tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21481994027769604372024-02-07T14:14:24.869-06:00Passionate Journey Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-79081098717460039482016-08-10T15:50:00.000-05:002016-08-10T15:50:30.351-05:00Keeping it Organized- Our 2016 Homeschool Schedule<span style="font-size: large;">Well, here we are! Deep into week two of our year. How's it going? Well... after a first day coffee mishap, a smidgen of humility, and a reality check, I decided to postpone our actual first day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently things have changed a little more than I thought over the last year and half since we stopped homeschooling. I felt like I really needed a little more time to prepare myself and organize my surroundings and lessons before we jumped back in. I'm glad that I took that time. Things are already better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We now have a semi organized homeschool office and a pretty good schedule to get us started. This week we're practicing "school days" with the littles. We're working with them on obedience and sitting still for more than 5 minutes. Taylor is reading a ridiculous amount of difficult books. Mary is reviewing her math skills and working on some fun writing assignments. Our theme is still "all about me" and we switched our character study to "obedience" for obvious reasons. Next week we'll move on to our "family" theme and try to stick to our original theme plans from there (as soon as I relocate the missing theme plans, that is).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway...a good schedule is a must for me. We have a very busy and different year ahead of us. With three girls taking classes with The Center for Homeschool Enrichment and Tutorial (Chet), all four girls enrolled in ballet/dance classes, and my husband starting a new job, I need be extremely organized and efficient. There are still plenty of variables and monthly activities that will interfere with the schedule, but at least we have a good solid foundation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't spend a lot of time on the schedule, I just revised the one from a few years ago. It wasn't possible to include each child's specific routine so I did the best I could. For example, Taylor will spend most of her time at home studying, reading, practicing piano, and completing her assignments. She won't necessarily work in any special order. She's independent and diligent. Mary on the other hand needs constant structure, guidance, and lots of follow-up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I tried to include a few reminders for myself about cooking and cleaning so I won't be flaky. And that's about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm hopeful that Monday will be our official first day and that I'll be able to report back to you all that everything is going great :) </span> </div>
Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-36085282323210560732016-07-27T11:30:00.002-05:002016-07-27T20:01:53.179-05:00Sharing Our Plans...... Read All About It!<div align="center">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hi friends!! Since we're all bursting with excitement about the upcoming school year, I thought this would be the perfect time to plan and organize and share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the past, many of our friends and family have been curious about what the girls were busy doing all day, so I'm going to be sharing our plans each month in a little newsletter like the one below. I'll also try to share what curriculum and classes we've selected for the year, special activities and projects, and how it all ends up working for us. I know that I always enjoy seeing what other families are using and trying. Seeing what works and doesn't work for others has really been helpful to me in planning for my family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that sharing this will be a blessing to those who are planning for their family and also to those who are just interested in how we educate our girls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So here is August's Newsletter :)</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Hump Day!! </span> </div>
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://eaaebbff-9eb9-4119-aa22-a30df98d531c/imagejpeg" />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-43984087264589812292016-07-20T17:21:00.000-05:002016-07-20T17:21:18.188-05:00A Detour: Part 2 (Brace Yourself.. Haha)<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nearly one full year ago I wrote about life and death and my sorrow and our detour. I knew everyone would be filled with curiosity when we announced our decision to put the big girls in school. Since I have no problem sharing about our life, I figured that would be the best way to do it, and I was totally shocked when I saw how many people read that post! I guess everyone was even more curious than I expected. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I promised a part 2 so here it is. Better late than never!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">School? Yes. We put the kids in school. Why? Because I was sad. Because my bad days were about as many as my good days. Because the opportunity kept presenting itself to me. Because I always have, and always will want what's best for my children and my family as a whole. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we enrolled them in a local private school. It was fun and we learned a lot. We learned about academics, life, and some important lessons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It turned out that Taylor (15 at the time) did not have a excellent understanding of Algebra I liked I had hoped. She had taken Algebra I for two years already. One of those years with a tutor. So she took it for a third year. Lesson 1: Do not try to teach math if you stink at math (like me). Beyond that, she was just a little nervous about her skills and a little shy with the other kids at first. It wasn't long before her hard work and many hours of studying, more than paid off, leaving her with all A's and scores over 100 in nearly every subject. Mary's experience was similar with third grade. They both did great. They had great teachers, made great friends and everything was great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I said at the beginning of the year that some times being a good parent means that you have to make crappy decisions that there's no clear answer for. We decided to go to school because that was the decision that I felt was best at that time. I'm not the person that says, if they could go back they'd change stuff. I would never go back and I would never change anything. At least this way, I know what my problems are. If I were to go back and do things differently, I'd have different problems. Maybe bigger problems. So in short, school was fun but it's not for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are officially homeschooling again!! I'm not going to get into every reason why we love homeschooling or the reasons why we'd rather homeschool than attend private or public school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">School reminded us about some of the great things that come along with a structured classroom setting and I hope to implement those things into our school days at home. Lesson 2: Structure, morning work, repetition, classes, friends, and socialization are our friends :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lesson 3: There is no replacement for our family time together. I could go on and on about family time but I'll spare you in this post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we were homeschooling, we never woke up wondering if we were making the right choice. And I haven't wondered about it once since we made the choice to do it again. </span><br />
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-57787118127422174732016-07-12T09:26:00.001-05:002016-07-12T09:26:35.896-05:00A Mushy Heart, Good Light, & Love <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I'm folding the laundry, I can't help but think about our weekend in Breathitt County, Kentucky. The faces of the people we met are fresh in my mind and their stories, still fresh on my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For many years (I don't really know how many) a dear family member of our church family has provided a community clothing giveaway at the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson Kentucky. The people in Breathitt County were always on his heart. He loved them. And I'm pretty sure they loved him. But back in January he unexpectedly went to be the Lord. And although, I didn't know him extremely well, I know the family he left behind and I knew that I wanted to do something in his honor. That's right, the clothing giveaway. So Curtis and I offered to drive the clothes up to Jackson when our church goes up there for vacation bible school in July. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about it but I was also a believer in knowing that the Lord makes things work. You see, we have been blessed with a truck that belonged to my dad before he passed away and a trailer that Curtis received as a birthday gift from his parents a few years ago. We had the exact things that would be needed to continue this special work for these special people. We didn't buy either one of them. They were blessings to us, and we were going to use them to bless many others. But God had an even bigger plan than me! We collected so many bags of clothing that we had to rent a uhaul to get it there! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, God provided a safer and cleaner Motel for us to stay in. Where we usually stay has gotten really nasty and there was a murder there just last week. So instead, we stayed at Paul's Motel and it was a great little place for our families.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Breathitt County is one of the top five economically depressed counties in our country. Nearly 43% of children under 18 are below the poverty line (and many of those are well below). The median income for a family is about $23,000. There are many families without running water or electricity. One of the men from our congregation went out with the Jackson church van to pick up families for vbs and witnessed a young girl (about 10 years old) washing her hair in a drainage ditch. That family had neither water or electricity. After worship on Sunday morning, the Jackson church had a meeting and made plans to reach out to that family this week. The work there is much. And the people living there, doing the work are far better than I could ever hope to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The clothing drive was more than a success! It was a greater blessing than I could have ever imagined. The people were given big trash bags as they arrived and I think almost every person filled up there their bag! One man was searching for underwear like he was looking for a treasure. Another man needed work boots desperately and when he saw a brand new pack of white socks, his face lit up with joy. I could tell story after story of the desperation, the love, the kindness, and the needs. I guess in my old age, my heart just continues to soften more and more. At this rate, it'll be pure mush by the time I'm 40. I wept in the bathroom during the giveaway. I wept in my motel room that evening. I wept when I got home. And I'm fighting to keep my composure as I type this. Mush I tell you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been poor. I've never been dirty or hungry but I've had needs that I couldn't meet on my own. I've been a young single mother on food stamps. I've had to ask organizations for free diapers and clothing for my baby. I get it. I was there and I made it out and I want to help. <span class="passage-display-bcv">Romans 8:28 tells us that </span><span class="text Rom-8-28" id="en-NASB-28145">God causes <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-28145A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28145A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-28145B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28145B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>called according to <i>His</i> purpose.</span> I believe that. </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ePCU0aaf9p7q25aCI-MRwN4F2IPedqjujW-rUDnXvBl3rxzVsUq9y2FeUR_-q_7nnEMXthb03JzGP8Vh9ahqH81G3WYN5PXJfwg-VgOel2GQlYxXK3L8tAQPOZ_QrPBhGrRi89m2gOA/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ePCU0aaf9p7q25aCI-MRwN4F2IPedqjujW-rUDnXvBl3rxzVsUq9y2FeUR_-q_7nnEMXthb03JzGP8Vh9ahqH81G3WYN5PXJfwg-VgOel2GQlYxXK3L8tAQPOZ_QrPBhGrRi89m2gOA/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep5CPc5anaT7H_ooVEAh7F7ozwAJvb_vrAga91sI273CtqII1Qb98aqaTkSnTEW7bp7hJe5k4eYaoVyq8Gn2PMmKmsKTB8ubSV7wkIG6En8FBSKLqoP7lDc9LaXNfn7VvBS7CnKOIhAM/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep5CPc5anaT7H_ooVEAh7F7ozwAJvb_vrAga91sI273CtqII1Qb98aqaTkSnTEW7bp7hJe5k4eYaoVyq8Gn2PMmKmsKTB8ubSV7wkIG6En8FBSKLqoP7lDc9LaXNfn7VvBS7CnKOIhAM/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And let me tell you something about my church family! They're awesome. Awesome in the ways that the Almighty God in Heaven is pleased with. They were willing to do whatever it took to make this mission a blessing to as many people as possible. They taught classes and hugged sweet children and sorted clothes and moved bags and handed out flyers and listened to stories and on and on. Even the youth! They worked just as hard as the adults. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtKEeCACl490RPjdCmWHboz1DGIn8xd9aJrzN0L7bLh9ZMT1_iTDYEMrAgymvzFiqjBGlFWcJF1mfi9x1XPof-c4nHD0S-sPFu3-yuZo_UzquxUfNM0hyphenhyphenXuli-n6nxnX7aLzo0e45pec/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtKEeCACl490RPjdCmWHboz1DGIn8xd9aJrzN0L7bLh9ZMT1_iTDYEMrAgymvzFiqjBGlFWcJF1mfi9x1XPof-c4nHD0S-sPFu3-yuZo_UzquxUfNM0hyphenhyphenXuli-n6nxnX7aLzo0e45pec/s400/IMG_0493.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbc-l3j2UhDmY6Eprfdccgg_sE0GTGZ3nN7Z0dywBDiDi24gCxmRApTMG1XivhU62HhvPstHmKdkSFumDT6BHYr2D2vFzBddhIRbvkgQF5YRDzgbg9mrZ3crUmTwnZQK3A99PVkNXnW4/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the clothing giveaway, one lady said that she wanted to take the rest of the clothes home to her 12 family members. The picture below was taken about 2 hours after the ones above. So, every piece of clothing was put to use and if we would have had more, they would have taken that too. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKVUDFQw5PRWkUr6w84oN6u6-SSeN8MAevLJNzgIX66IDHtpP7JHE-dnZwQemBz0zYHp0_r5fCL0g-B0bi_y5R_kTOZyuVRSGPqVS4p_L0H5pNtm3panMEpISVqys2IvopGUODsEX0Go/s1600/IMG_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKVUDFQw5PRWkUr6w84oN6u6-SSeN8MAevLJNzgIX66IDHtpP7JHE-dnZwQemBz0zYHp0_r5fCL0g-B0bi_y5R_kTOZyuVRSGPqVS4p_L0H5pNtm3panMEpISVqys2IvopGUODsEX0Go/s400/IMG_0555.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are already collecting clothing for the next giveaway in October. I was sad to see that we didn't have any little boy clothing and very little children's clothing in general. We hope to collect a good variety for the next giveaway. Men's, regular and especially plus size women's, and all children & baby are needed. Also shoes, purses, socks, new underwear, and household & children's items would be appreciated. I want to be respectful by offering items in good condition but I know the need is probably greater than that and we should bring anything useable. Maybe a pretty purse or pair of shoes isn't a life saving item but it can certainly bring someone joy and maybe lift their spirits enough to keep trying. We're to be the light and salt of the world (<span class="passage-display-bcv">Matthew 5:13-16)</span>. Light and salt make things better. I'm a natural light photographer and everything I do revolves around the light. Good light make all the difference. As I've been off and on the Whole 30 diet, I have come to fully appreciate the way salt can transform a bland vegetable into something I can really enjoy eating. Salt and light! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbc-l3j2UhDmY6Eprfdccgg_sE0GTGZ3nN7Z0dywBDiDi24gCxmRApTMG1XivhU62HhvPstHmKdkSFumDT6BHYr2D2vFzBddhIRbvkgQF5YRDzgbg9mrZ3crUmTwnZQK3A99PVkNXnW4/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbc-l3j2UhDmY6Eprfdccgg_sE0GTGZ3nN7Z0dywBDiDi24gCxmRApTMG1XivhU62HhvPstHmKdkSFumDT6BHYr2D2vFzBddhIRbvkgQF5YRDzgbg9mrZ3crUmTwnZQK3A99PVkNXnW4/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to everyone who cared enough to read this post! May you all be blessed :)</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-55113646648475212232016-06-15T17:02:00.002-05:002016-06-15T17:03:23.663-05:00The Here and Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's really easy for me to lose my focus. No, I don't have ADHD or anything like that. I'm just a fairly normal human being who gets bored and distracted easily. Probably a little more than others. What happens is, I let discontentment creep in. It creeps in slowly and I don't even notice until that trapped feeling begins to suffocate me. I'm a changer. I enjoy change. Some people are afraid of change. I thrive in change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what now? I can't move across the country like I've done in the past. I can't even move. Honestly, I love my home and I love my town and I love my state and I love my country. I love my family, friends, church, and our school. So what is wrong with me?! The only answer is obvious. Not always to me but when I think about it, it's clear. It's my focus. I've lost it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the reasons that I started blogging was because I wanted to take the time to find the beauty around me. The beauty in the every day. In the ordinary and simple. There are wonderful things going on around me that I don't really notice if I'm not focused on seeing them. Even greater than seeing them is photographing them, with my camera or my phone, it doesn't even matter. When I see them and capture them and post them and blog about them, it's then that I really "see" them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Being a photographer, some times I feel like I shouldn't post photos from my cell phone for some stupid reason, and if my camera isn't handy, I often let amazing moments pass right by me. I'll even forget to tell my family or a friend about something awesome because I never even remember that it happened. I'm so busy feeding people and meeting their survival needs that the beautiful moments in my life are missed or forgotten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have big dreams and big plans for my family! I'm filled with ideas and about places I want to take them and things I want to do with them. I know how short life is and it can be discouraging when I look at my big list of plans. But I'm going to keep planning and dreaming and working!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And in an effort to enjoy the here and now, I'm going to make more time for capturing and sharing the beauty (and some times ugly) of my everyday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like, while I read them one of Mary's favorite stories, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Little-Souls-Never-Forgotten/dp/1558745076"><span style="font-size: large;">The Never Forgotten Doll</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, they drew pictures about the story and then shared them with each other. We practiced sitting still and listening. They need to practice that more often than just in church. They're wild!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSq1T_lxOHjCcF4XCYAaBFNT2TXSsiDbrWP3BPjuzw7CdS0yQFes6AtP568TbC_VwVgzohVIIk2ecxfkW98tEr4of0Q5cz-PbyC5Jqr18WLEOYP4EoVie4x6ZRrx9_zmX-UK2XgCxYNo/s1600/june-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSq1T_lxOHjCcF4XCYAaBFNT2TXSsiDbrWP3BPjuzw7CdS0yQFes6AtP568TbC_VwVgzohVIIk2ecxfkW98tEr4of0Q5cz-PbyC5Jqr18WLEOYP4EoVie4x6ZRrx9_zmX-UK2XgCxYNo/s320/june-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrv7Bk3XUlGx16NddxSM2hqNl34OvfEckUvrXWZwxKNzk59q54EGtO26Boh8leoZ_oRUR6GQ6mZ7B9cKDmql2TppjOFfsfog4vVFLbNendB9v1wVt_-iXQYZe0Lc0mnPa4UUtrWaya20/s1600/june-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrv7Bk3XUlGx16NddxSM2hqNl34OvfEckUvrXWZwxKNzk59q54EGtO26Boh8leoZ_oRUR6GQ6mZ7B9cKDmql2TppjOFfsfog4vVFLbNendB9v1wVt_-iXQYZe0Lc0mnPa4UUtrWaya20/s320/june-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During nap time I started thinking about summer and how much I despise summer time in Tennessee. So I forced myself to go outside and get some shots of our summer yard. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4suS-HpNZazpHU_PSuIpG_yy81hIbYeDscSFuyavK5ybJt_wxzxIK6QyeqBBSBY-n2YDcSY57i9SSF8o2oAT3ITz4SFOlhEvzFZg_lBGPZQOReQRRXIfYP7sANN3XA6uQWSIvExW_JKo/s1600/june-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4suS-HpNZazpHU_PSuIpG_yy81hIbYeDscSFuyavK5ybJt_wxzxIK6QyeqBBSBY-n2YDcSY57i9SSF8o2oAT3ITz4SFOlhEvzFZg_lBGPZQOReQRRXIfYP7sANN3XA6uQWSIvExW_JKo/s320/june-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The tire swing is the life of the yard. The kids LOVE it! They flock to it and swing on it for hours. Hot or not!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeH__2h0OTr4_Vx297Ii6qeuSyVJLSB4usnQ4c9rQb6wS8Ve080yiQVymtrjl5qT90K1qtcjTcivMT3nmEgF36ZVSW-kehNf_x9w6ZWP8FBE2ZmUQxLJfhAEpO7lGaHxto4Mvw_hd9Kc/s1600/june-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeH__2h0OTr4_Vx297Ii6qeuSyVJLSB4usnQ4c9rQb6wS8Ve080yiQVymtrjl5qT90K1qtcjTcivMT3nmEgF36ZVSW-kehNf_x9w6ZWP8FBE2ZmUQxLJfhAEpO7lGaHxto4Mvw_hd9Kc/s400/june-4.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My peony bed has been overtaken by these ugly native trees :(</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9AL0bWqhcyfWa_2_zZt7L-iC_MA5TOiirao9iT41v1Lt2EG7I9b8Idg-i8BMiQaFajdhFw_-VbvkiGoho8K_xWX5oEjSbLjVNOgFuRJdiPdh8Ii5VkivO43kfIaBS-J4TnKjnUwLGg/s1600/june-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9AL0bWqhcyfWa_2_zZt7L-iC_MA5TOiirao9iT41v1Lt2EG7I9b8Idg-i8BMiQaFajdhFw_-VbvkiGoho8K_xWX5oEjSbLjVNOgFuRJdiPdh8Ii5VkivO43kfIaBS-J4TnKjnUwLGg/s320/june-5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A favorite! Mary refuses to bring her shoes in the house. I think every single pair of her shoes has been through a rain storm.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiAn0oC6B9m_JPU7K9_pAlNA72A_eZqHQ1Ju4Iw2ZA-I6lSn_P9aH2jVkE2-vdOvCHcy-qFwktcb_fdwtmAAv1EtiOq3xAymjz_z8yIjsPonaNyXHDLaRVVN-ZGaC7mTuTvatpsp7utM/s1600/june-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiAn0oC6B9m_JPU7K9_pAlNA72A_eZqHQ1Ju4Iw2ZA-I6lSn_P9aH2jVkE2-vdOvCHcy-qFwktcb_fdwtmAAv1EtiOq3xAymjz_z8yIjsPonaNyXHDLaRVVN-ZGaC7mTuTvatpsp7utM/s320/june-6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Strawberries!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4nK6lEA5okKjvJ8OXbQ-h3dOVnlmeuvWlkVIo1d0f1APbK2XQZp9eh7k815YvHF6Xyz-rSVoBtX50X_nnwXBMI2FwdN99eNjQYYSTIP7GVEPOIz6unbENouy6eB6Y9grvLvXfd0M86Y/s1600/june-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4nK6lEA5okKjvJ8OXbQ-h3dOVnlmeuvWlkVIo1d0f1APbK2XQZp9eh7k815YvHF6Xyz-rSVoBtX50X_nnwXBMI2FwdN99eNjQYYSTIP7GVEPOIz6unbENouy6eB6Y9grvLvXfd0M86Y/s320/june-7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And our very late to get started garden. Kinda pitiful right now. Luckily a rain storm flooded the garden right after this (and Mary's Toms by the sandbox).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtl9_ErjGexLPd-2Dq130coN3F3AfGcSuzV-W_uagzJe7xhvN-q67Xymw-hWr8-D2sInvhval5xBitpSIK2lPakw3GlWnBDUEhjG9og7yAfK_sgVRSNJ3I8FBHt9N5Q7y31yDc-IZoe6M/s1600/june-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtl9_ErjGexLPd-2Dq130coN3F3AfGcSuzV-W_uagzJe7xhvN-q67Xymw-hWr8-D2sInvhval5xBitpSIK2lPakw3GlWnBDUEhjG9og7yAfK_sgVRSNJ3I8FBHt9N5Q7y31yDc-IZoe6M/s320/june-8.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-23990570876486619742016-01-20T09:48:00.002-06:002016-01-20T09:50:56.958-06:00A Snowy Wednesday... Kind of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I was walking past my bedroom this morning, to put some clothes away in the girls' room, I noticed the pretty snow falling outside my window and decided to grab my camera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Even though we are all a little disappointed by the amount of "snow" we received today, it is still beautiful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is still worth taking a picture of the snowy garden that Curtis tilled up last week.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZryc1TB7fHYszEo6k6ismxRj1wfgzTz6EKljVnfOcxKMEjcsBK4Omb4zjFV5JCJBY361XMO9S_bu3oWmLVtjjVq9g6YKLV1tgJ3Bumyj57QrHlELdUZuHHAo5mpWzxZF87gwkmmZ9Les/s1600/vdaywtm-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZryc1TB7fHYszEo6k6ismxRj1wfgzTz6EKljVnfOcxKMEjcsBK4Omb4zjFV5JCJBY361XMO9S_bu3oWmLVtjjVq9g6YKLV1tgJ3Bumyj57QrHlELdUZuHHAo5mpWzxZF87gwkmmZ9Les/s400/vdaywtm-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the iris garden in the front yard that we planted for my mom, who lives in a condo in Florida and doesn't have a yard of her own .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And of course, Buster playing and being all cute as usual :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">xoxo, Holly</span></div>
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<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-84411292467713349162015-12-08T10:46:00.000-06:002015-12-08T10:46:00.721-06:00Our December Kitchen<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had planned on doing an awesome 2 part post on our lovely kitchen makeover. But all that I managed to post was </span><a href="http://journeytoapurehome.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-tiny-peek-at-kitchen-makeover.html"><span style="font-size: large;">A Tiny Peek at Our Kitchen Makeover</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. No part 1. No part 2. No big kitchen reveal. Just a peek and not much of one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd like to say that it's because I'm just too busy but that wouldn't really be true. I am super busy but the real reason I've haven't posted about my kitchen makeover is- I don't know if we'll ever really be "finished". It appears to be one of those projects (like every other project) that will take us years and years to actually complete. </span><span style="font-size: large;">So I'll just try to post an update every now and then :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let's start this kitchen post with a quick reminder of our kitchen last year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leaky dishwasher. Rotted floor. Bad wallpaper. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGLwt9FEe7P1BsUQ0Vi0ISw_fGt4gaI3Q6sL6lhd0xNBPfoJHPNdFmr27EufwbRcYnLRLV2H7pTgDnDaTRf3Pr_bqnV_IEwscYYuDIwuPSShoq8WFap1pjERu0Xch9R6pENrlbMOud14/s1600/1970725_10202364547048554_306151904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGLwt9FEe7P1BsUQ0Vi0ISw_fGt4gaI3Q6sL6lhd0xNBPfoJHPNdFmr27EufwbRcYnLRLV2H7pTgDnDaTRf3Pr_bqnV_IEwscYYuDIwuPSShoq8WFap1pjERu0Xch9R6pENrlbMOud14/s400/1970725_10202364547048554_306151904_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDwHyjtV7GhCRn0kQ7deEMxFYma8OM2OY6PfbJAbppaeYAH-zqTIZFuadn_ybnJW6P9xJxMP0Y8lxSgr9AUSPFfUMPWa4IurCmM3dx9vsRJpw1ytRYdXSU_ogrjx5ucsIz5_IrcVY6EM/s1600/1912464_10202370067586564_2106422076_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDwHyjtV7GhCRn0kQ7deEMxFYma8OM2OY6PfbJAbppaeYAH-zqTIZFuadn_ybnJW6P9xJxMP0Y8lxSgr9AUSPFfUMPWa4IurCmM3dx9vsRJpw1ytRYdXSU_ogrjx5ucsIz5_IrcVY6EM/s400/1912464_10202370067586564_2106422076_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ugly huh? We really didn't change very much. Just the floor, backsplash, and color. There is still sooo much to be done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And to be honest, the floor isn't finished, the backsplash isn't finished, and the paint isn't finished. I still have plenty of trim and caulking to do. Not to mention a few tiles that need to be repaired already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So try to see past the dirt on the floor and stools, the rubber bumper on the corner of the counter, and the bad lighting, and just see how far we've come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by :)</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-41492826692682851142015-09-05T06:38:00.000-05:002015-09-05T06:38:16.780-05:00Sole Hope Labor Day Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My new Sole Hope flip flops came in the mail this week! It's been a great mail week :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">While everyone is looking forward to getting out their fall boots and shoes, I'll be sporting these new beauties. And they're not only adorable, they're a purchase with purpose.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jbNn1IeTKveiIeptictC1qPfDOoc8XXaHwJ_noQobO2DXdsiyqRDAY8wXPALznX-oM_1JGtXptXwL2kFsKs_RessD1wXhGfxyKUxuHI6qqINcADlPk5oKa0c8BiJ6fQr0ErhK8idzSY/s1600/sole+hope-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jbNn1IeTKveiIeptictC1qPfDOoc8XXaHwJ_noQobO2DXdsiyqRDAY8wXPALznX-oM_1JGtXptXwL2kFsKs_RessD1wXhGfxyKUxuHI6qqINcADlPk5oKa0c8BiJ6fQr0ErhK8idzSY/s640/sole+hope-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So what is a jigger? Well, it's a nasty little sand flea that burrows into feet, lays eggs, multiplies, damages the soft tissue, and can cause a variety of painful and some times very serious problems. <a href="http://www.solehope.org/jiggers/">You can read more here and even check out some really disgusting photos if you're interested in that sort of thing.</a> You know I love to share pics from Facebook, so here are few from Sole Hope's page.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How are your shoes holding up? On the rare occasion that children arrive at a clinic with shoes on they usually look similar to these. <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/perspective">#perspective</a> Will you come alongside us and help Sole Hope continue to provide shoes to children in Uganda? Go HERE: <a href="http://www.solehope.org/donate/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.solehope.org/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>donate/</a> to sponsor a pair for $10 or sign up for a recurring donation and sponsor a pair every month. Thank you for your continued support!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Our volunteers are great at comforting the kids when jigger removal gets rough"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs6vBWBwy_xSDKpTVOTBD8RYhi5F6M3PkF4xn044ooIw7uYzI8rBm0UA8FwdUcPUSH5wVjKAiGYCYbWEwFOTTR2BXp45wQeZhs_H7F0yWavEF3evyeLcYDY6svq03xPIqBqz9me-l96w/s1600/11017543_1002005089820152_2938072688241209538_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs6vBWBwy_xSDKpTVOTBD8RYhi5F6M3PkF4xn044ooIw7uYzI8rBm0UA8FwdUcPUSH5wVjKAiGYCYbWEwFOTTR2BXp45wQeZhs_H7F0yWavEF3evyeLcYDY6svq03xPIqBqz9me-l96w/s400/11017543_1002005089820152_2938072688241209538_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Ok, so I've said it before, I'm a sucker for a good cause sharing God's love. As I'm getting older, I'm trying to be more intentional with my life, my words, my time, and my purchases too. Who we choose to buy from is who we choose to support. So when I realized that it was time to replace a pair of my favorite flip flops, I knew exactly where I wanted to get them. As a matter of fact, I've been waiting for the chance to shop with Sole Hope for a while now. I love this cause because, and I know this is kind of stupid, but because I hate bug bites and my feet suck! When I moved to Tennessee from California, I was introduced to living life in a mosquito habitat. Man, I hate mosquitos!! An itchy bug bite is pure torture. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a place where jiggers are common and health care is not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><br />Sole Hope takes there clinic to villages and removes the jiggers for people, they also educate them about jiggers and provide them with shoes (many times their first pair of shoes ever). I have some foot problems myself and I'm thankful to have access to cream and scrubbers for my cracked heals and shoes for when my feet are hurting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">If Sole Hope sounds like a cause that you might be interesting in supporting, you should check them out right now because they're having a Labor Day sale! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">2</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">5% off with coupon code: LABORDAY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://sole-hope.myshopify.com/">Shop here :)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">You can also follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/solehope">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://instagram.com/solehope/">Instagram</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Labor Day weekend and don't forget to #purchasewithpurpose friends!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPl2hvMZeT3YMAU3rzoE8i9okwuH106ruA7teCWwJ2j8SDu7yR-llENOqMNFb_jB65IZ6UkmU-Pygff4hUFzaCqls5dApUDVeLPngulZUd6YZJA6leu6cac4cqB99oG7OsaIyxcol5IW4/s1600/10985577_983668938320434_508267353282576380_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPl2hvMZeT3YMAU3rzoE8i9okwuH106ruA7teCWwJ2j8SDu7yR-llENOqMNFb_jB65IZ6UkmU-Pygff4hUFzaCqls5dApUDVeLPngulZUd6YZJA6leu6cac4cqB99oG7OsaIyxcol5IW4/s640/10985577_983668938320434_508267353282576380_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-25993229003734970062015-09-04T08:55:00.000-05:002015-09-04T09:01:58.183-05:00I'm the One That Needs to Adjust & Breakfast Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We've made it to week 5 of school. It feels good. Taylor received her first progress report on Monday. Three A's and one B. I'm impressed. I love that they're learning so much and trying so hard to do well. They are adjusting well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I guess now I'M the one who needs to adjust to school schedules and demands, being at home with two unpredictable little girls all day, and juggling home management & a small business by myself (with said little girls at my feet).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My biggest challenge (like most moms, I'm sure) has been feeding my family. I love to cook but I do not enjoy rushing. I enjoy meal planning, but haven't found the time. I didn't expect this to be a problem for me because that's one of the things I've always been pretty good at. But since school started we have had pizza and Cheetos for breakfast, cereal for dinner, and this week I paid for the school lunch, then made lunch from home and sent them to school with it. I'm a mess!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I'm a morning person. I like to get up and get going. I like morning showers and coffee. I like getting my chores done early and having the rest of the day stress free (it doesn't happen often but I like it). I have no excuse for being this unorganized with my meals, other than the forty reasons that I could give you that explain why I'm this unorganized ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So I'm going to share some of my favorite easy breakfast recipes and some new (hopefully good) ones that I'm planning on experimenting with, then sharing the details. I'm hoping it will encourage me to do better and maybe even inspire someone else to make more breakfasts. #journeyseats</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Today I'm sharing one of my favorite recipes, adapted from a combination of recipes over the years. It's perfect for fall. For school mornings. For weekends. For anytime. We've been enjoying this for a long time (and not just in the fall and winter).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Lets call it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Blueberry Pumpkin Oatmeal Bake :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Start the night before by soaking 2 cups of oats in a teaspoon of kefir, buttermilk, or yogurt and cover with water. Soak overnight. Drain and rinse oats in the morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm big on improvising and using whatever you have on hand.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tW6LOqgdqGHGucGatq-flMF8aB7rSDP0RxNe1ps3wnzcnmZTS-GqhyJt1UQyXVDHFcreAquNYATnDhA6nD4vNmAq2ZV_sp9VKHGcRpwIrayamk9NBFpb2xL9QIhngmiN0OAxFNB_syY/s1600/8-17-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tW6LOqgdqGHGucGatq-flMF8aB7rSDP0RxNe1ps3wnzcnmZTS-GqhyJt1UQyXVDHFcreAquNYATnDhA6nD4vNmAq2ZV_sp9VKHGcRpwIrayamk9NBFpb2xL9QIhngmiN0OAxFNB_syY/s640/8-17-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Soaked oats</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1-2 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/3 cup of pumpkin or pumpkin pie filling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/3 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I usually put a casserole dish in the oven with a couple of teaspoons of butter until the butter melts and coats the dish well. Then I pour my mixture in the dish and bake at 350° for about 40 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My recipe changes a little each time I make it. You can literally add anything you want to it (raisins, apples, brown sugar, peaches, honey) and it's always turned out awesome for me. Some people may like it a little creamier and want to add a splash of milk to the mix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I top it with powdered sugar and more blueberries. The kids call it breakfast cake. They love it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvldm2U0_XhY926xIj30j_0FUf_eX19uq0708R5-po3Aqn-1QdbLCIJHfBKO6EK05hOEcOW2mP-1eDg9GLlDAD-Th4cIQ6Fs6vJDsSVi7KasrICpYMsD0_AFGua_IbW6SYt_Qc7mqNw/s1600/8-17-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvldm2U0_XhY926xIj30j_0FUf_eX19uq0708R5-po3Aqn-1QdbLCIJHfBKO6EK05hOEcOW2mP-1eDg9GLlDAD-Th4cIQ6Fs6vJDsSVi7KasrICpYMsD0_AFGua_IbW6SYt_Qc7mqNw/s640/8-17-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-75797597433056752142015-08-28T16:49:00.000-05:002015-08-28T17:00:07.361-05:00More Loving, More Serving<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Question: Do you ever feel a personal conviction to do more? Do you ever look around at all of the terrible problems in the world and wonder what you can do to help? Are you short on money, time, and other resources that you think are needed in order for you to be able to make a difference? Do you have too many mouths to feed, rooms to clean, and errands to run?? Yeah... me too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But nonetheless, we have been called to love and serve. In recent years, I have dreamed about being able to serve others in better ways. I've wanted to be the one who does the helping. So many people have been there for me, and helped me in my life. I'm so grateful to every one of them. It is a blessing to know that you're loved by God and that other's are working for God to show you his love and their love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Having a large family with small children is something that most people in America either never experience or forget soon after their season is over. I vow to never forget. I will remember the many days when lonely hopelessness filled my heart. The times that I struggled to just keep everyone alive and fed and sort-of clean. The times when it was all I could do to pray, let alone dress everyone and make it to church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But that's not even what today's post is about. Today I'd like to share about "more". Doing more to serve as the hands and feet of God. I've spent many many days and nights thinking and praying about the needs all around me and what ways I can show others the love that God has for them. What loves and talents do I have that I could use? Well, I have a serious love for children that I feel is something like a gift. My entire life I've had a special interest in the poor and needy. And most of all, the helpless. There is a place in my heart for the helpless that I think can only be filled by helping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Soooo.....I'm going to help now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">How am I going to help, you ask? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Well....... I'm going to do something. Yep. Something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to start by writing this. And hopefully encourage you to do something too. For years I've been following different non-profits, researching charity groups and companies, asking questions, and searching for whatever it is that I could/should be doing. My favorite website/instagram/facebook page is without a doubt </span><a href="http://www.neemahouse.org/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Neema House - Geita</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, where some of the greatest work in the world is being done. I could write about it all day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's basically an orphanage in East Africa, Tanzania. They not only care for orphans but also for children in broken families who need care and they care for and protect albino children from witch doctors who kidnap and dismember them because they believe their bones have magic powers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Can you imagine having to bring your child to an orphanage just because he/she was albino and needed to be protected from being murdered? Heartbreaking to think about, isn't it? Neema House - Geita is so good about updating their Facebook page and sharing progress on their children and their families if they have any, and also on projects and goals they're working on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">These are from their Facebook page :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIEIFvXxDm0VbAyKEcynsM1Zjzkch-2xw4iZTtV_2-VfuxaQ_MhcU02D6U-eyNxmI9xKQ2AALTY5ZdvajeDyRDzDzPfGw1AOSpnqnDC0dCg0KA7HW3JkwMGhEoIWCxrq51RkimidyiCY/s1600/11703514_10152812505240194_3872381611052347466_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIEIFvXxDm0VbAyKEcynsM1Zjzkch-2xw4iZTtV_2-VfuxaQ_MhcU02D6U-eyNxmI9xKQ2AALTY5ZdvajeDyRDzDzPfGw1AOSpnqnDC0dCg0KA7HW3JkwMGhEoIWCxrq51RkimidyiCY/s640/11703514_10152812505240194_3872381611052347466_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local family threw a birthday party for all of the kids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjheKICrVbasPz6lhE2hrwwpUeRAfc-5O3zOOIvIKCO5Og0oXnIV_ZR8rrZ0ZP_u_1VMruHWQtzeCcD8ip0AeosTW6fQ0kQKVe_w9YRlwzWF6ZbUsH6k_rgi5ZDy4cn1nA7OWbsSb6sj0/s1600/10525776_10152642951660194_1238208038250961088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjheKICrVbasPz6lhE2hrwwpUeRAfc-5O3zOOIvIKCO5Og0oXnIV_ZR8rrZ0ZP_u_1VMruHWQtzeCcD8ip0AeosTW6fQ0kQKVe_w9YRlwzWF6ZbUsH6k_rgi5ZDy4cn1nA7OWbsSb6sj0/s640/10525776_10152642951660194_1238208038250961088_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They have to shave their heads. I'm not sure if it's a certain times or all the time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVONLkLxMeCwyrLwYLW6rt5yF8WfgI3o5L9E1X2o5c8FGwfnmT7hLbpQHgHupiRmiX3CMGj1Ln3ZFsory-1jA-7NPeUEHebFRkBWFWilVRy8l0hrxt7symR0J_IyCBkEZOKKcL6VdrV4/s1600/11147072_10152883414990194_7120874977510809734_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVONLkLxMeCwyrLwYLW6rt5yF8WfgI3o5L9E1X2o5c8FGwfnmT7hLbpQHgHupiRmiX3CMGj1Ln3ZFsory-1jA-7NPeUEHebFRkBWFWilVRy8l0hrxt7symR0J_IyCBkEZOKKcL6VdrV4/s640/11147072_10152883414990194_7120874977510809734_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas, Gloria, and Agnes in their new cribs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNRqtHJSww_8rXYZeTz9IvMlUBdV32mwHo99HIG8FwYQHoVGj618YJLFwqaNS52ODxfjGs1rOlXK0DK41z9Hgfs9hxXD-PmI50V_2jHAm-De4FKq4_vuBuoRsqF_EW3YledIjG6chXdU/s1600/11884055_10152896076465194_7654317161278339170_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNRqtHJSww_8rXYZeTz9IvMlUBdV32mwHo99HIG8FwYQHoVGj618YJLFwqaNS52ODxfjGs1rOlXK0DK41z9Hgfs9hxXD-PmI50V_2jHAm-De4FKq4_vuBuoRsqF_EW3YledIjG6chXdU/s640/11884055_10152896076465194_7654317161278339170_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls' bedroom makeover this month :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFxHTLb_A_q4ksvISHj70P5Rbc1lUvr7jh2sLkRGrn9Uup_GHC4USzfvUk02bcga7M8X6F2g5Z4wYh9yO3usQZD3l9ZRcWd-dBSeT_g8OLSeAv1z23H1LBIsEAMufCxn_Tk9oK6yohHc/s1600/11872011_10152885425585194_5147255964917571102_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFxHTLb_A_q4ksvISHj70P5Rbc1lUvr7jh2sLkRGrn9Uup_GHC4USzfvUk02bcga7M8X6F2g5Z4wYh9yO3usQZD3l9ZRcWd-dBSeT_g8OLSeAv1z23H1LBIsEAMufCxn_Tk9oK6yohHc/s640/11872011_10152885425585194_5147255964917571102_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charity visiting with her mom for the first time in 10 months.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here is their mission:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><h1 class="text-align-center" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1440784780342_577" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Neema (pronounced Nāma) is the Swahili word for “grace” or “abundance.” </span> </span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Located in the Geita District of Northern Tanzania, Neema House is the only organization in the region supporting at-risk, abandoned, and orphaned children ages five years and younger. Neema House has been developed as one of the ministries of the mission team in Geita. It is currently set up as an interim care facility to serve up to 25 children and is designed with the purpose that people from the Geita community will experience the grace and abundance of God through tangible acts of love and service. </span></em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Neema House works in connection with the local hospital and government social welfare offices to identify children in need and ensure their care and safety. While at Neema House, children are provided food, clothing, shelter, medical care and love. Day to day care of the children is provided by Tanzanian "mamas" to help ensure that they are raised in their Tanzanian culture as much as possible and therefore more easily reintegrate into homes in the community.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Though many children are orphaned due to AIDS, malaria, other diseases, or abandonment, some children may have extended family in the area. Neema House is committed to maintaining and developing a relationship with any extended family these children may have in the hope that as many children has possible may return to their homes in the future. Children who do not have additional known family will remain in the care of Neema House until further long-term plans can be arranged to ensure the child's care and safety, whether through local adoption, possible fostering, or other future arrangements.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If any of you are looking for an opportunity to help the helpless, this is a great one. You can meet these sweet babies <a href="http://www.neemahouse.org/meet-the-kids/">HERE</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">These little angels is where I'll be donating 10% of ALL sales from Journey's Creations and Photography. All photography sessions and craft sales included.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I don't know how much of a difference it will make but it will be a little "more" than they had before. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Go check out Neema House and you'll quickly see the amazing work going on there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Money isn't always the best way to help. I'm still praying about what I can do more locally. But this has been on my heart for many months and it feels good to finally commit to it.</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-65853174747774030452015-08-24T12:36:00.000-05:002015-08-24T12:53:04.077-05:00Monday Morning AND Big News<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This Monday morning has been a lovely one! Yes, I could complain about at least a dozen things that haven't gone "right" already, but I'm not going to. I'm just going to say another little prayer for today's worries and move on. There' s plenty to get done around here and nobody has time to waste thinking about things that can't be changed! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My lone tomato plant is really flourishing! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUEuIHOzQqUtX9J-XseXwF_b9BSaJZ7lOAO5UmdvNKNN5p5WWOtTPN7gByXaAbmPuFwQUh61gxTX85Y0Wj33i60bCBW2wlb2sqzjrOfsSuHAk1KkS-XZuSkxCjEUyk4_4CCXqan83pJI/s1600/craft+party+post-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUEuIHOzQqUtX9J-XseXwF_b9BSaJZ7lOAO5UmdvNKNN5p5WWOtTPN7gByXaAbmPuFwQUh61gxTX85Y0Wj33i60bCBW2wlb2sqzjrOfsSuHAk1KkS-XZuSkxCjEUyk4_4CCXqan83pJI/s640/craft+party+post-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The weather was amazing in Tennessee this morning. But when I went outside I noticed how bad my favorite place has been neglected (the front porch). But there is hope. I saw some tiny seedlings sprouting in one of my pots, and hopefully the window boxes will have sprouting activity soon. I've been using the porch for sanding and painting cabinets for weeks. I'll have to add "make porch beautiful" to my list.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V6Ng2RyDkTSh9hy0RrrJe6wEvjZIgEgREDun_sPQ14_JFce03KN7kHM5Gul3NmXinBT4wyJ26C1KWOj15a-kZ8931PqOAJsXBKyt3ERQvsp0SWh0oYlevmubtrVF_zNmmWkuD2ppNVQ/s1600/craft+party+post-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V6Ng2RyDkTSh9hy0RrrJe6wEvjZIgEgREDun_sPQ14_JFce03KN7kHM5Gul3NmXinBT4wyJ26C1KWOj15a-kZ8931PqOAJsXBKyt3ERQvsp0SWh0oYlevmubtrVF_zNmmWkuD2ppNVQ/s640/craft+party+post-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8kSCMi7eIRggZ6geJqX6JU4F5m35GfaOXOP2PDJQCQEGJlvsDNU1H4k9MTUtQz13UvCvoHxfes5VGXeUkTo_m7BqomYiXVUid8x7Ybh8r0Zo1_QyO8iO7ak-pahwmpVtyZhBNj7NDw0/s1600/craft+party+post-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8kSCMi7eIRggZ6geJqX6JU4F5m35GfaOXOP2PDJQCQEGJlvsDNU1H4k9MTUtQz13UvCvoHxfes5VGXeUkTo_m7BqomYiXVUid8x7Ybh8r0Zo1_QyO8iO7ak-pahwmpVtyZhBNj7NDw0/s640/craft+party+post-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">This week's "to-do" list is already a mile long. The kitchen is close. Really, really close. Some more cabinet doors are going up tonight and I hope to have all cabinets totally finished by the end of the week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>Note to self: Never ever under any circumstances paint the kitchen again!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In other news....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I am SO excited to announce that I am hosting a fall craft party!! eeeeek!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I love making things and I love opening my home up to my people. So why not put them together for some serious fun?! Come join me for a night of food, fellowship, and cute crafts!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>Here's the details:</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">+ Fall craft party with Journey's Creations at my home in White House TN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">+ On Friday September 25th at 6:00 pm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">+ Cost is $25 per person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">+ Materials, dinner, and dessert included in registration fee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">+ We will make three adorable crafts that will not disappoint! </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Registration is OPEN NOW! Space is limited and some supplies need time for shipping, so please be sure to reserve your spot early. </span></strong></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-68678138237118883302015-08-21T07:41:00.000-05:002015-08-21T07:41:15.704-05:00Craziness & Finding Beauty in the Everyday<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What a week this has been! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Colds are fading away and life is getting back to normal. Well.... the new normal. And, I'm not even exactly sure what that is yet. I've been working like a crazy person trying to finish house projects, working on orders from </span><a href="http://journeyscreations.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Journey's Creations</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, and best of all, getting my </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Journeyscreationsart?ref=hdr_shop_menu"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Etsy Shop</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> back up and running! I'm so terrible at the Etsy thing. I list things and then end up selling them to someone local or giving them away as gifts. But I have a new strategy that I'm hoping will help. We shall see.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SSyplkWSRtLMhU0ekaWbRPKi7Rox2NmstKKQi3OX3OXzD3m_zPCOqpe2GIkOvLP3NdxHX_Bs5YUkG6p3678cPDEMhxiXZ4ufM0O17Xm-qfZpvdyZS6-iQ9-gJTQfb5lowzeHR_DaPQI/s1600/Art-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SSyplkWSRtLMhU0ekaWbRPKi7Rox2NmstKKQi3OX3OXzD3m_zPCOqpe2GIkOvLP3NdxHX_Bs5YUkG6p3678cPDEMhxiXZ4ufM0O17Xm-qfZpvdyZS6-iQ9-gJTQfb5lowzeHR_DaPQI/s640/Art-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fall is my busiest season of the year for photography and it's right around the corner! I've already been busy setting up sessions this week and getting ready for a big wedding with <a href="http://www.authenticphotosbychristy.com/">Authentic Photos & Designs</a> next weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The girls are doing amazing in school. Or at least I'm amazed. Taylor did happen to bomb out on her history test last week but I'm certain that she'll improve. She has awesome study habits and I know she'll come through. I couldn't be happier with their effort. Mary seems to be averaging B's on her work, and considering that she's never been to school before, I think that's wonderful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The best thing to me, is that August is almost over and fall is a little closer. I'm looking forward to fall even more than usual. This summer has been the saddest, most difficult time in my entire life. I'd like to move on to another season and leave this summer behind me. I'm so ready for change (remember, I love change). Ready for cool breezes. And sweatshirts and baking and coffee on the porch swing. Ready for the grass to slow down and the leaves to change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">At this point in my life, I'm learning how important it is to truly enjoy the little things. The everyday. Seeing beauty in the everyday is priceless. These lives we live are special gifts from our Heavenly Father and we should cherish them as He would want us to. We have to be careful to not waste them away worrying and feeling sorry for ourselves. Careful to not dwell on our troubles, but on the joy in our journey. And learning to find that joy in the everyday feels good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today, I found joy in watching my babies play with an $8 bag of used kitchen toys. They played and played. They never even spoke to each other. I sat there and watched them and I loved it. They were so busy investigating every single plate and piece of play food. After they had touched each piece, they started creating meals and play feeding them to me. It was the cutest! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then I made my big babies some rice krispy treats to enjoy when they get home from school. I slapped a tablecloth on the front porch table and I was the very first person to break into the mums at walmart this morning! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Friday Y'all!</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-87063615476971526042015-08-18T06:01:00.001-05:002015-08-18T06:13:50.182-05:00A Tiny Peek at Our Kitchen Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I guess we'll start with this crazy awful embarrassing picture. The right side is the dirty old green cabinets and the left side is the clean new grey cabinets (obviously). I actually like the old green color and seriously considered repainting them the same exact color. But then I thought, if I'm going to go through all the trouble of painting my entire kitchen, I may as well change the color. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What do you think about the grey? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4OskcajYlPMHRy8muyU6cxs2Q1GbNWg0fJjpZm9qPcuXtmngh0j8S-10ufEw_PFpGZhBvLIUkGgJmJs-A26nwRcXVnaBnFPdAgh8Ao3n5ks-zHB5YbnUtkZ16aXMaLesuVRaFYLzdBg/s1600/8-15-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4OskcajYlPMHRy8muyU6cxs2Q1GbNWg0fJjpZm9qPcuXtmngh0j8S-10ufEw_PFpGZhBvLIUkGgJmJs-A26nwRcXVnaBnFPdAgh8Ao3n5ks-zHB5YbnUtkZ16aXMaLesuVRaFYLzdBg/s640/8-15-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I went back and forth after painting this one little section. I never really decided if I loved it or not but I didn't want to repaint what I had already finished. I'm really lazy and I can't work on any one project for very long. I usually have at least four things going at once. I like to hop around and have the choice of what I feel like working on. I like change, so I just keep on moving around and changing. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NN6LugtxV98hQ5waiV3YmFbX0VIqlv4rKBpLh_eIscutGrtZq1a2QkyTMl9K4Rdj0ZVttLEPE_p0UGeJbOlWk5I6gQUBefjov8ISXE7seYq-1KGXHQC4Ybn_Ysz7fTP2V0KJfBCIVQc/s1600/kitchen-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NN6LugtxV98hQ5waiV3YmFbX0VIqlv4rKBpLh_eIscutGrtZq1a2QkyTMl9K4Rdj0ZVttLEPE_p0UGeJbOlWk5I6gQUBefjov8ISXE7seYq-1KGXHQC4Ybn_Ysz7fTP2V0KJfBCIVQc/s640/kitchen-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOe4UeXiQ8HkXcdEb2DstAyWCoRRD3__bHcE_92x6qfAvsIV6Gwi1FEtDHmksar649N1zM9zRPgYtgookBqILrsyj1HktXS0y-_3epmfxRZGIJwv7FSvEuT-ZJVf2N0ZNQ7l-3NJszBU/s1600/kitchen-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOe4UeXiQ8HkXcdEb2DstAyWCoRRD3__bHcE_92x6qfAvsIV6Gwi1FEtDHmksar649N1zM9zRPgYtgookBqILrsyj1HktXS0y-_3epmfxRZGIJwv7FSvEuT-ZJVf2N0ZNQ7l-3NJszBU/s640/kitchen-1-2.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know this is not much of a peek but I don't want to spoil the big reveal :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Tuesday Friends!</span></div>
<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-64294297972661993602015-08-17T09:04:00.000-05:002015-08-17T14:04:09.778-05:00Sunday Harvest and August in the Garden (Don't get excited)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBA9TbBu4NfvSaRAkdFk1yD-WtCmMXwUIQU4XbzvOwwdymYi4G_n10wZFnv1zF_WSDl8a7OSfMRY9lW9CJb_4tJnEzWnTXci58Q_MWyzbIKcIoSJSmacYpJzpgKXtM2o9jejZGPV9glo/s1600/8-16-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBA9TbBu4NfvSaRAkdFk1yD-WtCmMXwUIQU4XbzvOwwdymYi4G_n10wZFnv1zF_WSDl8a7OSfMRY9lW9CJb_4tJnEzWnTXci58Q_MWyzbIKcIoSJSmacYpJzpgKXtM2o9jejZGPV9glo/s640/8-16-15.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is the gorgeous Sunday morning harvest from our garden. And technically, aside from the strawberries, this is the only harvest from our garden ALL year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I really hope you enjoyed that pretty picture. Now get ready for some not-so-pretty pictures from our August garden.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp7zXjj0BYDfGVllsb2oeew3W3nBlVAAfm21bkD3TlivsYwHNb7BQ2YA3XNCBhQ8d5rB9oXhcmXcU6xBlvAhGtwxOGRFV57FUVgsWwyiA8jYDaCt_vtqMxGVjTCrrAxvMdesDlTWNjPE/s1600/8-16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp7zXjj0BYDfGVllsb2oeew3W3nBlVAAfm21bkD3TlivsYwHNb7BQ2YA3XNCBhQ8d5rB9oXhcmXcU6xBlvAhGtwxOGRFV57FUVgsWwyiA8jYDaCt_vtqMxGVjTCrrAxvMdesDlTWNjPE/s640/8-16-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yes, that's Buster's tail bouncing around in there. He was looking for something edible. He didn't find anything, except maybe a rabbit :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The fence is basically covered in vines.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmrP-BPTn0Wy5sgrES6pSyf9sEWJ9yqfXn-Y4D1KMF_vn-vG0j9mJtKTDghyphenhyphenmSeQ3QLgYNyvqTS8rAHb_MViOm8zKteMGRvtniOGVvlnhPLalN8urV9AYvpFkvoaoxZuXTqffxN9QZNI/s1600/8-16-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmrP-BPTn0Wy5sgrES6pSyf9sEWJ9yqfXn-Y4D1KMF_vn-vG0j9mJtKTDghyphenhyphenmSeQ3QLgYNyvqTS8rAHb_MViOm8zKteMGRvtniOGVvlnhPLalN8urV9AYvpFkvoaoxZuXTqffxN9QZNI/s640/8-16-3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ9wuqSWhni3BeTF-x3IrvkW1Jm6Ye_pUBxo-ORWxG5k-WeuScx04_KHYq870qMBApFJMzB4a4_M_ay10D_HAzkeU0KboVCeSzCgLYUQ-gPYWwkN6NAMOL9Fvu_Xl3OrqoP2OpHDlcAA/s1600/8-16-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ9wuqSWhni3BeTF-x3IrvkW1Jm6Ye_pUBxo-ORWxG5k-WeuScx04_KHYq870qMBApFJMzB4a4_M_ay10D_HAzkeU0KboVCeSzCgLYUQ-gPYWwkN6NAMOL9Fvu_Xl3OrqoP2OpHDlcAA/s640/8-16-4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Now check out some of last year's garden activity. It was the opposite of this year. It was awesome! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1opCFVbtP3mTpY4-VdJ2mEnq3rv99X-i4HiJvJp-2lFbu3xldSs68KQCdJKInfyWWTpm2g40cFOnmebrXJ6Ov_970Cn9ZQXcS1CgdIK6A-Gl5ZECnyuI1KGrd9VXcFdSM_xXu_DBwU1Y/s1600/2014+garden7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1opCFVbtP3mTpY4-VdJ2mEnq3rv99X-i4HiJvJp-2lFbu3xldSs68KQCdJKInfyWWTpm2g40cFOnmebrXJ6Ov_970Cn9ZQXcS1CgdIK6A-Gl5ZECnyuI1KGrd9VXcFdSM_xXu_DBwU1Y/s400/2014+garden7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxowJpryZ3rluSCgP9JsURgWM52VQFEVX_PqU1nl9nB83rcYj9cSLqUXwHl3BOmL_rELO-ATbv5C7WU3wezixBhiSBaZ-V7pxeaY6wHqp621mCPvDglMqH_Vol3q4lPlbhOWv3NQ3xkM/s400/2014+garden2.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqS_xxci0lWqbEatpHNDPJ6JzuTfEtCqmOrsG8No3zkdVX6AD7qlF-iH2xe1frtcTFDOw5ifGnpgu5u9JL5Z6DdSaeAK0XTZOIOeFbSEubkswv1FAJ09ySLnrOSnFl4seN_9DVyr860g/s400/2014+garden4.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4xMoEEg-zix8rqL-evZFk4pO5AbidVfRQbxNGcLJpVlT8ahYBvwwJmpYp6VvaydIxeK1KZ5FHSh92Y3eiTYQS4UHftUTQwMeJuofZ7FQ3DQEAuENtwTNXh1esfqe19ivQMYemYIDKfQ/s1600/2014+garden5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4xMoEEg-zix8rqL-evZFk4pO5AbidVfRQbxNGcLJpVlT8ahYBvwwJmpYp6VvaydIxeK1KZ5FHSh92Y3eiTYQS4UHftUTQwMeJuofZ7FQ3DQEAuENtwTNXh1esfqe19ivQMYemYIDKfQ/s400/2014+garden5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Fermented salsa! I would slap someone for some of this right now.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHyaG-40kxG63B3GnCuDqYLgfif-KcMj0Sp7zuEq4h7R7wzHCAvbbCcU6O3VH4dau4gsMEj8ug95CT9ZnYZwQPFR6wLyezl7N60ODevmtH7yLAVa4IpUP8nLcoWCln9J_VhKyWIApCgE/s1600/2014+garden6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHyaG-40kxG63B3GnCuDqYLgfif-KcMj0Sp7zuEq4h7R7wzHCAvbbCcU6O3VH4dau4gsMEj8ug95CT9ZnYZwQPFR6wLyezl7N60ODevmtH7yLAVa4IpUP8nLcoWCln9J_VhKyWIApCgE/s400/2014+garden6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">This is what our cucumber harvest looked like every other morning!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-oryMs5l6s9e09IB2cz1jnmthoK7KzoBJRf4T_Cdr6j39sGNs3oRrem9MK6__dDCk5dK-zW5_1HyYqzAihylNWUwfwoiEcXw1qc_Z1_wKVhyphenhyphenmxblF0rkVj3bn_yZzm1SRBfNI4n6LMU/s1600/2014+garden.3jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-oryMs5l6s9e09IB2cz1jnmthoK7KzoBJRf4T_Cdr6j39sGNs3oRrem9MK6__dDCk5dK-zW5_1HyYqzAihylNWUwfwoiEcXw1qc_Z1_wKVhyphenhyphenmxblF0rkVj3bn_yZzm1SRBfNI4n6LMU/s400/2014+garden.3jpg.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">The pickling was endless.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa-iA9AHtxwg4cyKvBp4BMyaD2uL_RVy7LgVRCLU47QWo0VQ4NAzcCADoIOeZ0nWX97bbbxFfbotMfcQfaAPJ-HiC1WdBOPKRACXhvl6NbEWl842QC8g_pDZAAr_0DBmNCXPz7Ozwf54/s1600/2014+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa-iA9AHtxwg4cyKvBp4BMyaD2uL_RVy7LgVRCLU47QWo0VQ4NAzcCADoIOeZ0nWX97bbbxFfbotMfcQfaAPJ-HiC1WdBOPKRACXhvl6NbEWl842QC8g_pDZAAr_0DBmNCXPz7Ozwf54/s400/2014+garden.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">The tomatoes were gorgeous!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Below is our only living and happily thriving tomato plant of 2015. Notice that it's not even in the garden. I should probably mention that we didn't even plant it!! It just sprouted up in the front flowerbed all by itself :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So we tied it to a pole and it's totally content.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbPri9htRMX5IzRSOLR6NS3rTSvgnLXt96oYrVuWk3myVw_GHyfCLr1o3yPNpCVSpRYO0gm3vTpnuJcsO_WqCj9JICieAyHJIcf__Ku2GoCz8rqQdvi5XE5UWZTKdXdy1BlQq5EjmedE/s1600/8-16-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbPri9htRMX5IzRSOLR6NS3rTSvgnLXt96oYrVuWk3myVw_GHyfCLr1o3yPNpCVSpRYO0gm3vTpnuJcsO_WqCj9JICieAyHJIcf__Ku2GoCz8rqQdvi5XE5UWZTKdXdy1BlQq5EjmedE/s640/8-16-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-54251686755372221422015-08-14T06:30:00.001-05:002015-08-14T06:30:49.973-05:00It's Friday! SO How About a Cookie Recipe!<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This school lunch business is really making me crazy. I don't mind them eating sandwiches and chips (that's what they ate many days homeschooling) but I can't handle or afford the little prepackaged snacks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll admit it, I bought some. I was overwhelmed (like most parents) this first week and I caved. I didn't really feel bad about it either. But into the second week, as we were running out of lunch food, I felt like I could do better. Mary said that one kid had cookies and another had fudge rounds and a list of other things that I don't buy regularly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I get it. They want sweets and junk food. So do I.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My last couple of batches of healthy sweet stuff haven't been very tasty so I needed to try something less drastic. My theory on food is "make good choices when you can, anything is better than nothing". So I made a batch of semi healthy chocolate chip cookies. They are no doubt better than pre-packaged desserts and they actually tasted really good. Yes, I ate three of them :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's my recipe! Use what you have. Pretty much every ingredient is organic so I'll spare you and not put organic in front of everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Semi Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup shortening of your choice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 1/4 cup flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 1/4 cup oat flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup brown sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup sucanat </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2 cups chocolate chips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCvKR6_hRArQZSNJdFzh8g1BXc0gkhGSrDHZ739tBDfk2iyH5oTWJO9FB6ascMifN_-zQ9zxLaY3_G7Uq4Q3hYZ_yJdDWZ0oE4LENpcXBNn0aPJbXJb1ip-OrD12iRWbRpfNsjkk2Bik/s1600/IMG_3144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCvKR6_hRArQZSNJdFzh8g1BXc0gkhGSrDHZ739tBDfk2iyH5oTWJO9FB6ascMifN_-zQ9zxLaY3_G7Uq4Q3hYZ_yJdDWZ0oE4LENpcXBNn0aPJbXJb1ip-OrD12iRWbRpfNsjkk2Bik/s320/IMG_3144.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7RnD1RmFh6GkUK-DTdQyLpzS3Q3XP1n1RX8mxG7yXqrzR1Lw1Sn-UKJqGiOLFoqOV4uEnl7Jp3_NFHmxTV7w7bTPH2glX7-e1r4mwjb7Z8KV-UPDT5z7V2BgLUdE4p1Iwdpv5uPMTtE/s1600/IMG_3145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7RnD1RmFh6GkUK-DTdQyLpzS3Q3XP1n1RX8mxG7yXqrzR1Lw1Sn-UKJqGiOLFoqOV4uEnl7Jp3_NFHmxTV7w7bTPH2glX7-e1r4mwjb7Z8KV-UPDT5z7V2BgLUdE4p1Iwdpv5uPMTtE/s320/IMG_3145.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mix ingredients in order of recipe with an electric mixer. Then stir in chocolate chips and nuts. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1cUd59VrCI_zEoIj7uN4WQe6hW0KNVeh-BswoRfcRm5eEyNmL5OLeDAsD1vIgiEPyBkygF9VPeejwYWhJVy7DOuCsIlYyEeAFNHPb7lmuedt_EySgY2ovI5qhW8Gd472l8E-72H1uHc/s1600/IMG_3148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1cUd59VrCI_zEoIj7uN4WQe6hW0KNVeh-BswoRfcRm5eEyNmL5OLeDAsD1vIgiEPyBkygF9VPeejwYWhJVy7DOuCsIlYyEeAFNHPb7lmuedt_EySgY2ovI5qhW8Gd472l8E-72H1uHc/s320/IMG_3148.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Roll or drop (I did both and they both worked) onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for about 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 60.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj_Gjka7cGWmeaBfZSf5YNc-aY5u4fy8YDRsUeRQxauMafbk99P4ZhVuSnt8QHot0Q0uuBjbkIlj5869fJ5q4o8SSFOT8SZC29nRDdlfMKuHfadwTDN_NH91ONzhpGWZ6JWCa-SM2y2I/s1600/IMG_3155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj_Gjka7cGWmeaBfZSf5YNc-aY5u4fy8YDRsUeRQxauMafbk99P4ZhVuSnt8QHot0Q0uuBjbkIlj5869fJ5q4o8SSFOT8SZC29nRDdlfMKuHfadwTDN_NH91ONzhpGWZ6JWCa-SM2y2I/s320/IMG_3155.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Paisley approved!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlV82v0Dc-HOwIFFcgxM75NR8oFljm5vGtRmWEIqzqkeUZA1-AuMZtY6zUTTq9ot-p2YNKgN2G0IWTR0_bFnn19UF4MfkOMo8ZpjYVkccR3igZ_NOQOzLYJE37SXzUaRLiXmaX56QgMM/s1600/IMG_3163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlV82v0Dc-HOwIFFcgxM75NR8oFljm5vGtRmWEIqzqkeUZA1-AuMZtY6zUTTq9ot-p2YNKgN2G0IWTR0_bFnn19UF4MfkOMo8ZpjYVkccR3igZ_NOQOzLYJE37SXzUaRLiXmaX56QgMM/s320/IMG_3163.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Have a Super Happy Friday!!!!</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-38588434995861214132015-08-13T06:13:00.000-05:002015-08-13T06:59:34.353-05:00Homemade Wide Plank (Plywood) Hardwood Floors {Bedroom Makeover}<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It's a good morning today! The babies both slept pretty much all night, the weather is amazing!!!, and I'm ready to share what we'll call "phase 1" in our girls' bedroom makeover. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> Our homemade wide plank hardwood flooring in the girls room!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So we bought 5 sheets of plywood and had the guy at Home Depot cut them into 8" wide strips. We sanded the best side of each piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then we removed the furniture, baseboards, carpet, and padding. And played around with the layout a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I painted the room an awesome griege color. You'll see through the pictures how the color changes in different lighting. All of the pictures were taken from my phone, just at different times of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The next day we layed down a sheet of thick plastic to protect the cheap particle board subfloor underneath. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And then we pretty much mixed and matched the pieces and nailed them down with the nail gun when we had the look we were after. While he nailed, I came behind him and stained. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We started out seperating the boards with a penny to leave space for expanding but it wasnt really necessary because of the slight variation in the size of the boards. It worked out just perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When the stain dried, we did two layers of polyurethane. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The only mistake that we made (and I mean "I" made) was not letting the poly dry enough before eagerly skidding the box springs across. I'll have to fix that another day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Paint color: Whiskers by Porter Paints</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Stain color: Walnut by Porter Paints</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Room size: 11x13</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Floor cost: Around $150</span><br />
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-62766020407090574652015-08-12T13:37:00.000-05:002015-08-12T14:11:38.601-05:00A Bang and a Cough<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The second week of school has come in with a bang.... and a cough :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Monday morning we dealt with a broken dryer, a serious laundry backup, and I was eventually forced to iron school clothes (double sad face). By that afternoon, the Queen (Victoria) was coming down with a cold. That evening we had some unexpected school/homework confusion with Mary but it was nothing that a quick phone call to her teacher couldn't solve. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6onoBNjqChwcpD6YL1RM-8Lir8KI_fuxFmRjYatX45jIDg0Tua3mZ1j7nBPdG-ZtwgMV9n-MBBKY2Y1MWQYLceUywz33yt3TleFIHfFEKkhNSmmG70HlyHhBKCkFPY2K_JwrkX3-GY/s1600/IMG_3097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6onoBNjqChwcpD6YL1RM-8Lir8KI_fuxFmRjYatX45jIDg0Tua3mZ1j7nBPdG-ZtwgMV9n-MBBKY2Y1MWQYLceUywz33yt3TleFIHfFEKkhNSmmG70HlyHhBKCkFPY2K_JwrkX3-GY/s400/IMG_3097.jpg" width="297" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Monday after school hair.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Taylor had her first basketball practice after school. When I picked her up, she looked like she was about to faint, red faced and pale at the same time. I would have LOVED to take a picture to share but as you can imagine, she probably would not have appreciated that very much. And by bedtime, the Queen was sick. She slept in my bed and I snuck into bed with Paisley. I may or may not have cried on Monday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But we persevered! We not only made it through Monday, we also made it through Tuesday. And you know what?! I have some of the best, most exciting news to share (and it's not my new floor, which I promise I will share soon). My van is HOME and FIXED! :) ! :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've been speculating about how much better things will get when I get my van back and I was way off. It's even better than I imagined! Life with four kids is nearly impossible without a minivan. At least for me and my family it is. Check out how happy the babies are about another trip to school in the truck :/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to an amazing friend I sucked it up and pulled my stuff together. I cleaned, painted a dresser, caught up on laundry, cooked a chicken for two dinners, made bone broth for the sickies, soaked oatmeal, made dinner, and I didn't cry once all day. It's obvious that we just need more practice living this busy schedule kind of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Of course, by Tuesday night we added another sick kid to the mix and I pulled what was extremely close to an all night'r last night. My first in a while. Surprisingly, today has been ok. I'm tired. But I'm making it. With a little extra support from my super sweet Honey and a lot of coffee I'm still hanging in here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow I tackle this disaster. </span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-46108200385125880302015-08-10T11:11:00.000-05:002015-08-10T13:02:03.124-05:00Monday Stuff <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Monday is kinda wonderful and kind of a bummer. Glad to get back to the new routine but the weekend seriously was not long enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The babies continued to... we'll say adjust, over the weekend. I sure hope this adjustment period passes quickly. It turns out that my super sweet Paze is a full blown fit throwing toddler now. I know her sweetness will eventually win and she will come back to me. But for now, she stinks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I seriously loved having my big girls home. They played and cooked and crafted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Just like I expected, absence does make the heart grow fonder :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I can't wait to share our floor project but I'm not quite done yet. We've finished painting the room, and installing, staining, and sealing the floor. When it's dry we'll get everything put back together and then share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I was a little overwhelmed selecting the stain. I didn't have a real vision so I just picked something from the Paint N Paper Shoppe (one of my favorite stores) and went with it. I was going to do a white wash originally and then I considered a light blue stain but didn't go with either of those. Maybe tomorrow I can share. Maybe!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">While I painted and stained all weekend, I brainstormed, as usual. For a long time, my heart has been deeply searching to find a cause to immerse myself in. But there are just so many needs out there, how can I know exactly where God wants me! And where will He be able to use me best? And how can I use my talents and interests to glorify Him? And how much time and energy am I willing to commit? Ugh! So many questions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The needs of others are endless. Abortion, adoption, orphans, hunger, missionary work, poverty, politics, and so on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I want to mention that I'd love to hear any ideas that you all may have. My mind is all over the place. I know one thing is for sure, I'm happier when I'm serving God by serving others. Serving others feeds my soul. When God is using me to to do His work, it's brings a whole new perspective to my life. What a privilege it is to be His hands and feet. It's so easy to neglect His work for things that we think are important, but are actually meaningless. I'll keep praying and searching until the right thing comes along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">To serve is to love. Get out there and love!</span> </div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-2498034224258953542015-08-07T17:58:00.000-05:002015-08-07T18:53:54.180-05:00End of Week & The "Ever" Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Well.... we did it. We made it through the week and the weekend is now! It feels good. The girls have already learned sooo much. They are going to be brilliant :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday afternoon was rough. We did a Kroger Little Clinic sports physical for Taylor while me and everyone else went through the store for groceries. I'm calling it the "ever" trip. Paisley cried more than any other shopping trip, "ever". Victoria disobeyed more than she "ever" has before. Mary was wild as "ever". And I was more mad than "ever" when I started loading babies into the truck in the hot sun and the alarm starting going off and I remembered that Taylor (still in the clinic) had my keys! So all that along with Paisley's wettest diaper "ever" made that the worst trip "EVER"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But we all survived and now we're ready for basketball season. Practice starts on Monday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today I spent painting the big girls room in hopes of actually finishing a project in a matter of days and not weeks. Hopefully tonight we will get their new homemade wide plank hardwood flooring down and finish painting tomorrow so they can move back in before Monday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hopefully I can share that project next week :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I started diet number 2,401 on Wednesday and did fabulous until the girls' cheese puffs got me this morning :( So of course that means the entire day is ruined and I'll have to start over because that's how my brain works.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So hopefully I will be reporting some weight loss next week with my amazing new bedroom redo!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today we enjoyed Popsicles and Play after school with the Dayspring PTO. The babies were happy for about 20 minutes and then they cried to go on the big kids playground. It was pretty embarrassing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So I aborted the play time early since the "ever" trip from yesterday was so fresh </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">in my mind and vowed to never take them anywhere again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Enjoy your weekend friends :)</span><br />
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-55259474179629937632015-08-06T18:15:00.001-05:002015-08-06T18:15:28.428-05:00School Week Update & Babies Gone Wild<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know lots of people are wondering how school is really going for the girls this week. So here's a day by day update :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">On the first day, we were all pumped up and ready to rock! I was prepared with breakfast burritos, lunches made early, and everything was packed and/or laid out the night before. Taylor (15) woke up at 4:45 to shower and have a relaxing morning and Mary was dressed and ready almost an hour before it was time to leave. Later we noticed from pics on her teacher's blog that she was the only kid in her class with a light blue shirt on. Everyone else had navy blue. I still don't know why. Gran came to watch the babies so it was easy peasy for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">After school, they were filled with smiles and happy stories. No first day homework so we opened presents, went swimming and had cake to celebrate Mary's 8th birthday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I can't even remember what time they finally fell asleep but I'm sure it was too late.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Day 2 wasn't quite as smooth. It wasn't bad but I didn't feel nearly as confident in my ability to get everyone a healthy breakfast and to school on time. I served cereal and did my best to pull myself together but on the way to school I realized my wet hair that I put up after my shower hadn't even been brushed! Not cool!! Getting the babies up and loaded in the truck probably didn't help anything. And they were NOT ready to get up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">After school Mary was beat! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I had some stuff to drop off at a local consignment sale. Yeah I have a problem with Christmas clothes. I probably need help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">She was grouchy and exhausted. She did her homework and laid around. We laughed at her. A lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Bedtime time is unknown :/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Day 3 was somewhere between day 1 and day 2 but with more homework and some after school errands. And church. I was more prepared but more tired too. I did manage to make breakfast for my honey before he left, which I've been acting like I'm going to do everyday :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll tell you what I don't love is missing out on my relaxing quiet cup (or three) of morning coffee. I don't even have time to sit down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Note to self: must work on squeezing in relaxing quiet cup of coffee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mary's bedtime was better. Taylor stayed up after church to do homework. I went to bed before she did is all I know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Day 4. Forgot to wash Mary's shirts. Whoops :/ I don't even know how that happened but 5 am laundry is not fun. I have more shirts but they're being monogrammed. Another word to describe day 5 is "rainy".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The babies and I are enjoying the days together. It's like an episode of "babies gone wild" in here though. They</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">'re pretty much living in bathing suits and the living room has been a tent or fort every single day this week. You may need a visual so here you go.</span><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I personally am enjoying nap time the most. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I can see great house cleaning progress in my future! I also have a million projects to finish and another list of projects to start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">All in all, the week is going well. Everyone seems happy, and tired, and there's nothing wrong with that! </span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-68332467997400029152015-08-03T18:18:00.002-05:002015-08-03T18:18:49.853-05:00Hello August, School, and a Birthday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For everyone who's waiting on Part 2 of Our Detour, this is not it. This is an "oh my goodness, I can't believe the girls are going to school!" post. Oh my goodness. Not only can I not believe that I've put them in school, I can not believe that their first day is already here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did the half day/registration day last week and everything went well. Registration day pictures :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppJt7qchkRgRP6oVVUXEHYlyXaj6JzEM15DjI89qsRf1wbLlzw_X2mhA1d2TIJWg1Q3p6vhpIOhYtYPseSvnblEVNmKI8WuCMVsuEt9BM6B2oQmiq_qJUxN5eGU50sBIryLC7WRdV0k0/s1600/School+pics+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppJt7qchkRgRP6oVVUXEHYlyXaj6JzEM15DjI89qsRf1wbLlzw_X2mhA1d2TIJWg1Q3p6vhpIOhYtYPseSvnblEVNmKI8WuCMVsuEt9BM6B2oQmiq_qJUxN5eGU50sBIryLC7WRdV0k0/s640/School+pics+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDJ1kag-B4yof9m4Rlq3X1cmtaZrwu6qV_o9cZgeosI2jM-Od8_UBWPJw4rTpB8CrPVTZSyXpBYrw1k9BzabMmd7Sbc2Wc84SSwDos42xxv9LO06evXFnAdLVzOgf17_Lw5KybMmqu2w/s1600/School+Pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDJ1kag-B4yof9m4Rlq3X1cmtaZrwu6qV_o9cZgeosI2jM-Od8_UBWPJw4rTpB8CrPVTZSyXpBYrw1k9BzabMmd7Sbc2Wc84SSwDos42xxv9LO06evXFnAdLVzOgf17_Lw5KybMmqu2w/s640/School+Pics.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mary's classroom and teacher are awesome. She was excited to meet new friends and is looking forward to the third grade adventure! Her classroom theme is The Third Grade Explorers. Mary was definitely born to explore!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Taylor said that she felt very welcomed by her new classmates and teachers. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. We were sent home with a mountain of papers and forms and the usual beginning of the year fundraiser stuff. I'm sure some parents are annoyed with the mountain but I'm not. I get it. After being the PTO president at Taylor's elementary school years ago, followed by 5 years of homeschooling, I can totally understand the amount of time, money, effort, and papers! it takes to run a successful school. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXmpJ9aakTKzScVE_9cSk312_nMyMkxz1Mw_CkQw67rgMCrYGefM_TpnRM4gFNTt3by50GNqUcDSwSm6fNyhh0nYu0IAB7z70h5ItjIYtKgC5pYirEiLPPufoir7ZoCZcAaCqXNE6gH8/s1600/first+day+-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXmpJ9aakTKzScVE_9cSk312_nMyMkxz1Mw_CkQw67rgMCrYGefM_TpnRM4gFNTt3by50GNqUcDSwSm6fNyhh0nYu0IAB7z70h5ItjIYtKgC5pYirEiLPPufoir7ZoCZcAaCqXNE6gH8/s320/first+day+-11.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We made a quick (not-so-quick) run to fill up on school supplies and we were READY! Except that three of our notebooks were wrong, we forgot the antibacterial wipes, and we couldn't decide if the mixed media paper would work for canvas paper. But eventually we got it all worked out, after two more trips to the store ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So... on to the birthday part of the first day of school. Yes, the first day of third grade was also Mary's 8th birthday! Craziness!! So what do you do when your child is super nervous about her first day/birthday? You bake something fun, I guess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's my version of unhealthy birthday cookie sandwiches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 box of funfetti cake mix</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8 oz. cream cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 egg</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lots of sprinkles</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mini m&ms</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mini chocolate chips</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mix all of that together and chill for about 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEpYhF8_PxTPzSLFy5mr_9akP-iEWKKlWyDJueLLrhu8gURA2TSIKocAkAONVk1KjvBM-PWAcsCEeZ1fX-C1L87YA9U0fzInA7yyTIQpw1uC-iZ0cSkxGssIIxvTe5D4ZZ-MS7J4Vq-U/s1600/first+day+-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEpYhF8_PxTPzSLFy5mr_9akP-iEWKKlWyDJueLLrhu8gURA2TSIKocAkAONVk1KjvBM-PWAcsCEeZ1fX-C1L87YA9U0fzInA7yyTIQpw1uC-iZ0cSkxGssIIxvTe5D4ZZ-MS7J4Vq-U/s320/first+day+-2.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Roll into balls and roll in powdered sugar. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3C0SjkqId7l6iWXg4caq5_xqrkg6dFuXlSGxCMhZVwPt5DcwBFhWXKEo710qjqrwdb0bNhf5DBXgBTSxOj12xEswsTnA-QdjFdGbM_7lm-E9kn206Qmd8_qwF-x84F8Ldl_lK2peOHY/s1600/first+day+-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3C0SjkqId7l6iWXg4caq5_xqrkg6dFuXlSGxCMhZVwPt5DcwBFhWXKEo710qjqrwdb0bNhf5DBXgBTSxOj12xEswsTnA-QdjFdGbM_7lm-E9kn206Qmd8_qwF-x84F8Ldl_lK2peOHY/s320/first+day+-3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cool.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpPscPMGtEG8ffV9Je2NQHQxCYzZLFeOps4UIf8zgE6KVG9s_ybxfl4JDJusMsbJf1KGNSBsN9si6aZIunCnSanDxtkYEXt0b-h5Jr0BfyDcZSUS8DLfS9Gh0EfJjM_i6TypZFKGEzi4/s1600/first+day+-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpPscPMGtEG8ffV9Je2NQHQxCYzZLFeOps4UIf8zgE6KVG9s_ybxfl4JDJusMsbJf1KGNSBsN9si6aZIunCnSanDxtkYEXt0b-h5Jr0BfyDcZSUS8DLfS9Gh0EfJjM_i6TypZFKGEzi4/s1600/first+day+-4.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Admire the awesomeness (forgive my phone pics)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6Aq8QloC4Tc3GZ9kRD9STDNBwVR7VH9_BhqWpESFgHNEmuiHXmBDLLJz2bvsWXMO9bsX7mFziKExf3ODo-fFHohIa0unXCxfK2hAduTmlm3PkZTpnLxLZi2EOoozcR0P-1x3prr_68Q/s1600/first+day+-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6Aq8QloC4Tc3GZ9kRD9STDNBwVR7VH9_BhqWpESFgHNEmuiHXmBDLLJz2bvsWXMO9bsX7mFziKExf3ODo-fFHohIa0unXCxfK2hAduTmlm3PkZTpnLxLZi2EOoozcR0P-1x3prr_68Q/s320/first+day+-5.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bandage a boo-boo and wash hands.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2Ndo9ctPME_ygXw_rwGaMqhvAo3i9RaLxnozSv3CKtyPYpUbKeze3VOKgF_b4LmLkwQTYqyJ4flhbgHDq3MwlcqlzLGtpd8EUllUKOGgDWmazdxhQ-9Ms66phdoTeyyGupRcV2qSdqc/s1600/first+day+-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2Ndo9ctPME_ygXw_rwGaMqhvAo3i9RaLxnozSv3CKtyPYpUbKeze3VOKgF_b4LmLkwQTYqyJ4flhbgHDq3MwlcqlzLGtpd8EUllUKOGgDWmazdxhQ-9Ms66phdoTeyyGupRcV2qSdqc/s320/first+day+-6.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spread on some vanilla marshmallow frosting (store bought) and smush together. Roll edges in sprinkles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*As I admired these lovely cookie sandwiches I realized something. Sending these extremely gooey sugar sandwiches in, for third graders to attempt to eat at lunch on the first day of school may not be the best idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So.... back to the drawing board (or kitchen).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdtlR1VOm8sQEMIUKWx1UBpKz3SGce3tHbrMZsfOEBzOJ9fKNbMNCUU5UxDpY3rjvdWFQZi5lLy_LZZ8q44GfTFTlhDFkeNM0m84If99feIndY0rwKoMjStc342bFf-bs9YeGqScAT6I/s1600/first+day+-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdtlR1VOm8sQEMIUKWx1UBpKz3SGce3tHbrMZsfOEBzOJ9fKNbMNCUU5UxDpY3rjvdWFQZi5lLy_LZZ8q44GfTFTlhDFkeNM0m84If99feIndY0rwKoMjStc342bFf-bs9YeGqScAT6I/s320/first+day+-7.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Truffles! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcsX7iqNlLNlrYlsex-2RhObGNyGDkf-PwBnh3bNLxF2xY4OxOCP0JTm_TZDn8etQBJ90t5gpBoEHQdhbUACUqS6hTiM405SP8eonoxedRlc8zkqOoy1XDuis3kZ8SwztLbsW5m5gqJk/s1600/first+day+-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcsX7iqNlLNlrYlsex-2RhObGNyGDkf-PwBnh3bNLxF2xY4OxOCP0JTm_TZDn8etQBJ90t5gpBoEHQdhbUACUqS6hTiM405SP8eonoxedRlc8zkqOoy1XDuis3kZ8SwztLbsW5m5gqJk/s320/first+day+-8.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made truffles for the class to enjoy at lunch. The gooey cookie sandwiches were sent home with each kid as a treat. Double the fun, right!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO0xUH-1cxveWFO8LZPRVdah68Jv29FczN6-WuI7UVLFkAxsj71qlUNwooZ86XUpvtwae6TsPk2tPDLxgG_iBKEkMPilGxL2BkS5vOgl0GzlsOLx-fFhfgJfoaQ0oJgqsOlHfVaxRpus/s1600/first+day+-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyO0xUH-1cxveWFO8LZPRVdah68Jv29FczN6-WuI7UVLFkAxsj71qlUNwooZ86XUpvtwae6TsPk2tPDLxgG_iBKEkMPilGxL2BkS5vOgl0GzlsOLx-fFhfgJfoaQ0oJgqsOlHfVaxRpus/s320/first+day+-9.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPbNbK92nOjVhbUAkdtXI7d1hO0Mbg0fejZtPw85sJTMYdKhztNhqI_cxL9Q-v9meFAnSeZQvU1m6dSYcwwHBpdom7vbe1zK6JeQlT3xOEElQ-F2swzhST7fnytHXGm-uDKSLCU7rcvg/s1600/first+day+-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPbNbK92nOjVhbUAkdtXI7d1hO0Mbg0fejZtPw85sJTMYdKhztNhqI_cxL9Q-v9meFAnSeZQvU1m6dSYcwwHBpdom7vbe1zK6JeQlT3xOEElQ-F2swzhST7fnytHXGm-uDKSLCU7rcvg/s400/first+day+-12.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It took some time to organize and then reorganize but I think we got everything where it needed to be. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJDPu1VZy0eRY_Kthw4q2yhbP76QfOk23GGtGwkhQn9dQpUYSQaifqQ-_I03C5OcGNo7vP6ngQCZrKb7D94yrgg8cfoA1zqZgy4GO3E1lXRRp3gjI0OJLvCdJYpd10R7IjkRWjOc0qYc/s1600/first+day+-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJDPu1VZy0eRY_Kthw4q2yhbP76QfOk23GGtGwkhQn9dQpUYSQaifqQ-_I03C5OcGNo7vP6ngQCZrKb7D94yrgg8cfoA1zqZgy4GO3E1lXRRp3gjI0OJLvCdJYpd10R7IjkRWjOc0qYc/s320/first+day+-10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since Mary's teacher Mrs. B's theme for the year is The Third Grade Explorers, I decided that I just had to make her a canvas for her classroom! I hope she loves it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW69Os1zmMCNyoXWaJMa9A_758D-96LmJ56NvZB_RurJHkqDaFNqit6gwpy9HZ6sMasGoaT-bGUc5jQy0FUdEiIx1NsPTG9ffntZviGuquHr9XWd5HOEmwRWJ_KO8MGzCrC7YabpLmVmk/s1600/School+-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW69Os1zmMCNyoXWaJMa9A_758D-96LmJ56NvZB_RurJHkqDaFNqit6gwpy9HZ6sMasGoaT-bGUc5jQy0FUdEiIx1NsPTG9ffntZviGuquHr9XWd5HOEmwRWJ_KO8MGzCrC7YabpLmVmk/s640/School+-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Back to School Kiddies!</span></div>
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<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-84728609564931582112015-08-01T07:48:00.000-05:002015-08-01T17:34:53.964-05:00A Detour: Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's amazing how much can change in just a few short months. It all started with one phone call to my mom. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ac32f-B7UP8_ROYCSP2twGHJlFoYlktbQSJISqbQhSOwiDpgT7EGvwr1QcqN3il6mq78VvdUTGhXAflr2wZUQYnXoAIrbHy3KaE9XxaT1O7kFHx0YhHCUTqNikc8Xco5VdYFMyMtCNk/s1600/11168076_885351394856780_3267301804345391368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ac32f-B7UP8_ROYCSP2twGHJlFoYlktbQSJISqbQhSOwiDpgT7EGvwr1QcqN3il6mq78VvdUTGhXAflr2wZUQYnXoAIrbHy3KaE9XxaT1O7kFHx0YhHCUTqNikc8Xco5VdYFMyMtCNk/s200/11168076_885351394856780_3267301804345391368_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">I called to talk to her about my dad in California. My brother had just told her about some health issues that my stepmom said my dad was having. He's always had issues. He was a functioning alcoholic and 61 years old, something was bound to go wrong soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My heart broke after a phone call to my stepmom. She was tired of him and miserable. He didn't treat her right and she hated him. They basically hadn't spoken kindly to each other in years. He was passing out and having some kind of episodes. She wasn't interested in helping him and he didn't want help. So I basically decided to fly to California and have an intervention with him. It was totally crazy and I'm sure plenty of people thought I was crazy. But I wasn't really interested in the health of his body as much as I was concerned with the health of his soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within a week, I was there. Home. I arrived on a Friday afternoon and went to my older brother's house. Early Saturday morning I showed up unannounced at my dad's house (his wife knew I was coming though). It would be an understatement to say that he was surprised! He was though. My stepmom and little brother knew why I was there and after a while, they left so I could talk to him. And I did. I talked and talked. I said everything that I came to say. He listened. He didn't get mad like I had suspected. He opened up and told me things. Things that I knew, things that I didn't know. I reminded him about God and that whether he liked it or not, there is life after death. He always believed in God. I guess he just didn't think God ever had anything to offer him. I left him with a daily bible and Muscle and a Shovel. I knew he wouldn't read them. I had hoped that maybe his wife would and that she could be saved and eventually help him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We spent every morning together for 6 days. When it was time for him to go to the bar, I left. I only saw him drunk once and it gave me a horrible feeling. My afternoons and evenings were joyful. I didn't realize how much I missed my family and my best friend. We traveled all around southern California and visited with some great people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My suitcase was packed with 6 daily bibles. I gave them to my family and my BFF while I was there. I'm sure they all think I'm crazy but I love them and just want to share eternity in Heaven with them. Nothing wrong with that right :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Four days after I returned home, on my oldest daughter's birthday, my dad died. He just dropped dead in his driveway after returning home from the bar on a Sunday afternoon. I'm afraid that the call from my brother that day, will stay fresh in my head forever. His voice and his words are embedded in my soul now. I had just talked to Dad on Saturday morning. He was concerned about my broken van. He ALWAYS helped me when I needed it. I was his little girl and he wanted me taken care of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm finding a tremendous amount of peace in knowing that God worked this out so I could have that time with him. I know without a doubt who is in control here. I could have waited another week to save $300 on my ticket, like my mom reasonably suggested. I could have listened to other people who thought it was hasty to rush across the country just to talk to my dad. But I didn't. God gave me that little voice that said "go now". I listened to that and only that. There are other gifts that God gave to me to bring me peace during this sad time. He is a comforter and He knew what I needed. He has not forsaken me. I'm grateful in a way that no words can describe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soooo... back to California I went. This time Curtis came with me. I enjoyed seeing many more family members and meeting some of Dad's friends at his memorial service. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We drove Dad's truck across the country and home to Tennessee. It was an adventure to say the least. I enjoy adventure though and thankfully so does Curtis. He's pretty much on board with any crazy idea I have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We battled storms, bad wipers, a bum tire, an empty bank account, but three days and thirty hours of driving later, we were home with our babies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following weeks I spent many hours in my favorite chair looking out my bedroom window. That's where I found the peace I needed to grieve in the way that I needed to. I still find myself rocking and staring out the window thinking about my dad every day. I've never lost anyone close to me before so the whole idea of losing someone was completely unfamiliar to me. It's like, we all know that we're going to lose our parents (if we're lucky enough to live a long life) but we can't comprehend the sorrow that it causes until it's reality. And reality can suck really bad. Death changes you. Suddenly there's a film of sadness covering every good thing. Every single thing. Joyful fun moments are turned into moments of longing for your loved one to be experiencing that moment with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like every place and date has special meaning now. They remind you of that time when Dad said or did that one thing. There's no escaping it. The sorrow is everywhere, all the time. Some days are good without a breakdown but the pain is just as strong. It's the bearing of the hurt that changes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life has new meaning now. And I feel like I have a new purpose. It's not clear right now exactly what that purpose is but it's not the same as it was. We have been very seriously considering moving back (for me) to California. The main reason is a better job offer. But there are many other pros on our list. There's also many cons. But for the time being, we aren't making a decision. Our plan is stay here in our little house on the hill and give it some much needed work. We're working on the floors and the kitchen and painting and replacing all kinds of stuff. If we stay, everything's pretty. If we move, the house in a better condition to sell. We may sell and buy or build here in Tennessee too. Who knows?! Not us :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, all of this craziness has lead me to search for God's opportunities in my life in the here and now. He offers blessings to us all the time, but some times they're optional. We have the choice to accept them or deny them and we can nurture them or abuse them. Opportunities can come in so many different forms too. God uses every one and every thing He needs to, for His good. So that one little thought lead me to our detour, our opportunity. School.</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-17290107438675828272015-03-14T15:35:00.001-05:002015-03-14T16:15:25.605-05:00Our Family's Journey- By Curtis & Holly <div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the years we have been asked many questions about our family, our faith, and our homeschooling. Many of them are the same questions and comments over and over from different and some times even from the same people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Some have been from curious minds who were desiring a better understanding of how we manage our family and home. Maybe for the purpose of comparing the techniques we are trying to what they're trying. Or maybe they're just curious about why we do things the way we do. We've also had many people interested in homeschooling their own children, living on one income, gardening, and all kinds of other topics. (We are by no means experts in any of these areas but people are still interested in hearing about our trails and errors. Live and learn, right?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've also heard lots of questions and comments from skeptics who are usually trying to put us in an awkward situation by attempting to prove to us that what we have is all wrong. They only have one intention and they don't really want to hear our answers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Everyone has their own story. Here's ours.</u> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I (Curtis) was born in 1976, I was raised in Hendersonville TN. I have one sister named Stephanie she is about three years older than me. I attended public schools and I enjoyed going to school and learning! I grew up in a Christian home, my Dad was a deacon at our church, we attended services pretty much every time the doors were open! We didn't have much money, but my parents were loving, kind and raised us to be good Christian people. I was really lucky to be blessed with such caring parents. I have zero complaints about my childhood!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When I was 16 years old I was baptized into Christ by my preacher Ray Frizzell. I was a faithful Christian until I lost my way around the time I graduated high school. I had a lot of great friends in school but I didn't realize at the time that most of them were heading down the wrong path and I was following close behind! And for the better part of my young adult life </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I was in and out of Christ. This continues to be my main reason for homeschooling our girls, I remember how hard it was to try to stay true to the Lord and hang with my friends and combat all the temptations that were bombarding me daily! The Christian life is not an easy one and I am deeply concerned that my girls might get into the wrong crowd and be changed forever! I want to give them the best opportunity I can to follow Jesus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then in 2000 I meet Holly and her little baby Taylor through some mutual friends, it wasn't until a couple years later that we went on our first date! We dated for a while and I was not in a good place with the Lord at the time. I did not really realize what a truly great women the Lord had placed in front of me, I had been blinded by sin until one day I realized I needed to quit fooling around and get serious about our relationship! Looking back I was pretty stupid and selfish in those days. So in 2006 we got married! We were kind of unsure about how many children we wanted to have. Taylor was already 5 years old and that was quite a change having a sweet little girl living with me. I always wanted a little boy so we started trying to have a baby. We had little Mary Jo in 2007. That changed our lives considerably, I was still struggling with my Christian life and Holly really helped me keep my focus on the important things! I still wanted to try for a boy so in 2012 little Victoria Caroline was born! Yep another girl! So we decided that in a few years we would try one more time for that boy! But late in that same year we had a little surprise, Holly was pregnant again! Needless to say we were both very surprised and not really ready for another baby yet. Now this one had to be a boy right? WRONG! Paisley Elizabeth was born in 2013. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Through all these years of having babies we were always trying to improve our Christian lives as best we could, but it was never easy! If it wasn't for my wonderful wife I don't know how I would have made it! She has been the greatest encourager in my life. I am extremely thankful to God for blessing me with her! We knew that we would have to take on the Devil together or we would never succeed in being the parents God wanted us to be. We are still a work in Progress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I (Holly) was born in southern California. Like Curtis, I also attended public school. But I hated school from the very first day of kindergarten. I was defiant, disobedient, disrespectful, super lazy, and spoiled. My parents loved me tremendously. They gave me everything I wanted (within reason) and always took very good care of me. We did not attend church regularly. At one time we did attend a Mormon church that I have no memory of. They always told me there was a God and taught me random things about the Bible here and there. My mom always discouraged watching mtv and listening to inappropriate music. She was good about explaining right and wrong to me. She quoted scripture and helped me recognize the evil in this world. My Dad told me I should never drink or smoke. He told me not to steal or litter. I remember great lessons about life from both of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My downfall was certainly not lack of love. It was lack of discipline, consistency, accountability, and a firm foundation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When I hit 13, I went wild. Whatever you're imagining in your head, it was worse. I'll spare you the details. But during my teenage years, I was lost. Way lost. I liked fun, friends, and boys. I hated school. I hated rules. I had low self esteem and a major bad attitude. I don't know how or why my parents didn't kill me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But thankfully I survived and I did it without a criminal record ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I moved to Tennessee in 1997 when I was 17. I attended different churches off and on after that. I've always known there is a God and that one day I would have to give Him an account of my life. I just hoped it wouldn't be any time soon. I was even baptized. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I settled down quite a bit after my first daughter but it wasn't until Mary (my second) was about 2 that I really started to feel the Lord guiding me to be obedient to Him. After attending church regularly for years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It wasn't until I met a group of people that I didn't care for and kind of considered as losers and we were introduced to them as "This is Curtis and Holly, and they're cool, they're just like us". That moment is when I really thought about my life. At first I was offended, but with careful examination of my life, I realized, they were right. I was worldly with a desire for all of the pleasures of the world just like them. The only difference was that I was a fake. I hid it better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I was baptized again. But this time it was for the remission of my sins. This time it was biblical. I did not add this to get into the topic of baptism with anyone. This is just my story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was not a complete turn around. I had so many areas of my life that required a change. Big change! I've prayed for strength, guidance, and forgiveness almost every day since then. Quitting drinking, smoking, and other things was a good start. But it was only the start. I was successfully "acting" like a Christian. I was going to church, trying to avoid sin, and praying and studying. But it quickly became clear to me that I had a long way to go before I could say that I was living my life in a way that was pleasing to God. I prayed for Him to open my eyes to the sin in my life and give me the strength to remove it. I began to see sin in my music, television, movies, language, friends, and most of all, in my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bible tell us that we are to hate sin in <em>Romans 12:9 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good". </em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I never realized the evil I was filled with. But it was there. Jealousy, envy, immodesty, materialism, discontentment, and so much more. It was time to get right with God!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So basically our method for removing the sin from our lives and our children's lives was to REMOVE the sin. Notice I didn't say "to protect our children by sheltering them from everything bad" or "locking us all up in the house so we never go outside and have to be around sin". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I said "remove it from our lives". Is that not what God tells us to do? Isn't that the change that God requires from us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<em>So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect." Hebrews 12</em></span></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"What shall we say then? Are we to <nobr>continue </nobr>in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." Romans 6</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1 Corinthians 5:7</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him" 1John 2</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Bible is clear that we should do our best to remove as much sin as possible from our lives and hearts. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Our Homeschool Journey</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our homeschool journey did not start out as a lifestyle change. Taylor went to public school from kindergarten through fourth grade. We loved her school. We loved her teachers. We were blessed with a wonderful public school experience. But we were noticing some things going on that worried us. Things that the world calls normal in young girls but the Bible clearly condemns. Jealousy, pride, lust, cursing, lying, stealing, gossiping, envy, adultery were all present! And this was elementary school!! The world says these are all normal parts of life. Umm I don't think so! But anyways, Taylor was about to finish fourth grade and head to the middle school like all of the other kids. Yes the middle school starts at fifth grade. So that's fifth to eighth grade. We both agreed that she wasn't ready for middle school. She was academically ready (an A student) but not spiritually ready. After all, how could she be? Yes, she went to church but the firm foundation wasn't there yet. Our firm foundation wasn't even there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She didn't really have any friends at church. She always felt left out by the older girls and her choices in friends at school weren't always wise. We felt like she needed some serious guidance and character training from us to prepare her better. So with the help of friend who had six amazing children that she homeschooled, we decided to try it for one year. We thought that maybe after some one on one life training, we would feel better about sending her off into the world of middle school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I (Holly) never imagined that this one decision would have such an astounding impact on all of our lives. Suddenly, I was accountable to Taylor for every phone conversation I had, every tv show or movie I watched, and every other thing I was involved in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During some great character studies I realized that our characters needed more help than hers!! I was teaching and preaching about things that I still had not gotten around to dealing with in my own life. What a wake up call! As I was reading lessons to her, I would have to stop and say "Mom needs to work on this one too, lets do it together". We would share our lessons with Dad when he got home and our family was becoming more obedient to God. When it was time to talk about sixth grade Taylor said she didn't miss school and wanted to continue to learn from home. We were so happy, because we felt the same way :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ok, so here we are a few years and kids later. Taylor's spiritual growth is unbelievable! She has a true determination in her heart to please God. Academically she is right on track. Our umbrella school requires testing every year and keeps records of her test scores, grade, and attendance, which I turn in to them each semester. Classes, extracurricular activities, and all sports are open to homeschool students. This year she is in 9th grade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mary is in the 2nd grade this year. She is reading well and doing great with her studies. Her heart is pure and sweet and belongs to God. I couldn't ask for more from her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are always learning and growing together. Taylor loves teaching Mary things like the songs she learned in school about math facts. They are both always willing to jump in help with the babies. They have a special bond with each other and the time they spend together isn't just spent watching TV or fighting like many children we see. When I overhear Taylor giving Mary spiritual advice, my heart melts! Her big sister cares about her and is always there for her. I love that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now that the babies are almost two and three, we are focusing more on some of the things we originally focused on, like more character, bible, and service. We've been in survival mode and have really had to work hard with our academic studies, so it will be fun to add some others things back in, like field trips and projects.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Common Questions and Comments Answered:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">What about college?</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a popular question among friends and family. It comes in many forms. How will our kids go to college? Won't they miss out on scholarships? Will they be smart enough? I won't even get in to some of the ridiculous comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Our Answer:</strong> First of all, college isn't everything! Rather than putting a great deal of focus on going to a "college" we would much rather look for interests and talents in our girls first. That doesn't always mean college. We are not against college. If a child has a desire for a career that requires a degree, we will be sure that she has the opportunity to obtain that degree. Our girls will be given the same sports and academic opportunities as the kids who attend classes at the private Christian school that we umbrella through. College can be very beneficial but is not a necessity for every career. Neither one of us have a degree. Regardless of some people's opinions, money is not the most important thing. We have known more women than I can count who have spent many years paying on student loans after they went to college and then decided to be a stay at home mom. We have also seen too many young people become involved in numerous sins that have lead to other sins and ultimately, sadly ended with the loss of their salvation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A college degree may look nice on a resume but an impressive resume does not guarantee that you will get a job or help you keep one. But character does help you keep a job! Diligence, hard work, respect, honesty, trust, and obedience, along with many others are qualities that make a person successful at their work. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" Jeremiah 29:11</span></i><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't you sheltering your kids from the real world?</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, many forms of this question have been brought to our attention. People tell us that when they're on their own, they'll go wild. Or they won't know how to live in the real world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Our Answer:</strong> We go to great measures to teach them about the "real" world. A world that is filled with many sins that have been carefully designed by the original liar to trick us and tempt us to disobey God. We talk every single day about the dangers that are out there in the "real" world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We suppose sheltering them is a common term used to talk about people who guard the hearts of the children that God has loaned them. We have no problem with that term. It IS our job to shelter them when their roots are weak and they're susceptible to damage. Just like you would protect a young crop from the weather. We are protecting them from elements that the world produces. Satan doesn't wait for them to be mature and strong in faith before he tests and tempts them. We are extremely confident that when the time comes for them to make important choices, they will already know what their decisions will be and they will posses the convictions to follow through with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So while YES we are sheltering them, we're not hiding them. We think of it as protecting them from making damaging, life changing choices while they see others around them choosing to follow the world and the destruction that comes from it. They not only know what choices to make, they know why they should make them.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Won't your kids be weird if they're homeschooled?</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Used in this type of question or remark, the word weird usually means uncool and refers to children who don't have the same interests or attitude as public school children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Our Answer</strong>: We suppose that it is a possibility that our children may not have the same interests or attitudes as other children. We hope they will be more cautious about their selections for fun and entertainment. We hope they will be more concerned with dressing in a way that is respectful and pleasing to God rather than the latest fashions and what the other children are wearing which I'm sorry to say is very disappointing, even in the church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bible tells us to be different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<em>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So YES they may be different if they're homeschooled. That's wonderful! Hopefully it will be a difference that others will see and maybe light just one person's way in this dark world.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">How can you teach your kids if you don't even have a college degree in teaching?</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Our Answer</strong>: We just teach them. We read and study together. We look things up and learn. We watch videos. We hire tutors. </span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't you worried that your kids are going to rebel?</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So apparently because their homeschooled it seems likely to the world that when they become a teenager they will want to rebel against us and God. The people who say this almost always have children who have rebelled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Our Answer:</strong> The issue of rebelling is not a homeschool issue at all!! It is an issue of a child's heart. If a child decides to rebel and act out against their parents and God, it is because their heart is not pure. Our heart directs us and must be guarded. Children don't rebel because they didn't go to public school, or because they were sheltered. They rebel because they haven't truly given their hearts to God. Homeschooling actually gives us a better opportunity to instill Gods principles into their hearts while they are still young and moldable. Our responsibility as parents is to reach their heart. We know for a fact that when they're in school it's much more difficult to reach their hearts that when they're by our side learning and growing.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">"My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways" Proverbs 23:26</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23</span></em><br />
<em><br /><span style="font-size: large;">"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4</span></em><br />
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<span class="highl" style="font-size: large;"><em>"A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left" Ecclesiastes 10:2</em></span><br />
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<span class="highl"><em></em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Ambulance Down In The Valley</u> </span><br />
<span class="highl"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed, <br />though to walk near its crest was so pleasant; <br />but over its terrible edge there had slipped<br />a duke and full many a peasant.<br /><br />So the people said something would have to be done, <br />but their projects did not at all tally; <br />some said, 'Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff, '<br />some, 'An ambulance down in the valley.'<br /><br />But the cry for the ambulance carried the day, <br />for it spread through the neighboring city; <br />a fence may be useful or not, it is true, <br />but each heart became full of pity<br />for those who slipped over the dangerous cliff; <br /><br />And the dwellers in highway and alley<br />gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence, <br />but an ambulance down in the valley.<br /><br />'For the cliff is all right, if your careful, ' they said, <br />'and if folks even slip and are dropping, <br />it isn't the slipping that hurts them so much<br />as the shock down below when they're stopping.'<br /><br />So day after day, as these mishaps occurred, <br />quick forth would those rescuers sally<br />to pick up the victims who fell off the cliff, <br />with their ambulance down in the valley.<br /><br />Then an old sage remarked: 'It's a <nobr>marvel </nobr>to me<br />that people give far more attention<br />to <nobr>repairing</nobr> results than to stopping the cause, <br />when they'd much better aim at prevention.<br /><br />Let us stop at its source all this mischief, ' cried he, <br />'come, neighbors and friends, let us <nobr>rally</nobr>; <br />if the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense<br />with the ambulance down in the valley.'</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="highl" style="font-size: large;">As their parents we have the mindset that we can prevent troubles in our children by molded their hearts, guiding them in all things, and giving them good instruction. Gods word is the best prevention that exists. Seeking God, eyes on God and His ways, hearts given to God, minds focused on God. Seeking God will protect them and prevent rebellion. Going to church will bring you many blessings but it's what you do when you're not at church that will determine your salvation. </span><br />
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<span class="highl"><span style="font-size: large;"> We are not afraid or worried about the concerns that everyone else seems to be worried about. We spend our days growing in knowledge. We teach and guide, mold and lead. We are practicing the things that God desires us to practice. We are studying the things that God desires. We are still growing in Christ, cutting out things from our lives that displease Him and adding in new things that do please Him. We are teaching hard work and keeping our children motivated to serve, lead the lost to God, spread God's word, and seek to please Him in ALL things that they do.</span> </span><br />
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<span class="highl" style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33</strong></em></span><br />
<span class="crossverse"><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" Colossians 3:1</span></strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have said it before and will always say it. No matter what great success we have in this life, no matter how much money we make, no matter what things we accomplish, they will all mean nothing if our own children don't make it to Heaven. This world is temporary but eternity is everlasting. A life on earth filled with comfort, pleasure, success, and fun should not be our goal for our children. We should seek for them a life of service to God. God will bless them with the opportunities and resources they need to carry out His work. If they are seeking His will, working hard learning and serving others, and building a close relationship Him through prayer, study, and worship, they will be forever comforted, pleased, successful, and enjoying every little blessing He has given them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We will seek God and His kingdom first and He will work through us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know that many of you may disagree and that's ok. But we firmly believe that educating our children at home is the best option for our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know that there are many other questions and concerns but we decided to just address the most common. And for the record, our school aged children can quietly sit still, they do know how to socialize with other children (better than school children in many cases), they can take a test, they are aware of the many different cultures in our country and around the world, and they don't lay around watching TV all day (yes we have TV's, cell phones, tablets, & computers and we love them).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We pray that this post will help some of our friends and family to better understand our choices. We also pray that it will serve as an encouragement to other families who may be considering home educating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to everyone who read to the end! Many blessings from our family to yours :)</span><br />
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-87892782537457068082015-03-13T17:16:00.000-05:002015-03-13T17:17:31.092-05:00"I Love You Because...." Valentines<span style="font-size: large;">I know there are millions of people out there that despise Valentine's Day but I am not one of them. I love it! What better than a whole day devoted entirely to love?! Nothing :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this year we did this very awesome activity with the girls. Each person decorated there own Valentine's Day box with their name on it. Then starting on February 1st, we each had to write one reason why we love each person in our family and put it in their box.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ9s-f8_7exbTxf6G7HyJ2Uj8TeqYbjLU6c6DT1UI1seDEmFQ5Parpgp_gvaaGjtX-KuhXDW1FzAfFmfeOoi7wRFPXwBas5Lbk29O7B9rgnmNULz6GGUfFPyNC3Ye1mDDwODjTXsCJrU/s1600/Valentine2015+(2%2Bof%2B15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ9s-f8_7exbTxf6G7HyJ2Uj8TeqYbjLU6c6DT1UI1seDEmFQ5Parpgp_gvaaGjtX-KuhXDW1FzAfFmfeOoi7wRFPXwBas5Lbk29O7B9rgnmNULz6GGUfFPyNC3Ye1mDDwODjTXsCJrU/s1600/Valentine2015+(2%2Bof%2B15).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The first 3 or 4 days were easy, but after the obvious reasons were done, we had to do a little more thinking. Why did we love each person? What is so special about them? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then after we gave the kids our gifts from us, we all dumped out our boxes and read aloud each little note we were given. We started by saying "I love you because....." and then finished with the note. I was AMAZED at some of the things we came up with. The girls thought of things about their sister that I would have never guessed. Some reasons were funny and some were emotional. But when it was over (and it took like an hour) everyone was happy. The kids begged to do it again next year. It was free and it was special. Isn't that what were all looking for?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For dinner we enjoyed heart shaped pizza and a heart cake. Simple but exciting for the little ones.</span></div>
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Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148199402776960437.post-54374877845859197332015-01-24T18:45:00.004-06:002015-01-24T18:46:25.354-06:00Valentine's Day- Love and Pretty {Journey's Decorating- Nashville TN}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know how many families celebrate Valentine's Day as a kids holiday or a holiday for Mom and Dad, but we like to involve the kids in our Valentine's Day fun. Our anniversary is on February 11th so we usually have a special date day to celebrate our marriage on that day. Then for Valentine's Day, we celebrate with the girls.</div>
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I thought I'd share some of our Valentine's Day fun from last year as well as our plan for this year.</div>
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<strong>Decorating is a huge part of the fun.</strong> We always start with the center of our family room, the mantel! I love a beautifully decorated mantel. I started on ours this week. Here's a picture. As we get a little closer to February, I'll start changing things around and adding more fun decorations. </div>
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<strong>We like to "adopt" a special Valentine friend every year</strong>. </div>
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Someone we can do something nice for. Last year we picked one of my daughter's friends who has been battling cancer for two years now. She is a sweet, adorable little girl. We made her this gift bag and delivered it when she wasn't home. The girls love doing good deeds and serving others. This year our lucky "friend" is going to be Ray (our preacher). We love him dearly and he just may need a cheering up on his first Valentine's Day without his wife.</div>
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<strong>Something new, we're starting on February 1st we're calling "I love you because...".</strong> Each person in our family will have a box on the counter, which they will decorate and every day we will all write down one reason that we love each person and put it in their box. I feel like we spend so much time correcting the littles and pointing out all of the things they do wrong, so I though it would be a good idea to share with them all of the wonderful things that make each one of us unique and valued. What a fun way to do it! Then on Valentine's Day we can dump out our boxes and see why we're loved so much.</div>
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I'll share pictures and posts on how it works out.</div>
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<strong>When February 14th finally arrives, I like to surprise the kids with a fun breakfast of some sort</strong>. I found this on Pinterest last year. It's literally canned cinnamon rolls shaped like a heart with sprinkles. They were so happy about them, you would have thought I had slaved in the kitchen all morning. It's the little things, the attention to detail that makes life special. Add cute straws, some pretty napkins, and a candle and BAM- It's a Valentine's Day candlelit breakfast for a queen (or four).</div>
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<strong>When Daddy gets home, the real fun begins!!!</strong> We usually surprise the girls with goodies and gifts. But seriously, we only buy them things that they will be needing anyway. The picture below is from last year. Looks like we went all out right? That's the point! But we didn't. I just think it's more fun to give them a new outfit in a special way. I should also mention that my kids rarely get new clothing. We pass down everything we can, so new clothes are special to them. And sometimes, every girl just needs a new outfit.</div>
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This year, I've bought the three little girls coordinating bathing suits with flip flops and mating accessories (I had Gymbucks so I got it all at a great price). The 2 babies also got pajamas and some chocolate. The 2 big girls got a box of chocolates. Mary (7) got a stuffed owl and Taylor (14) I have no idea what else to get her but I'll figure something out. </div>
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I hope you'll embrace this little holiday this year and make it extra special for your family too. This is the stuff they'll remember forever :)</div>
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<br />Hollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06503082725429475409noreply@blogger.com0