tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361569832024-02-07T15:34:38.981-05:00Kaps KidsThe Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-33613846383644656922015-04-14T08:32:00.001-05:002015-04-14T08:32:26.790-05:00When Mothering is Made Ugly <div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-bff5b218-b7fd-873a-1a5f-cff2ec4f048e" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">There are days when mothering is the picture of what you dreamed it would be: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Bare toes dangling above the floor, messed hair, sleepy eyes, rosy cheeks that smile at you from behind fork-fulls of pancakes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">A couch full of littles all snuggled up against you, reading stories full of adventure. Listening to their giggles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Sweet conversations about grace and forgiveness and the fresh snow all over the steam of hot cocoa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And then there are other days. Days that make you question God's judgement in making you a mother in the first place. Days that feel upside down and inside out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Days when mothers and children are made ugly by sin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It's those days that look nothing like what you dreamed it would, you see yourself ugly in <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>sin</i></span>... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">A sharp tongue when milk is spilled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">A harsh word when you've been asked the same question for the millionth time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">A defeated look on a little face as you lose control over the wet towels strewn on the bathroom floor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Suddenly, that reflection is not who you thought it would be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">You step back and your heart breaks ... <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">again</span></i> ... because in that moment you lost grace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And days when you realize your children are just as ugly in sin as you are... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Eyes flashing full of white hot anger, staring you down, screaming at you in ways that you never thought could come from an eight year old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Flights of markers and paper and pencils as you battle attitudes and heart struggles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Lies of the enemy poured out from mouths so young and innocent you never imagined they could live there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.38;">Lies that say, "I'm not good enough," "I'm not perfect," "I can't do it right," "I feel empty inside." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And you stare in amazement at the little thing of a person and wonder who they are, who this is sitting before you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Rampant thoughts of, "this isn't my child!" "we taught her better than this!" "I don't know where this is coming from," run through your mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And you whisper in desperation, "Lord, what do I do here? I'm so ... <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">lost</span></i>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And your heart breaks for your child. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And you are slapped in the face by the enemy as you realize that the spiritual battle is real. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And it's in your living room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">That sweet picture of what mothering would be like is no where to be found on these days, in these moments. You sit breathless, watching your child helplessly wrestle against an invisible foe and you wonder how you forgot that you're in the middle of a war; that the fight never stops; that when things are going right it's easy to lose sight of exactly who you are fighting against. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Then the battle breaks open in front of you and you are reminded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">These days, these are the <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>trenches</i></span><span style="color: #674ea7;">. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Where you suddenly find yourself digging your way through tunnels of mud and muck and it's hard to move. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It's hard to breathe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It's hard to see your way out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Maybe you've found yourself there today; maybe you've been living there for a few years and you're in so deep you've forgotten that there's a life outside of the trenches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">When you look around you and all you see is dirt...</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><i>inhale</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;"><i>exhale</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> and then ... look up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Even if just for a moment, look up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">When we are surrounded by the ugliness of the mud and mire and muck we forget that there is a sun, but when we look up we can catch a glimpse of the One who designed us for these moments. The One who designed us for these children, specifically. The One who shaped their little hearts to be intertwined so perfectly with ours. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">When we look up, we always receive a glimpse of His light. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And in that light you are reminded of Who you are fighting for and just Who is fighting for you. And there is beauty in that moment. Even if you're sitting in the mud. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">See, we are all broken by sin. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">We are born into sin, born with sin. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">When our moments are full of smiles and snuggles and stories it's so easy to lose the truth that we will all falter, we will all lose control at some point, we will all make a wrong choice in a moment of frustration ... or pain ... or confusion. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And our children will too. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Over</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">over</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">over</span></i> again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">These littles, they don't yet have the armor to fight their way through these battles. That's what the trenches are for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It's in the trenches that strong hearts are forged, quivering knees become sturdy, and weak hands become strong. It's in the trenches that we are able to lose ourselves and surrender to God all that is His. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">These hearts, these knees, these hands ... they are His. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And through my surrender of control, He comes alongside and covers all my gaps with </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">His grace</span></i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">This is where sin and ugliness collide with redemption's kiss and beauty is made. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Beauty from the ugliness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It is on the worst days that I feel the most defeated, the most unprepared, the most inadequate, the most lost. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">I wonder how He thought I would be able to handle this, mother this child, prepare these hearts for life and love and loss and all that is to come ... </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">But it is also on these days where I see the truth of His grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">For me. For my child. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">This is where He reminds me that I'm never enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">I will <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">never</span></i> be enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">I will never be prepared enough or have wisdom enough. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">It's on these days where I'm driven to my knees and it's there that He meets me in my mess. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">And it is in this mess, this brokenness, where I find forgiveness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">He reminds me that in Him, I have innumerable second chances. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">He reminds me that He is sufficient; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">that He will strengthen my weak knees and give me a new grip with my tired hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">That when I'm on my knees my children can more clearly see HIM. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">lean</span></i> into <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Him</span></i>. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-78317161526670160452013-01-01T08:44:00.000-06:002014-10-18T19:33:56.856-05:00An End and A Beginning<div style="text-align: center;">
Life. </div>
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It moves, swings, never stops. </div>
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A year closes and ends, another begins. </div>
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A life ends, a new one begins. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet the world, this world, it never stops spinning. </div>
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Pain comes, knocks us over, leaves us breathless and we're left to keep going.<br />
Keep moving.<br />
Keep living. </div>
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<br /></div>
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What we wouldn't give to just pause the rush of water around us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Twice this year I found myself opening myself up to incredible joy, irresistible joy.</div>
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Twice I found myself with tear stained cheeks and cuts that would fade to scars. </div>
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We open ourselves up to joy and that opens us up to <a href="http://kapskids.blogspot.com/2012/07/goodbye-sweet-baby.html">pain</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just as I felt that my hurt was healing, the cut was coming together ... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the wound was ripped open anew. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Salt and vinegar poured on my open heart. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Three times we said hello to a new baby, a new family member. </div>
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Three times we let ourselves imagine the new addition ... </div>
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the clothes, the smells, the change in our family.<br />
Three times we were chosen to say goodbye to that new baby. </div>
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I doubted after once, I doubted more after a third. </div>
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Especially losing so closely together these last times. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
07.2006 - we said goodbye to our first angel.<br />
07.30.12 - we said goodbye to our second angel. </div>
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10.28.12 - we said goodbye to our third. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life <i>swirled</i>. </div>
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All I wanted was a pause button. </div>
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But life doesn't pause, it doesn't stop. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everything moves forward and you feel like you can't catch your breath.<br />
Early mornings, late nights,<br />
clothes to be washed and folded and put away.<br />
Dishes, diapers,<br />
dirty faces to be wiped,<br />
hands to be washed,<br />
bodies to be bathed.<br />
I.can't.breathe. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yet, even as life hurts and surrounds us, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>moves</i>.<br />
He <i>breathes</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>works</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>shapes</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>molds</i>. </div>
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He <i>holds</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>heals</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>carries</i>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He <i>loves</i>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He does not break us in our pain, He shapes us. <br />
He <i>breathes</i> into us, for us.<br />
<br />
And as we seek Him, His heart, we are transformed.<br />
Our ugly is transformed to <i>beauty</i>.<br />
Our pain is transformed to <i>joy</i>.<br />
Our failures, falls, and missteps are transformed to <i>grace</i>.<br />
<br />
When all the world seems<br />
dark<br />
and lonely<br />
and hard<br />
He breathes into the holes of our life<br />
and shows us Himself. .<br />
If we let Him, He will bind our wounds and make us whole<br />
even through our pain.<br />
<br />
He is faithful.<br />
<br />
Before June 2012, I prayed for 2 years that we would be able to welcome another baby to our family.<br />
God was faithful, He answered my prayer.<br />
Since July 2012, my girls have prayed nearly daily for "mama to have another baby."<br />
God has been faithful, not once, but <i>twice</i>!<br />
Losing our babies does not mean our God is not faithful,<br />
or uncaring,<br />
or unloving,<br />
or the bringer of pain.<br />
<br />
It is quite the opposite.<br />
Because of His faithfulness, my prayers were answered three times.<br />
Because of His care, my heart was healed twice.<br />
Because if His love, I am the mother of 8, EIGHT, children!<br />
And because He is the author and perfecter of life,<br />
we excitedly await the arrival of a new baby, due in August! <br />
<br />
I have been nervous.<br />
I have worried.<br />
Three pregnancies in six months ...<br />
I think those are natural emotions.<br />
But I choose to trust.<br />
I choose to believe, knowing it could also end in pain.<br />
<br />
The joy is knowing He does not abandon.<br />
He does not forsake.<br />
His salvation rings ever true, even in pain.<br />
I was never promised a life free of pain when I came to the feet of my Savior.<br />
In fact, I was told there would be heartache and trouble but ...<br />
to <i>take heart</i>, He has overcome!<br />
<br />
So, with <i>joy</i> and <i>hope</i>, I say goodbye to 2012 and welcome 2013. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-36769184683569320422012-09-07T23:00:00.000-05:002012-09-07T23:28:02.847-05:00Man on a Mission: El Salvador<div style="text-align: center;">
We've got a man on a mission in our house.<br />
The leader of our pack is packing his bags and heading to El Salvador come October!<br />
Why? </div>
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Because God asked, “<b>Whom</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>send</b>? And who will go for us?”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">And Mike has answered, “Here am I. <b>Send</b> <b>me</b>!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">(Isaiah 6:8) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To answer the call that God has put on his heart, Mike will be heading out to </span>La Libertad, El Salvador on a short-term mission trip sponsored by Great Commission Latin America (GCLA). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">The purpose of this trip is to share the incredible good news we have in Christ in a community where the local church is involved in the development of families. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">They will be showing the love of Christ in a very real way - by serving the community physically. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Serving by building necessary buildings as well as helping the members of the community through multiple service projects. </span></div>
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While they serve physically they will also reach out spiritually. </div>
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We all hear the whisper of our Savior at one point or another in our lives and wonder about who this man is. This man who was willingly hurt and crushed and bled out for our hearts. </div>
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The people in La Libertad hear His whisper too and are hungry to see this Man and hear His message. </div>
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Their hearts yearn for spiritual growth and this trip will provide an incredible opportunity to partner and support their local church. </div>
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Mike's heart and hands and feet are ready to go! </div>
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However, in order to make it all possible, we need to develop a team of support who will join him in this effort. As they travel and work, they will most be needing your hearts in prayer for safety and success, as well as for the team and the work they will be doing within the community. </div>
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Beyond prayers we are reaching out for financial support as well, to make this trip possible.</div>
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We have been so generously blessed already with a portion of what Mike needs to be on this team and head to El Salvador, however we have some financial deadlines to meet. </div>
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We need to raise roughly $500 by next Sunday - September 15. </div>
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This means we only need 25 friends to give $20! </div>
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So what we're asking of you is to prayerfully consider what you may be willing to do or give to help further this man and His mission. </div>
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If all you can give are your prayers, we will joyfully accept them with our whole hearts! </div>
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However, if you feel lead to give financially, we will humbly accept <b><i>any</i></b> generosity poured out on us. </div>
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If you feel so lead, all you need to do is click on the donate button at the top of the page, in the upper left corner. <br />
It's quick and easy and all up to you. </div>
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Thank you, dear friends, for taking the time to read this blog and for joining with us in life, even if for just a few minutes at a time. </div>
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<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-22239788542783143122012-07-30T23:16:00.000-05:002012-10-03T12:33:14.971-05:00Goodbye, sweet baby.<div style="text-align: center;">
Only a few short hours passed after my last words here before change knocked at our door. </div>
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I answered, pain walked in. </div>
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Pain laced black and red. </div>
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Pain wrought in tears.<br />
Tears of thousands, millions of women. </div>
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Saturday writhed with the ugliness of this world. </div>
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This broken world. </div>
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When all feels broken. </div>
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But the broken was preceded with grace. </div>
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Grace in little blips on a black and white screen. </div>
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Grace in a slow, steady beat. </div>
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And when grace precedes the pain, we see the love of the Creator. </div>
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The Creator does not leave us empty in pain, </div>
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He fills us full up with grace so we can see just a glimpse of His love. </div>
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A glimpse. Just a blip. </div>
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A blip that is more full of love than I can fathom. </div>
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Still, I want to question. </div>
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I want to writhe against truth. </div>
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I want to listen to the whisper of darkness. </div>
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Darkness forged in lies. </div>
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Lies that say He isn't good, </div>
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He isn't grace, </div>
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He isn't love, </div>
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that this isn't right or just or true.<br />
And he, the prince of darkness, "he sneers at all the things that seem to have gone hideously mad in this sin-drunk world, and I gasp to say God is good. The liar defiantly scrawls his graffiti across God's glory, and I heave to enjoy God ... and Satan strangles, and I whiten knuckles to grasp real Truth and fix that beast to the floor." </div>
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When I focus the lens of my heart on the lies, I miss the whole of His truth. </div>
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It is only when I change and use God's Word as a lens that I can see truth.<br />
Without it, "the world warps."<br />
"Only the Word is the answer to rightly reading the world, because the Word has nail-scarred hands that cup our face close, wipe away the tears running down, has eyes to look deep into our brimming ache, and whisper, 'I know. I <i>know.</i>'<br />
The passion on the page is a <i>Person, </i>and the lens I wear of the Word is not abstract idea but the eyes of the God-Man who came and <i>knows</i> the pain."<br />
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So, I look for His truth.<br />
Truth that He is the Creator. </div>
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"You were in My care even before you were born." (Isaiah 44:2)</div>
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Resting forever in His care. </div>
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Truth that we were never promised a life free of pain.<br />
This life is enveloped in suffering.<br />
We yearn to mirror Christ but what when that mirror means pain?<br />
Those hands that cup our face are the same hands that faced<br />
"the abandonment of God Himself (does it get any worse than this?). "<br />
Yet, "Jesus offers <i>thanksgiving</i> for even that which will break Him<br />
and crush Him<br />
and wound Him<br />
and yield a bounty of <i><span style="color: #4c1130;">joy</span></i>."<br />
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I grapple for understanding even when my life has <i>not</i> been wrought with hardship. </div>
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I am, ultimately, blessed. </div>
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I've only glanced at pain for a moment, </div>
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it has never wrapped me whole. </div>
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Left me destitute. </div>
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And even in my briefest moments, I want to question. </div>
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How do I grasp grace? </div>
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How do I breathe in love? </div>
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Wrapped in truth. </div>
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That, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) </div>
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Even in these briefest of moments, I hear it soft,<br />
"it is <i>suffering</i> that has the realest possibility to bear down and deliver <i>grace</i>."<br />
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And when my eyes are clouded or my mind cannot comprehend </div>
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I am reminded that He speaks in the wind, and His gloriousness reaches beyond me. </div>
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"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things." (Eccl 11:5)</div>
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And He makes all beautiful.<br />
He transfigures all into beauty.<br />
"And if all the work of transfiguring the ugly into the beautiful pleases God,<br />
<i>it is a work of beauty.</i>"<br />
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When I stop to breathe in His truth, </div>
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I welcome His grace. </div>
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He catches my breath and binds my wounds.<br />
He heals my heart and fills the empty. </div>
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In the weakness of my questions, His power is made perfect. </div>
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His grace is sufficient. </div>
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His hope is everlasting. </div>
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God speaks to me through the words of another and I am blasted through, a cold wind seizing my lungs. It's hard to breathe.<br />
"He takes the empty hands and draws me close to the thrum of Love.<br />
<i><b><span style="color: #741b47;">You may suffer loss but in Me is anything ever lost, really?</span></b> </i><br />
<i>Isn't everything that belongs to Christ also yours? Loved ones lost still belong to Him - then aren't they still yours? Do I not own the cattle on a thousand hills; everything? Aren't then all provisions, in Christ also yours? </i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: #741b47;">If you haven't lost Christ, child, nothing is ever lost. </span></b></i><br />
<i>Remember, 'through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22), and in 'sharing in [My Son's] sufferings, becoming like him in his death' you come 'to know Christ and the power of his resurrection' (Philippians 3:10)." </i><br />
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"God is always good and I am always loved."<br />
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I takes lessons from her, this writer, who writes the words of the Father.<br />
She grapples for gratitude and I yearn to count my own one thousand blessings.<br />
I re-read underlined words and blink back the sting when I see what I scribbled across those pages that grip my heart:<br />
<i>26: 6.26.12: 2 tests. 4 pink lines. 1 leap of my heart. A 5th. Blessing upon blessing. </i><br />
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Can I write again? Can I add to the number?<br />
<i>44: 7.30.12: A life joined with Him. A life with no pain, no sorrow, no tears. </i><br />
<i>Hope for a glorious reunion at the barrier of eternity. </i><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Eucharisteo</b>:</span> to give thanks.<br />
"Because <i>eucharisteo</i> is how Jesus, at the Last Supper, showed us to transfigure all things - take the pain that is given, give thanks for it, and transform it into a joy that fulfills all emptiness. I have glimpsed it: <i>This, the hard </i>eucharisteo. The <i>hard </i>discipline to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty. The <i>hard </i>discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because He is all good. The <i>hard</i> discipline to number the griefs as grace..."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Quoted sections taken directly from <u>One Thousand Gifts</u> by Ann Voskamp. </span><br />
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<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-41228777645167119702012-07-28T09:31:00.004-05:002012-07-28T12:08:50.965-05:00Helloooooo Baby!<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, that's right. </div>
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We're growing another baby! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvOBHkL7mdsi2KV0aAMubLOrJqABSS1GP77O6abJ93aYPyqtJkOlfxyXQyitwy2-JtlbT_256OYGqGTKhoc1oe0UVeOTu_ehRl7OBiPQuUS3deXqHQo-q5AL4whHk8z9_MY44/s1600/Positivetests!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvOBHkL7mdsi2KV0aAMubLOrJqABSS1GP77O6abJ93aYPyqtJkOlfxyXQyitwy2-JtlbT_256OYGqGTKhoc1oe0UVeOTu_ehRl7OBiPQuUS3deXqHQo-q5AL4whHk8z9_MY44/s400/Positivetests!.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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3 positive tests - 2 on June 26, 1 on June 27.<br />
There was actually another one from June 25 but I didn't keep it! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfeiJSZRfEEiAmfwWH1ffaLhOrecqfb7tkxNiTbYelshenGUGvA-l5PiENlO_zUizZuPSIdJ3qgN4aOmB4vPNAeUpB1CGGsfLRerdy12j2toab-W3YV-_gWQkOopKZCazQwoZ/s1600/PregnancyAnnouncement02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfeiJSZRfEEiAmfwWH1ffaLhOrecqfb7tkxNiTbYelshenGUGvA-l5PiENlO_zUizZuPSIdJ3qgN4aOmB4vPNAeUpB1CGGsfLRerdy12j2toab-W3YV-_gWQkOopKZCazQwoZ/s640/PregnancyAnnouncement02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is one of our fabulously fun pictures with the beautiful Traci to help us announce our excitement to the interwebz world. </div>
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Since I haven't been blogging recently I thought it was time to catch things up a bit and we had an ultrasound yesterday that left us scratching our heads.</div>
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So, this will also be a post to update any of you lovelies that are interested on what is leaving us baffled with this new pregnancy. </div>
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Please be warned, I'm going to get nice and close and personal here.</div>
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For some of you, it may be a bit toooo personal.</div>
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So stop reading in a little bit. </div>
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Not quite yet if you don't mind charting details. </div>
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I've been charting for a while. Over a year. I didn't take my temperature daily most of that time but started about 4 months ago, or 4 months before we conceived. </div>
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So, I've gotten familiar with everything included in charting and conceiving and have read a lot and studied a lot.</div>
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My eyes have started to cross a bit while studying my chart online. </div>
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Well, looking at my chart from the time we conceived this baby, it was all very standard. Ovulation was late but I knew when it happened. All the right signs were there, the OPK's were positive and my temp rose afterward and stayed high, a sure sign that ovulation did indeed happen. </div>
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We waited 14 days to test and got positives! </div>
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So we knew pretty precisely when this baby was conceived. June 12th/13th. </div>
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That would put me at 9weeks 5days today. </div>
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A due date of March 5, 2013</div>
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Stop reading now if you don't want any more details than that! </div>
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Come back to the very end. </div>
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I'm going to share what's been going on lately and it gets pretty personal. </div>
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I'm not trying to spill all the unnecessary details to the world, but it is very hard to explain our new due date without explaining what's been going on!</div>
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So, here it goes. </div>
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July 16 I started spotting pink with occasional red streaks. That lasted about a week but didn't stop. </div>
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A few days ago it was more that just occasional spotting. </div>
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Then it turned dark pink and then some brown. </div>
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But I haven't had any cramping yet, so I've been trying not to worry and just let it go knowing full well that many women spot or even bleed during their pregnancies! </div>
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Thursday morning it was red. Bright red. It wasn't a ton but enough to concern me and there was a clot in it. Maybe dime size? Maybe pea size. There have been a couple more pea size clots since then. I have continued to bleed bright red and it's been gradually getting heavier. I wouldn't consider it "heavy", if you ladies know what I mean by that. But it certainly wasn't nothing. </div>
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I called the midwife I was hoping to see and they squeezed me in yesterday at 12:10. </div>
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The appointment was interesting, I guess. I was able to get in for an ultrasound, it just took forever because they were super busy and squeezed me in. </div>
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They gave me an internal ultrasound and according to the tech and all the measurements, there is indeed a baby and that baby DOES have a heartbeat. </div>
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Praise God! </div>
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However, that baby was only measuring 5w6d - 6 weeks today. </div>
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A full 3 WEEKS behind what we knew. </div>
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It's actually quite an odd mystery because according to those measurements it puts conception on July 1st - 4 full days AFTER we got 4 positive pregnancy tests! Which is impossible. You can't get positive tests before you actually conceive. It boggles my mind. </div>
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Especially considering that we have been charting. Everything according to my charts put ovulation at CD19 - June 12th. And we got our BFP's exactly 14 days later. </div>
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There are a couple crazy scenarios in my head but I don't know what's actually realistic. </div>
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1. We conceived twins and lost 1. </div>
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2. Maybe there are twins and my body is learning how to deal with that? </div>
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3. 2 eggs were released at different times, both fertilized, one lost. </div>
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4. We were pregnant, lost that baby and conceived almost immediately after that. </div>
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5. The ultrasound is off a bit (they have been known to be off by 2 weeks or so) and the baby just hasn't grown yet. </div>
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I am still bleeding and it's not getting much better but the tech didn't see anything to be concerned about. </div>
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When I asked if there was any reason to explain the bleeding she said that either:</div>
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1. I was 9 weeks and the baby stopped growing at 6 weeks and I was miscarrying but that wasn't the case because if that was it, the baby wouldn't still have a heartbeat. </div>
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2. My body was just readjusting to being pregnant again and it's just different this time. </div>
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She said that, in theory, because there is a heartbeat that the baby should keep growing and get bigger and the heartbeat will get stronger. </div>
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If things get worse, I'll go back in. </div>
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Also, I am waiting for the midwife to call back after seeing the ultrasound results. I haven't talked to her yet, just talked with the tech a lot. </div>
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If the ultrasound measurements and conception date are correct, that gives us a new due date of:</div>
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March 23, 2013 and puts us back at being newly pregnant, at 6 weeks along! </div>
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I am indeed, praising God that there is a heartbeat and a baby that we could see! </div>
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I have no doubt that He is the author and perfecter of life and holds it all in His hands. </div>
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I also have no doubt that this may never be explained because it may just be His miraculous and mysterious plan for us. </div>
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And I will praise Him for all of it. </div>
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I also know that should anything change or worsen, I have a tender, loving, and compassionate God who wastes nothing and makes no mistakes. </div>
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I trust Him knowing that every life has a purpose even if that life is only 6 weeks long.</div>
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Thank you to all who have been praying for us, we greatly appreciate it! </div>
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Many apologies to any that I made squirm. </div>
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</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-60573541752881831832012-04-24T16:31:00.000-05:002012-04-24T16:36:53.808-05:00A Typical Tuesday<div style="text-align: center;">
I just wanted to take a quick moment to share what we did today because I really enjoyed it and I actually felt like we accomplished more than just chores. Ha. </div>
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I mean, don't get me wrong, the chores are essential. </div>
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But sometimes I feel like it's 10 o'clock before we even finish the "before breakfast" chores and then by the time breakfast is over or the chores we skipped are then done, it's lunch time! </div>
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Where did my morning go?</div>
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Yesterday we didn't do much "real" school but we spent the entire morning on obedience. </div>
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We played a LOT of games and it left me feeling more accomplished than I have in a while. </div>
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But that's another post for another time. </div>
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This week we've been talking about Abraham and today we were emphasizing how God promised Abraham more descendants than there are stars in the sky.<br />
And Abraham believed Him.<br />
(Genesis 15:1-8 and then we read Genesis 18:1-10)</div>
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This was the project. </div>
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Very simple, but very fun. </div>
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A tent made from an index card colored with crayons and folded in half. </div>
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Then taped to a black piece of paper that you decorated with "stars". </div>
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The stars we made from cotton balls dipped in white paint. </div>
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I added the lesson in silver crayon. </div>
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Gman on the left, SuperWy on the right.</div>
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SuperWy enjoyed the paint. A lot.</div>
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Emma's! She even drew Abraham and Sarah in the tent. :) </div>
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And just for fun ... </div>
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we made the letter C with blocks. </div>
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This is George's </div>
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And Clara's </div>
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And afterwards SuperWy made a train. </div>
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Now I just need to keep this motivation every day! </div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-90952574450536080582012-01-24T16:44:00.001-06:002012-01-24T16:49:08.662-06:00Mothering Moments: "I wanta be a friends mama"<div style="text-align: center;">Those were the words thrown out by my 3 year old this morning after I somewhat harshly told him to stop jumping on me while I vacuumed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eluwhoo was busy doing dishes, Gman was busy picking up books, and Cbelle was ... hmmm, playing in her room? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wyatt was without a job and therefore, wanted to "play" with me while I finished the vacuuming. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm thrusting the dirt eater around the living room and every 5 seconds there's this 32lb stringy beast landing on my legs and clinging to my waist. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Child, off! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Is what I'm thinking. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I said a few:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Superwy, no.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Superwy, stop. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No, son. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">So then there was: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>SON! Stop jumping on me! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tears. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadness. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A boy, sucking his thumb on the stairs, cuddling his blanket. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A few minutes pass and I hear:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Mama, I wanta huuuug.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I wanta be a friends mama."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually laugh when I hear him.<br />
I responded with, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"We are friends, son."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then I'm sad. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I realize there are a couple things in what my little superman said. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The first is that our children want our friendship and they will push us to give it to them. If we give in and give them friendship without parenting, it will be to their detriment. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am not called to be my child's friend, I am called to be his mother. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A mother first, always. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So many parents now seem to think that they can be their child's best friend and focus on that relationship more than the relationship of the parent to child. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are our children's parents for a reason.<br />
God designed the family system for a reason and with a purpose. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A big part of that purpose, I believe, is to provide our children with an environment where mom and dad teach them, train them, discipline them, and disciple them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Not be their best friend. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The second thing is that I realized in that moment that my child was calling out for relationship with me.<br />
Right then. At that moment. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That calling out didn't mean that I needed to rush to him and apologize up and down and just hug him, though it's easy to think that. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Just like we cannot be friends without parenting, we cannot parent without relationship. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So what this moment meant was that I needed to go to him, hug him, apologize for being harsh, and then explain to him why he needed to stop jumping on me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed to restore the mother-child relationship. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So we did that. And then I asked him to obey, and he did. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So often, we move from one task to the next and disregard the need to repair the relationship with our children. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I could have easily finished vacuuming, moved on to dishes, and then on to blanket time without taking a moment. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I could have responded with my,<br />
<i>"We are friends, son." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">And just left it there. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But what would that have accomplished and what would I have missed and messed? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't let yourself only be a friend to your child without being their parent and don't parent your children without a healthy parent-child relationship. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Spend time building a healthy relationship with your children even when it's easier to do the opposite. You will win their heart and will be able to turn that heart right back to Christ. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What a beautiful thing! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be trying right along with you because heaven knows, I need to keep trying. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-7121144795165565602012-01-01T21:57:00.000-06:002012-01-01T21:57:21.624-06:00Eat: Pancakes here! Come and get your pancakes!<div style="text-align: center;">We love pancakes in this house.<br />
Pumpkin pancakes, chocolate pancakes, cinnamon pancakes, banana bread pancakes, oatmeal pancakes, plain pancakes ... ohhhh pancakes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So over the last two weeks we tried 2 new pancake recipes that were both huge successes and tonight I'm going to share those recipes with you! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Lucky, lucky you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First up, chocolate brownie pancakes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">If that name itself doesn't send you into a tizzy, I don't know what will. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What makes this even better?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, their clean eats! </div><div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-brownie-waffles/">original recipe</a> is actually a waffle recipe but since we don't have a waffle maker I took her recipe and made pancakes instead. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup raw cacao powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tbsp. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. real salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 cup wheat germ (I used raw wheat germ, but any kind will work)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 3/4 cups almond milk (you can also use non-fat or low-fat milk)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 ripe bananas</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 whole eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. coconut oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 tbsp. honey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Directions:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 1 – Place a flour sifter in a large mixing bowl, and place all your dry ingredients, except for the wheat germ, into the sifter and sift. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Disclaimer: I didn't sift my ingredients because I don't have a sifter. Oh, snap! </div><div style="text-align: center;">They turned out great nonetheless.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 2 – Add your wheat germ to the bowl and blend well with a whisk. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 3 – In a separate bowl, mix all your wet ingredients. I used a hand blender to blend everything into a smooth liquid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 4 – Pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients, and blend with a whisk. Don’t over mix, but do get out any clumps you see.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Step 5 – For waffles: pour a little in at a time. Use a spatula to help it spread. You don’t want to go to heavy, or you’ll end up like me with batter oozing out the sides. Less is more here. Trust me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For pancakes: same rules apply, less is more. I used a 1/4 C measuring cup to pour the batter onto the griddle. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eat and Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My children each ate 3 and asked for more and I had to cut them off! They would have eaten all 19. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">. . . </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alright, so the next morning, after your delicious brownie pancakes, you may want lighter ones.<br />
These cinnamon pancakes with cinnamon honey butter will be just right! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0qN-DKYpAqbBgPAPxsHu9F53AXlf_UO5aPd12qlo9KcJ3AX5w82p5WrIou18Knl4CJVrtjSuGzLGybi9JXnoN13ELJWdeHeChXhxXchbQWuPSkYGlQ8BJUg6XvLDVQghB3Do/s1600/CinnamonPancakes-3678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0qN-DKYpAqbBgPAPxsHu9F53AXlf_UO5aPd12qlo9KcJ3AX5w82p5WrIou18Knl4CJVrtjSuGzLGybi9JXnoN13ELJWdeHeChXhxXchbQWuPSkYGlQ8BJUg6XvLDVQghB3Do/s640/CinnamonPancakes-3678.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-AXZKTaBR7l2uBf12lYaatsodhGyRHWk5chR_oofIxBDNNsjiO1LXcGWo_JZNhbqnndSnABKbPm3T4vkYzVsGYs8d4w_AGcSgtQ8c0P_XTluylLav5MuByjRLahObuUGbAU9/s1600/CinnamonPancakes-3692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-AXZKTaBR7l2uBf12lYaatsodhGyRHWk5chR_oofIxBDNNsjiO1LXcGWo_JZNhbqnndSnABKbPm3T4vkYzVsGYs8d4w_AGcSgtQ8c0P_XTluylLav5MuByjRLahObuUGbAU9/s640/CinnamonPancakes-3692.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cinnamon Pancakes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 1/2 C Flour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3 Tb. Cinnamon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 tsp. Baking powder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. Salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 Eggs, beaten</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 tsp. Vanilla</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2/3 C Honey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 1/2 C Almond milk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/4 C Coconut oil </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Directions:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a large mixing bowl, mix the first 4 ingredients. In a medium bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients; mix well. Using a 1/4 C measuring cup, pour batter on hot, greased griddle or frying pan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Top with cinnamon honey butter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swoon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Repeat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZPeRGUhn4rNt2XceaGfHeuIzT_pSYUQDd0eRP255kLICrdx9cOw_POl5CGmOfvwo5vnJPk2muslMWG_t-yedbeEkVsdW0PYRSfZGzQJZtyn203jnmYxKUfokgwYUIJBNUcjM/s1600/CinnamonPancakes-3691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZPeRGUhn4rNt2XceaGfHeuIzT_pSYUQDd0eRP255kLICrdx9cOw_POl5CGmOfvwo5vnJPk2muslMWG_t-yedbeEkVsdW0PYRSfZGzQJZtyn203jnmYxKUfokgwYUIJBNUcjM/s640/CinnamonPancakes-3691.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cinnamon Honey Syrup:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3/4 C Honey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 C Butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. Cinnamon (you could do more. I would have liked it better with about 1tsp.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heat all ingredients until combined. Serve warm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Droooooool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF20pRKqP0kMPf92_jt8mbY4pRKC2VY5Y5ZHj2sdPipJhCS4iKFo8D2yFDwrAcOJ1vofpJoQgrNz-wV22l9sdrxgGMegBWS_1fsaJU-9IBLiGtmVpqDkjfCoz04g7qh3SI3dlp/s1600/CinnamonPancakes-3687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF20pRKqP0kMPf92_jt8mbY4pRKC2VY5Y5ZHj2sdPipJhCS4iKFo8D2yFDwrAcOJ1vofpJoQgrNz-wV22l9sdrxgGMegBWS_1fsaJU-9IBLiGtmVpqDkjfCoz04g7qh3SI3dlp/s640/CinnamonPancakes-3687.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wanted to eat all 16 of these pancakes. They were to die for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-51527490296698022442011-12-31T00:07:00.000-06:002011-12-31T00:07:41.808-06:00Eat: Cinnamon Sugar Almonds<div style="text-align: center;">I promise, I'm getting close to the end of our Christmas craft posts! </div><div style="text-align: center;">One other thing we made for Christmas gifts this year was cinnamon sugar roasted almonds. </div><div style="text-align: center;">De-lish, these are. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And easy peasy! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got the recipe <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cinnamon-roasted-almonds/">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDvn0Cy9xnVQ-ulyoDMcAvOyUMc_8t1Jxbrt47ea-u9RT4qqmE6xZkxjs3D3sl8x0wGEgLx3byaJTTVWvYKbYmq2MPnxHhWumTHSLNXYJ3TINnGvloUVo0D2oPwDbxgRq9Z8G/s1600/Almonds-3663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDvn0Cy9xnVQ-ulyoDMcAvOyUMc_8t1Jxbrt47ea-u9RT4qqmE6xZkxjs3D3sl8x0wGEgLx3byaJTTVWvYKbYmq2MPnxHhWumTHSLNXYJ3TINnGvloUVo0D2oPwDbxgRq9Z8G/s640/Almonds-3663.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We started with Emma whisking an egg and water. The recipe says egg WHITE but I wasn't reading thoroughly that day and used the entire egg. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oops.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They still tasted great! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2LcFCyL9ZstkA06F02-U-nlIzyOdtzcdAcARVlLzSzwFIuyVrkiyVLTmntZZfot6WNVXrKSKBVEH4qKYMCalq6RbnJ7gdWJYiHMVIIWGM6uxdP-QYcfVWX2gc_jSJtmdhxfr/s1600/Almonds-3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2LcFCyL9ZstkA06F02-U-nlIzyOdtzcdAcARVlLzSzwFIuyVrkiyVLTmntZZfot6WNVXrKSKBVEH4qKYMCalq6RbnJ7gdWJYiHMVIIWGM6uxdP-QYcfVWX2gc_jSJtmdhxfr/s640/Almonds-3664.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add almonds and stir to coat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mix together remaining ingredients then add to almond mixture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRFtJXNE9ohLP8nyYUSAJCtfBTIC_BF_UQQYEXQ7Yn5sG_UC2mnil8N2sRjueRIht7Aq6EZLcyArxqEdMb_r7tL57TAx3D8Q1AWicqc6qlp6T0vfHP0FPRm_msrGIKbxilYl6/s1600/Almonds-3665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRFtJXNE9ohLP8nyYUSAJCtfBTIC_BF_UQQYEXQ7Yn5sG_UC2mnil8N2sRjueRIht7Aq6EZLcyArxqEdMb_r7tL57TAx3D8Q1AWicqc6qlp6T0vfHP0FPRm_msrGIKbxilYl6/s640/Almonds-3665.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stir to thoroughly coat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTbhA-tGBDK7i497LaqZqucCkdyOZTDaUXV5kk1rOe4nUCeTq5A6obkz4dldDa-u7FUaLZ3sJzGf2Flrpfmcj-07VBFLLMDMpsCtGzQHoSEuSwfyPVwxhayXjQbaWwxw7c7yD/s1600/Almonds-3666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTbhA-tGBDK7i497LaqZqucCkdyOZTDaUXV5kk1rOe4nUCeTq5A6obkz4dldDa-u7FUaLZ3sJzGf2Flrpfmcj-07VBFLLMDMpsCtGzQHoSEuSwfyPVwxhayXjQbaWwxw7c7yD/s640/Almonds-3666.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pour almonds onto baking sheet lined with parchment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUVai5rSngUHSwbbcTghrTX7aBW915CUazHqNTY4r5D0Av9IJGgRE0td9I73G1YGEE2tk2NOiRNEMIXcvBA5s_lgjFKXjpzPQ6_u0fD8DC1KK0Qi8Bni4UE86MjSkgXyVx7RW/s1600/Almonds-3667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUVai5rSngUHSwbbcTghrTX7aBW915CUazHqNTY4r5D0Av9IJGgRE0td9I73G1YGEE2tk2NOiRNEMIXcvBA5s_lgjFKXjpzPQ6_u0fD8DC1KK0Qi8Bni4UE86MjSkgXyVx7RW/s640/Almonds-3667.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roast at 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.<br />
Yum. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe0TPpC-mC-HuTxx503jBdeWKRlw4USQNZy6R60CIFDsMKtC7TUEgC1YFNVR8QYW6kqL3z1KC9YR6etRGA0JWp84HG8_89dXJ1SfJiHY2trdONum8Sf5qkuOVOM6F9QyOb5id/s1600/Almonds-3676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe0TPpC-mC-HuTxx503jBdeWKRlw4USQNZy6R60CIFDsMKtC7TUEgC1YFNVR8QYW6kqL3z1KC9YR6etRGA0JWp84HG8_89dXJ1SfJiHY2trdONum8Sf5qkuOVOM6F9QyOb5id/s640/Almonds-3676.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Package and give away for tasty gifts or be selfish and just devour them yourself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not that I would *ever* do that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-55545373847322623432011-12-30T23:49:00.000-06:002011-12-30T23:49:11.712-06:00Christmas Crafts Galore continued ... again ...<div style="text-align: center;">Some other things that we made as gifts this year were finger paint, pumpkin spice body scrub, and brown sugar coffee body scrub. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The finger paint was really fun and easy to make and looked like pudding! </div><div style="text-align: center;">All you need to do is: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Combine: </div><div style="text-align: center;">3 Tb sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 C corn starch</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 C water</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a small saucepan. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Warm until mixture starts to thicken. (This took a lot longer than I thought it would. I started with the heat low but then moved it up to medium and whisked more frequently and that sped things up considerably. I recommend removing the mixture when it's a little thinner than you want for the paint because it thickens more as it cools.) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Cool. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Pour in containers. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Add food coloring for desired colors. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our red looks a bit too pink because we ran out of red food coloring! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGccho7oHY3L2a3DpahiGgf3hAjHgK0mcUnTkINjtVDw8mA3xTxsThDifhGTXdfcfe0jvAwJQ53bES93vDfzLaQ-i5Bfyj5MQpiHEB3qg5a2jspALS21yo2Uchbyh8lcFWxGxH/s1600/Christmas-3673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGccho7oHY3L2a3DpahiGgf3hAjHgK0mcUnTkINjtVDw8mA3xTxsThDifhGTXdfcfe0jvAwJQ53bES93vDfzLaQ-i5Bfyj5MQpiHEB3qg5a2jspALS21yo2Uchbyh8lcFWxGxH/s640/Christmas-3673.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aren't they pretty though? I love them!<br />
And they're safe to ingest so if you have little ones, like I do, that still test everything with their mouths than these are perfect for you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also made Pumpkin Spice Scrub as well as Brown Sugar Coffee Scrub. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both also super easy but awesome to have around. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Pumpkin Spice smells amazing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Brown Sugar Coffee scrub also smells amazing AND I love the oil content in this one. It feels amazing in the MN winter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_QxREs64IBNkKvIvL8KfgAwf6BBTPKeN483xmnoAHzwD4g9B4tIxd4oaaFdcRy2ri-KqsDpVy5G9CV4ojCYao5bBjcIacd7bn3toQYG2gZbgJjbPEzmx5dI1as1S7aqasvGm/s1600/Scrub-3529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_QxREs64IBNkKvIvL8KfgAwf6BBTPKeN483xmnoAHzwD4g9B4tIxd4oaaFdcRy2ri-KqsDpVy5G9CV4ojCYao5bBjcIacd7bn3toQYG2gZbgJjbPEzmx5dI1as1S7aqasvGm/s640/Scrub-3529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pumpkin Spice Scrub:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 C Brown Sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 C Granulated Sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 Tb Pumpkin Pie Spice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 C + 1 Tb Sunflower, Safflower, or Olive Oil {Almond Oil is also wonderful} </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also added a little bit of Vitamin E Oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mix all but the oil and get the lumps out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Add oil and mix. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4p9jb9XD0lj5Oqv_9uIsO2DWah7Dqt2-RLO2LRYuLt-J5jFk6XNkHMVjKuGlFEsQ9is69tRGEMWrOnlcUcSxaH1DczSYJS5UlGOp-PrnYyaX5gZxnWBdFOqVNS5LPoQJ5RvG/s1600/Scrub-3528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4p9jb9XD0lj5Oqv_9uIsO2DWah7Dqt2-RLO2LRYuLt-J5jFk6XNkHMVjKuGlFEsQ9is69tRGEMWrOnlcUcSxaH1DczSYJS5UlGOp-PrnYyaX5gZxnWBdFOqVNS5LPoQJ5RvG/s640/Scrub-3528.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Close up of the Pumpkin Spice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9UAMA9lMtn4RYlP6x_gN2uDoAWp49uZn9ZAbeUbQDuxr6Nx9EhSlz-1lagKC_-B4Bh8roAgPQI8BHs9FmVMQEoFaoQ6N2pGoSar50fMsX25pyw1VrbG9LeSiR0oNPNt3Knej/s1600/Scrub-3522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9UAMA9lMtn4RYlP6x_gN2uDoAWp49uZn9ZAbeUbQDuxr6Nx9EhSlz-1lagKC_-B4Bh8roAgPQI8BHs9FmVMQEoFaoQ6N2pGoSar50fMsX25pyw1VrbG9LeSiR0oNPNt3Knej/s640/Scrub-3522.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next one was the Brown Sugar Coffee scrub.<br />
This is a recipe that I adapted because I wanted to add the coffee. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and my coffee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gotta have it, even in my bath scrub. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The basic recipe is: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 C brown sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 olive oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 tsp vitamin E oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 tsp essential oil {I used lavender}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/4 C coffee grounds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I doubled this recipe to fill a pint size jar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71TEfmrgi4JqfUSVMm4lVwzw6mC1APMJfmgayGHH306LqOxjT851Igxc9-DPoxD0SSiEGNtZIZbO5OocIo6lhzBCXv1NGZTTx_-xs4puAEyH97mbQCuV-ZBhtNQRWNbLRSmtI/s1600/Scrub-3531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71TEfmrgi4JqfUSVMm4lVwzw6mC1APMJfmgayGHH306LqOxjT851Igxc9-DPoxD0SSiEGNtZIZbO5OocIo6lhzBCXv1NGZTTx_-xs4puAEyH97mbQCuV-ZBhtNQRWNbLRSmtI/s640/Scrub-3531.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KcXHezg8eEsfxsz0ITgO9aULiTIhl28sRxIF0Fv1KA2_gP99pVXVNEdwHnEHDicfJWynpNousfj7DdScpKfkl32HfLqtT7T2ZMe5ggeFoiATDynf90Qzedwn0WnKUADHmXdB/s1600/Scrub-3524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KcXHezg8eEsfxsz0ITgO9aULiTIhl28sRxIF0Fv1KA2_gP99pVXVNEdwHnEHDicfJWynpNousfj7DdScpKfkl32HfLqtT7T2ZMe5ggeFoiATDynf90Qzedwn0WnKUADHmXdB/s640/Scrub-3524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had great fun making these! Emma thought it was a splendid Christmas activity complete with "spectacular" Christmas music! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-71532082992615158962011-12-20T12:58:00.003-06:002011-12-20T13:46:03.035-06:00Character Counts: Self-Control<div style="text-align: center;">I'm trying to get my big bum in gear for January. </div><div style="text-align: center;">January officially starts our homeschool adventure. </div><div style="text-align: center;">January? Yes, January. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Because I'm a slacker and have 4 very small children and worked an insane amount over the summer and fall and couldn't keep my head on straight, let alone my many ducks in a row. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sounds like a bunch of silly excuses doesn't it? </div><div style="text-align: center;">I know. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It partly is. And it's partly the raw truth. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, since I've fallen off ... er, dropped? Yes, dropped or thrown or completely lost the proverbial ball and have not been keeping us in routine and definitely have not kept up with daily Bible time or character training ... </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am attempting to get those all back in swing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here.<br />
Now. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Today. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today we studied Self-Control and will continue to for the rest of the week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I get my character training tools and tips from my wonderful friend<br />
and mentor Kim D. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She gave me all her character tools many years ago and believe me when I say,<br />
they are invaluable. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So, you being able to get her book now (it wasn't available back then) is a great deal! </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find it <a href="http://espcharactertraining.weebly.com/order-online.html">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There is also a tab to order it through the mail. Or if you are a local here in our frozen (or not so frozen) tundra, just e-mail me and I can hook ya up. Boom baby! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One of our every day ways of practicing self-control is blanket time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZJHg6lVeRvjTFNSHf8Da0hRwUpNgwAZdnKONOrOianVb05LWG4REyjYmFM5wU0KKxjlU0y9kEYy5vhKBluEOqJou8DnJllRzh5HCXXoDxdHJ5hQpEURXanlPPt4xaRY1RRcp/s1600/3513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZJHg6lVeRvjTFNSHf8Da0hRwUpNgwAZdnKONOrOianVb05LWG4REyjYmFM5wU0KKxjlU0y9kEYy5vhKBluEOqJou8DnJllRzh5HCXXoDxdHJ5hQpEURXanlPPt4xaRY1RRcp/s320/3513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Self-Control:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Controlling my actions, attitudes, and words so they do not control me. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Proverbs 16:32</i></b></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>What the Bible says about self control:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Proverbs 25:28: Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>2 Peter 1:5-6: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 Thes 5:6: So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 Timothy 3:2: Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Titus 2:12: It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 Peter 5:8: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thoughts on self-control: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"As I read nearly twenty verses on self-control, I realized that self-control affects nearly every aspect of our lives. From eating to exercising, from working to entertainment, from shyness to boldness; everything is affected by our choosing to be self-controlled or self indulgence. In this world of comfort seeking and thinking we deserve the best, self-control is not honored, but God's ways are not man's ways and He highly values a man that practices self-control."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ec4qWxnl9b8B-tX9Y1VCVUTn2NkE_Jxiusdm8KI_cSKtqyiSGkWdY4YDgtrO6lJkbJE-FaZ0UAPB27_AgLfq1gihYhkufpOOgtKdhCP7sCwvOXcSjm0DUVUWHgt5a90fVXOY/s1600/3516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ec4qWxnl9b8B-tX9Y1VCVUTn2NkE_Jxiusdm8KI_cSKtqyiSGkWdY4YDgtrO6lJkbJE-FaZ0UAPB27_AgLfq1gihYhkufpOOgtKdhCP7sCwvOXcSjm0DUVUWHgt5a90fVXOY/s320/3516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>How to train your children in Self-Control:</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1) Practice sitting and not moving. Start with 15secs and slowly progress up to 5mins. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Leave the room but keep one eye looking. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Allow other children to make distractions without touching the child sitting. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We practiced this one this morning. I had all 3 older children take a turn sitting on the chair. Then the rest of us (me included) ran around, jumped, danced, sang, yelled, whispered, talked in silly voices, and crinkled wrappers. The child in the chair had to remain sitting, paying attention to only the picture on the wall and not engaging with the others.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2) Throughout the day have the child stop (freeze) and do it immediately. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- May reward them at first and then just expect them to obey. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Goal is to stop without one more stop or them looking for reason. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When we do this we make it fun and I let them run around and be super silly and then they need to listen for my voice very, very carefully. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3) Eat in front of children, don't always have to let them eat what you're eating. Say no. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4) Teach them to not ask for things that seem "normal": food at a friend's house, stickers at the Dr. office, sucker at the bank, treat from anyone, etc. Teach them that they may accept when it is offered but they are not allowed to EXPECT them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Role play what is and isn't ok. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5) Do not allow them to run in church, in parking lots, or in stores. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- When you pull into mentioned places remind the children why they are not to run. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6) Do not scream. Only for danger. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">7) Do not yell in anger. A quiet voice is a sign of emotions under control. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- When child fails have them redo it correctly with self-control. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">8) Explain that some attitudes to control are: fussing (pouting), jealousy, sadness, pain, screaming, running, biting, and pinching. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Talk through scenarios and how they should act and how they can control themselves. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Teach them what TO DO, not just what not to do. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">9) When a child lacks self-control, think what does he/she hope to gain and make sure you do not give it to them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">10) Be sure your own emotions and actions are in control when training and correcting children. Be quick to apologize and seek forgiveness when you blow it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">11) Never change your mind if a child fusses. Tell them, "I may have reconsidered but now I can't because you fussed." OR "Because you received my 'No' with joy, I have the freedom to change my mind." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We also make it really easy and tell them flat out: "You do not get what you fuss for."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It makes it simple and easy.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">12) Practice church, wedding, and funerals. Discuss what will be allowed and what won't. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tell them how to get your attention and why. Explain that we do not want to be a distraction to others and that talking, climbing, swinging legs, etc is pulling others attention away. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Make a special way/sign for them to get your attention when in these situations and practice.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">13) Fussing sounds sour. Use a small squirt of apple cider vinegar to illustrate that they sound sour and tell them you want them to sound sweet like honey. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">14) Teach them to change their thinking, to fill their thoughts with something good. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">15) When teaching very little children "no touch" or "no throw" apply a swift sting to the hand to associate the word "no" with pain and something to stay away from. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">16) Praise, praise, praise, and praise some more when they do show self-control.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">17) Prepare child for time when "everyone" else is doing something they shouldn't do. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ie: jumping on bed, running in church, eating treats, throwing rocks, watching certain movies. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">18) Talk about the Bible verses and how a person without self-control, (namely can control their anger) is better than the mighty! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone wants to be mighty in some way; relate to your children and how they want to be mighty and that self-control is more valuable to God then that mightyness. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A mighty football player, a mighty soldier, a mighty pirate, a mighty dinosaur, a mighty princess, a mighty dancer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJIQDc29hFWhiyr4royVl_3tWbFmwUg1IwwBqYJLiVupbBHPzItVWI7GAEwegF47gQ7vLNlnI90oJTXPJJjK6VJpqXmv_ALyom9cP-vtr-KZOt3nF0Ldc6hiAP5eSowphQty2/s1600/3517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJIQDc29hFWhiyr4royVl_3tWbFmwUg1IwwBqYJLiVupbBHPzItVWI7GAEwegF47gQ7vLNlnI90oJTXPJJjK6VJpqXmv_ALyom9cP-vtr-KZOt3nF0Ldc6hiAP5eSowphQty2/s320/3517.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-57779130085848373732011-12-19T22:43:00.000-06:002011-12-19T22:43:32.187-06:00Manic Monday: Christmas Crafts Continued!<div style="text-align: center;">Alright, on to craft number two: salt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Salt? You say.<br />
Yes, salt. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Seasoned salt and Italian Herb Salt.<br />
Ohhhh the deliciousness. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You can taste it can't you? </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's glorious! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnD3uWi4S29wCVEh50poNbNivFc3-FwNtwvxkzi5SaP4G-2ys-D1f_JMt72aXRuKsere2pCyuLmRdcz1ps1aH_H001iqIezVQCjZi679frGdnOJpwEZX9zC0FLesozyNxaRfb/s1600/3487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnD3uWi4S29wCVEh50poNbNivFc3-FwNtwvxkzi5SaP4G-2ys-D1f_JMt72aXRuKsere2pCyuLmRdcz1ps1aH_H001iqIezVQCjZi679frGdnOJpwEZX9zC0FLesozyNxaRfb/s320/3487.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Seasoned Salt. The original recipe I found <a href="http://eatathomecooks.com/2011/11/more-no-bake-no-cook-no-time-gifts-homemade-seasoned-salt-and-italian-herb-salt.html">here</a>. It contains both salt recipes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Superbly easy and definitely tasty with no added fillers or gunk. At least, depending on where you get your spices! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Seasoned Salt:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup Kosher salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 Tbs. fresh ground pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. paprika</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. garlic powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. onion powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. ground red pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Instructions:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stir all ingredients together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Makes a 1/2 pint jar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Exhausting and labor intensive right? Right. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSsbiW3ddo5zmirFnY8NrfFoJAu8gnrNEIVctW3cT5pxj2MJuziQTC864hpwJSUcHH6CXJK4PphjR_aS21e5s1xnz8PRsxDtQiRyA6qZzYE5w5U_Cg34Z-7IqD6IXet2cqDIZ/s1600/3489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSsbiW3ddo5zmirFnY8NrfFoJAu8gnrNEIVctW3cT5pxj2MJuziQTC864hpwJSUcHH6CXJK4PphjR_aS21e5s1xnz8PRsxDtQiRyA6qZzYE5w5U_Cg34Z-7IqD6IXet2cqDIZ/s320/3489.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isn't it pretty?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up, Italian Herb Salt. This one, oh, it smells divine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXM26YcntCQJHyJBPMGeq8IpY_5YLkNd-s5JEdq5u-Lc1dNtY7QgWf8teGm1QUGD4Y4u8f_vgSrgoKWMWWf27qHOJEXyqHs3wGzFRWAffzdOvZmcoZmiPu3QWSQV9OQM8ar1-/s1600/3483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXM26YcntCQJHyJBPMGeq8IpY_5YLkNd-s5JEdq5u-Lc1dNtY7QgWf8teGm1QUGD4Y4u8f_vgSrgoKWMWWf27qHOJEXyqHs3wGzFRWAffzdOvZmcoZmiPu3QWSQV9OQM8ar1-/s320/3483.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Italian Herb Salt:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup Kosher salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Tbs. oregano</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Tbs. basil</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Tbs. thyme</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 Tbs. crushed red pepper flakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 Tbs. fresh ground black pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Instructions: </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stir all ingredients together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Makes 2 jars, 1/2 pint each.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Again, so labor intensive. How we will fit this into our day? </div><div style="text-align: center;">This, this is the kind of recipe I love. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ingredients I <i>always</i> have on hand and 2 steps. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bada boom, bada bing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m9PKJYc-aHhsySAfo5fGnsSPuOyk0BTgjz0vJ7np51Ai1M2-ay45ktbV4khmRxlhAlpwz-czqqt_xIOc4jwopMScKPdewK6CzvXisCC_lYSKTakDVC26vHT5G8rYjvjYGOrV/s1600/3485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m9PKJYc-aHhsySAfo5fGnsSPuOyk0BTgjz0vJ7np51Ai1M2-ay45ktbV4khmRxlhAlpwz-czqqt_xIOc4jwopMScKPdewK6CzvXisCC_lYSKTakDVC26vHT5G8rYjvjYGOrV/s320/3485.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To take this to the next step, I added personalized labels to the top. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Secured with my handy homemade modge podge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMlEroDEZrh5s59yIP9S2SuQahpOXbfEu-4yYb5acNiRS_6w7cTZGuBM28Y0JzqLgzI5TUXJIZPaqmis8-OyzFs9BbS6i8r5lmg_aeOsxvgQ7qbMca-zLztZo5KEDC6o085dM/s1600/3506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMlEroDEZrh5s59yIP9S2SuQahpOXbfEu-4yYb5acNiRS_6w7cTZGuBM28Y0JzqLgzI5TUXJIZPaqmis8-OyzFs9BbS6i8r5lmg_aeOsxvgQ7qbMca-zLztZo5KEDC6o085dM/s320/3506.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got the labels free from a free printable website! Score. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWABLK9LYpfCSdPZMQHpfb7zj6hzVDfPR-ypwPYLilnNuC6LfIDoDBaaDFNxmYzNLtKr9QzJ5QYeI107z1yzyuDLsf8vM1KD_XuKn03bk50t-Q4LjPuBYlcV55HHa6DGKjXRfP/s1600/3510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWABLK9LYpfCSdPZMQHpfb7zj6hzVDfPR-ypwPYLilnNuC6LfIDoDBaaDFNxmYzNLtKr9QzJ5QYeI107z1yzyuDLsf8vM1KD_XuKn03bk50t-Q4LjPuBYlcV55HHa6DGKjXRfP/s320/3510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These will be modge podged onto the body of the jars themselves to label each salt. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Also a score from aforementioned website. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will be sad to give these ones away because they are oh, so tasty! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-34525373883530636442011-12-19T17:27:00.000-06:002011-12-19T17:27:56.757-06:00Manic Monday: Christmas Crafts Galore!<div style="text-align: center;">I have far too many blog posts in my head and far too little time to get them all out! So today's blog posts will just be about crafts I've taken on for this Christmas season.<br />
Most of them Pinterest inspired, of course, because I am thoroughly addicted to Pinterest. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Craft One: Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix & cookies</div><div style="text-align: center;">We made these for our neighbors and plan to bring them over tonight along with homemade tags. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHV0VgbMIj8RNB_ab0a0v6TVH0o0ZRQkHf6-SZtDHvEfniEvEXpTuN_jw2JwEj0i0enIzzFMrRGL2ckSpcCxTtu-TxcN2WVDWdnrW4jeRsxfOE0l8E6t5f3JP6baDMqjcE0f4/s1600/3480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHV0VgbMIj8RNB_ab0a0v6TVH0o0ZRQkHf6-SZtDHvEfniEvEXpTuN_jw2JwEj0i0enIzzFMrRGL2ckSpcCxTtu-TxcN2WVDWdnrW4jeRsxfOE0l8E6t5f3JP6baDMqjcE0f4/s320/3480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bags of cocoa and cookies ready to go! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuohy3GsfCQVaTKWN2lJzGB3TEI8FHBA4O7tZCCv9wpaZFaoIyLk8SonSb2GUle1K5DWpA9pOwA8AgIRMXmwnsOuKooW_Wgo7VBotEcO79jmH1Pi3N8IoSlZnwcLRO8jFm8mV5/s1600/3507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuohy3GsfCQVaTKWN2lJzGB3TEI8FHBA4O7tZCCv9wpaZFaoIyLk8SonSb2GUle1K5DWpA9pOwA8AgIRMXmwnsOuKooW_Wgo7VBotEcO79jmH1Pi3N8IoSlZnwcLRO8jFm8mV5/s320/3507.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"We hope that you are able to experience the unconditional and unending love of Christ this Christmas." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLS6KN4f2oNcuw4NiDD1pe383_yquRJctHW-LytdPG3YQQQswCYR-Zx7Wdk0S9yP8oz0oW4hE6LpLn8I_Ahtk623I3NSweuI7GNVWyKQDzN9KD4iw8JJG4Ms6-dkZiqdmY6DZ/s1600/3481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLS6KN4f2oNcuw4NiDD1pe383_yquRJctHW-LytdPG3YQQQswCYR-Zx7Wdk0S9yP8oz0oW4hE6LpLn8I_Ahtk623I3NSweuI7GNVWyKQDzN9KD4iw8JJG4Ms6-dkZiqdmY6DZ/s320/3481.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very fun jar packaging. I'm in love with this. I want to keep it for myself and display it for all the world to see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDfXU9JS60DUqRyx-KFmc-mqZEV3Swd8q6M7wlhZbV5td1kaGwWuTE2BvIkK08tYzuZH_-9z3OkJKLTfBtC9Yy62LlWGkeQ8jEYBa4Ys5uHKuqnUiYcsqP9KG6HgH3JtDhesQ/s1600/3496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDfXU9JS60DUqRyx-KFmc-mqZEV3Swd8q6M7wlhZbV5td1kaGwWuTE2BvIkK08tYzuZH_-9z3OkJKLTfBtC9Yy62LlWGkeQ8jEYBa4Ys5uHKuqnUiYcsqP9KG6HgH3JtDhesQ/s320/3496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the Kitchen of The Kapala Family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPnWufB_wm_LqoB8MnAmrmPhxTV91hMRIDkCkXFBg6FcqKQtROZGBfmcnqYL0HtMz2GJxotAv2a9yi0MfbpbCHoqm2W3Yh5btQ8i6xqAHIeRvliCOCbuJPkS_G6KylbJ5z6PC/s1600/3504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPnWufB_wm_LqoB8MnAmrmPhxTV91hMRIDkCkXFBg6FcqKQtROZGBfmcnqYL0HtMz2GJxotAv2a9yi0MfbpbCHoqm2W3Yh5btQ8i6xqAHIeRvliCOCbuJPkS_G6KylbJ5z6PC/s320/3504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a hybrid cocoa recipe of <a href="http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2011/11/10/homemade-hot-chocolate-mix/">this</a> recipe and <a href="http://momadvice.com/blog/2010/12/delicious-drink-mixes-creamy-hot-cocoa-or-vanilla-chai-tea-mix">this</a> recipe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also made this today to attach the homemade labels: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSZaONAY3suU4ZB83vMAIuPjSbJG3fz1Y4uAmpZn5-LgvriVL-vUJ9Qm102JXbjmxAdQXuSmvDOwVyEcd-AYvnh-hXFnDCjOW8jV9EbfCg3afxGUbaI7F238YnWVc7SrWFXfq/s1600/3500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSZaONAY3suU4ZB83vMAIuPjSbJG3fz1Y4uAmpZn5-LgvriVL-vUJ9Qm102JXbjmxAdQXuSmvDOwVyEcd-AYvnh-hXFnDCjOW8jV9EbfCg3afxGUbaI7F238YnWVc7SrWFXfq/s320/3500.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found this recipe <a href="http://doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com/2011/09/diy-mod-podge.html">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am thoroughly enjoying a time right now of having no photography projects or work because it means I have time to do all this! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-63316265781717649162011-11-25T15:43:00.001-06:002011-11-25T15:58:37.251-06:00A Wise Woman Vision Forum Giveaway!<div style="text-align: center;">This is going to be something I am pretty ecstatic about! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Vision forum is, by far, my favorire resource for <b><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/">Christian books</a></b>, homeschooling resources, vintage and classic toys, as well as much, much more!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you've never checked our <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/">Vision Forum</a> you need to NOW. </div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have children you NEED to check out the awesome toys they have! Seriously. We just ordered some fabulous stuff because they're running their Black Friday sale where you can buy 2 of anything and get 1 free of anything! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, the point ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/">A Wise Woman Builds Her Home</a> blog is promoting a Vision Forum giveaway and I am spreading the word! </div><div style="text-align: center;">The A Wise Woman blog is another amazing resource. Not only for giveaways and ideas and resources but for amazing, God-centered, Biblical encouragement for wives and mothers.<br />
There always seems to be something in each post that speaks to me and hits me where I'm at. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So ... needless to say, I am STOKED about this giveaway!<br />
Go check it out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2011/11/vision-forum-blowout-600-christmas.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbSADfdmQWl7YHtpA5COJgU7jGZMvZq-_Cr92NdwTEcvlvu94FD18OB4p26xL7_5Y-gvrDyLgJFoP1fHXTGb8dOm9x1xnNHWVLfSx09EhAPPXy4NRdqvu6K_jYyWUIQfjBYnc/s1600/Red-Christmas-ornaments-christmas-fixed.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-55092981938061941322011-06-22T16:45:00.000-05:002011-06-22T16:45:22.955-05:00Wednesday Wanderings<div style="text-align: center;">It's a wonderful wandering type of Wednesday. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A day to wander ...</div><div style="text-align: center;">through the <i>Word</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">through some <i>books</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">through some <i>pictures</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">through some<i> thoughts</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Here are today's wandering thoughts ...<br />
- I've been wondering the last two days about why, when I read aloud to my children and 10 in the morning, am I fighting nodding off in the middle of the story? I suppose I should probably go to bed before midnight if I insist on setting my alarm for 5:48am. Yes, that's the actual time it's set for.<br />
<br />
- How do I go forth trying to organize and de-clutter when I feel like we <i>just </i>did that and yet we still have shelves overflowing with <i>things</i> and boxes and bins already full to the brim. And with so very little actual storage space to store necessary items?<br />
I would very much like to throw everything outside and really see what we need and don't need.<br />
<br />
- I have consistently had my carpets vacuumed once or twice daily for the last 3 weeks and I'm digging it.<br />
A lot.<br />
<br />
- I'd really be pleased if I could dress the way I imagine a 26 year old should dress.<br />
<br />
- I very much miss my daily walks and the prayer time that they created.<br />
<br />
- There's this amazing giveaway going on at <a href="http://www.soulographer.com/the-summer-giveaway-2/">Soulographer</a> that you should definitely check out. Especially if you are a photographer and if you ever have a desire to photograph children - she (Skye Hardwick-Edmonds of Work of Heart Photography) has a beyond amazing workbook that she is giving away 3 copies of this week!<br />
<br />
- I have this strong desire to paint my toes in bright orange and fuscia but then I look at the price of nail polish and say, "Forget it!"<br />
<br />
- I'm struggling with mothering and it feels never ending. I feel like I can't get a handle on my own issues - impatience, inconsistency, and reactive parenting.<br />
I don't want encouraging words or those, "this too shall pass" words of comfort.<br />
I want a kick in the butt.<br />
The kind of kick that comes from someone looking into the daily life you're living and being able to tell you what exactly you need to do and to be there to say, "Is that the right choice right now?"<br />
<br />
- And lastly, to embody how I feel lately,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I can't stop drinking the coffee. If I stop drinking the coffee I stop doing the standing and the walking and the words putting into sentence doing."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
Happy Wednesday.<br />
I hope you let yourself wander just a bit today.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-45372357486462348712011-06-21T22:48:00.001-05:002011-06-22T08:44:35.736-05:00The Wyatt Saga continues ... part 100?<div style="text-align: center;">Satan uses every opportunity he can. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He's like the CEO shark of the underworld. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He takes the little moments when we weren't watching all of our children and they creatively found something to occupy their time to pick at the wedges in our hearts and the rifts of insecurities in our mothering skills that are in our souls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Satan was at work in this house today,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and at work in my heart. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While I had a productive conversation with my eldest my third child decided to creatively occupy his time with blue shampoo. </div><div style="text-align: center;">An entire bottle of blue shampoo. </div><div style="text-align: center;">All over the carpet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU4TA18fftqCEj9YuCCZPILpRilqoDvFb9Nm0j5rgf2lELvEfQ2HBMWpsnHUDw__cgHWWW2mRS-GH7M_t68eeuIoh_G5Eqf1X8eAOpYTGkaN_2ddbHyUpY3BQMcDsf3Fc9Tbo/s1600/Wyatt-6287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU4TA18fftqCEj9YuCCZPILpRilqoDvFb9Nm0j5rgf2lELvEfQ2HBMWpsnHUDw__cgHWWW2mRS-GH7M_t68eeuIoh_G5Eqf1X8eAOpYTGkaN_2ddbHyUpY3BQMcDsf3Fc9Tbo/s400/Wyatt-6287.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUczSW8Ld0UHgfrr72jWZR1Kiyt-yELRU8hwGh8mCmBlr8HUhy-bIWbVEOW-AVqM0O_X0n-GdQl4K_FjNQjZi-Eek_vUN3fXB_SrlYWTL5hWhYg_GTkEOcBseOqPedYDKD1VN/s1600/Wyatt-6288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUczSW8Ld0UHgfrr72jWZR1Kiyt-yELRU8hwGh8mCmBlr8HUhy-bIWbVEOW-AVqM0O_X0n-GdQl4K_FjNQjZi-Eek_vUN3fXB_SrlYWTL5hWhYg_GTkEOcBseOqPedYDKD1VN/s400/Wyatt-6288.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspLqdH150s_8JZJ55Z9gsqjS0bwmNlQVk-7hRhym-6TAmjL-0Goe43xdErwcUR0enFLHZjnlYPyY2VWttTBNs4NianGynhUgKoQUdPJWhGgfyT927-XEJIzvlEr4xXeGyjTA_/s1600/Wyatt-6289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspLqdH150s_8JZJ55Z9gsqjS0bwmNlQVk-7hRhym-6TAmjL-0Goe43xdErwcUR0enFLHZjnlYPyY2VWttTBNs4NianGynhUgKoQUdPJWhGgfyT927-XEJIzvlEr4xXeGyjTA_/s400/Wyatt-6289.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's the blue shampoo. Can you see it? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsXofyXJ541ifG2Yazzp4HwcZnJN5LcpawOdXfidIJ1dWiRz8TxKyINXzkXFEER8AnNJpyVcENDfkQDWLPBewfz5VxK2JEASavLy21cz3yNX7LPJF0qjoy7916G4oiL94ap9j/s1600/Wyatt-6290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsXofyXJ541ifG2Yazzp4HwcZnJN5LcpawOdXfidIJ1dWiRz8TxKyINXzkXFEER8AnNJpyVcENDfkQDWLPBewfz5VxK2JEASavLy21cz3yNX7LPJF0qjoy7916G4oiL94ap9j/s400/Wyatt-6290.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that ^ is what happens when you try to clean it up. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Days like toady make me question a lot of things. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Things like:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> What is God's purpose for me in raising Super Wy?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why do we continually go back to the same struggles?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How is it that I can be having a very fruitful conversation with one child while another is down the hall reeking all sorts of havoc? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How is it that I can "know" the right way to do things and yet I act and react in all the wrong ways?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where is God's joy and patience and calm when these incidents happen?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How does God continually give grace ... over and over and over ... ?<br />
I can't even seem to muster it enough for my children. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And this is why we are cautioned against the rulers and authorities of this world and warned that Satan is like a roaring lion, preying on us when he can. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What a great schemer he is, using our weaknesses and our weakest moments to drive wedges between us and our Creator. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The Creator who watches our every movement and thinks,<br />
"I'm here, precious child. Right here. In the middle of this mess." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today He gently ... oh, who am I kidding? ... </div><div style="text-align: center;">He smacked me over the head with a 2x4 and reminded me that: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>need</b></i></span> Him </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>His life-breath, His joy, His patience, His strength, and His forgiveness</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>I need to be clothed in Him</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>loves</i></b></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">He loves me. Oh, how He loves me. The depth, width, and breadth of His love are beyond all my human understanding so all I need to do is remember that I'm wrapped in it. I'm drowning in it. </span></i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have </span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">amazing</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Friends that breathe grace into my life, reminding how God loves and forgives and wraps me in His arms </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Arms full of grace</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Shampoo is </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">really </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">hard to get out of carpet</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Seems like it should be really easy, right? It's not. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't much enjoy days like today when it takes a smack in the face to be reminded of how desperately I need my Savior. It often leaves my face tear-streaked and my heart feeling a bit broken. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But what a great relief it is to know that He picks up the pieces and bit by bit glues me back together. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-53251647842202002432011-04-13T20:38:00.003-05:002011-04-30T21:35:53.489-05:00Lost in Loneliness<div style="text-align: center;">Standing on the brink of a rust colored abyss seeing above you a vast expanse of blue, below you straight rust walls that drop parallel, sharply crashing into one another miles beneath. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEiRKWMsU50qzjzvhxKhio9Gp6nIyKbSo8SrEdfJeuP8F3UvspSW4iKPMWkYz4fgBHP_LCUyGVy_wupx6IqUy3EqaZ3WqbTZY8Fic2uBl4UFpbkg7wrAv5RCV9PFfEkIPfPN8IE_/s1600/Grand_Canyon_picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKWMsU50qzjzvhxKhio9Gp6nIyKbSo8SrEdfJeuP8F3UvspSW4iKPMWkYz4fgBHP_LCUyGVy_wupx6IqUy3EqaZ3WqbTZY8Fic2uBl4UFpbkg7wrAv5RCV9PFfEkIPfPN8IE_/s400/Grand_Canyon_picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.grandcanyone.com/">Photo Credit</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You hear rippling in your ear as the warm water washes over your body. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Your hair swishes back and forth and the smell of salt tickles your nose. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You are caught up, the boundless sea surrounds you and engulfs you in its emptiness. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am </span>lonely<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> and </span>afflicted<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">.</span></i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your hair gets whipped by the crisp wind as your cheeks blush a soft shade of rose. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You look out ahead of you and breathe in the essence of leaves, they've left their aroma all around. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The snow laced road reaches out before you. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Long. Winding. Desolate. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Empty</b>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEjwf12ph0-LM7Wi4wjxF7LsFZcYVOlYq-CE7E5AMpD1vA5ZaHXg2_-s-jEgsgY6_5m188w1GeXXwldWKFAv1hH4skOz6f0Six5hFrpnLABjcCCSss7TtXji0yMbGbPzkCdr4cOn/s1600/loneliness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf12ph0-LM7Wi4wjxF7LsFZcYVOlYq-CE7E5AMpD1vA5ZaHXg2_-s-jEgsgY6_5m188w1GeXXwldWKFAv1hH4skOz6f0Six5hFrpnLABjcCCSss7TtXji0yMbGbPzkCdr4cOn/s400/loneliness.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://askdrrobert.dr-robert.com/lonelyandsuicidal.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When life wraps you up in an empty hold, void of energy, of warmth, of breath, </div><div style="text-align: center;">of life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find it hard to catch my breath. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hard to look <b><i>beyond</i></b> myself. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My voice is booming within me but nothing resounds on the outside. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know this isn't the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>truth</i></span>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know His words pierce this place I've found myself in. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I can't see His light. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<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/AVvXsEgxfI7QFYa8RUyHkIhEW4_oV_xjeEalBsIEjOqkDBCwRtDp6UCmiyR7YXG8Pna96DY0_zMRHkJEqxzWrsP4eIAfEpx5S5ek969mYOJDNt_T0x3cbgmumdW1aRVZjzuWsyDH23Qs/s1600/lonely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfI7QFYa8RUyHkIhEW4_oV_xjeEalBsIEjOqkDBCwRtDp6UCmiyR7YXG8Pna96DY0_zMRHkJEqxzWrsP4eIAfEpx5S5ek969mYOJDNt_T0x3cbgmumdW1aRVZjzuWsyDH23Qs/s400/lonely.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/2448920369_400d577ee0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/louistib/2448920369/&usg=__W5nixwQASBn0r27LiGonhoKMg-I=&h=333&w=500&sz=69&hl=en&start=0&sig2=WXfNuZbZmiE5_iSxB4VO4A&zoom=1&tbnid=H9Y9z_fEIxn3xM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=179&ei=xsa8TdKeN46tgQeOmK2xBw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlonely%2Bbench%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1556%26bih%3D899%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=417&vpy=130&dur=160&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=142&ty=92&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I reach. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I dig. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I claw. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I strain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He whispers ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am with you</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">always</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I never leave</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">never</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I never forsake</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">never</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Come to Me</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>rest</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You are My treasured possession</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>forever</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I breathe. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I listen.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I inhale His presence.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He fills me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I pray,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lord, meet me here tomorrow ... please. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-11224546855458555492011-04-12T16:55:00.000-05:002011-04-12T16:55:06.655-05:00Project 52: Week 14: Emotion of Life<div style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah! It's another self-portrait week!<br />
I don't like selfies because I don't like me in pictures. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, I had great fun with this one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For starters I had amazing locations to work with!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Add to that awesome light, a favorite outfit, and a fantastic assistant (Eluwhoo) and it was so much fun. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So the assignment was:</div><div style="text-align: center;">A self-portrait that somehow portrays the overall emotion that is characterizing your life right now. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to show you the pictures first and see if you can guess what I'm feeling. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What emotion do I have?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPl2e3eMxSlTpI8JbpRaqIF2Ls-EYuUCXUHDETz4cIMM2cMrElCRBXxNfU5dd-BDIQ2UwfvJVqsjhm0a17cuuJaJZX3k8ExSsc33Fhs9TnqOde8X4SRmNUuLcVtV2XhCrOHHb/s1600/P52-1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPl2e3eMxSlTpI8JbpRaqIF2Ls-EYuUCXUHDETz4cIMM2cMrElCRBXxNfU5dd-BDIQ2UwfvJVqsjhm0a17cuuJaJZX3k8ExSsc33Fhs9TnqOde8X4SRmNUuLcVtV2XhCrOHHb/s400/P52-1453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was probably number 3 in the running. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnpLo9Zvx7Pcm7QcmR0fgxY6-3qbo1PbI2_zuKxZpzKe_jbJvCYSwxqMA4EFsi_2SoTsBlHFF7z5UySHQg4Ps8p3Atz0HnYp09ukWKR5Qj5m50f_l0vdtp0Ob-Te9ufD67hGw/s1600/P52-1511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnpLo9Zvx7Pcm7QcmR0fgxY6-3qbo1PbI2_zuKxZpzKe_jbJvCYSwxqMA4EFsi_2SoTsBlHFF7z5UySHQg4Ps8p3Atz0HnYp09ukWKR5Qj5m50f_l0vdtp0Ob-Te9ufD67hGw/s400/P52-1511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenQTO88T2PuyVgVhwtsoZHeHoFeG_AOiPNfPWkD_Nf3D2vD7b8Pqsu9c7-Fu4pnas4uK-Y0RZAzk-AIKmrYIR2I5OtP_FDI9Pa9MS4JfjkY3XFgycTiZ0ZcXgamAlAOGWo2sC/s1600/P52-1475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenQTO88T2PuyVgVhwtsoZHeHoFeG_AOiPNfPWkD_Nf3D2vD7b8Pqsu9c7-Fu4pnas4uK-Y0RZAzk-AIKmrYIR2I5OtP_FDI9Pa9MS4JfjkY3XFgycTiZ0ZcXgamAlAOGWo2sC/s400/P52-1475.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Runner up. I LOVE this location. Are you kidding me?<br />
It's freaking fantastic!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the winner is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nmCY0Jqs-XvlT9Ec8GTboeVl-lYjKNBuDXqLBlDYOtKFdlqmss0V4bn0Ymdl-MptBWjXF4pO2LVczxy5Vs7gOvAdskYto-qXB9llHZMKSCFxumXJE11TBKsr8JH3yEE4Bqu5/s1600/P52-1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nmCY0Jqs-XvlT9Ec8GTboeVl-lYjKNBuDXqLBlDYOtKFdlqmss0V4bn0Ymdl-MptBWjXF4pO2LVczxy5Vs7gOvAdskYto-qXB9llHZMKSCFxumXJE11TBKsr8JH3yEE4Bqu5/s400/P52-1497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm in love with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How did you do? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you see what I'm feeling?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I was going for:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Peacefully content in this beautiful mess. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Philippians 4:6-7</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-74946077827979421032011-04-11T21:14:00.000-05:002011-04-11T21:14:34.339-05:00Project 52: Week 13: Public Restrooms<div style="text-align: center;">Yes, you read that right. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our week 13 assignment was public restrooms. </div><div style="text-align: center;">No restrictions, no guidelines, no boundaries. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had this idea almost the second I read the e-mail. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But it would involved a lot. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Models will to pose for one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Models willing to pose in formal wear for two. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Models will to pose in formal wear in a public bathroom for three. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ohhhh yeah. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, I have stellar rock-star-esque friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what we did:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wbO4oC2IEzIWzOVjiufMh4t00EAUEsC9zBmyMMXHPvr6AiYudQz_M8gOqLk_rAkZF_9r4b2UOEGmrKIWfn0sjRqf9o2gZOTojA0Z_DssAMIRbqBv0HjTNcohOi5a6NAe3HuG/s1600/P52-1426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wbO4oC2IEzIWzOVjiufMh4t00EAUEsC9zBmyMMXHPvr6AiYudQz_M8gOqLk_rAkZF_9r4b2UOEGmrKIWfn0sjRqf9o2gZOTojA0Z_DssAMIRbqBv0HjTNcohOi5a6NAe3HuG/s400/P52-1426.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Second runner up</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk_9dR9y2bMNjNhj7aWBnzCwKkssjSNwLAuNoNzBH-YO3xSJ85pW1Gi6hyU7izOaeCEmHfml6BbQZxa4c5JHgUnsG57MD72XJR-qx8BFLbR5r2LUaYmoCd2ZKjj8YJzgayE3y/s1600/P52-1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjk_9dR9y2bMNjNhj7aWBnzCwKkssjSNwLAuNoNzBH-YO3xSJ85pW1Gi6hyU7izOaeCEmHfml6BbQZxa4c5JHgUnsG57MD72XJR-qx8BFLbR5r2LUaYmoCd2ZKjj8YJzgayE3y/s400/P52-1428.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First runner up ... it's a little steamy ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdLdGKLkmNQvtm3NiYUqP2jypEQwR-2BG-y62zEXQr3VbPf9FSq_DNyTrNEVvCIBggbHmPP9I7fJujTxPXqaHGkX4XwsTGyxGKwO2YGVTtomz_-x0ci_BQiu15bYD_ElUTUqS/s1600/P52-1437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdLdGKLkmNQvtm3NiYUqP2jypEQwR-2BG-y62zEXQr3VbPf9FSq_DNyTrNEVvCIBggbHmPP9I7fJujTxPXqaHGkX4XwsTGyxGKwO2YGVTtomz_-x0ci_BQiu15bYD_ElUTUqS/s400/P52-1437.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Actual submission! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
It was definitely a fun shoot! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-72809448680212137072011-04-03T21:48:00.001-05:002011-04-03T21:50:41.863-05:00Project 52: Week 12: Up Close & Personal<div style="text-align: center;">With everyday life. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The assignment:</div><div style="text-align: center;">take a picture of something you use/do/see everyday in a unique or different way</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had two ideas and because of the craziness of our life and 3 weeks of stomach viruses it was a quick snap with not a lot of creativity. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Idea 1: washing machine because it's as exhausted as I am! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Idea 2: crochet hook as I have been learning. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Idea 1: actual submission: washing machine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCYO4Q9wWPTwfhh0l5jNeKwr88AVyrSp_CLNz5qmo8r-PgDk7uH3TLg66TAnUwjw4bevabR_wbyGfE2SLREm96nDCDv9ouuUQ1IDKrgmwB5CyPXNyvas4BAOCpU2sETHBdOq0/s1600/P52-0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCYO4Q9wWPTwfhh0l5jNeKwr88AVyrSp_CLNz5qmo8r-PgDk7uH3TLg66TAnUwjw4bevabR_wbyGfE2SLREm96nDCDv9ouuUQ1IDKrgmwB5CyPXNyvas4BAOCpU2sETHBdOq0/s400/P52-0299.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Idea 2: crochet hook:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyOxpvPLChs1AjRaEqHfd7bfKqnIY9qyCeZyIfcsPE5TN7samW6j0wNhyphenhyphenIzTb73pkExh-SKmhSjy3NOiGOgY1SyTWMQF9shTRMBFN6I8NXNjNYuh3rJY91vt0H-4YSfvDXYO0/s1600/P52-0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyOxpvPLChs1AjRaEqHfd7bfKqnIY9qyCeZyIfcsPE5TN7samW6j0wNhyphenhyphenIzTb73pkExh-SKmhSjy3NOiGOgY1SyTWMQF9shTRMBFN6I8NXNjNYuh3rJY91vt0H-4YSfvDXYO0/s400/P52-0291.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know this is waaaaaaay late ... but I submitted it on time, lol! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you're wondering where week 11 is ... it's on my photography blog because that was better suited to the images from that week.<br />
You can check it out <a href="http://dianakristinephotography.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/project-52-week-11-lyrics-of-life/">HERE</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned because this last week's assignment involved a suit, a formal gown, and a family restroom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-14813624531166530422011-03-28T18:41:00.001-06:002011-03-28T18:42:55.792-06:00So this is life ...<div style="text-align: center;">da de da daaaaaa</div><div style="text-align: center;">(m hmm m hmmm)<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is what runs through my head as I take in the scene around me:</div><div style="text-align: center;">The water running in the sink, washing out a jar;</div><div style="text-align: center;">a piece of French toast cooking on the stove, with 3 more on the plate;</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tuna sandwiches on one counter;</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 sippy cups lined up on the other counter;<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I fill 3 and go to put the lemonade away only to realize that I still need that lemonade for the 4th, so I prop the fridge door open with my foot, grab the lemonade, fill that last cup, and then throw it back into the fridge. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I laugh at myself and hum.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
"so this is liiiiiiiiiiiiiife" </div><div style="text-align: center;">to the tune of that Cinderella song.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't even know why that is the song running through my mind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't heard it in years upon years. <br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bread crust in the shape of a "u"</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589249507871944530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8oEXRdJxLwWmUgpX7wAq7X-mdLddrL8cN899ggarmHQ0m5JQed8iFve6MQhYr908Crw4kBXkMJNmmeUCDP4zxDhr6HVpVUJYRF2ko01Kpr-Dlyg8bPoEIzLROjxH13V6DvsxtQ/s400/0267.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"so this is liiiiiiiiiiife"<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">letter trains made out of magnets across my bedroom floor</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589248931364249618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW05D_MiE39SsPFiYCnLRI8Q__iGXE9kCRHcZwZXw8H_PYJKCzYySKmOHMmTz07n6O8AgZVodQUK8gtfvwNjrWZrWmVnd940Hq0ZMYrV1lxdTi4ZGoMmUYhGt5A_wBLcg49-R9Qw/s400/Wyatt-0277.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">da de da daaaaaaaa</div><div style="text-align: center;">(mm hm mm hmmmmm)<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Little toes and fingers that excitedly point to the letters, </div><div style="text-align: center;">proudly proclaiming, </div><div style="text-align: center;">"E, O, R, T, A!" </div><div style="text-align: center;">none of which is correct</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589290888553155218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRLY-jGjZwickdsqGVN6E-z1s_qIAwrhht9xyqrgDW2tHn-j6F4fpK3FMuLUzuLMjhiK85dJsfMr2FDluAxZwGjS2jwUqzlOasMxanGeoh6USafs-FOW4Vl3u3s7jpVdB7NBtmw/s400/Wyatt-0274.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"so thiiiiiiiis is liiiiiiiiiiiife" <br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And isn't this life grand? </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-46170586032557235092011-03-26T15:57:00.000-06:002011-03-26T15:57:17.210-06:00Sweet Saturday Mornings<div style="text-align: center;">For snuggles and smiles.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweetness and sighs. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-RiF-Irt7KlEaMug94z1CRJl5FK8ict2xLGuTtew21iP1HnSfkjYzfDpN4HPx_bo-9r60PA-qwTQ52_l9643a_K8-14UXyGfOpLmNu5c4QiEtt7P4Hbw35bhrRq8gJCJjzWX/s1600/Family-0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-RiF-Irt7KlEaMug94z1CRJl5FK8ict2xLGuTtew21iP1HnSfkjYzfDpN4HPx_bo-9r60PA-qwTQ52_l9643a_K8-14UXyGfOpLmNu5c4QiEtt7P4Hbw35bhrRq8gJCJjzWX/s400/Family-0286.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast and blessings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blankets and basking in love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuz2HnguWhYlRISDQ_mRzr-HpEyehcFnN2y2aP2xcDLNERbDBXB9z8j958zd9D5-XEKOicdnWUhBmWF-qDqH1BMqZcpGgkXuzhYai2CQs3qDZP1DA7FthblRHYPCwA4Dwk3ac/s1600/Wyatt-0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuz2HnguWhYlRISDQ_mRzr-HpEyehcFnN2y2aP2xcDLNERbDBXB9z8j958zd9D5-XEKOicdnWUhBmWF-qDqH1BMqZcpGgkXuzhYai2CQs3qDZP1DA7FthblRHYPCwA4Dwk3ac/s400/Wyatt-0283.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-12756759937116994392011-03-18T11:51:00.001-06:002011-03-18T11:52:37.934-06:00Project 52: Week 10: Self - Freestyle<div style="text-align: center;">So, I'm extremely late on this. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I even missed the deadline for getting to Sandi! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Gah.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hadn't done that at all up until this last week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had gotten every week in before the deadline. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fail.<br />
I did e-mail Sandi and got it to her the next day but she has a crazy life and didn't have time to throw it in the facebook album.<br />
(Which I totally understand!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But ... time escaped me. Life took over. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Chaos ensued. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week's assignment was easy and hard. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait: freestyle. </div><div style="text-align: center;">No guidelines</div><div style="text-align: center;">No restrictions</div><div style="text-align: center;">No restraints</div><div style="text-align: center;">No rules</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whoa. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My first and original idea and actual image were a little too scandalous for the eyes of the world! So, it's reserved for the eyes of my man. ;o)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the others I came up with:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT7vpjsNDHJxuyb32WmgJMiEAYajk6SPw9nIUstIku-rqhSaLWS2vUDgQbg3pqoiEt9i9iC0CkLYht_vxLRyqFFZxBMTMJVuXzKpNYNoAqf8rvpmqOPPMZRXH_AMf5Lb2pNvu/s1600/Week10-0111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT7vpjsNDHJxuyb32WmgJMiEAYajk6SPw9nIUstIku-rqhSaLWS2vUDgQbg3pqoiEt9i9iC0CkLYht_vxLRyqFFZxBMTMJVuXzKpNYNoAqf8rvpmqOPPMZRXH_AMf5Lb2pNvu/s400/Week10-0111.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijejS3UyxbbzpLi88-FGrnxjhguBifhHv8lRjWr6iewQTOs5pb6J1KEhKYZswdK89zqI30-GSDXrNMXZ0OWqTT_dOMmjK0O7nUNOj9CZrtNU6nalbi7tJaVBH6zNsZrj8OUE3U/s1600/Week10-0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijejS3UyxbbzpLi88-FGrnxjhguBifhHv8lRjWr6iewQTOs5pb6J1KEhKYZswdK89zqI30-GSDXrNMXZ0OWqTT_dOMmjK0O7nUNOj9CZrtNU6nalbi7tJaVBH6zNsZrj8OUE3U/s400/Week10-0140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlTY00IULTQQ7LDoUdaNWRdKDR7RuLAMFEcuLQOxncFhA3lxvYocxDOoe7HeyW3dTALzbveODHMLCBDbH27K-I9eqxRmrCZeZlJcEDmJ8hRSUA1Eh1xYawfJIwmGHJfSsLJiQ/s1600/Week10-0140+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlTY00IULTQQ7LDoUdaNWRdKDR7RuLAMFEcuLQOxncFhA3lxvYocxDOoe7HeyW3dTALzbveODHMLCBDbH27K-I9eqxRmrCZeZlJcEDmJ8hRSUA1Eh1xYawfJIwmGHJfSsLJiQ/s400/Week10-0140+B%2526W.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">^Runner up!^</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2p2Jb5c1YhVgGqzb9e83GoS2sQ7nH5e_mRPTHDXD2pH3Vk-5DDiqiwKVLpXaKABGXQ9q5hbFLY8xazrWJKeOAEaJZEBA3uaoANU1X5zPigZAka_gVVCtelJLo8xsQ4lqxk-K/s1600/Week10-0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2p2Jb5c1YhVgGqzb9e83GoS2sQ7nH5e_mRPTHDXD2pH3Vk-5DDiqiwKVLpXaKABGXQ9q5hbFLY8xazrWJKeOAEaJZEBA3uaoANU1X5zPigZAka_gVVCtelJLo8xsQ4lqxk-K/s400/Week10-0065.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">^Actual submission!^</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I lub my books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-57690209306389292112011-03-11T11:47:00.001-06:002011-03-11T11:52:39.807-06:00I live for little moments ... like this ...<div style="text-align: center;">I've had this blog post in my head since Wednesday but sickness hit us and I have been washing sheets and blankets non-stop since Tuesday morning. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is now Friday morning and I put load 11 in the washer an hour ago. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I still have 3 to go ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I'm taking a break while the children do room time and blanket time to work on some pictures and get this blog out of my head and into cyber space. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday was a great day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The funny thing?</div><div style="text-align: center;">There was nothing at all spectacular about it, it was just ... normal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Clara cut a tooth, threw up because of it, so I washed all her bedding. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then during her morning nap she had diarrhea that leaked and I had to wash all her bedding again. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This in addition to the 3 washes from Tuesday!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She got 2 baths and was all the rage in her penguin towel - blowing bubbles and toddling around. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Because she toddles now. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">She's not a baby. She's a toddler. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Which I will never utter aloud. I will forever be in denial. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIkr2nV6mHBb6_k5mWOkj7iIKl5LLNSPKAdnEt63vjwqTphZFAbgWE4IcDDi4bvw7TP8bYDSZgGGaTxpJTr15ctMz7SpOJb7qrVnDMuMzBkI0VbL3XbOmY_47_kK8KnpstELH/s1600/Clara-9961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIkr2nV6mHBb6_k5mWOkj7iIKl5LLNSPKAdnEt63vjwqTphZFAbgWE4IcDDi4bvw7TP8bYDSZgGGaTxpJTr15ctMz7SpOJb7qrVnDMuMzBkI0VbL3XbOmY_47_kK8KnpstELH/s400/Clara-9961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXoLdp5s0lW6TM_7DqIueekAQe0yAtRsA6piNYwKshWw8Y-F6KQO68rjDvKTpKlaeC3FuAocWKvLeCNCPOQo5mm9LkpomlGer87GZqkLpELdr4DnO9w2b3ozddyi2Iq_XpWzu/s1600/Clara-9966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXoLdp5s0lW6TM_7DqIueekAQe0yAtRsA6piNYwKshWw8Y-F6KQO68rjDvKTpKlaeC3FuAocWKvLeCNCPOQo5mm9LkpomlGer87GZqkLpELdr4DnO9w2b3ozddyi2Iq_XpWzu/s400/Clara-9966.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Emma and I made 2 loaves of bread (sweet bread and English muffin bread) but for a good part of the time she just watched over the other 3 - playing but also helping and I loved it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiwsd4FbEMLQHuBY5m2XjmdMJ09Vs5E4y4XNp8HMNpoY4i9Djriirjc4HtEOsJqPfocWl6Rel2hL1x3RPTcDF6wbxhqCwqBqTxxkXNQfjXnRwpfL-no9gAmqQNMXH1ubugDCe/s1600/Children-9978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiwsd4FbEMLQHuBY5m2XjmdMJ09Vs5E4y4XNp8HMNpoY4i9Djriirjc4HtEOsJqPfocWl6Rel2hL1x3RPTcDF6wbxhqCwqBqTxxkXNQfjXnRwpfL-no9gAmqQNMXH1ubugDCe/s400/Children-9978.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And when she was helping me with the bread, the boys were being adorable! They were playing really well together and recreating Toy Story with their Buzz and Woody toys. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg4I1hBkeDOIxlLUzkng_wWbYs619ZRybJ_CGkGx2tlnpSLQ1ABueyjwP-FXPy6kY59PfRjYgvWuu9dV6GwgdYhNr6ng9950DsdOEi8zTvYZ6MxarOSjHGzpg45li3iUqzUhc/s1600/Children-9971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg4I1hBkeDOIxlLUzkng_wWbYs619ZRybJ_CGkGx2tlnpSLQ1ABueyjwP-FXPy6kY59PfRjYgvWuu9dV6GwgdYhNr6ng9950DsdOEi8zTvYZ6MxarOSjHGzpg45li3iUqzUhc/s400/Children-9971.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My children often rock the "no-pants" look, in case you were wondering. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd1WF8V4GCpGap-JVYJJnTP8iVbKGVz2G6x2ePQd-XvPLMXLbeyvuhShneLUifwV6cbB0ZQpHyv8V976U72tJv9rtgvdEXPie6B3DFsvz76-gZnjt7mrw9lvsaekcfqcqOh8d/s1600/Children-9973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd1WF8V4GCpGap-JVYJJnTP8iVbKGVz2G6x2ePQd-XvPLMXLbeyvuhShneLUifwV6cbB0ZQpHyv8V976U72tJv9rtgvdEXPie6B3DFsvz76-gZnjt7mrw9lvsaekcfqcqOh8d/s400/Children-9973.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For whatever reason I just loved it. I felt refreshed and encouraged and thankful. So very thankful. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And Clara ... she just warms my heart. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her little toddle is adorable and her little butt that sticks out - especially when she's wearing cloth. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And she got new jammies that just make her that much MORE adorable! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN3NzNxG_aTr1AdFuCt8OberksyTILrBJtV8EPK9CntOCk7DZnfZgYGrpgLRoGNQDs2-pHWl2LWVkVXUeR9neO0b9nVzRkKs9HbhCLdjKoMKlzm8RBNxP8O6HZ8fIBL-YNUjj/s1600/Clara-9992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN3NzNxG_aTr1AdFuCt8OberksyTILrBJtV8EPK9CntOCk7DZnfZgYGrpgLRoGNQDs2-pHWl2LWVkVXUeR9neO0b9nVzRkKs9HbhCLdjKoMKlzm8RBNxP8O6HZ8fIBL-YNUjj/s400/Clara-9992.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">See that butt? See what I mean? </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9q0pVK4DbMuPMasaBz5zqv5okO2BscBst8ocsZQNyXWNpZrIBhyphenhyphenNhLC0b_JCuGp4Na4b2U0LtwicHbB5o7DIrJLdhn1uPtmUey-Jzjd4cdX2XWRrR0GuSI0P8KT7_DCJaEQv/s1600/Clara-9986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9q0pVK4DbMuPMasaBz5zqv5okO2BscBst8ocsZQNyXWNpZrIBhyphenhyphenNhLC0b_JCuGp4Na4b2U0LtwicHbB5o7DIrJLdhn1uPtmUey-Jzjd4cdX2XWRrR0GuSI0P8KT7_DCJaEQv/s400/Clara-9986.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">She's rocking John Deere jammies AND holding a tractor. Daddy is SO proud. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Maybe she'll marry a farmer. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Kassi, is Callen going to be a farmer? Lol. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC-abtVJF0Mx9nI1bAZHdETZiddr7pfYFEd4BuMfTnC5vXLkro8lV81rjeIl5vdyFihCpUkzhV8c-Mle-Cfa-C7QhLEagENuQklRNcCjlzL69m472qtep0NHhLkf66hPRMaoU/s1600/Clara-9999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC-abtVJF0Mx9nI1bAZHdETZiddr7pfYFEd4BuMfTnC5vXLkro8lV81rjeIl5vdyFihCpUkzhV8c-Mle-Cfa-C7QhLEagENuQklRNcCjlzL69m472qtep0NHhLkf66hPRMaoU/s400/Clara-9999.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehhhOPx8XAMGACg8IwdIxIAa4NMz_SeYyTzDfTOQnZzSKTvLINmaljMTgB76wSw9cF24dqDTEdx7skqqkwKBHoSTWpJdWsa5fhB8ZJGrV9TPuQfHOKkQHOffqapCjGEsi6dZq/s1600/Clara-0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehhhOPx8XAMGACg8IwdIxIAa4NMz_SeYyTzDfTOQnZzSKTvLINmaljMTgB76wSw9cF24dqDTEdx7skqqkwKBHoSTWpJdWsa5fhB8ZJGrV9TPuQfHOKkQHOffqapCjGEsi6dZq/s400/Clara-0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, I can't handle the cuteness any more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">* * * </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Then later tonight when I was finishing the dinner dishes Emma was making coffee for everyone (pretend of course) and gave me a cup and Wyatt a cup. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wyatt looked up at me and says, "I can drink da coffee mama?" And while it seems so litte, I think it's incredibly adorable and fruitful that he actually ASKED me for permission to drink the coffee. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So many times their little wills (especially that 2-3 year time when they push as hard as they can) just rear and they don't seem to care what you think or what you want them to do. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Why does that even matter?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The truth? It matters far more than we like to think. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It shows submission to authority.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It shows that he is under my authority and at that moment he was content and happy to be under my authority. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And if I want to make ANY difference in his heart and his life, he HAS to be under my authority. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Not being under authority breeds selfishness, rebellion, discontent, and hard-heartedness. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In that moment, he was cheerfully submissive to my authority. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If I want to hold his heart, I have to be his authority. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He has to know that he answers to me, that I answer to Daddy, and that Daddy answers to Christ. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Build this in your children and you will win.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What a wonderful thing to see in my nearly 3 year old! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">THAT is why it so blessed my heart to hear him ask for permission. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">So, despite the insane amount of laundry I have been doing, I know I am blessed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">While I may have lost sight of that a bit last night, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I am daily reminded that </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">God is good </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I AM blessed. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36156983.post-8349756202708381772011-03-11T10:11:00.000-06:002011-03-11T10:11:23.169-06:00Project 52: Week 9: Street Life<div style="text-align: center;">This week's assignment was street photography. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had big dreams. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But reality, well, reality is 4 children 4 years old and younger with a hubby who works late and isn't home until bedtime. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Therefore, my desires and ambitions for strolling around the cities' darker places finding those haunting, intriguing images that I think of when I think of "street life" were not in the cards this week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm ok with that. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This photography thing is slow paced for me and that's how it should be right now. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I decided if I wanted to complete this assignment I was going to have to stage it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So I dressed the children in old, ripped, ill-fitting clothes and gave them hotdogs to eat by hand, without buns, and sent them outside (in 20* weather) with no shoes, just socks. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Crazy right? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, we worked fast and they warmed up inside real quickly. :o)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the images I chose from:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aO6AYOm1V7Pc36-cQxXh7ZesNlEVuLLwCY8CCLcHR7gWqPIzs1DwlE_tRKt4dzaIH5iFyzmjp91jKLcZaTh7stsZa6o2ni2wyniZT7TzLYSKotILmX4M9G-ZrYRIGjdq4Ev6/s1600/9931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aO6AYOm1V7Pc36-cQxXh7ZesNlEVuLLwCY8CCLcHR7gWqPIzs1DwlE_tRKt4dzaIH5iFyzmjp91jKLcZaTh7stsZa6o2ni2wyniZT7TzLYSKotILmX4M9G-ZrYRIGjdq4Ev6/s400/9931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Messy faces, dirty socks, snow, garbage. Close to what I was going for but looks staged. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHqfuUnNSnipnJsjC4xf9pZMqo7rKkJ2j1FFa4e_Z3ekwqzmOf6uwV5i1xUdkl1WIR2W-9TLA6zyEJwn3OeNwURedLOBcIfQPDZZsH-vt4CAqOfz_6h55jlpxXGgq6LqyQYWM/s1600/9939+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHqfuUnNSnipnJsjC4xf9pZMqo7rKkJ2j1FFa4e_Z3ekwqzmOf6uwV5i1xUdkl1WIR2W-9TLA6zyEJwn3OeNwURedLOBcIfQPDZZsH-vt4CAqOfz_6h55jlpxXGgq6LqyQYWM/s400/9939+B%2526W.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the runner up. I thought it was funny that they were interacting with one another and that Wyatt really wanted to share his hot dog with Emma!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYELH5NsqFWnA5AJavCwSAOCnWFY6tjS_LNh90pvgK1I5fWCAmMK2t5t73lH6aJy89y8p7V4Dq6cgwckhQLIAu5ebpbYpkGAZ5JlPKoYePMBY2UNOy9Rn_mnyczLO47XmrTJXK/s1600/9935+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYELH5NsqFWnA5AJavCwSAOCnWFY6tjS_LNh90pvgK1I5fWCAmMK2t5t73lH6aJy89y8p7V4Dq6cgwckhQLIAu5ebpbYpkGAZ5JlPKoYePMBY2UNOy9Rn_mnyczLO47XmrTJXK/s400/9935+B%2526W.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Submission! Who can resist feet? It just felt right to me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Someday, I'll hit the streets of Minneapolis and capture real street life, but for now, this is great. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b1.lilypie.com/C1gym6.png" alt="Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a>
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b2.lilypie.com/4qxim5.png" alt="Lilypie 2nd Birthday Ticker" border="0" width="400" height="80" /></a></div>The Wifeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17782892713339321782noreply@blogger.com1