tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70157490628309219012024-02-18T18:07:39.067-08:00Suited to a TeaRachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-79782158715362825942017-08-31T15:11:00.001-07:002017-08-31T15:11:52.855-07:00The Left's Weapon To Silence Moms<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/if-protecting-my-childs-innocence-means-im-keeping-him-in-a-christian-bubble-so-be-it/&source=gmail&ust=1504300309241000&usg=AFQjCNFM5HvUKeB2a22VCIvVks9i7ADDog" href="http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/if-protecting-my-childs-innocence-means-im-keeping-him-in-a-christian-bubble-so-be-it/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.theblaze.com/<wbr></wbr>contributions/if-protecting-<wbr></wbr>my-childs-innocence-means-im-<wbr></wbr>keeping-him-in-a-christian-<wbr></wbr>bubble-so-be-it/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently posted the above article on my Facebook feed. Since I've been with Facebook, I've had many people unfriend me for my Biblical world view. Many times in the past I've defended my position. I've explained why the Biblical world view is the most logical, the most progressive, and the most loving view to take of the world. I've painstakingly compared and contrasted it with the humanists, and other dominant religions of the world. Obviously I will not reiterate those points here, just search my blog and you will see what I'm referring to. When I posted the above article, I received the below response.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"<i>You spend a lot of time worrying about homosexuals. Why not fornicators, people who work on Sundays, people who eat shellfish, or any of the other abominations the Old Testament says are punishable by death?"</i></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The gist of the article says that it's OK to protect the innocence of children, and that children's programming should not be promoting a certain wayward lifestyle. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is what I say to the above remark. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a difference between the old and new testaments.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As you know the Old Testament Age and many of its laws were set up for the Jewish people to live under a Theocracy as their form of government before the Messiah was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the Torah lists many laws and rules that they, the Jewish people, were to follow for that time (the Old Testament Age).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, these laws included rules about what to eat, and what not to eat, and how to behave and not to behave, but the primary rules and focal point of these laws were <b>the animal sacrifices they were to perform.</b> These animal sacrifices were to be performed <b>as a picture of the future coming Messiah. </b> <b>Who was The Sacrificial Lamb, whose shed blood from His death on the cross would take away the sins of the world. Upon which the death of Jesus Christ on the cross the Old Testament or Old “Covenant” was fulfilled. </b> Hebrews 10:8,9, and 13: <i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Heb 8:8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Heb 8:9<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Heb 8:13<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The other rules and laws where set up for the Jewish people to maintain a certain holy living. The rules and laws of washing, behavior, eating, and animal sacrifices were written for that time, they were to live that way in obedience and faith as a testimony to the world that there is a coming Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To quote the Bible out of context and without understanding is to surely get it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could deceive people who are not as familiar with the Bible as you and I are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However,<b> there are also universal truths in the Old Testament that are carried forward in the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Old Testament also states, “Thou shalt not kill.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again people often take this verse out of context as it <b>does NOT refer to self-defense or capital punishment as the continued reading of the Old Testament clarifies.</b> It is specifically talking about murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you pro-murder because the Old Testament states, “Thou shalt not kill”???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely not, as all liberals are peace loving, non-rioting, non-bulling, progressives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The Old Testament sacrifices were a picture of the coming Messiah as animal sacrifices could never take away the sins of man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Hebrews states in Hebrews 10:3 &4:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Heb 10:3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Heb 10:4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus, the Messiah, fulfilled the law, or the first covenant and brought salvation to the world with the second covenant and paid for all the sin debt of man as is stated in Hebrews 10:9 & 10:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Heb 10:9<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Heb 10:10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Since Jesus fulfilled the Law through His Death, Burial and Resurrection, those rules and regulations are passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgiveness of sins is through faith and not of works and it never has been about works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Eph 2:8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Eph 2:9<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not of works, lest any man should boast.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ without works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A Christian lives in such a way to please the Lord because he loves the Lord and before a person asks Jesus for forgiveness of their sins the most important thing to discuss with them is salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Christians do not have to live according to those Old Testament rules because they were a picture of the coming Messiah; who has now come and who has fulfilled the Old Testament Laws, and thus are passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">An example that even the rules and regulations about what to eat and what not eat have passed away is clear in the example of Peter’s dream in Acts 10:9-16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter had a vision and the Lord told him to eat of things that the Old Testament forbad them to eat of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:9<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:11<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:12<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:13<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Act 10:14<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Act 10:15<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Peter was use to living according to those Old Testament rules but after Jesus’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection, this was no longer necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus died for all the Jews and the Greeks (or Gentiles – Non-Jews).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Rom 1:16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, <b>the universal truths from the Old Testament are still true, and they are found in the New Testament and are reiterated in the New Testament.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Along with trying to live according to what the Bible says, </span>Christians are to speak the truth of the Gospel throughout the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rom 1:8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Homosexuality is discussed in the New Testament, and is spoken of as ungodliness in Romans 1:18 – 32 (KJV), I’ll just list the verses below that specifically reference homosexuality, but I have given the entire reference in case you would like to read it for yourself in a King James Bible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Rom 1:18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rom 1:25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rom 1:26<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Rom 1:27<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Rom 1:28<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This does not mean that God does not love homosexuals, and as Christians we are to love everyone, but God’s wrath is against the sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God loves the person but hates the sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel is for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 3:16-18:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Joh 3:16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>📝<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Joh 3:17<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Joh 3:18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is loves that motivates a Christian to speak the truth about sin, not hate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now everything I just mentioned above was to answer the personal charges you made about me not stating things to other individuals. Is the truth any less the truth because it may be unfavorable? It ultimately is an individual heart issue. Each person will one day give an account to His Creator. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What I was actually doing by sharing the post by Matt Walsh was sharing something I agree with as a way to defend the Judeo Christian principles that this country was founded on from the<b> constant and vehement onslaught of the left’s culture war on our American heritage.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span>That show is a perfect example of how the left is waging war against this country, and it is aimed directly at my children as the show discussed by Matt Walsh is a children’s show.<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I know you claim to have an understanding of the Bible, and in the consideration of time I'm not going to keep rehashing the many misleading statements you made, they are merely smoke and mirrors to keep from what the real issue is...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I find it kind of ironic though when people who want nothing to do with the Bible all of sudden gain some education when they superficially use its contents to try and prove some point. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, liberals are waging war against American culture. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When they attack my kids, it becomes personal. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The American college of pediatrics has come out with study after study condemning "alternative" lifestyles. These reports in which state that homosexual child rearing is causing harm to children -on so many levels- Science says this... not we Bible thumping fundies, so we can take God out of this argument altogether if we wanted to right here and right now....</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But isn't it typical of liberals, to, you know, ignore scientific facts and continue in a lie, trying to force everyone around them to believe it too, just so they can "feel good" about themselves. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/parenting-issues/homosexual-parenting-is-it-time-for-change&source=gmail&ust=1504300309258000&usg=AFQjCNFopSKM_KyH01OoSPtdO4AoUOgXjg" href="https://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/parenting-issues/homosexual-parenting-is-it-time-for-change" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.acpeds.org/the-<wbr></wbr>college-speaks/position-<wbr></wbr>statements/parenting-issues/<wbr></wbr>homosexual-parenting-is-it-<wbr></wbr>time-for-change</span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Liberals are using the sin of sodomy as a weapon to silence moms like me who choose to use God's word as their moral compass. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BTW, where do your absolutes come from; who is your guide for morality? Is it the government? Society? Man? </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll choose the one Guide- Almighty God, who does not change over this ever changing corrupted government, over man's wicked deceitful heart, and over the gender fluid ideological "flavors of the week" that come from a confused and chaotic society. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This war is being wrought against me and it's invading the comforts of my own home. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not shoving Jesus down people's throats. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I think liberals are actually the ones documented as going out on Christian "witch hunts" just so they can shut their mouths, destroy their livelihoods and basically ruin their lives. Take for instance the pizzeria in Indiana and the many cake shops; I could go on and on. Christians don't go around "tar and feathering" gays just for sport. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If speaking my truth offends, so be it. Parading two moms around on a child's show is offensive to me. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I choose to defend my kids sensibilities, and innocence. I won't Kowtow to the "tolerant" bullies who want me to be silenced in the town square because all of a sudden a small group of sad people want to make me accept a lifestyle contrary to all that is decent and orderly in progressive civilized societies. </span></div>
</div>
Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-6578760201504854082017-06-30T10:34:00.000-07:002017-06-30T10:34:40.843-07:00Religious Liberty, Freedom of Expression<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In light of what has happened in Arkansas; what is happening now with the supreme court hearing from Masterpiece cakes and how our own freedom of religion and to express ourselves based upon conscience is at jeopardy-let's remember to learn the facts about the issue; so I'll re-post what I said a year ago on this subject, with some recent interjections:</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/08/10-commandments-removed-state-capitol-per-oklahoma-supreme-court/</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To all of you who "preach" "separation of church and state," let's educate you on what that statement was intended to mean by the author himself. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is letter where that statement originated:</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gentlemen</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Th Jefferson</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan. 1. 1802.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, having the statement in context, one can clearly see by no means did Jefferson ever intend to have religion removed from politics (or from public life)...how is a man to govern himself if he fails to use his principles as guide? i.e. his faith..."make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church & State"...that wall of separation was set up to protect the churches from the government, (or private businesses like Masterpiece cakes) from coming and making oppressive laws that infringed upon religious freedoms and setting up a State church-(a state church that's humanistic in its practice and that had far more reaching detrimental affects than one can imagine- just look at the case of the 11 month old infant Charlie sentenced to death by a panel of hospital administrators..)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although this current government (Obama's, I wrote this over a year ago) wants to set up atheism and secularism as their official religion, i.e. Supreme Court's ruling of marriage equality. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello my friends, where do you think law comes from? Man? I don't think so. Man cannot be man's absolute authority because man's nature is flawed, man will do that which is right in his own eyes. Ideally man needs an overseer and our founding fathers knew this.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="color: black;">John Adams in a speech to the military in 1798 warned his fellow countrymen stating, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">is a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and our second President.</span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is placing the Ten Commandments on the front lawn of congress making a law respecting an establishment? No! </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a historical religious document important to our nations history. Just accept the fact that our country was built upon Judeo Christian morals. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our nations documents, letters, monuments, laws and all recorded history point to the fact that we are built upon such philosophy. That's plain history and you can't make that up. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who do you think thought the Ten Commandments were important enough to help in determining the laws of our country? How about those founding fathers that all millennials and our (previous) President call rich white racists; a former President and a group of people who only care whether things are fair, not in the truth about why our country is what it is. And in pursuant to that regard tear down all the ancient landmarks, ie the Ten Commandments, If you don't like it-get out! </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sure you'd love to live in a place like Iraq where women are no more than property and treated like dogs, but hey, they didn't have those pesky Ten Commandments to help them out...now that's unfair.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hopefully with this new Administration and some common sense back on the bench, we'll see a new precedent and in return some protection put in place for those who would be so governed by their faith in God, without the fear of some secular humanist coming in and </span>challenging<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> them</span></span></div>
Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-76462938374818677852017-04-25T10:03:00.000-07:002017-04-25T11:04:54.434-07:00Practically becoming a "New Man"Don't let the title of my post fool you. It is a sad time in which we live where I have to clarify and quantify what I'm saying: I am a woman. God made me this way and it's not a choice, I'm happy and grateful for God's choice for me. <br />
<br />
I wish our society could see the peace that comes from knowing Who You Are, Where You came from, Why YOU are here and Where YOU are going. I'm also a woman of practicality. <br />
<br />
I love God's Word because of its practical, "bottom shelf" knowledge. No disrespect meant, but God knew that I'm a slow learner sometimes and I need direct communication from Him. God says we ought to become "new men." <br />
<br />
<i><b>Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. </b></i><br />
<br />
In the time since I began my journey to please and live for the Lord, about 13 years now after I rededicated my life; I've heard many scholars of The Word speak about putting on the "New Man."<br />
<br />
Contextually, what is that verse speaking about. Let's look. Like my Pastor always says, the Bible is the best commentary on Itself. <br />
<br />
Eph 4:17 ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,<br />
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {blindness: or, hardness}<br />
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.<br />
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;<br />
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:<br />
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;<br />
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;<br />
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.<br />
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.<br />
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:<br />
27 Neither give place to the devil.<br />
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. {to give: or, to distribute}<br />
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. {to...: or, to edify profitably}<br />
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.<br />
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:<br />
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.<br />
<br />
I came across a scrap of paper tucked away in my Bible this morning with some notes on it. It was a list of things I told myself to pray for to help me better "walk the talk." <br />
<br />
Practically speaking, Eph 4:17-32, tells the Christian how to put on the "New Man." I once heard a Pastor say, "it's like you are putting on a jacket everyday." The Christian is dying to self, and putting Christ's "self" on as a replacement, like an article of clothing. Literally getting dressed by Jesus daily.<br />
<br />
On this scrap of paper I wrote:<br />
<br />
charity out of a pure heart and good conscience,<br />
faith unfeigned (sincere)<br />
faithful in all things<br />
be not highminded<br />
do good; be rich in good works<br />
distribute (the Gospel) and be willing to communicate<br />
have a true heart in full assurance<br />
hold fast my profession with out wavering<br />
provoke unto love and do good works<br />
be clothed with humility, humble myself<br />
be sober, be vigilant<br />
to not murmur<br />
give thanks<br />
rejoice and praise God all the day long<br />
<br />
Every note is taken from scripture, and it keeps what I need to be doing ever before me- constantly reminding me to try to be God's best. <br />
<br />
Recently I read an article about someone describing who the Marines really are and why they are so successful as a Military Force. They said Marines are the most Idealistic of the service-members, so much so that in this un-Idealistic world, they often have to "cloak that idealism in a shell." Now what does that even mean? The world needs a police force...and that's what the Marines are, the 9-1-1 of modern mankind.<br />
<br />
Obviously, I won't ever achieve the perfection or ideal that God's Word talks about, but I can sure try.<br />
<br />
That's why I'm a Marine, because I have that "try" mentality.<br />
<br />
My whole life will be me trying, and failing and trying and failing. In all that trying and failing, the real and most important question that remains is: will I leave the world better? <br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. </i></b><br />
<br />
If I can forgive and love my fellow man and stand up to evil, then I'd say, yes.<br />
<br />
Marines have identified that ideal, and are fighting the face of Evil every day.<br />
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen.....Police, and Firefighters also are Idealists. I'd say they too have made this world a better place.<br />
<br />
Living a victorious life in Christ is not some magical spell, but rather an active willingness to apply the above truths in the everyday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-88563851814658438382017-02-01T10:46:00.000-08:002017-02-01T13:46:12.981-08:00Cherished vs. Nasty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">When I see what the face of "modern" feminism looks like- Ashley Judd screaming, amidst incoherent ramblings, "I'm a Naaaasty Woman!"- I hear the profanity of her speech and see what she represents and I feel sorry (if you really want to watch it, google it...); I'm sorry I have to be sorry for the actions of another woman. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP7Mk_O1Lr0wIzEfHcf7sPS2gaxoVu-GD0jrWrtfo3frMWIVyaE2pztbR7QkW6juEOqSlPMM3RWtL9TY1PQHSwOiHhHRVY4T69DmIUGxxN-bfOlEcx6o0loGm7_m3Lzm6_jVqkATudRA/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP7Mk_O1Lr0wIzEfHcf7sPS2gaxoVu-GD0jrWrtfo3frMWIVyaE2pztbR7QkW6juEOqSlPMM3RWtL9TY1PQHSwOiHhHRVY4T69DmIUGxxN-bfOlEcx6o0loGm7_m3Lzm6_jVqkATudRA/s400/th.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sorry that what she proclaimed to the masses is considered to be praise worthy. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm sorry for my daughters who will have to combat this vileness.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm a simple woman, desiring a simple life. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">I choose to live the best way I can in light of God's Word and in the course of His will for me daily, it even goes as far as guiding how I act, what I do, what I wear and basically, all areas of life. I can hopefully live quietly and peacefully with my neighbor, trying to point others to The Truth. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That doesn't mean I can't make common sense observations. Observations that lead me to see that I don't understand why it's okay to be a "Naassty woman," and that this behavior is not just acceptable, but hailed as "ground breaking" and "brave," as if it were some kind of achievement. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If and when the time comes for me to speak up, someone always gets offended.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLFRozodbjqeZYotBI1kNlvgjvgGt4NOdvu0YrGscPSrrse5mmMCYFM-a6GQifma9ttBruW6hhkQxVWBught7EnLqEQi0RbyizI0BOdRwOrfdlH8-RNtKw-Vk1sBZGZnUcXTBZxVe_j8/s1600/64616855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLFRozodbjqeZYotBI1kNlvgjvgGt4NOdvu0YrGscPSrrse5mmMCYFM-a6GQifma9ttBruW6hhkQxVWBught7EnLqEQi0RbyizI0BOdRwOrfdlH8-RNtKw-Vk1sBZGZnUcXTBZxVe_j8/s400/64616855.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this is where I stand today, I've offended people...I chose to take a stand against what Judd represents. Since then, people have said that I'm closed minded and ignorant. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm a woman hater because I wear skirts and I choose to have standards- Supposedly I am indoctrinated and brainwashed... I'm </span>legalistic <span style="font-size: 12pt;">... that's a whole other blog post for another time. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyway...</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">I try to practically apply what I learn from God's Word in my own life. The focus ends up being on the fact that I want to please the Lord through the way I dress. Skirts, all of a sudden become the crux of women's issues. T</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">he fact that I choose to dress modestly makes me unchristian</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXiWr2lFprutTdlbIujwMGDrdFPabrtWLEyn3kcORBMVUqDV5olsNBqeNOwFe1ji7T_VW5SAknvUpIlQqcKbJ4d-Kua_SP64scij8WDlu2GgYFkRtybyElrV5xwEKL0YR3fvRDD25Tu0/s1600/modesty-quote-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXiWr2lFprutTdlbIujwMGDrdFPabrtWLEyn3kcORBMVUqDV5olsNBqeNOwFe1ji7T_VW5SAknvUpIlQqcKbJ4d-Kua_SP64scij8WDlu2GgYFkRtybyElrV5xwEKL0YR3fvRDD25Tu0/s400/modesty-quote-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finding faults and splitting hairs about inconsequential things are counterproductive. Look around- there are a lot more unkind words and deeds being done, worse than my choice of clothing...</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Let's put our energies into this, if you will, let's study why the idea of the "Naaaasty woman" is something supposedly to be desired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Why are women in the 1,000s flocking to see the "Ashely Judds" of progressive feminism? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">I came across this in my news feed, which might answer this very question:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtTB7_XBkFgCno08ePv8Vs8ljGMBfTmE8U5igaTxxc_wJ90j0lv2CdVMoXpdqhToJ21v9m99Qnpnwh_K1XGT8X6ebgWtzlnh7qgDe0MDw7gG5W69mX16sltyEGuLZSlTtzsyL7nkNns0/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtTB7_XBkFgCno08ePv8Vs8ljGMBfTmE8U5igaTxxc_wJ90j0lv2CdVMoXpdqhToJ21v9m99Qnpnwh_K1XGT8X6ebgWtzlnh7qgDe0MDw7gG5W69mX16sltyEGuLZSlTtzsyL7nkNns0/s1600/unnamed.png" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, for four generations, our grandmothers, our mothers, ourselves, and our own daughters have been taught that progressive feminism has been THE ONE and ONLY guiding light to equality. Isn't that what the author is saying above?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">(Let's just define the term as it relates to the modern woman's rights movement: equality- the total elimination of gender roles so as to attack and break down the traditional home and it</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">s' nuclear family.)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The fore-mothers of the first wave of feminism did their due diligence to get the vote, and arguably, that was not because of some radical movement of progressive thinkers; burning and pillaging and swearing and marching, no, I think it was the result of the resounding effects of the Second Great Awakening- you see the idea of equality doesn't come from some progressive as she defines it, but has been defined long before women marched. It came from the Women who were affected by the love of Christ, who in turn helped fuel the winds of prosperity in the Land of the Free as they sought life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by seeing themselves as Christ saw them, as Women endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">As pictured above, the author is trying to say that radical feminism is the only reason women have it so good in America. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">According to her and to the people labeling me legalistic, I should stop criticizing Ashley's vile speech and actions. I should with all humility and lowliness of mind go thank her and a "uterus" hat wearing feminist. I should be grateful for all she's done for me....</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Can you honestly lump what the suffragettes did in to what was done during the "women's march," just a couple weeks ago, or even 60 years ago with the second wave?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OHXavAivAH7eULSqpsOh-dscDGlq2yBBucTn7Up1s_bsElXtHhVxvu57X5dwr-KiqSECIN1_u28EsTgVi_xv8L2nNr8o5Ty-0PqJ5HEC83thvZKWDIjXcPFFTHghs4fY4VJexrJXdBg/s1600/th+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OHXavAivAH7eULSqpsOh-dscDGlq2yBBucTn7Up1s_bsElXtHhVxvu57X5dwr-KiqSECIN1_u28EsTgVi_xv8L2nNr8o5Ty-0PqJ5HEC83thvZKWDIjXcPFFTHghs4fY4VJexrJXdBg/s1600/th+%25282%2529.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I think not.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Those women did nothing, except complain about free birth control and Donald Trump, demand that baby killing be a true "American Value," (as stated by Cecile Richards of PP), and embarrass themselves. (And all other women for that matter...)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg491x6sboBDUGS8lRPykM_hETjFrJkAfCLuhPQK6V0v4RdwrK8Zb8szNfKoQcoJcrD6iWdM-SlIGreeuxBYgrljIQeQHJMahN2W3liRyZuTJgd9y3p0J6N-oV8p0UIRo35dIbCGW1iN8c/s1600/16174491_1286113668117289_2192913189847174478_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg491x6sboBDUGS8lRPykM_hETjFrJkAfCLuhPQK6V0v4RdwrK8Zb8szNfKoQcoJcrD6iWdM-SlIGreeuxBYgrljIQeQHJMahN2W3liRyZuTJgd9y3p0J6N-oV8p0UIRo35dIbCGW1iN8c/s400/16174491_1286113668117289_2192913189847174478_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Our fore-mothers would be disgusted at what took place last week and 60 years ago.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Women thrive in America, and it's not because of "social unrest, activism and resistance" but because of the passing on of the true virtues of being a woman- a woman who is cherished by the God who created her. </span><span style="color: #222222;">I will pass on that tradition and teach my kids of</span><span style="color: #222222;"> the sanctity of life; I will teach my daughters that life is precious.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The "modern woman" marched.... and believes life is a matter of choice, and if that life needs to be snuffed out because of inconvenience then she obliges and kills her own son or daughter in the womb. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost 60 million sons and daughters have been murdered since the time "Women Marched"...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I believe that there is an inherent difference between the sexes and I will teach my daughters that they were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of their Creator, and that they should embrace their femininity-that wearing skirts is okay. I'll teach them it's a way to differentiate themselves and show the world that they are proudly different from a man.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The "modern woman" marched.... and believes that there is no difference between herself and a man and therefore she desperately tries to be like a him giving up on her true nature, she will perpetuate this lie to her carefully timed and selected offspring, and even poison her prepubescent sons with hormones to help change their sex so they can "be free to be a girl."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVVczdZkiwJtGPALyRed9rc436Xj-f_6NrhovrQvnDkJQYFcBgU0VW7-aargkNEU1D_V1xx1APgWXAkQXdIn8aEFYQru_KSDKJxLZYKJWWFdUFgK8VXU8LptGgJNgG9O7uZ6_jsndglo/s1600/th+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVVczdZkiwJtGPALyRed9rc436Xj-f_6NrhovrQvnDkJQYFcBgU0VW7-aargkNEU1D_V1xx1APgWXAkQXdIn8aEFYQru_KSDKJxLZYKJWWFdUFgK8VXU8LptGgJNgG9O7uZ6_jsndglo/s400/th+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that a woman's most important role when she becomes a parent is to be a mother to her children- I will teach my daughters to desire to be who God created her. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They marched... and believe that to choose to leave the market place of career and return home to care for the family full-time is unworthy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe a woman should guard her heart, for out of it are the issues of life; I will teach my daughters that their love should be saved and cherished.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The "modern woman" marched.... and believes that a woman should live promiscuously. Objectifying themselves and their own daughters all the while trying to mimic and satisfy the behavior of sinful man's bases desires-with birth control at her side, she's free of the "consequences" of such behavior.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; min-height: 13.8px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The light of the Gospel is why women are afforded the rights they have. These rights have been set forth in our Founding Documents which were influenced by the Bible.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">So, no, I won't thank a radical feminist. It wasn't Ashley Judd or </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">some bra burner from the sexual revolution...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was generations of cherished women, who continued to hold fast to their professions of faith and weren't afraid of their natures and the innate feminine qualities they possessed. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">It was because they, quietly, and diligently taught their daughters to be cherished. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a cherished lady. Not because I think I'm somebody, but because of what THE SOMEBODY did for me on a cross 2,000 years ago. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I want my daughters to grow into cherished ladies, not "Naaaaaaasty Women."</span></span></div>
Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-77769533830737397022016-08-16T09:35:00.002-07:002016-08-16T09:35:49.096-07:00Valuable Mothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcNJnStxS7vQENtbd00Qv9lVoSQHBa3QGxBOyd3fwwwJvE3QrTjvsxuaipymeDJmuYyJ75k3Q4e_T7P5PCO6l3W83UH2r6fxGcKqL9_D_GKJRNs1FKRSH73_UcM3pK1isDEIko9qKFJ0/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcNJnStxS7vQENtbd00Qv9lVoSQHBa3QGxBOyd3fwwwJvE3QrTjvsxuaipymeDJmuYyJ75k3Q4e_T7P5PCO6l3W83UH2r6fxGcKqL9_D_GKJRNs1FKRSH73_UcM3pK1isDEIko9qKFJ0/s320/IMG_3776.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most people would say this in response to me telling them
that I teach Home Economics: "Really!?, they still teach that in
schools?" </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's quite interesting to
me to see how much our society has degraded the home and its many functions. In the guise of "women's rights," we
have conditioned countless generations of high school girls to think that home making
is not a high calling. As a result we
now have over-stressed, over -worked women who have farmed out their children to
be cared for by others. While they pursue personal gain and a false notion that
the modern "liberated" woman can and will have it all. I'm not trying to cause a war between what
each individual mother chooses for her life, but I am trying to "tip the scales" of balance back towards
a perspective equal to the idea that
staying at home with your children is just as important if not more to that of
the career/working mom. This negative perception of a woman's womanly duties
have been undermined for far too long. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My job as an educator is to give my students a fair and
accurate view of both sides. For so
long, there has been a retreating of women from the home. Perhaps we need to bring
back an education of what actually being in the home entails, rather than
indoctrinate upcoming generations of women into a one sided narrow view, which states that fulfillment
only comes from the emancipation of her maternal instincts in order to forge a
way in the male dominated market place of corporate America. Chasing the male characteristics of a career
outside the rearing and caring for the children she bore herself. Actually within reason, this gender reversal of the roles and trying to be a man is unnatural. But Feminists have played the woman for a fool since the time she
said that she can eradicate the products of promiscuity in obtaining an
abortion, therefore, "biologically" being just like the man in that regard. Woman, as God created her, is more intelligent
than Feminists would like her to think. You see there is a lot to be said to the
natural draws a woman feels when she has a child of her own. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why I teach Home Ec. to girls is to tell them: it is okay to
want to stay at home with her kids and leave the corporate path; it is okay and
she has not "regressed" back to the stone age because her maternal
call ways heavily on her desire to care for her house, husband and children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my attempt to prepare for my class and as I was reading
the introduction in our Home Ec. book, the first paragraph was a perfect
example of what I have been trying to relay to my students:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>"Technology has made life easier for
billions of people, but one of its greatest benefits is its contribution
to women's rights. Liberated from the need to have someone at home all day long, women could work in
offices, flip burgers, run banks. Home economics
("home ec" to dwindling
generations of high school students) was seen as a lowering of horizons, regressive even." <i>paragraph 1, page 6 <u>Home Economics
Vintage Advice and Practical </u> <u> Science for the 21st </u>C<u>entury Household</u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><u><o:p></o:p></u></i>Most progressive educators would be thrilled with
this analysis, and on the other hand some of my counterparts would veer away
from a book whose first paragraph states such falsity so emphatically. I however, see an opportunity to teach my
students; first, to be ever aware of ideologies that go against the Bible, and second,
to teach them to think about what the author is saying and why it is something
they can or cannot agree with when it's compared to what the Bible says. My ideals are grounded in what the Bible has
to say on every aspect of life. This is
how I view the world. (Everyone has a world view of some kind, secular,
humanistic, or Biblical)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the contrary to what the world seems to value (as stated
in the opening paragraph) I would like to pose this question: who will remember
what office you worked, what bank you ran or what kind of burgers you flipped
when you are sitting on your rocking chair in some assisted living care center?
Who will remember if you scaled the highest mountain, ran the fastest time or
traveled to all the countries of the world?
My Biblical world view teaches me that life is not made up of what is
temporal, but what is eternal. When life
ends here on Earth, another life begins in eternity. Titus chapter 2 speaks
about what God places value on in His ultimate design for man and woman in
their roles in such capacities within and out of the Home. Again, each
situation is different for those who encounter life. And the ideal won't always be attainable. I am trying to teach God's ideal as He states
in the Bible. And specifically the ideal
as it pertains to women, <b><i>Tit
2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,
not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to
love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,
obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This ideal is what I try to have my students strive for, not
what the world says. It all comes down
to what will be remembered when our lives on this earth are done. What will be remembered is the heritage that
you as a mother laid as a joint heir to the grace of life<b><i>. 1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands,
dwell with them (wife) according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as
unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that
your prayers be not hindered. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the role as mother you will have your part
in molding and making a future generation of Christians who can continue to
pass on the knowledge of God's beautiful salvation through Jesus. This is a sobering and daunting thought, and
more worth should be doled out to those moms who would choose this ideal. Choosing to "lower your horizons,"
as the introduction pointed out is actually quite the opposite when choosing to
be the sole care provider of your children, house and home, it's not
"regressive." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Technology may have made laundry easier, a dishwasher may
make it easier to wash dishes but technology cannot replace what is a mother's
steady figure of constant nurturing care and guidance give and requires her to be
in the home from day to day(if not until the children are of school age, which
then, gives her more freedom to choose her daily duties). Being "home all day" is what makes
that position so irreplaceable, for you can only be a mother to the child you
gave birth to, all others are just a replica. (Not to demean those who have no
choice in the matter, again, I'm striving for the ideal.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to raise up a generation of women who will not run
from their posts of the home or be intimidated in their decision by a godless society that
tells them they have chose a course less desirable in life, but be glad and return to what is the
most important role, as Ellen Key said,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"The Mother [sic and wife] is the most
precious possession of the nation. So precious that
society advances its highest well-being when it protects the functions of the mother."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's about time we reintroduce Home Economics back into life, back into schools, and back into the minds of generations to come- a vocation worthy of its pursuit. It's time we as a society begin to protect
and cherish the office of motherhood and home making once again. It's time to advance moms, not demean them. </div>
Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-77027870127162936532016-04-21T07:53:00.002-07:002016-04-21T10:33:10.384-07:00Operation: TOTB!Alright, in response to the total decay of modern society and its now very backward stance on the governance of the use of public restrooms, I call your attention to, <i>Operation: Take Our Toilets Back! </i><br />
<br />
It's easy to figure out from my household why the latest battles against the designated gender signs over public restrooms are so disheartening. I have three very innocent impressionable girls that I am trying to raise to be decent law abiding productive, God fearing women someday.<br />
<br />
This latest attack on my daughters, yes, it's an attack on them- they are helpless and they can't defend themselves against the perverts who want to use their bathroom, is an indication of what I have said so many times before: that once you allow for any variation of perversion of lifestyle as it relates to gender outside of what was designed infiltrate, you will have an upset of decent morals, the breakdown of the cooperation of mankind to live peaceably with one another and the eradication of basic common sense. Hence, the dilemma we now see in our modern culture on bathroom choice.<br />
<br />
My Pastor's Wife pointed out something very interesting, why aren't Trans-gender Women who identify as men fighting so hard to use the men's bathroom? I'll tell you, because no one wants to use that dirty smelly place....even so-called women who identify as men...<br />
<br />
Operation Take Our Toilets Back! (OTOTB!) is a mission for regular mothers who want to protect their children. <br />
<br />
In my house, I will now instruct my girls the following way:<br />
<br />
In the event that a self-identifying woman/man uses the bathroom while they are in it, my girls will commence to the following action: (this protocol is not just for young girls, but women like me, who also feel that our bathrooms should be for our use only...)<br />
<br />
1-Identity, Detect and Acquire target: Is it a man? Yes.<br />
2- Employment of Non-lethal Means: Plan of Action if affirmative: Engage target by screaming highest possible shrilled scream, while yelling, "help, help help!!!"<br />
3-Target Neutralization: Don't stop screaming unless otherwise instructed by parent.<br />
<br />
This home will start OTOTB!! training today. And if you have ever heard my girls scream, you know that for sure there will definitely be a scene in the bathroom and that said TG will be made to feel just as uncomfortable as we have been made to feel.<br />
<br />
I am not hopeless and as the minorities of this country complain the loudest in an attempt to change Her, I will actively engage in my small way! I will not go down silent!<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #252525;">"It is a general popular</span> <a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Error" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Error">error</a><span style="color: #252525;"> to suppose the loudest complainers for the publick to be the most anxious for its </span><a href="https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Welfare" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Welfare">welfare</a><span style="color: #252525;">." -Edmund Burke</span></span></i></b>Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-45309098396905685492016-03-31T19:39:00.002-07:002016-03-31T19:39:44.564-07:00Dear Freddie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhxJgJVsj8W3bikxniNfDghEEe_7wBffs9dmfdG9ScVUSljeFn4CzekTYTDrhKtKuTAsWTx4PcHqtX_pva5cVcLg7QIV_Qv-CbwJQwX3bY9k3zGApQI3680seMMJM0CFqGB50Rg7_VKc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhxJgJVsj8W3bikxniNfDghEEe_7wBffs9dmfdG9ScVUSljeFn4CzekTYTDrhKtKuTAsWTx4PcHqtX_pva5cVcLg7QIV_Qv-CbwJQwX3bY9k3zGApQI3680seMMJM0CFqGB50Rg7_VKc/s320/FullSizeRender+%252820%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cup of Joy for the day is my favorite tea mug (on the days when a cup and saucer just won't cut it) and some good old English breakfast tea, this collection of tea happened to be a gift this year from one of Mike's Attorney friends. We get spoiled, every year around Christmas a huge basket of goodies arrives on our doorstep...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Frederick has been in our family now for 6 months. Obviously, I'm so in love with this little man. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At six months, Frederick enjoys playing with empty water bottles, my keys on my school lanyard, any rattling shiny objects and his little monkey stuffy that plays neat jungle music. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He has started this new sound where he is says "dadadada." Of course it would be that sound, cus I'm with the boy most. Ha!!All of my kids said "dadada" first. He giggles when I play peek-a-boo and kiss his cheeks. He likes to get the attention of all of us by shrilling loudly above everyone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He sucks his thumb. When he gets sleepy he puts his head on my shoulder, snuggles up and puts his thumb in his mouth. Not long after that he's sound asleep. He can roll onto his side; he doesn't care to be on his tummy for long. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lizzie likes to pick him up and carry him around the living room when he gets fussy while I'm cooking. Maddie calls him "baby fuzzy" sometimes and she'll ask him, "baby Freddie, you love me? you love me?" Bella likes to tickle his feet and tells him, "you're so cute, I could eat you..." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Everyone loves him...I think all of my kids have about 5 adopted aunts and grandmas. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"A little bit of heaven</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Has been (sic)</i> sent from above-</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A handful of happiness,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A heartful of love.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The mystery of life,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So sacred and sweet</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The giver of joy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So deep and complete.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Precious and priceless,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So lovable, too</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The world's sweetest miracle,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Baby <i> Freddie (sic)</i>, is you"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
-Unknown</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFBUHlUPR3yJP0z2NTZsOqWImicIi2bA2yqQUpzfz8m05-EXs2YOhJMikVTIj0Sn2-wuqiEqVx0K2zpmWw0lkw2m5MxLlFBvnyEZmz66rcD1Zw4zr1ZkK_Jnz-qGkntZ9jiGJPFQ9h2M/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252821%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFBUHlUPR3yJP0z2NTZsOqWImicIi2bA2yqQUpzfz8m05-EXs2YOhJMikVTIj0Sn2-wuqiEqVx0K2zpmWw0lkw2m5MxLlFBvnyEZmz66rcD1Zw4zr1ZkK_Jnz-qGkntZ9jiGJPFQ9h2M/s400/FullSizeRender+%252821%2529.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEio9OxGaN4dfMa0N7oZeKbuXTqFl-bMsVwwn9D4tRUQ_qMXLV9s6zQVCDdgFZmT-0rumZmdJa2VA8NcvNIy-GwaMscYZ9bwDgv-XyC4zC14R6ZgKTdarg0fJkz_l3Sx-TNjRb79LQqE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252822%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEio9OxGaN4dfMa0N7oZeKbuXTqFl-bMsVwwn9D4tRUQ_qMXLV9s6zQVCDdgFZmT-0rumZmdJa2VA8NcvNIy-GwaMscYZ9bwDgv-XyC4zC14R6ZgKTdarg0fJkz_l3Sx-TNjRb79LQqE/s400/FullSizeRender+%252822%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwDREeU3_MBMpbsF8QL2wzDz88Z8y7xU50MobJs4if0ozWBuoEdfqr_nErMqz7RNUaI4kuhFgd7nUZDi3qXbbr-qCnrCgMtdShW9IWw-yJ5Oo8mW3KFr_TCjGHHxBWt8IwoMl4CNkfE4/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwDREeU3_MBMpbsF8QL2wzDz88Z8y7xU50MobJs4if0ozWBuoEdfqr_nErMqz7RNUaI4kuhFgd7nUZDi3qXbbr-qCnrCgMtdShW9IWw-yJ5Oo8mW3KFr_TCjGHHxBWt8IwoMl4CNkfE4/s400/FullSizeRender+%252824%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUxqwSuzVD7LCEm9nh_YbwsYD4Nk_VB2Rbj5NiPeRRcE75tUwElrKtyi_zNHO6EWFX6QaJ8evJcTQJIWJF9_6I9OdlWHqz9_HJ3RtEfpsGXKcsi4TXZ-Gxh8EcBgqPXSlgKAneiF2e-g/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUxqwSuzVD7LCEm9nh_YbwsYD4Nk_VB2Rbj5NiPeRRcE75tUwElrKtyi_zNHO6EWFX6QaJ8evJcTQJIWJF9_6I9OdlWHqz9_HJ3RtEfpsGXKcsi4TXZ-Gxh8EcBgqPXSlgKAneiF2e-g/s400/FullSizeRender+%252825%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uVJOuRZAcm9QacORjsUdVLGVhTZdanlsCr4UisQoYsrk141Jy2r8vstcquabu706qIQnou5f_nVmrG9ujB8pgEhDXpIG123NdVYuCgzFaXmE2afg8kNCaMAsI1R9EjfrdZytlvmUI7k/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uVJOuRZAcm9QacORjsUdVLGVhTZdanlsCr4UisQoYsrk141Jy2r8vstcquabu706qIQnou5f_nVmrG9ujB8pgEhDXpIG123NdVYuCgzFaXmE2afg8kNCaMAsI1R9EjfrdZytlvmUI7k/s400/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu6s4vq3k2n0G4uzMcbz5AA3kn9QcNzfF1KlUim_h4zBzhZBoOrloTW9Z_J06xvGqpmCfjYDFIULF0zsgLpCR0FOifq-0CE2lJqomp6lT-F9s4puxxY63xIybUOT7fjbXZql12WDiuGQ/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu6s4vq3k2n0G4uzMcbz5AA3kn9QcNzfF1KlUim_h4zBzhZBoOrloTW9Z_J06xvGqpmCfjYDFIULF0zsgLpCR0FOifq-0CE2lJqomp6lT-F9s4puxxY63xIybUOT7fjbXZql12WDiuGQ/s400/FullSizeRender+%252823%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx4YVmCeUPhpU_dpsFdwRdPuiVHgpH7tkuqflXaQEqQYvrMRakFwuZQTdE2Ftxo_t2qVOXwQh8Gp-vtRdEutsy6KPEDtRP47OUPGLKtw13xQE0Vk0JGrtcmd1fKYNhn0fsB8ROC_w8vE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx4YVmCeUPhpU_dpsFdwRdPuiVHgpH7tkuqflXaQEqQYvrMRakFwuZQTdE2Ftxo_t2qVOXwQh8Gp-vtRdEutsy6KPEDtRP47OUPGLKtw13xQE0Vk0JGrtcmd1fKYNhn0fsB8ROC_w8vE/s400/FullSizeRender+%252827%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqlFr7yeTcDS9Lhx0UQ9KLJnBgW_7YTzoRAgDSjnlzisSfZarluuNuZTc_ic-Tq1rhWhmoWl7k8bJr16pqgBDgTIJi_Hq-PSDZRF6o8gGjdZE5lIDMc1P1057kBjdjEGUVQ0d1i_HtE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252828%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqlFr7yeTcDS9Lhx0UQ9KLJnBgW_7YTzoRAgDSjnlzisSfZarluuNuZTc_ic-Tq1rhWhmoWl7k8bJr16pqgBDgTIJi_Hq-PSDZRF6o8gGjdZE5lIDMc1P1057kBjdjEGUVQ0d1i_HtE/s400/FullSizeRender+%252828%2529.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO9uGRjxen_v2MqfA6HNoObTbOD54NIe9Gdl7TqRZQENNG2tR9_ImGQXK-wLZExTI__sIJr8vxR2glC-RlOjUjKTQFVXKh7MBN30bV7hBU_Nwr_zBVUo5rnrQ6pPJtI33GL_diz2yJ3s/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252829%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO9uGRjxen_v2MqfA6HNoObTbOD54NIe9Gdl7TqRZQENNG2tR9_ImGQXK-wLZExTI__sIJr8vxR2glC-RlOjUjKTQFVXKh7MBN30bV7hBU_Nwr_zBVUo5rnrQ6pPJtI33GL_diz2yJ3s/s400/FullSizeRender+%252829%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oAcWzMIdsuik8yx9vsIFIFcgJrhayZVWKqzlbCnF45ckjH4vrojd-bjO67Qiu3xhRIyA01bEy6JtMamIj-7rjneB7DcM7NTur8ER0Z4roP-tlZVk9LM-hUNu3KMJWNA8q2PRsNJbhss/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oAcWzMIdsuik8yx9vsIFIFcgJrhayZVWKqzlbCnF45ckjH4vrojd-bjO67Qiu3xhRIyA01bEy6JtMamIj-7rjneB7DcM7NTur8ER0Z4roP-tlZVk9LM-hUNu3KMJWNA8q2PRsNJbhss/s400/FullSizeRender+%252830%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA9R2kv_3lE84J5jjxABEiCkOFf4JE2A_ECyRf1IYcl9hRggGnyp-ap0H2noHdWeMK_p1kOAWUA1sR6vpq1SkG4y9lcZKA-qKNlBmAhFu1hvwW86oOgl3SfV_7MHnpl29NJczgihSpe0/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252831%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA9R2kv_3lE84J5jjxABEiCkOFf4JE2A_ECyRf1IYcl9hRggGnyp-ap0H2noHdWeMK_p1kOAWUA1sR6vpq1SkG4y9lcZKA-qKNlBmAhFu1hvwW86oOgl3SfV_7MHnpl29NJczgihSpe0/s400/FullSizeRender+%252831%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-47307309638018580762016-03-24T22:36:00.001-07:002016-03-24T23:39:53.794-07:00The "Beth" HugI was sitting with my husband tonight and we were talking about what it was like to be newly married and all the things we have learned along the way. Oddly, we were talking about the size crock pot we had and how we should have bought a bigger one when we were first married. Then I said, "Yeah, one of those kinds of questions I could've asked my mom...I wish she was still here..."<br />
<br />
This statement set off a kind of domino effect of memories, connecting me to her again. Causing me to think about the questions I've had through the years that I would have asked her, drawing out long forgotten memories I had experienced with her.<br />
<br />
I think about all the things that that woman, who was my mother, has missed since she went away.<br />
<br />
One memory comes to mind on one particular day, it takes me to David's Bridal where I was picking out my wedding dress. I was in the store by myself, trying dresses on, one by one the attendant brought out each dress for me to put on...I was happy in the moment, happy that I had found love and someone to share my life with yet I was sad because my mom wasn't there offering me her opinions; I was full of joy because of the prospect of matrimony and how I wasn't going to be alone, yet I felt hollow at the fact that there was an empty chair where she was suppose to be. She wasn't there to help me pick out the most important dress I was to wear in my life.<br />
<br />
She was there countless times before in high school where we would choose dresses for proms and pageants, times that were fun, but times I foolishly took for granted. <br />
<br />
Pictures of my mom flash in my minds eye, as I vaguely remember what it was like to feel her presences in my life as a young girl barely 15 years old. A time in my own developing girlhood when I started to realize what an amazing person my mom really was.<br />
<br />
A time when I started to notice how the hardships of life affected her, yet she still managed to dance with me in the Kitchen to Aha's "Take On Me" after school.<br />
<br />
A time when I realized she worked so hard at dead-end jobs where she was over qualified and under paid yet still found the time to make it to track meets where she would cheer me on even if I was the last person to finish.<br />
<br />
A time when I started to realize that she was physically and mentally exhausted, yet still managed to smile at me and give me a big "Beth" hug and ask me how my day was.<br />
<br />
A time where I as a teenager acted out because of some superficial offense and how I took it out on her, yet she still managed to say she loved me and forgave me for my teenage immaturity ...<br />
<br />
A time where I saw with crystal clear clarity that she was the best mom in the whole world, my only mom...<br />
<br />
Then in the wee small hours of the night the phone rang, my dad answered it. He told me to get my sister up and get dressed. We traveled to a hospital, where the doctor took us to a little dim lighted room and told us that she didn't survive the car accident she had been involved in, that she was gone. She was gone.<br />
<br />
<br />
You know, there is an intense loneliness you experience when you loose the person who birthed you, nursed you and nurtured you.<br />
<br />
Even amidst the crowded blessings of a home such as mine there are still hints of loneliness in knowing that that one person who was your advocate, who was your flesh and blood, who was your one and only mom, is no longer residing on this earth.<br />
<br />
These questions that lead to remembering my mom happen very rarely and are a kind of wake up call to the fact that time makes memories distant. These moments revive that person's existence to life again in a cognitive way. The memories I have of her are alive and vivid, even if for just a few fleeting moments. They touch the emotions and stir them. The reality of my mom's absence is so profoundly realized. Yet the sweetness of her memory is regained into consciousness. It leads me on this rabbit trail of memories and emotions.<br />
<br />
I sit here and I quietly try to capture them.<br />
<br />
I day dream about what it would be like to pick up the phone and call her, to hear her voice on the other end. What would it be like to pick her brain? It's like I'm carrying on a a perpetual one-sided conversation that never ends... <br />
<br />
Motherhood also, has deeply connected me to my mom. As I'm in the day to day trenches, I can't count how many times I think about what it must have been like for her as she was going through this journey. <br />
<br />
How would she advise me now? What would it be like to hear her tell me about things she experienced as I try to raise my kids? Would she agree with how I'm raising them? <br />
<br />
The true reality of my life is that my mother is gone. I choose to not get bitter about it because I know there is purpose and plan to be carried out by a God who loves me. If there hadn't been the death of my mom, would I have learned to love the Lord the way that I do now? If that was the purpose, then I'll pursue that till the end of my own life. I don't mourn as others, I live in hope, in the hope that when my journey comes to an end, me and my mom's paths will cross again, and hey, maybe I'll be able to get one more "Beth" hug.Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-41527629062503966152016-02-29T11:49:00.002-08:002016-02-29T18:33:41.757-08:00Meet the Dark...Within the four walls of my very small world I am surrounded by the pitter-patter of tiny feet running up and down the halls of my home, getting the football linebacker hugs of my middle child, seeing my eldest develop into a kind motherly young girl, walking my second middle child to bathroom the 5th time in an hour to help her, the giggles of a 5 month chubby child "man" whom we refer to as "the boy,"who drools all over himself; he laughs with delight when I tickle his tummy as I change his diaper. I'm in awe of the miracle he his. <br />
<br />
My little world consists of the laundry to wash, the band-aides I put on, the barbies to dress, the mac n cheese to make and the covers to tuck in. During parts of my day, I teach high school students a Christ-centered approach to fitness (bodily exercise that profits a little), as well as teach them an art lost to modern feminism known as home economics. I help out our Pastor Emeritus in his efforts to be a blessing to the Israeli Defense Forces by being his secretary...my hubby gets my kisses before he goes to work in the morning and when he comes home almost 12 hours later. I spend Sunday, and Wednesday enjoying the fellowship of my church family worshiping God in what ever small capacity I can playing in our orchestra, singing in our choir or rocking our babies to sleep and picking up after toddlers in our Nursery. <br />
<br />
Within these four walls it's very easy to get caught up in life. The everyday life, being happy and content of what God has given to me as "my life." I've come to a point where I am happy, happy with my 4 kids, my husband, my part time job as a teacher and administrative assistant. I'm happy yes, oh so happy and more importantly I'm grateful. Grateful for all the things God has allowed me to accomplish and to posses and to experience. I shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun. Don't get me wrong, we have our share of struggles, but in general as the cliche goes, Life is Good.<br />
<br />
Why would I ever want to look out of the four walls of my wonderfully complete home and life? Well I look beyond my four walls because of what I see our world becoming. I look because soon this world will affect the lives of my kids more than I can possibly know. I look because of my desire to be ever learning and informed. This desire has never left me even as I've dove headfirst into the domestic arts called child rearing and homemaking. My Marine Intell background just stays with me. Although my time isn't as free as it use to be as a single carefree college student to be able to read as much as I want, I still try to remain well read. <br />
<br />
In my search for information, what I find truly shocks me. It wakes me up. Soberly, I see what the world is becoming because too many of us never venture out into the unknown because of what they might find. What I found today has my heart breaking. <br />
<br />
In my daily perusing of the news, I came across an article about a woman in Russia who decapitated a 4 year old girl she was babysitting, who then decided to parade that child's severed head around Moscow until the authorities were called. The details of the whole ordeal are absolutely unthinkable. Here's the article:<br />
<br />
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3469100/Woman-black-burka-holding-child-s-severed-HEAD-shouting-Allahu-Akbar-shuts-metro-station-Moscow.html<br />
<br />
My first thoughts after reading the article and trying to make sense of it is complete horror, then slowly I feel deep down inside a sense of gratitude. Gratitude, really? Yes, I'm grateful. I'm grateful because everyone of us in our natural state, a state free of the constraint of the Holy Spirit, that comes from God the Father and is embodied through the person of Jesus Christ, a sinful state, without Christ, is capable of such an evil. I'm grateful that for whatever reason, God allowed me as an 8 year old girl at my dad's kitchen table, where I accepted that grace freely. My thoughts then move to sadness, first for that innocent child killed, then to that darkened soul who was never given the light of the Love of Jesus. You know True Love constrains all of us. She was never given Jesus.<br />
<br />
I'm not afraid of that evil, but it shakes me to the core of who I am, to think that there is this kind of vile existence in our world. Most people don't want to wake up to the evil because it's too hard to think about. <br />
<br />
My heart breaks because of the evil I see, and you know, for evil to win is when good men do nothing. I tell about this horrendous story because we are at a tipping point in our society. We have been fed a lie. The national media will never let on to what is taking place in our country, because of greed and power lust. I share this story because like I said earlier it shakes us, and wakes us up to reality. In America, our four walls, we will begin to see more stuff like what I named above if we don't rise up collectively as a nation of people who care to stop it. To stand and DO!! To stand and do, you must first break away from the comfort of the four walls of your world. Then you must place yourself in a place of uneasiness. As a nation we've gotten too comfortable with all of our entertainment and distractions. <br />
<br />
Lately, I've heard people tell me that this election isn't about electing a Pastor, and that Cruz is too good, that he wouldn't win because of his standards. Well maybe I hear people say that because sadly they've lost their faith. And they've become comfortable to settle for what the mainstream decides. You know if God still doesn't, He IS STILL GOOD. So why not prove Him for a change and forget about who is the most electable and just do the right thing, because IT'S STILL RIGHT. <br />
<br />
This little man, "Freddie Freddie french fry," as I sometimes chant to him, and his three sisters are why I venture out into to a dark world, I try to meet the darkness with His Light, whether it be by giving some one a gospel tract, opening a door, picking up litter, forgiving a rude driver...I meet the dark with love, you know love isn't a feeling, it's an action. What will your reason be to meet the dark?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzElZ7uxUJm7MxCLenOYdW-WQSy-QH-pgGGGvfKKoOi7Zil3lvLctWlbyPXD-NSZyCT-QxwHU-Q6ZFI5GGfz82c1VyQOTvL1POZc2sIi1TtoPn-scpyJ7-bY6bREhuZPqQrlUAN354z5k/s1600/IMG_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzElZ7uxUJm7MxCLenOYdW-WQSy-QH-pgGGGvfKKoOi7Zil3lvLctWlbyPXD-NSZyCT-QxwHU-Q6ZFI5GGfz82c1VyQOTvL1POZc2sIi1TtoPn-scpyJ7-bY6bREhuZPqQrlUAN354z5k/s640/IMG_2231.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-51266085793413478882015-11-14T21:33:00.000-08:002015-11-14T21:33:06.631-08:00Cup of Joy: Cozy Chamomile, FMR III Newborn PicturesThe kids are sleeping; I have a cup of tea and I thought it would be great time to upload some pictures. I attempted to take some pictures of Frederick as a newborn. <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxjIetNpyzNjsY3ZyPpfUaAUAIYsIM6uGZm7PBL6x8YVNFfVe9MiHEIRR4qsQpTfn51LjT3u1sSYyt0TsM4gkzHfTmQZTZAncdvbKvQd6Ak8qAtnJCOucK6VEmTj6vMmqOSEK41qa0U/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxjIetNpyzNjsY3ZyPpfUaAUAIYsIM6uGZm7PBL6x8YVNFfVe9MiHEIRR4qsQpTfn51LjT3u1sSYyt0TsM4gkzHfTmQZTZAncdvbKvQd6Ak8qAtnJCOucK6VEmTj6vMmqOSEK41qa0U/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m6ddt30hrniV9Qa_d1zN1Jin4gdIiyJHQOD1AdzLwG7uh4yvuXHww8GxNjQYBFVSeC42QvfzIStpMMMf86Jz3a5v8OQCyW-DN9ZwKbxSlfh8hjI_K4bsp0FelVLJQLlygIltbFGyN6Y/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m6ddt30hrniV9Qa_d1zN1Jin4gdIiyJHQOD1AdzLwG7uh4yvuXHww8GxNjQYBFVSeC42QvfzIStpMMMf86Jz3a5v8OQCyW-DN9ZwKbxSlfh8hjI_K4bsp0FelVLJQLlygIltbFGyN6Y/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpty5eyk2iGacKpcKRPmCEo_nuVECwuEZHJYB1nQ-dqZ02bbGwRK0udHYVYRIXErZ4yi4Tp3Su7KNFwpV9lPwm7Jqf0jtGYa7Hl1C_fO1haL77Vi8USrl2pQ19H7NZcnp7LE02FINEgpg/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpty5eyk2iGacKpcKRPmCEo_nuVECwuEZHJYB1nQ-dqZ02bbGwRK0udHYVYRIXErZ4yi4Tp3Su7KNFwpV9lPwm7Jqf0jtGYa7Hl1C_fO1haL77Vi8USrl2pQ19H7NZcnp7LE02FINEgpg/s320/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqaAY65UXlccMrt5Bl324Lcwzo0bVSH4w4bMJOaN7358yXfbjiyXxGm-737M8XET8xjqJ3FLKfjS-hv_vlmdldKcbL9p2zE0unTrcJkb_LtSda7QXDtynkHrRI-o1XtWHPJSkrduOnCs/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqaAY65UXlccMrt5Bl324Lcwzo0bVSH4w4bMJOaN7358yXfbjiyXxGm-737M8XET8xjqJ3FLKfjS-hv_vlmdldKcbL9p2zE0unTrcJkb_LtSda7QXDtynkHrRI-o1XtWHPJSkrduOnCs/s320/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z3yAasdTSAjUzYXcIBtmAPZ288M-9_Zk3tGlJlusUTUKO6XJRpYdUK7sHwcNq7gNMPIUWs3mSDgeQDlWQujNX4k7Iif5uzgX9V1aD0vYx-hq2i8N9JN-PcQaaKkQz_d87Q9_iqco5k8/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z3yAasdTSAjUzYXcIBtmAPZ288M-9_Zk3tGlJlusUTUKO6XJRpYdUK7sHwcNq7gNMPIUWs3mSDgeQDlWQujNX4k7Iif5uzgX9V1aD0vYx-hq2i8N9JN-PcQaaKkQz_d87Q9_iqco5k8/s320/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34GoweRw4vy8Ca64FIZ5xzJEhUs_TB7l1iDJVlPLnMLB6Y2P1lHAK7Yn4aPHgFsog6qHSke4hVjPDZkoaMPFCmF_-6Dcw423mGqwobuPSrkgoPKetFkYVo4XvejWi0sZYdW9rlJz54FE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34GoweRw4vy8Ca64FIZ5xzJEhUs_TB7l1iDJVlPLnMLB6Y2P1lHAK7Yn4aPHgFsog6qHSke4hVjPDZkoaMPFCmF_-6Dcw423mGqwobuPSrkgoPKetFkYVo4XvejWi0sZYdW9rlJz54FE/s320/FullSizeRender+%25288%2529.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcci7lCjUMMIYgB9t9yCwCLEkw95fQYZDvTHEWIpUyPx7ZtVCs5ZrjSrdHfIZZICUzi7dQgwc6Dk3Re-jxXHJC75OuJBgv8Me8XanjV1GNMpn0fKmZ0i7QyugkQKmXswvLHIqy8r4iXY/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcci7lCjUMMIYgB9t9yCwCLEkw95fQYZDvTHEWIpUyPx7ZtVCs5ZrjSrdHfIZZICUzi7dQgwc6Dk3Re-jxXHJC75OuJBgv8Me8XanjV1GNMpn0fKmZ0i7QyugkQKmXswvLHIqy8r4iXY/s320/FullSizeRender+%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3VvH1pUA6t5UHIcIbUDtC0mV6kzej_kWaMTo3iGkKWHQI8yMKsIq3RaWaOm2eQWc-dD-mw5qjqSTsDLo8Rrsw_ie3St_IVm1-UGtjVt4-EbBx2E_lbPPyPgxUkyDPRohtFtdvqcaCgQ/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3VvH1pUA6t5UHIcIbUDtC0mV6kzej_kWaMTo3iGkKWHQI8yMKsIq3RaWaOm2eQWc-dD-mw5qjqSTsDLo8Rrsw_ie3St_IVm1-UGtjVt4-EbBx2E_lbPPyPgxUkyDPRohtFtdvqcaCgQ/s320/FullSizeRender+%252810%2529.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlzE-cqQ3sLcQ73w_JaHbFqnQVhXSXkgTgFtWqxn5VSoa9yTj9lF1OQV-hmGRSRDX3BWFz6HzWO_EftzDmfljLklv_JK1um2Z6zHgN6fdzas-hy4uph7XahnO5Dp3i18B_5oeRonEz-E/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlzE-cqQ3sLcQ73w_JaHbFqnQVhXSXkgTgFtWqxn5VSoa9yTj9lF1OQV-hmGRSRDX3BWFz6HzWO_EftzDmfljLklv_JK1um2Z6zHgN6fdzas-hy4uph7XahnO5Dp3i18B_5oeRonEz-E/s320/FullSizeRender+%252811%2529.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSyrqE0UoizUBmHRZ9zS0HqPhYIvE-GOoAUnnyzolyNl6GpanjZiT0EQXSzGZKwKCNL5T6jbckGTo81lTu4gm02gZLgLPEo09141G5_rEp_xcDDs3EBmDS_1Az2Btx91YW5Yk20_BJ3Q/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSyrqE0UoizUBmHRZ9zS0HqPhYIvE-GOoAUnnyzolyNl6GpanjZiT0EQXSzGZKwKCNL5T6jbckGTo81lTu4gm02gZLgLPEo09141G5_rEp_xcDDs3EBmDS_1Az2Btx91YW5Yk20_BJ3Q/s320/FullSizeRender+%252812%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngwxJNJC-i48E0FdKpH9ZqTaFjctbdsK3mlXSUBM3cxLwBVGQcR1AATwgWC_K714-aaTNVmr3ifXlCxlV1LcZzU3_m-E8fVpmSwH5fVkfjpRuXe3ysuwkv-RmcOR0lo2y7eyBeGMiJK8/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngwxJNJC-i48E0FdKpH9ZqTaFjctbdsK3mlXSUBM3cxLwBVGQcR1AATwgWC_K714-aaTNVmr3ifXlCxlV1LcZzU3_m-E8fVpmSwH5fVkfjpRuXe3ysuwkv-RmcOR0lo2y7eyBeGMiJK8/s320/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3p301dDeQHab5z08CgKi8TVeckK6_1XDTj3XLZr76N2-Hbgnh7K2-NSCLspyaL0sGVflFVSwmR_83aYWBHcxf2QYVYUobJbeLEzcJAcyAjJ_dDTRQTPLmr38PdRyXNjrBc9TXmOPiFs/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3p301dDeQHab5z08CgKi8TVeckK6_1XDTj3XLZr76N2-Hbgnh7K2-NSCLspyaL0sGVflFVSwmR_83aYWBHcxf2QYVYUobJbeLEzcJAcyAjJ_dDTRQTPLmr38PdRyXNjrBc9TXmOPiFs/s320/FullSizeRender+%252814%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xej-AwWDlxePO964QXDoDP5cW6qX_KLkbw8k-DIovepwOaiN0GQ2RcXLzI8SvvHoqOCJIHDcqUQIXPDeUrccqH-ZfOhvhjeSPnf7kd_3o1Sx27DXDfqHZyQuKrec75-UrYO0uKkP3vw/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xej-AwWDlxePO964QXDoDP5cW6qX_KLkbw8k-DIovepwOaiN0GQ2RcXLzI8SvvHoqOCJIHDcqUQIXPDeUrccqH-ZfOhvhjeSPnf7kd_3o1Sx27DXDfqHZyQuKrec75-UrYO0uKkP3vw/s320/FullSizeRender+%252815%2529.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVKIwot0ZCVkdN5EukN-rDsEilSoRKfLkAECaozgnlEf73VoGvFHN1tzWYhOnpxFIMbhaCiAYIhEbdW0RF4XQLLyvhu3VWmxkwblNZf6LKxGDb7IEBwbHcGdFhPFXvAtqae2uOpBu7Zw/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVKIwot0ZCVkdN5EukN-rDsEilSoRKfLkAECaozgnlEf73VoGvFHN1tzWYhOnpxFIMbhaCiAYIhEbdW0RF4XQLLyvhu3VWmxkwblNZf6LKxGDb7IEBwbHcGdFhPFXvAtqae2uOpBu7Zw/s320/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mAdBedBR6DN1xZxo-RSXJ_WNoi4qZmZcq755Yc0GH696zG0dLm8iLxTuvhAsc2iOSMWyaw83nc89wqcVGG-7A9zc_GnjLOjO6y9LnWBBeDVX_oNMD_UqHds6nkmf16kmDP0ZKrV9IHE/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mAdBedBR6DN1xZxo-RSXJ_WNoi4qZmZcq755Yc0GH696zG0dLm8iLxTuvhAsc2iOSMWyaw83nc89wqcVGG-7A9zc_GnjLOjO6y9LnWBBeDVX_oNMD_UqHds6nkmf16kmDP0ZKrV9IHE/s320/FullSizeRender+%252817%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHadF6ZqJKI8CHoM5hW1VUz19QK8chQau0JDhb_JI98BRu_BIHtEGS2bxUuWztejg9waATfjYnceI1Uj7NL-pJF9HvCC4UxJiGD3y1oXKL9uw0hwiBDulRB_A246R8kgyaGEaBM4bQAA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHadF6ZqJKI8CHoM5hW1VUz19QK8chQau0JDhb_JI98BRu_BIHtEGS2bxUuWztejg9waATfjYnceI1Uj7NL-pJF9HvCC4UxJiGD3y1oXKL9uw0hwiBDulRB_A246R8kgyaGEaBM4bQAA/s320/FullSizeRender+%252818%2529.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnYJOG9vf3Zhyphenhyphen2kcI_rSjs-4a92_rhy2ag26O5rKmof-nHmbxdFCqqMA5zn4iXrbs5HJxOUrcqCQi1ay7WUqWRen17hpUFj_vza2g_FHazb5DMI7k_WIbWMmf_T3OJf2wruW-m8Qnm-4/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnYJOG9vf3Zhyphenhyphen2kcI_rSjs-4a92_rhy2ag26O5rKmof-nHmbxdFCqqMA5zn4iXrbs5HJxOUrcqCQi1ay7WUqWRen17hpUFj_vza2g_FHazb5DMI7k_WIbWMmf_T3OJf2wruW-m8Qnm-4/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HrDhYkdOR2MtwwNdn9NuJ45H6T-nGb_uPRwI3N9KREa__mbNN-STz_zSWPBjGJzF3rrr5VIHl2ewFURykcf-OM0_TAsgZkftweUyKGoX_F7HUv3Ek6lEUtDbzzQoBXi4fTxVJdq-sAQ/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HrDhYkdOR2MtwwNdn9NuJ45H6T-nGb_uPRwI3N9KREa__mbNN-STz_zSWPBjGJzF3rrr5VIHl2ewFURykcf-OM0_TAsgZkftweUyKGoX_F7HUv3Ek6lEUtDbzzQoBXi4fTxVJdq-sAQ/s320/IMG_1053.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-1UKnjH1X7fkf15WRpZR-q8iCugobXmfDZHF1tm2ukGVpTzcllXKASRjbDe69a00LTKwZUYHV_KIyBc1izaRCTRnfeY6I0ug9z3iA8hG9z6mzKHUDGI1fGzYlnJF8lEJSQ9l13Vh0ek/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-1UKnjH1X7fkf15WRpZR-q8iCugobXmfDZHF1tm2ukGVpTzcllXKASRjbDe69a00LTKwZUYHV_KIyBc1izaRCTRnfeY6I0ug9z3iA8hG9z6mzKHUDGI1fGzYlnJF8lEJSQ9l13Vh0ek/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK__sA2G8kwQBVMf0_Up7iSWQQA6GrwxSFx_wC-1Ca53lvJXVFmTDLSp3AM9OSXtcmyF_weGLAGOuXYOjXCfG3b67xhd3yjCshf57Mzg8U-0z78j43cN4jW8sSUZX-nlu5ssk-5JgU2Fw/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK__sA2G8kwQBVMf0_Up7iSWQQA6GrwxSFx_wC-1Ca53lvJXVFmTDLSp3AM9OSXtcmyF_weGLAGOuXYOjXCfG3b67xhd3yjCshf57Mzg8U-0z78j43cN4jW8sSUZX-nlu5ssk-5JgU2Fw/s320/IMG_1063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kCh51Blt7VNSs_zoO1YVNmbIr6ZuXGM3PnQ0aNAjWkMu2TKz01OozAKQaPc-e_lHgvGAjR_WOu38bebCzpkkJ-I9QDP4La7WzjCQ4-Yk49quLz38zBuV-Q4hMIYJDzSXWF5bM5oILZA/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kCh51Blt7VNSs_zoO1YVNmbIr6ZuXGM3PnQ0aNAjWkMu2TKz01OozAKQaPc-e_lHgvGAjR_WOu38bebCzpkkJ-I9QDP4La7WzjCQ4-Yk49quLz38zBuV-Q4hMIYJDzSXWF5bM5oILZA/s320/IMG_1069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz33pL8qmNt_duJdEJlzFuFlzmL-A6eRX3Wv7h6IHIwtyzH3-Jqded9prVbcwBhNt1wv-p_PpfJ4O2PpruM42QuBo64yQsKn2RB8STAFcgTn2UWONe7WBioQ4flz8UvD42mG6f4G529BY/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz33pL8qmNt_duJdEJlzFuFlzmL-A6eRX3Wv7h6IHIwtyzH3-Jqded9prVbcwBhNt1wv-p_PpfJ4O2PpruM42QuBo64yQsKn2RB8STAFcgTn2UWONe7WBioQ4flz8UvD42mG6f4G529BY/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd30N_nTdQVdpoDrMPwkOYTWG0oEzXGhAtHOL7mFW-E5OuIA9hnZ1Ih9uLFOmofALl7YMl3ClRFkhocnZYR4oG1BjrzJHEsMrLnBHQDaMWvB1iJ19AmFaVSqp_gMuqr0Z4XBdtuvMNfRU/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd30N_nTdQVdpoDrMPwkOYTWG0oEzXGhAtHOL7mFW-E5OuIA9hnZ1Ih9uLFOmofALl7YMl3ClRFkhocnZYR4oG1BjrzJHEsMrLnBHQDaMWvB1iJ19AmFaVSqp_gMuqr0Z4XBdtuvMNfRU/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-15294466873328789882015-09-01T14:56:00.000-07:002015-09-01T15:14:46.843-07:00The Little ThingsI'm in the last stages of this pregnancy. In an attempt to get the baby's nursery ready I've been collecting things for a while. Sometime back, I came by a crib bed set made by Kola Baby, it's a brand you find at Babies R Us, and I picked it up at a Thrift store for $12.98... I was super pleased because it was an Alpha Bet, Animal theme...so basically I could go anywhere with it. You know how expensive that stuff can be it you buy it brand new. It's been fun decorating the nursery for Baby Freddie and piecing together all the things. We took out the guest bed and made it a dual purpose room. Since our family is growing, the girls needed a bigger area to play and a place to store toys and of course it's the nursery. I guess it's always been a dual purpose room, now it will serve three functions...anyway, yesterday I thought it would be fun to go shopping for some things that I still needed, so I packed up the girls after school and headed to Babies R Us. It was fun to walk around and look at all the pretty things, but being who I am, I couldn't break down and buy a crib sheet for $18....the girls had fun too, they have these kid-size plush stuffed animals that they can actually get on and ride...I headed over to where they were and looked down at the price...$160...I told the girls to come along as we perused the clearance section...I didn't see anything so we left the store. That night I told Mike just in passing about the animals we saw and how it would be kind of neat to have one for the Baby's room....but of course we both just laughed because we both agreed that $160 was a bit ridiculous.<br />
<br />
<br />
Today I had to get me teeth cleaned, on the way back from my appointment, I wanted to make a quick stop by a Thrift store I frequent to see what they had. As I walked in the front door, over to the left, there it stood, a kid-sized plush riding pony. I laughed out loud. I walked over to it; the price was surely right!! -$20. I bought it and took it home. I was just so tickled, I had to call Mike. <br />
I really do believe that an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Present, Sovereign God sees pleasure in being a loving Father to His Own, that horse just so "happened" to be in that Thrift store as I just so "happened" to be driving to pick up my girls from the sitter. <br />
I know that in the scheme of things the pony really is not that big of a deal, but I feel like so many times we miss out on the little things that God does. We forget that He daily loads us with blessings and benefits. It is a big deal to me, He is real to me not because He gives me what I want, but because He cares for me in the smallest of ways. Thank you Lord for even the little things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_831626671"></span><span id="goog_831626672"><br /></span>Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-27106146559103102232015-06-25T17:37:00.000-07:002015-06-25T17:45:57.322-07:00BreathI've been thinking a lot lately about moral absolutes; what they are, where they come from and why they are so important to have. I guess I've been thinking about it because of all the stuff that's going on in our culture: the attack on marriage and family, gender confusion, the murder of the unborn, lack of national pride and the out right treasonous behavior of our Leaders. I'm not ashamed to say that perversion is still perversion, murder is still murder, disrespect is still disrespect, hate is still hate and I could go on. I feel overwhelmed because it seems like our culture is morally backwards, literally the opposite of what I was taught right seems to be wrong. And to top it off, because I believe in traditional morality I'm targeted as a bigot, hater, dumb, and other such insults. <br />
<br />
<br />
I don't know, I've just felt compelled to get back to the source of my morality, you know, back to the basics. I've started a study in my Bible on Biblical Standards, to refresh myself, if you will, on why it is I believe what I believe. If you aren't aware, my moral absolutes come from the Bible. Oh I can hear the hissing now, "oh great another 'Bible Thumper'", their saying. But you know, amidst the cultural upheaval of these absolutes, I've been asking my self why? Why is the Bible my absolute? Why is the Bible such an important book for me? Why do I read it everyday? Why do I teach my children from it? Why am I finding lately, that it's so precious to me? <br />
<br />
<br />
This first study I did was such a blessing to me. Have you ever felt sure of something, but then after looking into it more closely, you were doubly convinced and there was nothing that anyone could do to change your mind? Well that happened to me today while doing this. <br />
<br />
<br />
I've started the study out of a handbook, by Scott Hanks, in his Walk in Truth Series, "Biblical Standards, King James Bible". This is what I learned today. The mainstream perception of this Book has led many to question its purpose. It's been tainted and walked all over in academia as just a Book, a book of allegorical stories and moral tales, or poems, lowering its contents to that of the Grimm's Fairy Tales, or some Shakespearean work. Touting it as just some mere work of man. <br />
<br />
<br />
It's not just a man written Book. <br />
<br />
<br />
Here is why the Bible isn't just a book wacko's misquote. Here is why the Bible is the very founding document of my country. Here is why it is the moral compass of any civilized society. Here is why it's so precious to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><strong>"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (our guiding principles, divine law, our laws), for reproof (to excite a sense of guilt, to enforce those said laws), for correction (to set us right for when we do go against our laws), for instruction (to teach said laws) in righteousness (the purity of heart, conformity of heart and life to divine law)" 2 Timothy 3:16</strong></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>THE BIBLE (IS):</u></strong><br />
Psalms 19:7-11, Proverbs 30:5, Romans 3:2, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Peter 1:19-21<br />
1- perfect; converting my soul ( I was saved at age 8)<br />
2- sure; making me wise, (I'm just a simple minded person, but I've seen the Bible make up for that in me<br />
3- right; rejoicing my heart (No matter what kind of circumstances come to my life-the death of my mom, or the everyday (sometimes feels like) grind, I always have something to be glad about, or thankful for.<br />
4- pure; enlightening my eyes (To see past the veil of my human emotions to see things clearer and as they ought to be seen)<br />
5- clean; enduring forever (The truths I was taught as a child haven't changed as I am an adult, its' truths are from before time began)<br />
6- true (It's Creator wouldn't lie to me, so when I'm in need of advise, I open its' pages)<br />
7- righteous (There are no strings attached with its' pages, it makes me a better person)<br />
8- a shield (It keeps me from sin)<br />
9- (was) given to the Jews (Its' Words were diligently preserved by the efforts of the scribes of old, then given to the New Testament Authors)<br />
10- alive (I go to it everyday because it's words are living testimony for me, it's the bread I need daily)<br />
11- powerful (Its' words transformed my life)<br />
12- sharp (It cuts to my soul)<br />
13- pierces (It convicts me when I'm doing wrong)<br />
14- divides the soul and spirit<br />
15- a discerner of the thoughts and intents of my heart<br />
16- a light (When it's dark, I open my Bible to get some sunshine)<br />
17- not of man's design or the will of man.<br />
18- <strong>THE BIBLE IS THE VERY BREATH OF GOD!</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong><br />
Each time I open its' pages, I want God to breath on me. <br />
<br />
<br />
In a small way, when things seem dire and bleak for my country, I know where I will get my wisdom, the wisdom of the One who created me and it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-23838180936216935352015-04-15T11:13:00.000-07:002015-04-15T11:14:10.417-07:00Happy Thanksgiving! Part 1It's a little late in coming, but here are the highlights...<br />
<br />
<br />
The family came and the fun began. <br />
<br />
This Thanksgiving was wonderful. My brother, his wife, and their three girls drove 20 some hours from PA to be with my family. My sister, her husband and their dog also drove 22 some hours from Nevada to be with us for Thanksgiving. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBsvDRSU5EeYVmgqLPFZ8FbbYT-MI8bwU8sQt9-rnp3K5Esl4Uh-AH9WtkREqetlqWgbBpesVtuYyf2V_An5BnLHe7r5h2Hz_b8i7emiph-aQyqylYouGJmcC8WjGNrnXejzjH_kzFN0/s1600/photo+4-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBsvDRSU5EeYVmgqLPFZ8FbbYT-MI8bwU8sQt9-rnp3K5Esl4Uh-AH9WtkREqetlqWgbBpesVtuYyf2V_An5BnLHe7r5h2Hz_b8i7emiph-aQyqylYouGJmcC8WjGNrnXejzjH_kzFN0/s1600/photo+4-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrdCkI13GYVMlh1XBzhXnhLnbadMq-HvAV0j7uwWjVJPk0Tuobtp2XgAWBXfVqFvOdsqlaI6C9klAkqo4Z8apMgSKroTv6of_X3n4cbcnx0E_qUnLOIwSLRobUz-868PKvy4hMy2MTt8/s1600/photo+3-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrdCkI13GYVMlh1XBzhXnhLnbadMq-HvAV0j7uwWjVJPk0Tuobtp2XgAWBXfVqFvOdsqlaI6C9klAkqo4Z8apMgSKroTv6of_X3n4cbcnx0E_qUnLOIwSLRobUz-868PKvy4hMy2MTt8/s1600/photo+3-5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaavcabpZxmQZCV4U9POXy0cY7ddFqQmeLDrLL2a0IVDjfLZb7cyrD6ftWdO3jvgRIke-KlAWGJLpr_nrk-EF8reLPj_FICghA8JyAU4PEhvboCS7VACGeeafxQ0V4aqrtuuEbImMAAg/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaavcabpZxmQZCV4U9POXy0cY7ddFqQmeLDrLL2a0IVDjfLZb7cyrD6ftWdO3jvgRIke-KlAWGJLpr_nrk-EF8reLPj_FICghA8JyAU4PEhvboCS7VACGeeafxQ0V4aqrtuuEbImMAAg/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7aYhIJCfNUoHND-a-2iEtCzhgOVZVWCQuKY7kLUxshaYxUYsCiniyNDSQcltCOkWllyg8te78BTEa9Lq8MzBGij2zb7LzJ9AqQFCBvkJmkgTr9FyBJbPGGYNKjsz0vg0SS5RbhI82J4/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7aYhIJCfNUoHND-a-2iEtCzhgOVZVWCQuKY7kLUxshaYxUYsCiniyNDSQcltCOkWllyg8te78BTEa9Lq8MzBGij2zb7LzJ9AqQFCBvkJmkgTr9FyBJbPGGYNKjsz0vg0SS5RbhI82J4/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The Buchko Games<br />
<br />
The first day they were here we decided to have a day at the park. The kids played and ran around. The weather was perfect. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL23bVu0lbSgS_0eDiu0-6Mqq0y-2AcKwDByfHYFFUupppEJQQKKJkEjIuA-_1KSditYKxj9Xx9i2MfILNabZnxwCD_Vup2BHvcKFJ0H43NL6gaxMLtmeRiZEwea66mvQr-cXSTfXw_h0/s1600/photo+1-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL23bVu0lbSgS_0eDiu0-6Mqq0y-2AcKwDByfHYFFUupppEJQQKKJkEjIuA-_1KSditYKxj9Xx9i2MfILNabZnxwCD_Vup2BHvcKFJ0H43NL6gaxMLtmeRiZEwea66mvQr-cXSTfXw_h0/s1600/photo+1-6.JPG" height="378" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TZpoj5hriNQmbgByamts5LsPNXS-wwfQO7qNYB50n2aaJUlvPUTeMDH6I-EqcakKmTbhP5j14g4j3tH-kgy6hcyNbvIEZAjgXdtprtHf8Npn4rSYNPsNRx41ynEiHYLBZCRJM2r_GP8/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TZpoj5hriNQmbgByamts5LsPNXS-wwfQO7qNYB50n2aaJUlvPUTeMDH6I-EqcakKmTbhP5j14g4j3tH-kgy6hcyNbvIEZAjgXdtprtHf8Npn4rSYNPsNRx41ynEiHYLBZCRJM2r_GP8/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMip0PbPsBhuWmSkoSWMx7_i_Ptv-sLmoXX0v99LkFME4IraTkwBMxoudPGPUz6roGL1qKd9ii5j__DXtCx_zHghlEFw3eq8-3ogYqzsl-wWA84sMGRcrQ3tztfSY6Zq2vnYwtwPl4VM/s1600/photo+3-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMip0PbPsBhuWmSkoSWMx7_i_Ptv-sLmoXX0v99LkFME4IraTkwBMxoudPGPUz6roGL1qKd9ii5j__DXtCx_zHghlEFw3eq8-3ogYqzsl-wWA84sMGRcrQ3tztfSY6Zq2vnYwtwPl4VM/s1600/photo+3-6.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucvyhuITlULGERgIZ79KhMCCcw5z9lfgE79TkZoI3OPZEqUxGuLXC2y5KaM7UgCal60dUbIaF_Pgu98DY7ClRdAJBDRZRs8uU6K-1VUXaLWEHk2GJBS-j1nkE05-gAEZS39sz_sN2z4/s1600/photo+4-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnucvyhuITlULGERgIZ79KhMCCcw5z9lfgE79TkZoI3OPZEqUxGuLXC2y5KaM7UgCal60dUbIaF_Pgu98DY7ClRdAJBDRZRs8uU6K-1VUXaLWEHk2GJBS-j1nkE05-gAEZS39sz_sN2z4/s1600/photo+4-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zTjee605Yp-AxcjQ8qmieT177c5mv5iBQ_rel2KynB5OCuRe6WkCGpmQaD0f97uXywXhLg-eLYCSAdz2iyyhqkK8kvwGEoi2wyp_Vgjn6ra24fzupn6Kr8hPlr2VCk4uWUPGJmgpZzg/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zTjee605Yp-AxcjQ8qmieT177c5mv5iBQ_rel2KynB5OCuRe6WkCGpmQaD0f97uXywXhLg-eLYCSAdz2iyyhqkK8kvwGEoi2wyp_Vgjn6ra24fzupn6Kr8hPlr2VCk4uWUPGJmgpZzg/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZMxVHYoJkhpFWdHZixKbnAMx4QwcTycuuz3wD4dMCv8nRmpbkUTfMsoFjAg98YX6_f_q8l2RaUZPw4R1RzX_zJEmSZXJ3iuIZ00-YqeYQXPuULFyLuzuSuc_kaB9CdzDplhrLLcMus/s1600/photo+3-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZMxVHYoJkhpFWdHZixKbnAMx4QwcTycuuz3wD4dMCv8nRmpbkUTfMsoFjAg98YX6_f_q8l2RaUZPw4R1RzX_zJEmSZXJ3iuIZ00-YqeYQXPuULFyLuzuSuc_kaB9CdzDplhrLLcMus/s1600/photo+3-7.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLan66wJ2806zi6nQ_to6rnh5misyVPCXbEOXcOoAAMRvKXFoSeoTtkBNm34_-Cp_WxemGYFhAlaCEUfHq8GSuU-BShHbfpIQ_lbtKXmcb3yLnYL0jLotAi2RkgDj8oEPKnxzOnIxOc4/s1600/photo+1-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLan66wJ2806zi6nQ_to6rnh5misyVPCXbEOXcOoAAMRvKXFoSeoTtkBNm34_-Cp_WxemGYFhAlaCEUfHq8GSuU-BShHbfpIQ_lbtKXmcb3yLnYL0jLotAi2RkgDj8oEPKnxzOnIxOc4/s1600/photo+1-7.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_wZoPZvmT58Z6FYJwjuAQ6_n54fX4aMjZPlbgDbu7SHvb9LTmc0AmeeF2LJcB0VieizYpi13uEBLMA0U8iAyG8ByuxOsLuPiWwGXFJjhlR7jHFYtPw1laFeCJL2oqDAWNKw6vK3HA_Y/s1600/photo+2-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_wZoPZvmT58Z6FYJwjuAQ6_n54fX4aMjZPlbgDbu7SHvb9LTmc0AmeeF2LJcB0VieizYpi13uEBLMA0U8iAyG8ByuxOsLuPiWwGXFJjhlR7jHFYtPw1laFeCJL2oqDAWNKw6vK3HA_Y/s1600/photo+2-7.JPG" height="400" width="295" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUfthnEpuVcElPYVdqNXGjeDWvhae1VlgMx6j-msBO4H-i0v13-2f-igTlszdFRi3-vc1WPYynvIyUjYRjjOvq4BzRKy7olMd8QwTUbJB9DdTacini4Y1MtyS6WECAe5gLdNg6DUjzTo/s1600/photo+3-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUfthnEpuVcElPYVdqNXGjeDWvhae1VlgMx6j-msBO4H-i0v13-2f-igTlszdFRi3-vc1WPYynvIyUjYRjjOvq4BzRKy7olMd8QwTUbJB9DdTacini4Y1MtyS6WECAe5gLdNg6DUjzTo/s1600/photo+3-8.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWXD7L604vHrQgTXS_EhHIp5y1CvdWc89nDaSVFFGH7q1UmaVprZWYZAJ2b3CVtFyJO5hyphenhyphenqMInOLF-8uR16_dZ9gfewVlpvoeclb6918L2fitmj4C1CieEZposgMRZ0gkU1y52-xF7L0/s1600/photo+1-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWXD7L604vHrQgTXS_EhHIp5y1CvdWc89nDaSVFFGH7q1UmaVprZWYZAJ2b3CVtFyJO5hyphenhyphenqMInOLF-8uR16_dZ9gfewVlpvoeclb6918L2fitmj4C1CieEZposgMRZ0gkU1y52-xF7L0/s1600/photo+1-8.JPG" height="640" width="392" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In true Buchko Form, we had to have some sort of competition, so we decided to have the "Buchko Games," as you can see, it turned into a family affair. We found a big rubber tire in the park from the Nazarene College. We used this as our object in the games.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNPMTIPf9a3OFv9diqoJdd-QI129bKQUZosXs2Tg6o0XmTYRiYk8T1PBAc4DD6DKQeHscl_a-TvNq7iApS8SiQw837GZ85KaTpsZt_8gJvw1W-MAvn2GywP4nBvq-Ezt_7Hsah7W0PdY/s1600/photo+4-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNPMTIPf9a3OFv9diqoJdd-QI129bKQUZosXs2Tg6o0XmTYRiYk8T1PBAc4DD6DKQeHscl_a-TvNq7iApS8SiQw837GZ85KaTpsZt_8gJvw1W-MAvn2GywP4nBvq-Ezt_7Hsah7W0PdY/s1600/photo+4-6.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyJigq-PMv63o1Cmp1sxgoxTFTftWWz3gkrn-bR3klXWyITkkUe2E_X6__TphWz9jFIW11kFETmk3iDr-s1DGQ7v_vvItMycseFxjD2gdG-ZcakEtoi1mPFrwpvqb6kI1-jeJm_MJRoo/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyJigq-PMv63o1Cmp1sxgoxTFTftWWz3gkrn-bR3klXWyITkkUe2E_X6__TphWz9jFIW11kFETmk3iDr-s1DGQ7v_vvItMycseFxjD2gdG-ZcakEtoi1mPFrwpvqb6kI1-jeJm_MJRoo/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILhYKyxC33dQ_xV2q2_TnfloIQ9dZdXGjyVkFm5VAfyd10fVOX34Mjo5Ihuq1uZQWV_kLPB5dvTJtwlpE2PLdznOzSkQivYWAL9_RyhVgl20QJEyPGhy7-X7StuleAJYDOQ48iueTtXs/s1600/photo+4-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILhYKyxC33dQ_xV2q2_TnfloIQ9dZdXGjyVkFm5VAfyd10fVOX34Mjo5Ihuq1uZQWV_kLPB5dvTJtwlpE2PLdznOzSkQivYWAL9_RyhVgl20QJEyPGhy7-X7StuleAJYDOQ48iueTtXs/s1600/photo+4-7.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yikGUwZIWHRHJrAe02ooGpJsMCK4Mh-Pf0HW0q32dn22GYC0xbHfNn5zJCcACb9vBhnV5rYkq8XwfwnEIGUBhmiw6zAm9Ex5FF1oD5tYXu6Yu_balqjpgUqEc7b1etOtY_EWUeosKzw/s1600/photo+3-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yikGUwZIWHRHJrAe02ooGpJsMCK4Mh-Pf0HW0q32dn22GYC0xbHfNn5zJCcACb9vBhnV5rYkq8XwfwnEIGUBhmiw6zAm9Ex5FF1oD5tYXu6Yu_balqjpgUqEc7b1etOtY_EWUeosKzw/s1600/photo+3-9.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbWvvj_lyj9Bo_2KfUbV7NzpHI0kzJL1-ZbTB1j3P_9bnqvbVDGKn0n7TbD5j3iB42F1eQcpK-1c8oy-XnZ_Xia9n4OQH30HFNgiYB7NJTKihfSapgwyDdP1vfqtihDaYOPlRMRI4Vpg/s1600/photo+2-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbWvvj_lyj9Bo_2KfUbV7NzpHI0kzJL1-ZbTB1j3P_9bnqvbVDGKn0n7TbD5j3iB42F1eQcpK-1c8oy-XnZ_Xia9n4OQH30HFNgiYB7NJTKihfSapgwyDdP1vfqtihDaYOPlRMRI4Vpg/s1600/photo+2-8.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-N1Hq8ipLR1aoMKH3PMHGwDDf1EatvCmSi_S0qo9mQBf6JcV5uiJU5Iwwt95CKmPEGrYtJqXkap6gGYpWS4M1YHzPY_TeSI97yUiiihO5xkrVxwBKVIq2niOtQGgyHy5o0Qbvh2nXpk/s1600/photo+1-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-N1Hq8ipLR1aoMKH3PMHGwDDf1EatvCmSi_S0qo9mQBf6JcV5uiJU5Iwwt95CKmPEGrYtJqXkap6gGYpWS4M1YHzPY_TeSI97yUiiihO5xkrVxwBKVIq2niOtQGgyHy5o0Qbvh2nXpk/s1600/photo+1-9.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Of course Aunt Rachel had to see if she could still keep up with Auxanna in gymnastics, so naturally we had to do a back bend dual. I think Auxanna won.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoHfPivcHHFw5d5ypGJsFdZ9mySr9mD3deL_9YWqgGOgEwmh0vgNS87x5I_hhnSQnUaUXXAm7V6iddk9O3G6nB7SnkmlH34uJklhyOwogrJqlZrHunxCJ30t_pcsltB_rjJpHSDjS3Qc/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoHfPivcHHFw5d5ypGJsFdZ9mySr9mD3deL_9YWqgGOgEwmh0vgNS87x5I_hhnSQnUaUXXAm7V6iddk9O3G6nB7SnkmlH34uJklhyOwogrJqlZrHunxCJ30t_pcsltB_rjJpHSDjS3Qc/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37otyZBGXQnqQOJ7tzvy7lqUOEWXpqeou4Hd1e7SvaFcChuCAxgBdhQWl4lwXZqWzjgBWjWlUSfSvtC8mECXsOoEVvcH5V7-09KuJtrOS8h9KL-uz7aRMwUWIh8-GVySQyQK9_4S3gsk/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37otyZBGXQnqQOJ7tzvy7lqUOEWXpqeou4Hd1e7SvaFcChuCAxgBdhQWl4lwXZqWzjgBWjWlUSfSvtC8mECXsOoEVvcH5V7-09KuJtrOS8h9KL-uz7aRMwUWIh8-GVySQyQK9_4S3gsk/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-31127842064895727252015-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:002015-04-15T11:08:55.937-07:00There Will Be FOUR<br />
<br />
About 3 years ago, I was in a thrift store and came across a little pair of boy booties. I looked at the shoes and decided that I was going to buy them. Knowing God gives us the desires of our hearts, He knew Mike and I's wish to have a son one day. It really wasn't in the forefronts of our minds until we found out that Maddie was going to be a girl. I had this idea in my mind that we were going to have 2 girls and 2 boys. So far that wasn't the plan. We actively began praying for a son. Lizzie and Bella were enlisted as well...along with my Mother-in-law.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well God saw fit to answer our prayers! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You know, it is a blessing to see God answer the prayers of little children, I know the girls were praying very hard for their Mom to have a baby brother.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The fourth Ruiz II, child and first son will arrive on September 20th!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We got an ultra-sound to make sure about my dates. So I packed up Bella and Maddie and headed over to the doctors office where I was going to meet Mike. Lizzie was in school. So there we are in the room, and there we see our precious little one inside my belly (as Bella likes to point out). The ultra-sound Tech asked me if I was sure about my dates and I told here that I could be off, well she said that I was further along and that she could go ahead and tell us what we are having. At that point she measured me to be at 15 weeks, 5 days. Technically they don't tell the sex of the child until 16 to 20 weeks. So as she said, with 80% certainty, we were going to have a boy!! I'll take it. She's always been very right with all of our girls. Mike and I could totally see it when she pointed to it-That it was a boy. Unless, like a friend pointed out, she was sleeping on her hand!! Oh well, we are going to have another ultra-sound in about 2 weeks, so I guess it will be "confirmed" then. All I care about is that he/she is healthy, formed and happy!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In celebration of this upcoming joyous event, Mike took my maternity photos. He did pretty well I'd have to say!!<br />
<span id="goog_369494741"></span><span id="goog_369494742"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1630531793"></span><span id="goog_1630531794"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-24021901702762977202015-01-14T20:46:00.000-08:002015-01-14T20:46:10.863-08:00Birthday HighlightsA recap of my birthday. All made special by my lovely family and friends.<br />
<br />
My students surprised me at school today with cake, balloons, and a very large card hand-made one of our very talented students. Instead of having class, we had a party!! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNL7FL6bIyBGhHm9Mxs5AAg9Sb7AeQewkfRUojS1obNXZbmkWeDllu3o1me06-aJxodGBRmuTC5hr26edkNeGP-L51mzedTCFbCqnL4rhTtBfFyvG2LOZomIn3CxQ_4d5uujpe8DXT_k/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNL7FL6bIyBGhHm9Mxs5AAg9Sb7AeQewkfRUojS1obNXZbmkWeDllu3o1me06-aJxodGBRmuTC5hr26edkNeGP-L51mzedTCFbCqnL4rhTtBfFyvG2LOZomIn3CxQ_4d5uujpe8DXT_k/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEifsCJoAER3kmc8ylAKVZEDHoSv8Smr9dxVkJydURCJtbJZwlZ9BJVbbRSwxYiCbCFogpKIvCk8WaAOr3GnQg76vH9Fs_dwLX186BSNkfQYKDNResDZev7h0NRcjMK9xcSYSYJ1NDvQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEifsCJoAER3kmc8ylAKVZEDHoSv8Smr9dxVkJydURCJtbJZwlZ9BJVbbRSwxYiCbCFogpKIvCk8WaAOr3GnQg76vH9Fs_dwLX186BSNkfQYKDNResDZev7h0NRcjMK9xcSYSYJ1NDvQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHXXzTyWjcuAkzdA4lBVKKEDgMKvuET4FPNlEN-juWmaoyXtyuAQ48U-NaLNZrQU5PLi9bMJ3oQSHRAq4ueuwgKGnHSjgOCtTSBRFSGtGqqv6zEYIQH3RopJTUGvD662yDeNTbzCDgpE/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHXXzTyWjcuAkzdA4lBVKKEDgMKvuET4FPNlEN-juWmaoyXtyuAQ48U-NaLNZrQU5PLi9bMJ3oQSHRAq4ueuwgKGnHSjgOCtTSBRFSGtGqqv6zEYIQH3RopJTUGvD662yDeNTbzCDgpE/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2b8gqUqQ_hdqBvV3wDCcgvPnNnlU_t9Hk5gGuozS-0B-cGcwMhOZI5qtFKjsPRDxN_sWaVTHGcw-D_B1_EaRtZRK1pG8VYWgEO7OGO8qOROlNjPMhEMhDKbyZC_1z4xZKuIrLV2ZMq4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2b8gqUqQ_hdqBvV3wDCcgvPnNnlU_t9Hk5gGuozS-0B-cGcwMhOZI5qtFKjsPRDxN_sWaVTHGcw-D_B1_EaRtZRK1pG8VYWgEO7OGO8qOROlNjPMhEMhDKbyZC_1z4xZKuIrLV2ZMq4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithfLs7xk3VuzRyUmkjKhGfBkzT7OD1Kv3KKLKW3IGEwEMNLvxBEdqlSBcERhl9IG2x3ijK3xxd_ZLjxl5GhfE5BPqtpf4zXCBwdxnt_79jISqRiqs5PXNDMy3bQQKXmrfubw3httoLcU/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithfLs7xk3VuzRyUmkjKhGfBkzT7OD1Kv3KKLKW3IGEwEMNLvxBEdqlSBcERhl9IG2x3ijK3xxd_ZLjxl5GhfE5BPqtpf4zXCBwdxnt_79jISqRiqs5PXNDMy3bQQKXmrfubw3httoLcU/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This group of girls really knows how to make a lady feel special. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be their teacher.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaB-lBeCWERAkB4HtdQxAIQkWxSJtjPdkWyAKCO4raFUu2GegCf-XpD6ZodxNVCyaKyHYgp-ShsOsYPYWyMeTViVH5w1cLHmI6MUP6VwzXMEKSJzYXdc_UzMsQkd6Ivg1PDSRJQRxzEk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaB-lBeCWERAkB4HtdQxAIQkWxSJtjPdkWyAKCO4raFUu2GegCf-XpD6ZodxNVCyaKyHYgp-ShsOsYPYWyMeTViVH5w1cLHmI6MUP6VwzXMEKSJzYXdc_UzMsQkd6Ivg1PDSRJQRxzEk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm in the process of revamping my home office space. So for my present, I ordered some custom glass for the top of my newly painted desk. I was driving downtown to pick up the glass, I glanced down at my phone to see that Bro. Ross was calling me. So I pulled the truck over and had a very uplifting chat with the former Vice President of the College I graduated from. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My day just keeps getting better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had church tonight. I was about to go in to the auditorium to give my boss some papers for his upcoming trip before heading up to the nursery. My friend, Mom-Deana came into the hall and offered to take my nursery duty so I could sit in on the preaching, she's so sweet!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And finally, at home, my husband greeted me with yet another cake!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You know, I woke up this morning wanting a cake for my birthday, I ended up getting two! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwwnqWoAEIsGWTK6-GxxXE1tv8txg6y4Qxor70IU-c0kd5WEPj2FDA6w2So5HH_W3-x0bu-kW-_jUoxttT4kfXlZEqBy1IrsiZ0C-lImMvEnmiNy0zO8j4ZaLK5_ldwOPnLrWs0uk-4o/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwwnqWoAEIsGWTK6-GxxXE1tv8txg6y4Qxor70IU-c0kd5WEPj2FDA6w2So5HH_W3-x0bu-kW-_jUoxttT4kfXlZEqBy1IrsiZ0C-lImMvEnmiNy0zO8j4ZaLK5_ldwOPnLrWs0uk-4o/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mike even decorated it for me!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvEFGboliMRgJQMglzxBgl1OQNmaT95Yq98UqZNfD43tMhANps55w6zifDCYRUKNkchZvxJ-Ke4bvYysYeMwWb3rRW9ftdYg1QjXBC4ZR8yipgrKI9fPl2HyM3Buw3n1j_Cja4NWYbDc/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvEFGboliMRgJQMglzxBgl1OQNmaT95Yq98UqZNfD43tMhANps55w6zifDCYRUKNkchZvxJ-Ke4bvYysYeMwWb3rRW9ftdYg1QjXBC4ZR8yipgrKI9fPl2HyM3Buw3n1j_Cja4NWYbDc/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm not 33, I'm 29+4...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA6A5peTK9P9w7fKsnEpYnAE65KLm1enjcjnPwAU8xb01ldZJLFpn78UBR4UR-gMd04rViDDlHk7uCiofg-kzVyVF5M4v76nAa7yBKtIM3yYH5fC4tSGLtD7rUJY2JeRHEI6XqV9-eOo/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA6A5peTK9P9w7fKsnEpYnAE65KLm1enjcjnPwAU8xb01ldZJLFpn78UBR4UR-gMd04rViDDlHk7uCiofg-kzVyVF5M4v76nAa7yBKtIM3yYH5fC4tSGLtD7rUJY2JeRHEI6XqV9-eOo/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rHVGeJgzuoGpzKfSNsLIlOqJC7cM4lMxU854z9cyw76RB4HqquITPQBsd_ZfKnRXaAGpImaYNxZHYMaBh4UTl3-HLDJmjGOt7fP37sR0xjZ_3dh6GsSA4T8CdYKXqFIj_l4nQKs37cw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rHVGeJgzuoGpzKfSNsLIlOqJC7cM4lMxU854z9cyw76RB4HqquITPQBsd_ZfKnRXaAGpImaYNxZHYMaBh4UTl3-HLDJmjGOt7fP37sR0xjZ_3dh6GsSA4T8CdYKXqFIj_l4nQKs37cw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another present: this awesome coffee cup!! Ha! And yes, I quite possibly could drink the whole cup of coffee with no problem.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvevBIRg4Xyud-f4sHVAZ-SFbuWngB-5NO2PiANPtM4tCdbmpib_wy2Tmu6smZWPcwBNZZziVFpK19wRDbwa0H-PU5Mhp1pFMQ_sqeAUYTxa0Ov7lm9wyqE_JCtAAOVU5DIkixrdcPzqs/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvevBIRg4Xyud-f4sHVAZ-SFbuWngB-5NO2PiANPtM4tCdbmpib_wy2Tmu6smZWPcwBNZZziVFpK19wRDbwa0H-PU5Mhp1pFMQ_sqeAUYTxa0Ov7lm9wyqE_JCtAAOVU5DIkixrdcPzqs/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXNG_knjys5CWnE8Ji6bGM7Bgr2VFc-E-fYkSkTMHgUwGX2tm9lUP8oo9Vjk4Fbhyphenhyphen-_8DwqQuW5M336yyys-pIdJNX1PswnMhm9W5W_YrdrAThtaLzgiTtie7R_-z2ucPfg89R0SFdms/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXNG_knjys5CWnE8Ji6bGM7Bgr2VFc-E-fYkSkTMHgUwGX2tm9lUP8oo9Vjk4Fbhyphenhyphen-_8DwqQuW5M336yyys-pIdJNX1PswnMhm9W5W_YrdrAThtaLzgiTtie7R_-z2ucPfg89R0SFdms/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So here's to the ending of a perfectly delightful day- coffee, cake and ice cream- this is the good life!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVP5trPRuM6LGu1FG7DgU1HUCZMwnFKfivqnD0lvBuC3G4OQQYVoEv1cy_pCn6tpxOfadaN0W0_BrrytdVRg76jPVzQJKBDpLTH_VFETFgAm3KzIuM1FhLk34QlqMHn8VEkxPpiG_b-H4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVP5trPRuM6LGu1FG7DgU1HUCZMwnFKfivqnD0lvBuC3G4OQQYVoEv1cy_pCn6tpxOfadaN0W0_BrrytdVRg76jPVzQJKBDpLTH_VFETFgAm3KzIuM1FhLk34QlqMHn8VEkxPpiG_b-H4/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-13717130616111960992014-10-10T08:22:00.001-07:002014-10-10T08:22:08.021-07:00One and the Same??I'm weary; weary in hearing that Islam is the same as Christianity. <br />
<br /><br />
Usually, this statement is made by a person who has taken the surface of both religions and made their shallow comparisons based on clichés that they have seen or heard. Loosely applying their skewed version of history to the events of recent days. They are a fallen away "religious" critic who is unstudied on both accounts. <br />
<br /><br />
Let me further clarify. <br />
<br /><br />
The true Church of Christ has been persecuted since the time Christ walked the earth. This true line had even been persecuted by its "own", i.e., the dark ages or the inquisitions, and crusades. At one point the "Christian" Church was a state religion, which made this a false Church in comparing it to it's true line of believers, who were persecuted from the enemy within. In the Old Testament, the Jews had their theocracy, which goes against the mandates of the New Testament Church as given by the Savior Himself. <br />
<br /><br />
Love is the motivation that produces pure religion: religion is not the reason Christians are, love is. The Love of a G-d, Who sent His only Son as a sacrifice, Who offers a free gift, in exchange for nothing but your love. <em>"...But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."</em> (Hebrews <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2045881008" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="color: #222222;">3:17</span></span></span>,18) <br />
<br /><br />
Now by faith are we saved, not of works, where we may be puffed up in pride, but show me your faith by your works. A believer contends with the flesh, the world and the devil to produce good works: visiting the widows, the homeless, the fatherless, showing kindness, mercy, fighting our own sinfulness, etc...all acts of love. <br />
<br /><br />
Now let me hasten, I have studied "Islam," it says it is a religion of peace... What does that really mean to a Muslim...in layman's terms it means there will be no victory until all those who will be converted will be and those who will not, will be killed. <br />
<br /><br />
"Peace" comes when Islam conquers. <br />
<br /><br />
Say good-bye to civil rights, freedom of the press, religion and so on. <br />
<br /><br />
Their religion does not produce love, but terror. Terror in its believers- which then begins to spread and fester like a disease. <br />
<br /><br />
Followers of Islam are motivated by more acts if terror. <br />
<br /><br />
They are told to die for their god.<br />
<br /><br />
The G-d of the Christian dies for them. <br />
<br /><br />
They are then told to <em>LIVE</em> for Him. <br />
<br /><br />
When have you ever heard of a modern day Christian beheading a person if they choose not to accept Jesus's free gift? <br />
<br /><br />
Most people think we Christians are a nuisance because we hand them a pamphlet that gives Bible verses on it. We believe faith comes by hearing and hearing by Word of God, the Bible. And if that action of our faith is the the extent of the offense, I'd rather that be than what the intent of the State of Islam wants- conversion or death. <br />
<br /><br />
The contrast comes and the difference made is that the true definition of peace is presented. <br />
<br /><br />
A Christian lovingly and peacefully, pleads with the person, and then goes on his way. Leaving the choice to him. <br />
<br /><br />
Islam affords you no choice. Convert or die.<br />
<br /><br />
Who sows true peace? The answer comes from that.Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-75718061288393116052014-09-08T08:51:00.001-07:002014-09-08T08:51:36.878-07:00New Bunk Beds and Comforters, Sort OfTwo Christmases ago, my Boss got the girls a bedspread set for their queen size bed. Since then, this past weekend actually, we got the girls new bunk beds and a trundle for Maddie (it's not pictured, it's on backorder and will be delivered later). I took the queen sized comforter and made twin sized bedspreads out of them. It looks great!! Here's what I did.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJlGnZ7comKIKdhPz9uxU4Wl4aOb-LLtQutmtgoxstglmjEAEwTV3KQT1Cvs3uKQN_sG_R_1pCz9zvxyc1Wg3YX4t445y8P4ZTA2iO5B23UTLzVbwvNlnfEJzjb2Lj4yPSpLahHAmL_E/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJlGnZ7comKIKdhPz9uxU4Wl4aOb-LLtQutmtgoxstglmjEAEwTV3KQT1Cvs3uKQN_sG_R_1pCz9zvxyc1Wg3YX4t445y8P4ZTA2iO5B23UTLzVbwvNlnfEJzjb2Lj4yPSpLahHAmL_E/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the comforter all laid out.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLYxISzBPdYGVpAxobTr7ZsTyHVOKeXflpWUclYMWCgdJqr-ksOPQrzASKl4koEsIlp41cEvgAltJmBoARRFWd1k8w5LWkoe3-VtJORKFrof9OuUbGKtQGugh6Bws45SsPiefVH7MoJ4/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLYxISzBPdYGVpAxobTr7ZsTyHVOKeXflpWUclYMWCgdJqr-ksOPQrzASKl4koEsIlp41cEvgAltJmBoARRFWd1k8w5LWkoe3-VtJORKFrof9OuUbGKtQGugh6Bws45SsPiefVH7MoJ4/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I cut down the center making two twin sized bedspreads...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0TgkiP12UqQHKsCnhB9bhULSWiW35fvAjCGq4nT523HSFaIhPN9apYPtm18LuX39JT0dLqzj4b9mt6R7AFTGLRepMUHq91ysNc2pQzRjlZd1WzmBzNYUd2JbwZBRkGt5ROGIFAGi0NM/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0TgkiP12UqQHKsCnhB9bhULSWiW35fvAjCGq4nT523HSFaIhPN9apYPtm18LuX39JT0dLqzj4b9mt6R7AFTGLRepMUHq91ysNc2pQzRjlZd1WzmBzNYUd2JbwZBRkGt5ROGIFAGi0NM/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I then sewed the seam together.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobfe8_NU6OGWhlDvfmBl0EHtSCgiAnVA3vY5Cish4AaDbJCHhadUchnkJy-d0ctiw6JFFx3Q7rm25RAOEKVj3SeghLn172hLF1wgZRde9u4I9S8jRi9RDCpKXAXfBsPDhJV7j7tZ04aI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobfe8_NU6OGWhlDvfmBl0EHtSCgiAnVA3vY5Cish4AaDbJCHhadUchnkJy-d0ctiw6JFFx3Q7rm25RAOEKVj3SeghLn172hLF1wgZRde9u4I9S8jRi9RDCpKXAXfBsPDhJV7j7tZ04aI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bella posing with the new beds and spreads...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhuJpc7kNlIG-ycZzw_JIGF4Ca9XV_Jwzv0zGOsZzqupnt3qPL6EAwEBxecRtpnIS2qGV_RqBI9F9BeeX0QJAuNQqSzj3VciSZWhPlJbYfPRPnU8cpqYhnYMONZ4rdhD4PUlv9FQrVxA/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhuJpc7kNlIG-ycZzw_JIGF4Ca9XV_Jwzv0zGOsZzqupnt3qPL6EAwEBxecRtpnIS2qGV_RqBI9F9BeeX0QJAuNQqSzj3VciSZWhPlJbYfPRPnU8cpqYhnYMONZ4rdhD4PUlv9FQrVxA/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lizzie is on top.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_LEkwySnv7qRIptQuHvyfSBfbF3pHKytR4JfO42VEnxEGbFbYhiA8lKb-cMKFMxdUw95YOAiczq2B6zZsWXAr_qqLmE2GibbjVcW_Pt8dcgWdcHzEVdkzpq6CyEGpg_MjLoAcP_c31Q/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_LEkwySnv7qRIptQuHvyfSBfbF3pHKytR4JfO42VEnxEGbFbYhiA8lKb-cMKFMxdUw95YOAiczq2B6zZsWXAr_qqLmE2GibbjVcW_Pt8dcgWdcHzEVdkzpq6CyEGpg_MjLoAcP_c31Q/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bella is very comfy now.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9oYtryXHrKMO_AD-5GZeywRp9SFpF-2FgNdK9_18jWpWNwetL4q8y5b0mv-mCOjMrpDrzK6J6SPW89BnNerw2yAiCwJF8sEjeWIJQNgfR0t_ZRrpcg31cs8BmgTsUaFKcz9pCEV05J4/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9oYtryXHrKMO_AD-5GZeywRp9SFpF-2FgNdK9_18jWpWNwetL4q8y5b0mv-mCOjMrpDrzK6J6SPW89BnNerw2yAiCwJF8sEjeWIJQNgfR0t_ZRrpcg31cs8BmgTsUaFKcz9pCEV05J4/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Maddie and Bella looking ornery. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsJhPYOT6O-1CHN9oe051-ZN1W9_2xuihluDs4VoUCOWZngnoqwsUzOC_lCWAn-10mIjdxFvgPuJTUqjb64HLsFQ0342VgTzDwASRBkFdWLKJePq-S8p7YzjGoHP65ZwJWLc7E1Npwo0/s1600/photo+4-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsJhPYOT6O-1CHN9oe051-ZN1W9_2xuihluDs4VoUCOWZngnoqwsUzOC_lCWAn-10mIjdxFvgPuJTUqjb64HLsFQ0342VgTzDwASRBkFdWLKJePq-S8p7YzjGoHP65ZwJWLc7E1Npwo0/s1600/photo+4-2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-63292992903453532722014-09-08T07:24:00.001-07:002014-09-08T07:24:35.045-07:00Dear Bella,At three years of age, you are fascinated with fury creatures. You enjoy "reading" books about all kinds of animals, you are always telling me that you want to go to the zoo. Curious George is your favorite cartoon. You have some how picked up some of his bad habits when I caught you crossing your arms and giving a pouty face like him....we'll have to watch out for that cartoon!!<br />
<br />
Dogs in particular are your favorite. You like to crawl around the house on all fours, barking and licking. You tell me, "Momma say, doggie don't bark," or to give you some such command. You have an English Setter stuffed animal that you like to sleep with. You tie belts and ribbons around his neck and make your own collars for him. This morning, you were sitting at the breakfast counter and I noticed that with the help of your hand, you had your your leg up at your face with your foot and toe rubbing your cheek. I asked you what you were doing and you told me, " Momma, this is how doggies scratch..."<br />
<br />
My crazy, wonderful, little Bella! You bring smiles to this momma's face. I love you!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Mom<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGtr1mz-S_zFh7nGO52xQ0r4XVdHPtSC1qbHwBWXg3uSOkgS9lK8nPLCptThX3s7qiKh0zOTasGM4JnXA-uZ-2-vc6O1QysVJdIb4W3-wJCsg76I-XIVSALc_zYuc0SmocsHAXvqKuKc/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGtr1mz-S_zFh7nGO52xQ0r4XVdHPtSC1qbHwBWXg3uSOkgS9lK8nPLCptThX3s7qiKh0zOTasGM4JnXA-uZ-2-vc6O1QysVJdIb4W3-wJCsg76I-XIVSALc_zYuc0SmocsHAXvqKuKc/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuU3y7AVzdKwiP79lMuRID96vPWXz8AurcC38Ai_RiOpX2IKl3NhGLuvqIwlI6GWF3_2e8TxY0dfNJ9WcAy_lHxpRYY2_AnKI0MD1FdSO3XR89KJJU2wihZ8BxgFFml8IO0p41_oKXEA/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuU3y7AVzdKwiP79lMuRID96vPWXz8AurcC38Ai_RiOpX2IKl3NhGLuvqIwlI6GWF3_2e8TxY0dfNJ9WcAy_lHxpRYY2_AnKI0MD1FdSO3XR89KJJU2wihZ8BxgFFml8IO0p41_oKXEA/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-14812191769653074572014-09-02T08:02:00.001-07:002014-09-02T08:02:30.670-07:00The Bell Rings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The halls echo with voices. Excited, nervous; anticipating what will come. The smell of new carpet fills the air. "Welcome Students" written on chalkboards greets the children as they enter the classroom. See her cheery smile, she directs tiny feet to short desks decorated with their name. The doors are open once again for another year. Life is again abundant in this small corner the world. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The bell rings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Class begins.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLlPdkXQtyCb9TvGdFre_3jx1RF4sXhHlBKXUi4SN3hgstpm-2kZuzkBsLVtid3t4XGD-wj8kTYE5o1MQsB3IuMn4Zhbs3WUCQL8vXfmLP6QPHamcA78aTO9eeBvk9v168aakC2f4ke0/s1600/10426823_688500361235667_3199263361461900783_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLlPdkXQtyCb9TvGdFre_3jx1RF4sXhHlBKXUi4SN3hgstpm-2kZuzkBsLVtid3t4XGD-wj8kTYE5o1MQsB3IuMn4Zhbs3WUCQL8vXfmLP6QPHamcA78aTO9eeBvk9v168aakC2f4ke0/s1600/10426823_688500361235667_3199263361461900783_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lizzie, 1st Day of Kindergarden</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-5SkfYe3H2qtl4f17VPql9HtJPMgI_9C5XPzaA1udTXfgE2mSIAeFusQFLwgN_vWD-Dd65zuQKboZRoNI6vS2EtMxX-IqtiZK2Ls8C73SkMA94_G1LI0lqsMKGape576D_jm6etRaNs/s1600/10500376_10152383468445528_5293655534643138089_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-5SkfYe3H2qtl4f17VPql9HtJPMgI_9C5XPzaA1udTXfgE2mSIAeFusQFLwgN_vWD-Dd65zuQKboZRoNI6vS2EtMxX-IqtiZK2Ls8C73SkMA94_G1LI0lqsMKGape576D_jm6etRaNs/s1600/10500376_10152383468445528_5293655534643138089_n.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Lord's School...we'll keep going as long as He lets us. Thank you Lord-for letting my child have a place to learn about You.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-73010715475396105012014-07-04T21:39:00.000-07:002014-07-04T21:39:24.088-07:00Independence Day 2014Spending a nice time with my family today was such a blessing. I'm sitting here feeling extremely grateful for the fact that I am an American citizen. <br />
<br />
In our corner of the United States, my little family decided to have an adventure. We decided to take a day trip to the Turner Falls Area in Davis, Oklahoma. Although this was not what we expected, i.e. it's a water park, lol, we still made the best of it. Mike decided, after deciding we didn't want to go into the park (we thought it was going to be a trail or just a state park type thing), to take us down to a creek bed so the girls could put their feet in the water. When we left the house we told them we were going to go see a water fall, so they of course insisted that they put their feet in. Well they got to put their feet in and what a blast they had. I love that about my girls, they get so excited over the simplest things, and if you talk it up enough you can really make it something. After we hiked to the creek bed we walked up to the highway and got some fried pies. It turned out to be a nice day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKvWB0rWAfdYg9oD8JPGQX9zXGy_G-LqulHltYoXgyeUfkj-iPucJnwC-WplAbODBIOTKIJvmsJuyg_8mSoIeGsAKL4j4o3ro-W-BEjDCjmt2D2ob63c3dnqhGyBC7VV2_IMYgTISjzM/s1600/IMG_2743.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKvWB0rWAfdYg9oD8JPGQX9zXGy_G-LqulHltYoXgyeUfkj-iPucJnwC-WplAbODBIOTKIJvmsJuyg_8mSoIeGsAKL4j4o3ro-W-BEjDCjmt2D2ob63c3dnqhGyBC7VV2_IMYgTISjzM/s1600/IMG_2743.MOV" height="640" width="365" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2P1rmLbA7emfPiv8zR3I1a60Szs6p75TnwmJe2lVfhRDZHnyGkM_D_HfHZx5pWEbAByFHH_OoTGl3m2PZTzEAmHPeI9ueaWquljQ-0MI5PtFu4pwpgGWOuwDHX1hmhqJJDnsK7qfjj8/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2P1rmLbA7emfPiv8zR3I1a60Szs6p75TnwmJe2lVfhRDZHnyGkM_D_HfHZx5pWEbAByFHH_OoTGl3m2PZTzEAmHPeI9ueaWquljQ-0MI5PtFu4pwpgGWOuwDHX1hmhqJJDnsK7qfjj8/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIint3KNJNB3ApQZHV39Je_0Htn892qkRFj6khyTOYu4FSlXKsK60C2n7q7I_P6HhmwBSjsB67DnEEagzi4awO26ojtaaU947Y58b3CgqadH5NUk0rJQOMlSv8S5vCPFdZmydeSHzT51Q/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIint3KNJNB3ApQZHV39Je_0Htn892qkRFj6khyTOYu4FSlXKsK60C2n7q7I_P6HhmwBSjsB67DnEEagzi4awO26ojtaaU947Y58b3CgqadH5NUk0rJQOMlSv8S5vCPFdZmydeSHzT51Q/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" height="400" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd-JfpVj566xxO5nfXuQeSfJ42JlgOHng1fgZZDYNfah0pdZaXubQ_SrscJA205RF8B6F3xozXODuvt8v0P_C4Mn7Q8lNcGnZyKd8mLn-SVWKsMg2xrzfbMuNbzOnN6e9tYscuVd4GJs/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd-JfpVj566xxO5nfXuQeSfJ42JlgOHng1fgZZDYNfah0pdZaXubQ_SrscJA205RF8B6F3xozXODuvt8v0P_C4Mn7Q8lNcGnZyKd8mLn-SVWKsMg2xrzfbMuNbzOnN6e9tYscuVd4GJs/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHdhzrDklUtyk6abOPve1PF9PgoYhXBJ8DmB444uYt8LQoOUFN1BhbcvxvkNGTPKqA-lblsCqBN0w4ec0Fq8Q36v9ag0jTR2QEvJjOKQnW5-tUDgwBNKB6ww0gpDUEmsEpg3ALa8fWmM/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHdhzrDklUtyk6abOPve1PF9PgoYhXBJ8DmB444uYt8LQoOUFN1BhbcvxvkNGTPKqA-lblsCqBN0w4ec0Fq8Q36v9ag0jTR2QEvJjOKQnW5-tUDgwBNKB6ww0gpDUEmsEpg3ALa8fWmM/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGUwHrvonZ8VmtoxNirbg5DhwAqPOt7rE9pQnsgzDSF-Joq9GkJwFMBExVUz4WgG_1pFbKD3-MbXuoTkKq3eIhHHVtWzC1Mxk3K2ERTDHTRr25U1S7dTYxrhaDw9zODQ-CbYLTe_bOYo/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGUwHrvonZ8VmtoxNirbg5DhwAqPOt7rE9pQnsgzDSF-Joq9GkJwFMBExVUz4WgG_1pFbKD3-MbXuoTkKq3eIhHHVtWzC1Mxk3K2ERTDHTRr25U1S7dTYxrhaDw9zODQ-CbYLTe_bOYo/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWriW32FUqlDK0KokOaZtEhs7Nz61sFGD3VdyWhL_DGH-rLcmviklec6LedsGpoj1fO5OVkrL9yUc0LqDEgIyRqTcDhGQ_DXFKalKnf9KtDeShmxSuO9j4G-bPrdU6V50sslXSJaNPVg/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWriW32FUqlDK0KokOaZtEhs7Nz61sFGD3VdyWhL_DGH-rLcmviklec6LedsGpoj1fO5OVkrL9yUc0LqDEgIyRqTcDhGQ_DXFKalKnf9KtDeShmxSuO9j4G-bPrdU6V50sslXSJaNPVg/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course Mike wanted to grill- you know he is a grill master!-we invited a couple of the fellas from the college over. The girls wanted to have a picnic so we spread out a blanket and they ate their dinner on top. Maddie was just enjoying herself outside in the highchair where she could eat her hotdog. We finished out the night watching many fireworks displays off in the distance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZfDNxNjkuZzyBkvf9fkvu_Yq5UN-KrJARG6x_hEQ6xEOH1h5GjmUGqrELu8gt35SR6LQ72AB3B7NAUMGSVD9PPgaN7xQ05ND3uehi9Ha8Q7buUnGq6C4aCyKEcgtVkQF9MKFzNr5MT0/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZfDNxNjkuZzyBkvf9fkvu_Yq5UN-KrJARG6x_hEQ6xEOH1h5GjmUGqrELu8gt35SR6LQ72AB3B7NAUMGSVD9PPgaN7xQ05ND3uehi9Ha8Q7buUnGq6C4aCyKEcgtVkQF9MKFzNr5MT0/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpWaASvQSuU1UUEJtg-JN2CeTeD7F0hbtUfrzH23l03R1XZbaqcvYH7m24keBbQl760BKDptNzl2gXAX5XGcxOLiM4gGuQdi-_P9A9-rPCqwa94fyRE-hBG60pAIdIDxIRapZ-MnX65Q/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpWaASvQSuU1UUEJtg-JN2CeTeD7F0hbtUfrzH23l03R1XZbaqcvYH7m24keBbQl760BKDptNzl2gXAX5XGcxOLiM4gGuQdi-_P9A9-rPCqwa94fyRE-hBG60pAIdIDxIRapZ-MnX65Q/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiIx03olZ_F0y8MPLQTzZ0LL1K801lB2LZMm9a8ViJZqbf2SvHCETwSukw9azDbpknIMWnZo3_Wtl9zJWXII744sD3RsLE9XhvksDzx7cZYqOJAtjYcewjTGYIQJ7CPcdt3-WaJy8CpQ/s1600/photo+1-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiIx03olZ_F0y8MPLQTzZ0LL1K801lB2LZMm9a8ViJZqbf2SvHCETwSukw9azDbpknIMWnZo3_Wtl9zJWXII744sD3RsLE9XhvksDzx7cZYqOJAtjYcewjTGYIQJ7CPcdt3-WaJy8CpQ/s1600/photo+1-6.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMWyMbZuG7XhxZCDODjSZ3dDHfpVyA7I0Brz_m6EMBNuGe-K8FVJCEaDVB0DaFUYRNRrqR5gY8JtvkPSeg7-P_G4xQTryq4XMU9xQyVDnbJkRh78XWhmaKOnBWv3ObqKoL91cBPf-P3w/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMWyMbZuG7XhxZCDODjSZ3dDHfpVyA7I0Brz_m6EMBNuGe-K8FVJCEaDVB0DaFUYRNRrqR5gY8JtvkPSeg7-P_G4xQTryq4XMU9xQyVDnbJkRh78XWhmaKOnBWv3ObqKoL91cBPf-P3w/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is my flower garden looking patriotic with the flags.<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-76971902727797972652014-04-01T20:15:00.000-07:002014-04-01T20:15:12.527-07:00DIY Wall ArtIn my attempt to revamp my living room décor I decided to change the wall art that I have. I took an old painting that I had that I didn't care for, painted it white, did a second coat in the center, used some spray paint I had on hand and sprayed a sun. Then I went to hobby lobby and got these neat little wall decals, birds on a wire, for only $10. I tweaked the wire to make it look like branches. Here is what I got!! I'm pretty excited about it. It was so easy and fun to do!! And Cheap. My husband is telling me all the time that I keep around too much junk...but there are times like today that it comes in handy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMIL_HxDr6J6DPDP8yRa9z3sd1XBfThEsFbdh_Z8Kd1J74zbAYVM3qEBYzwRLZVQJZss7Tihb2w1k_EunXD0I2DdTJ8n7NP59Wo3LfJh7L6eNxojH0DUz_tWuUYs_iCdpkiUTP7r0mw0/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMIL_HxDr6J6DPDP8yRa9z3sd1XBfThEsFbdh_Z8Kd1J74zbAYVM3qEBYzwRLZVQJZss7Tihb2w1k_EunXD0I2DdTJ8n7NP59Wo3LfJh7L6eNxojH0DUz_tWuUYs_iCdpkiUTP7r0mw0/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC47yBKfMLv8d9ofaI-0iP33SBklKz0MzxHf6ArPwUhJeikoF4sgxj7KE4hmo6pWzqOo9swpE5NJhMasnAOnq8uRsjOqpGUe6kdmXJWjkau964T5iLpYbhz-yg31Dia7dq_KHM2Cnn-M/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC47yBKfMLv8d9ofaI-0iP33SBklKz0MzxHf6ArPwUhJeikoF4sgxj7KE4hmo6pWzqOo9swpE5NJhMasnAOnq8uRsjOqpGUe6kdmXJWjkau964T5iLpYbhz-yg31Dia7dq_KHM2Cnn-M/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiytHUoaUIKXJTxwT1zPMRzobX6XMofclhQUJtPYkf2kqPxcUKn3Xuo_zJwNJMecJ1VZdESHrNzCr8A3C-g6RH8mZU2KdoFYMOrKg0hPBKcUtNLQu3z6vDRHplSym3NMNJrDVW4WfwyuU/s1600/photo+1+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiytHUoaUIKXJTxwT1zPMRzobX6XMofclhQUJtPYkf2kqPxcUKn3Xuo_zJwNJMecJ1VZdESHrNzCr8A3C-g6RH8mZU2KdoFYMOrKg0hPBKcUtNLQu3z6vDRHplSym3NMNJrDVW4WfwyuU/s1600/photo+1+(8).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1149805511"></span><span id="goog_1149805512"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-32062182582639332152014-04-01T06:58:00.000-07:002014-04-01T06:59:56.025-07:00Confusion<br />
<br />
Lately, and I know most people will think that I am a real wacko for even thinking this, it wouldn't be the first time, but I've been having some real issues with the cartoon, "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". I know, most people are probably rolling their eyes. But the occasional times I let my girls watch this "cute" show about little ponies I just got this uneasy feeling. I couldn't shake it. And today I figured out why. If anyone has ever seen this cartoon and has high standards for what their kids watch then there is obviously a number of things that some would find unacceptable for their kid's viewing. Here are some of the blatant reasons I don't prefer the show - very strong references to magic (I'm not against letting my kids watch things that have fairytale type stuff, but it seems like this show just revolves around it), a lot of rock music in the cartoon action sequences and finally, the reason why my kids will never watch it ever again is, there is one pony in the show that as I watched with my girls I was literally confused about whether it was a boy or girl, Rainbow Dash, so much so that I even googled it. And surprise, there is a huge online discussion as to whether this character portrays a male or female. Most people know where I stand on issues that revolve around this. Well today I asked Lizzie if Rainbow Dash was a boy or a girl and she got this confused, puzzled look on her face, and after a long pause, probably hoping I'd answer for her, she finally said it was a boy. I googled the show info to find out and Rainbow Dash is actually a girl, who the creator says is a tomboy. During the times I viewed the show with my girls, sometimes she sounded like a girl and sometimes she sounded like a boy- and I do find it ironic that they decided to use the rainbow as her "cutie" mark. As a parent I try to instill absolutes in my children. I set boundaries. This is for their own good so they can grow up well adjusted and healthy. This show only genders confusion in my child- Lizzie's look on her face today really bothered me- I don't want my kids, especially at the tender age of 4 to be confused about things that are so absolutely true and that is gender- boy/girl. There's no in between. I'm not a bad mother because I tell my girls that the color pink is a girl color and that boys don't wear jewelry. This is setting an absolute in their mind. Parents who let their kinds "figure" it out are dangerously setting their kids up for a lifetime of heartache. I am solely responsible for how they turn out and now I know that this show is undermining my parenting. Let's let God have the last word on the subject. 1Corinthians 14:33<em><strong>, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...."</strong></em>Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-47933343505566773282014-01-09T13:56:00.001-08:002014-01-09T14:11:21.971-08:00Donut Day and DIY DONE!!This morning I packed up the girls in the truck and took them to Dunkin Donuts…we got some yummy donuts! Thanks grandma!! (Gift card…) I, of course, enjoyed a nice cup of Dunkin's coffee. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPFsyIc-Ni9OlycYKOtDqos_bR7hNbCXMQvIXYzN-MPTz2PhgrHocZgms1UCe6sL67V3jcvpSUH40-j5RUWY2Hh3FPabzhIhmwVvx0c-D9TbX0ft8eC2Hx8LQT6GGG23BcRXvh56D8oY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPFsyIc-Ni9OlycYKOtDqos_bR7hNbCXMQvIXYzN-MPTz2PhgrHocZgms1UCe6sL67V3jcvpSUH40-j5RUWY2Hh3FPabzhIhmwVvx0c-D9TbX0ft8eC2Hx8LQT6GGG23BcRXvh56D8oY/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After we got home and hastily gobbled down our sweet treats, I got to work and finally finished the curtains I've been working on since after Thanksgiving. <br />
<br />
I've been desperately wanting to make some new curtains, but we have been trying to watch our spending. So the idea came to me to just recycle, re-use, and re-purpose an old furniture cover I didn't use and curtains that I already owned. <br />
<br />
I did the horizontal stripes because it was the best way to incorporate the extension piece of fabric. The curtains I currently owned were not long enough. I just added more fabric (the old cover) at the end of the curtains and added the tan stripes. I bought some ribbon to finish it.<br />
<br />
While doing this project, I didn't realize how hard horizontal stripes would be. The hardest part was getting the two panels to be level with each other. I spent most of my time measuring and re-measuring the spacing. It's hardly perfect and a professional would surely pick them apart. And if you look close enough you can see…<br />
<br />
I've learned a lot doing this project, like: cut all fabric first, and pin base everything, both panels at once. <br />
<br />
The problem I encountered was that I did each panel almost 2 months apart. (Small children running about makes it difficult to commit to getting a whole project done in one sitting.)<br />
<br />
I started this after we got back from my in-laws at Thanksgiving. Which probably wasn't the best plan. I think we had like 5 weeks between that holiday and Christmas. <br />
<br />
I was cramming to get things done because Mike's whole family was coming to spend Christmas with us. So this project was probably the reason we didn't send out Christmas Cards this year. <br />
<br />
Well anyway, I got the first panel done and then the next day it seemed like my in-laws were here. I at least wanted to have one curtain hanging on the bare window. <br />
<br />
When I came back to the project I couldn't adjust the lengths of the wide stripes on the first curtain; lesson learned- pin base everything then sew last…. and I didn't think to measure the tan fabric wider in the areas I needed while doing the second which came to the other lesson learned-cut all the fabric at once!!…<br />
<br />
But inspire of all the difficulties I finished it and I'm rather proud of them. Not bad for being my first attempt at sewing curtains.<br />
<br />
The finished product:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp5XxWi6SEoM3bnkUcWsCwvp4LQ1sCw0L9AGh56zyhqlY3MdGJ_OWV4UARad2JkLTcxifZa864jWM5i8wVVrWlG7hxIpy6erI3nmhHlVwbzDSy5an3Vixt_8MBfV825Nakvz52eOIU-A/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrp5XxWi6SEoM3bnkUcWsCwvp4LQ1sCw0L9AGh56zyhqlY3MdGJ_OWV4UARad2JkLTcxifZa864jWM5i8wVVrWlG7hxIpy6erI3nmhHlVwbzDSy5an3Vixt_8MBfV825Nakvz52eOIU-A/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can't tell in this photo, the lighting is horrible, but the fabric touching the ground is the same color as the stripes, the lining I used behind it wasn't as thick as the lining on the main curtain...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuCvyGoVmRINlCBxB71wanVjlh5thQm8eQf6S33tlFeYYDhcmiCu9IwW2C8hrz02EJqqI1ZDuaXq6ESibvzi-0SF6jfz9soxtHLHfU0PIhDxYmc9fyHGL-bh8whB1St6S7zJPshDU1eU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuCvyGoVmRINlCBxB71wanVjlh5thQm8eQf6S33tlFeYYDhcmiCu9IwW2C8hrz02EJqqI1ZDuaXq6ESibvzi-0SF6jfz9soxtHLHfU0PIhDxYmc9fyHGL-bh8whB1St6S7zJPshDU1eU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E6xaVTpsW2b2yDPyPWrBdU3TbkmDtySuBn6_MfMWa3tQf3rUYBRHJeec9p0xZthBwcmm_S4QjDPcpkNou72S73qThzE6bC_YBaKORQbC5VxqomPDonT8cuPyd3a9e9yHzHwmrs1vFT4/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E6xaVTpsW2b2yDPyPWrBdU3TbkmDtySuBn6_MfMWa3tQf3rUYBRHJeec9p0xZthBwcmm_S4QjDPcpkNou72S73qThzE6bC_YBaKORQbC5VxqomPDonT8cuPyd3a9e9yHzHwmrs1vFT4/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z_s2SNa06Fd7pKIOjG_5rjCUasik_qrcGtRAM9DVrFT5iWQk6t3ziXiVBJK58FwPMyzgttBlKqFXG4y2wwknXf_nDz5xi1RaRVRdc2OseF6oxXOyh0_NPScfFhJH1c6p5qjknLE4mUw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z_s2SNa06Fd7pKIOjG_5rjCUasik_qrcGtRAM9DVrFT5iWQk6t3ziXiVBJK58FwPMyzgttBlKqFXG4y2wwknXf_nDz5xi1RaRVRdc2OseF6oxXOyh0_NPScfFhJH1c6p5qjknLE4mUw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-62087267942317587302014-01-01T20:05:00.000-08:002014-01-01T20:05:51.832-08:00Better Late Than Never: Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!I know, I know, it's a little late but at least I got it done...we finally took some family photos in front of our tree (before I take it down). This is the first day of the new year...and this was Maddie's first Christmas....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4z1sjxjbtk4FDvTUlGn98QZx8LLeiB5qpMfLRBhUrN98Ko5TNTN7Gbob7qzEVqFS_uurXpPBDzu2jkwzxgULipCVv8o_IlBCHoL6r2WPnotIVaAGiyc1ddI32EwbyFUNunylvdJe0Ck/s1600/SANY2953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4z1sjxjbtk4FDvTUlGn98QZx8LLeiB5qpMfLRBhUrN98Ko5TNTN7Gbob7qzEVqFS_uurXpPBDzu2jkwzxgULipCVv8o_IlBCHoL6r2WPnotIVaAGiyc1ddI32EwbyFUNunylvdJe0Ck/s400/SANY2953.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk8vUmV-VnpbazpOV-wG9qgE_YmoNPYYWlmoE0JjcAC0BKTgMKOc-pdroUhb2e95qHhT0kwwoGp7fZgTyq91hwIPfxBa82_Bo0GckRt6mN8V-aDQ7Mt7dfnufPlwOG7Ob6p-yP58Y3lE/s1600/SANY2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk8vUmV-VnpbazpOV-wG9qgE_YmoNPYYWlmoE0JjcAC0BKTgMKOc-pdroUhb2e95qHhT0kwwoGp7fZgTyq91hwIPfxBa82_Bo0GckRt6mN8V-aDQ7Mt7dfnufPlwOG7Ob6p-yP58Y3lE/s400/SANY2954.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcK6CgDZkyCZ3a5anyZpkszViB9n3pbseh9U9h_oN0Fh_qNQNRvyv57Nk2dwkc21pkHfME-yhQ47lU4myE0fA7r75oBerxAq9XZaQOPhJjR4H6d0VqRE7Ymjj8Bb4JQd4zZ3Jfa7MVOs/s1600/SANY2955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcK6CgDZkyCZ3a5anyZpkszViB9n3pbseh9U9h_oN0Fh_qNQNRvyv57Nk2dwkc21pkHfME-yhQ47lU4myE0fA7r75oBerxAq9XZaQOPhJjR4H6d0VqRE7Ymjj8Bb4JQd4zZ3Jfa7MVOs/s400/SANY2955.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzVo0EFrbOvZDngNWcrGYN6necLyRygSAWYoQpOznp9mJMzNaIhR9MspMN3COSbp40AsHfJinmtsak9vDTI_tfKvrNe_GuEUcbcd07TE2Y7zzPSWylHwmri2-NCqj5n-QdClv6-V7ob0/s1600/SANY2956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzVo0EFrbOvZDngNWcrGYN6necLyRygSAWYoQpOznp9mJMzNaIhR9MspMN3COSbp40AsHfJinmtsak9vDTI_tfKvrNe_GuEUcbcd07TE2Y7zzPSWylHwmri2-NCqj5n-QdClv6-V7ob0/s400/SANY2956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNUS6pMZ4o0seJ36_TseobhPyh8OFaob5nxyw5bLRT2bRb6IG0wb40kXPjIrwllAFcROESU5uyj_YerVp1lwsfs4tSqnpp5yClXI7ZX5VwGGNUb6EzuC5fbrS1FadrPLd14FZNwf1g6o/s1600/SANY2957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNUS6pMZ4o0seJ36_TseobhPyh8OFaob5nxyw5bLRT2bRb6IG0wb40kXPjIrwllAFcROESU5uyj_YerVp1lwsfs4tSqnpp5yClXI7ZX5VwGGNUb6EzuC5fbrS1FadrPLd14FZNwf1g6o/s400/SANY2957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpy3WklzmsMBc9vske6JOVgXR_lE1KdG-e7MLBR_G5PNH0V7E6cbGMQa-QNh9nEFb6uTXkYs-sOGBqqaWxt8crbQQJBf9yvyW_1LR85hB07m6RPPpMTMRIv9dwtUoowIJaCx3QBQbPdU/s1600/SANY2958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpy3WklzmsMBc9vske6JOVgXR_lE1KdG-e7MLBR_G5PNH0V7E6cbGMQa-QNh9nEFb6uTXkYs-sOGBqqaWxt8crbQQJBf9yvyW_1LR85hB07m6RPPpMTMRIv9dwtUoowIJaCx3QBQbPdU/s400/SANY2958.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9EWC74I6_pUtG4XS7hlHYImb014oYqJlNqc2eXSP5lEnD58qGnx1uwAWLKYsIkbr_UGFoJgzzDAFL-E7ctwXqlBuIG4lddtmJMwTIqo7xK_CbSSyXmPaY792IxjEUa0nYKnxnDostnY/s1600/SANY2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9EWC74I6_pUtG4XS7hlHYImb014oYqJlNqc2eXSP5lEnD58qGnx1uwAWLKYsIkbr_UGFoJgzzDAFL-E7ctwXqlBuIG4lddtmJMwTIqo7xK_CbSSyXmPaY792IxjEUa0nYKnxnDostnY/s400/SANY2960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-S3BXTCWG1xaDAKOuSq6sNwDmowIvgbYYRq5v1-yBfuDL4AtiGXpAyKb2Kmvyz9hGh7SOnGGL2l2ls8rwvxXEiHms7kzCjCgb0MC0nKOgbePqAFwfOTmu5qKAAmwL9FSA3eAIcQWBoE/s1600/SANY2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-S3BXTCWG1xaDAKOuSq6sNwDmowIvgbYYRq5v1-yBfuDL4AtiGXpAyKb2Kmvyz9hGh7SOnGGL2l2ls8rwvxXEiHms7kzCjCgb0MC0nKOgbePqAFwfOTmu5qKAAmwL9FSA3eAIcQWBoE/s400/SANY2961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0USWqsy1ZFiqeQxBthEQCnj3HDkaekMNula3o3QdZm3BoLaFsxDHlSpKphTxBhIBSKHNmtskRPBdTaWhn0pTPbymBUPBobj5GYai2yIDt1niKWwKcrM_14YKJvZOjVt0eqobg14EgK00/s1600/SANY2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0USWqsy1ZFiqeQxBthEQCnj3HDkaekMNula3o3QdZm3BoLaFsxDHlSpKphTxBhIBSKHNmtskRPBdTaWhn0pTPbymBUPBobj5GYai2yIDt1niKWwKcrM_14YKJvZOjVt0eqobg14EgK00/s400/SANY2964.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZE51nryOqcECvFrAW9fGWl3qZjNGAJe3KWjw2LD0QYanzIJowVZJGAPGRWHbLjDRpVXqS-9ZK30HPpplxwN_DYBw1nH6UkOIOl34E8AgwAw4nYUacFlFab-yZldcg3zo4gpogf20tKs/s1600/SANY2965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZE51nryOqcECvFrAW9fGWl3qZjNGAJe3KWjw2LD0QYanzIJowVZJGAPGRWHbLjDRpVXqS-9ZK30HPpplxwN_DYBw1nH6UkOIOl34E8AgwAw4nYUacFlFab-yZldcg3zo4gpogf20tKs/s400/SANY2965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-I2IVwkjviwRJSxWPMSVdVN9rzm6M0awB9g9uyXYgzOhx61fpS9o8fgv8bDjtptgr25raDXQMhWKAXcQIc_Fs_9jDEeGvZvm8Kr-T4KlpvY9oQriP58D22iiW_3x8mojj_y6fP9o-Ig/s1600/SANY2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-I2IVwkjviwRJSxWPMSVdVN9rzm6M0awB9g9uyXYgzOhx61fpS9o8fgv8bDjtptgr25raDXQMhWKAXcQIc_Fs_9jDEeGvZvm8Kr-T4KlpvY9oQriP58D22iiW_3x8mojj_y6fP9o-Ig/s400/SANY2966.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOeBbhDnI9tkguuGCE5akjNbyJ7sTVkuizAYJBL5FbC1xEcG_67Of-D6_YjP85LdGZRuhSjXI74lqGuB-xdcDCkIXrkOnaDjWz9Tmyh8WUn61DRhhIqjxapel6WVbFe0jUFsS5yHOKRM/s1600/SANY2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOeBbhDnI9tkguuGCE5akjNbyJ7sTVkuizAYJBL5FbC1xEcG_67Of-D6_YjP85LdGZRuhSjXI74lqGuB-xdcDCkIXrkOnaDjWz9Tmyh8WUn61DRhhIqjxapel6WVbFe0jUFsS5yHOKRM/s400/SANY2967.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhbQdnThC7OIHtG_9eDIsHxBIHYohNGyu1N3KlEU1CZ6laTgxLirtTvleEqKuhgI7dmAvqKMeOpxseUtb8a6n8RrJ0fDE5mepska8lwb2yZ3Q5BoirrQ7cQd8tcQWyqKZ3eVeuFt7sEU/s1600/SANY2968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhbQdnThC7OIHtG_9eDIsHxBIHYohNGyu1N3KlEU1CZ6laTgxLirtTvleEqKuhgI7dmAvqKMeOpxseUtb8a6n8RrJ0fDE5mepska8lwb2yZ3Q5BoirrQ7cQd8tcQWyqKZ3eVeuFt7sEU/s400/SANY2968.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddtz75jZrbcfCsq3_0P5MJ6cJDxU1uvGAWXPK8_5_2IONuFb-A_ZnVlGPhWi90SAL0P3dqr0uNpxmvfOATlmkyKpWuuuYTAW3rJWWQXYbyjTEbZjou8b2B_tYEVBPIwEgQBc8IPSuyZ0/s1600/SANY2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddtz75jZrbcfCsq3_0P5MJ6cJDxU1uvGAWXPK8_5_2IONuFb-A_ZnVlGPhWi90SAL0P3dqr0uNpxmvfOATlmkyKpWuuuYTAW3rJWWQXYbyjTEbZjou8b2B_tYEVBPIwEgQBc8IPSuyZ0/s400/SANY2972.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015749062830921901.post-5499299899172612502013-12-10T16:45:00.001-08:002013-12-10T16:45:18.418-08:00Deck the Halls and on and on and on….This weekend we found ourselves "buried" neath a "blanket" of white snow (I use these terms lightly because for Oklahoma it has been quite an impressive winter so far) which put us in the spirit of the season. <br />
<br />
We loaded the girls in the truck and off we went to get our Christmas tree. We buy our tree at the same place every year. I love the fresh pine smell of a real tree. When we got to the tree place we found our tree almost instantly. <br />
<br />
I'm really going all out this year, we are having the family come hear for Christmas!! Here is a preview of me making merry this Christmas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFC13-4VGORtQFByWVliF0nYhYJNLqZMqHyeL0xKGteLGL_m7XV3YT7mHb1UGv4zswfkPrAQ-dDjSnwHAqq3DhZcEIeLZ6soZqdpOtvLaLPrB3UpYQJoZBeX9cl8HfnP9hdbYrYAxCQM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFC13-4VGORtQFByWVliF0nYhYJNLqZMqHyeL0xKGteLGL_m7XV3YT7mHb1UGv4zswfkPrAQ-dDjSnwHAqq3DhZcEIeLZ6soZqdpOtvLaLPrB3UpYQJoZBeX9cl8HfnP9hdbYrYAxCQM/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here we are at the tree place…I love our tree…it's so tall!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJUr_XpgSn475bApprEs3qXTSHu3431wZBgZEyd2B_lRPS9uXCRRBEYk_ihZ82IdOW_H1HR2HM6AWpsii-ZptTooVLjT9d5Ds0IuRqbI2QV_JCH27x35WqbUGpppFTdK73RDVoccbTS8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJUr_XpgSn475bApprEs3qXTSHu3431wZBgZEyd2B_lRPS9uXCRRBEYk_ihZ82IdOW_H1HR2HM6AWpsii-ZptTooVLjT9d5Ds0IuRqbI2QV_JCH27x35WqbUGpppFTdK73RDVoccbTS8/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Michael and Bella with the tree in the living room...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWWlQ9MCzXuNnOCIQmi_Kd5EJn8ZgeB8Zk7HpDIi2ebqGAAIgBXxnGZE5bXbkDzuTsZrhd1iNu-Wk4QlxCeKAnpl8r-aRTy9hQ-AzOcTAlB8gnWw0NjFc-ikJKqInunNBTUs9TMhBotM/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWWlQ9MCzXuNnOCIQmi_Kd5EJn8ZgeB8Zk7HpDIi2ebqGAAIgBXxnGZE5bXbkDzuTsZrhd1iNu-Wk4QlxCeKAnpl8r-aRTy9hQ-AzOcTAlB8gnWw0NjFc-ikJKqInunNBTUs9TMhBotM/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Maddie just enjoying herself watching us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGooH4TOKFXO06-Mf0LlQnln0Tziu7DsDDoS1WIxYW9RYdYXwZItX4M1uvAE20RsHXxhP2BbLXUPBNznGWAmubsGRCe5sW4rJRmgFInvR6gKmRo4MokBbQ_MZrmtXHUxyF_y9C8_UvT2g/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGooH4TOKFXO06-Mf0LlQnln0Tziu7DsDDoS1WIxYW9RYdYXwZItX4M1uvAE20RsHXxhP2BbLXUPBNznGWAmubsGRCe5sW4rJRmgFInvR6gKmRo4MokBbQ_MZrmtXHUxyF_y9C8_UvT2g/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Michael putting the lights on.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0xaF_Z8Brjv1WPVhBGw6RT81W1BJBoXXq3l7cgWWRTRk1Vcx5PwUcRs1zq6sQ5oWwHC8bUPJgEZ6eX2wQUlCe0hwgTnUfkeaaLEF4_Uijx-hywoUmpsEv2rQcESDNbx5VSi08GtUols/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0xaF_Z8Brjv1WPVhBGw6RT81W1BJBoXXq3l7cgWWRTRk1Vcx5PwUcRs1zq6sQ5oWwHC8bUPJgEZ6eX2wQUlCe0hwgTnUfkeaaLEF4_Uijx-hywoUmpsEv2rQcESDNbx5VSi08GtUols/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The girls helping...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcTWYI6Zt13Doo22avF_azGPtyNWx6EkJHdeu5cfg3-nIFfOkLeai1DRxx72NsjLzR-hHgu1MXLlCn7usU_OKO04RxFlM0D4k-Q6t8EAX602zCQJBs2cw-I_4pWBmkxZwcXoqvNKSImE/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcTWYI6Zt13Doo22avF_azGPtyNWx6EkJHdeu5cfg3-nIFfOkLeai1DRxx72NsjLzR-hHgu1MXLlCn7usU_OKO04RxFlM0D4k-Q6t8EAX602zCQJBs2cw-I_4pWBmkxZwcXoqvNKSImE/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Michael putting lights in the girls room.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4lyMx5TCnfvBZux9V4ngfOY3CRwNsen7Rj1ocXfLe6zxZXx6N4SFmxXlVGdDtiCL4-qmBhXgDA4wxd2CukGLxVgG0YgAMnQXBV6mSSk25n-6Uthb_pkMZfm9YDgggUPHu5bajcL7R3I/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4lyMx5TCnfvBZux9V4ngfOY3CRwNsen7Rj1ocXfLe6zxZXx6N4SFmxXlVGdDtiCL4-qmBhXgDA4wxd2CukGLxVgG0YgAMnQXBV6mSSk25n-6Uthb_pkMZfm9YDgggUPHu5bajcL7R3I/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The final product…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyr2g7YtQ0AvDvs2QzOJzZOl2aO8-Gq6lwrYqofAq9gtU4N7W-ZFlfBuhRFRr0kwxPfw6Of5J0EvtELWawaYI2ui27_tfGv57wES5KG-ar51IMtwD692yVIc_Tu-B6dBtFurvN_BkWIA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyr2g7YtQ0AvDvs2QzOJzZOl2aO8-Gq6lwrYqofAq9gtU4N7W-ZFlfBuhRFRr0kwxPfw6Of5J0EvtELWawaYI2ui27_tfGv57wES5KG-ar51IMtwD692yVIc_Tu-B6dBtFurvN_BkWIA/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyTMBPCCB4-BVrtFvkqqLp5ZNVRgPPUCoqJZe6T0_2V1jbrONN-aAN0wTDS2CYY3-TDjZG6xPQh9hKYwF4fLSBzu_VJem8A8sYXXP52op2eELc1rf2-p1Fh_ND2pkKzjgqds2qpwZXCU/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyTMBPCCB4-BVrtFvkqqLp5ZNVRgPPUCoqJZe6T0_2V1jbrONN-aAN0wTDS2CYY3-TDjZG6xPQh9hKYwF4fLSBzu_VJem8A8sYXXP52op2eELc1rf2-p1Fh_ND2pkKzjgqds2qpwZXCU/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC3x2J3LzUq7OIenbRoAo3I3A_omK0TBcLd_ylH5GtDzVoUoOyrZ3c22H3Iq0rWCcpVF963YDjH6tWwNXy-CVgTKe9ECCnpHWli2IZNHQEiLJXfGQvWFlZefc29oa4kE7Ic71pRRm730/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC3x2J3LzUq7OIenbRoAo3I3A_omK0TBcLd_ylH5GtDzVoUoOyrZ3c22H3Iq0rWCcpVF963YDjH6tWwNXy-CVgTKe9ECCnpHWli2IZNHQEiLJXfGQvWFlZefc29oa4kE7Ic71pRRm730/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lRYcaGVhMwJzE-jKijLWrBlCG0z85HQ_zvidpCmF6lcq6NHbj9ji5TYNJDwmbu_eKOLdcdV3YwWbftTvg_DIslcef1B7v1sh2StO2BAnknBNqnaJsWfVxEU48p-kQYf2uVgRp9fny6Y/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lRYcaGVhMwJzE-jKijLWrBlCG0z85HQ_zvidpCmF6lcq6NHbj9ji5TYNJDwmbu_eKOLdcdV3YwWbftTvg_DIslcef1B7v1sh2StO2BAnknBNqnaJsWfVxEU48p-kQYf2uVgRp9fny6Y/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After the tree decorated…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJua80-6wdqktk-ioV3A29NuqoUBVav7kTWQoTdUesI-cyNlAxfB31QjdwAMWKIaXeKxLit6Vsl8R3WQI-8K3QGopTcoPOLLrQ-M7UOmAYz3xqPTHkEwrW5mlPE2wnuiW5PuGYjgloT-8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJua80-6wdqktk-ioV3A29NuqoUBVav7kTWQoTdUesI-cyNlAxfB31QjdwAMWKIaXeKxLit6Vsl8R3WQI-8K3QGopTcoPOLLrQ-M7UOmAYz3xqPTHkEwrW5mlPE2wnuiW5PuGYjgloT-8/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The toy land under our tree are Collector's Barbie Dolls I collected as a little girl and my Falicity and Sarah's Molly American Dolls. The girls just love playing with them!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhxkpnTV1wGGb47NiJkfhLx5xbGfVt40xKyV9W6xRwyfgo4QOHVkbwhD8Mtx-m541bwns-krceSa98AgcbNqNTj2P0eX3ETEiA_8bz-fBWACw4wxYChpu48jm8hu2NX5YJJAaxaURrkw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhxkpnTV1wGGb47NiJkfhLx5xbGfVt40xKyV9W6xRwyfgo4QOHVkbwhD8Mtx-m541bwns-krceSa98AgcbNqNTj2P0eX3ETEiA_8bz-fBWACw4wxYChpu48jm8hu2NX5YJJAaxaURrkw/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1dytMK52qL2fQwtSmdKHfTIrGPvSLY9thQKsuxCPNpK79GJdKUlRgmUBl4VQ2wTG3MkNdOGiyEXJOAdvIHCMet_NjDQLZP6lGajUDcWWLqwckhfPmHnFEUsZqvS-L45JLkYav1jKwa4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1dytMK52qL2fQwtSmdKHfTIrGPvSLY9thQKsuxCPNpK79GJdKUlRgmUBl4VQ2wTG3MkNdOGiyEXJOAdvIHCMet_NjDQLZP6lGajUDcWWLqwckhfPmHnFEUsZqvS-L45JLkYav1jKwa4/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Decorations!! Decorations!! Decorations!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1LmpM2238_2nx3uFV7wcejnylKg7ioP_mHL0BmadlOSbQzdw2jSZtANtB6SkLqU1HyV9ctxYWb8paSa_7zaBdFqh6HfXagPnKuo5BVGA1XlqagVKOYslzU2OPgWL21j3MdiPhkFrL4Q/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1LmpM2238_2nx3uFV7wcejnylKg7ioP_mHL0BmadlOSbQzdw2jSZtANtB6SkLqU1HyV9ctxYWb8paSa_7zaBdFqh6HfXagPnKuo5BVGA1XlqagVKOYslzU2OPgWL21j3MdiPhkFrL4Q/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs0R5MPTRsAzdFHBqSDvjyRO8CIR_QXvWwlkUev6EyvrjBFvQaCENLYnkfnW3he965rcQer1A0syv_lpksMolkPpvtiq9g2ycuOv20-tHlOUnHo5cgtOmo3brH3WNTbvrwrrMFHiZK4U/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMs0R5MPTRsAzdFHBqSDvjyRO8CIR_QXvWwlkUev6EyvrjBFvQaCENLYnkfnW3he965rcQer1A0syv_lpksMolkPpvtiq9g2ycuOv20-tHlOUnHo5cgtOmo3brH3WNTbvrwrrMFHiZK4U/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhANTYO-N8yMSBcz-iIiGg-agR-Na222D2FSMlEl9a7FDecqmgDiRCDdrCaO1ZTLgx5yTBWa-JuepthStfudyUPc6lvEVgffEyenNlazRy-nOQkKde-V93ObdGDUWcrwgHqPfBxhlmk4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhANTYO-N8yMSBcz-iIiGg-agR-Na222D2FSMlEl9a7FDecqmgDiRCDdrCaO1ZTLgx5yTBWa-JuepthStfudyUPc6lvEVgffEyenNlazRy-nOQkKde-V93ObdGDUWcrwgHqPfBxhlmk4/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This center piece is of special note, this was my wedding bouquet!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o4y_8HGLCU9LFLrMbZ7p2CxeJoF9rG9qa-EEjhHP0FzS6ZpmsoK582b7fSotduqiuRZ9SjEu9aJB_j8ClGg6_aryDSi4RjfJiRx7YtPBulCUSFe4xho3ByBK7BeOOSJh3uO4o5Ix-Zk/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o4y_8HGLCU9LFLrMbZ7p2CxeJoF9rG9qa-EEjhHP0FzS6ZpmsoK582b7fSotduqiuRZ9SjEu9aJB_j8ClGg6_aryDSi4RjfJiRx7YtPBulCUSFe4xho3ByBK7BeOOSJh3uO4o5Ix-Zk/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSnlXvRHIMWykqMfgYDbHpGj_nr19RSuOBkyrqYIymutsxMN-gDDxoaPS4dKn4IwlAS6QWHCNEZe940agSYk09n-g_a-1fE40wUTnta1YEOXCJfWl3-zuLM8ea1au2SvzFxlB1FhO_JU/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSnlXvRHIMWykqMfgYDbHpGj_nr19RSuOBkyrqYIymutsxMN-gDDxoaPS4dKn4IwlAS6QWHCNEZe940agSYk09n-g_a-1fE40wUTnta1YEOXCJfWl3-zuLM8ea1au2SvzFxlB1FhO_JU/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Even Mr. Owl gets some yuletide cheer on his cage!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPseAlJ_iuFuab8Ykxy7Nv9HDhXBOhVl0JUrYAjFAQUvH38_edGP5tshqeyp1KPU9a09hqlO6wlhDWa75r9qrKXFsUpJiareGihjjpYmdc8x6AwCejvsMAvLFH34HO0eECZ_EpKtc9TA/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPseAlJ_iuFuab8Ykxy7Nv9HDhXBOhVl0JUrYAjFAQUvH38_edGP5tshqeyp1KPU9a09hqlO6wlhDWa75r9qrKXFsUpJiareGihjjpYmdc8x6AwCejvsMAvLFH34HO0eECZ_EpKtc9TA/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's a wreath I made. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXxv5c4iwH1Rq-pBTP_fVKxLy_wU_zCS6u3UEYW7aQRHuUac_v7OQ-A3wfHZpExi8aLmGNE10qOTJSE2_nW3p39vlhEbXZzELQHYUvRCdfNOC29USDqz2UT0yqBqDjnHu6wwM7DtZoxw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXxv5c4iwH1Rq-pBTP_fVKxLy_wU_zCS6u3UEYW7aQRHuUac_v7OQ-A3wfHZpExi8aLmGNE10qOTJSE2_nW3p39vlhEbXZzELQHYUvRCdfNOC29USDqz2UT0yqBqDjnHu6wwM7DtZoxw/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the center is Mike and I's first Christmas ornament...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-mu4W6RLMBDAPE6tZKegcfB0VUAtsCcOzioqELaQ21R5i75u47w-6r-_Ha7ojf_FBWXJD6EAXWGiZsOIcaYJbHw2ah8NQ5_ZlF-Zb897q6NJT1VT6JDKlrsn4bBJoFk9hBFwK7X22fQ/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-mu4W6RLMBDAPE6tZKegcfB0VUAtsCcOzioqELaQ21R5i75u47w-6r-_Ha7ojf_FBWXJD6EAXWGiZsOIcaYJbHw2ah8NQ5_ZlF-Zb897q6NJT1VT6JDKlrsn4bBJoFk9hBFwK7X22fQ/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More decorations...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs97o8hMkpjiBxKC_zCwDInXKIFD8za7fNAJ-1LtaJp0Knw1iyzQ1kinmKtUQBSsr1gtPu317G04B0mgKuUIuhYbnpdaJJiYr6u_HFt79dY5-Y_aQzSRxLd6dn93h9Ezdd13KmyKAn-KY/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs97o8hMkpjiBxKC_zCwDInXKIFD8za7fNAJ-1LtaJp0Knw1iyzQ1kinmKtUQBSsr1gtPu317G04B0mgKuUIuhYbnpdaJJiYr6u_HFt79dY5-Y_aQzSRxLd6dn93h9Ezdd13KmyKAn-KY/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLeHm3i5AOCnUUykbFPWdm7GEm5bgKBskJJOLZ4S5CeyytK1cFkWePgfEJd36CASeVY_27yrqNksfOF8qvI84rgZzpL2hzWgYGMIEaCQh-UFyiZADoqhijtdudqBCB5C-MmGQURXnp_4/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLeHm3i5AOCnUUykbFPWdm7GEm5bgKBskJJOLZ4S5CeyytK1cFkWePgfEJd36CASeVY_27yrqNksfOF8qvI84rgZzpL2hzWgYGMIEaCQh-UFyiZADoqhijtdudqBCB5C-MmGQURXnp_4/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our entry...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW64Wq2VkgYycugBdzTn2LW8Nw7uG4dQLqiUJjIpia1QPOGaiq0KjXdoiOcQBNmF0xYi0FlXTLeBu-d231hwBvNKSDxePFd3l8BSv-fK6Bfa9zdhDu932XXHTFZjSJFPcXA0flBy8wKA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW64Wq2VkgYycugBdzTn2LW8Nw7uG4dQLqiUJjIpia1QPOGaiq0KjXdoiOcQBNmF0xYi0FlXTLeBu-d231hwBvNKSDxePFd3l8BSv-fK6Bfa9zdhDu932XXHTFZjSJFPcXA0flBy8wKA/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
uh oh, mistletoe!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk8NPxeVr6oU4Uvo5lXlALNOmAbYS48njP4KX-9EupzvTgQNztnVPiPL8UsS6F3aTbEuc4N9-z5sPnCPACW4NxVWClkrSI9RKAEMVdJTdOvB8hskbElDHyJmo-1hyETXf6wMQE-fcnZs/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk8NPxeVr6oU4Uvo5lXlALNOmAbYS48njP4KX-9EupzvTgQNztnVPiPL8UsS6F3aTbEuc4N9-z5sPnCPACW4NxVWClkrSI9RKAEMVdJTdOvB8hskbElDHyJmo-1hyETXf6wMQE-fcnZs/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The fireplace mantle…Lizzie asked how Santa was going to get in cus we have a gas fireplace…I told her that he'd find a way...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavkQnU_9BimaGZLJ89eYJCf3hXOWz6u1SyoMq-ywfori1nV8FpJ1iotLPk0lxGtID9eYsgM-Uip5sZLsnS9tnjssltPFTwiq3shGcoonsqGNDQZWjR3mEMkftHQ6_dhIn2ss0x8s26pI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavkQnU_9BimaGZLJ89eYJCf3hXOWz6u1SyoMq-ywfori1nV8FpJ1iotLPk0lxGtID9eYsgM-Uip5sZLsnS9tnjssltPFTwiq3shGcoonsqGNDQZWjR3mEMkftHQ6_dhIn2ss0x8s26pI/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some Christmas birds perched in my houseplants!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWz4d0nc5Fy-V5MWCSdmSE5btzy4LvnLovSz_XVUA1utsbyQ5eeBgW4iNBEnm08KUeuCGSEohPwW2QCEDUdHGn-8Mkyn3ppSzeJXmOfehPRmYlsVfpYK-Y8z9MiNx4j25yesd8_rxdEE/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWz4d0nc5Fy-V5MWCSdmSE5btzy4LvnLovSz_XVUA1utsbyQ5eeBgW4iNBEnm08KUeuCGSEohPwW2QCEDUdHGn-8Mkyn3ppSzeJXmOfehPRmYlsVfpYK-Y8z9MiNx4j25yesd8_rxdEE/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More decorations…have I gone overboard? LOL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CHyTJDgI5rRfGJF8gNeMoDx3rhB2b8DTdHr_NW6TcC3_hcKvgrDfLc0CwvCbDzXgc-6B9cXLHh114jjG79v7AUQRlzbY5KxQn-q6Id1BsOlD9k9Cpnp1-e8s-QX1p0rv8F81RhjStjM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CHyTJDgI5rRfGJF8gNeMoDx3rhB2b8DTdHr_NW6TcC3_hcKvgrDfLc0CwvCbDzXgc-6B9cXLHh114jjG79v7AUQRlzbY5KxQn-q6Id1BsOlD9k9Cpnp1-e8s-QX1p0rv8F81RhjStjM/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkaabTnsKekhOJoCPFAF7PeRti0vVsxrzVQ3WCS6AFR67TEVOIWj98dbe8eikYhfL6w9_t4yGVnjxxk4KqgRg6I-xnoWO75-2QNlp_n_OPZ_IpIcgIqtMzC4Bx9u-wZ2TSuh6EHyT3CI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkaabTnsKekhOJoCPFAF7PeRti0vVsxrzVQ3WCS6AFR67TEVOIWj98dbe8eikYhfL6w9_t4yGVnjxxk4KqgRg6I-xnoWO75-2QNlp_n_OPZ_IpIcgIqtMzC4Bx9u-wZ2TSuh6EHyT3CI/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26YpRJ5Z3WuJ3ZJdR6SuRorRGqv5bkXdjB5_u7TI9UdL_ACDd8hWgl9guaf1xw7MJ5SnpgZgO1FWFAwh_M3HQfJmvlNQnf41WJFt5ZJLdn-t8i1lURpMhZ09tanMeiojKEVf_jUIr3i4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26YpRJ5Z3WuJ3ZJdR6SuRorRGqv5bkXdjB5_u7TI9UdL_ACDd8hWgl9guaf1xw7MJ5SnpgZgO1FWFAwh_M3HQfJmvlNQnf41WJFt5ZJLdn-t8i1lURpMhZ09tanMeiojKEVf_jUIr3i4/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuGWj-sQQXIDEkpoaLDEDB8FlwCeAVWq31lYPqXc0Nz1QoNic3-1tbP3Biz-q8QVX6z8LJCyjSibYMj_Ie37wD0nVNDBOQXJBoJ8GcDYQpFaZmnZCeY1vzVeyXzlBiwyCkBNb1sDruUc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuGWj-sQQXIDEkpoaLDEDB8FlwCeAVWq31lYPqXc0Nz1QoNic3-1tbP3Biz-q8QVX6z8LJCyjSibYMj_Ie37wD0nVNDBOQXJBoJ8GcDYQpFaZmnZCeY1vzVeyXzlBiwyCkBNb1sDruUc/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My little tree with homemade ornaments...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREwxu07Iko9EcrNKL7QVDo-YmlX5KgBg2LvG5LnurDCyxSJtLvidLS0CpbFxIm8wYwp1aDEKehImAx-57HMJeVjmpmFJvwDn05B7eQW_an6T1UL23nUoFCKCBW9HrKt7YZVcVGuj_Wyg/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREwxu07Iko9EcrNKL7QVDo-YmlX5KgBg2LvG5LnurDCyxSJtLvidLS0CpbFxIm8wYwp1aDEKehImAx-57HMJeVjmpmFJvwDn05B7eQW_an6T1UL23nUoFCKCBW9HrKt7YZVcVGuj_Wyg/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More Christmas please, the more the merrier! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachel...http://www.blogger.com/profile/14147592212416269514noreply@blogger.com0