tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91616101744357169562024-03-13T23:33:37.953-07:00This Life I Call MineStacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-28970715571705074592015-08-31T16:43:00.002-07:002015-09-01T04:49:37.329-07:00Homeschooling And a Few Recipes<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homeschooling for our family is a new normal - well,not sure if I should call it a normal yet! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided that I'd like to share with y'all about our homeschooling experience throughout this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would have asked me even two years ago if I would consider homeschooling, I might have looked at you a little funny.That was definitely NOT on my list along side mothering! ;) Lets just say God has a way of changing mind and attitude as He sees fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With our move to Texas we decided to give homeschooling a shot. There were a few things that made us lean in that direction. A big one for me was that we fell in love with the Abeka Curriculum and the fact that we could put two children through school for a price less than it would have cost to put one child through private school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as we discussed it more, it sounded more and more appealing to me to go ahead and try it,give it a fair chance and see how it goes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the time to start got closer, I found myself dreading it more than I wanted to :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we finally took a day to do some school shopping I did find my excitement again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are now starting our third week of homeschool and I will admit there are mixed emotions. Today I was dreading it. And sometimes I find myself whispering things of frustration under my breath ;) But I can't say that there is a one day that went just horrible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes there are tears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes frustration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days take extra prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's stretching and at the same time it can be a time of growing if I allow it to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But most of all, if God brought us to it, He will bring us through it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are lots of good and funny things about it too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love it that I don't have to leave the house at a certain time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The funny things the children say at times are entertaining and brighten the day.For example, Jack and Jill may or may not have been the first people God created. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's definitely a journey and I want to embrace it with JOY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is there something that you thought you would NEVER do if you had a choice?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me just say that if I can home school , that's a sure sign that if God wants you to do a "Never" then His grace will definitely be there :) :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of school, my little sister entered seventh grade this year.How is that even possible??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for the recipes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I tried two new recipes that were a hit with this mama :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got married to my husband it didn't take long to figure out that no-bake cookies were a favorite around their house growing up. It was even said that there was a certain brother that made a batch and hid them under the bed.I assume it was to ensure that he got his share ;) He's a great guy but I guess he was serious about his no-bake cookies! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are not a sugar free home but we do like to cut back if we can.And I'm not here saying these are the healthiest snack ever...but a persons got to have a no bake cookie every now and then, and I feel alot better about eating <a href="http://frugalfarmwife.com/article/healthy-no-bake-cookies/" target="_blank">these</a>.Give them a try with an open mind :) If you're married to a man that knows his no-bake cookies, well then, he will detect the difference.But that doesn't say he won't love them! :) :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second recipe I tried was <a href="http://www.bloomingonbainbridge.com/2012/11/cornbread-101-how-to-make-perfect.html" target="_blank">this</a> fabulous,wonderful,melt in your mouth cornbread! :) Yes, I loved it that much!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the next time you cook a pot of chili, make this cornbread.Slather it it with butter and douse it with honey.Your mouth will thank you! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">****A quick edit here****** I forgot to mention the cornbread recipe turned out to be a really stiff batter. Not sure if it was me or the recipe :) A little extra milk fixed that right up to a better consistency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need to run and feed the little mouths around here now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May God's grace run deep for you this week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><3 - Staci</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-24908286513549102792015-06-17T10:29:00.003-07:002015-06-17T10:29:59.800-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"My thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 55:8-9</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been awhile since I even stopped by my own blog :) But I thought I'd just stop by with a </span><span style="font-size: large;">quick little update for all of our friends out there who really have no clue what is going on in our lives right now :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most of you know that my Dad died almost a year ago. I can't believe it's been a year already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In many ways the last year has been extremely difficult.But it's also had it's good times! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We felt that God is leading us to move to Texas to be closer to Mom, so in about 3 1/2 weeks we will be Texas bound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has been a difficult decision. 6 1/2 years ago we made the move here to SC. We fell in love with our church and friends that we have here,and we thought we were settled to raise our family :) so it's sad to say good bye and start over in another place, but at the same time we are excited to follow God's will and are very,very thankful for the time we did get to spend here in SC!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These years have been years of growing for us, and looking back I think God was preparing us for this day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So if you think about it, just say a prayer for us as we pack up (hopefully that'll all fall together! :) ) and as final preparations are being made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~ Staci</span></div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-85028578956133175612015-01-14T11:18:00.001-08:002015-01-14T11:24:38.265-08:00Traveling With Kids<span style="font-size: large;">This year we've had our share of traveling!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know about you, but for me,traveling with three kids can seem to take almost every ounce of energy I have till we reach our destination! :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I knew that fall and winter we were going to have two major trips to take.</span><span style="font-size: large;">First off, traveling to Ohio for Thanksgiving.And then to Texas a month later for Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt like I wanted to spend some time getting ready and organized for these road trips.Maybe I could cut out some of the whining and crying,and maybe,just maybe make it go a little faster.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I set to work browsing pinterest and diy projects. So in case you have a trip coming up, or you're looking for some quiet time activities I'll show you what I came up with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>1. Felt Car Mats</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went to dollar tree and bought each of the children a cookie sheet, $1 a piece. I had found ideas for felt car mats that I thought were so cute. And I set to crafting.It's not difficult at all! It just takes time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you browse pinterest and do a search for felt car mats, you will find plenty to choose from! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also at Dollar Tree I found a pack with maybe 10 to 12 mini cars that worked perfectly for these mats.</span></div>
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(you will have to excuse the picture quality! I am not a professional after all! ;) )</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>2. I Spy Jar</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Very simple.I went through Hailey's polly pockets and picked out about 25 mini things to hide in rice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To make it more fun I added food coloring to the rice,baked it a little bit to dry it.Added some silver balls actually intended for cookie decorating.But they worked just fine in the rice. Then I hot glued the lid onto the jar to avoid spills.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5fbC8bAFHQ/VLayevTYvmI/AAAAAAAABQc/_DUvIpXyA-g/s1600/007-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5fbC8bAFHQ/VLayevTYvmI/AAAAAAAABQc/_DUvIpXyA-g/s1600/007-1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took a picture of the mini things and then they had that card to check off the items as they found them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YwIlaXzqaQk/VLa1yubI-ZI/AAAAAAAABSA/i1W_jJoZlg4/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YwIlaXzqaQk/VLa1yubI-ZI/AAAAAAAABSA/i1W_jJoZlg4/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*if you laminate your pages, the kids can use a dry erase marker to mark off things as they find them and after they are done that will easily wipe off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>3. Scavenger Hunts,Road Sign Bingo and Restaurant Bingo</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UD-BPEVE7U4/VLayklxLrUI/AAAAAAAABQ0/_5gwmyEAFb8/s1600/011-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UD-BPEVE7U4/VLayklxLrUI/AAAAAAAABQ0/_5gwmyEAFb8/s1600/011-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find free printables </span><a href="http://3boysandadog.com/2014/05/road-trip-printables-for-kids-restaurant-i-spy/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"> here</a><span style="font-size: large;"> for the bingo and scavenger hunt game cards.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHEYj_T7Jyw/VLaypwZ-tnI/AAAAAAAABRE/SBmHRpRsZJA/s1600/013-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHEYj_T7Jyw/VLaypwZ-tnI/AAAAAAAABRE/SBmHRpRsZJA/s1600/013-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZBZU1reOmM/VLaymns49rI/AAAAAAAABQ8/maOxCmVEoCs/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bZBZU1reOmM/VLaymns49rI/AAAAAAAABQ8/maOxCmVEoCs/s1600/012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>4. Puzzles</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also found some cute puzzles at Dollar Tree.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2D3MIeqq5k/VLayrWhOYII/AAAAAAAABRM/Std0IURiVGg/s1600/014-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2D3MIeqq5k/VLayrWhOYII/AAAAAAAABRM/Std0IURiVGg/s1600/014-1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I took the pieces out of the box and glued magnet pieces to the back of each individual piece.This way they can use the cookie sheet to put the puzzle together, and hopefully the piece will stick onto the tray and they will not always have to reach down to grab a stray piece that fell.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFta5PG8yqQ/VLaytsD0OzI/AAAAAAAABRU/SSxE8DUQZPk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFta5PG8yqQ/VLaytsD0OzI/AAAAAAAABRU/SSxE8DUQZPk/s1600/015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>5. Tic-Tac-Toe</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I cut a simple tic tac toe game out of felt.I don't know about your kids,but my kids like this game.Even if the one of them doesn't totally get it! ;)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r0iNyW-f3ME/VLayhjO0XBI/AAAAAAAABQs/tm1Spjs3rKc/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r0iNyW-f3ME/VLayhjO0XBI/AAAAAAAABQs/tm1Spjs3rKc/s1600/010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>6. Felt Puzzle</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-actAk6eOqK0/VLa4DtexfII/AAAAAAAABSM/VclD4crzz-0/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-actAk6eOqK0/VLa4DtexfII/AAAAAAAABSM/VclD4crzz-0/s1600/009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I cut a simple rainbow puzzle out of felt.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PafA4j56TKQ/VLayfdLI1QI/AAAAAAAABQk/aapUITcXpek/s1600/008-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PafA4j56TKQ/VLayfdLI1QI/AAAAAAAABQk/aapUITcXpek/s1600/008-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>7. Book Activites</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One lady had the idea of having your child draw a picture of something for every state you drive through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I liked that idea and found some leap pad notepads that had space for a picture and then lines to write a story or something about the picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Braxton and Hailey didn't draw for every state we went through but it was still something fun for them.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpsY0WC4U8k/VLayXQaICPI/AAAAAAAABP8/IosmEc1-EuU/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpsY0WC4U8k/VLayXQaICPI/AAAAAAAABP8/IosmEc1-EuU/s1600/004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also found some word searches and hidden picture books.If you have an Ollies anywhere near,that is a great place to find some of these things for cheap!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsDa9qRHzK8/VLayXnUSasI/AAAAAAAABQA/DiY-IXHsXng/s1600/003-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsDa9qRHzK8/VLayXnUSasI/AAAAAAAABQA/DiY-IXHsXng/s1600/003-1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>8. The Question Game</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found free printables <a href="http://www.themeasuredmom.com/would-you-rather-for-kids/" target="_blank"> here</a> for a game of "Would you rather". Some were funny questions, some were just plain old questions.But the kids loved it and got a kick out of it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>9. Movies</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W13FmOmSyZo/VLay0Flt0jI/AAAAAAAABRs/iIGwxarBvXc/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W13FmOmSyZo/VLay0Flt0jI/AAAAAAAABRs/iIGwxarBvXc/s1600/018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And of course I stuck in some movies for those times I just didn't feel like entertaining or helping along with the other activites! :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>10.Fishing Game</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5O2UR7hkDfs/VLa-lMRVFuI/AAAAAAAABSc/LR2k8qot2CQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5O2UR7hkDfs/VLa-lMRVFuI/AAAAAAAABSc/LR2k8qot2CQ/s1600/002.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just an easy felt pond on a green page of felt.And lots of little fish with magnets glued on the inside. I took a yellow no.2 pencil and wrapped and glued twine all around it for the fishing rod.At the end of the line I glued another magnet to "catch" the fish. A good activity for the toddler in the vehicle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>11. Good Behaviour Pins and the Hugs and Kisses Jar</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have pictures of these but I simply took clothes pins,one for each child and clipped it to my sun visor. I told them if they can keep those pins up there with good behavior,then at each gas stop,if their pin is still there I will pay them with a gold coin. (chocolate coins from Dollar Tree :) ) We did that for one trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also had a little pill bottle that I painted.It was the Hugs and Kisses jar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My plan was to make it a "chill pill jar" and put some nasty candy in and for offenses from the mouth, the offender would eat a piece of the yuckiness as punishment (I know,I'm mean like that!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, lets just say, I have a family of sweet teeth! It didn't seem like I could really find a candy to make that idea work,and I wasn't about to feed them jelly beans that taste like vomit, let alone putting myself at risk to eat those! I'll be truthful,there's times my mouth says things it shouldn't,and I was putting myself under the same punishment as them. (I'm nice like that!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So as I was pondering it one day,trying to figure it out,the grand idea came to mind of a hug and kisses jar. Inspired by Hershey Kisses :) I decided they can each have a pile of kisses to start and if they speak rudely or unkind,they will give the person they were talking to a "kiss" from their stash. (I have a little sick humor like that! ;) ) At the end of the trip,whatever stash they had left was theirs for the eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They loved the idea!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJaVIJVxbxM/VLayxnC_AdI/AAAAAAAABRk/YK4ZF1eyjPc/s1600/017-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJaVIJVxbxM/VLayxnC_AdI/AAAAAAAABRk/YK4ZF1eyjPc/s1600/017-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I took everything I got together and put it in one big box.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQCw0YjDYuU/VLay2Ll5A1I/AAAAAAAABR0/S61R4eVXMRY/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQCw0YjDYuU/VLay2Ll5A1I/AAAAAAAABR0/S61R4eVXMRY/s1600/019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now,with all these good ideas,they really were! I would do a few things different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within the first few hours I was sick of switching out activities! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And because I had spent so much time making all these great things,my blood pressure raised a little,when halfway through the trip the activities were scattered and at risk of being stepped on and possibly ruined. I know,I know...so incredibly crazy of me! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I decided that next time, I would split the activities up into individual back packs,that way they could help themselves a little better and I didn't have to be twisting around in my seat the whole trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And,I would decide in my heart before the trip,to take it lightly if something gets ruined.Hey,that's life.Especially life with kids.No need to waste a few precious minutes over something so futile!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now that our trips are over, I use the activity box for a quiet time box. Something to pull out while I'm making supper, or those times that I really just need some quiet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was worth the time spent to make the activites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XywSkgLXGeg/VLa_pb70AbI/AAAAAAAABSo/yl7UsCpjjDU/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XywSkgLXGeg/VLa_pb70AbI/AAAAAAAABSo/yl7UsCpjjDU/s1600/003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYVau20J58/VLa_vAtEh1I/AAAAAAAABS4/l9vmkQjQZCo/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYVau20J58/VLa_vAtEh1I/AAAAAAAABS4/l9vmkQjQZCo/s1600/008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And just because I think they are cute kids,I'll leave you with one last picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8IRULS7ySc/VLa_tMdNYKI/AAAAAAAABSw/V4dH_9bdmRM/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8IRULS7ySc/VLa_tMdNYKI/AAAAAAAABSw/V4dH_9bdmRM/s1600/005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~Staci</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-48606763230006384352015-01-13T20:16:00.001-08:002015-01-13T20:21:49.479-08:002015 - One Day At A Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a New Year started,I found myself a bit apprehensive.Perhaps even a little bit fearful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What will this year hold for us? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Will this be a good year or another year marked with pain?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some-days fear lingers near.Uncertainty wants to crowd out trust in my sweet Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But then I remember, I must only take "One Day At a Time."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"One Day At a Time" will be my theme song this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know God is with me.He goes before me.I have nothing to fear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My prayer for 2015 is :</span></div>
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If I have wounded any soul today,</div>
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If I have caused one foot to go astray,</div>
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If I have walked in mine own willful way,</div>
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Dear Lord,Forgive!</div>
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If I have uttered idle words or vain,</div>
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If I have turned aside from want or pain,</div>
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Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,</div>
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Dear Lord, Forgive!</div>
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If I have been perverse or hard,or cold,</div>
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If I have longed for shelter in the fold,</div>
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When thou hast given me some fort to hold,</div>
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Dear Lord, Forgive!</div>
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Forgive the sins I have confessed to thee,</div>
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Forgive the secret sins I do not see,</div>
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O guide me,love me and my keeper be,</div>
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Dear Lord,Forgive! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year (13 days late) :)</span></div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-47614593654940203152014-12-19T04:15:00.002-08:002014-12-19T04:15:20.484-08:00The Cross,Grief and Christmas in Heaven<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not gonna lie. This Christmas season has proven to be extremely difficult!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night last week I finally fell apart! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was crying to Joel, telling him how frustrating it is to me that I don't feel the Christmas Spirit this year, how I was dreading to face Christmas without dad and everything else that looked so horrible to me that night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was stretched,with way more than my weak self wanted to handle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And those are the nights when grief seems to hit hard!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For so long I'd been thinking about Christmas and how it's going to be without dad, but I was able to kind of push it to the back of my mind.Now here we were, two weeks away from it and it hit me full force that this Christmas is going to be so different!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm usually one who LOVES Christmas! I like to pack our weeks with making chocolates and going to local nativity scenes or driving through lights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm about making traditions with the family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I know, Christmas isn't about chocolates and lights and passing out goody plates, but it's fun, it adds to the spirit of Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this year, EVERYTHING I was doing was taking much,much more effort. I just couldn't handle the stress of even the simplest things! And I was not okay with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To top it off, in the few weeks before that I just felt like God was so far away. Or...more like<u> I </u>was so far away from God.I prayed but it seemed my prayers didn't go far.I wanted so much just to feel His presence. So one day I just kind of told God where I was at. I don't remember my prayer exactly but I think I asked to feel His presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>I need Him.I wanted Him.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And God came through, just like he always does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That night while I was laying there in grief, I was looking at the door leading to the bathroom, and I saw a perfect cross. It's been there all along,and maybe I noticed it before, but not like I did that night! God touched my heart.That cross to me meant <u>Jesus.God's presence.</u>God was showing me that even though Christmas seems kind of unChristmasy this year, I can still have Christmas in my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Christmas really is about The Cross! About what Jesus did for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Christmas I'm especially thankful that Jesus was born and that we can have eternal life because of the cross!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as I think of dad spending Christmas in heaven, I just wonder what it will be like.I know his Christmas is going to be a Christmas like he's never had before! Really, I think it's Christmas in Heaven year round! I know he's having a wonderful time like he's never had before! And I am so happy for him. So even though he will be missed this Christmas, I couldn't wish him back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas to all of you! And let's remember, it's about the cross!</span></div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-87273597695737189132014-12-14T14:01:00.001-08:002014-12-14T14:01:37.200-08:00The Baby is 2!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We don't like to skip a birthday celebration, because around here birthdays here are a celebration of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But holiday birthdays can be an even bigger challenge to pull off! Here in our house we have two holiday birthdays. Joel is a Christmas baby.Yes, he is that special! ;) And Madi's birthday falls right around Thanksgiving and occasionally on the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This year Thanksgiving found us headed to Ohio to spend the holiday with the Mast side of the family. We are quite a crowd anymore.There is definitely no lack of noise and action, at least on the children's part! ;) ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is all 4o something of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But like I was saying, we had a birthday to celebrate.Madi's 2 year mark was coming up.So the day after Thanksgiving we threw a little party for her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If there ever was a child that loved life and all it's goodness, it's our Madi. She is such a ball of energy and full of mischief, but so much fun and giggles all at the same time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She is a lover of anything sweet, you name it.If it has sugar, good chance she might take it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She also loves bananas and oranges and grapes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You try to get her to eat soup and that can be almost an impossibility at times!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Candy is still her favorite!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One night at 2:00 AM, I found this cute,mischievous,ball of energy in the kitchen, standing on the counter trying to get into the candy jars on top the fridge (and yes, you read right, that was 2:00 AM!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She definitely doesn't leave us lacking for action!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She loves her daddy, the outdoors, the chickens and the cats.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Her big siblings are her heros. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She runs to Hailey if she wants to be pitied :) It really is so cute.Hailey is like a second mommy to her. But Madi also takes advantage of that and demands that Hailey fix her blanket, or holds her hand or tickle her feet! :) I think they will be best friends in a few years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She also loves to pray! Almost every night she wants to "pay" (pray). She then squeezes her eyes shut and whispers a prayer for "mommy,dayee (daddy),Haya (Hailey) ,Bax (Braxton),Me (herself) :) " and then ends it with a hearty "min"(amen).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We can't imagine life without this little girl.As busy as she keeps us, we are still very thankful for her presence in our life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes when I'm weary of all the busyness and lots of times naughtiness right along with it :), the thought just crosses my mind that I am so thankful that she is a healthy little girl with the ability to get around the way she does, even though it drains every good thing right out of me at times! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So my dear Madi girl, may you always face life with such energy and spunk! Someday I know that will be of good use to you :) We love you dearly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-67343247460347723052014-09-24T06:36:00.003-07:002014-09-24T06:36:40.207-07:00Hey Dad,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I miss you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning I would love to call you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear your voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear you give me advice! (imagine that! :) :) )</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The unfairness of life suddenly hit me... really hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm thinking you would probably tell me that's just how life is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life isn't always fair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I would still just really want to hear you say that...in person.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQzEHXWF8rk/VCK-MXrCitI/AAAAAAAABLg/s-Ud__nVV9w/s1600/332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQzEHXWF8rk/VCK-MXrCitI/AAAAAAAABLg/s-Ud__nVV9w/s1600/332.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know the things we face in life are always for our good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even if we don't see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They better us.Eventually.If we let them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to watch you "handle life."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to watch you walk through the unfair things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really,really unfair things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You did it with such grace and humbleness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I know that you did it with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your life proves to me that it's possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So,I'm going to keep trying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to try to accept the the unfairness...with grace and humbleness,just like you did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be perfectly honest,there's days when I totally don't want to try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's days I want to be ugly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Days like today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I'm going to reach out to God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> That's what you did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it worked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love you dad.I love the example you set for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hailey has been talking about visiting your grave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember how I told you she was so bummed that we won't see you at Christmas?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well,she's accepting the fact that we won't see you in person,but she's really excited about visiting your grave. She's mentioned it the last two days now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure we'll put on some pretty flowers.Not that you were really a flower guy or anything like that :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> But it's therapy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making your grave look nice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It's something we love to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because you deserve it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway,that's all for now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm gonna go try to be mature and quit my pity party... just</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">like you'd want me to do :) :) and realize that life isn't fair.It never will be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think of you often! When I look at the beautiful clouds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I just think about how you get to see God do all of these wonderful things,how he commands the rain,and the storms,and everything beautiful that happens down here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>And I'm so happy that you get to enjoy all of that beauty and love!</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love ya always!</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-27358232372047450862014-09-11T18:56:00.000-07:002014-09-11T19:05:20.074-07:00Living in the Moment<div align="center" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As it slips through our fingers like sand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never come</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But we have this moment, today</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hold tight to the sound of the music of living</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Happy sounds from the laughter of children at play</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hold my hand as we walk through the sweet fragrant meadows</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Making memories of what was today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For daddy to hear just what she has to say</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My little boy running there by the hillside </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">may never be quite like today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tender words,gentle touch and a good cup of coffee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And someone who loves me and wants me to stay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hold them dear,while they're near and don't wait for tomorrow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To look back and wish for today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never come.But we have this moment,today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Lately I have been feeling the need to slow down.To be present for the moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I saw a quote the other day that said <u>"wherever you are, be all there." </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sometimes I am so guilty of only giving half of my attention to the person present with me. "mama,mama, answer me! I asked you three times already.mama?!" - Sound familiar?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Maybe I'm answering that text, or taking this call or maybe I'm checking facebook.Maybe it's balancing the checkbook or making the grocery list.I might be in the middle of getting supper on the table or wiping yet another spill.Or the house is upside down and it just has to be cleaned up...NOW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Nothing wrong with any of those things and sometimes it really does have to be answered or cleaned now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But God has been convicting me to get my priorities straight. To understand what needs to be done this minute and what on my list can actually wait.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Maybe that game of UNO with the children or the book that baby wants read to her NOW, or the neighbor that could use a little cheer,or the errand hubby really needs you to run, is more important and more kingdom worthy than a clean house or a supper served on time :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Maybe you could say God is <u>really</u> convicting me. He's helping me see that in all of my "busy-ness" and stress I forget the <u>really</u> important things in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sometimes I forget that I will never be able to live this day again. This minute,this second I will never get back.I may never live to see tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When God convicts me I feel I need to take action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So here's to intentionally slowing down,kicking back and living in the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I won't regret it.My family won't regret it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">God bless you all with a wonderful weekend!</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-5168999023099821832014-09-10T11:33:00.001-07:002014-09-10T11:33:59.495-07:00Life<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">but learning to dance in the rain!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">happy wednesday everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">(</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">notice i didn't say happy humpday...oops, now i said it!)</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-52924785176945452462014-09-02T19:24:00.000-07:002014-09-02T19:27:18.413-07:00Dear Daddy,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Dear Daddy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i'm sitting here. the house is quiet. the children are sleeping and i've been thinking of you so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">the last few evenings i've missed you extra much. when I start thinking about how I can never pick up the phone and talk to you again...ever! it just sends a deep ache of missing you. i think of everything we won't get to do with you anymore.and it hurts.deeply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i know you would have been thrilled to see braxton and his over the top excitement on entering first grade.he loves it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">every now and then he'll make a remark of something he can't tell you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">the other week he told me he wishes we could "die and go to heaven,die and go to heaven,die and go to heaven then come straight back down to earth."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">what he was really saying is he would love to come see you but then he'd like to come right back.he loves his earthly life to much to think about staying in heaven forever :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i knew you would get a kick out of that childish innocence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">hailey is growing into a real little lady. you should see her be a "mom" to madi.she loves madi! but she's pretty sure she doesn't want us to have another baby because then i'd have to take care of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">she's scared of being deprived even more of her "mom time." :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and she still talks about how we won't be able to see you at christmas. that was a big bummer to her because she was really excited about that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">it's a bummer to all of us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and madi, well,for some reason i know without a doubt in my mind that you would sit back and laugh at how "harried" she makes me somedays!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">she won't be left behind on anything.one moment she is so stinkin' sweet and the next moment...she's that stinkin' bad! :) aggressive is how someone described her. i'm pretty sure that fits her well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">yesterday out in that boat, we had to keep ahold of her.she would have got really close to taking a dive right into that lake!not much scares her.but one thing she doesn't like is height.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and yes, she still has her nippy! i know you teased me that 6 months was long enough for the "paci". but hey, you gotta do whatcha gotta do! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">at the beginning of the year i chose "God is bigger than all my problems" as my theme song for the year, and you know dad...i had no idea!,i never even dreamt that God was gonna send us a "mountain" like he did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">losing you was such a blow.but like that song says, i know God is still bigger!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">there is so much i would love to tell you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i feel like i'm cheated.cheated of my time with you.and sometimes when i think of you,it hits me again.and i cry.i know crying is good.but it won't bring you back.i wish it would!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">sometimes when me and joel are talking ,time and time again we say "i just can't believe it!I can't believe he's gone"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">it doesn't seem real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">the fact that your gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">we loved you so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">we miss you.we always will.joel says our life will never be the same.and i know that's true!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">but i just want you to know that we will be ok. all of us. mom is being so strong and i'm so proud of her. she misses you <u>dreadfully</u>.but someday...someday i know we will see you again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i know without a doubt in my mind that you are enjoying heaven to the absolute fullest! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">and i can't wish you back,because of the joy i know you are living.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i'll stop for now.i'll write to you again sometime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">i'll always love you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">~staci</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-88687244231694573432014-08-31T12:31:00.000-07:002014-08-31T12:46:11.913-07:00The Days of Learning<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The first day of school finally came. I had a son who was counting down the days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yes, we have a son who is in First Grade. As hard as this is for me to believe, it is a fact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Our first born is old enough for first grade!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">6 years ago this day seemed like a life time away.But it happened...just like that! The baby days are over for this boy :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">He's had a great first two weeks. He loves learning, this boy of mine. It's exciting for me to see him catch on to stuff :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">He's in first grade with 4 other boys. I can't imagine the riot their teacher faces day after day. A good riot I might add. A funny riot. A wild,full of life riot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And she's the perfect teacher for a class like this.Patient,kind,fun.Experiments and projects of every kind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Everyone of the 5 boys had a camo themed back pack.They're a cute bunch! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Here's to hoping for a wonderful first year of school for our first born!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">May I be a mother that stands beside him in the hard times, encourages him on in the new things and never,ever lets him give up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I love you Braxton!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-49279262839331063412014-07-22T13:37:00.000-07:002014-07-22T13:39:04.355-07:00The Day God Took My Daddy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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... is a day I may never understand!<br />
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The phone ringing at 4:00 AM startles you awake so fast! Especially when you see the caller is your mother! I cannot even remember all the thoughts that ran through my mind, but in my "awaken out of sleep stupor" I answered the phone and the words I heard next turned my world upside down.<br />
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Hearing my mother at the other end, heart broken, sobbing and saying "I think Daddy died" sent my soul and body into shock and unbelief!<br />
What? What do you mean? My dad? Are you sure!? All of these were questions that raced through our numb minds.<br />
The next few hours were spent, scurrying to pack as fast as our shocked bodies would allow us, stopping every now and then to cry it out and finally at 8:00 we hit the road to Texas...a long 16 hour drive ahead. (I must say, that drive went by so fast.I think we didn't want to believe what happened but knowing what we were going to face made the time go by way to fast!)<br />
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All the way down I was wishing I would suddenly jerk awake, awake from a horrible dream, wishing I would wake up in my bed and heave a sigh of relief that it was only a dream! ...But it wasn't.<br />
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We arrived in Texas Saturday night, sometime after 11 PM. That night already found us collecting clothes to dress dad for the funeral. Exhausted, shocked and emotionally spent ,we finally drifted off for a few hours of sleep before we started all the funeral preparations!<br />
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I have never in my whole life realized how a death in the family can leave you so broken - physically, mentally and emotionally. It's like the life is completely drained out of you. What seemed so important at one time, suddenly holds no value! You wrestle and wonder if you will ever be able to enjoy life to the fullest again? </div>
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There will always be a hole where dad belongs. In my deepest heart of hearts I know God's grace is sufficient and He will see us through.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This verse blessed me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">At the same time, there's times when I just want to wallow in fear and doubt. We could be angry.Sometimes we want to be angry! Sometimes I'd like to be able to ask God what he was thinking!? We still needed our dad!! We wanted him!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I know Dad would tell us "stay faithful." And that's what I want to do. I want to stay faithful to the One who holds our tomorrows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to have a heart of compassion for people. I want to be concerned for peoples' destiny. I want to tell people about Jesus, just like my daddy did. </span></div>
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Daddy died young. But in his short 53 years he lived a life that was fulfilling and pleasing to his maker! I'm sure he has a crown with lots of jewels! He touched many lives. So many people were blessed by him.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those we love don't go away,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">they walk beside us everyday...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">unseen,unheard, but always near,</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">still loved,still missed</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and very dear.</span></div>
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We loved our daddy and he loved us. Him and mama had a relationship some people could only dream of. Not perfect, but full of love and respect for each other. Every day that it was possible they sat down after dad came home and drank coffee together...and chatted. I think those memories are so neat!</div>
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We gave them a hard time about their coffee "addiction." But it was good, very special that they had those times together!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Maybe</u> later I will share some more of the things, that looking back on them seem God was preparing us ahead of time for life after dad's death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For now we are missing our daddy/ husband/ Pa Pa. The dad that was so loving and kind to us.The husband that loved our mom! And the grandpa that loved to play with and spoil his grandchildren. We as a family were so blessed to have him a part of us...He will always be a part of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He left a good example for us to follow. </span></div>
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Today I want to go on. I want to accept the plan God has for me. I want God to use me in the midst of the pain and grief I face. I want to think of the hard days I face as "growing" days.Days where I grow to be more like Christ.I want to understand and accept that God has a reason for taking our dad so soon. My goal is to live my life for Christ. I want Him to shine through me.And if I'm faithful, I know that someday I will see my daddy again!</div>
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Here's a poem, not one my dad wrote but the words are words I can imagine him saying. And for his sake, I'm happy he's free.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm Free</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm following the path God has laid you see</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took His hand when I heard Him call</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I turned my back and left it all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could not stay another day</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to laugh,to love,to work, to play</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tasks left undone must stay that way</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found that peace at the close of the day</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps my time seemed all too brief</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't lengthen it now with undo grief</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lift up your hearts and peace to thee</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God wanted me now, He set me free.</span></div>
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We'll always love you Dad!</div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-73542949844547640102014-06-27T11:14:00.001-07:002014-06-27T11:21:36.756-07:00Yes, She's Still a Princess...Today I'm going to share with you, nothing profound, maybe not even inspiring...but a little humorous. I found a book at the library that TOTALLY describes my Princess H. (and maybe her mommy just a little bit.)<br />
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Hailey has been a tomboy from the start.<br />
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Till she was maybe 3? she had almost no hair for pretty little clip in bows. She would wear the headbands for a little while, but even those were not her thing, like they are to so many other little girls.<br />
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She prefers trucks and trees over dolls and tea cups.<br />
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She likes a little frills and lace every now and then, but like me, it just doesn't come natural for her. We tend to choose comfort over beauty :) :) High heels and fancy just doesn't do it for us.<br />
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We like pink, but yellow and orange do just as well for us.<br />
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But we are still Princesses. Not the Cinderella kind, but still a princess of sort.<br />
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We love to be doted on by our Prince Charming, dad to her, husband to me.<br />
Flowers and chocolate make us smile.<br />
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So here's her story - and mine ;)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not All Princesses Dress in Pink</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not all Princesses dress in pink.Some play in bright red socks that stink, blue team jerseys that don't quite fit,accessorized with a baseball mitt,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and a sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some princesses when they choose, never pick out fancy shoes,but soccer cleats for outdoor sports with shin guards and some baggy shorts,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and a sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some princesses roll around, wrestling on the muddy ground, then get right up to skip and dance in tattered, stained and muddy pants,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and a sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some princesses wear their jewels while fixing things with power tools,saw,screwdriver,hammer,drill, they wear with pride each greasy spill</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and a sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some princesses break their nails planting flowers into pails,driving dump trucks, moving dirt,dressed in an extra large hand-me-down-shirt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and a sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some princesses like to pedal wearing lots of shiny metal; helmet on head, and body armor,so that nothing bad can harm her</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">or her sparkly crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then after a great victory lap (followed by a well earned nap), to the ball these princesses run, wearing no pink gown, not one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> They waltz in red, fox trot in blue, they reel in plaid and polka dots too. And in those grand and fancy halls, one even hip hops in her overalls - and a very sparkly princess crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This book was written by ~ Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple</span></div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-78641685817921647032014-05-29T18:49:00.000-07:002014-05-29T18:49:27.568-07:00Just a Little of This and That....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I remember. on my last post I promised to share some pictures of the ice storm. but seriously, i never figured it would be 3 months until I post again :) these last three months were spent enjoying life and catching up on neglected housework and a million other things in between. and really, i just didn't feel like writing. and the times i really did have something inspiring to share, i was busy, so i'd "write" the post in my head and till I actually had time to sit down and type it out, the inspiration was gone!<br />
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our life these past three months has been the normal life of a young family :) which includes everything from tee-ball to birthday parties to weddings, fussy days, dirty diapers and everything a young family does and experiences! at the moment its a wailing child that seems very unsettled and thinks bed isn't the place to be.<br />
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some days seem like they will never end. other days are days you want to relive over and over again!<br />
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i found some old pictures on my camera that i kind of forgot i had. check out miss chubby cheeks! the picture above was her 7 months ago. the picture below is her now. Amazing what 7 months can change! she is no longer a baby who is crawling...she is now running and giving us a run for our parenthood! </div>
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busy...is how people describe her. beyond busy...is what comes to my mind! church, family nights out and basically everything where you have to sit or stay in one place for any amount of time was purely torture...or maybe impossible would better describe it! there was times when i felt like huffing and stomping my feet because of how purely impossible it felt. and maybe or maybe not there were times that I did :) there are days i cry in frustration and can't wait til she's a few years older! </div>
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but looking past all of that...she has added so much love and sweetness to our family, the busy-ness is a small price to pay. without her singing and her funny spunkiness there would be a huge hole! we love our madi!</div>
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daddy's got big shoes to fill! :)</div>
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braxton played tee-ball this year. i have a hard time believing that my colicky, first born is actually six already! (i guess there is hope for the fussy, teething 18 month old :) )</div>
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hailey is a proud 5 year old! (yep, that's cake batter lining the top of her forehead.it stayed there all day! :) )</div>
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this picture makes me laugh! joel had just lit her candle (we didn't have 5 of them, just in case you wondered :) ) and he stuck the burning match in his mouth and started blowing smoke out of his nose, and i actually caught her look of astonishment on camera :) :)</div>
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in february we got together with joel's brothers and their wives. every other year we rent a cabin in the smokies for a weekend and get together.we catch up on each others lives and just have a fun weekend.</div>
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there was five boys.i can only imagine what their mom had to deal with at times :) </div>
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here's us...the wives of the bunch :) sisters by marriage. its always good to catch up since 3 out of us 5 live in OH.</div>
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My sister got married in April. I was lucky enough to go spend a week with my family, helping with planning wedding details and getting everything set in place. </div>
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And I know i had pictures somewhere, but i cannot find them.that's irritating to me! her and josh make a cute couple! and it's fun to finally have a brother on my side of the family. joel was tickled to finally have a brother in law and my dad - well i'm sure without a doubt that he loves the added "male presence" to the family! :) with three girls only he was hen pecked for quite awhile.with us girls finally getting married we are gifting him "sons" and grandsons which i know for sure and for certain he is deeply proud of ! :)</div>
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so here's just a glimpse of what's been happening in our lives.</div>
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nothing profound. just life.a life we love.</div>
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we are blessed!</div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-53994206648340294712014-02-25T14:46:00.002-08:002014-02-25T14:46:58.071-08:00And Then There Was Snow... Anyone that knows me well, knows that I'm not a fan of winter weather. I don't know ...but I think God built some bodies to stand the heat and others can battle the cold :) For me I'd much rather sweat huge drops of sweat and be smothering in the heat, than to have to bundle up in a coat and literally get sore from trying to stay warm.I know, I'm a wimp and I'm ok with that! :)<br />
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So imagine the shock my body goes through when we get a cold snap.I mean a REAL cold snap, people :)<br />
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I don't know about you, but this looks like a cold snap to me! :)</div>
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Even tho' I don't care for the cold, when there is snow predicted here in the South, I must say, even I get excited to see it...for a day at least :) And then I'm good. </div>
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The excitement was high.The snow was predicted for a Tuesday. Tuesday came and no snow for the whole day. The children were anxiously waiting.</div>
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People hurried out to get their bread and milk...oh, and lunch meat! ; D</div>
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Finally, when they were tucked into bed it started. </div>
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Sometime after they were tucked in all snugly and warm, Hailey crept out of her bed, looked out the window and discovered SNOW! She called me to her room to share her discovery.We just had to wake Braxton to let him in on the excitement too. That night me and Joel slept with our blinds open, because it was so beautiful just to see the snow, gently, quietly fall from the sky!</div>
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The next morning, the very first thing the children wanted to do was play in the snow. I felt like a major part pooper but my desire to get wet and cold was pretty much 0! So I sat inside for awhile, watched the action.When Madalyn woke up I decided to brave it and go out for a little at least :) </div>
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She was in awe...</div>
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...until she fell.And that was the end of her snow adventure!</div>
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These two were delighted! (Looks like we need some lessons on how to stay warm in the snow.Zipping our coats would maybe be a start! :) )</div>
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They ate snow...</div>
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....they threw snow</div>
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...they built "Frosty". (Sadly we had no magic hat to make him jump to life!)</div>
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Even Bella seemed to enjoy the snow!</div>
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The excitement of the children is enough to make me love it. Just to see their joy and happiness. To hear them thank God for sending the snow. That, my friends is enough to make any mama's heart melt!</div>
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So was the adventure of our snow day in the South!</div>
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God forgive me if I ever complained about the snow because two weeks later we got another cold snap!</div>
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That was way worse in every way imaginable.</div>
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<br />Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-77805836404873914452014-01-28T20:19:00.000-08:002014-01-28T20:19:39.665-08:00If Motherhood Came With Report Cards ...<br />
...my report card would have showed a BIG,RED, <span style="color: red;">N</span>! - "N" for 'needs improvement.' Or maybe an 'F' for failed!<br />
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It seems almost everything I did today could have used <u>lots</u> of improvement.<br />
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My mothering skills lacked, my "wifely skills" lacked, my diy projects lacked ... even my cooking skills lacked (ok, that wasn't really my fault but we'll get there later.)<br />
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(And I know that this post already sounds so negative, but it's not. Hang in there with me! :-) )<br />
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I started my morning late...again...and that in itself is never a good thing...ever :-( It's something I've been trying to work on, but my bed feels so,so cozy every morning :-) So, I'll keep trying till I get an 'E' for excellent in this area! :-)<br />
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When my morning starts late there is so much that just goes 'down the drain'...good attitudes included!<br />
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So when two of my cuties :-) got into a ridiculous fight about who's oatmeal had more sugar, it escalated and became an intense "discussion" that raised this mama's blood pressure.<br />
If there's anything that makes me want to run away crying, it's this - These crazy little cat fights that are totally ridiculous and unnecessary and leave me with absolutely no idea what to do and how to resolve them at that moment.<br />
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And I really don't know how it happened but my day just went down hill.<br />
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I was not a Proverbs 31 woman in any stretch of the imagination.<br />
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My lamp shade that I tried to re-do gave me more grief than relief. (I think it's really cute - but only when the light isn't on ;-) ) It definitely didn't go the way I dreamed it would!<br />
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Frustration and selfishness,snappiness and crabbiness took over until I felt the need to "disappear" and put myself in timeout for awhile (my children found me, and thought it was incredibly funny that they snuck into my bathroom and found me - yep, that's a mom's life)<br />
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Why am I telling you this?<br />
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Because I believe in real life...I know what real life is.<br />
It's laughter and fun, silliness, love,smiles & giggles,happiness - oatmeal with just the right amount of sugar.<br />
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But real life is also, tears and crabbiness, bad attitudes,selfishness and frustration.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"> And the reason I'm telling you all of this is because here at my house we do real life. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We do love and laughter but we also do tears and crabbiness. </span></div>
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And here on my blog you will NOT only find the love and laughter. You will also see days that we get big, fat, red "Ns" ! Days that we fail.The truth.</div>
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We are not perfect but we are perfectly happy being a family. A family doing real life.</div>
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And tonight I'm so thankful for grace and second chances. Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow I get a second chance. Today I saw God's grace.</div>
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And now, on to my cooking!</div>
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Tonight I made chili soup. It wasn't a hit. It wasn't great! And it really wasn't my fault. It was a new recipe, a recipe I won't be going back to :-) A recipe that I would say gets an "N" for needs improvement.</div>
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But let me tell you what did hit me a BIG 'E' for today - 'E' for EXCELLENT! So excellent in fact, I wanted to share it with you! :-)</div>
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Around here we love cornbread!! And I found a recipe...on pinterest of course... that is absolutely irresistible!</div>
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(I am TERRIBLE at food photography!! So just trust me! This was DELICIOUS!) </div>
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You can find the recipe <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2013/10/17/skillet-cornbread-recipe/">here</a>. You will also find a beautiful photo of the cornbread! :-) And you really,really need to use the cast iron skillet!</div>
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The "blob" beside the cornbread...well, it's just a "little bit of heaven" you can put in your mouth!! It will forever change your life. Your kids will LOVE you extra, and you may or may not get an extra kiss from your husband if you serve this at your next meal ;-) So if you're in need of a kiss, it's worth a try!! :-D But even if you don't need a kiss, do you and your family a favor, a <u>BIG FAT</u> favor and make this! :-)</div>
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It's good on fresh baked rolls, toast and just about anything!! and yes, yes, on cornbread. It takes cornbread to a whole 'nother level! (we will refrain from saying just how much I put on my bread) You will find the recipe for this amazing, Cinnamon Honey Butter <a href="http://365daysofbaking.blogspot.com/2012/02/day-343-copycat-recipe-texas-roadhouse.html">here</a>.</div>
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There's snow! I know, amazing!!! The kids excitement is so cute! Tonight after we had them tucked in for the night, miss Hailey crawled out of her bed (without us knowing) in anticipation to see if there's any snow! Of course she had to call me back to her room and she told me she wants to show me something out her window. Her eyes shining with wonder was too adorable! Of course we had to call Braxton over and show him too.His reaction was pretty much the same. They were waiting for this snow ALL DAY! To bad it waited to come till bedtime! This is one reason I have to be ready to roll in the morning.Their excitement will have them up bright and early I'm sure! :-)</div>
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Anyway, I'm signing out for tonight. I'm going to rest my body and start fresh tomorrow. If you've had a day that feels like you got a big fat "N" - I encourage you to take heart! Everyone has those days! Don't sit in the dread of your failure. Stand up strong, God is good at giving second chances!</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-43170888946186756912014-01-15T11:06:00.000-08:002014-01-15T11:07:35.856-08:00Dear Madi<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photo Credits to </span><a href="http://heidimastphotography.com/">heidimastphotography.com</a></div>
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Heidi did a great job at capturing Madi's personality. She does so well working with kids that don't think picture taking is really that great. Thank you to Heidi, I have some great 1 year old pictures celebrating Madi.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear Madi,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you grow up to be smart,tough and wise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but I also hope that you always have</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the same innocence in your eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that you, our little Madi are one already! You actually turned 1 on November 28 already but mommy seems to always be behind on blogging these days :) :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have brought <u>a lot of life</u> into our family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I forgot how busy a baby seems to keep me.And you seem extra busy and some days you very nearly have me in tears! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with you, a happy,healthy baby even though you have the ability to make our house look like a tornado zone :) We'd never trade you for a cleaner more organized house! I think you are one way God is teaching me about what's really important in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have taught me so much...even in just the last week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today I was watching you walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You were walking through leaves that were thick and hard for you to navigate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You took one little step and then you'd fall over.You'd try again and fall over...and again,and again...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until I came to your rescue, held your little hand in mine and helped you out of the "rough terrain."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I was watching you try and try again I was reminded of myself, and how when I try to take a step forward in life, and I "fall over" again and again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And how Jesus comes and takes my hand and helps me along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watching you fail to walk through the leaves but never give up,just reminded me that even when I fail so often in life, I should never,ever even think of quitting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus is always right there, watching me and helping me along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are an inspiration my darling!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was never a child so lovely but <strike>his </strike> her mother was glad to get <strike>him</strike> her to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nap-time is always a highlight at this house :) It gives me the time to recharge a little and to be again fully equipped with strength to make it through the rest of the day :) Energy to keep up with you :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When my husband comes home,and if the kids are still alive, I figure I've done my job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Rosanne Barr</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some days keeping you children alive is maybe all that I get done.But that is enough.That is why I'm here, to take care of you and love you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Motherhood is a rewarding job,a job that I wouldn't ever trade.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If all I ever get in return are those hugs and wet kisses, that is enough!Traces of your innocent love.Things that make me all fuzzy inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Having the privilege to be your mommy is a gift straight from heaven. I'm so thankful for the blessing that you and your brother and sister are to me and your daddy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My prayer is that you grow up to be passionate about God. Use that </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">energy and determination of yours for His Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy Birthday again my sweet Madi .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for all the life lessons you have taught me in these 12 short months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are a blessing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You were prayed for!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thank God for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all my love, mommy</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-43780588068058979782014-01-01T08:28:00.001-08:002014-01-01T08:32:23.058-08:00Looking Back On 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Philippians 3:13,14 </span></i></b></div>
<i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;">Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, </span></i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;">I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. </span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As I look back on 2013 I don't wish to relive this year! I know, that sounds negative :) But 2013 has probably been one of the toughest years I've lived.And its funny how I hear that coming from so many people.If I'd believe in bad luck, I say maybe it was the number 13...but since I don't I'll just believe it was a year that God gave me some extra loving :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /> I take to heart Philippians 3:13,14. Remembering the lessons I learned but leaving behind the things that do not benefit me, and starting fresh, pressing toward the mark.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It probably is also the year that I have been reminded the most about all the beautiful blessings I have in life but how, so often I tend to take them for granted! </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;">Friends</b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> and </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;">family</b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">.How easy to just assume that we have them for always, when actually...we never know how long.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">It's been a year of change.Lots of change.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. – Henri Bergson</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">It's also been a year of learning - hard life lessons.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year that has brought me closer to God and at the same time stretched me till I really thought I couldn't stretch anymore!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of tears, lots of tears.And I thank God he cares enough, so much actually that he "bottles every tear!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"> ~ Its also been a year of much laughter and happiness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ It's the year that marked 7 years with an incredibly handsome man.A quiet but stable man.A man whos desire is to serve his Lord.A man whom I have learned so much from.And I see how blessed I am. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ It's been a year where I saw so many young men, their life taken in an instant, leaving behind their wives and children.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year that made me realize even more than before that every year I have with the man I love, is a blessing, never to be taken for granted!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ It's been a year of learning who I really and what my priorities are.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of seeing myself ... through God's eyes.How ugly I sometimes am on the inside.But how God's forgiveness knows no end.And I'm slowly beginning to understand the fullness of God's Love.And how undeserving I am, and yet how endless God's mercy is.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Seeing how I can be changed.But only through God, for His glory.Seeing how much my life, and the lives of those around me affect God's Kingdom.How valuable we can be, but yet how sometimes we choose destruction. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year that has taught me how everything I do, should have some kind of eternal value.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of learning that my true identity lies in Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Not in what I do or don't do, or have or don't have,or even who I please or don't please. <u>My identity is in Christ alone.</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of realizing that people...people are the most valuable in God's eyes.<u>Not things...people.</u>Something I always knew, but was reminded of in a fresh new way.A year of God teaching me about relationships.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of seeing how my fears and selfishness have kept me and sometimes still keep me from living life to it's fullest.And how easy it would be to quit trying.But remembering how faithful God is in helping us grow and go forward...one baby-step at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">~ A year of sifting through the plans God has for me. Waiting and wondering...but always knowing deep within that there's a special place for me to fill.A reason I am where I am.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">"our sense of worth is not a question of giftedness,talent,intelligence</span><wbr style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">or beauty. Your sense of personal worth comes from knowing who you are as a child of God and your growth in character."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 17px;">I am happy to be a Child of the King!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">So as I look forward to 2014, I want to leave all my mistakes and regret behind.Because I realize the more I remember my mistakes and regrets, the less I move forward.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">I never want to forget the faithfulness of God. And I want to always remember that with God anything is possible.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Happy New Year to all my friends and family! May 2014 bring you much happiness and many blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Thank you especially to God for helping me through this year. Thank you to my husband for being there and showing me what unconditional love is. And thank you to my friends, especially those who have stuck with me through this year :)I am blessed!</span></div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-53436063101254178442013-10-18T11:49:00.000-07:002013-10-18T11:49:04.011-07:00Living Joyful in the MomentRemember in my last post,( ya, that post way back in July :) ) I mentioned how the moments slip by in the busy-ness of life and somehow you miss out on everyday life moments?<br />
Well sometimes I find myself so caught up in the negative part of the moments I that I totally fail to see the positive. I'm thinking maybe, just maybe that's more the reason I miss out on those happy life moments.<br />
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Some days it seems are filled with moments like this...<br />
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And when I have too many moments like that I begin to feel like this...</div>
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And it really doesn't help that I tend to be a perfectionist in certain things. <br />
I like... no, actually I love when my house is cleaned every week, I like when the dishes are stacked and properly put in the cabinets, I like the toys picked up and ALWAYS put into their proper bins, I really love when the shoes are lined nicely in the closets and so on and so on!<br />
But then you should see our vehicles and my oh my! my windows! It seems I can go weeks without cleaning these areas, and it bothers me but I can deal with it :) Strange, I know!<br />
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Hang in there with me and keep reading and I'll share part of my convicting journey with you.<br />
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The thing of perfectionism has robbed me of joy in many of my moments! I focused on the cereal that's strewn over the sticky floor and the toys that haven't been put away to perfection.<br />
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The beginning of this year I had the privilege of attending the Mom Heart conference in NC. I think I mentioned it before, but that Mom's conference was so inspiring and uplifting and spoke to me in many ways.<br />
I also have read books throughout this year that have been exactly what my Mom Soul needed to read. I highly recommend each of these books!<br />
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~ The Ministry of Motherhood ~ Sally Clarkson<br />
~ The Mom Walk ~ Sally Clarkson<br />
~ Desperate ~ Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson<br />
~ No More Perfect Moms ~ Jill Savage <br />
~ Real Moms Real Jesus ~ Jill Savage (This one I read the other year and thoroughly enjoyed it!)<br />
~ Unglued ~ Lysa Teurkerst<br />
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I have found myself so weary and worn trying to keep up with the demands of motherhood PLUS my perfectionism on top of it. And this year God just spoke to me so loudly, not just through these books but in various ways, as to where my priorities should be. My priorities should not be in a clean spotless house, but in loving and serving those around me. My family, my friends. Because they (people) are the only thing that really matter on this earth.<br />
I need to slow down, lose the constant hurry and love on those around me. Think positively in a negative situation.<br />
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I can keep my house clean, but it doesn't have to be a "diamond sparkle" at all times. It's ok if the dishes are "thrown" back in the cupboard sometimes. And the toys, well, you should see the toy bins now! The play dishes are mixed with the animals and the cars are mixed with the dishes - You get the picture. The closets are lucky if they get swept every two weeks. And yesterday when I was cleaning I handed my 5 year old a rag and the windex bottle and put him to work on windex-ing my windows and stove front etc. He thought he was Superman! And in the end I had a much happier child on cleaning day. (Windows with a little wiping are much better than no wiping at all, right?! :) )<br />
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When my 11 month old empties my cupboard for the 10th time that day, I can thank God that she's a healthy baby who has the strength and energy to do that. Some people could only wish for that.<br />
In the moments that I have to break up arguments and fights I can thank God that I have the energy and strength to keep up with all the demands.<br />
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I realize that these examples are just very minor things...but when I get ahold of the minor things I will be able to also find the positive in the major, what seem like negative life issues. I believe that with all my heart!<br />
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Reading "One Thousand Gifts" has been showing me how I can find joy in the midst of constant thankfulness. The Author's "Joy Journey" inspired me to embark on my own Joy Journey. I have now started my own diary of "One Thousand Gifts."<br />
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I have this note hanging on my fridge. It's a reminder to find the good even when it feels like bad! Remembering to choose Joy is shifting my thoughts to the positive.</div>
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I in no way have this joy/perfectionism thing perfectly down pat. I have my days when I really don't want to see the positive and my perfectionism comes roaring to the surface. But with God's help I'm learning. I'm taking baby steps forward. And that makes me happy.happy.happy. :)</div>
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Today I'm very thankful for</div>
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It makes me happy to be aware of the beauty around and to pick out all the positive things in my life.</div>
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I know my "Joy Journey" will be a challenge, but I'm excited to see how God will work in my life!</div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-80965237272779364522013-07-29T11:11:00.002-07:002013-07-29T11:11:45.569-07:00Busy Lives Need a Getaway Now and Then<div style="text-align: center;">
Did you ever get that feeling that life is way to busy and is passing much to quickly?</div>
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And when you stop to think about it you realize you are missing out on so many moments.</div>
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Moments that you should be laughing and enjoying. </div>
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But instead your running here, running there, trying to meet a much to busy schedule.</div>
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It might all be good stuff, stuff that needs to be done. But sometimes it just catches up with you!</div>
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Summertime seems to do that to us.</div>
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Even if you cut stuff out there's always something else there to take it's place.</div>
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And I think it probably seems worse to me having three little ones to take care of. Seems like I always have something to do and will never catch up :) So sometimes things just don't get done.(this week my house didn't get cleaned. Seriously.)</div>
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Friday I was super excited about having a day off of my normal housework and headed to work with Joel. (Let me just say, that if you ever have a chance to head to work with your man, do it! I realize some men have jobs that it's not possible and that's ok. I'm only talking about when it's possible) In our case it is possible for me to work with him every now and then, and I love it! We joke and laugh while we work. And sometimes we discuss the serious things in life. Every now and then we work "shoulder to shoulder." (If you've ever gone through the love and respect series you will understand that term) In our case it means I shut up and we work in silence :) :) :)</div>
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Anyway, we had a great day and by the end of the day we had a spontaneous trip to the beach planned. I mentioned the beach and he was thinking along those same lines.(great minds think alike :) ) We had wanted to take the kids sometime this summer anyway.</div>
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So we headed home. Hubby booked a motel and I did only what I <u>needed</u> to get done. That included washing clothes, and doing the rest of the peaches. Which only was a few. And wiping down the toilets (that really is a "need to do!" right?) oh and sweeping the carpets! (I hate carpet filth)</div>
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I decided the sticky kitchen floor wasn't a "need to do"! And the layer of dust everywhere wasn't a "need to do" and the lawn...it could wait! </div>
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So Saturday morning found us heading to Savannah with some very excited children.</div>
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We had never been in Savannah before to "vacation." We usually head to Charleston. But with a little coaxing I convinced Joel that it'd be fun to try something new.</div>
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Savannah was great. But I do think Charleston is better ;)</div>
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I love their expressions on this picture! :) </div>
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We all had a great time. Maddie LOVED it! She ate sand for her lunch...ok, not really. But she did eat sand! </div>
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We went to Tybee Island. It's a beautiful island with a very nice beach. The beach was packed full. We don't very often go right in the middle of summer like this. Usually our beach trips happen more at the end or the beginning of summer "vacationers." So it probably seemed extra full to us. For the most part it was ok. But when you catch sight of a "couple", who both happen to be the same gender, "enjoying" the beach, it's not quite so pleasant. Anyway, I'll leave it at that. <br />
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Lil' "snookum's" did great! She took a good nap in her stroller. I'm just amazed how good she does on weekends like this. </div>
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Braxton and Hailey absolutely LOVED it. They especially loved when Joel was helping them build sand castles. I don't mind getting dirty, but getting sandy and wet is a whole different story! So I sat in the chair and took in the beautiful sight of "daddy playing with children." :)<br />
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We did go "tour" the little town of Savannah. And I was not happy because I forgot the camera in the car. So all day Sunday I didn't get any pictures of anything. <br />
I think our favorite stop was the candy store. We always visit the one in Charleston and Braxton wanted to go there. So we were pleasantly surprised when we stumbled across a cute little candy store in Savannah :)<br />
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It was a weekend of memories we made with our little family. Sometimes it's just good to leave the busy-ness of life and pretend like we have no responsibilities! :) <br />
Monday morning we are always reminded that there are plenty responsibilities left to deal with :) <br />
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Happy Monday to everyone and may you be blessed with a wonderful week ahead!<br />
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-66869556424809280262013-07-23T05:55:00.002-07:002013-07-23T05:55:38.874-07:00Our Growing Baby...These are pictures I've been meaning to post for quite awhile already! Maddie who is 7 1/2 month by now did have her 6 month pictures taken. :)<br />
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Photo Credits go to Heidi Mast. Oops,it's actually Heidi Stutzman now! :)<br />
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Heidi is a friend and a great photographer. I'm always happy with the pictures she takes. You can check her out <a href="http://heidimastphotography.com/">here.</a><br />
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<span lang="EN">A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds.<br />
-- Barbara Cage<br />
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<span lang="EN">A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.<br />
-- Alan Beck<br />
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Her smile beams like sunshine, which fills our hearts with love.<br />
-- Birgit B.</div>
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<span lang="EN">Little girls dance their way into your heart, whirling on the tips of angel wings, scattering gold dust & kisses in our paths.<br />
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My name is NO NO but grandma calls me precious.<br />
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Like star dust glistening on fairies' wings<br />
Little girls dreams are of magical things.<br />
-- Sherry Larson</div>
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We are in love with this baby.It's hard to believe how fast these first 7 1/2 months have gone by!<br />
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~Staci</div>
</span></span>Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-51800044014706696482013-06-27T06:01:00.000-07:002013-06-27T06:01:06.880-07:00~Celebrating Life,Summer and Friends ~I thought I'd pop in and give y'all a little update real quickly. Real quickly, because today I have a million and one things to do. You see, the time for our looooooooong awaited Texas trip is here. Almost here. That takes lots of prep, so that's the million and one things I'll be doing. At least it's fun stuff ;)<br />
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In May we celebrated Braxton and Hailey's birthdays. Birthdays are a celebration of life around here so we try to always make it special. Having two birthdays 10 days apart makes it a little difficult.At the end of May we are usually partied out.But their excitement makes it all worthwhile! <br />
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Braxton thought it was so,so cool being 5! One time soon after his birthday I really praised him for being obedient so promptly and he answered "well, I'm 5 now!" So I asked him if that means he's going to obey me all the time, even when he doesn't feel like it ? His reply to me was "I'm going to feel like it, I'm 5 now!" Somewhere along the way I think he lost that feeling. ;)<br />
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Choosing the cake is something we talk about months ahead of time. For him we finally narrowed it down to a fire truck. He was excited about that and it really was an easy cake to do.<br />
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His birthday is usually celebrated with lots of friends.That's usually what he requests and I usually decide it's once a year, what can it hurt.They are a fun bunch of little boys. We had a great time with them.</div>
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He thought getting a tool set would be awesome. That's what I had ordered for him so I thought I hit the nail on the head :)</div>
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We also decided that it wouldn't hurt to bring on a little responsibility for them this year, so we surprised him with a bunny. Nevermind that it just brought on more responsibility for me and Joel too. Clover joined our family and Braxton took his responisibilty very serious - for the first few days at least! ;) <br />
We've had a little bit of an issue keeping this bunny alive because there is some dogs in the neighborhood that think a bunny would be so tasty! One night I woke up and heard a terrible ruckus in the carport. I bounded out of bed and tried to wake Joel. I rushed out to the door to figure out what was going on and saw two dogs at the bunny cage, barking and viciously grabbing the cage with their teeth, actually moving the cage. And the poor bunny was squealing in terror! I tried to chase the dogs away with little luck! When Joel finally got to the door he went running and hollering after the dogs and got them chased away.<br />
I couldn't believe dogs were actually that vicious! but we're pretty sure they were pit bulls, at least part pit bull. I've seen them in the neighborhood since. All I can say is they'd better watch out ;)<br />
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Hailey's birthday was 10 days later. She decided she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake cake. Needless to say that cake frustrated me but we got it done. It sure wasn't perfect but she didn't mind!<br />
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For her birthday she got a kitty. Dora is the name she decided she'd like to give the kitty. It just doesn't look like a Dora to me but hey, what does it matter?<br />
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This kitty has been through a lot already! Toted in an ice chest, put into the tree and the dog pen, thrown into her own water...yea, let's just say slightly abused! But she's still alive.Hopefully she'll live and grow up and catch mice! Isn't that what cats are for!? ;)<br />
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With summer finally here It also means that Miss Jan has off of school. So we try to make the best of spending time with her while she's on summer break. We started , could you call it a tradition of going to the zoo. The kids always love it and when warm weather hits it just seems like you have to get out and do something like that!<br />
So we packed up and headed out for a fun filled day at the zoo. We love to mosey along and take our time, so we ended up spending pretty much all day there, with a break inbetween for lunch.<br />
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One of our favorite things was the baby flamingo we saw there. It's right in the middle of the stump if you look right. They are a white ball of fur and so cute!</div>
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It's hard to believe that I have a 4 and 5 year old already! Time really does fly, just like all the little old ladies in town tell me :) And although I'm not real fond of it when people tell me to "just enjoy it. they grow up so fast" I do know that what they are saying is very true.<br />
Braxton and Hailey are at an age that I really do enjoy! I'm not a huge "baby person" like some people. But having said that, I do LOVE my baby with everything I've got!<br />
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And I can't believe that she's already 6 1/2 months old! She has brought much laughter and joy to our family these past 6 months. She is now starting to get ALL over the place, WHEREVER she wants to get to.She's at that stage where her older siblings get so annoyed at her because she gets their toys and sits in their way. It's actually kinda funny how they get so upset about it.<br />
Hopefully sometime soon I will share some of her 6 month baby pictures that Heidi (my favorite photographer) took.<br />
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When God made children, he was thinking joy and laughter and love and forgiveness etc. <br />
Those days when I mess up, they still hug me and tell me they love me. <br />
The days when I'm down they can make me laugh!<br />
Then there's days that are going perfectly fine and they come along and make it finer!<br />
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One day Braxton brought me this dandelion and told me "I brought this because I love you."<br />
I don't care if some people call it a weed, this weed was a beautiful flower to me!<br />
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Water colors are their new favorite. Gotta love back to school sales on those! I picked these up last year for a little bit of nothing and hope to stock up on some more this year.<br />
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And every painter needs to have some chocolate chips!</div>
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" It's the small things "</div>
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Go ahead and celebrate life, even if it's just chocolate chips and weeds.</div>
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Because it's "this moment" filled with "small things" that will make the precious memories!</div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-70419849988750382152013-05-15T12:29:00.001-07:002013-05-15T12:29:09.862-07:00Summer Days and Snail Mail...It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong.<br />-- John Cheever<br />
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I was up to a day of tackling strawberries and motherhood. It was going to be a good day! I was feeling great and thought "I can handle this! no problem!" (ok,actually, I think I was dreading the day just a wee little bit!)<br />
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Somewhere along the way life happened, attitudes fell and things went downhill - fast!!!!<br />
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Now I always hear that facebook and blogs always show the best of a person. The clean house, the combed kids, the playful,creative mom who makes life a hoot, the perfect lawn graced with delightful flowers, weedless, beautiful! <br />
But I'm here to be honest and to say that life does not always go that way, at least not at this house!<br />
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I soon discovered that a fussy baby does not work well with strawberries and in the end the fussy baby wins.( and somewhere in my mind I was stirring up a big pity party that I didn't have my mom next door :) )<br />
And to add to the mix there were other fights to be taken care of and a whole lot of other ugly issues. And I was feeling overwhelmed.<br />
I soon gave up to the fact that my day was not going to go as planned and I may as well just suck it up! :)<br />
I went out and pitched ball for the two oldest, searched for a mower piece that hubby needed and held my baby.<br />
I wish I could say that I threw my bad attitude into the wind, but I didn't. When hubby got home I sat down and cried to him, told him <span style="background-color: yellow;">everything</span> that went wrong that day, and he, in his gentlemanly way put his arm around me and said he's sorry that things went that way.<br />
I went to get ready for bed and just for good measure <u>chomped a bite off of my snickers bar.</u><br />
This morning when I was reading a chapter in the Ministry of Motherhood this sentence stuck out - <span style="background-color: yellow;">"They saw him (Jesus) work until he was utterly exhausted and yet still remain gracious and compassionate"</span> - and immediately I knew I had failed! There was an apology to be had and I must say I am blessed with a wonderful, forgiving husband! :)<br />
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Now, I know that sometimes it's probably hard and embarrassing to admit when you fail! What will people think? What will people say? But in life I have discovered that I relate to the "real people" a lot easier than to people who can make everything look like a dream life.<br />
And there's a balance between being "real" and being just plumb whiny and complainy and telling everyone, e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g that went wrong! :)<br />
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So in this life I am trying to be real :) <br />
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This yummy strawberry dessert did make the day better :) And the day wasn't all bad! My children had me laughing when they came with their britches hiked way high and said they were "amish." Not sure where they get that description of amish but it made me laugh! :D Their energy and excitement make me happy!<br />
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Last month I was blessed with letters - snail mail style. My heart gets all happy and excited when I get letters and boxes!<br />
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There was a letter and birthday card all the way from Germany, from my German "sister." It was fun reading the letter she sent and to read all about her life there. Erika was an exchanged student who lived with my family for a school term. It was fun to go visit her in Germany years ago. And it's fun for me to be able to still have contact with her.<br />
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And there's this awesome friend I have from Canada and she sent me pictures of her adorable baby! I got to spend a few years in Liberia with her and she is one of those friends, that even when we don't talk for a long time we just kinda pick up where we left off. I'm dreaming of a reunion with her sometime.<br />
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And then my mom...she sent a box of material ( I sew for her) and in that box she had goodies for us.<br />
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It causes excitement when there's a box from Grammy! My personal favorites were the plantain chips from Liberia, let's say "YUM!" and the new Tupperware 9x13 pan. Yep, my mom rocks!<br />
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Anyway here I go to finish my busy day. I hope each of you have a wonderful week. I'm excited about the weekend! A birthday party for my almost 5 year old (gasp) and probably a family night out with the kids to celebrate. A trip to Abbeville to see my aunt and her family...and just the weekend! That makes me happy!<br />
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I'll leave you with a quote to make your bad days a little less serious... <br />
p.s. if you find it a bit crude I'm sorry. I really don't' mean it that way it just made me laugh!<br />
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"God grant me a vacation to make bearable what I can't change. A friend to make it funny and the wisdom to never get my knickers in a knot because it solves nothing and makes me walk funny! :)<br />
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-72482013765822053012013-04-02T19:44:00.001-07:002013-04-02T19:44:32.805-07:00Pictures Only :)Spring is finally here! I think... :) I have faith that it's here to stay! We are sick and tired of winter and spring was long awaited for!<br />
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I really don't have much to say but figured I'd put up some updated pictures for everyone to see. So here goes :)<br />
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This girl loves her baby sister more than ever! Her waking question is "may I hold madawyn?" And yes, I get tired of that question but hey, I'm just happy there's love :)</div>
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Here she is geting her coupons togther :)</div>
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These kids love their daddy! And yes, he's that awesome :)</div>
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The peach orchards are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! This picture doesn't anywhere near describe the beauty!</div>
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This baby, well, she has our heart! Look at her sweetly, innocently sleeping! How much more does it take to melt your heart. She's changed our lives ... but we wouldn't wanna go back! She adds so much joy to our family.</div>
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This baking soda and vinegar is something that keeps my kids entertained...for maybe 15 minutes or so :)</div>
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Aren't baby feet and toes sooooo cute!?</div>
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This picture makes me laugh :)</div>
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And I will leave you with a few pictures we took on Easter Sunday. Unfortunatley Madalyn was sleeping right over the time that we had a few minutes to whip out the camera, so there's none of her in her cute outfit :(</div>
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These babies make my life interesting! I'd never trade them for the world.</div>
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Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9161610174435716956.post-78756989027589898782013-02-28T19:54:00.001-08:002013-02-28T19:54:48.962-08:00I Believe in the Power of Prayer I believe that prayer is powerful, and since I have a sweet friend who so needs prayer, I decided to take the request to my blog.The more prayer we can get, the better it will be.<br />
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Rose Kauffman is a friend of mine from Texas. She moved into my community from Tennessee to teach school quite a few years ago.While she was there she fell in love with Owen.They were/are a beautiful match! :) They got married the same year as Joel and I.<br />
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They have since adopted 2 beautiful children, Jacob (on the left) and Arianna (on the right) and have one biological son, Wyatt ( on his daddy's shoulders.)<br />
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Somewhere around a year ago Rose went through a battle with cancer.They did treatments and all seemed well.<br />
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From what I understand she has been having problems with her neck for quite a while and this last week it became so much more severe. Since I know so very few details I'm not even going to try to tell you what's wrong. I don't think she has been diagnosed with a second round of cancer but there is a surgery she will be having on Saturday to correct some things. It is a <u>very,very critical</u> surgery involving the spinal cord.<br />
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All I'm asking is that you keep this dear family in your prayers! They need every prayer they can get. You can follow her story at <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rosekauffman">www.caringbridge.org/visit/rosekauffman</a>.<br />
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Thank you and God bless all of you!<br />
Stacihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08610993551186881530noreply@blogger.com0