tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83269464475946402872024-02-18T23:15:49.122-05:00Life on the HilltopUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger918125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-40467276496049746542021-10-12T14:50:00.002-05:002021-10-12T14:50:07.656-05:00 Hello!? Hello?! Is anyone out there!?<p>I haven’t posted here in ages. My life is so very different now. Dave and I are almost empty nesters with only one still living at home…sorta. I mean, she lives here but she’s also working and in nursing school so we don’t see her much. But I’m told she still loves here. </p><p>The other three are married and out of the house. </p><p>AND I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN! Sorry for yelling. But being a MiMi is so very much fun! </p><p>And on that note, I’ve started a new blog. I just couldn’t bring myself to resurrect this one. It seems like it’s from another life. </p><p>So now when I have some thoughts about some things I’ll be posting here over here at <a href="http://mimiremarks.com/2021/10/12/well-hello-there/">http://mimiremarks.com</a> </p><p>Come see me. I’ve missed y’all. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-57416146853521546302018-03-20T12:44:00.000-05:002018-03-20T12:44:10.658-05:00It's All In How You Look At It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IVflW0vp_AIjCmgVTlBJDq87rZ4AEyLDTUCB2gXKtqyjhW2x5FhNf8YGXwazx7wEqTXLycdqzjsuWCbS-F9CKs0g8apLdr67G078sKgDDrX429_jUpEK_dMuLgrPXqzaVdoGcqf3CTs/s1600/two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="601" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IVflW0vp_AIjCmgVTlBJDq87rZ4AEyLDTUCB2gXKtqyjhW2x5FhNf8YGXwazx7wEqTXLycdqzjsuWCbS-F9CKs0g8apLdr67G078sKgDDrX429_jUpEK_dMuLgrPXqzaVdoGcqf3CTs/s320/two.JPG" width="282" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been having a flair-up for a few weeks now and it's quite frustrating. I have things I'd like to accomplish and my stupid body is making it quite difficult. It's hard to keep a good attitude when every step hurts. I've had to switch to my smaller RTIC cup because I can't lift my bigger one without pain or fear of dropping it, and I’m walking around with the gait of a 90-year-old woman. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would be very easy to have a woe-is-me attitude or be angry and grumpy. (It's a constant fight. Sometimes I do lose that battle and get snippy, gripey and grumpy. Just ask my family.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It gets especially hard when I am reminded that I can feel so much better in another state. We spent last week in Arkansas where the dew point was around 17 and I felt better. I am pretty sure I walked without a limp all weak, and I lifted my big RTIC cup without thought. But now I'm back in humid Tx, with its rapidly shifting weather patterns and I'm back to much pain. It's frustrating. Feel good and be away from all my people, or live where my beloved people are and feel awful a lot of the time. Of course, I chose my people. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today, I look at the sign in my bedroom with the quote from G. K. Chesterton: <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?”</span></i> and I think on that. I am not living on the street. In fact, I live in a nice home that is air conditioned and heated appropriately. I have hot and cold running water at my fingertips and light at the flip of a switch. I have machines that wash and dry my clothes and dishes. I even have a car with seats that warm up so my bum won’t be uncomfortable on a chilly winter day, and a cold pool of clean water right outside my back door to float in when it is hot outside. These are things that could easily be taken for granted because much of America has them, but not most of the world. Why did God choose to give me these things and not a mud hut in a village in some third world country? What makes me more deserving? A big fat nothing, I can tell you. It’s simply a gift. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this is just my physical blessings. This speaks nothing of the people He has put in my life; like my amazing, giving, hard-working husband who is ever-patient with my annoying health. God not only gave me the four most amazing children in the whole wide world, who all love each other, and love the Lord, and work hard, and love well, but he added to that two amazing daughters-in-law who fit like they have always been in this family. They not only fit, but they each add in the thing that the family didn’t even know we were missing before they arrived. I have a grand baby on the way, and the thought of that fills my heart with unspeakable joy. I have an extended family, almost all near-by, who love to get together and spend time with one another. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here I sit in my recliner because my body refuses to do any of the eleventy million things that desperately need to get done today. Instead of getting angry and bitter, or down and sad, I have decided to count my blessings. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve put the happy citrus smelling oils in my diffuser, brewed up a pot of the good coffee, and chosen to count my blessings and ignore the pain. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Almost constant aching aside, I live a pretty amazing life. One that is a total gift and not one that I earned. One that I will be ever grateful for. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gifts. 2 Corinthians 9:15</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-64629845871961160892018-01-18T12:57:00.002-05:002018-01-19T13:26:37.785-05:00It Is All Bravery<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I read the following quote by Bob Goff and it got me to thinking.
It got under my skin. Frankly, it made me kind of angry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLPWn8z-7haM7ze_IH8869T-TLOiADcItHK9wM0HeyhhK_vQCi68gNphltcKGFJm_GDHEONcwIUrz3KvAZKGQ6oVq2016hYZ4bC0sOjbJCA7ww1zAxL1bdpuJpYxeGtofzBSqkdxGWjM/s1600/quote+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLPWn8z-7haM7ze_IH8869T-TLOiADcItHK9wM0HeyhhK_vQCi68gNphltcKGFJm_GDHEONcwIUrz3KvAZKGQ6oVq2016hYZ4bC0sOjbJCA7ww1zAxL1bdpuJpYxeGtofzBSqkdxGWjM/s320/quote+photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />You’re probably thinking, ‘Um, why does this bother you? It’s a
nice quote about inclusivity.’ And it is. It’s a nice thought and a true
thought. We’re all invited to the table. He IS sending us all in invitation. <br /><br />My
problem with this quote is that there is an assumption made that if you’re not
living a loud public life of sacrifice, one that takes you to places unknown, exotic
and scary, that you’re not at the party. That you’re saying ‘no’ to His invitation.
That this author or anyone other than God knows what was in that invitation
that He sends to each individual personally, frankly is kind of insulting. That’s
quite an assumption to say that those who are at the fences or in the libraries are not already having their own party. Or that God did not send someone to the
fences or to libraries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let me speak plainly: we’re not all called to be Christian rock
stars. We’re not all called to go to the ends of the earth, to dig wells so
people in rural African villages have clean water, to adopt orphan children, to
feed the homeless. We’re not all called to write books for the masses or speak
from podiums so all the world can hear. Some of us are called by our Creator to
stay home and nurture the people He has given us. To teach the ones He has entrusted
to us about Living Water. Some of us are called to support in emotional,
practical, and financial ways those He did call to adopt orphan children,
dig wells in Africa, and feed the homeless. Some of us are called to iron our husband’s
shirts so he can make the money to send with the missionaries
He has called to go to foreign countries and preach the gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Some of us are called to make friends with our literal neighbors.
To cry with them during loss, to bring them actual food. To tell them when
their dog got out. Some of us are called to go to work everyday and show our colleges who Christ is, because God loves the guy at the fire station, or at the next computer, or the guy running the saw on the job site just as much as he loves the people on the other side of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To assume that it is not an act of bravery to say yes to staying
home, to being the support, the one who works and sends money, the one who
prays, the one who ministers to their literal neighbors, the one who is not in
the limelight but instead diligently working in the shadows is insulting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A life well lived for God is not synonymous with a life lived loudly
for God. It seems our current popular Christian
culture is trying to convince us that only grand gesture Christianity is true and
honorable. But I submit that there is also so much that is honorable and noble in a
quite Christianity, a quiet service. It is not either/or. Those who are quietly
going about their work for the Lord are not lesser than those shining brightly out
in front.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif;">Doing the job God has given to you is bravery whether it’s making
someone else’s life more beautiful, hugging every child that walks through your
school’s door, making a warm meal for yout family and any friends they may bring
with them, going to another country, digging wells, inviting dignitaries for dinner,
or simply attending college classes while listening to His still small
voice telling you what your next step is so you can be used by Him to further His
kingdom. It is all right. It is all bravery if you are following His will for
you. You are attending His party. You are at His table. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-90785005213486703582018-01-02T15:03:00.001-05:002018-01-02T15:38:27.244-05:00TRUSTFor the last many years I have had a word for the year. Some
I chose, and some chose me. This year that word is 'trust', and it definitely chose
me because frankly, I don’t want it.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-fNuyEH6r-KXESoYjWJgWmxOeA1HDUgpSTV8eOGE3bfp-B4ZcPlmf2oQhU6YB_Ludep-PsxHMcDrppyKK6_5meUi81RT30S2f7x5Llk5ydDVOkbDvI-qxQESC5AVyo_QelcdusT6rmU/s1600/t1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-fNuyEH6r-KXESoYjWJgWmxOeA1HDUgpSTV8eOGE3bfp-B4ZcPlmf2oQhU6YB_Ludep-PsxHMcDrppyKK6_5meUi81RT30S2f7x5Llk5ydDVOkbDvI-qxQESC5AVyo_QelcdusT6rmU/s200/t1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As anyone who knows me will attest, I dislike change. Even
other people’s change makes me twitchy. This last 18 months I’ve <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/10/parade-of-crazy.html">experienced more change</a> than should be allowed and I’m a bit weary from it. And yet I know
there is much more coming. It is the stage of life I’m in and it cannot be
avoided no matter how much I might wish it so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkHTlGIi43JEHfmk8bserr1pSAe4IAmUE4O78-Si3phtUqIqxOBtp-ibdfXNGrCnfIIotlXafVIx3jnJ84q2VGhJc1LXJy59dGXoTungRgwBYyjjdD22eh9jFevMolFepd-Wvfzr-Ww8/s1600/t12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="549" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkHTlGIi43JEHfmk8bserr1pSAe4IAmUE4O78-Si3phtUqIqxOBtp-ibdfXNGrCnfIIotlXafVIx3jnJ84q2VGhJc1LXJy59dGXoTungRgwBYyjjdD22eh9jFevMolFepd-Wvfzr-Ww8/s200/t12.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My job over the last 26, almost 27 years, has been to be the
best wife and mother I could possible be. I stayed home with the kids. I cooked
the meals. I washed the clothes. I kept the house. I homeschooled the kids. I
taught at the co op. I drove the kids to all the things until they could drive
themselves, and then I sat up to make sure they made it home okay. I listened
and supported as my husband’s job ebbed and flowed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLbYzDZ1U0tg0ow6KxSo_nzy6VcZ4hq7ZA8au7hYmEXRh8QDv8H1jWmLqURYMQVOxO8rZcrJ6AD6ZOelCpSmCGRrZrUaJ1Uu2GOV0I6gaJ9oK8qs2VEjJWnLW2Jx917mejYc1itTlxls/s1600/t4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1000" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLbYzDZ1U0tg0ow6KxSo_nzy6VcZ4hq7ZA8au7hYmEXRh8QDv8H1jWmLqURYMQVOxO8rZcrJ6AD6ZOelCpSmCGRrZrUaJ1Uu2GOV0I6gaJ9oK8qs2VEjJWnLW2Jx917mejYc1itTlxls/s200/t4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved it. It is what I wanted to do. It made me happy. All
I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a wife and a mom. I was never ambitious.
I know that is not very PC these days, but it’s the truth. I loved every
minute. There were some hard bits, some really hard bits; I don’t want to sound
too Pollyanna. Life can be rough. But even in those hard bits, I never felt
like I should be doing something else. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKosX5VOxlDcljwfhiOxVXlFbnOnCw4TD4oCNnPHiR0G_xYLltYMouRF3UrBG66fUgumfYuBZroSKShRT5gngk_UbFv8U_sMa20YolR25pmiDtCizYeay1rqyGE2eslNgzk38xldoERBM/s1600/t5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKosX5VOxlDcljwfhiOxVXlFbnOnCw4TD4oCNnPHiR0G_xYLltYMouRF3UrBG66fUgumfYuBZroSKShRT5gngk_UbFv8U_sMa20YolR25pmiDtCizYeay1rqyGE2eslNgzk38xldoERBM/s200/t5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here I find myself after almost 27 years, in a weird
place. I’ve written about it before, this <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-in-between.html">In Between</a> place. The kids are either
off on their own or almost so. Dave is driving over an hour to work and back
every day in traffic. The time has come for a change. A move.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUbO73C1ztTDa7AXhDjv0ozYLhMfeaLDW4nRhV553NV59WG-qlLnVqxoXOXFf5urP4twm6H3jJwkQxDFPRnBD_5LB-YuhGUcKC_vb82RgstNKux1hh459AIlzDGbZoBy9M8Sbw8yuBcQ/s1600/t6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUbO73C1ztTDa7AXhDjv0ozYLhMfeaLDW4nRhV553NV59WG-qlLnVqxoXOXFf5urP4twm6H3jJwkQxDFPRnBD_5LB-YuhGUcKC_vb82RgstNKux1hh459AIlzDGbZoBy9M8Sbw8yuBcQ/s200/t6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to move closer to Dave’s job, but the kid’s lives
are here. So sometime in the next year or so we will be moving, probably to the
other side of DFW and this time, this move, will be without the kids. I can
hardly wrap my head around that. Dave and I will be choosing a home based on
what we need and want and not on how it will best fit the family. It feels so
odd. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRgh8-Q9UvSGZe1DB8Bt5Kjd_tbzmN-Z6qp1qArnm_-LL2IxXwADG1xLR9Oj8WN1AaTiMcCf70dbxAPKfEVJLdG97GdaW2bmcVsTXoH9Xf3Q7LnfmBFQEnLa_Ijz7QRqAGChl9D6MT5U/s1600/t7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRgh8-Q9UvSGZe1DB8Bt5Kjd_tbzmN-Z6qp1qArnm_-LL2IxXwADG1xLR9Oj8WN1AaTiMcCf70dbxAPKfEVJLdG97GdaW2bmcVsTXoH9Xf3Q7LnfmBFQEnLa_Ijz7QRqAGChl9D6MT5U/s200/t7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The girls may come with us on this move depending on where
we end up and what they are doing at that time, but even if they do move with us
it will only be for a little while. They are standing on the edge of the nest,
wings outstretched. They will be jumping at any moment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZFqkvjZZRIqL_6tKXbtf2N4if5_-JEwPXhXc51kc-b_RXQSgqvCNpJAQJJOWMBdGD3NBCaKIu7vsLWPXllsgNYpOMZFaJU8q_8ClWxnH5L7O4Y3YMq8hrJ6lnCVo0ISTBS6j3RdquS0/s1600/t8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="640" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZFqkvjZZRIqL_6tKXbtf2N4if5_-JEwPXhXc51kc-b_RXQSgqvCNpJAQJJOWMBdGD3NBCaKIu7vsLWPXllsgNYpOMZFaJU8q_8ClWxnH5L7O4Y3YMq8hrJ6lnCVo0ISTBS6j3RdquS0/s200/t8.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic but I just can’t seem
to get my head around what I’m supposed to do now. My health is not such that I
can jump back into a career. (I hate this fact. I hate this stupid autoimmune
disorder that causes me chronic pain so much, but it is what it is and I don’t
have the extra energy to spend fighting this reality. I have made peace with it
and I try to live within its confines to the best of my ability.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO4gM79e4SNVoMQCgOH-EbKtx8IbCvZUaFiNWgCd2D1AylGXZuJuAWiogoEJWjUCSFjcDYm12NlfV7wATpUJo5DE0EIEHoECZW2q4gUx0xpRSPKUvojjW6e8Z_8dBnIJQnR2SfHOM0Js/s1600/t9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="453" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO4gM79e4SNVoMQCgOH-EbKtx8IbCvZUaFiNWgCd2D1AylGXZuJuAWiogoEJWjUCSFjcDYm12NlfV7wATpUJo5DE0EIEHoECZW2q4gUx0xpRSPKUvojjW6e8Z_8dBnIJQnR2SfHOM0Js/s200/t9.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As 2017 came to a close with all these things swirling in my
head, I kept hearing the word ‘trust’ in my spirit. And any time I hear the
word ‘trust’ my mind immediately goes to the verse ‘Trust in the Lord with all
your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him and He will make straight your path.’ Proverbs 3:5-6<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFhyphenhyphenwzQNS0rLzXGiXsfRAroAVSB2UMOT099tEtRbo0QanYWswbgUTGf6lIPmpsfK1wMIPKgnmvuWZ19WHvP5xl442WrYI2fNASkuz0G78XokQDCLnLn6866Aau_Mw8FbJPOxd7Lkxd3Q/s1600/t10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFhyphenhyphenwzQNS0rLzXGiXsfRAroAVSB2UMOT099tEtRbo0QanYWswbgUTGf6lIPmpsfK1wMIPKgnmvuWZ19WHvP5xl442WrYI2fNASkuz0G78XokQDCLnLn6866Aau_Mw8FbJPOxd7Lkxd3Q/s200/t10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is like He is reminding me to trust Him. That just
because my kids are no longer living in my home does not make me no longer a mom. Just a different
kind of mom. My work is not finished, just changing. And the biggest thing He
is whispering to my spirit is that change is not always bad. Sometime change
can be good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jCCWAbltCOdqMtSaUl4EuN3hu6NWEWhaWhyphenhyphen_tcEPHKD3bGY6soyVJ6p3oD68epXn3_TVV_7fS8lYQGiP_pHjeb4KZqYN4ES91H03QfMeSj9cdltULcXt5jbuDrS_-vvkTw4acu62znI/s1600/t11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jCCWAbltCOdqMtSaUl4EuN3hu6NWEWhaWhyphenhyphen_tcEPHKD3bGY6soyVJ6p3oD68epXn3_TVV_7fS8lYQGiP_pHjeb4KZqYN4ES91H03QfMeSj9cdltULcXt5jbuDrS_-vvkTw4acu62znI/s200/t11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here I sit, at the beginning of 2018, Trusting God,
leaning not on my own understanding, acknowledging Him as the creator of my
world and the lover of my soul, and TRUSTING that he will make straight this
path into a strange and unknown future. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBongb2L97lqXNk791_QXg45t4K2Do58EoNOpfbQGhQ8Hj5NBeKZWhet8grr1myCTFEaXq-S3oV05QlIHF595fNs1uudr8Vb2cl5HZ2eUIjBHlinvf-TVg_OfrctSvZ3XEhYJ5ftIIb-M/s1600/t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="496" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBongb2L97lqXNk791_QXg45t4K2Do58EoNOpfbQGhQ8Hj5NBeKZWhet8grr1myCTFEaXq-S3oV05QlIHF595fNs1uudr8Vb2cl5HZ2eUIjBHlinvf-TVg_OfrctSvZ3XEhYJ5ftIIb-M/s320/t3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-27157099424852447432017-10-19T12:05:00.001-05:002017-10-19T12:05:30.329-05:00Parade of Crazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0Kr9LWx16wvboNrAcBShqKhZsDgYxG3PzlPfxolxqQgk1GmdqGBlLrSWeH1nAIeKVW6ooO7-LH5M-xaXAPq76Zo5I0YYjmaDjvh7whC2WnMHI39EF4ZZAnpgaikr0uWnuE7YsYggf6c/s1600/abc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0Kr9LWx16wvboNrAcBShqKhZsDgYxG3PzlPfxolxqQgk1GmdqGBlLrSWeH1nAIeKVW6ooO7-LH5M-xaXAPq76Zo5I0YYjmaDjvh7whC2WnMHI39EF4ZZAnpgaikr0uWnuE7YsYggf6c/s320/abc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m going to be honest with you, the last year has been
nutty. I mean, crazy-nutty. It was just one big life altering event after
another. I kept thinking, “Okay, after this life will get back to normal.” But then
another thing would hit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of these things were good things, but they were all
stress inducing. We’re now about halfway through October and I am still sitting
here staring at the walls. I’m not sad or depressed, I don’t want to alarm
anyone, I’m just worn clean out. I feel like I could crawl in my bed with a
good book and not come out </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">until Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was chatting with a friend about how exhausted I currently
feel and how frustrating it is and she pointed out some of the things that have
gone on in the last year. I started thinking about the parade of crazy the last
year has been and somehow that made me feel a little better. I mean, all
written down like that it IS a lot. (and these are just the highlights!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People keep asking me what I’m going to do with my time now
that I’m not homeschooling anymore and I have no answer for them. I mean, my
current goal is to clear off all the homeschooling materials off the
bookshelves before May, and maybe fold the basket of towels that's been sitting in front of them for who knows how long. That’s as much as I can plan right now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But looking at the following list makes me feel like a
little rest is okay, perhaps even called for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m going to grab my book now, see y’all around Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Parade Of Crazy</b><br />
<br />
September – Baby of the family starts her senior year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">October – First child gets married/moves out. Dave learns
his job is changing/moving. It’s very ambiguous and scary. Will he even have a
job next year??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">November – host family Thanksgiving for 22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">December - 2 major water leaks in bedroom part of house, Lots
of holiday parties and festivities, whole family caught the coughing cold from
the dark side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">January – Pipe burst in game room causing a giant water leak,
I undergo a major abdominal surgery <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">February – Surgery recovery. I was drugged, it’s a blur.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">March – Gunnar gets engaged, I host giant engagement party
for 80-100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">April – Senior stuff ratchets up (Show Tunes plays, Gala,
Senior Honors nights). <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/04/grief-and-could-haves-and-should-haves.html">My dad gets sick</a>, spends two weeks in the hospital,
passes away, funeral. (I had help with my dad stuff with my mom and sister, but
I was the legally responsible party for these events since I was the Power of Attorney)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May – <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-baby-graduates.html">Graduation of the baby,</a> effectively ending my 21 year
teaching career, host giant graduation party <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">June – Did we have June this year? I don’t even remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">July – family vacation to Colorado where Dave ended up in
the ER on his way home (I forced him to go practically against his will. Turns
out he was having an ocular migraine) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">August – Evelyn starts at new 4 year college, Annika starts
college <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">September – wedding prep, Gunnar moves out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">October – Gunnar and Kaytlin Get married. Dave starts new
job as boss of huge branch, 1 hour away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am really hoping that the next 12 month’s list consists of
something like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of family get togethers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holidays are celebrated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tricia cleans off her bookshelves and folds basket of towels <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s it. That’s all I want on next year’s lists. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-52706996009838119342017-09-01T11:47:00.001-05:002017-09-01T11:52:06.230-05:00We Are Houston <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
In a few days the disaster of Hurricane Harvey will be old
news and the media will move on. Before they do I challenge you to watch
closely what’s been happening down here in Tx. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfMUbWAx5DSVyFGqSLYxpleH5JHeAepnnZ9WQgjlnkFaYxa1ZKJ4TExddqMnoz_UbMGIpU4ca9P0q74bKYWpTWgkErA9H1GmrT6Pqcod_f35Rpe-E3239y9ibguDbo_lOF_zQKfEi5ro/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1316" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfMUbWAx5DSVyFGqSLYxpleH5JHeAepnnZ9WQgjlnkFaYxa1ZKJ4TExddqMnoz_UbMGIpU4ca9P0q74bKYWpTWgkErA9H1GmrT6Pqcod_f35Rpe-E3239y9ibguDbo_lOF_zQKfEi5ro/s320/blog3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Soon the media will go back to trying to convince you that
all white people are racist, white supremacist, and all black people are
criminals and thugs. They will have you believe that all Hispanics are illegal, and all Christians are hate-filled homophobes. Do not buy it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMP1-B4WKAZCFRgyL5WdyIB45loQek7ct7ZTg-V84226T2xMRsb-KfzA7vdXB5R22Y2yhARrtCaqGvS5IOcJjBttRjEU9PniCvqRp22eK6SjzhKWJqb0lul3mJz_R5aCm_W1tTQx3lPQ/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMP1-B4WKAZCFRgyL5WdyIB45loQek7ct7ZTg-V84226T2xMRsb-KfzA7vdXB5R22Y2yhARrtCaqGvS5IOcJjBttRjEU9PniCvqRp22eK6SjzhKWJqb0lul3mJz_R5aCm_W1tTQx3lPQ/s320/blog4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We may have differing opinions on things, even very important things, but when
the waters rise we’re all in the same boat. I think I can say with some
certainty that no one was asked for proof of citizenship or political affiliation
before they were allowed in the rescue boat. I’m pretty sure that no one was
denied access to a rescue chopper because they were black. Statistics would
suggest that there were probably some members of the KKK rescued by black
people. How awesome is that? That’s got to change your way of thinking. </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HqwqXSDvYWmx2FbUfiTvdum8Td8Ag_6mlvJfVGaN8pWkOCwfY7ORGcJd1T3Vi-jl6Isd3nGnAMjA3fETWvJVhk3fbkC2m3B-AdzkcO_Wynt6zq262yqFb9S7QPcckXwHvRDQI8ZErPo/s1600/Blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="640" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HqwqXSDvYWmx2FbUfiTvdum8Td8Ag_6mlvJfVGaN8pWkOCwfY7ORGcJd1T3Vi-jl6Isd3nGnAMjA3fETWvJVhk3fbkC2m3B-AdzkcO_Wynt6zq262yqFb9S7QPcckXwHvRDQI8ZErPo/s320/Blog7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw a video of a group of young black men pushing an older
while lady’s car back up out of the flood waters, the caption stating something
like “Young Black Men in Hoodies Coming to the Rescue.”</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNeIZyYwOr8oK0ras0nWVR_ECnWtKsbN6bEFPQD-PfadPZNCcZQ8cxw807pZrCZMofUC-bajVXX4K_nyIX-BYcoS2B391I36BasEe-wUJLJKCRlJYRgMQNb93qQroGIzkfCXYKsIsBYk/s1600/blog9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1024" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNeIZyYwOr8oK0ras0nWVR_ECnWtKsbN6bEFPQD-PfadPZNCcZQ8cxw807pZrCZMofUC-bajVXX4K_nyIX-BYcoS2B391I36BasEe-wUJLJKCRlJYRgMQNb93qQroGIzkfCXYKsIsBYk/s320/blog9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
It is my belief that this is the norm. This is what happens
every day on every street corner and in every grocery store and school and
church. The media does not see it because they’re too busy filming the extremists.
They would have us believe that the extreme hate-filled are everywhere and we
should look with suspension at anyone
who looks differently than we do or believes differently than we do. Do not buy it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxCzzzYcP-qENlaCU_t_8nvg2r8BW8-XdqB-FKTd01uj4QDfWYPGWC5NY4ndT6E9NtbcaEaZjz9ovsErnHCzJ7hpS-L53TVwiZttsFMpMCHckYb3RVuptBh0m3Rd6b45ebl4IhfSyiX0/s1600/blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxCzzzYcP-qENlaCU_t_8nvg2r8BW8-XdqB-FKTd01uj4QDfWYPGWC5NY4ndT6E9NtbcaEaZjz9ovsErnHCzJ7hpS-L53TVwiZttsFMpMCHckYb3RVuptBh0m3Rd6b45ebl4IhfSyiX0/s320/blog6.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
My America, my every day, is young black men in hoodies
coming to the rescue of the older white lady. My every day is a Hispanic man smiling
and talking with two silly little black girl who’d been too long in the grocery
cart, so their mom could check out. My every day is white men holding the door
for a Hispanic family. This is so much the norm that you don’t even notice it.
It’s just how we live. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgavwdL7JDsk7Blhuz-za_OCx9U1ISZojFSpGn2OmVqOJAAiW3J-2SEWbfUK3tNdjtX8Y-FXsUtzZ_hf1sNzeigF1nAGz6Cj4o9waawPaDGT1zTYD47XCc9Go8Gf9drj92lpExHesSWkM/s1600/blog8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgavwdL7JDsk7Blhuz-za_OCx9U1ISZojFSpGn2OmVqOJAAiW3J-2SEWbfUK3tNdjtX8Y-FXsUtzZ_hf1sNzeigF1nAGz6Cj4o9waawPaDGT1zTYD47XCc9Go8Gf9drj92lpExHesSWkM/s320/blog8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
My every day is sitting at the car wash with several people
who all look different than me, watching CNN while we wait and knowing by their
conversation they’re about as far from me politically as one can get, and yet
we smile at each other and pass the time talking about our children and the
weather. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayyCygf_IxcHu21tcd7Hy7WRQSulXAAjkyl1hgPOk_cOjGbVJ-OIV1D9gNZ2N2IhWW_D1SxzOHKZHgSM3v3TFjoJcn3fnfJ2zfSDVre2Zzw4WB1WM7Tk6779RhUlS0VfYZ1XSo8A-Aww/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayyCygf_IxcHu21tcd7Hy7WRQSulXAAjkyl1hgPOk_cOjGbVJ-OIV1D9gNZ2N2IhWW_D1SxzOHKZHgSM3v3TFjoJcn3fnfJ2zfSDVre2Zzw4WB1WM7Tk6779RhUlS0VfYZ1XSo8A-Aww/s320/blog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">My America is Houston. My America is the stereotyped ‘southern good ol’ boys’ rescuing a group of ‘black thugs’ and watching them hug and thank each other and smile and cry together. My America is a giant black man wading out into the water like the current didn’t even touch him, to rescue two smaller white men who were clinging to a street sign. My America is every color and ethnicity and political affiliation and gender and sexual orientation working together to rescue the elderly from a flooded nursing home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uwEIyW-6Q7xSv_XqdutX11lnFJtHnn8rrfRyDsqY469irNOa8BaN9LmpkT9iPMbEcssAoKBF6SV6xA0E_ITr041FRunkwmguVcKg8LUoACE0paj1XAQD6TtPledlJ_I9ZeYgdxtllJE/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uwEIyW-6Q7xSv_XqdutX11lnFJtHnn8rrfRyDsqY469irNOa8BaN9LmpkT9iPMbEcssAoKBF6SV6xA0E_ITr041FRunkwmguVcKg8LUoACE0paj1XAQD6TtPledlJ_I9ZeYgdxtllJE/s320/blog2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The media would have you believe that Charlottesville is the norm. Charlottesville
is not the norm. Houston is. So when life goes back to normal and the talking
heads once again show photos of hate and division, do not buy it. We are
Houston. Turn off the TV and go outside. Hold the door open for the Hispanic lady
behind you and smile. That’s the real America. </div>
<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-64362105076381693652017-07-01T12:19:00.000-05:002017-07-01T12:19:30.044-05:00The In Between<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes life moves from one phase to another so seamlessly
that you don’t even notice the change. You go from the being the house with
babies and toddlers to the house with school age kids before you even know it.
Then suddenly you look around and realize that Little Tykes, Lego, and
Playskool have been replaced by Apple, textbooks, and stinky sneakers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJzVFxz6VYcp4OgTCl1yj38F9GiH2JNWwuk_BSQHKrY6_HNl4nw3Bs6L3SnxYlUfdh2FHixgL82oQiK-ZpinVsSdTf0JxOvdiPVJVU8IxLNyzXNTgJ7XtrX5627WNBBgmwdvIBIzXEpY/s1600/1blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJzVFxz6VYcp4OgTCl1yj38F9GiH2JNWwuk_BSQHKrY6_HNl4nw3Bs6L3SnxYlUfdh2FHixgL82oQiK-ZpinVsSdTf0JxOvdiPVJVU8IxLNyzXNTgJ7XtrX5627WNBBgmwdvIBIzXEpY/s320/1blog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
So often you only notice the passage of stages once they’re
gone. The firsts are always noted; first tooth, first day of school, first
sleepover, first time driving a car, first date… You don’t, however, notice the
lasts. Eventually you start to think, when was the last time you cut up someone’s
meat? Picked up one of your children? Gave them a bath? Washed their laundry? These lasts were not marked. They were not
properly mourned. One day you picked up that last child, that last baby of the
family, for the last time. Seems like that should have been noteworthy. But it
was not. It slipped by unnoticed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Then there are times the delineation from one phase to
another is so stark that it’s jarring. How is it that that child who just
yesterday was lining up his matchbox cars all in a row is now a husband? How can it be that that child who used to
stick his pencils in the flame of the candle every time you left the room is
now a firefighter? The kid you were afraid to let drive your car is now paid a
lot of money by a city municipality to drive their million dollar firetrucks?
How is it that the baby who would give you pouty lip and watery eyes every time
you left her in the church nursery is now off to college without a backward
glance, taking care of her own business and handling her own life? How is it
that the baby of the family, the one you watched like a hawk to keep safe, that
child you spent hours in the ER with over the span of her life praying as she
fought off yet another anaphylactic reaction, is now applying to nursing school
because she wants to be the nurse in the ER instead of the patient? These
things are startling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieScy9JEdh9yrOZAtytWhZ1FbI41MzoyRGqFvIWSirtMBR5NaIDs7uNI5B73S0xStccfjEB6b5W1e3DT6MgchivECGYaIRns7CNePz_4YSrTZBY2fgOrIMiTiwrH5keR9i64tWUBR6u2A/s1600/2blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1447" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieScy9JEdh9yrOZAtytWhZ1FbI41MzoyRGqFvIWSirtMBR5NaIDs7uNI5B73S0xStccfjEB6b5W1e3DT6MgchivECGYaIRns7CNePz_4YSrTZBY2fgOrIMiTiwrH5keR9i64tWUBR6u2A/s320/2blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
In 26 years my children have gone from helpless little cherubs
to competent adults. I, however, remain the same; a little wiser hopefully, and
a littler rounder to be sure, but overall the same. The passage of these 26
years did not have such a stark a change on me. I am still the same mom who
worries when they’re not home. I’m still the mom who becomes enraged when
someone slights one of her babies. I don’t even care if they’re all technically
adults now. I will fight you. I’m the
same mom who wants to make sure they’re taking their vitamins, eating a
healthy diet, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, not
working too hard, and going to church. The difference now is that those things
are no longer my job. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTG3Mbla-6X4Raymau35YneXxU9PiZL4-aUGAuQm0lec7FAhHMDV3uPRIXe5Qz5mOK-zv_LJ31VkozZIBUCdOAJs65m6oA9My2xjLAiOUZTCbEOHQebPBTSbQWaAm7X7i2FE2mh86D04/s1600/3blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTG3Mbla-6X4Raymau35YneXxU9PiZL4-aUGAuQm0lec7FAhHMDV3uPRIXe5Qz5mOK-zv_LJ31VkozZIBUCdOAJs65m6oA9My2xjLAiOUZTCbEOHQebPBTSbQWaAm7X7i2FE2mh86D04/s320/3blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
So what is my job now? I’m not really sure. My kids used to
jokingly call me Motherboard after the character in the show CyberChase who is
described as ‘the relaxed and benevolent ruler of Cyberspace who lives in
Cyberspace Control Central’ That was me. I was the (mostly, I hope) benevolent
ruler of my control central. The center of the house. The knower of what’s for
dinner, all the phone numbers, dates on the calendar, whose turn it is to feed
the dogs, and when they last had a tetanus shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzqqaqj2qoGsCeBGqqIifbHe9Ix4soi9uTQYpkKJRqbwzhPV_Y8TlmsMTxyJEK-jCzxUznrnV1Czt26-AHSeirUPDOe2gcyKg1zi8whyZGc5L4axhpXI0krkACgNqwkv46erxJaw1G5U/s1600/4blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzqqaqj2qoGsCeBGqqIifbHe9Ix4soi9uTQYpkKJRqbwzhPV_Y8TlmsMTxyJEK-jCzxUznrnV1Czt26-AHSeirUPDOe2gcyKg1zi8whyZGc5L4axhpXI0krkACgNqwkv46erxJaw1G5U/s320/4blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I know the next phase of life will be fun. Different, but
fun. Empty nesters. Dave and I will have the ability to flit about from here to
there without an act of congress to set it all up. I won’t have to hold
everyone’s schedules in my brain, just mine and Dave’s. I assume at some point
there will be grandchildren. I can’t wait for this. I’m going to ROCK the
grandma thing. I had to teach and train and discipline my own kids. It’ll be my
kid’s and their spouse’s job to do the hard bits of parenting. Grandma just gets
to play and read the books and make the cookies. I’m going to love that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But we’re not there yet. Now we’re in the In Between. Not
quite at the foot loose and fancy free daysof the empty nesters. Not at the eat
ice cream and read books with the grandbabies phase. I’m not sure I like the In
Between phase. It’s incongruent. Happy but sad. Exciting but scary. You don’t
really have any say anymore. You have zero control. The stakes are much higher
when they make mistakes, but you can’t do it for them. You want them to go and
make their way in the world, but also not leave the nest. You want them to go serve
the Lord, but not too far away please and thank you. The job in this In Between
phase seems to be that of a cheerleader. You cheer and encourage when your team
is winning, and you cheer and encourage and silently beseech God on behalf of
your team, when they’re losing. Either way, your job is only to cheer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnHHgY0z3q2E0Tk_OJXgu-b-VOQwJjp61OC7VhS5GZ6ZNWV7IsYYSAHI3EEP9qyjqSh1jxzDDYCHaH7S5wXSJeh4M-Zd6-HIa2T7EecIL1o7Jy-bfiT37ZKc_rFgx0kriqjtovawEH1M/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnHHgY0z3q2E0Tk_OJXgu-b-VOQwJjp61OC7VhS5GZ6ZNWV7IsYYSAHI3EEP9qyjqSh1jxzDDYCHaH7S5wXSJeh4M-Zd6-HIa2T7EecIL1o7Jy-bfiT37ZKc_rFgx0kriqjtovawEH1M/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-85775578105431428822017-05-26T10:08:00.001-05:002017-05-26T20:03:07.470-05:00The Baby Graduates <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9-HT-cFcRpSpexrnouKbHb13ka5RlO2UPsm9FhNiBARGUCWwP1n3r4PhSvmGLDMtg0ohq4p2ME5caPcvzArcISZanyRun1mWYiVtwHSy4yNWYeF-QGDyS7KMB_0NlakhuxV15qZDLc8/s1600/IMG_9416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9-HT-cFcRpSpexrnouKbHb13ka5RlO2UPsm9FhNiBARGUCWwP1n3r4PhSvmGLDMtg0ohq4p2ME5caPcvzArcISZanyRun1mWYiVtwHSy4yNWYeF-QGDyS7KMB_0NlakhuxV15qZDLc8/s320/IMG_9416.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzz6ZpRE_b1HL3dy1EeKujK5L8CgHs_2I-31iuGP1yRyqthaPEnpyoM-buI1L_pQJKgBvXAflaviBIYWnmVkZ7WG9m-sa7zmecom7nsMEKM8_F8cIF4-II4CniRYg6Dc7klv63DfBfeY/s1600/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzz6ZpRE_b1HL3dy1EeKujK5L8CgHs_2I-31iuGP1yRyqthaPEnpyoM-buI1L_pQJKgBvXAflaviBIYWnmVkZ7WG9m-sa7zmecom7nsMEKM8_F8cIF4-II4CniRYg6Dc7klv63DfBfeY/s320/1a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hardly know where to start with this post. So many things are all wrapped up in Annika graduating high school. On the surface, it’s just a child graduating, a milestone to be sure. She was my child who loved school. Okay, not the academic part, she did fine there, but she loved the social aspect. She loved our homeschool co op. She loved her friends there and was a part of everything she could possibly be. If they’d had a cheerleading squad she’d have been on it. She has been at this co op from the beginning, starting at Kindergarten. She knew all the teachers, moms, and had many, many friends. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdaG_PgKsDSfikPawklQLryYqGvmK9wEBXIl5eh9MGU24Ov1Ec0-v58E0cp9n27AEONjKYkzBMnsbxvsH-Gt5zPi0iMqiL_IGqVnhV-ACnpUZp6rsSJwVqypH-vsELM4QC8Az_KPHek8/s1600/18582493_962207643922116_1453040324149600552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdaG_PgKsDSfikPawklQLryYqGvmK9wEBXIl5eh9MGU24Ov1Ec0-v58E0cp9n27AEONjKYkzBMnsbxvsH-Gt5zPi0iMqiL_IGqVnhV-ACnpUZp6rsSJwVqypH-vsELM4QC8Az_KPHek8/s320/18582493_962207643922116_1453040324149600552_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was fun watching her go through high school. It was a very joy filled experience for her. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T_mX7Mq3jtv0iy46T6xxCYyfoMG8vCrqqyry39mb6KRx-1SAil2SKYjB4VbJWnx0qpbQAgqZBY9iQLMRg9QtL6B0fyTYqh5TF4UqhyphenhypheniqaHyXCqHIeC1hIqYBVAn5TYAViTFvMq-Dem8/s1600/4080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4T_mX7Mq3jtv0iy46T6xxCYyfoMG8vCrqqyry39mb6KRx-1SAil2SKYjB4VbJWnx0qpbQAgqZBY9iQLMRg9QtL6B0fyTYqh5TF4UqhyphenhypheniqaHyXCqHIeC1hIqYBVAn5TYAViTFvMq-Dem8/s320/4080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaewcik2kxLk8uS2rdaIQrSRrWpUe9PGTHkSGQ6ZEs2JlJ_YBQS69S16-4ErX11x8xIR5Lg4ENkZ0rVZWk_gaa-dd7fVJrK7X7Bo6dUM62oGARX4dDGkAml4gPbxKSnhFHdpxryjMQDE/s1600/330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaewcik2kxLk8uS2rdaIQrSRrWpUe9PGTHkSGQ6ZEs2JlJ_YBQS69S16-4ErX11x8xIR5Lg4ENkZ0rVZWk_gaa-dd7fVJrK7X7Bo6dUM62oGARX4dDGkAml4gPbxKSnhFHdpxryjMQDE/s320/330.jpg" width="294" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5nL0FShxTi8ooytlJpcsVesQilTUpNHEqyIPjJZyagBeVRrytmludkpBZhyphenhyphens3EYqHs5QjINdtkJ-dpyypRI9OdyRiNwj8qvO7V982ed2gRhzI7xMkAPwoevBPThGiqsHrZro8DvRIAU/s1600/150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5nL0FShxTi8ooytlJpcsVesQilTUpNHEqyIPjJZyagBeVRrytmludkpBZhyphenhyphens3EYqHs5QjINdtkJ-dpyypRI9OdyRiNwj8qvO7V982ed2gRhzI7xMkAPwoevBPThGiqsHrZro8DvRIAU/s320/150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz-mltP707vXnmxFy7VfRnW4FFpHkZXL2d8IXYhG6iiOFoVcZFG-Z8MqwnZpKBptzKSQEW5kkZtXSdD5vp6VVXr_cIq533nH6z-N7Rqt_DJh5n69LzeTOYUbaU7g_WeJddygVLvIRC5E/s1600/850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz-mltP707vXnmxFy7VfRnW4FFpHkZXL2d8IXYhG6iiOFoVcZFG-Z8MqwnZpKBptzKSQEW5kkZtXSdD5vp6VVXr_cIq533nH6z-N7Rqt_DJh5n69LzeTOYUbaU7g_WeJddygVLvIRC5E/s320/850.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0g4M6USCmkEZG9OGLIj63Xv8aZNqSEDoFPQSSOBSRSt4Ucf8Tt_29duykbHVckA3ssfF3UwBotEihUwAOKMFdz9T_lOcNldHv6HMPI2h00e3Aope_bCjVVJ3KvTRWJsfX665dzbdVK4/s1600/120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0g4M6USCmkEZG9OGLIj63Xv8aZNqSEDoFPQSSOBSRSt4Ucf8Tt_29duykbHVckA3ssfF3UwBotEihUwAOKMFdz9T_lOcNldHv6HMPI2h00e3Aope_bCjVVJ3KvTRWJsfX665dzbdVK4/s320/120.jpg" width="258" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A29e4tMd2xfkLgzPuZemO6S_oW37fZkpdhr7BNCNOifCRqVDJbZc1l2hn534gIirb4XafCHaO0uyYD6MNBHhPbT_xaF-L52alhs7b1NrUFefzhF5RyfzFTy9xgjChZ7DuHy7YPGE9rU/s1600/870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A29e4tMd2xfkLgzPuZemO6S_oW37fZkpdhr7BNCNOifCRqVDJbZc1l2hn534gIirb4XafCHaO0uyYD6MNBHhPbT_xaF-L52alhs7b1NrUFefzhF5RyfzFTy9xgjChZ7DuHy7YPGE9rU/s320/870.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiILO5sP3HfebBJ2wa4Eww5k-dgRe2nv_OPUICGpIqJH_5f5yusksVq8nfSfpFBryw4hyxXEgQoXxrvyZPJ8zi1BnXhCTt2WUWWLVj2mgAeMGxk1IXrswePjyiSZICfW9G7W7NvmAYIjg/s1600/4040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiILO5sP3HfebBJ2wa4Eww5k-dgRe2nv_OPUICGpIqJH_5f5yusksVq8nfSfpFBryw4hyxXEgQoXxrvyZPJ8zi1BnXhCTt2WUWWLVj2mgAeMGxk1IXrswePjyiSZICfW9G7W7NvmAYIjg/s320/4040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bN2Da4XyU7oudH8NZ_gjw-qLZdl7TgkdVzx4lsPYIjesW9-K7vzbIrcvM44tLen9TxYrgan69N5NCOZuyNs1lg39XkKcICLo6emOPNMSKznPtlPLLTvdSyyWQbQpGbYKdWfyocHMoxw/s1600/1300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bN2Da4XyU7oudH8NZ_gjw-qLZdl7TgkdVzx4lsPYIjesW9-K7vzbIrcvM44tLen9TxYrgan69N5NCOZuyNs1lg39XkKcICLo6emOPNMSKznPtlPLLTvdSyyWQbQpGbYKdWfyocHMoxw/s320/1300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The graduation ceremony was last Saturday. Her twin cousins also graduated with her. They also were in this co op for most of their schooling years. These three were a force to be reckoned with. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienUDUGE0puW6jt9dKhaCg_JIiOg8klWCMuOuBY9Kc4Gu86_t5yE9e32HXEmoz5B2EDgF8dKeYQtxzznSJNGXE5xCoNFF7rT1Cc78UydnrolVUmCxMOdruAtIbxgRz9oVQkZevSW8WFiA/s1600/18620378_10155831054014796_1647889100519283553_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="960" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienUDUGE0puW6jt9dKhaCg_JIiOg8klWCMuOuBY9Kc4Gu86_t5yE9e32HXEmoz5B2EDgF8dKeYQtxzznSJNGXE5xCoNFF7rT1Cc78UydnrolVUmCxMOdruAtIbxgRz9oVQkZevSW8WFiA/s320/18620378_10155831054014796_1647889100519283553_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_THNmilt-cLJuoD5skL4ja6UvoKRMd_dDWm7bGTKacrzKqS24z5LDchmIaECzCUktTjrAu4ce78CFXvbonocsMfPba6gSK0WCnynBEiCmyT8OJQDt12pOphL1cz7a5G_NkWh-Tx4EBHQ/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_THNmilt-cLJuoD5skL4ja6UvoKRMd_dDWm7bGTKacrzKqS24z5LDchmIaECzCUktTjrAu4ce78CFXvbonocsMfPba6gSK0WCnynBEiCmyT8OJQDt12pOphL1cz7a5G_NkWh-Tx4EBHQ/s320/40.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27rYuZ-v6_O0xulW7DUB0r0tzF29kpehegiruHHXbdvNNJ0YzG4DblWAw78Q_1-4cYohSMXTQpz5IDyH-zxHRq5JcKP5iq1ieENPKt36ZdSAlqDwpMFe7HzHOfjqyhAj5k4tB6CUFM_Y/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27rYuZ-v6_O0xulW7DUB0r0tzF29kpehegiruHHXbdvNNJ0YzG4DblWAw78Q_1-4cYohSMXTQpz5IDyH-zxHRq5JcKP5iq1ieENPKt36ZdSAlqDwpMFe7HzHOfjqyhAj5k4tB6CUFM_Y/s320/12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ceremony was nice. It was the co op’s largest graduating class yet at 40. These kids are pretty amazing and oh so smart. The amount of scholarship money awarded to the kids on this stage would blow your mind. (*Brag alert! My nephews are at the top of that list!!!). But they are also a very talented class! There are singers, musicians, actresses, dancers, world class athletes, and the list goes on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0bN096ThMVgbCYmjKLBlaXr1Q1FiQUNOIO5oNB3D7Zm6cr9AKmaccSFBVxHXnHaqojOjGB7xMixXlE3_ewYYAFC8Izb7woanA_9G7FW6BLLW4cWibEXsZrx4EwGTHZjcxrLPrVL65Q0/s1600/IMG_9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0bN096ThMVgbCYmjKLBlaXr1Q1FiQUNOIO5oNB3D7Zm6cr9AKmaccSFBVxHXnHaqojOjGB7xMixXlE3_ewYYAFC8Izb7woanA_9G7FW6BLLW4cWibEXsZrx4EwGTHZjcxrLPrVL65Q0/s320/IMG_9371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the graduation there is a reception where the students get to set up a table. This was Annika’s. She said she wanted a pink, sparkly table cloth so I found the pinkest sparkliest table cloth in existence. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhV16Kog5_tdj4yvZMEuMpOlax61lvflYdIp6WZBvzAqjEpvUK0TxuUyRM7JoYFGtkO8i1Pt03J5qWpCxjobsjClLuN49EyHjZ-HETIy7jyk26vW6SERIcrwFyvf5kRPvUCj5pOxYY_0/s1600/18581464_10155827134284796_2203742801633938439_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhV16Kog5_tdj4yvZMEuMpOlax61lvflYdIp6WZBvzAqjEpvUK0TxuUyRM7JoYFGtkO8i1Pt03J5qWpCxjobsjClLuN49EyHjZ-HETIy7jyk26vW6SERIcrwFyvf5kRPvUCj5pOxYY_0/s320/18581464_10155827134284796_2203742801633938439_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2099q-bEh4oiiEH7K7n8Is2fdZDsumpDB-luAEraziS_UPefm1LTs1E3feZEZYPS1xBNCMzY4NyGTJn2nz7r0KjYnlkRf6I_nvgZS-ai91MKP6U7I1bSp6W8Chm0S26u2KaqVJYUlYtM/s1600/18620313_10155824742879796_7109860645422262538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2099q-bEh4oiiEH7K7n8Is2fdZDsumpDB-luAEraziS_UPefm1LTs1E3feZEZYPS1xBNCMzY4NyGTJn2nz7r0KjYnlkRf6I_nvgZS-ai91MKP6U7I1bSp6W8Chm0S26u2KaqVJYUlYtM/s320/18620313_10155824742879796_7109860645422262538_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoXxIwfQZ7oR1B8VNw05eYRYW1EpgQlKSy2hlaPeO208xbEJbztl-wvi2JGkcm2wYw5zSCR1b-3dzNJnbiiIA7t43lmAbvNlLjXpr6Yg3A4eVBn2WBySJr2dopbvcnqSSH-54c1I6IXE/s1600/18581857_10155831064624796_4530969273532620183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoXxIwfQZ7oR1B8VNw05eYRYW1EpgQlKSy2hlaPeO208xbEJbztl-wvi2JGkcm2wYw5zSCR1b-3dzNJnbiiIA7t43lmAbvNlLjXpr6Yg3A4eVBn2WBySJr2dopbvcnqSSH-54c1I6IXE/s320/18581857_10155831064624796_4530969273532620183_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyUlXt6hvfrMkDRpJFjjNW9DQJr9dMaVqwP3AEwUkIUy72-QdmhjgTWXYqSCMWpwbd_loCVHHgDHiql8eHXftw8uk1O5APb6yHioYoy3kqbU2hhUSkMo7INPgWWM8Tnl_6_CvXszWEqk/s1600/82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyUlXt6hvfrMkDRpJFjjNW9DQJr9dMaVqwP3AEwUkIUy72-QdmhjgTWXYqSCMWpwbd_loCVHHgDHiql8eHXftw8uk1O5APb6yHioYoy3kqbU2hhUSkMo7INPgWWM8Tnl_6_CvXszWEqk/s320/82.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This table is so her. It represented her biggest joys in from high school. She loves to sing and has been on the worship team in her youth group all of high school. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1ohnyFVbKq-IQZyTX0aheR3SJ1Ivz5seknayDhPSyHYHNIvBeFr0bc_66CMQpO46TxLM7tVwjjJzJtq9fF6pDpUo578fdfuUvFuu5cbs0G42WtACgIMlU4voyC1og1CT_E3IJ8p0D8/s1600/1090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1ohnyFVbKq-IQZyTX0aheR3SJ1Ivz5seknayDhPSyHYHNIvBeFr0bc_66CMQpO46TxLM7tVwjjJzJtq9fF6pDpUo578fdfuUvFuu5cbs0G42WtACgIMlU4voyC1og1CT_E3IJ8p0D8/s320/1090.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZecIAP49jDTwZA9e6dvyIfqHZ81tzyUEY6nZKN5MM5U6QKkv7IJtTbzky280sZkgPbihSUZfw0UWejtUJHPrhiOVP1ilaj238pKDm9_Pg4N4fq0FWIVQyhEjaQNBQj7Adg7z7vFupU/s1600/1360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZecIAP49jDTwZA9e6dvyIfqHZ81tzyUEY6nZKN5MM5U6QKkv7IJtTbzky280sZkgPbihSUZfw0UWejtUJHPrhiOVP1ilaj238pKDm9_Pg4N4fq0FWIVQyhEjaQNBQj7Adg7z7vFupU/s320/1360.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-5VjIjQkWMy32sxsb1IG40JAn2HN0baHztBfh7wkTp0Ny-VWw3p1_pQDmlNbI6VryX6Xm2lxXo02VlJs1cnymgtkVeAOCdU7GuSyot7kUEC3DhEawEKth-bXG9uUiN9Zu0cZ9zmwuC4/s1600/17342959_922012087941672_2701936588388242937_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-5VjIjQkWMy32sxsb1IG40JAn2HN0baHztBfh7wkTp0Ny-VWw3p1_pQDmlNbI6VryX6Xm2lxXo02VlJs1cnymgtkVeAOCdU7GuSyot7kUEC3DhEawEKth-bXG9uUiN9Zu0cZ9zmwuC4/s320/17342959_922012087941672_2701936588388242937_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjv6YnUtMipieJGqjBNS5ASy_IGA4XY5SfV8GdpYrHuhNfACT4Wgqbo_tVxCUo4PyuqWZ-Xv9XV-BHjsHbmzw9XygvUZ4-TdzT9LRUOLDdpj8zPmNlY4tYXjES-77hvI3Llpxo4aDkhmk/s1600/140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjv6YnUtMipieJGqjBNS5ASy_IGA4XY5SfV8GdpYrHuhNfACT4Wgqbo_tVxCUo4PyuqWZ-Xv9XV-BHjsHbmzw9XygvUZ4-TdzT9LRUOLDdpj8zPmNlY4tYXjES-77hvI3Llpxo4aDkhmk/s320/140.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She works as a lifeguard at a nearby Baptist camp in the summers along with many of her friends. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug4xqcCqFkElo8IxV30U4gFY9Bw9-cPqG6NWbSiCXO-nZl-7RJXzMmRQBQ8Z9CeIXjgs-ds6zxEe1Bj8dkgv_2KkJf3UP-oho0N9YcL_nn2246yVfwBeVF2vZbpUT36G0wWE_WL3Km3A/s1600/15355612_857008017775413_4938756042939062771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug4xqcCqFkElo8IxV30U4gFY9Bw9-cPqG6NWbSiCXO-nZl-7RJXzMmRQBQ8Z9CeIXjgs-ds6zxEe1Bj8dkgv_2KkJf3UP-oho0N9YcL_nn2246yVfwBeVF2vZbpUT36G0wWE_WL3Km3A/s320/15355612_857008017775413_4938756042939062771_n.jpg" width="242" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShrFNfFsws5o_EX8iuWpz2TGu1Yz4uzmJvkrGYZMCET9NmHgavt08Odw2F6A2p8DzHkvYYVKY50JVpNw9jzAszOWkgLF2GQ8fdUEODro6zapBYK-_DqDqxhRlovxK1D3T5wARjIOffwE/s1600/70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShrFNfFsws5o_EX8iuWpz2TGu1Yz4uzmJvkrGYZMCET9NmHgavt08Odw2F6A2p8DzHkvYYVKY50JVpNw9jzAszOWkgLF2GQ8fdUEODro6zapBYK-_DqDqxhRlovxK1D3T5wARjIOffwE/s320/70.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But mostly, she’s all about relationships. She loves her friends fiercely. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoetstUVkG_1JgFTPpe63b_f0d2ZGhh-Rb6HF22r5FAp5CZRfW7h8qFP12QC2QDtEWnONvda7y4bhis3MPLQCef7o_9YOVmdfqWSI0AjRFhnYPMf-iMCVSnUAfkv_0SKKDYs9cZFoi5k/s1600/10+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="627" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoetstUVkG_1JgFTPpe63b_f0d2ZGhh-Rb6HF22r5FAp5CZRfW7h8qFP12QC2QDtEWnONvda7y4bhis3MPLQCef7o_9YOVmdfqWSI0AjRFhnYPMf-iMCVSnUAfkv_0SKKDYs9cZFoi5k/s320/10+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk8xD-e9rbJyJ4dGYRb04H9qSwLAc25C8-pcxiXCXj-iuyYJyaRQ3lMT8ginPNgrqerbg0DU5aXHRSvCcIL2LytKAhocdnp1pR9S1nHz9hpb39mT8TevmvmNiexUwL0mAG4u_NztWspI/s1600/14611100_1754617458122390_6452466424037489302_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk8xD-e9rbJyJ4dGYRb04H9qSwLAc25C8-pcxiXCXj-iuyYJyaRQ3lMT8ginPNgrqerbg0DU5aXHRSvCcIL2LytKAhocdnp1pR9S1nHz9hpb39mT8TevmvmNiexUwL0mAG4u_NztWspI/s320/14611100_1754617458122390_6452466424037489302_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRELJhwTjYomMBfL-MeCOrdX5tX3-rKYtpkKyj8SefpTXJNtKQm4fImJ5fnZvgStkL3Y4SN1kN20GJ_K9j8LJ84O4_kbr9aMk9OdZ33S2hVsSLsdyxscDj6wJiiqtWZF6zzk5xhrKlC8E/s1600/IMG_5141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRELJhwTjYomMBfL-MeCOrdX5tX3-rKYtpkKyj8SefpTXJNtKQm4fImJ5fnZvgStkL3Y4SN1kN20GJ_K9j8LJ84O4_kbr9aMk9OdZ33S2hVsSLsdyxscDj6wJiiqtWZF6zzk5xhrKlC8E/s320/IMG_5141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxANLfBvvqnSNYyrGM1TlCOR-HpBVhEFUAJkb0Bzs-n_pemvp_pvQNTdkz1MW0vah5tKn9Q3y6fca-WoSFoNs2x-5w5yvrE2i1Ktna2f7nVC1YwjVT_c3SeV-HKZK4L9fmmnAc2iV-fAY/s1600/80.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="640" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxANLfBvvqnSNYyrGM1TlCOR-HpBVhEFUAJkb0Bzs-n_pemvp_pvQNTdkz1MW0vah5tKn9Q3y6fca-WoSFoNs2x-5w5yvrE2i1Ktna2f7nVC1YwjVT_c3SeV-HKZK4L9fmmnAc2iV-fAY/s320/80.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGYcbF737ybwSm0w3rhdV6qTpUgiZCZcueaXvpK-pYbJ0WARr5rATFfJq_ZVch7M9DNGXiItSG4d0BNzpT_EjSYOrDcj9zgj6SP07t0yRqSJpkgz_yKopImqGzkojKqwVZOF8uPrBoDs/s1600/1410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGYcbF737ybwSm0w3rhdV6qTpUgiZCZcueaXvpK-pYbJ0WARr5rATFfJq_ZVch7M9DNGXiItSG4d0BNzpT_EjSYOrDcj9zgj6SP07t0yRqSJpkgz_yKopImqGzkojKqwVZOF8uPrBoDs/s320/1410.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PB_pdZPV-dw2YrrxS5E0UyP8Qaf_PHaG7MiZqSgf45EOOQtGAyisw4Q55EHS2HiCJgr3nKpOQiEpuDmZxwH57JP0YeFeIxBoRwQNDjCZrzV81lwHPWsSzCnyRwxFTTludzuTGu-O3ok/s1600/IMG_5132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PB_pdZPV-dw2YrrxS5E0UyP8Qaf_PHaG7MiZqSgf45EOOQtGAyisw4Q55EHS2HiCJgr3nKpOQiEpuDmZxwH57JP0YeFeIxBoRwQNDjCZrzV81lwHPWsSzCnyRwxFTTludzuTGu-O3ok/s320/IMG_5132.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zgBx2F67IrQSLbRmaLS5BBxOlxOmkxjmtDcDhaEf-vMiaAoTLhe-1TqpvldCf5KCZBmbUZ9LKQncypLCnCiUJqyQkcFfRaqeRaL9ge3LT1xilWDP3IGkwcWFy50OevE8a9xZahPcIVg/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zgBx2F67IrQSLbRmaLS5BBxOlxOmkxjmtDcDhaEf-vMiaAoTLhe-1TqpvldCf5KCZBmbUZ9LKQncypLCnCiUJqyQkcFfRaqeRaL9ge3LT1xilWDP3IGkwcWFy50OevE8a9xZahPcIVg/s320/IMG_5128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the reception we moved the party to our house. We had one giant bash for all three kids. There was ping pong, lots and lots and lots of food, my sister-in-law’s famous pies, and great fellowship. One of my favorite things to do at these grad parties is to have a time of prayer and blessing for the graduates. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0flPHzYHyX0Ud46Mggj1Oxc-0-AcTs4VtcfcXwgmXMWxS8wTTClHM4I0_Dcb2-4MBkMNa0LCYjJfC1w-IJDm1nXWP_Skq1bZS2I0xtDiK30ORXNKq0VPQcPrAHw0swktvFhmbOij-obs/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0flPHzYHyX0Ud46Mggj1Oxc-0-AcTs4VtcfcXwgmXMWxS8wTTClHM4I0_Dcb2-4MBkMNa0LCYjJfC1w-IJDm1nXWP_Skq1bZS2I0xtDiK30ORXNKq0VPQcPrAHw0swktvFhmbOij-obs/s320/46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is such a special time as their parents, grandparents, youth leaders, teachers, and friends all pray over the graduates. It’s a wonderful time and I think it is a lasting memory for these kids, it helps them remember how much they were poured into. How much they are loved. How much they’ve been taught. How much they have to offer this world because of the rich heritage they were given in their growing up years. It is a reminder to, as my husband likes to say, ‘use your powers for good.’ These kids have such power. They have the power to go out and change the world. They have the power to spread joy and light. They have the power to outwardly represent Christ. They have all the knowledge, tools, and support they need. They’ve been abundantly blessed, now it’s time for them to go out and be a blessing. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8W8CwIo4P2oskFdZAJ2a6RgC72CuW2ODuZD1GVmiqPw5pxeQSy6cUps3wwmeSqtXCg0GWiHbGL6TWiRSVIrPxBEFKU11xiDDtOh7NcNdEbDTQqGEBogeen4L27gCgeYWO-S3W6aPUo0/s1600/51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8W8CwIo4P2oskFdZAJ2a6RgC72CuW2ODuZD1GVmiqPw5pxeQSy6cUps3wwmeSqtXCg0GWiHbGL6TWiRSVIrPxBEFKU11xiDDtOh7NcNdEbDTQqGEBogeen4L27gCgeYWO-S3W6aPUo0/s320/51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sqZ3zYsUP2vpZC4vuokFrWQumrIH21TUkQfFjOume1tZi-gYzLo55syaywX_a2MgmPv2s93SKIlZUH6E4CoZRPfBvlvuoKBnw16siNrPKkfE4uxR1QD1jBPEDp7Nr_Rnii3bn0C9l2Q/s1600/71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sqZ3zYsUP2vpZC4vuokFrWQumrIH21TUkQfFjOume1tZi-gYzLo55syaywX_a2MgmPv2s93SKIlZUH6E4CoZRPfBvlvuoKBnw16siNrPKkfE4uxR1QD1jBPEDp7Nr_Rnii3bn0C9l2Q/s320/71.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsj9wIlyVutmhhE08287kK5vl8OFykzFvJYY0L1brMLga-ePMeHINq_JbBguPrrLYj6Akq2NUlmML0FU37bxEdj2OIGwKTKrpTOrvz2pNAC5WpOcgj2c-mngYogPhWUYIbOlmi9PTLOU/s1600/76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsj9wIlyVutmhhE08287kK5vl8OFykzFvJYY0L1brMLga-ePMeHINq_JbBguPrrLYj6Akq2NUlmML0FU37bxEdj2OIGwKTKrpTOrvz2pNAC5WpOcgj2c-mngYogPhWUYIbOlmi9PTLOU/s320/76.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These three have grown up together. They’ve been at the same co op, they’ve been in the same youth group at church, they’ve been in the same town all their lives and now they’re going their separate ways. It’s going to be an odd year next year. I hate endings but I guess sometimes you have to have endings so you can have new beginnings. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aeBRTNBaxXxXg8cxNS9JCvWeU2Oy0VHVIPwIFuzVC1SZN1IMBEaM7ZkzUwhYcTGrOvFW-NrpDoWEISIVJxT5yNavIVa7YlqLJAOGpE8JLCCj-uvrzwfzy6LNBgeCLgNbHbPEsW3_Za0/s1600/1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aeBRTNBaxXxXg8cxNS9JCvWeU2Oy0VHVIPwIFuzVC1SZN1IMBEaM7ZkzUwhYcTGrOvFW-NrpDoWEISIVJxT5yNavIVa7YlqLJAOGpE8JLCCj-uvrzwfzy6LNBgeCLgNbHbPEsW3_Za0/s320/1220.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tLlQKK_XBCkPX2N95LSiQqj6QsTjHd-KsiO0ZrF1tmu6aYsuUNuV0Wu_q9-pqcMeYNrCKmx231UmXY9laU_IH3MZSzYlgCifO1TShShgh0aXP_glg3eudT8nn5Pjn_CoAdpUS77F_TY/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tLlQKK_XBCkPX2N95LSiQqj6QsTjHd-KsiO0ZrF1tmu6aYsuUNuV0Wu_q9-pqcMeYNrCKmx231UmXY9laU_IH3MZSzYlgCifO1TShShgh0aXP_glg3eudT8nn5Pjn_CoAdpUS77F_TY/s320/21.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These three are going to soar. They’re going to do great and amazing things. I am so excited to see where life leads them. I have been so very blessed to be called mom and auntie by these graduates. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am very happy to report that while life is changing around here in that I am now retired from homeschooling (My feelings on that will take another post altogether.) my girly is not going away. Because we live in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area there are several really good nursing schools within driving distance so she is able to continue living at home while she attends nursing school (her older sister is also doing college from home). </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXaoBNaQXvA7h90rL2JJBm_I8JoYmjqbzTJUXpjw8ymQssqFJV_tB7_DSqOXugDRfeMunFEcfZJVxBD-tv_LIxtXQNffKaiJeVB7QbL3jyceFOm92OK14VvIz0WRfbtW_ko2QhPZl6o/s1600/90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXaoBNaQXvA7h90rL2JJBm_I8JoYmjqbzTJUXpjw8ymQssqFJV_tB7_DSqOXugDRfeMunFEcfZJVxBD-tv_LIxtXQNffKaiJeVB7QbL3jyceFOm92OK14VvIz0WRfbtW_ko2QhPZl6o/s320/90.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This has a lot of benefits, not the least of which is money. We are trying to get these kids through college with as little debt burden on them as possible. Living at home is a good way to do that. Also I think God is just being merciful to me and allowing the process of my kids flying from the nest to be more gradual. They’re college students so I don’t really ‘parent’ them anymore, though I’m here if I’m needed, but I do get to see them regularly and I am grateful for that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4FmkeL-z6f15QA14zXHeoDu8wTv42nmoLN8Noj8HscNkmez-4-TBvd_gMDSv-3bOyqJ4fFaA3s-1Zgh5SniwHJnn-7GrnTzbOadgZvXVL_HE3nqbVaD5FABO_HNNuJNnRnsGpKAIiIM/s1600/Annika+Senior+2017-118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4FmkeL-z6f15QA14zXHeoDu8wTv42nmoLN8Noj8HscNkmez-4-TBvd_gMDSv-3bOyqJ4fFaA3s-1Zgh5SniwHJnn-7GrnTzbOadgZvXVL_HE3nqbVaD5FABO_HNNuJNnRnsGpKAIiIM/s320/Annika+Senior+2017-118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This girl, y’all. She kept me on my toes. She has always been so full of life. She never does anything half way. She was the child I had to constantly watch because her zest for life, her curiosity, and her undying friendliness got her into a lot of trouble. I can’t count how many times she climbed up on things just to see what was up there, or walked up to complete strangers and struck up a conversation. She would run pell-mell right into trouble and do it smiling and happy. That was the thing with young Annika, she was not a naughty child, she was just so happy to be alive and wanted to experience everything life had to offer. She was also unwaveringly optimistic. She just couldn’t believe there were really bad people, or that anything bad could happen if she say, hung her scooter from a tree with ropes and tried to hang upside from the handlebars while it was swinging… She lived on the bright side of life and was always so shocked with things did not go her sunshiny way. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CM2e5sHmX8CBjo3-cVyTlT3lNrziBgJ5HR_m5Xye3hvgZToYYq3OAyGzEbeofAjMnbTFU9U8j6rmiMgsBSK91pBOG2fEWgsiZhrJNSWSQo1hFoK5jIGUmopKVY9WQH33CRHbC0qMBiU/s1600/Annika+Senior+2017-147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CM2e5sHmX8CBjo3-cVyTlT3lNrziBgJ5HR_m5Xye3hvgZToYYq3OAyGzEbeofAjMnbTFU9U8j6rmiMgsBSK91pBOG2fEWgsiZhrJNSWSQo1hFoK5jIGUmopKVY9WQH33CRHbC0qMBiU/s320/Annika+Senior+2017-147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While these attributes gave me grey hair and made me despair of her even surviving childhood, they are going to serve her well in life. She wants to be an ER nurse and I’m telling you right now, if you are in the ER and this little bit of sunshine walks into your room, you’re going to get better simply by the force of her happy will. She will have it no other way. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WzbhN5sbYryNnxE3zCK2UL7ahjIFPd4RpIprtct182HPR0uoH0K_JkB9r44rcElkFXR8LTc6Ebef9tq_ZOLqmzhIg5xCr23AhEtzSosWkuqFCN28aUa_L9RrcH9w_YaE6ZeDWqXD1ik/s1600/Annika+Senior+2017-170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WzbhN5sbYryNnxE3zCK2UL7ahjIFPd4RpIprtct182HPR0uoH0K_JkB9r44rcElkFXR8LTc6Ebef9tq_ZOLqmzhIg5xCr23AhEtzSosWkuqFCN28aUa_L9RrcH9w_YaE6ZeDWqXD1ik/s320/Annika+Senior+2017-170.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being Annika’s mom for these last 18 years, as well as her teacher, has been my joy. She made me a better person. I would prefer not to release her out into the world and keep her for my own self. I’d like to go back in time and start over (maybe this time I’d figure out a way to keep her from playing in the neighbors bird bath every dang day). But life does not allow do-overs no matter how much we might wish it so. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dUqIOAm5p5JWSK-k4xulLfkb0ZMFB-Rez7ATJ4VdU6fxxJgoQi5AySszELoeruR_LfnI_3MKMqwlzb9V4gafCspaUr81EeCQDjWlU2VxpJGAQ6Cmdsxaahgx16jMci4AgZNDHGR6hAw/s1600/5090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dUqIOAm5p5JWSK-k4xulLfkb0ZMFB-Rez7ATJ4VdU6fxxJgoQi5AySszELoeruR_LfnI_3MKMqwlzb9V4gafCspaUr81EeCQDjWlU2VxpJGAQ6Cmdsxaahgx16jMci4AgZNDHGR6hAw/s320/5090.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You’re going to go far, my last little bird. Just don’t forget where the nest is! </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-89769494891100976872017-05-22T10:25:00.001-05:002017-05-22T10:36:08.288-05:00The Head, It’s Still Spinning…<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This school year has been one of the nuttiest on record, and I only
had ONE STUDENT. </span><a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-head-it-spins.html" style="font-family: Candara, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pop over here to read about the crazy…</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s the list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">August/September: School starts during lots of wedding planning and
parties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">October: WEDDING!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">November: Host Thanksgiving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">December: Hot water heater disaster, and so much Christmasing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">January: Horrid colds for the whole family, surgery for me, pipe
burst causing water disaster #2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">February: Surgery recovery for me while we fix and put the game
room back together from water disaster #2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March: Gunnar and Kaytlin get engaged, HUGE party at my house. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mentioned in that last blog post that things should slow down a
bit and I just had to do the end of year senior stuff. Yeah. God laughed at that
and threw me a curve ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbydq6pzxAba4fPcjGsd7wU3k6EsKoF6NeatXLMzSOFv9jCDxtgDMS12g9CMgwlqqtIhtkhM9kSOn2bMZ4ea8IQnpZTvcDL5649k-QMi5AGsZP0ei-hfnK6bMwD_J608gJAM1bAyP_9XE/s1600/4230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbydq6pzxAba4fPcjGsd7wU3k6EsKoF6NeatXLMzSOFv9jCDxtgDMS12g9CMgwlqqtIhtkhM9kSOn2bMZ4ea8IQnpZTvcDL5649k-QMi5AGsZP0ei-hfnK6bMwD_J608gJAM1bAyP_9XE/s320/4230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">March ended with our homeschool co op’s annual Gala (prom) and
Senior Honors. It was bitter sweet to see my baby at her last prom. Time flew
by. Dave and I got all spiffed up and were there for the senior honors part,
then we headed home (as most of the parents do) and left the partying to the
kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ybZOIgL8yl4VMN76vMiQvdhsKdTImPdahdjD2r6ugRtBeRPfSeuqFC9PUMF_y1XxZJVLQ_If67qJ551U6br9LylAuIvIls0I5ByjPeXkoDHMKm-GHSJtqeDOPWEmvAZdFFLjONXBicA/s1600/870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ybZOIgL8yl4VMN76vMiQvdhsKdTImPdahdjD2r6ugRtBeRPfSeuqFC9PUMF_y1XxZJVLQ_If67qJ551U6br9LylAuIvIls0I5ByjPeXkoDHMKm-GHSJtqeDOPWEmvAZdFFLjONXBicA/s320/870.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In April Gunnar finished up his Paramedics class and took and
passed his National Registry test. He’s now officially a Medic! He worked SO hard
for this and we’re so proud of his accomplishment! Kaytlin, who was in the same
class he was, also passed and is also now officially a Medic. I very much
wanted to throw a giant party to celebrate their accomplishment but that was
not too happen. Things got a bit out of hand around here right about that time.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">April is historically all about Show Tunes (an extra curricular
activity Annika is part of through our homeschooling co op.) It was her final
Show Tunes play. The class put on Thoroughly Modern Milly and Annika had the part of Miss Dorothy. She did
an amazing job of course and I may have cried a little at the final scene. It
is usually a very, very busy time with Annika at late night rehearsals (they don’t
mess around, y’all. This is a <i>production.</i>)
But things hit turbo the week all the late night rehearsals began, because <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2017/04/grief-and-could-haves-and-should-haves.html">my dad got sick</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Thursday morning I got a call while I was on my way to teach my
classes at co op telling me that they’d taken him via ambulance to the ER. He’d
been choking on his food. I quickly called my administrator and told her I was
not coming. She scrambled and got someone to cover me so I could head straight
to the ER. I am so grateful for my friends at co op for jumping in and handling
things for me so I could go be with my dad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I got to the ER he was so very altered. I’d just been to see
him a few days prior and he’d been his normal self. He has been in the final
stages Alzheimer’s disease for a year or so, so his ‘normal’ was nonverbal, but
responsive. At the ER he was completely non responsive except to pain stimuli.
It was so sad to see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They admitted him and Friday was a day of tests. On Friday night
his heart became erratic and they put him on meds to stabilize that. By late
Friday night we knew we were nearing the end. It turns out he’d been aspirating
about 40 to 60 percent of his food and had developed aspiration pneumonia. He
was also septic. The Sepsis was affecting his heart. We were at the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was a terribly hard time. It was now Saturday and I’d been at
the hospital pretty much straight since Thursday morning. I did come home to sleep
for a few hours at night, but other that that I’d been at the hospital and 100%
unavailable for my family or anyone else. Annika’s final Opening Night was in a
few days and my dad was dying. I was missing her important senior milestones,
but I could not leave my dad. It was terribly hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Saturday afternoon he’d been put on hospice. We just waited. We
stayed at the hospital and talked to him, I read to him, held his hand, talked to
the doctors and nurses as they came and went. Dave and the kids all came up and spent
time with me during the day to keep me company, my mom and sister also were
there, and other family members. Time just stopped really, while we watched my
dad live out his final days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Wednesday night at 2:26 am my dad took his final breath. Thursday
I had my class covered again by friends at co op so Dave and I could make my
dad’s arrangements. We spent the day going from funeral homes, to cemeteries,
to his memory care unit to clean out his things, to the florist etc. </span><span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO7WtkO6n7kPNqHMhFqKCMIkUFxDEkFn5ITPewvJwrOPVr3o_gApvaE-3ywDdcvFiIIWmdB8s5iFvwqr34ua7tgwx98gd2LtS6AnZgLsZEC7AMg1Y5UH4qFaglV3INpqLMgnOC99TTkU/s1600/850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO7WtkO6n7kPNqHMhFqKCMIkUFxDEkFn5ITPewvJwrOPVr3o_gApvaE-3ywDdcvFiIIWmdB8s5iFvwqr34ua7tgwx98gd2LtS6AnZgLsZEC7AMg1Y5UH4qFaglV3INpqLMgnOC99TTkU/s320/850.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH1mrM19pte_2dQT4GZl7o1ztlY40H5kzfOVRkPdJne3ussSxPrQzOuJxkruPe2kyQHY5gGB4petbUFj-JIbP-l2xXl7AkmDNEJI0Rhws6Xv4-DPce2P7hYUpzQ2cjeKCD-mxXR1KhKs/s1600/4310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH1mrM19pte_2dQT4GZl7o1ztlY40H5kzfOVRkPdJne3ussSxPrQzOuJxkruPe2kyQHY5gGB4petbUFj-JIbP-l2xXl7AkmDNEJI0Rhws6Xv4-DPce2P7hYUpzQ2cjeKCD-mxXR1KhKs/s320/4310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Monday night Annika had her opening night and I was able to
attend. This week I spent handling my dad’s funeral details and attending
Annika’s final performances. It was certainly not how I expected things to go.
It was surreal to be laughing at Annika’s antics on stage in the evenings after
spending the days working on the details of dad’s memorial service. Even the placement of these photos on the blog feels so odd. Photos of Annika having a grand old time in her fun, silly play </span>among the<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> paragraphs about my dad's passing and funeral. It seems odd and not right, disrespectful somehow, but that's exactly how it felt to live it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWpAVUUljgB10jU1gtnFi__Z4G-nFZn9Yo6WzZNGVvH2SZ_tdVyEKiiUreknm23lZjS3s5xsSfVvbcL8tgk3LrRyf5kHHVz0oFuAapAejEphv-TDt3aYm3dAyUsrlcBT2x-KCpzwgHLc/s1600/5030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWpAVUUljgB10jU1gtnFi__Z4G-nFZn9Yo6WzZNGVvH2SZ_tdVyEKiiUreknm23lZjS3s5xsSfVvbcL8tgk3LrRyf5kHHVz0oFuAapAejEphv-TDt3aYm3dAyUsrlcBT2x-KCpzwgHLc/s320/5030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqsAnSQATtkE1vo7znCsSDFT-7tE4y9Xgd08RpHI35ijZ38osw3k4ehyByBPbhR8yiAk3-GzBsw9MAKstUEhnpu5q0riiP2IUpz0MFRYdBvdClZPqbKmcM5bdniT8xQmRpIjHkjpmALU/s1600/5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqsAnSQATtkE1vo7znCsSDFT-7tE4y9Xgd08RpHI35ijZ38osw3k4ehyByBPbhR8yiAk3-GzBsw9MAKstUEhnpu5q0riiP2IUpz0MFRYdBvdClZPqbKmcM5bdniT8xQmRpIjHkjpmALU/s320/5020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The following Friday was my dad’s service. It was a nice service.
It was small, out at the National Cemetery. He had military honors and the bugler
played Taps. I think he would have been pleased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTanmuHvHvEZoO7BePVkcGe0PDLxmcqSmFi0XI6OdyvYjKSAWZ8U7TSK5cU_dNosaWy6L27XHtv7ZtgVkXSBAVZA_2qZhkUit57gVwbqpiDmgp6TUOHI59jCp3LLoK2A9PgcBhh_FOro/s1600/18194577_10155755877664796_1546948094626684586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTanmuHvHvEZoO7BePVkcGe0PDLxmcqSmFi0XI6OdyvYjKSAWZ8U7TSK5cU_dNosaWy6L27XHtv7ZtgVkXSBAVZA_2qZhkUit57gVwbqpiDmgp6TUOHI59jCp3LLoK2A9PgcBhh_FOro/s320/18194577_10155755877664796_1546948094626684586_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There was not really a lot of time to think too much about my dad’s
passing or really process it even. I know this will catch up with me soon. But
next up was May. In May there is no time for mourning or reflecting. May is
always a crazy month and when you have a senior, it’s even crazier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3mpsD3hMwaCTNkrD7OCsGnz5VyY1B7zu_-lFfaVNswXOZQjOhNLdJ3-ru5IORPxOU8b9IiAomLqVxRza_E3_sUMrxRDk1th6BJve5ccQ45vT_7vxg5IJGIRKLecsc9iBrtCHTgw94_k/s1600/3130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3mpsD3hMwaCTNkrD7OCsGnz5VyY1B7zu_-lFfaVNswXOZQjOhNLdJ3-ru5IORPxOU8b9IiAomLqVxRza_E3_sUMrxRDk1th6BJve5ccQ45vT_7vxg5IJGIRKLecsc9iBrtCHTgw94_k/s320/3130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I had stressed out kids taking make or break finals, kids who
are grieving over the loss of a grandfather. There were senior honors banquets,
and last days, and final good byes and finally…Graduation and the graduation
party. Annika and her cousins Martyn and Ian have been at the same co op since
they were in elementary school. They’ve been in the same Sunday schools all the
way through. And now they’re graduating together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutN3Muo6rkKKxVsgJUBHp1vZUm47RqrQynAFMhS2RkgtbMqv8jyaP2qNgX3RT8srUFUHIAczNPjYnhTM1V1rMD9a6SErKbK-JlfJAMX-N5H8CRl8NfICUDW964XOdvAncmyEG1TxakTo/s1600/18556308_10155831054714796_9065368051155745982_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutN3Muo6rkKKxVsgJUBHp1vZUm47RqrQynAFMhS2RkgtbMqv8jyaP2qNgX3RT8srUFUHIAczNPjYnhTM1V1rMD9a6SErKbK-JlfJAMX-N5H8CRl8NfICUDW964XOdvAncmyEG1TxakTo/s320/18556308_10155831054714796_9065368051155745982_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAIRkOxZcBbh4ntyCWjAWJiEGBPQa6AbbbtrwjKFHnGv8Dc7jSxSmwwCGWu9yXlQdnxh2zswym4EAKq89zNYcvEsOBac9Qtpitdn5E8Cj1awgt899L7zZa4O6n4rYboEsXugyqaMXiLU/s1600/18620378_10155831054014796_1647889100519283553_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAIRkOxZcBbh4ntyCWjAWJiEGBPQa6AbbbtrwjKFHnGv8Dc7jSxSmwwCGWu9yXlQdnxh2zswym4EAKq89zNYcvEsOBac9Qtpitdn5E8Cj1awgt899L7zZa4O6n4rYboEsXugyqaMXiLU/s320/18620378_10155831054014796_1647889100519283553_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuqZ36F2l_gWW1xseLi6pBDDTYFtcvz9fzVnQiS5KC47JUr3xpcUc_630mN3Yx4pclhJbm1nUbAufN2FANOToMD0HauYa5KF2PJKyC-dw0qJSGDll77t1v6wBsQ4wVWaNf3edPLg9MzY/s1600/18557141_10155833487624796_3892577652846634156_n+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuqZ36F2l_gWW1xseLi6pBDDTYFtcvz9fzVnQiS5KC47JUr3xpcUc_630mN3Yx4pclhJbm1nUbAufN2FANOToMD0HauYa5KF2PJKyC-dw0qJSGDll77t1v6wBsQ4wVWaNf3edPLg9MzY/s320/18557141_10155833487624796_3892577652846634156_n+-+Copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The party was a rousing success. I think (hope) they felt loved and
celebrated. I won’t go into the graduation and the party too much here, that’s
going to need its own post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Sunday after the graduation and party I did not leave the
house. Heck, I did not get out of my PJs! I rested with my feet up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9qoU6DallnuPoyXWwjc0GPKVjZCJHItsyoaSD4Zuw1da3mRUMskvngcV_iQvkvW06mzTLJMwBbje2WM9yN5MWM1i_bCYf071TDsTK2jEnX58XXoKGT3qJ4em0zoFREBR02F_hyOw0Ms/s1600/18620170_10155832920999796_568880719057840118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9qoU6DallnuPoyXWwjc0GPKVjZCJHItsyoaSD4Zuw1da3mRUMskvngcV_iQvkvW06mzTLJMwBbje2WM9yN5MWM1i_bCYf071TDsTK2jEnX58XXoKGT3qJ4em0zoFREBR02F_hyOw0Ms/s320/18620170_10155832920999796_568880719057840118_n.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Today is Monday and now it’s time to get back to life. One of our
main A/Cs and our dryer died the day before graduation (because, of course they
did) so now it’s time to deal with that. </span><span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">June is already filling up with doctor and dentist appointments
that we’ve been putting off and Annika will be getting her wisdom teeth out
before her job as a life guard starts his summer. Ev is already deep into May
term and summer classes, Gunnar’s working and planning his wedding with
Kaytlin, Bryce and Haleigh are doing well, we see them often. We have family dinner
on Thursdays and play cards or watch a movie after. It’s nice to get to see
them at least once a week.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Time marches on. It’s filled to the brim with the busyness of my
people. For the first time in 21 years I will not be spending the summer
preparing for fall homeschooling and teaching at co op. I’m officially retired.
Instead I will be spending the summer going through 21 years of curriculum and
downsizing our bookshelves and dealing with my dad’s estate, or what’s left of
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s a time of transition here at our home. Gunnar will be moving
out this summer. We’ll be redecorating and cleaning out the girls’ rooms
turning them from homeschooled kid’s rooms to something more appropriate for busy
college students who need a quiet place to study. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last school year did not look one bit like I thought it would. Not
one bit. It was full of lasts and good byes and heartache, but also joy and happiness
and such promise for the future. I’m so incredibly proud of my kids and what they
have accomplished, but mostly of who they are. Who they are choosing to be.
They’re awesome human beings and I would want to know them and be friends with
them even if they were not my children. That’s how amazing they are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’d like to take the credit for that, but I do not deserve it. Yes,
I did my best as a parent and I did some things right and some things wrong,
but they’re all adults now. They chose who they want to be. They chose every
day to follow God’s desire for them or not. It’s that simple. They are choosing
to be men and women of God and I am so very humbled and grateful God gave me
these 4 to call my children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSW7miMjfmXt1GCEnkJ_E9GTIoAv44BlliC3xVrC1V3kySsjxFE_KM-Z7T2B-OVD8Z59TpbAdU6QoPK-hBeLpYhBsxw_BekgRAPjKVF9R8ceJHn2Z0sGB3s1N4iYsR3jcjIy1rR36uyA/s1600/980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSW7miMjfmXt1GCEnkJ_E9GTIoAv44BlliC3xVrC1V3kySsjxFE_KM-Z7T2B-OVD8Z59TpbAdU6QoPK-hBeLpYhBsxw_BekgRAPjKVF9R8ceJHn2Z0sGB3s1N4iYsR3jcjIy1rR36uyA/s320/980.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCVkOx_S5FV9gt0IoD7mBDCJJNJL9TBGy_aioUQhZtjYSRMj4tfXdIlYAysSzMygZwzx9FomJJPykPxf_zeaoBiS609K7prveWdfpkPAm2K6Fat4YA6JXQ62oAMGMvWj2odya8P30YAE/s1600/3140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCVkOx_S5FV9gt0IoD7mBDCJJNJL9TBGy_aioUQhZtjYSRMj4tfXdIlYAysSzMygZwzx9FomJJPykPxf_zeaoBiS609K7prveWdfpkPAm2K6Fat4YA6JXQ62oAMGMvWj2odya8P30YAE/s320/3140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #203864; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I don’t know where the next few years will take me. There is a
giant question mark there, but I am not worried. I know God has a plan for me
and I’m excited to see what it will be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-89358435421638867262017-04-18T12:46:00.000-05:002017-04-19T11:00:42.086-05:00Grief And The Could-Haves And Should-Haves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxBthozjdsLSTg5TI1OkOxJfN3a4hFdLsWUOxV_EE3tiu9oGRnDNwyuqlb3gNSPInY8WCXnqhWiURj8F7nFnI029YJbSClpOvjJYMWBIIpX52kY8alAStd2rsc6cuX8hC0XuP8HYjnq4/s1600/Dad+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxBthozjdsLSTg5TI1OkOxJfN3a4hFdLsWUOxV_EE3tiu9oGRnDNwyuqlb3gNSPInY8WCXnqhWiURj8F7nFnI029YJbSClpOvjJYMWBIIpX52kY8alAStd2rsc6cuX8hC0XuP8HYjnq4/s320/Dad+1.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dad passed away at 2:26 AM, Wednesday, April 12<sup>th</sup>.
I received the phone call telling me this at 3am. His passing was not a
surprise; my sister and I lingered at his hospital until late into the night
expecting that he would go at any minute. We didn’t want him to be alone. Eventually
exhaustion won out and we left him in the care of the wonderful night shift
nurse who set up her little computer station right outside his door. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be honest, that’s the way it’s been with my dad and his
illness. I have felt like I missed the mark by just a little bit in almost
every way. He slipped into Alzheimer’s disease before any of us really noticed.
Dad was always a very independent man who took care of his own things. He came
down to visit from Kansas a couple of times a year, then once a year, then his
visits stopped altogether. We all assumed it was because his eyesight was
getting bad and he didn’t want to drive anymore. That’s what he told us. In
reality I think Alzheimer’s was already starting to do its insidious, destructive
work in his brain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We still talked on the phone regularly and he seemed okay.
My family went and visited him in KS a couple of times. It was difficult
because his house was very small so we could not stay there and hotels were
expensive. We didn’t go as much as we should have. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rYxOi2H0DvAqCLH_geMlVhSAa4-ZLzl-c4aizZvVa1RFqFAnZDoMH1f3vPf53C-RewOy0JFqZ-37GKAZxnglVeMdagXwOxZS67P4ULefwAZigDFayv91Ncl_Bzs-YOOlEUz2IshOrvQ/s1600/IMG_6942+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rYxOi2H0DvAqCLH_geMlVhSAa4-ZLzl-c4aizZvVa1RFqFAnZDoMH1f3vPf53C-RewOy0JFqZ-37GKAZxnglVeMdagXwOxZS67P4ULefwAZigDFayv91Ncl_Bzs-YOOlEUz2IshOrvQ/s320/IMG_6942+-+Copy.JPG" width="185" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all started to notice he was asking the same questions
over and over on the phone. We began to worry. Then the phone calls started;
from his brother who lives near-by, worried he was no longer leaving the house,
from my brother worried he was not acting right, and then finally the car
accident where he ran a stop sign and hit someone. We knew it was time. In
fact, we’d waited too long. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My sister, mom, and myself went up to take him to the VA
doctor, and to try and see a lawyer and find out how to get the ball rolling to
get him some help. It was such a strange trip because it was not quite what we
expected. Things actually seemed okay. The house was clean, my dad looked good,
he didn’t seem too confused that day, at least not to the degree I’d expected.
We must have hit on a good week. We got some of the appointments done and had a
fairly nice time with my dad. It was an odd day to be sure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We didn’t get everything accomplished that day that we
needed to so Dave and I went back up a couple of weeks later. This is a trip I
will never forget. Dave and I showed up that morning after getting up
at 4am to make the 6 hour drive. We told Dad we were coming to help him get
some paperwork done. Our goal that day was to get my name on his bank account
and legal documents, to see an Elder Care lawyer (our first trip to the lawyer
had not gone well), and to take him to a doctor’s appointment at the VA. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Dave and I came in the door he was sharply dressed,
just like he always had been. He was a Marine after-all. His dress pants were
nicely creased. His collar shirt was properly tucked in and his pants were
belted with the same quality leather belt that matched his favorite loafers. However,
his clothes were stained and had clearly not been washed in some time, he had
not shaved or bathed in a while either. I was looking right into the face of Alzheimer’s
and it was like a punch to the gut. It was so very clear my dad needed help and
where had I been? I didn’t go visit him enough. I could have gone more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwHz-xGHWkis4mikcElAMd_RQz61XB_DS5UmF3xTSEau_nbbEyUn6hincdqzYhJ6_ZW-6jbbup1hCST7_m8Aidh3gEtuYOIaYQ20KkDdtTu1Rv8ycqWWW_VuQULWloVqBFaI8poI6Cao/s1600/2Dad+Visit+1-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwHz-xGHWkis4mikcElAMd_RQz61XB_DS5UmF3xTSEau_nbbEyUn6hincdqzYhJ6_ZW-6jbbup1hCST7_m8Aidh3gEtuYOIaYQ20KkDdtTu1Rv8ycqWWW_VuQULWloVqBFaI8poI6Cao/s320/2Dad+Visit+1-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thus began the new normal with my dad. With the help of a
very good Elder Care Lawyer here in DFW we managed to get all of his affairs in
order and get him moved to DFW and into a Memory Care unit. He was in three
different facilities while he was here. The first was a wonderful place that I
wish we could have left him but he ran out of money for it. We knew that would
be the case eventually as it is with all long-term care patients. While he was there I would go visit him pretty
regularly. Friday they had ice cream and dad really liked that so my girls and
I, or sometimes just myself would go there and sit with him and eat ice cream.
I tried to make my way there at random intervals and times. I didn’t go visit
him there enough. I could have gone more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6m9c2yJmaKSO7hOVn4KDqb8h4_RpRvwSLhxQD0hezPUQp3PFoV2_t4BjxGksvrLvlZSFxv6oV8MGMUUc3HkQtO04HEmeZxTWavgGz4TdyBbalqIXcJmssKUEZOaKJ8EZa9-O-2T-dmc/s1600/1Dad+Visit+1-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6m9c2yJmaKSO7hOVn4KDqb8h4_RpRvwSLhxQD0hezPUQp3PFoV2_t4BjxGksvrLvlZSFxv6oV8MGMUUc3HkQtO04HEmeZxTWavgGz4TdyBbalqIXcJmssKUEZOaKJ8EZa9-O-2T-dmc/s320/1Dad+Visit+1-23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his second home I visited him even less. It was over an
hour away from my house. We moved him to a facility up nearer my mom and
sister. It promised to be a good place and when we moved him in, it seemed to
be. It seemed like a happy place with lots of activities and kind people. My
mom had a little more time on her hands then and my sister was nearby and they were able to spend more
time with him there. While he was in this place he got an infection, which is
common in the elderly, and lost a many abilities. He lost most of his language,
going down to about 5 or 10 phrases. He lost his ability to walk, and I don’t
think he recognized any of his family after that infection. Unfortunately, his
level of care also declined in the year he was there. I’m not sure what
happened. I suspect a change in management because I noticed the amount of people
there, staff and residents, began to dwindle. Eventually it became clear he was
not getting proper care so we began the search for a better place. I did not go
visit him there enough. I could have gone more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We moved him to a place near me and I am happy to report
that his care there was excellent. I got to know the people there by name and
they knew mime. I brought them treats and said thank you repeatedly for all the
work they were doing for my dad. They were on top of his health and called me
every time there was even the slightest problem. He was happy there. My mom worked
hard to get him a specially made wheelchair and it was very fancy. He received it
shortly after he arrived in this new facility and the workers there called it
his Bentley. He was ‘Donald, the man in the Bentley’. That made me happy. They
never left dad in his room but got him up every day and put him in his Bentley
and put him out in the main area where all the action was. He seemed to like to
be a part of the action. The Activities Coordinator always took him in the room
when they were doing the various activities that she’d planned even though he
could not participate. It was good for him to be near the action. I’m grateful
for the loving care they gave him there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zrDurCUA7o1s05Sd1ZPQ3L8c-cUccIH6AgwRHGDmN5w9-vG-1BjG06QN-NM8REL4N70AS40NBRatKaxPFrrNwLzwF7eoRYwN7DApa_1kpJi3nY9JBkt2qrxgSNuId4gCdnC7nhnszMI/s1600/80th+Bday%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zrDurCUA7o1s05Sd1ZPQ3L8c-cUccIH6AgwRHGDmN5w9-vG-1BjG06QN-NM8REL4N70AS40NBRatKaxPFrrNwLzwF7eoRYwN7DApa_1kpJi3nY9JBkt2qrxgSNuId4gCdnC7nhnszMI/s320/80th+Bday%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because this place was so near me and on a main street I
passed several times a week I was able to see him more. I had a set time, Thursday
mornings, when I would go visit him. I would take him to a quiet corner or outside
if the weather was nice, or sometimes if I were a bit later I’d sit and eat
lunch with him and a couple of other residents. At first we’d talk, or rather I’d
talk at him. He never really responded but he seemed to like to the company.
Eventually I started reading to him. It felt awkward for me to always say the
same things to him, or to talk and talk with no input from him, so I began
reading him The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I never read
these as a child (I KNOW!) so I thought it would be nice to do with dad. He
seemed to enjoy me reading to him. He would calm down and not fidget. He would
still his hands and seemed to just listen to me read. I did voices and
everything. Sometimes I’d get odd looks from passers-by until they got close
enough to see I was reading, but I didn’t much care. Dad seemed to like it. Even
though I was able to see dad much more at this place it still did not feel like
enough. I could have gone more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was on the way to teach my classes when I got the
call from the nursing home saying he was being taken via ambulance to the ER
for breathing problems. Turns out, his nurse noticed he was aspirating and had begun
coughing. She did not even call the doctor as is policy, but instead called 911
to come get him right away, then called the doctor. I called my administrator
and asked her to cover for me at school, that I wasn’t coming that day…15
minutes before I was due to teach. I’m so thankful for understanding friends
who covered for me for two weeks so I could be there for my dad!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I got to the ER there were a lot of people in the room
and a lot going on. I’ll spare you all the medical details, but to say he was
altered would be an understatement. I had been to see him on Monday and it was Thursday
and he was so different. It happened so fast. He was mostly unresponsive, he was
only responding to pain stimuli, (grabbing at them when they gave him IVs etc).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpSh_YwBSDTfJvs823uQV1jJqP9YHcZlut5QyWACBd_hSayIOxH4qPIe7JVqC2VGn2vBvR3zrZqEKprNBF2M0kIg5tmOnmewW-WPjEyrw2tnAZu6aVwCy-F8mahoccSdr3Koq00dloF4/s1600/80th+Bday%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpSh_YwBSDTfJvs823uQV1jJqP9YHcZlut5QyWACBd_hSayIOxH4qPIe7JVqC2VGn2vBvR3zrZqEKprNBF2M0kIg5tmOnmewW-WPjEyrw2tnAZu6aVwCy-F8mahoccSdr3Koq00dloF4/s320/80th+Bday%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once they got him stable they got him up to a room. I stayed
very late that first night then ran home to sleep for a few hours when the
nurse said he was stable and it’d be okay to do that. I got back up there on
Friday early so I would be sure not to miss his doctor. Friday was The Day Of
Tests. Poor dad. So many tests; sonograms, EKGs, CTs, blood tests, Swallow
tests, and on and on it went. On Friday night when Dave and I were there his
heart did some odd things and it initiated a Rapid Response. Kind of like what
you see on TV. Suddenly the nurse came in and turned on the lights and said
their monitors out at the desk were indicating his heart was struggling and
they needed to respond. I reminded her that he had a DNR and she said they were
aware. They would not re-start it if it stopped. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dave and I sat back and watched as the room quickly filled with
about 10 to 12 people and they hooked him up to an EKG machine and pushed
various medications to get his heart back into a proper rhythm. Eventually they
got it back but the whole experience left me feeling uncomfortable. Why did we
just do all that? Was there even any hope of him getting better? Knowing what I
know now and knowing my dad and what he would want, I wish I’d stopped them. He
didn’t need to go through that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday all the test results started to trickle in and none
of it was good. He had several health issues going on in addition to the
aspiration pneumonia that brought him to the hospital and none of them were
really treatable. He’d been on several very heavy antibiotics to fight the
pneumonia and instead of helping he became septic. Even if we could somehow
manage to make those antibiotics work on the sepsis and pneumonia, he had some
newly discovered issues that were unfixable. He was not a candidate for
surgery. After talking to the family we decided to discontinue treatment and
put him on hospice. That was one of the hardest, right decisions I’ve ever
made. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Saturday night we had him off of all the medicines they
were giving him. They were now focusing on helping him to stay comfortable. The hospice people told us that he would
likely go quickly, probably Sunday. Dad was never one to do as he was told so
he managed to hang around for 3 more days. During those three days all the
family came up to say their good-byes. My mom and sister and I spent a lot of
time just talking and laughing around his bed. Maybe he lingered because he
enjoyed our conversation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually, on Tuesday night it became clear it would
be imminent. His heart beat was very, very slow and erratic. My sister and I
lingered late that night. We didn’t want him to be alone. It was a more subdued
evening. Not as much laughing and joking. We were so very tired, and we both
knew in our spirits that this would be our last hours with dad. When we finally
decided to go home and rest, we said our goodbyes. They were simple, not drawn
out. Every time we’d left his hospital room we knew it could be the last, but
something was different about this time and I think we both felt it. He passed
that night at 2:26 am. I wish I would have stayed. I wish I would have been
there when he passed to hold his hand and say comforting words to him, but my timing
was off, as it feels like it has been during this entire process. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Losing a loved one seems chock full of could-haves and
should-haves. I think those feelings are part of grief itself. I could have had
my dad move in with me, quit all my other responsibilities, and never left his side
and I can almost guarantee you I would still be wading my way through the
could-haves and should-haves. I am grateful for the last year I had with him. I
am grateful he was close and I was able to not only have my scheduled time, but
also pop in for 5 or 10 minute visits here and there throughout the week. I am
going to focus on that, what I did do and what I did have and try to learn from
it and let go of the could-haves and the should-haves. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll miss you dad. I am so glad you are at peace and your
mind and body are once again whole. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHunywK4CxkC0UPC7Y8N4dZkPZqiksR99aywTpxEemBBCQXEps8Wpl8xQbjjlw3ChKvuI9NexhyOihg1c32O-8JcsxUeNVGSzT1H8m99W7u2-6BPOypM-Nx13yCq0UlCl1gRKAMp9-KA/s1600/IMG_6910+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHunywK4CxkC0UPC7Y8N4dZkPZqiksR99aywTpxEemBBCQXEps8Wpl8xQbjjlw3ChKvuI9NexhyOihg1c32O-8JcsxUeNVGSzT1H8m99W7u2-6BPOypM-Nx13yCq0UlCl1gRKAMp9-KA/s320/IMG_6910+-+Copy.JPG" width="293" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white;">He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>death shall be no more,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>neither shall there
be mo</i><i>urning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed
away.</i><span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Revelations 21:4 </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-419935975355032472017-03-30T14:15:00.001-05:002017-03-31T08:15:54.920-05:00These Kids Today...I was out shopping at Payless today looking for some plain white flats for Spring. (Y'all, they do not exist! I mean, they do if you want to pay upwards of $60 for them, but I just wanted some cheep ones for one season for church. I'm not going to run a marathon in them or anything. Sheesh!)<br />
<br />
Luckily for you, the lack of affordable white flats is not the subject I want to talk about today. I want to talk about <i>kids these days</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp29vwvgRwgKxHdqvVyeVkQB5_mJi8PAkhqi3Hw0q-OShF1XaVuE5Zl7Vqy5P8aSG-zofed0SzC-55pP7xokQfoizbnO8f7XvUDV3oaVZx7AgWKIrQKZ52-kr0um-mRQxHrxTVMvYPWss/s1600/colorado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp29vwvgRwgKxHdqvVyeVkQB5_mJi8PAkhqi3Hw0q-OShF1XaVuE5Zl7Vqy5P8aSG-zofed0SzC-55pP7xokQfoizbnO8f7XvUDV3oaVZx7AgWKIrQKZ52-kr0um-mRQxHrxTVMvYPWss/s320/colorado.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was chatting with the lady who was helping me with my purchases today and she was saying that she is so disappointed in the kids today. She can't find good help. She said that they rarely want to work and if they do they want the good hours right off the bat, no weekends please and thank you. She said when they do show up they're lazy and don't know how to work hard.<br />
<br />
This made me sad because this has not been my experience, and I told her so. I told her that I have 4 kids, 18 and up and they are awesome! And their friends are awesome! I mean, yeah, sometimes I watch the news and worry that we're doomed if this is the group that will be running the country next. Then I remind myself that these kids and young adults I see throwing things through windows in protest of whatever is the next sexy perceived injustice are the small minority. I think they just have the loudest voice. That's not unique to this upcoming group of kids; every generation has their miscreants.<br />
<br />
The teens that I see are hard workers. They are relational. They are looking out for each other. They forgive wrongs. Let me digress here for a minute; I've seen this younger generation of girls work through things in a healthy way, maintaining friendships, that I don't think some grown women could do! I'm amazed at the grace they have for each other.<br />
<br />
This group of kids gives me hope for our future. I know several who are actively, selflessly, serving in the military, and many who are serving in missions. They're definitely a more globally minded generation. You don't have to tell them to eat their vegetables because there are kids starving in Africa. They know it! (though that knowledge is not always enough to incite them to eat those veggies) Many of them are actively doing something about it.<br />
<br />
When I was done waxing on about how awesome my kids and their friends are, the lady at Payless said, "Please send some of those kids my way. THAT'S who I'm looking for!" I think that's the cry from many employers out there.<br />
<br />
This millennial generation does things differently, that's for sure, but different does not equal bad. I have a lot of confidence in the ones I know. They're going to do great things.<br />
<br />
And if you're looking for a summer job, Payless is hiring.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-28967412694474673812017-03-22T10:15:00.000-05:002017-03-22T10:15:41.871-05:00Book Challenge <span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While we were camping over Spring Break my niece Kaarin mentioned that she'd recently read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wuthering-Heights-Penguin-Classics-Bront%C3%AB/dp/0141439556/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490195574&sr=8-1&keywords=wuthering+heights">Wuthering Heights</a>.<br /><br />I mentioned that I had not read that one intentionally because I hate sad books. Yuck. Life is sad enough. Why read or watch sad things for entertainment? If you want to be sad all you have to do is watch the news. </span><div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She said that it was not <i>that</i> sad. She said that while it was not a 'happily-ever-after' book it did end well. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I asked her if she'd read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Penguin-Classics-Charlotte-Bront%C3%AB/dp/0141441143/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490195615&sr=8-1&keywords=jane+eyre">Jane Eyre </a>which is my very favorite book. I love it even more than Jane Austen books. She said she had not, which gave me an idea:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A LITERARY CHALLENGE!</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qjQGDOOYzY2qlR2gra0xqFvRLFFY1JqxC0uDKLVfY04SCMGs09F9XXXzA6RQ2oyEs2DSMqnOV-MsD4pfNIAetezO6czaRVoTRmJIR7gZUAtga4jODaM7RIxvjSMl-ph8RWbpQ7KYhq8/s1600/zjane4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qjQGDOOYzY2qlR2gra0xqFvRLFFY1JqxC0uDKLVfY04SCMGs09F9XXXzA6RQ2oyEs2DSMqnOV-MsD4pfNIAetezO6czaRVoTRmJIR7gZUAtga4jODaM7RIxvjSMl-ph8RWbpQ7KYhq8/s200/zjane4.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv08qxmT0Q7GJi4mN_4sk3X83QFl-V2FscQSpC6EQc2XMDs63ySnkawTvcnFy65BYLq_Q8x33N-y2uQ4b8YrLnGhRLQ64R6MkcAjFadZjBGzC7b_qVlMrhcrYNeaAQnAXTxv7GyBzcviE/s1600/zjane3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv08qxmT0Q7GJi4mN_4sk3X83QFl-V2FscQSpC6EQc2XMDs63ySnkawTvcnFy65BYLq_Q8x33N-y2uQ4b8YrLnGhRLQ64R6MkcAjFadZjBGzC7b_qVlMrhcrYNeaAQnAXTxv7GyBzcviE/s200/zjane3.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I told Kaarin that if she'd read Jane Eyre, I'd read Wuthering Heights. (Frankly, I think Kaarin got the better end of the deal.) I opened the challenge to the rest of the family and have a few more takers. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Because everyone is super busy with end of school year stuff and finals coming up etc, the challenge was to have it read before school starts back up in the Fall. That gives all the college kids the summer to get it done. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reward, other than the edification you get simply from reading great literature, is a meal at Whataburger for whoever finishes the book in time. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I better get to reading... </span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br /></blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-15825305594178193722017-03-20T21:15:00.000-05:002017-03-20T21:41:56.991-05:00The Head, It Spins... <span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm entering a strange new phase of life. The baby of the family is graduating high school this May which means my homeschooling days are coming to a swift end. To be honest, they've already ended. She's been taking only college classes this year through the Duel Credit system and has already completed everything for me. She is still working through some Algebra but she has a tutor for that. (Thank the Good Lord Above for her tutor!).</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_i7xjnwZXMkoIIzob2TC47JG7hcKU6v5BV-NBIVedYpSNJv128q3raC4vTeH0AkXt0eAdGI-TcDXCunAyiyaM_0_KVLVKAJ97RSFI-GAxpfPaMZV95Whpm3O67elxCDaUyb7OA0MCIY/s1600/A3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_i7xjnwZXMkoIIzob2TC47JG7hcKU6v5BV-NBIVedYpSNJv128q3raC4vTeH0AkXt0eAdGI-TcDXCunAyiyaM_0_KVLVKAJ97RSFI-GAxpfPaMZV95Whpm3O67elxCDaUyb7OA0MCIY/s320/A3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Senior Pictures by Haleigh at <a href="http://www.120photography.com/">121 Photography</a></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></i></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am still doing the details of homeshooling. There is the end of the year performances with our homeschooling co op, the year end Gala (prom) and of course, Graduation. I still have some work to do as a homeschooling mom this Spring then I close up shop for good. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJVYl0UjsDNzJExmfwpq1n9TD3zkWzpX47a6ngMycHU0EXN-BsabjQAqQ-aFaePLppqBCx1OFVdyyKiW2i8oG_Uvh27vUUNcKb5D3wZ4QKVsGanVqxV_SkVJMhbNwpSu993qJWmNdp90/s1600/A2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJVYl0UjsDNzJExmfwpq1n9TD3zkWzpX47a6ngMycHU0EXN-BsabjQAqQ-aFaePLppqBCx1OFVdyyKiW2i8oG_Uvh27vUUNcKb5D3wZ4QKVsGanVqxV_SkVJMhbNwpSu993qJWmNdp90/s320/A2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Senior Pictures by Haleigh at <a href="http://www.120photography.com/">121 Photography</a></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You'd think I would have all this free time on my hands. I remember wondering what I was going to do with myself this school year, concerned that I'd be bored and lonely. HA! Yeah, that has not been the case at all. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7Gz-xFAqT64YS0sLop7S11uQJAziadipt-hI1yrrrDoyAhFBLiyoloc_EcwWgZ8gMsmShKBOqGVV5swp4TYBdB7FGBeYu1x-yy0Jom8ly-6cv1909GY5eEs969cUcCKGl41DowAIr84/s1600/A1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7Gz-xFAqT64YS0sLop7S11uQJAziadipt-hI1yrrrDoyAhFBLiyoloc_EcwWgZ8gMsmShKBOqGVV5swp4TYBdB7FGBeYu1x-yy0Jom8ly-6cv1909GY5eEs969cUcCKGl41DowAIr84/s320/A1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Senior Pictures by Haleigh at <a href="http://www.120photography.com/">121 Photography</a></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Turns out, having Young Adults, especially when some of them still live in your house, can be quite time consuming. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5319JXiPbqXOG4WVpiKx_08DrK0HJ2LRIZv7pc0DYunKOLd7hxNBdBe226x2hpFskMj8AVRLmbcWlhQj1leWOx31bW6rzgZs2KXUwAGoVmR_3wZqdE8R6zbeVpxjCBggZYx_lyh3kA0A/s1600/A%2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5319JXiPbqXOG4WVpiKx_08DrK0HJ2LRIZv7pc0DYunKOLd7hxNBdBe226x2hpFskMj8AVRLmbcWlhQj1leWOx31bW6rzgZs2KXUwAGoVmR_3wZqdE8R6zbeVpxjCBggZYx_lyh3kA0A/s320/A%2524.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Senior Pictures by Haleigh at <a href="http://www.120photography.com/">121 Photography</a></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We started the school year with a wedding. My oldest got married to the lovely Haleigh in October. It was a beautiful wedding. I was exhausted when it was over and I didn't really even do anything! The venue was so beautiful and of course the Bride and Groom were radiant. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kNWH8zbJFWGdmaQYndiMPqa2-pPtFK9Nlk7Cuz-aMhDtWWC977PYY14omGj2tfdfmIEMjpG4RaxhVpsyz3RLaiwcfyALQXFIoKHpoCdBaI_Gmk0KhXEhDZOS6z2E7bukGpI4voGEs6k/s1600/a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kNWH8zbJFWGdmaQYndiMPqa2-pPtFK9Nlk7Cuz-aMhDtWWC977PYY14omGj2tfdfmIEMjpG4RaxhVpsyz3RLaiwcfyALQXFIoKHpoCdBaI_Gmk0KhXEhDZOS6z2E7bukGpI4voGEs6k/s320/a7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraSpTBJBXBmviZu5gBc4apTQzIQqmPM-dKvdc7mQEqoyC83j3V3sOKPkMSR2ykskoCiAHUaXv8Y9u8CVX1BZe0qkKevZA_SyMvcbTsS8FmPL_MMiML6eC4llDJBGUoFpGr2kGkLtzR0I/s1600/a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraSpTBJBXBmviZu5gBc4apTQzIQqmPM-dKvdc7mQEqoyC83j3V3sOKPkMSR2ykskoCiAHUaXv8Y9u8CVX1BZe0qkKevZA_SyMvcbTsS8FmPL_MMiML6eC4llDJBGUoFpGr2kGkLtzR0I/s320/a6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYKz2vpH20-jwMaaybDsDu4i9aC_Ijf1Fufnomi52qLcO9Y8lShPyZwuSYZUZedSd1D-4sM3vCyjw3aIrd-C_Mv2wnZkikQUvIIqbE3xAfW4C5GKBmriTFySA_a328vqeJ2VZZCQidLQ/s1600/A9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYKz2vpH20-jwMaaybDsDu4i9aC_Ijf1Fufnomi52qLcO9Y8lShPyZwuSYZUZedSd1D-4sM3vCyjw3aIrd-C_Mv2wnZkikQUvIIqbE3xAfW4C5GKBmriTFySA_a328vqeJ2VZZCQidLQ/s320/A9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is just the immediate</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> family on the groom's side. Haleigh's immediate family is even bigger! </span></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In November I hosted the entire family (Dave's side) for Thanksgiving. That was a LOT of work but worth it. It was an awesome day. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qT8BxLocrUJJ87REhz_ttjLw2ZGPVRapX6OoSPDheK8D2yPDdlougk1tit-n-plgZWvgpXkgotkYVgy2kS8h2IgjlqE4bgffnMzsHrN7d6jRCqzYMo7jVTwK9tVW4PmW96Cp4JXHfwk/s1600/A10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qT8BxLocrUJJ87REhz_ttjLw2ZGPVRapX6OoSPDheK8D2yPDdlougk1tit-n-plgZWvgpXkgotkYVgy2kS8h2IgjlqE4bgffnMzsHrN7d6jRCqzYMo7jVTwK9tVW4PmW96Cp4JXHfwk/s320/A10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I kept thinking, after Thanksgiving I'll have some downtime. Yeah, instead of that, we got a giant tree for Christmas, put it up in the corner of our living room and before we could even get it decorated the hot water heater in the bedroom part of our house leaked and ruined the carpet in all three bedrooms and the hallway. We had to take every possession in three bedrooms, four closets, and a hallway and put them all in the livingroom so we could tear up ALL the carpet, replace all the carpet, then put all the things back that did not get ruined by the water. While it only took me about 2 minuted to type that out, trust me when I say it took significantly longer to live it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We manage to get everything put away and the tree decorated the weekend before Christmas. Holy Cow! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We then celebrated a wonderful Christmas with my side of the family on Christmas Eve at my dad's memory care facility and then my place in the evening, Christmas Day at my sister-in-law's, and Boxing Day at Nana and Oppa's place. It was three full days of festivities. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhX1_lywGp-9MnaC7EzJVpG975PAkulC6MbEnmuI6qZ_HYO76xeeAT_YJxnNl7jbMYpcazHjXbbjmkETJcGTfQ5mE42M4ukzGi5TyNXvVB0d4AXgJx1GA7Fr6gEEE0Kq5hGbjCNwUvdw/s1600/15697698_10155240655419796_5867824224181001670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhX1_lywGp-9MnaC7EzJVpG975PAkulC6MbEnmuI6qZ_HYO76xeeAT_YJxnNl7jbMYpcazHjXbbjmkETJcGTfQ5mE42M4ukzGi5TyNXvVB0d4AXgJx1GA7Fr6gEEE0Kq5hGbjCNwUvdw/s320/15697698_10155240655419796_5867824224181001670_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N7v84vijvCSuBGxEEUpNZ4OVJVuRvAvaLcJkIcBnArfckCrxrRsDokM4XsynzC9n6797zldZqAtaWx-Pf_Fq7BQ4mf9gwexREXy56_NqHWisJLe1d-H9KS_qj7w4wv7tGedOP1g0XBg/s1600/15697351_10211743237960754_950138917206979509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N7v84vijvCSuBGxEEUpNZ4OVJVuRvAvaLcJkIcBnArfckCrxrRsDokM4XsynzC9n6797zldZqAtaWx-Pf_Fq7BQ4mf9gwexREXy56_NqHWisJLe1d-H9KS_qj7w4wv7tGedOP1g0XBg/s320/15697351_10211743237960754_950138917206979509_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjlqLm-MVkY3KaSUzjlhSuecjvDAYyE3XcExXn5TUEir3hX44SZ9QEzLQVWVNEL0j-tM3Ua54petkYW57rJ0K3l1Ic4iIO24SVKjULd6vpDNvn3J_3zacOcVOI7bRS5VKt7wc6c3Louc/s1600/15747776_1039426046185684_6639335666085218821_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjlqLm-MVkY3KaSUzjlhSuecjvDAYyE3XcExXn5TUEir3hX44SZ9QEzLQVWVNEL0j-tM3Ua54petkYW57rJ0K3l1Ic4iIO24SVKjULd6vpDNvn3J_3zacOcVOI7bRS5VKt7wc6c3Louc/s320/15747776_1039426046185684_6639335666085218821_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I loved every minute of it, but was so ready to just rest. However, the day after Boxing Day I got the cold from the dark-side. I coughed and coughed and coughed. It took about two weeks to recover from that lovely cold, and of course I passed it to the whole family. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During the time we were all coughing like we were dying of consumption, we had a cold snap here in TX and the pipe over our game room burst and leaked all over! Luckily we were home when it happened and heard it and were able to turn off the water to the house before the ceiling collapsed, but thus began another round of furniture in the wrong place, attic contents all over the garage, insurance claims, and a revolving door of fix it guys coming in and out of my house. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_4yphcvrQztP2J5RRSw8wo2tAvKzmrzKc-MBKLqRIiQbPtw33RHXg7rF0q0pOl9qWLBR2GZg79UWIR8xCbAnqEz40rtuGfi0d46FaPpZKRNDRAAt8leUJtxGr9p6Q__cVpAoAfn2dQg/s1600/IMG_4173.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_4yphcvrQztP2J5RRSw8wo2tAvKzmrzKc-MBKLqRIiQbPtw33RHXg7rF0q0pOl9qWLBR2GZg79UWIR8xCbAnqEz40rtuGfi0d46FaPpZKRNDRAAt8leUJtxGr9p6Q__cVpAoAfn2dQg/s320/IMG_4173.PNG" width="179" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtliDd2uGvCC8sY1JIsEOzTcwXREAztowzjMIIHv42bEKcewMEXO7f_PJ0gbNulVh6_b9BoI-8ZznWgq4YKRFKc_7E_HZzvwO_LXSYo4Djtc91RaQx1zKylOYyJvhMkB-m6UJE7uZKhU/s1600/IMG_4174.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtliDd2uGvCC8sY1JIsEOzTcwXREAztowzjMIIHv42bEKcewMEXO7f_PJ0gbNulVh6_b9BoI-8ZznWgq4YKRFKc_7E_HZzvwO_LXSYo4Djtc91RaQx1zKylOYyJvhMkB-m6UJE7uZKhU/s320/IMG_4174.PNG" width="179" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdcRW1ywr4dwCCqjV8yBlMQeX_VGYPEMCjW9kCXS_03VhL6oiwhcRCTVWM8rOOJRBQFhzpZGI8kPaaprUpyL7lx2NExKVN863yERJoPXsVmDOuKzYIlCzusD2BBX8ZRqR56S4CGb-a-M/s1600/IMG_4175.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdcRW1ywr4dwCCqjV8yBlMQeX_VGYPEMCjW9kCXS_03VhL6oiwhcRCTVWM8rOOJRBQFhzpZGI8kPaaprUpyL7lx2NExKVN863yERJoPXsVmDOuKzYIlCzusD2BBX8ZRqR56S4CGb-a-M/s320/IMG_4175.PNG" width="179" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />And if that were not enough, I had an abdominal surgery scheduled for Jan 16, right in the middle of dealing with this mess. (You don't really want the details on this one, I promise, but let's just say no one wants to be coughing after they've had this type of abdominal surgery!)<br /><br />This surgery came with a 4 to 8 week recovery depending on the invasiveness of the procedure. I took about 6 weeks. That as all I could take because exactly 6 weeks after my surgery my second son asked his girlfriend to marry him! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvzfIOM0QS3kmk1PT9J8Xlsv69g91qvPctPCQn1_InockbuZoJi77A6eth0w7xPVpsBlGJ2sGh5oT5stmub6EI_ffJBwULX4XtDhlwj3XhdRu57XTC0ouKmNsP5uPhWgcZLop0UglLVM/s1600/17155416_1249822945055199_613245903814359193_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvzfIOM0QS3kmk1PT9J8Xlsv69g91qvPctPCQn1_InockbuZoJi77A6eth0w7xPVpsBlGJ2sGh5oT5stmub6EI_ffJBwULX4XtDhlwj3XhdRu57XTC0ouKmNsP5uPhWgcZLop0UglLVM/s320/17155416_1249822945055199_613245903814359193_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBppcJhzhbA4EUoykV0lc7ItpKT_bWxaPlIEZ9IURVPVIE2_tlvzo1jCrbfclqc8vI1TN8Vefek4gGnK1lSq6oegqTeKWfI4MApbnebpEyESUx0XUUgOGztlqBHRhCEO6ZHybc8wW9lc/s1600/17155796_10155516213244796_6404510309549102085_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBppcJhzhbA4EUoykV0lc7ItpKT_bWxaPlIEZ9IURVPVIE2_tlvzo1jCrbfclqc8vI1TN8Vefek4gGnK1lSq6oegqTeKWfI4MApbnebpEyESUx0XUUgOGztlqBHRhCEO6ZHybc8wW9lc/s320/17155796_10155516213244796_6404510309549102085_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had a party at my house for about 80 to 100 people. Pretty sure I've never hosted that many people in my home ever before. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was a wonderful and amazing night. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKJGRY-uKyWrZkvM5RP6yqCP7dciYyKUnlg4LEsQCo5QIs4cvkfBCGj4a-EJTIo728YMmhPnSFdBfnnt9cwM_sXytFlybUJvLUiXfG5kHNsHGcKWQ3Q5cxeXRukNzfJ698VQHhPHnMHE/s1600/17098716_1369304916478589_2913533891890459379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKJGRY-uKyWrZkvM5RP6yqCP7dciYyKUnlg4LEsQCo5QIs4cvkfBCGj4a-EJTIo728YMmhPnSFdBfnnt9cwM_sXytFlybUJvLUiXfG5kHNsHGcKWQ3Q5cxeXRukNzfJ698VQHhPHnMHE/s320/17098716_1369304916478589_2913533891890459379_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm-J3Ns2QxsVIpy9pN66qQbGVZRtfqbVB6wrf613epqmXJfra93tpgwtaCQhuDRqQr_tdf-qW_vfVG2nKD_2M1fCzGauEvAK2698tsfpw9e7V_HL7w_jEJshdqqSR-qmvfhTS85RK04Q/s1600/17103619_1369302763145471_5471799446270577439_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm-J3Ns2QxsVIpy9pN66qQbGVZRtfqbVB6wrf613epqmXJfra93tpgwtaCQhuDRqQr_tdf-qW_vfVG2nKD_2M1fCzGauEvAK2698tsfpw9e7V_HL7w_jEJshdqqSR-qmvfhTS85RK04Q/s320/17103619_1369302763145471_5471799446270577439_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I really won the lottery as far as daughters/daughters-in-laws! I love these girls so much! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiA4vhowA0DNenp3KlEayGAq7FQMTx8whswBPIR3udKbMwfsVdDd6K-zKLTst6hnUPTteERTE4ROeTl-B_7Wiv9X-Swm_hEqbTFZsEp9n0ERTev1I6hwdMA3FYgdDXX5VraZX7JAKGrU/s1600/A11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiA4vhowA0DNenp3KlEayGAq7FQMTx8whswBPIR3udKbMwfsVdDd6K-zKLTst6hnUPTteERTE4ROeTl-B_7Wiv9X-Swm_hEqbTFZsEp9n0ERTev1I6hwdMA3FYgdDXX5VraZX7JAKGrU/s320/A11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Needless to say, It took a few days to recover from that party. That set me back in my recovery a bit, but not too badly. Which is good because then it was Spring Break and the annual family camping trip to prep for, enjoy, and then clean up after. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsezcBDgwWfG9pZn0EVA5iV_BVEKCiITMbsyjnywMYt8hPeY5x_mdemZv00G5zUfgJ8Uud9fIPKVLZKBqdH6SzUunWyYridbER-uTASaaUlwvSJhnj7y7YXH4o7fAQD6wh6fi2hqFBY5g/s1600/A12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsezcBDgwWfG9pZn0EVA5iV_BVEKCiITMbsyjnywMYt8hPeY5x_mdemZv00G5zUfgJ8Uud9fIPKVLZKBqdH6SzUunWyYridbER-uTASaaUlwvSJhnj7y7YXH4o7fAQD6wh6fi2hqFBY5g/s320/A12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That brings us to today. Here we are in mid March and it's time to plan for the year end production/Gala/Graduation/Graduation Party. Then it's summer and this school year is over.<br /><br />My head is spinning. This is not at all how I expected this school year to go. I thought I'd have some time to do a few things that I'd been putting off until I had more time. I thought this would be the year I had some of that elusive, 'more time', but it remains elusive. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, summer trips will come and go and then guess what we're doing again in October? You guessed it, a WEDDING!! I hope this isn't like that 'If You Give A Mouse A Cookie' book because I'm counting on next school year being a little calmer than the last!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-42688239391274355592017-03-08T11:55:00.004-05:002017-03-08T12:16:58.551-05:00Why I Will Show Up Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjRhGpu5eqtKHU8rLaAMYsfm2DUx_A6qejlQLsXSvYP3ZXysZ7Qt9am-1gz3SruYLqRffXeinHTh8oU2cNDPDTa2XeYn2ral_24m418C_yWhur2gikN2hHmFZpsg_k05u6rx1anb2s4/s1600/64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivjRhGpu5eqtKHU8rLaAMYsfm2DUx_A6qejlQLsXSvYP3ZXysZ7Qt9am-1gz3SruYLqRffXeinHTh8oU2cNDPDTa2XeYn2ral_24m418C_yWhur2gikN2hHmFZpsg_k05u6rx1anb2s4/s320/64.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today I am going to spend some time reading to my elderly father. I am going to
go grocery shopping for my family. I am going to do laundry, wipe the dogs feet
before I let them in, and pick up and put away random stuff. I’m going to set
up the new printer and throw the old one away. I am going to ask my children
how their day was when they get home and celebrate their victories with them
and commiserate with their frustrations. I’m going to cook my family dinner
(but not do the dishes. I’m not crazy. I make the kids do that.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsCItvBBK04W-aIAR_o0J8zephntApkDaEP6OAvfszqUaPTlGq1GiQupmXXTArSQnWwM3SypRF1VJsuGcqzTL3qeLbeul6vxfqa9DE0A24VF7Dfc_3uWciPsQZpy3lqLN2pk0aQoB9nA/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsCItvBBK04W-aIAR_o0J8zephntApkDaEP6OAvfszqUaPTlGq1GiQupmXXTArSQnWwM3SypRF1VJsuGcqzTL3qeLbeul6vxfqa9DE0A24VF7Dfc_3uWciPsQZpy3lqLN2pk0aQoB9nA/s320/54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When my husband gets home I am going to welcome him with
a smile and a kiss and thank him for working so hard every day so I can serve
our family from home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am doing all these things today, just like I do these
kinds of things every day, because that is the job I have chosen. This is the
job I am blessed to have. It is my joy and pleasure and I would not have it any
other way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am showing up today because that is what I have
always taught my children to do. We show up. Is there a job that needs to be
done? Then do it. Don’t look around for someone else to step up. Do it and do
it well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47kIRIedabYgcrEbyPj__YTbfDGXtlOjTufVnM80rxbWyPS1Mm_F6Y7lMQosunRVNE7Rdnh9uOwL8XdTl7HOqZp2SXqwiJbw6Lg6KMHfLTeOFebthe_dqQxkpJHzf4_WeGlLCzawjFIk/s1600/63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47kIRIedabYgcrEbyPj__YTbfDGXtlOjTufVnM80rxbWyPS1Mm_F6Y7lMQosunRVNE7Rdnh9uOwL8XdTl7HOqZp2SXqwiJbw6Lg6KMHfLTeOFebthe_dqQxkpJHzf4_WeGlLCzawjFIk/s320/63.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What kind of example would I be if I sat down today? On
National Women’s Day? If, to show how much I am worth, I suddenly stopped doing
my work? <br />
<br />I am so proud to be a woman. I love being a woman. I love being a mom, a nurturer,
the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, but here is the real truth. I do not do this
work solely because I love my family (though I do) or because I enjoy keeping a
house (though I do). I also don’t think my life as a woman needs to look anything
like yours. God has this work for me and I love it. God may have different work
for you. You do that work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VjIg5HLnTJ8I8-z5jrHWsUvHQWSq5GzbDjzJq4IzH81lXIxi27U9mUh4BsLESWTT6FP0u6Uv8ECuP3LduvOimqi6xAlCgY-QHXj5GGxwXcn8wFAJZp31_VBoeimE8lONa_JfA-Uioik/s1600/67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VjIg5HLnTJ8I8-z5jrHWsUvHQWSq5GzbDjzJq4IzH81lXIxi27U9mUh4BsLESWTT6FP0u6Uv8ECuP3LduvOimqi6xAlCgY-QHXj5GGxwXcn8wFAJZp31_VBoeimE8lONa_JfA-Uioik/s320/67.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will not stop my work today to prove the point that I
am so great and my work is so important, because ultimately I don’t work for
man, I work for God; the God who sent his son to die for my sins. Talk about unappreciated.
Can any woman on earth complain they’re so unappreciated that they came here
perfect and got up on a cross, took up the sins of man and paid for them with
their blood, so that the world could be right with God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn-KPSpCcr3N-j54-SkKMA_AUoAIKj-QyD6j1Rf73_gt_kGiBbn0nlUwN-xFdHWaWf6o27rKdJSi2cYTh1ihqqj_RriN7whOZBhtrMdAgiypcy4UVRm1ydw4qgc3WNNpwBd1nanu8ITI/s1600/70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn-KPSpCcr3N-j54-SkKMA_AUoAIKj-QyD6j1Rf73_gt_kGiBbn0nlUwN-xFdHWaWf6o27rKdJSi2cYTh1ihqqj_RriN7whOZBhtrMdAgiypcy4UVRm1ydw4qgc3WNNpwBd1nanu8ITI/s320/70.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am only one person. I am only one small person. I do
not have a grand stage or a loud platform. I’m just a woman who has chosen to
be a wife and a mom and a house keeper and a teacher and a follower of Jesus
and I try to do my work to the best of my ability, though I often fall short. I
will probably not affect many people’s lives, but I do pray that those lives I
do touch I affect deeply. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1 style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As Mother Teresa, one of my favorite women
and such an example for all people whether you’re a woman or not, said...</span></span></h1>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”</span></blockquote>
<br />
<h1 style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;">That is
why I will show up today and every day I have breath. <o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "candara" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-13758351656148767792016-12-16T12:47:00.000-05:002016-12-16T12:47:01.616-05:00Christmas Finally Arrived <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YclHMNtgrzssJ7a-gvosvxdfNhJ0OOHR3NPjLqUBNcJ80aW3mZ0omWu5UIqZn-VSNDRGwy2h5c8kTUY9Ba3T35I3QaUggkqsKuaSTpjKLPyUOb4Jzr5J5FL4QrmzxVYBgnyr3zuIEK8/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YclHMNtgrzssJ7a-gvosvxdfNhJ0OOHR3NPjLqUBNcJ80aW3mZ0omWu5UIqZn-VSNDRGwy2h5c8kTUY9Ba3T35I3QaUggkqsKuaSTpjKLPyUOb4Jzr5J5FL4QrmzxVYBgnyr3zuIEK8/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night we did one of my favorite things from the holidays:
decorated the tree and put out Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were late in getting this done this year because of the</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Catastrophic Hot Water Heater Failure</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of 2016 and its ensuing mess that took over our lives and my living room for 2
weeks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Picture the
huge, undecorated tree standing in the corner of the living room, surrounded by
every single thing from three bedrooms and four closets. Yeah. It was as bad as you
are imagining. That’s how we started December. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dx_5AgXy85DNkOX8fkeSEzXF_n1OH8HNwi1bsQb0S7lFTf8PWBlJWY6AZ3bLgevgy14OddIE0wZr2FHog_3bxON9FyP2TnVPymxtHKc8EQVL3-UYrd81Z6MYI0IhhqnlqWeC9o51TgE/s1600/IMG_4130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dx_5AgXy85DNkOX8fkeSEzXF_n1OH8HNwi1bsQb0S7lFTf8PWBlJWY6AZ3bLgevgy14OddIE0wZr2FHog_3bxON9FyP2TnVPymxtHKc8EQVL3-UYrd81Z6MYI0IhhqnlqWeC9o51TgE/s320/IMG_4130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be honest,
when it comes time to trim the tree I am usually a bit grinchy about it. Life
is just busy and there <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is so much stuff I have to deal with on a daily basis
that the thought of dragging out MORE stuff makes me feel a bah-humbugish. But
once we get started I love it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiHlYph1F9Cvm0AnNbz6TINQB5USVqW_HJIYDviwpcTOXFdcJVckq3ZrmMzRa4Q2OYSntAqbVQZpoISqn_JIMSWaKGHvS-o6P4EzCdK2Zc5fwlpG5zhCBYhyphenhyphenCMPY3Rql9RPXWFthBw_Q/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiHlYph1F9Cvm0AnNbz6TINQB5USVqW_HJIYDviwpcTOXFdcJVckq3ZrmMzRa4Q2OYSntAqbVQZpoISqn_JIMSWaKGHvS-o6P4EzCdK2Zc5fwlpG5zhCBYhyphenhyphenCMPY3Rql9RPXWFthBw_Q/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t love it
because of the stuff, I love it it because of the people. I love it because of
the memories attached to almost every piece of that ‘stuff’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGa8mrPwX3RDY5viRPAZNCo8B8-1o1NvM7_BBMbx50g-Vn6n8BAV0ECH_9vDNwsYcuttCdQT-3wvced_w7DnrpUpBnftEiXCUM5MaGOaDbPIWCq1v4JrrXcPBCi9V7wfX6azg7-nIq38/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGa8mrPwX3RDY5viRPAZNCo8B8-1o1NvM7_BBMbx50g-Vn6n8BAV0ECH_9vDNwsYcuttCdQT-3wvced_w7DnrpUpBnftEiXCUM5MaGOaDbPIWCq1v4JrrXcPBCi9V7wfX6azg7-nIq38/s320/IMG_4120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our tree is not
fancy, in fact it’s rather shabby. It’s full of homemade ornaments made by fat sticky
little fingers. It’s covered in glued paper crafts and salt dough angles with
names written in mirror image by children just learning to write.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only is it covered in my family’s memories, it has items from my
grandmother (several boxes of glass balls that are from the 50s) as well as
many Swedish ornaments given to us by Dave’s mom. I have panted burlap pictures
that were Dave’s Swedish grandmothers as well as quilted wall hangings made by
my aunt. I have my childhood stocking and many silly ornaments from recent ornament
exchanges with my side of the family. Once we get started and I see all this ‘stuff’
it makes me happy because attached to each is a memory of someone I love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa7cVeAMKCYs3MFWhVgAOQ8hHiFGs3ON5Gcf8PjeNDGMt3SBiH2398gWbCmkp63PwBs9KME90UljRNf41JTQseNPeObFvzQNabP53METKHu-wzCFVU59IC1u4-wh24XvYFw11eeYlCVg/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa7cVeAMKCYs3MFWhVgAOQ8hHiFGs3ON5Gcf8PjeNDGMt3SBiH2398gWbCmkp63PwBs9KME90UljRNf41JTQseNPeObFvzQNabP53METKHu-wzCFVU59IC1u4-wh24XvYFw11eeYlCVg/s320/IMG_4128.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All this is made
even sweeter by the fact that the whole family was there to help. Dave and I, the
girls, Gunnar and Kaytlin, and even Bryce and Haleigh were able to come over to
help. That was a treat. It’s so nice when your kids who are grown and on their
own want to come home (and are close enough to do so!). Dave’s mom was also
here. The last several years she has joined in on our Christmas tree trimming.
I think she misses doing this in her own house. It’s fun to have her because
she remembers so many of the ornaments too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwtJYvndX3kuLkKVk_BraKCOJJMhi5CYg0I24-m8IoZVTN7yArlBwPkcUjhS1ZRdvVC7uje-EHFs6YFPaEpgI0BanSwiO6VKp5aVxupNmXx6IfCDh7Q6QV6Sr7L6-6NM3HXYLdLXqhxQ/s1600/IMG_4139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwtJYvndX3kuLkKVk_BraKCOJJMhi5CYg0I24-m8IoZVTN7yArlBwPkcUjhS1ZRdvVC7uje-EHFs6YFPaEpgI0BanSwiO6VKp5aVxupNmXx6IfCDh7Q6QV6Sr7L6-6NM3HXYLdLXqhxQ/s320/IMG_4139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">This year our tree trimming party was not
fancy. I was gone working or running errands all day and did not get home until
almost 5. We had store bought pizza and salad for dinner. We didn’t have cider
or hot chocolate or Christmas cookies. There was just no time for that this
year unfortunately. But what I did have was my whole little family in my living
room decorating the tree and being sassy and sarcastic and laughing and joking
and singing to the Christmas music while reminiscing of Christmases past while
we prepared for this next coming Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSnULz714x7zmab30AiP2OLU-yQiVA-gZmSD2FuQq_eIV56y1vcDs0StMgIPAWyQKpft7VlUMzBaUGoVQsKiPy-iFfkM4W9LOR6F-4lmUOSpwx35FMnxFUq2XlJYKuKo-x08b3xHmA6Y/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSnULz714x7zmab30AiP2OLU-yQiVA-gZmSD2FuQq_eIV56y1vcDs0StMgIPAWyQKpft7VlUMzBaUGoVQsKiPy-iFfkM4W9LOR6F-4lmUOSpwx35FMnxFUq2XlJYKuKo-x08b3xHmA6Y/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know these
days are fleeting. The kids will all grow up and move out, get married, and
start their own families with their own traditions. I won’t always have every
one of them able to come and participate on our family traditions and I know
this. I think that is why nights like last night are so special. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpxqT-CIJDbrKagbip1uZwJsrsWwXEWepwZe7NmBNacj9RhkHPsFRfCD5W6Z2x0LHcWJUqbXI8bIjL-NGnb4hIgLB-Kqq1AuRV8uXDOJi_SeXPRE-BeogPcZilQH55tzhjRtbGu6UUgU/s1600/IMG_4132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpxqT-CIJDbrKagbip1uZwJsrsWwXEWepwZe7NmBNacj9RhkHPsFRfCD5W6Z2x0LHcWJUqbXI8bIjL-NGnb4hIgLB-Kqq1AuRV8uXDOJi_SeXPRE-BeogPcZilQH55tzhjRtbGu6UUgU/s320/IMG_4132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn’t love
my shabbily decorated Christmas tree any more, because of the hands that put it
up and the memories hanging on it. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-965795081206133702016-09-01T09:03:00.001-05:002016-09-01T09:03:29.581-05:00Thought Guard<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Do not be anxious
about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, <b><i><u>*will guard your hearts and your minds* </u></i></b> in Christ Jesus.</span> Philippians 4:6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILuq-_yIK8fZVzQ_-RwACfl4I8D0M19jTVm8J2Z8CiFvjjTOs1bNqGijNhSIF2Fn7c3YMYFCcuJj_UD8x5cFCRW59AUBKqw5k_h1P3Jzgn6hPGNdWG-er6Vkn4FJbZTX-ufoVt5Ck3TY/s1600/1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILuq-_yIK8fZVzQ_-RwACfl4I8D0M19jTVm8J2Z8CiFvjjTOs1bNqGijNhSIF2Fn7c3YMYFCcuJj_UD8x5cFCRW59AUBKqw5k_h1P3Jzgn6hPGNdWG-er6Vkn4FJbZTX-ufoVt5Ck3TY/s320/1002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve read this
scripture and the verses after it (the whatever verses) many, many times. I have
them memorized even, but today when a friend posted them on Facebook something
new jumped out at me. I have always appreciated these verses and how they tell
us to not worry and to give it over to God, to be thankful for what He’s already
done as we request more help from Him. And if we give it to God He will give us
peace better than we can even comprehend. I mean, that alone is pretty awesome,
but for some reason that last bit jumped out at me today; the idea that the
peace of God, which we cannot fathom, WILL GUARD OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like, how can peace
guard? I mean, isn’t peace is the absence of conflict? How can the absence of
something actively protect?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then I got this
picture in my mind of a security guard standing outside the door of a bank. His
simple presence is causing peace inside. Because he is standing there guarding
who goes in, the people inside feel safe and conflict is absent. So maybe God’s
peace is not the absence of conflict so much as the presence of HIM. If we let
Him, He is standing outside the door of our minds deciding which thoughts can
come in and which thoughts cannot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure that many of
you long-time Christians and especially all my linguist and theologian friends
are nodding your head like, ‘um, yeah, that’s what it has always said right
there, duh.’ But for me, this was kind of an ah-ha moment. Y’all I can’t tell
you how much I needed to think on this today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things have hit turbo
recently around our house; one child getting married in a few weeks, one
graduating high school this year who is also taking college classes, two in
college (all living at home while they attend school so sometimes my house
feels more like a college dorm than a home), a father who is slowly dying of
Altzheimer’s, and a mother in law recovering from her second hip surgery in four months.
Not to mention the day to day running of a house; bills, laundry, doctor
visits, vet visits, broken appliances, cars in the shop, and on and on it goes.
Then filter all of this through an auto-immune disease that causes chronic pain
and muscle weakness and, well, sometimes you get panic instead of peace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a tendency to
look ahead to what’s coming on my schedule and worry about it all. Can I handle
all that is on my plate? What can I take off? Nothing? Oh goodie. (FREAK OUT A
LITTLE BIT!) Then I get a little cranky, snarky, and unloving. All the things
on my plate begin to feel like a heavy burden and not blessings. Chronic pain
can make me forget that the people who are on the to-do list of my life are blessings
from God, not burdens and I don’t want Him to take any of them off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I want, what I
need, is a shift in focus. I need a guard at the door of my mind saying, “No,
freaking out thought, you cannot come in.” “No, thought saying you cannot
handle this, you cannot come in. Have I not always given you enough strength to
handle what I put on your plate? Think about that instead. Think about all the
times I provided for you and enabled you and gave you all the strength you
needed for the task I gave you. Those are the thoughts I am going to let in.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I let my Thought
Security Guard do His job, I will have peace in my heart and my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the things I
am thinking on today. This is the word God had for me almost as soon as my eyes
had opened today. I can’t even properly express how much I needed to hear this and I thought maybe some of you might need to hear it too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t be afraid about
anything. For every fear you have pray, ask, and thank God when you come to
Him, then you will feel a peace you cannot fathom because a thought security
guard will stand outside your mind and heart. ~ The Tricia Translation of
Philippians 4:6</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-51286266468681498552016-06-28T15:45:00.000-05:002016-06-28T15:45:36.931-05:0025th Anniversary Trip to WA State: Leg 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We got up and got moving
pretty quickly on the first morning of our Adventure. We knew there were a few
places we wanted to see on Bainbridge Island, plus we had a 3 hour drive to
Olympia and it was a scenic drive so we didn’t want to be in a rush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We got up and headed to
the nearest coffee place. (Priorities, ya know.) Once we were </span>fueled<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> up we
headed up to the <a href="http://www.bloedelreserve.org/">Bloedel Reserve</a>. This is a place everyone told us we could not
miss. We got there about an hour before it opened so we drove around a bit
while we were waiting. During that drive we happened upon this cute little park
called <a href="http://www.biparks.org/biparks_site/parks/fay-bainbridge.htm">Fay Bainbridge Park</a>. It was amazing! What a find. We wandered out to the
water and I stuck my feet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time ever…well the
Puget Sound part anyway. Have Mercy that was COLD water!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdycvJ8cKHklal6kAzN-NsUJJrcZXeEoPlrIVtcuz72PEVITxiCiTxTLeuUrXuGOY8UPic9POR9x3fqGoMQvX8IPJTDCk023-RqfKMkVgaRqV62mMh9HRrv1TMGrRqSz5vftUf3sA2Tvc/s1600/water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdycvJ8cKHklal6kAzN-NsUJJrcZXeEoPlrIVtcuz72PEVITxiCiTxTLeuUrXuGOY8UPic9POR9x3fqGoMQvX8IPJTDCk023-RqfKMkVgaRqV62mMh9HRrv1TMGrRqSz5vftUf3sA2Tvc/s320/water.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was the sweetest
little beach area. There were lots of giant tree trunk drift wood logs you
could climb on and lots of shells and really cool rocks to collect. By the way,
real love is having a husband who is willing to put rocks in his suitcase
because his wife thinks they’re pretty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_9YjHcB197kwwVrtgjWNuuHnDzk4Dh5RHzXOv5IkqqPktHkrBpjwBEI0L_IKMGFy8fosebqZo_k-wxTnVCQR2WDiqjxTMGJoffqMfMWC_Mx0EC-ZVTRI6c6rQKG-viyhgQyUlWTNWZU/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_9YjHcB197kwwVrtgjWNuuHnDzk4Dh5RHzXOv5IkqqPktHkrBpjwBEI0L_IKMGFy8fosebqZo_k-wxTnVCQR2WDiqjxTMGJoffqMfMWC_Mx0EC-ZVTRI6c6rQKG-viyhgQyUlWTNWZU/s320/43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwLOemy9C6amcCD8mR997_rvJ_GiId1mEufYr0iXec886N5zbZ7A_Q6098iR7mzjrnJqStc7FbR_HkKilH2zwxqC7SWeZGkvkwGD5yKSrDlFI7CDW1D7MedC3JsqjQMJ-oLnQGaBUlWc/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwLOemy9C6amcCD8mR997_rvJ_GiId1mEufYr0iXec886N5zbZ7A_Q6098iR7mzjrnJqStc7FbR_HkKilH2zwxqC7SWeZGkvkwGD5yKSrDlFI7CDW1D7MedC3JsqjQMJ-oLnQGaBUlWc/s320/42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">We found this cool fort
someone had made out of the driftwood and I so wished our kids were there.
Okay, maybe our kids of about 10 years ago. Those kids and their cousins would
have thought they’d died and gone to heaven if they could have camped at this
park and played on that beach and in that little fort!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pJXapMd82t_eDAPcRnKuh8W9nnPPEyFggvSAxdxaymaHeF9Zz1CjpxdODm7gt6PyWpXl1pjG3UjkxiwJvKkVDhPRFmHHviIiUNIS17sHvAfS5cP7i3GIR86EfNTZbE0wdPMQ68tJIwQ/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pJXapMd82t_eDAPcRnKuh8W9nnPPEyFggvSAxdxaymaHeF9Zz1CjpxdODm7gt6PyWpXl1pjG3UjkxiwJvKkVDhPRFmHHviIiUNIS17sHvAfS5cP7i3GIR86EfNTZbE0wdPMQ68tJIwQ/s320/37.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once we’d collect all the
rocks and seashells we wanted, or rather all that someone was willing to carry
in their luggage, we went back to the Bloedel Reserve. <br />
<br />
This place was incredible. Absolutely amazing. It’s a botanical garden on
steroids. This is how I imagine the Garden of Eden. Instead of trying to
describe it I’m just going to show you the pictures. They really don’t do the
place justice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxYYRsEJhu2kNoZJLhGZJMtir9XCsucKlfZKYJ0P0IoZ9xsQqPbW3p56QENswA5bNKc8cKZuLWiUTvXmUcKNiiGxFLChpJtRrjwEAu1WlY4onbkKtQMFBYQYyzfFcrILzgGI4mXolcvs/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxYYRsEJhu2kNoZJLhGZJMtir9XCsucKlfZKYJ0P0IoZ9xsQqPbW3p56QENswA5bNKc8cKZuLWiUTvXmUcKNiiGxFLChpJtRrjwEAu1WlY4onbkKtQMFBYQYyzfFcrILzgGI4mXolcvs/s320/18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoEBxjCU_zElOkWEF-TLYeHuNbMt0wIw09npeKxpJX0gd3N7Ux954Q7akTIpGYaKj9nknOMXJO5YB3MhJLTZaZn0Ou7d4LXMcrRUxKzulxaDzd7o5cAoCseZdOO_KCgEBgqIfS8qWcLw/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoEBxjCU_zElOkWEF-TLYeHuNbMt0wIw09npeKxpJX0gd3N7Ux954Q7akTIpGYaKj9nknOMXJO5YB3MhJLTZaZn0Ou7d4LXMcrRUxKzulxaDzd7o5cAoCseZdOO_KCgEBgqIfS8qWcLw/s320/20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeXm82Wnz9QEB4KhyhEa4nDSAQzDfYvgAT7rFVTEL6bOVXbVeVkt2T4pbH6Tq-i1MIh3JaGmFSl2yrL6hfCTIl5lqTHUbp-z4ZcE2kTrXEIE1qA1AuiCwVlqt9qlf-xztey5brVVW2Vk/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeXm82Wnz9QEB4KhyhEa4nDSAQzDfYvgAT7rFVTEL6bOVXbVeVkt2T4pbH6Tq-i1MIh3JaGmFSl2yrL6hfCTIl5lqTHUbp-z4ZcE2kTrXEIE1qA1AuiCwVlqt9qlf-xztey5brVVW2Vk/s320/21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eJ9-WWT7r3yoOJA9Q1YNtkBm_wTtzA_eKPbsBO7MUDnoQl9RZX66mpGV2LGT8Z2x8hk2cJNcY-lE-tpX3s_fRfrYNHO-Mx1g3MRbCY4MBV2pDraalIC9sJRNC6HQ6jrenKAPwz83OPo/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eJ9-WWT7r3yoOJA9Q1YNtkBm_wTtzA_eKPbsBO7MUDnoQl9RZX66mpGV2LGT8Z2x8hk2cJNcY-lE-tpX3s_fRfrYNHO-Mx1g3MRbCY4MBV2pDraalIC9sJRNC6HQ6jrenKAPwz83OPo/s320/23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtemXEN0oJjMIKneEbzEtdXPC0PA0q_deQyALWbLXyNavc4RIQ3QbBl88atD-K2Mv2Qc0lmmeKaaAhTLT4at-wNkjYDOl3XzCZPSr_JTMu31L5EAytvraLc_5PlbGW34I74nidOsRouKc/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtemXEN0oJjMIKneEbzEtdXPC0PA0q_deQyALWbLXyNavc4RIQ3QbBl88atD-K2Mv2Qc0lmmeKaaAhTLT4at-wNkjYDOl3XzCZPSr_JTMu31L5EAytvraLc_5PlbGW34I74nidOsRouKc/s320/24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWl5jg8alNG2efbywKxX3bM8fch8HzFsjGGNGArA0HX723I7FPL9e9Vs7up5UkWFhL-IGobGGR1pBYqUF4KOwq85_Gp7oZb7AXeAwqidYbaW9F9_c5281oX5pQzM0aFxDtCGVYZmkmAQ/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWl5jg8alNG2efbywKxX3bM8fch8HzFsjGGNGArA0HX723I7FPL9e9Vs7up5UkWFhL-IGobGGR1pBYqUF4KOwq85_Gp7oZb7AXeAwqidYbaW9F9_c5281oX5pQzM0aFxDtCGVYZmkmAQ/s320/25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(These leaves were about 20" in diameter. Larger than dinner plates!)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWFyJpI5sEZTw0sSbBCjYDTBgqRqi2GHoaI97zXyzH3RHPDgUVMaPhZPor2qWMLr7MXNEZrMwzBaMX5hTU7ywpJurqBEGCLSHhjo9f6UGKdO1P4XfHlOGcGv_QuWV568jALZZwFA0Rlk/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWFyJpI5sEZTw0sSbBCjYDTBgqRqi2GHoaI97zXyzH3RHPDgUVMaPhZPor2qWMLr7MXNEZrMwzBaMX5hTU7ywpJurqBEGCLSHhjo9f6UGKdO1P4XfHlOGcGv_QuWV568jALZZwFA0Rlk/s320/34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSn-t444NtC3h0bNCQcOCQ0Kkd_02IXeFBCzTG6cMkCLKr2GhRAeC-GEPZJLfAZoetK9ynsX3qIvCBPWRWgATx10MSvT-kmUPyzrv7Lhla0gKwk8g9bcOF97k6JXdrjklrY0YkiQaVpY/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSn-t444NtC3h0bNCQcOCQ0Kkd_02IXeFBCzTG6cMkCLKr2GhRAeC-GEPZJLfAZoetK9ynsX3qIvCBPWRWgATx10MSvT-kmUPyzrv7Lhla0gKwk8g9bcOF97k6JXdrjklrY0YkiQaVpY/s320/35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Can't you just imagine Adam and Eve strolling down this path?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While we were on the path we suddenly heard all the squirrels
and birds screeching and tweeting loudly. We stopped and listened because Dave said,
“Something nearby is bothering them.” Sure enough, we spotted a Barred Owl! It
was just sitting there pretty as you please looking right at us. Before I could
get a good photo he flew over to another tree that was back-lit by the sun. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a photo of him. He’s right in the center. You can
kinda see his tail off to the left of the trunk of the tree. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLacQGqsQV1IMLhLHZKaFB_SjOz025tMJsn6lb6st7-zkW1XfLQfsUC5-zkAJcQTFL6uAFPLH0V6t3rHiQrp36wgxM5QrWJnCQYrKtMFAgmu1bE8tqkuN005CTWCONZJgIi5ycJBWmBQ/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLacQGqsQV1IMLhLHZKaFB_SjOz025tMJsn6lb6st7-zkW1XfLQfsUC5-zkAJcQTFL6uAFPLH0V6t3rHiQrp36wgxM5QrWJnCQYrKtMFAgmu1bE8tqkuN005CTWCONZJgIi5ycJBWmBQ/s320/32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this video you can see him fly off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpVRwDjTWgKTTj96jCMMYFhubnwaOd9xCunF10P1css8Ov-S4omuf1K0HXPsbl7-1RrlsCQ1mJ1eUcgTp41g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was really cool!! I LOVE owls. We have a pair of Great Horned
Owls that occasionally land on our tree in front of our house. I love hearing
them, and they way they fly is so majestic!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we were done we went back through the main house and I
mentioned to the curator that I had seen an owl. She said I was probably
mistaken. “You never see the owls here.” She said. I showed her that video and she was amazed.
She said she’d worked there for 10 years, even gone on some owl walks they put
on, and she’d never seen one. They know they are there, but no one ever sees
them. Apparently I’m the owl whisperer! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we were done there we grabbed some food and headed down
the 101 to Olympia. The drive, with the top down and the sun shining and the
temps hovering in the 70’s, was the absolute perfect way to spend an afternoon!
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GxTTpYMAbzXoCWosxIAggrYBHlO_04tA90NsNrg48fnVkxkEUDoQqfE1DKccDRB4kkRnksTu8pTB9D-eEZwHMtmqaFzJBkUBzKFxixA8HHi7OoJif1pR6HgDBRQ5Qou02QSo3OGMN4/s1600/BAinBridgeIsland+Map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3GxTTpYMAbzXoCWosxIAggrYBHlO_04tA90NsNrg48fnVkxkEUDoQqfE1DKccDRB4kkRnksTu8pTB9D-eEZwHMtmqaFzJBkUBzKFxixA8HHi7OoJif1pR6HgDBRQ5Qou02QSo3OGMN4/s320/BAinBridgeIsland+Map.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got to Olympia in the early evening, checked into our
hotel, and went looking for a place to eat. We found a cute little restaurant
with an outdoor patio that served some amazing fish and chips. We sat out there
for a while, leisurely enjoying both our food, the weather, and people
watching. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At one point Dave said that he was looking at the quintessential
Pacific Northwest male getting out of his car. I could not see him, but I
described him to a T! Mid-length hair, beanie, dark-rimmed glasses, flannel
over a T-Shirt, skinny pants, not denim but some other material like khaki or corduroy
(they were corduroy) a messenger or cross-body bag of some sort, and sandals.
The shoes were the only thing I got wrong. He was wearing sneakers. We had a good laugh at this. Every area has a
type. We all know what the typical Texan looks like! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We ended the day sitting out on the patio of our hotel watching
the sun set reflect off of Mt. Rainier. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPpYtqiWKVdcf40PKDgKawQn4ziuKRy_vS-tdL3o_DQ5XJknHOuiNwv00wOnakTgpEBUbUQZWDDESsBEcLNWNSTb29_-49RqEBtabNh5NMnwCRyeugR7EH5Eyx21n9HPGQBTG0E6pX1w/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPpYtqiWKVdcf40PKDgKawQn4ziuKRy_vS-tdL3o_DQ5XJknHOuiNwv00wOnakTgpEBUbUQZWDDESsBEcLNWNSTb29_-49RqEBtabNh5NMnwCRyeugR7EH5Eyx21n9HPGQBTG0E6pX1w/s320/44.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we checked out the next day I asked the lady behind the
counter what Mountain I had seen the night before and she told me it was Mt.
Rainier and that I was very lucky to have seen it. It’s pretty rare to be able
to see it from the hotel. Usually it’s socked in behind clouds and fog. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a red letter day for me! An owl AND a mountain! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_oiTqLo4luBWyy9Wpiwu8cbPkrUGleRRd82jn63tSU0xFofqrOZ6xoGFm23d7BRg9I6De_FjZmdXrPtTdUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Snaps Day 2</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-62670636718869626672016-06-27T13:49:00.002-05:002016-06-28T15:46:01.815-05:0025th Anniversary Trip to WA State: Leg 1As mentioned in my earlier post, Dave and I went to the Olympic Peninsula a couple of weeks ago to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We had such an amazing time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ0_o9qy1GKoh5oRI9L-Z5jI08mhzZbzDnvafLNJkYHOl71psLJEv5tf4LYZEgpUcYqZw5ULI7CMM-xiW9oxa7NXIlyVF4H7oA2tJKxihlmi-TvIQf1Dh_K_uXlA2cZdxpzhyphenhyphen0tzC9Zg/s1600/141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ0_o9qy1GKoh5oRI9L-Z5jI08mhzZbzDnvafLNJkYHOl71psLJEv5tf4LYZEgpUcYqZw5ULI7CMM-xiW9oxa7NXIlyVF4H7oA2tJKxihlmi-TvIQf1Dh_K_uXlA2cZdxpzhyphenhyphen0tzC9Zg/s320/141.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(There were poppies everywhere. They're such a pretty little flower.)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
I’ve decided there are several kinds of ‘trips’; there are work trips, family trips, vacations, and adventures, just to name a few. Most people go on Vacations. Vacations are relaxing trips where you go to a place and rest and relax and recharge; like a beach, or resort, or a mountain cabin.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We Staalsens do not vacation. We adventure. We had a lot to see and do in a short time so we kept moving. We were in a different hotel every night as we made our way, counter clock wise, around the Olympic Peninsula.<br />
<br />
We landed in Seattle and quickly hopped the ferry and got out of the city and onto Bainbridge Island spending our first night there. From there we drove to Olympia, but instead of taking the quick way we went up and around the 101 driving alongside a fork of Puget Sound to our east and Olympic National Park to our west. It was worth it. It was such a beautiful drive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OGkYRkuFjl0Rhjp1dqti6BLb3UO3_rLVHFpEX3LX9NMDozXerfWb22_BhE4VkNYn028OoocOBpDTERj8vBHlc4hCWJzQ6yf9fccWz9DYzIm97y88T3uw-p0Bf9k3RgrHJLdZ-O7Xq_0/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OGkYRkuFjl0Rhjp1dqti6BLb3UO3_rLVHFpEX3LX9NMDozXerfWb22_BhE4VkNYn028OoocOBpDTERj8vBHlc4hCWJzQ6yf9fccWz9DYzIm97y88T3uw-p0Bf9k3RgrHJLdZ-O7Xq_0/s320/12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(View of Seattle from the ferry across Puget Sound)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From there we drove to Ocean Shores, my first time to see the Pacific Ocean!! From Ocean Shores we drove up to Forks where we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. From there we drove up to Neah Bay for the day, (I wish we’d stayed a night here, it was unbelievably beautiful!) and then went to our hotel at Port Angeles. Next we hoped over to Port Townsend, then from Port Townsend we took a ferry to Whidbey Island and stayed with some friends who recently moved up there, and from Whidbey Island we drove to Seattle and flew home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkkb4afi107cud2dKFjMGsnNt0ymN3F7B3Z-aNuTaIylLU-j6dkhWML13v4w1l9If_mmjxmjIUq4sYjK90iWPf2grD27nFhuVfvqHRq5cGhps8sbgZ3c7F5rdLuAzk6At9LlsqhgjdCU/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkkb4afi107cud2dKFjMGsnNt0ymN3F7B3Z-aNuTaIylLU-j6dkhWML13v4w1l9If_mmjxmjIUq4sYjK90iWPf2grD27nFhuVfvqHRq5cGhps8sbgZ3c7F5rdLuAzk6At9LlsqhgjdCU/s320/11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Our very conspicuous rental) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You guys. I people watched the heck out of Washington State. It was so interesting! Let’s start with Settle. Oh boy. Seattle is a typical American city in most ways. Everyone’s in a hurry and there are a LOT of people. There is a great deal of pedestrians in Seattle. I’m guessing the not 100° temps encourage that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobLCwSwoLCodEh4x6VPrFRWuv4j8gCn-8FOzJr8TPkSvH3E__Aq7d5BUqpCQVlIxHEAcXjkaauYyy4IzeHqvzmZvQ4mh7M55tlLtHF03_iSKe9s1fUOTsICKWI8Ucz8jfG1YafCtz6ME/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobLCwSwoLCodEh4x6VPrFRWuv4j8gCn-8FOzJr8TPkSvH3E__Aq7d5BUqpCQVlIxHEAcXjkaauYyy4IzeHqvzmZvQ4mh7M55tlLtHF03_iSKe9s1fUOTsICKWI8Ucz8jfG1YafCtz6ME/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bainbridge Island Marina selfie. Yes, we were <i>those</i> obnoxious tourists.)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
One odd thing about Seattle in particular, and Washington State in general that we noticed is that they honk, a LOT, but they are fairly friendly drivers and don’t seem to exceeded the speed limit. This was quite a conundrum for Dave. He kept looking around for traffic cops because everyone was going at or under the speed limit. That was very strange for these Texas drivers. Here you go 80 or you get run over, but rarely will anyone ever honk at you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUw-oDqBmuAQA6k_vA3oCcvY0azsyGy3MlvywK74544M4MZP-_UreBmg25kRJOJaDCi5YrAgHntSoMCQs3DiTpbuqAKQeyncbEhLBzxVcNle6ZOK5Dqq-xObP-wbKNsWPKYckbDz9O2Y/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUw-oDqBmuAQA6k_vA3oCcvY0azsyGy3MlvywK74544M4MZP-_UreBmg25kRJOJaDCi5YrAgHntSoMCQs3DiTpbuqAKQeyncbEhLBzxVcNle6ZOK5Dqq-xObP-wbKNsWPKYckbDz9O2Y/s320/13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Bainbridge Island Marian. This was the view from our table.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The first day of our adventure was filled with transportation; lots of different kinds of transportation. We flew into SeaTac, walked quite a distance to the light rail, took the light rail downtown. (Thanks for the tip, WA friends, to rent the car away from the airport. That saved us a lot of money and the hassle was minimal.) Walked 3 or 4 city blocks to our rental car place, drove the rental car to the ferry, crossed Puget Sound from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, and finally drove around Bainbridge Island until we found a place to eat and our hotel. Let me tell you, that’s a lot of traveling for this homebody!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ1Ougin3L3864toEZ_j3PPHGLw89PntyA7Do0hOFO7G3_KryCcOOmODs9azBapVpEOjJKM9bDGHSskIlLHa2-f63nAsjpotk3GT3OSXvK1OXfQn7ZQFtUhMvCQkAmsg2lXApl8YK0vI/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ1Ougin3L3864toEZ_j3PPHGLw89PntyA7Do0hOFO7G3_KryCcOOmODs9azBapVpEOjJKM9bDGHSskIlLHa2-f63nAsjpotk3GT3OSXvK1OXfQn7ZQFtUhMvCQkAmsg2lXApl8YK0vI/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Dinner on Bainbridge Island.)</span></div>
<br />
We ate dinner in a cute little restaurant bar that had a patio overlooking the marina. We were dumbstruck at the beauty at this point so we took several photos of the water, the cute little sailboats, the huge trees (turns out, these things were nothing compared to what we would see later in the week). We were such tourists, y’all. While people were kind, I’m pretty sure they were inwardly rolling their eyes at our touristy obnoxiousness.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVJIKHxxRCpKhtXHvpDsslaTTkvK5Uwc995fGqa9Go36Lm-o7w2XRYsC0HPwD46AgY8_3oD_3hyphenhyphen-zTqS2LuZMnXdhLZIe2sovTRaTvbCw2unHvjwuPBhRgMRdbsLYND8HR02LlJxtep8/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVJIKHxxRCpKhtXHvpDsslaTTkvK5Uwc995fGqa9Go36Lm-o7w2XRYsC0HPwD46AgY8_3oD_3hyphenhyphen-zTqS2LuZMnXdhLZIe2sovTRaTvbCw2unHvjwuPBhRgMRdbsLYND8HR02LlJxtep8/s320/17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This tree was so HUGE.)</span></div>
<br />
We were pretty tired at this point so we headed to our hotel thinking we’d watch some tv until bedtime and then go to bed early. We had a big day the next day. Funny thing was, after we watched tv for a bit we were both super tired but the sun was still up. Finally I glanced at the time and it was 10pm and the sun was finally going down. I didn’t realize how light it stayed in WA! That first night, we slept like the dead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsdAh77gt0lFUlJ3iOGvFV8tDHtBJTjuf6GFnHZSbGPmpmUxMMKhtFr1XN8fzroJIIwXd1Ab89AubO9pSCcbHj5ijA8fYKCZeXlmqyXM3yaFBPtV-VY_Vxa8UEXoP435jKzh_WxHn2eY/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsdAh77gt0lFUlJ3iOGvFV8tDHtBJTjuf6GFnHZSbGPmpmUxMMKhtFr1XN8fzroJIIwXd1Ab89AubO9pSCcbHj5ijA8fYKCZeXlmqyXM3yaFBPtV-VY_Vxa8UEXoP435jKzh_WxHn2eY/s320/16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(It went up for miles.)</span></div>
<br />
Here are a few of my general observations from Leg 1 of our trip….<br />
<br />
1. Make sure your suitcase’s wheels work properly or you will be that crazy tourist lady who is dragging an unwieldy suitcase all over the city. I was quite a spectacle trying to get that dumb thing through the less than even city streets, up and down escalators, and in and out of planes, trains and automobiles. It was lovely.<br />
<br />
2. WA is lacking in good BBQ. Our rental car guy told us this. He’s from Tennessee. He said, “Here is some advice from one southerner to another. There is no good BBQ here. You may see a sign for BBQ, but trust me, it’s not BBQ. Do not eat it. If you want good BBQ wait until you get home.” We took his advice.<br />
<br />
3. While WA is lacking in BBQ, they are flush with Asian food. We had some of the BEST Thai and Indian food on our trip, and we also got to have some actual Indian, as in Native American food!<br />
<br />
4. While having a cool convertible was fun, I would have chosen a less flashy one had we been given a choice. We’re already tourists who have no idea where we’re going or what we’re doing, getting a canary yellow Camaro convertible is just overkill. There was no being stealthy. You were not going to miss us coming or going.<br />
<br />
5. Some states seem annoyed by tourists (I’m talking to you Colorado), the people of WA seem to enjoy them. We met some really friendly locals along our journey. They would ask where we were from and give us advice about what to skip or what we should not miss while in the area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyApHw9Uvg7TmRpmjhRjrI3XZWFn9CKyDRLjcP0IBw1mjFaGuHvHQj7ymNCC_oA_hd7enXeQ0CFTe5IdBBxwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Snapchats from Leg 1)</span></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-86190669721001985832016-06-24T14:07:00.003-05:002016-06-24T19:27:55.778-05:00Come Fly With Me...At Your Own Risk<div class="MsoNormal">
As many of you know, my family travels a lot. We love to go to new places and see new things, but we usually drive. We have an RV and all the kids are good travelers. (and one of the dogs, don’t ask about the other).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINyPw2VjQr9rSsY1Iqj5wlFSVDJ6l10UO0d0y6DXVlSmiPkR-ev_iApObN8RXHAJDj8oqwJ8lBCDOPFFcjz3j2p2rNTVXPcFo_cpTK8rKmHrR0L_9eqUwtL8OFowbVQoRM7sPqAwxJeY/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINyPw2VjQr9rSsY1Iqj5wlFSVDJ6l10UO0d0y6DXVlSmiPkR-ev_iApObN8RXHAJDj8oqwJ8lBCDOPFFcjz3j2p2rNTVXPcFo_cpTK8rKmHrR0L_9eqUwtL8OFowbVQoRM7sPqAwxJeY/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note the smile. Clearly this was BEFORE we took off.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The problem with driving is that it takes time. Normally the getting there is part of the vacation so it’s okay, but this trip was different. This trip was Dave and my 25th Anniversary trip and I wanted to go to Washington State, specifically the Olympic Peninsula. I have wanted to go there since I was a little girl. Growing up in Ks and Tx, the thought of huge trees and ferns the size of small cars and all that lush greenery was just something I had to see. So, we booked the flights, booked the hotels, and rented the car.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9dtJ_kRx9pXY1L-SJ9lps1ujhaeX7veE27yXwlp1zXMwb1TgnzObOibVkV7jBtyNn07Xqmq14OyiFKuarWuUkNC1Sv5Lrf8nNKA1IMTFDcBN6-S7pLX3glpkklQGPGtD7YAUmMpdFB0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9dtJ_kRx9pXY1L-SJ9lps1ujhaeX7veE27yXwlp1zXMwb1TgnzObOibVkV7jBtyNn07Xqmq14OyiFKuarWuUkNC1Sv5Lrf8nNKA1IMTFDcBN6-S7pLX3glpkklQGPGtD7YAUmMpdFB0/s320/2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s the thing. Turns out, I’m not the best flyer. I’d only done 3 short round trip flights before our WA trip and the latest one was pre 9-11. Things have changed a wee little bit since then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first problem was that I didn’t prepare properly. We were sitting in seats that had a bit more leg room which was nice, but I didn’t realize that meant that there was no room for anything under our seats so my carry-on bag had to go in an overhead bin making it essentially unavailable for the 4 hour flight. My book, extra phone battery, and headphones were in there. So I had nothing at all to do for 4 hours but worry and feel every little shutter and bump of that plane.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmt4-LlkAzXahDUBjLox3M0kqH5H3sy3V38_pXBV8aGqc-Su9sGSDI-ZLA0qMT2boEcBq84PvSChhtfUwXLizY7rrekOmd7Ia4s61IoblV4PGIZxieyCg2d7pBAHQuypzseuuIOj0nLA/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmt4-LlkAzXahDUBjLox3M0kqH5H3sy3V38_pXBV8aGqc-Su9sGSDI-ZLA0qMT2boEcBq84PvSChhtfUwXLizY7rrekOmd7Ia4s61IoblV4PGIZxieyCg2d7pBAHQuypzseuuIOj0nLA/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have never enjoyed the take-off and landing parts. I pretty much gripped the plane seat arm rests like my life depended on it and tried to remember to breathe. Once we were level, the turbulence started. Dave says these were nothing. No big deal at all. I beg to differ. I’m pretty sure we almost fell out of the sky several times. Each time I would gasp and grab Dave’s arm and dig in my nails. You can imagine how enjoyable this was for my neighbors and especially Dave. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zXZ7zZUnNYe_YBuZvWtI6RNKXZPHTy5_ESz4_2pL5cCUXBPX_9kgzRArPnEuUYuctko3QrVJ7o72xIF3lGgGceXtdNksKyX0K4yBIlvapwsM0FuhkcIzAFVUKkOrwMhUsLAzk2I4JjY/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zXZ7zZUnNYe_YBuZvWtI6RNKXZPHTy5_ESz4_2pL5cCUXBPX_9kgzRArPnEuUYuctko3QrVJ7o72xIF3lGgGceXtdNksKyX0K4yBIlvapwsM0FuhkcIzAFVUKkOrwMhUsLAzk2I4JjY/s320/8.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I tried so hard to talk myself out of it. I was looking around at all
the other passengers and no one else was freaking out. Heck, there was a kid
behind me having a jolly old time! “Lots of these people look like frequent
fliers and they don’t seem worried so I should just calm down.” I told myself.
This line of reasoning did not work so I moved on to a new line of thinking.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLoTCHM2TDLcI0TXEtFUxZPsCWmXoAvyshB3owYioMeMkE1dL61-vaV0cmgU3St3I2tN6ARi8xH1P5TlV_56ltWRQTapz5d46joTDcyo4nIiym5UFtcsY1ziNkg-6zHKuJrAbhAvHeCg/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLoTCHM2TDLcI0TXEtFUxZPsCWmXoAvyshB3owYioMeMkE1dL61-vaV0cmgU3St3I2tN6ARi8xH1P5TlV_56ltWRQTapz5d46joTDcyo4nIiym5UFtcsY1ziNkg-6zHKuJrAbhAvHeCg/s320/7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
I know where I am going when I die, and my kids are all almost adults and would do okay without parents, plus they have awesome aunties and uncles who would take care of them so it’d be okay. Now this may seem morbid, but sometimes when my brain decides to do a little freak-out it helps me to play the ‘what is the worst thing that could happen’ game. That way, I’ve considered what is the worst possible outcome and dealt with it. But then I realized that just dying in a plane crash and leaving the kids behind was not really the worst thing that could happen. We could crash over the ocean and I could slowly die of dehydration and exposure, all alone, and finally get eaten by sharks. Forget the fact that our journey did not take us over the ocean. Sometimes the ‘what is the worst thing that could happen’ game backfires. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfI9pSe2SjDJpPFrM2xctuyvlhHQ6oqsmCwWDbWSMKbakG5LSzsdRUPzRt5GPgpJEIGMVqulV0V4mDs8UrqGkDqG75gYYSoDYLBrbquiJlf2gEth2nQZpwCaWSP6O59mPTA-3QGW4tIM/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfI9pSe2SjDJpPFrM2xctuyvlhHQ6oqsmCwWDbWSMKbakG5LSzsdRUPzRt5GPgpJEIGMVqulV0V4mDs8UrqGkDqG75gYYSoDYLBrbquiJlf2gEth2nQZpwCaWSP6O59mPTA-3QGW4tIM/s320/9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Once we landed, I was okay. All was fine. My brain went back to its normal, rational state and we had a wonderful vacation (more posts about the actual vacation coming later).<br /><br />I did make a few mental notes for the plane ride home to make it a little more tolerable. Apparently, so did Dave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">We got to the airport a little early for the flight home and Dave took me into the Chili’s near our gate and ordered me a glass of wine. I think he might have been okay with getting me pass out drunk so he could just carry me on the plane and strap me in my seat, but he settled for the 1 glass I was willing to drink.<br /><br />Also, this time I had my book, headphones, and extra iPhone battery in my hands instead of my bag and I’d also put my credit card information in my phone so I could buy wifi. This was a good tactic. I still gripped my seat like it was my job on the way up and down, and I did still occasionally gasp and grab Dave’s arm, but the ability to surf the internet, watch a movie, and perhaps the wine, helped me relax so I did not spend the entire flight acting like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">One of the things I do when I’m a bit fearful is to sing hymns or worship songs in my head. On the first flight I tried this while we were taking off and I could not remember a single song. NOT ONE SONG. I must have a million hymns and worship songs memorized that I could sing at the drop of a hat, but apparently they all fled my brain once we began to fly down the runway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">On the trip home I was prepared for this eventuality. I had my phone all keyed up and ready with my Spotify Worship Music station up. As soon as we started to take off I hit play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Y’all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The song Oceans is what played. Let’s ponder those lyrics,
while considering I was in the process of being hurtled trough the sky in a
metal can at ridiculous speeds and altitudes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">You call me out upon the waters<br />The great unknown where feet may fail<br />And there I find You in the mystery<br />In oceans deep<br />My faith will stand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">And I will call upon Your name<br />And keep my eyes above the waves<br />When oceans rise<br />My soul will rest in Your embrace<br />For I am Yours and You are mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Your grace abounds in deepest waters<br />Your sovereign hand<br />Will be my guide<br />Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me<br />You've never failed and You won't start now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">So I will call upon Your name<br />And keep my eyes above the waves<br />When oceans rise<br />My soul will rest in Your embrace<br />For I am Yours and You are mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: white;">Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Let me walk upon the waters</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Wherever You would call me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And my faith will be made stronger</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">In the presence of my Savior</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">So, as I’m being catapulted through the
sky, I am listening to this song and arguing with it! I’m all, “NO! Lord, don’t
call me out on the waters! Just get me out of this plane!”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;"><br />
“Also, I don’t want my feet, or more importantly THIS PLANE to fail!”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">“Um, and could I go ahead and find you
here in this plane and not on the rising ocean waves? I don’t want to go in the
ocean!”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">“And, can your grace abound in cramped
airplanes instead of deepest waters, cuz remember, I don’t want to go in the
water!”</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">“And can we just forget that whole
refrain? Because I don’t want any of that! I don’t want trust without borders
because that sounds scary! And I really don’t want to walk on the waters and
listen, I don’t want to go deeper, I just want to get off this plane! And as
much as I love you, Lord, I kinda want to go home and not into your presence at
the moment.”<br />
<br />
You guys, I am a joy to fly with.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-11598716705070813252016-04-08T15:17:00.001-05:002016-04-08T15:21:33.663-05:00A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: My Thoughts on Modern Feminism<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORpdQdgnH1X2VeTvw9a26pNQcF4UP38cMjhfvr38JofnedyZWrUl6IizmA-srsX2VYGZc0YgccZ0tnhQCFWCwuh8jPJzAZDfm_vUAmWYNeI4mGRk2bdnrb4NOf8YW5Nmk6eiiKZLlg6Y/s1600/girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORpdQdgnH1X2VeTvw9a26pNQcF4UP38cMjhfvr38JofnedyZWrUl6IizmA-srsX2VYGZc0YgccZ0tnhQCFWCwuh8jPJzAZDfm_vUAmWYNeI4mGRk2bdnrb4NOf8YW5Nmk6eiiKZLlg6Y/s320/girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughters and I have been having many conversations
lately about Feminism. What is it? Is it needed in America today? In our world
as a whole? Is it Christian? I’m not twenty anymore. I have a little life
behind me. I’m not full of wisdom. I
have a long, long way to go before I can say that, but I do feel that with age
I am beginning to recognize wisdom when I see and hear it, and I am also able
to recognize a fad or a bully pulpit when I hear or see it. The thing that
stands out to me about feminism is its selfishly demanding attitude, its
divisiveness and disunity, and its lies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "gabriola"; font-size: 13.3333px;">In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!</span><br />
<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "gabriola"; font-size: 13.3333px;">Philippians 2:5-8</span></blockquote>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus Christ himself became a servant instead of demanding
his rightful place as GOD. Am I better than Jesus? Who am I to make demands
when Jesus himself became a servant? I wonder if we’d even still be talking
about this Jesus guy if he were just one more person who was born on this
earth, grew up demanding to be recognized, yelling about his greatness, and
then being put to death. Probably not. We are still talking about him because
he came to this earth and served those who were beneath him, loved those who
were unloving to him, and died for the very people yelling ‘crucify him!’ so
that they could live. By that example, we Christians should never demand our
own way. We should be the hardest working, most loving, most humble people in
the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">Feminism upsets me not because it is too big, but because
it is too small. Not because it’s fighting for the rights of women, but it is
fighting for the rights of <i>only </i>women.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Do you want to help women? Then help all people.
Do you want to change the world? Then start with changing hearts. People don’t
need to hear more rhetoric about why women are getting a raw deal; the world
needs to hear about Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you want to change the way women are treated in
developing countries? Feminism is not your answer, Jesus is. Don’t shout from
the rooftops that women are being oppressed and should not take it anymore,
shout from the rooftops to EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD that Jesus loves them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">Feminism will not
change the culture of an andocentric society, only the love of Jesus will.
Yelling loudly for all to hear, posting on social media, starting arguments with
all your friends and loved ones about why women are oppressed might make you
feel better or make you feel like you are doing something to change the
problem, but I assure you this is simply adding to the noise. If you want to
make a real, lasting change give to a missionary that is translating the bible
into a developing country's language. Volunteer at a refugee help group. Just
telling women they’re oppressed does not help them. The love of Jesus changes
lives; men’s lives, women’s lives, and children’s lives. Don’t just aim for
helping women, aim for helping humanity. Don’t be part of the noise, be the
hands and feet of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">Modern Feminism, just like its past counterparts tells us
that we can have it all. We can do it all. We SHOULD do it all. If we are not,
we are letting half the population down. Modern Feminism tells women that if
they have the audacity to put another human being’s interest above their own
they are doing it wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">To this I say a whole-hearted hogwash! Every child deserves
to be someone’s top priority, deserves to be nurtured and loved. Every child
deserves a mommy. Nothing makes me more incensed than hearing people talk about
that poor sad woman who gave up everything to stay home. She lost her career,
her possibilities, wasted her education, just to be a stay-at-home mom. A child
deserves his parent’s best. An education is wasted because a mom chose to pour
it into her children? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">One bit of wisdom that I am learning in spades right now is
how fast childhood truly is. Eighteen years may seem like an eternity when you
have an infant, but in no time you will be looking over college acceptance
letters and wondering where the time went. Work will be there. Careers will be
there. You will have given up something, you will have lost some momentum to be
sure, but it will be so worth it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this modern age there are so many ways to skin a cat, so
to speak. You don’t have to throw away work-you when you have children and
become only home-you. There are more ways than are even imaginable to make it
work. Women don’t have to give it all up and stay home with their kids. There
are so many, many ways to work and parent these days. But for the moms who do
decide to stay home for the pre-school years, or all the years, you are not
doing it wrong and don’t let anyone tell you that you are. Back when I started
having kids some 20 odd years ago the mommy wars were in full swing; the Stay
At Home Moms vs. The Working Moms. I’m
here to tell you, no one wins in war. You do you, but more importantly, you do
what GOD wants you to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">And that right there is the crux. Feminism has made itself
God. Feminism says how we should live and what we should believe and how we
should speak, and that is God’s job. I pray if I’ve taught my children anything
it’s that the best place for them to be is in the center of God’s will. He will
direct them. He will direct them to who they should marry, what jobs they
should have, if they should stay home, if they should work, and on and on it
goes. They, be they boys or girls, should follow Christ’s example and humbly
serve others, love others, and put others before themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0f243e; font-size: 12.0pt;">If we submit ourselves to the Lord, if we humbly serve one
another, if we desire His unity and His truth for <i>all </i>lives, well, then feminism won’t even be a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-66261870310479563742015-09-14T12:12:00.002-05:002015-09-14T12:18:18.343-05:00Doing A New Thing: Chemistry 101<div class="MsoNormal">
Being in my 19th year of homeschooling and having only the baby of the family left to educate, we're mostly on auto-pilot when it comes to curriculum choices. Why break what ain't fixed, as they say. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But instead of keeping with that eloquent maxim, I decided to use a different science curriculum with Annika this year. I am a
big fan of Apologia’s Science Curriculum generally, but it’s a lot for a
dyslexic child to digest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wants to be a nurse so I really want her to understand
and learn the work, not just get it done so she can move on, which often
happens when she is taking an Apologia course at our co op. Not because it’s a
bad course, on the contrary our co op science courses are amazing and the
teacher is awesome! The problem I’ve found with my dyslexic students is one of
timing. We have to fit the whole curriculum into 30 weeks. I wanted to do
something at home this year so that if we need to stretch it out into the
summer we have the ability to do that. We can go a bit slower if we need to and
I think that’s going to make a big difference. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year for a variety of reasons (not the least of which
being that the timing of the Chemistry class didn’t work very well with her
schedule) we decided to try something different. A curriculum I found called <a href="http://www.the101series.com/chem/">Chemistry 101</a>. We’re starting week 4 and so
far, I am very pleased. Best of all, ANNIKA LIKES IT!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DxLdIUp472eWlK08nvRiwKaR5kcVqAWmS-qFXfQy3lFM0D2OpYBIw3OOEVvhPFamrTThGvQgYo8MIt8qtmjOEPoIfEwvYgXOhc3R49s8zeUXyOgk5bTWVExYHFJnLDh8suoJlQvUhCo/s1600/chem+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DxLdIUp472eWlK08nvRiwKaR5kcVqAWmS-qFXfQy3lFM0D2OpYBIw3OOEVvhPFamrTThGvQgYo8MIt8qtmjOEPoIfEwvYgXOhc3R49s8zeUXyOgk5bTWVExYHFJnLDh8suoJlQvUhCo/s320/chem+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Chemistry 101 program is entirely DVD
based, but they have a CD with PDF documents you can print out to create a
binder like this. Also, they give you a clear path to making sure that even though
this Chemistry is a bit nontraditional, it meets requirements for a high school
credit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DH43TjNPbVtrtxJATdJRfJv0fGVPi-5CvQwlH6_k0XSYmgj7Dyy1rvRIBEazj__NhJHL7pgI0bgrOfFrwAxnjMiXVKYxRs3WQoupsmxsoJobhvkqEs7yQVDVhrrmp95wU5Mf3fAoGak/s1600/Chem+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DH43TjNPbVtrtxJATdJRfJv0fGVPi-5CvQwlH6_k0XSYmgj7Dyy1rvRIBEazj__NhJHL7pgI0bgrOfFrwAxnjMiXVKYxRs3WQoupsmxsoJobhvkqEs7yQVDVhrrmp95wU5Mf3fAoGak/s320/Chem+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The tabs read: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Research, Lab Reports, Discussion Questions, Quiz</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also added these two books to our curriculum to beef it up
a bit. That Elements book is SO COOL!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGjbfSeKZ45z_0g4GiPpsu7Z2swDbaCs34a0NPFqmAZoQjhtG-qf2QG74cJrQ9R4DbOT4oeu2pUTy8eaIVbLfoo5u-NTrVBsvJSwpcTtfYBDl1r36uaZDhCuoR-1YuVQeMIZViLQOBic/s1600/Chem+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGjbfSeKZ45z_0g4GiPpsu7Z2swDbaCs34a0NPFqmAZoQjhtG-qf2QG74cJrQ9R4DbOT4oeu2pUTy8eaIVbLfoo5u-NTrVBsvJSwpcTtfYBDl1r36uaZDhCuoR-1YuVQeMIZViLQOBic/s320/Chem+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is what a typical week looks like for her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDROUGE4XXZKN9n14PRIontS6aLvzCLISTal1b5E6Jc0zuMlmGwGCPdIH3Ikbq9riFyRkoT6oqx6AEL0M_vRjC5RUUnOzv_JLNXDzVF6nzgfuVgtJ3hrg6T0tI7EZ30-I_C2AArWmu0E/s1600/Chem+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDROUGE4XXZKN9n14PRIontS6aLvzCLISTal1b5E6Jc0zuMlmGwGCPdIH3Ikbq9riFyRkoT6oqx6AEL0M_vRjC5RUUnOzv_JLNXDzVF6nzgfuVgtJ3hrg6T0tI7EZ30-I_C2AArWmu0E/s320/Chem+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sometimes she will do experiments for the lab herself and sometimes I will have her watch a video of them being done. It all depends on her workload and availability of materials. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I said, we're only a few weeks in, but so far so good!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*This is not a compensated review, nor are there any affiliate
links in this post. I’m just putting this review out there for any other
homeschooling parents that might be looking for a science alternative to
Apologia. </i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-40585707132207512382015-07-12T13:27:00.000-05:002015-07-12T14:28:39.474-05:00The Surprise Party That Wasn’t<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="chapternum"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">Hebrews 12:1-3</span></i></span><span class="chapternum"><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles. And let us run</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with perseverance</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the race marked out for us,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="en-NIV-30215" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">fixing our eyes on Jesus,</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the pioneer</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before
him he endured the cross,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">scorning its shame,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="en-NIV-30216" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinners, so that you will not grow weary</span></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and lose heart.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0S6WmFByND0XGYFezihz9g8QILQXuPnN0sWwvUtiyv4tWU7k3llaNt-WleekBv6VmAEoSVh_n9Az6iXzYay9BhniJbotqpBqtMNGt3OdUuHGkHTkuApIPevVKLmu1aQJfW9GdJpx-5w/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0S6WmFByND0XGYFezihz9g8QILQXuPnN0sWwvUtiyv4tWU7k3llaNt-WleekBv6VmAEoSVh_n9Az6iXzYay9BhniJbotqpBqtMNGt3OdUuHGkHTkuApIPevVKLmu1aQJfW9GdJpx-5w/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night we threw a big, surprise 18</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
birthday for Evelyn. We worked so hard to keep it a surprise, but when you
leave one of the invitations lying around, chances are good she’s going to see
it. Oh well, she was a very good sport and acted surprised, but fessed up later
that she knew. We all had a good laugh. So really, it was the Surprise Party
That Wasn’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnP0CHEdAVozw2epxSs1FhSWZ6-GOkxX2_7atx7IvSAb2wz5kJQDRMPng9PAumw0LGirZCdVHlPjsUXhVUWxYFdOLVSMjpfM8HvfSG27fY9L4zA6nf_WWlccthieZK3YVgJc31ZuXm2Y/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnP0CHEdAVozw2epxSs1FhSWZ6-GOkxX2_7atx7IvSAb2wz5kJQDRMPng9PAumw0LGirZCdVHlPjsUXhVUWxYFdOLVSMjpfM8HvfSG27fY9L4zA6nf_WWlccthieZK3YVgJc31ZuXm2Y/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regardless of the surprise, or lack-thereof, we
had a great time. It was a simple swim party with snacks and cake, but it was awesome
because of the people who were there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcerrOZUzNgJEHbfqBbOJrCNE1n2yJckZvDVvAtNlMBXY7c6P1XJNeMS3qqz1Woz-OUIeQg-YUDazfHA_d8BEILbvrHg0GfIXUOHUfIirDXJf_Mp-_df01-wP-6wn_ZWyfoIic5SrnGWI/s1600/IMG_0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcerrOZUzNgJEHbfqBbOJrCNE1n2yJckZvDVvAtNlMBXY7c6P1XJNeMS3qqz1Woz-OUIeQg-YUDazfHA_d8BEILbvrHg0GfIXUOHUfIirDXJf_Mp-_df01-wP-6wn_ZWyfoIic5SrnGWI/s320/IMG_0284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This party was mostly Ev’s friends from the youth
group and her cousins. There were probably 40 to 50 people there I would guess.
As I looked around and watched the kids playing volleyball in the pool, and the
kids doing various diving high jinks on the other end of the pool, and the kids
sitting around the fire pit, and the group sitting on the porch, all laughing
and generally having a great time, and I could not help but think of the verse
in Hebrews that refers to a ‘cloud of witnesses.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKVB5APr8POMXeHs3OQU2SZg3cUWuvhSpuB1ee7wcnzKSU4dM9MwarqznKLtbUJVZiuroddQcDtAzjJ0AshnrF3tZxN-k_0AfCsY8_EnV7_EbqSANSesvzL7b6DZVJNvVf9CEPD2ZbBA/s1600/IMG_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKVB5APr8POMXeHs3OQU2SZg3cUWuvhSpuB1ee7wcnzKSU4dM9MwarqznKLtbUJVZiuroddQcDtAzjJ0AshnrF3tZxN-k_0AfCsY8_EnV7_EbqSANSesvzL7b6DZVJNvVf9CEPD2ZbBA/s320/IMG_0286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realize those verses are referring to great men
of the Bible who had paved the way, given the example, and cheered each other
on to ‘run the race with perseverance’ but I see this current group of kids as
sort of a contemporary Cloud of Witnesses as they serve a similar purpose for
my children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif05Mp15FUqSWS41tsPO3n5K6RNxWtOER5pleMV_PgZMBPw1F0RBpGbwbS4WTl9kTTNkvmZlvpaRBgvsTdjzu3NT37Vlg7GVXEgN5H3ugonR6gcIsujPcHH0qoUnIb5YU_chZbN7AKcUc/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif05Mp15FUqSWS41tsPO3n5K6RNxWtOER5pleMV_PgZMBPw1F0RBpGbwbS4WTl9kTTNkvmZlvpaRBgvsTdjzu3NT37Vlg7GVXEgN5H3ugonR6gcIsujPcHH0qoUnIb5YU_chZbN7AKcUc/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They show up. They celebrate each other’s
victories and mourn each other’s failures and losses and remind each other to
not grow weary and lose heart. They are truly an awesome group of kids. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm8emmuOJdJF93LYoNROny9S_DLJLrQpMMKhGzEFct4bGetMxY2YDSwWX_oCQnZ0ZkhAs8z2x56kjmsk7exooPry3LcLshpOE7fCOuPF58VDP22zcUzHmh-ARg7dE29gCThTrWOdDnDk/s1600/1912155_10153531788457859_4199441112991966960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFm8emmuOJdJF93LYoNROny9S_DLJLrQpMMKhGzEFct4bGetMxY2YDSwWX_oCQnZ0ZkhAs8z2x56kjmsk7exooPry3LcLshpOE7fCOuPF58VDP22zcUzHmh-ARg7dE29gCThTrWOdDnDk/s320/1912155_10153531788457859_4199441112991966960_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things that always amazes me is the
youth leaders in our church. They make it a point to show up to these personal
events. They’ve been at all of my kids graduations and many of their graduation
parties and birthday parties. They don’t just show up for five minutes and
leave either, they stay and participate and have fun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILrJjbXag2Zuy3cUKiQscX-jgoRgDQZ8sBFshtlhCkGnCmTGFECGcL7i4qY4bx1dldBoTrZne3hlgYcTeICYXYMeuVwowmVgS3tZV1Du1g5gGEmliJJp2XrbxprwKGG6bJqumHs60Mfk/s1600/Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILrJjbXag2Zuy3cUKiQscX-jgoRgDQZ8sBFshtlhCkGnCmTGFECGcL7i4qY4bx1dldBoTrZne3hlgYcTeICYXYMeuVwowmVgS3tZV1Du1g5gGEmliJJp2XrbxprwKGG6bJqumHs60Mfk/s320/Party.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night we all sat around and discussed the
various bathroom situations on many of the mission’s trips they’d each been on.
It quickly devolved to discussing various sickness and the results of those
sicknesses in sundry third world countries. Let me just say, God Bless America
and its health care system and excellent plumbing. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKqTieH0rNAbp72Fqym66nfYFxIfFhSlBSxo04ZOfUhlDIOPs8WEMY5XhJIJE2Gy-LkxNzZMrC2tgPsZvTWw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The point is, even though the conversation literally
went to crap, everyone had a great time of good, clean fun. And most
importantly, Evelyn felt loved and celebrated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I stood in my backyard and surveyed the
goings-on, I said a little prayer of thanks for the people God has put in my
children’s lives. We could not be more blessed. I don’t think it necessarily
takes a village to raise a child, but it most definitely takes a cloud of
witnesses. And God has given my children a very rich group who is with them on
this race, and cheering them on.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I did a terrible job getting photos because I was having so much fun! These are the only ones I have, and they hardly show any actual people. Whoops!*</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-81281483937546517462015-04-06T11:34:00.004-05:002015-04-06T11:44:46.017-05:00And Peter<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgmGGNqpEY5G1hBAaK1Lo_tmJb4PBJS7MngqRqZ98LiFoQwMLvCCB4uAwwnghzxeXFpRgYMBLfJvMwf5Og9rD0Hx4gtFOJs9aED_QfMxkUIf28B5a5w9moP6pIMgXl53LfHP5AslkPs/s1600/peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgmGGNqpEY5G1hBAaK1Lo_tmJb4PBJS7MngqRqZ98LiFoQwMLvCCB4uAwwnghzxeXFpRgYMBLfJvMwf5Og9rD0Hx4gtFOJs9aED_QfMxkUIf28B5a5w9moP6pIMgXl53LfHP5AslkPs/s1600/peter.jpg" height="320" width="111" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples <i><b>and Peter,</b></i> ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. </span><span style="line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">Mark 16:5-8 </span><span style="line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">(Emphasis mine)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">Most of us have read this passage several times. This is the passage my pastor spoke on yesterday at Easter service, along with most of the pastors around the world I assume. But Pastor Curt pulled out those two little words and centered his sermon around them. These are two of my very favorite words in all of the scriptures. ‘…and Peter’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">Peter is my favorite. I love Peter. I identify with Peter. Peter is what I like to call the Unlikely Disciple. He’s an ear-cutter, a questioner, a speak-first-think-later disciple, an I’ll-tell-Jesus-how-to-do-his-job disciple, and lastly, he was a denier disciple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">I imagine Peter felt like what he’d done, denying Jesus, (“Yeah, I’m not with him, that *expletive* *expletive* *expletive.*) was as bad as Judas handing Jesus over to be crucified. I would have felt that way. If that angel had not expressly said …”and Peter”, do you think Peter would have considered himself to still be a disciple of Jesus? Would he have gathered up to meet with them? To finish the work Jesus had given them? I doubt it. He felt a failure; worthless, out of the loop. He’d finally done it. That was the last straw. He was no good to Jesus now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">But the angel said, "…and Peter".</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">And that right there is the beauty of the gospel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">We can’t be too far gone for God to reach us. Too far gone for Jesus to love us. There is nothing we can do to earn his love, and there is nothing we can do that will make him stop loving us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">Whenever I feel that way, too far gone, I imagine God instructing His angel to say…</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 5.05pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.1999988555908px;">…"and Tricia. Make sure to say, and Tricia". </span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.15pt; margin-bottom: 5.05pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.15pt; margin-bottom: 5.05pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.15pt; margin-bottom: 5.05pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-6171622722723171512015-02-13T10:58:00.001-05:002015-02-13T10:58:48.558-05:00Far Too Easily Pleased<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5r0Kke_SAm95nXipdfUL5RiNHqeLFxxqffHlvL5G9KlH6Uqq3QUzwtaVXNfvpTSIJ0zn0ZcKh8FRa2s_sKvPKoLlo6EroiTLCzI2z908eoJVAoR7BloXNKHEFcs4f7YdNWDyCJjBQE/s1600/pleased.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5r0Kke_SAm95nXipdfUL5RiNHqeLFxxqffHlvL5G9KlH6Uqq3QUzwtaVXNfvpTSIJ0zn0ZcKh8FRa2s_sKvPKoLlo6EroiTLCzI2z908eoJVAoR7BloXNKHEFcs4f7YdNWDyCJjBQE/s1600/pleased.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8326946447594640287.post-13098893120185398702014-12-30T12:32:00.000-06:002014-12-30T13:36:12.303-06:00In A Word<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9fHJyzCO5gwVtYzKmLzZhlBjbHFzDPv20PsuJjSWKGHmxb1H6X42xP071F7uyGJJg7B4_UKkPqqtieHopqg5cxT12OlJXZuU-pvRLm0zCpY1uS6WeX7HKnjvS2G0QwZstYIcSV4lDEI/s1600/embrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9fHJyzCO5gwVtYzKmLzZhlBjbHFzDPv20PsuJjSWKGHmxb1H6X42xP071F7uyGJJg7B4_UKkPqqtieHopqg5cxT12OlJXZuU-pvRLm0zCpY1uS6WeX7HKnjvS2G0QwZstYIcSV4lDEI/s1600/embrace.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I like to choose a word for the year. It’s something I’ve been doing for a while now. <a href="http://hilltophomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-word-this-time-with-pictures-i.html">One of the first words I chose was ‘courage’.</a> That year, I was baptized. I’ve been a Christian most of my live, but the thought of getting in front of people, well, no thanks. But that year, my children decided they wanted to be baptized and I decided I needed to be courageous and join them. It was awesome. A memory we will all share.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last year was ‘gentleness’. This word was given to me by my bible study leader. She randomly assigned each of us a fruit of the spirit that she would pray over us all year. I took this as a sign and adopted that word. Not sure how successful that was. I would not describe myself as ‘gentle’ or ‘meek’. I want to be. God has taught me much in this area this year. I wonder if those lessons are outwardly visible. I hope so.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This year I’ve been praying and wondering what the word should be. Last night I got it. It just came to me, a whisper from God I think. I did not like this one. I wrestled a bit. Then I began my search. I googled it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEJ1TWJjiEKDRXcT9NOt3wG4nMUzm9G9Qcckh2bEeda_YDTtwSbu6JE3dEwrH_Vx_0ehsvuft3zG79IqwD3IhxP9IyBE16J7uLGC2uROycuuUKi3vX4F3qv4AF4gURwhWCWI8IEFXdhM/s1600/embrace-definition1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEJ1TWJjiEKDRXcT9NOt3wG4nMUzm9G9Qcckh2bEeda_YDTtwSbu6JE3dEwrH_Vx_0ehsvuft3zG79IqwD3IhxP9IyBE16J7uLGC2uROycuuUKi3vX4F3qv4AF4gURwhWCWI8IEFXdhM/s1600/embrace-definition1.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can feel the change coming. I’ve felt it for a while, but it’s stronger now. I think I’ve reached the ‘rip off the band aid’ portion of change. I don’t like it. I have been a mom for 23 and a half years. I have homescooled my children all the way through. I have laughed, cried, lost sleep, prayed, and loved every single second of it. Even the hard bits. I’d go back and start over if I could figure out how. I love being a mom. I love my kids. Not only do I love my kids but I genuinely like them. They’re funny and spunky and silly and smart and just all around awesome people to be with. But you know what? They’re not really kids anymore. They’re 23, 20, 17 & 15 and in 2015 things are going to change. Drastically. I can feel it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My kids all still live at home. I love it. The boys have been doing their college while living at home and I feel like that’s been a gift. They come and go as they please, pay a bit of rent, help out around the house, it’s a good system. It took some work to figure out how to transition from parent to a sort of roommate, but I think we’ve done a fair job. I love having them here. But in 2015, Bryce will finish his schooling and fly on into his adult life. Gunnar is already spreading those wings putting out applications to Fire Departments far and wide. Eventually one of them is going to hire him (lucky will be the departments that gets him!) and he too will fly from the family home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Evelyn will officially become and adult, and be graduating high school in 2015. Somehow I have a harder time seeing my girls as adults. Maybe I’m more protective of them. She will start college in 2015. Probably from home, but anything is possible. She’s growing up. Very soon she too will fly from home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Annika will turn 16 and get her driver’s license in 2015. She is a go-getter, that one. There will be no holding her back once she has her own wheels. She’s already talking about colleges far away from home, near a beach if she has her way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Change is coming and it’s coming fast. I’ve had more than my share. I’ve had my kids home longer than most. I have good, happy, healthy, Jesus loving kids. I’ve been blessed far and above what I deserve. I know this. It’s time. I know. But I hate change.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhpFju-HBXluqoK4Ckq80QcmAyrfE5wYEH2zLOrH9QMfjlJ0zYjgr2M5PPfMv3CjKVxSij6pb5iAkQOE1ZZGFKxzJbJI-iroBUfcrekSS85Rue167jnW8w4YGw4d4WN2l4K3wIshZ44Y/s1600/embrace-change1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhpFju-HBXluqoK4Ckq80QcmAyrfE5wYEH2zLOrH9QMfjlJ0zYjgr2M5PPfMv3CjKVxSij6pb5iAkQOE1ZZGFKxzJbJI-iroBUfcrekSS85Rue167jnW8w4YGw4d4WN2l4K3wIshZ44Y/s1600/embrace-change1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
God’s working on me, though. I know I have a choice to accept this change or fight it. Either way it’s going to happen, it’s really just about how I’m going to respond to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dave and I had kids right away. We never were those fancy-free newlyweds. The time is coming soon where we can just think about each other. Do what we want. Go where we want to go. Eat what we want to eat. Talk about what we want to talk about whenever we want to talk about it and not worry about listening ears. I know this new phase of life is going to be great. It’s going to be wonderful to just be his wife. It’s going to be wonderful to watch and see who my kids become as they move on to the next phase of their lives. I have no fear about what is coming; I know it will be wonderful. But for me, change is always hard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R7gEZHl2pEFhpOJgdnIWoU3kkgxo60r_ZgXjXVgGLcpWNG37Edue235DKQbMtddoErKWQXEwhkVSM8aB6urxi9aQcGt3Fy4sKhGnrcxT3Es1QC6XIQ_OIk5Dekbhp7GOaZHd10TGaIM/s1600/embrace_final-960x700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R7gEZHl2pEFhpOJgdnIWoU3kkgxo60r_ZgXjXVgGLcpWNG37Edue235DKQbMtddoErKWQXEwhkVSM8aB6urxi9aQcGt3Fy4sKhGnrcxT3Es1QC6XIQ_OIk5Dekbhp7GOaZHd10TGaIM/s1600/embrace_final-960x700.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> So this year, in 2015, I will choose to </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>embrace</i></span><span style="text-align: start;"> the change.</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1