and kisses, </div>
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and I was back to the kitchen to work on dinner. </div>
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Frozen tilapia was the first thing that caught my eye when I opened the freezer door. </div>
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I decided to bread it in some cornmeal and pan fry it. </div>
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Do you think the frozen fillets fit in the cereal bowls I'd filled with flour, egg, and cornmeal??</div>
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Negative. </div>
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So there I am with the dullest knife we own trying to saw frozen fish in half<br />
so I can fit it in the dumb bowl and get it in the pan. And it occurred to me that when I had the thought </div>
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<i>"Maybe Josh could pick up Subway for dinner."</i></div>
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two hours before we hit meltdown mode, </div>
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I should have just acted on it. </div>
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Instead, partly out of pride and partly out of feeling like a big, fat failure, </div>
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I chose to plunge ahead into dinner myself and not ask for help. </div>
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Long story short...it made the rest of our night kind of stinky. </div>
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And as I sat rocking Kelcie before bed last night, I just started sobbing. </div>
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I felt so discouraged. So up and down and all over the place. </div>
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And I cried really, really hard for like 3 minutes and prayed, </div>
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"I'm sooooo tired Lord! I don't even know what's wrong with me....this is ridiculous. I'm a mess. </div>
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I just need to know we're going to be okay. Can you make my babies sleep all night??"</div>
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And on. You get the picture. (Pathetic...I know.)</div>
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They didn't. Sleep, I mean. I'm still just as tired today as I have been. </div>
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My head is still pounding from either sinus pressure, the fact that I should get my eyes checked, </div>
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or the tumor that my inner hypochondriac is convinced</div>
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I have growing in my brain. </div>
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But for some reason when I got Blake settled in his Lightning McQueen chair watching </div>
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Bob the Builder at 6:57 this morning, </div>
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I came back into my bed and pulled up the daily Bible reading app</div>
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that I am at least 13 days behind on. </div>
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I read for a little bit and came to this verse....</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Forty years you provided for them in the wilderness,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">and they were not in want;</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not become swollen."</span></i></div>
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It's found in Nehemiah 9...so simple, but it jumped off the page at me. </div>
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It was as if God was saying to me, if He provided for the Israelites for</div>
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forty years without them having need of anything</div>
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surely He will provide for me today.</div>
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It was such a small little word of encouragement.</div>
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But it meant so much to me this morning. </div>
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That still small voice whispering that He's there, that He knows, and that He cares. </div>
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That's all I needed. </div>
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Today doesn't have to be perfect. </div>
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It doesn't even have to go well for that matter. </div>
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It just has to be rejoiced in because it's the day that He made.</div>
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It's the day He's in complete control of. </div>
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And He will provide for me <i>so well</i>, that I will have need of nothing. </div>
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Huge. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/286119382547020680/">source</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-86436874894348205092013-01-14T10:10:00.001-05:002013-01-14T10:14:02.802-05:00Being Intentional<div align="center">
I'm assuming it's a well-known fact that I am not a morning person.</div>
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I don't actively carry on conversations before 10 am. </div>
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Blake, however, is. </div>
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Just a few weeks ago I scored one of those "Light Up Alarm Clocks" </div>
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off of Ebay that are supposed to teach your child to sleep. </div>
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Somehow the magic green light that comes on ONLY at the</div>
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predetermined time set by the mamas and the papas</div>
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is supposed to keep your child in bed.</div>
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Blissfully sleeping until the light comes on and you hear their</div>
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angelic voices sing out "Mother dear, I've awoken!"</div>
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Right. </div>
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Glad I only spent $9.99 and not the forty dollars new that Amazon wanted. </div>
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We've (wait. I ) have still been up at least once every night since we got the clock</div>
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to tuck Blake back in and remind him that </div>
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the light is not green yet. </div>
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So here we are...Monday morning. </div>
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He's walking around with a poopy diaper that he's not quite ready for me to change. </div>
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(There are time limits on those things, kiddo....)</div>
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I'm finally in clean out and organize mode.</div>
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He's in plop a construction hat on mommy's head and grab her around the neck</div>
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while smelling like a landfill mode. </div>
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I'm washing bedding and doing dishes. </div>
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He's lining up matchbox cars and telling me to pick one. </div>
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Every time I pick one the conversation goes like this:</div>
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"I'll be this one."</div>
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"No, Fresco Boonie not workin."</div>
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"Oh. Francesco Bernoulli isn't working? I'll be Finn."</div>
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"Finn kinda broken..."</div>
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The point here is this...</div>
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Every day I strive to make a conscious, well semi-conscious, choice around 7:15am</div>
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to be the mom that God gives me an opportunity to be. </div>
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It's my choice. </div>
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Somedays it's the easiest thing in the world...</div>
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somedays it's not. </div>
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But everyday I get to choose whether or not I'm going to engage and be intentional</div>
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with my kids.</div>
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There are times that it feels overwhelming and exhausting to think about</div>
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meeting one more demand. </div>
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But I think what I'm learning, is that it is truly a choice </div>
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and if I choose to step into the ring</div>
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the rewards are enormous. </div>
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Just spending 15 minutes playing with Blake usually means his </div>
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little love tank gets filled and</div>
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I can go accomplish a few of my to-do's for the day.</div>
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If I do it the other way around, I never seem to sit down and give him that time</div>
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that he so badly wants!</div>
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So I'm striving this year to be intentional with my kids. </div>
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To just be okay with sitting still and playing cars with Blake or</div>
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laughing with Kelcie and her vibrating rolly pig. </div>
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Because I know that the growing up will come way faster than</div>
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I really, truly want. </div>
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And when I'm left with more than enough time on my hands to have</div>
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a clean home and a coffee date with a friend,</div>
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I think what I'll want more than anything is just one more day</div>
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playing cars with a little boy in a stinky diaper. </div>
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Well, maybe not the stinky diaper part....just saying ;)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-75231986526756746012013-01-03T15:12:00.000-05:002013-01-03T15:19:20.836-05:00Ready, Set, Rest!<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been doing alot of catch up lately it seems...</div>
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today I did some catching up on all the blogs I follow.</div>
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There was one reoccurring theme: </div>
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Organization and Motivation for A New Year. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Totally fabulous!</span></div>
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Except for one thing....</div>
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I'm pooped. </div>
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Are you??</div>
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Oh, I'm motivated. And I'm obnoxiously organized (usually!)</div>
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But right now, I'm ready to rest. </div>
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My kids are ready for rest. For a "normal" schedule to their day.</div>
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And I've decided that for the next few weeks</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">that's ok!</span></div>
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It's ok, because nowhere in the book of real life does it say</div>
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we must start every new endeavor, goal, diet, exercise routine, </div>
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or anything else for that matter</div>
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on January 1st!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4e-mwz38oA/UOXnIYyOMfI/AAAAAAAABdE/Gs7pqm0Z3gs/s1600/meltdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4e-mwz38oA/UOXnIYyOMfI/AAAAAAAABdE/Gs7pqm0Z3gs/s640/meltdown.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">picture taken by Blake's Auntie Bri...he and his cousin Jack, in full Christmas meltdown)</span></div>
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Sure it's a good thing to start fresh, and sometimes that's best to do</div>
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at the beginning of a month...or year in this case. </div>
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But on the other hand, sometimes you just have to let yourself rest!</div>
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My kids have been sick...Kelcie's on meds for croup this week. I just took</div>
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our Christmas tree down yesterday and am mapping out</div>
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our new toy storage strategy. </div>
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I'm determined to start eating healthy and exercising again. </div>
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Piano lessons are starting up...church activities will be in full swing...</div>
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and right now, I just need to catch my breath. </div>
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A moment to savor the quiet of naptime.</div>
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A moment to drink a hot cup of coffee and stare out the window</div>
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at the blanket of white. </div>
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A moment to say "Hi God...what's your plan for this year?", before I start running with my own. </div>
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I so badly want to see and be a part of amazing things, the kind of things that</div>
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make you stop still and marvel at. </div>
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But I want them to be God's things. </div>
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So before I write out a huge list of everything I promise to accomplish in 2013, </div>
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I want to hear what He's got to say first...</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.53333282470703px; text-align: start;">"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." ~ Psalm 40:5</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-50957546014572584382012-12-26T21:43:00.002-05:002012-12-26T21:54:57.751-05:00Our Story of Eliminating Artificial Coloring <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">**Disclaimer** </span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am in no way a trained medical professional. I am just a mom....a mom who knows her son. This is simply the story of our experience with artificial food coloring and how it affects Blake's behavior. This is not a science report or a petition going to the FDA. Please take it for what it's worth!!</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost a year ago now, we made the decision to begin eliminating artificial food dye from Blake's diet. Partially out of a basic feeling of being</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the world's worst parents with</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the world's most strong-willed child. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laugh...you didn't witness the meltdowns :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember going garage sale shopping with Blake last spring, and it was the first time I</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">literally saw the change in his demeanor and behavior</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">almost instantly after having artificial coloring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd been toying with the idea of eliminating dyes for a few months, but hadn't really gotten</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">serious about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At least not to the point of being really careful and consistent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But that day last spring convinced me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blake was getting antsy in the stroller, so I bought him a bag of M&M's from two little girls</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">selling candy at their mom's garage sale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like any normal 2 year old, Blake scarfed down his candy in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">oh, I don't know...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">sixty-four seconds??</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Less than 10 minutes later we were in full meltdown mode.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm talking thrashing in the stroller, screaming at the top of his lungs, red face,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">scary intense meltdown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For those of you with a strong-willed child, or any toddler for that matter, meltdowns</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">are not necessarily all that uncommon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Ok, be real. They happen 12 times a day somedays.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Call it mommy instinct, but I knew that what was happening with Blake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">was not just a typical toddler temper tantrum .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sure it was brought on by something normal....like me telling him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No and that not sitting well with his plans ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I always felt like those times of normal toddler defiance were super</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">intensified and they escalated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">beyond just your average tantrum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we started eliminating food dyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fruit Loops and M&M's were the first to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then mac and cheese colored with Yellow 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was actually pretty easy to eliminate some things....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I mean blue cereal is kind of an obvious offender.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But over the last 8 months, I have been so surprised at how many things</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> have artificial coloring in them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things like cake mixes, salad dressing, bottled juice, and even chocolate pudding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There have been lots of times where I'll rack my brain trying to figure out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">what Blake's had with dyes in it, because I can</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>just tell </i>when he has them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And there hasn't been a single time that I've thought "What in the world did he have?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">that I haven't discovered something I missed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's the blue dye in his toothpaste that I didn't think to check for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's the Red 40 and Blue 1 in his children's pain reliever and the cold medicine we gave him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After all, what kid would take either of those if they weren't purple and grape flavored, right?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's alot of days where I struggle with this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think for a second that every time Blake has a meltdown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the colors of the rainbow are to blame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, pretty much having eliminated all artificial coloring from his diet means</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the poor kid's got no excuses :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, except for the occasional sugar overload and the understanding that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">he isn't quite 3 years old yet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In that sense, it's actually been easier as a parent to train and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">discipline through those tantrums</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">now that we know we've done what we can</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">to not add "fuel to the fire".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I still have a hard time, especially this time of year, when there are</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">so many treats and special snacks that we just have to say no to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it the end of the world? No.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not a peanut allergy that could cost our son his life if we're not careful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not a milk or egg or gluten allergy that could make him really sick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, in some ways that's how I have to think of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have to be the ones to do what's best for our kid</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">even when it's hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even when we feel like we're big meanies for not letting Blake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">drink chocolate milk and eat candy-coated everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm thankful that it's getting more popular to color things naturally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm hopeful that more and more manufacturers will head in that direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I'm thankful for the support we've gotten from our families and for the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">others out there who know what I'm talking about because they've</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">seen their kids have the same reactions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm hopeful that someday (like when he's 15), Blake will be able to have the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">occasional Mountain Dew and candy bar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the mean time, I'm just grateful that God allowed us to find a solution that works.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I'm so encouraged that when we pray for answers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God gives them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And Pepperidge Farm, if you're listening...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">thanks for those beet-juice dyed goldfishies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They are a certain little boy's go-to snack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZpu2eyKDNo/UNu00XIkpKI/AAAAAAAABck/dJoPUCP3wyI/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZpu2eyKDNo/UNu00XIkpKI/AAAAAAAABck/dJoPUCP3wyI/s640/081.JPG" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For more information on artificial dyes, check out...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sortacrunchy.net/sortacrunchy/2011/12/ten-things-everyone-should-know-about-artificial-food-coloring-.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorta Crunchy</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.diefooddye.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Die, Food Dye!</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-35948553553036092222012-12-21T21:44:00.002-05:002012-12-21T21:44:44.261-05:00bloom<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Do you ever argue with God?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I have found myself on so many occasions
the last few months literally arguing with God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">as if I somehow know better than Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As if my own insecurity, fear, stubborn
nature, or lack of time, motivation, and discipline<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">will somehow sway His mind...His
plans...His purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I argue with Him because on one hand I
feel compelled to write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> To try to be an encouragement to
other mama's out there who<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">might be going through the daily joys,
struggles, and insecurities that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I am with my own kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I want to listen to that still, small
voice that says to just<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">be real and be me. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">On the other hand, I argue all the fine
points of why this is a bad idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I don’t have all the answers. I'm sleep
deprived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't remember to take my camera to huge
family parties, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">let alone drag it out for the day in, day
out stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm new at this...my kids still drool and
don't know their ABC's. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This little blog space is a love/hate
relationship for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I love to write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I hate feeling dumb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And I feel dumb when I write and nobody
comments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I feel dumb when I unintentionally sound
like someone I am not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I feel dumb when I freak out that someone
from Russia viewed my blog<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">and I convince myself someone's coming
after me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(<i>Postpartum hormone anxiety....true
story</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But at the same time, I want God to use
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In His way. His time. For His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't think I have unique, new thoughts
to share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But I have a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 18pt;">huge desire</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">to write about being a mom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Awhile back, I saw an episode of the
Duggar's show,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>19 Kids and Counting</i>...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">long story short, they were visiting a
church that hosts a mom's group called<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">BLOOM.</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It stands for Building A Legacy Out Of
Motherhood. </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was intrigued. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That's what I want for my kids. For my
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Not to be some well-known, hugely
successful person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But to leave a legacy for my kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't really even know what that means
exactly....I just know that I want my kids to grow up knowing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">they are loved, they are precious, they
are created for a divine purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">They have a choice to love God, love
others, advance the Kingdom of Christ, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">to do justly, love mercy...</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> This
is me obeying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I encourage Blake, all day it seems, to
not be stubborn and just <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">choose</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">to obey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm going to try. If I write once a week,
well okay then!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If somebody is encouraged, inspired, drawn
closer to the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">heart of an amazing God...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">then praise to His name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If I fail in my own eyes, or the eyes of
others...that's okay too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">He is the hurricane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm barely a breeze. </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-8084720028087932202012-09-27T14:16:00.000-04:002012-09-27T14:16:23.574-04:00Our Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We welcomed our little girl just over two months ago!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kelcie Makenna</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">7 pounds 11 ounces. 20 inches long</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We are in love with her newborn smell, her sweet sweet smiles, her dark brown hair and soon to be eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have spent the last 2 months soaking up her sweetness and cherishing </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">the little girl God gave me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">His love is unfathomable...she is my proof. </span></div>
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There is SO much that God has been doing...working on me about...letting me experience since I last blogged. I don't know what the future holds...I am itching to write again, but finding the time to devote to this little space has come in second place to just</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">living life.</span></div>
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But my hope is to pop in every once in awhile at least, and see what God uses me to say and share. </div>
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More thoughts...but for another day!</div>
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*Love & Blessings*</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-948476266672176362012-04-06T15:32:00.000-04:002012-04-06T15:32:35.994-04:00Knowing<div style="text-align: center;">
Knowing that something with the potential to powerfully change my life is on the horizon</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is more than enough to make me</div>
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act like a little kid with ants in her pants. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Knowing that in just over three-ish months, our baby girl will be here</div>
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both thrills my heart </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and</span> </div>
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terrifies my soul!</div>
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I am bored with being pregnant...I just want to kiss those sweet cheeks. </div>
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I am stressed out, anxious, overwhelmed, and regularly a </div>
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ball of snotty weepiness...</div>
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I just want Blake to not make our days a battle over </div>
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<i>everything. </i></div>
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But he is two. Our days will be battles for awhile. </div>
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I cling to the little glimpses of progress I see...the times he responds to our instructions</div>
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without a defiant</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"NO"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Blakey NOT want"...</span></div>
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you know the drill. </div>
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I cling to the times where I am not being stared at, three items into our grocery list,</div>
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because my son's sin nature is rearing it's ugly head. </div>
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I live for the moments where he kisses my cheek or busters my belly.</div>
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And I try to remember that while these are the days that</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">try a mommy's soul...</span></div>
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these are also the</div>
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best days of my life. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIitq5aTtJo/T39BUPc9uhI/AAAAAAAABWg/dWk4cYph-pc/s1600/Easter2011.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FIitq5aTtJo/T39BUPc9uhI/AAAAAAAABWg/dWk4cYph-pc/s640/Easter2011.bmp" width="476" /></a></div>
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This picture is from last Easter. </div>
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Blake still had his beloved pacifier...bo-bo. </div>
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He still fit in a ring-sling carrier on my back. </div>
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His hair still had the slightest hint of red to it. </div>
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The times that I find myself wishing for the next stage of life,</div>
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the one where things will be -in my mind at least-</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">easier,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">less demanding,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">more enjoyable...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I stop. </span></div>
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And I think about the time that has already passed and </div>
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I pray for</div>
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a giving spirit, </div>
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a patient heart,</div>
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a loving response, </div>
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a grace-filled moment </div>
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both to receive and to give. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because I know that next year </span></div>
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I will be looking back at pictures and feeling that little twinge of pain</div>
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in my heart, knowing I can't ever have those days back. </div>
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Knowing that there will be <i>two</i> little gifts from God toddling around </div>
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with</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">huge chunks of my heart. </span></div>
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Knowing that every day is filled with moments I can choose </div>
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to resent or to cherish. </div>
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Because either way, they won't ever be here again. </div>
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<br /></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-53375174095348822542012-03-26T13:44:00.001-04:002012-03-26T13:44:26.361-04:00Hello Monday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello new week.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hello blahs.</span></div>
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Hello 39 degrees...weren't you 86 last week?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello fresh start.</span></div>
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Hello two year old tantrums.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello God's grace to meet my day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello laundry. Dishes. Papers. </span></div>
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Hello chicken nuggets for lunch. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello odd cravings...</span></div>
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Cheerios,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mexican Tortilla Soup, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Capri Sun, </div>
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Gummy Bears.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello nap time...I've missed you. </span></div>
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Hello little boy kisses. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello sweet lunchtime phone call</span>.</div>
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Hello piano students...you practiced, right?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello soft baby girl kicks inside my belly.</span></div>
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Hello Country Pork Chops for dinner.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello my hubby...you were missed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello hugs.</span></div>
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Hello my mama...you brighten my day. </div>
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Thanks for loving on my boy. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello joy. Peace. Patience.</span> </div>
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Thanks for fruit in my life, Lord. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello American Pickers. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello Johnson & Johnson smelling boy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello warm jammies.</span></div>
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Hello bed time snacks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello hope. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello dreams. </span></div>
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Hello,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-51892109051487030072012-02-22T10:24:00.002-05:002012-02-22T10:24:57.502-05:00What He's Up To...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miIputfJkYY/T0UDNyCaBaI/AAAAAAAABUs/IugcxGWw_mU/s1600/DSC00939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-miIputfJkYY/T0UDNyCaBaI/AAAAAAAABUs/IugcxGWw_mU/s640/DSC00939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things Mommy Hears Me Say...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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"I not weally wike"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"What dat noise?"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Why daddy beep?" </div>
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(why did daddy burp....asked randomly throughout the day. While Josh is working...)</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Where mommy's/daddy's car-ee?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"TAAA-NAA!!!"</div>
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(after something totally impressive, of course)</div>
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<br /></div>
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"I meees _______!"</div>
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(He misses lots of things lately...daddy, grammie, the horse at Meijer)</div>
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<br /></div>
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"What daddy dooo-ing?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Where daddy go?"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things I Love....</span></div>
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Maner and M'Keeeen</div>
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(Tow-Mater and McQueen)</div>
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Grammie and Papa...and Grammie's cookies</div>
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(those cookies have major power...proven to cure any toddler ailment!)</div>
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Bwi</div>
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(aka...Auntie Bri, also "Where Bri car-ee?")</div>
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Naming his aunties, uncles, cousins, and friends when we look at pictures on the fridge</div>
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Giving kisses...even to the sweet girls in nursery....um, lady's man??</div>
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Standing on his Cars 2 chair or the step-stool to open doors, turn the lights on and off...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">make trouble!</span></div>
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Helping mommy with the broom and shoveling snow with daddy</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Favorite Shows....</span></div>
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Curious George</div>
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Caillou </div>
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(mommy <i>loves</i> that...not!)</div>
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Barney</div>
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Cars 2</div>
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Thomas the Tank Engine</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things I Can Do Now...</span></div>
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Put my own socks and shoes on</div>
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Jump with both feet off the ground</div>
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Go up and down the stairs</div>
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Melt hearts with his smile</div>
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Say "Bye-Bye"and wave as we leave a store, Grammie and Papa's, or the church nursery</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trouble I've Made Recently....</span></div>
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Dumped all of mommy's Rolled Oats throughout the house while she was showering</div>
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Dug out the inside of a candle</div>
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Ate most of my crayons</div>
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Took my pants and diaper off...and hid under a blanket</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things That Melt Mommy's Heart...</span></div>
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His smile</div>
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Hearing him say "Kay, Mommy"</div>
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Watching him learn and grow into such a sweet little boy</div>
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When he kisses mommy's belly...he knows there's a baby in there!</div>
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Kisses and hugs after naptime</div>
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The way he adores his daddy</div>
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His big, brown eyes</div>
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The zest for life that he has...every single day</div>
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"I wuv you!"</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-29395698938566362872012-02-13T14:28:00.000-05:002012-02-13T14:31:24.068-05:00OverhaulThings are a little messy around here right now...the house <i><span style="font-size: large;">and</span></i> the blog! Josh and I just got back yesterday around lunch time from a weekend in the snow- with 50 teenagers! So needless to say, my day has been filled with laundry, making the grocery list I never made last week, clipping coupons, unpacking bags, and snuggling my little man who I missed<span style="font-size: x-large;"> this much!</span><br />
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The blog is undergoing yet another transformation. I am not a gifted graphic designer, but I'm also too stubborn to give up. So it's a work in progress...but I finally feel like I got it right this time. The colors, the design. It feels like "me". And I'm loving the process!<br />
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The house. The blog. And....my heart! Doesn't it seem like just when you think you're good to coast along, suddenly you realize how very much there is to work on? Just when I think I've washed the last shirt, Blake finds something to spill. Just when I think I'm in love with my blog design, I realize it just doesn't fit my purpose and I start fresh again.<br />
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Just when I think I've been growing and learning what I should be doing in life, God shows me a glimpse of the bigger picture and I realize how much I have to work on. It can be overwhelming to think about. Where am I at in my marriage? How am I doing with intentionally leading Blake's heart, not just his actions? What about those "baggage boxes" I've been storing away in the basement of my heart? All things to surrender. All things that I have to acknowledge are so far from the standard Jesus set.<br />
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When you're attempting to overhaul something, many times things get messier before they get cleaner. The closet that will forever be your arch-enemy of organization? It looks a million times worse when the contents are piled on the floor as you're sorting and purging, doesn't it? It's the same with our hearts...when we're pulling out all the junk we hold onto and laying it before the Lord, things look so messy. So raw. So overwhelming!<br />
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But it's the cleaning, the purging, the straightening out, that makes our houses <span style="font-size: large;">and our hearts</span> function at their best. Letting go of things that weigh us down and add clutter to our lives is so much easier to do when it's a tangible box of Goodwill donations! When it's my heart, there's a different story to tell. I argue. I justify. I cling to an unforgiving attitude, the boundary lines I've established, the walls I've built, the dashed hopes of yesterday and the forgotten dreams of tomorrow. And for what?? It's not like they serve a purpose or bring any satisfaction. In fact if I'm honest about it, they only serve to cause discouragement, dissatisfaction, discontentment...<span style="font-size: large;">all things that I do not want in my heart or life!</span><br />
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So the overhaul begins. I'm struggling to start the process and to humbly lay my garbage bags of junk at Jesus' feet as I ask Him to "take out the trash". Maybe that's why it's so hard? The very One whose standard I can't live up to is the <i>only one</i> who can clean up my heart space. There's such an unusual feeling to it all...it's humbling and sobering, and at the same time it brings such relief and joy and gratitude to those dark, dingy corners of my little heart!<br />
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Philippians 1:6 "He who started the work, <span style="font-size: large;"><i>will be faithful to complete it</i></span> in you!"</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-40894417682745690452012-02-08T13:34:00.000-05:002012-02-08T13:34:12.639-05:00Finding My Spot<div style="text-align: center;">When I was younger, I really felt like I knew who I was. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I knew where I fit. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Within family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Life. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Growing up means that you kind of lose that spot where you fit...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and you have to find your new spot.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In college, I started to wrestle with that idea. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Things were changing...new people, starting college, new job. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So I started making a list. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A list of everything I loved and the things that made me happy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Things like...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">the color of cobalt blue, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">daisies and hydrangeas, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">watching chick flicks, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a boy I thought was my future </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(who shall remain safely anonymous...wink*),</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">running,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">spending time with my family, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">cleaning and organizing...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The list let anyone reading it have a glimpse into what made me</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">me. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67RwVxAVB3w/TzK6wQqt66I/AAAAAAAABTI/iPL6FsXd5UQ/s1600/244179611016365916_EZifizeg_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67RwVxAVB3w/TzK6wQqt66I/AAAAAAAABTI/iPL6FsXd5UQ/s640/244179611016365916_EZifizeg_f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.luxefinds.com/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm feeling the need for a list again. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting married, having Blake, expecting our newest little one...</div><div style="text-align: center;">all such wonderful things, and exactly what I've always wanted, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and yet...</div><div style="text-align: center;">they've put me into such a different spot in life, it's hard to know who I am at times. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I'm Josh's wife...I'm learning how to love him, grow with him, <i>become one.</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I'm mommy to my sweet boy and my baby on the way. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That means snuggles and kisses, </div><div style="text-align: center;">goldfish crackers, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">changing diapers,</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">reading books...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I guess lately, I just am trying to find my place again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trying to feel like me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And sometimes I don't even know who that is!</div><div style="text-align: center;">What I like, </div><div style="text-align: center;">what I am striving for, </div><div style="text-align: center;">who God's making me and</div><div style="text-align: center;">what He's using me for. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What's my style...do I have one??</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I see pictures of cute bobbed haircuts, and think how much I want to </div><div style="text-align: center;">cut off the 2 years of length I worked so hard to grow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I see moms my age wearing all these sweet, trendy clothes</div><div style="text-align: center;">or decorating their houses to be modern and fresh and fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I like that. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes me feel like me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oL_qZ7asDg0/TzK_xqsGIBI/AAAAAAAABTQ/3zT0SyMTpKQ/s1600/216524694554258511_Ugkv7zZI_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oL_qZ7asDg0/TzK_xqsGIBI/AAAAAAAABTQ/3zT0SyMTpKQ/s320/216524694554258511_Ugkv7zZI_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/216524694554258511/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I don't just want outward things...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to be a good wife and mom.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A woman of character, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">virtue, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">intention.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The deeper stuff beyond the clothes and espresso-colored end tables. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess all I'm saying is that</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to be the best me I can be. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Whoever that is.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever God makes me</div><div style="text-align: center;">for this stage of my life. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The things that make me more like Him, </div><div style="text-align: center;">shine for Him, </div><div style="text-align: center;">have zest for the life He gives every day. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the things that make me tick, </div><div style="text-align: center;">make me happy, </div><div style="text-align: center;">bring me joy. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A good book (and time to read it!), </div><div style="text-align: center;">looking put together, and <i>ok</i>...a little trendy,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">having plans to brighten someone's day </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and making it happen, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">crafting, </div><div style="text-align: center;">decorating our home...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm working on my list and I'm finding my spot.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-25257232202972111042012-01-18T12:13:00.000-05:002012-01-18T12:13:05.503-05:00About Two<div style="text-align: center;">Pregnancy has to be the most up and down time in my life to date...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ask Josh</span>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">he'll tell you about the times that I am laughing hysterically at </div><div style="text-align: center;">something he's just said;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and how seconds later he realizes I am sobbing</div><div style="text-align: center;">just as hysterically about something else. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will be honest with you...</div><div style="text-align: center;">one day last week was the first time I have </div><div style="text-align: center;">let myself be excited about Baby #2. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had the television on after lunchtime Barney was over, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I found myself watching Baby Story on TLC.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Normally, that show makes me cry....or irritated at all the skinny women who look like they </div><div style="text-align: center;">just happened to swallow a basketball. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But when I saw the little baby all snuggled up in his hospital cap and blanket, I thought</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I can't wait for that day to come.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt real.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt alive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3e77pvsJ9M/Txb3SM_sEwI/AAAAAAAABSY/wmvbJnRiBFA/s1600/etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3e77pvsJ9M/Txb3SM_sEwI/AAAAAAAABSY/wmvbJnRiBFA/s640/etsy.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe you're wondering how anybody can go</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">weeks and weeks of being pregnant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and not feel excited...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't think it's that I wasn't excited, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think fear was stealing my joy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to be excited...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but my heart has been aching with fears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Early on, I was terrified of something happening to the life inside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would everything develop as it should?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would her heart beat?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I struggled with stories around me of </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mama's who had picked out names, only to have to say goodbye</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when that heart beat was no longer there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feared timing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would I still be a good mama to Blake with a newborn to care for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Will Josh and I stay connected, on the same page...loving, caring, working our way</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">through married life?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt guilty. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guilt...because of the little one's those close to me have lost. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guilt...because I don't feel the same way I did with Blake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All these feelings that were so big in my heart that they </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">nudged out what should have been.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No, not happiness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trust.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYWuhpbGGNo/Txb7u7vJ8XI/AAAAAAAABSg/faXzJ49dcbI/s1600/kay+warren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYWuhpbGGNo/Txb7u7vJ8XI/AAAAAAAABSg/faXzJ49dcbI/s640/kay+warren.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happiness, excitement, that <span style="font-size: large;">yeow</span> feeling...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they come and go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's <i>normal.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because we're human and we're up & down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One minute we're laughing and the next we're balling our eyes out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But joy?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Joy comes from trust...you find it when you rest in what you can be assured of. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know what will happen with this baby...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we pray everyday for the little life I'm carrying to grow, to develop, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to come to us in July with ten fingers and ten toes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the heart bursting feelings that a baby brings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's so much that I can not be assured of in this world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's fear at it's best. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But when I let my weary, anxious heart </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">just rest...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I find joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And excited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not because I know the future...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just because I know the One</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">who holds it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-73339329797925189822012-01-11T13:20:00.000-05:002012-01-11T13:20:41.694-05:00Human Trafficking Awareness Day<div style="text-align: center;">I'd like to share with you the newest and biggest change to this blog...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the one that is closest to my heart. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Lord has been impressing on my heart for many months now, both the abundant life I am living and </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the bleak future of enslaved children around the world. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children who are forced to work long hours in horrific conditions. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Children who have their innocence stripped from them as they are sold into sexual slavery. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Children who have known more evil in a day than most of us will ever experience in our entire lives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Children. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ones who should be kicking a ball, dressing up a doll, playing house...just brightening the world with</div><div style="text-align: center;">their sweet smiles, </div><div style="text-align: center;">these are the ones who suffer daily. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8VyXJlNpr8/Tw3Egf3uPUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/VrgPOK5jXvg/s1600/slave146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8VyXJlNpr8/Tw3Egf3uPUI/AAAAAAAABSQ/VrgPOK5jXvg/s640/slave146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.love146.com/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I mentioned yesterday that during my break from blogging, I was seeking out what it was that</div><div style="text-align: center;">God would use this blog to accomplish...for His glory and for the benefit of others. </div><div style="text-align: center;">As thoughts of little children trapped in brothels or living on the streets around the world weighed heavy on my mind and heart, I felt the Lord leading me to act. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Though I'm stepping back from the "rat-race" of blogging for now, </div><div style="text-align: center;">my purpose has changed and I am more inspired and encouraged than ever before!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>Happy</i> is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,</div><div style="text-align: center;">whose hope is in the Lord His God, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Who made heaven and earth,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the seas, and all that is in them;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who keeps truth forever,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who executes justice for the oppressed</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Who gives food to the hungry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners</span>."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Psalm 146:5-7</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">My goal for the coming year is to begin supporting ministries that fight for justice and freedom for</div><div style="text-align: center;">those affected by human trafficking.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some ways that you can become involved too...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pray!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ask God to show you what you can do...and pray for those who are living in forced labor, sexual slavery, and who are being dealt with unjustly in their homelands.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Educate Yourself!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There are piles of information available concerning the realities of human trafficking. Sometimes it's really hard to read about...but seek to have a compassionate heart and become aware of the very real needs of others. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Give Support!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By giving financially to missions and organizations who seek justice and restoration for the victims of human trafficking, you <span style="font-size: large;">can</span> be involved! Don't think that because you're not able to travel the world or kick down a brothel door, that there's nothing you can do...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>support an orphan, buy items that do not come from places that use children for forced labor,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>give a monthly gift either individually or find a group of people to share the joy of giving with!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will you join me today in praying passionately </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">for the end of human trafficking?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are called in the book of Micah to</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">love mercy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">do justly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">walk humbly...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">God can do such seemingly impossible things, my friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please check out these organizations and seek how God would have you be involved!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.love146.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="320" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/Jpresley2003/love146button.png" width="320" /><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ijm.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="196" src="http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z397/MPolderman/ijm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-78635880455442081922012-01-10T14:36:00.000-05:002012-01-10T14:36:06.068-05:00Changes<div style="text-align: center;">As you can tell, there's some changes happening around these parts...the first, made obvious by the goofy face of my sweet boy who somehow in the blink of an eye became big enough to be </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">a </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Big Brother.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are blessed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are overwhelmed with His goodness. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are wide-eyed at the prospect of a new baby,</div><div style="text-align: center;">while having just entered toddler-dom. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Change. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It used to scare me. It used to make my heart ache with what would no longer be. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've changed...</div><div style="text-align: center;">my heart doesn't feel afraid anymore.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel joy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel hopeful. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Because I know whatever the days hold- easy or hard- God is with me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He is good. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can only live with gratitude for the abundance He's giving. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I will tell of the Lord's unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all He has done. I will rejoice in His great goodness...which He has granted because of His mercy and love!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Isaiah 63:7</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ9bub6Noy8/TwyO_OkwUlI/AAAAAAAABSA/34BdpBwaTjk/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZ9bub6Noy8/TwyO_OkwUlI/AAAAAAAABSA/34BdpBwaTjk/s640/002.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You may have noticed too, some changes with my blog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back in November, when I decided to take some time away it was both out of necessity and out of desire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's just say that " morning sickness" was an all day event some days and blogging was not on the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Do List!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But more than just physically needing a break, my heart needed some time away to think and refocus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is my purpose, my mission for the time I spend in writing? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Does it have worth? Value? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I began last spring to blog daily, my intent was to keep up with my family who live out of state. My intent was to do something I love and hadn't done in a long time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To simply write about the joys of the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Funny how things can so quickly change course, huh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Instead of stepping away from Facebook and focusing on my blog, I found myself at a place with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> two</i> Facebook accounts, a Twitter account, and an Etsy shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The demands were high. I felt the need to grow my followers, to run with the big guns of blogging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But friends...it's just not me. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love to craft...but I don't have time to run my own small business online. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My small business involves teaching piano three nights a week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love to stay connected online...but I don't want to announce my every move by Tweeting fifty times a day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love to write...but not at the expense of living. Enjoying. Being in the moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I'm stepping back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back <i>into</i> blogging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But away from what isn't working in my life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7i87dALJR0/TwyR5bUElnI/AAAAAAAABSI/esVqQaaxo5I/s1600/175570085442875738_wwzXg8px_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7i87dALJR0/TwyR5bUElnI/AAAAAAAABSI/esVqQaaxo5I/s640/175570085442875738_wwzXg8px_c.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.couragehopestrength.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart feels so full these days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Call it emotions. Call it hormones. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's probably some of both. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But more than that, it's simply being in a place of deep reliance on my Savior. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's the hiding away in the safety of His simplicity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's being in tune with what He's doing, and where He's leading and calling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's living simply. In the moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With gratitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A life driven by a thankful heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankful for all things...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-44939240202048370122012-01-04T13:57:00.000-05:002012-01-04T13:57:25.935-05:0007-21-12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ze-XFi0Wk1E/TwSe7Ay370I/AAAAAAAABRY/zPm82N0XLoc/s1600/DSC00766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ze-XFi0Wk1E/TwSe7Ay370I/AAAAAAAABRY/zPm82N0XLoc/s640/DSC00766.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPz_Fc6Re20/TwSe7ypR9gI/AAAAAAAABRo/htfQ-BpLwOI/s1600/DSC00771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPz_Fc6Re20/TwSe7ypR9gI/AAAAAAAABRo/htfQ-BpLwOI/s640/DSC00771.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRH0Jb_ozd8/TwSe8UrK_BI/AAAAAAAABRw/Vsxjpi6pPac/s1600/DSC00773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRH0Jb_ozd8/TwSe8UrK_BI/AAAAAAAABRw/Vsxjpi6pPac/s640/DSC00773.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTQrCGI8cLg/TwSe-0T9pBI/AAAAAAAABR4/oTJ_lRR8PGY/s1600/DSC00730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTQrCGI8cLg/TwSe-0T9pBI/AAAAAAAABR4/oTJ_lRR8PGY/s640/DSC00730.JPG" width="402" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-23732208766122300602011-11-17T15:37:00.000-05:002011-11-17T15:37:20.912-05:00Taking A Break<div style="text-align: center;">So....I've been doing alot of thinking these last few weeks. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Six months of consistant blogging, learning HTML code, designing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">buttons and links,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">hosting giveaways and sharing our sweet everyday moments has been</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">fabulous. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But in my heart, there's a struggle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A little voice saying maybe it's time to take a step back. To listen hard. Look deep. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Evaluate my purpose in blogging. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been ignoring the gentle prompting in my heart up until last week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That's when I knew for sure that the little voice I kept ignoring was really</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Spirit of God...</div><div style="text-align: center;">asking me to surrender. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTM2w_EFrQs/TsVwGW5hKgI/AAAAAAAABQk/LCpdW5h3VGI/s1600/homegrownhospitality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MTM2w_EFrQs/TsVwGW5hKgI/AAAAAAAABQk/LCpdW5h3VGI/s640/homegrownhospitality.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My pastor has been speaking recently on spiritual growth. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His first two points on the subject were</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Desire and Sacrifice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have the desire.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I need to sacrifice. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My time is not my own, and while I strive to use the days I'm given </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the best way I can,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">there's still so much more I could be doing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bigger things with a bigger purpose. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I'm taking the rest of the year off from blogging. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll still see me pop in from time to time...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have a sweet friend's guest post coming just in time for </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">But when I come back in January, I hope you'll be as thrilled with</div><div style="text-align: center;">some major changes and big announcements to</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today Is Sweeter</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">as I am. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right now, I just need to </div><div style="text-align: center;">seek His face!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas with all those you love...</div><div style="text-align: center;">see you in the New Year!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuN_dgRGWVk/TsVvw1Dh93I/AAAAAAAABQc/P-1F2ZanGsg/s1600/img3visualizeusdotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuN_dgRGWVk/TsVvw1Dh93I/AAAAAAAABQc/P-1F2ZanGsg/s640/img3visualizeusdotcom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.img3visualize.com/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-25303708084571459652011-11-16T13:24:00.000-05:002011-11-16T13:24:40.768-05:00Wordless Wednesday: Bagels with Bri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlQwHPoLo78/TsP_x2XNN3I/AAAAAAAABP8/LdRZxdL1jbc/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlQwHPoLo78/TsP_x2XNN3I/AAAAAAAABP8/LdRZxdL1jbc/s640/019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hY_uqpogEA/TsP_yty7sgI/AAAAAAAABQE/0YyGm1rCzPA/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hY_uqpogEA/TsP_yty7sgI/AAAAAAAABQE/0YyGm1rCzPA/s640/020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t9f9WgXtkGg/TsP_zKiwwJI/AAAAAAAABQM/8Il3zQ-Zk_o/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t9f9WgXtkGg/TsP_zKiwwJI/AAAAAAAABQM/8Il3zQ-Zk_o/s640/022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VNA24WzdWY/TsP_zut64XI/AAAAAAAABQU/JEezeZHjBE4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VNA24WzdWY/TsP_zut64XI/AAAAAAAABQU/JEezeZHjBE4/s640/023.JPG" width="606" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-71125085841458094552011-11-12T14:57:00.000-05:002011-11-12T14:57:15.197-05:00Forty Years<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am a sailor</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and you're my first mate</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We signed on together, </i><i>we coupled our fate.</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We hauled up our anchor, determined not to fail</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For the heart's treasure together we set sail</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>With no maps to guide us </i><i>we steered our own course</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We rode out the storms </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>when the winds were gale force</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We sat out the doldrums with patience and hope</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Working together we learned how to cope. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Life is an ocean, Love is a boat</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In troubled waters, It keeps us afloat</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When we started the voyage there was just</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">me and you</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Now, gathered round us</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we have our own crew.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Congratulations to my wonderful parents, celebrating </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">40 years together</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>today...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you are an inspiration and encouragement to all of us</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">who've just </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">set sail.</span></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9xaAPblwJ0/Tr7LEqVZ-aI/AAAAAAAABPc/36NCX3r1JNI/s1600/mom+and+dad+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9xaAPblwJ0/Tr7LEqVZ-aI/AAAAAAAABPc/36NCX3r1JNI/s640/mom+and+dad+2.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Bh3ZNhTh8/Tr7LDPKGUhI/AAAAAAAABPU/hNVQdre6tA8/s1600/mom+and+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3Bh3ZNhTh8/Tr7LDPKGUhI/AAAAAAAABPU/hNVQdre6tA8/s640/mom+and+dad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA2_OpZNgQs/Tr7NT3_ckhI/AAAAAAAABPk/fxvMHJAWv5o/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA2_OpZNgQs/Tr7NT3_ckhI/AAAAAAAABPk/fxvMHJAWv5o/s640/017.JPG" width="604" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0CLYVRg-7E/Tr7NW6VMwoI/AAAAAAAABPs/d1xjI3Tn55k/s1600/100_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0CLYVRg-7E/Tr7NW6VMwoI/AAAAAAAABPs/d1xjI3Tn55k/s640/100_2599.JPG" width="534" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8oZco04zPM/Tr7NZyRnCaI/AAAAAAAABP0/dcjVgZ6-jNo/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8oZco04zPM/Tr7NZyRnCaI/AAAAAAAABP0/dcjVgZ6-jNo/s640/102.JPG" width="610" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Love you Mom and Dad!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-89275308344506321482011-11-08T13:20:00.001-05:002011-11-08T13:25:10.641-05:00Detroit Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YLJcxY2qnQ/TrlrbSh_1nI/AAAAAAAABMI/rMAdU2uxmWg/s1600/2011-10-313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YLJcxY2qnQ/TrlrbSh_1nI/AAAAAAAABMI/rMAdU2uxmWg/s640/2011-10-313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">L. to R. starting at the top...</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. In front of Comerica Park 2. MGM Grand Sign 3. Comerica Park Entrance</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Hockeytown Cafe 5. Ford Field 6. My yummy dinner!</div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Joe Louis Arena 8. Hockeytown Puck 9. Josh with the Detroit Tiger</div><div style="text-align: center;">10. Gordie Howe 11. Red Wings starting line up 12. Comerica Park baseball</div><div style="text-align: center;">13. Fox Theatre 14. At the hockey game 15. Jimmy Howard</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our overnight trip to Detroit was everything I expected it to be, and everything that</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I didn't expect it to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Call me a dreamer, but I guess in thinking of Detroit (I hadn't been since I was a kid)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was envisioning Chicago...New York...a nice big city with tall buildings and great shopping. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Detroit is a ghost town.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is run-down, sad, gloomy, and has an almost eerie feeling. </div><div style="text-align: center;">On one hand there are three multi-million dollar sports stadiums, and on the other</div><div style="text-align: center;">there are 100 year old buildings with crumbling foundations and blown out windows. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There are season-ticket holders, and there are people who don't have a place to sleep at night. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It left me with a lot to think about...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Josh and I were celebrating our 3rd Anniversary and this trip left me feeling</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">connected, appreciative, refreshed,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and in love with my guy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">It also served to reaffirm a deep unsettled feeling in my heart...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a feeling that I've been wrestling with for a few months now. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There was a man. In a wheelchair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He asked us for our change as we waited to catch the shuttle to the Red Wings game.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Josh gave him what was in his pocket- probably not more than a dollar or two.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And as I watched the man wheel away from us and across the street, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I realized he had no feet. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">So often we judge people and ask questions later. So often we think,</div><div style="text-align: center;">" Oh, he's just looking for booze money."</div><div style="text-align: center;">But what if he isn't?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What if he's a veteran?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What if he's a man who lost his job when the company he worked for sent his job overseas?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What if he has no food? No bed. No hope. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people would call those thoughts naive. Overly emotional. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But I think what my heart is feeling is</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">compassion. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I longed to help this man. I longed to know if there was a shelter he could go to.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A meal he could eat. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A place he could rest. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And I've been feeling that feeling for other situations too lately. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The child sold into sex slavery. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The mama who has lost her unborn baby. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The man about to lose his home. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The orphan with no mama or daddy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess what I'm saying is that our get-away trip left me thinking about alot of deep things.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm not quite sure I've wandered my way out yet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My heart feels burdened.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My hands feel ready to act. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And I don't want to be the kind of person who says, </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Oh, what a shame...that's so sad"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and then walks away.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-71145907213241958272011-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:002011-11-07T12:07:43.255-05:00Monday Update<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Well friends, I promised to tell you about our weekend trip to Detroit </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">and never managed to get a post together!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Tomorrow is the day. Promise....for real. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Here's a sneak peek from the Red Wings game...</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ebf6f9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--0bpLzZ0z8w/TrgGsZc3uTI/AAAAAAAABL4/lsrSwSRULNU/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--0bpLzZ0z8w/TrgGsZc3uTI/AAAAAAAABL4/lsrSwSRULNU/s640/086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week, I shared an amazing Etsy shop with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Grace For Grace</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The winner of that fabulous giveaway will be chosen this Wednesday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But today, I want to tell you more of Tiffany Rachal's story...the talented designer of Grace For Grace. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tiffany is a California girl...married for 7 years and mommy to a sweet 3 year old boy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is a teacher...but uses her teaching skills in an</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">unconventional way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a result of budget cuts in her school district, Tiffany was laid off as a first-year teacher and has not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">had her own classroom since. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what she shared with me about that experience....enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Earlier this year, I went through some depression that I never saw coming. I had earned my elementary teaching credential in 2007, substitute taught for awhile and was finally placed in my own classroom in 2009. I was laid off from that teaching position as a first-year teacher, and because of budget cuts I haven't had my own classroom since. I was questioning my purpose and I constantly found myself asking God, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">'Why?' </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Why am I still out of the classroom? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought this was the calling that you had on my life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why God? Why?'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After keeping it bottled in for some time and allowing myself to grow bitter and depressed, I finally let my husband know about the seriousness of my questions and desperate need for prayer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We prayed together and that same night my husband helped me realize that my call to be a teacher </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">didn't have to be confined to the walls of a classroom.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He had always encouraged me to open an online shop, and through my husband, the Lord helped me to recognize that through my paintings I was still teaching. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...Teaching His word through art!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Lord called me to be a teacher back in 2003. It's now 2011, and although this mode of teaching is </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">so far from what I had ever imagined</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His plan is always perfect and He always works all things together for my good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My son goes to sleep at night and even after a long day of keeping up with his energy, I am still up into the wee hours of the morning...energized, completing and packing orders, starting new items, painting with worship music playing in my ear buds, and just</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">soaking in His words and promises. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thankful that I was obedient and didn't ignore this opportunity. I'm truly walking by faith, not by sight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And until the Lord says otherwise...I hope to continue to use the artistic gift that He's blessed me with to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">be a blessing to others!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JAdyCrNmx6I/TrgMrKsS3NI/AAAAAAAABMA/h0DB9dkIVeY/s1600/trust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JAdyCrNmx6I/TrgMrKsS3NI/AAAAAAAABMA/h0DB9dkIVeY/s640/trust.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/graceforgrace?ref=seller_info">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such a sweet story, isn't it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been so blessed to have met Tiffany and hear her story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ten percent of each sale in her shop goes toward supporting </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Neetu, </span>a seven year old girl living in India.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Sending money her way through <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/">World Vision</a> helps to tackle the poverty that surrounds her and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">assists in providing food, shelter, clothing, disease-free water, and most importantly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a brighter future knowing that...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jesus loves her.</span>"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember, you have one more day to enter the giveaway that Tiffany is doing for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Click <a href="http://paigefiftyone.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-and-coupon-code.html">here</a> to enter)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And don't forget to take advantage of the coupon code to her lovely shop before it's too late!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-28867648905581898852011-11-05T14:51:00.000-04:002011-11-05T14:51:14.850-04:00Chocolate Souffle Cake Recipe<div style="text-align: center;">From the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Luscious Chocolate Desserts</i></span> cookbook</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(by Lori Longbotham)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what you need: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29aMdd5X2dE/TrWAjsp1tYI/AAAAAAAABGE/JwX65o2MYqg/s1600/101-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29aMdd5X2dE/TrWAjsp1tYI/AAAAAAAABGE/JwX65o2MYqg/s640/101-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and here's....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmcIr3_YM08/TrWAjTzlQtI/AAAAAAAABF8/4SUyaD8eRYY/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmcIr3_YM08/TrWAjTzlQtI/AAAAAAAABF8/4SUyaD8eRYY/s640/098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 1: Lined spring form pan with parchment paper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkZAZZ_2rRg/TrWABquhbQI/AAAAAAAABFM/oexH8l5Iut0/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkZAZZ_2rRg/TrWABquhbQI/AAAAAAAABFM/oexH8l5Iut0/s640/100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Step 2: Chopped chocolate and....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjl5qW1tmt4/TrWABz_kruI/AAAAAAAABFU/qD-psLM7908/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjl5qW1tmt4/TrWABz_kruI/AAAAAAAABFU/qD-psLM7908/s640/102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">melted with butter over pan of simmering water. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TQB9yO8K4q0/TrWACdSRQjI/AAAAAAAABFc/G2kWrY_h1Pc/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TQB9yO8K4q0/TrWACdSRQjI/AAAAAAAABFc/G2kWrY_h1Pc/s640/103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is where you can continue with the recipe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">or</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">grab a spoon and hide away in a locked room with the bowl.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuTyIFjKDJ4/TrWACkFKwtI/AAAAAAAABFk/CwKYh_di_ew/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuTyIFjKDJ4/TrWACkFKwtI/AAAAAAAABFk/CwKYh_di_ew/s640/105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 3: When working with so many eggs, I find it helpful to count out what I need and have them in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a carton or bowl. No confusion over how many I've done. (Not that I'm ever interrupted!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3c3B95RNtA/TrWDjwR7MFI/AAAAAAAABGU/Z2Q7H3BK_SM/s1600/2011-10-311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3c3B95RNtA/TrWDjwR7MFI/AAAAAAAABGU/Z2Q7H3BK_SM/s640/2011-10-311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steps 4 and 5: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmFOvKK9N3o/TrWDkIo0FoI/AAAAAAAABGc/oVC-vc666uA/s1600/2011-10-312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmFOvKK9N3o/TrWDkIo0FoI/AAAAAAAABGc/oVC-vc666uA/s640/2011-10-312.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Step 6: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRVCYN__bdg/TrWEPX21olI/AAAAAAAABGk/TUlRGmBc90A/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRVCYN__bdg/TrWEPX21olI/AAAAAAAABGk/TUlRGmBc90A/s640/119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All done baking and ready for toppings!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnpCb15B6tg/TrWEQVrogUI/AAAAAAAABGs/r4pLJ2D9RAo/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnpCb15B6tg/TrWEQVrogUI/AAAAAAAABGs/r4pLJ2D9RAo/s640/133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the best flour-less cake recipes I have found. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this for my mom-in-law's birthday last weekend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she loved it because she eats gluten free, but could enjoy having her cake anyway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love to hear if you try this or any of the other recipes found <a href="http://paigefiftyone.blogspot.com/p/recipies.html">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Weekend Friends!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. Don't forget to enter the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/graceforgrace?ref=seller_info">Grace For Grace</a> giveaway and take advantage of the coupon code,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">you still have time!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Click <a href="http://paigefiftyone.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-and-coupon-code.html">here</a> to enter)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-6747233913707084592011-11-04T11:16:00.000-04:002011-11-04T11:16:43.710-04:00Lawnmower Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> This was on Sunday...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05cpITDb8IA/TrP9glDOyvI/AAAAAAAABEA/UMmwZ5xvrL0/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05cpITDb8IA/TrP9glDOyvI/AAAAAAAABEA/UMmwZ5xvrL0/s640/121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rip cord in our lawnmower broke, and Josh was fixing it. He's good like that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blake was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">helping. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsBjMHjdn3E/TrP9hdvEfDI/AAAAAAAABEQ/vrB3HF9YlnM/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsBjMHjdn3E/TrP9hdvEfDI/AAAAAAAABEQ/vrB3HF9YlnM/s640/127.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hammer and drill in hand...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys got the job done and the mower running!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9180Nq-1vdk/TrP9h1AjXxI/AAAAAAAABEY/9-h7Z_U0J-o/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9180Nq-1vdk/TrP9h1AjXxI/AAAAAAAABEY/9-h7Z_U0J-o/s640/130.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Starting on Monday, this is the conversation I have had</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">no less than 25 times</span> <i>every single day this week...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blake: Mu Mommy?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me: Yes?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blake: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mommy!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me: What do you need?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blake: Mu daddy?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me: Daddy's at work, remember?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blake: Mu daddy mow mow. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me: No, daddy's at work right now. He will do the mower another time. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Blake: Mu daddy...(a few words yet to be translated) ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ahh</span>side. Do mow mow. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Me: Ok</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Any guesses as to where Josh and Blake will be tomorrow?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ahh-side (wink*)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IdORu7qR34/TrP9iabzptI/AAAAAAAABEg/MDwPzEQxQ7g/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IdORu7qR34/TrP9iabzptI/AAAAAAAABEg/MDwPzEQxQ7g/s640/132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-11394831318052973612011-11-03T10:32:00.001-04:002011-11-03T10:37:27.203-04:00Flower Inspiration<div style="text-align: center;">Are you a Gussy Sews groupie yet?</div><div style="text-align: center;">If not you can check her out <a href="http://www.gussysews.com/">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am an official member of her fan club!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each week Gussy posts a prompt for her Inspiration Workshop link party.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's an awesome way to meet other other bloggers and to be inspired!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week's prompt is Flowers. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's my take...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ8FYwtF4_8/TrKi-o13r3I/AAAAAAAABDI/w0T7KirxC5o/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ8FYwtF4_8/TrKi-o13r3I/AAAAAAAABDI/w0T7KirxC5o/s640/004.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anniversary Roses from Josh</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PrLYOVMGDM/TrKjE2DQiBI/AAAAAAAABDQ/g5se7dxXBaY/s1600/Josh+%2526+Maureen+-229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PrLYOVMGDM/TrKjE2DQiBI/AAAAAAAABDQ/g5se7dxXBaY/s640/Josh+%2526+Maureen+-229.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Silk daisies lined the pews at our wedding</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14SXk5s_tWk/TrKjSl1N8DI/AAAAAAAABDY/TcifyO2ShXs/s1600/iloveswmagdotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14SXk5s_tWk/TrKjSl1N8DI/AAAAAAAABDY/TcifyO2ShXs/s640/iloveswmagdotcom.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.iloveswmag.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you think daisies are the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">friendliest</span> flower?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is such a sweet idea for an outdoor, rustic wedding!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-622KhaFhog8/TrKjS5IBO5I/AAAAAAAABDg/bZWB_vQ7S3M/s1600/littlebirdiessecretsdotblogspotdotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-622KhaFhog8/TrKjS5IBO5I/AAAAAAAABDg/bZWB_vQ7S3M/s640/littlebirdiessecretsdotblogspotdotcom.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://littlebirdiesecrets.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am in love with these amazing handmade flowers from Little Birdie Secrets!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wanna know their secrets?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Find them <a href="http://littlebirdiesecrets.com/">here</a>!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-imHf0uD2Z24/TrKjS6fgvDI/AAAAAAAABDo/blHCi2KIIUw/s1600/mediatheknotdotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-imHf0uD2Z24/TrKjS6fgvDI/AAAAAAAABDo/blHCi2KIIUw/s640/mediatheknotdotcom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.theknot.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If we had gotten married in the spring these kissing balls would have definitely been there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love</span> how simple and elegant they are...and just enough different to be</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">so chic</span>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18X9FrBhhG0/TrKjTK7aEkI/AAAAAAAABDw/j6lckxCEJuk/s1600/rosehipdottypepaddotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18X9FrBhhG0/TrKjTK7aEkI/AAAAAAAABDw/j6lckxCEJuk/s640/rosehipdottypepaddotcom.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.rosehip.typepad.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Will someone teach me <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">please</span>?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am dying to know how to make these adorable crocheted flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Or are they knitted??)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you know how, or know of a fabulous tutorial...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">send it my way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gussysews.com/inspiration-workshop/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.gussysews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IW_button1251.png" title="Gussy Sews" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">**Remember to enter the Grace for Grace giveaway and take advantage of her coupon code <a href="http://paigefiftyone.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-and-coupon-code.html">here</a>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381262897770574688.post-79432938350212949452011-11-02T14:50:00.001-04:002011-11-02T14:51:39.342-04:00Trunk or Treat<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAjYztEGyGg/TrGN4a-e2II/AAAAAAAABBc/RCKj0MAOxg8/s1600/DSC00403-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAjYztEGyGg/TrGN4a-e2II/AAAAAAAABBc/RCKj0MAOxg8/s640/DSC00403-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blake and Papa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our little giraffe had a cold and was not a happy camper!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36XDYR9jZnI/TrGN4oDqSaI/AAAAAAAABBg/xkdWljax194/s1600/DSC00404-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36XDYR9jZnI/TrGN4oDqSaI/AAAAAAAABBg/xkdWljax194/s640/DSC00404-1.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My monkey nephew Jack Ryan</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zE4x78PigOA/TrGN5JlOGFI/AAAAAAAABBo/mlLJchCFC_8/s1600/DSC00405-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zE4x78PigOA/TrGN5JlOGFI/AAAAAAAABBo/mlLJchCFC_8/s640/DSC00405-1.JPG" width="330" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sweetest ice cream cone ever...my niece Addie Paige!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHJzfFAz1W0/TrGN5e6y-II/AAAAAAAABBw/-23M0EAunMU/s1600/DSC00408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHJzfFAz1W0/TrGN5e6y-II/AAAAAAAABBw/-23M0EAunMU/s640/DSC00408.JPG" width="632" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4eW56mjMA_Q/TrGN50wmtLI/AAAAAAAABB4/CGslMVHsfQg/s1600/DSC00409-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4eW56mjMA_Q/TrGN50wmtLI/AAAAAAAABB4/CGslMVHsfQg/s640/DSC00409-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-1sG3JWNuk/TrGN6HLpjxI/AAAAAAAABCA/eIP15o9DHXI/s1600/DSC00415-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-1sG3JWNuk/TrGN6HLpjxI/AAAAAAAABCA/eIP15o9DHXI/s640/DSC00415-1.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-pkXBztGgA/TrGN6UzIdEI/AAAAAAAABCI/XX2XRnSzR-I/s1600/DSC00417-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-pkXBztGgA/TrGN6UzIdEI/AAAAAAAABCI/XX2XRnSzR-I/s640/DSC00417-1.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dDl6F1pOYc/TrGN6jLbh3I/AAAAAAAABCQ/-RH-qzKEeaY/s1600/DSC00421-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dDl6F1pOYc/TrGN6jLbh3I/AAAAAAAABCQ/-RH-qzKEeaY/s640/DSC00421-1.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie and Jack Ryan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0kR3-9IuYA/TrGN69B4qtI/AAAAAAAABCY/OpToqmEywIA/s1600/DSC00425-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0kR3-9IuYA/TrGN69B4qtI/AAAAAAAABCY/OpToqmEywIA/s640/DSC00425-1.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The birthday party Addie planned...party hats, pinata, cookies...this girl knows how to party!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8307vmjeHU/TrGN7bPN4rI/AAAAAAAABCg/Bzx8BDMMEZo/s1600/DSC00426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P8307vmjeHU/TrGN7bPN4rI/AAAAAAAABCg/Bzx8BDMMEZo/s640/DSC00426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Blake's first taste of Halloween candy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWTT-pWyhGk/TrGN8dyM4eI/AAAAAAAABC0/pqbK3iq5I6I/s1600/DSC00440-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWTT-pWyhGk/TrGN8dyM4eI/AAAAAAAABC0/pqbK3iq5I6I/s640/DSC00440-1.JPG" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't forget to enter my latest giveaway <a href="http://paigefiftyone.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-and-coupon-code.html">here</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coupon code GRACE10 good through next Wednesday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/graceforgrace?ref=seller_info">Grace For Grace</a>!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1