tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47916886549484263752024-03-12T18:07:43.587-07:00It Feels Like ChaosIt Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.comBlogger1288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-71000298961641163202016-03-21T20:36:00.004-07:002016-03-21T20:38:21.360-07:00My Messy House Mystery<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today is Monday and my house is a mess.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My entire house was professionally cleaned last Tuesday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I pay for this service twice each month to save my sanity and ensure the whole house gets clean and sanitized all on the same day at least every two weeks! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kids were on Spring Break last week, so early Thursday morning, a mere day and a half after the complete cleaning, we drove out of town.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were gone until Sunday evening at approximately bedtime.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how is my house a mess today?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not just talking bags that need to be unpacked and wash that needs to be done kind of a mess (although there's all that, too), but dirty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Actual dirt all over the kitchen floor. Crumbs on the table. All the toilets obviously need a wipe-down and literally every trash can is full!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What in the world?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How does this happen? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No really, when did the house get so dirty?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were not even here!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've finally figured it out folks! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The source of so much frustration in my daily life.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My house MESSES ITSELF up!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've always joked about wanting a self-cleaning house and instead I'm afraid I have a self-dirtying house!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sigh.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I do realize this is a huge 1st world problem and I'm thankful for my messy house.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the vacuum, mop, washer/dryer, trash bags, rags, and ability to clean it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now to make the time . . . </span></span>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-9934757147890948762016-01-18T06:22:00.002-08:002016-01-18T06:23:12.223-08:00Sharing the Dream!<span style="font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana",sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Martin Luther King, Jr.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">I share in your dreams, Dr. King!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48BzBEjC5azqPDjaEqcPRke82rTLSjv6U_G3zwyC4xJ6MW3pOmUImn922AT1n5R6IdWG3gKYtvfqEok0jVQ44oEbKAJNsaU0aT1JktySXhUnni4qArUIOCsdC_GF9pG7JyBAgdFE4NxlF/s1600/JasminChenPhotography2015-74+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48BzBEjC5azqPDjaEqcPRke82rTLSjv6U_G3zwyC4xJ6MW3pOmUImn922AT1n5R6IdWG3gKYtvfqEok0jVQ44oEbKAJNsaU0aT1JktySXhUnni4qArUIOCsdC_GF9pG7JyBAgdFE4NxlF/s640/JasminChenPhotography2015-74+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></i>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-73206520903503375752016-01-14T21:16:00.001-08:002016-01-14T21:18:34.879-08:00Is This Thing On?<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, blogging.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do I remember how?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not really. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And where to even begin after nearly 9 months of quiet?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A picture, maybe?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, that would be good.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our most recent family photo:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCJzFiUtj8-t1FtF_AUFVLmp_QP1VbB0LHkK5CzRvxOpdU8nvSJib9cm0Di8iGozv9ALB0fmXvBxTUHECnHvTmXzuGUkfSzdNixbkNwGcmVbIsYd82yWpT5mCqvdHtsyZa_MhRApzl1UU/s1600/JasminChenPhotography2015-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCJzFiUtj8-t1FtF_AUFVLmp_QP1VbB0LHkK5CzRvxOpdU8nvSJib9cm0Di8iGozv9ALB0fmXvBxTUHECnHvTmXzuGUkfSzdNixbkNwGcmVbIsYd82yWpT5mCqvdHtsyZa_MhRApzl1UU/s640/JasminChenPhotography2015-69.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-3793965792724523002015-04-28T20:42:00.003-07:002015-04-28T20:42:45.773-07:00I'm Back and a Triathlon!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">April has had me other places besides here on this blog, but I do hope to be back more.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is no way to even begin catching up, so I'll just post something recent that I'd like to have saved here on the blog, otherwise known as the only scrapbook my children will ever have unless they create their own!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My girls completed a triathlon!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 9 year old daughter did it last year and loved the experience and her 6 year old sister was eager to join the fun this year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a 100 yard swim, 3 mile bike ride, and 1/2 mile run.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The event is huge, so the logistics are CRAZY and this year there was tons of mud so that made things more interesting, but no rain during the event so we were happy about that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The outdoor pool constructed just for this kids triathlon (you can see the crowds of people in the background to get an idea of the size of the event):</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jLu75DTY8DcVeXRmBpFcY8GqKadRvsuNrTGKdcbfPIascmynO9xtLnYbK3uBbCx-eDYGnIw9qDumIE0vIpMzhgLao2S3Pm9Yxq03Pq_t1bAmNzDNncANtFEQcUJEzbukFQcnXy-DUKoa/s1600/tri+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jLu75DTY8DcVeXRmBpFcY8GqKadRvsuNrTGKdcbfPIascmynO9xtLnYbK3uBbCx-eDYGnIw9qDumIE0vIpMzhgLao2S3Pm9Yxq03Pq_t1bAmNzDNncANtFEQcUJEzbukFQcnXy-DUKoa/s1600/tri+pool.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Little Girl running into the transition area after her swim (parents are not allowed in transition so the kids must switch between activities all on their own).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufvZYISGfQfzcHvxdymP2NPFqSDn_Lk3pfnr-RL2Icz70GqwikechmcuEz0QwvbZfm3yY_6M5qUbFDeFTKnJtFrzrwNHSEgLAXhclTlKOZty8mCMH7rAlnk7AZJssBA-SwIMbQLW0VSek/s1600/tri1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufvZYISGfQfzcHvxdymP2NPFqSDn_Lk3pfnr-RL2Icz70GqwikechmcuEz0QwvbZfm3yY_6M5qUbFDeFTKnJtFrzrwNHSEgLAXhclTlKOZty8mCMH7rAlnk7AZJssBA-SwIMbQLW0VSek/s1600/tri1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> During her run:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwX3LJwxVZuCFvVHcIahjMmDbgBzNtCFLL_p-2sKD47l44dnOL-l5szFZeml23eQMcc8MN30g5vCX2-P4J3cBZcvwQrHNo1CjHdCHTkQ9ohbDJyJGLK6LwmXlnzrnkoenXTAdjtAriHXnG/s1600/tri3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwX3LJwxVZuCFvVHcIahjMmDbgBzNtCFLL_p-2sKD47l44dnOL-l5szFZeml23eQMcc8MN30g5vCX2-P4J3cBZcvwQrHNo1CjHdCHTkQ9ohbDJyJGLK6LwmXlnzrnkoenXTAdjtAriHXnG/s1600/tri3.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And after finishing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMLDNifuDZxS3a3hx8zTpx9cpbeJQsIjjl5nu_qARY-KGyp7_PSXFWIDkCrIBCIhhwHiMu6t3PESyG5-W1Sfc60UDQ6Hd_AZD2ughfmVIUr0sInWxUx6HFzPauSFo6Bt9hLGdLFoqbPLe/s1600/tri2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMLDNifuDZxS3a3hx8zTpx9cpbeJQsIjjl5nu_qARY-KGyp7_PSXFWIDkCrIBCIhhwHiMu6t3PESyG5-W1Sfc60UDQ6Hd_AZD2ughfmVIUr0sInWxUx6HFzPauSFo6Bt9hLGdLFoqbPLe/s1600/tri2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Big sister doing the bike portion of her race (love that huge smile on her face):</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HpugCs9Wa_1-E5Y7aIbX6zF0dSyb0r_aZsLRhUiSBO5jFW0dBgUDIlUfbxYPGz38NX6D1fX0kM68mR0EyXCrc8rYjCVGLjmg9JmRouYEV-msxhtPkXnmjXDGrbyih3uKMByAQph-5lJ9/s1600/tri4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HpugCs9Wa_1-E5Y7aIbX6zF0dSyb0r_aZsLRhUiSBO5jFW0dBgUDIlUfbxYPGz38NX6D1fX0kM68mR0EyXCrc8rYjCVGLjmg9JmRouYEV-msxhtPkXnmjXDGrbyih3uKMByAQph-5lJ9/s1600/tri4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And again with the smile walking her bike back in to the transition area (all riders have to get off their bikes and walk them at a certain point):</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ny6wTekJpoDQyyaHxGkyeUCucCphyRqQN25vZ8x2klnsY6P5PnUZepsqIfcdv1AqkGRSz1EgA_RZDrcDYySAe2ZR_kM_VB59JV5whjaWs5QkVUTEvln7eCU1HEC3MSCFTNIcWoqTUUxJ/s1600/tri5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ny6wTekJpoDQyyaHxGkyeUCucCphyRqQN25vZ8x2klnsY6P5PnUZepsqIfcdv1AqkGRSz1EgA_RZDrcDYySAe2ZR_kM_VB59JV5whjaWs5QkVUTEvln7eCU1HEC3MSCFTNIcWoqTUUxJ/s1600/tri5.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Crossing the finish line (The time on the clock is not her time since there were staggered start times, that is the total time since the first racer began. My girls both took around 33 minutes to complete the triathlon) :</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJKZDzgF8bMyY3pjunnaW_z9qxwikuMWob73Uo8YOcIAKKhYBzeBFZy841cPhvS3tijtk9RcQmow0-RXhboLILft6l7OCSoaoOVlUcFG_NwVovJ133beV7dn8yhkxFDFhspz6WgPQHFM9/s1600/tri6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJKZDzgF8bMyY3pjunnaW_z9qxwikuMWob73Uo8YOcIAKKhYBzeBFZy841cPhvS3tijtk9RcQmow0-RXhboLILft6l7OCSoaoOVlUcFG_NwVovJ133beV7dn8yhkxFDFhspz6WgPQHFM9/s1600/tri6.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So proud of my strong, brave girls!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NgHzIyHIxczpe10ZL5ji7Hp0mnT5HaDoS5P5cGTu3SAgL_A2xP28TUdna-vTvLCXjW8wi2H67WNa3KnGYbVSFPhRN7fyEhecVtX05SwZuq89GJxObE1akrtQg0UmK0URLT1WpOQ2Rq20/s1600/tri7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NgHzIyHIxczpe10ZL5ji7Hp0mnT5HaDoS5P5cGTu3SAgL_A2xP28TUdna-vTvLCXjW8wi2H67WNa3KnGYbVSFPhRN7fyEhecVtX05SwZuq89GJxObE1akrtQg0UmK0URLT1WpOQ2Rq20/s1600/tri7.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">P.S. Now that their sisters have done it, my boys thought the triathlon looked like so much fun that they want to do it next year!</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I think chasing 4 kids around the triathlon course with my camera will definitely constitute an athletic feat for me!</span></span>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-24111996665211287342015-04-01T20:31:00.002-07:002015-04-01T20:31:24.060-07:00Beautiful Spring Flowers + My 4 Children Does Not Equal Good Pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The azaleas in our front yard have been blooming beautifully for a few weeks and as usual I've attempted pictures of the kids in front of the flowers and failed. It's like I'm in denial about the impossibility of this task.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sure, I can get a decent picture of 1 kid + flowers:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHX6AoM-H-wul-Kz1SdOc0WnIvv6_MqALeWilz5E6skt1Z0duxC8BjtEwp1OQSx60Xlqitnohe4VpwwJ35BxYSvrCWpew1-lQWVnj3PNENUa6QXb8ACFY1RTIM7kniJ9HNargd4HKrz7J/s1600/flowers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHX6AoM-H-wul-Kz1SdOc0WnIvv6_MqALeWilz5E6skt1Z0duxC8BjtEwp1OQSx60Xlqitnohe4VpwwJ35BxYSvrCWpew1-lQWVnj3PNENUa6QXb8ACFY1RTIM7kniJ9HNargd4HKrz7J/s1600/flowers+1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2 kids + flowers:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CWl4K1BE7SJPjhp1spIei45uWcquJw9VMKe25sgSpyhPe4UlsTWjPu-hJBfhI9zujKDWISLf9rzFi9wo9IRb7faywqGz2rLfHz_hZlbbiYSWsMAeMEXX5US9Yu-Pl5d1nJvxHvVaqKvX/s1600/flowers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CWl4K1BE7SJPjhp1spIei45uWcquJw9VMKe25sgSpyhPe4UlsTWjPu-hJBfhI9zujKDWISLf9rzFi9wo9IRb7faywqGz2rLfHz_hZlbbiYSWsMAeMEXX5US9Yu-Pl5d1nJvxHvVaqKvX/s1600/flowers+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even 3 kids + flowers:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q7k-hm36xFRhV1067UOX307MhCM71KxtLlw_X15gwzxa0LJIS2eFo4RekHlOIEbWtk9kCwxYHybiAjESynqcMa3raaUQVcTK5lTQGniNvPX3pSis79IEU_LZSNfDOZfPKMZyvX6-dBsS/s1600/3+children+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q7k-hm36xFRhV1067UOX307MhCM71KxtLlw_X15gwzxa0LJIS2eFo4RekHlOIEbWtk9kCwxYHybiAjESynqcMa3raaUQVcTK5lTQGniNvPX3pSis79IEU_LZSNfDOZfPKMZyvX6-dBsS/s1600/3+children+flowers.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But not 4 kids + flowers! Nope, not gonna happen!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbO4c9SEloHuD0V0R9CUjXYy3qathBhcVnObPWBRsiIikkgl1SAgzsX5DJRCv8t_VUsxod3nCzVR5fmtUjM5-mmdbS4dnszzCrdgjESovtO4cyMcFy-JhQMAh-Q5z0ynmB-AyduR6eaKq/s1600/flowers+4+kids+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbO4c9SEloHuD0V0R9CUjXYy3qathBhcVnObPWBRsiIikkgl1SAgzsX5DJRCv8t_VUsxod3nCzVR5fmtUjM5-mmdbS4dnszzCrdgjESovtO4cyMcFy-JhQMAh-Q5z0ynmB-AyduR6eaKq/s1600/flowers+4+kids+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDZU8eNC6u61MmtVmJe515PT_kb0Y0kABrwkUQrpi1RcGm5luOoWnbL3SLRa87rHIuxzMXI0qbl-_o1nTi4q-qqBG5SezSwnrE75CIv4BYCQ73KW1hXYkrpjyg0PO4nVnsTTq49vS2zhI/s1600/flowers+4+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDZU8eNC6u61MmtVmJe515PT_kb0Y0kABrwkUQrpi1RcGm5luOoWnbL3SLRa87rHIuxzMXI0qbl-_o1nTi4q-qqBG5SezSwnrE75CIv4BYCQ73KW1hXYkrpjyg0PO4nVnsTTq49vS2zhI/s1600/flowers+4+kids.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxh_zDRdEFXSFC4UHtMMKrAWf-feC48-Qz0ma3mEMWq71gPlp6hZ3tNtXSqslUmR0JWLLTJjHZ0HDtDVDwxNrvgfXyhFkSDMj4l88Y9tm7WxTdCWufWE7WWwfXjByupKvrPhrx1af31f5/s1600/flowers+4+kids+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxh_zDRdEFXSFC4UHtMMKrAWf-feC48-Qz0ma3mEMWq71gPlp6hZ3tNtXSqslUmR0JWLLTJjHZ0HDtDVDwxNrvgfXyhFkSDMj4l88Y9tm7WxTdCWufWE7WWwfXjByupKvrPhrx1af31f5/s1600/flowers+4+kids+3.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXUdTI6yGZ1Aq2onvhCPMnYi_PfYYUSzzcnMt2KdRbpVgiNXE0YJ6P_eylti9nAOMr7U2otWNS084TsD0pa-t_jslfgmEwZjXVz_2H_5mDJh2iNIdCbAJ5JOsEhRGDkCAbYQx4xmKXEM2/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXUdTI6yGZ1Aq2onvhCPMnYi_PfYYUSzzcnMt2KdRbpVgiNXE0YJ6P_eylti9nAOMr7U2otWNS084TsD0pa-t_jslfgmEwZjXVz_2H_5mDJh2iNIdCbAJ5JOsEhRGDkCAbYQx4xmKXEM2/s1600/flowers.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />And my favorite:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh7lV8iV4KlsTpbi5ZYBLs-nglGGaPE_HIxpwJAXfqbDY46LrNBUiKqI7tI9Z0Zze6MpTVBhem2TC7RMImAm8bilDSukyQYTN6GmIfHfSC3P6OSuwWMPKjCbzabKo9cNKUASFbDJDZ_rr/s1600/flowers+4+kids+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJh7lV8iV4KlsTpbi5ZYBLs-nglGGaPE_HIxpwJAXfqbDY46LrNBUiKqI7tI9Z0Zze6MpTVBhem2TC7RMImAm8bilDSukyQYTN6GmIfHfSC3P6OSuwWMPKjCbzabKo9cNKUASFbDJDZ_rr/s1600/flowers+4+kids+4.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The 9 year old daughter fussing at the 7 year old brother for not cooperating for the pictures. That is real life right there, folks!</span></span></div>
<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-15413804633381075052015-03-24T21:56:00.003-07:002015-03-24T21:56:45.188-07:00City Kid Goes to the Rodeo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzModNXoDXNGhFT_WlI9yjwmid8WWuiyH0IKgX1cpJyZk-reLSC8hv8sMhqwEsOMkrtwaoY15hO8M9HKtvAGhTaQMoAov6e1BCZGsYnmqLqPvXWGfOLkhlauF76QGH9LtZNkpUuq9ZzEr/s1600/cow+milking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzModNXoDXNGhFT_WlI9yjwmid8WWuiyH0IKgX1cpJyZk-reLSC8hv8sMhqwEsOMkrtwaoY15hO8M9HKtvAGhTaQMoAov6e1BCZGsYnmqLqPvXWGfOLkhlauF76QGH9LtZNkpUuq9ZzEr/s1600/cow+milking.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just love my 7 year old's look of utter (udder -- ha! couldn't resist) confusion here. "I have to do what to get the milk out?"</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-83228960125911741512015-03-17T21:14:00.001-07:002015-03-17T21:14:34.811-07:00Hip-Hip Hooray<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Many have asked me this year how Little Girl is doing in kindergarten.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And I have to admit that I, too, looked to the milestone of her starting kindergarten with some worry. Worry that she'd be too far behind the other kids since she just began speaking English as a 3 year old. Worry that some of her personality quirks learned from life in an orphanage would play out badly at school. Worry that her hyperness and loudness would no longer be as precious as it was in preschool but become annoying and problematic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">BUT, as she tends to do, my little Ethiopian has BLOWN US AWAY with how well she's done in her kindergarten class!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One huge key to her success is the behavior chart system that our elementary school uses. Each child begins each day on Green or "Ready to Go!" and they move up or down the chart according to their behavior. Well, thankfully Little Girl is even MORE competitive than she is loud or active. And she wants to be at the top of that chart (the "Hip-Hip Hooray" level) and can amazingly reign in her behavior to get there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This past week she even earned the "Hip-Hip Hooray" level every day of the week, and was the first child from her class to achieve that this whole school year! Her class did a big cheer for her which she totally ate up and her teacher is making her an official "Star Student".</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here she is, proudly showing off her chart:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYHHT2I8Mdt7jhyphenhyphen7Q1h0tAS3zFg7Ie3SZ8YwBT1R8eqk1s7ZN_Dd12_nZ2WFwqTnfdgbSwMEQn3qbc8JSQcc3EYE02OF6LaxBIHjhh6Yg9dMSlrdV65t7wJTm-ICWMuxg70RrCobhuBca/s1600/hip+hip+hooray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYHHT2I8Mdt7jhyphenhyphen7Q1h0tAS3zFg7Ie3SZ8YwBT1R8eqk1s7ZN_Dd12_nZ2WFwqTnfdgbSwMEQn3qbc8JSQcc3EYE02OF6LaxBIHjhh6Yg9dMSlrdV65t7wJTm-ICWMuxg70RrCobhuBca/s1600/hip+hip+hooray.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rock on Little Girl; you are awesome and amazing!!!! </span></span>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-41873343628418045282015-03-16T20:33:00.000-07:002015-03-16T20:36:13.157-07:00Into the Land of Glasses!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Whew, I didn't intend to take a 2 week break from the blog, it just sort of happened! Life has been full and busy, with so many areas needing every bit of my attention that the blog had to take a backseat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But, I'll try to catch you up on some happenings around here in the coming blog posts (however erratically they may be spaced).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A little over a month ago, our family journeyed somewhere none of the 6 of us have ever been before --- into the land of GLASSES!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS1EF5tKadwCNvkhPYaMBUj2K8Gy4DRt_grRC56KyQizfdraJa7EhuRCTB-1oPoNsYtjSJlJxJVJ9ULEfMdQBwUyFFZwCDmLe51MsSmxbr5qaRNt29MOhrXmV1js1gCKWCyfmD7a5BodX/s1600/glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS1EF5tKadwCNvkhPYaMBUj2K8Gy4DRt_grRC56KyQizfdraJa7EhuRCTB-1oPoNsYtjSJlJxJVJ9ULEfMdQBwUyFFZwCDmLe51MsSmxbr5qaRNt29MOhrXmV1js1gCKWCyfmD7a5BodX/s1600/glasses.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 7 year old son got reading glasses. It only took about 4 months of picking him up from school with him complaining of having a headache nearly every day before I finally scheduled a visit to the eye doctor. Seriously, Mom of the Year candidate here!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But, I really didn't think he had a vision problem, they do a quick screen at the pediatrician, the school nurse screens each kid every year, and he reads above his grade level. It turns out he can see fine, but he does have a condition called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophoria">esophoria</a> where his eyes have a tendency to turn inwards when he is focusing on something close-up and all day long his eye muscles were having to compensate to focus correctly, causing eye strain and headaches. Not everyone who has esophoria needs glasses but since my son was having the headaches the eye doctor recommended we try reading glasses which would ease the strain of focusing when reading or doing school work and see if it helped the headaches. I'm so thankful the glasses did stop the headaches! And I'm so proud of my little guy for remembering to wear the glasses and remembering to pack them in his backpack each morning for school since he uses them to read before bed, not to mention how brave he was to start wearing his glasses to school half-way through the school year when all the other kids would notice the change! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He might outgrow the condition, but for now, just look how cute he is with glasses (but DON'T call him "cute" because he really doesn't like being called "cute")!</span></span></div>
<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-40838151763828577632015-03-02T21:34:00.001-08:002015-03-02T21:38:53.822-08:00Who knew life was so much easier with just two kids?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">About a month ago, my husband took our 2 boys on a father-son camping trip. They had a blast and the girls and I had <a href="http://itfeelslikechaos.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-girly-weekend.html">a fun girly weekend at home</a>. <b>I was amazed at how peaceful things were with just the girls, how easy it was, and how clean the house stayed for the 27 hours the boys were away! </b>And then they came home and the chaos and mess came back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I joked (half seriously) that it's THE BOYS!! All the chaos and mess that I struggle with every day. It's all their fault!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then, this past weekend, my husband took our 2 daughters on a dads and dolls camping trip to the same camp. They had a fabulous time (check out the pics later of my brave girls on the ZIP LINE!).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">BUT, guess what?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The boys and I had the best mother-son time! We went bowling, ate pizza, slept in a bit on Saturday morning, made biscuits from scratch+eggs+sausage breakfast together, CLEANED up the kitchen together, played an ENTIRE Monopoly game, and then watched a movie. It was delightful. <b>And I marveled at how peaceful things were with just the boys, how easy it was, and how clean the house stayed for the 27 hours my husband and the girls were away! </b> And then they came back and instantly it was mess and chaos.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Later that evening I told my husband how great a time I had with the boys and how I was all wrong that they were the source of all the mess and chaos. Then I joked to my husband that if it wasn't the girls and it wasn't the boys then maybe it was HIM! He was the source of the mess and chaos that I exert so much energy to contain in our household every day!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He countered with, "I don't think it's the boys or the girls. It's HAVING FOUR KIDS!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ah yes. THAT!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are pics from their camp adventures. First the boys, then the girls. I would be jealous of all the outdoor fun, except that both camping trips they slept in tents with temps in the 30s -- NO THANK YOU!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIdRvR2MEaiwpmtvRtP17UmoT1Q1MShHiO-Zjijo3UWp3YE2YImAyaoHt6rj7BjCoVNPKMDyd8APpQEdeWQiaN0GuonDATRExrgX1lKqB8Mx64XpbWQIhk1tZaiUiRVKir04WJ6ZQdjiH/s1600/girls+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIdRvR2MEaiwpmtvRtP17UmoT1Q1MShHiO-Zjijo3UWp3YE2YImAyaoHt6rj7BjCoVNPKMDyd8APpQEdeWQiaN0GuonDATRExrgX1lKqB8Mx64XpbWQIhk1tZaiUiRVKir04WJ6ZQdjiH/s1600/girls+7.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionHFDshb2Xs7fXP5F3lx_6wCr6aGLpMqP_8U85q8vTRWNI3jp7LFtcuqIzHNZQPdNKUWpg-9pLI7SrKQAlYS-fYvf8yfZGXkGloB8hNCjC7XZraZosYO0DS35P3rAQdBKLC2b9cZEtMPG/s1600/girls+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionHFDshb2Xs7fXP5F3lx_6wCr6aGLpMqP_8U85q8vTRWNI3jp7LFtcuqIzHNZQPdNKUWpg-9pLI7SrKQAlYS-fYvf8yfZGXkGloB8hNCjC7XZraZosYO0DS35P3rAQdBKLC2b9cZEtMPG/s1600/girls+4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP9qrbXQ2M76Tldg-_weHbtqNgabUgkkotZw8GZt5U_JNnbZLL7fQ2Zp074DzOqZbYsUKg2o9NJJJmZnvJjJmI1s5binWpvwKxygmWgFOpz-KRk-8sr9wokO4SzGREBwToV25a3NQkbwg/s1600/girls+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP9qrbXQ2M76Tldg-_weHbtqNgabUgkkotZw8GZt5U_JNnbZLL7fQ2Zp074DzOqZbYsUKg2o9NJJJmZnvJjJmI1s5binWpvwKxygmWgFOpz-KRk-8sr9wokO4SzGREBwToV25a3NQkbwg/s1600/girls+5.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-6420305191038063922015-02-19T21:13:00.001-08:002015-02-19T21:13:17.297-08:00Daddy Daughter Dance<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My husband took our girls to a Daddy Daughter Valentines Dance recently.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFOZj0Jd-w0L-sFycxbaUugYNgmgZ216jowZtBJXRqLcmIrYeM6qIRLjQ8fUQ-cifX2UETWWFgRqZIlNmi1PjeHZqaStsuDj1IfbBHedvMs2kD8VS1GbY3Ck95JwbLr3LJJtysPpuFcyt/s1600/daddy+daughter+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFOZj0Jd-w0L-sFycxbaUugYNgmgZ216jowZtBJXRqLcmIrYeM6qIRLjQ8fUQ-cifX2UETWWFgRqZIlNmi1PjeHZqaStsuDj1IfbBHedvMs2kD8VS1GbY3Ck95JwbLr3LJJtysPpuFcyt/s1600/daddy+daughter+dance.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The girls were so excited about their dresses that I only heard a few complaints that they were "too scratchy!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My two daughters have such different personalities, yet they are the best of friends. They are both beautiful and shine in their own ways. I can only imagine the great plans God has for them! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll let you guess which girl wanted to dance all night at the party and which was not so into the dancing!</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-14682716221462361182015-02-18T19:39:00.000-08:002015-02-18T19:39:09.731-08:00The Expiration Date Police<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">An unanticipated perk of my kids getting older is that I now have expiration date police roaming my house. I have no idea why it is such an obsession of my oldest two children in particular, but they love to catch expired things around our house and make a big deal about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The 11 year old recently discovered that ALL, yes all, the tubes of Neosporin in our household were expired</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00XkmsQjt0GY1L1L9SEJZT2CNcFh5zXIlRCJs6_t2-9NHqCH4IuRVDsDtW-fZb-RWlhMOo0Aztngx5NpPP8vyfrZsao4heijAwq9ZwMZXywZyYwk14Yxtb8Q0oToMhhgiAbcIdyz1yrH9/s1600/neosporin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00XkmsQjt0GY1L1L9SEJZT2CNcFh5zXIlRCJs6_t2-9NHqCH4IuRVDsDtW-fZb-RWlhMOo0Aztngx5NpPP8vyfrZsao4heijAwq9ZwMZXywZyYwk14Yxtb8Q0oToMhhgiAbcIdyz1yrH9/s1600/neosporin.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and by expired I mean 02/2009 kind of expired!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYYkM1gOaV9Ueb2yOVL1BZ61O5SwnyOvLlTiozflLOzdnMI-HZ44pbPIrNZfK0IDXHOK0CB8OcHkf7SbH2RPletE64jjx1h9ItAHtFvBaZKIedaW3aQIQf3qc4rGeWzvKrzisPQ5csE2I/s1600/neopsporin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYYkM1gOaV9Ueb2yOVL1BZ61O5SwnyOvLlTiozflLOzdnMI-HZ44pbPIrNZfK0IDXHOK0CB8OcHkf7SbH2RPletE64jjx1h9ItAHtFvBaZKIedaW3aQIQf3qc4rGeWzvKrzisPQ5csE2I/s1600/neopsporin+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Who knew that stuff expired?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And why exactly did we have so many tubes anyway?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The husband and 2 oldest children were not satisfied until they had ridden their bikes to the Walgreens to secure 2 brand new, unexpired tubes of Neosporin. Because Heaven-forbid that we'd be without for one more day when we've been using expired Neosporin for the past 6 years!</span></span><br />
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<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-16163934107012054252015-02-16T20:32:00.000-08:002015-02-16T20:32:06.987-08:00A Girly Weekend<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, my husband took our boys on a father-son overnight camping trip. They had tons of fun and while they were away, my daughters and I had some awesome girl time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First on the agenda was a tea party dinner that we ate on the good china, followed by a girly movie. There was also some fingernail painting and I taught them how to make pom-poms out of yarn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDevUHK3XFn_YWnyOcqo7FuHF6hxwpFjGPaZbA_HHmJ172xnuzHaF4U4PgmWiDxrgTp75jeJyb3tZ-6LDCWl3h6Nwx_jKZJXoTlws2hJ0v4gOulJhtBqizMsyrB_uhp8LFNG_57NqkhlZb/s1600/pom-pom+making.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDevUHK3XFn_YWnyOcqo7FuHF6hxwpFjGPaZbA_HHmJ172xnuzHaF4U4PgmWiDxrgTp75jeJyb3tZ-6LDCWl3h6Nwx_jKZJXoTlws2hJ0v4gOulJhtBqizMsyrB_uhp8LFNG_57NqkhlZb/s1600/pom-pom+making.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRnms81fpEFzX1wtwgsCd5D1WIgHe7HjTSB8ChxzqZjmrcDhtYn96io5Rz0aIcOQkxofO4JIB-jxwc7bNZ4pHk5cxo5PR2eXCwQ_1XZ-UbiYGH-L29ZOBx_DIWvdQiDizmrVuzLsKXi1l/s1600/pom+poms+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRnms81fpEFzX1wtwgsCd5D1WIgHe7HjTSB8ChxzqZjmrcDhtYn96io5Rz0aIcOQkxofO4JIB-jxwc7bNZ4pHk5cxo5PR2eXCwQ_1XZ-UbiYGH-L29ZOBx_DIWvdQiDizmrVuzLsKXi1l/s1600/pom+poms+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After we'd made several, we used some baker's twine threaded through a large needle and sewed right through the center of each pom-pom to make a garland. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrCq0fs8LtjpppToXNdzNc-LVEaGumTr_-Heup0pEEzZKiviQNNaxRsMbRRPk_iEPLOf0GcUqVyLf-FG2dgRC2SH9gM1fZEM8TUXt3Dj7PkCX2muPJjZY_KfoyZxaVPyfXb7VQPQvNK-H/s1600/pom+poms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrCq0fs8LtjpppToXNdzNc-LVEaGumTr_-Heup0pEEzZKiviQNNaxRsMbRRPk_iEPLOf0GcUqVyLf-FG2dgRC2SH9gM1fZEM8TUXt3Dj7PkCX2muPJjZY_KfoyZxaVPyfXb7VQPQvNK-H/s1600/pom+poms.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVMLiEo8IP7i07ncoS7-fCKO9yHPjZcQY02NRvVMRNrKRRoOoRo3QcjORXfmVcxaSHlDTYbiLIEK7DG90ESzpuiFbzgSJpM7SxzwFA7KcHwsOedRSmzsSPOhwMkD8lXQxueFg79vQ8V3C/s1600/pom+poms+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVMLiEo8IP7i07ncoS7-fCKO9yHPjZcQY02NRvVMRNrKRRoOoRo3QcjORXfmVcxaSHlDTYbiLIEK7DG90ESzpuiFbzgSJpM7SxzwFA7KcHwsOedRSmzsSPOhwMkD8lXQxueFg79vQ8V3C/s1600/pom+poms+up.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The girls were super excited to hang the garland in in their room!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Checkout <a href="http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2014/12/15/pom-pom-making/">this website</a> for great pom-pom making instructions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We had so much fun that the girls were a little sad to see the boys come home!</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-91059681620749636032015-02-09T21:49:00.000-08:002015-02-09T21:49:06.804-08:00When I'm Not Here<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, I've been a bit MIA from the blog lately. Everything is fine, well, actually it's chaos, but that's normal around here. The reason for the lack of blogging is that my volunteer job as a <a href="http://www.childadvocates.org/">Child Advocate</a> has been taking up a lot of my time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Friday I had to laugh at myself and snap this picture what with two computers set up and my case file spread over the floor (when children are in CPS care for 7 years, the case file tends to get kinda large). I was typing an email on one computer and referencing a 120 page document on the other computer. I was fielding phone calls from the CPS caseworker and leaving messages for the children's attorney. It was a busy, but productive, day!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9ViLpiiUyl9OM7nJUg3BYDiSxHoYKqz_5achboPY2SSJekzWmSj36PXFY5-rPMISo6BbNw6Hs2yjrr7L4HCFo27uQIRubccgpfb6k2zyhocVfqb3CzB1V3Wb_7PEkKcW-radgXRo0OJ3/s1600/work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9ViLpiiUyl9OM7nJUg3BYDiSxHoYKqz_5achboPY2SSJekzWmSj36PXFY5-rPMISo6BbNw6Hs2yjrr7L4HCFo27uQIRubccgpfb6k2zyhocVfqb3CzB1V3Wb_7PEkKcW-radgXRo0OJ3/s1600/work.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We go to court again this week and then I'm hoping things slow down a bit. But honestly, the two children I'm fighting for are worth every minute of time, even when it feels like I don't have any more of it to give. Working to get these two kids out of foster care and into a loving home is a great privilege and I'm humbled that God has allowed me a part.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">P.S. By the way, that loving home we're so close to for these kids? Is not my home. Just so nobody gets any crazy ideas! </span></span>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-64988089731028364152015-02-03T21:42:00.003-08:002015-02-03T21:51:05.864-08:00It's February 3rd, How Are Your New Year's Resolutions Going?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvxXi5Tg5jYqBWl-nBnO8tHH14DCcC7yxrWr9DrvRfQEt76JHnO-wUu9y0AEVomBqCqsAitSrxfDUqp1PyMXhCYtVKx2kQHhSVVHiqfnNgP7KCMa-75AvQ1cQwRq4JcanrcnS_2TnB_ot/s1600/bible+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvxXi5Tg5jYqBWl-nBnO8tHH14DCcC7yxrWr9DrvRfQEt76JHnO-wUu9y0AEVomBqCqsAitSrxfDUqp1PyMXhCYtVKx2kQHhSVVHiqfnNgP7KCMa-75AvQ1cQwRq4JcanrcnS_2TnB_ot/s1600/bible+reading.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Making New Years resolutions seems rather cliche' and I've certainly heard <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2013/01/01/just-8-of-people-achieve-their-new-years-resolutions-heres-how-they-did-it/">the statistics about how just 8% of people actually achieve their New Year's goals</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But, still, I typically can't resist. I mean it is a clean slate, a new year, a world of possibilities! And per my personality, I usually bite off more than I can easily chew. And what is the harm anyway? Failure may mean I still accomplished more than if I'd never had the goal to begin with.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last year I set the goal to workout for at least 30 minutes at least 3 times per week. Overall I achieved that. Not every week was perfect, but there were even some weeks where I hit 4 times a week, so on average, I'm calling it a win.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And the best part is that the regular, consistent workouts are now a part of my routine, versus previous years when I might work-out every day for 30 days and then not at all for weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the heals of my 2014 success, I do believe overconfidence in my ability to implement change took over. For 2015 I actually made TWO resolutions! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And that's in addition to maintaining last year's exercise goal and, you know, raising 4 humans, caring for a crazy, furry, four-legged creature, working magic to feed everyone 3 meals a day, and various volunteer jobs!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This may not last until March which is why I'd like to go on the record now saying, surprisingly, I'm actually ON TRACK with these 2 goals!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So what are they?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">#1 I've undertaken the goal to read through the Bible in a year.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm doing an <a href="http://www.esv.org/assets/pdfs/rp.chronological.pdf">ESV chronological version</a>. I've never read through the Bible in a year before. I'm in an in-depth Bible study where we read books of the Bible in entirety, looking at each verse, so I've always thought I didn't have time for more Bible reading. But, I liked the idea of covering the whole book, of knowing that I know the whole thing cover to cover or at least have lain eyes on it at least once in my life! Then I heard that it would just take 15 minutes each day to achieve the goal of reading through the Bible in a year. And I thought, "Anyone can make time for 15 minutes! Right?" Well, it's not easy, but I am only a day behind and for me that is a HUGE win!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">#2 I've challenged myself to read more books this year, not just the Bible. 24 Books, to be exact. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I used to love reading and then I became a mom and just took less and less time for it and then when I'd read something besides the Bible it was usually a parenting or adoption-related book. While those books are great, they are usually not high on the enjoyment scale. Then I read a novel in just a few days during our summer vacation and I loved it and determined to try to make more time for leisure reading. So, I've finished 2 books but I have to confess they are books I started before the new year. But, still, I'm totally couting them! And, I have no shortage of books to read as I've totally overindulged and bought myself tons of books that I really want to read!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After I'd made the goal to read through the Bible in a year, I was going through built-up mail and realized we had gotten a 2015 calendar from <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/">Samaritan's Purse</a> and it had it's own version of a Bible reading plan for each day of the calendar. I gave the calendar to my 9 year old daughter because she wanted a 2015 calendar for her room. But, the coolest part is that she is following that reading plan and attempting to read through the Bible in a year, too!! AND she totally holds me accountable asking me, "How many days behind are you?" or "I'm caught up, are you caught up, Mom?!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How are you doing on your resolutions? Did you make any?</span></span><br />
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<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-76421834301578233232015-01-28T19:48:00.006-08:002015-01-28T19:50:30.465-08:008 Minutes Well Spent<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I like to listen to Bible teaching while I exercise. Often this is <a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons/">Matt Chandler</a> or <a href="http://www.preachitteachit.org/about-us/the-team/francis-chan/sermons/">Francis Chan</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then last week I suddenly had the desire to hear a little <a href="http://www.lproof.org/">Beth Moore</a>. About 4 years ago I did a Beth Moore study live with some Bible study friends and hearing her speak in person was all kinds of awesome. I've also been in groups before who watched her videos, but not in a few years. So, just out of the blue I began to crave hearing Beth Moore. Strange, right? Well, I searched for a Beth Moore video on the internet and friends, I found a gem! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Really, this made my whole day!
And then a couple days later I sat my husband and kids down and had them watch it, too, and we all laughed! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This is so funny and delightful, trust me, watch it! Do it!
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PcjE5a6mVaA" width="459"></iframe>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-39424891061218235572015-01-26T19:39:00.002-08:002015-01-26T19:39:52.393-08:00My 6 Year Old Has A Dream<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I shared last week that my 6 year old daughter, who we adopted from an orphanage in Ethiopia at age 3, had been learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. at school.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today she brought home some work she did last week. It took my breath away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4Uf2PXpsOaPp3sHee8nuMrxfGgAKlCZ0GUuRMDGJxN0KthN9gXIa55CzIn8NwgM8YQfaSgILY8KRDAhmThFvdVW2QPKZQhnEqhHPcoo0RPKM4x-fDov878boK_O09THWjvJqQxPLhpMq/s1600/dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4Uf2PXpsOaPp3sHee8nuMrxfGgAKlCZ0GUuRMDGJxN0KthN9gXIa55CzIn8NwgM8YQfaSgILY8KRDAhmThFvdVW2QPKZQhnEqhHPcoo0RPKM4x-fDov878boK_O09THWjvJqQxPLhpMq/s1600/dream.jpg" height="618" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Her dream "that all children in the orphanage would be adopted." is beautiful and heart-breaking coming from a child who remembers life in an orphanage!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I looked at that schoolwork with her dream at about 4:45pm today, then at 6pm I checked my email and I had an email from our adoption agency notifying all their Ethiopia adoptive families that they are closing down their Ethiopia adoption program due to too many roadblocks created by the Ethiopian government to stop international adoptions amid rhetoric by officials that Ethiopian children should stay in Ethiopia.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I want Ethiopian children to stay in Ethiopia, too, if at all possible, but not at the cost of growing up in an orphanage or worse, on the streets! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Praise God our little girl is home, but it makes me so sad for Ethiopian orphans left behind, children who could have had hope for a family and now will likely grow up without one. Will you join me in praying for the orphans in Ethiopia?</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-72484476048339529302015-01-21T20:11:00.003-08:002015-01-21T20:18:15.611-08:00Great Lotions to Keep Children's Skin Moisturized<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have one fair skinned child with pretty sensitive skin and a tendency towards eczema if I don't keep her well moisturized, especially in the winter months. And then my Ethiopian daughter has dry skin that must be moisturized twice a day with a thick lotion or she gets very ashy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I've found two lotions that I use on my kids that are great and do the trick to keep them moisturized. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">They are a little on the pricey side, but I've found it's totally worth the investment because if I let their skin get dry it leads to needing the more expensive prescription steroid creams (which can also have side effects). </span>These lotions were recommended to me by a pediatric dermatologist a few years ago and they really work! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here they are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NWGCZ2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000NWGCZ2&linkCode=as2&tag=itfelich-20&linkId=JNKYH64WSPV4RMWW">Vanicream</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=itfelich-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000NWGCZ2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*** Disclaimer: I am an Amazon.com affiliate and will receive a small portion of the sale should you purchase a product after using one of my links, but I only recommend products I truly use and love for my family.***
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It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-35632465303649557092015-01-19T21:59:00.000-08:002015-01-19T22:12:02.094-08:00Joining Hands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCqgEoNzlnyBFGfR3bsetTLcMlzatJXDxNNiqfvO59r2Q_FTxnTTcuLSgVAgVVUX6yxRt_2pUU9v1epHJWZBiSI4TO2guig9NBdXuPe5lql8BYrbZHiiQLsUCyvC3EtyD7fIjHgoZ5CRv/s1600/walking+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCqgEoNzlnyBFGfR3bsetTLcMlzatJXDxNNiqfvO59r2Q_FTxnTTcuLSgVAgVVUX6yxRt_2pUU9v1epHJWZBiSI4TO2guig9NBdXuPe5lql8BYrbZHiiQLsUCyvC3EtyD7fIjHgoZ5CRv/s1600/walking+3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that "<a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm">little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.</a>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In some ways, I am living that dream, every day in my own home. It is a privilege I do not take lightly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But, walking that out, is tricky at times. As a mother to both white and black children, I want so much for their skin color not to matter, but then I see how sometimes it does. And the most compassionate thing is not ignoring that reality or saying it isn't a thing, but empathizing with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week I got an email from my daughter's kindergarten teacher, one that went out to all the parents about what the kids would be learning that week. When I saw they were "learning all about Martin Luther King," I sucked in my breath, my stomach kind of flopped, and my palms began to sweat. Not at all because I didn't want them to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr., I've played the speeches for my kids at home, we read books about the civil rights movement, and talk freely about skin color. My 3 older kids have all learned about MLK at this public school. But, my older 3 kids are white and it feels different when they learn about the civil rights movement than when my youngest daughter, who is black, learns about the civil rights movement.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The difference is that when my white children hear the message of MLK, I believe (and hope) they hear that you should not judge anyone based on the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character. But, when my black daughter hears the message of MLK, I fear that she will hear that there was a time not so long ago in our country when people with her skin color were seen as less than because of the color of their skin. And they had to fight for the right to be treated like everyone else. Which, of course, makes me worried that she will then begin to feel less than.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We've not focused so much (or at all) yet on slavery or other more hideous aspects of black history with our 6 year old daughter and although I know she will have to know some day, as her mom, my desire is to shelter her from that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I met up today with a friend who is white and raising a black son, she had just seen the movie <a href="http://www.selmamovie.com/">Selma</a>, which I have not yet seen. I shared with her my fears about what my daughter was picking up on from black history lessons and she nodded, sucked in her breath in a way I know so well, and confessed that she is glad her son doesn't fully understand it all right now. It made me feel less crazy to see my feelings echoed in another mama who is living the dream.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Martin Luther King, Jr. teaching seems to have been done very well for my kindergartener, focusing mostly on that he wanted children of all skin colors to work and play together in peace, rather than just focusing on black people as the marginalized group.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And today, my 6 year old daughter was reciting parts of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s <i><a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm">I Have A Dream</a></i> speech to anyone who would listen!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, we're going to keep walking this thing out, with compassion for people of all skin colors, praying for change, and doing whatever we can to be the change we'd like to see in the world. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltft-_wJOLv7rLN4Kv720dichI43z5OkBufXQSUsU3A4F-9UT0JY2dMZaNG6TUcS9-XMQN6EV-qGJz2-VPUMirfmmqB1RbA6ihrKgvhEdinDDxhd9vCztIMz4_Peq2_L3IlkI6sYlADXV/s1600/walking+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltft-_wJOLv7rLN4Kv720dichI43z5OkBufXQSUsU3A4F-9UT0JY2dMZaNG6TUcS9-XMQN6EV-qGJz2-VPUMirfmmqB1RbA6ihrKgvhEdinDDxhd9vCztIMz4_Peq2_L3IlkI6sYlADXV/s1600/walking+4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-57646106151405222322015-01-15T20:46:00.000-08:002015-01-15T20:46:23.117-08:00Snippets of Our Real Life<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the homework scene this afternoon around my kitchen table:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uZjf6t03GY_3u2VuXaF3-QfW07t3TN75_bfb6_l6aqo4tQDu8V63dk1qjiTD5Cw3aTVyg6MYhQyjWVfuUw-Nhi2MhwIRye2XAroeSKi_Sv20tEaAobhK8tzHiVmvXe3ObIN-UuoBvw2e/s1600/homework+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uZjf6t03GY_3u2VuXaF3-QfW07t3TN75_bfb6_l6aqo4tQDu8V63dk1qjiTD5Cw3aTVyg6MYhQyjWVfuUw-Nhi2MhwIRye2XAroeSKi_Sv20tEaAobhK8tzHiVmvXe3ObIN-UuoBvw2e/s1600/homework+time.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have 2 things to say about that picture: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Yes, my Christmas card display is still up, I took down all the other Christmas stuff, but I can never bear to take the cards down before February. I love seeing all the faces of kids we've watched grow up! So many sweet families each with their own story (several touched by adoption, like our family)!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Yes, Madeline the dog is sitting on a chair at the table and everyone is carrying on as if that isn't strange, because sadly, it isn't! Our dog regularly jumps up on a chair at the table. I know the dog trainer we used when she was a puppy would now refuse to claim us as clients, but in our defense she does actually get "OFF" if you give her the command. However I think we missed the class on getting her to stay off! As a bonus, though, she's an excellent help with math homework</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's another view after I moved the Triscuit box out of the way:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDqQdV_ZdRDf3m7pWHd3MIoEBnKIv95Pskh7gmAZnPbHYzCS_FvfHm50LtTDqNwg6vQm-qLYkxKVQM0NoynXT49pwPJ3tCE_l_lIbSZrn0a2t8rc7W31wBz1y5KzufyWAX3QtOePvnX4m/s1600/homework+time+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDqQdV_ZdRDf3m7pWHd3MIoEBnKIv95Pskh7gmAZnPbHYzCS_FvfHm50LtTDqNwg6vQm-qLYkxKVQM0NoynXT49pwPJ3tCE_l_lIbSZrn0a2t8rc7W31wBz1y5KzufyWAX3QtOePvnX4m/s1600/homework+time+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of Triscuits, did you ever think about the fact that they rhyme with "biscuits"? Yeah, me neither until today!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I taught my 9 year old daughter to make homemade biscuits last weekend. I think she's just about ready to graduate to baking without much help from me. I can't wait for the day she makes me breakfast!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLecFydafq7bkPHtubJ0kJ0RwC9GWT7rsetG7wEyse6dkMSF9Zp5Bh5yg_RT58QrCOfVXGFAYs9gu3Wl6-V1w9DEu57PBMUItNyk7ZKpmWsbj3cqCUGwKx4tG1T2i2xNG4hpCGl6DTqU8_/s1600/making+biscuits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLecFydafq7bkPHtubJ0kJ0RwC9GWT7rsetG7wEyse6dkMSF9Zp5Bh5yg_RT58QrCOfVXGFAYs9gu3Wl6-V1w9DEu57PBMUItNyk7ZKpmWsbj3cqCUGwKx4tG1T2i2xNG4hpCGl6DTqU8_/s1600/making+biscuits.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/p/friday-fragments.html" target="_blank" title="Half-Past Kissin' Time"><img alt="Half-Past Kissin' Time" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/Blog%20Graphics/FridayFragmentsCrystalized200x1332_zpsfc35e8b7.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-71558867231696849662015-01-13T20:30:00.000-08:002015-01-13T20:30:05.753-08:00Baby Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ah, baby pictures. We all have them of ourselves as chubby little babies and we all treasure the tons we have of our own precious babes! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiTqxDDRQJX0LFa-lToD_Np4yILf9Go_WaMK6y0y5gp9C4a5ddvCHbIDZwgCq0R_KMy3FeGukVk6bHgusyb0ghoLDemK43Tn_xP3DulTo0yUgzZt5ggpvlVWSBrNKad_xQfPh4LIZ5Tkx/s1600/baby+pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiTqxDDRQJX0LFa-lToD_Np4yILf9Go_WaMK6y0y5gp9C4a5ddvCHbIDZwgCq0R_KMy3FeGukVk6bHgusyb0ghoLDemK43Tn_xP3DulTo0yUgzZt5ggpvlVWSBrNKad_xQfPh4LIZ5Tkx/s1600/baby+pictures.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Only that's not the case for everyone. Many children who lost their first families, and are orphans or have been adopted, do not have baby pictures. No sweet images of their babyhoods!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I stood up in a court room last Thursday and fought for two precious children from my Child Advocates case, children who have been without family for far too long.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was not easy, there was opposition to my recommendations. But, I had many friends praying for the situation, for God to give the judge wisdom. And an hour into the hearing when it really began looking like things were not going in the direction I wanted and truly believe is best for these two children, I prayed right there in the courtroom standing before the judge (silently, of course). And God worked in His mighty way! After a short recess we came back and the judge granted my recommendations for a plan for these children to give them what every child should have, family!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Outside the courtroom, as we worked out the details of visitation with a family member who the children have not seen in years, she asked the kids if they had any questions for her. The 10 year old boy sheepishly asked, "Do you have any baby pictures of me?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oh, my heart! Sweet boy who has been through so much! But, God is a God of restoration. And this relative DOES have baby pictures!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May all children have families to cherish them.</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-51750326580343558202015-01-09T07:47:00.001-08:002015-01-09T07:52:28.455-08:008 Things I Learned Over the Holidays<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>1. A remake of the movie <a href="http://www.annie-movie.com/site/">Annie</a> can be a great thing.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We took the kids to see the new <a href="http://www.annie-movie.com/site/">Annie</a> the weekend before Christmas and I was a little worried because <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083564/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">the original Annie </a>was one of my favorite movies from my childhood and remakes are never as good as originals. But, this movie was different enough, that it was lovely in it's own way. The main actress is amazing and she really makes the movie! For other adoptive parents, be warned, there are a few hard scenes, ones that portray some of the heartache our kids go through when they don't have families, thankfully I'd been forewarned and we had a few conversations with Little Girl before and after the movie. I think those conversations, although never easy, bringing up that dialogue, stopping from the busyness of life to acknowledge the pain in our child's past, is ultimately a really good thing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, as a bonus, my kids are singing the song "It's a Hard-Knock Life for Us" when we have family chore time!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>2. I really need to capitalize more on the before Christmas clean-out. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it turns out, the statement, "We don't have room for anything new, so nobody is opening any gifts until we get rid of some things," is a really motivational mantra to encourage my kids to actually part with some of their things! Unfortunately I didn't have time to figure this out until Dec. 23rd, so the cleaning out that we could do was limited, but we did fill a few bags. I just love our playroom game shelves all organized by size of the game boxes! Notice there is no before picture with them all just crammed wherever there was space!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3kju7_CyridEFuK5J-7S5y7Cs2WICWFIUw_W4fulBiFtMYJfIC6yRqiNzGRbv1wHD0l3Wn4hP9h9O7g6ucdhwpvWgige_B492li1XDX2UcCTnexAhHPHnQjAo0vRaum8DF_5CKs7t0gU/s1600/game+shelf+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3kju7_CyridEFuK5J-7S5y7Cs2WICWFIUw_W4fulBiFtMYJfIC6yRqiNzGRbv1wHD0l3Wn4hP9h9O7g6ucdhwpvWgige_B492li1XDX2UcCTnexAhHPHnQjAo0vRaum8DF_5CKs7t0gU/s1600/game+shelf+1.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdOOxSNbOg87AjXEiCEfzeSLXrK_JNI0xt7WzdE81w4bx4DLph7eS8SpPEfG6xVqlIOGg3R46vA9H19YMxS371wM8L4ctCpZFTvYYQfdvZWYJusK12rUSxmySrP5EDF3FGOeOMa82if2O/s1600/game+shelf+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdOOxSNbOg87AjXEiCEfzeSLXrK_JNI0xt7WzdE81w4bx4DLph7eS8SpPEfG6xVqlIOGg3R46vA9H19YMxS371wM8L4ctCpZFTvYYQfdvZWYJusK12rUSxmySrP5EDF3FGOeOMa82if2O/s1600/game+shelf+2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>3. Taking a Christmas Eve picture of 4 kids plus 1 dog in front of the Christmas tree will not produce a picture where everybody is smiling at the same time, but oh how cuddly they all look!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKjT6e5WtP8H4W9u_NyZle08P_ZJmbtG018M0cpdYLDwvCC-VWfXB2HA0Ltf6hem_tBiSrwIERz7q5BDvA6vFtHvmeO84aKy2AafQTJFWrdXNoCtNsd8brnlOvHk6-BWVyUPGCIBUON7x/s1600/christmas+jammies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKjT6e5WtP8H4W9u_NyZle08P_ZJmbtG018M0cpdYLDwvCC-VWfXB2HA0Ltf6hem_tBiSrwIERz7q5BDvA6vFtHvmeO84aKy2AafQTJFWrdXNoCtNsd8brnlOvHk6-BWVyUPGCIBUON7x/s1600/christmas+jammies.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>4. Christmas morning is definitely a time to just ignore the mess.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think I already knew this, but I love our Christmas mornings at home, no stress, nowhere to be, time to reflect on the BEST gift of Jesus, seeing the delight in our kids as they open gifts from us, and enjoying time together as a family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0qgbFRggaqlrjamlwl-osSszZ80YnUoHEUiYEh5AmLD4XqMGNENWXTcnNnU5fhyjm_8bE85KNZ2Gr2LEo6jJ_CDPNfZEApNq8kKYPkAs147QLvrZqQO1KOoehyphenhyphenoAbRvRua4qm46gH6y/s1600/dog+on+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS0qgbFRggaqlrjamlwl-osSszZ80YnUoHEUiYEh5AmLD4XqMGNENWXTcnNnU5fhyjm_8bE85KNZ2Gr2LEo6jJ_CDPNfZEApNq8kKYPkAs147QLvrZqQO1KOoehyphenhyphenoAbRvRua4qm46gH6y/s1600/dog+on+dog.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>5. Getting the 11 year old a camera for Christmas was a really good idea!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's so hard to buy for kids as they get older and we are still resisting the iPhone thing for my middle school son, although he'd still really like one. His Christmas wishlist was pretty pathetic and no help, with things like new shoelaces on it! Honestly, poor deprived child! When I saw the list in November I was like, "If you need new shoelaces, I think we can probably get you some before Christmas!" I was at a loss for what to get him, but then I thought of the idea of his own camera, a DSLR (which my husband and I don't even have), because he's gotten very interested in photography and he's taking a photography class at school this spring semester. Well, he loved it, and I love that he is learning a real skill as he plays around with lighting and lenses and shutter speed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJKVKn-AlfqHQCcWT8yhO-Yz9zUiB0KvCRHYOcpeCUXnLO3WRApKr5yDppgyUXe_CwouAazBrIVb2coN7SDithjyg1hTqGDegfnruYj1vou49evoO2aP_aMQuXu5oR5dqmJao4eIY_KI8/s1600/camera+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJKVKn-AlfqHQCcWT8yhO-Yz9zUiB0KvCRHYOcpeCUXnLO3WRApKr5yDppgyUXe_CwouAazBrIVb2coN7SDithjyg1hTqGDegfnruYj1vou49evoO2aP_aMQuXu5oR5dqmJao4eIY_KI8/s1600/camera+boy.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>6. With all the racial issues going on in our country right now, this happy scene I discovered in my foyer brought me great joy.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 6 year old daughter wanted a doll bed for Christmas and after she opened it, she promptly set it up and snuggled two of her dollies in it. I just think this is what the world needs more of, people of dark skin and light coming together as family.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLu8PBSSMexn7FshyDVtOPJaEuENmjdJ4yRApFYUTXzp8p5XYg4FyfVfITeHjLFuQOJTm-34-gUZ0d5PE6XV67cbDqXAUIuTb36d_rREqvPoYSs_KFImiyXfNXJ0wKrLQjwFoJpykched/s1600/dolls+in+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLu8PBSSMexn7FshyDVtOPJaEuENmjdJ4yRApFYUTXzp8p5XYg4FyfVfITeHjLFuQOJTm-34-gUZ0d5PE6XV67cbDqXAUIuTb36d_rREqvPoYSs_KFImiyXfNXJ0wKrLQjwFoJpykched/s1600/dolls+in+bed.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br /><br />7. I'm so glad we started the Christmas morning tradition of homemade doughnuts years ago!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Because, yummy! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuViyT8CjyJm8REDKtCVed7-SqWLPQdJ20Debj7wEmkJQ3SLBmVAcgHf160hcTAYYu8Fd9yhguVI5lEe5VTt7_GhCNntIbMQJtkIrDOBUMENzDwCdTEzzpE2mOIzK24kZ-0DD3fnvIqmi/s1600/doughnuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWuViyT8CjyJm8REDKtCVed7-SqWLPQdJ20Debj7wEmkJQ3SLBmVAcgHf160hcTAYYu8Fd9yhguVI5lEe5VTt7_GhCNntIbMQJtkIrDOBUMENzDwCdTEzzpE2mOIzK24kZ-0DD3fnvIqmi/s1600/doughnuts.jpg" height="466" width="640" /></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And the doughnut holes? Even better, because you can justify eating several they're so small!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZoOhwyuG5zJphJEo3v5AsLMJZKuoAfK1qEmp-7fy1J1RS3wcwkIGwa7LqjNCSz9k_x6O9PuXGQ9NckkKBM3HhfJIi_3dGITkUew34m_9iOF_YstkNVpUWqK3BAv9Wul_H3iOAfuvHPkD/s1600/doughnut+holes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZoOhwyuG5zJphJEo3v5AsLMJZKuoAfK1qEmp-7fy1J1RS3wcwkIGwa7LqjNCSz9k_x6O9PuXGQ9NckkKBM3HhfJIi_3dGITkUew34m_9iOF_YstkNVpUWqK3BAv9Wul_H3iOAfuvHPkD/s1600/doughnut+holes.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>8. Hilda the Hippo, although tested on lions and bears at the zoo, is not actually an indestructible dog toy!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This year I researched to find a stuffed toy to buy Madeline, our goldendoodle, one she wouldn't be able to de-stuff in just a couple days. I had high hopes for Hilda the Hippo after watching the view about how the toy was even tested on zoo animals and even paid more that I typically pay for a dog toy, but sadly Christmas night, Madeline was able to rip both ears off the hippo and soon got all the stuffing out of Hilda's leg! If I can ever get it uploaded, I have a funny video of Madeline wildly pulling stuffing out of the hippo. I'm thinking I should send that video to the company that made the toy!!</span></span><br />
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It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-63100861841330382015-01-06T20:17:00.001-08:002015-01-06T20:19:08.343-08:00When I assign my 11 year old yard work chores . . .<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One benefit of not hiring a yard crew to take care of our yard, like all our neighbors do, is that it makes a great consequence for bad kid behavior!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few days before Christmas the 11 year old was relegated outside to put in some time doing leaf duty. (Our autumn is more in December so our yard was covered in leaves.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was busy doing some things inside, likely wrapping presents, or some such holiday prep. After a bit I looked out the window to see how the 11 year old was progressing in his chore and I saw his 7 year old brother was out working alongside him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOQRz8_pbIyPfZKe3MnZTOrd88Z4mR9U34GDHBiUARiUzMMp0ah36Cn3sW8XvUN9UCFnj7jOMhraAipnhSYccXkpByNvMH3v_tGsJefoXadBxfoM4WsA9ah7PnF75n7xMVQvopbI4Xc9K/s1600/yard+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOQRz8_pbIyPfZKe3MnZTOrd88Z4mR9U34GDHBiUARiUzMMp0ah36Cn3sW8XvUN9UCFnj7jOMhraAipnhSYccXkpByNvMH3v_tGsJefoXadBxfoM4WsA9ah7PnF75n7xMVQvopbI4Xc9K/s1600/yard+work.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I took their picture because they were so cute and then continued on with my inside work. When I looked outside a little later, lo and behold now the 11 year old had also recruited his sisters (who were still clad in their pajamas because no school so why change out of jammies) into the backyard to assist him in leaf duty.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xiWjPNxl8jaIsvqT3U3T2qbKQN0dM2b5UbPi62Lt68G0InkUxFqgFQ1J57mSw6Ovnr9rYyKCHztkcUTjzTB2-fHilcEmPJbkw8k4SBvv3en5Ie2TB_JbbVZ3iJGGXBPr2bVvnd21bOxc/s1600/yard+work+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xiWjPNxl8jaIsvqT3U3T2qbKQN0dM2b5UbPi62Lt68G0InkUxFqgFQ1J57mSw6Ovnr9rYyKCHztkcUTjzTB2-fHilcEmPJbkw8k4SBvv3en5Ie2TB_JbbVZ3iJGGXBPr2bVvnd21bOxc/s1600/yard+work+2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJu3rNZJgi9CyTfsUaODHBsosqMMvplEcegxzU6synUm_X8vtDqGqskfSOCrWcTwOaMJaSXkrUxkqaWf68xXntAP9IFDI-6yIt4GKs1Vgc4CDPg9D6TET1BrRAFZL59Gt6WRQ0Mwh9iHd/s1600/yard+work+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJu3rNZJgi9CyTfsUaODHBsosqMMvplEcegxzU6synUm_X8vtDqGqskfSOCrWcTwOaMJaSXkrUxkqaWf68xXntAP9IFDI-6yIt4GKs1Vgc4CDPg9D6TET1BrRAFZL59Gt6WRQ0Mwh9iHd/s1600/yard+work+3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I couldn't believe it! How in the world did he convince all 3 of his siblings to help him complete his chore consequence? And they were happily working!! AND he had trained them all to do the various tasks of leaf blowing, raking, scooping and periodically changing the trash bag once it got full!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sure there was some of this:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT0S7oU17hhkNcdltE2ts05o3Ghe1UOHOKIut18a2nclryugVg4nyYgMLUn47lUBxZZhYItfS3Z4YTpvgvZekxSpq4JLh_Oa57tqEgNHiFecM8_4lxLLzYqI-PDpp4DfT9mOEoODx44rx/s1600/yard+work+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT0S7oU17hhkNcdltE2ts05o3Ghe1UOHOKIut18a2nclryugVg4nyYgMLUn47lUBxZZhYItfS3Z4YTpvgvZekxSpq4JLh_Oa57tqEgNHiFecM8_4lxLLzYqI-PDpp4DfT9mOEoODx44rx/s1600/yard+work+4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But, real work got done. The entire backyard was thoroughly raked and about 6 bags of leaves generated!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 11 year old son is always telling me when I encourage him to learn to do menial jobs well, that he won't need those skills because he is going to be the boss when he grows up.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, I gotta hand it to him, the kid does have some managerial skills!</span></span>It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-64553949720757846552015-01-05T21:49:00.002-08:002015-01-05T21:51:20.673-08:00Christmas isn't really over.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How is it that Christmastime seems to go so quickly from this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi709JZXsMz1vkC82SRjK4wrS2tXH8A74Awqa73JsUGNNQSA73NVjJ6Pkz-aGc924YE0YPqe_e7fJlgWdDiP0g99DaPiy-PlbuKHZGzRDjZSeXJ4Vt-96Gq27x9B3LXd1py6aajDkuom0Ao/s1600/tree+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi709JZXsMz1vkC82SRjK4wrS2tXH8A74Awqa73JsUGNNQSA73NVjJ6Pkz-aGc924YE0YPqe_e7fJlgWdDiP0g99DaPiy-PlbuKHZGzRDjZSeXJ4Vt-96Gq27x9B3LXd1py6aajDkuom0Ao/s1600/tree+before.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Oj7RpAVRTxjOFW9N5QY6sAiHKxjXt6e5KLhC6n8BOWOCFj_-4NQY1_xbm_KZ2-3Pw3zOqSAJQX__T_e-v_aRC-G0t5m_4inlIVU95naZpopkdikZLBQsOxlhJOsIBtOmGyXJ1hX2Il39/s1600/christmas+aftermath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Oj7RpAVRTxjOFW9N5QY6sAiHKxjXt6e5KLhC6n8BOWOCFj_-4NQY1_xbm_KZ2-3Pw3zOqSAJQX__T_e-v_aRC-G0t5m_4inlIVU95naZpopkdikZLBQsOxlhJOsIBtOmGyXJ1hX2Il39/s1600/christmas+aftermath.jpg" height="640" width="426" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And before you know it you're ringing in the new year with sparkling grape juice and 2015 pancakes</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UG2_09pIUzS9AJvNSieAZTzMyzJwy_8Qig4-5wy9Rusnu7GbAjwjSrlUGRfcpTNRGc8IOylFEqwygwd2Oa8MNaAe3QCUadLZAjb-Fn2VSxcpbcx41Ds9BYNJslkH751jHVGkjyuMf_X/s1600/cheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6UG2_09pIUzS9AJvNSieAZTzMyzJwy_8Qig4-5wy9Rusnu7GbAjwjSrlUGRfcpTNRGc8IOylFEqwygwd2Oa8MNaAe3QCUadLZAjb-Fn2VSxcpbcx41Ds9BYNJslkH751jHVGkjyuMf_X/s1600/cheers.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlIxm-q4PafeR-OVeAAR6B1qwNY04AYmq4HU83B_fNIU8wff9Nx8NWP9O9adhfX3WY39eL6Rijvt6zor_g1BB5I6fuUJm6c85LgH0oZzf2FFDdE22ABJysR8iISwGLa0gdTQRfR-D8TW4/s1600/2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlIxm-q4PafeR-OVeAAR6B1qwNY04AYmq4HU83B_fNIU8wff9Nx8NWP9O9adhfX3WY39eL6Rijvt6zor_g1BB5I6fuUJm6c85LgH0oZzf2FFDdE22ABJysR8iISwGLa0gdTQRfR-D8TW4/s1600/2015.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And the tree is undecorated and the children get to watch from the playroom window as the iron claw from the recycling truck picks it up from our curb on January 2nd and hauls it away.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Christmas is over, boxed up, hauled off, and we're on to all things <i>new</i>. <i>New</i> calendars, <i>new</i> goals, <i>new</i> plans, a <i>new</i> school semester. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But the <i>old</i> magic of Christmas never ends. That baby in the manager is the same savior for you and me today in 2015 as He was over two thousand years ago when the angels declared his birth!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So call it denial, that I don't want to face the reality of packing 4 lunches at 7am tomorrow, but I'm claiming Christmas has not ended. Yes, the decorations are down, but The Greatest Gift is one that keeps on giving. And praise God for that, because truly, I need a savior all year round!</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-39852559578294512092014-12-23T22:08:00.001-08:002014-12-23T22:08:14.731-08:00We wish you a merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4cOtwowUUlfLbguG5aGjjtA1w46usLNujRRtbSsQzsEWJjffL6LsZTKP1_K-0Oxzra9I4dBDqa43rgDW3pf3UfkOfacW4-AVeftURHL9VOMFruZGVnb8zE9X1gZTFxNZjRzIO-18vzy-/s1600/family2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4cOtwowUUlfLbguG5aGjjtA1w46usLNujRRtbSsQzsEWJjffL6LsZTKP1_K-0Oxzra9I4dBDqa43rgDW3pf3UfkOfacW4-AVeftURHL9VOMFruZGVnb8zE9X1gZTFxNZjRzIO-18vzy-/s1600/family2014.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Merry Christmas from our family to yours!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4791688654948426375.post-55057604577108477652014-12-22T21:33:00.001-08:002014-12-22T21:33:26.040-08:00Baking with 4 Kids and a 1 Crazy Dog<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My 4 kids made Christmas cookies today. For the first year, it wasn't total chaos; they were actually really good at the rolling and cutting out of cookies!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do not fear I'll have to change the name of this blog, there was still chaos in the kitchen due to the dog desperately trying to help make cookies (she is in all 4 of the pictures below, although very hard to spot in the 2nd one):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbfPTnppGNlh5HdyNy-v6dniMTVfU3omq_D78XsY-bxTBm59BOk7sI665IbJWEB2IZ6DbO9yZShWtiKop6zPOVlMfqMigaZBq-Sld-fdJqN0ZVZag5G8hnsFQZ37ethioi__ETCR4aWDJ/s1600/cookies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbfPTnppGNlh5HdyNy-v6dniMTVfU3omq_D78XsY-bxTBm59BOk7sI665IbJWEB2IZ6DbO9yZShWtiKop6zPOVlMfqMigaZBq-Sld-fdJqN0ZVZag5G8hnsFQZ37ethioi__ETCR4aWDJ/s1600/cookies+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JGMdX0ngbGR3TxUC7zFlxP-og2jnT8WGixTjrKOu3fbxaTDypPwrricYhBdvmXXc5Vnj_1oW7QBrNaj-nVuQ4Kcd-29KiQ4eJ7DosKS9_POHqZeJwLiLvm6LGdtH8uh9rNZ1fn2sO9x/s1600/cookies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JGMdX0ngbGR3TxUC7zFlxP-og2jnT8WGixTjrKOu3fbxaTDypPwrricYhBdvmXXc5Vnj_1oW7QBrNaj-nVuQ4Kcd-29KiQ4eJ7DosKS9_POHqZeJwLiLvm6LGdtH8uh9rNZ1fn2sO9x/s1600/cookies2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho165B3XFn84FSDtVTIFzqjTrTWYFCGeoeVBCVv5jo5xThgGBJtt9KPkTksFxlm2lExYT4v50AvVy_QI5NfPZg0eB7eHhA5g1834p-urfrj2HLX4TUfz_MAKbUoFBmm0XtF5r65RxnBTIO/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho165B3XFn84FSDtVTIFzqjTrTWYFCGeoeVBCVv5jo5xThgGBJtt9KPkTksFxlm2lExYT4v50AvVy_QI5NfPZg0eB7eHhA5g1834p-urfrj2HLX4TUfz_MAKbUoFBmm0XtF5r65RxnBTIO/s1600/cookies.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuz1ccJOz00b6TG34F5TB7VnBydINhvyT-DFc22n1oayRkvtS-764CxuKFqTambhCa0g_iQ9vo9tqeQFUqfJDA5b07zzWa4qSWsxShfNTr7O4Akj0ckgbuDE1dWhf42tIewsHM_G4dtcG/s1600/cookies+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuz1ccJOz00b6TG34F5TB7VnBydINhvyT-DFc22n1oayRkvtS-764CxuKFqTambhCa0g_iQ9vo9tqeQFUqfJDA5b07zzWa4qSWsxShfNTr7O4Akj0ckgbuDE1dWhf42tIewsHM_G4dtcG/s1600/cookies+4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Would anyone like a 4 year old goldendoodle for Christmas? I can drop her on your doorstep complete with a large red bow!</span></span></div>
It Feels Like Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10671848129910298975noreply@blogger.com0