tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612631197036185822024-03-12T19:34:55.169-05:00Swizz's Daily DiatribeSwizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.comBlogger461125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-57441061025632130582014-03-17T22:14:00.000-05:002014-03-17T22:14:06.205-05:00What do Swizz and Eyeore have in common?<div style="text-align: center;">
I read this today and realized...</div>
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I have a post needing to be written.</div>
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<a href="http://hopewearsheels.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/eeyore-1.gif?w=90&h=150d=TtD8DY7pxXP4RM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhopewearsheels.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F07%2F16%2Fi-understand-eeyore-now%2F&ei=XXUnU__ONKiF2AWpxoGQDA&bvm=bv.62922401,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNGf55Kd_c2NDAhXJySAcql8io_Orw&ust=1395181188259103" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://hopewearsheels.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/eeyore-1.gif?w=90&h=150d=TtD8DY7pxXP4RM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhopewearsheels.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F07%2F16%2Fi-understand-eeyore-now%2F&ei=XXUnU__ONKiF2AWpxoGQDA&bvm=bv.62922401,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNGf55Kd_c2NDAhXJySAcql8io_Orw&ust=1395181188259103" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIht2fDAv9ZMK25cHJBhnOhghXLcXB96fAVyvuUTo4oHdXjVL55uxbihDtdHf-kxrtokYq2AeR5ADcO01muMhuxKKIlOqh6ZIFf-8WAkdf7a-g6wK_ffcVYqJveQoiQk8HuEbr2Yn1WGw/s1600/998291_898605906835530_1918761599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIht2fDAv9ZMK25cHJBhnOhghXLcXB96fAVyvuUTo4oHdXjVL55uxbihDtdHf-kxrtokYq2AeR5ADcO01muMhuxKKIlOqh6ZIFf-8WAkdf7a-g6wK_ffcVYqJveQoiQk8HuEbr2Yn1WGw/s1600/998291_898605906835530_1918761599_n.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
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I am clinically depressed. Have been since, oh, about 12 years of age. </div>
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Or at least that's when I was first diagnosed. </div>
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Come to find out it is hereditary...several of us in my family are clinically depressed. </div>
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Some of us medicate. </div>
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Others of us don't.</div>
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This is a little bit about my journey.</div>
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If it helps even ONE person to feel normal, and not alone, I'm glad to share.</div>
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<i>I'm going to start the way things should be in Swizz's world...backwards!</i></div>
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A few months ago I decided to get off of my meds. Not because I think I was miraculously healed, but because they seemed to cause nerve issues. And with the problems I have been having with my back, my energy levels, etc, I was trying to be proactive and get rid of something that could have been the root cause of all of those issues.</div>
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Except, I'm clinically depressed.</div>
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<i>Did I mention that?</i></div>
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<b>And this past year has been a doozey!</b></div>
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We lost our sweet Skipper.</div>
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We lost The Rev's last surviving grandparent.</div>
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Our family moved in with us.</div>
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We moved.</div>
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Our new home, a huge blessing!, was a money pit. </div>
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Is a money pit, that is.</div>
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Our renters in Atlanta broke the lease purchase agreement and skipped on a few months of rent.</div>
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And left close to $20,000 in damages.</div>
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We finished out the barn on our property.</div>
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The cost tripled from the original estimate.</div>
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The Rev's business was a bit rocky for awhile, but has exploded.</div>
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Our house got mold.</div>
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<i>Did I mention the money pit?</i></div>
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Our cars broke down. Multiple times. Big ticket items.</div>
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JMonster has had bouts of stomach sickness.</div>
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Every few weeks.</div>
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We found out some health issues with me. </div>
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I'm okay, but the "fix" is expensive and is taking awhile to settle in. </div>
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I<i>'ll share more about that at a later time.</i></div>
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The list could go on. And it does. But that's not the point. The point is that I attempted to deal with all of these things without meds.</div>
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Now, I've been praying and reading the Bible, and praying some more.</div>
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2013 found me either praying, crying, or praying <i>and</i> crying most of the time.</div>
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For realz.</div>
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And God is good!</div>
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He has really brought me through a fiery place and shown me his grace and mercy.</div>
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And He is teaching me to have more grace and mercy.</div>
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But the black cloud that follows me around, the filter which I see the world through without being able to help it, is still there.</div>
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JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CLINICALLY DEPRESSED DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE A BAD CHRISTIAN!</div>
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You don't have too little faith.</div>
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You aren't a baby believer because the Holy Spirit isn't making your world rosey.</div>
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And if anyone ever says this to you...</div>
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pray for them.</div>
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For they obviously DO NOT know the God of this universe, </div>
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who created you.</div>
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And loves you.</div>
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Just. the. way. you. are.</div>
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Is this you? Have you ever been here?</div>
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Have your friends either tried to tell you to "buck up" or show you every positive thing in your life?</div>
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Or even just let your friendship drop?</div>
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Maybe they texted every few weeks to check on you, but you weren't invited to do anything?</div>
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No one called to chat?</div>
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People protected themselves from you because you weren't bouncy flouncy smile on your face every second of every minute of every day?</div>
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It's not that you're not thankful.</div>
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Or grateful.</div>
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Or even that you are TRYING to focus on negatives.</div>
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No one WANTS to be like that.</div>
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And YOU ARE NOT ALONE!</div>
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And if your friends did that to you...well SHAME ON THEM!</div>
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I've had friends do that, too.</div>
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People I thought were GOOD friends.</div>
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You know you've got a good friend when they keep loving on you. </div>
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Keep inviting you to join in on the shenanigans and adventures, every time, even if you keep saying no. </div>
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Or join in but just sit quietly.</div>
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THOSE are the keepers, my friends.</div>
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Those are the friends who love YOU and not the idea of the best you.</div>
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Before this, I've been on Zoloft off and on for years.</div>
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I started on it about 2 years after my <a href="http://swizzdailydiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-my-house-isnt-perfect.html" target="_blank">big accident</a>.</div>
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And I stayed on it until JMonster was little.</div>
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Then I tried to get off for awhile.</div>
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One of the reasons I stopped was the whole medical insurance thing.</div>
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You're on antidepressants?</div>
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OH, you must be a HUGE risk!</div>
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We won't deny you, but your costs will be huge!</div>
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Or maybe, now that we think about it...DENIED.</div>
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<i>Not a good reason to get off of a medication, but sometimes we do things that seem silly later because we are trying to manage now.</i></div>
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<b>Let's jump back to teenager Swizz.</b></div>
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My doctor prescribed prozac back then.</div>
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We called it the happy pill!</div>
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At first it was an all the time script.</div>
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And it helped. It really did.</div>
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And then he said it could be an as needed medication.</div>
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And I did so well I decided to wean off.</div>
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Cuz I was better, right?</div>
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And I stayed off for several years.</div>
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Years that were very hard.</div>
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Years where I now realize, looking back, that my filters weren't only not rosey for me, but they skewed every thought I had for everyone around me.</div>
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You see that little cloud over Eyeore's head?</div>
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When you have one of those, and they are OH SO REAL, it affects EVERYTHING.</div>
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Every thought about yourself.</div>
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Every thought about other people.</div>
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Every decision you make.</div>
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EVERYTHING.</div>
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And life shouldn't be that hard.</div>
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I'm not saying that God promised us an easy life.</div>
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Nope.</div>
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He didn't.</div>
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But He sure doesn't want you, or me, feeling like the world would be a happier place without us in it.</div>
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And that is where our reality lives, doesn't it?</div>
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We get to the point where, because our brain chemicals are messed up, we feel so unwanted or unneeded by PEOPLE that we become consumed by it.</div>
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Not that we don't believe God loves us.</div>
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I know that He loves me deeply.</div>
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Daily.</div>
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Every part of me.</div>
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But I also know I want friends!</div>
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The truth is, and they're lying if they tell you otherwise, <b><i>even Christians need friends</i></b>.</div>
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Now...let's get down to brass tacks.</div>
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Medications do NOT make us whole.</div>
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They don't.</div>
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And someone who tells you they will is pulling the wool over your eyes.</div>
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What they DO make is a person who is capable of rational thought.</div>
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When I hear a lie, and I know it is a lie, I can BELIEVE it is a lie.</div>
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When my feelings are hurt, and the offender has apologized, the emotions can follow the brain's acceptance of that apology.</div>
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And then I am able to trust my feelings.</div>
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And trust my responses.</div>
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And not question every. single. thought. emotion. or action.</div>
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Because when you have to think that hard about every single thought, emotion, or action, it becomes a self-fulfiling prophecy.</div>
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You think you must seem hateful.</div>
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So you are hateful.</div>
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You think your words sound bossy.</div>
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So you are bossy.</div>
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You think your expression seems negative.</div>
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So you become negative.</div>
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Let's break that cycle!</div>
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I am going to talk with my doctor about getting on a new script.</div>
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One that doesn't affect my nerves,</div>
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But treats the chemicals in my brain so my levels are "normal".</div>
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Although I love Eyeore,</div>
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Really, I want to be Tigger!</div>
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<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8s1uoXT7LABt2nmm75V7eZBsGuryqhdT49lE2IaOKZPTCVULx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8s1uoXT7LABt2nmm75V7eZBsGuryqhdT49lE2IaOKZPTCVULx" /></a></div>
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P.S. I find it funny that I posted the bit about Eyeore on my facebook page and got 3 likes. I post something dumb about nothing and I'll get WAY more than that. Things like clinical depression make people uncomfortable. </div>
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Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-67573750358165110692014-02-08T05:00:00.000-06:002014-02-08T05:00:08.297-06:00And did I mention...WE MOVED!?!<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't have the energy to tell the entire story today,</div>
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(and speaking of energy, there's a story there, too!)</div>
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But I wanted to show y'all our new property.</div>
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Our FOREVER property!</div>
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22 acres...we are sharing with my sister and her family.</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/AVvXsEhkvfGmxKBffhTbRt8ulbeCWQLLUtfFH6CfDlC-Py-SqjHKaSyhPC_DWWCvNAHquK5Sadc4F0DIyt3OH68Qcp-2IvM2O8P_8fvc64KM5JPRV57ErSIbFDGyJ5r_nBRPjM2jltyKO0b-0igV/s1600/barn+under+construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvfGmxKBffhTbRt8ulbeCWQLLUtfFH6CfDlC-Py-SqjHKaSyhPC_DWWCvNAHquK5Sadc4F0DIyt3OH68Qcp-2IvM2O8P_8fvc64KM5JPRV57ErSIbFDGyJ5r_nBRPjM2jltyKO0b-0igV/s1600/barn+under+construction.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our barn...we renovated it. <br />This was part way through construction.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm61lzjwUuSMl6wntiuTDOV8mdq4_SdGuHb7DqCIuve5KrhLKcnNdVrptoiVFNbi03BouXymQhBFDQtSQJXgjkkZKjWvhKi8hkIT8qvM2RiWfBW2bu3gdqFkA9XmlFauH0Xd7ja-pRG28/s1600/back+deck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm61lzjwUuSMl6wntiuTDOV8mdq4_SdGuHb7DqCIuve5KrhLKcnNdVrptoiVFNbi03BouXymQhBFDQtSQJXgjkkZKjWvhKi8hkIT8qvM2RiWfBW2bu3gdqFkA9XmlFauH0Xd7ja-pRG28/s1600/back+deck.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our back deck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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/AVvXsEi-0xBcTHswKYwuyV9b7maWAdNogP2_3KWfX_vSpfmeXwYNjXhkrSH8sYbUYPzE9mI_L62BI3Rh1hgOEzXOhnCE1E8o_NRm6rPuH8tFWgHI53SmovLa42gY4xyol88daABRQgmVSHcFqQUT/s1600/fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0xBcTHswKYwuyV9b7maWAdNogP2_3KWfX_vSpfmeXwYNjXhkrSH8sYbUYPzE9mI_L62BI3Rh1hgOEzXOhnCE1E8o_NRm6rPuH8tFWgHI53SmovLa42gY4xyol88daABRQgmVSHcFqQUT/s1600/fountain.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our terrace.<br />And, yes, the sound of the fountain is amazing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEh5ChjBklhQIqJphaSSZJeLhl_HBBQykUQr-W1LYIyLEaR-HoCoaoD61onp4rCsIWXF0QshgQDiQirkuNO8lGBkRuZy9AmIUAd_Ms5t7QcbcmyYT6r8G0IkLWyRbpYR2MADuHKEa7sbkRvl/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ChjBklhQIqJphaSSZJeLhl_HBBQykUQr-W1LYIyLEaR-HoCoaoD61onp4rCsIWXF0QshgQDiQirkuNO8lGBkRuZy9AmIUAd_Ms5t7QcbcmyYT6r8G0IkLWyRbpYR2MADuHKEa7sbkRvl/s1600/garden.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We even planted a garden!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEjwQIKbtE8y0mGPranaEGidmdaP-mTL3_Y2Y8YxzdNGILxA6hApFLL08hHE2d5rSKvwBQ_VTAZi3GMwnn3lV-ylE-bNdqZ24gom4PNOFEL2PIhrPY2LwYMVfV49J0kos4AfQiJmmnTk73Gv/s1600/view+across+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQIKbtE8y0mGPranaEGidmdaP-mTL3_Y2Y8YxzdNGILxA6hApFLL08hHE2d5rSKvwBQ_VTAZi3GMwnn3lV-ylE-bNdqZ24gom4PNOFEL2PIhrPY2LwYMVfV49J0kos4AfQiJmmnTk73Gv/s1600/view+across+lake.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across lake...the terrace juts out into the water.<br />Picture was taken from where my sister's house will stand, looking at the back of our house.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our little slice of Heaven here on Earth!</div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-32700271607780094072014-02-07T17:06:00.001-06:002014-02-07T17:06:19.986-06:00Spiritual Journey<div style="text-align: center;">
Well hey there! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You still here? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You sure are patient! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Much more than I am at least. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or that I was, for I've been working on it! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How, you ask? </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let me catch you up on what's been going on with me...spiritually.</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/AVvXsEh3cIhOxqKNtlF6fzrY-jsNU4lWYSZ-cCJNfIcCgtNUY06-szB-0eNyjOG4Uqw1_L2oqqcB-_s5rHpNcVcxKUNYeauFj0KvJStjQPq1NnWp9h-9lalhrEm8YTQkdE3MneX8essfowg68rzy/s1600/under+construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cIhOxqKNtlF6fzrY-jsNU4lWYSZ-cCJNfIcCgtNUY06-szB-0eNyjOG4Uqw1_L2oqqcB-_s5rHpNcVcxKUNYeauFj0KvJStjQPq1NnWp9h-9lalhrEm8YTQkdE3MneX8essfowg68rzy/s1600/under+construction.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me...under construction!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
WAY back in February of last year (I know, it's almost been a year! You really ARE patient!) I posted about <a href="http://swizzdailydiatribe.blogspot.com/2013/02/house-church.html" target="_blank">joining a House Church</a>. It has been one of the most spiritually challenging decisions I have made...aside from my decision to follow Jesus.<br />
<br />
I grew up in a high mass Episcopal Church. Nothing wrong with that. I was an acolyte from the time I was a kindergartener until about 10th grade, when my family stopped attending that church. A few years later I met Jesus.<br />
<br />
Since then I've attended several churches. I've learned. I've grown. I've worshiped.<br />
<br />
I've never learned, grown, or worshiped like I do now.<br />
<br />
I've never been surrounded by a group of genuine people who learn, who LOVE, who challenge others, like I am now.<br />
<br />
My daily quiet times used to be sporadic, if ever. And when I had them they were more for checking it off of the list.<br />
<br />
Not now.<br />
<br />
I still have a lot of room to grow, don't get me wrong, but almost DAILY the Holy Spirit is guiding me and encouraging me to LOVE in ways I didn't know were possible for me.<br />
<br />
For, you see, I am not always a nice person. I can be <i>oh so</i> selfish. And judgmental. VERY judgmental. And...well, this isn't about my list of things wrong about me. It's how JESUS is changing me! For the BETTER!<br />
<br />
And how daily I am being accepted. BY ME! Because the Holy Spirit guides me there.<br />
<br />
With all of my faults, and there are oh so many, I've never really liked myself. Who would? Like me, that is? A person who is so quick to judge. And to get angry when you do things that disturb me? Not me, for one. I wouldn't like someone like that. Nope. And love them? Fuhgetaboutit!<br />
<br />
But, I'm learning to love me. Because Jesus does. And because all of those bad areas? Yeah, I'm working on those. <br />
<br />
<i>Baby steps, people. Baby steps.</i><br />
<br />
But in the meantime, I can give myself a break. And truly <i>love</i> who I am NOW. Because I am HOLY and DEARLY LOVED!<br />
<br />
And because I am Holy and Dearly Loved...I can clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And above all...I can let the PEACE of Christ rule in my heart. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whew. That's HUGE!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PEACE!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Who doesn't want peace?</i></div>
<br />
(And did you notice, earlier, I actually mentioned the Holy Spirit? Yeah, Him. I was always a bit, hmmm, embarrassed by people who talked about Him. Not anymore. Okay, so maybe just a little if it's weird. But, God isn't weird. People are weird. And when weird people who do weird things talk about the Holy Spirit...THEN I get embarrassed. Truth.)<br />
<br />
<br />Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-77353670526197020142013-04-01T09:52:00.000-05:002013-04-01T09:52:06.242-05:00Happy Easter 2013!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY EASTER!</span></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/AVvXsEiwuc2wq63Zf9_NcASTDMxn4Sx_v7-HavdPSSLEJ9qTveQn4oy4BKEQGoT4UsjfPbL2lxF1hSnt9G3TV_Eve3p1WD_I3-EqVJ69QlwXpd3UnTOr8YHf63T2B_z6TKJsmI77gOHhRb_qvEjA/s1600/Easter+2013+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuc2wq63Zf9_NcASTDMxn4Sx_v7-HavdPSSLEJ9qTveQn4oy4BKEQGoT4UsjfPbL2lxF1hSnt9G3TV_Eve3p1WD_I3-EqVJ69QlwXpd3UnTOr8YHf63T2B_z6TKJsmI77gOHhRb_qvEjA/s200/Easter+2013+4.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What a wonderful reminder of the love our Father has for us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Being a parent, I cannot imagine making the decision to sacrifice my son for others.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Especially for those who are so unworthy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He may have known Jesus would live again in 3 days, but He still had to watch him suffer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">May we always remember how blessed we are to be loved so immensely!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(sorry for the poor quality of the pictures...used the phone!) </i></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/AVvXsEil0GsSDMUC1CLVl85EG2FD5l14DvRsXfCWUzOw7of5kGgN5Y7x9AoBFsfvlzLhqLtP0FxCse1F6GpR2GDnzRmqATBgHJ3FdOKz383MlSSyCbsz9JqE_QvJ_RwdHQ-myOY3rV8KBP6KsbyP/s1600/Easter+2013+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0GsSDMUC1CLVl85EG2FD5l14DvRsXfCWUzOw7of5kGgN5Y7x9AoBFsfvlzLhqLtP0FxCse1F6GpR2GDnzRmqATBgHJ3FdOKz383MlSSyCbsz9JqE_QvJ_RwdHQ-myOY3rV8KBP6KsbyP/s320/Easter+2013+.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before opening Easter basket!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuvoUtd_jHRMdXbhsof-xqe9cnaZ0GCRqsnAXrTOmpDzGSTAXl-ddaB0j5LCtfrdwjXzNdM_Bt2EjLW3hoTfTeMMAE1SWX-aCaDTf8VXk1enhNPfegvyRg-0MDV5Z0ir7j-KNv8DftU6N/s1600/Easter+2013+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuvoUtd_jHRMdXbhsof-xqe9cnaZ0GCRqsnAXrTOmpDzGSTAXl-ddaB0j5LCtfrdwjXzNdM_Bt2EjLW3hoTfTeMMAE1SWX-aCaDTf8VXk1enhNPfegvyRg-0MDV5Z0ir7j-KNv8DftU6N/s320/Easter+2013+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was an Angry Birds themed basket this year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhIp1ejQtjzsgA86jpa0IUCLrief-CermtfJjQjzpLFGBGM_qr0TVX5LDrlqe44tI2WmHU4pYq70Jx5SuFxA2UMRjkDA-0oHyWoNtf36FO5l7lCll43eMG0xZXbAVuGSa9-9LNCrFw0zMmK/s1600/Easter+2013+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp1ejQtjzsgA86jpa0IUCLrief-CermtfJjQjzpLFGBGM_qr0TVX5LDrlqe44tI2WmHU4pYq70Jx5SuFxA2UMRjkDA-0oHyWoNtf36FO5l7lCll43eMG0xZXbAVuGSa9-9LNCrFw0zMmK/s320/Easter+2013+3.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each egg had an Easter message inside! Some even had jokes. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-47469172907254035472013-02-28T17:57:00.000-06:002013-02-28T17:57:06.703-06:00House Church<div style="text-align: center;">
It's funny, I never would have thought of us as the house church "type".</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Go with me here, I'm not trying to judge or label!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What's a house church, you ask?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From Vine House Churches:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;">These are real churches that meet in homes, where believers gather
at least once each week for prayer, fellowship, teaching, and to pray
for the lost. House Churches can meet in homes, places of business,
coffee shops-anywhere people meet. These are real churches, not just
Bible studies or House groups. They have (pastor/shepherds), they
collect tithes and offerings, and the leadership is responsible before
the Lord for the souls of the people in the house church (Hebrews
13:17).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;">House Churches are local churches in
which the church life and ministry to one another takes place mainly in
House groups instead of in a "central service". Some house-churches do
have a Sunday service, but the emphasis is on the Houses, where
teaching, counseling, ministry, prayer and evangelism take place.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #351c75;">The
important thing about a House Church is not the quality of the worship
leader or how gifted the group leader is, but the tangible love of
Christ between the members. People are drawn to Christ when they
experience His love practically. Christianity is primarily relational.
Jesus when he called his followers asking them to follow Him in
relationship. Doctrine is essential but it must be realized in the
context of people living out their lives in a way that looks
Christ-like.</span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<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/AVvXsEgYBb7Fa-o9yw6YYsIRexaJJIrJhMQb2j_TnWSq8-9YDQo6_JK4DNvDwYOpcJg5WPmn4wsBhDfuNcznChTjMOQADg3mpr9HuqAtK8-sxixprhWW6kZ18Kh0TImKgpA1YPhMreulqjvOXeJ-/s1600/65081_3897088115877_1846229024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBb7Fa-o9yw6YYsIRexaJJIrJhMQb2j_TnWSq8-9YDQo6_JK4DNvDwYOpcJg5WPmn4wsBhDfuNcznChTjMOQADg3mpr9HuqAtK8-sxixprhWW6kZ18Kh0TImKgpA1YPhMreulqjvOXeJ-/s320/65081_3897088115877_1846229024_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we look evil. No, we are not! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">When we moved out of my Mom's house into our current home (remember, we are renting?), we found that not only did our back-door neighbors homeschool, their oldest child was in JMonster's class in our Classical Conversations group<span style="color: blue;">!</span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">And...they held a house church in their home<span style="color: blue;">!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Now we had been attending a great church here in town, with a pastor we loved and whose preaching was spot <span style="color: blue;">on, but we hungered for more. We weren't connected in ways we wanted to be, and they started a capital campaign soon afte<span style="color: blue;">r we moved. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">I am NOT saying capital campaigns are bad, however our last 2 churches did HUGE capital campa<span style="color: blue;">igns toward the end of us bein<span style="color: blue;">g there and we were over them. In our minds and hearts, that money<span style="color: blue;"> could be used to </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">directly<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>help people who are in need<span style="color: blue;">! Building more bri<span style="color: blue;">cks and sticks<span style="color: blue;">, when there are SOOO many churches already here, just didn't make sense to us.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">We visited the house church in November of 2011. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">WOW! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">We couldn't believe people actually churched like this! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Where had this been all of our marriage?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Now that we have been attending for <span style="color: blue;">over a year, <span style="color: blue;">our thoughts are just the same. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Church is good. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Our church is good. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">House church isn't for everyone. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">It isn't better or worse than other churches, just different.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">And we wouldn't change where we attend, right now, for anything.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">At some point in the <span style="color: blue;">near future I will share about our community and just how it "works"!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Have you <span style="color: blue;">ever attend<span style="color: blue;">ed a house church?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Do you love the <span style="color: blue;">church you are in<span style="color: blue;">?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Are you being fed and getting to feed others?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: blue;">PLEASE SHARE!!!</span> </span></span> </span></span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-86859016702969238742013-02-23T09:32:00.001-06:002013-02-23T09:32:06.897-06:00Mentally swimming through infertility<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>On a side note, I am utterly surprised this blog is still here! </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I would not have been shocked if it had been removed for inactivity.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sorry!</i></span></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/AVvXsEjQ3sMM1A1BqIp9jE3L5xS_cHugrdl4HI-RG_DdKWuNMDq6OUeN1rmXCvDtadnfZ0aNczpJHe-BV64vQsYLT5_m0e3tYEoNJD7Rc4c3gYnpLnHu4-p24hZGfpwjYTei6jXP9hCDhWr0KZuF/s1600/P1010262_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3sMM1A1BqIp9jE3L5xS_cHugrdl4HI-RG_DdKWuNMDq6OUeN1rmXCvDtadnfZ0aNczpJHe-BV64vQsYLT5_m0e3tYEoNJD7Rc4c3gYnpLnHu4-p24hZGfpwjYTei6jXP9hCDhWr0KZuF/s320/P1010262_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't we need another one like this running around?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sooo...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lately my heart has been revisiting where we are with growing our family. Which at this point is nowhere.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I did finally sit down with The Rev and let him know how hard this is for me. How I feel like it is US holding the process back, not God.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And JMonster talks about having a baby sister or brother ALL. THE. TIME.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I checked into the whole foster to adopt process, which seems like the best thing for us, and am excited!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Rev isn't quite there, yet.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I even found a sibling group of 3 adorable kids needing homes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A 6 year old boy, a 5 year old girl, and a 4 year old girl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In my heart they could be ours!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We need a home study.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We obviously had one when we lived in Atlanta, but it is way past expired.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Anyone know how to get a FREE home study? Message me!) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have to go to some meetings and get training.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And all of this while I would still LOVE to have another of our own biological kiddos, and not doubting God, but also wondering if it will ever happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am 40, remember?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PLEASE, PLEASE pray for us! </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-38895876549013845712013-01-02T11:38:00.000-06:002013-01-02T11:38:18.083-06:00Federal Budget...WHY did I sit and read it?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I made the mistake of sitting down to read the federal budget.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://immigrationimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/budget3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://immigrationimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/budget3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I know! I know! Stupid.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My thought process probably went something like this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I wonder what the government spends our money on?"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"They seem to overspend...not thinking about a true budget at all."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"WE stay within a budget in our house."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"In the movie Dave they were able to balance the budget."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I love the movie Dave!"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Maybe they need ME to look at the budget and find the excesses."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So...I did.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whoa! Did you know that the federal government will spend almost $23 BILLION on Reforming and extending unemployment<br />insurance, but only $1 MILLION on Helping entrepreneurs and small businesses<br />access capital and grow?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seems backward to me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
People who are NOT working vs people who are making a go at starting a new life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are the types of things which irk me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am ALL for helping people. I am!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Didn't you see me help that person the other day? Maybe it was last week? Or last month?) </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, it must be in the right context.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And it must set people up for success.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our system is broken, and it keeps those in need...well, in need!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I suggest you do NOT read the budget.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unless you are one of those who enjoys horror movies and nightmares.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Anyone else out there make this same mistake?)</span></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-34411582853406312592012-12-21T16:20:00.000-06:002012-12-21T16:20:55.178-06:00JMonster's Christmas Piano Recital<div style="text-align: center;">
JMonster and his 3 cousins had their Christmas recital recently.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My sister was sitting next to me and her youngest played right before JMonster. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the middle of her performance my sister's phone memory was filled.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OH NO!!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here you will see Flower and JMonster.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you tell he was VERY nervous? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Made a few mistakes, but recovered admirably!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WAY TO GO JMONSTER!!!</div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-5220556699242679632012-12-06T22:24:00.001-06:002012-12-06T22:24:56.685-06:00Dinner Group<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Quick update:</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>It's funny, we were SO healthy there for awhile. Only one illness worth mentioning, and then...it hit us!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In the past few weeks (feels like months!) we have endured several colds, pink eye, a UTI, a horrible stomach bug (JMonster) and now The Rev sounds like his lung might come out when he coughs. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I am getting better now, it seems, and will be taking Emergen-C like my life depends on it. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think I've told you about our dinner group. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have I?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some of our neighbors banded together a few months ago to have dinner together 5 nights a week.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(I know! Some people say they would hate it, <span style="font-size: small;">but we</span> love it!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One person cooks and we all go there for dinner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Imagine, cooking and cleaning only ONE NIGHT A WEEK!<br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(We eat out on Fridays<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, or get pizza, and our church meets Saturday evenings and we do a potluck. Thus the cooking only once a week.)</span></span></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We didn't join initially because of JMonster's food allergies.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And my corn intolerance.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But after we were asked again to join and reassured everyone was willing to put up with our unique needs, we joined!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6 families were rotating for the 5 nights.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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The 6th week you didn't have to cook at all!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have wonderful community, extra time for our families, and it is even saving money.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are there downsides?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sure.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For us the downsides are that most nights dinner is ready around 5:30 or 5:45...The Rev gets home around 5:30 and that is typically when we would go run. On our own we usually eat dinner around 6:30 or so.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The other downside is that, as a family we have chosen to go organic, but we are the only ones in the group pretty much who do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we cook for everyone, we try and choose organic, free trade, free range, grass fed, etc...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we are NOT cooking we aren't eating that way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's definitely something I think about, especially for JMonster and his longterm health!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But for now the positives far outweigh the negatives and we are LOVING our dinner group!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do any of you do this? Do you think you would like to?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-21344188404322191762012-11-01T20:02:00.001-05:002012-11-01T20:02:24.775-05:00Halloween 2012...in Pics!<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;"><img alt="isn't there a joke in there?" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuitDImc0ep2ef8RR07qtTpgNjUSUf-drUyYoAL3ixduZKYOuBOPak7_LmRcnqHfT56bk0fRsr12Eb61SY0ZlAkZPgULkYz4AEV5pmOsrRECbEoFvUTujvqcOgtBSr8e1hKjN4PcMVUpj/s640/P1120678.JPG" title="A witch and a hippie..." width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The twins were the only parents with costumes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6Ff5yqeKhug3FlOh59ej9hjhewJzREzWsNVuTnpplefckuvnPxo3yuObdq5ynBbgmIusA_zqV-iniad0se-iGg2HaSxN_k-NSMkSk9rY_ms6L-tbIcAhLy8JqJT0ytaFuYjKG8jGW2rp/s1600/P1120677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6Ff5yqeKhug3FlOh59ej9hjhewJzREzWsNVuTnpplefckuvnPxo3yuObdq5ynBbgmIusA_zqV-iniad0se-iGg2HaSxN_k-NSMkSk9rY_ms6L-tbIcAhLy8JqJT0ytaFuYjKG8jGW2rp/s320/P1120677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The others...not so much.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkef3XO8EOB6GpPzX4v5LKxgogEh4ZDCULrgWaC9d7O5xPlHL9S4wxoAg258NIeiFubdsz4WHjYXERY1bxS-xEaxXuat6mLMPQt_2uU3qh2V4FPQkjYGwnDundCE3nFIk8euxJ5Qhiuid/s1600/P1120679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkef3XO8EOB6GpPzX4v5LKxgogEh4ZDCULrgWaC9d7O5xPlHL9S4wxoAg258NIeiFubdsz4WHjYXERY1bxS-xEaxXuat6mLMPQt_2uU3qh2V4FPQkjYGwnDundCE3nFIk8euxJ5Qhiuid/s400/P1120679.JPG" title="World's cutest red power ranger!" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JMonster Power Ranger, Red Galaxy to be exact!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1xsycZhArrPd9veXsMec-CdcCfWbEfU2AMGUVw-2LXugqRZ5wzaK-ArUJq6kdvT7g4vrz5C378hs0fJrracxTEHgEs48o2vRYv9T6txjj7kVKXzjG2IjyCAh62ZS8G0CUmFNoFIeapRv/s1600/P1120680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1xsycZhArrPd9veXsMec-CdcCfWbEfU2AMGUVw-2LXugqRZ5wzaK-ArUJq6kdvT7g4vrz5C378hs0fJrracxTEHgEs48o2vRYv9T6txjj7kVKXzjG2IjyCAh62ZS8G0CUmFNoFIeapRv/s320/P1120680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trick or Treating by "Hayride"!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQVBSEJMuGum2LfDPV993uaVWiPWxHlydvo_zfBLv3G280zafSgTuc-3J-n1bFj1SaxCHjY14kQ_rRkZ7EruibXj_4Y07uLEtsHbQ7uXkwiI_MDjYJKjYZNSxpLzN2Gnhnf9WJTqyrc6K/s1600/P1120681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQVBSEJMuGum2LfDPV993uaVWiPWxHlydvo_zfBLv3G280zafSgTuc-3J-n1bFj1SaxCHjY14kQ_rRkZ7EruibXj_4Y07uLEtsHbQ7uXkwiI_MDjYJKjYZNSxpLzN2Gnhnf9WJTqyrc6K/s320/P1120681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bride of Death...when asked why she chose this costume, </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">her serious reply was, "It's what I had."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGVxQEsCngJBM9k8lev6oq0zRuv0eYxLBvZHRBUWiXueYNZoqObiblqt0X8NIZR_ktJsto5jHkhw2-nM7gkCrA2mGa4vOoA-FhLBUVpgN3QbZYCRu4u0hbEFsoPV_Lp-F0W-PD2obTSBD/s1600/P1120682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGVxQEsCngJBM9k8lev6oq0zRuv0eYxLBvZHRBUWiXueYNZoqObiblqt0X8NIZR_ktJsto5jHkhw2-nM7gkCrA2mGa4vOoA-FhLBUVpgN3QbZYCRu4u0hbEFsoPV_Lp-F0W-PD2obTSBD/s320/P1120682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JMonster and his cousins...and Anna Sophia (AKA Trouble!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB4ZS4rb9nIYgHRZ-n8EHICsLMoGVa_69DhugAwwdFrUYXSs7YMaDH1hZqAVOYowAWkHFxGRPAnWRJ2eWpTP_zXLEw6JUWleTeL9sQd-Bh3m3s0BiaZei9x7EQ-2rPjpgMRVj0KOs9FW4/s1600/P1120683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB4ZS4rb9nIYgHRZ-n8EHICsLMoGVa_69DhugAwwdFrUYXSs7YMaDH1hZqAVOYowAWkHFxGRPAnWRJ2eWpTP_zXLEw6JUWleTeL9sQd-Bh3m3s0BiaZei9x7EQ-2rPjpgMRVj0KOs9FW4/s320/P1120683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tried a second time...still not good!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKco2ifx-g4c_IdeHXczCWj_3VATvFwZlL8Z5iWxPmNI1uKCmHJmPTTWWQ2ChpPmqZkd_a2wxpbJniRiI6Clg8k3zdyfz_X_05KoVHvN-SPTOTU2sr9tnS86bH17y8NdL4AQZ6yU1O_Re/s1600/P1120684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKco2ifx-g4c_IdeHXczCWj_3VATvFwZlL8Z5iWxPmNI1uKCmHJmPTTWWQ2ChpPmqZkd_a2wxpbJniRiI6Clg8k3zdyfz_X_05KoVHvN-SPTOTU2sr9tnS86bH17y8NdL4AQZ6yU1O_Re/s320/P1120684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin "A" and Megan, the beautiful butterfly</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwVAISG8wYELfT2IyMRXHo2TupxfibMSjvVRC6TTQOlS2XMqGPFtDXMXB0aJKUXZPEX7kxfZgo7amVTlb-tuN6Wvc7lqcWm5d5R4cQ6FjluqrGgFaIpbfMYQyZ8utEI6ubc32_p_873db/s1600/P1120685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwVAISG8wYELfT2IyMRXHo2TupxfibMSjvVRC6TTQOlS2XMqGPFtDXMXB0aJKUXZPEX7kxfZgo7amVTlb-tuN6Wvc7lqcWm5d5R4cQ6FjluqrGgFaIpbfMYQyZ8utEI6ubc32_p_873db/s320/P1120685.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He couldn't be any cuter missing those 2 front teeth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DhPvAkscyQmAh9ZyIOpwTD3b9y1Hbnule7dgTniUof69Akgy7mECibhBN4u66glopM5P26h1TpqWRD_IjU8-U_BeVxhKhSlfPwuiXAJxq0em74m9lfCf-tgqqFh7wt_kTZdfbhrf6CUT/s1600/P1120686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DhPvAkscyQmAh9ZyIOpwTD3b9y1Hbnule7dgTniUof69Akgy7mECibhBN4u66glopM5P26h1TpqWRD_IjU8-U_BeVxhKhSlfPwuiXAJxq0em74m9lfCf-tgqqFh7wt_kTZdfbhrf6CUT/s320/P1120686.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoSN8FJ8GG3GE2TU90PjFL8lDE-9hMO6uOAFvEhcCemgZ6AFEF6p-gI2YrgPgOagCiH5i45ThBpICL5oqTZ48_kxUuJPkMdk8z6n5pXF01gCHhRf7FkNOqVJeGScgshZgl0LoJq1F4Yp4/s1600/P1120687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoSN8FJ8GG3GE2TU90PjFL8lDE-9hMO6uOAFvEhcCemgZ6AFEF6p-gI2YrgPgOagCiH5i45ThBpICL5oqTZ48_kxUuJPkMdk8z6n5pXF01gCHhRf7FkNOqVJeGScgshZgl0LoJq1F4Yp4/s320/P1120687.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm waiting....I'm waiting...I'm waiting...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOOXaiu8QVc8UHKP53_A2M9rsZBjwX43s24cxnHghnevluFAiEy8ivtk4Exeacmjfxhu4FMK0qXgV9lP3WABCh4d-LN8lbUXI_m5oOpVJm6xN8CAR6DuVKstA5RPnUvF3naS8eX9sZWk-/s1600/P1120688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOOXaiu8QVc8UHKP53_A2M9rsZBjwX43s24cxnHghnevluFAiEy8ivtk4Exeacmjfxhu4FMK0qXgV9lP3WABCh4d-LN8lbUXI_m5oOpVJm6xN8CAR6DuVKstA5RPnUvF3naS8eX9sZWk-/s320/P1120688.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JMonster's Power Ranger buddy Colt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPQW2TEkMrb3jzvPDJiYBfo9BbW9J4KvBACWL6yafsYmfl6fXk8rM-PjUsbX8G6sJBiQBmx7wQ4WC6vIQ-AF40jGdo6A6phDQjb_HistR-BC0PXsaz2UMqn14t-iy_3vEfK2wagK4nUw3/s1600/P1120689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPQW2TEkMrb3jzvPDJiYBfo9BbW9J4KvBACWL6yafsYmfl6fXk8rM-PjUsbX8G6sJBiQBmx7wQ4WC6vIQ-AF40jGdo6A6phDQjb_HistR-BC0PXsaz2UMqn14t-iy_3vEfK2wagK4nUw3/s320/P1120689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwUauHrg3vN2TOxqHlg0aaXjS1k0bhkVEAYElnq4bffz857N3ScHatgm3GYX9PrkoGfZALvO0NyZYDbaakq8251SZJJUK5EXlwSQeEI0a5Rk3SLVBrfI7gRoxsnSPcqgfvfDlEDsN5BUw/s1600/P1120698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwUauHrg3vN2TOxqHlg0aaXjS1k0bhkVEAYElnq4bffz857N3ScHatgm3GYX9PrkoGfZALvO0NyZYDbaakq8251SZJJUK5EXlwSQeEI0a5Rk3SLVBrfI7gRoxsnSPcqgfvfDlEDsN5BUw/s320/P1120698.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't take a picture...okay, cheese!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRutb0J1zLT2bG4oAssv79VDy75NN4vkmHi4oKJ4_plrHnsz0B2SOlz1C4ZX4EisLpguD2OTOpBRbdaAJ5GgIeCGSBZu7QzT54tbgG9AFugxhgxil9SNQ0y_316gAfZR0vyI4BNleUqwM/s1600/P1120697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRutb0J1zLT2bG4oAssv79VDy75NN4vkmHi4oKJ4_plrHnsz0B2SOlz1C4ZX4EisLpguD2OTOpBRbdaAJ5GgIeCGSBZu7QzT54tbgG9AFugxhgxil9SNQ0y_316gAfZR0vyI4BNleUqwM/s400/P1120697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Dads get lazy passing out candy, they congregate on the cul de sac.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVwZTktSESCenE2VQbOnVtGUenQy0fPS-ICmNRVEuwk54d8SRSaB5EEMZKxmKdFtNDmGsVoY0XaxcQ-cZcvVmSpiIgIK9ciJFuTtol7Kcbaks7aYjP3qMbeHXEzJ6p8RltjjTa67CpCmK/s1600/P1120694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVwZTktSESCenE2VQbOnVtGUenQy0fPS-ICmNRVEuwk54d8SRSaB5EEMZKxmKdFtNDmGsVoY0XaxcQ-cZcvVmSpiIgIK9ciJFuTtol7Kcbaks7aYjP3qMbeHXEzJ6p8RltjjTa67CpCmK/s320/P1120694.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great night! Happy Halloween from the Power Rangers!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-79112384621898896702012-10-26T09:01:00.000-05:002012-10-26T09:01:35.875-05:00Doubting Swizz<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Disclaimer</b>: <i>If you are looking for a blog post which is full of spiritual truths and sounds like it was written by Mother Theresa, I can give you some links to a few other blogs. If you, like me, live life day to day and question what is real, what you think and believe, what others say...then this is the post for you.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I often wonder if I am the only person who does this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will be reading the Bible, which I believe to be the infallible Word of God, <i>I do...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And will find myself wondering how they did it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How did Jesus make it look like he was taken up to Heaven and hidden by a cloud?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How did they make it look like they did all of the miracles?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How much planning went into pulling off all of these Houdini style magic tricks?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can picture a room full of men planning and scheming.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Coming up with ways to pull off hoax after hoax.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"One of us can pretend we are dying. Or dead."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I can act like I'm blind!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then it will hit me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Why would they do this?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What benefit would there be for them?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Money?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(um, really? my mind goes there? when they were poor?) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Persecution?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prison? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To be beheaded?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will shake my head as I sit reading and realize just where my thoughts have taken me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And be so glad that the God of the universe understands.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And. Still. Loves. Me.</div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-62272609425385664802012-10-12T12:32:00.000-05:002012-10-12T12:32:04.139-05:00Still waiting...<div style="text-align: center;">
The young lady cancelled the appointment with the agency.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No reason was given, so we don't know if she will call back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please, please, please</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
keep praying for HER and for her SON and for the UNBORN BABY!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our God is bigger than any doubt or struggle we go through.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We just need to trust and obey.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And Believe.</div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-31432371364126501102012-10-11T10:27:00.001-05:002012-10-11T10:27:24.344-05:00A Possible Child? Or two?<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>If you are new here and have no idea the roller coaster of our Infertility Journey go click on the tab at the top of this page. Go ahead! Grab a box of tissues, read through our journey, then come back and read our latest news! </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have to admit a certain amount of unbelief.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Did I mishear God when He promised He would increase our family?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is He going back on His promise?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I know! I know! HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES! It is ME who has an issue here, NOT GOD!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He keeps reminding me of Noah.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who prepared in the face of others thinking he was crazy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've often wondered if Noah kind of thought he was crazy, too?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few days ago a friend approached me and said her Mom works at an adoption agency and there is an 18 month old little boy who might possibly be placed soon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His mom is pregnant again as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HER mom just passed away, and she had been the person caring for the child.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Were we interested?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<internal dance="dance" doubts.="doubts." happy="happy" nbsp="nbsp" nervous="nervous" scream="scream" thoughts.="thoughts."></internal></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Are we interested!?!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OF COURSE WE ARE INTERESTED!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>So right now we are asking for prayers.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prayers for this child whose world is possibly about to be turned upside down, that God would place him where he NEEDS to be not where we desire him to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the unborn child.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For us to have peace through this process.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And for financial blessing if God wants us to have one or both of these children!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>I find it amusing that, like Noah, our blessing might come in a pair!</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">I PROMISE TO UPDATE EVERYONE AS SOON AS WE KNOW SOMETHING! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">In the meantime please, please leave a comment, message, or something letting us know you are praying! It means a lot!</span></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-66424780745449585282012-10-11T10:14:00.000-05:002012-10-11T10:14:00.462-05:00Flu Season<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">JMonster and I just had a conversation about an illness I had recently.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #274e13;"><i>Mommy, I know why you felt bad!</i></span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #351c75;">Why is that buddy?</span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #274e13;"><i>It's flu season.</i></span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #351c75;">Where did you learn that?</span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<i><span style="color: #274e13;">I saw a sign saying 'Power to stop the Flu' and Aunt Bambi said it is because it is flu season."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;">"So you need to get a flu shot Mommy!"</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;">"<b>Except, shouldn't it be a STOP the flu shot?</b>"</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you had your </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">STOP THE FLU </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">shot?</span></b></span></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/AVvXsEi-VUa152j_OtEdd12Tmswv2bpnoRhSONmTTD6FeU88wLoY9AgzEEMmN4RAwC8UCn-tjjcmXd51ir6LIJfxkuTyBVL1_qVCrQk0QO5_Tx5Q9vbjNVwexyHZuEXS3AuHQz-tB7ZXFLu-tygh/s1600/PC020139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VUa152j_OtEdd12Tmswv2bpnoRhSONmTTD6FeU88wLoY9AgzEEMmN4RAwC8UCn-tjjcmXd51ir6LIJfxkuTyBVL1_qVCrQk0QO5_Tx5Q9vbjNVwexyHZuEXS3AuHQz-tB7ZXFLu-tygh/s320/PC020139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(JMonster took this of himself...I think it is HILARIOUS!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-37468952972262953502012-08-27T22:53:00.000-05:002012-08-27T22:53:08.770-05:00Things I learned from my hairdesser...<div style="text-align: center;">
For my 40th (Yes, it happened. No, I didn't post. Sorry!) The Rev and Doc gave my twin sister and I a spa day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This was in preparation for our SURPRISE PARTY!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had our nails done, and we got to have whatever we wanted done to our hair.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had mine straightened.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
LOVE IT!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, she didn't have enough time to cut it so I had to go back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh darn!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another shampoo. Another blowdry. So sad.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This woman is smart.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
VERY smart.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She remembered every. single. detail. of our conversation 2 weeks later!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then she taught me a wonderful lesson.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Do you know what worship means?" she asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"No..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"It means to bring war against"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(or something like that...who can remember exactly!?!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Hmmm..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"And if you are ever at a time when you are feeling attacked, WORSHIP! The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. If HE is there, evil cannot be. So worship! Give halleluia! Praise his name! It will send evil running."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never thought of that. Worship as a way of fighting evil. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Makes sense!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next time I find myself under "attack"...and we all have been there...I plan to worship!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-11342270263466031582012-07-03T19:56:00.000-05:002012-07-03T19:56:06.723-05:00Our President (According to JMonster)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At dinner this evening the following conversation might (or might not) have taken place:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: blue;">JMonster, who do you think will be our next President?</span></div>
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Mitt Romney or Barack Obama</span>?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #274e13;">It doesn't matter right now, the vote isn't for a long time!</span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: blue;">But who do you think will win?</span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #274e13;">I think Arock Obottom</span>"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, folks, we have hit Rock Bottom.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Arock Obottom to be specific.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz9sFXN-7YA4K5CljlKxvKw4tb3UL1I6l3TqqcrQFi5jhWwHiWeHVaTjl2Jt_vl8RxanDWaKbguMpnnkQu1rJUAsf-pWo9lm3g7YL0G5VOmonKj7WEjkcsTwgGayo31ri_E1N-bMIp-HG/s1600/Arock+Obottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz9sFXN-7YA4K5CljlKxvKw4tb3UL1I6l3TqqcrQFi5jhWwHiWeHVaTjl2Jt_vl8RxanDWaKbguMpnnkQu1rJUAsf-pWo9lm3g7YL0G5VOmonKj7WEjkcsTwgGayo31ri_E1N-bMIp-HG/s400/Arock+Obottom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And THAT is our President according to JMonster.</b></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-52310595993747294482012-06-29T14:55:00.000-05:002012-06-29T14:55:23.008-05:0040 Days to 40!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">In forty days I will be forty.</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, FORTY!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fabulous, fantastic, fulfilled forty!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And to honor this, I am going to be "preparing" for my big FOUR OH.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>How, you ask?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, let me share!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the next forty days I will be making some changes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. Getting up 40 minutes earlier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Why? Because of discipline. God is working on discipline with me!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Going to bed 40 minutes earlier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(This goes hand in hand with #1!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
3. 40 minutes of prayer and reading Bible each day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(I already do both of these things, but not for this long.) </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. Do something uplifting for someone else each day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(More of others, less of me! See a trend here?)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. Do something active for 40 minutes each day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Not necessarily working out, can be playing outside, swimming, etc...)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am SO excited to be ramping up for my big day!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Wanna join me?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Share what changes YOU are willing to make for 40 days!</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-76721123186769401342012-06-13T22:06:00.000-05:002012-06-13T22:06:00.237-05:00THAT should be on YouTube!<div style="text-align: center;">
During a visit by Grammy, JMonster spent quite a bit of time chasing her around with his new camera taking pictures of her hiney.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the following video she thinks he is trying to, yet again, take a picture of her backside. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Only he is videoing.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It. Is. Hilarious!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He even starts the video by saying, "This is a video of Grammy's hiney."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Listen carefully.</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzX9UVOfu0m42HfM8HHKgTdmsId0Ha473OH6VXisxVGM289dE4fmpW5AzV0ZyBu7K7BpwPT3r-Ga0Akw1u4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And don't you DARE tell her we posted this!</div>
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She would KILL me!</div>
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But it is too funny not to share.</div>
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So go ahead, laugh, but do it quietly so no one will hear you.</div>
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Especially Grammy!</div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-62680906372811779532012-06-12T21:37:00.000-05:002012-06-12T21:37:44.065-05:00Skiing Park City<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, yes this post is <cough, cough=""> months late!</cough,></div>
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But better late than never, right?</div>
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(Oh, HOW did I get this far behind? Homeschooling. That's right!)</div>
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We met up with our friends, the Baloneys.</div>
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It was a fabulous trip...friendships were forged, strengthened, and all around solidified. </div>
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I couldn't have asked for better!</div>
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Our trip, in pics & videos:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTsR8V7RuUetgFeAY8Vz_lO6jpw-yG9gr0G3d2nIO8Prcn4f4RsfXCuz5jyUF8a4T64SL-OvuhbGiwFfNYGYpg0nrk2OuTJG62MfnNDNYJEZQxJS6iLweKyKyCdrBoMggEHFaS_e6dpWg/s1600/swizz+and+jm+park+city+lift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTsR8V7RuUetgFeAY8Vz_lO6jpw-yG9gr0G3d2nIO8Prcn4f4RsfXCuz5jyUF8a4T64SL-OvuhbGiwFfNYGYpg0nrk2OuTJG62MfnNDNYJEZQxJS6iLweKyKyCdrBoMggEHFaS_e6dpWg/s400/swizz+and+jm+park+city+lift.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swizz and JMonster on the lift</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGn7Dy4dW-X-MmIX9vuuT9-z7EMR0r_31fDhg4d8xnUifu6AqSkb1FKSLVip5_LD0vNHP4kLUL7dAlW4SvT_epah5iPrpV-nnjUfl43qKBMfULioA6CZ9DdVUy0_WjKZfd5-rNslKORNd/s1600/jm+park+city+jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGn7Dy4dW-X-MmIX9vuuT9-z7EMR0r_31fDhg4d8xnUifu6AqSkb1FKSLVip5_LD0vNHP4kLUL7dAlW4SvT_epah5iPrpV-nnjUfl43qKBMfULioA6CZ9DdVUy0_WjKZfd5-rNslKORNd/s400/jm+park+city+jump.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JMonster JUMPING!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qumdPyPb6A01cpUchk7aALtunAc75A3TraOX2Sra9imCd08RFbPNSOk-9la1bPhsBprQXJpM08SBFa-xgkcPbM5giOCZa7LOzGHBHRGFXaDJjqicNzN4m7b-sD9BhIsX_-wcW8UHJLsu/s1600/jm+park+city+tired+and+hungry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qumdPyPb6A01cpUchk7aALtunAc75A3TraOX2Sra9imCd08RFbPNSOk-9la1bPhsBprQXJpM08SBFa-xgkcPbM5giOCZa7LOzGHBHRGFXaDJjqicNzN4m7b-sD9BhIsX_-wcW8UHJLsu/s400/jm+park+city+tired+and+hungry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired and Hungry after a morning of skiing! Time for lunch!</td></tr>
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A video of JMonster skiing. Sorry for the quality! Most of our pics early in the trip are blue. Go figure. I was trying to keep it smooth in the beginning which got me behind so then I had to "skate" to catch up. :o) And for some reason the audio isn't working on my computer. Maybe it is on yours?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TfAQ4e3vdHYU7GD6oOyIe8dlrd8kqpHgqN_GNWKJvr98edkYIe13kgTUQfR6ic8Yhx3U_o3WAz9Ts2p6NzLIfXuXLdDHbkzfbzrBnrBOdi3PBPxJL_gSRK9b8IU8TlmojijVZyWJRZ8/s1600/ipad+3+2012+276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TfAQ4e3vdHYU7GD6oOyIe8dlrd8kqpHgqN_GNWKJvr98edkYIe13kgTUQfR6ic8Yhx3U_o3WAz9Ts2p6NzLIfXuXLdDHbkzfbzrBnrBOdi3PBPxJL_gSRK9b8IU8TlmojijVZyWJRZ8/s400/ipad+3+2012+276.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael, The Doc (not OUR doc, but Baloney's), The Rev, Jeremy, Swizz, and Baloney!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTufOolBQLP0-CJ5UlvaIV2T6mvexwn0UgWS3PabHpBuB3aA5xEjgRCwDiBm2A14jRgGdRVWBbqyPS7vK9GpGbL6W1EPsWY8Eo1VzwmrsBOUZCcGYg7l1IUiRkoTT8AYEBt8DmHrn7Oc/s1600/ipad+3+2012+279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTufOolBQLP0-CJ5UlvaIV2T6mvexwn0UgWS3PabHpBuB3aA5xEjgRCwDiBm2A14jRgGdRVWBbqyPS7vK9GpGbL6W1EPsWY8Eo1VzwmrsBOUZCcGYg7l1IUiRkoTT8AYEBt8DmHrn7Oc/s400/ipad+3+2012+279.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in "Downtown" Park City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqGTD8NWXAS7HiLKUAXKYUAdfGJhSCMFdEy8UimtBc6vgY2yNO_UCoUWYM2xMdOYWeofwwajXdkmL_e9S0-njbmHfkTZrKQNiaPHn8PFmGqqNB8VPhxc6oL6ENWdhpGcQbAztnkOKuJ4/s1600/ipad+3+2012+253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqGTD8NWXAS7HiLKUAXKYUAdfGJhSCMFdEy8UimtBc6vgY2yNO_UCoUWYM2xMdOYWeofwwajXdkmL_e9S0-njbmHfkTZrKQNiaPHn8PFmGqqNB8VPhxc6oL6ENWdhpGcQbAztnkOKuJ4/s400/ipad+3+2012+253.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know you didn't! (Don't worry, I got The Rev back!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaXRbUc8TefiNhGzM19fkXSz1ieO02tBtN8x7wZRk166KjEZbJYnzyu5QgQn1i2PRtDV_hyVhFyMD8Cmyt9zPdeYqsa3oVAOBMGGRL9KzCr3VqIh1xe5ZBn1cZP4a9JDvJDIRG90xlyY/s1600/ipad+3+2012+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaXRbUc8TefiNhGzM19fkXSz1ieO02tBtN8x7wZRk166KjEZbJYnzyu5QgQn1i2PRtDV_hyVhFyMD8Cmyt9zPdeYqsa3oVAOBMGGRL9KzCr3VqIh1xe5ZBn1cZP4a9JDvJDIRG90xlyY/s400/ipad+3+2012+288.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baloney thought this was HILARIOUS! Notice I have my skis with me.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jPOW8hgENIHNKRRHM4RGIJ8Le4M4GuFsT4Ykfz0mlfzN0cpaoRLqWj1-7zsFi0up-aLEnun1TOryltl5EPzFQ5ve5vN-6yf0hT2AGITvZq4vuhcm-RzOZfC5T6A0Y2tdsyd2yf93jTR3/s1600/swizz+and+jm+build+an+igloo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jPOW8hgENIHNKRRHM4RGIJ8Le4M4GuFsT4Ykfz0mlfzN0cpaoRLqWj1-7zsFi0up-aLEnun1TOryltl5EPzFQ5ve5vN-6yf0hT2AGITvZq4vuhcm-RzOZfC5T6A0Y2tdsyd2yf93jTR3/s320/swizz+and+jm+build+an+igloo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swizz and JMonster build an igloo! (Notice the look in my eyes...THAT is altitude sickness!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Somehow I think the mic was off for most of our videos on the trip. Dang it! <br />
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THANKS TO BALONEY FOR THE PICS I "BORROWED"!</div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-75795837426667052902012-06-11T20:11:00.000-05:002012-06-11T20:11:12.257-05:00CIRCUS!<div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>We went to the circus!</b></span></div>
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What may not seem like a big deal to most families, was a HUGE deal to the Swizz family.</div>
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<i>Peanut allergies can keep you from SO many of these types of events!</i></div>
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Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus came to town.</div>
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(Not bad for Bryan/College Station!)</div>
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I called ahead to get "special" seats...no PEANUTS!</div>
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That means we sat up one section higher than everyone else!</div>
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We basically had an entire LEVEL to ourselves!</div>
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Here is the event, in pics:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_-yAJtueZx2tD-9IFETiMa1vIkrgBjckuxUmJjXnN8BCnf77wAx9nkCSeCZXxm80bzqu6-iQp3lIlO3oC8PhBthfGrO8_nCfOEQykQ7lvP_ziLm5mS1tifwyluFlD8bk8MLO_K_YIvRG/s1600/P1120471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_-yAJtueZx2tD-9IFETiMa1vIkrgBjckuxUmJjXnN8BCnf77wAx9nkCSeCZXxm80bzqu6-iQp3lIlO3oC8PhBthfGrO8_nCfOEQykQ7lvP_ziLm5mS1tifwyluFlD8bk8MLO_K_YIvRG/s400/P1120471.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swizz, The Rev, and JMonster!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-feBXEnHXNooIcDyndA1lT6C2AocN_t8Jt61CI8Z0oQrPY3sZfUDhR-usbn_wbhRQq4_U7kRO2GLwGGPO1CRPZ-ijKlni53hNdr_AepruTOJVYhRf5vFYEJhJZGDRG9TuOfmZqfPWI89f/s1600/P1120466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-feBXEnHXNooIcDyndA1lT6C2AocN_t8Jt61CI8Z0oQrPY3sZfUDhR-usbn_wbhRQq4_U7kRO2GLwGGPO1CRPZ-ijKlni53hNdr_AepruTOJVYhRf5vFYEJhJZGDRG9TuOfmZqfPWI89f/s320/P1120466.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swizz's twin, "Flower", and "Bean"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fw0AUOly3EbyMLP5XXXf0WGx0Rrz8JzoCtsPmY2eOwDLf0lzjaMZCxOREMKd9_ePQz5OUf8BT5DCKdu2dCB54hO4cxiGrUTugQuYDUWyDmkQgtRqd1gOx3xSjzY5wOphxhAipSKJeU3o/s1600/P1120465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fw0AUOly3EbyMLP5XXXf0WGx0Rrz8JzoCtsPmY2eOwDLf0lzjaMZCxOREMKd9_ePQz5OUf8BT5DCKdu2dCB54hO4cxiGrUTugQuYDUWyDmkQgtRqd1gOx3xSjzY5wOphxhAipSKJeU3o/s320/P1120465.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A" wearing G-ma's sweater. Didn't manage to capture G-ma on film!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCwzEEw32NTil-YtJGi3H-568Wh3_99ic_Rw5Ql9JIwKdEML7l7-x1DewKtXIxPOVUlHrhe8iKJqLdQoqdYqrSJ-j5NTbEnMmCwxo_xmZiDY6rS45OX8wq3ryie3HTpkqMowc-SwRLLdR/s1600/P1120459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCwzEEw32NTil-YtJGi3H-568Wh3_99ic_Rw5Ql9JIwKdEML7l7-x1DewKtXIxPOVUlHrhe8iKJqLdQoqdYqrSJ-j5NTbEnMmCwxo_xmZiDY6rS45OX8wq3ryie3HTpkqMowc-SwRLLdR/s320/P1120459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that IS a man under that board!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr78HpgCuqYG7e1JXuxfsT1fZOrHitsc5K3Elz4e9UUaOqiAX3bfgwtV3Ky0u8YrkzxYssI9Hd4X-cKtvqUr0fE38Cp2ZJx6zyHkCBJpmanH3FlpRt0Jf2o4zpI2Id172wxMs5Al9RO4U/s1600/P1120403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr78HpgCuqYG7e1JXuxfsT1fZOrHitsc5K3Elz4e9UUaOqiAX3bfgwtV3Ky0u8YrkzxYssI9Hd4X-cKtvqUr0fE38Cp2ZJx6zyHkCBJpmanH3FlpRt0Jf2o4zpI2Id172wxMs5Al9RO4U/s320/P1120403.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite...and kinda scary!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwocVaQVxZVvquYCzsbDFNn0WImFtTtl3NP9wHTD6B7UHFdy-8t2W4bIMep_JSno0RgsBagk9qQHkp3qQ51_68ziU32ZCqcIWb2vpYFupUS_B5dvskJmigZn2-ybotcMG3QkLU_3BcI9pj/s1600/P1120446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwocVaQVxZVvquYCzsbDFNn0WImFtTtl3NP9wHTD6B7UHFdy-8t2W4bIMep_JSno0RgsBagk9qQHkp3qQ51_68ziU32ZCqcIWb2vpYFupUS_B5dvskJmigZn2-ybotcMG3QkLU_3BcI9pj/s320/P1120446.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These 2 were the running act...the MC kept trying to kick this guy out of the ring!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7NVPUkurFzr6Zi0piNYrqgjFw4XijTgv3AGSFVojnOgh-DOqWu4HkBJdbGLaXVP_NykK3qHORdrf8BXjQxPnh1YDKOybE5jnP_nEP1-ZBM9qXtMdJvwW9vDA2wUbHmsX9784f5GMZl1p/s1600/P1120440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7NVPUkurFzr6Zi0piNYrqgjFw4XijTgv3AGSFVojnOgh-DOqWu4HkBJdbGLaXVP_NykK3qHORdrf8BXjQxPnh1YDKOybE5jnP_nEP1-ZBM9qXtMdJvwW9vDA2wUbHmsX9784f5GMZl1p/s320/P1120440.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite parts...the ELEPHANTS!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBkONej1aJQGlc7X2NJbImgNOs7MCzvxvmGQ4wwA5JwA0JuKvo135ruuh9v6p1NWCggB_yVM1k7G312zqZg4xmFdXrxTnQGpuAt589xAMnR-THZsDcRQPynSDpJtrioxsSK_PP2xiMGer/s1600/P1120441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBkONej1aJQGlc7X2NJbImgNOs7MCzvxvmGQ4wwA5JwA0JuKvo135ruuh9v6p1NWCggB_yVM1k7G312zqZg4xmFdXrxTnQGpuAt589xAMnR-THZsDcRQPynSDpJtrioxsSK_PP2xiMGer/s320/P1120441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQYYcH4-V9sRbxaaitPJnkCGZcltr1B7iZ_C1rgCSo1h-22Qk35Ni0HfHg-qZLymJAtdtw8YgtmZdPt60TTPyPGhvNgIcyL4B0L8sDZt5VM03Tt1n187a-u9kDM5kV0_t4aEiFP1wZm1/s1600/P1120435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQYYcH4-V9sRbxaaitPJnkCGZcltr1B7iZ_C1rgCSo1h-22Qk35Ni0HfHg-qZLymJAtdtw8YgtmZdPt60TTPyPGhvNgIcyL4B0L8sDZt5VM03Tt1n187a-u9kDM5kV0_t4aEiFP1wZm1/s320/P1120435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymrjoKVTR6gXdrkH6kSZtatR6GuqKzYPJ2c7Q5x7DP3b0S1WzhNOJsUi_cQMchAw1hyLkFqHLfcRDw-L_qzjpdekN6rN8ROkVmXqcc32Je1veHVr7Z26X3T503bTYRSGtP-WKSjlrq5kw/s1600/P1120426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymrjoKVTR6gXdrkH6kSZtatR6GuqKzYPJ2c7Q5x7DP3b0S1WzhNOJsUi_cQMchAw1hyLkFqHLfcRDw-L_qzjpdekN6rN8ROkVmXqcc32Je1veHVr7Z26X3T503bTYRSGtP-WKSjlrq5kw/s320/P1120426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5d_z17J8v2z_qEhR5mLu_DM7y7sO6T5p-2X2RxDyp340fb1iXlGmcph_56lFJ3DpwuOCLZURQ7anYN90lbO7r420ROmAfqjdQOdAFNjc2TKE26gbMg2MHkCLVSogFLDnHluduqyMQxgE/s1600/P1120407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5d_z17J8v2z_qEhR5mLu_DM7y7sO6T5p-2X2RxDyp340fb1iXlGmcph_56lFJ3DpwuOCLZURQ7anYN90lbO7r420ROmAfqjdQOdAFNjc2TKE26gbMg2MHkCLVSogFLDnHluduqyMQxgE/s320/P1120407.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 beautiful, happy ladies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQciD_N-d0eG7lSZKnWKwJcmUHa5TPkPxbiEnOldetT_9Y6MFXmbC6kDOl5AJQwOA6jqZVRhKMoO-7UwOA4LITfB4wgq1R1YXnesOwhdv_DTRmJrEvTBCgkTN9vjG6LHEEAw0TRAawuCsK/s1600/P1120463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQciD_N-d0eG7lSZKnWKwJcmUHa5TPkPxbiEnOldetT_9Y6MFXmbC6kDOl5AJQwOA6jqZVRhKMoO-7UwOA4LITfB4wgq1R1YXnesOwhdv_DTRmJrEvTBCgkTN9vjG6LHEEAw0TRAawuCsK/s400/P1120463.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BIG FINALE!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">IT WAS A FABULOUS AFTERNOON!</span></div>
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<i>(And no peanut issues, whew!)</i></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-66542471015476282312012-05-23T22:13:00.002-05:002012-05-23T22:13:32.097-05:00Does the Presidential campaign REALLY matter?<div style="text-align: center;">
Before you blow your top at me, hear me out.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I do NOT mean</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Does the Presidential ELECTION really matter.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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What I mean is...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Can either candidate say or do anything between now and the election that will TRULY sway the final decision?</i></div>
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My opinion?</div>
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I think NOT.</div>
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Conservatives will vote conservatively, whether Romney is outed for something big, or not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Liberals will vote for Obama, whether his tenure shows true progress, or not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And those who say they are undecided?</div>
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They're big. fat. liars.</div>
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IMHO.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do YOU think? </b></span></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-69674700431540206412012-05-12T23:03:00.003-05:002012-05-12T23:03:59.872-05:00HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!<div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!</span></b></div>
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To all who are Mommy's,</div>
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Long to be Mommy, </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or wish they were still called Mommy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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May today be a day filled with family, friends, and lots of love!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-9002927592125502112012-05-07T21:33:00.004-05:002012-05-07T21:33:54.942-05:00Heard at Dinner...<div style="text-align: center;">
As we were sitting down at the dinner table tonight</div>
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(to a bison steak over organic pasta with homemade organic pasta sauce...did I mention the herbs were home grown? and side salad, entirely organic of course!)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Rev asked from the kitchen:</div>
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"What would you like to drink?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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To which I answered,</div>
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"Water would be great!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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Followed by JMonster saying,</div>
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"WINE would be great!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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To which I responded,</div>
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"I would LOVE some wine, but I have a meeting and I am driving...probably not a good idea."</div>
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<br /></div>
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To which JMonster responded,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Not for YOU. A glass of wine for ME!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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To which The Rev and I laughed and said,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Not until you are 21! Which is 15 more years!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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To which JMonster responded,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"15 more years!?! </div>
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MAN, I wish we lived in England or someplace where they let kids drink wine!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that is at the age of 6.</div>
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<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="http://www.cheapwinereviews.com/wp-content/littlepenguinphotoshopped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://www.cheapwinereviews.com/wp-content/littlepenguinphotoshopped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">borrowed from another blog...but too cute to pass up since he's drinking our favorite wine! can you guess why it's our favorite?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-65421548489691821472012-04-24T15:15:00.006-05:002012-04-24T15:15:57.661-05:00Surgery!<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, folks...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my shoulder surgery is complete!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Last Friday my amazing ortho surgeon removed the end of my acromion bone.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The amazing anesthesiologist inserted a 3 day nerve block </div>
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which my sweet sister removed yesterday.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now I am loopy on the good stuff.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are some pics from the surgery:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOTqkbTqG_j86M0cJqMN6oDZ5lVxAzetgKk0x-j10G6B0w-hs9a3Ibjad9YDdDDOl8F4rxp_4GMpX9S_TtDNwbjTqSNa60IFaQ7TxWT9ia7VMXFOldTos6C3ctAP2X_D31LLqcSq2uaT/s1600/swizzs+shoulder+surgery+pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OOTqkbTqG_j86M0cJqMN6oDZ5lVxAzetgKk0x-j10G6B0w-hs9a3Ibjad9YDdDDOl8F4rxp_4GMpX9S_TtDNwbjTqSNa60IFaQ7TxWT9ia7VMXFOldTos6C3ctAP2X_D31LLqcSq2uaT/s320/swizzs+shoulder+surgery+pics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Sorry for the quality! Scanner isn't hooked up so I took a pic...</div>
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Tomorrow is my follow up appointment.</div>
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I should hear about physical therapy, etc...</div>
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In the meantime I intend to go enjoy these meds!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>(How's my one-handed typing?)</b></i></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761263119703618582.post-24972819486970301202012-04-18T23:07:00.003-05:002012-04-18T23:10:48.493-05:00We interrupt this break...<div style="text-align: center;">
I know, I know!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where have you been, Swizz?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sitting on my tush eating bon-bons.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I wish!)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, a little update for all of you:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got my scopes done.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Check!</div>
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(I'll have to show you the pics someday soon. </div>
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They're cool! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And tell you how funny my sister thinks I was after anesthesia!) </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Biopsies came back normal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Check!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Had a follow up appointment with shoulder doc.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Check!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Scheduled surgery.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
???</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, I am having shoulder surgery Friday morning to get rid of the tip of my acromion bone.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You see, it rubs on my rotator cuff.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This causes tendonitis.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ouch!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We finished our Classical Conversations last week...thank goodness for homeschooling!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I will try my best to post about:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our ski vacation,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cool pics of my insides,<br />
EASTER "camping" trip, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Homeschooling updates,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and my general thoughts and feelings on the political state of our country.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the meantime...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please PRAY for my surgery!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm skeered of pain! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Swizzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03321392265281175031noreply@blogger.com0