tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44415256246665629252024-03-12T21:11:15.206-07:00Blessed among the MessA little coffee. A lot of Jesus. Remembering the blessings among the chaos of life. Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-61243923440199702412015-12-14T17:33:00.000-08:002016-07-29T17:37:30.111-07:00OURS!He is ours forever! We are so thankful that this process is over and we can move forward with our family complete. It may take me a while to realize that social workers will NOT be visiting us, and that the paperwork nightmare is gone! But for now we will share our good news and the sweet face of our boy! He is so loved, so wanted, so chosen!<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-26835535878214905672015-05-04T21:59:00.002-07:002015-05-04T21:59:49.607-07:00Whose we areI didn't update after our last court hearing. But rest assured it all went in our favor. What we have learned in this process is that there's a lot of waiting. Our 20 minute court hearing was great but now we have to wait until July for the next phase. Each step is one more closer to our little guy being officially ours. It's not that we will feel any differently. In our hearts, <i>he is ours</i>. We have withheld nothing when it comes to him and how much love he deserves. Those closest to us feel the same way. I love seeing our friends and family love him in such big ways!<br />
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When we were going through the adoption classes we were told "no religious ceremonies" for foster kiddos. I can understand that. Imagine someone holding a religious ceremony for your children that you don't agree with. But adoption is a whole different thing. At least our case is. So I mentioned to our adoption social worker that I would love to have Carter dedicated and was bummed I had to wait. She said, "Why do you have to wait?" Apparently a dedication is ok. Especially when a birth mom is not in the picture and a hearing is set to terminate rights. We were so excited!<br />
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It's not that we don't think our sweet baby would go to heaven without it. It's not even that we think he wouldn't choose to follow the Lord if we didn't dedicate him. It's about making a public declaration that we WILL teach this baby about the love of his heavenly father. We WILL remind him <i>WHOSE HE IS</i>. <br />
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I think baby dedications are sweet and often emotional but I almost couldn't pull it together for this one. There's something so special about knowing that the Lord has trusted us with this little guys life. It's not something we take lightly. We also know we need help. We need our church family to support us in our journey. <br />
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The day arrived and the morning brought news of a different kind. My grandmother (moms mom) had passed away in the early hours. Such bittersweet emotions. Her mind had been robbed by alzheimers years ago so there was definitely some relief in knowing she had found freedom again. But also sadness at knowing she was gone; thankfully not forever. I'm so thankful that I know whose she is too! Heaven is going to be amazing. <br />
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It was a roller coaster of emotions all day, but we got to end our day standing as a family, praying over our baby boy (who slept the entire time), and speaking his life verse over him. <br />
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Precious Carter, </div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-4" id="en-NCV-29326" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Phil-4-5" id="en-NCV-29327" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. </span><span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NCV-29328" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. </span><span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NCV-29329" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Phil-4-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Philippians 4:4-7</span></span></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-40622101890972335882015-03-05T11:12:00.000-08:002015-03-05T11:12:11.292-08:00Plot twistAs a student in foster/adoption classes, you sit and listen intently to the cases and scenarios. The workers do their best to prepare you for all the possibilities but then they are quick to remind you that each case is different. There's no way to be prepared for what your case will hold. The twists and turns in each situation are unique and individual. So that's where we are today. We have hit a twist and a turn. <br />
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When we got our call almost four months ago we were told "this is the easiest case you are going to get." We heard words like "open and shut," "uncontested", and other buzz words that would convince anyone that the process was truly going to be easy. It hasn't been. Nor is it going to be. <br />
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Last week we had our first hearing. This was to be the day that all services were terminated for the birth mom of our little guy. From there we were to proceed directly to terminating parental rights and then on to adoption. It felt like a Monopoly card that sends you directly to "Go" and tells you to collect your money! But our twist and turn came in the form of his birth mom showing up to court. She contested the hearing. Then she showed up to the social workers office. She has a renewed sense of fortitude and wants to try again. <br />
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Open and shut.<br />
Uncontested.<br />
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Those are gone. <br />
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Now, we are faced with the reality that a judge can show mercy and extend her time to get her act together. She could do it. She could go to rehab. We could drive our sweet boy twice a week to see a woman he has never known. And leave him there. The thought makes me my head spin and my stomach flop. <br />
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The social workers are all just as surprised as we are. But they assure us that very little has changed. Parents do this. They reach the eleventh hour, realize they are going to lose their child, and make a last ditch effort. It's not a new game. That's what they tell us. They assure us that it will all work out in the end. But I am still shaken to my core. They say the judge will still probably rule against her and terminate her services. It's too little too late. I can't say that I wouldn't be relieved if that's the way it goes.<br />
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This is my baby. He's MY baby. I'm the one that snuggles him close and soothes him. I'm the one that sat in the hospital for three days while his little body healed from yet another respiratory virus. I'm the one that prays over him every day. <br />
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That's the part that's hardest. I prayed for him to be in our lives. I pray for him every day. Actually, WE pray for him every day. My husband and I pray over all of our children every day. We know whose they are. We are called to parent, but they do not belong to us. <br />
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We also know that we serve a great big God that is never surprised. <br />
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We know we are called to love. Love our little guy. Even love the mother that gave him to us. Don't get me wrong. We can pray and love and still understand that she is not the best place for our son to be. The love is hard though. It's mixed with anger for me. I'm angry that she didn't take care of her body when she was pregnant. I'm angry that he suffers the consequences of her actions. I'm angry that he has to be such a fighter because of his circumstances. I'm angry that she gave up. I'm angry that she lets her life be ruled by substances. I'm angry that she wouldn't just stay away! <br />
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But as a mom, my heart is broken for her. She got to carry him for 8 months and feel him move inside. She is the one missing out on his precious smiles and firsts. I know she showed up out of desperation because she is heartbroken too. <br />
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The emotional roller coaster of this process is often more than I can bear. I'm grateful we serve a God that is not surprised and able to sustain us when we are. Tomorrow we march back into battle and pray for truth and wisdom. <br />
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For today, we love. Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-14634414795760009052015-02-18T12:55:00.000-08:002015-02-18T12:55:22.477-08:00I wasn't readyRemember my last post? It was October 29th, 2014. I lamented over the fact that the waiting for our little guy was so hard. Just two short weeks later we had our baby in our arms. Remember when I said we were SO ready? I lied. I wasn't ready. <br />
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Sure, we had the crib and clothing and bottles and car seat. (We won't mention the fact that I forgot to buy a bathtub). Physically we were mostly ready. We weren't prepared for a call for a three month old, so there were some last minute preparations that were quickly fixed with a trip to Target. But the emotional part? I wasn't ready. <br />
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I thought the phone call would be cut and dry. I was standing in Hobby Lobby with my mom and girls when we got our call. I thought saying yes would be easy. I was wrong. There are so many factors that go into each case that you couldn't actually prepare for all the nuances. After hearing the facts about our little guy, we almost said no. But we prayed and said yes. I'm so thankful that we did! It may have been the end of our waiting, but it was just the beginning of the real process. And I wasn't ready. <br />
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I knew I would love him. But I didn't know I would love him as fiercely as the girls from the get-go. I wasn't prepared for the feelings that I would give my life for his from the second I saw him. It doesn't hurt that he smiled the biggest grin ever when the blanket was pulled back from his car seat for the first time. <br />
I knew the girls would love him. I wasn't ready for them to cry such tears of joy when they met him. And then offer to help in so many ways! They thank us all the time for their brother.<br />
I knew Brian would love him. I wasn't ready for me to fall in love with him all over again when I saw him hold his new son and kiss his head. (And show him golf and football....so it begins).<br />
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I knew people would have odd questions. I wasn't ready for the terribly inappropriate questions they would ask about his history. Or if we were waiting until he is adopted to get attached. (what?!)<br />
I knew I would be asked about adoption. I wasn't prepared to be such an ambassador of foster care and adoption.<br />
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I wasn't ready. I thought I was. The stretching and growing we have had to do spiritually and emotionally have been worth every single second. There are moments when I am still gripped by fear because he's not officially ours yet. I have those thoughts of "what if" that I try to dismiss or pray away quickly. The reality is that there are still what if's. But the fact that there are unknowns that scare me just show how intense our love for him is. In our hearts and minds, he is ours. <br />
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Two weeks ago he had a respiratory infection that landed us in the hospital for a few days. Our social worker thanked me for staying with him. What? Who wouldn't stay with their child?! She said that most foster parents leave their children in the hospital. Heartbroken and angry, I told her, "well he's not a foster. He's my son."<br />
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I wasn't ready to hear about all the ways our system is broken and failing our kids. <br />
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I guess with anything you can prepare as much as possible but until you are in the situation, you have no idea how your heart will respond. I wasn't prepared to tear up every time I looked at him. And often still do. I cry every time I get to tell our story of how he came to us. When he laughs at his sisters, or tries to "kiss" my face by grabbing it and slobbering all over it, I can't hold back the tears. I'm a mess. But in the best way possible. I'm a planner. I thought I had done all the planning. But it's just like God to show me over and over again that I can't prepare for everything and HE will still carry us through and meet every need. <br />
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Our little guy is such a gift. We have named him Carter James. "Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord." James 1:17<br />
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Someday we will share with you his precious face. But until then, enjoy the glimpses of his perfection. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-52812949926223301402014-10-29T11:20:00.001-07:002014-10-29T11:20:27.244-07:00I want to rememberThere are so many moments that I want to blog about but then life happens and writing gets put by the wayside. But this time, right now, I want to remember. I want to look back years from now and be able to recall all the feelings. The season we are in right now is precious. And hard. And so good! This post will be long. But the details are for me. I don't want to forget how sovereign God was and is in this whole process. <br />
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Before we were even married, Brian and I talked about adoption. We both said that "someday" we would love to add to our family through adoption. We kind of just knew that when the time was right, the Lord would let us know. We had three amazing little girls, and after our third was born, my doctor said "I think you should count your blessings and be done." My pregnancy and delivery with her were difficult and scary. While I knew that being pregnant again did not sound fun, to hear my doctors words made it seem much more final. And sad. I was done having babies. But that's when the Lord reminded me that <i>love is not born in your belly. It's born in your heart.</i> Brian and I revisited the idea of adoption around the time that Bailey was two, and we both felt that it just wasn't the right time yet. After she started kindergarten, we started looking into it again. And praying. We both felt like the time was finally right. We tried to attend orientation meetings at the county offices for three months but something always came up. <br />
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In January of 2014 we started our official journey. We attended an informational meeting about fostering and adopting through our county and were told that a new program was set to launch in March where the county works closely with faith based families, meeting at churches, to get them through the process. It was a perfect fit for us. <i>So we waited</i>. We went to the kickoff meeting in March and filled out all the paperwork! <i>Then we waited</i>. The training classes were set to start in May. For two months we learned all about the "system" and how to deal with children that have been exposed to trauma. My momma-heart broke every single week for the ones that just needed to be loved. We did all the homework; we started preparing for state inspections and county home studies; we cleaned every closet, bought a crib, and outlet plugs. We finished our last class in June. <i>Then we waited.</i> The state came to inspect our home in July. <i>And then we waited</i>. Our county home study had visits in August and September. Our home study was submitted on September 18th, 2014. That brings us to now. What are we doing now? You guessed it. <b>We are waiting.</b> <br />
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Up to this point, there has always been another step for us to complete. But now we have done the entire checklist. There's literally nothing else to do but wait for our phone to ring to let us know our family has been matched to a baby boy. We have a cupboard full of bottles. We have a swing, car seat, bouncy seat, pack n play, diapers, formula, drawers full of clothes, blankets, carriers, and the hundreds of other tiny things that babies need. We are ready. Most importantly, our hearts are ready. Our little guys is already SO loved! That's what makes this waiting even harder. It reminds me of a line from "When Harry Met Sally." Toward the end, he tells her, "When you realize that you want to be with someone for the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible." It feels a bit like that. We want our family of 6 to begin as soon as possible. <br />
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Months ago, a wise friend told me to find purpose in the waiting. At the time I thought, "of course there's purpose. I have to get ready." But now that we are ready, and we are still waiting, I am realizing what she meant. Her words were directly from the Lord. Find purpose in the waiting. Don't get so caught up in the waiting that you fail to see the people around you that need you now. Enjoy today. Enjoy the girls. Enjoy your sleep. (Haha!) Enjoy the anticipation. Pray for him. Pray for his birth mother because every adoption begins with a loss. Pray for the girls and the change of dynamics in our home. Pray for your marriage. Babies can be stressful. Pray for a broken system.<br />
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One day soon we will get a call and our world will be forever changed. It's so exciting to think about. But until then, <i>we wait</i>. With purpose. <br />
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You'll notice some changes to the blog very soon. The first is the name in the url. Our old one didn't fit as we are adding a baby boy to the mix. The "Triple Blessing" is the next to go as we will be more than tripley blessed. The way I plan to survive having four kids is the same way I survive with three. Our new name reflects that: A little coffee, and a lot of Jesus. </div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-35965256936614351782013-11-07T15:30:00.000-08:002013-11-07T15:30:32.992-08:00GideonFor the past six weeks I have been co-leading a team at our church women's Bible study. We have been working through the study called "Gideon: Our Weakness, God's Strength" by Priscilla Shirer. After 30+ years of knowing the Lord, there is still so much to learn! My grandfather used to say that you should learn something new until the day you die. He meant it in the context of the Bible, and to be honest, I wondered how he could still be learning after so many years of serving God. But I finally understand. <br />
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There are three short chapters in Judges on Gideon. You may have read them. I had. But I had read PAST them. I remember thinking "wow, the old testament is violent" and just kept reading. But the truths embedded in those three chapters have profoundly impacted me. <br />
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As a mother, I think we are quick to spot our weaknesses. One friend told me, "I fail at least ten times a day at being a great mom." I totally understand what she means. How sad that we focus on those ten times and not the ten thousand times we support and encourage and love our children. But God's word reminds us that it is IN those weaknesses that God is able to shine. <br />
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Gideon was a coward that was hiding from the enemy. He questioned God. He doubted even when an angel appeared to him! Yet the Lord was patient with him and still led him to defeat the Midianites. He had a mighty calling! The Lord was able to move through Gideon's weakness. <br />
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If you are a mom, in the trenches of bringing up godly children, remember this: YOU have a mighty calling. Do not be lulled into thinking that your calling is any less significant than Gideons. Priscilla Shirer says that mothers are anything but ordinary. YOU are extraordinary! You have been called by God to raise your children to love and follow the Lord. YOU are the single most important influence in the lives of your children at this short time of their lives. <br />
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Also remember that even mighty warriors question and doubt and fail. God is still faithful. <br />
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So when your kids "forget" to pick up their stuff, or make messes and don't clean them up, or leave you without toilet paper for the umpteenth time, it's good to remember that we are still a work in progress too. We aren't finished until we get called home to glory. <br />
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Lord help me to raise children that love you, and show grace (but if you could remind them to put their shoes away, I would be even more grateful). :)<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-77437792134007714292013-08-25T12:50:00.000-07:002013-08-25T12:55:46.714-07:00Confessions of a Kindergarten mom: Take threeYou would think that on the third time around, I would be a pro. But let's be honest. When my first went to kindergarten, I had a potty training two year old and teething 5 month old at home. I didn't cry. I was grateful that she was finally getting the stimulation her little brain needed. It was full day kindergarten but we didn't know any different. She was my big kid. So I embraced all the newness of her school adventure.<br />
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The second time around, I didn't cry either. I still had a 3 year old at home, and it was only 3 hours. Honestly I barely had time to get home, start a load of laundry, and make a snack before we were headed back to the school to pick up my middle little. <br />
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This time....I am a hot mess. Hot. Mess. I haven't even taken her to the first day and I get a lumpy throat every time I think about it. Not her though. She has been counting down for almost a year. She has been wearing her owl backpack for almost a week straight. She's so excited to FINALLY be in school with her sisters. She reads chapter books and can figure out multiplication. She is ready. But me? I'm not ready. Yes, I have filled out the forms, bought new shoes, and planned for lunches. But truthfully, I want to hang on to her littleness just a while longer. <br />
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Maybe it's because she has been with me every second of every day for over five years. Maybe it's because she has been my only buddy and my helper for two years. She has gone everywhere I have gone. She was with me when I argued about permits at city hall. She has emptied the dryer and folded clothes for me. She has sat in every shopping cart of every store I have gone to. We shared treats that we "didn't tell sisters about" for the last two years. Maybe it's because she has been the golden age for me. She's potty trained, buckles herself into her car seat, likes to do things for herself but knows when to ask for help, and she still loves to snuggle. Maybe it's because her kindergarten is all day. All. Day!<br />
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Maybe it's because, for the first time in 10 years, I will be alone. Each year that I have experienced the first day of school, I have left the campus with someone in tow, holding my hand. But this year when I leave campus, I will be alone. It's not that I will miss my sweet baby any more than I have missed my other two, but it's different. It's the end of an era. There's an episode of "Friends" where Rachel is moving out of Monica's apartment and they start crying because, "It's the end of an era!" That's how I feel. It's the end of an era. An era of having my babies at home. None of my kids attended preschool. I figured I could prepare them for school. And honestly I didn't want to share my precious time with them with anyone else. I'm not the mom that counts down the days until school starts so I can have a break. I love when my kids are home. I love being with them. <br />
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With each job I had before I had children, I felt like something was missing. It wasn't my true calling. But 2 seconds into being a mom, I knew I had found my purpose. My purpose isn't changing because my kids are going to all be in school, but it's different. There's a feeling of "now what?" The girls keep asking "what are you going to do all day?" I jokingly tell them I am going to be at school everyday, all day. Truthfully, I'm not sure what my day will look like. But the fact that I have 6 hours without anyone asking for a snack, or working on worksheets, or doing crafts, or playing games....it makes me sad. I will still grocery shop. I will still do laundry. I may talk to myself. <br />
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Many moms have said this is the best time of life because the girls are still young and with all of them in school I can pursue my own interests. I can also volunteer at school. My grocery bill will probably go down because I don't have any little ones with me asking for items not on the list. So, yes. There's that. But why am I sad? I think it's because even though it's kindergarten, it's the beginning of letting go. I'm not sending her to college yet but it's out there. I can't stop time. So I'm trying to embrace it. I know there are good things to come. Children cannot soar if you always hold their hand. <br />
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My prayer is that school will be everything she has hoped it would be. I know learning will take place, but I pray she also feels valued and smart and amazing. Because she is. I pray she gets hugs and high fives and gets to laugh. I pray she remembers all that we have taught her at home about being a good friend, a good listener, a daughter of God. I pray that the other kids treat her with kindness (cause if they don't, her two sisters will take them out!). I pray that she loves school. I also pray that at the end of the day, she comes home and tells me every single detail of her day. <br />
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I pray that as we walk into her classroom tomorrow that she will walk in confidently. I also pray that as she lets go of my hand, that I will smile and.....let her go. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-52140242636240606532013-05-14T13:59:00.000-07:002013-05-14T13:59:18.760-07:00Getting to know our wild neighborsThere are a number of things I love about our charter homeschool, but my favorite are the projects that encourage kids to get out and DO something. For the month of May our homeschool days were filled with a project associated with a nationwide contest. You can read about it more at www.get-to-know.org. This year's theme was "Get to know your wild neighbors."<br />
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Reagan decided she wanted to enter the photography portion of the contest. She isn't a big fan of the outdoors, so we brainstormed about what we could do that she would enjoy photographing. We settled on Seal Beach down in San Diego. When we lived down there we used to go more frequently but it had been a while since she had actually visited. It was perfect weather and she captured some amazing shots!<br />
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Years ago this beach used to be called "Children's Beach" because it sits in an area of San Diego that is protected from the current and waves. But, somewhere along the way, seals moved in and made it there home. For years there was a heated debate about kicking the seals out, or letting them stay. Even just a few years ago I remember animal rights activists forming a chain across the beach to keep people from harming the seals or forcing them out. Such drama! Somehow they reached a legal decision to let the seals stay but also allow people to go down onto the beach at their own risk. Seems to be working for now. :) <br />
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She amazes me with her knowledge of animals. At one point we saw a few sea lions and she went on to tell me how seals are different from sea lions. I honestly had no idea. Enjoy her captures!<br />
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The next few are sea lions. Apparently they can use their flippers for much more than seals can!</div>
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Hope you can get out and enjoy God's creation too!</div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-91302984570235983452013-04-25T19:59:00.001-07:002013-04-25T19:59:33.327-07:00Where you been?We're gonna pretend it hasn't been five months since I have written a blog post, mmmkay? ;) It's not that I haven't been writing. I have been writing every week. Except it hasn't been for our sweet lil ol' blog. I've been writing for money (yay!) but not for fun (woh! woh!). I was offered a job as a freelance writer in December so I've been able to write a few articles a week from home. The real kicker is that I also bought a business in December. (What?!!) So life has been a little busy. But in a good way. <br />
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For the past three years I participated in a twice-yearly children's consignment sale in our area. I was also part of a sale back in Virginia when my biggest little was born. Loved it then and loved it even more when I had three beauties to clothe. I grew to love the ladies that were running the sale out here so I was honored and surprised when they asked if I wanted to purchase the business. Their kiddos were growing up and they felt the Lord calling them to other endeavors. After praying about it, we decided to go for it!<br />
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It has been a roller coaster in every sense of the word! But we just had our first sale in March and it was a success- yay! Our next one is in September so I'm enjoying the reprieve for a few months. It's more work than I ever imagined, but I definitely feel like I have been preparing for this position for years. I'm able to continue to stay home with my girls, and contribute to our family finances. God is so good, isn't he?!! I've been baptized into the world of small business owners and I'm still learning as I go. <br />
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It was so fun to see my family pitch in and help in any way they could. Brian's dad even flew out to help us. He was our handy-man, personal shopper, and keeper of the kids for us! He even said he would come back in September to help again. Woohoo! My parents were at the store or keeping the girls everyday, and my sweet husband took off work during the four days of the sale (and the day after the sale to move everything to a storage unit). At the risk of sounding like an Oscar speech, I couldn't have done it without the support of my awesome family and friends. Who else would stay late to help me scrub floors, arrange toys, put clothing racks together, or bring me coffee? I am blessed indeed. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-24809969152984841942012-12-16T21:47:00.000-08:002012-12-16T21:56:53.863-08:00Hope for NewtownI'm still processing the tragedy in Newtown, CT. I don't know that we'll ever make "sense" of what happened, but there are a few things I do know for sure. I hurt for the moms that can't hug their babies tonight. I'm reminded several times a day of the absence they must feel when I look at my girls and imagine if they were taken from me. This event has rocked a nation. But, this event is <i>not</i> a political platform. Although many have tried to make it such. I've seen numerous posts about Sandy Hook that have nothing to do with the school. They are filled with a rhetoric of blame and pointing fingers. <br />
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Some are blaming God and actually believe that God himself killed those innocent victims as punishment for the world of sin. If you want to find the real hate in the world, read the comments at the end of news articles. I've seen things like "Hey Christians, where was your God that day? Where is he now?" I personally believe my God helped teachers lead their classes to safety. I believe my God was guarding the eyes of the children at the school. I believe my God is holding the families that are left behind to grieve, tight in His grip. I believe He is cradling 20 first graders in heaven and weeping for a world that has turned from Him. <br />
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I've heard people say that gun control is to blame for this massacre. <br />
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I've heard people say that he had an autism spectrum disorder that went untreated. <br />
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I've heard people say that God has been removed from our public schools, so homeschool is the answer. <br />
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I've heard people relate this event to abortion. <br />
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They're all wrong. <br />
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This tragedy was caused by one thing: <b>evil</b>.<br />
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Gun control cannot stop evil. Only God can. <br />
Treating disorders cannot stop evil. <br />
Homeschooling does not stop evil. (And I would argue that Jesus goes to public school every day in the hearts of my children and lots of others).<br />
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I cannot imagine what it would be like to send my first grader to school and have her not return. But I do know how much joy a first grader brings because I have one. I can also imagine that no amount of hateful or blaming rhetoric would ever bring her back or bring me solace in my grief. Only God can do that. <br />
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So maybe just this once we can step off the soapbox and get on our knees. <br />
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Maybe just this once we can be light in a dark world by showing love.<br />
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Maybe just this once we can say "I will pray" and truly mean it. <br />
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Maybe just this once we can share HOPE and not blame. <br />
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Let your words lead people to the only place of true peace and comfort and a knowledge of an incredible eternity. And then stop there. <br />
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"May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you O God" Psalm 19:14<br />
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Offer Christ without a caveat. Because you cannot heal hurt with hate. Only God can. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-75158027132626440942012-12-10T23:33:00.000-08:002012-12-10T23:33:19.350-08:00GrandpaToday they will gather and celebrate his life. They will talk about how wonderful he was and how much he will be missed. They will use words like "legacy" and "pillar of faith." I know there will be tears, but mostly I hope that there is joy. When CS Lewis said "We do not have a soul. We ARE a soul; we have a body" he was right. Our bodies are just temporary, but our souls are eternal. <br />
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I have no doubt that my grandfather is rejoicing in heaven with Jesus (and his parents and brothers and sister and ALL those that have gone before him that he had a part in their salvation). So we should be rejoicing too. We should rejoice for the time that we were given on earth with him. We should rejoice that we have memories we can cherish. We should rejoice that we are part of a heritage of faith.<br />
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Someone asked me last week what my favorite memory of my grandfather would be and it was honestly hard to say just one. I spent my entire childhood less than 30 minutes from my grandparents so we saw them frequently. He was an integral part of my life, but mostly he was a beacon for my walk with the Lord. He was an old school pastor that preached with a fire that most pastors don't possess anymore. He used to say "It's not a sermon until you break a sweat!" :) He took everything to the Lord in prayer. <br />
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My grandfather was a man that lived simply. He never had cable or a cell phone or a computer. He loved to eat! He would re-use foil and plastic bags. He didn't spend his money but gladly gave it to those that needed it. When he laughed, his whole body shook and tears fogged up his glasses. He always carried a handkerchief and when he blew his nose the neighbors dogs would bark (and small children would go running). :) He wore bifocals but used to put them on top of his head to see things close up. He had an incredible memory and recited poetry from his childhood. He said he didn't speak German, but he had a German accent. He had a library of books and he read every single one. He had a love of peppermint and believed it to be the cure for almost everything. I may have inherited that trait. <br />
He was never too busy for anyone. He never had a negative thing to say. His Bibles were always falling apart from being read so much. He spoke directly to the Lord twice a day and didn't rush through it. He would mention each family member by name and ask for their needs to be met. He always had a story to tell (I may have inherited that one too). <br />
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He loved his family and loved the Lord. He lived to tell people about the miracle of Jesus, so I rejoice that this Christmas, He gets to be in heaven. I rejoice that I got to see him in August on our trip to the northwest and hear his voice and laugh again. I rejoice that eternity is a really long time and we will get to spend it together. <br />
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My grandpa Tom Grams</div>
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5/21/18-12/5/12</div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-72821038618453537372012-11-21T10:57:00.000-08:002012-11-21T10:57:09.812-08:00DwellingI have always been intrigued by words. I remember when I was in high school I heard a comedian making fun of the English language. He said that "laughter" pronounced "laff-ter" means that "daughter" should be pronounced "daff-ter." It really is amazing that people learn to speak English at all. :)<br />
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Recently I have seen a word surface in my devotions and in conversations so I have given it some thought. The word is "dwelling." In a quick dictionary study it's one of those fun words that can be a noun or a verb. It can mean a place, like a home (<i>dwelling</i>). It can also mean "to spend time" on something (<i>dwell</i>). <br />
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What do you "spend time" thinking about? Is it thankfulness or bitterness? Is it anger or joy? Do you think about how life used to be? Or do you spend time thinking about how good life <i>could</i> be, if only you had ..... (fill in the blank)?<br />
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A dwelling, both physical and emotional/spiritual, can also be a place where you feel comfortable. Where do you feel the most comfortable? Do you feel the most comfortable when you're complaining? Do you feel the most comfortable in thinking about the past or the future? Do you feel most comfortable in the presence of God?<br />
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I'm not sure if I'm just getting older, or if I'm just more sensitive to it, but I'm hearing more and more about how much tragedy there is in the world, and how hard the holidays can be. Two weeks ago marked the one year anniversary of Brian's mom's passing. A week later, a friend suddenly lost her two year old son. Our community just brought home a soldier killed in battle in Afghanistan, leaving a wife and 15 month old son. Our local Christian high school is mourning the loss of a 16 year old boy that one morning just didn't wake up. There are wars overseas that we know only a fraction of what's going on. It would be really easy to focus on all that's going wrong. There are lots of folks that dwell on the negative. While there are bad things that happen, we have to choose to <i>dwell</i> on our eternal hope. This world was never meant for us to be content. It was meant for us to long for more. The 23rd Psalm tells us that we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death...." It does not say "though we stop and make our dwelling in the valley of the shadow of death." Isaiah 43:18 says "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." We are supposed to be current thinkers. Psalm 23:6 says we will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 4:8 says that "I will lie down in peace for you, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety."<br />
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Clearly the Lord has a plan for where we dwell. My plan might include a beach or lake house and looking forward to retirement. I might plan for my current dwelling to have some renovations or nicer things, or more land and less neighbors (and barking dogs). <br />
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Today, I will choose to dwell on things above and live in the present. I will make my physical dwelling place (my home) a place of joy and my spiritual dwelling place in the presence of the Lord. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-63459704532620500472012-10-22T12:57:00.001-07:002012-10-22T12:57:31.663-07:00Soap!aIn the past few years, I've been learning new ways to make life simpler (which truly means more work, but it's worth it). I even bought a sign that says "Simplify" that sits on a shelf in my living room. It's covered in dust most days (because I've placed it too high to reach in order to clean it often...and yes I'm aware of the irony) and often I forget it's there. But the concept is something we strive for daily. <br />
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On the journey of simplicity, last week I made our own laundry soap. When I found out that it's almost all the same ingredients for dishwasher soap, I attempted that too. <br />
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So far, we are loving the laundry soap. The dishwasher soap has a few kinks to work out so I won't share that one just yet. But I thought others might like to try the laundry soap as well, so here is the recipe we used:<br />
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1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle</div>
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1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle</div>
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1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle</div>
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3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle (if you use Zote bars use 2 bars instead, Zote can be found at Home Depot)</div>
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2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent aisle.</div>
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(this is optional. I did not add it but if you notice your clothes getting a little dingy, you can add it).<br />You should be able to find all of these items at your grocery store or walmart.</div>
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Grate the bars of soap and mix all ingredients together in a large bucket. This makes approximately 2 gallons of detergent. </div>
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<br />**Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. I know that does not seem like enough but this recipe does not have fillers like the store bought detergent so you only need 1-2 Tablespoons.**<br /><br />This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it is not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a fabric softener or laundry crystals to each load. You can find laundry crystals in the detergent aisle.</div>
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We got our recipe from this site: http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html?m=1</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-23707692808270566162012-10-01T21:34:00.000-07:002012-10-01T21:34:46.457-07:00A Different SimpleThe past week has been busy, but in a good way. It hasn't felt frantic or chaotic, and I haven't felt stretched to my limits. For that, I am grateful. <br />
I was able to have lunch with both big girls at their school as part of their "Lunch with Loved Ones" days during the book fair. The lunchroom was loud and a little crazy, but it was fun to pick up fish tacos and hang out for a few minutes with each of them. I love those moments of being able to focus on one child at a time. <br />
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Later in the week I was able to chaperone a field trip to an aquarium for Reagan's class. The chatter of fourth grade girls is a total crack up!<br />
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I'm also co-leading a Moms in Prayer group and I'm the VP for our PTO this year. I know....this season is supposed to be about simplifying. But what I've realized is that simplifying looks different for everyone. The Lord was showing me that I had been neglecting my most important ministry; the one to my children. So, while this week has been busy, I've spent my week being with my kids. That made my heart full. <br />
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Of course I have days where I dream of living in the country where leaves change color and snow falls, homeschooling the girls, growing all of our own food, and sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and the love of my life in peace and quiet. But that's not our reality. Our simple looks different. <br />
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Our simple involves schedules and responsibilities. Our simple is busy. But our simple means getting back to basics when we can. Our simple can be loud and messy. But our simple is being together. It's finding joy in the moment. It's talking and listening, even if that means in the van as we drive. Our simple is also eating good food, saving our money, and being grateful for what we have. Our simple is far from perfect but it's our work in progress and I love it. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-34324663456374266182012-09-25T13:39:00.000-07:002012-09-25T13:39:03.575-07:00Love is a giftI've sat down at least a dozen times to write in the last five months and something has always stopped me. At times, it was my own bad attitude and I didn't want a post of whining and complaining. A few times I have opened the computer and honestly felt like I had nothing to say, so I closed it again. But now, as I dust powdered sugar from they keyboard, there's a new peace in my heart, and a desire to just write. <br />
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I won't relive in detail, the internal struggles I have faced over the last several months, but I will share that God is so good. I had to hit my knees in exhaustion to finally surrender. I will say that the tides of change are coming and I am filled with hopeful anticipation about the future. I am returning to the things that I love. I'm spending more time with my kids, making memories, and just being with them instead of around them. I'm going to write. A friend once told me that if the Lord made you LOVE something, then it's a gift. I love to write, so I need to cherish the gift He gave me. It won't be everyday. It may not be every week. But it won't be 5 months inbetween. <br />
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I have a sign in my house that says "simplify." I'm going to do just that. I have stepped down from my roles in ministry and I am going to focus on the ministry of raising my girls and keeping a happy Christ-centered home. Afterall, with kids in the house, the days may be long, but the years are short. I think that's how the saying goes. <br />
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Someday I'll tell you about the wonderful family vacation we took in August. But for now, here's a sweet picture of my blessings. <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-24162740554952699652012-04-19T08:48:00.002-07:002012-04-19T08:48:45.774-07:00Our Spring BreakFIVE weeks! The countdown is on. We only have 5 weeks until our school year is over and we get to sleep in, play outside, go fun places, and just enjoy being together. I can't wait! <div>
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Spring break was a small glimpse of what our summer will be like. We were able to relax, spend time with friends, and do some crafting. In fact, after spring break, Bailey said, "Mommy, we haven't done a craft in DAYS. I'm dyin' here!" LOL! That kid.... Normally she's so literal, so her exaggeration cracked me up. I told her the other day that Yaya (my mom) had to get rid of her wash machine because it was on it's last leg. She said, "What happened to the other legs?" See? Literal. :)</div>
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Spending time as a family is my favorite thing in the world. During spring break, we embraced our location and decided to do something we have wanted to do for a loooong time. We went from the snow to the sand in one week. It was wonderful!! We were afraid we had missed the snow completely this year but we got an extra dose of cold rain (which equals snow for the mountains) the weekend before our break. Most of it had melted away by the time we got there, but we did find a few patches left, and it was perfect for sledding. </div>
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The sledding path started out pretty bumpy but we wore it down quickly!</div>
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Bailey was so excited to sled with daddy. We almost had a crisis because we couldn't find the "purple" hat that she got for Christmas. Thankfully the extra red one I packed worked just fine. </div>
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This face cracked us up. We thought she was having a blast, but the pictures tell a different story. </div>
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The look of terror says it all. :)</div>
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I got all 3 to stop moving for a few seconds to grab this picture. The rock behind them is the famous Taquitz Rock. People climb it. Crazy people. I'd rather take pictures of it. :)</div>
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Bailey decided that sledding with mommy was much more her pace. She also made snowballs (in the loosest sense of the word) and threw them at her sisters. </div>
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Skylar is our little daredevil and couldn't get enough of the downhill speed. In fact, I caught a picture of her going down the hill....with just her elbow on the board. Talk about flying! She also loved sledding with daddy and crashing at the end. </div>
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Love her rosy little cheeks after working hard to get back up the hill!</div>
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She's looking more and more like a little girl...and not a toddler. Bittersweet to say the least. </div>
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Reagan is usually our cautious one so we were thrilled that she went down the hill as many times as she did. She and Skylar also decided to go without the sled and just slide on her behind at the end. Thank the Lord for stain remover. :)</div>
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After a snack, we found the purple hat in the van! She was a happy kid!!</div>
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The girls all slept great and we made some wonderful memories. Success! Four days later we were off to the beach....</div>
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It was a little chilly when we got there. </div>
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This kid is impervious to cold. She didn't even wait to get her bathing suit on before heading into the water. </div>
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She was soaked up to her sweatshirt in about 12 seconds. </div>
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Bailey showing us how big the waves are!</div>
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Bailey didn't get to make snow angels up in the mountains, so she decided to make some sand angels.</div>
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Brian took Skylar and Bailey out on the surfboard for the first time. Bailey caught a wave pretty quickly and LOVED it! Skylar (who was the most excited) got knocked off the board pretty quickly and has decided she doesn't like surfing. But how cool are those birds behind her? :)</div>
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We chased a lot of these guys....</div>
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Reagan was our sandcastle builder. I love that her hair starts to curl up as soon as we hit the ocean air.</div>
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And just to prove that I was there... :)</div>
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We gathered LOTS of shells! (I think that's a rule when you go to the beach as a child).</div>
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The girls did a lot of running from the waves. Then they decided to take on the waves together. </div>
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One of my favorite pictures ever...</div>
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I don't think I could love these girls any more!</div>
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Spring break was great...but bring on the summer!!</div>
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<br /></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-77817055158336856632012-04-05T21:40:00.000-07:002012-04-05T21:40:34.488-07:00Rainbow BriteWe've had a busy few weeks here so I'm trying to catch up! Skylar and Bailey's birthdays are close so we usually do a joint celebration. I'm trying to get away with that as long as I can until they start requesting separate parties and wanting to invite their own friends (instead of just our family and family friends). <br />
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We do something special on their "actual" day with just our family. This year Skylar requested a princess cake. With sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bailey requested cupcakes and a movie. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love their simple requests. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For their party, we did a rainbow theme. What little girl doesn't love rainbows? Remember Rainbow Brite? :) It was a fun theme and the girls LOVED all the color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainbow fruit kabobs (made by my mom)....</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainbow bundt cake (with rainbow sprinkles)...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainbow partyware (and rainbow snacks of course)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And rainbow tissue pompoms</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls had a wonderful party! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now on to Reagan's birthday. Whose idea was it to have these birthdays so close?? :)</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-51050373401783227572012-02-24T10:45:00.000-08:002012-02-24T10:45:30.923-08:00Best laid plans"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16: 9<br />
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I need to remember that verse more often. I had the best laid plans. My plans. I was going to spend time while Skylar was at school getting stuff ready for her room re-do. Then, my parents were going to take her for a couple days so we could do the install. Then, after she got home, she would squeal and shriek and I would write a nice long makeover post! Then we would make lots of homemade goodies for her birthday; have a party at the park with her classmates; I was going to speak at a board meeting for our school; I was going to wrap up my women's book study I was leading; and then I would leave for the weekend so I could bond and learn with my fellow church board members. <br />
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It didn't go that way. <br />
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Skylar got Croup two and a half weeks ago. So she was home from school. She's now had croup twice in her life. Both in the last couple months. <br />
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Then we all 5 got hit with an intestinal bug. More missed school. More time spent NOT preparing items for the room. <br />
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Then we were all healthy (yay!), only to have Skylar get the full blown flu the day she was supposed to leave and hang out with my mom for a couple days. My mom took her anyway (rockstar grandma!!), and they just watched movies. I worked to get the last few errands in and sewing. The next day Brian cleared her room, we painted, and I tried to finish up some sewing. Then it hit me. The flu. The bad, body aching, high fever, coughin up a lung, can't-stand-upright, flu. <br />
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I did my best to help Brian finish up her room, but then I was done. For the next 5 days. In that time it also hit Brian, and then Bailey. Reagan has thus far avoided it (and praying she stays immune!), but she did call my mom at one point and BEG her to come over because there was no one to feed them. Ha! Rest assured we were feeding the children. But it was easy stuff like cereal and soup, so we were incredibly grateful that my mom answered the call and came to take care of all of us!!<br />
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Skylar loves her new room and it was a great surprise, but it certainly wasn't as I imagined it would be. I didn't get to finish up my book study. I didn't get to speak at a board meeting for our school. I didn't get to go away for the weekend with my fellow church board members. We didn't have a party at the park and I didn't make any homemade goodies. But life went on. Other people spoke in my place. My lovely fellow board members went without me. My middle baby turned 6. <br />
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We're all on the road to recovery but this bug is wretched. I had the best laid plans. But the Lord has greater plans. I'm speaking at church on Monday night so maybe He knew I needed to have some extra time to prepare. Whatever it is, I need to remember that His plans are best. <br />
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In the meantime, here are some snaps from my cell phone. I would still like to do a whole room re-do post in the future. For now, this is my best. :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJtMurxKImu5cBUBHZ5AhyphenhyphenUBqxZzOJgK557P8_7ri6I8G44O97nXKljxG-v0eD0f_PFLyswGj6gVPvnAV6aSKdcK1N6z3K7bWg1_0CJBaxGp3sT_GOkECzosx1TjuJJDzCdtYzrvmI2PQ/s1600/IMG-20120223-00207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJtMurxKImu5cBUBHZ5AhyphenhyphenUBqxZzOJgK557P8_7ri6I8G44O97nXKljxG-v0eD0f_PFLyswGj6gVPvnAV6aSKdcK1N6z3K7bWg1_0CJBaxGp3sT_GOkECzosx1TjuJJDzCdtYzrvmI2PQ/s400/IMG-20120223-00207.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDuLSVTijxQjIXsguuBxk2U3sdu0jm00wVq3ptMpErf0jEsMo79IHb2JHPcqdIx09k2gGd6ZIx6UX3UMei_pacJ3MRMUW1o_nJbiUEVFLshgiccAW8gsSCY2_jLMbdgSg3c-Z002AcgHX/s1600/IMG-20120223-00208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDuLSVTijxQjIXsguuBxk2U3sdu0jm00wVq3ptMpErf0jEsMo79IHb2JHPcqdIx09k2gGd6ZIx6UX3UMei_pacJ3MRMUW1o_nJbiUEVFLshgiccAW8gsSCY2_jLMbdgSg3c-Z002AcgHX/s400/IMG-20120223-00208.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Skylar's first day back to school after being sick. How fun that it was her birthday! :) Her class is singing to her while she wears the "birthday hat." </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5RNv3QrHqc2OOe44d8DJoRqM1wXCATABerjWHMnhMyHXDdLVHKO4v2NerpZBhA3soz0fFOwTjEVE-j8tD4_tn_LURUJWn-tTFdsKKf4HyCkMZL4y10WEY-arsWurHayTJC1yyYBI_xW9/s1600/IMG-20120223-00209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5RNv3QrHqc2OOe44d8DJoRqM1wXCATABerjWHMnhMyHXDdLVHKO4v2NerpZBhA3soz0fFOwTjEVE-j8tD4_tn_LURUJWn-tTFdsKKf4HyCkMZL4y10WEY-arsWurHayTJC1yyYBI_xW9/s400/IMG-20120223-00209.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were blessed with awesome weather for her birthday, so she played outside with the dogs. This one is my parents dog. :) She's the most "willing" to go along for a ride. Notice the sparkly princess shoes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV-CZNv20Rd_kl44w9g4xSlh0Cq_K-UbzwD_FORV0jFDfNKJVLJMpad5BowRwVGCiPH5Jjas4KLSb_trC7qPYk4davA60CJonbx1U88e-umFQ8ximod4o8WNHXidCGugZKAgJptPSFzBH/s1600/IMG-20120217-00197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV-CZNv20Rd_kl44w9g4xSlh0Cq_K-UbzwD_FORV0jFDfNKJVLJMpad5BowRwVGCiPH5Jjas4KLSb_trC7qPYk4davA60CJonbx1U88e-umFQ8ximod4o8WNHXidCGugZKAgJptPSFzBH/s400/IMG-20120217-00197.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A "before" shot of Skylar's room. We had a beach theme beforehand. I have other pics before it was cleared, but I'll save those for the longer post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV2ZzTl-EIBR-ylcbHVEh8caNk_tA7eUwTE_xO9ViyERZZk3Yu_hiZPEXwcT6aenPoXIjaAxxXj8BDFD8c1iyaC6TmRHBqd43tE5m82Lp_XF7qX1gxGzZoZV6jpmvdpLWJqZxmFcgiDgZ/s1600/IMG-20120218-00202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV2ZzTl-EIBR-ylcbHVEh8caNk_tA7eUwTE_xO9ViyERZZk3Yu_hiZPEXwcT6aenPoXIjaAxxXj8BDFD8c1iyaC6TmRHBqd43tE5m82Lp_XF7qX1gxGzZoZV6jpmvdpLWJqZxmFcgiDgZ/s400/IMG-20120218-00202.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And AFTER! We did two colors of pink on the walls; I made a fabric banner, tissue pom poms, a rag quilt for her bed, and a new bedskirt. This is a shot from standing in her doorway looking in.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M9UqicJrhnSsB_ls3Ph_-FRbXdqpPMMvlklHYALMM6u_F0VOlJISRlhmj1bHsdiiiUr8m32AcQknbpt7oUz6gLHmV6JUN7i2v3gs6azCo2YmGb0hVcQoEnE5J-viYPOmaws9o4dZNPpq/s1600/IMG-20120218-00203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M9UqicJrhnSsB_ls3Ph_-FRbXdqpPMMvlklHYALMM6u_F0VOlJISRlhmj1bHsdiiiUr8m32AcQknbpt7oUz6gLHmV6JUN7i2v3gs6azCo2YmGb0hVcQoEnE5J-viYPOmaws9o4dZNPpq/s400/IMG-20120218-00203.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another shot from inside her room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most importantly, she loves it. She had a good birthday and we're all getting healthier. Thank the Lord for that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-83613679543472723702012-02-12T22:06:00.000-08:002012-02-12T22:06:27.625-08:00iThere has been some talk lately about what the next generation will be named. It seems that there's a "letter" trend since the induction of my own generation: Generation X. Following us was Generation Y. So, I guess it seems fitting that some would recommend the title Generation Z for the current generation. I don't agree. I've given some thought to it, and I would like to submit my suggestion: The "i" generation. <br />
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There's the obvious connotation of the tech gadgets that begin with "i" like the iphone, ipod, ipad, itouch, etc. Kids are familiar with each of them; often owning one themselves (at ages FAR too young in my honest opinion). It's also slightly morbid, but mostly befitting, that the Apple mogul died during this generation. He is now idolized (another "i") and revered more than ever before. <br />
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There are some words with "i" that we hear frequently now: imagine, ideals, increase, identity, ideology, immersion, immediate, immunizations, IQ, Iditarod (ok, just making sure you're still paying attention). Any one of these can be spun into a description for the future of our children. <br />
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But it goes much farther than that. For me, one of the strongest arguments is for the "i" to stand for "ironic." We're getting so advanced in our technology that we can see people across an ocean and speak to them in real time. We can text and it takes mere seconds to reach someone. We're more "in touch" than ever before. Yet, look around. If you go to a restaurant, people aren't talking to the ones at their own table. They're texting, or facebooking, or emailing people at a distance. The "i" can also be for "internet". Are they still calling it that these days? I can't keep up. I still say w-w-w dot when giving a web address. Silly me. But the older I get, the more pessimistic I get about the direction we are headed. <br />
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I've been noticing for a while that parents are giving small children technology to keep them quiet instead of teaching them to be social or occupy themselves without a movie or game. I'm amazed at the 3 year olds that are allowed to run around with an ipad. I certainly wouldn't hand my daughter five $100 bills and let her run around with them! She hid my keys in the toybox once and I couldn't find them for 36 hours. She's not to be trusted. <br />
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The "i" can also be a capital "I." We're raising a selfish generation, because that's what we're modeling. I've already read a handful of articles that talk about parents needing to put their phones down and pay attention to their children. How sad that our children are not a priority! Have we forgotten that "Children are our heritage and a blessing from the Lord"? (Psalm 127:3). <br />
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How great would it be if we could flip that "i" into something positive? If this is the generation my children will be part of, I want to show them that their ancestors didn't have it all wrong. <br />
I want them to be part of the "I can still sit and write a letter" generation; or the "I would love to have a conversation with you" generation; or the "I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow" generation. Better yet, let's call it the U generation. I love YOU because Christ loved YOU. How can I serve YOU? What can I do to help YOU? YOU are important! YOU matter. <br />
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Imagine that. Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-45027062993620038502012-02-06T21:21:00.000-08:002012-02-06T21:21:56.528-08:00The wheelI was reading my last post and had to laugh. SO, now it's FEBRUARY?! Where did January go? I'm sure I'll get to December and be saying the same thing. :) I told Brian last week that I feel like I'm on a hamster wheel. I'm in constant motion. I can't imagine how it is for families with kids involved in sports and lots of activities. All we have is piano for Reagan and the rest is just "stuff" that keeps us (me) busy. <br />
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I'm leading a book study for the ladies at our church on Thursday nights. It's been neat to see other married ladies come together and work hard to bless their husbands. We're also planning a women's retreat, a training weekend, and leadership meetings. It's fun to work for the Lord, but it certainly is work! The rewards are the best pay there is though. :)<br />
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We're still in limbo on our school situation for next year. I'll just leave it at that. <br />
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In the midst of of our busyness, we have a special birthday coming up. When we moved into our house, Skylar was only 3. She didn't get to choose what her bedroom looked like. So a while back she asked if she could ever "re-do" her room. As a surprise to her, she is getting a room makeover. I'll be sure to post before and after photos. I'm so excited for her to see all the fun (PINK!) things for her room!!<br />
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We're also getting in to the gardening season around here. Our yard still needs a lot of work, but we've been adding fruit trees here and there, and we're getting ready to plant our veggies for spring/summer. The girls look forward each year to the planting process. I look forward to the "fruits" of our labor. <br />
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Oh, and I finally downloaded all of our pictures. Here's a glimpse into our last few weeks. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS8i1x4XNMtRjtR_VDci8OnA9TIBAz15AFw6Xc454a7By7p8qUW94mYmr6xyoSHtF12ZgsiZ1u8-0_HrJjNiHIBL33GCH24AQggHgOXWCcSopE_PCxvmPsadFUWNQ9PTRyzEDeFO8KL8H/s1600/IMG_6454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixS8i1x4XNMtRjtR_VDci8OnA9TIBAz15AFw6Xc454a7By7p8qUW94mYmr6xyoSHtF12ZgsiZ1u8-0_HrJjNiHIBL33GCH24AQggHgOXWCcSopE_PCxvmPsadFUWNQ9PTRyzEDeFO8KL8H/s400/IMG_6454.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Field Trip to the LegoLand SeaLife Aquarium</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sR5uAyyxE9g2yBccfzHzl3MaNLab3NkG9jxJgUpn4KofNdGV6-RMAFjZIH3u0JNfKjsJHHZWaF1wiApG6rn_UbIBNqGOa3JRG2A6ZdOmWe66-azGhYpqGY7k8nsXR6eXJ11Su1tBhN7O/s1600/IMG_6487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sR5uAyyxE9g2yBccfzHzl3MaNLab3NkG9jxJgUpn4KofNdGV6-RMAFjZIH3u0JNfKjsJHHZWaF1wiApG6rn_UbIBNqGOa3JRG2A6ZdOmWe66-azGhYpqGY7k8nsXR6eXJ11Su1tBhN7O/s400/IMG_6487.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She makes the funniest faces!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZT9nlpol1s95E4A9vXbc1aEnf7jCpw-WlclLh1IpZApBpUfoBSREC_vxoCQt1Tz0WITxmG5NRZTwhzyFTme0OYrdpj3E_3VVjDW41fxGXGkrCRi9iEWNGgr6_az5q2gH3GM3zTy9KI-9/s1600/IMG_6513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZT9nlpol1s95E4A9vXbc1aEnf7jCpw-WlclLh1IpZApBpUfoBSREC_vxoCQt1Tz0WITxmG5NRZTwhzyFTme0OYrdpj3E_3VVjDW41fxGXGkrCRi9iEWNGgr6_az5q2gH3GM3zTy9KI-9/s400/IMG_6513.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My pile of squares for Skylar's quilt</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_iseFTWiJuGiqy459KlF1vYz_p9FAqoJ2xF4DnfK_SKiB03B03mQ5s-ndvhUUYoQDtyrldqbFcLBbu9m6OnnG2ExSUQAcf2aBYbeE43kqZhUgL9QD6u9z6KgdskRcu-JdDpsmnrkdVYo/s1600/IMG_6503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_iseFTWiJuGiqy459KlF1vYz_p9FAqoJ2xF4DnfK_SKiB03B03mQ5s-ndvhUUYoQDtyrldqbFcLBbu9m6OnnG2ExSUQAcf2aBYbeE43kqZhUgL9QD6u9z6KgdskRcu-JdDpsmnrkdVYo/s400/IMG_6503.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's Skylar at the top. She's nearly fearless.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W1wMouS0GHYmN5twp40eJF3B2B3NCoKcoHA5CXmuLhu_kaZCtVcH5bKvFoVCJKJJwCVuUJ6rQzRt_WdA5XR05jwCBu7fWdDoZF7NZscCR7h2FqYVj1iIc5305nHfIY_iXcy5FkL-4jVR/s1600/IMG_6518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W1wMouS0GHYmN5twp40eJF3B2B3NCoKcoHA5CXmuLhu_kaZCtVcH5bKvFoVCJKJJwCVuUJ6rQzRt_WdA5XR05jwCBu7fWdDoZF7NZscCR7h2FqYVj1iIc5305nHfIY_iXcy5FkL-4jVR/s400/IMG_6518.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our tissue paper flowers for Valentine's Day. Placed in a painted jar, courtesy of pinterest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm newly addicted. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ9f6NRYzPkGTvmAC5fH0oUFfMBPERnhZpzc4hl67yjw8r0nKav7egye4g4og_iPP8muYcMf7ak5d1PoYD3lbOIFiGtZwYLIhWsMjsfx_1pwiGkZFYu8BsjdWfQUIEod7XLSb3ONZG4_K/s1600/IMG_6512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ9f6NRYzPkGTvmAC5fH0oUFfMBPERnhZpzc4hl67yjw8r0nKav7egye4g4og_iPP8muYcMf7ak5d1PoYD3lbOIFiGtZwYLIhWsMjsfx_1pwiGkZFYu8BsjdWfQUIEod7XLSb3ONZG4_K/s400/IMG_6512.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making candles for our "liquids and solids" homeschool project</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmfXg4LJ8UWNDg_FhgnGeGJuFLAmwir1xN6msZ14ZPxhhS38P_WpY9mnLV5SrDmFpVrKVZTfiv_J6N0ULFeNo_TaO7FAbki8858wCXIQ-8ekFPNjXQzowUahm4WBDIUIZqtl_VPtsSbo_/s1600/IMG_6523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmfXg4LJ8UWNDg_FhgnGeGJuFLAmwir1xN6msZ14ZPxhhS38P_WpY9mnLV5SrDmFpVrKVZTfiv_J6N0ULFeNo_TaO7FAbki8858wCXIQ-8ekFPNjXQzowUahm4WBDIUIZqtl_VPtsSbo_/s400/IMG_6523.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our pretty little tangerine tree!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you in March. Just kidding. Kind of. Back to my wheel. :)</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-75768924323895503852012-01-18T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:12:25.627-08:00SimplyIt's January? Can we just pretend it's still December and I'm better about updating our blog? :)<br />
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Actually, I'm ok with being silent around here because it usually means I'm spending some quality time with my family. At least once a day I think "I should blog about that." But at night, the motivation is gone. <br />
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We had a great Christmas break with the girls! As the girls get older, the festivities just get more and more fun. We made lots of Christmas crafts, did lots of Christmas baking, and just enjoyed being together as a family. The girls have inherited my appreciation of watching Christmas movies in jammies, with a fire in the fireplace, and having just the lights of the tree on. I was going to post pictures from Christmas, thinking it was the least I could do. But I haven't even downloaded our Christmas pics yet. So, I guess THIS is the least I can do. :)<br />
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After New Year's, we hit the ground running. Most of the time it feels like a sprint to the end of the day. I've taken on more leadership roles at church and the school, as well as continuing with homeschool projects, fixing up things around the house, and just doing the day-to-day stuff. <br />
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With all the busyness, I crave order and simplicity. I get into a purging mood at the beginning of each new year. I'm learning that the purging can also mean activities. I'm learning to say no. I have no trouble saying "no" to my children, but I have trouble saying "no" to others. I want to be involved. I want to be helpful. Above all though, I need to remember that my priorities should be: God, family, others; in that order. I'm praying that the Lord continues to show me areas that can be rearranged (or eliminated) to keep my priorities in the right place. <br />
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I suppose you can call that a resolution. I'm going to call it a goal. :) I want to reach the end of 2012 and feel like I did my best to keep things from turning upside down. <br />
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Will you help keep me accountable?<br />
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As a sidenote: There's a free kindle book on amazon right now that talks about simplifying your life. It's right <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organized-Simplicity-ebook/dp/B004AM5IJW/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1326924696&sr=8-1">here</a>. And if you don't have a kindle, just download the kindle app to read books on your computer.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-19920367926875142152011-12-16T14:02:00.000-08:002011-12-16T14:02:00.111-08:00Take a hike!It's good for the soul....<br />
We just took the girls on a hike in the hills behind our house. The sunshine, fresh air, and family time were just what I needed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eyB338uhC96DVLaAEGArAPHso6lGyAsr-Df5_R60E9v5hMTCGu4W2-oFGkAH0QBdPWtaR7w8chnZEisGdlLwefvhNnMsx0Nyf1JBdQ4X_9dygIsOU9jSWE-0iJ1q4UiTzCMDeJn1nwIw/s1600/IMG_6057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eyB338uhC96DVLaAEGArAPHso6lGyAsr-Df5_R60E9v5hMTCGu4W2-oFGkAH0QBdPWtaR7w8chnZEisGdlLwefvhNnMsx0Nyf1JBdQ4X_9dygIsOU9jSWE-0iJ1q4UiTzCMDeJn1nwIw/s320/IMG_6057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the entrance to the trail</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77b2ooIPsbHwphYQegC_jnjfgygY1nvTETZisU-sQPQOnrK0v72Z3AK4sTMAKToqlo_dKEdPI4vkrphd8MxGA_95-BdMh43DQRwBPu4BUo3EuBCSlip5dnj7DgtdjdzKJJ9jHvQ9khhyphenhyphenM/s1600/IMG_6063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77b2ooIPsbHwphYQegC_jnjfgygY1nvTETZisU-sQPQOnrK0v72Z3AK4sTMAKToqlo_dKEdPI4vkrphd8MxGA_95-BdMh43DQRwBPu4BUo3EuBCSlip5dnj7DgtdjdzKJJ9jHvQ9khhyphenhyphenM/s320/IMG_6063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggXngaPJzDIynwA3tXoPVOrb6q9yR0dTltmPZUDVl35cPw3ElEFc2ez3xcxNZfFlPKuFzyNkJW8J-N8o4MgAVLfChCklhyrAev4XOWo5-rhenBuExnwYgXeExa9EQtd_0N_RIInkCSeSP/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggXngaPJzDIynwA3tXoPVOrb6q9yR0dTltmPZUDVl35cPw3ElEFc2ez3xcxNZfFlPKuFzyNkJW8J-N8o4MgAVLfChCklhyrAev4XOWo5-rhenBuExnwYgXeExa9EQtd_0N_RIInkCSeSP/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnay58tTq7GYxa5IuK_rKR83H4-Z5pGflCTurVljdAXzzVHP-eN7ku9KgeB2yyOAv9vc7QeTGnJrLv5ssHT12bU2ARu_0JzPGDs_UrCRVh048rPIFlWwPiLK7dUkYL8VGZTpntNfvgQ-M/s1600/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnay58tTq7GYxa5IuK_rKR83H4-Z5pGflCTurVljdAXzzVHP-eN7ku9KgeB2yyOAv9vc7QeTGnJrLv5ssHT12bU2ARu_0JzPGDs_UrCRVh048rPIFlWwPiLK7dUkYL8VGZTpntNfvgQ-M/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found a few sticks....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO15G2x1h-O58y8smOlk8NZ_prSSzjxJ1bUogrQ4RMOylix1mM1JGLjZe3py6na_XuRTz907LsHkpw6x5qIP7m3_HeKLu7lCJ5aPromGtCYIt5hVBk2zAztn8MjDvR4y-hkuTfB1wlNKPZ/s1600/IMG_6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO15G2x1h-O58y8smOlk8NZ_prSSzjxJ1bUogrQ4RMOylix1mM1JGLjZe3py6na_XuRTz907LsHkpw6x5qIP7m3_HeKLu7lCJ5aPromGtCYIt5hVBk2zAztn8MjDvR4y-hkuTfB1wlNKPZ/s320/IMG_6068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls and Brian looking at animal tracks</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxuoG3CUEYU_PxoTt6-waXRvbjDao_oF0wGu6GKGdjiETNglx3Emr9Gb0mKkJYdx-vhiM25K1GD0hMzHm5Eo5Kv3ZW_EwIQxeMH8VV4GsAFJV44Fl_kNBsRelekrX-bHnTWPDl7w0Nt4M/s1600/IMG_6073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxuoG3CUEYU_PxoTt6-waXRvbjDao_oF0wGu6GKGdjiETNglx3Emr9Gb0mKkJYdx-vhiM25K1GD0hMzHm5Eo5Kv3ZW_EwIQxeMH8VV4GsAFJV44Fl_kNBsRelekrX-bHnTWPDl7w0Nt4M/s320/IMG_6073.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Skylar saved a piece of dried mud :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LY6xMq583FzQvriepunhFDvbh4cD47SK3IC3d6erBiil0nYBc-DBpXBXIqnx_Iyfw2qmbNgQZjmXK0rj03Y2UCNztOrfeXxqBwQPv7XEoe5nBd_1raA-i47m2ATvbxM9n-9HPVXGfhBH/s1600/IMG_6074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LY6xMq583FzQvriepunhFDvbh4cD47SK3IC3d6erBiil0nYBc-DBpXBXIqnx_Iyfw2qmbNgQZjmXK0rj03Y2UCNztOrfeXxqBwQPv7XEoe5nBd_1raA-i47m2ATvbxM9n-9HPVXGfhBH/s320/IMG_6074.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKs90NhWwW5y_R7kY9re2TAaOGfS_PeLSYdJypbGYOSKriyHfNCzVMQXw2y2CvxR-AKSZ0689T5QY9P_D2t4ljn9z9Kcvvhd0iGItbqWIltohN0jdgY_Q28FXXA-yPukgN49Cd789N8iZ/s1600/IMG_6077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKs90NhWwW5y_R7kY9re2TAaOGfS_PeLSYdJypbGYOSKriyHfNCzVMQXw2y2CvxR-AKSZ0689T5QY9P_D2t4ljn9z9Kcvvhd0iGItbqWIltohN0jdgY_Q28FXXA-yPukgN49Cd789N8iZ/s320/IMG_6077.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, the sticks turned into baseball bats...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k0eFBLzzOHjqX9iAlpzbZhcehGwrgpO2OhERdQ2oQcHug0bRwZLxWPvC0QFZSP7uUrqKuIOJKXXhGoJmBrfBeSoyk71q1nISYMB95kklqErUSQJPir74GkpvhNOG6G8mEpkJKrNetZqq/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k0eFBLzzOHjqX9iAlpzbZhcehGwrgpO2OhERdQ2oQcHug0bRwZLxWPvC0QFZSP7uUrqKuIOJKXXhGoJmBrfBeSoyk71q1nISYMB95kklqErUSQJPir74GkpvhNOG6G8mEpkJKrNetZqq/s320/IMG_6078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxBPtzfXGBQXGn_rz1SYkuoFMLQwAi4VfxBwwT3IjIIRUUWXEbDGrIphSd-2Hodq0mvjS1nqoDHV2r565dLvGaLkqrqhB4hbgO4JDSqIfVWAHYZG1nhVYRd9Ou5wCyy66sRpbWn5qd1oN/s1600/IMG_6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxBPtzfXGBQXGn_rz1SYkuoFMLQwAi4VfxBwwT3IjIIRUUWXEbDGrIphSd-2Hodq0mvjS1nqoDHV2r565dLvGaLkqrqhB4hbgO4JDSqIfVWAHYZG1nhVYRd9Ou5wCyy66sRpbWn5qd1oN/s320/IMG_6087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That little tiny person is Skylar</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv3400t1JFPgz2YsRX9dKoviU2pooJwR-Gat3Tntxd0Kiifm83JiHpo24CbikWyBJb_cfGZQ_Kd0vQI0vRMQoIIooGtDNoz-Gk2R0htMH9tTuuirLXpm0F883ns-4WtNVrDlqwcsFzif3/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv3400t1JFPgz2YsRX9dKoviU2pooJwR-Gat3Tntxd0Kiifm83JiHpo24CbikWyBJb_cfGZQ_Kd0vQI0vRMQoIIooGtDNoz-Gk2R0htMH9tTuuirLXpm0F883ns-4WtNVrDlqwcsFzif3/s320/IMG_6092.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This girl...sometimes it feels like she's turning 15 instead of 9.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebCZ5e6JKVcxjvmuqyfcTU_NfM-ZgWGeGWpr_TZ0OO-l744nGKaTtHiX5H6YM7OoCZNE7WFcRhAlj92DYT9V2JfkcV5gSq2If_UaUiv9hmTBqQ9gLeJkSVn_4jlLA-FDZUkn5PzEpW__X/s1600/IMG_6096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebCZ5e6JKVcxjvmuqyfcTU_NfM-ZgWGeGWpr_TZ0OO-l744nGKaTtHiX5H6YM7OoCZNE7WFcRhAlj92DYT9V2JfkcV5gSq2If_UaUiv9hmTBqQ9gLeJkSVn_4jlLA-FDZUkn5PzEpW__X/s320/IMG_6096.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCeghqllairn8RrIc9ZSO04imjk071vbWqHFCOZ4WO7ls-u6hE3VUWHJoenZJWr3PGyFSJJ1M7FFF6plaHhW4Xl5o_iO1a3oC0vGOqjS6p9ScVp5AVNM96SbdjoZYhk2hGibzIXisdN2x/s1600/IMG_6071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCeghqllairn8RrIc9ZSO04imjk071vbWqHFCOZ4WO7ls-u6hE3VUWHJoenZJWr3PGyFSJJ1M7FFF6plaHhW4Xl5o_iO1a3oC0vGOqjS6p9ScVp5AVNM96SbdjoZYhk2hGibzIXisdN2x/s320/IMG_6071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few of the tracks we found....we guessed they were coyote prints</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdlWMtTcCJG1RacUHwUSUoLPUQG3qo71Bi19hdoznGRRq0gLAuL00rgEaI0SK3PmbjJOg41VqbxE881vqH2ZXx6OPN6U8NORT7sIOpte1s4Ciwbkm5stlDIta4roVUpFbB_Mf7Epvx9r8/s1600/IMG_6082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdlWMtTcCJG1RacUHwUSUoLPUQG3qo71Bi19hdoznGRRq0gLAuL00rgEaI0SK3PmbjJOg41VqbxE881vqH2ZXx6OPN6U8NORT7sIOpte1s4Ciwbkm5stlDIta4roVUpFbB_Mf7Epvx9r8/s320/IMG_6082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These look much more like mountain lion prints...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhqDvjMdL7-8oNO3frhduBtf2AHiHaLZmxqb9sYJE0mcyEWMbTVvmpHaby469Rpn9zwpjIC0bCkf4LCOIkHTogmkAeBiyx5QzB2ED_iFyW1hyiIKxCGDW4hZuggnzfT2g9oIqO3OVeFf1/s1600/IMG_6084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhqDvjMdL7-8oNO3frhduBtf2AHiHaLZmxqb9sYJE0mcyEWMbTVvmpHaby469Rpn9zwpjIC0bCkf4LCOIkHTogmkAeBiyx5QzB2ED_iFyW1hyiIKxCGDW4hZuggnzfT2g9oIqO3OVeFf1/s320/IMG_6084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8SrU570WVHoV3CDpODmfG3RqrYhSHHndavtcI7grjfv_J4Ti1BEEQ7TaaiRaji9IGAfvfNfb8zJmIuUJY2KfL9dI_hO2C-mktYnB6CYtypaTJm90TakzaeNHSAfLBKmvIgwWNsx6PTKh/s1600/IMG_6085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8SrU570WVHoV3CDpODmfG3RqrYhSHHndavtcI7grjfv_J4Ti1BEEQ7TaaiRaji9IGAfvfNfb8zJmIuUJY2KfL9dI_hO2C-mktYnB6CYtypaTJm90TakzaeNHSAfLBKmvIgwWNsx6PTKh/s320/IMG_6085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reagan's favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAKyAC05fvi83473zfXAeDUNbkl2dhQ5QXZanLRBHSsuETSEknQt7ez6rdENu4DQb049SQmQOHfFoZuIlPTXBIsbc4J0nI1S3HK83KD4n7YcAXf8MRDsB3wHICSoC2UU1HxCXPZPJ-1OD/s1600/IMG_6055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAKyAC05fvi83473zfXAeDUNbkl2dhQ5QXZanLRBHSsuETSEknQt7ez6rdENu4DQb049SQmQOHfFoZuIlPTXBIsbc4J0nI1S3HK83KD4n7YcAXf8MRDsB3wHICSoC2UU1HxCXPZPJ-1OD/s320/IMG_6055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The loves of my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-54070923004622488092011-12-14T14:01:00.000-08:002011-12-14T14:01:37.171-08:00Tis the season!I love Christmas!<br />
The true meaning of Christmas, celebrating Christ's birth, is incredibly special to our family. We have made it a point to explain the true joy of the season to our girls, but that doesn't mean we don't take part in all the fun that Christmas has to offer. <br />
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We decorate, and put lights up. We buy a tree, and make cookies. We watch Christmas movies and snuggle by a fire in our jammies. <br />
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We talk about giving and go shopping for gifts. We listen to Christmas music. Bailey sings "Feliz Nah-me-nah." She says it's "Merry Christmas in Dora."<br />
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This time of year always puts me in a reflective mood. I think of how much the girls have changed in a year. I remember the fun times we have had as a family. <br />
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I am simply filled with joy. <br />
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The girls have odd requests this year and I'm cherishing their simplicity. Reagan asked for a 3 hole punch. Skylar wants footie jammies. Bailey wants ketchup. :) There are other things on their lists, but those are the most humorous. I am cherishing their ages. I know the time will come when their requests involve electronics that begin with 'i', but for now, they are easy. <br />
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It's hard not to be "busy" during this season. I'm trying to take moments to pause and just take it all in. We are done with school until January so now the real fun begins!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXdmvV3ur_MOKttgZ8jzyF-FMPw5dzfxMYdYadh-S6GSOmekPxWWtwexBvcr0ghkPr45yUwgmr4BF0P4GECWJCl-0xJyApnz1YNIEYSsvRqKDHFWOvUxzvPR-Sl_LjGUfVC0BVXDzMYWx/s1600/IMG_6111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXdmvV3ur_MOKttgZ8jzyF-FMPw5dzfxMYdYadh-S6GSOmekPxWWtwexBvcr0ghkPr45yUwgmr4BF0P4GECWJCl-0xJyApnz1YNIEYSsvRqKDHFWOvUxzvPR-Sl_LjGUfVC0BVXDzMYWx/s320/IMG_6111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At our city's Christmas parade</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a-HxCV6tZs0qeh37zL9KvZSkPHL3964ppIcr3u2HZzN9TMfOuaAHVWdvzrDmoICGIxw0kWSXs77DLPkzNwKrIp37pMGrDld4EQZJn0611sWeJoLMnSUIMaK6E7WBW3fbyPHOL1nprrdi/s1600/IMG_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a-HxCV6tZs0qeh37zL9KvZSkPHL3964ppIcr3u2HZzN9TMfOuaAHVWdvzrDmoICGIxw0kWSXs77DLPkzNwKrIp37pMGrDld4EQZJn0611sWeJoLMnSUIMaK6E7WBW3fbyPHOL1nprrdi/s320/IMG_6126.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making CornFlake Wreaths</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-44155094496138958882011-11-23T17:48:00.000-08:002011-11-23T17:48:38.285-08:00New BalanceNo, not the running shoes. Although admittedly, I have not run in far too long. I guess that goes hand in hand with what this post is about. <br />
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I've discovered the most challenging part of being a wife and mother is finding balance. Most days it's a struggle to keep just one of the areas of my life in balance. It's a constant readjusting. I started to feel like I was failing more than I was succeeding. <br />
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Keep a clean house, but spend time with your children.<br />
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Make healthy meals, but make them taste good.<br />
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Don't dress like you just got out of bed, but don't dress to make other men stumble. <br />
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Spend time teaching your children, but let them be kids too. <br />
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Budget wisely, but splurge on the important stuff. <br />
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Protect your kids, but let them make mistakes. <br />
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Exercise, but take time to rest. <br />
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Be stern, but be gentle. <br />
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Love others, but don't let them take advantage of you.<br />
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Have great friends, but spend time alone too. <br />
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Be helpful, but don't get overextended. <br />
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Be confident in who you are, but be willing to change. <br />
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Accept that the Lord is God and He died for you, but....hmmm. I'm glad there's no "but" to salvation. That's all that really matters. Life's pressures are mostly imposed by ourselves or others, not God. Does he want me to be a good wife and a good mother? Of course He does. He desires the best for me and my family. Does he care that I haven't cleaned behind the fridge in two years? Probably not. <br />
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Now that Brian's mom has passed, I am replaying our conversations, and cherishing them even more. When they came to visit this past January I told her that I didn't have a chance to clean as much as I wanted. She just smiled and said, "Look...you can have a clean house or you can spend time with your kids. You can't have both. Each day is a choice. Some days you will choose to clean. Some days you will sit on the floor and play with Barbies. As a grandmother, I am glad that your house isn't spotless because it means you're spending time with my granddaughters." She went on to tell me that there will come a time when your house stays too clean and you miss the mess. Then she said the kids move back in, along with the grandkids and you miss the clean. "It all evens out eventually."<br />
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Today, I'm striving for a new balance; one that doesn't leave me feeling guilty at the end; a balance that reminds me not to take things too seriously because, "It all evens out eventually."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x3b_Pwcq3MKm1AwrJoOuenMmsQjHTswwQTW8dD90jrUDXbQSkttcqz6Z2AFXK1yATH77xLeC-j_JJQ0gY6QUCrMxPURFyqynLWAuPqtYpl-1Ei0s7axa_SzSoeedGb5a6OrPdzyjdeMk/s1600/IMG_5892_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x3b_Pwcq3MKm1AwrJoOuenMmsQjHTswwQTW8dD90jrUDXbQSkttcqz6Z2AFXK1yATH77xLeC-j_JJQ0gY6QUCrMxPURFyqynLWAuPqtYpl-1Ei0s7axa_SzSoeedGb5a6OrPdzyjdeMk/s320/IMG_5892_2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4441525624666562925.post-38912136533697003242011-11-11T15:33:00.000-08:002011-11-11T15:33:52.151-08:00Victory is not easyThis week has been a roller coaster for our family. <br />
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There are major changes going on at the girls' school and we're right in the middle of it all. Brian has major things going on at work and he's at the center of it too. That should be enough, but those are the minor parts of our week. <br />
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Monday morning, Brian's mom passed away. She was diagnosed in January with uterine and lung cancer and by October, it had spread to her brain, spine, and lymph nodes. She fought it every way she could, and dealt with the awful side effects of treatments. On Monday she was healed completely. It may not have been the way that some were hoping and praying, but it's healing nonetheless. I've often heard the term that a person has "lost the battle with cancer". I've decided I don't like it. She didn't lose. Ultimately, she won. Cancer did not take her life. It took her home. She gets to be with her Jesus. When Brian was there a couple weeks ago, his mom said she was ready to go to heaven and be whole again and be with her sisters (and others that have gone before her). But victory is not always easy. <br />
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Victory is not always characterized by jumping, shouting, and rejoicing. Victory often has a downside. I'm definitely not a glass-half-empty kind of girl (that's the pessimistic one, right?). But I'm not a sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns kind of girl either. I know the reality of life is that for every winner, there is usually a loser. In a court case, there's always one side rejoicing, while the other mourns. The Lord's gain in heaven is truly our loss on earth. <br />
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I've learned that victory always means change too. Even when we were ecstatic about the girls' new school, it meant saying goodbye to old friends and learning to adapt to a new school's philosophy of learning. Likewise, we have been praying for my dad to find a wonderful job after his department was laid off almost 3 years ago. This week God answered our prayers. He has a wonderful new job! We rejoice in the victory, but the job is over 4 hours away, so it means that they will be moving. Major change from the 5 minutes it takes us to get to their house now. Victory is not always easy. <br />
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What we cling to in weeks like this is that victory is ultimately the Lord's. We are promised that throughout the Bible. In Jeremiah 29:11, it says "For I know the plans I have for YOU,' says the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope." The Lord's plan is for us to be victorious. In Revelation 17:14 it says, "These will make war with the Lamb, but He will triumph over them. All those that accompany him shall share in the victory."<br />
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This week we cling to His promises, rejoice in victory, but we grieve for our loss.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753236966364456565noreply@blogger.com3