tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71293779858096132582024-03-12T17:46:19.369-07:00Blessings by the DozenFinding peace in the chaos of life...Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-53590610394959706302018-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:002018-10-17T11:44:53.134-07:00How do we stay so Healthy? How does my family stay so healthy??<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know many are wondering how a family of 13 who live in such a small space (practically on top of eachother) can stay so healthy? Well, let me tell you. In addition to some powerful and effective prayer, choosing health and believing that God protects us and keeps us in perfect health restoring our bodies in His amazing love. I also use some natural God created ingredients to make some powerful home remedies to do battle in the physical with the little buggers. (🤣 sometimes literally) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are my GO TO remedies that 99%of the time Insure that attacks from the enemy (in the form of germs and viruses) are gone in 3 days or less! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">#1 Elderberry Syrup</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">4 cups - filtered water</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">1/2 cup - dried elderberries</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">1 tbls- fresh grated or dried ginger (optional)</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I put lots of other herbs in this depending on the need and illness symptoms. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Chamomile - relaxing / calming </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Mullein - My go to for coughs/ bronchitis/ croup</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Astragalus - for all colds especially drippy noses </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Licorice root - sore throat </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Cherry bark - sore throat</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">And more. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span>** light leafy tea-like herbs can be added in the last few minutes and left to steep for an extra 20-30 minutes off the simmer. </div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Bring to a boil and turn down to a low simmer until liquid is reduced in 1/2. (About 20-30 minutes) </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Take off heat and strain. Squish all</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The juice you can out of the berries. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I first use a metal screen strainer then I do a second strain through an old clean white T-shirt that I cut into a big square. Then squeeze. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Take concentrate and mix equal parts Honey to concentrate. (~2cups) </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Jar up and refrigerate. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Dosage: </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Adults & kids </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">1/2 - 1 tablespoon every 1-2 hours </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">If you have a sore throat take a shot glass and sip at it. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">#2 Kyolic Formula #103(brand) Garlic pills. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I am t</span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">elling you that these pills are incredibly effective!! I buy them primarily from Vitacost.com. That is where I have found them for the best price and shipping is free when I spend $49, so I buy 4 bottles and a pound of elderberries and we are </span><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">Good to go!! </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">I give these to all my peeps from the youngest who can swallow pills to even my littlest who I mix the contents of the capsule into apple sauce. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">Remember, these pills are food based. And what I love about these garlic pills is that they are flavorless. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">Dosages I use for us:</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">At the first signs of incoming illness, 2 pills every 2-4 hours all day. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">(Disclaimer!! YOU do your own research and decide for yourself what dosages you choose to use. I am not a doctor. I have done my own research and have extensive </span><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">experience treating my own family so I am just sharing what I do.Please do your own homework😊💕)</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">I hope this helps you and you have a Happy, Healthy, Holiday season!</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-29470062192253275412016-06-06T23:08:00.001-07:002016-06-07T00:03:07.508-07:00Today, busy, filled, wasted...Today, it is a new day and it was a long day. I am having a hard time even summing up all that happened today. Time busy, time filled, time wasted, I think it had it all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKboAqyTZvXOYQcXhWkwB3Lotc8j2BzJhw4IUfs8u_uEz4biwt-0FeUItKhtSaYRFpVL2rbOmzREgck_loAdbGkCF034ThNkTwumOMFJcBfpRQUEw_l5ofx-Z1Ggdki2EPr9xwIiqRqPlN/s1600/13406746_10153569998490796_5318381218885747927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKboAqyTZvXOYQcXhWkwB3Lotc8j2BzJhw4IUfs8u_uEz4biwt-0FeUItKhtSaYRFpVL2rbOmzREgck_loAdbGkCF034ThNkTwumOMFJcBfpRQUEw_l5ofx-Z1Ggdki2EPr9xwIiqRqPlN/s400/13406746_10153569998490796_5318381218885747927_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The busy and filled part was taken up with taking my <i>almost</i> Graduated son to the bank to open up his first checking account. This was a fun time together. How rewarding it was for him to take his first paycheck of the season into the bank and finally open up his own account. No co-signers needed! He is over 18 and going to be making steady money, I am so proud of him.<br />
<br />
The wasted time was me scrolling. I hate it when I do that! It always amazes me how much time can go by staring at a screen. I want to be more purposeful and I need to set limits for myself of when I should and shouldn't check my phone. I am not so lost when it is on the computer though.<br />
<br />
It was funny, while at the bank I was talking with the banker about how strange and amazing technology is. She was busy with my son and while we had some quiet moments waiting, I was able to get online and pay some bills. This was so helpful, but, once finished, if I let myself tap on some other icon, my time could have instantly been transferred from a profitable, purposeful action to a time sucking waste of energy and resources.<br />
<br />
We are all caught in the gap, on that tight rope of keeping life in balance and our time on this earth dedicated to the glory of God. I am working on this. I will get a plan together. I have decided to turn off notifications for some of the more "busy and time sucking" apps and then, only visit them when I have scheduled a time to do so. <b><u>That</u></b> is where I will begin.<br />
<br />
Feel free to ask and hold me accountable to this in the comment section below as I take a more deliberate look at where my moments are going. I don't want to lose or miss a single one of them!<br />
<br />
P.S.<br />
As I have typed this I have had to take a small break and savor the moment my sweet daughter chose to rub my feet. I am so blessed!!!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-3441382464539568172014-10-17T12:52:00.002-07:002014-10-17T13:23:57.980-07:00almost a teenagerA godly girl trying to live a godly life can be so lonely sometimes. Even with a house full of people it can be difficult to know how you fit in to society. We all desire to be accepted and liked by more than just our personal family. I hate to say 'just' but let's be real, that is how we feel sometimes. I can't tell you how many times I told my mom, "I know you love me mom, but don't have any friends. I really want a friend! Someone who likes me and wants to spend time with me. Someone I can trust, who wont say they are my friend today and eat lunch with me but tomorrow go off with someone else and tease me expose everything I shared the day before."<br />
<br />
I was a very lonely child.<br />
<br />
I was the kid who ate her lunch with her best friend (the school principal, Mr. Clay Dunaway) in the safety of the school office, even when he wasn't there.<br />
<br />
The one who got beat up, literally. One of the times, on the school play ground, while a girl who came to my birthday party a short time before was the lookout to make sure the yard duty worker couldn't see!<br />
<br />
The child who ran home from school in the middle of the day crying (thankfully we lived just a few blocks from the school) and when asked "Why didn't you just hit her back?!?" would not be able to answer. I just couldn't understand why or how someone would be so unkind?!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pWp9K9HfU20yQ1xknS5n2Ws8sk-6lhIC8ON7PNE8NWSO55SMoG_YRHl6XaLj3vdJQXDeLoSBfVVg-AkoGoVrFPfdtL8vyTjaGMQRkyqqjeoR8a99PnhqDo2BKLB5k77pin2OPtCpuKLh/s1600/405484_4398460643095_1740582585_n.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/AVvXsEj3pWp9K9HfU20yQ1xknS5n2Ws8sk-6lhIC8ON7PNE8NWSO55SMoG_YRHl6XaLj3vdJQXDeLoSBfVVg-AkoGoVrFPfdtL8vyTjaGMQRkyqqjeoR8a99PnhqDo2BKLB5k77pin2OPtCpuKLh/s1600/405484_4398460643095_1740582585_n.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
I knew Jesus and had asked him into my heart when I was 5 years old. I asked him to be the Lord of my life and He said to <i>love</i> everyone. I knew he died for me and even at that young age, I knew he suffered more than I was. He said to turn the other cheek.... so I did. Why were my parents and older brothers (who are amazing godly examples by the way) asking me such a question? I couldn't understand it. These experiences continued sporadically through Jr. High. <br />
<br />
I should have been home-schooled. <br />
<br />
My mom knows that now and we agree, but around my sophomore year in high school when she was contemplating it, I was already following the path God had laid before me and He was blessing it.<br />
<br />
I don't regret not being home-schooled. My Mom was amazing and did all she knew to do to protect me, but as we see through scripture over and over again; (What the devil meant for harm, God used for his glory). I am no Joseph of Egypt, but God has used my painful and lonely school years to make me the person I am today. He allowed those circumstances to happen in order to deepen my relationship with him and to show himself to me in such a tangible way as a child, that I could never be swayed as an adult. I know He is faithful. He is my best friend and through those circumstances I began to rely upon him as my true friend. I learned what true friendship really is. I learned how to BE a friend and expect nothing in return. To love unconditionally as he did. I read His words and knew He was talking to me, personally, as He is to everyone who seeks Him. <br />
<br />
Sometimes being a 12 year old girl can be very lonely. My sweet daughter shared her heart with me yesterday and I am so thankful for her openness. I pray she will seek the comfort she needs from the Lord and receive the acceptance from Him as her truest and closest friend. As she matures thru the pain of loneliness I know she will develop a sensitivity and compassion for others that she could not have without having experienced this. As we suffer with Christ we are transformed more and more into His likeness. I love her and I know she knows it. I am excited for her to learn how to be there for others. But more importantly I am excited to see her grow closer to the Lord. She is never alone and never will be. Just knowing that can be helpful, but sometimes, you really just want a friend. Our Lord and I are here for her. <br />
<br />
~I wrote this post about 2 years ago. That same teenager is now pushing 15 and I am happy to say she has many friends. It is so sweet to know we serve a God who cares so tenderly for us and meets our every need. Thank you Lord! Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-89363016437669282102013-02-16T11:34:00.000-08:002013-02-16T11:34:32.108-08:00While my Trucker was away.<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>So, in January while my Trucker was on the road I decided to surprise him with a Master bedroom make over. </i></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay63GgI3w6JS77MbKW0hNSiMJJpFCNYqpwJQOwQVrPXHWvNUiuGGkDJd6JhpcEM1ZbR7Zu3tL9mF4EJn4IQw6mbVReeO_qLWEKXeWf3F_KHqNU94JQKpqz94O7FhLhXmo4tvKISVBlxse/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay63GgI3w6JS77MbKW0hNSiMJJpFCNYqpwJQOwQVrPXHWvNUiuGGkDJd6JhpcEM1ZbR7Zu3tL9mF4EJn4IQw6mbVReeO_qLWEKXeWf3F_KHqNU94JQKpqz94O7FhLhXmo4tvKISVBlxse/s640/IMG_4614.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My hope was that it would serve as a haven when he returned
and while he was away it could serve as a refreshing retreat for me. It
was all a secret so I didn't post any specific updates while he was gone
but now that he has been home for a while I thought I would share the
transformation that took place.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjeHyCsWBl0-LUivEGucruZKejppEh5eb-V3V_Vq5zHEP9O-rGiNkBOjtlCcN6uhwzlXYKZ2vasm4QYwFqhCvD6ZdaCZu7kexp3NL2R3nx_i9kJ35SavfCWZ7mrCjd5yiK6CfGmsJVGJV/s1600/CIMG7993.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjeHyCsWBl0-LUivEGucruZKejppEh5eb-V3V_Vq5zHEP9O-rGiNkBOjtlCcN6uhwzlXYKZ2vasm4QYwFqhCvD6ZdaCZu7kexp3NL2R3nx_i9kJ35SavfCWZ7mrCjd5yiK6CfGmsJVGJV/s640/CIMG7993.JPG" title="The one casualty of the process..." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casualty.....My favorite hurricane lamp... Oh, well. Life goes on. :-)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4NtQNY1H4ujUQyV3AuSQPmtbMVVqN-Gtcfviunkpg32bufX5Wq1yXS_sDpZ4t4LXlfCvpWvOxhqbzyK9bjLQ3mQdQbzZ8KfMPOCAdzYot7WWbNqDTgJq8JiJRznX_7yYWOjubw_Q3IEa/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4NtQNY1H4ujUQyV3AuSQPmtbMVVqN-Gtcfviunkpg32bufX5Wq1yXS_sDpZ4t4LXlfCvpWvOxhqbzyK9bjLQ3mQdQbzZ8KfMPOCAdzYot7WWbNqDTgJq8JiJRznX_7yYWOjubw_Q3IEa/s400/IMG_4426.JPG" width="400" /></a>He was gone for exactly 1 month and in that time I:<br />
-gutted the Master Bedroom,<br />
changed the paint color,<br />
touched up the ceiling paint,<br />
painted the
baseboards,<br />
painted our door and trim for the first time since it was
installed 4 years ago,<br />
painted my pocket door to my Master Bath, refinished our armoire,<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtfvwgS5cNbd_BZBFV3tJ9jeCg3NRug-m_w3CiyqoZbiVy7p-iINT1RGoVLvFNt3pU_XU-JLqGABwesM645bC3sUoOvC719c9Ak0Za3PpxTpusbCmM42Xww1QVCKHIXUQ_kghzaRmWgI_/s1600/CIMG7987.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtfvwgS5cNbd_BZBFV3tJ9jeCg3NRug-m_w3CiyqoZbiVy7p-iINT1RGoVLvFNt3pU_XU-JLqGABwesM645bC3sUoOvC719c9Ak0Za3PpxTpusbCmM42Xww1QVCKHIXUQ_kghzaRmWgI_/s640/CIMG7987.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little ones kept busy building forts and doing school in them.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhaxNcH_2hoqcizuNmZzjjd1N8x45W-UWBXqFFb1Knbpn6GIMFDLRnjuePg_ASR3OTjlQQ0EpYJy8pvpoElqATsQdqt1DX77rkObvdMH4I6zC4ab9QUVhfwiicDYibfZUZXlxhSPZppbi/s1600/IMG_4452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhaxNcH_2hoqcizuNmZzjjd1N8x45W-UWBXqFFb1Knbpn6GIMFDLRnjuePg_ASR3OTjlQQ0EpYJy8pvpoElqATsQdqt1DX77rkObvdMH4I6zC4ab9QUVhfwiicDYibfZUZXlxhSPZppbi/s320/IMG_4452.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzHx-3sIgL2QdrDIO0Lg4ytuK8LGXUxRvIilSvYASDI7BWdnrhWbA8XHJ6YAVWu6UD_0Xn2oPp8CKIe3U7bPuodz8RxQNBblqBBIjyC7ccybaPKoXgr1VwhwS8UOQbNC7LBv9xQN_WGMb/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzHx-3sIgL2QdrDIO0Lg4ytuK8LGXUxRvIilSvYASDI7BWdnrhWbA8XHJ6YAVWu6UD_0Xn2oPp8CKIe3U7bPuodz8RxQNBblqBBIjyC7ccybaPKoXgr1VwhwS8UOQbNC7LBv9xQN_WGMb/s320/IMG_4451.JPG" width="320" /></a>painted a night stand dresser and small bookshelf,<br />
created a new
headboard for our bed out of fence railing,<br />
re-painted the bathroom,<br />
hung a toilet paper holder,<br />
hung a new towel rack,<br />
set up a new baby
crib for our little one who has been sleeping in a pack'n play or with
us in our bed for her first year.<br />
<br />
The Crib was a birthday present from
my parents who know how badly I have wanted one and Oh, we hung a new
mirror (a Ross find again with my mom) that was the finishing touch to
make our new room beautiful.<br />
<br />
<br />
It was a labor of love. This make-over was
infectious, had he been gone any longer, the whole house would have
undergone a transformation. My high hopes for blessing him spilled out
into the hallway and then into the guest bathroom where it has stalled.
He ended up coming home much sooner than I had expected!<br />
<br />
To my great
Joy!!!<br />
<br />
However, the night before his arrival I felt like I had signed up
for "Trading Spaces" the old TLC show where Ty Pennington got his
start. I was up until 5 am putting the final coats of finish on the
dressers outside and cleaning up the room for the 'Big Reveal'. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgay63GgI3w6JS77MbKW0hNSiMJJpFCNYqpwJQOwQVrPXHWvNUiuGGkDJd6JhpcEM1ZbR7Zu3tL9mF4EJn4IQw6mbVReeO_qLWEKXeWf3F_KHqNU94JQKpqz94O7FhLhXmo4tvKISVBlxse/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a> <br />
I am sure he was so happy to just be sleeping in his own real bed again after a month on the road in a Sleeper berth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQZH6W0DdRotm9hP7JzjD0ABPm6w0911a4U4whtPlM33wT_yuAomFU4Plmgi6XaVl6LhYIQCeB_KmS7Wb4LbX9_zx797ygay_nbLPbhZeIT4U6m2wNaWetTwyFjISFcsw8jD1MA35dbk5/s1600/IMG_4394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQZH6W0DdRotm9hP7JzjD0ABPm6w0911a4U4whtPlM33wT_yuAomFU4Plmgi6XaVl6LhYIQCeB_KmS7Wb4LbX9_zx797ygay_nbLPbhZeIT4U6m2wNaWetTwyFjISFcsw8jD1MA35dbk5/s400/IMG_4394.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
I remember asking myself while he was gone why I hadn't blessed him in this way before while he was here.<br />
<br />
I am sure there are so many reasons.<br />
<br />
Distractions, priority shifts, and just the day to day struggle to get the basics done.<br />
<br />
I know that sleeping on an unmade bed in the middle of a freezing cold empty room, with plastic on half of it with painting supplies and tools on the other side wouldn't have gone over very well, especially for as long as I lived with it while working on this project. It made me want to do more though. I have so many little jobs that I keep putting off.<br />
<br />
They really aren't that big in and of themselves but they <i>seem</i> Big. I am excited to chip away at all I have left undone due to this experience but I am much further along than I was before he left.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now that he is home I am just Happier. </div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-87783732655682802092012-08-16T23:27:00.000-07:002012-08-16T23:27:39.350-07:00The Ending of an Era and the Anticipation of things yet to come!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, today marks the end of an era for our family. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We have passed our family Scamper trailer on to a new young family. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV3kIUHY8KZ0o1er0Osf3yXuwzckRWAfb-6RLWSDzbK7IicjLT3VPSHcvlXYE3NkTINBaT5SFxNbCRET3J5wGs-n8zBVBqxcChheZyuxRKkjetpp1t09APM2w7o3bs3LyalpQ3imhJ2uR/s1600/IMG_6222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV3kIUHY8KZ0o1er0Osf3yXuwzckRWAfb-6RLWSDzbK7IicjLT3VPSHcvlXYE3NkTINBaT5SFxNbCRET3J5wGs-n8zBVBqxcChheZyuxRKkjetpp1t09APM2w7o3bs3LyalpQ3imhJ2uR/s640/IMG_6222.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ymoAWj8pBDKj0Biput52i_nwN6_14nROHI0sq-JNrww_zCXINi3ZXQ-WUVVjn9KVcBKeL7aeXQmVcPtDqET_MFig30sGIYrLD19O4diTT2oSYYmvqP-fLszLo4AvBWzJULil3LtBtgDQ/s1600/IMG_6195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ymoAWj8pBDKj0Biput52i_nwN6_14nROHI0sq-JNrww_zCXINi3ZXQ-WUVVjn9KVcBKeL7aeXQmVcPtDqET_MFig30sGIYrLD19O4diTT2oSYYmvqP-fLszLo4AvBWzJULil3LtBtgDQ/s640/IMG_6195.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZBQvdI4VNZE_lu8GzMB-XfTSvGNbqO-d4B3JIPFxBHhZVCNfOiE76Si_Ebn4-rITZtsYQh-zkSGHpjDIRr7pYL-G4KhivNDltzaDibf5l-R-L_2bh6hOxVdc6SHqY9B13hLPmaFXXvdy/s1600/IMG_6209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZBQvdI4VNZE_lu8GzMB-XfTSvGNbqO-d4B3JIPFxBHhZVCNfOiE76Si_Ebn4-rITZtsYQh-zkSGHpjDIRr7pYL-G4KhivNDltzaDibf5l-R-L_2bh6hOxVdc6SHqY9B13hLPmaFXXvdy/s640/IMG_6209.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbhvHKFlxolA5RaLheOSCFM601h82n49qjQKw8gDmnufWbf7U1RXXg1oVQaj1dW12shje2uhAj2kCFxl7GswQ4vj3PrVww1DzMRotaNtixkAQ6kFKzl_cvU8j1N8Wo4Ibb_AgKc7RE40B/s1600/IMG_6215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbhvHKFlxolA5RaLheOSCFM601h82n49qjQKw8gDmnufWbf7U1RXXg1oVQaj1dW12shje2uhAj2kCFxl7GswQ4vj3PrVww1DzMRotaNtixkAQ6kFKzl_cvU8j1N8Wo4Ibb_AgKc7RE40B/s640/IMG_6215.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk_YYjr5hNd1hEroEqmX4FnwFqKH8kUaS3Q3q1LbHlAolZEbKHdbUCcz0EJs1aLPz2fhHKNh63RXwEwRRfHIoArTbsKRwDy1MLbwJo_3i95CncPVGftuG4u_y60K9GmFNXHgUIDb-1DpW/s1600/IMG_6220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk_YYjr5hNd1hEroEqmX4FnwFqKH8kUaS3Q3q1LbHlAolZEbKHdbUCcz0EJs1aLPz2fhHKNh63RXwEwRRfHIoArTbsKRwDy1MLbwJo_3i95CncPVGftuG4u_y60K9GmFNXHgUIDb-1DpW/s640/IMG_6220.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I know it will be missed. I was feeling a bit sad as we unpacked it and watched it pull out of our drive way for the last time. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EPPPD-X3YbtIq4lEXTA3uy64-IVfv1C1vEYOx1Qh-LE899adBGA2wvQrVN3mzYJcF8smqHY9anZv2MShCB5dsxwUJTogYxUOBkOsRXr-SrngNThFaqHUGeKsCYIz3GeKOmcdOGCZRQky/s1600/IM001135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EPPPD-X3YbtIq4lEXTA3uy64-IVfv1C1vEYOx1Qh-LE899adBGA2wvQrVN3mzYJcF8smqHY9anZv2MShCB5dsxwUJTogYxUOBkOsRXr-SrngNThFaqHUGeKsCYIz3GeKOmcdOGCZRQky/s640/IM001135.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It has served us well! Many Father/Son & Father/Daughter campouts have been had in that old trailer. </span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenGv8FLd-BJaLiJfflGkQicJ20TxIVbZGnfzdGiKpecwKUDRIQmviE_AMfCSe2jBwxxTJ9vkH61zLEZjSrFKn6NtLJ7-sY_gVL1SWhm7eFh10Pbv7BYO88VxFkLTxAYSF_yKbX9QrLejz/s1600/A&S+truck2_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenGv8FLd-BJaLiJfflGkQicJ20TxIVbZGnfzdGiKpecwKUDRIQmviE_AMfCSe2jBwxxTJ9vkH61zLEZjSrFKn6NtLJ7-sY_gVL1SWhm7eFh10Pbv7BYO88VxFkLTxAYSF_yKbX9QrLejz/s320/A&S+truck2_jpg.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first Father Daughter camp out with no trailer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We have only camped out as a whole family a handful of times, but, those times are very special memories for us. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4sgAWqDzVreHOyc3IjMhcOjRCHxLgDBLZJr62pcm-rYjS-Tsgfb0Rq5vs4MiDQW91POSkGkA1MPN6RX_V5CrZrIc8oBiUkHHyvwcgHWApCO3fQU6mpZfH8dPHCcAtZd6eWmGL-vTItcE/s1600/IM001120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The kids have had numerous memories and attachments to it. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That trailer represents so much I think.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3B0yVrai91Vltm8n_iY8t0qJIOEJc9tfm7zMBUsSguPKt-5BX-KGbL08prXITshbGvNTkQvKAtydlsgaZ9GoNfTYEiTz7SSvslPxIpXpQdcaYGMrQSwPrFWWp4T-DGVD8tjqmebOrwCb/s1600/IM001244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3B0yVrai91Vltm8n_iY8t0qJIOEJc9tfm7zMBUsSguPKt-5BX-KGbL08prXITshbGvNTkQvKAtydlsgaZ9GoNfTYEiTz7SSvslPxIpXpQdcaYGMrQSwPrFWWp4T-DGVD8tjqmebOrwCb/s640/IM001244.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I know it does for
my Sweet Laborer. He has had such a hard time choosing to let it go. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It has sat in our driveway for over 3 years now, unused. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He
so wants to create more wonderful memories with his children and I think
that letting this "thing" go creates a fear in him. Fear that he wont have a
chance to take the younger ones out like he did the olders and now
that they <i>all</i> are getting older...... those times with them are drawing
to a close as well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first outing as a family was Easter 2003 followed by searching for baskets at Grandma and Pa's house. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dap0Thj-1CmjCy5krwVmKOQGk2sMkwfB0Gh92GAoEm_Rkr_yCasRH3FmtPTQeL9zXunu0pJRFjhdYt6lT3GnmqG2Xnk9r0y8L2oRGBAJ2wp6VekGi39i3P10ZjNu6bZvx6KzdlvaRmi0/s1600/a017_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dap0Thj-1CmjCy5krwVmKOQGk2sMkwfB0Gh92GAoEm_Rkr_yCasRH3FmtPTQeL9zXunu0pJRFjhdYt6lT3GnmqG2Xnk9r0y8L2oRGBAJ2wp6VekGi39i3P10ZjNu6bZvx6KzdlvaRmi0/s200/a017_30.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhFyhsJVd32v4tW3fso0G8nBCRDRCWgjq-ZfjL-49hqGagJ1FAOdyGuY5dtlu3ipa_datcJRP3D6MX19DxJEM8ArnAyB52lWHAfRRA9NsBNMvIjkdBr1pfFn4rKCaME0iEMHqPheczdhR/s1600/a016_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhFyhsJVd32v4tW3fso0G8nBCRDRCWgjq-ZfjL-49hqGagJ1FAOdyGuY5dtlu3ipa_datcJRP3D6MX19DxJEM8ArnAyB52lWHAfRRA9NsBNMvIjkdBr1pfFn4rKCaME0iEMHqPheczdhR/s200/a016_29.jpg" width="163" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSARqStx62MKE_AyBH7JqT4lfEiBV1C0JZW1fdEcdYaJ_80y6lCOHLMdITwCA2E04W3EiB0DzRmA8_b2UK2bFFqU5EEiJDRsjlsdC7HbxzwgVSbDPbhumycx0HVEQppL1yZzo96LXLmm_P/s1600/a015_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSARqStx62MKE_AyBH7JqT4lfEiBV1C0JZW1fdEcdYaJ_80y6lCOHLMdITwCA2E04W3EiB0DzRmA8_b2UK2bFFqU5EEiJDRsjlsdC7HbxzwgVSbDPbhumycx0HVEQppL1yZzo96LXLmm_P/s200/a015_27.jpg" width="89" /></a></span></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first camp-out with Friends!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4sgAWqDzVreHOyc3IjMhcOjRCHxLgDBLZJr62pcm-rYjS-Tsgfb0Rq5vs4MiDQW91POSkGkA1MPN6RX_V5CrZrIc8oBiUkHHyvwcgHWApCO3fQU6mpZfH8dPHCcAtZd6eWmGL-vTItcE/s1600/IM001120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4sgAWqDzVreHOyc3IjMhcOjRCHxLgDBLZJr62pcm-rYjS-Tsgfb0Rq5vs4MiDQW91POSkGkA1MPN6RX_V5CrZrIc8oBiUkHHyvwcgHWApCO3fQU6mpZfH8dPHCcAtZd6eWmGL-vTItcE/s640/IM001120.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtrgXMG4Cz-DIkVO5AJXDaLrzRhA53FMw6I-xdh5_-gXe4xzE5Qa1DKIthg52dpzCxO2H9BWxRyQM4f6wBcpiFQVmDrt-qc1BBRznqISReL4CHemamB0Y3dfrSu16RYcVYPiTaLryo6KU/s1600/IM001130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtrgXMG4Cz-DIkVO5AJXDaLrzRhA53FMw6I-xdh5_-gXe4xzE5Qa1DKIthg52dpzCxO2H9BWxRyQM4f6wBcpiFQVmDrt-qc1BBRznqISReL4CHemamB0Y3dfrSu16RYcVYPiTaLryo6KU/s200/IM001130.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWhPmEjdvPRi-NFy3B4s3e21SPUdlI7ZZLkT0WzVbHFaTosp_qSPwsVpDEeShbmzf64x55NlG7uA2tiwLr9URm0RfNkIOrlAuaFb2jtbsnZXXBbFZn-S-U6KinHPnoCljd5I00rUC0Pnb/s1600/IM001133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWhPmEjdvPRi-NFy3B4s3e21SPUdlI7ZZLkT0WzVbHFaTosp_qSPwsVpDEeShbmzf64x55NlG7uA2tiwLr9URm0RfNkIOrlAuaFb2jtbsnZXXBbFZn-S-U6KinHPnoCljd5I00rUC0Pnb/s200/IM001133.JPG" width="200" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First Father/Son 2003</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Azo06w8K4sSX3-_tJXMRnQmxz-ZAp2_aEm32eRR8DHMfwcBM3jygu0zgpZj3fASB6fBVpEgDh4THyB8sp0xzPfyO_KLIBpolksel1IQQ5Nge4-KkbS6AN9eAv1xPny6w9AmSpCQ1lkN/s1600/IM001224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Azo06w8K4sSX3-_tJXMRnQmxz-ZAp2_aEm32eRR8DHMfwcBM3jygu0zgpZj3fASB6fBVpEgDh4THyB8sp0xzPfyO_KLIBpolksel1IQQ5Nge4-KkbS6AN9eAv1xPny6w9AmSpCQ1lkN/s200/IM001224.JPG" width="155" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEvFBkrFxOH7TCMr1EPgKIPADggwjv7fO9V2Ge06XWiz7V41IN9R1Ow2Yv0L0og8uU06caTtJl0eZR3ZrWFmFbxNAIy7QwgAw69-Kh9A_LzqQpTlblulLiCPqBXvGuxwYVci3UWhgf1tW/s1600/IM001223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEvFBkrFxOH7TCMr1EPgKIPADggwjv7fO9V2Ge06XWiz7V41IN9R1Ow2Yv0L0og8uU06caTtJl0eZR3ZrWFmFbxNAIy7QwgAw69-Kh9A_LzqQpTlblulLiCPqBXvGuxwYVci3UWhgf1tW/s320/IM001223.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Caleb's First Father/Son 2005</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJvO9cjsfQ1NQuUmvVKoqQZNzb5PgSUdKphB0mhTo7vFYorPsjv_3Ur6Go3BshBk-TpBWWC6cpx-IorAWd5cuC5FRGZw06mQn1kzbERYA5TACPEVIwMnuc1tUbZJi3BAJvJYCJDUyCMO/s1600/IM002465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgJvO9cjsfQ1NQuUmvVKoqQZNzb5PgSUdKphB0mhTo7vFYorPsjv_3Ur6Go3BshBk-TpBWWC6cpx-IorAWd5cuC5FRGZw06mQn1kzbERYA5TACPEVIwMnuc1tUbZJi3BAJvJYCJDUyCMO/s640/IM002465.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60U0y8oG1AzAAljJgoCgIJiPKds3GQRk1Ig6i00jWJaXlAMZoRBQ1041TekhKyelic-xCgDbnkwNCTiBWLlXx49XSD2VEdJt_3cLuHvkNE2VKI-oTuKBp4O7uPRIgar8GCupOYaVci_IO/s1600/IM002466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60U0y8oG1AzAAljJgoCgIJiPKds3GQRk1Ig6i00jWJaXlAMZoRBQ1041TekhKyelic-xCgDbnkwNCTiBWLlXx49XSD2VEdJt_3cLuHvkNE2VKI-oTuKBp4O7uPRIgar8GCupOYaVci_IO/s640/IM002466.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the last Father/Daughter Camp-outs </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFF7jpJKbN27sIkbfx1_8LuQ4ljZQnTuzDco-xNlM8Wd-acHSjHOQ-SmpfsWffOo8nzPidx1v-o579HDCKM1Vq3ijvGg-tQ58iXZrHbtIskpCx_M7bgkJUioOOVlUDZ2EgOkbO-AofS6f/s1600/IM003086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFF7jpJKbN27sIkbfx1_8LuQ4ljZQnTuzDco-xNlM8Wd-acHSjHOQ-SmpfsWffOo8nzPidx1v-o579HDCKM1Vq3ijvGg-tQ58iXZrHbtIskpCx_M7bgkJUioOOVlUDZ2EgOkbO-AofS6f/s640/IM003086.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWn4jsuOfqdrVuug0CQQB_w2mtgx8qlu619iAmDd3C4Aupc4uRhyeQOv2NV_DVCdGO9SnaR39VqYT8mfEFAcbTz_q5npLmcOn_aBXrpeoDsc_rOq8uITRz1PtmatfJxNsfyDrhQkH6BHK/s1600/IM003088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWn4jsuOfqdrVuug0CQQB_w2mtgx8qlu619iAmDd3C4Aupc4uRhyeQOv2NV_DVCdGO9SnaR39VqYT8mfEFAcbTz_q5npLmcOn_aBXrpeoDsc_rOq8uITRz1PtmatfJxNsfyDrhQkH6BHK/s640/IM003088.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On this same weekend, we must let our oldest daughter go as well. She is off to dorm life at College for the first time and will be moving 150 miles away on Saturday. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7hCZV0LK9j_TdJfEkTiGYQ_P6nXVz1irbK1mAAuk57B2AGLW0MUVGTCeCc565tjiP718M1RYXqFmw-ImJpijY9KzzDNSwm4gstn31ZBfdNqmrGyIi5noeiLedcvRleVBuA7pE49XfZh4/s1600/IM000064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7hCZV0LK9j_TdJfEkTiGYQ_P6nXVz1irbK1mAAuk57B2AGLW0MUVGTCeCc565tjiP718M1RYXqFmw-ImJpijY9KzzDNSwm4gstn31ZBfdNqmrGyIi5noeiLedcvRleVBuA7pE49XfZh4/s320/IM000064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am writing her a letter that I hope she will get a chance to read when she finds a minute alone, after the dust settles, in her new dorm home. I just finish saying that I haven't cried yet..... well, these thoughts just did it! I am gone. I do pretty well in the moment and can float above my circumstances. I knew if I sat for a moment and let myself reflect, the tears would come, so I have avoided it. There are many things to do that keep me to busy to feel sometimes. I need to feel though, I need to sit and reflect. As I write her this letter, I am burdened by some guilt. So many good intentions, so many great plans to bless her have come up empty and wanting. I recall her 16th birthday I stayed up all night the night before putting together an album that I hoped I could finish and surprise her with, full of friends faces and special notes from each of them and of course one profound note from me......but, that album still sits....beautifully decorated, yes, but not finished and with no photos or words. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just pretty paper. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope I have not just wall papered her world.... I want wonderful words of life to fill her up. Wisdom, sweet nothings and kindness to be her memories. God's unconditional love flowing from her father and I washing over her heart constantly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her 18th birthday and High School Graduation came and went .............. no card from me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There wasn't time....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't you hate those words?! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think of Erma Bombeck when I hear those words and of her famous essay. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Time WHEN I WAS YOUNG, Daddy was going to throw me up in the air and
catch me and I would giggle until I couldn't giggle anymore, but he had
to change the furnace filter and there wasn't enough time. <br />
WHEN I
WAS YOUNG, Mama was going to read me a story and I was going to turn the
pages and pretend I could read, but she had to wax the floor and there
wasn't time.<br />
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, Daddy was going to come to school
and watch me in a play. I was the fourth Wise Man, {in case one of the
three got sick}, but he had an appointment to have his car tuned up and
it took longer than he thought and there was no time.<br />
WHEN I WAS
YOUNG, Grandma and Granddad were going to come for Christmas to see the
expression on my face when I got my first bike, but grandma didn't like
the cold weather and besides, they didn't have time.<br />
WHEN I WAS
YOUNG, Mama was going to listen to me read my essay on " What I Want To
Be When I Grow Up", but she was in the middle of the Monday Night Movie
and Gregory Peck was always one of her favorites and there wasn't time.<br />
WHEN
I WAS OLDER, Dad and I were going fishing one weekend, just the two of
us and we were going to pitch a tent and fry fish with the heads on them
like they do in the flashlight ads, but at the last minute he had to
fertilize the grass and there wasn't time.<br />
WHEN I GREW UP and left home to be married, I was going to sit down with<a class="kLink" href="http://ourgardengang.lefora.com/2005/07/19/erma-bombecks-short-essay-time/#" id="KonaLink0" style="font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static; text-decoration: underline !important;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: blue !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; position: static;"></span></span></a> Mom and Dad and tell them I loved them and I would miss them. But Hank,
{he's my best man and a real clown}, was honking the horn in front of
the house, so there wasn't anytime.</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was better at following thru on these ideas when she was younger. But then again, I must remember that <i>she</i> is the first, the oldest. I wrote her <i>so many</i> notes and letters before she was 7. Even the tooth fairy had a precious encouragement for her in a love note. Now if the tooth fairy even comes it is weeks after the momentous occasion for these little ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How does one do this? If it wasn't for God's grace I would parish from the guilt alone. Thank you God for Grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">God's word is eternal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I can't top it! </span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Lord, may my children look to you and your word for encouragement and guidance. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Please Lord...... I pray that our lives together have pointed them fully to YOU alone. Your Word, your Grace, your Love. That whatever love they have felt from me has only been a vapor of Your fullness. I pray that as they grow and go that you will guide them and call to their memory all the wonderful times we did have together and that though I haven't been able to capture it in written form for each child like I would like, they carry within themselves your Holy Spirit reassuring them and guiding them. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 30:21 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it." When you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. </span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am so excited about all God has in store for us. We still have many children left at home and many have not been to any Father/Son or Daughter camps, but that doesn't mean they never will. We know God has our future as we know he holds our daughters future. I will take it one day at a time and be thankful! </span> <br />
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-16555014398829764232012-07-02T12:12:00.002-07:002012-07-02T12:16:24.694-07:00Our Anniversary!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Today is my Anniversary! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoZBTYPJbmX4uQ1zXLYga_cLd9ZZMwyG2Jp3swColxPFsrkYqKu5kTNXqkeLhV5OX-p2Z_nXsIVFT54w2Ltwa_6o5uC7iaScpK-EXyf5BlPhpohlEzOY9paUWYNxl3mVmyOoz2I7P0iI9/s1600/CIMG8261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoZBTYPJbmX4uQ1zXLYga_cLd9ZZMwyG2Jp3swColxPFsrkYqKu5kTNXqkeLhV5OX-p2Z_nXsIVFT54w2Ltwa_6o5uC7iaScpK-EXyf5BlPhpohlEzOY9paUWYNxl3mVmyOoz2I7P0iI9/s640/CIMG8261.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home made card from our 12 year old Daughter. I am very impressed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3QI5wgiJ2E7Zmd5OZ2LU1pN4SBCgr3n88FhOTs8ZoyFa2kDXmu0W8OnT7p7WsgEOLAc_XDkdphyphenhyphen0TzAutIOVwZ1rt6PRYB6e4GuWFa9qJ3gJAtKZn58U-K3H6-TyOuhEbpREjCkB3RsN/s1600/CIMG8263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3QI5wgiJ2E7Zmd5OZ2LU1pN4SBCgr3n88FhOTs8ZoyFa2kDXmu0W8OnT7p7WsgEOLAc_XDkdphyphenhyphen0TzAutIOVwZ1rt6PRYB6e4GuWFa9qJ3gJAtKZn58U-K3H6-TyOuhEbpREjCkB3RsN/s640/CIMG8263.JPG" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is the inside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My husband and I find ourselves in different towns but still, with the same heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After 22 years of marriage it is again, on a Monday like the first time, we remember that we choose to Love through <i>ALL</i>.... thru audits and law suits, joyful new life and child birth, illness and sorrow, peaceful down time and crazy surprise full house parties, false accusations and worry, quiet moments, threats and job loss, and the waiting...... Patiently waiting on the Lord. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is working hard! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A new skill to refine. He is a Construction worker this season.....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trucking.... Construction...... I wonder what will be next?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He is so faithful. My sweet man. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is steady, like the constant ticking of a clock. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My mom told me he would be. "We all have our faults. But he is <i>faithful</i>, Maggie! You can count on that. He is a faithful man" she said. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And so he has proven to be, again and again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Not holding back. He does the hard things to provide for his family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Stays home and works so we can take a family field trip across country. (We had no idea it would turn into such a trip.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He stays in Santa Barbara to work daily so we can pay our mortgage and a few other bills.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Things have not always worked out the way we would have wanted or planned, but we are in the Lords hands and so, willing to do whatever He asks. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have so much fun together! I am so glad we like each other so much! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We are so grateful he is close, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">not in some god-forsaken truck stop wondering what special family event he is missing out on, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">....again. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS8XY48PRfKvSIdHY33KbLJYJwEAJv7xEwTHn6VgAtar697XSF1IPYFaXX7feIz6O86xjHUFh34WMDC8J0kDToafkW_CJTFFaLEr9RQkLGrwq682jLXpgy7Ub7PiAo4copUVEh6lk28Zu/s1600/CIMG8259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS8XY48PRfKvSIdHY33KbLJYJwEAJv7xEwTHn6VgAtar697XSF1IPYFaXX7feIz6O86xjHUFh34WMDC8J0kDToafkW_CJTFFaLEr9RQkLGrwq682jLXpgy7Ub7PiAo4copUVEh6lk28Zu/s640/CIMG8259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nana & Papa feel like far-off names at this moment, but this is our hope and a sweet gift from our daughter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a blessing it is to have work. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Physical labor. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He sweats and steps on another nail. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lifts another beam into place and remembers that he is building a family. That God is using him to build a <b>strong</b> family for His glory. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pouring ourselves into the lives of our children, guiding them to live their lives for the only one who deserves their attention and affection, our God almighty. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love schooling these children. Every moment I spend with them ties my heart closer and closer to each one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We graduated our second daughter this June....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> A beautiful event.... but even when it was all over..........I am not done! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are we ever done? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know my mom is not done with <i>me</i> yet and I am 41, 22 years married with 10 children!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know why. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Lord is not done with us! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will be called to speak His Love and Truth into their lives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am not needed to be their disciplinarian anymore, but a Sister in Christ. A co-laborer for our Lord. I want to encourage and edify them as I would any other friend, with respect and patience.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I Love You Honey! I wouldn't want to be with anyone else on this journey called life. I just can't stop thanking God for you!!! Every year with you gets better and better. We don't use finances or things or circumstances to measure our progress and joy in marriage, it is measured by the peace and oneness that only our God can give us. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Praise Him! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And Thank you. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-14021339187880341342012-04-26T10:46:00.000-07:002012-04-26T10:52:25.841-07:00Birth Story #3: My first Home Birth & Boy (16 years ago)My oldest boy is 16.<br />
March 19, 1996, I gave birth to this amazing bouncing baby boy! He was a strapping <u>10lbs 12oz. and 23 inches long</u>!!! Yes 23! I gave birth to a 3 month old. hee hee!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiZ7ludHD9YvbulNKG4dXA5-7Az8khUaArX03j-FuUtiErX877RbDyeC6zJyTh03Uh06P0bsEdrLHh-6c6aD_3EoWZNDUMQbPA6bM6K0R0VoWgLF939r73vTMa4Pw_8DvDm3oFDBb7Egd/s1600/IMG_5300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiZ7ludHD9YvbulNKG4dXA5-7Az8khUaArX03j-FuUtiErX877RbDyeC6zJyTh03Uh06P0bsEdrLHh-6c6aD_3EoWZNDUMQbPA6bM6K0R0VoWgLF939r73vTMa4Pw_8DvDm3oFDBb7Egd/s400/IMG_5300.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After giving birth to my first 2 children in 2 different hospitals. (both girls) I was courageous and bold enough to step out and have a home birth. After all, the doctor missed the second one because it happened so fast.<br />
<br />
We had a few apprehensions however, we were particularly concerned because our first child had had a hard time breathing; something they called <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/ttn.html" target="_blank">TTN</a>. (part of her story that I will share at another time) That may happen a gain?!? and "what would we do?" We shared these concerns with our midwives and their explanations of how they would respond satisfied both my husband and me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo5EyZU9FWK3A7aPp9LZKSZEU5dXeL785N5902OyDzI-hs7Xw3ZEU6kmQkCLvYDFEgGZl-r3nKlIlFQ3TvzYEBPAk_V2-wXm1j49hGiR-iIfipndQThqBwh_N1-PQA8QqQEgnQnEDC474/s1600/LeaveAbsence-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo5EyZU9FWK3A7aPp9LZKSZEU5dXeL785N5902OyDzI-hs7Xw3ZEU6kmQkCLvYDFEgGZl-r3nKlIlFQ3TvzYEBPAk_V2-wXm1j49hGiR-iIfipndQThqBwh_N1-PQA8QqQEgnQnEDC474/s320/LeaveAbsence-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The discovery of my pregnancy with Chris Jr. was such a joyous moment for me. My grandmother had just recently passed away and we all, my husband and daughters, grandpa, parents, brothers & sister, were all experiencing such grief from her loss.<br />
Throughout her rapid battle with cancer my heart ached to be pregnant. I was sure that the wonder of feeling a new life growing inside me would help me heal from the desperation of seeing her sweet life fade physically before my eyes. I prayed "Lord, if it is your will, please let me have a baby. And let it be born close to the anniversary of her death. I know what a hard time that will be for all of us and how awesome it would be to be holding a new life as we share our memories of her." As I prayed this during her last days I wasn't really processing the reality of 9 months of pregnancy and that the timing for my prayer to really be answered meant 3 months of waiting with an empty womb. The time went by and I had forgotten about how specific I had been in my prayer. But God hadn't.<br />
<br />
Like Hannah weeping for a son, Eli answered in the name of the Lord, "<span class="text 1Sam-1-17" id="en-ESV-7230">Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.</span>"<br />
<br />
My grandmother passed away on March 29, 1995 and my son was born March 19, 1996; 10 days before the anniversary of her death.<br />
<br />
Our God answers prayer!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuak8ivUb_ufYQdFLhqgrJGFY8PMErk9l0WNpxBoHaNyTOTEkXFpncXnWyWn0H7CBiKmBpG6kWP-c8yyyHeMe52Qa9hqY_zPovpvBwVoN-8IYZjKhRlb0ZPYOiGYh6N36GooQkKgpLlAv/s1600/IMG_5297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuak8ivUb_ufYQdFLhqgrJGFY8PMErk9l0WNpxBoHaNyTOTEkXFpncXnWyWn0H7CBiKmBpG6kWP-c8yyyHeMe52Qa9hqY_zPovpvBwVoN-8IYZjKhRlb0ZPYOiGYh6N36GooQkKgpLlAv/s320/IMG_5297.jpg" width="213" /></a> Birth Story #3- Our first Home Birth & Boy<br />
(taken from the pages of his baby book written while he was a toddler)<br />
<br />
I went to the Dr.'s office for a pregnancy test after I knew I was pregnant just to get it on record. I was unsure about having a home birth and I wanted to get through the first months of the pregnancy under a "doctor's" care before I transferred to the midwives. My husband was very apprehensive so I knew I was going to have to be patient and help warm him up to the idea.<br />
<br />
By about 5-1/2 Months along I was ready to make the switch. My Dr. was very supportive since he has experience how quickly my labors move and I began meeting with the midwives every 3 weeks. This was such a treat! I felt so well taken care of. They spent an hour with me at every visit, chatting and asking how everything was going. Listening to the heart beat, feeling the position of the baby. Everything was done at such a relaxed pace and peaceful atmosphere. They really tenderly care for expecting moms. <br />
My main concern was how do they deal with huge over due babies? Can they, do they, induce? I was so used to some kind of intervention when it came to bringing on labor, I wondered if there was anything natural I could do. They shared with me about a few herbs and homeopathic remedies that often help women deliver close to their due dates. Evening Primrose Oil, a natural hormone balancer and prostaglandin, the Homeopathic was called Caulophyllum. I began treatment with these natural substances around my 36th week of pregnancy. They said that a high percentage of women who use these do not go past their due dates. I was ready! We could tell around 36-38 weeks that the baby was already over 9lbs. My first 2 babies were 9-1/2 lbs each. I was a little worried about how my body would handle a 10lb+ baby. The Midwives and the Doctor were quite confident that I had plenty of room in my pelvis for a very big baby and tried to reassure me. <br />
<br />
Every Tuesday night while I was pregnant I went to Choir rehearsal. It was alumni group made up mostly of Singers from Santa Barbara High School, directed by Ms. Zimmerman. I loved every minute of it and I could tell that the baby did too! I loved feeling the way he would move as we sang the different kinds of music.<br />
<br />
We had a concert scheduled for March 16th which was my ultrasound due date and I decided that if I wasn't in labor, I would be there and sing in it. Well, the day arrived and I wasn't in labor. <i>Although I wanted to be</i>. I arrived at the church a few minutes late and everyone was already in position at the front. They all clapped for me; it was quite embarrassing but I got over it, got into my place and started to sing.<br />
<br />
Looking at my boy now I can see what an effect my singing had on him. He had rhythm and vocal abilities even as a young boy. Now that he is a Teen he has developed into a wonderful musician; teaching himself to play the guitar and learning drum techniques from his grandpa. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_qU7X-IETPkSXSJVR-VNWO2ZqIpBau7lWwvQSv8FOZzWmVXCoYilv9aJkNSgRkqbhsLuuwBDxJNVepEHwd-P_gYEKwt1W-m1j3pwCcWA_AIuV_mruW5umMgBlO6knDQLYfM1XfKthGZM/s1600/scan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_qU7X-IETPkSXSJVR-VNWO2ZqIpBau7lWwvQSv8FOZzWmVXCoYilv9aJkNSgRkqbhsLuuwBDxJNVepEHwd-P_gYEKwt1W-m1j3pwCcWA_AIuV_mruW5umMgBlO6knDQLYfM1XfKthGZM/s320/scan3.jpg" width="239" /></a>Two days later, on the 18th <i>my due date</i>, my husband was sick and so he stayed home from work. I was getting worried about the size of the baby again so I called my midwife and asked if there was anything more aggressive we could do to bring labor on. She encouraged me that we would discuss that more seriously in a couple of days but for now I was to try to enjoy the last few moments I had with my husband and 2 girls. She said, "Just relax and enjoy the fact that the baby isn't here yet and that you only have 2 children for a very short time." She was right. I would have a baby in my arms soon enough and things would never be the same as they were <i>that</i> day. That was such sweet advice. I have held on to that attitude in many areas of my life and remembered to do the same while I have awaited each new blessing.<br />
<br />
Chris and I went out that afternoon to k-mart and I bought myself a new night gown to labor in. We also went to TCBY and got some frozen yogurt and visited a friend. Last, we stopped by our favorite Chinese restaurant and got some take-out. Kung Pao Chicken. <i>yumm</i>! I went to bed content.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0i_XfhQbAW3YUxc47kr-sWuOZiZlb1B0CdiGNBndqE3QGa7kaKd1G1oqkuMqX73O9YmqD9EJ5GOWoRPtHmjCB5n8AsxvQDHaCx4l24k1fJTCLs-BCgMaX_5xmHGANQiRUrDJIavVN-MC/s1600/LeaveAbsence-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0i_XfhQbAW3YUxc47kr-sWuOZiZlb1B0CdiGNBndqE3QGa7kaKd1G1oqkuMqX73O9YmqD9EJ5GOWoRPtHmjCB5n8AsxvQDHaCx4l24k1fJTCLs-BCgMaX_5xmHGANQiRUrDJIavVN-MC/s320/LeaveAbsence-14.jpg" width="320" /></a>At 2am I had my first contraction. I tried to sleep thru them every 7-15minutes, we made it to morning with a little rest. I called my mom, a friend and my midwives. They all come over as the morning progressed. I remember someone brought donuts which I had no interest in and I went for a short walk down the street. It was so quiet and relaxing. Such a mellow experience. Everyone was there for me and I was able to set the tone and atmosphere.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mNEBu7Jn9oFurNifnsWvZ_YMC6KQXPoymVFryoXZSQzeOOkE27THSSt-fdUdIB1e2hcreO-BlW14buhjVM2r3fZuW_YDu-weqg2uNGkUSTwL2eZxC82jAadvuQCn7ZRS9dqM8yyOBZnB/s1600/LeaveAbsence-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mNEBu7Jn9oFurNifnsWvZ_YMC6KQXPoymVFryoXZSQzeOOkE27THSSt-fdUdIB1e2hcreO-BlW14buhjVM2r3fZuW_YDu-weqg2uNGkUSTwL2eZxC82jAadvuQCn7ZRS9dqM8yyOBZnB/s320/LeaveAbsence-16.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
My little sister came and was able to play with my daughters and keep them content. At one point my 18month old came in and rubbed my foot. It was so sweet.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H9ea8eOh1lmFTX7PuNGXrD4u_EHALw2OCDz0tzzAYbK5pTPzIxxHbzLEEjr5o_uKIcl85Pnbh1gOZsG1eFRggUKtF5rkTCChSzjE2k-OlLddOzbQsehfRPJX8RoUQlU-j74VsmkpAYcV/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H9ea8eOh1lmFTX7PuNGXrD4u_EHALw2OCDz0tzzAYbK5pTPzIxxHbzLEEjr5o_uKIcl85Pnbh1gOZsG1eFRggUKtF5rkTCChSzjE2k-OlLddOzbQsehfRPJX8RoUQlU-j74VsmkpAYcV/s400/IMG_5302.JPG" width="400" /></a>Finally, around 1:45pm I needed to stay on my bed and just breathe. My husband and I had created a great rhythm thru the contractions. We would hold hands and as a contraction hit I would grasp, breathe deeply and pull. He could tell how close we were to transition based on how hard he had to work keeping the tension and how long pulled.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnjPfLrRFnmb0PkFS1oDaUic81w9RbeBBi5fpnG-R8iBOQEKsHMhFk_Bdl940xa4LolOGVBoxW7E_CY3y7lYE8SuszpQ2CUiyuLr8W7y-rBabz2U0ACzuJfEpW7GuTM2JPuY1Z6-YqNOa/s1600/IMG_5304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnjPfLrRFnmb0PkFS1oDaUic81w9RbeBBi5fpnG-R8iBOQEKsHMhFk_Bdl940xa4LolOGVBoxW7E_CY3y7lYE8SuszpQ2CUiyuLr8W7y-rBabz2U0ACzuJfEpW7GuTM2JPuY1Z6-YqNOa/s640/IMG_5304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
At about 2pm I needed to push. It moved so quickly. First push, and his head was through. The water never broke and the midwife had to break it to show his cord wrapped around his neck twice! She was able to untwist it and I pushed the rest of him out. It was great! My girlfriend took awesome pictures. I had never seen a birth before so it was so neat to get a visual of my own experience.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfHntA15XFZJGeIJsqyhXDrRZ4nUYPg13J9RC10yesLyJb7b4TQL4RD62Bfbk6pquh4e4SQTSgiO9nag_8O1BUdjImLT5HcZS-3ErIaGC7UdaYj1axYFJPO7ZYVXMRzY5jqpGOvb5vjqp/s1600/IMG_5310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfHntA15XFZJGeIJsqyhXDrRZ4nUYPg13J9RC10yesLyJb7b4TQL4RD62Bfbk6pquh4e4SQTSgiO9nag_8O1BUdjImLT5HcZS-3ErIaGC7UdaYj1axYFJPO7ZYVXMRzY5jqpGOvb5vjqp/s640/IMG_5310.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZfuh9BMHYa2lZlom-WpXcnh3xGyx-8SVOzpd-PCvfPHdmVjYZmXMBFAPgF5-ur7yPTNsmef1dBN2r_ptprrj35M-OvUyGJ7FyqqmPGJB32RmuGwQ13xivv7z8T_p4HA_ks8FI58JQe4/s1600/IMG_5307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzZfuh9BMHYa2lZlom-WpXcnh3xGyx-8SVOzpd-PCvfPHdmVjYZmXMBFAPgF5-ur7yPTNsmef1dBN2r_ptprrj35M-OvUyGJ7FyqqmPGJB32RmuGwQ13xivv7z8T_p4HA_ks8FI58JQe4/s640/IMG_5307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW24-ZLBMcFoQ4gG97lb-Qm-iUndEn51uaJsxYpBb-wntJXLOaKFAQCJOZxVG6Ev7UPiIip6gdS0cGxQUQW5H5crBIacDx3AABHT1WbewCwJfKis0Qt4cHv9OKmSX8hKHi8UDxOk8fP4U/s1600/IMG_5327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW24-ZLBMcFoQ4gG97lb-Qm-iUndEn51uaJsxYpBb-wntJXLOaKFAQCJOZxVG6Ev7UPiIip6gdS0cGxQUQW5H5crBIacDx3AABHT1WbewCwJfKis0Qt4cHv9OKmSX8hKHi8UDxOk8fP4U/s640/IMG_5327.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge36u6rWzhNlqu7up3dB1ldzcEP4a4o_SzRQxPz-Jkbu-m6qyfMfzdbXSpTS5jxaWUxcoZVjnWR87jJBDTJC5W-HhXGtcC7Ydxpv-bTyN9LGv0e5jeKa8yVoIK0NrGxwkcIOS-eGStmDAC/s1600/IMG_5326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge36u6rWzhNlqu7up3dB1ldzcEP4a4o_SzRQxPz-Jkbu-m6qyfMfzdbXSpTS5jxaWUxcoZVjnWR87jJBDTJC5W-HhXGtcC7Ydxpv-bTyN9LGv0e5jeKa8yVoIK0NrGxwkcIOS-eGStmDAC/s640/IMG_5326.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkbt94Q_ldn_VydPy-5jAQh9qlko607T33i5Er1RNxY6NRA3NB7QJ5dduKH3UroDXqo_LOzrWHQXwYwktXwVfNQzzkmDsaSVVXaq7AVuS9U3CUtQhBb-fvVmSeeenSfUf4rLqeDMKWQKy/s1600/IMG_5312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkbt94Q_ldn_VydPy-5jAQh9qlko607T33i5Er1RNxY6NRA3NB7QJ5dduKH3UroDXqo_LOzrWHQXwYwktXwVfNQzzkmDsaSVVXaq7AVuS9U3CUtQhBb-fvVmSeeenSfUf4rLqeDMKWQKy/s400/IMG_5312.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher was not breathing as well as he should.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once he was out and began to cry I was given some special tea, (pennyroyal and shepherd's purse) to encourage cramping and the delivery of the placenta. Once the placenta was delivered I began to bleed.... too much. One of my midwives said "Maggie, tell your body to stop bleeding" in a very calm but firm voice. My mom, dad, brother, and sister were there and praying. I allowed my midwife to give me a shot of "pit" in the hip and everything settled down and I stopped bleeding. All was well, for me at least. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wfiu5uN22npueS-TNkvVydTCPOznKBOJLCuL6GtY9ncIbjZedE0KwuBFjhSCZjCcgvKuFpMV2SJLwGUOyj-eg9zXEV_937rGqD2Ezgw-_eXnrF-N_Xlj9DveyVsUj00Hqis9Dwlxnypn/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wfiu5uN22npueS-TNkvVydTCPOznKBOJLCuL6GtY9ncIbjZedE0KwuBFjhSCZjCcgvKuFpMV2SJLwGUOyj-eg9zXEV_937rGqD2Ezgw-_eXnrF-N_Xlj9DveyVsUj00Hqis9Dwlxnypn/s640/IMG_5331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHQWEjCZErVBphfwGwjH5F09sG52DO338IQEmnl5hbViobAREP-g9UPhRlwVAnw_TCTPxqW5Id2OXPhuTjPbCFaMEgqWQVZ6xKojt1deNvL3Gb58mPMchrvp5Kg1ygs-f45VykaZ6wryC/s1600/IMG_5329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHQWEjCZErVBphfwGwjH5F09sG52DO338IQEmnl5hbViobAREP-g9UPhRlwVAnw_TCTPxqW5Id2OXPhuTjPbCFaMEgqWQVZ6xKojt1deNvL3Gb58mPMchrvp5Kg1ygs-f45VykaZ6wryC/s320/IMG_5329.JPG" width="320" /></a>One of the midwives kept watch over me after I was out of danger, while the others were concentrating all their energy on the baby. He was still being given wafts of oxygen on the bed next to
me. It took about 20 minutes for him to be able to assimilate to room
air.<br />
<br />
What an amazing difference this experience was compared to the hospital one. Such calmness and peace. No panic.....<br />
<br />
Seriousness and determination....Yes<br />
<br />
But fear and "emergency" craziness..... No.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Soon he was back in my arms to nurse and hug and kiss.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi08BPOIxWKkfYqoFnO8C4KWxR6tDS-7aM7mpNm6KXh1vtq3CiNWqV0W-zVJK95vOiSz0gz2zqIvZj-F9UpQ1mk_q1AnhB1m-KdCF1KFxeaqMtwY8xq2LwlF8LwQa6OupleIimu_UFlcU/s1600/LeaveAbsence-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi08BPOIxWKkfYqoFnO8C4KWxR6tDS-7aM7mpNm6KXh1vtq3CiNWqV0W-zVJK95vOiSz0gz2zqIvZj-F9UpQ1mk_q1AnhB1m-KdCF1KFxeaqMtwY8xq2LwlF8LwQa6OupleIimu_UFlcU/s400/LeaveAbsence-13.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATG2DKVx4uhPWF0r7b-RAbfFfcP62teagQsvChhkfLivopFjJnvdJYj9-OFozet_AZJ00nm_rwk-K_K9kKU9JCyN9mWtSYbURQFXvmkbNaawen6xpGahJlwO1cdDD7askONvUG8jwl9RW/s1600/IMG_5316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATG2DKVx4uhPWF0r7b-RAbfFfcP62teagQsvChhkfLivopFjJnvdJYj9-OFozet_AZJ00nm_rwk-K_K9kKU9JCyN9mWtSYbURQFXvmkbNaawen6xpGahJlwO1cdDD7askONvUG8jwl9RW/s200/IMG_5316.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
All Pinked up and ready to be kissed!!</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXUkwYrN7N4i4LmbjxK3k1fEdfvDHwRa7TgKzC57jaA5zuAeJbSrflEsfy2xKNPNe9BrPqE84lc7rCn796h_R5_iVEbX7HZjQhh_47By7nlmxBMPf4mIisdYg1VHxFkiD7cGDB0EBkyhn/s1600/IMG_5313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXUkwYrN7N4i4LmbjxK3k1fEdfvDHwRa7TgKzC57jaA5zuAeJbSrflEsfy2xKNPNe9BrPqE84lc7rCn796h_R5_iVEbX7HZjQhh_47By7nlmxBMPf4mIisdYg1VHxFkiD7cGDB0EBkyhn/s200/IMG_5313.jpg" width="133" /></a> 10lbs 12oz!!<br />
<br />
16 1/2" head<br />
16 1/2" chest <br />
23" in. long<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He slept 10 hours that first night!! I had the best night of sleep on my stomach! Ahhh rest!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3VthxAJXx0HM8VvXW2CJ6VjSdrimsPyACF6OpdDLB-nXYwBKw-qo_bxzy2FgodKl-GQBqNp95hwuJPHHcmZDkauFbzYQzEKynOk18-m6FiWJzhYahbII44621SpBFwv1KkQVrlqqVaU/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibI3VthxAJXx0HM8VvXW2CJ6VjSdrimsPyACF6OpdDLB-nXYwBKw-qo_bxzy2FgodKl-GQBqNp95hwuJPHHcmZDkauFbzYQzEKynOk18-m6FiWJzhYahbII44621SpBFwv1KkQVrlqqVaU/s640/IMG_5314.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here you go Honey!! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have your 3 children before you turned 30 years old! 2 girls and a boy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little did we know that this was only the beginning......</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-90489101507566509842012-03-29T12:45:00.002-07:002012-03-29T12:45:10.137-07:00Push the Re-Set button!!!Our Lord has provided!! He always does, but it is only sometimes that we get to see him move in such bold and obvious ways.<br />
<br />
He did it!! He brought in the full amount we needed to get our mortgage current with a bit to spare. We needed just shy of $10,000 by the end of this month and God has done it!!! We are on our way right now to go to MoneyGram and send it off.<br />
<br />
This will give us a re-set so to speak, bringing our balance current as if we had never missed a payment and we are now entering the month of April with a fresh start. WE are like normal people again who have a 15 day grace period to get our next regular payment in.<br />
<br />
Now for the <i>job</i> that I am just as confident the Lord is preparing for my wonderful husband. (keep praying :-)<br />
<br />
We are still in the process of modification but have eliminated the threat of foreclosure for the near future. phew! <br />
<br />
Thank you all for your prayers and generous support! We are so humbled and blessed to have such amazing and gracious friends. God is so good ALL the time!<br />
<br />
I will update again later. I am off to get current!!!Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-25334009228780663622012-03-18T01:10:00.003-07:002012-03-18T09:26:03.726-07:00Bottom Line: He needs a job.Thank you all for your overwhelming prayer and support. Our loving, amazing God who rules the universe is looking after us! I am still so exited to see what his plans will reveal this month. I want to direct your prayers specifically though.<br />
<br />
My husband needs either one well paying job, or a couple consistent part time jobs in order to make our mortgage payments and pay the bills. I want to share his blog with you here. <a href="http://www.poserdad.com/" target="_blank">Poserdad.com</a> He posted an <a href="http://www.poserdad.com/2012/03/miracle-or-moving-truck.html" target="_blank">update today</a> that shares his heart and his take on this journey.<br />
<br />
He recently got a part time "on-call" job working as a School Bus Attendant for the Lompoc Unified School district. He is next on the list for Bus Driver behind-the-wheel Training but based on schedule so far, that could take a very long time. This Attendant job is a start in the right direction though. I am sure he will be sending more resumes this week.<br />
<br />
Please pray as he sends them and follows up with others that are out there already that God would open the doors he wants us to go thru, and close tightly those that will take us down a wrong path.<br />
<br />
Thank you again for all your prayers and support. I will continue to update you as we move forward.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-81468062709236521382012-03-17T23:25:00.001-07:002012-03-18T09:20:47.225-07:00Giving him a Road Map<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw9CIWveMo9R2-JbpgHjXvoO932WdT-Ii5bP3C509hc0bOy6A_0OR69FHTaFqaw7aIVyjXXnHZv_3PffMIliFsNAOB8DhzSVv4SlxXkkcZO7Vcr8MFXxZlNkjBRVg15KMslXPX35KLPVM/s1600/IMG_5212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw9CIWveMo9R2-JbpgHjXvoO932WdT-Ii5bP3C509hc0bOy6A_0OR69FHTaFqaw7aIVyjXXnHZv_3PffMIliFsNAOB8DhzSVv4SlxXkkcZO7Vcr8MFXxZlNkjBRVg15KMslXPX35KLPVM/s400/IMG_5212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Friday night we had a special event. It was a combination birthday party for my 2 oldest boys.<br />
On Monday I will have a 16 year old Man living in my house! I have called him a man for several years now; since he was about 12.<br />
His father and I have always expected him to grow into a man and so we have tried to train him from the beginning to understand what that expectation looks like. First our goal has been to bring him to early maturity and encourage a deep personal relationship with Christ. It is an interesting and rocky journey on the path to adulthood. The world tempts and tantalizes our youth into believing that ALL is for <i>them</i> that <i>they</i> are the center. How can Christ compete with that?<br />
<br />
Thanks be to God that it is HE that does the Calling, the wooing and the convicting of sin. Only God, through the Holy Spirit can do what I so often fail to do in my flesh.<br />
<br />
These are His children; given for such a short time to train, love and give right back to Him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDyqYTeQw_EQF4rBS6dDKaMu4tZeckq71Iaff9yUTVXCDjnvN4L7u7ZUEFA4ysL1wW9PqTlIkJ_lQot8A_RnWedi8LsFoQw32U71XyANbALVN01IAaH3D2pyC918KVrUaZDcoU3OxAHH4/s1600/IMG_4449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDyqYTeQw_EQF4rBS6dDKaMu4tZeckq71Iaff9yUTVXCDjnvN4L7u7ZUEFA4ysL1wW9PqTlIkJ_lQot8A_RnWedi8LsFoQw32U71XyANbALVN01IAaH3D2pyC918KVrUaZDcoU3OxAHH4/s320/IMG_4449.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
We have a great responsibility as parents to build strong relationships with our children.<br />
<br />
As moms it is not easy to raise a boy into a man. I am grateful to be sharing that responsibility with my husband. I understand however, that there are many sisters in Christ out there that don't have that balance. I believe God heaps a special grace on those of you in that situation; and I know of so many wonderful men that have been raised by mothers who have either found themselves single thru messy situations or thru losing a wonderful husband. The common thread in these situations has been an unwavering faith and trust in these boys' Heavenly Father.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Ps-32-8" id="en-ESV-14364">I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-32-8">I will counsel you with my eye upon you.</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-32-8"><i>Psalm 32:8 </i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlrcddPihWHLAZyg2Frvsl7oc_8jZJIzzI3fzeKpW-W-_YWjPU51UN7lPBzaMP_tSfw_9OY7-XckC8VndVKxITNOYMM4yb12cbm8t5o-bvlzanKe7JtGu-RJreKt1rMHi2XxhfXp8JzuT/s1600/IMG_4219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlrcddPihWHLAZyg2Frvsl7oc_8jZJIzzI3fzeKpW-W-_YWjPU51UN7lPBzaMP_tSfw_9OY7-XckC8VndVKxITNOYMM4yb12cbm8t5o-bvlzanKe7JtGu-RJreKt1rMHi2XxhfXp8JzuT/s320/IMG_4219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boys learning from a friend how to patch a big hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For a brief month I tasted what it would be like to have to raise my children without the daily input of my husband. I learned a lot about my sons thru that experience. I learned that they thrive on praise and affirmation. That they rise to the call of being needed as men. That when they are loved and respected and encouraged to step out and try new projects they grow thru the challenge and rise to the challenge.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="text Ps-34-11" id="en-ESV-14400">Come, O children, listen to me;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-34-11"> I will teach you the fear of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></span></i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-34-11"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-34-11"><i>Psalm 34:11 </i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewP-8-1lrcFG-Fo1sGMmmAhNIEsSjI6iyzu6uYXfkyI-Om9Tw3aSj6xKciyBUOWGPWmVe_czZ_8axYIZvBruVzYEfsX8lq8hfynTYehRXU5AEYgQd5qZUNrVdctRy8_Xtrun0G0m1l8Xl/s1600/IMG_4441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewP-8-1lrcFG-Fo1sGMmmAhNIEsSjI6iyzu6uYXfkyI-Om9Tw3aSj6xKciyBUOWGPWmVe_czZ_8axYIZvBruVzYEfsX8lq8hfynTYehRXU5AEYgQd5qZUNrVdctRy8_Xtrun0G0m1l8Xl/s320/IMG_4441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This age is full of so much passion and explosive energy. Pointed in the right direction it can be such an asset, but unbridled, this energy can create so much chaos and disharmony in a home.<br />
<br />
We were headed down that misguided path traveling at lightning speed for several months. I had given up in so many ways. I abdicated and deferred the training of this man to my husband; putting high expectations on him to "fix this boy!". "You're a man, right? You <i>must</i> know how to do this and what he needs!?!"<br />
<br />
Wrongly, I had thrown my hands up in frustration and shut my mouth (that part not such a bad idea actually) and walked away. I would pray, but it was in exasperation. I love how that is were the Lord can meet us anyway, in our weakness and when we are at our end, it is just the beginning for him. While my Trucker was on the road I was sharing with my mom the problems I was having with my own attitude about this......what do I call it? relationship change? training issue? parenting? She is so much wiser than me and has successfully raised 2 godly men. I was seeking her advice about what to do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlvR-JaYCzH6rJ0HDTD31xgOTvWYJ87SXkmV_r_L7OUrd5ZnVHlBfQn-9UnAYza6opBynlQL6oeCE9RxIbrii6w3b824JoaEIklvTOZORfek1kzvM7oNaVukcqxY5NdUvBvONiMQy7iCn/s1600/IMG_5131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlvR-JaYCzH6rJ0HDTD31xgOTvWYJ87SXkmV_r_L7OUrd5ZnVHlBfQn-9UnAYza6opBynlQL6oeCE9RxIbrii6w3b824JoaEIklvTOZORfek1kzvM7oNaVukcqxY5NdUvBvONiMQy7iCn/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The Lord used that conversation to help me come up with what I call:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The Road Map for Success" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It was just a peice of paper that I wrote on where I was able to articulate more clearly the expectations I have for my son and show him how to live up to them. I also was able to establish what the consequences would be if he failed to obey or maintain a proper attitude thru this process. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsGQ0ZZm-66uOLX4kWZ200rtfpgU8OYFEnKT5eHeADChyphenhyphenVMVQiR4aw6SgzWEslfc6YqBBZIaIwyN79YQaq7vrLXsYGGURYIS40LvT-STTNwHa8Pcf9zWnLjRklawpQC_PQVSoR-jg7x98/s1600/IMG_5126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsGQ0ZZm-66uOLX4kWZ200rtfpgU8OYFEnKT5eHeADChyphenhyphenVMVQiR4aw6SgzWEslfc6YqBBZIaIwyN79YQaq7vrLXsYGGURYIS40LvT-STTNwHa8Pcf9zWnLjRklawpQC_PQVSoR-jg7x98/s320/IMG_5126.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
He responded so well, it really clicked. There were several things he wasn't happy about but he respects my authority (thank the Lord for that) and was willing to accept these new rules and guidelines. It finally began to make sense. It was a learning curve for both of us. I am so glad I wrote it down! I needed the reminder of all that I had said. <br />
<br />
<br />
What a blessing these last 3 months have been. Our communication has settled back into the (mostly sweet & enjoyable) close openness we have shared since he was little and I am seeing him apply himself to getting his grades up. He is taking my advice in a few areas and his relationships with his sisters is improving. He is also showing much more diligence in his chores. He has a checklist everyday. It is becoming easier to manage. New habits are never easy. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think I am going to like 16. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXihcPSzioCi7m-IZZulUS8-nMsydhiGNDZKLKm_iSkxOfbUN-hmc_gt31nff9rmnjEbyEQewyWCcdUHA78GmaJ7IyKWfJ-2Dk4NyMQAXDV331DNMsse_Vk1jUJGybFjsOh6FYcx74xN2/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXihcPSzioCi7m-IZZulUS8-nMsydhiGNDZKLKm_iSkxOfbUN-hmc_gt31nff9rmnjEbyEQewyWCcdUHA78GmaJ7IyKWfJ-2Dk4NyMQAXDV331DNMsse_Vk1jUJGybFjsOh6FYcx74xN2/s320/-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
He got his permit 2 days ago! This was our first milestone on his "Road to Success". I am so excited for him! He knew what was going to be required of him to be able to be have the privilege of getting that permit and he worked hard to achieve it. He is maturing and we are united.<br />
He knows I love him and I am his biggest cheer leader. I want him to drive. I want him to succeed. I am on his team and I know he knows it. I am glad that even though we may not always sing happy songs to one another and he may not want to be reminded of the consequences of not getting his school work done on time or finishing his chores faithfully; <u>he knows</u> what to expect and I don't have to have a battle.<br />
<br />
Now that my Trucker is home I am happy to say that things are still moving along smoothly. I shared with my husband all we came up with while he was gone and he has supported it 100%. As a matter of fact he is benefiting from the structure and clear accountability that has been established and our relationship is better for it too. Win/Win! God is so good, ALL the time!<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-88372112175536713242012-03-14T01:57:00.003-07:002012-03-18T09:07:36.925-07:00Birth Story #10<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday Lorna!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZodHyKtY94VQ_wBFeLsFu7BXrIdr7fC15aj9k2x2gBDdNAyTsCfPwTdQ1R7hh82RHzLtQj_fuhKdrP_I2e8v4EBl23RSUmnooYFqt_NK-Vg9oOGdH9-2Z6GS158tWn5roH5SmZzBpJd-/s1600/IMG_5093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZodHyKtY94VQ_wBFeLsFu7BXrIdr7fC15aj9k2x2gBDdNAyTsCfPwTdQ1R7hh82RHzLtQj_fuhKdrP_I2e8v4EBl23RSUmnooYFqt_NK-Vg9oOGdH9-2Z6GS158tWn5roH5SmZzBpJd-/s640/IMG_5093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtE_agEFKT_ifYaWI23RGczZNjplZ580v1tYyuuf4qoKqPvQHCjwJCZ_W8bhAo21pK7EtGMDSiAezhkaqTCUMJrHzi4ZKsEucvi1K6b6t0hLmwFAe533LVx7PM-BOsYPs1iS9k-3TiWYv/s1600/IMG_5123+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtE_agEFKT_ifYaWI23RGczZNjplZ580v1tYyuuf4qoKqPvQHCjwJCZ_W8bhAo21pK7EtGMDSiAezhkaqTCUMJrHzi4ZKsEucvi1K6b6t0hLmwFAe533LVx7PM-BOsYPs1iS9k-3TiWYv/s640/IMG_5123+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ5gL6LZOm2DZxfs_lw4k55CQ4IuUWDu8nSXRklaBwwxspHxCq2-J_OdDYy0vjZzcPyJQmCnabvtcMjDdf9q_uHcLWVJNBMcWSVyh2zHvRTprrc3YLs0CrjAW0Cn1sNDp_OcCMLJOS-Ip/s1600/IMG_5120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ5gL6LZOm2DZxfs_lw4k55CQ4IuUWDu8nSXRklaBwwxspHxCq2-J_OdDYy0vjZzcPyJQmCnabvtcMjDdf9q_uHcLWVJNBMcWSVyh2zHvRTprrc3YLs0CrjAW0Cn1sNDp_OcCMLJOS-Ip/s640/IMG_5120.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I can't believe one year ago today.....we were parked just off
the 101N freeway, on the 5 cities drive exit, at 12:55am in Pismo Beach,
California, delivering you in the back seat of our 15 passenger van. What a great experience! Home Birth, Water Birth, C-sec, and V-BAC Car/Van Birth, I wonder what is next? Tree Birth?!? I don't know, but I would do it again and again.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love my little blessings, and I love the whole process of Miraculous Motherhood. Only God can give such good gifts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was one of the most peaceful and joyful events of my life. I am so thankful to God for </div>
<a name='more'></a>allowing you to come so quickly and smoothly. Safe, Healthy, and Loved. You still are all of those things and I think even more with each passing day. You bring such Joy to our lives. I am so glad we named you that, "Joy" totally suits you. Your name also represents so much of what your father and my heart is full of on a daily basis..... The Joy of the Lord! That is our prayer for you, that you will walk with the Lord, in joy, all the days of your life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP7l-OtT2SbyYFkeRzJBXLgtZYXRvTiU0WFn0eJrx7s4eTx-N2WtqQ_Rzpw3cF1z8BDf7Acus6PMH-finhzBcg6AcyyBQ8-XAlgPtCZEpO_97kDmSJDXrZHzCmdCDqx4xPm2Z4ghTkpcK/s1600/CIMG7320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP7l-OtT2SbyYFkeRzJBXLgtZYXRvTiU0WFn0eJrx7s4eTx-N2WtqQ_Rzpw3cF1z8BDf7Acus6PMH-finhzBcg6AcyyBQ8-XAlgPtCZEpO_97kDmSJDXrZHzCmdCDqx4xPm2Z4ghTkpcK/s320/CIMG7320.JPG" width="255" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Before you were even born we prayed for you and prepared for your arrival. Look at that belly! Almost There!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-JN3E6QIK-AofVrEXC3Jcm9aWtYZ9fWwra6uODwInH2SjitjYWo5sWpeSGq2ONqBBYAJsqhiHlp23_51UWi2VbhW2DwYSKvLZItcai4r_XerHwhaw917CeZQAZK8W0ZBSga5ExA3vKI/s1600/IMG_0866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-JN3E6QIK-AofVrEXC3Jcm9aWtYZ9fWwra6uODwInH2SjitjYWo5sWpeSGq2ONqBBYAJsqhiHlp23_51UWi2VbhW2DwYSKvLZItcai4r_XerHwhaw917CeZQAZK8W0ZBSga5ExA3vKI/s320/IMG_0866.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1XzIxC3OBe6il5SmV6onjvtJjN5UV5XMZY1yn1ZTReov-Xed3fRFoZZkA_izSLyb8HWhy9qzFwmkBNmKKDkybg_YrJADCQZKA09hRjzxUHqrqs9IheD3VHEHgM_dqGhIRPxhXpK7KzOx/s1600/IMG_0870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1XzIxC3OBe6il5SmV6onjvtJjN5UV5XMZY1yn1ZTReov-Xed3fRFoZZkA_izSLyb8HWhy9qzFwmkBNmKKDkybg_YrJADCQZKA09hRjzxUHqrqs9IheD3VHEHgM_dqGhIRPxhXpK7KzOx/s320/IMG_0870.jpg" width="213" /></a> This Birth was very interesting for many reasons.<br />
<br />
1st- this was my first (and hopefully not the last) V-BAC<br />
<br />
2nd- We live 40min North of the Dr and Hospital <i>I was going to use.</i><br />
<br />
3rd- My OB who delivered 3 of my babies, and was my back up for the other 6 home births, retired 3 weeks before my due date!<br />
<br />
4th- I ended up finding a wonderful new doctor who was more than willing and happy to allow me to try for a V-BAC...... but....... his practice and the Hospital is over an hour in the opposite direction!<br />
<br />
5th- Even though I know I have fast births, I don't necessarily have fast labors. They kind of trickle along for many hours until as I get from 1cm to 3 or 4cm. But then............WATCH OUT! I can go from 3-10 in less than 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
6th- My sister and I were due within 24 hours of each other.... and .....we like to deliver each other's babies. She has helped me deliver 2 of mine now and I have helped her deliver 3 of hers. How was this going to happen? God knows as he always proves.<br />
<br />
7th- Since I am getting very excited about herbal and nutritional healing, I decided to try a new labor prep tincture this time around. I started it at about 35-36 weeks of pregnancy and slowly built up the doses over those weeks. Well, let's just say that I didn't have to take Castor oil this time. BUT my labor was very different and kind of weird.<br />
<br />
8th- I had great Braxton Hicks Contractions all month. The last week was more like a continuous labor. I have never been in Labor for a whole week before, but this was just that.<br />
I could still function and was able to nest and try to light the fire under everyone's behinds to help me get the house ready. It just felt like my belly was in a constant contraction that wouldn't let up. I learned to live with it hard as a bowling ball until the end when it went from hard to harder!<br />
<br />
9th- I was also having a very hard time coming to terms with the fact that I couldn't have a Home birth as I <i>really</i> wanted. I understood all of my family's concerns but I was so disappointed that there was no one locally who would care for me. No Midwife would come to my aid, No Doctor or Hospital in the County that would even support a trial of Labor. For the midwives, it would put their license at risk for taking on a known V-bac patient if something happened to go wrong. I understand all of that but as the Birthing mother, it ........ you know what?... my emotions get so high when I talk about this.... I feel as though all our freedoms have been stripped away. It was a very lonely place to be. I felt abandoned, like the people/care givers I have come to trust, have been handcuffed and are being held hostage; by insurance companies and boards of trustees at hospitals who think they have the right to coerce a woman to be cut open unnecessarily. To treat childbirth as an illness and not a natural process. To be honest I still feel that way, because if I get pregnant again, I could be in the same place once again. Whoa, I will step off my soap box now. The bottom line is, I have the utmost respect for those in the medical profession, I am grateful for Doctors and Hospitals that are there to take care of emergencies and help restore the sick. I believe I was protected and blessed to have a safe Cesarean Section with my 9th baby. I also know exactly why it was necessary and am confident that was the best choice for that pregnancy. Key words: "that pregnancy"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei6g1naXZ2Wg70P8giKAxQuUT_RyAgMegGoPRD9ZZNgh964jUKpB8hSmOWpnAJ5dQfsCZboRNzOKeJvjHQjGOaDJdUm69eE6GIgMt2xHdyvsdPTK4-f4wxQkdd1LJiS-GqTjm86aqtF51/s1600/IMG_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei6g1naXZ2Wg70P8giKAxQuUT_RyAgMegGoPRD9ZZNgh964jUKpB8hSmOWpnAJ5dQfsCZboRNzOKeJvjHQjGOaDJdUm69eE6GIgMt2xHdyvsdPTK4-f4wxQkdd1LJiS-GqTjm86aqtF51/s640/IMG_0876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The biggest blessing medically speaking, was finding my Dr. He was so supportive and encouraging. He clearly trusted me and believed me when I explained about my past births, what they were like and how quickly they go. How I usually can't really believe I am in Labor until I am almost to the pushing stage. He says he knew that I would never make it to the hospital because it was so far away. But he said he would be there for me anyway. He would come in to the exam room (the 3 times I met with him before my due date) and say "Hi, What is it that you would like me to do for you today? Do you want me to check the baby? How can I help you?" He was great. <br />
<br />
I was due on the 15th of March, On the 12th, Saturday (I seem to like Saturdays for some reason, I think a large percentage of my babies have been born on a Saturday or in the wee hours of Sunday Morning) Anyway, on Saturday, I sent everyone off to go about their business, My husband had a breakfast to go to a church, in the evening my teens had a party they were invited to, so I stayed home with my little ones and hung out on the couch watching some old movies. I had my tincture in hand. I had laid off it for the last week or so. Whenever I felt the contractions were getting too much I would skip the next dose or pull back. The contractions were 20 minutes apart <u>BUT</u> <b>2</b> <b><i>minutes</i> l o n g</b>!!! Seriously. I lost some of my mucous plug on Friday night, so I know <i>something</i> was happening. But if you have had a baby before you know that that doesn't mean anything <i>for sure</i>. I was still excited though. It always helps to know you are moving in the right direction. <br />
<br />
I knew that My Sister (who lives 40 minutes south) couldn't come up until she got her 5 children down to bed. I also knew that I would not progress until I knew she was safely on her way.<br />
<br />
At 10pm I got into my wonderful bathtub and took a nice bath and continued to labor in there. I figured I was about 2-4cm about that time. She arrived with my Mom at about 10:45pm and checked me. I was about 3-4cm. The contractions were about 7-15 minutes apart and I was being asked if I thought it was time to go. I said "No, not yet". Everyone was seeing how I was breathing and they were afraid I would
have the baby right there. I assured them I wasn't that far..... yet. I was so comfortable in my bed..... my sister got all my blankets and pillows and set up a make-shift bed for me in the back seat of the van just behind the driver's seat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58kMz-gFSsdf4_O5tUbIoqOOAVb77GVFQP7xjhmlo5dMVnkfGytv7A1f6Wacd6Ra00j9H1X8qvaaaEikMblGjSTfqQiq4qwDIWIgaDnw2DjJS45qplYQ-IdWUPsbYnAJX8rku13mr4AJg/s1600/CIMG0787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58kMz-gFSsdf4_O5tUbIoqOOAVb77GVFQP7xjhmlo5dMVnkfGytv7A1f6Wacd6Ra00j9H1X8qvaaaEikMblGjSTfqQiq4qwDIWIgaDnw2DjJS45qplYQ-IdWUPsbYnAJX8rku13mr4AJg/s640/CIMG0787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was lovely. She did such a good job. We got in the car at about 11:45pm and I was about 4-5cm. I laid down and closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing and letting this baby out. About 25 minutes into the ride I began to breathe deeper and it clicked in my mind. I remembered that with some of my favorite births(the ones that go really fast) I am sure to breathe in really deep and slow, then I hold that air low in my lungs as I slowly breathe out with tight lips so as to not let out too much at once. Before I have expelled all the air I breathe in again as the contraction is doing all the work but my full lungs are keeping the baby's head firm against the cervix. When I breath like that the dilation seems to go faster and I seem to get more than 1cm/contraction.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignCaMl_p6vJDsjW-GCLg16VSJPG_k2_6n08kEDtu4HzW9SCanNTElHOTj1dltXtBKjEiA6NUHatYTGgO-RPiMFNq4WkGkm1S9CDJ4QMUEIpAoGm96sVjZM7wIIPsxgCfHaEqP_nYyrQzm/s1600/CIMG0788.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignCaMl_p6vJDsjW-GCLg16VSJPG_k2_6n08kEDtu4HzW9SCanNTElHOTj1dltXtBKjEiA6NUHatYTGgO-RPiMFNq4WkGkm1S9CDJ4QMUEIpAoGm96sVjZM7wIIPsxgCfHaEqP_nYyrQzm/s640/CIMG0788.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<br />
It must have worked because by the time we hit the County line my water broke and a few exits later I was asking my husband to pull over so I could push her out. It was awesome!!! I loved it!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00kMC0aIodOLhQKwEOsbzIT0H40nzgdeCoC6_XLKilb09Tzk6oiZLrEOygE7f4vt4gm5VyOXTBUrlew0LInZ3RxXtX9irNerxzETmx_ofzocUZ1X5Vg1bIe6b6TkP4lJWwNMc61SmYNOS/s400/CIMG0791.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNbSBTk0_t4X5h9atz5Gh_FiAfNwPoZn_pgTaPhnkFrwNeu3L1x4of2dLmyc6-eS4IOW1h6TSjRttpNXJ0RQewwCZm1ENT5tSmAuIwMEcgGEpNQ-zo3CsjY-x2u7l_40F3wFNMwzTdILU/s1600/CIMG0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNbSBTk0_t4X5h9atz5Gh_FiAfNwPoZn_pgTaPhnkFrwNeu3L1x4of2dLmyc6-eS4IOW1h6TSjRttpNXJ0RQewwCZm1ENT5tSmAuIwMEcgGEpNQ-zo3CsjY-x2u7l_40F3wFNMwzTdILU/s400/CIMG0800.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apgar......9 & 10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Lorna Elizabeth Joy was welcomed safely into loving arms. </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOp06M4BXzT-6BD3jvXqIXZq2Wn7sG8LNM-vhjQHOzV5FQOLb1eEydt7YCQvziRkv2EukcpWv1eNUJ-2Gh0pqe5Yr-vW-JCgl4OGTBXWYN4M3EnelwKvQWKWD1zOCpowwOcJ-9f0-y5sW/s1600/IMG_0872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOp06M4BXzT-6BD3jvXqIXZq2Wn7sG8LNM-vhjQHOzV5FQOLb1eEydt7YCQvziRkv2EukcpWv1eNUJ-2Gh0pqe5Yr-vW-JCgl4OGTBXWYN4M3EnelwKvQWKWD1zOCpowwOcJ-9f0-y5sW/s400/IMG_0872.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQbRATsyyU2rAcJn5NN9xrFh8tuxbiABdSaUH1jEZPXkV9XDl76rfjYXGvdqo8O_1ymEIFGpiB3cQdIvMx-B4aZ8NwU6KZ6LAdY0c_8es55zWjpEi-8xUAtmF-SFDWxGuZJYbcNug2uik/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQbRATsyyU2rAcJn5NN9xrFh8tuxbiABdSaUH1jEZPXkV9XDl76rfjYXGvdqo8O_1ymEIFGpiB3cQdIvMx-B4aZ8NwU6KZ6LAdY0c_8es55zWjpEi-8xUAtmF-SFDWxGuZJYbcNug2uik/s400/IMG_0871.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQbRATsyyU2rAcJn5NN9xrFh8tuxbiABdSaUH1jEZPXkV9XDl76rfjYXGvdqo8O_1ymEIFGpiB3cQdIvMx-B4aZ8NwU6KZ6LAdY0c_8es55zWjpEi-8xUAtmF-SFDWxGuZJYbcNug2uik/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-68357738060745998232012-03-12T22:24:00.000-07:002012-03-18T09:10:30.873-07:00He must!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMknDxy9XRxYA3N57etOAVQExDI70RpRZygslwkm25TQrl_MIAAIvfMyUDGwQQIbF98bnDfW5nB7UnFVP1UAJM5xbyvESD6_BDtnjBZt0K_397hlOg5LPFn1P_27Ff95pF6uf6cAl20-OM/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMknDxy9XRxYA3N57etOAVQExDI70RpRZygslwkm25TQrl_MIAAIvfMyUDGwQQIbF98bnDfW5nB7UnFVP1UAJM5xbyvESD6_BDtnjBZt0K_397hlOg5LPFn1P_27Ff95pF6uf6cAl20-OM/s320/IMG_4674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know He has a plan...... He must.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am His......... right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He made me.......... right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He still cares and is <i>still</i> my safety, my armor!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When the bills go unpaid and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">there is the threat of loosing our home........... I will be content.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will be joyful!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I <i>am</i> Joyful! Thank you Lord!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Even though the fig trees are all
destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the
olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die
in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet <u>I will rejoice in the
Lord</u>; <b>I will be happy</b> in the God of my salvation.</i><i> </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Habakkuk 3:17 & 18 nlt</i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF0d-LHzk5U1fSzfI4IuFE1Ta_UlBDldjRThudMUOOGaoiSzUkxBST4c531_X7r89tmUb_zbzBjt-PTvdv2GE9i_JT5yfEb2Ku1tRPIDN9VguXzcUkTcPr2nxT4BPIHOko1PiRRLoiif3/s1600/IMG_4987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF0d-LHzk5U1fSzfI4IuFE1Ta_UlBDldjRThudMUOOGaoiSzUkxBST4c531_X7r89tmUb_zbzBjt-PTvdv2GE9i_JT5yfEb2Ku1tRPIDN9VguXzcUkTcPr2nxT4BPIHOko1PiRRLoiif3/s640/IMG_4987.JPG" width="636" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObeBIptpJ3V0f8aMLYAW9FLl_aWJKWiwIrwLCIQ8Ld6J5Drlco_9bFR6HgE4VIaAUhirKvFomT9xYyoTAceuA-nEczUK4X6_jhUJBGPnEG2bsohJN4dM0WAfuZydYF78oSatKZ2CqiN6r/s1600/IMG_4801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObeBIptpJ3V0f8aMLYAW9FLl_aWJKWiwIrwLCIQ8Ld6J5Drlco_9bFR6HgE4VIaAUhirKvFomT9xYyoTAceuA-nEczUK4X6_jhUJBGPnEG2bsohJN4dM0WAfuZydYF78oSatKZ2CqiN6r/s400/IMG_4801.jpg" width="276" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> I will wait........</span><span style="font-size: large;">on him</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">on him who makes my heart sing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">on him who sets the captives free.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">we are captive.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is so easy to become captive to worry and anxiety. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To ever being the "I can fix it" person.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But only <i>he</i> can fix it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These things are to much for me, for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We need Him and the miracles that only He can provide.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He has promises I am resting in. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><i>Psalm 68:19 & 20 nlt</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqtSvFeaE30eBAVeupEIUMTyOFCF21zxde_IWlJqKaj6N5WwNrC5qxrpdHwzM6eai0TlXzACqM4hTAGcNHkq4qG5xcbaVan2RDMd25ekMZQB1No_kBgCJ3V2VvgSOpM3U9rJ28lVm0pqa/s1600/IMG_4781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqtSvFeaE30eBAVeupEIUMTyOFCF21zxde_IWlJqKaj6N5WwNrC5qxrpdHwzM6eai0TlXzACqM4hTAGcNHkq4qG5xcbaVan2RDMd25ekMZQB1No_kBgCJ3V2VvgSOpM3U9rJ28lVm0pqa/s320/IMG_4781.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>We may not be able to keep our house.....but does that mean God has not been faithful to His promises? Does that mean He does not love us? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Certainly NOT! </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember! <i><b>HE</b></i> is the promise. Not the circumstances we find ourselves in. Our gift from him is HIMSELF and eternity with him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a joy! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am thrilled that I get the chance to share with my children in such a tangible way the joy of knowing Christ in the midst of difficult times.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is nothing! Things can always get worse. (here on earth) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Compared to what life would be like if we didn't have Him; I can't even comprehend. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGfTfFBljeoBx6dTrCe27bNXGskByPocIqU6SmCQHUT3P2JWSbjhW5ubkBhjSe4TRSt3oh66EmxkLltS5ZlJNz2olbbyqqZ_EQiHmxVxepXWwoqdlg-WoGyrmbtFi_HYVEEyUTUNK4ctL/s1600/IMG_4880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGfTfFBljeoBx6dTrCe27bNXGskByPocIqU6SmCQHUT3P2JWSbjhW5ubkBhjSe4TRSt3oh66EmxkLltS5ZlJNz2olbbyqqZ_EQiHmxVxepXWwoqdlg-WoGyrmbtFi_HYVEEyUTUNK4ctL/s400/IMG_4880.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you again Lord for joy, and the peace and contentment that can only come from You.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>John 10:10 esv </i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH6xz0baSwYE58CvMfrPPTP1Tb4y9iAmLPeg71biYmZP7MrDHzryJoWNkUsW_HzEE4I-QdwbRoESG5NuZEhJVVtjBJx8xCyfYwjGM4HbCo_vLVm_6SrbidlGMa2h89e1AQ28zSi0GoNGw/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH6xz0baSwYE58CvMfrPPTP1Tb4y9iAmLPeg71biYmZP7MrDHzryJoWNkUsW_HzEE4I-QdwbRoESG5NuZEhJVVtjBJx8xCyfYwjGM4HbCo_vLVm_6SrbidlGMa2h89e1AQ28zSi0GoNGw/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He is so good and faithful. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have until the end of the month (so I have been told) to either come up with the full amount we owe to reinstate our mortgage loan and have enough sustainable income for the mortgage company to modify our current loan <i>or</i> they will sell this house out from under us April 13th. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>hmmmm...........God knows. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I do not need to worry.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the fields. <br />How much more does he love us?!? </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We will live.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We will have somewhere to lay the heads of all these little ones He has blessed us with. </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Where? </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That is the question. </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-78236259181942327672012-02-15T16:48:00.000-08:002012-03-18T09:22:34.598-07:00Yes, He is HOME!!!I am sorry for the delay in posting. I have so much to fill in and update you all about but since I have not had a moment it seems I think I will just jump over my perfectionistic tendencies and discipline myself to start where I am. Here. Today. I will fill in the gaps later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03u041XYyA55MayYigNRV2WkA4izwTKs3f_Yn9v3rpkOPTlHoeiPR51na1GetwZ0t_2zHeO8A-hmM4ILOYF75picRhapxS4bjwBYPDFTHLs7nZpShsQ97aMh33Hh2ZWaijaFhazX3o0JU/s1600/IMG_4671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03u041XYyA55MayYigNRV2WkA4izwTKs3f_Yn9v3rpkOPTlHoeiPR51na1GetwZ0t_2zHeO8A-hmM4ILOYF75picRhapxS4bjwBYPDFTHLs7nZpShsQ97aMh33Hh2ZWaijaFhazX3o0JU/s200/IMG_4671.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
But Yes, He is HOME!!! YAAAAY!<br />
<br />
You know? I had no idea how therapeutic writing on this blog would become. I also had no idea anyone would miss it. Thank you to all who have asked me to continue.<br />
I have been feeling the Lord's tug on my heart to keep sharing this way but I have been reeling a bit since my Trucker got home. I still don't think I have anything together or in order.... especially my mind.<br />
<br />
Today however, I am being blessed with a short get-away. I am going in just a few minutes to meet a friend for a 2 night / full day of solitude and reflection. Boy do I need this.<br />
I don't even know which way is up at this moment.<br />
I am planning on using this time to sit quietly and <br />
<a name='more'></a>pour out my heart to the Lord and sit quietly as I wait on Him to fill me up.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I usually find such filling from just doing the seemingly mundane day to day things. I believe God gives special grace to mothers and those who are with young.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Isaiah 40:11</i></div>
<br />
I have tried from the beginning of my journey through motherhood and marriage to keep myself from expecting this kind of special "ME time". This is such a self centered attitude. I have also refrained from trying to manufacture or manipulate my way to get it. God has so faithfully met me right where I am, over and over again. As I seek to please Him in all I do He so graciously rewards me and blesses me.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPzu1lrX7m_GcUH0DP_9X2IWX6dbZ_g7YZ3Beq-NiiDGdnAxAkZJMjyGTEaBZjZbsdqlGg6Q8bv9dnlrutIqJ9T2jEsmgXljEwEqpgGXqNrjf1980chgFatwxMA5-8DDPJD1C6bRt0rCA/s1600/tree+shopping_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPzu1lrX7m_GcUH0DP_9X2IWX6dbZ_g7YZ3Beq-NiiDGdnAxAkZJMjyGTEaBZjZbsdqlGg6Q8bv9dnlrutIqJ9T2jEsmgXljEwEqpgGXqNrjf1980chgFatwxMA5-8DDPJD1C6bRt0rCA/s200/tree+shopping_jpg.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the sweet family just days before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is so awesome to come in to a room to see that your children have lit candles and drawn you a hot bath; or for your husband to come in the door one evening, place a $20 bill in your hand and say "Get out! Have a good time, I've got this."<br />
In my case it was just the "GET OUT!" part, but I knew what he meant; me being 9 months pregnant and my almost 2 yo boy having smeared poop all over the walls in his bedroom that afternoon.<br />
Yea, one of those stellar days that most of us would naturally want to scream " Calgone!!! take me away!"<br />
But I didn't have to. Now, don't think for a moment that I get those sweet amazing unexpected treats every time I have a bad day.<br />
<br />
Far from it!<br />
<br />
BUT... it is the unexpected part..... the fact that my God gives me joy and peace in all that Poop, literally, that renews me and keeps me going. Choosing to have a thankful heart in the midst of all this mess.........Boy am I a hypocrite! I fail so much. Especially lately. I think that is why I am getting away today and it just happens to be working out that I actually get to go. Fill me Lord.... Forgive me..... I am so thankful.... please help me be even more thankful........ in ........ the ......... moment.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-91719264504020488732012-01-19T07:24:00.000-08:002012-03-18T09:12:53.631-07:00A close callDay 22 -<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a close call yesterday. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0cGcVqDqUCawjPxIDkWnLgMLVdbzLoHuZXoXcelEvlVVcYmb99Kj_Ptg0IyWaQqQVDSKDYiXfLg7zcXP-XBt5mbFCsb2h6vE5-fkEcZ4Gk_EJn2WXptPQCCTT6DIfqaNHLEHXCGh1K94/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0cGcVqDqUCawjPxIDkWnLgMLVdbzLoHuZXoXcelEvlVVcYmb99Kj_Ptg0IyWaQqQVDSKDYiXfLg7zcXP-XBt5mbFCsb2h6vE5-fkEcZ4Gk_EJn2WXptPQCCTT6DIfqaNHLEHXCGh1K94/s320/IMG_4398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nemo almost died.</span> </div>
<br />
We are not sure what the problem was but after science class last week Big Brother brought home some edible plant life that was supposedly "good" for Betas. He dropped it in the bowl <br />
<a name='more'></a>only a couple of days ago. Well, by yesterday poor Nemo, who is over a year now, was gasping and rolling on the bottom of the bowl on the pebbles below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPrGElPkOMi2v8-XX1ig-1V0ZhX2xEeEMPW-6lCShYFcLEPvE4dZwzhx3WG0zomibzwBBmOenpiVy5CVvsaAFTWl6H3yN_gGDokTEa-WBK8YcYRimHSIqrde0w1i94iqhyph1hgp6BajB/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPrGElPkOMi2v8-XX1ig-1V0ZhX2xEeEMPW-6lCShYFcLEPvE4dZwzhx3WG0zomibzwBBmOenpiVy5CVvsaAFTWl6H3yN_gGDokTEa-WBK8YcYRimHSIqrde0w1i94iqhyph1hgp6BajB/s320/IMG_4395.JPG" width="192" /></a></div>
Joshua understood right away what this could mean and came in to me crying the kind of cry that only comes with the feeling of great loss. He was so sweet. He really loved that fish and with the help of Big Sister, had taken very good care of him. The fish has far outlasted my expectations again and again.<br />
<br />
Well, I hugged the 6 year old and tried to comfort him.<br />
<br />
I prayed.<br />
<br />
I prayed aloud over my son that if the Lord saw fit to spare Nemo at this time it would be a blessing but we are thankful that we have enjoyed him for so long.<br />
<br />
Me, the mother especially sensitive to him at this time knowing his Daddy is away and even though he doesn't say so all the time, I know it affects him. But as I prayed, I realized......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCdxXExXrPwYDe1xFDQ33nWeOWpx1Fszy4gxyDnqGGHzCkY-UPgkcw436AmX3FWvQQSOD5JwS0AA7fHPXKu4hANvnQrzjGbw3_RUpax_M5tj__2kXWsB0CMcMmsiKXXm3RuTLuQ0RWvLo/s1600/IMG_4397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCdxXExXrPwYDe1xFDQ33nWeOWpx1Fszy4gxyDnqGGHzCkY-UPgkcw436AmX3FWvQQSOD5JwS0AA7fHPXKu4hANvnQrzjGbw3_RUpax_M5tj__2kXWsB0CMcMmsiKXXm3RuTLuQ0RWvLo/s320/IMG_4397.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Nemo wasn't dead.....yet.<br />
<br />
There was still hope for recovery.<br />
<br />
So I immediately instructed the very helpful siblings to quickly change the water and see if it refreshes him.<br />
<br />
I told Joshua, "Go help change the water and enjoy him for as long as he lasts."<br />
<br />
He dried his tears and went to go help.<br />
<br />
Soon I heard the joyful declarations from the kitchen..... He is moving to the middle of the jar!<br />
<br />
He swam to the top and is now straight and not tipping over!!!<br />
<br />
Praise the Lord!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3g7H6lUSgzeWQTdzx_61t61AfO9DBZWxz5Upoti7J7Zbg58GZay413t9E-ckLYg95kQ-rebZPjcHfwX4hnE0IJg0eP2FZSWg50bUZHn2IeQZblG2MHHZAxY5qNxa16pLEVdZLWtXcBVAp/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3g7H6lUSgzeWQTdzx_61t61AfO9DBZWxz5Upoti7J7Zbg58GZay413t9E-ckLYg95kQ-rebZPjcHfwX4hnE0IJg0eP2FZSWg50bUZHn2IeQZblG2MHHZAxY5qNxa16pLEVdZLWtXcBVAp/s320/IMG_4412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Wow God! Thank you for this sweet small thing.<br />
It was only a fish, but to this little 6 year old it was his prize pet.<br />
<br />
You didn't have to save him...... but you did, and we Thank YOU!!<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-72116888020563665722012-01-18T18:57:00.000-08:002012-03-18T09:23:28.329-07:00A Letter for you, My Love<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;">
<i>Day 21</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKhQSesqILNwUDLBrfB1laNwsr37TR76bOXKE_TqLzLyVURklDZDeMBqpB_R2kQWMfE6vjiENEx_Cbf8Tx-J3WZPjlYGG7awUGOW5CbON0pu5rH0pVBCOESTkEh636X2qktFipqPUMHYk/s1600/_RBM0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKhQSesqILNwUDLBrfB1laNwsr37TR76bOXKE_TqLzLyVURklDZDeMBqpB_R2kQWMfE6vjiENEx_Cbf8Tx-J3WZPjlYGG7awUGOW5CbON0pu5rH0pVBCOESTkEh636X2qktFipqPUMHYk/s640/_RBM0285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<i> </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were created, before the earth was formed, you are God without beginning or end. </i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Psalm 90:1-2 (NLT)</i></b></div>
<br />
Honey, I trust you, I have confidence in you. I know that as you look to God for direction He will give you the answer to our prayers. God is faithful. Look at all He has done for us already! All the ways He has shown His love and care for us, even in the little things. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Lord, how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me. </i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Psalm 18:1 (NLT)</i></b></div>
<br />
He has not fogotten you. He knows where you are in this big country and He knows how much you miss us. He knows how badly you want to be involved in your children's lives..... He gave them to you and I believe that He has also given you the desire to be present with them so you can pour into their lives and help guide them to a strong walk with Christ. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I will not forget you. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i> Isaiah 49:15-16 (ESV) </i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3XsGXt_lEApRRYnN7MVBQE2zueXfkOlyrtAgVEUbxRUxgCOLu2zcIV9RpfC2bKUSYgjpkMdHEY2UhyphenhyphenEgoe2YGLuczRDyVO5ZrufpD8-Oy1H4ZrfswtntlBxPmGTYt13Njeoqlc2wOGYJ/s1600/CIMG7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3XsGXt_lEApRRYnN7MVBQE2zueXfkOlyrtAgVEUbxRUxgCOLu2zcIV9RpfC2bKUSYgjpkMdHEY2UhyphenhyphenEgoe2YGLuczRDyVO5ZrufpD8-Oy1H4ZrfswtntlBxPmGTYt13Njeoqlc2wOGYJ/s320/CIMG7369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You are being faithful, as is your spiritual gift. I will follow you. You say the word, and I will go anywhere you ask me. I know you are trusting Christ for His guidance and direction.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Keep doing that!</b></i></div>
Keep seeking Him, in prayer and fasting....... even now while you are away.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NKJV)</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I believe God is teaching you something important through this experience. I <i>know</i> He has been teaching <i>me</i>!<br />
<br />
But, we are different, you and I.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you what His purpose is for <i>you</i> in this. I can only encourage you to ask Him. Lay yourself at His feet and ask Him to pick you over with a fine toothed comb. Ask Him to rid you of everything, every attitude, any pride, any sin, seen or unseen that may be fogging your vision.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)</i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Psalm 139:23 (ESV)</i></b></div>
<br />
God has consistently through our life together brought us through very hard situations that have stretched you and grown you. He wants <i>ALL</i> of you!<br />
<br />
He wants you to rid yourself of <i>every</i> preconceived idea of who you <i>think</i> you are and what you <i>think</i> you are capable of...so that He can lead you and mold you into <u><i>who He wants you to be</i></u>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOFDLyCP3csZy5ENYN-rYShYEMEub0OA9EEYW03_4nS3IoaDFp23vh8AwJvmaTmtVi_vk-tQHLY6fAqSTeo8buJ7NQ_Jb1zC-9bSiY1sS4Si5hXAN0xun5tFbGiSu79X3wwZ3_q0jWIw7/s1600/IMG_3800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOFDLyCP3csZy5ENYN-rYShYEMEub0OA9EEYW03_4nS3IoaDFp23vh8AwJvmaTmtVi_vk-tQHLY6fAqSTeo8buJ7NQ_Jb1zC-9bSiY1sS4Si5hXAN0xun5tFbGiSu79X3wwZ3_q0jWIw7/s640/IMG_3800.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
He is melting you in this flame so that you become puddy in His hands....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bzCqkRKpryRhR6Xo8zY418H8RRzsY46a2cCzLhosXNfn2ywU_uchuVfKPSSyyFynJ-MU9a8gXmVVfdR46dYuAvpCPcr5OwRvBPhjjoqeDMQBZT2eXTghn25EEBOYAv9VDjvsXhMSnSSz/s1600/CIMG0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bzCqkRKpryRhR6Xo8zY418H8RRzsY46a2cCzLhosXNfn2ywU_uchuVfKPSSyyFynJ-MU9a8gXmVVfdR46dYuAvpCPcr5OwRvBPhjjoqeDMQBZT2eXTghn25EEBOYAv9VDjvsXhMSnSSz/s200/CIMG0908.JPG" width="100" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJEU2sDAYSsDq1FbKaGwnVrscqHpZOy1-y9tkEu8YiwTqZ3xeM7zjMifI-N6POghfB8RhuNj2Qv5Zogvzau-JpjVknA7NdsUfiiIqf7N3GwX7XOXFPqURUy1KZ7P1BSDcKneiZUuLTqZq/s1600/CIMG7591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJEU2sDAYSsDq1FbKaGwnVrscqHpZOy1-y9tkEu8YiwTqZ3xeM7zjMifI-N6POghfB8RhuNj2Qv5Zogvzau-JpjVknA7NdsUfiiIqf7N3GwX7XOXFPqURUy1KZ7P1BSDcKneiZUuLTqZq/s200/CIMG7591.JPG" width="200" /></a>Soft and smushy,<br />
<br />
<br />
warm and willing,<br />
<br />
<br />
ready and able to do all He has planned for you.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am so excited for you and for us!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmpQvsDWGIO-MWahJVsTiKA8xqYuRQemdXmtCAbTxfY7MG4tegEgzASiLt6DrUZ1dAcTsklBr7y55oeUQbvSJJ6Q0ojF45fWGduu0GDPnXjO7ExGaUUWmoqJTy3bkhJgYRBIJk5PeF00P/s1600/CIMG7390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmpQvsDWGIO-MWahJVsTiKA8xqYuRQemdXmtCAbTxfY7MG4tegEgzASiLt6DrUZ1dAcTsklBr7y55oeUQbvSJJ6Q0ojF45fWGduu0GDPnXjO7ExGaUUWmoqJTy3bkhJgYRBIJk5PeF00P/s320/CIMG7390.JPG" width="320" /></a>Every day I have watched you.....<br />
<br />
<br />
...and each day has been better than the day before.<br />
<br />
<br />
You have grown spiritually into the man of God our family needs.<br />
<br />
<br />
But, God is not done yet!<br />
<br />
He is not done with any of us. <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. </i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)</span></i></span></b></div>
<br />
I love you. I am praying for you, constantly. You are wonderful and precious to me. I can't wait to be with you again.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Me<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-82631191975669685102012-01-17T12:33:00.000-08:002012-01-17T19:36:56.356-08:00Mess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8xJPhA9w1yKCuwRecYCrf8ERz7CxlZz3dsPGmANecsRm_4PEAggfQw7Z3oDk2B-vp9JgbQvf3q-KG5ChZ5u330zFEP6GNQkfLHO7fk4TkIl9c-reueldkQj06iEfLJu-sIkdFaGJpul5/s1600/_RBM1832+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8xJPhA9w1yKCuwRecYCrf8ERz7CxlZz3dsPGmANecsRm_4PEAggfQw7Z3oDk2B-vp9JgbQvf3q-KG5ChZ5u330zFEP6GNQkfLHO7fk4TkIl9c-reueldkQj06iEfLJu-sIkdFaGJpul5/s200/_RBM1832+-+Version+2.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>
Day 20 - I look at his picture. I can still see his smile, feel the warmth of his eyes. I reach out to it and imagine that I can feel his whiskers, those whiskers that scratch and tickle. The ones that always make the babies wince and giggle. The ones I have asked him repeatedly to remove to reveal the soft smooth kissable cheeks and upper lip. Right now, I would take the face whiskers and all. He is joy for me. Looking into his face warms my heart. His laughter and wit, I could never say the things he does to keep our days so light-hearted and sweet. I shared his photo with our baby and she instinctively reached out to him as well, with a smile on her face....she knows him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmab4go3OhnjXU7iOHyuJUADqS5vSf7jGvHqm7b1_fEINmZ2KLMf2uuQdi2ArXqBwMVVPsIIspm8rYtQUsNGafMCq9cIdbE1YoBNxNDmLvTfhioDAdCpdi9557QP4k3VLQZ3oo-KXmVAY/s1600/CIMG7987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmab4go3OhnjXU7iOHyuJUADqS5vSf7jGvHqm7b1_fEINmZ2KLMf2uuQdi2ArXqBwMVVPsIIspm8rYtQUsNGafMCq9cIdbE1YoBNxNDmLvTfhioDAdCpdi9557QP4k3VLQZ3oo-KXmVAY/s400/CIMG7987.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
What a weird life this is.... so messy, cluttered and out of order.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S9wS1at24HUi6FmVjrMiV6ryUJSC1qgZl8kOVkmsmZSJFm6QxHFO1xJHUAeYs29kOVEnftKbOBruT2ETwaJh5um3ToS7CYMJzC_2tnLQikHQ0ldhVJcYSKA1beGd2nIErAdpmcRCMTyW/s1600/CIMG8003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S9wS1at24HUi6FmVjrMiV6ryUJSC1qgZl8kOVkmsmZSJFm6QxHFO1xJHUAeYs29kOVEnftKbOBruT2ETwaJh5um3ToS7CYMJzC_2tnLQikHQ0ldhVJcYSKA1beGd2nIErAdpmcRCMTyW/s400/CIMG8003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Lord, I pray, ...order my heart today. Please give me your vision and perspective, to see this messy house, this cluttered pathway as your tool to teach me order. Order Me! my mind, my heart, my life. Please guide my steps..... I need your help. I am so mentally cluttered.<br />
There are so many things to think about.... <br />
BUT, <br />
You Lord, You are my order, You are my vision, You are my guide. Thank you Lord. For each little thing, for broken lamps, for dirty faces, for cozy beds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp4Yt6kD-UlVRNY2mSPFfigeu9cBF6-E2FvUWzgi6_ScAj2kqiOPfOdAsIc4I0wNMRGPUWfybf3s2DJ5NmjrnvW_Huw9Mz7d2jaD0JVYIieeJiEhQOnp-09BLrQlEy7aetBRHPoR7ZmIl/s1600/CIMG7993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp4Yt6kD-UlVRNY2mSPFfigeu9cBF6-E2FvUWzgi6_ScAj2kqiOPfOdAsIc4I0wNMRGPUWfybf3s2DJ5NmjrnvW_Huw9Mz7d2jaD0JVYIieeJiEhQOnp-09BLrQlEy7aetBRHPoR7ZmIl/s400/CIMG7993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
For many hands to train, many hearts to lead to you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rIBsW96vTNMJ7y77NxiNl8x7IwalXMKjCmJzErDH0JwAVM6x9qn1TwzTPpN_ikCRnaAvWejbgPFLLiHyJjp212_e8V6No4k4A-0rzzYh5HvgMC1Bar4a0omm5vChsEYQxmCyYrdoCnw2/s1600/IMG_4150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rIBsW96vTNMJ7y77NxiNl8x7IwalXMKjCmJzErDH0JwAVM6x9qn1TwzTPpN_ikCRnaAvWejbgPFLLiHyJjp212_e8V6No4k4A-0rzzYh5HvgMC1Bar4a0omm5vChsEYQxmCyYrdoCnw2/s400/IMG_4150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2pQr0T_6NImTCANZjr197jOyRawp0SSeLasVyuWUhdiCP6wjz6cT4H2yvlG_wKDBcWAKn4EfWUhjz-obTgAcAHAiZ0M5aoIRKOyQq2g1r-yNTv8_BCaD-ZRAsG_7Suq0i8NczopsPG2T/s1600/IMG_4163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2pQr0T_6NImTCANZjr197jOyRawp0SSeLasVyuWUhdiCP6wjz6cT4H2yvlG_wKDBcWAKn4EfWUhjz-obTgAcAHAiZ0M5aoIRKOyQq2g1r-yNTv8_BCaD-ZRAsG_7Suq0i8NczopsPG2T/s640/IMG_4163.jpg" width="580" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00WKrmgwrTWeLKeWjFIwDp2A8KJxfhTgjXp41-a1KcAaeiDUYYCSntqm9G7nLATTjOal4PDNWj3b2bhMhJ1HgFMu2wIYolWvfWdbEnE4mlcm0Egr6qpp6RolPvF1kbupd06LPhwahKiqP/s1600/IMG_4153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00WKrmgwrTWeLKeWjFIwDp2A8KJxfhTgjXp41-a1KcAaeiDUYYCSntqm9G7nLATTjOal4PDNWj3b2bhMhJ1HgFMu2wIYolWvfWdbEnE4mlcm0Egr6qpp6RolPvF1kbupd06LPhwahKiqP/s400/IMG_4153.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2pQr0T_6NImTCANZjr197jOyRawp0SSeLasVyuWUhdiCP6wjz6cT4H2yvlG_wKDBcWAKn4EfWUhjz-obTgAcAHAiZ0M5aoIRKOyQq2g1r-yNTv8_BCaD-ZRAsG_7Suq0i8NczopsPG2T/s1600/IMG_4163.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2pQr0T_6NImTCANZjr197jOyRawp0SSeLasVyuWUhdiCP6wjz6cT4H2yvlG_wKDBcWAKn4EfWUhjz-obTgAcAHAiZ0M5aoIRKOyQq2g1r-yNTv8_BCaD-ZRAsG_7Suq0i8NczopsPG2T/s1600/IMG_4163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>For a husband who is doing all he can and the excitement we feel knowing he will be back in our arms as soon as you plan.<br />
<br />
For taking us through one messy time to another in this fallen world of fallen people. Broken people who need you.<br />
<br />
May we learn each lesson you have for us quickly, the first time, so we don't find ourselves in the same place over and over again and wonder......<br />
<br />
"Why?"<br />
<br />
<br />
...... so we grow. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGoXq4n_Mi8ifWeVtpTCygUlKqNxAFM7_z2ULJi6G14qY1DeqtvXl4AP2Ve8pkPBr0WuJ476XbFadOp3eb-ILuuphGmP2_TpqwU6Aqj4UKlwM6l1UhgvCVhXCHGMgqtCLUwjD3tCMlbV_/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGoXq4n_Mi8ifWeVtpTCygUlKqNxAFM7_z2ULJi6G14qY1DeqtvXl4AP2Ve8pkPBr0WuJ476XbFadOp3eb-ILuuphGmP2_TpqwU6Aqj4UKlwM6l1UhgvCVhXCHGMgqtCLUwjD3tCMlbV_/s400/IMG_3665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Thank you for today Lord..... I give it to you.<br />
<br />
Please.......<br />
<br />
use me.<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-30423344159921365862012-01-16T00:21:00.000-08:002012-01-16T00:22:39.220-08:00Days 15-19 a week in reviewDay 15 - Wednesday, January 11. College group. Such a good time of prayer and encouragement. We had a great group. Some new faces and some we haven't seen in a while. We were up till 1am solving the problems of the universe. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kEMOmiMm3QN2bewCDXyUFqWxiIN77hR0lao-Bjr1k78-rkh_JXuQ3t2YHsKxkQyEBKXQlj5YcFBCO9f_ynuehZVEWOZOsmhOudszF8JWpJsar07GfYZN_MHw3Vutwp_eA_CymAcPHcW0/s1600/IMG_4369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kEMOmiMm3QN2bewCDXyUFqWxiIN77hR0lao-Bjr1k78-rkh_JXuQ3t2YHsKxkQyEBKXQlj5YcFBCO9f_ynuehZVEWOZOsmhOudszF8JWpJsar07GfYZN_MHw3Vutwp_eA_CymAcPHcW0/s640/IMG_4369.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkjgxaEcsZ9licX5I1_eS9sz6jKr1NPT8inZtDv_d_656M8INSEXs-ciXgmqWOH7pjaMaS1-JJXTG61ZQDQf3GAaYi6A8oH-QzUO1TxYtO9kpa1GB0t8R1VFU0RY8r2Mto9qVWw-kQp6z/s1600/IMG_4365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkjgxaEcsZ9licX5I1_eS9sz6jKr1NPT8inZtDv_d_656M8INSEXs-ciXgmqWOH7pjaMaS1-JJXTG61ZQDQf3GAaYi6A8oH-QzUO1TxYtO9kpa1GB0t8R1VFU0RY8r2Mto9qVWw-kQp6z/s400/IMG_4365.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Day 16 - January 12, Thursday. A picture of another <br />
<a name='more'></a>typical day. The teens had Biology co-op and we spent the day here at home. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk0IiZ4YV-P49jznTmUtBd3CMRRyWxnfTjHKaAMCJQQtIP_yf5bCrabXPfyJl91_TUODRYRyzXHLmP_aLHa10HEiSpNAmoKsoB4HhgQDcVzJP3o5If4rwnTpBVLAMr4fL8OGcy2uESvqp/s1600/IMG_4346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVk0IiZ4YV-P49jznTmUtBd3CMRRyWxnfTjHKaAMCJQQtIP_yf5bCrabXPfyJl91_TUODRYRyzXHLmP_aLHa10HEiSpNAmoKsoB4HhgQDcVzJP3o5If4rwnTpBVLAMr4fL8OGcy2uESvqp/s320/IMG_4346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Day 17 - January 13 Friday.<br />
<br />
Graham Line-up!<br />
<br />
It's chore time as you can see by the state of the counters in the back.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbHrsD0-77sv4ftlSKfHgpsFYV8sUzdnW6AZgS96md5Nk7mwaRVDL5_SEF1iaOM3O4HgeFea8VOf30TUUFaMOoAcrFdmUvudh80U5vymTpIk7b_8xrfCtvEayamTMMz8GRDV9yon7SLML/s1600/IMG_4344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbHrsD0-77sv4ftlSKfHgpsFYV8sUzdnW6AZgS96md5Nk7mwaRVDL5_SEF1iaOM3O4HgeFea8VOf30TUUFaMOoAcrFdmUvudh80U5vymTpIk7b_8xrfCtvEayamTMMz8GRDV9yon7SLML/s400/IMG_4344.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Such willing helpers!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNossE1lrIC_1MFnxD10qvTA1tKEW1U6e1Fz37TuGtFoZNxvuQqAtGutgFswCRvE83sYD3tNU4HixxeZ3DAW_-yjwszmu_cxvSFDsh9ayoebktg-lU_i_CS45oWv4o_mnGF7tgssqZcLU8/s1600/IMG_4375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNossE1lrIC_1MFnxD10qvTA1tKEW1U6e1Fz37TuGtFoZNxvuQqAtGutgFswCRvE83sYD3tNU4HixxeZ3DAW_-yjwszmu_cxvSFDsh9ayoebktg-lU_i_CS45oWv4o_mnGF7tgssqZcLU8/s640/IMG_4375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Lorna even stepped in to help with the Laundry. Here she is helping with the socks. Be sure to click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PoserDad#%21/photo.php?v=10150470440285796&set=vb.655020795&type=2&theater" target="_blank">Here</a> to see her in action. I posted a video on facebook. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtLAJiFdm6IzfyrE_OdehFX9Tn8xmBctSIrvlD6eNOqaX6O7rfr9jMc0kDhyphenhyphenFU1IBY-vlnOOEHLkcbUp_lk03ahVhRJmfc5RyZqKul_p2PW9wIsEvCqawatuoy7tfZ2EKc38kQIKsKGy8/s1600/IMG_4378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtLAJiFdm6IzfyrE_OdehFX9Tn8xmBctSIrvlD6eNOqaX6O7rfr9jMc0kDhyphenhyphenFU1IBY-vlnOOEHLkcbUp_lk03ahVhRJmfc5RyZqKul_p2PW9wIsEvCqawatuoy7tfZ2EKc38kQIKsKGy8/s640/IMG_4378.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In, Lorna! they go back IN. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqe2VnsF5hVFRfUzA91lLvJVOZk-jzisvGE2mw37to90A4pW9eYygR-F6KlU-fFUaTZ8D19ZQnkXaN_t3DOvZKu-EMve5hA2MA5htpwqhdMY3pgn0j054itfkDYOB48SueqgZGvY8acTP/s1600/IMG_4377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqe2VnsF5hVFRfUzA91lLvJVOZk-jzisvGE2mw37to90A4pW9eYygR-F6KlU-fFUaTZ8D19ZQnkXaN_t3DOvZKu-EMve5hA2MA5htpwqhdMY3pgn0j054itfkDYOB48SueqgZGvY8acTP/s640/IMG_4377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6M5Ym2pXr-0D7G_K9rkV10uaiL_hDrtV92aIQWyPerzj7i3WcglZHRsOm9dU8IkYpT5_hXxij-hN8rIs39Jt3CMZvs5nMnS-cOUgfdECzwB05H6sw2TaxQzaRvl0_kRtli_3bvGqnACN/s1600/IMG_4379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6M5Ym2pXr-0D7G_K9rkV10uaiL_hDrtV92aIQWyPerzj7i3WcglZHRsOm9dU8IkYpT5_hXxij-hN8rIs39Jt3CMZvs5nMnS-cOUgfdECzwB05H6sw2TaxQzaRvl0_kRtli_3bvGqnACN/s400/IMG_4379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Scary!! but cute.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMSKFaV9xW2ebwXXG_SnMiYzodmRgDrsQvQkYHe07GQJNyuNsTMELqUx4BLNOkOEUUDweLjNj6i-IU_kFMG9dLlLAHeNN2sRJv61L2jTmLhY5-Lv_hn2Ic-2SISK6KCsmrOAFXI6Ggv7m/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMSKFaV9xW2ebwXXG_SnMiYzodmRgDrsQvQkYHe07GQJNyuNsTMELqUx4BLNOkOEUUDweLjNj6i-IU_kFMG9dLlLAHeNN2sRJv61L2jTmLhY5-Lv_hn2Ic-2SISK6KCsmrOAFXI6Ggv7m/s400/IMG_4362.JPG" width="377" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Better.</span> </div>
<br />
Day 18 - January 14, Saturday. Today the white van failed the smog check again. :-( I wish you were here to figure out all this "man" stuff. :-) But your boys are doing a great job stepping up and doing their best to fill in. We had friends over to watch the football game and we helped celebrate another friends birthday. It was good fun. I spent much of the evening talking with S. A. in the "den".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrABa3ViPArNCEht5NLUzPwKSFd2fdTBWFMAYIHLN56hhyphenhyphenRVhNYPDYOrpFhIdOliaqrutc2JD6ftlAO7y9jUdEp_yOX68g-nPcB_FNq5rvemGpOsHbs-DrtPRYr8nuCTRqtlfsXDCijcq-/s1600/IMG_4394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrABa3ViPArNCEht5NLUzPwKSFd2fdTBWFMAYIHLN56hhyphenhyphenRVhNYPDYOrpFhIdOliaqrutc2JD6ftlAO7y9jUdEp_yOX68g-nPcB_FNq5rvemGpOsHbs-DrtPRYr8nuCTRqtlfsXDCijcq-/s640/IMG_4394.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Look at that artwork! Timothy is getting really good! </span></div>
<br />
Day 19 - January 15, Sunday. Today was church-day as we always say around here. I got to talk with you more today than I have the whole time you have been away. It was wonderful. Hurry home, my love. We are waiting for you and can't wait to see you and be with you again. I am so excited about what the Lord has in store for us. You are doing a great job. I am very proud of you. I hope you enjoy your visit home very soon, and that this place will be a haven for you to be loved, encouraged and relax. I am praying for you. Be safe. <br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Me<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-48339557325735753072012-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:002012-01-18T10:22:31.800-08:00Things are looking UP!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyLg9bR1mT_18-0Gw26L26ybqyBP5SI75U6qc3ntTGNrjSRpLVSfrOwvpVvG_P59F5cmHcYC5SzAUyWAhZEdc3YK4ZzD0jOXDfOYoT-ylhrEY0C8fXnhqBAXzKrfdJTEb3lyJf1FHqWUQ/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyLg9bR1mT_18-0Gw26L26ybqyBP5SI75U6qc3ntTGNrjSRpLVSfrOwvpVvG_P59F5cmHcYC5SzAUyWAhZEdc3YK4ZzD0jOXDfOYoT-ylhrEY0C8fXnhqBAXzKrfdJTEb3lyJf1FHqWUQ/s320/IMG_4262.JPG" width="281" /></a><br />
Day 10 - Friday January 6. We got a good report that our 6 year old who has tubes in his ears, is healing well and things are looking good!! We also seem to all be over our colds and getting healthy.<br />
<br />
Lorna said "Baby" clear as day as she pointed to a doll. She got the doll and then said it over and over. She was very proud of herself. She is working on the word "fish" now. She is popping 3 more molars. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150461769205796&set=vb.655020795&type=2&theater" target="_blank">Video of Lorna Saying Baby.</a> <br />
<br />
Day 11 - Saturday, January 7. Worked well on the house and went <br />
<a name='more'></a>to a shaklee meeting with Amanda. Prayed with mom and dad for Chris.<br />
Tonight Lorna looked at me and signed the sign for Milk and said "BaBa" so sweetly. She was very cute. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmYlRx3v5sMFzky18jcCV0ai0fMTW3MuwOCzz72QL8bPPzcFhdh062E8aNObh1ADlZaVdSTr4jHDySIFudXdjVoQi5JpsMaLcaP3hVmGIWrKSIIMXnD6o9v1s124i32EHZ0IPXcdHOhja/s1600/IMG_4275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmYlRx3v5sMFzky18jcCV0ai0fMTW3MuwOCzz72QL8bPPzcFhdh062E8aNObh1ADlZaVdSTr4jHDySIFudXdjVoQi5JpsMaLcaP3hVmGIWrKSIIMXnD6o9v1s124i32EHZ0IPXcdHOhja/s320/IMG_4275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Day 12 - Sunday, January 8. Church was great. Lorna blasted out of her diaper onto my new pants and I had to step out and get her changed. Of course today, we forgot the diaper bag and had no extras floating around the van. We also had no extra clothes. She was pretty cold. I tried to keep her warm so I stayed in the nursery and chatted with those who were there until the service ended. On the way home we stopped at Walmart so Chris could pick up his Birthday present for Joshua. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFJ3bF7TvUjFuzMMjC0SBWZGwbl4SmYeeJHjlbKGVkEaiS_GXqrQk3CEIfmKEFUcV3ru34B862P2MjqzjV4T6GJdtXfHf_vX7cXB9xNqFsdGbK1SL6D-L4PEjOTnMP7JwDG1wdHxDHZhA/s1600/IMG_4292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFJ3bF7TvUjFuzMMjC0SBWZGwbl4SmYeeJHjlbKGVkEaiS_GXqrQk3CEIfmKEFUcV3ru34B862P2MjqzjV4T6GJdtXfHf_vX7cXB9xNqFsdGbK1SL6D-L4PEjOTnMP7JwDG1wdHxDHZhA/s320/IMG_4292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Day 13 - Monday, January 9. My Birthday. It was good. Mom, Ab and Michelle all came up with the cousins to make my day special. Got taken out to lunch. Hmmm, I don't think I like Filipino food. I will have to try a new place next time. They took me up to Jo-Ann's to get some fabric for a project and we accomplished just that. Then Costco, Target and home again for some delicious homemade soup by Amanda. It was onion soup with fried garlic chips and shrimp with wine. Amazing. I came home to find that the cousins had decided to camouflage themselves with tire grease. Baths for everyone!!! Thank you Samantha!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaDKGDgruHjnXbQ_WW6tqD9PiLR8SazzPznKfSkkpGomvoBmrhwcRe0wVDGRvaxScgl25iATMhQEynj0XS3AfeiTSz1l6rgL7D8Gf3ykf7vWd-Dd_6frPGaijNIp73L_-Snsm-xyfjhHQ/s1600/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaDKGDgruHjnXbQ_WW6tqD9PiLR8SazzPznKfSkkpGomvoBmrhwcRe0wVDGRvaxScgl25iATMhQEynj0XS3AfeiTSz1l6rgL7D8Gf3ykf7vWd-Dd_6frPGaijNIp73L_-Snsm-xyfjhHQ/s400/IMG_4315.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I also came home to a package from my Trucker. What a treat! We all got a sweet hand written note. Thank you my sweet! <br />
<br />
Day 14 - Tuesday, January 10. I must have been really tired because it was not the best for me. It was really a down, disillusioned day. I took a 3 hour nap late in the afternoon and was pretty much unproductive the rest of the time. I am hoping Wednesday will be better. I have a lot to do.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiZBsh2woHHBWOfd4u1rPgV95uUVriByz1AEolLhQlg6Tv9sEcefohNiAmnBvLCIV_JRY38R5Yc3WVIFccCKi1tCmChi9C6w8dnGGVuLNGD3aGiDzMyenaH1Je8_7ol3IlxDttt4TMaPH/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiZBsh2woHHBWOfd4u1rPgV95uUVriByz1AEolLhQlg6Tv9sEcefohNiAmnBvLCIV_JRY38R5Yc3WVIFccCKi1tCmChi9C6w8dnGGVuLNGD3aGiDzMyenaH1Je8_7ol3IlxDttt4TMaPH/s200/IMG_4304.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
This picture of Lorna is just too cute. I had to add it here just for good measure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I want whatever the Lord wants. What His perfect will is. Do I know what that is? No.</div>
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-12807655148389870922012-01-04T23:25:00.000-08:002012-03-17T23:27:42.233-07:00Change is in the air....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZxjtHB3IOsY9w0v6hMDRW7YRAJ7SWeK6Odkgy8poSxhU5PiA1-rMCV7JKyLN8qE0Hj11ERnlg1_xVs78j8LBWKz03pDvbXT7-9LWXW0fIMi0tkBeOXzLUFo6_813HdmpUlA1LGtWaH23/s1600/IMG_4211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZxjtHB3IOsY9w0v6hMDRW7YRAJ7SWeK6Odkgy8poSxhU5PiA1-rMCV7JKyLN8qE0Hj11ERnlg1_xVs78j8LBWKz03pDvbXT7-9LWXW0fIMi0tkBeOXzLUFo6_813HdmpUlA1LGtWaH23/s1600/IMG_4211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZxjtHB3IOsY9w0v6hMDRW7YRAJ7SWeK6Odkgy8poSxhU5PiA1-rMCV7JKyLN8qE0Hj11ERnlg1_xVs78j8LBWKz03pDvbXT7-9LWXW0fIMi0tkBeOXzLUFo6_813HdmpUlA1LGtWaH23/s320/IMG_4211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Day 9</span> - Last night I had college students hanging from the ceiling.... Literally!!! They were here for our bible study. We finished the last chapter of <u>Crazy Love</u> by Francis Chan and ended the evening with a great time of lifting one another up in prayer. I love those guys. One specific prayer was that my Trucker would be able to get on the road again soon. His truck has been broken down for 3 days! God has answered our prayer, I just read <br />
<a name='more'></a>that his wheels are turning again. Yay!!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQWbcgBMLORmj1u2ifA86FV89X23ajr8TzCRJD9_zilJAdRe87LerScYbhHwjWoxYbx8eLOvsDqPfkkcacek6N05umQprvdm7eoHBKDhpYql60swnCWwR65Sla0mXyqAHrdXWT54kl-I5/s1600/IMG_4215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQWbcgBMLORmj1u2ifA86FV89X23ajr8TzCRJD9_zilJAdRe87LerScYbhHwjWoxYbx8eLOvsDqPfkkcacek6N05umQprvdm7eoHBKDhpYql60swnCWwR65Sla0mXyqAHrdXWT54kl-I5/s200/IMG_4215.JPG" width="200" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TnKxoq99tOImW0CaYFV7LyuAQFX1tJMrn9c77UFjCj03ZfdFZbiDFqQ2QxehG8Px0fORRoUB8JRux3_FcxtsCoSJCqvt7zxCmoeCipkO665W8yU4S2geqZtAVTUFu4HZfrzWQ8IxYjmM/s1600/IMG_4238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TnKxoq99tOImW0CaYFV7LyuAQFX1tJMrn9c77UFjCj03ZfdFZbiDFqQ2QxehG8Px0fORRoUB8JRux3_FcxtsCoSJCqvt7zxCmoeCipkO665W8yU4S2geqZtAVTUFu4HZfrzWQ8IxYjmM/s200/IMG_4238.JPG" width="200" /></a>Today was a day full of cleaning and organizing, gutting and arranging. My Mom was here and it is so wonderful when she comes. I love how she always tries to get into my shoes and figure out what to do to make my life more simple and run more smoothly. I so want the is place to be a haven for my sweet Trucker and a place of peace for our family. My hope is that it will be a relaxing and refreshing place to be for all who enter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDvjFXdL_3R31qhrpnNHiFDR6eNYqcQybwFVDspIOBf3XciJmIIXTRDLvmEmvNG28CUHY4YpCrl4h-v-GH24TlLsX4Ovocp8kie3nB-ZIbRqFSiOROlZm3ruPhWeqR6FCPljZDX75b00m/s1600/IMG_4245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDvjFXdL_3R31qhrpnNHiFDR6eNYqcQybwFVDspIOBf3XciJmIIXTRDLvmEmvNG28CUHY4YpCrl4h-v-GH24TlLsX4Ovocp8kie3nB-ZIbRqFSiOROlZm3ruPhWeqR6FCPljZDX75b00m/s640/IMG_4245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This plaque sums up our familys' heart's desire so well. This was a gift from the sweet man before he set out to work. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTiwI4m8jVTdHmRTgpOL7oRc-YM7xqy99300HmeZEAO3Qo0n-G7mDYHDdhAFW6lbi65E2nScMbWZxYvFGZVmSNBnfYIZ2o45OVLsTL5r_ilkhgbQHnhq1Dezxkd9XpkLVVgNDkAcOxWMV/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTiwI4m8jVTdHmRTgpOL7oRc-YM7xqy99300HmeZEAO3Qo0n-G7mDYHDdhAFW6lbi65E2nScMbWZxYvFGZVmSNBnfYIZ2o45OVLsTL5r_ilkhgbQHnhq1Dezxkd9XpkLVVgNDkAcOxWMV/s640/IMG_4231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> She is beeping your nose!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ_NPlNb6X1hphkfFkYJwP9BYrHQzjqW51QhDjYB5jHeTojKUyCexSMV_2Zr6_suUI8VA4RxSJHKVbXQ2JM6wQEl5iZ90lOUTNxqwqHCyUlfWe4TcXHel065zoYeaI-aZFEraS1flQXDv/s1600/IMG_4228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ_NPlNb6X1hphkfFkYJwP9BYrHQzjqW51QhDjYB5jHeTojKUyCexSMV_2Zr6_suUI8VA4RxSJHKVbXQ2JM6wQEl5iZ90lOUTNxqwqHCyUlfWe4TcXHel065zoYeaI-aZFEraS1flQXDv/s640/IMG_4228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love how she is looking so intently.....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyLm7nxtrc7H39WcpkN8xaTzQ_HvWt4iPTqGaQCXdRsxNn0gpT7hdFNU_YcQFg8kzNS-T-QsWqPM-sYrA94Be5qValmyLlkvbbGLbpLIhcnszLx1XV4bti0Mc_loYc2rNwV4sqeVnFq4e/s1600/IMG_4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyLm7nxtrc7H39WcpkN8xaTzQ_HvWt4iPTqGaQCXdRsxNn0gpT7hdFNU_YcQFg8kzNS-T-QsWqPM-sYrA94Be5qValmyLlkvbbGLbpLIhcnszLx1XV4bti0Mc_loYc2rNwV4sqeVnFq4e/s640/IMG_4222.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had great help and a good time was had by all!</span></div>
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-4757234052838970632012-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:002012-01-18T10:23:35.527-08:00Green Eggs and Ham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QUJ3VBcn4E/TwSyiGgA9RI/AAAAAAAAAIs/oVcB8AWIckQ/s1600/IMG_4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QUJ3VBcn4E/TwSyiGgA9RI/AAAAAAAAAIs/oVcB8AWIckQ/s320/IMG_4166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Day 8 - Jumping on couches and eating eggs and ham is the coolest way for a 6 year old to start a day. At least in <i>his</i> mind. He is now retelling me the story of Green Eggs and Ham as he waits to eat. I love Charlotte Mason. I would have never really known that narration is a valid way to help teach language arts had I not <br />
<a name='more'></a>been introduced to her methods. I have learned so much about how to teach "the gentle art of learning" from others who have taken the time to break down her writings in to small bite-able chunks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fH1rEDbUouY/TwSySDQ7zTI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Zf-9ZQfYqDo/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fH1rEDbUouY/TwSySDQ7zTI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Zf-9ZQfYqDo/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" width="320" /></a>There are only small moments I can steal throughout the day to load my toolbox, so it has been such a blessing to find websites like <a href="http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/" target="_blank">Simply Charlotte Mason</a> and books like: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-Mason-Companion-Personal-Reflections/dp/1889209023/?_encoding=UTF8&s=books&tag=blesbythedoze-20&linkCode=ur2&qid=1325720128&camp=1789&sr=1-1&creative=9325%22%3ECharlotte%20Mason%20Companion%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=blesbythedoze-20&l=ur2&o=1%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Charlotte Mason Companion</a> by Karen Andreola, <u><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/early-years-charlotte-mason-preschool-handbook/" target="_blank">The Early Years</a> <i>a Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook</i></u> by Sonya Shafer and Karen Smith, <u><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/laying-down-rails-charlotte-mason-habits/" target="_blank">Laying Down the Rails</a></u> by Sonya Shafer and I a new sweet book I received for Christmas that I am enjoying so far; it is called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Little-Years-Motherhood-Trenches/dp/1591280818/?_encoding=UTF8&s=books&tag=blesbythedoze-20&linkCode=ur2&qid=1325721317&camp=1789&sr=1-1&creative=9325%22%3ELoving%20the%20Little%20Years%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=blesbythedoze-20&l=ur2&o=1%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Loving the Little Years</a> by Rachel Jankovic. These sweet encouragements help remind me of many things I already know but forgot or wanted to do but never really implemented successfully.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4KOyuZ7dnfU/TwTbi5eaytI/AAAAAAAAAJE/-2hrmmLWpNE/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4KOyuZ7dnfU/TwTbi5eaytI/AAAAAAAAAJE/-2hrmmLWpNE/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Between helping my college student get financial paperwork completed for the FAFSA and organizing all of 2011's end of year paper work for taxes, I am drowning in paper. Yesterday was full of filing and organizing, still not done. Thank the Lord my oldest was here to help run the show with the little ones and get the house clean and chores done. I am sure it was a mutual blessing since this paperwork will help her pay for college. The High Schoolers have been off studying for a Biology test scheduled for tomorrow, their first day back to class after break. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QgTknqRLvxY/TwSzL62r_pI/AAAAAAAAAI4/bF_jenAbzx8/s1600/IMG_4146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-11556069271094852572012-01-03T19:14:00.000-08:002012-01-03T23:17:18.485-08:00I have a hopeDay 7 - I can't believe it has already been a week since we said good-bye at the bus stop. In some ways it seems like an eternity. I don't even know what to write this evening, there are so many things on my mind and so much happens in a day, how can I even scratch the surface? I am glad that God does not judge us based on what we remember or what we can communicate. I would be an utter failure. His Grace is enough. Thank you Lord.<br />
<br />
I miss my trucker. I am sure some may tire of reading that sentiment, but those words will never convey the un-fillable, gaping hole that there is in our lives when he is away. Last night I felt another pierce of pain in such a simple task. I needed to go wash the dishes. It was clean-up time after a lovely party and all the family (my children, their grandparents and the cousins) were all engrossed in different entertaining activities, playing outside, watching a Disney video, talking in groups of 2 and 3+, playing games at the dining room table, and some (men) on the couches watching the football game. <i>That</i> is where I instinctively headed holding my needy 9 month old and when I came to my senses looking at the bodies lounged there on the couch, my heart sank. He wasn't there. It wasn't that there weren't other willing hands available; they just weren't <i>his</i>..... I thought to myself....this is one of those moments. I miss his hands, I miss his arms.... so strong and ready to reach out and hold his sweet baby, even when she is squirmy and difficult. His arms ready to lend a hand when I need them or hold me when I need a hug, surprising me from behind and wrapping around me. I am so thankful I drank those moments in and smiled at him and leaned into him when he came close. Come home safely and quickly my love.<br />
<br />
As I write this my oldest son came in and shared a verse the Lord gave him as he sat to read this evening. It is:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jeremiah 31:17b "There is hope for your future, declares the Lord."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It reminds me of one of my favorite praise songs "I have a Hope" - Tommy Walker<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbJtqYow3Q" target="_blank"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbJtqYow3Q</a> This song has blessed me on so many occasions. If you listen to it you will hear a repeating phrase that just stays with you " There's still hope, for me today, cause the God of heaven Loves me." Just sing it, over and over and over. It is awesome. Let that truth sink in....... There's still hope.......... for me today.......... cause the God of heaven loves me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-20811475034518538382012-01-01T22:41:00.000-08:002012-01-02T23:41:53.313-08:00Birthday wishes for our Sweet girl!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec1zPzk4GXI/TwKoIghwrvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/249Ed_nQDW8/s1600/IMG_4134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec1zPzk4GXI/TwKoIghwrvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/249Ed_nQDW8/s320/IMG_4134.JPG" width="320" /></a>Day 6 - It is late but I am writing anyway. I can't help it. The day flew but we had a great time. This sweet girl turned 12 today and even though we enjoyed our day, Her heart longed for her daddy. She loved writing comments on the facebook page for you to see. And waited with anticipation of what you might say in return. Here is the cake she ate in your honor and the honor of the day. The cousins were sweet and they all enjoyed decorating their own cakes. There was a collision of cousin boys. TCH's 5 year old and AJS's birthday boy, which resulted in a more mild birthday for him resting from the concussion. Poor guy. All is well though and recovered now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5Cs9q-quSQ/TwKtxf0rKFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/SS5DiEy-8hs/s1600/IMG_4137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5Cs9q-quSQ/TwKtxf0rKFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/SS5DiEy-8hs/s320/IMG_4137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
We begin re-instituting our schedule tomorrow. We will start light, by
getting up on time. If we can get that done I will consider it a
successful day. If not we will have another chance the next day for that
portion. I like to re-assess each of the kids in Math and Spelling at this time of year to make sure we are on the right track. I also have a few house hold
maintenance issues to deal with in the morning. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwfPTIymgOA/TwKt0403ZvI/AAAAAAAAAIA/usaK_3ZDls8/s1600/IMG_4127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwfPTIymgOA/TwKt0403ZvI/AAAAAAAAAIA/usaK_3ZDls8/s320/IMG_4127.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
I am dozing and seeing double, It is time for bed. I Love you !!!<br />
<br />
<br />Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-33019780127728822282012-01-01T13:55:00.000-08:002012-01-01T15:13:56.416-08:00Now it Begins<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yttHehcedK0/TwCji6FBAbI/AAAAAAAAAGs/fOhz7Xjj5JE/s1600/IMG_3882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yttHehcedK0/TwCji6FBAbI/AAAAAAAAAGs/fOhz7Xjj5JE/s320/IMG_3882.jpg" width="220" /></a> Day 5 - I thought that for some reason New Year's day would bring a freshness and new vigor but alas, some of the kids are still sick and I seem to be fighting an allergy that will not let up. This leaves me still feeling a bit 'out of it'.<br />
<br />
My Trucker is on the road with his new trainer and logging the miles.<br />
<br />
We on the other hand are home bound, not even going to church this beautiful morning. :-( We are all sad about that. We love worshiping with our church family on Sunday mornings and today would have been even more special because the 2 services are combined. We will have to say Happy New Year to them all next week instead. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ6Yct20sJE/TwCoWe_OLcI/AAAAAAAAAG4/bgR5bl5EjmU/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ6Yct20sJE/TwCoWe_OLcI/AAAAAAAAAG4/bgR5bl5EjmU/s200/IMG_3896.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EA8Sdk0SZY/TwCodCDubEI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xCWSetZRe0k/s1600/IMG_3862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EA8Sdk0SZY/TwCodCDubEI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xCWSetZRe0k/s200/IMG_3862.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMpiF0gFEU/TwCpqZHOyEI/AAAAAAAAAHU/SKgHqZQqhCU/s1600/IMG_3859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMpiF0gFEU/TwCpqZHOyEI/AAAAAAAAAHU/SKgHqZQqhCU/s200/IMG_3859.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Oh well, time to make tea and have the stronger/healthier of us care of the weaker ones and pick up after the mild celebration we had last night.<br />
We had a few guests who lingered to help ring in the New Year. (New York
time zone style = 9pm) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The kids were so happy to get to wish you a Happy New Year! Sorry for waking you last night.
We Love you and miss you. I hugged and kissed all our little ones for you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_eAN0OzIos/TwCoYxLSzpI/AAAAAAAAAHA/AEy7hrz2Tfo/s1600/IMG_3873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q_eAN0OzIos/TwCoYxLSzpI/AAAAAAAAAHA/AEy7hrz2Tfo/s200/IMG_3873.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
We stayed up until 12am for the second round of Martinelli's with the older ones. I cried for you as we all clinked
our glasses and I had to blow you a kiss.<br />
<br />
<br />
This morning Lorna and I sat and played peek-a-boo with your picture
that is the background screen here on the computer. She smiled so big
and had a fun time beeping your nose.<br />
<br />
I still have yet to actually sit down and sew. Everyday as you have seen it has been the plan but.....nope. I am very tired and mentally spent. I think <i>that</i> is more the reason. It is amazing how zapped you feel when battling little colds, not to mention having a lot on ones mind. I am enjoying my first herbal vitamin smoothie of the new year.
Actually, it is the first one in weeks! No wonder I am a bit run down.
Ha, are you seeing this? I have just realized how many times in this
post that I have attempted to explain my physical and mental state. I think I am done thinking about it now. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XHTYeCGJb88/TwDIVKp_ZuI/AAAAAAAAAHg/VLIPXs8uzok/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XHTYeCGJb88/TwDIVKp_ZuI/AAAAAAAAAHg/VLIPXs8uzok/s400/IMG_3903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I am so encouraged by God's word. Isn't it awesome how just at the right time He puts just the right verses in front of your face? The day we waved good-bye, (12/27) my little 6 year old hugged his sister's neck, and through his tears said, "This is the saddest day of my life." I slipped into the front seat of the van and grabbed my prayer journal to jot it down, it was so sweet and sad and precious. On the top and bottom of the page I happened to turn to, were these two verses:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
&</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I will not forget you. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Isaiah 49:15-16</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What a comfort. When we all gathered in the van after the bus pulled completely away I settled everyone down and shared these beautiful words of love and encouragement from our Jesus. Thank you Lord for loving us and caring for us. We are never alone. You my sweet husband are never alone. And you, my friend who is reading this, are <i>neve</i>r alone. </div>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-64498607482016918472011-12-31T11:51:00.000-08:002012-01-06T08:10:36.013-08:00New Year's Eve......at His feet<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UFgTiNqh_E/Tv9Z7V6yMhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VvppTN4nQyU/s1600/LBHI0EFSOVBLKI0JI1CGTW0MJ1B5Y3OQW3ZPKN13IP0BTIHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0UFgTiNqh_E/Tv9Z7V6yMhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VvppTN4nQyU/s320/LBHI0EFSOVBLKI0JI1CGTW0MJ1B5Y3OQW3ZPKN13IP0BTIHS.jpg" width="320" /></a>Day 4 - New Year's Eve! Today my Trucker is safely in South Dallas TX. We all have gotten to track him on Google maps and compare his photos to the satellite ones. What fun! The area he is in really comes to life for us. See... that water tower on the left over there? It is surprising how far away that really is from him. It looks so close in his photo. Now is the wait for a call from his personal trainer and he will be off again, but this time in a real truck.<br />
<br />
Here on the home front there are<br />
<a name='more'></a>a few battling colds and sickness, the oldest and the youngest at the moment. This should be a pretty low key New Year's. The next 2 older ones are out unpacking what they helped pack the other day and the rest of us are scurrying around tidying and cleaning (kind of). The 10yo boy is working the hardest folding clothes. You don't know how happy it makes me to be able to say that! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Tqtbe9qmls/Tv9lmliB_bI/AAAAAAAAAGg/C9c_gthQ_5g/s1600/IMG_1326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Tqtbe9qmls/Tv9lmliB_bI/AAAAAAAAAGg/C9c_gthQ_5g/s400/IMG_1326.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
I desperately need a shower and some quiet time with my Lord. I always try on New Year's Eve to spend some extra time thinking over the past year and preparing mentally for the new one. I want to commit every moment of it to Him and get some vision, order and focus. I talked to a good friend yesterday about this and we both agreed that this year is going to be different. Not in the typical sense of New Year's Resolutions...that are made with high hopes and rarely realistic to accomplish, on the contrary, the resolve to not live according to our own flesh, <i>at all</i>! We ended our conversation settling on the three basics. "God's Word, Prayer, and a Plan" That sums it up. It seems like "a Plan" could resemble resolutions but I think the difference will be evident more in the Prayer aspect than the Plan. The acknowledging that we can do nothing with out God's amazing strength and we cannot over come sin without his super-natural power and forgiveness. To be able to walk in victory this year, will require us to day by day lay <i>all</i> at the foot of the cross, moment by moment, each temptation. Prayer, to choose a closer walk with him over our own way.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Plan, is already laid out in scripture...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Matthew 22:37-40 <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-23907">"37</sup> And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-23908">38</sup> This is the great and first commandment. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-23909">39</sup> And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-23910">40</sup> On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”</div>
<br />
That sums up the Law and the Prophets right? Then why is it so hard? Where does my need to lose weight fit in, my desire for more order in my home, my hope to get up on time and exercise... How are all of these wrapped up in the Law and the Prophets... therefore....this verse? Hmmm? I think I get it.....Love. Do I love the way he wants me too? Do I love him the way he wants me to? Do I really understand what he means when he says 'your heart, ....soul ......and mind'? I am sure I don't. I wish I did. I think that if I could have that all together, much more would fall into place. So, here I will begin, ponder, pray, and wait. This is my New Year. I want to go to the <i>root</i> this year and begin there. No more looking at the surface and all the symptoms of problems, the <i>root</i>, 'my heart, my soul and my mind' seeking, digging, praying, yearning, and grasping, for more of him.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129377985809613258.post-60566648715090601102011-12-30T15:56:00.000-08:002012-01-06T08:09:46.568-08:00Peace....what is it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuqpLuf-bns/Tv5M3GKLGFI/AAAAAAAAAF8/d1sQkQmIq68/s1600/IMG_3832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuqpLuf-bns/Tv5M3GKLGFI/AAAAAAAAAF8/d1sQkQmIq68/s400/IMG_3832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Day 3 - Well, as you can see the livingroom is very different from yesterday thanks to faithful children who are easily motivated when the motivation is more company and friends over! They just love people. I <i>wonder</i> where they got that trait?<br />
<br />
7:30am - Just heard from My Trucker and he is<br />
<a name='more'></a> off to Dallas TX later this morning in a rental car
with 3 other recruits to be assigned his personal trainer. Thank you
Lord for small blessings, of a car ride instead of a greyhound bus, for 3
passengers instead of 5 per car, for cell phones and technology that
allows us to stay connected along the way. <br />
<br />
I have lost track of what day it is over this Christmas Break. I can't call it a Vacation, that word implies to much carefree recreation time to me, which does not describe the life I have been living lately. It has certainly <i>not</i> been carefree but that doesn't necessarily mean that it has not been peaceful. I love the way My Lord has been so gracious to consistently give peace through out all of our trials. He has given me a new Life verse to hang my heart and mind on. He has packed so much practical help in these 6 verses.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Philippians 4:4-9</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"<sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29430">4</sup> <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29430G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup>Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29431">5</sup> Let your gentleness be evident to All. <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29431H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup>The Lord is near; <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29432">6</sup> <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29432I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup><b>do not be anxious about anything</b>, <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29432J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>but in every situation, by prayer and petition <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29432K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup><i>with thanksgiving,</i> present your requests to God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29433">7</sup> <b>And <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29433L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>the peace of God</b>, <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29433M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>which <b>transcends all understanding,</b> will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29434">8</sup>
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is <i>true</i>, whatever is <i>noble</i>, whatever is <i>right</i>, whatever is <i>pure</i>, whatever is <i>lovely</i>, whatever is <i>admirable -</i> if
there is anything <i>excellent or praiseworthy</i>, think
about these things. <sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-29435">9</sup> What you have learned and <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29435N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>received and heard and seen <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29435O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>in me—<b><i>practice these things</i></b>, and <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29435P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup>the God of <b>peace</b> will be with you." <i>(emphasis added) </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These verses are whispered promises into my heart from the Lover of my Soul. </div>
"<i>the peace of God..</i>" Does anyone wonder what that is? What that feels like? I have. For years growing up as a young believer I prayed and hoped that I would one day understand what that is and feel it. I do believe I am scratching the surface. God's presence <i><b>is</b></i> <i>peace</i>, the calm heart in the midst of chaos is the evidence of <i>peace</i>, the ability to close your eyes and smile lovingly when your child breaks your favorite Teapot....<i>peace</i>, the joyful hope for the future when the bill collecters keep calling and there is no money to pay... <i>peace</i>, being able to get up in the morning and do any task when a loved one is dying.....<i>peace</i>, this is the kind of peace that can <i>ONLY</i> come from Him. It doesn't mean you don't feel....there is pain, there is crying, there is hurt, deep hurt, but it comes....this peace.....in the surrender...... the total release of all that's weighing upon the spirit to the only one who can carry it. The one who carried it <i>all</i> and nailed it to the Cross. It is in trusting and believing that this God who created <i>all</i>, <b>still</b> controls <i>all.</i> And He does! And as these verses show so clearly.... peace is related to joy. Thankfulness. I am not sure which came first the chicken or the egg but I think in this context thankfulness comes first. If you are thankful and rejoicing; re-JOYsing = singing thankful praises to God again and again, for everything, good, bad and ugly. The result is Peace and more Joy! What wonderful gifts.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547299877490254356noreply@blogger.com0