tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84394751005479997042024-03-06T03:22:46.500-05:00Daily ConsiderationsRamblings of a college-student living life with her family and striving to follow Christ with her whole heart.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-48449712999258262962015-01-23T21:26:00.000-05:002015-01-23T21:28:10.001-05:00A Sisters' AfternoonMelissa came wandering into my room yesterday with another <strike>crazy</strike> typical idea.<br />
<br />
"I'm gonna go to Harper's Ferry to look at the location of the train tracks so I can more accurately write this scene in my book"<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSd7hwi-hqot7hsBB_HOWMzegeRNU1GNCO7W_SHDCIoYZ1bC8fUc2Zib-SwW7iLjPs7dJkPgAWqPBjBbTKv2Ynem0Sr6N-op2VptuB6akBDuUc11PSROMxS38aznirVTuAVzBMzE8KzLB/s1600/Bridge+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSd7hwi-hqot7hsBB_HOWMzegeRNU1GNCO7W_SHDCIoYZ1bC8fUc2Zib-SwW7iLjPs7dJkPgAWqPBjBbTKv2Ynem0Sr6N-op2VptuB6akBDuUc11PSROMxS38aznirVTuAVzBMzE8KzLB/s1600/Bridge+Sign.jpg" height="172" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
"Okay. That sounds like a smart idea"<br />
<br />
<i>silence</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
..."You want me to come along too, don't you?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, that'd be nice"<br />
<br />
When you've lived with someone for 18+ years, it doesn't take much to read their mind... especially Melissa. She and I are opposites in most ways, but having been raised by the same parents in the same house and, for 15 years, the same bedroom -- we're about close to married as siblings can be -- I mean our fights, the way we tackle household responsibilities and our ability to live with or ignore the issues of the other resemble couples who've been married as long as we've been alive.<br />
<br />
That said... I took 12 hours to think through my options<br />
<br />
a. spend a hour convincing her that pictures on Google should suffice and the 90 minute round-trip drive was really unnecessary<br />
<br />
b. pray that God would send the snow ~6 hours early so that she'd be forced to cancel her trip<br />
<br />
c. just give up now and say "yes, dear"<br />
<br />
-----------------<br />
<br />
I chose option c. It's not my usual option, but I reasoned that next week she returns to school and I should take advantage of the sister-time. I am so glad I did...<br />
<br />
...not only is sister-time virtually free therapy (after all, she does know me better than just about anyone else and it's <strike>rare</strike> impossible for me to keep a secret from her), it's a music sing-along, random Q&A session, movie quoting war, explain-every-detail-about-CollegePlus-for-the-one-millionth-time time session, and much more...<br />
<br />
We captured some potential authoress individual shots...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W5rcerYcdr_qqvMiN0qb5O9rqg5tAg3kTGDdjHKtO9EX_EHuZVMtMZUi8Xs8lvGGHkLTE5PFzUQUDwWJtTFf2sZ5revNPGiJeAcCBoCnl_c28giAM_vq3W_ZKLIopb0M2DgQM_zdV85s/s1600/Melissa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W5rcerYcdr_qqvMiN0qb5O9rqg5tAg3kTGDdjHKtO9EX_EHuZVMtMZUi8Xs8lvGGHkLTE5PFzUQUDwWJtTFf2sZ5revNPGiJeAcCBoCnl_c28giAM_vq3W_ZKLIopb0M2DgQM_zdV85s/s1600/Melissa.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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But mostly we spent the time touring without being the stereotypical tourists, which according to Melissa involves...<br />
<br />
::climbing walls (there weren't any signs telling us <i>not</i> to)<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/AVvXsEiwrD_pkqBtf7gg6MmhouqR-vZYFO3lLtDmrUSTloI4SEmOZ-gp_jKTKZpxLtN34R-zZL4dg0r43owZ03VRPPAt6ZeE1DdHK8fSK8clsaoH6HGSdGNptqcBz9Jr6u4ytpU8Mp5HJWRUeH9i/s1600/Climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrD_pkqBtf7gg6MmhouqR-vZYFO3lLtDmrUSTloI4SEmOZ-gp_jKTKZpxLtN34R-zZL4dg0r43owZ03VRPPAt6ZeE1DdHK8fSK8clsaoH6HGSdGNptqcBz9Jr6u4ytpU8Mp5HJWRUeH9i/s1600/Climbing.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The afternoon was filled with "Well. I need to try this <insert impossible/crazy/dangerous activity> because the kids in my story will want to try this and I need to know if it's possible"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::studying small spaces<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6yPakWSMvJU2Kok_Oy3Xa3lCMDxPl8G92Ov_EfFmfCdaGhHqGoeL5P7bFmuVHGjFgfec7c5iCoarPdr0Bjy60lyV95mBFf4qI4KuLKxNmqbWEBKnThZsJE7i4ghs_aKeofPOuEt9XlJt/s1600/Small+Spaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6yPakWSMvJU2Kok_Oy3Xa3lCMDxPl8G92Ov_EfFmfCdaGhHqGoeL5P7bFmuVHGjFgfec7c5iCoarPdr0Bjy60lyV95mBFf4qI4KuLKxNmqbWEBKnThZsJE7i4ghs_aKeofPOuEt9XlJt/s1600/Small+Spaces.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
::wandering around condemned houses<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/AVvXsEi221g-oQ49iHusKBgccvwcAhVS1HyXgeejFWUWdZo9OaY-B3twl3clRtrqFiyhKAsLC7fp8A_lVgN9nJwBBa6EkWqhN8p6ka4PrNUn9VyChcIj25Sg5fmEvVqXW_8-CZaVY2fxHyEkij1W/s1600/Abandoned+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi221g-oQ49iHusKBgccvwcAhVS1HyXgeejFWUWdZo9OaY-B3twl3clRtrqFiyhKAsLC7fp8A_lVgN9nJwBBa6EkWqhN8p6ka4PrNUn9VyChcIj25Sg5fmEvVqXW_8-CZaVY2fxHyEkij1W/s1600/Abandoned+House.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was staring at this from the path that had me telling Melissa, "We shouldn't go up there. That's the kind of houses that mothers tell their daughters to stay away from"</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/AVvXsEjOCpr9cxU6EHiukX5MGQ_-Np3msxcxUjYJ9oVyZ8Y53iEFG2RogLnsoBxpe-jyESqFVtFkEDPg6TFdPwTtJ8cI-_6eZ-dYY-KAV2OyvVN63PdGJiDHJ5pFyIRLsUHXCKY7xnwQ-IvaFYmX/s1600/Abandonment+&+Lis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCpr9cxU6EHiukX5MGQ_-Np3msxcxUjYJ9oVyZ8Y53iEFG2RogLnsoBxpe-jyESqFVtFkEDPg6TFdPwTtJ8cI-_6eZ-dYY-KAV2OyvVN63PdGJiDHJ5pFyIRLsUHXCKY7xnwQ-IvaFYmX/s1600/Abandonment+&+Lis.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and yet, here we are anyways. >.<</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::hiking muddy paths<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/AVvXsEiURAPKYM3IJ53ZYFAuLTam3g0nRIU4KjUzpsIImnRxlrSPJ3HgH8bKHga9-oJkPKF3Mr7MuF902GN69R7nzkdVyo3eGZISD1u34hm4arsJbTKHy0GPKbIenEL9ogn1iPU9YvppG8JZfJQp/s1600/Harper's%2BFerry%2BSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURAPKYM3IJ53ZYFAuLTam3g0nRIU4KjUzpsIImnRxlrSPJ3HgH8bKHga9-oJkPKF3Mr7MuF902GN69R7nzkdVyo3eGZISD1u34hm4arsJbTKHy0GPKbIenEL9ogn1iPU9YvppG8JZfJQp/s1600/Harper's%2BFerry%2BSign.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were a good mile into the <strike>completely vertical</strike> hike by the time we saw this sign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::stepping out on walls that were a little too far away from the ground for my liking<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/AVvXsEh-GgbW5Omd6J2LdcIHZmkC7P8etgYYv7L22QHNBHLOWErpCBGEQV1nlmFbrXFCwNk_J9wjwdRaYpw7gxH_Zh5ph6FaGPUb2IAkIbF2I0ZKSjumsiu3Z_i3N4Ogqvc2CVxqkYTT5ZVfT3n7/s1600/Drop+Off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GgbW5Omd6J2LdcIHZmkC7P8etgYYv7L22QHNBHLOWErpCBGEQV1nlmFbrXFCwNk_J9wjwdRaYpw7gxH_Zh5ph6FaGPUb2IAkIbF2I0ZKSjumsiu3Z_i3N4Ogqvc2CVxqkYTT5ZVfT3n7/s1600/Drop+Off.jpg" height="165" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ledge that Melissa is standing on was a drop off of 15+ feet on either side -- too much for me to stomach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a lovely -- albeit cold -- afternoon! I'm grateful that I took the time away from seemingly urgent to-do list and spent it with Melissa exploring the history around us =) We definitely had a blast and the afternoon was filled with memories that will hopefully tide me over till she re-emerges from her textbooks in May!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-36504964207074481552014-12-25T14:29:00.004-05:002014-12-25T14:29:42.979-05:00Christmas, Edition 2014So we can all just move on and ignore the un-finished Give Thanks challenge, right? Life gets busy and the thankfulness didn't stop...it just didn't managed to get documented here. ;)<br />
<br />
Okay. With that out of the way...<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas =)<br />
<br />
Our Christmas season has stayed blessedly busy with a variety of activities....<br />
<br />
::buckeye rolling<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6hqVIuQWFJ0zT8lyPFGkbwnqOEQJSzVA1jbOIthoTO_KF-qa9LHzPd1Kjy25lZN4I23FQg9JXz23Hj0A-guhhy2I1oUXw_op0UsZyFtOnqTOR28qUIKD5w3nPasdic52kvm_M1TQIKk0/s1600/Rolling+Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6hqVIuQWFJ0zT8lyPFGkbwnqOEQJSzVA1jbOIthoTO_KF-qa9LHzPd1Kjy25lZN4I23FQg9JXz23Hj0A-guhhy2I1oUXw_op0UsZyFtOnqTOR28qUIKD5w3nPasdic52kvm_M1TQIKk0/s1600/Rolling+Team.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
::tree picking<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/AVvXsEjBmw-565o2qRbqkT3GVTT7IVTQgnOIQ5xmr0Tj78T0obWgN_NuPPY6RN0LfUiQBbB-rwVXDuCuKo81wSKTYqTB3j1_1RoKipuNR1CiwW94sVFk9rMPshY5mPL9fL40HRxDwTM0QgQdlJ4t/s1600/Tree+Picking+Committee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmw-565o2qRbqkT3GVTT7IVTQgnOIQ5xmr0Tj78T0obWgN_NuPPY6RN0LfUiQBbB-rwVXDuCuKo81wSKTYqTB3j1_1RoKipuNR1CiwW94sVFk9rMPshY5mPL9fL40HRxDwTM0QgQdlJ4t/s1600/Tree+Picking+Committee.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly & Mom, the tree selection team </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/AVvXsEjgdmjNYGLz7X9rzxc4F-HQ6IfrZ1pq9RUJL1Tsq-Xg22p4CW6WjKqbEgWCBAiD2Ol7TUlspWNXPtt6D0j13RgIJf5BgiSmMWHUZnbGqTHBCYsp4JmBFig7vqC27c2MJxVC0OGaKpIbwPcI/s1600/The+Tree+Holder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdmjNYGLz7X9rzxc4F-HQ6IfrZ1pq9RUJL1Tsq-Xg22p4CW6WjKqbEgWCBAiD2Ol7TUlspWNXPtt6D0j13RgIJf5BgiSmMWHUZnbGqTHBCYsp4JmBFig7vqC27c2MJxVC0OGaKpIbwPcI/s1600/The+Tree+Holder.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, who kindly held multiple trees while we made our selection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::a trip to Ohio for Melissa and I to see the gang that I worked with on the <a href="http://dailyconsiderations.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-week-that-was-cpe3.html" target="_blank">CPE3</a> project<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/AVvXsEh2r363lOdpFykWEZ174Re9QGJUib3ogB2tKtHWP7WoFOXFWLV133uQWSSXAxtvfuLupd7zX_fitHMB_jIOP923LGf0betepy_ihDaxHthsPfGEzD2uRnhjS97tpVHg0T9ACCNfIpJgjwvG/s1600/Cabinet+Reunion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r363lOdpFykWEZ174Re9QGJUib3ogB2tKtHWP7WoFOXFWLV133uQWSSXAxtvfuLupd7zX_fitHMB_jIOP923LGf0betepy_ihDaxHthsPfGEzD2uRnhjS97tpVHg0T9ACCNfIpJgjwvG/s1600/Cabinet+Reunion.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the group having an impromptu meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::the annual town parade with Molly's jump rope team<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/AVvXsEg-6K630y4BlHsCIEoXfzuK9cXWvNifRUnnTozPX0Bdm2APMeozzASzsChoTp8l-OwCCBNjwYdCklrkZGCNb3s3oRjonkdE3DpjdDnsWWOByRJZ2icjaRThvLs3nuPou6sOVlJ2JODrST8E/s1600/Molly+&+Jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6K630y4BlHsCIEoXfzuK9cXWvNifRUnnTozPX0Bdm2APMeozzASzsChoTp8l-OwCCBNjwYdCklrkZGCNb3s3oRjonkdE3DpjdDnsWWOByRJZ2icjaRThvLs3nuPou6sOVlJ2JODrST8E/s1600/Molly+&+Jump.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dressed & ready to jump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::surprise creations (no pictures of the works-in-progress...they were surprises after all!)<br />
<br />
::seasonal gatherings with our church family<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/AVvXsEg7I8LMU5A53cgFeuJf086QgSwxilGbqjWSc3Wu73EyCwxLdxg9RQYCylqKugWV-j176ERxgtp3VfY6Z8GlVYiO3ShTzPF68jH-x_lMFf8-mmCFNY2Rer-d-w81oxOtiV8bNYm9nPzHRjyM/s1600/Editted+Christmas+Eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I8LMU5A53cgFeuJf086QgSwxilGbqjWSc3Wu73EyCwxLdxg9RQYCylqKugWV-j176ERxgtp3VfY6Z8GlVYiO3ShTzPF68jH-x_lMFf8-mmCFNY2Rer-d-w81oxOtiV8bNYm9nPzHRjyM/s1600/Editted+Christmas+Eve.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Photo before the Christmas Eve Service<br />Photo Credit: Dad/Kipp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
...and we are topping off the season with a beautiful day at home =)<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/AVvXsEhQ1fgIvl2JgJ156_sQjU5uZK1_uDZ1cdLHsZ5azvykOWvNp6f1gQv9YtMzapXew4tTlGkgPtFPU1qlj3Y5UslUmzLJGWiN7E1yoTA_xJ02ouSQvcSWZqSLsjgx7ElNZfWpXRTFvbCmbC_T/s1600/M&D+Christmas+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1fgIvl2JgJ156_sQjU5uZK1_uDZ1cdLHsZ5azvykOWvNp6f1gQv9YtMzapXew4tTlGkgPtFPU1qlj3Y5UslUmzLJGWiN7E1yoTA_xJ02ouSQvcSWZqSLsjgx7ElNZfWpXRTFvbCmbC_T/s1600/M&D+Christmas+Day.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an impromptu "couple" picture</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/AVvXsEj4SA3JfNy7R75WjRV0Mp3e56VQW-YM1UxJ4ZGU7By6hHUJFntNk8F7xtixfjwhIe1_0BnTWoq22y8AEWobj-j2fay36ngN0ruls-LdR2ZOjKy8LpUA03b2_FXLNmq-qPIaSRKwe891QIFF/s1600/Sister+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SA3JfNy7R75WjRV0Mp3e56VQW-YM1UxJ4ZGU7By6hHUJFntNk8F7xtixfjwhIe1_0BnTWoq22y8AEWobj-j2fay36ngN0ruls-LdR2ZOjKy8LpUA03b2_FXLNmq-qPIaSRKwe891QIFF/s1600/Sister+Picture.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">capturing the "sister selfie"</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/AVvXsEhHA5Ycd0jnB8mjwv5IIlhWn_sJLZooA_viApbMJUkBygQCSfO6qVsrKDsL8BKX9M5Mev6CUEeW8mOBWHFFOuO8AYr71-HCqJJKW0EiM_3KUqSevrvRiSuL3LoKxK5ZZXb70TqxqYbSSb6x/s1600/Molly's%2BGift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA5Ycd0jnB8mjwv5IIlhWn_sJLZooA_viApbMJUkBygQCSfO6qVsrKDsL8BKX9M5Mev6CUEeW8mOBWHFFOuO8AYr71-HCqJJKW0EiM_3KUqSevrvRiSuL3LoKxK5ZZXb70TqxqYbSSb6x/s1600/Molly's%2BGift.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly's gift of "sister" notebooks with personalized lists of what she's learned from Melissa and I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Presents were opened this morning and now various family members are relaxing in their own unique ways -- Molly practicing some Hobbit songs courtesy of Melissa who gave her the Hobbit piano music book and Melissa is spending time with a new book. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad have ventured outside for a walk before eating more food ;)<br />
<br />
There were beautiful gifts, but my favorite theme this year was watching Dad open multiple gifts and seeing the picture come together more and more clearly:<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/AVvXsEjf95A3yfF47JD6uEsoUoJoqsRxIa7L9_9nqGEzBVeYslWjvDnV4ZKeIjEBOBo0ZnEiaNJmgDGpBG8j0eZyWhI4mHZsHtPCfX_FJ0EJt81m2kBOi0bZkUZzKWZkzBt5NYMTiXXG0XS5ewqC/s1600/First.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf95A3yfF47JD6uEsoUoJoqsRxIa7L9_9nqGEzBVeYslWjvDnV4ZKeIjEBOBo0ZnEiaNJmgDGpBG8j0eZyWhI4mHZsHtPCfX_FJ0EJt81m2kBOi0bZkUZzKWZkzBt5NYMTiXXG0XS5ewqC/s1600/First.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, the golf club appeared...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGmM8oosjDtukJ5O7tuEu0EoT2BjQnlyPeGu7de_IAtBxrscOpVF10VM0VPSDc1JunruZUCxEA9C2-AI74XWs3IIc4d9Uf4rDz85C5d0Nwekx6jBofCGsmEex_h-5gY4AG2Ifwqox3_cI/s1600/Second.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGmM8oosjDtukJ5O7tuEu0EoT2BjQnlyPeGu7de_IAtBxrscOpVF10VM0VPSDc1JunruZUCxEA9C2-AI74XWs3IIc4d9Uf4rDz85C5d0Nwekx6jBofCGsmEex_h-5gY4AG2Ifwqox3_cI/s1600/Second.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the very nice and fancy bag with a built-in stand...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_RYjOJIIanvE2LI0RpKrH6l51BsZA2620_0uFwnjW0PpaQAdZipxvANNJvElnvtIbfbo5Nuyk5jSj7_h1tglvfi8z6B9udm6S_Cnp-NV77ySGJ5yfGEMYSVb4DnViSbYO0GnuJ4AC71P/s1600/Third.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_RYjOJIIanvE2LI0RpKrH6l51BsZA2620_0uFwnjW0PpaQAdZipxvANNJvElnvtIbfbo5Nuyk5jSj7_h1tglvfi8z6B9udm6S_Cnp-NV77ySGJ5yfGEMYSVb4DnViSbYO0GnuJ4AC71P/s1600/Third.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The matching jacket was the next addition...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z_Lqrqgnr5K2-AJmwIEMuRim1sovD39QM5FMzexRF1GcASuJRAlNv9JH3hBD8m_BeGwFQGxqF5yvr998_aXLWN4IV7ZonV7PLRDbRVfL9NZteyOMYoBI3d89cMet6a5x2sxEetX5Oe5L/s1600/The+complete+outfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z_Lqrqgnr5K2-AJmwIEMuRim1sovD39QM5FMzexRF1GcASuJRAlNv9JH3hBD8m_BeGwFQGxqF5yvr998_aXLWN4IV7ZonV7PLRDbRVfL9NZteyOMYoBI3d89cMet6a5x2sxEetX5Oe5L/s1600/The+complete+outfit.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the sunglasses completed the outfit :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
God's been teaching me a lot lately...unrolling the picture of sending Jesus Christ to earth as a baby for the salvation of the world. In many ways, the deeper understanding I have come to this year is much like the revelation of Dad's golfing outfit in the pictures above...<br />
<br />
...clear, but incomplete.<br />
...wonderful, but only on a surface level.<br />
<br />
As more and more is unveiled, the picture is made whole and ever so much more amazing than it was just to start.<br />
<br />
God's been teaching me more aspects about himself and giving me situations where I am forced to seek out the Biblical response. This search, albeit painful, has showed me what it means to forgive and just how deep the pain and how great the gift of forgiveness is.<br />
<br />
It seems like more of an Easter lesson, doesn't it? After all, when it comes to the story of the life of Jesus Christ, we think of his miraculous birth at Christmas and save the forgiveness, salvation, and reconciliation stories for Easter.<br />
<br />
But what is Easter without Christmas? If there was no baby, then there would be no forgiveness...no heavenly example...no hope.<br />
<br />
The lesson that I've learned this Christmas is just how powerful and just how pricey my salvation was. God's taken me beyond the cute nativity sets...and awwing over the youngest baby playing Jesus in a live nativity. He's shown me the price that Christ paid by coming down into my dirty world to offer us hope. He didn't have to do it. He <i>wanted</i> to do it.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">That</i> is the miracle of Christmas.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;">Tears are falling, hearts are breaking</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;">How we need to hear from God</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;">You've been promised, we've been waiting</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;">Welcome Holy Child</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;">Welcome Holy Child</span></i></span><div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 17.911111831665px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.24;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fragile finger sent to heal us</i></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tender brow prepared for them<br />Tiny heart whose blood will save us<br />Unto us is born<br />Unto us is born</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>So wrap our injured flesh around You<br />Breathe our air and walk our sod<br />Rob our sin and make us holy<br />Perfect Son of God<br />Perfect Son of God"</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.24; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>~Excerpt of lyrics, <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Welcome+To+Our+World/4E7VmJ?src=5" target="_blank">Welcome to our World </a>(Michael W. Smith)</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-12711347026478115952014-11-24T21:06:00.001-05:002014-11-24T21:06:19.559-05:00Family Life // Give Thanks ~ Day 18-20As of today, we are only 4 days behind in the <a href="http://kingsbloomingrose.com/challenges.html" target="_blank">Give Thanks</a> challenge and we should be caught up before Thanksgiving actually arrives =)<br />
<br />
Today was a productive day, albeit filled with constant comings and goings of our household. Dad, Mom, and I took two of our cars and RV for some maintenance and repairs. Molly volunteered for an emergency drill at a local senior-living center and Melissa headed over to our community college for a nursing lunch and study session.<br />
<br />
As I type this, Mom and Dad are just pulling in the driveway from a date night while Melissa and Molly compete for the title of 'writing-the-most-words-in-an-allotted-period-of-time'...aka. a word war for <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>. Before sitting down at our computers (me to blog and the girls to work on their novels), we once again dived into the buckeye process and this was the result...<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/AVvXsEhT-XJrRtv383GKjQZwiPvLaQTV6mEfUOO2fAt5ozSQe3zkoQBQgIBmrfkYjVWohjQMKwiQ4KLo2i_nuLcN1s_vYp2RVWVOcZ7_fAbwu-8Rc39luL0KbBILE5FhJgLuG-HTW7PpV4VtEjYi/s1600/Chocolate+Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-XJrRtv383GKjQZwiPvLaQTV6mEfUOO2fAt5ozSQe3zkoQBQgIBmrfkYjVWohjQMKwiQ4KLo2i_nuLcN1s_vYp2RVWVOcZ7_fAbwu-8Rc39luL0KbBILE5FhJgLuG-HTW7PpV4VtEjYi/s1600/Chocolate+Tray.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">round chocolate + peanut butter + powdered sugar goodness =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
{I'm posting this^^ just for my CollegePlus, Ohio friends to be jealous of}<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::having all my girls home<br />
::10+ sweet years with our dog, Emily<br />
::encouragement from my family<br />
::God's mercies in our suffering<br />
::our veterinarian<br />
::sleep<br />
::coffee<br />
::comfort in loss<br />
::pots and pans<br />
::bluetooth<br />
::easy dinners<br />
::afternoon walks with girls<br />
::RV<br />
::friends<br />::National History Day<br />
::Molly's Greek teacher, Mr. Spotts<br />
::haircuts<br />
::kombucha<br />
::kleenex<br />
::water<br />
::happy family<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::the cars that God has blessed our family with<br />
::8 consecutive hours of sleep<br />
::texting with friends to share memories and get through the missing part of coming home<br />
::the grace my family gives me as I re-acclimate into the family culture<br />
::hugs and smiles from Molly as she shared the family news<br />
::walking with Melissa (even if it was a little cold!)<br />
::compassion<br />
::Emily, our dog<br />
::Melissa's strength and matter-of-factness in difficult situations<br />
::sharing tears and hugs with Mom<br />
::a nap to help with the sleep-deprivation<br />
::girls' only calls to share life and pray for each other<br />
::our family's thanksgiving tree<br />
::laughing and dreaming with Mom and Dad (so grateful for the way you both invest and disciple the girls and I!)<br />
::a home-day to catch-up on projects<br />
::Mom's pumpkin muffins<br />
::Scriptural reminder to "rejoice in all things"<br />
::the four years we've had to live in Maryland and explore the East coast<br />
::the two-hour drive to & from church with Melissa -- lots of girl time<br />
::our pastors and church<br />
::fellowship with believers committed to following Christ<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::songs<br />
::sisters<br />
::parents<br />
::eyes<br />
::solemn faces that make me laugh<br />
::Emily<br />
::computers<br />
::timers<br />
::rope<br />
::buckeyes<br />
::masterminds<br />
::November<br />
::colors<br />
::volunteers<br />::smiles<br />
::poems<br />
::precious moments<br />
::spreadsheets<br />
::teamwork<br />
::recklessness<br />
::private jokesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-62253401909497795342014-11-23T21:15:00.000-05:002014-11-23T21:15:29.595-05:00Sunday Stories // Give Thanks ~ Days 15-17Happy Sunday =)<br />
<br />
After our typically busy day, the three trays of buckeyes were remembered after prayer time this evening. We had planned to dip them tonight, but their storage location hadn't stayed as cool as needed. Due to our freezer layout, we have traditionally chilled the buckeyes in the backseat of our cars as this time of year usually has the garage at or below freezing. However we've had an unusually warm couple of days and the buckeyes were softer than needed :(<br />
<br />
We pulled them out and decided to wait till tomorrow morning to complete the chocolate dipping stage. However that didn't stop all of us from consuming a few of the powdered sugar + peanut butter balls. From my typing vantage point of the kitchen table, I think I've counted at least a dozen balls disappear...<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/AVvXsEj9bKw5g3JbAwhjnEZ39kR2USp7IDFAmrH9zTHPi3SoKiqfrcHCFaU_WBjG7gzjxOwG-ZHVGg_DSYJSQD3dseWgoMc3RbY9MIvkPWhBIxHiLZjnhAOLOIrIgt5wT_wLLZetZtRG-suoCGfc/s1600/Emptying+Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bKw5g3JbAwhjnEZ39kR2USp7IDFAmrH9zTHPi3SoKiqfrcHCFaU_WBjG7gzjxOwG-ZHVGg_DSYJSQD3dseWgoMc3RbY9MIvkPWhBIxHiLZjnhAOLOIrIgt5wT_wLLZetZtRG-suoCGfc/s1600/Emptying+Tray.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tray that with a few new "holes"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Perhaps we'll make a second batch tomorrow to make up the lost-in-production difference ;)<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::snow<br />
::warm coats<br />
::hot tea<br />
::rolling backpacks<br />
::sister talks<br />
::clean desk<br />
::salad<br />
::Sunday mornings<br />
::Sunday school<br />
::Colossians<br />
::drive to church<br />
::last day of membership class<br />
::warm clothes<br />
::worship with my family<br />
::productive Mondays<br />
::wise spiritual counsel<br />
::my daughters' voices<br />
::walks in the rain<br />
::tea<br />
::vacuum cleaner<br />
::washer and dryer (thanks, Kipp!)<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::hot water<br />
::Christmas music singing sessions<br />
::ice skating trains<br />
::friends who point me to Christ and whisper "I'm praying"<br />
::doing a mall scavenger hunt (and winning!)<br />
::Skype messages, texts, and emails from Mom encouraging me when I missed my family<br />
::honesty<br />
::new mornings each day<br />
::radio dramas<br />
::Mrs. Subra's awesome cooking :)<br />
::going to church with the CP gang<br />
::singing praise God in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSUObob-7fQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">unconventional ways</a><br />
::snow fights<br />
::re-enacting memories from previous gatherings<br />
::having friends who pull all-nighters with you<br />
::getting a few extra minutes with Emily & Charity before they had to board their flight<br />
::reviewing the whole gathering with Andrew<br />
::talking and texting with Mom and girlfriends the whole way home<br />
::Mom and Dad picking me up from the airport<br />
::a safe arrival home<br />
::selfie wars<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::rain<br />
::heaters<br />
::cousins<br />
::autumn evening chats with said cousins<br />
::greek making sense<br />
::elves (Tolkien ones that is ;))<br />
::chocolate graham crackers<br />
::mugs<br />
::black and white<br />
::restoration<br />
::ribbon<br />
::poems<br />
::pain<br />
::bookmarks<br />
::snowmen<br />
::whiteboards<br />
::teapots<br />
::pens<br />
::Heaven<br />
::coats<br />
::pumpkinsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-35232725340151018072014-11-22T22:26:00.001-05:002014-11-22T22:26:31.370-05:00Buckeyes // Give Thanks ~ Days 12-14I think it's time to return ;) Thank you for your patience...coming home from a CP gathering involves exhaustion, some serious missing, and a stack of responsibilities to make me want to run for the hills :P But lest you all begin to wonder why I go to such events... they also result in some pretty amazing memories which I hope to share over the next couple days here on the blog =)<br />
<br />
While I begin the process of catching up (not a one day deal), I'll enjoy eating some of these little holiday treasures...<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/AVvXsEhc5gaZ0AKEFdagqMLtbaQD28HkIey-ztyNTfhetAlmrUioq3GyG2wQAu0XDUxvl_MPbEzxVPRz3cOZBZnVXocSNiBt5QkNj-HsapH5HUPUv_2OUoyjCEOr0upNUCzCTFL_ovRss_4auRbh/s1600/Tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5gaZ0AKEFdagqMLtbaQD28HkIey-ztyNTfhetAlmrUioq3GyG2wQAu0XDUxvl_MPbEzxVPRz3cOZBZnVXocSNiBt5QkNj-HsapH5HUPUv_2OUoyjCEOr0upNUCzCTFL_ovRss_4auRbh/s1600/Tray.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeyes awaiting the chocolate-dipping phase</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/AVvXsEgnQgzkeCiEJv1mbKMjRYtC954Cysz_QYtx_kluti3Jagk2J5s4l7vVVj16UimNLlhV3nqnkL_j97BPPy2coO-dYKiL_iXcN0AmT-KtN-0xQvdAcZ0UY8hsw9KSoMtnPD5n4SMObLlaaBXt/s1600/Rolling+Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQgzkeCiEJv1mbKMjRYtC954Cysz_QYtx_kluti3Jagk2J5s4l7vVVj16UimNLlhV3nqnkL_j97BPPy2coO-dYKiL_iXcN0AmT-KtN-0xQvdAcZ0UY8hsw9KSoMtnPD5n4SMObLlaaBXt/s1600/Rolling+Team.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa & Dad, our awesome buckeye-rolling team!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And let's also get serious about our <a href="http://kingsbloomingrose.com/challenges.html" target="_blank">Give Thanks</a> challenge...Today, we'll cover November 12-14 :)<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::fun surprises<br />
::laughter<br />::homemade cookies<br />
::long-distance friends<br />
::family connections<br />
::health<br />
::Megan's blog<br />
::consignment sales<br />
::frozen yogurt<br />
::Friday nights<br />::completed to-do list<br />
::God's peace<br />
::organization<br />
::help with shopping<br />
::our pastors<br />
::bar-b-que<br />
::Skype calls<br />
::cousins<br />
::friends<br />
::my family<br />
::movie night<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::helpful airline ticket agents<br />
::that my delayed flight gave me a push to do some Bible study<br />
::extra sleep on my flight<br />
::Dad's transportation services (complete with lovely conversations!)<br />
::teasing texts<br />
::Melissa and Mom letting me raid their closets for this trip<br />
::sunshine<br />
::chats with Melissa to keep me updated on home life<br />
::texts from Dad and Molly<br />
::posing in the Des Moines sculpture park<br />
::Mr. Subra's entertaining lesson on the 12 tenets of the Bible<br />
::Josh's driving<br />
::sharing a room with two of my dear CP friends<br />
::<strike>talking</strike> listening to others talk about music and gaining a whole new playlist<br />
::Catherine calling just to encourage me<br />
::sharing hearts and feelings with the girls at the gathering<br />
::getting to do more English Country Dancing (thank you, Emily!)<br />
::Drew's willingness to share his swing knowledge<br />
::the gift of friends who share memories, fun, and laughter<br />
::the Subra's willingness to open up their home (and furniture!)<br />
::sweet emails from Mom teaching on God's work in our lives<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::His story<br />
::language<br />
::learning<br />
::dishwashers<br />
::time<br />
::reasons<br />
::hugs<br />
::Skype<br />
::conspiracies<br />
::snow<br />
::gloves<br />
::new friends<br />
::teachers<br />::volunteers<br />
::trees<br />
::walks<br />::church<br />
::clearance<br />::babies<br />::jump rope<br />
::(mostly) catching up on <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-51314989581014872982014-11-11T21:58:00.000-05:002014-11-22T20:47:02.369-05:00Packing // Give Thanks ~ Day 11It's 9:33pm. I have a final music playlist syncing to my phone. I'm wracking brain of any items I <i>haven't</i> packed yet. And my family tells me that this is impossible considering the size of my bags (wasntme)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdJUR4ZDBCsorqPxp-1kjHOPI3fwwJYIQ8Zk4f0AWEFSq4ZTE5_Wj0aqV4-rja-lGxf6bEv_34FNs_euieEcbtDczi1y3vV35habHWEKbrZADlBy4avX5b1_Ytyhf0bR74Gi15e-QxsWG/s1600/IMG_2207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdJUR4ZDBCsorqPxp-1kjHOPI3fwwJYIQ8Zk4f0AWEFSq4ZTE5_Wj0aqV4-rja-lGxf6bEv_34FNs_euieEcbtDczi1y3vV35habHWEKbrZADlBy4avX5b1_Ytyhf0bR74Gi15e-QxsWG/s320/IMG_2207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Mom comes in to give me final words of wisdom (yes, I will wear my purse cross-body tomorrow. promise) and ask for as many pictures as possible.<br />
<br />
Melissa reminds me that she wants to be woken up and given a proper hug in the morning. Molly sadly says goodbye and reminds me that I'm only on loan-out for a week. She wants me back after all.<br />
<br />
My whiteboard reminds me that the day has come. And my google messages with Dad this morning show evidence that one can never be excited too much ;)<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/AVvXsEhX9q7q-wZ0KYCBpN3YQLR7-t2yAYH1qi7zfHxJyDTflFHJvIY_LKcMr4fDKkrqfVlcs-FoZtzVMED33juAPesdnNYv7VAEjIc7kEOLXn3HLtlP3e_3dS3_XQBSx3Jsh7WSmsbAQyzowgpd/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9q7q-wZ0KYCBpN3YQLR7-t2yAYH1qi7zfHxJyDTflFHJvIY_LKcMr4fDKkrqfVlcs-FoZtzVMED33juAPesdnNYv7VAEjIc7kEOLXn3HLtlP3e_3dS3_XQBSx3Jsh7WSmsbAQyzowgpd/s320/IMG_2209.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My whiteboard which was creatively decorated by sisters about 45 days ago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have the typical goodies from Mom. Tomorrow I leave for Iowa (where the temperature is less than half of ours). I'm going to see 20 of my fellow CP students -- and among them, some of my dearest friends =)<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/AVvXsEifEMmu2HJo-q1VqQtvgiXhIcjzvqkUS8ok4m1DC4yC-SIc8aUcXiCeRPAeSTtdfpeAWurlxvtBbsxtsp1RM_yAEa-2hIWRf0vQW-U2tmy6oLXKP78BhfHLZ-yr16PTGTM9JWmP3fZc3uhY/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEMmu2HJo-q1VqQtvgiXhIcjzvqkUS8ok4m1DC4yC-SIc8aUcXiCeRPAeSTtdfpeAWurlxvtBbsxtsp1RM_yAEa-2hIWRf0vQW-U2tmy6oLXKP78BhfHLZ-yr16PTGTM9JWmP3fZc3uhY/s320/IMG_2210.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom is awesome about giving each of us a little something when we travel!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
{as a note... We do definitely plan to keep doing our thankful lists. Whether or not they get posted depends on my ability/time to devote to the blog. Just bear with me and expect some long lists when I get back :P}<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::God's constant presence in my life<br />
::donut dates with Molly<br />
::crockpot<br />
::my computer<br />
::friends<br />
::heater<br />
::inspiring music<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::surprises being revealed<br />
::google messages with my Dad<br />
::beautiful fall-ish weather to enjoy before the cold<br />
::goodies from my family<br />
::blessing of resting in Christ<br />
::a car to drive<br />
::the excitement of this trip to Iowa<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::beauty<br />
::faith<br />
::love<br />
::kindness<br />
::a new day<br />
::squiggles<br />
::seat warmersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-38005287678867613122014-11-10T21:23:00.000-05:002014-11-11T21:31:46.042-05:00Lunch Guests // Give Thanks ~ Day 10As I worked on some trip prep projects in my room and Molly was doing school, I heard a bit of a ruckus downstairs. Further investigation revealed that Dad had come home to eat with us --a rather unusual and pleasant surprise! We enjoyed discussing the morning's work and read a portion of an evangelism devotion that applied to some situations we've been dealing with lately =) All too soon, it was over and he had to go back to work. But I think we all went through the rest of the day a bit more invigorated by our special lunch!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s1600/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s320/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::home tech department...thanks Meg =)<br />
::Kipp coming home for lunch<br />
::chocolate chip cookies<br />
::pillows<br />
::Ibuprofen<br />
::eye glasses<br />
::God's faithful servants<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::conversations with Mom<br />
<br />
::God's leading through opened and closed doors<br />
::sleep<br />
::my electric blanket<br />
::a clean room<br />
::sister time with Melissa<br />
::that Dad came home for lunch<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::Word docs<br />
::word wars<br />
::promise of future<br />
::prayers of friends<br />
::paper<br />
::Bible time<br />
::my familyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-62653091995508292522014-11-09T21:04:00.002-05:002014-11-09T21:04:47.516-05:00Sunday Prayers // Give Thanks ~ Day 9I had all the best intentions of getting a really good picture of our family prayer time...<br />
<br />
...aaaaand. It didn't happen.<br />
<br />
But picture, or no picture, this tradition (going on two years now!) is one of my favorites =)<br />
<br />
Pastor Scott, who teaches our community (a portion of our church that meets for small group teaching prior to our main church service), continually mentions that praying together as couples or families is a unique opportunity to grow our earthly relationships by speaking to our heavenly Father. We have the chance, through prayer, to let those around us listen and hear the burdens and praises that are on our hearts -- things that we might never voice in other circumstances, can be said through prayer...<br />
<br />
It's a really cool concept and one I've seen played out in our own weekly times praying together as a family. One of the neatest changes that I've seen in our family prayer time recently is a move towards more specific requests and an inclusion of praise and confession. I am grateful to my dad for starting this time and leading it by example!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s1600/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s1600/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::late-night talks<br />
::hugs<br />
::family prayer<br />
::warm blankets<br />
::gloves<br />
::our pastors that teach the word of God<br />
::weekend family dinners<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::Biblical teaching on the workplace<br />
::honesty in relationships<br />
::Spiritual growth in my family<br />
::God's grace<br />
::singing with my sisters<br />
::memories of my years as a homeschooler<br />
::God's provision to heal hurting situations<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::water<br />
::heaven<br />
::lightbulb moments<br />
::sticky notes<br />
::the moon<br />
::dry erase boards<br />
::<a href="http://hslda.org/" target="_blank">HSLDA</a><br />
<br />
<i>"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-32919104760190845402014-11-08T22:40:00.003-05:002014-11-08T22:40:47.734-05:00Jane Austen // Give Thanks ~ Day 8So today was a study/packing/relaxing/errand running day. No, none of us did <i>all</i> of things. It's a collective list =)<br />
<br />
Molly was invited to a costume birthday party for one of her friends. So around 4pm, our house began to show its all-girls nature as the hair brushes, make-up, curling irons, and needles were produced. Mom had developed a plan to make a few alterations to Melissa's 19th century dress so that Molly could wear it for the evening.<br />
<br />
The final product was beautiful -- all the credit to Mom and Molly for pulling off the alterations.<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/AVvXsEjLbaPLJzVsMGQNZT8wgnpEi_QN8oiTa-zDHmsTKf8eoFiSP9p7vaeT3BduSuPQK17B60Rpt8V48MA1VPt9AEZaqjyVCjrC8rHHNZPPHGKV21rG6yFNqZC_bV3ZXYc5bQ0dccVmelqmd1gf/s1600/Molly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbaPLJzVsMGQNZT8wgnpEi_QN8oiTa-zDHmsTKf8eoFiSP9p7vaeT3BduSuPQK17B60Rpt8V48MA1VPt9AEZaqjyVCjrC8rHHNZPPHGKV21rG6yFNqZC_bV3ZXYc5bQ0dccVmelqmd1gf/s1600/Molly.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Jane Austen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT9M4CJ2IX7Tm2xjq8DiBGu0IxoygygIpz1DL6U_8ykdaVQaejxu7r8lQBBFeY3rvX7lVY1m9TYcHhQdApx-HwZQ0A2iY8BcU4rMXcqACh2bzMbDcv8z-ACZln58f_ob9OaxLkLp7c3Dw/s1600/The+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT9M4CJ2IX7Tm2xjq8DiBGu0IxoygygIpz1DL6U_8ykdaVQaejxu7r8lQBBFeY3rvX7lVY1m9TYcHhQdApx-HwZQ0A2iY8BcU4rMXcqACh2bzMbDcv8z-ACZln58f_ob9OaxLkLp7c3Dw/s1600/The+Girls.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly & Co. (Emily and Abby)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::good conversations<br />
::walks with Kipp<br />
::daughter dates<br />
::movie nights<br />
::ice cream<br />
::sleep<br />
::carpools<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::catching up with <a href="http://becomingafairlady.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miss Jenn</a><br />
:: girl time as we dressed Molly up for her party<br />
::Melissa who is willing to tackle another adventure -- and trip with me in December<br />
::Dad's heart to continue family activities despite the challenges of planning around busy schedules<br />
::God's forgiveness of me<br />
::my "lessons of the quarter" -- Joy & Setting my heart on things above<br />
::new babies on the way<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::clocks<br />
::time<br />
::sleep<br />
::clothes<br />
::hospitality<br />
::imagination<br />
::purpleAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-29246430138543509092014-11-07T22:48:00.000-05:002014-11-07T22:48:39.496-05:00Friday Family Fun // Give Thanks ~ Days 6 & 7So I didn't intend to combine two days so early in the month. But that's what happens when school deadlines combine with some work assignments and yeah. We'll be sharing lists of 14 today to make-up for my lack of presence yesterday ;)<br />
<br />
But first up. The most exciting part of the day (aside from the cleaning... but y'all really didn't want to see pictures and video of floor mopping and dusting to the sound of <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Indescribable/4B3DzO?src=5" target="_blank">Indescribable</a>, <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Strong+Enough+Matthew+West/4wyoD2?src=5" target="_blank">Strong Enough</a>, <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/In+Christ+Alone/27eLQE?src=5" target="_blank">In Christ Alone</a>, and <a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Bring+The+Rain/mlKHq?src=5" target="_blank">Bring the Rain</a>) was spending some family time playing an <strike>over-the-top, typical-Weber-family, competitive</strike> ahem. <i>friendly</i> game of ping-pong.<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/AVvXsEiaAXWhmogF429XAJ0QIXwqPqE9G1t_RC0WWeN8_agI0uoVf54WJPy2KEgUUrlhaojA-YX4mN4oRAGKsSUXlTi9DjMJF2_1x0H4KcaH3Xeoj3sVJDA-9qmIg27BFTtqalTfISHZOwU_jxBN/s1600/Melissa+&+Molly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAXWhmogF429XAJ0QIXwqPqE9G1t_RC0WWeN8_agI0uoVf54WJPy2KEgUUrlhaojA-YX4mN4oRAGKsSUXlTi9DjMJF2_1x0H4KcaH3Xeoj3sVJDA-9qmIg27BFTtqalTfISHZOwU_jxBN/s1600/Melissa+&+Molly.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and Molly...the team with a 1-1 win-lose record</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1mhGt4CtEhvXm5SZwi6fAxPEOn94HuktytkpcWrIOjTkXQpy8rCUVVqfnb0zm-8Qmz0lWnNiy_InX097oRu1Z-KYWopct6aw_x77wNF1M0raKNOmUW8c0g5nvnT3Vs9F5RyAhP0rKpdi/s1600/Mom+&+Megan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1mhGt4CtEhvXm5SZwi6fAxPEOn94HuktytkpcWrIOjTkXQpy8rCUVVqfnb0zm-8Qmz0lWnNiy_InX097oRu1Z-KYWopct6aw_x77wNF1M0raKNOmUW8c0g5nvnT3Vs9F5RyAhP0rKpdi/s1600/Mom+&+Megan.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom teaching me how to "step into" hitting the ball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9s5gaCQaEAGsz9-8ycKhUBTEU9cghoPp8Oe4n9ELtzQZXoluaRzwlDLNaTz8gsNthuOpHHiDRGQKr1WEn547k_CLO1ws0eKC_c1VCcxYZ3v7-zsa33f7oN439bR8PIkuNJyhFGLclMMv/s1600/Dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9s5gaCQaEAGsz9-8ycKhUBTEU9cghoPp8Oe4n9ELtzQZXoluaRzwlDLNaTz8gsNthuOpHHiDRGQKr1WEn547k_CLO1ws0eKC_c1VCcxYZ3v7-zsa33f7oN439bR8PIkuNJyhFGLclMMv/s1600/Dad.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad explaining the "Weber family house rules"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::Emily (our dog)<br />
::extra drivers in the house<br />
::popcorn<br />
::sunshine after the rain<br />
::Godly counsel<br />
::prayer<br />
::God's word<br />
::lessons God is teaching me<br />
::God's faithful love<br />
::beanbag chair<br />
::Family ping-pong games<br />
::a working dishwasher<br />
::clean house -- thank you, girls!!!<br />
::Friday family night<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::the opportunity to continue learning<br />
::Mom and Dad helping me with some job applications<br />
::God's love for us<br />
::hot chocolate<br />
::praying with friends<br />
::scheming Christmas trips with Melissa<br />
::my camera<br />
::coworkers to laugh with<br />
::a boss who gives me freedom to learn and grow<br />
::my morning coffee date with Mom<br />
::the years of time that Mom has invested in me (and Melissa, and Molly, and so many other young and mature ladies!)<br />
::the peace that comes from resting in Christ<br />
::friends who point you to set your heart on things above<br />
::new instrumental and celtic music playlists for work entertainment<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::surprises<br />
::encouragement<br />
::God's commandments<br />
::being surrounded by other believers<br />
::our military<br />
::liberty<br />
::union<br />
::humor<br />
::pretty colors<br />
::autumn<br />
::singing<br />
::clean houses<br />
::our senses<br />
::musclesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-50726367292453773132014-11-05T23:06:00.000-05:002014-11-06T23:08:15.378-05:00Give Thanks ~ Day 5I honestly cannot speak for Mom, Melissa, and Molly's day -- as I was hardly home. I spent much of my day at work. Once home, we ate a lovely spaghetti dinner, while discussing our daily Bible study passage, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+13%3A1-13&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Mark 13:1-13</a>. After dinner, we watched Jill Duggar's wedding -- more accurately, we talked through the wedding, discussing various traditions and things we hope to emulate... or avoid ;) I finished out the evening by talking to my dear girlfriends, Catherine and Bridget =)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s1600/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl2b0T9xQUmtPi_4UdTPfzcw0SsY8EZ1-nerS_OA5meNPakYjoKoWnfSQZTa-fZl497lYIGFtVBNcSgcuHtwi_lr9pBevvYTMrOryBq9aoqwlqdkWsnjFAPmT-dCskIOzfPpBSVZyzrNb/s1600/Give+Thanks+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::access to medical care<br />
::hot chocolate<br />
::homeschooling<br />
::girl time<br />
::Megan, who inspired me to make this list<br />
::Molly, who inspires me with her creativity<br />
::Melissa, who inspires me with her passion and drive<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::a job with so much flexibility and variety<br />
::the gospel message, full of hope and grace<br />
::time with my mom and Melissa<br />
::a family that lets me travel, but also misses me dearly<br />
::heat and warmth<br />
::special calls with my girlfriends<br />
::prayer<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::God's creation<br />
::God's sovereignty<br />
::numbers<br />
::worship<br />
::opposites<br />
::love<br />
::hopeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-45548802445833289022014-11-04T21:00:00.000-05:002014-11-04T22:19:19.875-05:00Park Days // Give Thanks ~ Day 4Today, Mom, Molly and I headed over to a nearby park to spend time with the littles (our affectionate term for our younger, but still very sweet friends) and their dear mommas...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Molly S., Benjamin S., Micah M.</td></tr>
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Between the three families we spent time with, there were 10 kiddos there. Molly and I stayed quite busy, chasing them, keeping them safe, settling the (rare) dispute, and just plain loving on them. In the quiet moments when I could grab my camera and coerce a smile (or simply get them to stop their play long enough for me to capture the moment), I noticed these boys hanging out together...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof2s2cTp3Uzkjr7EZeBrS9angDAhIR0vMN-r8MlE9rTRM3o16SlxrNaiA8vjTXC6Xo-gUDStS77Cnchr-Vfp0IaUVwLLpldZXcI9M4PnqXwRiIL41r-asT-tbbATgt9o8nwW91jNLIl0z/s1600/James+&+Micah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof2s2cTp3Uzkjr7EZeBrS9angDAhIR0vMN-r8MlE9rTRM3o16SlxrNaiA8vjTXC6Xo-gUDStS77Cnchr-Vfp0IaUVwLLpldZXcI9M4PnqXwRiIL41r-asT-tbbATgt9o8nwW91jNLIl0z/s1600/James+&+Micah.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Micah and James</td></tr>
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These boys comes from two different families. One is the oldest of two boys and the other is the third out of four kids with two sisters. One started life on the west coast while the other has lived here his whole life. One is eight years old and the other is two.<br />
<br />
I could go on and on about their differences. But today, I saw them <i>play</i> together. Not just for a few minutes, but on and off for nearly two hours. I saw James come around again and again and invest in this little guy. I saw Micah chase after James and seek to follow in whatever the "big" boys were doing. As I hung with Micah and made sure he didn't go plunging off any 10' drop offs or eat an enormous amount of dirt, I had James around several times and ask, "Can I play with Micah?" or say "I like pushing him on the swing... Can I do it?".<br />
<br />
I am blessed to spend hours at the park because these little ones are being trained to invest in each other. They're oblivious to the age and background differences. Their moms have taught them from such young ages to "<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A24-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank">build each other up to love and good deeds</a>". These kiddos and moms bless me by their sweet words and examples. They're the ones I want to be like...<br />
<br />
...when i grow up =)<br />
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<br />
Mom<br />
::Bible study partners<br />
::park day<br />
::music<br />
::priviledge to vote<br />
::the green machine (aka. her awesome <a href="http://imganuncios.mitula.net/2013_toyota_prius_v_three_southport_nc_100787378566344301.jpg" target="_blank">Prius V</a>)<br />
::a family that works together<br />
::long walks<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::our sweet friends in the littles<br />
::their mommas who have invested in me over the years by sharing their lives -- and their kids<br />
::my own mom, also know as best friend, confidante, fellow adventurer and so much more<br />
::a camera to capture the sweet moments of life<br />
::mild weather to accommodate our park adventure<br />
::the freedom to vote and have a hand in the running of our country<br />
::an impromptu sunset photoshoot with Mom<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::thoughts<br />
::calculators<br />
::swings<br />
::curiosity<br />
::sharpies<br />
::hiding places<br />
::LittlesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-15702902076778170582014-11-03T21:52:00.002-05:002014-11-04T13:42:22.407-05:00Productive Days // Give Thanks ~ Day 3<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/AVvXsEib5Ww9xFZjkW_DtXQeipQVW7gw9g-BZhSYvdtAtBGh_YTAhrBRBTiKiNhKUDDtsi5dQmwi4pSJlPZXzNiVFo_OcoqmX0Rv1cWls18ZdkThV1B8na5OZCA2cNJhEQKIMv4Ao35CPrIpAPga/s1600/Hangout+11.3.2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Ww9xFZjkW_DtXQeipQVW7gw9g-BZhSYvdtAtBGh_YTAhrBRBTiKiNhKUDDtsi5dQmwi4pSJlPZXzNiVFo_OcoqmX0Rv1cWls18ZdkThV1B8na5OZCA2cNJhEQKIMv4Ao35CPrIpAPga/s1600/Hangout+11.3.2014.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet some of my CP friends =)<br />
Photo credit: Stephen P.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I spent much of my day working on a variety of computer projects -- applying to a few interesting positions, answering emails, and talking to some of my dearest friends (see the crazy picture above taken of my "black gob" of a friend during our afternoon hangout party). Melissa spent her day at clinicals and then preparing for yet another nursing exam. Molly stayed busy studying and I believe that Mom has to study twice as hard to stay on top of her study. Homeschooling is certainly a journey where the teacher learns just as much, if not more than, the student herself!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Work was accomplished today so that classes and a potential outing to the park to see our "little" friends can happen tomorrow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mom<br />
::Kipp<br />
::warm, comfortable home<br />
::new seasons<br />
::family traditions<br />
::the end of laundry days :)<br />
::leftovers<br />
::God's patience with me<br />
<br />
Megan</div>
<div>
::<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aurora-feat.-rachel-benda/id934874307?i=934874323" target="_blank">new music releases</a></div>
<div>
::parents who counsel and support me as I attempt to figure this "life" thing out</div>
<div>
::hot chocolate</div>
<div>
::<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MissMeganW" target="_blank">Swagbucks</a></div>
<div>
::daily Bible study with Mom, Melissa, and Molly</div>
<div>
::friendships focused on sharpening each other with Scripture (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2027:17" target="_blank">Proverbs 27:17</a>)</div>
<div>
::that I am daily a new creation in Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5:17" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a>)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Molly</div>
<div>
::pencils</div>
<div>
::inspiration</div>
<div>
::music</div>
<div>
::good conversations</div>
<div>
::chocolate</div>
<div>
::Converse</div>
<div>
::<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+1&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Amos</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!</i></div>
<div>
<i>For His mercy endures forever."</i></div>
<div>
<i>~Psalm 107:1</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-76811107426282409022014-11-02T21:37:00.000-05:002014-11-03T07:53:44.332-05:00Sunday Sermons // Give Thanks ~ Day 2I toted my camera along to church this morning fully intending to take a picture of something. <i>anything</i>. But the cloudy morning did not avail itself to photography. So I settled to wait for the drive home. And then slept the whole way. So it's a random picture. <i>again</i>. And the promise of something more exciting tomorrow =)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9OMJLcxzaPBMm3KpGtXDZkVIRxEseE6kyjh83STYCoSDfIMadcEpThIRmvwWQ7b7jOmyfZQxPXKsNTzWAzT47-RcQEuW2V2GyWAgyTgorjACG5_DYrhmBnbQ-_mDnJk5ACd56jWlT6IC/s1600/Draw+Near+to+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9OMJLcxzaPBMm3KpGtXDZkVIRxEseE6kyjh83STYCoSDfIMadcEpThIRmvwWQ7b7jOmyfZQxPXKsNTzWAzT47-RcQEuW2V2GyWAgyTgorjACG5_DYrhmBnbQ-_mDnJk5ACd56jWlT6IC/s1600/Draw+Near+to+God.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<br />
Our regular pastor was out of town, so one of the assistant pastors spoke on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews+10%3A19-25&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:19-25</a>. It was an encouraging sermon as Pastor Rod shared on the topic on holding to our confession of Christ (verses 23-24) by drawing near to God (verse 22) and assembling together as believers (verse 25).<br />
<br />
The world will always run contrary to Christianity as our fleshly nature is to live life on our own terms. But it is out of love for Christ, that we strive to submit ourselves to God, rather than live as we would please. Pastor Rod pointed out that men will always be in servanthood to someone. We can simply chose to be servants of righteousness through Jesus Christ, or servants to sin.<br />
<br />
The sermon challenged me to evaluate who I am confessing on a daily basis. Is it myself? Or am I confessing my God? I am also encouraged to daily spend time in Scripture to grow my affection and heart towards the things that God values -- as it is only through time spent with Him that I will seek after the things of God, and not those of the world.<br />
<br />
Mom<br />
::our church<br />
::forgiveness<br />
::supportive family<br />
::sisters in Christ<br />
::Mom and Dad (my parents)<br />
::family prayer<br />
::colors of the season<br />
<br />
Megan<br />
::laughter<br />
::inside family jokes<br />
::my dad<br />
::sunny days<br />
::the privilege of resting in my confession of Christ as Lord<br />
::new church friends<br />
::the extra hour to spend with my friends and not loose sleep<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
::NaNoWrimo<br />
::Bible<br />
::best savior anyone could wish for -- Jesus!<br />
::that God created the world<br />
::notebooks<br />
::awesome pens<br />
::paperAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-45350640270313021642014-11-01T22:52:00.000-04:002014-11-01T22:52:38.142-04:00Give Thanks ~ Day 1Good evening :) It is time to once again start a month of blogging as Molly and I are attempting the 30-day <a href="http://kingsbloomingrose.com/challenges.html" target="_blank">Give Thanks</a> challenge.<br />
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<br />
Megan:<br />
::relaxing afternoon crochet time<br />
::<a href="http://dailyconsiderations.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-week-that-was-cpe3.html" target="_blank">memories</a> to blog about<br />
::Christmas surprises<br />
::emails from grandparents<br />
::countdowns to seeing dear friends again<br />
::book recommendations from Melissa<br />
::a random, laughter-filled call with a sister-in-Christ<br />
<br />
Molly:<br />
<br />
::pillows<br />
::hot chocolate<br />
::cozy days<br />
::words<br />
::paper clips<br />
::couches<br />
::ballsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-26290469060579967912014-11-01T14:06:00.000-04:002014-11-01T14:06:16.597-04:00The Week That Was CPE3For the past several months, I've spent Tuesday (and Thursday, and Monday, and even the occasional Saturday morning) talking to these awesome folks...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItwVbp2qy-HaXWTX6dKR59aZ3_PKY7CUnEZM4YOlON1SWRBHrugoNRKmcTB88XP2jUKur8y9F1V5zZ0jIwDeKzp7AYBNXVXbz8a6FkBZ6_givhnCbdV9eRz0t8ibkZvGckWuoVPLJlqJq/s1600/The+Cabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItwVbp2qy-HaXWTX6dKR59aZ3_PKY7CUnEZM4YOlON1SWRBHrugoNRKmcTB88XP2jUKur8y9F1V5zZ0jIwDeKzp7AYBNXVXbz8a6FkBZ6_givhnCbdV9eRz0t8ibkZvGckWuoVPLJlqJq/s1600/The+Cabinet.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Jordan, Aubry, Rusty, Richie, Enoch<br />
Bridget, myself, Kasey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were <strike>drafted</strike> chosen by CollegePlus in late January to be leaders in the student community. Primarily, our role as leaders would involve planning a four night/five day student event. The focus of the week, speakers, marketing, and organization of the event were left for us to decide.<br />
<br />
We met in February for a three day intense planning meeting. It was there that we decided on the focus of the event as well as the name, CPE3. We wanted to plan an invigorating retreat that would leave students feeling excited about their potential as cultural leaders and also empowered by the connections they had made with other students and CollegePlus staff.<br />
<br />
Officially CPE3 stood for a tri-fold focus:<br />
Engage -- helping students how to engage with our culture, and with each other<br />
Equip -- giving students the practical tools to do the above<br />
Empower -- providing students the motivation and "power" to go out and be Christ-focused leaders<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Credit: Aubry S.</td></tr>
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<br />
After months of hangouts and more calls, emails, texts, and Skype messages than we could ever count the week of September 15th was upon us.<br />
<br />
The cabinet flew in early and we spent the weekend prior to event hashing out final session details (secret: the cabinet is full of a variety of opinions and it's rare that we ever have a unanimous vote to <i>anything</i>!), creating student packets, decorating the camp, and enjoying some team bonding time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdOgiFbvZAOjLRjaqHbxsLQ0tNSeZbq-pdQqezyl9B_yNPmN7FjpxYUYOWJOKowO2Ef2Ze5fzaom_Qs95Lf6FZpwG_1Vl_Ph9qe0-NjtJx0Y6jNhWzbHoC5vG65lZ9cPk9ZDiZD6w3vbZ/s1600/Partial+CPNSC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdOgiFbvZAOjLRjaqHbxsLQ0tNSeZbq-pdQqezyl9B_yNPmN7FjpxYUYOWJOKowO2Ef2Ze5fzaom_Qs95Lf6FZpwG_1Vl_Ph9qe0-NjtJx0Y6jNhWzbHoC5vG65lZ9cPk9ZDiZD6w3vbZ/s1600/Partial+CPNSC.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Cabinet<br />
Photo Credit: Kasey L</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Each day was unique, but in the end it all blurs together as memories -- distinct, but too interrelated to split into days.<br />
<br />
::OCD moments with registration tables<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdotX5PaUky9fU5tPRuZ563jquHeVF2XBP3m3n6F1puoUtq5y4BdgtRqgfmL_ztMSEq8is4ahhsszzhO8GaGHDA4j6WYlS8P-zw4O0n8NXrl7CKsXgLKFgTHTJWBNtQpZiAB7InD4_76-y/s1600/CPE3+OCDness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdotX5PaUky9fU5tPRuZ563jquHeVF2XBP3m3n6F1puoUtq5y4BdgtRqgfmL_ztMSEq8is4ahhsszzhO8GaGHDA4j6WYlS8P-zw4O0n8NXrl7CKsXgLKFgTHTJWBNtQpZiAB7InD4_76-y/s1600/CPE3+OCDness.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Stephen P.</td></tr>
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<br />
::Dances and more dances<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rp9xkhYHRkwFswNDrn20Hgc9jo9vrt29T-scHxBeISXOLlC2Ph4hUIz1FmsVKBdcnK9JbzH4vydVafUBPbdPS1_k3UOgAnHHF3MuY0GhooEpbz7OggYfy796Er2gSYDkeYZQqzAWnQjF/s1600/Dance+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rp9xkhYHRkwFswNDrn20Hgc9jo9vrt29T-scHxBeISXOLlC2Ph4hUIz1FmsVKBdcnK9JbzH4vydVafUBPbdPS1_k3UOgAnHHF3MuY0GhooEpbz7OggYfy796Er2gSYDkeYZQqzAWnQjF/s1600/Dance+Group.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing in an open-air barn<br />
Photo Credit: Sam G.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::Live music for those dances<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/AVvXsEhgg51P5h1oi4pm45sL2a4UFLtQYIYU2STJik78WF128PYQfAmkdXMURfC1AxyEICOo_aFZPre8UR0sWSMrIn4CT91m-Coum7DytBn3lX82wFPtsCYH0p4m8tzWAuVJNhM_tNY4zNhZCpAr/s1600/Live+Dance+Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg51P5h1oi4pm45sL2a4UFLtQYIYU2STJik78WF128PYQfAmkdXMURfC1AxyEICOo_aFZPre8UR0sWSMrIn4CT91m-Coum7DytBn3lX82wFPtsCYH0p4m8tzWAuVJNhM_tNY4zNhZCpAr/s1600/Live+Dance+Music.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Eddy M., Pierre D., David Y.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::Staff vs. Student Basketball game<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9dJ8ZWuVDAofDTO-o6yREtoJPsMMyG5MBV16oKm3suO5z-rS14TSuhFu2rIZz5hAYlHM8FPMCHfYFBpbiyeL0pbL14NDlNLtIT5u-pzi84XoA6az__042WCW68_zhPAMZ53Xp2UNn2yN/s1600/Basketball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9dJ8ZWuVDAofDTO-o6yREtoJPsMMyG5MBV16oKm3suO5z-rS14TSuhFu2rIZz5hAYlHM8FPMCHfYFBpbiyeL0pbL14NDlNLtIT5u-pzi84XoA6az__042WCW68_zhPAMZ53Xp2UNn2yN/s1600/Basketball.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Gt_BTnISZNI81_Tt76WpLFCt0nI8x8vfakN_CXJVWNE8Zq3txkQ1uKzuPOaNtx9lgyJCV-0TWsT6uu9gCEFZusNZ3IqvZQ5XazeXgibGAiP67Hz4SpcMZxNYz358KScID0V3Uc7UeIP/s1600/Scoreboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Gt_BTnISZNI81_Tt76WpLFCt0nI8x8vfakN_CXJVWNE8Zq3txkQ1uKzuPOaNtx9lgyJCV-0TWsT6uu9gCEFZusNZ3IqvZQ5XazeXgibGAiP67Hz4SpcMZxNYz358KScID0V3Uc7UeIP/s1600/Scoreboard.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final score of the game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::Not enough sleep<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/AVvXsEglJXi8v7UVdM9cR6EbHRQG5kPrASv8qAwNPVZHqFNO7uGWK144hqZSfldwmvHUsKa837jOdYEOB84GYJohgqtzm00MQlpkvzQSlOmPnUrxHF9N1puqtCQ6iIajwkNjXhR88-lOxR8zr3dA/s1600/Not+Enough+Sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJXi8v7UVdM9cR6EbHRQG5kPrASv8qAwNPVZHqFNO7uGWK144hqZSfldwmvHUsKa837jOdYEOB84GYJohgqtzm00MQlpkvzQSlOmPnUrxHF9N1puqtCQ6iIajwkNjXhR88-lOxR8zr3dA/s1600/Not+Enough+Sleep.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were moments when I wished I was under 10 and could sleep during sessions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::Morning devotions surrounded by fellow believers<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XmLq3JffmJUMc_v40uV7EYobBbyI5YmkLKSn7aWr6-9sR_5V6GGG-2SlQMARZBM3uuMdH9Zo_KnKVCvf9dRyfAgPMMQYDic4rD7S_OHDHwpLMfRPioqP7wn_LZciT-WBGMr6_ownMCwN/s1600/Morning+Deovtions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XmLq3JffmJUMc_v40uV7EYobBbyI5YmkLKSn7aWr6-9sR_5V6GGG-2SlQMARZBM3uuMdH9Zo_KnKVCvf9dRyfAgPMMQYDic4rD7S_OHDHwpLMfRPioqP7wn_LZciT-WBGMr6_ownMCwN/s1600/Morning+Deovtions.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
::Engaging Speakers<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q87fgNaRcwD1yVwfyDB8G181NlfhEMCqIF56xX46oDAlNqT83TmzeUTtuRx0eBCOgzpU4EYCHda3EVSDWX3kjb2fdElqQtilnun3rUrlTdc8dg3w5ICCckZkeS2fmVS16JcwkyCgDH9A/s1600/Breakout+Sessions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q87fgNaRcwD1yVwfyDB8G181NlfhEMCqIF56xX46oDAlNqT83TmzeUTtuRx0eBCOgzpU4EYCHda3EVSDWX3kjb2fdElqQtilnun3rUrlTdc8dg3w5ICCckZkeS2fmVS16JcwkyCgDH9A/s1600/Breakout+Sessions.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLsrPanBPRs-Sr7f8WQjoa55z8Fc0h2n3hXVxrotBnmUADEmskDt4oOgjlh0dynYdcFbTuekZOKCtqEp_QPlw5JyI7E4m1iwSguNXazsZyVJeaorOoQ2RGSeFliC6FSmYcPDKr5KG4L45/s1600/Keynotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLsrPanBPRs-Sr7f8WQjoa55z8Fc0h2n3hXVxrotBnmUADEmskDt4oOgjlh0dynYdcFbTuekZOKCtqEp_QPlw5JyI7E4m1iwSguNXazsZyVJeaorOoQ2RGSeFliC6FSmYcPDKr5KG4L45/s1600/Keynotes.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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::Impromptu Skits<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/AVvXsEhuMXfxPZRmNre3cypSZmnL8jhVDb2Hhw6jlWlix7k2vHatQdlnMctYll0iRdgzSCieqPbZweLaQzkW3halrWfviPYCpcMoWnO6ImgL2ln1Qfo0mZo8o-x80AS86ChSUSzUunXPP7qqsama/s1600/The+cabinet's%2Bskit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMXfxPZRmNre3cypSZmnL8jhVDb2Hhw6jlWlix7k2vHatQdlnMctYll0iRdgzSCieqPbZweLaQzkW3halrWfviPYCpcMoWnO6ImgL2ln1Qfo0mZo8o-x80AS86ChSUSzUunXPP7qqsama/s1600/The+cabinet's%2Bskit.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabinet re-enacting a typical cabinet hangout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::Random Music Sessions<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/AVvXsEiY9-cAHP5KMlhByQENiAn4lH6hO5vSOmofWaZ8U1SIvXbkWxPnVgmhvQwMquDHtqI7RBHTWoJdIQps2YO-SnR6wbgrvtI6mcm8_sPCrf-dpag-5FVJkcWAx08AaqLj7TVbtCqcO0an9C4G/s1600/Stephen+&+Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9-cAHP5KMlhByQENiAn4lH6hO5vSOmofWaZ8U1SIvXbkWxPnVgmhvQwMquDHtqI7RBHTWoJdIQps2YO-SnR6wbgrvtI6mcm8_sPCrf-dpag-5FVJkcWAx08AaqLj7TVbtCqcO0an9C4G/s1600/Stephen+&+Music.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Kylie W.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
::Spending a week talking and sharing life with my college coach<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/AVvXsEjYKhPQFYuoblAcEVpZ7F7RUdnxsp8kg7Sk_yKHXf6zqJaYGe4_VeddNf_6vJdH5fwEFrNQeRAG7wdbs1y0cY-YM4Lnfh3NYjEYDd3kO5Tu2jrkyqYv5C5d_wXuAxwSV4Oc2SqXBHcr1zNP/s1600/Lydia+&+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKhPQFYuoblAcEVpZ7F7RUdnxsp8kg7Sk_yKHXf6zqJaYGe4_VeddNf_6vJdH5fwEFrNQeRAG7wdbs1y0cY-YM4Lnfh3NYjEYDd3kO5Tu2jrkyqYv5C5d_wXuAxwSV4Oc2SqXBHcr1zNP/s1600/Lydia+&+I.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Lydia N.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
::Official CP Graduate Recognition Ceremony<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmIBzCc4nWt6mxHvLxDtwcRFrPF6psNk4z28YB9tBMA9gn8c85yfjCQ8dgah0AylMEObdKJUr82BlJkm-QhrAmiSG9GZ60jXE5W7G91lso6zyjhEtjy4PLHw7TMzuUITd5j0k2dXn4yjZ/s1600/Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmIBzCc4nWt6mxHvLxDtwcRFrPF6psNk4z28YB9tBMA9gn8c85yfjCQ8dgah0AylMEObdKJUr82BlJkm-QhrAmiSG9GZ60jXE5W7G91lso6zyjhEtjy4PLHw7TMzuUITd5j0k2dXn4yjZ/s1600/Graduation.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
::Daily Recap Videos & Newsletters (available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhY03NxML60" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU-GckltLrs" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-b_g7IPv38" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
<br />
<br />
My Least Favorite Moment:<br />
<br />
::Saying goodbye<br />
<br />
No amount of pictures, music, skype messages, or calls make the distance go away. But I am grateful for the close friends that God has given me through events like CPE3 and other gatherings. I am also grateful when they fall less than 8 weeks apart and that there are weekly hangouts to lessen the distance during that time.<br />
<br />
{Pssst. Less than 8 weeks, means that in exactly 11 days, I will be seeing some of these awesome people again =)}<br />
<br />
CPE3 was not just an amazing week of fellowship with some of the coolest people I know. It was also a chance to develop my leadership skills and gain a vision for the power of motivated Christian young people impacting our current culture for Christ.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unless otherwise noted, the picture credits belong to <a href="http://ataliebalephotography.com/" target="_blank">Atalie Bale</a>, our official event photographer.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-18789648074856361192014-10-30T21:45:00.003-04:002014-11-08T16:48:47.356-05:00Little Lessons // Perfection<br />
My sisters asked me the other day if I would participate in a novel writing contest with them. My first reaction was to laugh.<br />
<br />
Me? A writer?<br />
<br />
Sure, I halfheartedly try to blog a few times a year... But writing for school was torture. It used to take me <i>days</i> to motivate myself to sit down and actually get out a draft that was worth even considering to submit. I faced down some of my worst days of procrastination in classes that required regular essays.<br />
<br />
As Melissa and Molly pressed for a reason as to why I wouldn't consider participating, I brushed it off with perfectionism...<br />
<br />
"Guys, honestly, I'm too perfectionist to write 50,000 words on one storyline in 30 days. There's just no way."<br />
<br />
And then I was talking to my mom this morning...relating stories of family and friends.<br />
<br />
As I blurted out random happenings here and there, musing on the awesomeness of God using trials to bring us together. And really understanding that it's as if somehow making us vulnerable little creatures actually allows us to feel for one another and experience true Christian fellowship.<br />
<br />
The irony of the situations came to light.<br />
<br />
That perfectionist spirit that makes me over-the-top OCD and a crazy organized nut (but a terrible fiction writer) is also something that I need to leave in open hands. Because God takes this and molds it into those trials-turned-blessings.<br />
<br />
Honestly, God's taken precious things in my life. Things that weren't perfect, but in my eyes, came about as close to that golden state as we'll get this side of heaven...he took those things, pulled back the curtain, and showed me the work that needed to happen, showed me that the "golden state" was merely an illusion.<br />
<br />
Work isn't pretty. And this kind of work makes me think of a muddy field, a shovel, and some brown-splotched overalls. That kind of work and that kind of dirt.<br />
<br />
(and this OCD personality isn't very keen on that kind of work...just for the record)<br />
<br />
So when the cringing starts and I honestly have no clue how we're gonna turn the muddy field into something worth smiling at, much less just worry about salvaging my muddy overalls, well maybe I'll rethink things. Because I'm missing the point.<br />
<br />
God's less worried about my dirty self being preserved and more concerned with dumping the muddy clothes altogether and just starting fresh. God's more concerned about turning the perfectionist-focused me into a Christ-focused me. God's more concerned about using this muddy field to help other farmers feel like they're not alone, than he is about pulling a magic act out of his hat and giving me a garden overnight.<br />
<br />
It's less about making everything so perfect for me to be happy in. And all about sanctifying us, allowing us to minister to other believers as we all strive to glorify our Father in Heaven.<br />
<br />
<i>"...I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." ~Galations 2:20</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-61286403220764417852014-03-26T21:06:00.003-04:002014-03-27T11:00:12.171-04:00Surprises, Birthdays, and Southern HospitalityLast weekend was a special getaway trip that actually began in mid-February...<br />
<br />
Mrs. K called several weeks ago and invited me to Catherine's birthday party. Catherine and I have become friends thanks to CollegePlus. While we met via Skype 18 months ago, we've gotten close in the past year through several student body activities (including two in-person gatherings!)...<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/AVvXsEhONqJgfTUyrb0SQlFLtMUu489G2Gmj_UjAJn4JmvKEARB8fDjoIiimCAr2m47lhimJ_mcPf3fJY18xr5l3xDEOkENMb_TXwE63UrvG-Pcaqeylos0NH0m1mpgQMb5GnZnszPytqdoOffzU/s1600/Mia+and+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONqJgfTUyrb0SQlFLtMUu489G2Gmj_UjAJn4JmvKEARB8fDjoIiimCAr2m47lhimJ_mcPf3fJY18xr5l3xDEOkENMb_TXwE63UrvG-Pcaqeylos0NH0m1mpgQMb5GnZnszPytqdoOffzU/s1600/Mia+and+I.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine and I in Dallas for the Official CP Texas Gathering last December</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Normally birthday invitations aren't that big of a deal. But this party involved four flights and a change in time zones :) This trip was a complete surprise to the birthday girl, Catherine... Mrs. K and I had lots of fun keeping the secret (although it was difficult at times).<br />
<br />
Finally it was Thursday -- the arrival day. After I worked a few hours, Mom drove me to the Washington Dulles airport for a 5pm flight. I texted Catherine in between flights and knew that she had no clue I was coming.<br />
<br />
<i>"I'm on my way </i><br />
<i>Yes, I'm on my way" </i><br />
<i>~ On My Way (Phil Collins)</i><br />
<br />
At 10pm, I landed in Louisiana... As I headed for the exit of the Alexandria airport, I caught her eye through the glass windows -- and the shocked look on her face is one I will never forget.<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/AVvXsEgJrY_tndlNsvxwk0SRLBmuCbRygXJFhhn4k87gbahVkpp37LYdmDgWivWT8SvTS3wScR-Tt380ipxzOIDePFtQlqJ6gw1DHUHndKCXzpnLugSWJ3uiqYKipbCHiikZGwrzHS8PLMEEk-Sz/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrY_tndlNsvxwk0SRLBmuCbRygXJFhhn4k87gbahVkpp37LYdmDgWivWT8SvTS3wScR-Tt380ipxzOIDePFtQlqJ6gw1DHUHndKCXzpnLugSWJ3uiqYKipbCHiikZGwrzHS8PLMEEk-Sz/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first hug :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWbvKex-1_9KIY7BBHrbR59_NuD3LojEhAgxdDqUPyem83G9WqJMz33_Yj0rkCZG5kL97zrVlCfkEuOvif99w-n0aKaz0fXOb9EEw73odtfxR0YL23pZOJxA6HgtkT9PUDxz02OCXIVbX/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWbvKex-1_9KIY7BBHrbR59_NuD3LojEhAgxdDqUPyem83G9WqJMz33_Yj0rkCZG5kL97zrVlCfkEuOvif99w-n0aKaz0fXOb9EEw73odtfxR0YL23pZOJxA6HgtkT9PUDxz02OCXIVbX/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moments after meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stayed up late Thursday night grinning at each other and catching up on life as the past few weeks had been pretty crazy for us both with school and other commitments.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Hello, hello </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">My, my, my, what have we here? </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a surprise</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What a surprise"<span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">~Hello, Hello (Elton John)</span></i></span><br />
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The next day started early as we were both still so excited to be together :) We messaged a few of our CollegePlus friends before rousing to make breakfast and eat with Catherine's sister, Rebekah. After our breakfast, we headed outside for a walk in the warm Southern weather. For me, it was quite a change to go from the freezing-cold, snowy Maryland weather to the mild, humid temperatures in Louisiana.<br />
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Catherine showed me many areas where she usually walks, but one of the most interesting sights was this house:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXgvd9yUHV6YOPfhqK1p-iY7sHFmM6wpsgPtuvJXgeoHuyIR-7JaVJ6cfHuuNTCOlYPo8wzeVGaPTlSyRBVVE6UVIdci9mMjECKnDj6p0rN5_IwXu9wfhm0yc_8xYR9T9TtZfcO_wKjpa/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXgvd9yUHV6YOPfhqK1p-iY7sHFmM6wpsgPtuvJXgeoHuyIR-7JaVJ6cfHuuNTCOlYPo8wzeVGaPTlSyRBVVE6UVIdci9mMjECKnDj6p0rN5_IwXu9wfhm0yc_8xYR9T9TtZfcO_wKjpa/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Confederate flag is not a typical sight in Maryland :P</td></tr>
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We ended up walking around for close to 3 hours... Time flies when you're having fun with best friends! After a quick dinner, the whole family plus me headed to <i>Bye, Bye, Birdie</i> that evening at the local college. It was a fun musical that elicited laughter from all of us...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXpIvgtKlpXe9bdoXthbLZwciq4pqFLyiTbDHxfg4npz0-u0bZxBgyrbzgtnAHSKH4PcTvd_n2kuWM2moAezajI1xrmBQ6vjin8hFJaQqCEXkMtH-zhQdBrCmTriwMXaieCl-MpsIo8Bs/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXpIvgtKlpXe9bdoXthbLZwciq4pqFLyiTbDHxfg4npz0-u0bZxBgyrbzgtnAHSKH4PcTvd_n2kuWM2moAezajI1xrmBQ6vjin8hFJaQqCEXkMtH-zhQdBrCmTriwMXaieCl-MpsIo8Bs/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Saturday became our visiting day... Both sets of Catherine's grandparents live in town and they were kind enough to allow us to visit them both for a little bit :) At one point, while Mrs. K and her parents stayed inside to talk, Catherine, Rebekah and myself enjoyed some time outside...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_etEQP7LcwNxikVot1HPmQgZKP1A54o4cchbTC4rz3m4cXpptbDtLIFfiSQzWCu29_lwpwjqVcqeagC1_vkmfqfvUy-iNFt5xYqSWLSo33WKY66Q0nQCjedOluV6iVzQhW_c3sXSSciQ/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_etEQP7LcwNxikVot1HPmQgZKP1A54o4cchbTC4rz3m4cXpptbDtLIFfiSQzWCu29_lwpwjqVcqeagC1_vkmfqfvUy-iNFt5xYqSWLSo33WKY66Q0nQCjedOluV6iVzQhW_c3sXSSciQ/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also met up with another local CollegePlus student, Victoria for some frozen yogurt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yLSwDQc-eQleoFdgwHRNHJRgtV2MYBKz2dHVeh6gd8F39YzAdmDI3FhFz4ZpDeLGMwdmgnH6bv0CT6weEhp24k0oOEMmsqvq7Cw2gIVfJDR4_-Ma_Ce7pdm2SisWe8UwDnCq5fAzCozY/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yLSwDQc-eQleoFdgwHRNHJRgtV2MYBKz2dHVeh6gd8F39YzAdmDI3FhFz4ZpDeLGMwdmgnH6bv0CT6weEhp24k0oOEMmsqvq7Cw2gIVfJDR4_-Ma_Ce7pdm2SisWe8UwDnCq5fAzCozY/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Catherine, Victoria, myself</td></tr>
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The next day involved getting up "early" (at least for girls who were staying till midnight or later!) for church. Catherine's family attends a small gathering of believers and it was so much fun to meet more of her local friends and talk on the car on the way there and back =)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvUehdvFsi-XIDqEDRxsT6Ca_DyCjec2iAULIGisHlutuFCr_g4YPB8xARvomswaVjrqYeCFyXjFMOVEl5kd4SuCY3tOyLSV1AYdXbimfsKZeRUcHxc7KUVSpzyxi2EmwkFsPFKCRNMxw/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvUehdvFsi-XIDqEDRxsT6Ca_DyCjec2iAULIGisHlutuFCr_g4YPB8xARvomswaVjrqYeCFyXjFMOVEl5kd4SuCY3tOyLSV1AYdXbimfsKZeRUcHxc7KUVSpzyxi2EmwkFsPFKCRNMxw/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random picture after church</td></tr>
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We enjoyed another afternoon walk on Sunday while her family rested and enjoyed some down time... Luckily the threatening rain held off until we started walking down her street. As the afternoon drew to a close, we began to realize that the weekend was almost over :( For our final evening, we settled in Catherine's room with a laptop and watched <i>Trouble with Angels</i>. We were both struggling to stay awake when it ended, but at the same time we couldn't imagine falling asleep and ending our last full day together...<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Don't say goodbye</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cause I don't wanna hear those words tonight</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't say anything tonight</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're gonna say goodbye"</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>~Don't Say Goodbye (Skillet)</i></span><br />
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The next morning was full of packing, eating, and preparing to head back to the airport...<br />
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After our tenth "final" hug, we finally let go and I went through security. But in such a tiny airport, I still had twenty minutes to kill before boarding time. Catherine found a window to the gated area and we decided to have some fun :D<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE7hh4IJ2HN58i_mlTTipZ-bNAT3KY2cRYotXMOeBAx16vGT67lIUG86YtOou7IoIjiDP7r703nV-jK9j9zWcIVeQXDxqBN07n8CDQlA8bx_cIHnFuJC-SW0Xt88IHzQ6Ct0YvirVtiPv/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRE7hh4IJ2HN58i_mlTTipZ-bNAT3KY2cRYotXMOeBAx16vGT67lIUG86YtOou7IoIjiDP7r703nV-jK9j9zWcIVeQXDxqBN07n8CDQlA8bx_cIHnFuJC-SW0Xt88IHzQ6Ct0YvirVtiPv/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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We couldn't hear each other through the glass, so we pulled out our phones and typed messages to each other... The weird looks from the people walking past us just made it all the more fun!</div>
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By the time I made it home late Monday night, I was tired. But also grateful for the special weekend! Catherine is one of my closest friends that I've been so blessed to meet and get to know through Skype, the CollegePlus forums, and other social media =) I can't imagine everyday without talking to her and sharing life, school, and work.</div>
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<i>"I'm glad you have been my friend in the time of our lives..."</i></div>
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<i>~Time of Our Lives (Tyrone Wells)</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-31811891306544311052014-01-29T15:11:00.000-05:002014-01-29T15:32:43.746-05:00A Glimpse of Life<div style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcp4iZdc4qWQiG5D7sd5TxQfaMfO2awVXJwQX4OtVxM6WyYhngWHVINE6blKD2S74ARL1klHCEWNXHyRT1X6w8M0RrO51lOx70TyXAEakgBkxd0LBXUu3HBP38C6G3l7r8WdkSkQ8f_6S/s1600/The+Lord+is+my+Strenght.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcp4iZdc4qWQiG5D7sd5TxQfaMfO2awVXJwQX4OtVxM6WyYhngWHVINE6blKD2S74ARL1klHCEWNXHyRT1X6w8M0RrO51lOx70TyXAEakgBkxd0LBXUu3HBP38C6G3l7r8WdkSkQ8f_6S/s1600/The+Lord+is+my+Strenght.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
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These are always kinda fun to do =) And since I am between semesters right now and have a bit of time, why not?</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
Right now I am....</div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Seeing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> emily's awesome <a href="http://becomingemily.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/the-time-of-our-lives-a-travel-journal/">post</a> about a <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929">CollegePlus</a> student gathering last fall</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Hearing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> miss <a href="http://www.catherinesconversations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">catherine's</a> grooveshark broadcast.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Smelling...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> cherry blossom hand lotion to help with the cracking hands.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Tasting...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my favorite throat coat tea.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Needing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> to send a dozen emails. clean my desk.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Wanting..</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">. to sew a new jean skirt.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Regretting...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> how late I stayed up last night.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Feeling...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my desk chair which just isn't as comfortable after living in it for the last 12 weeks.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Wishing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> I could get my <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929">CollegePlus</a> friends together and pause time.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Thinking...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> about God's blessings in my life.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Laughing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> at Molly's unique facial expressions.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Recovering...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> from finals' week.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Believing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> that God is sovereign.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Anticipating...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> a trip to Texas next month.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Dreaming...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> about another <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929">CollegePlus</a> student gathering.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Praying...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> for my friends.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Reading...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Building-Godly-Home-Vision-Marriage-ebook/dp/B00GCQA90C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391024931&sr=8-2&keywords=building+a+godly+home">Building a Godly Home</a> by William Gouge.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Singing... </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/On+My+Way/4ze4df?src=5">'On My Way'</a> by Phil Collins.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Wearing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> a comfy jersey skirt and layered turtleneck/t-shirt.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Preparing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> for my next set of classes.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Remembering...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> an icy weekend in Texas with 80 <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929">CollegePlus</a> students.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Trying...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> to be patient with my overwhelmed computer.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Questioning...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> the future.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Loving...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my awesome family.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Googling...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> tax return forms.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Choosing... </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">joy.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Working...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> on typing this post.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Emailing... </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">some new <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929">CollegePlus</a> students.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Texting...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my dad with a <a href="http://swagbucks.com/refer/MissMeganW">Swagbucks</a> code.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Considering...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> taking a walk in 21* weather.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Reducing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> the time I waste checking social media.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Longing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> to feel heat from the sun.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Recognizing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> that God is the King of Kings.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Checking...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my class grades.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Organizing...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> my school notebooks.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Reckoning... </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">that I should start on my sewing project before dinner time.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">and</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Smiling...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> because I have Christ as my Savior and I'm blessed by an amazing family and close friends =)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Thanks to <a href="http://freshmodesty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Olivia</a> for the idea behind this post!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-71179473985206785322013-12-31T22:38:00.001-05:002013-12-31T22:40:10.783-05:00Goals<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Welcome to Life</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you enjoy it</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In between yesterday and tomorrow</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to Life</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope that you get it right"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">~<a href="http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/01+Welcome+To+Life/4d6Ftq?src=5" target="_blank">Welcome to Life</a></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This song was introduced to me by a dear friend and over the past several months it's become one of my favorites as it reminds me that life won't suddenly start one day -- I'm living it right now! In a time of year when life is evaluated and resolutions are made, I've been thinking about goals for my life...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/New-Year_Resolutions_list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/New-Year_Resolutions_list.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: Google</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always been a girl who set New Year's resolutions, but, like many, I've generally ended up falling off the wagon when things got difficult. After all, lofty goals that require extreme and immediate change are usually a <i>bit</i> difficult to keep :P But over the past few years, I've discovered two things that are absolutely essential to accomplishable goals...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First is the acknowledgement that life change is possible only through the power of Jesus Christ. Recently I read Isaiah 64:8,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-12-43" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">We</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>are<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the clay, and You our potter;</span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Isa-64-8" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> And all we are the work of Your hand."</span></i></span><br />
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<i><br /></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is the molder and changer of lives. He is the only one who can bring about change in my life. When I find myself seeking to improve little aspects of my character in my own strength, I realized that I have failed to remember that I am not capable of working any lasting change. What I do without dependence and trust in God, I am doing in vain.</span><br />
<span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second item is that of accountability. While I set a goal, I communicate with the people in my life -- my parents, siblings, <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929" target="_blank">CollegePlus</a> coach, and friends. Goals not communicated usually end up forgotten about and pushed aside in the busyness of life. However when I communicate my goals, I make a commitment, not just to myself, but to others and this accountability helps me stick to my goals in the difficult times.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will never get life perfectly "right" as the song puts it. However, I do seek to honor Christ through my life. This involves challenging myself to deeper levels both in my spiritual walk and in the more practical areas of life and setting "goals". I hope that through this blog, you too are encouraged to,</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-12-45" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">"...</span></span><span class="text Col-1-10" style="background-color: white;">walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; </span><span class="text Col-1-11" id="en-NKJV-29477" style="background-color: white;">strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;</span><span class="text Col-1-12" id="en-NKJV-29478" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." ~ Colossians 1:10-12</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Col-1-12" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i>
<span class="text Col-1-12" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy New Year!</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-22289149632846416842013-12-25T20:04:00.001-05:002013-12-25T20:04:22.438-05:00Merry Christmas!Every year the Christmas boxes come down and out come the nativity scenes, holiday tins, wreaths, ornaments, and more. One of my most memorable decorations is this box...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3r-7gvUk1Q/Urtszw-EU5I/AAAAAAAAEAw/CCbmkBK6LjA/w736-h552-no/IMG_0022%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3r-7gvUk1Q/Urtszw-EU5I/AAAAAAAAEAw/CCbmkBK6LjA/w736-h552-no/IMG_0022%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a musical matchbox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For Christmas 2008, my great-grandma sent me this musical matchbox. I stowed it away and planned to pull it out next Christmas and send her a picture and note. However, there wasn't a "next" Christmas. It was her last gift to me.<br />
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I pull it out each year and display it in my room :) This year I discovered that it would no longer play music, but having it out still reminds me of Grandma Alice -- her sweet smile when we would visit, the cards she would send every holiday without fail, and her thoughtful gifts.<br />
<br />
It is this memory that makes me so grateful for Christmas. Not the presents, or the delicious food (although both were a part of the day), but the fact that "...there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). I don't know where my grandma's heart was before the Lord Jesus Christ, but I do treasure the reminder that our lives on earth are short and that one day I will stand before my Creator.<br />
<br />
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of my Savior. I once heard a pastor say that Christmas is important <b>because</b> of Easter. The baby in the manager, while sweet and seemingly-innocent, is worth celebrating because 30 years later, He would voluntarily submit to death on a cross to pay the price for the sins of anyone who would "...confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).<br />
<br />
The greatest gift of Christmas is the gift of Jesus's sacrifice to live as a man and to die a horrible death to offer the gift of salvation. I'm grateful for the assurance that Christ is my Savior and love having a day to celebrate His birth, made important by His death and subsequent resurrection =)<br />
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Merry Christmas! <br />
<br />
<i>"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."</i> <i>~Matthew 1:21</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-34774086002457553812013-12-14T20:32:00.000-05:002013-12-14T20:32:37.995-05:00Let It Snow...Snow has been in the forecast and as a result I haven't seen the grass in over a week!<br />
<br />
8" fell last Sunday making it an "at-home" day. I was flying home from a CollegePlus retreat in Dallas, TX so I missed seeing the beautiful snow fall, but Dad took these pictures in the afternoon as he worked with Melissa and Molly to clear the driveway...<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qRDugyjKnaw/UqTZp7WSxJI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/VeMniYzLSoA/w736-h552-no/20131208_143459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qRDugyjKnaw/UqTZp7WSxJI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/VeMniYzLSoA/w736-h552-no/20131208_143459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa with a shovel full of snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5uMHiXixig/UqTZpxPASOI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/_utB3oSd0Yg/w736-h552-no/20131208_143521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5uMHiXixig/UqTZpxPASOI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/_utB3oSd0Yg/w736-h552-no/20131208_143521.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly with her own version of a "shovel"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While I will do a separate post soon sharing memories and pictures from the CollegePlus Dallas retreat, I just have to mention this... Mom and Dad worked very hard to get me home on Sunday. Due to an ice storm in Dallas and the snow in the DC area, flights that actually got from one place to another were hard to come by. Mom and Dad spent most of the weekend finding me a flight and Dad also drove to DC in the snowy and rainy weather to get me when my flight got in at 9:45pm. They are awesome parents, just sayin' =)<br />
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Tuesday brought another 4" and this was on top of Sunday's 8" as the weather stayed beneath freezing. To get out of the house, Melissa and Molly headed outside and I followed with the camera...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JHOarRbpM_KSBdtpdBHqX3lThfeySLYExqXAz6KAZXXvB9woNI4M5fecX1hdOxJ_7NDTUpf1mthb-aFiG-O3rPG90ra8ArW0MYo8jO1XV3N-TZjgNjjhhN-WMbiLYiStMjUHdsJiHr13/w378-h226-p-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JHOarRbpM_KSBdtpdBHqX3lThfeySLYExqXAz6KAZXXvB9woNI4M5fecX1hdOxJ_7NDTUpf1mthb-aFiG-O3rPG90ra8ArW0MYo8jO1XV3N-TZjgNjjhhN-WMbiLYiStMjUHdsJiHr13/w378-h226-p-no/" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa with her snow shovel and Molly with a snowball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While Melissa shoveled, Molly made some lovely snow creations.<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/AVvXsEh3r3PxSBXROou_mWrKfE-YuHYTH0MyqRzTSY0286nbFBOqcT0AteY5uHS21oKCf-G7V8uVXz_9xODMIDZ4Z8jcPk44IA1MJGgn5EiJGhrUVmit2OX8w7eKkTLk52DUWEkmdd3dhVsrJPO5/w136-h226-p-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r3PxSBXROou_mWrKfE-YuHYTH0MyqRzTSY0286nbFBOqcT0AteY5uHS21oKCf-G7V8uVXz_9xODMIDZ4Z8jcPk44IA1MJGgn5EiJGhrUVmit2OX8w7eKkTLk52DUWEkmdd3dhVsrJPO5/w136-h226-p-no/" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a heart made out of footprints</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_65_97Y5FIhSdnUWKM1whc_ztftTScaoQBQR2MuktEtuhCNUOd265TpMSNp_KBlOnUB-RxwqK1o7Ts1RhE484G_9LnASjgoUNMrZ0XZJIedk_j5yrRInD9lKjUzUPOMaMwr87SFQgG0U/w136-h226-p-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_65_97Y5FIhSdnUWKM1whc_ztftTScaoQBQR2MuktEtuhCNUOd265TpMSNp_KBlOnUB-RxwqK1o7Ts1RhE484G_9LnASjgoUNMrZ0XZJIedk_j5yrRInD9lKjUzUPOMaMwr87SFQgG0U/w136-h226-p-no/" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a smiley face - with Molly's smiling face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The temperature has stayed around or below freezing for the rest of the week meaning that the snow is sticking around longer than it usually does... It snowed on and off today totaling around 2" on top of 8" left over from the last two storms =) <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No snowmen yet, but maybe one will be produced this week as Melissa is now done with her community college classes. I am still busy with school and have three midterms this week. But once those are done, I will have a bit of free time. If one is made, I will be sure and post some pictures on here!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-91357356737367896422013-11-30T23:24:00.003-05:002013-11-30T23:24:52.063-05:00Give Thanks ~ Day 30Well, I've never noticed (and dreaded) the end of a month like I have this month. I'm sad to see this challenge come to an end, but I'm excited to launch into the Christmas season and share some of our traditions and activities on here!<br />
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Today is a special day to me -- it marks two years since I became a <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929" target="_blank">CollegePlus</a> student! In short, CP has been one of the biggest blessings over the past two years. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to pursue my education in a flexible way that has given me numerous opportunities to serve my family and get involved at church and other local ministries in ways that would have been impossible if I would have attended a brick and mortar school!<br />
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But to me the biggest plus of doing <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929" target="_blank">CollegePlus</a> has been the friends. Yes, with online college, you'd think I'd be pretty lonely... But that's hardly the case =) I've been involved on a private forum for CollegePlus students and through that forum have met many other <a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929" target="_blank">CollegePlus</a> students. And as I've gotten to know them through forum posts, skype calls, and even in person meetings, I've found that their a unique bunch that reminds me an awful lot of myself... That is, they are students from a variety backgrounds that share one very important commonality -- our faith in Christ Jesus and desire to honor HIM with our lives.<br />
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Other than that, we're a wacky bunch of young kids pursuing college at a speedy rate and trying to figure out what the rest of our lives should look like ;) Along the way, we do the same sorts of things that we'd do if we were on a "real" campus -- we throw online parties, run student body elections, hold Bible studies and prayer calls, do book studies, and help each other with our studies =) These kids have become my dearest friends and I couldn't imagine life without them!<br />
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Our final <a href="http://kingsbloomingrose.com/challenges.html" target="_blank">'Give Thanks' Challenge</a> lists...<br />
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Megan:<br />
~<a href="http://www.collegeplus.org/request-information?tellafriend=8929" target="_blank">CollegePlus</a><br />
~that I can pursue my education through a flexible path<br />
~CP friends who are like-minded, encouraging, and just plain fun<br />
~the CP student body president (also know as my study buddy, dear friend, encourager, fellow schemer and the girl who'll sink or swim right along with me), Catherine K<br />
~Jonathan Brush, a CP Admissions Representative, who not only explained CP and its blessings to Dad, Mom and I, two years ago, but has also been a great resource throughout the past couple of years<br />
~the CollegePlus forums<br />
~the opportunity to go see many of my friends in Texas next week<br />
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Molly:<br />
~This challenge! It has inspired me so much, and I realized just how much I have to be thankful. I am very blessed.<br />
~Sparkles<br />
~Miracles<br />
~Megan's friends for putting up with all the times I've interrupted their calls with her. ;)<br />
~Mirrors (I know they make trouble sometimes, but they're awfully useful and necessary.)<br />
~Sarah Lee Bryant for hosting the challenge. :)<br />
~All of my blessings! There are so many more that haven't made it onto the list, but I'm thankful for those too! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-43876398284473771962013-11-29T21:40:00.001-05:002013-11-29T21:40:34.951-05:00Give Thanks ~ Day 292nd to last day...<br />
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... of the <a href="http://kingsbloomingrose.com/challenges.html" target="_blank">'Give Thanks' Challenge</a> :)<br />
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We enjoyed hosting the B. family for an afternoon of fellowship! Mr. B. and Dad work together at LifeTech. While the parents talked up in the kitchen, Melissa, Molly, and I played with their 5 year old girl and 8 year old boy. We did everything from play Monopoly (I won!) to pet Emily (our dog) and take her for "walks" around the living room. It was a fun time and definitely a family highlight was getting to hear their Scottish accents and the many non-American phrases =)<br />
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Megan:<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~showing hospitality with my family</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Scottish accents</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~kid smiles with their excitement clearly shown :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~finding a perfect pair of boots at Sears</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~my dad's understanding and encouragement</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~dinner conversations of "possibilities"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~the flexibility and learning experiences at my job</span><br />
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Molly:<br />
~Accents (as in like Scottish accents, as in that I got to hear them <i>all afternoon</i> :D :D :D)<br />
~That I spent the afternoon with two adorable kids<br />
~Games<br />
~When the Newsies' soundtrack is blasting, and Megan, Melissa, and I are singing as loud as we can to it. :D<br />
~Christmas! (BEST. HOLIDAY. EVER. <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">EVER.</u>) And now we get to decorate and shop for it and get all excited and sing carols and bake cookies and....<i>yeah</i>.....<br />
~Running water (Have you ever thought of how much your life would be impacted if you didn't have it?)<br />
~Whiteboards. (If you've ever questioned their purpose, just spend a day with my family and count how many times you hear the phrase "Write it on the whiteboard." ;))Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8439475100547999704.post-30427246403756080242013-11-28T22:04:00.002-05:002013-11-28T22:04:56.138-05:00Give Thanks ~ Day 28Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Chefs</td></tr>
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Today was a nice family day. Dad went out this morning to help a family from church move their newly acquired piano. When he got home, we all enjoyed watching the Macy's Day Parade -- seeing the scene from the Sound of Music play was definitely my favorite of the portions I saw =) In the afternoon, we played two sessions of the Risk (the game is now down to Dad vs. Molly) and ate a great dinner prepared by Mom, Molly, and Melissa.<br />
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I finished out the evening by studying for a few hours while everyone else hung out watching the Waltons and looking over the Black Friday ads. I'm so grateful for this day with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving and the rich history of our country =)<br />
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Megan:<br />
~getting to play Risk with Dad, Melissa, and Molly<br />
~our delicious Thanksgiving dinner<br />
~talking computers and phones with my dad<br />
~late night/early morning chat "parties"<br />
~Christmas gift schemes<br />
~the pilgrims<br />
~God's provision for the founding of America<br />
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Molly:<br />
~Scarves<br />
~Abraham Lincoln<br />
~That we have a day set aside to give thanks (it's a good refocuser, you know?)<br />
~Unexpected friends<br />
~When you're not disappointed about something that you feel like you normally would be<br />
~That I'm Homeschooled :)<br />
~That I survived our annual Risk game for another dayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655539420631161612noreply@blogger.com0