tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995837379873102392024-03-05T00:23:03.251-05:00The 1st of MayThe 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-85872806686724067792013-05-22T11:56:00.003-04:002013-05-22T12:03:37.250-04:00Weekend to Remember...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Justin and I attended FamilyLife's <a href="http://www.familylife.com/events/featured-events/weekend-to-remember/tell-me-more/schedule" target="_blank">Weekend to Remember</a> the first weekend of May. We LOVED it and want EVERY couple we know to go to it! We were so excited to share the news, that JB and I made the following announcement at our church the Sunday after we got back (Mother's Day). Thought I'd share it with y'all too:</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sally:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is SO appropriate to share on Mother’s Day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pope Paul the Sixth once said, “Every mother is like Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does not enter the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She prepares a world she will not see.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten years ago on August 9, 2003 we had a wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful affair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planning was perfect down to the very last detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every element of the perfect wedding was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A peaceful sanctuary, beautiful music (a violinist that played Ave Maria and a very moving song from CD that was sung by a Venetian boys choir), colorful flowers, the bride dressed in white led down the aisle by her teary eyed father, the groom (in tears when his bride walks up shakily saying “You are SO beautiful.”), many family and friends as witnesses and a reception with fantastic food and entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day, I still have friends and family remark about what a wonderful wedding it was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was truly a Weekend to Remember.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">JB: In anticipation of our upcoming 10 year anniversary, Sally asked if we could attend another memorable weekend, the Weekend to Remember marriage conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made a compelling argument which appealed to my frugal side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that the conference and my willful participation is all she wanted for her birthday and Mother’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agreed to it and registered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no idea what to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed the number of people that would attend, I jokingly set the over/under at 10 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pictured us spending three days in a hotel suite with about six other people holding hands, talking about feelings and sharing things with a group of people that I didn’t know before the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sally took the over and turned out to be right when we walked into a large ballroom with about 500 people in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The speakers were funny and inspiring, I never felt uncomfortable and I didn’t have to share anything with anyone but Sally.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sally:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the conference we learned more about what the Bible shows us in God’s design for our marriage, we realized that 10 years ago we had a wedding ceremony, but not a marriage ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been together for 10 years and God has not been our primary focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the night of our wedding, and for many nights after, we certainly were not praying together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past Sunday afternoon, after several prayers together, we renewed our marriage promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ceremony was very different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in blue jeans…Justin was in shorts and tennis shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no music, no flowers, no cake...No family or friends were present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, we were surrounded by complete strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We turned to each other on May 5, 2013 and GOD was our witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We said our vows with conviction and tears and, although there were no components of a “wedding” we married each other.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">JB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave us this very nice certificate which Sally was thrilled was nice enough to be displayed in our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sally does a beautiful job decorating our home and she is VERY particular about what goes on the walls.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got home we told our children about the promise we had made to one another and we told them that adults can get it wrong, but it is never too late to fix things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told them that we loved them SO much, but we have been getting things backwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been putting them first, us second and God third.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told them that we wanted to read our vows again to them and have them sign as witnesses that we want to put God first in our home, our marriage second and them last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were proud to do so and what a blessing, at 5 and 6 years old, to hear your parents say, “We want God to be in control of our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want Daddy to lead in a way pleasing to God and Mommy to be his helper in a way that is pleasing to God.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sally:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day after the conference, I had so many thoughts and questions about the timing of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These conferences have been held for 30 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A part of me was frustrated that we didn’t go to this prior to getting married, or newly married, or one year in, or five years in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I fretted about this I clearly heard God tell me, “You weren’t ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to be lost before you can be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to know that men and women living together, especially with three children, is HARD before you can realize that you need to turn to me for HELP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The timing IS just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am your medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share me with others who are sick.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s an analogy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine you are attending a conference about the cure for a life threatening disease…you do not have the disease, and no one you know has the disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How hard would you listen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much would you pay attention?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably would think, “It won’t affect me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll keep the conference materials and these things in mind, and if by some chance I get sick with this, THEN I’ll pay attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, imagine you are in the same conference and YOU HAVE the disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have ALL the “symptoms” they are talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have seen what it has done to yourself, your spouse, your children, and you want the CURE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would be furiously taking notes and absorbing EVERYTHING that is said and if there is medicine that will save your life, you would take it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">JB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is this conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weddings happen, and they are beautiful, but days, weeks, months, or years later MARRIAGES get sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weekend we realized that our marriage had a life threatening disease and we found the medicine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to share it with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter if you have been married 1 year, or 50, your marriage can be cured through Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sally:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Moses, we will not “see the Promised Land”, we will not get to meet the generations of great-great grandbabies behind us that are affected by the legacy we leave by our marriage, but we DO know that when we get to Heaven we will be asked for an account of what WE did to prepare for those future generations, and we will want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">JB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want more information about the Weekend to Remember, just ask us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can give you a group number to sign up under that will give you a big discount. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t receive any perks or kickbacks for sharing this with you, other than knowing that we did our part to help you in your marriages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-67168366401602655142013-04-22T11:21:00.001-04:002013-04-22T14:50:51.936-04:00Our little slice of Earth...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The girls and I are headed to my parents house this weekend. Their yard should be at "peak" and I'm looking forward to the visit. My parents have taken their little slice of this Earth and made it truly beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry on the ground-everything that has life." And that is what happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Then God looked over all He had made and He saw that it was very good."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-Genesis 1:29-31</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Earth Day!</span></div>
The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-61046709692974640612013-04-19T11:30:00.001-04:002013-04-22T10:51:42.508-04:00Oh, say can you see!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My grandfather grew up in Boston and we have been up visiting in and around Boston MANY times through the years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've traveled all over America and there is NO more patriotic city. I LOVE it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday and my friends know that at our "Fourth" party we do it up right, complete with decorations, flags, head to toe red/white/blue, parades and the singing of The Star Spangled Banner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Boston is like my party, on steriods, throughout a whole city, and nearby towns. It's a beautiful thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Had to share this with y'all...Can you imagine this LIVE?! It is the first NHL game since the Boston Marathon bombings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">May we all sing out like this during our National Anthem, encourage our kids to do the same and be PROUD of this great nation that we live in!</span><br />
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-43498215471754000412013-04-08T22:28:00.002-04:002013-04-08T22:33:26.868-04:00Turn around...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Had to pass <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2013/04/turn-around/" target="_blank">this post</a> from Power of Moms along...I really needed it today.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Excerpt: Now, I find myself thinking (but not saying) those very same things when I see young, harried mothers with little ones tagging behind them. I want to say:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">“Turn. Turn around and look into the eyes of your children. Tell them something that makes them feel special. Make a memory. Slow down. Give a hug. And if you can’t ‘enjoy it while it lasts’ today, at least endure it well. They do grow up way too fast.”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21px;">Do you spend your time looking forward, back, or right in front of you?</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-56719026182353046322013-04-08T12:18:00.001-04:002013-04-08T12:21:49.446-04:00I Survived Spring Break 2013...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Forget tees that say this for teens "surviving" Panama City. Let's print up some for moms...where the words really mean something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I made it. I did it. 10 days of Spring Break. I didn't "lose it" either, not once. It's a dang miracle. (<em>At least I don't think I did. Who knows, the whole week is a blur.)</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The house is a WRECK, I know that much...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">How do you eat an elephant?...One bite at a time! I'm taking some of my own advise (That I haven't used since I became a mother of 3) and <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2011/08/schedules.html" target="_blank">setting the timer</a> every day this week! Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I have a bunch of nothings floating around in my head right now, so I'll just go for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-JB and I cleaned out our closets Easter Sunday. Random, but much needed. We got rid of two large black garbage bags full of clothes and it felt really good. In the process I found a pair of Gap overalls that somehow make it through every closet clean out. I just can't bear to part. We had so many good times...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Me: Do you think overalls will ever come back "in"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">JB: No, I'd get rid of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Me: I think I should keep them for some reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">JB: I guess they'd work for a quick Halloween costume.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Me: I could keep them to paint in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">JB: Are you planning on starting your own paint company or moving business?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Me: Maybe! -busting out laughing-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">It's conversations like these that get us through hours of closet clean-up, and 10 years of marriage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-The kids use the word "human" a LOT. This is a word that has never really been in my vocabulary and I'm surprised how many times a day I hear the word "human" in my house. It's a really interesting word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-This is for you Missy...Jay had a Fun Run fundraiser a couple weeks ago. I love the music they play and I was already dancing a little...Then, over the speakers they say "Okay parents! Let's see your best dance move!" Miss, you know my move...it just came so natural. Needless to say, I got props from the announcer. JB was one proud hubby (I know in his head he was praying they didn't play WyClef because then it would have been a full on dance off). My poor kids. I'm already breaking out my best moves for 1st grade...Who knows what will be coming in the Middle School years?! Be afraid...be VERY afraid!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-JB and I gave the front porch a face-lift yesterday. I loved this line from SGE "I think all that could change (divorce rate) if one of the requirements for getting a marriage license is that the couple must first complete some sort of home renovation project together...those are the tests of true love." I 100% agree with Melanie, JB and I have had some of our best (and worst, ie Heartwood fence with a two "man" auger) moments in the middle of a home improvement project. But ultimately, they bring us closer...working toward a common goal then standing back to admire what WE did together. There is nothing like it. Before and Afters coming soon. Y'all are going to love it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">After the face lift I feel the need to name our house. I know she's not <em>human</em>, but we are going to come up with something...</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-78322007102347742572013-03-12T12:54:00.000-04:002013-03-12T12:54:55.879-04:00A green drink recipe...<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;">Soon I will have <span style="color: #6aa84f;">MINT</span> growing out my ears! My two favorite summer beverages are Sweet Tea and these mint daiquiris...</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One 6 oz. frozen limeade<br />9 oz. rum (I'm partial to Appleton)<br />1/2 cup-ish of fresh mint<br />Blender full of ice</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mmm! Summer, get here already!</span></h3>
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-4261678810311814112013-03-11T08:37:00.000-04:002013-03-11T10:42:32.318-04:00Going Green...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This week will have a wee bit of a <span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d;">GREEN</span> theme!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Let's start out with this family picture wall that I just LOVE! Simple BRIGHT frames (I'm not sure if they are IKEA, but they have some <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=nyttja" target="_blank">similar</a>.) and a painted floor runner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So simple, but WOW!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y3gjJyeIhCRrz3kpZh80GCu1tqcktDN6goI498_ZEsoSpG1eNEbyfRbOVxvPCFXUcCL89zWeniPPgesYwnvh49J4yvU5sbmZIIwmMQkTaVm98qJPWHhCSGJWNjQpwxzonulumM00bW3Q/s1600/Green+Frame+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y3gjJyeIhCRrz3kpZh80GCu1tqcktDN6goI498_ZEsoSpG1eNEbyfRbOVxvPCFXUcCL89zWeniPPgesYwnvh49J4yvU5sbmZIIwmMQkTaVm98qJPWHhCSGJWNjQpwxzonulumM00bW3Q/s640/Green+Frame+Wall.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/makeovers/before-and-after/a-youthful-home-decorating-makeover/#page=8" target="_blank">BHG</a></td></tr>
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-11922405488404507562013-03-06T11:43:00.001-05:002013-03-06T11:56:47.504-05:00Happy.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">With end of the month deadlines and Betsy's birthday this weekend, I've been a little "blah" and haven't found my "voice". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Instead of posting nothing, thought I'd share something that made me HAPPY when I saw it this weekend!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q6OzcW6T7WmDvhipXD8q3TXOMg2lCbOvCSa2QRRPcRDc0Cyjydtbh6PMz78I_JIghOArjjOr8yX9RatEcUM5ntaNMXwZPKt3ae3E_qqIQs4YBOvO0u-NOPtm2nD7ID90I-m6kFFfVVU1/s1600/jenny-lind-bed-azure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q6OzcW6T7WmDvhipXD8q3TXOMg2lCbOvCSa2QRRPcRDc0Cyjydtbh6PMz78I_JIghOArjjOr8yX9RatEcUM5ntaNMXwZPKt3ae3E_qqIQs4YBOvO0u-NOPtm2nD7ID90I-m6kFFfVVU1/s640/jenny-lind-bed-azure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Ahh, Jenny Lind beds in <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/search.aspx?query=jenny lind" target="_blank">COLOR</a>! Makes me want to buy a lake cottage for the sole purpose of lining up three in a row!!! Swoon!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vjZiPNebCtT7Shp9ZlCtymg7t7zqcYh8mTydvRt26JaWEaWY_eYWD4_y7tsim4V4UQvK7W3-EN0e_Lu9W6VVOXTF4_71ZoC7B19EuWKAVjT2Vm8Ir1zFItdWPP297MgaAi1YVWfxbDFY/s1600/jenny-lind-bed-raspberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vjZiPNebCtT7Shp9ZlCtymg7t7zqcYh8mTydvRt26JaWEaWY_eYWD4_y7tsim4V4UQvK7W3-EN0e_Lu9W6VVOXTF4_71ZoC7B19EuWKAVjT2Vm8Ir1zFItdWPP297MgaAi1YVWfxbDFY/s200/jenny-lind-bed-raspberry.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTflh7gGaapuXIDBiCXz8D2Itu8UgEdqdMff8p_VQYR-Ofl13yAxbA5UlE6VR9A32jlbIDDvFyMRUQPrFz9prBkk7iZj51iHsPeoI9v009eIQeCkJh22td7yhyphenhyphenw4x5w0d-4McsksocgIMH/s1600/jenny-lind-bed-azure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTflh7gGaapuXIDBiCXz8D2Itu8UgEdqdMff8p_VQYR-Ofl13yAxbA5UlE6VR9A32jlbIDDvFyMRUQPrFz9prBkk7iZj51iHsPeoI9v009eIQeCkJh22td7yhyphenhyphenw4x5w0d-4McsksocgIMH/s200/jenny-lind-bed-azure.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-36010691275669840592013-02-28T11:40:00.002-05:002013-02-28T12:21:30.668-05:00A Storybook Bible.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I just saw this BB Bible video today on the Focus on the Family website (Speaking of, if you have a chance to listen to <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx" target="_blank">Luis Palau, The Power of Faith to Change Your Life broadcast</a>, DO IT. You will NOT be sorry. It has some <u>extremely</u> powerful messages.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We adore The Berenstain Bears around here and I am extremely careful about what I "feed" my children's mind, I've talked about that <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2011/07/flipper.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and "ranted" a little <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2011/09/its-sad-day-in-brown-household.html" target="_blank">here</a>. PS-My mom ended up buying us DVDs of Flipper after the show was cancelled. Yay! Thanks Amazon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I just called Family Christian to hold me a copy so I can pick it up for Betsy for her birthday tomorrow. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll let you know how we like it. (I'm confident we will!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Speaking of the Bible, tomorrow: A post on priorities and a reminder to <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/the-bible" target="_blank">tape this</a>! Watch trailer <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/the-bible/videos/the-bible-trailer?m=5125180f7e3b1#" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-46592688716791649092013-02-27T13:34:00.002-05:002013-02-27T13:56:25.519-05:00A lesson in contentment from my children...<span style="font-size: large;">For the past six summers we have vacationed at the same spot, our "summer house".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past summer, as Justin and I people-watched on the beach,...me 8 months pregnant and him still sweating from our "set-up"...we got a case of what the Berenstain Bears call the "green-eyed gimmies". What if our house was ON the beach?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What if we didn't have to LUG all of this STUFF out here? What if we didn't have to pack a lunch and plan for the whole day out here? What if we were at a beach with a lot LESS people and a lot more SPACE? (Although I do love me some people watching and where else would I have found my dream tattoo, a scripted "<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Forever Young</span></em>".) HOW are we going to do this with a 1 year old?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We said right then...Next year we are going to look for a new "summer house".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, like Mr. and Mrs. Bird in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Nest-Beginner-Books/dp/0394800516" target="_blank">The Best Nest</a>, we started shopping rates. The houses were on the beach...they were spacious...they would be much less crowded. We would pay a little more...no big deal, it's our yearly family vacation and we have room in our budget...We found the perfect one! </span><span style="font-size: large;">The kids will be SO excited! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, Justin tells Jay and I tell Betsy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">That night Justin and I have a conversation about how surprised we were the kids reactions. They were almost exactly the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"WHY are we going to a new place?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I like our old beach house better."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Do we get to ride the golf cart to the beach?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Does it have a golf cart?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Does it have a pond?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"What about the ducks and the turtles?!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I don't want to go to a new place. I want to go to the one we ALWAYS go to."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, as so often happens, our kids really spoke to us through their reactions. They didn't NEED bigger...better...closer, and neither did we.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our summer vacations with our family in our double wide "summer house" on a pond with a short golf cart ride to the big blue ocean are always the best week of our year. They wanted those fabulous summer memories together EXACTLY like they remember them from the past six years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why do we feel the need for more?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why aren't we content with what we have already?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which brings me to another point. Just because we COULD afford go to a different place doesn't mean we NEEDED to and it REALLY doesn't mean that the kids needed to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kids are SO good with contentment. Then we, almost unintentionally, teach them to want MORE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Currently, our kids talk regularly about how much they love our house and how they hope we live there forever. They talk about how when they grow up they are going to buy a house down the street and come eat with us on Sundays (fingers crossed!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-The first thing Betsy said when she heard about the Father/Daughter Dance this year was "Oh yay! I get to wear my rainbow dress again! I HOPE it still fits!" I virtually had to clasp my hand over my own mouth when the words "Oh, we will buy you a NEW dress for this year." almost busted out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-They ask for just a FEW items at Christmas and Birthdays and we give them more than they could have ever imagined getting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just because we CAN buy something or do something for our children/families/selves, doesn't mean we SHOULD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we've booked, and this year will be our 7th year at our "summer house" and we are looking at it in a whole new light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-The kids will have fun meeting new friends like they always do on the crowded beach (You are so close, it is inevitable).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-They will get to remember their Daddy working really hard to get his family to the beach and they will see some real life lessons of conflict resolution :) . Work before play!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-We will laugh, as we always do, about our incredible tent fort that we set up and take extreme pride in. This year complete with a plastic baby pool for little Lu.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-JB and I will get lots of people watching opportunities where we will have lengthy, deep, conversations about tattoos and other things like, "How cool of a person do you have to be to get the right to name your child 'Maverick'?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And instead of focusing on what we COULD have, we will focus on what we DO have. A wonderful family beach vacation where every year our family gets a little bit bigger. And we get new/old comforting memories of ducks, turtles, ice cream, golf cart rides, skee ball, the photo booth (a tight squeeze this year!), sandwiches on the beach, boogie boards, shells, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And we will be content.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11</em></span><br />
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-33678755333577489902013-02-25T13:12:00.003-05:002013-02-25T13:14:56.221-05:00It's okay.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>So if the five people that read my blog are still with me after my dirty little secret I want to tell you that JB read that post this weekend in horror and wanted me to clarify that there are not poo piles and rotten apples littered through our house on a daily basis. He wants to share that he knows I clean up after Stonie on a regular basis because he gets an extremely angry text from me as I'm cleaning it up and he wants the record to state that he throws away brown apples on a daily basis, so they aren't technically "rotten". Whatever.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So Betsy turns 5 Friday. Five is a biggie. No more cute little concentration faces when she tries to hold up the right number of fingers. It is a whole hand. It means Kindergarten. So that being said, I've been whining about her turning five a lot. I keep saying to JB, "Can you BELIEVE she is FIVE?!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I was talking to my mom the other day about it. She is turning the big 6-0 this year and she is in shock. She said she barely slept a wink a few nights ago because she was lying in bed racking her brain about WHERE the time went. She said she was thinking of 50 and what she was doing at 50, how old we were and what my brother and I were up to...then at 40, then at 30. You get the picture. She was dazed about how fuzzy it all was and how FAST it had all happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So she's lamenting about a 30+ year period and here I am saying the same thing about FIVE...over and over. It doesn't matter HOW much time is passing. Time. Is. Passing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I guess Bet has been listening to me whine because last night I was tucked in bed with her, my head on her pillow right beside hers. We had just finished reading a book. I hugged her and said, "Well, Bet. Only a few more days til you are five." She hugged me back and rubbed my back with her little hand. "You are SO sad aren't you mommy. It's going to be okay." She keeps rubbing my back and kisses me on the forehead, just like I've comforted her so many times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Oh, I want to remember this sweet moment with my 4-year-old, but I also remember feeling that EXACT same way back <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2011/09/this-moment.html" target="_blank">here</a> about my 3 year-old.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The thing about it is, I'm going to not want to let go of ANY age, but it IS going to be okay. I pray that God blesses me with MANY more milestones so that when I'm 60 I can stay up all night trying to remember them.</span><br />
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-89435574309785027882013-02-22T10:38:00.002-05:002013-02-22T12:04:14.079-05:00My DIRTY little secret.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday I was out and texted a friend that I was going to stop by to drop something off for her, "Was she home?". She responded, "My house is nasty and I'm coloring when I should be cleaning." This made me laugh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So after I popped in and chatted with her for 10 minutes or so, then I was on my way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Then I started thinking, dwelling, like I always do. I thought back and whatever "nasty" is...I didn't see it. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">If someone offered me 1 million dollars I would not be able to tell you if I smelled any weird odors, if there were crumbs on her counters, if there were dishes by her sink, if her toilets were clean, if there were toys everywhere. I'm serious. I have absolutely no idea.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I saw her. I saw her cute children. I left knowing that she listened to me, because I was on a rant when I got there. I left knowing that she was kind because she thought of me and gave me a few things for me and my kids as I left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">That got me thinking, dwelling, even more. What kind of impression do I give? If my house is clean when I have people over, do others think that it is <span style="font-size: x-large;">always</span> like that, and I'm judging them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">If someone "popped in" on me, would I be obsessing about what they don't even see? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Here is my <em>DIRTY</em> little secret...and this may or may not make you want to "pop in" on me. My house is RARELY clean. If someone "popped in" on me most days:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-crumbs are all over the floor, tables, counters</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-at LEAST 5 pairs of shoes are at the bottom of the stairs and scattered around other areas of the house where you are highly likely to trip on them (even though we have a designated shoe closet. GOSH shoes are a BATTLE around here...)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-not a SINGLE throw pillow is on the couch (because my children have a strange obsession with throwing them on the floor)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-the art table is a disaster of cut paper, glue and several rotten apples (they don't show you the rotten apples in PB catalogs) (these rotten apples may not only be at the art table, but in other very odd places around the house where only a child would lay down an apple...and they may not be found for days...)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-there is a VERY large mountain of mail on the counter</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-at LEAST 15 items are by the sink, including no less than 5 dirty baby bottles</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-EVERYTHING has tiny-children-hand-and-finger-smudges...the walls, the light switches, the windows, the mirrors, the sinks, the doorknobs, the counters...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-PILES everywhere. Clothes piles, mail piles, shoe piles, pillow piles... You get the picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-my stove top has globs of black stuff on it. (I starting cooking something the other day and smoke was coming off of it and I seriously thought it was going to catch on fire.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-a faint (or strong) smell of urine or poop because our dog is old and has at least one accident per day (or Jay has missed the toilet target...again...even though he has had 3.5 years of practice)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">-my bathrooms are as dirty as a truck stop (not a nice truck stop...the kind that you stop at when you are in the middle of nowhere, one with no posted cleaning schedule, one you leave thinking you may have contracted a disease)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">And that is JUST downstairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">You don't believe me, just ask my husband...or my college roommate...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">He teases me when I'm in the middle of a "people are coming to my house" psycho clean that, <span style="font-size: x-large;">"Wow, we REALLY need to have people over more often."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday taught me that</span> they are not seeing what I see in my own home.<span style="font-size: large;"> They are not judging me.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">When I have people over, I get crazy. If I have a 30 minute warning I can do A LOT, and it is unbelievable what BEFORE and AFTER can happen in 2 hours. (I should be on a reality TV show.) When the pressure is on I'm a bit "Martha". I FREAK. If some one popped by and saw what I mentioned above I would apologize over and over and make excuses and point out things that <span style="font-size: x-large;">they didn't even notice, </span>when I should be <span style="font-size: x-large;">listening</span>, when I should be being a <span style="font-size: x-large;">friend</span>, when I should be being "Mary". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">That's the truth, there I said it. So friends, if I go in your home and it is not up to <span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>your</u> expectations</span>. Don't worry about me judging, or even noticing. Just hand me a crayon, I'm feeling right at home.</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-48254024178527062692013-02-21T10:50:00.002-05:002013-02-21T10:50:26.788-05:00Focus App...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've shared about this app <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2012/02/focus.html" target="_blank">before</a>, but I feel compelled to share again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/" target="_blank">Focus on the Family Broadcast</a> app enriches my day SO much and these last couple weeks, the broadcasts have been SO good. I listen when I'm out driving to an inspection...or driving to pick up the kids...or doing chores around the house. They make me think. They make me better. A better wife. A better mother. I find myself jotting down SO many great quotes, notes and thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Today and tomorrow are Lysa TerKeurst of <a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/" target="_blank">Proverbs 31</a> ministries. A few months ago I participated in a small group and we read/discussed her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-More-Than-Bible-Study/dp/0310293251" target="_blank">Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl</a>. I LOVED this book. It made me laugh out loud SO many times. It was so relate-able! In her broadcast today (Handling Your Emotions) she shares an exact "explosion moment" that I shared back <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2012/09/forgiveness.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Yesterday was Ann Kiemel. She has an incredible story about the loss and pain she experienced when trying to have children. Miscarriage after miscarriage until finally God sent her children to her through the gift of adoption. I SOBBED for her and her empty nursery (I don't recommend listening to this one in your car...like I did...). I thanked God that my children came to me so easily. Her story makes me think of my own sweet Betsy and how much she talks now about wanting to be a Mommy. She LOVES babies SO much. I think of how sad it would be if she was unable to have children. It doesn't seem creepy anymore to me when I hear of a mother carrying a baby for her daughter, because if it came to that, I would do that for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Last Thursday and Friday was a Zig Ziglar segment that talked about Keeping Romance in Your Marriage. I loved his analogy about not letting the devil "get a toe in".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Last Monday was Dr. Kevin Leman. I REALLY like him. He and John Rosemond have very similar no-nonsense parenting views. One thing I took away from his recent broadcast was "If your children think they are the center of the universe, then where does that leave room for Almighty God?" Wow. Isn't that the truth!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Do you listen to these pod casts too? If so, what has been the one that has impacted you?</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-81589344628257442592013-02-20T17:09:00.002-05:002013-02-20T17:10:09.397-05:00Lil' scoot is scootin'...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">She's busy like her sister, but looks a TAD like her brother.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly4BQUG8R0sbJEKaxjfqK3kNOemtmyqgzg6aDlLRHzroJ5T-mUmQXFuCCnjbiDiBRjpw09KNT2HFf1JFcTJivzpio_gL8K6jSQiItChlRpPIwaa55xXPlnOQI2svI9IJBz4rxUzrjjpsa/s1600/Jay-knees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly4BQUG8R0sbJEKaxjfqK3kNOemtmyqgzg6aDlLRHzroJ5T-mUmQXFuCCnjbiDiBRjpw09KNT2HFf1JFcTJivzpio_gL8K6jSQiItChlRpPIwaa55xXPlnOQI2svI9IJBz4rxUzrjjpsa/s640/Jay-knees.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMziBlKFQIjIT6yfwdg__XE-O53Aw97eHaNY4bpUwWwVaoqKO54gslaAh8pY_aBQi4zaQkbEP3ovHZ1jThEpgOYfTdwXUmIpV4orcsGtgP8TedFAWKoj6ZafPyHlSF8xp8b-C4paC1t5S/s1600/Lucy+knees2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMziBlKFQIjIT6yfwdg__XE-O53Aw97eHaNY4bpUwWwVaoqKO54gslaAh8pY_aBQi4zaQkbEP3ovHZ1jThEpgOYfTdwXUmIpV4orcsGtgP8TedFAWKoj6ZafPyHlSF8xp8b-C4paC1t5S/s640/Lucy+knees2.PNG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013</td></tr>
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-12641194327742202692013-02-20T14:07:00.001-05:002013-02-20T14:08:44.379-05:00The Captain's Daughter (A Poem.)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpmeR_-dSn_ruyat16n-3QGvCUU9qfjAuWoS5cdfPClHvpGi0YZJFQg669iAzikWYHvUJBwT2d7lyUxhY4hrHw6Lwxw5E1_Ci2j3m9vhiW0rhO6aeppqeyS2GCNikc_dOdRKIKbz53pJT/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpmeR_-dSn_ruyat16n-3QGvCUU9qfjAuWoS5cdfPClHvpGi0YZJFQg669iAzikWYHvUJBwT2d7lyUxhY4hrHw6Lwxw5E1_Ci2j3m9vhiW0rhO6aeppqeyS2GCNikc_dOdRKIKbz53pJT/s640/IMG_1064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We were crowded in the cabin,<br />Not a soul would dare to sleep,<br />It was midnight on the waters,<br />And a storm was on the deep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Tis a fearful thing in winter<br />To be shattered by the blast,<br />And to hear the rattling trumpet<br />Thunder, "Cut away the mast!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So we shuddered there in silence,<br />For the stoutest held his breath,<br />While the hungry sea was roaring<br />And the breakers talked with Death.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As thus we sat in darkness,<br />Each one busy with his prayers,<br />"We are lost!" the captain shouted<br />As he staggered down the stairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But his little daughter whispered,<br />As she took his icy hand,<br />"Isn't God, upon the ocean,<br />Just the same as on the land?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then we kissed the little maiden.<br />And we spoke in better cheer,<br />And we anchored safe in harbour<br />When the morn was shining clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">James T. Fields</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(From the book: Poems Every Child Should Know)</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-55482492580466092422013-02-19T11:22:00.000-05:002013-02-19T11:38:29.278-05:00Rub 'n Buff (Take 2).<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Sidebar: After spending less than $500 <a href="http://www.the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2013/02/blog-colored-glasses.html" target="_blank">Cammie is back up and running</a>! Yay! Turns out she just wanted a little attention. <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2012/05/car-seats.html" target="_blank">200k...here we come</a>! One of my many nicknames from JB is "hotrod" and I thought I'd really done a number on her due to my "hot" foot, but the mechanic actually said that she was looking REALLY good for a car with 175k miles (Gold Star!). When I told my parents this, they were shocked and we had to explain that he meant under the hood, NOT the interior. #immessy #mythreekidsaremessy #nofoodinthecarrulesneverlast #myparentsarenotmessy (I know that hashtags don't have a point here, but I just love 'em.) </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So after figuring out that Rub 'n Buff was <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2013/02/rub-n-buff-reveal.html" target="_blank">really easy</a>, I found this HUGE mirror at a yard sale for $20 and saw BIG possibility.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQlyh_RkKoHKUquSKrTEDRftUMggMOUULRCbfN0VNlNgwCwOGxEJBqwr6S1cKekv6jxIeJ-ZkDo9l1VeuOdvOQeZGeu2G1NEVEs2JN9DTcnpIYIo_mspFOvNwjjDd_e-vwwD9lVMuquwZ/s1600/IMG_1774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQlyh_RkKoHKUquSKrTEDRftUMggMOUULRCbfN0VNlNgwCwOGxEJBqwr6S1cKekv6jxIeJ-ZkDo9l1VeuOdvOQeZGeu2G1NEVEs2JN9DTcnpIYIo_mspFOvNwjjDd_e-vwwD9lVMuquwZ/s640/IMG_1774.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before. (You can see where I have started a little bit on the left.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyifznXfh_eU1ruSE63djiUGsD4jqe1kMIc_hNRBJlPr1bRsIShDJQ8y50exEZCm0BIs71CZkcq4kB-kMWc7IApyK5wY5PAv-iSxCYdfG1e11k0yZDPtNtOe6YhB4tY17PS2hxHr2KYOG/s1600/IMG_1777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyifznXfh_eU1ruSE63djiUGsD4jqe1kMIc_hNRBJlPr1bRsIShDJQ8y50exEZCm0BIs71CZkcq4kB-kMWc7IApyK5wY5PAv-iSxCYdfG1e11k0yZDPtNtOe6YhB4tY17PS2hxHr2KYOG/s640/IMG_1777.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before. She's lookin' rough.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAMvyRlNGzMv37B2RMt4Kq3tpCQ_1_3i-wX2PVaGYudA6Qa5FhD8NOWvuikllI8NpPMBisnBefessqH7Isbbck5SN3Ook4uBTYL0tuiKM1-ODb0pkc8gazuTaJRsTb8a-oL957pq4fTv6/s1600/IMG_1784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAMvyRlNGzMv37B2RMt4Kq3tpCQ_1_3i-wX2PVaGYudA6Qa5FhD8NOWvuikllI8NpPMBisnBefessqH7Isbbck5SN3Ook4uBTYL0tuiKM1-ODb0pkc8gazuTaJRsTb8a-oL957pq4fTv6/s400/IMG_1784.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After reading reviews online I used my fingers to do the rubbin'. Proof that you can do this project a few weeks postpartum, in your bedroom floor, in a skirt, barefoot.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIycPfJc1lEBBIVE_m_YnyDIDFPUcBR0H-juQQLIbuwKh1w5QLc_YM9Xqp0lXliqt_vd3dSOZnua9K-IfBubyNlTASU6bnIrVUI0tiijrjlgqDU45avuy9n9hQMKm3vJfV6ApGPs9JMwub/s1600/IMG_1795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIycPfJc1lEBBIVE_m_YnyDIDFPUcBR0H-juQQLIbuwKh1w5QLc_YM9Xqp0lXliqt_vd3dSOZnua9K-IfBubyNlTASU6bnIrVUI0tiijrjlgqDU45avuy9n9hQMKm3vJfV6ApGPs9JMwub/s640/IMG_1795.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Side-by-Side Before and After</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP4MexXrz5ohmgwjNc00f-EPjAFwDdyXkKHb4N0whlKRtswlWt8uE5ioMT1MqshLSKa0WR4Iqw8HQBcedqbF1P7gojrs8ZurYlojs7Izetl8zEzvzC1Q1krVOeCo3CknpHd2930d1YSjF/s1600/IMG_1780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP4MexXrz5ohmgwjNc00f-EPjAFwDdyXkKHb4N0whlKRtswlWt8uE5ioMT1MqshLSKa0WR4Iqw8HQBcedqbF1P7gojrs8ZurYlojs7Izetl8zEzvzC1Q1krVOeCo3CknpHd2930d1YSjF/s640/IMG_1780.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After. What?! Is this the same mirror?!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NWNeMvDO7dV80gV3AKkftDlCFd1WLsCql7fEaA06zJ2gprSup1Wk0EvHnumf4gOsHjpdUEvfTWuwZNdvre0rZmE0Sk_X6hruuMDaNE1pq7SUjplz2hofDR4zQVo3tRPr8kg1A8CALwHW/s1600/IMG_1833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NWNeMvDO7dV80gV3AKkftDlCFd1WLsCql7fEaA06zJ2gprSup1Wk0EvHnumf4gOsHjpdUEvfTWuwZNdvre0rZmE0Sk_X6hruuMDaNE1pq7SUjplz2hofDR4zQVo3tRPr8kg1A8CALwHW/s640/IMG_1833.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The reveal. Our dresser is BIG (and rarely this clean). She's a perfect fit!</span></td></tr>
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-76300251526406908582013-02-16T14:50:00.003-05:002013-02-16T15:31:36.801-05:00Blog colored glasses (Part 2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So a tasty Valentine's dinner with these two ruffians (in "comfy" attire)...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsZAMWYKww3q6JF-rigimMfyHKanHeTOEH6dcknRapAFvPtYM0rzZCFgBlrQWe2fLkq_IKwOofR9Eub9RDIeh4eZcUEy-tvwdluap-47Aq0SoQJJGXC4m994GpkNh2XequDcLXEaUv-MU/s1600/IMG_2970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsZAMWYKww3q6JF-rigimMfyHKanHeTOEH6dcknRapAFvPtYM0rzZCFgBlrQWe2fLkq_IKwOofR9Eub9RDIeh4eZcUEy-tvwdluap-47Aq0SoQJJGXC4m994GpkNh2XequDcLXEaUv-MU/s640/IMG_2970.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and "heart" cookies that turned out like big blobs:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-eAE9m9GxWnHCR5vRui0ESmzTlC5qSe4IQJLZXUN5wsoNr7U-Rzddkv7VCDrRMaKu3g6yVwsfU9awqOo6P0TbFNrdy3bs2U8xlaldoyphIxarTkRUVOxy2P-nwO4IcKSVOXdl162N26_/s1600/IMG_2969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-eAE9m9GxWnHCR5vRui0ESmzTlC5qSe4IQJLZXUN5wsoNr7U-Rzddkv7VCDrRMaKu3g6yVwsfU9awqOo6P0TbFNrdy3bs2U8xlaldoyphIxarTkRUVOxy2P-nwO4IcKSVOXdl162N26_/s640/IMG_2969.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What was my one "blog moment" of the day? Well, let's slip these "glasses" back on...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">On our way back home Thursday, Cammie's dry-heaves turned into straight up convulsions. There was a bad wreck earlier in the day and traffic was terrible all over town. In the stop and go traffic, I really was concerned we were not going to make it home. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I told the kids, "Okay, we have GOT to pray right now. Dear God, PLEASE help us make it home safe. Please help Cammie make it to our house without wrecking or breaking down on the side of the road. Amen."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We make it home and I hop out of the car and start gathering all of our stuff up and Jay is sitting still. Head down. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"Jay, come on, let's get out...What are you doing?" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"Mommy, we asked God to help us home and He did. <span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>I'm thanking Him</em></span>."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Wow. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">ROCK</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> my world little man.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That got me thinking...how often I fall short here. I'll start my morning in prayer for God to help me make it through the day. I'll pray throughout the day for pretty much every one of the Fruits of the Spirit in no particular order, but a LOT of love, patience and the biggie SELF CONTROL...but when, by His help, He comes through for me and I make it through the day without physically, mentally or verbally harming anyone...<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do I remember to THANK him?</span></em></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></em></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo3mxnGoc74Xy7kWTHnYu-hH2SG-ClqzOeeQJ5rKTvHomrhoAn9-b77847uf3LLbO6XC-utr-ZU7IDrnAIIgsbDQqz1k5sDW7oGndBK2QgK2sK0cCjHzwUaDrFTNo9QGZjsPM7nid8Fs-/s1600/What+if.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNo3mxnGoc74Xy7kWTHnYu-hH2SG-ClqzOeeQJ5rKTvHomrhoAn9-b77847uf3LLbO6XC-utr-ZU7IDrnAIIgsbDQqz1k5sDW7oGndBK2QgK2sK0cCjHzwUaDrFTNo9QGZjsPM7nid8Fs-/s640/What+if.jpg" uea="true" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/114120772/what-if-you-woke-up-today-with-only-the?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=what+if+you+woke+up&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all" target="_blank">Etsy: Prints by Christine</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-53429831053657534222013-02-15T13:29:00.002-05:002013-02-15T15:35:55.354-05:00Blog colored glasses.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The danger in posting PRIOR to an event is that then you really notice that things aren't going the way that you pictured...and let's be honest...things don't EVER go as smoothly as you envision in your head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So yesterday didn' t go quite as planned. Betsy was home sick (Day 2, cold has morphed into pink eye) and she was driving me bonkers talking too much and touching EVERYTHING and EVERYONE with her infected fingers. Of course I'm thinking, "I am so glad she's at school for half a day...because if didn't have my morning "breaks" (working!) then I would be an AWFUL mother." Then I think how, "Maybe I AM an AWFUL mother just for thinking that?"...but it is true. Guilt!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Justin texts me that we got our tax refund back and we will be able to pay off his truck. YAY! LITERALLY an hour later I'm headed out with a headache and three littles in the back doing something loud and Cammie (my Camry) is doing something that resembles a dry-heave. Haven't heard back from the shop yet, but I have a feeling that it's not good. It's like she was waiting for the truck to be paid off before she died...so thoughtful of her, but we were planning on not having a payment for a couple years...This does not make us happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Get home and the kids are STARVING (they say), yet jacked up on Valentine candy...seems an oxymoron. JB gets home and he's not feeling well now too. The table is set special. He says it nicely, but states that he doesn't feel like dressing up for a dinner in his own house...kids follow suit. So that's that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My mom sent the kids an "open the card and a LOUD song plays". It is "Lollipop, Lollipop, oh la la Lollipop". Which they LOVE, but JB and I are obviously not in the mood for. At one point JB says, "Betsy, if that card opens ONE more time you are eating in your room alone." I back him up emphatically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">When the kids open their Valentine's treats I hear Betsy quietly say, "Is this ALL we get?". I ignore it because I know that if I REALLY just heard that then I would have to march her to the children's shelter and have her hand over her loot (kicking and screaming) and I just don't have the energy for it. You feeling the LOVE?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">When I am looking at my world through "blog colored glasses" I've decided that I'm pretty much picking the ONE thing during a certain day that I pulled off. My house may look like a bomb went off...my kids are eating take-out chicken wings...one sibling just slapped another...and Lucy just had a near death experience because (you fill in the blank) but dang-it we did a "Heart Attack" and it was FUN! You get the picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">But that is just it. That is our life as moms. We get through the muck of our day and at the end we can sleep a little better if we just have ONE moment that makes us feel validated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>My ONE moment from yesterday's train wreck to follow...</em></span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-30121961437779947432013-02-14T10:55:00.002-05:002013-02-14T10:55:21.178-05:00Family LOVE Month.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">**I get SO much encouragement from other mom-blogs! I'm thrilled when I get ideas from them and they work in our home. I hope that when I share ideas from our home, you feel the same way!**</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When I saw this post on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2013/01/making-valentines-day-a-family-affair/" target="_blank">Family LOVE</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> at POM I loved it! I figured that with our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.the1stofmay.blogspot.com/p/family-motto.html" target="_blank">Family Motto</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">, February should be one of our favorite months!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Since I'm on a budget (more on that later) we have gotten creative. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBq-p1jnX4R6nXT9SXKBFU2A8pxlc5St9XayQ5TUzLNLw2pH8pc_hScRiMT3s_haMstGZM0Ht3mtzdVlM2CAezQcehBYXavx_QueylWfMVpmWNUk0z84cu-zXA9t1CckHUNdbpujGZS20/s1600/IMG_2538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBq-p1jnX4R6nXT9SXKBFU2A8pxlc5St9XayQ5TUzLNLw2pH8pc_hScRiMT3s_haMstGZM0Ht3mtzdVlM2CAezQcehBYXavx_QueylWfMVpmWNUk0z84cu-zXA9t1CckHUNdbpujGZS20/s640/IMG_2538.jpg" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">With nothing more than construction paper, painters tape, Dollar Tree items (including our class Valentines...Can I just say that I LOVE the Dollar Tree?!) and $1 Whitman Samplers from Target, we have really been spreading some love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">An English Muffin and a cookie cutter: Instant "Love Muffin"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">A sharpie and a napkin: Instant lunchbox love note!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We shopped our closet today for red and "heart" items to wear. Jay picked a red collared shirt, Bet picked heart tights and Lucy had this adorable hand-me-down sweater (Thanks April!).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-WjdAJdlIJEhTWI2_3Jwx00MoB3fesRtn0iVVisOOqKU50eS0wA8Lw8L7csU6Y21Cy9EKW6gfqvNwdMoeVCoQaCJ6qUbV9RWcFp4Uet_BPr-EWFuAZuLL_BZIY5O0T3sLrHABWXfNpa/s1600/IMG_2931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-WjdAJdlIJEhTWI2_3Jwx00MoB3fesRtn0iVVisOOqKU50eS0wA8Lw8L7csU6Y21Cy9EKW6gfqvNwdMoeVCoQaCJ6qUbV9RWcFp4Uet_BPr-EWFuAZuLL_BZIY5O0T3sLrHABWXfNpa/s640/IMG_2931.jpg" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We did a <a href="http://www.71toes.com/2013/01/prep-for-love-day.html" target="_blank">Heart Attack</a> one night: Write one thing you love about everyone in the family (including Stoney and yourself).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVSI-0CJEKf8Ayk_XQYZvZo4KBlkSvLWZOPZPmlpLVCpek5AGJQ8JoH81tdwuVH7dLIWbi0muvDtlY9mAJqLYfwIotY9R_YGdDL1jIfZdl0VBUsyo4SCOzfcMKindG0yANJiqRK37Mbc2/s1600/IMG_2614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVSI-0CJEKf8Ayk_XQYZvZo4KBlkSvLWZOPZPmlpLVCpek5AGJQ8JoH81tdwuVH7dLIWbi0muvDtlY9mAJqLYfwIotY9R_YGdDL1jIfZdl0VBUsyo4SCOzfcMKindG0yANJiqRK37Mbc2/s640/IMG_2614.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCbkxopVumhoCkVdRK8sqUb9YHp506DYyg1s2BVwqANrdpDBEQzZb5Hl2DelyiVCG5i-pNhXjH2LTQJfGTk3o4P7PxkQM5w7ib0f29kdMr7AR_3ZZOkYz2MFRmx9S5CtvI__XZeR4d4Ge/s1600/IMG_2900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCbkxopVumhoCkVdRK8sqUb9YHp506DYyg1s2BVwqANrdpDBEQzZb5Hl2DelyiVCG5i-pNhXjH2LTQJfGTk3o4P7PxkQM5w7ib0f29kdMr7AR_3ZZOkYz2MFRmx9S5CtvI__XZeR4d4Ge/s640/IMG_2900.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jay's compliment to himself.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAt2XWrIAQGCs1KfVLc6l1PNU5qk4h_8p0phm1O4lp0KfHqKER6NObOvoo3bqxXF8IumevCXK3ErCxw7fAa_R1amgxOkS1SPAxqtkARqp78tvnfIIe7YWSZUsaBC0eCUIZX_OAgQyjkL69/s1600/IMG_2902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAt2XWrIAQGCs1KfVLc6l1PNU5qk4h_8p0phm1O4lp0KfHqKER6NObOvoo3bqxXF8IumevCXK3ErCxw7fAa_R1amgxOkS1SPAxqtkARqp78tvnfIIe7YWSZUsaBC0eCUIZX_OAgQyjkL69/s640/IMG_2902.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sweet message from Bet for me. This one is definitely a keeper for me to look at when we are butting heads!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Love Messages (on our wall, in the mail, to our classmates):</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A few LOVE movies (Tonight we are watching Charlotte's Web.) and LOVE books off our bookshelves (Giving Tree, Love You Forever, etc.). ...Pretty much any movie/book that makes you cry/FEEL something...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Snoopy Whitman's and suckers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">for pretty much everyone we see today. My grandpa used to always give us Snoopy Whitman's...they always make me think of him. Jay insisted that I go back and get more when I didn't have enough for all his related arts teachers and the bus driver...I did because I was SO thankful he was thinking of others. After just a month and a half of <a href="http://www.the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2013/02/be-ye-kind.html" target="_blank">"Be Kind"</a> I feel like I'm getting somewhere with him...he can be SO selfish.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Father/Daughter Date.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">LOVE verses.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hWBkBAZV4irPDyWCt-JSBmaEzLtOaXIrM67cFTObeZ9xibv6W1t515m7fWpxAfHemOfKrr1HJo6sik1yQs5eGcF0Dncabo0exfqAIDANwIicBp4Q8eLMhPQydiB-lhsNx_dJwFZabJs6/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hWBkBAZV4irPDyWCt-JSBmaEzLtOaXIrM67cFTObeZ9xibv6W1t515m7fWpxAfHemOfKrr1HJo6sik1yQs5eGcF0Dncabo0exfqAIDANwIicBp4Q8eLMhPQydiB-lhsNx_dJwFZabJs6/s640/IMG_2424.jpg" uea="true" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tonight we are going to have a special Love Feast and get all dressed up for a dinner of our favorite foods. It's a meal we have often (minus the cookies), but now that I've talked it up, it has really become special.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">JB-Bacon wrapped sirloins</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jay-<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-asparagus-with-balsamic-butter-sauce/" target="_blank">Balsalmic asparagus</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Betsy-Noodles with Parmesan Cheese and sprinkles</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mommy-Iced sugar cookies with <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2013/02/red-hot-buttercream-frosting.html" target="_blank">Red Hot icing</a> (I'm using icing from a jar.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Why stop with Valentines Day when we can keep this lovin' going on all month...school lunch dates, random acts of kindness, etc. I showed the kids <a href="http://www.lilblueboo.com/2013/02/random-acts-of-kindness-a-digital-short.html" target="_blank">this video</a> from LBB and they loved it! Thought I'd pass it on.</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-25645003152707811472013-02-13T11:32:00.000-05:002013-06-07T16:08:46.507-04:00Rub 'n Buff Reveal<span style="font-size: large;">Part 1 <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2012/09/rub-n-buff-redo-take-one.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I just realized that I gave a little <a href="http://the1stofmay.blogspot.com/2012/09/rub-n-buff-redo-take-one.html" target="_blank">Rub 'n Buff tease</a>, but never showed the finished product. (Pretty typical since I have a zillion unfinished things going on around here...but since I DID finish it, I thought I might as well share!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyKK_58FnqfTshr9Welb_WbUcI2L3E9zBrRwg8aihEPx1hUIwE8lLKaH2udQ6_VFLv-64pVcNxd_i2nEKw-wkFZaHJVrWOdp3nh3w_YFTP7AralRrIrgRrhvxpJqIYoBLRec1JEbigDi4/s1600/IMG_2891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyKK_58FnqfTshr9Welb_WbUcI2L3E9zBrRwg8aihEPx1hUIwE8lLKaH2udQ6_VFLv-64pVcNxd_i2nEKw-wkFZaHJVrWOdp3nh3w_YFTP7AralRrIrgRrhvxpJqIYoBLRec1JEbigDi4/s640/IMG_2891.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIfpjnlcBVFB-IqmKe1ZRNfCaJauFMBear_cv-FFyTFN5VN8aaJ65P1IrpnWFcTaORqg65CH93pHXEiz9XHLMfuPxeHB1faTTavnp4EGZRhYYUnMSJEx4IpZvJxRZRDtY1aqi6AuMZktz/s1600/IMG_2883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIfpjnlcBVFB-IqmKe1ZRNfCaJauFMBear_cv-FFyTFN5VN8aaJ65P1IrpnWFcTaORqg65CH93pHXEiz9XHLMfuPxeHB1faTTavnp4EGZRhYYUnMSJEx4IpZvJxRZRDtY1aqi6AuMZktz/s640/IMG_2883.jpg" uea="true" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love how she turned out. With WAY more patience than me to do it right with a zillion coats...my mom is my go-to for paint projects. She painted this with a spackle paint. The intention was for the wood to show through, but I initially picked a color way too light, so the light color is coming through the final color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had the hardest time getting the green just right (I used samples and went through three samples...three trips to HD. Ugh!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am ALL about a paint color name. My house has LOTS of color and I can go room by room and remember my paint color names. My friend <a href="http://allthingsmccarty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tara</a> will appreciate this one since she shares our LOVE for a good pickle...when I picked up "Dill Pickle" I KNEW I'd finally gotten it right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Another finished Rub 'n Buff reveal post soon! A thrifted mirror!</em></span></div>
The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-6509860275785099672013-02-12T08:20:00.000-05:002013-02-12T08:21:20.256-05:00#thirdchild<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You could buy a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vulli-Sophie-the-Giraffe-Teether/dp/B000IDSLOG" target="_blank">fancy teether</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">...OR...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">give her a cake topper from a past birthday to chew on.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-43512957947260417092013-02-11T10:14:00.000-05:002013-02-11T10:14:01.624-05:00Choose Your Own Adventure.<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I shall be telling this with a sigh, somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Your mom is coming to pick you up from school/preschool/bus-stop. You have been apart all morning and you missed her terribly. All the other kids moms have been showing up and you are so excited for YOURS to get there...You have so MUCH to tell her about your day! When you see her, she is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">A. On her phone, texting or chatting with another parent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">B. NOT on her phone, texting or chatting with other parent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">A. Your mom doesn't even meet your eyes. Doesn't she miss you like you have missed her? You are hugging her leg and trying to talk to her about your day and she is just giving you one word answers and telling you to be quiet. It makes you feel sad. You want her to just LOOK at you and you want it BAD. You start to do something REALLY loud and annoying so she will notice you. Now you are in trouble and she is scolding you. You feel MAD. You decide you will spend the afternoon trying to get her to NOTICE you, whether it gets you into trouble or not!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">B. Your mom meets your eyes and she smiles like she hasn't seen you in a MONTH. She bends down to your level with her arms WIDE open. She says "Hey! I MISSED you today!" You run into her arms and she gives you a BIG bear hug and kisses you on your cheeks. You feel so loved. You hold her hand on the way home and you tell her ALL about your day. Your afternoon continues to run smoothly because it got off to a GREAT start!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"><em>Choose to Love.</em></span><br />
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-58312006633641112272013-02-09T09:12:00.001-05:002013-02-09T09:15:17.690-05:00The Violet...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlf89swPf1pKmQnako_NzxpxhBD6oejinjc4pmn13VyqfL65RH-KevX21H_dgNdzj5iyKiKg12XsLUilmTZw5IBGKVt2WrIAFOuGDi2dYWSyi_50owAQBq3mRj9Ss4Xz2egaZmvkZ_Swj/s1600/violet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlf89swPf1pKmQnako_NzxpxhBD6oejinjc4pmn13VyqfL65RH-KevX21H_dgNdzj5iyKiKg12XsLUilmTZw5IBGKVt2WrIAFOuGDi2dYWSyi_50owAQBq3mRj9Ss4Xz2egaZmvkZ_Swj/s640/violet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy: <a href="http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/5846700/il_fullxfull.204395751.jpg" target="_blank">Sue Davis Studio</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">Down in a green and shady bed, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">A modest violet grew;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">Its stalk was bent, it hung its head</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">As if to hide from view.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">And yet it was a lovely flower,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">Its colour bright and fair;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">It might have graced a rosy bower,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;">Instead of hiding there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yet thus it was content to bloom,<br />In modest tints arrayed;<br />And there diffused a sweet perfume,<br />Within the silent shade.<br /><br />Then let me to the valley go<br />This pretty flower to see;<br />That I may also learn to grow<br />In sweet humility. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jane Taylor </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>(From the book: Poems Every Child Should Know)</i></span></div>
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The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-58391459567637412272013-02-08T08:07:00.003-05:002013-02-08T08:12:54.480-05:00Let Me Hold You Longer...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q0uXdcUAr7hjVLsRZSggDb6fqH0KqB7Ukw5OO9CNA3MZJ57UGaVWi57KTRERbidDJ2uln8Y2JzFDjmOIBKzZPQ_C8xusERmJiN0ufr6-zV21bDA8fgL8sB7BjDgg4UDq7dE2BkVre4bU/s1600/Sarah+Jane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q0uXdcUAr7hjVLsRZSggDb6fqH0KqB7Ukw5OO9CNA3MZJ57UGaVWi57KTRERbidDJ2uln8Y2JzFDjmOIBKzZPQ_C8xusERmJiN0ufr6-zV21bDA8fgL8sB7BjDgg4UDq7dE2BkVre4bU/s640/Sarah+Jane.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60391420/childrens-wall-art-print-snuggle-me-8x10?ga_search_query=boy" target="_blank">Sarah Jane Studios</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This past weekend I went to a baby shower where the host read "Let Me Hold You Longer", a sweet book about encouraging parents to savor not only their children's "firsts", but the "lasts" as well. It was incredibly moving. With Lucy I feel like I'm gripping to her "lasts" like a mad-woman; Her last feeding in the middle of the night, her last 1 diaper, her last bottle I hold (before her tiny hands pry it away from me), etc.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In my attention to Lucy, I realized a "last" for Jay had happened right under my nose. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My friend Shannon had warned me about it. Like Jay, her boys love to read and she was telling me one day months ago how strange and bittersweet it is when they start reading in their heads...another step closer to their world and yours separating. Since then I have asked him several times..."Can you read in your head?"...His reply, "No. I can't do that."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jay had early release on Wednesday. He and I LOVE these days...it is just the two of us for a few precious hours before we have to get the girls. Sweet one-on-one time with my little. Before we ate lunch together, I was finishing up some work while he did his homework and the house was SO quiet. Without all the other distractions, I noticed that I was missing a little voice coming from Jay's room.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I spun around...my eyes open wide. I burst in his room. "Are you reading in your head?!"...He replies like it is no big deal...like it has been happening for quite some time..."Yes. I can do that now."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In a house with loads of commotion a "last" happened for my first born...and, as it is so easy to do with the "lasts", I missed it.</span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199583737987310239.post-52566904534997638662013-02-07T12:26:00.002-05:002013-02-07T12:42:59.373-05:00Be Ye Kind.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">**I get SO much encouragement from other mom-blogs! I'm thrilled when I get ideas from them and they work in our home. I hope that when I share ideas from our home, you feel the same way!**</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Many of the blogs I read take a "word" or a "phrase" for the year. I love the simplicity of it, so for 2013 our "phrase" is "BE KIND". It goes along well with our "<a href="http://www.the1stofmay.blogspot.com/p/family-motto.html" target="_blank">Family Motto</a>". During Christmas I had gotten SO fed up with the "Green-eyed Gimmies" I was completely disgusted and felt like I was failing to teach my children to think of others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">As I have written before, kids just love things when you get all fancy-pants and make a big deal about them. A jacket with butterflies on it is transformed when a certain little girl is called "Our Lady of the Butterflies" when she wears it. A double-wide where we spend a week each summer is a bit more magical when called "Our Summer Home". So in the spirit of it all, I have really taken "Be Kind" and run with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I had a big "Family Meeting" about the phrase and</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju28ttKRE1XjZM2xX5ynH1kYQUN7QRltf2dXuore9_qLfYIuqTFp5LZviMliVzxiwYib4Bu0UPy1VHzJww_KQwZUWgeADp-OF9DTTxtqY_Ndf-tLGyJOL8n8EfSpNznogoWYZm0xDzXxYT/s1600/il_570xN.189311109%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju28ttKRE1XjZM2xX5ynH1kYQUN7QRltf2dXuore9_qLfYIuqTFp5LZviMliVzxiwYib4Bu0UPy1VHzJww_KQwZUWgeADp-OF9DTTxtqY_Ndf-tLGyJOL8n8EfSpNznogoWYZm0xDzXxYT/s640/il_570xN.189311109%5B1%5D.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60757696/be-kind-8x10-print?ga_search_query=be%2Bkind" target="_blank">The Wheatfield</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">...ordered this print for the living room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know the Bible says that if you tell others about kind deeds then they don't really "count", but I like to think that he gives us a little wiggle room when we are teaching children. Children are NOT born kind...they need lots of help! They need examples of what it means to be kind. They need confessions from us about times when we have not been kind and we are sorry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are ALL born so selfish and we have to <u>suppress</u> selfishness our whole lives. Sharing out loud is teaching them so much about what kind "looks like". We have had some great discussions about what kindness is. Basically something that you don't HAVE to do, and something you have not been ASKED to do, but you do because you know it would make someone feel loved.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So in the month of January we began sharing each night at supper one kind thing we did each day...<u>Outside The Home</u>. We talked about how we do our best recognize and practice kind acts within our home so we can <u>take kindness out into the world</u>! The incentive was candy (A Hershey Kiss...and now two Skittles), of course - I always find candy to be a fabulous incentive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to share with y'all how amazing this "phrase" business has been after just one month! What I love is that once I got the ball rolling, they have run with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-The second we are all at the table, after the blessing, they are SO excited to share what they have done kind that day...and hear our examples. It has really changed our whole dinner focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Betsy suggested a couple weeks in. "How about we do two things kind for a Kiss?...Sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Jay suggested that we write our kindness acts down and see if we can get to 100 and when we get to 100 we can do a fun family activity...Sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So already our goals have grown and right before my eyes my children...actually all of us...are changing our "mirrors" to "windows" and seeing the world differently.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>The 1st of Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622465929340350151noreply@blogger.com0