tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82481014396657066992024-02-07T02:01:54.419-08:00Learning, Loving & Laughing Through LifeLearning to love and laugh through this wonderful lifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-55827143820285205942017-02-15T09:29:00.003-08:002017-02-15T09:29:33.414-08:00I have a new blog addressI have a new blog address. The good news is that the "comment" section actually works. You won't see it right away, but I do get them... how I wished I could have received comments during our hospital stays. So many people told me that they try to comment often but it seldom worked.<br />
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Check it out, follow me - <a href="https://learning-laughing-loving-life.blog/" target="_blank">and read it here.</a><br />
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(Today is my Dad's 76th birthday - I wrote about <a href="https://learning-laughing-loving-life.blog/2017/02/15/my-dads-dash/" target="_blank">My Dad's Dash</a>)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-9817804299483139742016-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:002016-10-06T09:06:16.277-07:00Painting and Painting and Painting and...<br />
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One year ago, around the first weekend of October, Mark and I drove for three days... arriving on Sunday night. We drove his truck and hauled a small trailer with just enough possessions to give him a semblance of comfort in our new home... and painting supplies!<br />
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Monday morning in our new home - Mark donned a tie to begin his work at his new office, and I donned my lovely painting clothes. I knew I had just one day in town and no form of transportation, so I began to make our new house into our new home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyodoZkXPaISYldVlW66L2x3FLdLKJXYbH6TGzpAJAnuchIBcs6AIL9D-zvkRHESTIo6GYFCQcScSVd1FyXRBjWRZImfT28iFuuHMvj4VLlKHiIRDz6lQte4hKTO5W-i3-9p7a1VRWaNj/s1600/IMG_9090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyodoZkXPaISYldVlW66L2x3FLdLKJXYbH6TGzpAJAnuchIBcs6AIL9D-zvkRHESTIo6GYFCQcScSVd1FyXRBjWRZImfT28iFuuHMvj4VLlKHiIRDz6lQte4hKTO5W-i3-9p7a1VRWaNj/s320/IMG_9090.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Replacing the built-in bookshelves would be fun, but rather a silly expenditure when they are sturdy and functional.. but what is the deal with that dead space at the top? Anyway - I had one day to work, and it was a day well spent! These were now bookshelves that I could live with.<br />
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Everything in our house was brown and for many people it would be beautiful. I appreciate the style, but it is not my own. Note: Even the ceilings were brown!! It was very much like living in a brown grocery bag! Made me crazy...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59vcFAXnHA2XE12_vJMaHy-UnEfoqr4zPrr28qdgQjZqE_A3W6QWffm0E87srBd_BnZjQIWBqi1NGtw6Z5vQ42l_LaFPm2PkRMmZNLXo9UIqTyudoX4YCbDGc7Idtso2vnNpjVw-M3osz/s1600/IMG_9137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59vcFAXnHA2XE12_vJMaHy-UnEfoqr4zPrr28qdgQjZqE_A3W6QWffm0E87srBd_BnZjQIWBqi1NGtw6Z5vQ42l_LaFPm2PkRMmZNLXo9UIqTyudoX4YCbDGc7Idtso2vnNpjVw-M3osz/s320/IMG_9137.JPG" width="320" /></a>My sweet husband lived alone for two months. Whenever he was in town, he was painting. He painted the walls and the ceilings in the three main living areas. What a transformation!!<br />
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Most of our ceilings are still brown, though very few of our walls. This is a huge project, but we are plugging away, little by little. It didn't help that I was gone for eight weeks this summer!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47wJIl3w0zA32Bz-Xy1ZtjYjEOUzcDf8HGopVTlqtwgqGZZg42GJ3NregBnu3JMhyocbmVczsu-3M5bgfxPDYKvblRrqyOISfF3ERzNTnoyLkIAXYqxK8rdRl6Qsv2NKrfzOpMq5EgfKQ/s1600/IMG_9374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47wJIl3w0zA32Bz-Xy1ZtjYjEOUzcDf8HGopVTlqtwgqGZZg42GJ3NregBnu3JMhyocbmVczsu-3M5bgfxPDYKvblRrqyOISfF3ERzNTnoyLkIAXYqxK8rdRl6Qsv2NKrfzOpMq5EgfKQ/s320/IMG_9374.JPG" width="320" /></a>When we bought our house we thought that the trim was a nice cream color. When we painted the walls we discovered that it was more of a tan/almond. Yuck. So... we have begun that process as well. <br />
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We also thought that the kitchen cabinets were a creamy, antiqued color. Painted walls turned them a sickly yellowish antiqued color. I will post before/after kitchen photos soon. I love it!<br />
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My entire upstairs is covered in drop cloths and masking tape. Raising six kids has taught me to live in chaos and to me, it is worth the chaos! I love the transformation. I often stop whatever I am doing to go into our latest "project room" and just breathe deeply. It is energizing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This bathroom is still<br /> a work progress...<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmY2KK6q-ebdCsJnQ40-CAMSyp4F5K1s_t7eNbNqXRE_Do4DdhiwPmi_VwjtKsFKRlq6biSDWZA91jLTQr4dvnW1GnqCa00M8Iqkwdd0w0-mTmcwfIWcNQ7KgQPaOtftH5DQNbR2yj2dW/s1600/IMG_9788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmY2KK6q-ebdCsJnQ40-CAMSyp4F5K1s_t7eNbNqXRE_Do4DdhiwPmi_VwjtKsFKRlq6biSDWZA91jLTQr4dvnW1GnqCa00M8Iqkwdd0w0-mTmcwfIWcNQ7KgQPaOtftH5DQNbR2yj2dW/s200/IMG_9788.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqfCMd7bC7du62E3RH1bjlKe88VtGmv8TsbPaYbmze_znMv-Bd0vUBFi8ax1wWP6olv2oQetPWLGfzuHiDav3ZIGdIH5zRs9wrt7HTPMiIFfD15sQVv414IjRyqtEAIY4YcXJE-tFzs-a/s1600/IMG_9900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqfCMd7bC7du62E3RH1bjlKe88VtGmv8TsbPaYbmze_znMv-Bd0vUBFi8ax1wWP6olv2oQetPWLGfzuHiDav3ZIGdIH5zRs9wrt7HTPMiIFfD15sQVv414IjRyqtEAIY4YcXJE-tFzs-a/s200/IMG_9900.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A coat of paint on the<br />mantle is a quick fix<br />until I come up with<br />another idea...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxULR0E5hISqaUphbM1uqJRqkryi0rOEhWFLG8UDul_bYJ7zgfgEcU6zCERt0k4eOGjRgKsjsxYR3vAyaiolZa0nWtRdycPRR40yir9sW_HjytuTj-o0I3JU48mU_IfabnuyuXaBe5QMga/s1600/IMG_9933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxULR0E5hISqaUphbM1uqJRqkryi0rOEhWFLG8UDul_bYJ7zgfgEcU6zCERt0k4eOGjRgKsjsxYR3vAyaiolZa0nWtRdycPRR40yir9sW_HjytuTj-o0I3JU48mU_IfabnuyuXaBe5QMga/s200/IMG_9933.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahLeBDUObjBnehOwrmH32UpLln05JfCarUs9avUPY5NLsMfVSpaiRQsTDqxLo04egCRWwg1NhMYXz7syWHd2xAEajV7iPTTKZncnY3ZeJJUh4Dr4rSWj-qV7AQmTsJhyCvbvwE_TYwT_J/s200/IMG_9936.JPG" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Spray paint and new globes<br />transformed our bathroom lights.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-56302032520753327892016-09-20T16:08:00.001-07:002016-09-20T16:08:40.541-07:00Elephant Cookies Curing Childhood Cancer Elephant Cookies - we made a couple dozen last week. They were cute, they were tasty, we shared them with friends... they will not help to cure cancer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDibxj-b8aEFyiDgSleqKUcfeQRO0sAtbLMR8LwE4rTMk4AI2N96Svk1NHoE6U7-N08nw8T9o5IERuyXpXETeVkO12GrtMep0PmvUZ6D8g5f9moa0t81w-xoLI2-aKu5B-ErG3G9lny0U3/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDibxj-b8aEFyiDgSleqKUcfeQRO0sAtbLMR8LwE4rTMk4AI2N96Svk1NHoE6U7-N08nw8T9o5IERuyXpXETeVkO12GrtMep0PmvUZ6D8g5f9moa0t81w-xoLI2-aKu5B-ErG3G9lny0U3/s320/IMG_1694.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Kneaders Bakery and Cafe, however, is offering an Elephant Cookie that will. Because September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, these cute cookies are being sold for $2.99 and 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to childhood cancer research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffY5OWlaKJ2BQUI4lWm20Vln_IkKrxP9bd5e78kIwZ6zBfY_Ttqz0BqZ2xLVxamJ4t0kE9HlGh6DnMUgvaElurh00xpLk7CaIdoy0vt54q_qaEWXb8s8yTDYVG4Q5JsnzdUm08_EqqBqe/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-02+at+7.34.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffY5OWlaKJ2BQUI4lWm20Vln_IkKrxP9bd5e78kIwZ6zBfY_Ttqz0BqZ2xLVxamJ4t0kE9HlGh6DnMUgvaElurh00xpLk7CaIdoy0vt54q_qaEWXb8s8yTDYVG4Q5JsnzdUm08_EqqBqe/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-09-02+at+7.34.44+AM.png" width="320" /></a>Here is more information: <a href="https://kneaders.com/FightCancer" target="_blank">Kneaders Bakery</a><br />
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Elephants have always been my favorite animal at the zoo, but what do they have to do with all of this? Apparently elephants have 100 times more cells than humans, so it would seem that they should be 100 times as likely to get cancer. Not so! Cancer in elephants is very rare.</div>
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Our doctor at Huntsman Cancer Institute, Joshua Schiffman, has been conducting some very interesting research. People have two copies of the gene we call P53 - elephants have FORTY copies of this gene! When Dr. Schiffman taught my children about P53, he called it the superhero gene. It rushes in when a cell is misbehaving - it either corrects the problem or gets rid of the troublesome cell. If this misbehaving cell were to continue, it has the potential to become cancerous. Forty Super-Heroes would be cool, something like that last Avenger movie, but all on the same side.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4UL2C9HUL48zcRoJhB8lsWen36wTZfoqmJ5KufSYhhwIcaSlW-bO5uslpObMdC18yyA4mWxRld85JwZMFrqX62RXNiUyzuUv7E13zBwF3-YJQVVYsIAElrnhwt4u6gnWXhB9ceOOBiqs/s1600/IMG_1693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4UL2C9HUL48zcRoJhB8lsWen36wTZfoqmJ5KufSYhhwIcaSlW-bO5uslpObMdC18yyA4mWxRld85JwZMFrqX62RXNiUyzuUv7E13zBwF3-YJQVVYsIAElrnhwt4u6gnWXhB9ceOOBiqs/s200/IMG_1693.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BGw3PYllfy7gpiIAXBhPDkZnwhjt7tJNXeDRJGtgT9beQlL-oeSVZJJOINJAsD4oCnmIAqrREl576ZAMb-X49A3DL2-i92x_XlidsFKTqN05KNCK7F8nk5BLrdngawBKoN3NtXkUCU1s/s1600/IMG_1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BGw3PYllfy7gpiIAXBhPDkZnwhjt7tJNXeDRJGtgT9beQlL-oeSVZJJOINJAsD4oCnmIAqrREl576ZAMb-X49A3DL2-i92x_XlidsFKTqN05KNCK7F8nk5BLrdngawBKoN3NtXkUCU1s/s200/IMG_1690.jpg" width="200" /></a> Because of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, four of my six children have only one operating superhero gene - thus the high tendency to develop cancer. They have been behind the scenes at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City to have their blood drawn simultaneously with the elephants. Dr. Schiffman has shared with us some exciting possibilities for the future of cancer care - perhaps my grandchildren will have an entirely different experience with cancer than my children have, or perhaps no experience at all.</div>
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Apparently the National Cancer Institute spent 96% of its research funding on adult cancer research. Childhood cancer could use a little help. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRXQ-tyFtZFl-jMDfKyoM32bMR4rztEL2mXVMu_eaJcHXan-LG4n4FO9tGfaeKmSgnMfMKXJrqDb5T8bJOAnpJt3BaYehx-CsGMVlzEyF0VYGux7JYL9PJ0o0hgN5VVanpFQteTzJaTmS/s1600/IMG_1698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRXQ-tyFtZFl-jMDfKyoM32bMR4rztEL2mXVMu_eaJcHXan-LG4n4FO9tGfaeKmSgnMfMKXJrqDb5T8bJOAnpJt3BaYehx-CsGMVlzEyF0VYGux7JYL9PJ0o0hgN5VVanpFQteTzJaTmS/s200/IMG_1698.jpg" width="200" /></a> Dr. Schiffman had cancer as a child. His research is helping other children. The founder of Kneaders had a grandson diagnosed with childhood cancer at age 13. Their fundraising will help other children. Three of my children have had cancer, (more than once) and we want to help other children. I have neither the expertise nor the money to do what Kneaders and Dr. Schiffman are doing, but I can do my part by spreading the word. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxgPgDZnWjuRAS1S1vq-EVkpF2YzzuHTZ1lxw43GZ9dn29CG_mOBpVMlA0OCDLw6v_vThm-STXlRRM7LKLfhh4F474CSioro1D1KZIWHT0c7rk1dsK_g2KqD15kbuGq-7_Ku2wJ_UEKoa/s1600/IMG_1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxgPgDZnWjuRAS1S1vq-EVkpF2YzzuHTZ1lxw43GZ9dn29CG_mOBpVMlA0OCDLw6v_vThm-STXlRRM7LKLfhh4F474CSioro1D1KZIWHT0c7rk1dsK_g2KqD15kbuGq-7_Ku2wJ_UEKoa/s200/IMG_1744.jpg" width="200" /></a> There are 52 Kneaders locations in the United States, but sadly, none in Dallas, TX. So, we made our own cookies. We did not sell them, but we did share them with friends. Hoping someone will share this information with a few of their own friends.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfNTKWn95keRzNT8xwWN5qfe5b39xdgd_-Au5xx1vfdujHhmB91UKWk2q3PsE-nRcuK5rfinffZ7KT306b-5JHnOEm9ABeozI871vuNR7JI3FDq2UtbO9QuC4Og-BabI7nxNB_CPZ3eAH/s1600/IMG_1706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfNTKWn95keRzNT8xwWN5qfe5b39xdgd_-Au5xx1vfdujHhmB91UKWk2q3PsE-nRcuK5rfinffZ7KT306b-5JHnOEm9ABeozI871vuNR7JI3FDq2UtbO9QuC4Og-BabI7nxNB_CPZ3eAH/s200/IMG_1706.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cR4FaHB0MuJnzIHKiPb_ZqrdDYhdg5bswb4JzCMohLnQyhI4CYyzgd34opu3dRPx8qZYPc0ESVz_YEOfK1NZGALoAmqCtqlKQxUxpYDIPOI4OFhdsBOyfh4EQMgddbv6IoNWcMmXLzpr/s1600/IMG_1705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cR4FaHB0MuJnzIHKiPb_ZqrdDYhdg5bswb4JzCMohLnQyhI4CYyzgd34opu3dRPx8qZYPc0ESVz_YEOfK1NZGALoAmqCtqlKQxUxpYDIPOI4OFhdsBOyfh4EQMgddbv6IoNWcMmXLzpr/s200/IMG_1705.jpg" width="200" /></a> Again, here is the <a href="https://kneaders.com/FightCancer" target="_blank">Kneaders website</a> which discusses the cookies, the research and how to donate if you cannot buy a cookie...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJM4mi7xMvx_iTuvVGJPLpQRWDkaBEUDAjp08HLiQjWrJ_rXmUV7KkUkEziOrM-64XSNCsWkF4fAYkKVCRuVTJUXYGgyVviwd9Zz4CI-FSg2ijct_Obd9ItrncjSE2LkgloTbV1nVfieD/s1600/IMG_1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJM4mi7xMvx_iTuvVGJPLpQRWDkaBEUDAjp08HLiQjWrJ_rXmUV7KkUkEziOrM-64XSNCsWkF4fAYkKVCRuVTJUXYGgyVviwd9Zz4CI-FSg2ijct_Obd9ItrncjSE2LkgloTbV1nVfieD/s200/IMG_1737.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfprSdb5GhpNTDcOkvY-PYtGouZthoqVXaYANf27OZbgWxyjWCDP2Nm5gr0kIDxt9ET2xDYcwcqwBHM2BzB2mKR_kFWhBI_HeHMQjfWqXkISQSfVlmJT3gkTeTYjc_ZvHvUBKidH0Chmi/s1600/IMG_1742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfprSdb5GhpNTDcOkvY-PYtGouZthoqVXaYANf27OZbgWxyjWCDP2Nm5gr0kIDxt9ET2xDYcwcqwBHM2BzB2mKR_kFWhBI_HeHMQjfWqXkISQSfVlmJT3gkTeTYjc_ZvHvUBKidH0Chmi/s200/IMG_1742.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPczI3JmkDtBoZ_XPaD4lmUw-M79wY1553Ts4ccQzKs9pUC7eDa-JMxVa5fXOjbsWIzSrROFk2Ekoss20YsqY-PhEQ0uRnxMjU47yAQFZbLutC8LOrqqKRRDAbSHeyB1UvqmEPIRy58r_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-09-20+at+5.38.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPczI3JmkDtBoZ_XPaD4lmUw-M79wY1553Ts4ccQzKs9pUC7eDa-JMxVa5fXOjbsWIzSrROFk2Ekoss20YsqY-PhEQ0uRnxMjU47yAQFZbLutC8LOrqqKRRDAbSHeyB1UvqmEPIRy58r_/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-09-20+at+5.38.57+PM.png" width="169" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan found a Kneaders Elephant<br />in San Antonio... not quite as cute<br />as the picture. The stores keep<br />running out (which is a good thing)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBbLp83mLIoN-TtwBAvLkyN8kKttzuvKY8TW17zp-g5VdK-6WJBoGO5SqDK1S0IBYiI-22Av7m7skczefaDz6ZZOkS8DqzBSp0Ru2vh7Q4WHDygvaVI7kYcOR3Qc_fRicpRzs8q6BjbF2/s1600/IMG_6366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBbLp83mLIoN-TtwBAvLkyN8kKttzuvKY8TW17zp-g5VdK-6WJBoGO5SqDK1S0IBYiI-22Av7m7skczefaDz6ZZOkS8DqzBSp0Ru2vh7Q4WHDygvaVI7kYcOR3Qc_fRicpRzs8q6BjbF2/s200/IMG_6366.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drawing blood in the elephant cage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR9YgigpWOL8c7ZOsZ67IzggKheme9lLMC5steVPdpf6hBDm9ZQWtreoBurAq2SG-GGFqN0nJZjLXgylxhbCBYz7qxvEI1k4ryIDMEdEphK3kIPt5tQE-5_S2x1poMr2pC36A9KAIR9Dz/s1600/IMG_6378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR9YgigpWOL8c7ZOsZ67IzggKheme9lLMC5steVPdpf6hBDm9ZQWtreoBurAq2SG-GGFqN0nJZjLXgylxhbCBYz7qxvEI1k4ryIDMEdEphK3kIPt5tQE-5_S2x1poMr2pC36A9KAIR9Dz/s200/IMG_6378.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn't take pics of the<br />elephants, but later that day<br />we found this one at a museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxUlE7_zC8sHV2PNaiAlHWGLBEPflaNvWK1UjndOBC1nmMSgePYY5XJEGjpvyR-V-c-0JQTcV8G2-8ItEt0l8SOFx-mB6HhIbxLRcJVvofWQutzN0tzmTPU-3nx7Q8JU0OWam_jFdmuCF/s1600/IMG_6373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxUlE7_zC8sHV2PNaiAlHWGLBEPflaNvWK1UjndOBC1nmMSgePYY5XJEGjpvyR-V-c-0JQTcV8G2-8ItEt0l8SOFx-mB6HhIbxLRcJVvofWQutzN0tzmTPU-3nx7Q8JU0OWam_jFdmuCF/s200/IMG_6373.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants are very happy to get their<br />blood drawn because they are fed<br />through the entire process.<br />They tried it on my kids too.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-37866120415033261062016-09-09T09:10:00.000-07:002016-09-09T09:15:46.406-07:00GIFT - Part 2<br />
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My poor, neglected blog...<br />
I have not written for several months - or so it would appear. Actually, I wrote a draft to follow up on my last entry on the topic:"Gift," This draft seems to have disappeared into cyberspace and somehow I don't feel like I can move on without addressing this topic one more time... yet my head is full of experiences and thoughts regarding Loving and Laughing and Learning while I live my Life. I want to get them recorded, so here are a few more thoughts on "Gift" so that I can move on...<br />
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It was mid-June and we were only days away from closing escrow on our home in Washington. A Gift came our way in the form of a disaster... a man who owns the 18 acres adjoining our 5 acres delivered this gift to our title company who then informed us. It was a spurious lawsuit contesting a 5-10 foot section of property as well as several lies and false accusations. We were stunned. We agreed to a quick settlement - feeling rather sick because the lawsuit was so ridiculous... yet we wanted to complete the sale. Unfortunately, the buyers freaked out and went looking elsewhere. Fortunately we had only agreed to settle if the sale went through. With a multitude of damages, we reluctantly filed a countersuit. Ugh.<br />
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We were back at square one - the house back on the market, plenty of debt, and up to our eyeballs in legal issues. Not where we wanted to be... and yet....<br />
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Experience has taught me that trials can help us to grow. Trials can make us better people. Trials can be a GIFT. I took a breath and began to try to be grateful for this Gift and find the good.<br />
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I didn't have to look very far. Within a week I felt that my marriage was stronger than ever. My relationship with the Lord was more dear. We had a fresh perspective on a number of things including our future and LIFE in general.<br />
Almost immediately I was able to use this "Gift" and this Washington property to bless the lives of family, friends and neighbors in completely different but very tangible ways. All of these things brought me such joy - I see that I would not have wanted to miss these opportunities.<br />
My gratitude for our Gift situation has become more sincere. To be honest, it is indeed a trial and certainly weighs me down - yet I believe that it is a blessing. We have already learned so much. I believe that we are on this Earth to learn, grow and become better people. It is not for us to dictate what a blessing actually is - would a life of ease and comfort cause us to grow or become better? We may desire it, but if we truly desire to improve and be more than we now are... I have to think it will come primarily through trials. Therefore I say, trials can be blessings, especially if you make the effort to express gratitude. Even more difficult, don't wait until years down the road to see the good and find the gratitude. Finding it while in the midst of the trial can lift that burden even while it is weighing you down.<br />
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Here is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ202X9YMhY" target="_blank">video of our property in Washington.</a> I'm sure I've posted it before... but since I still own it... I am thinking I will always own it... and what a great vacation home! You may also notice that there is plenty of forest around - and that the man who owns almost 200 acres of property in the county could stop worrying about .2 acres of mine!<br />
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ps - I just watched the video. I must say I really miss my front porch and the bubbler in my front yard. Also my many amazing blueberry bushes, but mostly the porch and bubbler. Wow - it is really pretty there! My Texas friends will like to see that even before we moved here we were flying our Texas flag!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-41854992944337206782016-07-02T21:05:00.000-07:002016-07-02T21:05:23.915-07:00GIFTSummertime always brings an abundance of time on our hands and a search for quality ways in which to spend that time. I have quite a collection of charts and books from past summers. This summer we are reading, memorizing, doing service, working on manners, chores, eating right... etc. The usual. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeKw1PLFCZdUE5bHsDwT5why5pCO3TUq4KRmh0dskn97WddaSkd_TcpgPLDwDWC9Y-j_C9auiPYBXqN0OVtmbROTZmyv_lCQ2HguNJJB8CktMFAwEaJcEPnkr27OrQGmIrXhQJapsJnJ3/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeKw1PLFCZdUE5bHsDwT5why5pCO3TUq4KRmh0dskn97WddaSkd_TcpgPLDwDWC9Y-j_C9auiPYBXqN0OVtmbROTZmyv_lCQ2HguNJJB8CktMFAwEaJcEPnkr27OrQGmIrXhQJapsJnJ3/s200/IMG_0818.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family scripture journal</td></tr>
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One thing that we really wanted to change was our approach to our family scripture study. Different methods in the past have been both effective and not effective - sometimes burning us out for months at a time. Now, with just two children at home -- two half-grown children -- we thought it was time for our study to grow up a little as well. Our new approach is intended to last for six months before we re-evaluate. One day we sat down and made a list of topics to study. Kimberly typed these up and put them into a jar. Every couple of days we draw out a new topic and each find a couple of verses in regard to the chosen topic. A few minutes of personal reflection is followed by each of us sharing what we learned and thought about the subject. We each have a little journal in which we record whatever we want - maybe our own thoughts, maybe what everyone else shares... it doesn't matter. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGboDB_zyTue8Tuz-7FFITFomAeWsks_Z49dNjs9Q31Y_hzyUzk4ot55QvcaTxKGVmMib_-uPwDTVoPBq2Jh0xaXl3CSeLXR2YpZQW9-g5bVU4aqhBHNOI5w0kvHx4fFqbi3QgyyiJOlh/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGboDB_zyTue8Tuz-7FFITFomAeWsks_Z49dNjs9Q31Y_hzyUzk4ot55QvcaTxKGVmMib_-uPwDTVoPBq2Jh0xaXl3CSeLXR2YpZQW9-g5bVU4aqhBHNOI5w0kvHx4fFqbi3QgyyiJOlh/s200/IMG_0819.JPG" width="150" /></a>Quite frankly, I am learning so much! Mark and I are both in awe over not only what we are personally taking away, but at what our children have to contribute! This takes only a few minutes each day, but we are growing in many ways. ...and no one is bored.<br />
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<b>GIFT</b> - this was our first topic. I wondered where we would go with it and was so pleased with the result.<br />
My first page of writing is shown in the photo. If I had ever dreamed I would put it out for the public to view I would have worked on my penmanship... Oh well. These are thoughts in general and read: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>When a gift is given, it isn't always what the receiver wanted, or may be something they have never even thought of - but when given by someone who loves you it has been thought out and is something that will benefit you, perhaps far in the future. Perfect gifts from our perfect Father may be unanticipated, misunderstood or even unwanted, but will always be for our good.</b></span><br />
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<li> We learned to be wary of some gifts which are given in the form of bribes and must be avoided. </li>
<li> If we wish to present a gift to the Lord (at his altar) - this could be our time, talents or any sort of service, etc... we must do so without contention in our hearts. Harboring ill feelings toward anyone else our gift will render our gift unacceptable.</li>
<li>Everyone is given at least one gift from God. These gifts are intended to be used to benefit others, thus all of God's children will be blessed through one another's gifts.</li>
<li>Christ is the greatest gift and his gives his life for us. This is much more than just dying for us - He LIVED for us, there was never any selfishness. He took his time on Earth and dedicated it to us, our greatest gift.</li>
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Another journal entry: <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> Gifts are talents and strengths. They are also opportunities that come to us. They may be in the form of certain interactions. I think some of our greatest gifts come in the form of trials - if we grow and improve through the lessons of a trial - we become who we need to be... then these are gifts indeed.</b></span><br />
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That was just two days of reading and discussing. Just a few days later we were presented with a Gift, an unexpected and rather unwelcome gift which we were prepared to embrace because of these two days' study. I will have to write about it later... but I am so grateful that the scriptures prepared us to see our new situation as an opportunity to learn, grow and be blessed!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-16215670589615626442016-06-30T05:51:00.002-07:002016-06-30T05:51:23.671-07:00Working On My QualityHow was your day?......... Better!<br />
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What did you do? ............. I worked on my quality!</div>
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A few weeks ago I heard a woman speak of her 30-something son who has Downs Syndrome. For 16 years he has worked at a steakhouse clearing tables and doing dishes. Each day she goes to pick him up from work and each day they have the same conversation. She asks how was his day and he replies, "Better!" An inquiry into how he spent his day brings the same reply every time, "I worked on my quality!"</div>
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These responses stole my heart and have been in my thoughts ever since. How often has my day been better than the day before? Often enough... but what if it were consistently <i><b>Better</b></i>? What if every day was better than the day before? Granted, there are many things outside of my control which affect my day - but for the most part I am in control of what I do and how I react to situations. In almost every way I am<b> better</b> than I was ten years ago... but if I could learn to work on this day by day - where will I be ten years from now?</div>
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I could work on being better in my family relationships, how I spend my free time, cooking & cleaning, coupon clipping, writing thank-you notes, smiling, keeping contact with friends, exercising, reading, memorizing, sharing... blah, blah, blah. Well, I could be overwhelmed and drive myself crazy and get discouraged trying to get better in everything. Or I could not even try and just stagnate and feel even worse... </div>
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This is where I really like the second response. <b><i>Working on my quality</i></b>! I can do this! Instead of making a list of everything that needs to be better about my life (and feeling crazy and discouraged), I could just think about improving my quality of whatever it is I am doing when the thought comes to my mind. If I could manage to think about it even once a day - improving my quality in that one instance ... well, I should be able to report that my day had gone "better" - and ten years from now I will have learned to seek for "<b>quality</b>" and find that <i>every aspect of my life </i>is "<b>better"</b>. </div>
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Good plan... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUAxx1aHdbBlWLVFaJLlEjanP2OG_yL73MJM55z6KdAUizHzRiNO4iEFqlIpZ23HwCarmVLOOvonAFpDT1hr37MkA8YuY0d8Sdbunus_Y7cE8Mqck6jYE2PTlHsMY2wEtqOol7hKm_P6K/s1600/Kimberlysurgery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUAxx1aHdbBlWLVFaJLlEjanP2OG_yL73MJM55z6KdAUizHzRiNO4iEFqlIpZ23HwCarmVLOOvonAFpDT1hr37MkA8YuY0d8Sdbunus_Y7cE8Mqck6jYE2PTlHsMY2wEtqOol7hKm_P6K/s200/Kimberlysurgery.JPG" width="150" /></a>Cancer checkup - Natalie had her MRIs and received a clean bill of health. Jacqueline also had her MRIs and though there is some suspicious activity we are hopeful that nothing is cancerous. Of course she is a missionary and so I was unable to be with her, but the doctors are not concerned at present. Greg is happy to have a summer without chemotherapy and is recovering from over 30 stitches he received a couple weeks ago when they removed a few moles. Only one mole proved to be undesirable, but they cleared all margins and he's doing great. David and Mark will have their tests in July. My one photo today is Kimberly - she doesn't have Li Fraumeni but we were still relieved when her pathology report came back clean. About a month ago she had a painful cyst removed from her ear canal. Aside from eardrops and a no-swim order, we were relatively unaffected. Nevertheless, sending her into the operating room brought back many memories. Fortunately I am well skilled at diverting myself - Nevertheless, it would seem that my children cannot go into surgery without some sort of excitement. In Kimberly's case, after about 20 minutes, the electricity went off! The generator kicked right on, but I was immediately aware that she was laying there under anesthesia and beyond my reach. I was glad to get her home again. As for Kimberly, she was thrilled to be able to report to her siblings that she had joined their "surgery" club. They were not too sure that 30 minutes or so working on her ear "counts" - her lesion was "unremarkable" and her scar doesn't exactly give her bragging rights around here, but as the mom, I'll take it any day!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-31431560027145690162016-06-23T18:09:00.000-07:002016-06-23T18:09:08.626-07:00Texas - Update from March??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
March 26 was my last blog post - It is almost June 26 and I have been very neglectful. I opened up blogger tonight and found this draft - no typing, only photos. What was my intent? This will remain a mystery, but since it's here I will discuss my photos for posterity....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8ioM_BnLzBlhMlwIyt2YrT8dFTcigFFNycvygk-frhrhRKuQDI13dS5phha4nMW9Y1uEZ4_dYKvvNVKzIthSesvoQte-TPYld_JbVb_uf8YOR1itIGRrl40N0sdO0nku6sVkDtmSMROt/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8ioM_BnLzBlhMlwIyt2YrT8dFTcigFFNycvygk-frhrhRKuQDI13dS5phha4nMW9Y1uEZ4_dYKvvNVKzIthSesvoQte-TPYld_JbVb_uf8YOR1itIGRrl40N0sdO0nku6sVkDtmSMROt/s200/IMG_0117.jpg" width="150" /></a>Here is Kimberly eating lunch in Palestine, TX. We had a Friday off of school and decided that we should explore. A friend told us there was a Dogwood Festival - and I jumped at the chance to see dogwood trees. The warm winter had brought the blooms too early, but we saw a few. The great treat was to find a beautiful part of the state where rhodendrons and azaleas were blooming like crazy. There were tall evergreen trees and we felt that we had taken a quick trip to our beloved ol' northwest springtime. Beautiful! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMFZsKHfo2sNMyuUXbXtIt5mOtM38mAQWBxBPxwvq5SsIWYN3hb7fdnyA76vCoWlFGpdBu7QVovKTFlrwsv6v_oKLuE7Vid18hoL2hxYeQpo-ixHUxACeVJw6UNPeLCMA8s0m7MwzIQN5/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMFZsKHfo2sNMyuUXbXtIt5mOtM38mAQWBxBPxwvq5SsIWYN3hb7fdnyA76vCoWlFGpdBu7QVovKTFlrwsv6v_oKLuE7Vid18hoL2hxYeQpo-ixHUxACeVJw6UNPeLCMA8s0m7MwzIQN5/s200/IMG_0195.JPG" width="200" /></a>Kimberly and Natalie are sitting in the Texas Bluebonnets. These flowers have a reputation for being spectacular - and they were! Wow! Intense color through the fields and along the roadways. Apparently the tradition is to plop your little ones among the blooms and capture the moment. So - here are my little ones and the moment forever captured. The wildflowers haven't stopped either - my mind is completely blank to the name of the flowers that captivated me when I drove home from Utah in April... hmmmm. Well, anyway - for quite some time the fields have been yellow with black-eyed Susans. Love it!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R2Zcg3vdKs9n-NmJ42Qnm0dqnNDrrG-j0HSM8N0TfvZSR7R1K2cUiIjk5ldhLMsfo6AMv72ukpA1OXOQd5E0k5ggdzzeO_GqmvJ49mJg21bR86YUo8TSmGtdLRj1i-NRiKUFVU5RVP2-/s1600/IMG_9742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R2Zcg3vdKs9n-NmJ42Qnm0dqnNDrrG-j0HSM8N0TfvZSR7R1K2cUiIjk5ldhLMsfo6AMv72ukpA1OXOQd5E0k5ggdzzeO_GqmvJ49mJg21bR86YUo8TSmGtdLRj1i-NRiKUFVU5RVP2-/s200/IMG_9742.jpg" width="150" /></a> All decked out in her Texas finery, Natalie has made the most of our move! Though Texas offers a form of concurrent enrollment, it does not compare to the Washington option and would not have helped Natalie with her future plans. Going back to high school wasn't really an option, so - though officially a Junior in high school, Natalie opted to take the GED which she passed with honors. She was accepted to BYU and left us in April to begin Spring term classes. To celebrate, she chose a beautiful pair of cowboy boots so she can "put her cowgirl on" - even in Utah. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaRfV_MVqK6ATwZPz2IygjrJRG4o-HZwK2j5uLIW-2rd3RQtIMUxMRflMm7t_MwkyI012YifALDiyWUWn-SvC9mdz1dw9pljOu0hzY1dxFtxS9xAxa7eZG0nmVVUnW6h8kU8f7qEp0Vum/s1600/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaRfV_MVqK6ATwZPz2IygjrJRG4o-HZwK2j5uLIW-2rd3RQtIMUxMRflMm7t_MwkyI012YifALDiyWUWn-SvC9mdz1dw9pljOu0hzY1dxFtxS9xAxa7eZG0nmVVUnW6h8kU8f7qEp0Vum/s200/IMG_9744.JPG" width="200" /></a>Speaking of putting on her Texas, we all enjoyed those last months with Natalie as she worked at a hamburger restaurant in a part of Texas where patrons tended to have very heavy accents. After trying to take an order or two and not being understood - she developed an accent of her own. Suddenly she fit right in and became very popular with the customers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-qVLRc-qEPKZKS5ouVkjYk4-dEUsBty9Uocu8IHGXCsH3ZgJvRlKr3zbtWeMKmnC41d-EYTc-FXsrwDwTtdgWB7XPovwg9aHl-SMsiPjfXmL6HowISYtBJdZCRGL4Tcp3g3DF7nkq4g/s1600/IMG_9764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-qVLRc-qEPKZKS5ouVkjYk4-dEUsBty9Uocu8IHGXCsH3ZgJvRlKr3zbtWeMKmnC41d-EYTc-FXsrwDwTtdgWB7XPovwg9aHl-SMsiPjfXmL6HowISYtBJdZCRGL4Tcp3g3DF7nkq4g/s200/IMG_9764.jpg" width="150" /></a>Our neighbor has the beautiful pond which attracts birds all year. Late winter found us enjoying turkey vultures. They are huge and graceful. There were several of them and they would swoop through our yard as they came in for a landing. Blue herons do this often as well. We took this photo one sunny morning as this bird was sunning himself. Spectacular!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAstOb2yP7hyphenhyphenjeih53rI39r5l2p24fp_oFOPIje2x87tV8PUgYuYWkShKxhRR6pRuiNamlsydHWjpA5BWlVRRmdHEB5gwq4pUx3z0HTjxgW3nVh74t_l34bsyOkdXpQkLIhJNmQuh_Ojh/s1600/IMG_9866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAstOb2yP7hyphenhyphenjeih53rI39r5l2p24fp_oFOPIje2x87tV8PUgYuYWkShKxhRR6pRuiNamlsydHWjpA5BWlVRRmdHEB5gwq4pUx3z0HTjxgW3nVh74t_l34bsyOkdXpQkLIhJNmQuh_Ojh/s200/IMG_9866.JPG" width="142" /></a>My muddy kids decided to go kayaking on our own little pond with friends. Silly kids - cold, wet and muddy. Just like when they were little, I made them spray off with the hose before coming near the house. Brrr. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinr7sd2K8wzlHFb3S1KzEfE8lVjcjVHtB-dtbZfwBpJ-l0tMlx4erJqBHweXaOeSN5Ie9I_5SwlG_by8iWEb3lFMatXfelh7sef56MMNU1SP76lQ2BinV2_EQPj1s7vy77NhbwCtkDXtd/s1600/IMG_9949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinr7sd2K8wzlHFb3S1KzEfE8lVjcjVHtB-dtbZfwBpJ-l0tMlx4erJqBHweXaOeSN5Ie9I_5SwlG_by8iWEb3lFMatXfelh7sef56MMNU1SP76lQ2BinV2_EQPj1s7vy77NhbwCtkDXtd/s200/IMG_9949.JPG" width="200" /></a>First Monday Market Day in Canton, TX. This was fun, but, with the crowds and heat, I wouldn't want to come during the summer. I think we went in March - this is a huge flea market which has been around for over 100 years. We gave each child $25 so that they could all find their own sort of treasure. Great memory, worth the money!</div>
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So - that's the last photo... we are enjoying Texas. The people are certainly the best part! I have met many fine women which have improved my life for the better. </div>
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New friends, new experiences, new perspectives....</div>
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Once again, an experience I would not have chosen for myself has blessed my life immensely. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-88064388967498795362016-03-26T20:33:00.002-07:002016-03-26T20:35:06.023-07:00Melancholy in TexasMelancholy.<br />
I want to call my sister, but then I would cry. Or she would cry. I know my mom would cry. Sadness, no - not sadness. I am not sad, I am actually feeling quite peaceful and content.<br />
I just came home from a worldwide broadcast. I am a member of the oldest and largest women's organization on the planet. The Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a marvelous organization - supporting women in all of our many roles, promoting literacy and education, providing all levels of service around the world and next door...<br />
Twice a year we have a worldwide broadcast. Tonight was my first in Texas. I know that my sisters, mothers, daughters and friends... scattered as we are... we all hearing the same inspiring instruction.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3gGY1y_On-vbqmEWQbuIQZFLtqNyZThpbHod_SpCppjv0N5Yn6A5ObKVUs0S-yXOvScavQgEwgg8pmIWjFr4lbnKduG3sUyRHCQU2Hhk96qGKUXOsHC95YfH_XWuJfs3A_Ou_FEIe7A9/s1600/IMG_8658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3gGY1y_On-vbqmEWQbuIQZFLtqNyZThpbHod_SpCppjv0N5Yn6A5ObKVUs0S-yXOvScavQgEwgg8pmIWjFr4lbnKduG3sUyRHCQU2Hhk96qGKUXOsHC95YfH_XWuJfs3A_Ou_FEIe7A9/s200/IMG_8658.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Farewell 2015</td></tr>
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I was reflecting on my first broadcast in Washington. It was the end of September 2001, Jackie had just turned five years old and I brought her along because I had lived there just under three months and didn't really know anyone. I remember spotting a few women I knew, but they were busy with one another. Instead I spoke to complete strangers and knew it would get better.<br />
September 2015 ... I was out of town and listened to the broadcast with my daughters. I was relieved because I knew I would have been sad to join in with my many friends for the last time. When my sister moved to Washington we used to take turns attending one another's buildings. There was always a friend to invite - and then go out to eat with later. Always, I could look around and find a room full of women that I love.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxGOFCq64rjitZJdTKgQSZk5uw-kVWqTBh9WspNLDFjl-avszpV63xHaSkaEpPVYTrftoYbdFbWEJX3Op3xot8QoDBp_nE5esXm0fJ23iDrCDp3d7iKYAD_dZQ0kp_tZOZqBKbn_T-i_6/s1600/IMG_9427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxGOFCq64rjitZJdTKgQSZk5uw-kVWqTBh9WspNLDFjl-avszpV63xHaSkaEpPVYTrftoYbdFbWEJX3Op3xot8QoDBp_nE5esXm0fJ23iDrCDp3d7iKYAD_dZQ0kp_tZOZqBKbn_T-i_6/s200/IMG_9427.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell to Oregon Nov 2015</td></tr>
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I have been here just over three months. I am new and I find myself older and quite content to watch the women interacting - all without feeling lonely. I am happy to see friends greeting each other. Tonight I had friends as well. I have met some of the most amazing women, it is a privilege to know them. I know that it is just a matter of time before I can look around and find a room full of friends again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7OhwPWR3ptFx_OPMkolf54euwHZ0CIdsE1kBrmAWc5C4Q6-GK8oxp0A4Uj_sKqSQp6iphnlV36idSBhkbU4gc2BmmWdCn28NdR2S3kpSHLzoGYhWeRXJQBfFYTYTbHvWi78NwReEZKf9/s1600/IMG_9419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7OhwPWR3ptFx_OPMkolf54euwHZ0CIdsE1kBrmAWc5C4Q6-GK8oxp0A4Uj_sKqSQp6iphnlV36idSBhkbU4gc2BmmWdCn28NdR2S3kpSHLzoGYhWeRXJQBfFYTYTbHvWi78NwReEZKf9/s200/IMG_9419.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nov 2015 - Farewell to Washington</td></tr>
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Yesterday there was no school and I needed an adventure. David, Kimberly and I headed out to explore and ended up in Palestine, TX. There is Dogwood festival and we saw some of the most beautiful country! We saw rhododendrons in bloom - evergreen trees - hills - I loved it. I also loved the flat open country as we drew closer to Dallas. So much sky - and <b><i>Sunshine</i></b>! As I drove I contemplated how I could love this country so soon, especially when it is so different from my beloved northwest. <br />
Why would I question it? I have a deep love for many areas of this country. Who would have thought I would ever be grateful for moving around as a child?<br />
1991 - Nathan was born and I didn't know that I could ever love another human being as much as I loved him... then the children kept coming and the love kept growing. I guess it is the same with places that we live. They are all different, but we can love them all.<br />
And friends. I love so many friends... from high school, college, California, Oregon, Washington, and now it begins in Texas.<br />
This must be one of Life's greatest (and sweetest) lessons.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feb 2016 -<br />
Welcome to Texas<br />
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Ok - as I speak of Texas... this is all in spite of the fact that, although it is a clear, warm night--- it sounds like a hailstorm outside. This is because these rather repulsive flying beetles of some sort of bombarding it trying to get to my light. I hope they hit it so hard that they die... there must be thousands of them and I find it more than a little nauseating... I think I saw their larvae in the ground while digging in my yard the other day. They fell off my car when we parked in the garage tonight. Ummmmm, this is going to take some getting used to...<br />
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Melancholy.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy6mshqLqx013sOnUmsKaLbLjhlyr7Xkb1ntLrQBEiiQjT1Vq9OYb_bNFoGy5Uh4Z_PiMjB2HKPTvtUY2HUk4weFkSnpPnAzvIPVWc4cszPX9l5THp_4N2dV_eyyTdYRykrYLxt36L3f3/s1600/IMG_9408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy6mshqLqx013sOnUmsKaLbLjhlyr7Xkb1ntLrQBEiiQjT1Vq9OYb_bNFoGy5Uh4Z_PiMjB2HKPTvtUY2HUk4weFkSnpPnAzvIPVWc4cszPX9l5THp_4N2dV_eyyTdYRykrYLxt36L3f3/s400/IMG_9408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-5878748078012764892016-03-21T11:05:00.001-07:002016-03-21T11:05:46.466-07:00Musical Surgery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV9eRdVyA6k2SMi92eEkyiX2d08ozRSBoJDY_stnLy3IckSNtG93_vTwJyd67PWpTzheZBeQ_e2Sr2UjGgn2NX1wyAp9WFajvLy-jdrTgxouf0mSzRobWB-9bKzUcyODgs0ch9fd3qhaf/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV9eRdVyA6k2SMi92eEkyiX2d08ozRSBoJDY_stnLy3IckSNtG93_vTwJyd67PWpTzheZBeQ_e2Sr2UjGgn2NX1wyAp9WFajvLy-jdrTgxouf0mSzRobWB-9bKzUcyODgs0ch9fd3qhaf/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" width="181" /></a>In my opinion, a chemotherapy port is a sizable piece of equipment to have implanted... so to remove it under a local anesthetic seems like something I wouldn't want to do. When he was 17, they put him to sleep - at 22, Greg was awake and able to give us a play by play. He sent an email today with this report:<br />
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<pre style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaP2YQXLRjj8Sr6yIe2KBApDGV-aI823QCbGSHMuoPQ15H8f5DuKRDfypYbKOtlJJ4gB5ll1F4HF-FbmIoTft75RtykeEQ_AUI2iZgsIQLCrkrLDFQs6uY0sSXyic2pNs_uQWB7LQDm1X/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaP2YQXLRjj8Sr6yIe2KBApDGV-aI823QCbGSHMuoPQ15H8f5DuKRDfypYbKOtlJJ4gB5ll1F4HF-FbmIoTft75RtykeEQ_AUI2iZgsIQLCrkrLDFQs6uY0sSXyic2pNs_uQWB7LQDm1X/s200/image1.JPG" width="200" /></a>So probably the most interesting thing this week was my port removal surgery. If you're not a pediatric patient then you don't get put out for it. And if the doctor has some strange reason to not show up (I don't know what happened) she sends her PA to do it. ( I am really bummed that Dr Scaife did't get to do it. I really like her.) Nathan came up with me and got to watch. Everyone got to watch except for me. I was just numbed with lidocaine and then they sliced, pulled, snipped and all kinds of stuff while I tried to keep a conversation going that would keep me distracted from what was happening. So the port is out, I survived, and it really is purple. Now I just have a huge bruise from all the messing around. </pre>
<pre style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;"> A fun note about the surgery. They asked what kind of music I wanted. I didn't care so I said classical because that's the best kind to go along with a surgery, keep everyone calm. But the music kept keeping time to what was happening. As the doctors got ready the music was sad and tense, as if it was a dramatic TV show. Then as they operated it was sad as if I was dying and my family waited outside in the waiting room anxious to hear about me. The music came to a triumphant end right as they pulled the port out! kind of fun. Then there was a commercial break on the radio, just like TV. As the doctor sat and held pressure on my neck to make sure I didn't bleed out, the music was slow and thoughtful. Perfect for an end of episode montage. Me in the room, good news to the family, the guy who hit me in a car accident being led out of the court room. The lawyer being thoughtful, back to me and the music ended again right as the doctor was done sewing me up. That was kind of funny and we kept laughing about that.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-19611579593009270882016-03-17T14:53:00.000-07:002016-03-17T14:54:01.676-07:00Blee & the EaglesSomeone recently reminded me that the stress of moving is equivalent to having a death in the family. This helps explain why I am living in slow motion - I think I am still recovering from those last crazy weeks. Most of this was my own fault - I wanted to see and spend time with everyone that I loved... and I couldn't leave town without painting my friend's kitchen cabinets, or any number of other projects which I felt driven to accomplish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3850yoUtSvz7hT_doIepS1LfHBrWtAsU-8GHjdNSTLOwA11LEYC-SQwdJzNJ9DZjPOmkg72wQpJI45iJUC8dnjNDgICXZsNHq_AcKWNHabuyrh4H9JYqpz8NwtmlrIdmL-9sl_dUcguz/s1600/img905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3850yoUtSvz7hT_doIepS1LfHBrWtAsU-8GHjdNSTLOwA11LEYC-SQwdJzNJ9DZjPOmkg72wQpJI45iJUC8dnjNDgICXZsNHq_AcKWNHabuyrh4H9JYqpz8NwtmlrIdmL-9sl_dUcguz/s200/img905.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">One of my all-time favorite photos!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One big one - David's Court of Honor. He had earned his Eagle Scout Award several months before, and he was just waiting for his best friend to complete his paperwork so that they could celebrate together. Looking at the calendar one day we realized it would probably not be possible --- but never say that to my friend Heidi, she pulled out all the stops and her son began making phone calls. Thanks to many helpful people, he completed his paperwork. <br />
Time was up - we were moving - but... Heidi and I both don't like to be told we cannot do something that we really want to do - and so... on the first day of moving we asked our movers to leave early so that we could all go down to the church and celebrate the hard work of these two Eagle Scouts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuT2tW40VcTBofxqTqLabmko7GjW9sllYaenmSblMtfVfFbqWoupw72KraSQcACbnypDsLapKQ5O8L-Xb9NKwNUGXE1FP3KUV9tHIn7BtkvqjRaTde7kDVkMmf_eKsHA7hyL9tJG3vZiV/s1600/P1020947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuT2tW40VcTBofxqTqLabmko7GjW9sllYaenmSblMtfVfFbqWoupw72KraSQcACbnypDsLapKQ5O8L-Xb9NKwNUGXE1FP3KUV9tHIn7BtkvqjRaTde7kDVkMmf_eKsHA7hyL9tJG3vZiV/s200/P1020947.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">New Years Day hike along<br />
Columbia River</td></tr>
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That evening was even sweeter than we had anticipated because Kimberly had also been working hard. She had earned her Young Woman's Medallion and so we were able to add her to the program. Having spent so many childhood years together, it was fitting that we celebrate together as well, especially on our last night in town.<br />
For anyone who knows these kids - take a minute (or 6) and watch the cute video that Natalie put together (quickly before we packed the computer). You can watch them grow up before your eyes. My favorite part is watching David and Kimberly together - they have such a sweet brother/sister relationship. See how his arm is always around her, protecting her like a big brother should. Also notice how they are usually playing outdoors - it's not secret that this is where I like to see my kids. <i>(Blee is what David called Kimberly when they were babies and he couldn't pronounce her name. Almost 14 years later it seems to have stuck.) </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>click here:</b></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF0vf8AdEk" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span><i>Eagle/Medallion Slide Show</i></a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6nBsu9icvECAR5SEjyI-kGkGbkwVtdEpFu1i_TsgCzCWdJ38rM603eFpOzyPIaoK3PhV01OaEHbQr2dfEDwgtIGIKJIFo1mbzomQrfCBPZjHJbulYl-kVMXtP-joPOYCP7UVhfGzWUGP/s1600/IMG_5938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6nBsu9icvECAR5SEjyI-kGkGbkwVtdEpFu1i_TsgCzCWdJ38rM603eFpOzyPIaoK3PhV01OaEHbQr2dfEDwgtIGIKJIFo1mbzomQrfCBPZjHJbulYl-kVMXtP-joPOYCP7UVhfGzWUGP/s200/IMG_5938.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">There were Three Musketeers, why<br />
can't I find the photo with Sheadan?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5j5AVbhmefVtT5isImH4RyhAGdvhjU74osXk5bVGE25Nd5tn_ZT7k5BcR2IPmGUh3fjfdUUBA7qgUaAChXyRaf8ZjjFxk4H70W-cVjgOSjCIlU8PkmAoJrZLwlAuy5ZFh58g2eqV-Cx_G/s1600/IMG_5166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5j5AVbhmefVtT5isImH4RyhAGdvhjU74osXk5bVGE25Nd5tn_ZT7k5BcR2IPmGUh3fjfdUUBA7qgUaAChXyRaf8ZjjFxk4H70W-cVjgOSjCIlU8PkmAoJrZLwlAuy5ZFh58g2eqV-Cx_G/s200/IMG_5166.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Serving Mom and Dad<br />
an anniversary dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kimberly's Young Woman Medallion, or Young Woman Recognition Award, is something to be proud of. It is something that the girls at church begin to work on when they are 12. In the past they had to finish it by the time they were 18, but it is now open to all women. I earned one when Jackie earned hers, and again with Kimberly. I thought I would try to get three with my three girls, but I managed two with an Honor Bee - so I am aware of how much work these can take. I want to briefly explain what this award entails.<br />
There are 8 "Values" that the girls learn about and incorporate into their lives. These are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b style="background-color: white;">Faith ~ <i>learning to trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ</i></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: blue;">Divine Nature ~ <i>we are all daughters of God</i></span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">Individual Worth ~ each of us is very important to our Lord</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Knowledge ~ we must participate in learning at every level</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Choice & Accountability ~ we are free to make choices but must accept consequences</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #666666;">Good Works ~ service to others brings joy to everyone</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: purple;">Integrity ~ we must be as good as our word</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Virtue ~ our thoughts/behavior must be based on high moral standards</span></b></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQADpgkswMgv8GfbmwgQFI-2K7pJwyL64AgkdkqZ7LU-X36pX118a-jyZv7kaWAuEZEEwH6cAJ3F510tgXSQQfXXeo3kEVwAiiQssL87yU0k14sdsEoRjBXS5FQ4wQ36LyoS1qSJjAq6p/s1600/IMG_5152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQADpgkswMgv8GfbmwgQFI-2K7pJwyL64AgkdkqZ7LU-X36pX118a-jyZv7kaWAuEZEEwH6cAJ3F510tgXSQQfXXeo3kEVwAiiQssL87yU0k14sdsEoRjBXS5FQ4wQ36LyoS1qSJjAq6p/s200/IMG_5152.JPG" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Another road trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With each of these values, the girls must complete six "experiences" and a 10 hour project. Experiences include a wide range of activities, studying, service, learning/teaching, etc. Completing eight 10-hour projects is very impressive. The entire program is called Personal Progress and it is aptly named. My sister told me that she is never a better person than when she is actively working on her Personal Progress. Just like a grown man who has earned his Eagle Scout award will almost always stand out, so will a woman who has taken the time to develop her mind, her talents, her spirit and learned to care for others through Personal Progress. The Honor Bee I mentioned is an additional award that is available to girls and women who have completed Personal Progress - it has several requirements which include 40 hours of service.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRuS2gJdMiuVrNycFYptW-kNgAk2WF6AcAG75YHBVoS4V9l2WnUtn5jh3INLqVBmvml5r9VgZrp7ozlSlaqx2W70b7pRDyxku3HvqZ-c20JckdT7PPYdUGFh-PTp-Tdiuhqs44ShLzm9C/s1600/Andrus2+0534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRuS2gJdMiuVrNycFYptW-kNgAk2WF6AcAG75YHBVoS4V9l2WnUtn5jh3INLqVBmvml5r9VgZrp7ozlSlaqx2W70b7pRDyxku3HvqZ-c20JckdT7PPYdUGFh-PTp-Tdiuhqs44ShLzm9C/s200/Andrus2+0534.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Holding hands along the way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So today I am just celebrating Young Women <b>and</b> Scouts <b>and</b> my children <b>and</b> brothers who put their arms around their sisters <b>and</b> playing outdoors<b> and </b>friends who help you pull off big events on the day you move away <b>and</b> that I managed to bake 90+ rolls for a dinner tonight and none of them burned <b>and </b>my husband's trip next week just got shortened by a day <b>and</b> that I can see my trash can blew over but didn't spill <b>and</b>... that there is always something to smile about!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94nzi7cNusuQ1W3uTmubG5ym-o2pJvMt_jN_eU9boyAL8iAhjtV2oyKDruQbo2xQdLFWO9oPeurMo3GhU_ek05eZh-hiNMvl4n46ahrUQKvwf7gTC2JSquMs0nMf0Sa3YXHxpHTmpesbA/s1600/img387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94nzi7cNusuQ1W3uTmubG5ym-o2pJvMt_jN_eU9boyAL8iAhjtV2oyKDruQbo2xQdLFWO9oPeurMo3GhU_ek05eZh-hiNMvl4n46ahrUQKvwf7gTC2JSquMs0nMf0Sa3YXHxpHTmpesbA/s320/img387.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Nathan and Greg are both Eagle Scouts<br />
(They set this goal at a young age)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>AND everyone celebrate that at this very moment - 1,000+ miles away, Greg is having his chemotherapy port removed! That means that he is over 6 months post chemo and cancer-free! Let's keep it that way! He's happy because it has added another port to his collection. I am thinking that two is a large enough collection!</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-57126383204060695232016-03-03T17:06:00.002-08:002016-03-03T17:06:21.278-08:00The Book Whisperer - Part Two<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2UrALYlIsIrGPiOTG8Vq83nfnJUAlCMCsaWFt0guLM5gXT8pd-cPpaZmCEVyCBGlyqq8C_AsZNU6eOYKFPAUV7yEHChfLA0jKhQ6jCvPhlC0w7aqtwS7VDOBjAAczdRPXcNIGCkmMkO3/s1600/img424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2UrALYlIsIrGPiOTG8Vq83nfnJUAlCMCsaWFt0guLM5gXT8pd-cPpaZmCEVyCBGlyqq8C_AsZNU6eOYKFPAUV7yEHChfLA0jKhQ6jCvPhlC0w7aqtwS7VDOBjAAczdRPXcNIGCkmMkO3/s1600/img424.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
Here in Texas we have a very early Spring Break - it is next week! We've decided to go exploring a bit and are going to see what we can find in Arkansas. What I am really looking forward to is shutting off the kids' phones for a few days. I figure that this is a family vacation and their friends do not need to come along. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_qcT2Wm4Ocu60-KeUFjmvKakBBZd812S79ofQTWHae4-1AUrkRMXsxVoxA9vyezdf1hG0PrKxN83JUqvvIwph7nDRzeUKpa7vGzFKpiGXn1CZXbUhp7pN9PZxSCU_F1MIJ3yL5Fvc72n/s1600/img423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_qcT2Wm4Ocu60-KeUFjmvKakBBZd812S79ofQTWHae4-1AUrkRMXsxVoxA9vyezdf1hG0PrKxN83JUqvvIwph7nDRzeUKpa7vGzFKpiGXn1CZXbUhp7pN9PZxSCU_F1MIJ3yL5Fvc72n/s1600/img423.jpg" width="268" /></a> I began this blog post in <b>2014</b>! I found it while searching for my original Book Whisperer... It only contained these two photos which are straight out of my old Family Home Evening scrapbook. They are from 1999 and contain a list of some of the books that we had been reading aloud... OH! How I wish I had kept that list going! Anyway, reading the original Book Whisperer post was fun.<br />
My sister, Lori, just asked me what we are doing for Book Whisperer now... I am glad she didn't ask me much sooner since I finally got my act together just a couple weeks ago. I'll explain our new program right after I report on our first one.<br />
We began in September of 2014 and officially ended last summer. Kimberly wanted to be done by the end of the school year and she did it. Mark and I completed ours soon afterward with David and Natalie following up this past fall - mostly finishing up I think. IT WAS GREAT! The fact that we were required to read was wonderful! It meant that there was always a book nearby and I reawakened my old habit of reading before I fall asleep. In fact, everyone was going to bed sooner so that they would have time to read when possible. We had a lot of quiet evenings as we sat together reading - when does that happen if you aren't <i>Book Whisperers</i>?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH7Otml6FF0nuU1D9lxWLOCWlzedKJOUX3SMkLgPZsKbT8y_LxDJ4wermUzshOA7LRBrMjrBD5lGppzKxQh7nXmeQcpHWKlLwtME5UvgDzlRLJafho_vUbhT4C1xGGz7MvMIbe_PS6j2X/s1600/IMG_9941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH7Otml6FF0nuU1D9lxWLOCWlzedKJOUX3SMkLgPZsKbT8y_LxDJ4wermUzshOA7LRBrMjrBD5lGppzKxQh7nXmeQcpHWKlLwtME5UvgDzlRLJafho_vUbhT4C1xGGz7MvMIbe_PS6j2X/s200/IMG_9941.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When Lori texted me her question<br />I looked up and there was Kimberly<br />reading "Standing Next to History"<br />A fun book we have all shared about<br />the Secret Service during the<br />Reagan years. How we miss<br />Ronald Reagan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other really positive aspect of our program was that we were required to read so many different genres. They included Realistic Fiction (5 books), Fantasy/Science Fiction (5), Biography (5), Historical Fiction (5), Mystery/Western (4), Informational (4), Poetry (2) and My Choice (10). This really worked to broaden the scope of my reading. It also gave me permission to read some really fun books - before this I felt that I should be reading all "informational" books - and they can get rather boring. Another aspect I loved... we shared books. Someone would read and recommend a book and we could all pass it around over the next month or two. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMpEnHuQjj8aEmTHCW8hI7ECq1ejifgF3BYI6Fm1wZwy6nVoboNDpF7O_g3GoNPYlrqFw9gg6-LZ1n3u_2cT1VSRssIOobXk82TCx569Sw26IiLeqLdSiiA2OeLhg6XVDWdo7_rftpYnQ/s1600/IMG_9942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMpEnHuQjj8aEmTHCW8hI7ECq1ejifgF3BYI6Fm1wZwy6nVoboNDpF7O_g3GoNPYlrqFw9gg6-LZ1n3u_2cT1VSRssIOobXk82TCx569Sw26IiLeqLdSiiA2OeLhg6XVDWdo7_rftpYnQ/s200/IMG_9942.jpg" width="150" /></a> I had intended to report on some of the books that I read, but I cannot find my list - when I find it I will write about it. For now, I will share our new plan: <br />
This time around we aren't counting books, we are counting pages. We can read a lot of small books, one large one.and anything in-between (Natalie just pulled out the unabridged Les Miserables which should fill her Historical Fiction requirement by itself... ) We will each read a minimum of 1,500 pages in the following genre: Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, Biography, Information and Historical Fiction. We will also have 3,000 pages in My Choice.<br />
A new twist... This time we have to write. Yes, write... and I heard more than a few grumbles about this. I bought the set of Moleskine notebooks from Costco - a little nicer to write in than composition books. Inside of each book is the record sheet (since I kept losing my last one... seriously, once I found it outside in my backyard?!?) and the new rules. We just have to write a short report on each book and what we learned. I know... this kind of defeats the purpose of the Book Whisperer -reading-for-the-joy-of-reading... but last time there wasn't a prize. This time we have prizes... and it isn't hard writing - more of a record that I wished I had from before. What if I had written down a few notes on every book I have ever read? What a treasure (for myself)! So... we will be writing.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GTty1alPhSjEVmn9OwbZoV3pP7G5T0foDpuklJTzi0p6Yao8_KNPwvNY7nzUr_6Qcv3BbYmPIWvXXpFj1oEngtCcoe6oFkpIH4bmLnwcT3AgnRpbWAY27Ma9WI_8gUIvRX2mmoiD-t46/s1600/IMG_9943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GTty1alPhSjEVmn9OwbZoV3pP7G5T0foDpuklJTzi0p6Yao8_KNPwvNY7nzUr_6Qcv3BbYmPIWvXXpFj1oEngtCcoe6oFkpIH4bmLnwcT3AgnRpbWAY27Ma9WI_8gUIvRX2mmoiD-t46/s200/IMG_9943.jpg" width="150" /></a> Kimberly has a big head start since she finished our last program in June 2015 and hasn't quit reading. I explained this new program to her at the time... but (this will make everyone feel better) - I didn't get around to making these books and explaining it to everyone else until last weekend (Feb 2016). Oh well, that's the way it goes...<br />
So - next week is Spring Break (without friends texting). The sunshine which has been so beautiful and present each day is going to be hiding behind some clouds/rain. We will be in Arkansas... and just in case rainy Arkansas doesn't keep us busy... we all have instructions to pack a couple books! Let the games begin!<br />
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<i>For more information search for my first Book Whisperer post - or Google "Book Whisperer" and learn about this incredible teacher. It is inspiring!</i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-29120942839294476092016-02-26T08:20:00.002-08:002016-02-26T08:20:28.777-08:00Tossed with Waves When I was young, I used to wonder if I would someday be required to walk on water like Jesus did. (I'm pretty sure I won't have to do that.) It's one of those stories that really catches a child's attention. Recently I was reading it again and I noticed something new. He is walking, not only on water, but on a stormy sea! <div>
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<span class="verse" style="background-color: #fefbbf; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">24 </span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.</span></div>
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I hadn't realized that there were waves and a "contrary" wind. It really does change the image. So now, picture Peter. He climbs out of a boat which is tossing about on these waves. Nevertheless, he wants to be with Jesus and he walks toward him... amongst the storm and tumult!!! It is really very impressive! And then:</div>
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<span class="verse" style="background-color: #fefbbf; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">30 </span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was </span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">afraid</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.</span></div>
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It was when he "saw the wind boisterous" that he began to fear and sink. The tumultuous waves must have been terrifying. Peter was successful until he changed his focus from Christ to the wind and storm surrounding him. Those waves had been there the whole time and Peter was aware of them because he had been out in the "<span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves"</span></div>
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Certainly I am aware of many waves, tumult and storm swirling around me. You cannot be alive today without being surrounded by tempest. I guess that the question for me has become, "Where is my focus?" There are certainly things that I do not need to spend my time worrying about - but the greatest, most personal storms DO need a lot of time and attention. If your child is sick you do need to seek medical attention, if you are moving across the country you do need to pack your house, etc. etc. Then, in the middle of everything, we need to have a positive attitude. We need to take care of the big things, and the everyday things, and help other people with their things....</div>
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Sooo.... in order to keep our head above water, it would appear that the skill we all must be seeking is <i>how to take care of everything needing care - while maintaining a focus on our Savior. </i></div>
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I think that this will take a lifetime of practice.</div>
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In my life, I tend to not get very far and then, like Peter, I become afraid and begin to sink. Here is a beautiful lesson for us... since we all fear, we all begin to sink...</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">And immediately Jesus stretched forth </span><span class="clarityWord" style="background-color: #fefbbf; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">his</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #333333; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Pahoran, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;"> hand, and caught him</span></div>
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This scripture says IMMEDIATELY Jesus caught him. He was right there and waiting... but go back one verse and see what immediately after what?</div>
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... he cried, saying, <b><i>Lord, save me.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Peter cried out for help.... and Help was there. </b></span> (Matthew 14:24-31)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-73758601537890164532016-02-16T12:32:00.000-08:002016-02-16T12:32:35.352-08:00Lifetime of Love "It's ok Mom, we know you love us!" Kimberly, my 13 yr-old, was assuring me that she didn't mind that I had forgotten to put the red food coloring into our traditional Valentines Day breakfast. Pink milk, pink, heart-shaped pancakes and pink buttermilk syrup are the usual fare. Before church on Sunday I hurried to prepare pancakes, buttermilk syrup and milk... it wasn't until we were almost done with breakfast that I realized that the pancakes were round and that nothing was pink. <br />
I knew it wasn't a big deal, but Kimberly's reassurance reminded me that there are so many little things we do that does express love. Words are important. Hugs are important. Kindness is important. Service is important. Fun holiday traditions are good too, but sometimes don't mix well with getting to church on time....<br />
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My friend recently told me of a lady she knows that has decided that when her children reach a certain age, she will no longer express her love for them through words or hugs. Apparently they will no longer need those things.?? Well... I do not know what age that would be... I am nearing the half-century mark and I still need and expect this from my parents. It breaks my heart to hear of such a parenting theory and I am grateful that my parents loved us children so completely - and expressed it in word and deed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ4uCU7YHAslbUBltyY1kZm3DSet8LrisE59eU5qjmrS9A98W7_1c2VmljIjsjcfhDZNOzDESU2AjB1KZht4CUHkaF-tYrX3J9sdKmxitC6Pv3mG1F04MSv43TRRKh2yhW64nFQ-oUe1t/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ4uCU7YHAslbUBltyY1kZm3DSet8LrisE59eU5qjmrS9A98W7_1c2VmljIjsjcfhDZNOzDESU2AjB1KZht4CUHkaF-tYrX3J9sdKmxitC6Pv3mG1F04MSv43TRRKh2yhW64nFQ-oUe1t/s320/IMG_0051.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, here we are. This photo was already<br />on my blog, so I probably wrote about<br />Dad on his last birthday also. Oh well,<br />Happy Birthday Dad!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrEZPV9JCyG8qld3_Y7Qd-4St28jh59YU7M0u3ddsoQfU0H8aapTJXK98FaGT5KGEc8ShWUxldYS3_FR3w7ighhI9MsM3V1TUFgRCqrJXWFchiu6AT3N_kfnkuHKOjHhNs3RYrX8e2JL8/s1600/img438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrEZPV9JCyG8qld3_Y7Qd-4St28jh59YU7M0u3ddsoQfU0H8aapTJXK98FaGT5KGEc8ShWUxldYS3_FR3w7ighhI9MsM3V1TUFgRCqrJXWFchiu6AT3N_kfnkuHKOjHhNs3RYrX8e2JL8/s200/img438.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad in high school</td></tr>
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Yesterday my dad turned 75! How did that happen? Isn't he in his 30's, <i>patiently showing me</i> how to tie my shoe and <i>encouraging me</i> as I learn to roller skate? He is pushing us on the swings... giving us a "run-under" so that <i>we can swing higher</i> than the birds. Now we are hiking on the California coast and he is stopping to break off leaves of various shrubs, smell them and <i>tell us abou</i>t that particular plant. He is<i> full of boyhood stories</i> of similar times spent hiking these same trails. I'm in high school and he <i>patiently helps me</i> understand how to solve a word problem in Algebra. Years before he<br />
<i>helped me learn</i> to write an essay. He is in his late 40's and driving me home from college for the summer,<i> teaching me</i> that deserts are beautiful, that all of the world is full of beauty if we will just look for it. For a couple years my summer job is at his firm and we occasionally drive into the hills to eat our lunch, <i>enjoying the views </i>while eating peanut butter sandwiches together. He is in his early 50's and I have just had my first baby boy. He thinks he is alone with the baby and <i>doesn't know I am watching him</i> as he coos and makes nonsense sounds - have I ever loved him more? He enters his 60's. <i>We both love </i>photographs, stories, and family history. We<i> both want to </i>be always outdoors, always breathing fresh air, tending plants and enjoying quiet moments. I realize he is <i>the most intelligent </i>person of my acquaintance. <i>I try to practice what he preaches</i>... if you think something is unpleasant - change your attitude and suddenly it is enjoyable (he is better at that than I am).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3hX_S_WpHqRhRLhEFT09i1qgQafXNFoVGX4aQb3oG-tLbdYqTp0vrqhfnChfUQXDkh-fujkmXlxOqBfoc8hmNdDZq9BXYyXTPUj-EQ11n5kWTAudAz8FfRo1TUjKdU5qSVpD4nbNYhTh/s1600/IMG_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3hX_S_WpHqRhRLhEFT09i1qgQafXNFoVGX4aQb3oG-tLbdYqTp0vrqhfnChfUQXDkh-fujkmXlxOqBfoc8hmNdDZq9BXYyXTPUj-EQ11n5kWTAudAz8FfRo1TUjKdU5qSVpD4nbNYhTh/s200/IMG_0302.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am in Junior High School -<br />and I knew my parents loved me!</td></tr>
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So now he is 75 - I talked to him on the phone yesterday. He had just come out of the theatre - they had gone to see the new Star Wars. It was a bit emotional. Why? Almost 40 years ago we watched the original Star Wars together. First our entire family went - we had been anxiously awaiting its release. Then... wonder of wonders... Dad took my brother and I back again the next night. And the next! Although money was always tight - we saw that movie three times (or was it four?) in one week. One memory is burned into our brains and our hearts - as we drove home our car became an X-wing fighter. He put it into warp speed and we bravely battled the tie-fighters the whole way home particularly around that one corner near the 7-2-11. All of these years later we remember it, we smile and we know that we love each other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15RtCB2oRdvphORCuEE_C5sHXn3sQtt2tVOnFvhisL-SLLCjKuVspzfTLsVFLcCq9X78_ErVafmI7cgdmNVAuhc6fNblwD-oM40a9JNVDZlq8z03ulXu_qGnLDbz9FvxrZwYy245AHSZM/s1600/IMG_6630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15RtCB2oRdvphORCuEE_C5sHXn3sQtt2tVOnFvhisL-SLLCjKuVspzfTLsVFLcCq9X78_ErVafmI7cgdmNVAuhc6fNblwD-oM40a9JNVDZlq8z03ulXu_qGnLDbz9FvxrZwYy245AHSZM/s320/IMG_6630.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 2014<br />Daddy-Daughter snapshot.<br />A lifetime of love!!</td></tr>
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"I love you" "I love you too"<br />
Of course that is how we end all of our phone calls... and we mean it. I expect to hear it, and I want to hear it. Yet without it, I would still know. My entire life I have known. I knew my parents wanted to be parents. I knew they loved being parents. I knew they loved me. When my dad speaks of having us all together as a young family he tears up. They are the best of times.<br />
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I love my family. I love my parents. Even more, I love being a parent. I adore my children. I will always tell them, and I hope that I always show them. I hope that my entire life reflects the deep feelings I have for motherhood. What memories will they have of me on my 75th birthday?<br />
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<i>Alternative Ending:</i><br />
<i> I don't want to conclude there - because I have never doubted that my father loves me, I have never doubted that my Heavenly Father loves me. Because I have experienced the deep love that I feel for my children and they cannot yet comprehend, I know that my Heavenly Father loves me with a depth that I cannot yet comprehend. I cannot grasp it, but I am learning to trust it. I am one of countless children and he loves us all. How I wish I could share what I know with everyone. I am just one person, one daughter. I can do my best to share this love with my children, and they in turn can learn to share it with their children. It can filter out through our home and our lives to our friends and to those with whom we interact. We can make a difference! Our Father would want us to! </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-13732419108975311452016-01-24T17:26:00.001-08:002016-01-24T17:26:55.063-08:00Experience Joy A smart, beautiful young girl dies of cancer. Her mother writes a book. I read the book. I know I wasn't having the emotions that I was supposed to have. I felt frustration. This poor woman really struggled - really, really struggled. For example, she could not bathe because the water caused so much pain on her skin.<br />
Poor lady! As I read of her struggles at first I just wanted to say, "Get A Grip Lady!" - Not very nice, but I couldn't understand her reactions. I have been through so many of these same experiences and handled them so differently.<br />
I <i>am </i>a nice person and I repented of my reaction - Then my frustration stemmed from the fact that I couldn't step into the book and help her out a little! I wanted to talk to her and share some things that I know. Her daughter was an amazing little girl and I was sorry that their last months together weren't lived differently - but alas, I could not change the story. In the end, the mother finds a sort of peace, though I still think she is off the mark.<br />
A few weeks ago I was able to speak in church. My topic was "How a Christ-Centered Life brings Joy." I love this topic! Because we are new in Texas I was able to share a few of our cancer experiences. I share this because I wanted them to know that, despite a couple of really trying years, our family experiences JOY. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX24FoIRTtTMwyu2gVrj00EvmN3ipPcrztIqEvQRXnKhyphenhyphen3fFTOE0hdwlKjmhJemQdBbR68cVw7zeOGoGGAs7eUNpCv8Qu7nd1mreqvDXIza1gC21A2jPQuH_dzw5ve0qoKFpaG5Jvp-C2/s1600/MM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX24FoIRTtTMwyu2gVrj00EvmN3ipPcrztIqEvQRXnKhyphenhyphen3fFTOE0hdwlKjmhJemQdBbR68cVw7zeOGoGGAs7eUNpCv8Qu7nd1mreqvDXIza1gC21A2jPQuH_dzw5ve0qoKFpaG5Jvp-C2/s320/MM.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is supposed to be<br />accompanied by M&Ms.<br />I would share if I could....</td></tr>
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This is a message I wish that I could share with everyone. I know that childhood cancer doesn't reach every home. However, I also know that trials, heartache and suffering do reach every home in one way or another. Cancer is easy to talk about. I am blessed in this way. I know that every mother will watch their child struggle with something and most of those struggles are not to easy to discuss, or should not be discussed with others. We have some of those. <br />
Cancer, however, well - we can talk about cancer. If your child hasn't been diagnosed, you know a family member or friend has been. We all know the fear and we all want to help. So... I talk about it.... Hoping that those other mothers can read and learn and know that we can experience Joy in the midst of our trials. This is one of the most beautiful and powerful lessons that I have learned through our childhood cancer years!<br />
I have thought more about this during the past couple of days. I know I can feel sadness, discouragement, apprehension, anxiety, exhaustion and many other less-than-positive emotions and still feel Joy. I may not be smiling. I may be crying. I can still be joyful. Joy is deep.<br />
I also thought that I cannot feel Joy when I feel emotions such as anger, malice, jealousy, etc. Why is that? If my Joy is deep, where does it go when I let myself be angry? I think that the key is "let myself." When I make the choice to let myself have such negative emotions, I experience the consequence which is to drive away the spirit of Christ. <br />
Jesus Christ taught us the way to be happy. That way is to follow Him. <br />
He taught us, he asked us to do certain things and live a certain way... then he gave us the agency to choose how we will live. <br />
I have learned that when I choose to follow his teachings and example, I can be in the midst of great heartache and still have joy... still have peace. <br />
It is simple, but so many people don't know where to turn or how to get there. I have learned a lot over my life - I will write more of what I have learned.... later. This is because I have learned that joy in family life is not achieved when Mom spends too much time on the computer...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-26214219846781534902016-01-20T13:57:00.000-08:002016-01-20T13:57:58.242-08:00Go Outside and Play !! Mark moved to Texas 2 1/2 months before the rest of the family. That same weekend another family from Washington moved to Texas. Mark met them at church - three of their children match the ages of our three still at home. How fun it has been to have such good friends already - our kids have a great time together - all of them laughing, talking, playing games, etc. <br />
Our two families have a lot in common. One important characteristic of both families - we limit our children's away-from-the-home activities so that the family has recreational time together. We both enjoyed living in Washington with all of the outdoor activities available. Hiking, swimming, exploring the coast... A few nights ago my friend looked at me and expressed her concern for how we will spend our summer hours in the heat and without the mountains, lakes and rivers to which we are accustomed. That night I slept fitfully as I pictured a summer without Lewisville Park, Battle Ground Lake, Siouxon Falls, Moulton Falls...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB9Vt15KzmBN4M5DZc1FPOnRSh71kA6_YevkOme64Bhliw74ZXNsDnE8ltVFRE6XQfylS1nKQinlOWuuanVH-qSkaLw-7UWWZo7Tdp0R6sS7Mr4ee5ZUpL7jd_34A4ottus-lShyphenhyphenB6mlC/s1600/IMG_8429.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB9Vt15KzmBN4M5DZc1FPOnRSh71kA6_YevkOme64Bhliw74ZXNsDnE8ltVFRE6XQfylS1nKQinlOWuuanVH-qSkaLw-7UWWZo7Tdp0R6sS7Mr4ee5ZUpL7jd_34A4ottus-lShyphenhyphenB6mlC/s200/IMG_8429.PNG" style="cursor: move;" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I captured this on my<br />phone last August and<br />it should explain my<br />summertime anxiety</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn9lwlaMzeNVkwMeP6lonjT_e929RnMmd8xR8nI-kvzaPka5MvQNBOfuS1tVJHdBzDwsAyspmkMmeYghuBBnsbWhUy5Z6_52u0E6qlOQxn34Pe3EoyKhmS0JDOgQK4E1Rwo1p6KvjhY_R/s1600/IMG_8333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn9lwlaMzeNVkwMeP6lonjT_e929RnMmd8xR8nI-kvzaPka5MvQNBOfuS1tVJHdBzDwsAyspmkMmeYghuBBnsbWhUy5Z6_52u0E6qlOQxn34Pe3EoyKhmS0JDOgQK4E1Rwo1p6KvjhY_R/s200/IMG_8333.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved walking at Lewisville<br />Park several times/week</td></tr>
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To know me is to know that one of my greatest dreams for my children came true when we moved to our five secluded acres. We lived there almost 14 years and never watched a television station. My kids played outdoors with their imagination - I love hearing them reminisce about their make-believe games. It sounds like they all had a special spot in the woods where they could go to be alone. I know I did.<br />
I have been very blessed to move to Texas with 2.3 somewhat secluded acres also! My property is lined with trees on three sides and a neighbor with a pond on the other. I am humbly grateful each day to have found this location!<br />
I just stepped outside to spray paint several picture frames. Yes, it is a bit cold to be painting outdoors in January. Nevertheless, those few minutes outside were exhilarating. More so than sitting here, now, at my computer. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3A0TbysqTf_S4_vLuNpc7nAtnol-ZnP_XLQV7N3wRrg5XyKVRmtOz8CAnqZoh4TUWkzKjiwlr_Q3kyQ3RyrZonbZLTzlR233pCKKiEmBPYYQgRTrxDKhslLTsHN6-96P5jyD2u7bpCv/s1600/IMG_8810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx3A0TbysqTf_S4_vLuNpc7nAtnol-ZnP_XLQV7N3wRrg5XyKVRmtOz8CAnqZoh4TUWkzKjiwlr_Q3kyQ3RyrZonbZLTzlR233pCKKiEmBPYYQgRTrxDKhslLTsHN6-96P5jyD2u7bpCv/s200/IMG_8810.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids built some sort of stone-<br />henge at our favorite beach,<br />Cape Lookout</td></tr>
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This entire blog post was inspired by a friend's Facebook post which included this important video: <a href="http://www.mostwatchedtoday.com/nature-valley-rediscover-nature/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> It is sobering to think what is happening with our current generation and what this means for the future! <br />
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This seems like a good time to transcribe a paragraph from a letter written by Mark in September of 1994! It surfaced during the move. It is printed on a dot matrix printer and still has the paper-feed sides to it. (We used to be better about writing letters to our families.) The setting is Aloha, OR. We had just graduated from BYU and moved to the northwest. Mark is telling everyone about the blackberries, the zoo, and other discoveries. Then he writes this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nLyGXblwXp0QPjZ6HCtq7PSQtEb8rhiApXBkpF79Yc3FhagtpxI-QrQGssRsc2zi3Oia4Lt1TChQM5PU9dMl1iWKbP4XkGe2mC7L9fvTj0sPV5w7gOgodtt3gqzUoq8K6YlPT419Dn9o/s1600/IMG_9372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nLyGXblwXp0QPjZ6HCtq7PSQtEb8rhiApXBkpF79Yc3FhagtpxI-QrQGssRsc2zi3Oia4Lt1TChQM5PU9dMl1iWKbP4XkGe2mC7L9fvTj0sPV5w7gOgodtt3gqzUoq8K6YlPT419Dn9o/s200/IMG_9372.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbor's pond in<br />Texas is beautiful</td></tr>
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<i>One of the best things we have done as a family is sell our TV. I recommend this to everyone. We do plan to buy a small portable 13 inch to use as a monitor for watching videos, but feel no urgency to do so. You may ask how we fill the void of TV. Well, <b>there is no void, only freedom. </b> </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjBCkZZeq-ZOvj69aFom_-9LJfkR0sRU98O76XHpnEV6NkbRQhveLCIIes1p941GX3-5dYgi7lMdCGVQvQGJdpodKZVwey1UgMD5loSRiGnRsN9Kq4l7AWgymUAsK-dC7PV6fMpuJgIfB/s1600/IMG_9574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjBCkZZeq-ZOvj69aFom_-9LJfkR0sRU98O76XHpnEV6NkbRQhveLCIIes1p941GX3-5dYgi7lMdCGVQvQGJdpodKZVwey1UgMD5loSRiGnRsN9Kq4l7AWgymUAsK-dC7PV6fMpuJgIfB/s200/IMG_9574.JPG" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we drove away from WA,<br />one last stop at<br />Multnomah Falls.</td></tr>
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<i> The lack of TV allows time to read books with the boys or play other games. Corinne and I also enjoy reading. For news we listen to the radio during the day. This is much better because the radio takes time to discuss issues instead of just giving a headline. I have access to computer databases at work and can print articles from all the major newspapers. If there is an issue that we want to know more about we have a great information source. The nicest part of not having a TV is that we have eliminated the negative influence in our home. We no longer feel obligated to sit and watch all night long. Instead we go for walks or just sit and talk to each other. Again, I encourage all of you to move the TV out of the front room and into a closet only to be used occasionally.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8BwFj5pDgtiz3TeAwkEATKq98Allco8YyqkUFBUf6t-GjtXTnOH5yFJ_y5dUgwmWp5qxR5PGbRn8SEI9Ob5sWwxnWlVNc0R_g7ZBRq5bfT9qvvozgpxqSyszAqdb3u0TLR8Rf8K13DGy/s1600/IMG_9642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8BwFj5pDgtiz3TeAwkEATKq98Allco8YyqkUFBUf6t-GjtXTnOH5yFJ_y5dUgwmWp5qxR5PGbRn8SEI9Ob5sWwxnWlVNc0R_g7ZBRq5bfT9qvvozgpxqSyszAqdb3u0TLR8Rf8K13DGy/s200/IMG_9642.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have been thinking, if this<br />doesn't sell I will have a great<br />summer vacation home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjejjuQCJhDx6Tr_VuxUvfXKyyAymBCrmgaQkO2cxSEg8dcvqY7YeksyBPO2GtILvlYw8u0yCp7o5Vg6_M2QWsqBeXyQm2qFP4Ih8carum4JVuLffLVrdKC81nbCiL4H1AUEnWmjPDx6t/s1600/IMG_9465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjejjuQCJhDx6Tr_VuxUvfXKyyAymBCrmgaQkO2cxSEg8dcvqY7YeksyBPO2GtILvlYw8u0yCp7o5Vg6_M2QWsqBeXyQm2qFP4Ih8carum4JVuLffLVrdKC81nbCiL4H1AUEnWmjPDx6t/s200/IMG_9465.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In WA we kept this "TV"<br />under our stairs and pulled<br />it out to watch movies.</td></tr>
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This was obviously before the internet was a part of our lives. No one would have dreamed of smart phones, especially in the hands of children! Mark was 28 when he wrote this. As I read I am encouraged to think of new ways to cut back on technology. <br />
Yesterday I talked with another mom who limits her kids' time with technology. (It was her Facebook post.) It is so refreshing, why is it so rare?!<br />
Seriously - if you haven't watched that video... go back and click.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-12080461021622994592016-01-11T09:49:00.000-08:002016-01-11T09:49:01.227-08:00Surgery Photo - Warning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzPG7_yH3uKCPVVLqeiCd3OkKpy6JkxC-QDeo3AymD-pQNGce9j1w8_4oiq1gDu3xfUGSfzN6uonx45les49Ip8Hs4hVvkVTD9xCWXmZHH3Qtfm9IVk2bH2NjuSaTM0G6jZdLcqB5d6L8/s1600/IMG_9715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzPG7_yH3uKCPVVLqeiCd3OkKpy6JkxC-QDeo3AymD-pQNGce9j1w8_4oiq1gDu3xfUGSfzN6uonx45les49Ip8Hs4hVvkVTD9xCWXmZHH3Qtfm9IVk2bH2NjuSaTM0G6jZdLcqB5d6L8/s200/IMG_9715.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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Here are a couple of photos Greg has shared in conjunction with his 5 year anniversary. They are pretty awful - yet fascinating!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdE23f5tcFElhLP0ZhFzngs1C-00Ulk7mbVPeXwNJCZW2Zh9oy6TbT-ThiUq795K9D1yTSRfeDBtlX3O7a0FvWgcJvzjh1fwNJISI0yhoA9ctnM6FY_nJJu2dCqj8yFk3a2AXkqyweBRi/s1600/IMG_9716.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdE23f5tcFElhLP0ZhFzngs1C-00Ulk7mbVPeXwNJCZW2Zh9oy6TbT-ThiUq795K9D1yTSRfeDBtlX3O7a0FvWgcJvzjh1fwNJISI0yhoA9ctnM6FY_nJJu2dCqj8yFk3a2AXkqyweBRi/s400/IMG_9716.PNG" width="266" /></a>Working as an O.R. nurse (so long ago) helps me - I loved the blood and seeing the body... yet if I look too long and remember that it is my baby... I suddenly join the squeamish! <br />
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The tumor photo - ugh!<br />
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I have added the photo of the cake - another testament to Greg's fun and positive spirit... he texted it to me last night. He wanted to get rid of a cake mix, so he made this cake to celebrate with his roommates - the completion of the first week of the semester. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVRZyNSi95sYvqxbW0EamIaEWEcv8egvMNwnsWUeZkIGLaChyphenhyphen8wqSGm9TZgp6kaf7nD7rBwLujQOZg9RybWmjRZd-jZmeEYWcL3Zs3QDwivzwOMLWR9FYUnQGHtHSnrCnoUv6foRMcvhO/s1600/IMG_9714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVRZyNSi95sYvqxbW0EamIaEWEcv8egvMNwnsWUeZkIGLaChyphenhyphen8wqSGm9TZgp6kaf7nD7rBwLujQOZg9RybWmjRZd-jZmeEYWcL3Zs3QDwivzwOMLWR9FYUnQGHtHSnrCnoUv6foRMcvhO/s200/IMG_9714.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky roommates!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-27671213174306576492016-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:002016-01-11T07:39:03.289-08:00Cancer Leaves Its Mark - & Its a Good One<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOi81Tb1aAoADSSJs2caOotGwV8J7c5v3R_bfxMNGME_raXSMrpxzBzOqxrC5Xt7RCJmjVA8LHOCrV9obZbXVDrqCbM-QimbviW4-XZC5m-y3WxevtDzXpvroDZpKT2uc7qvfyJII6zmg/s1600/gregs+journey+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOi81Tb1aAoADSSJs2caOotGwV8J7c5v3R_bfxMNGME_raXSMrpxzBzOqxrC5Xt7RCJmjVA8LHOCrV9obZbXVDrqCbM-QimbviW4-XZC5m-y3WxevtDzXpvroDZpKT2uc7qvfyJII6zmg/s200/gregs+journey+003.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg feigning surprise to<br />find a tumor on his leg!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXaxAW0PrKCtgovnLWDT-ecgb1Fa1-ZpNNJgc5woE1Ipq0kNjq9HakgjWkc0Eg7kKi77ZtdtXZoUUzGINGQCNh7WIWgZSLcvBbNWiwhPIETDSlQysbbWsNydlohoDJDB6BrE5cRrp9ILH/s1600/IMG_1001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXaxAW0PrKCtgovnLWDT-ecgb1Fa1-ZpNNJgc5woE1Ipq0kNjq9HakgjWkc0Eg7kKi77ZtdtXZoUUzGINGQCNh7WIWgZSLcvBbNWiwhPIETDSlQysbbWsNydlohoDJDB6BrE5cRrp9ILH/s200/IMG_1001.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg's leg today</td></tr>
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"Being cheerful is the only way you can get through it."<br />
Today we celebrate the FIVE year anniversary of Greg's surgery in which 10 inches of tibia was removed and replaced with a prosthetic implant. It was a lifetime ago, and yet happened only yesterday!<br />
To celebrate, Greg has written a blog post for me to share. After all of Mom's commentary on the subject, it is nice to read Greg's view of his cancer and the impact on his life:<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>There are moments that can change your life forever. Being diagnosed with cancer is one of those moments. Not only are the next few months instantly scheduled for you in a completely different way, but your life will never be the same. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>An experience like cancer will leave its mark. From my battles I have seen cancers mark on my Body, Mind and Family. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Body</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Scars aren't reminders of when you were weak, but of the times you were stronger than whatever came at you. After intensive surgery and chemotherapy my body will never be the same. There are some physical limitations that prevent me from activities I enjoyed, but also a great excuse to avoid the strenuous and less desirable ones. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't been so lucky with my operations and had to have my leg amputated, or live with a colostomy bag for the rest of my life if I would have done it. Would the major changes be worth saving my life? The answer of course is yes. You do what you have to. I'm just glad I got the easy way out and don't have more serious complications. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Mind</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Surviving surgeries and chemo isn't an easy task, but there is a mental strength that comes from knowing that you can do hard things. There is a mental and emotional mark from cancer. Yes it is hard sometimes to keep smiling, hard to accept your “fate” of the disgusting treatments and its side effects, but as with other hard things you survive. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If I survived cancer twice and I'm only 22, then leaving home, going to school, serving a mission, those all become obstacles that I know I can overcome because I have seen my strength and I know that I can do it. There is a mental mark, but it isn't a disability, it's a support beam. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Family</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The final mark cancer leaves is on a family. Obviously there are effects on extra time Mom stays in the hospital instead of being home. There's dealing with a brother who sleeps in the living room and throws up all day. There's the extra presents on Christmas from hospital volunteers. There's the anxiety of going on a mission and leaving behind a sick brother. There are lots of strains that are placed on the family of a sick person. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The family is different afterwards. Not only do we make jokes about cancer that make strangers stare, but we are drawn closer. I feel that having pulled together and having gone through the experience many times with many family members really helped me to understand why family is important. We have done things others will never do. I feel that as a family we appreciate time we have together. It's a mark for good. If we weren't “the cancer family” we’d probably just be some boring family with a cat. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>But I was looking through a box of “cancer memories” in the attic over Christmas break and the large pile of cards I found reminded me that family is a lot bigger. Extended family, grandparents, friends, church members, neighbors, acquaintances, doctors, Dad’s coworkers children, my dentist, my old orthodontist, school teachers, and many others had taken the time to think about me, pray for me, and “send their love”. Cancer can affect a community. Those networks of love and concern provided a net that helped support me, encourage me, and make me feel like I wasn't alone. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Cancer leaves a mark, but it's a mark for good. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>It's the anniversary of my leg surgery (1/11/11) and almost the anniversary of my colon surgery (1/22/15) (yes I try to get them close together on the calendar) and I was thinking how different this year is from last year. Being cheerful is the only way you can get through it. So when I found out last year that I had cancer it was quite a blow. I had already done that I didn't need to be humbled again. So we scheduled it in, dropped some classes, got some work off, and set out to smile our way through. </b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The rule in our family is that you get 3 days of sad then you have smile. This year as I think of the exhausting year last year I can only say I am glad I don't have to do anything like that again for a while. My life isn't going to be “easy” from here on out, I know that. But the things I've been through will help me out. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>We can't avoid trials in life, we will all be pushed to our limits, but with faith in God and family surrounding you nothing is impossible. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>I'm glad I'm a cancer survivor. I'm glad it left its mark on me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Greg Andrus</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-88328486766918030302016-01-08T10:28:00.001-08:002016-01-08T10:28:26.339-08:00Scanning and Smiling - Tornado Lessons As I drove away from my beloved home in Washington, a very rare tornado hit my little town of Battle Ground! As a general rule, tornadoes do not happen in Washington. The sky was very black, there was thunder and that sense of impending "severe weather." Mark hurried the girls and I out the door, into our van and on our way. We didn't even have time to be sad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxz2jQOiNYvR8Xjs3EgMVSvfCza0aa6MmiJ6JctRWTWNzQAM7dwmuprtCLJ2_JmFguV_8HT6cmL2TxI5QaQHTE7GSdkdM2NQShadCps6ykLjfEqOxug_W1b_jRFqL_TqcgA5rNN91sWG8/s1600/resize.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxz2jQOiNYvR8Xjs3EgMVSvfCza0aa6MmiJ6JctRWTWNzQAM7dwmuprtCLJ2_JmFguV_8HT6cmL2TxI5QaQHTE7GSdkdM2NQShadCps6ykLjfEqOxug_W1b_jRFqL_TqcgA5rNN91sWG8/s200/resize.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tornado in Battle Ground, WA</td></tr>
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Mark and David were staying an extra day so that David could attend school - besides the movers were still there. David was able to see the tornado from his school window. It was good one, toppling trees up to 3 feet in diameter. As far as I can tell, our van missed it by about two minutes and one mile.<br />
Another historic tornado welcomed us to Texas. Dallas has never had a tornado in December, but here it was! Our family sat on our patio that evening watching a beautiful electrical storm. Our phones suddenly gave us a tornado warning. We weren't sure what to think of this. A few minutes later the tornado sirens went off and we decided to go inside - stepping outside occasionally to feel the warm wind and hear the thunder. ( I really, really enjoy thunder and lightning.)<br />
I was unpacking boxes in my office when the wind and rain outside became very loud. I think that this is when the tornado must have hit. It wasn't until we began to get texts and calls from family and friends checking on our safety that we realized just how close we were and how destructive this category 4 tornado had been.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenLhq7yWjDdOjJhIEZ-ObqXfmlM839SMMvG045S6sb5Atq_dGzyc3qaTfQDefw3X9Qdu6r5L0iHGKFuLtlskxyGMy85zbc9W4lN932YtMxs12Kv6jbLmEtlalUBeJ08nHFKZPpsuJBtH2/s1600/IMG_9682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenLhq7yWjDdOjJhIEZ-ObqXfmlM839SMMvG045S6sb5Atq_dGzyc3qaTfQDefw3X9Qdu6r5L0iHGKFuLtlskxyGMy85zbc9W4lN932YtMxs12Kv6jbLmEtlalUBeJ08nHFKZPpsuJBtH2/s200/IMG_9682.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding our niche</td></tr>
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<i><b> Lesson One</b></i> - Had we taken these tornado warnings seriously enough? No. We do have an area under our stairs which appears to be reinforced and we have left it mostly empty for this type of emergency... but we weren't there. We have come out of this with an increased realization that we must be better prepared - emergency kits and even more so - all of those important papers that we keep meaning to organize, scan, store in a secure spot, etc. <br />
Two weeks later we still haven't done these things! What is it that makes us procrastinate something so important?<br />
Better lesson - what other warnings do we receive and not act upon? I am think of personal items - perhaps a warning from a doctor about the need to change certain habits. Maybe we read a book showing us how to improve a relationship or a talent and we feel those stirrings to follow up on the advice. Most importantly - what about spiritual warnings that come as a response to our study and prayer? Do we recognize them and still not act?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAOHjvLgjh2YacGir2Bd0zDCW1gQLn7CZNWkiL9xvo1z2XatuTbKzVxvfS2i7uC2XANpaeF_soNg9-SHoi-rxdoyammGi4L4WMJ9oXzMooBDfvmR2WEekBgJhCqibfREHZMiph9RIhnrB/s1600/IMG_9689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAOHjvLgjh2YacGir2Bd0zDCW1gQLn7CZNWkiL9xvo1z2XatuTbKzVxvfS2i7uC2XANpaeF_soNg9-SHoi-rxdoyammGi4L4WMJ9oXzMooBDfvmR2WEekBgJhCqibfREHZMiph9RIhnrB/s200/IMG_9689.JPG" width="200" /></a>I am thinking that to be the type of person I most want to be will mean acting on all of these types of warnings....<br />
I won't type more about that. However, I think it would be a healthy use of time to make a list of some of these unheeded warnings - perhaps each day we could check just one of them off. I know I would feel better and BE better... <i>Yikes, now I am planning to post this for anyone to read I am feeling much more accountable. </i>So I will be specific - I will gather, scan and file a stack of important papers. That will be first on my list. If I like the way it feels (I know I will), I will come up with another item.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ994yKngQMQYOvcmO_u9dJiIgzs-ShwEZ75iVt-lCveOA215r_Z8ZsLx7-YB0K-Uc35wU6G46h-l-KT0F3G5gF6dbRiDHB5UNGcr6t__upbt8H4LbR4i4HNc6AHU_OI3vv5sMrHDtod5Y/s1600/IMG_9691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ994yKngQMQYOvcmO_u9dJiIgzs-ShwEZ75iVt-lCveOA215r_Z8ZsLx7-YB0K-Uc35wU6G46h-l-KT0F3G5gF6dbRiDHB5UNGcr6t__upbt8H4LbR4i4HNc6AHU_OI3vv5sMrHDtod5Y/s200/IMG_9691.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fireplace and clock<br />stopped me in my tracks</td></tr>
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<b><i> Lesson Two</i></b> - As I walked this morning I enjoyed the quiet time to myself and the peaceful neighborhood. Suddenly I recalled the sights of last weekend when my family went to help with the cleanup of a home devastated by the tornado. This neighborhood (of brick homes) in the city of Rowlett was like a war zone. Tears filled my eyes as we parked and walked to our destination. Sobered. That was the word I use to describe my feelings. That is the same word I heard from many others.<br />
I am often frustrated when I experience the beauty of nature on a hike or at the beach and I want to share it with others. Photographs never convey the true beauty, probably because it is more than what our eyes are seeing - I guess beauty is a feeling as well. It is the whole experience. Likewise, images on the television cannot duplicate the feelings of walking through this devastation. We can see and take photos, but the feelings that are there permeate our souls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ATdNyJkLDbj1eM0QfGlvQqrTIi4FRYioz_l4uDcXQsT-8fhoH9sm4Q3o1cPv71SawHZ-OUO3w1ogomnABdcZw1_FcCC9hTmZZS2GCgNfnW6OJIqywi6k7JNC_oI9I8MddYuMDZYd2fzP/s1600/IMG_9692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ATdNyJkLDbj1eM0QfGlvQqrTIi4FRYioz_l4uDcXQsT-8fhoH9sm4Q3o1cPv71SawHZ-OUO3w1ogomnABdcZw1_FcCC9hTmZZS2GCgNfnW6OJIqywi6k7JNC_oI9I8MddYuMDZYd2fzP/s200/IMG_9692.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some brick homes are entirely gone!</td></tr>
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As first we didn't really know how to help. Mark and David found their way into the home and helped salvage personal items to bring outside. The girls and I helped to pack these items to be taken to a new home. There were many, many volunteers - all anxious to help. Each person or group found their niche and together we accomplished a lot. Young men carried our full boxes to the front yard to be hauled away. Groups of men came from yard to yard to take large debris and put it onto piles. A woman (bless her) brought a large bin -house to house- of individually wrapped beef tacos to share.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8AlFcaT0q2_Gc7DO6YDo-bHJgGa6-APqJPhTeSJRnkClsI6w1WxLyMh-zmUYD_krb1BPVWsN0EjKBmM4J6FETu0w4ekyONHgXOFxCBioaM0tcLXmf9aNXvTBYqjnvdpaFoI85Hpbx0GH/s1600/IMG_9686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8AlFcaT0q2_Gc7DO6YDo-bHJgGa6-APqJPhTeSJRnkClsI6w1WxLyMh-zmUYD_krb1BPVWsN0EjKBmM4J6FETu0w4ekyONHgXOFxCBioaM0tcLXmf9aNXvTBYqjnvdpaFoI85Hpbx0GH/s200/IMG_9686.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taco Break</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7Sa8N3ZwB9ZcIgnT4aJWDWhhDghyphenhyphenPFv47a2LWRvr7Gk6Bm4TiJ8wSdNVUb8oW81N6xVJ7NpVRLn8VdR39bf3hFrXxaTCXhWpwnc2oT-QDPbzAFVwEkvMskW__yCbFeLglcaUmnqvN-tn/s1600/IMG_9693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7Sa8N3ZwB9ZcIgnT4aJWDWhhDghyphenhyphenPFv47a2LWRvr7Gk6Bm4TiJ8wSdNVUb8oW81N6xVJ7NpVRLn8VdR39bf3hFrXxaTCXhWpwnc2oT-QDPbzAFVwEkvMskW__yCbFeLglcaUmnqvN-tn/s200/IMG_9693.jpg" width="150" /></a>So, as I walked this morning in peace and reflected on what was happening across the lake I reflected on personal lives. It was foggy and the homes I passed appeared serene, but I don't know what goes on inside those homes. People we pass in public are generally well groomed and well mannered, but what is happening in their lives and in their hearts? <br />
We don't have to search very hard to understand that society is full of personal trial and devastation. On a brighter note, I also believe there are many, many "volunteers" who are willing to help. If we get out there amongst our friends, neighbors, family and associates (and even strangers), we can all find our niche - and like the tornado volunteers - we can accomplish a lot.<br />
I propose that the best way to start is with a smile and a kind word. I also propose that the best place to start is within our own homes. <br />
Well - this blog post has just spilled out of my mind and has developed a life of its own - prompting me to heed a little warning I have felt... that it is important for me to smile at my family members. <br />
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And that is all that I am going to say about this today.... I have to get busy scanning and smiling!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-35808088494057117682015-12-04T14:11:00.000-08:002015-12-04T14:11:29.381-08:00Angels Bearing BoxesPrayers are answered.<br />
First of all - our great news for a cancer-free Christmas! Greg's PET scan results finally are back and he is declared 3 months cancer free!! Such a relief!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHLea1yNVxXeajSjZKjNstHD406-ArY71oYMlY9DoRcke243-nqUfP2Fh6CLRBwubmqMo4IReYgBPHM6Y2UrQ8E_7MFOSJ3M8u6DDrSvFp1HbOkwaAwnsqw41wMBoijaZ5sfkh4tHVqEs/s1600/IMG_9452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHLea1yNVxXeajSjZKjNstHD406-ArY71oYMlY9DoRcke243-nqUfP2Fh6CLRBwubmqMo4IReYgBPHM6Y2UrQ8E_7MFOSJ3M8u6DDrSvFp1HbOkwaAwnsqw41wMBoijaZ5sfkh4tHVqEs/s200/IMG_9452.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to clean out the panty<br />I used up all of my flour and<br />fed the troops for the day!</td></tr>
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Now about those angels - Yesterday was a busy day at my house. My dear friend, Nina, and her daughter drove from Oregon to assist me in packing up my house. They are - obviously - a few of those angels. There were more angels who were unanticipated -- almost not recognized for who they truly were.<br />
I begin my day with morning prayer. Yesterday, in anticipation of packing, I prayed that we would have energy, be able to focus, get a lot done and that all would go smoothly... or something like that. I had purchased about twenty boxes (in addition to what I already had) from Home Depot to see us through the day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44O_ES46dw-tXvBkSRk6hph7gzl_0a_I02dcwfmn3x3h4v3Q3ldFFwmWnzctRZ999b_ZrovA-unaPLeJjvXWeNXxFQw7v9JVdxdFPuzb22HWlp-GrE4qkXQ9CBSqF77QIVqP95fyKgB03/s1600/IMG_9453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44O_ES46dw-tXvBkSRk6hph7gzl_0a_I02dcwfmn3x3h4v3Q3ldFFwmWnzctRZ999b_ZrovA-unaPLeJjvXWeNXxFQw7v9JVdxdFPuzb22HWlp-GrE4qkXQ9CBSqF77QIVqP95fyKgB03/s200/IMG_9453.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three boxes of boxes</td></tr>
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We began, we worked hard, and after several hours we had filled almost all of our boxes. It was early afternoon and I received a text from Sherry - her neighbor had just given her several U-Haul boxes for us! Hooray - we sent our daughters to retrieve them and kept on working. This definitely made a difference in what we were able to accomplish. We took about 20 minutes to eat a quick dinner (we found a half-bag of chips and salsa --- we didn't want to stop to cook - and, uh... we packed the kitchen). Nina was thinking that they would soon head home when we heard the doorbell. There stood Aparicia with three boxes full of boxes. Our excitement was tempered by our realization that we had a few more hours of work ahead of us... but really, as time went on, we were simply in awe of the way that these boxes had appeared just as we needed them. Aparicia brought it to our attention - when we explained that her boxes were here just in time she said that we obviously has angels looking out for us. She knew that I needed boxes (which she usually gets me from her work) - but she had none yesterday. However, she went in to work to attend a CPR class. As she left the building she saw all of these boxes, sitting and waiting just for us! <br />
We pondered these simple events over the last few hours of the evening. Nina had arrived at 10:30 a.m. - she left at 8:30 p.m. We worked for ten hours without stopping and were only able to do so because our sweet friends arrived, unanticipated, with supplies at the moment they were needed.<br />
This is an incredibly obvious answer to my prayer. As I reflected on those boxes today I realized something else. Both Sherry and Aparicia had made specific offers of help with packing. I would not hesitate to call on either of them to do so. I think it is because their hearts were open to service that they were placed in a position to be able to help in such a way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamTfgmHxoK_J-oaiKxHMJAnvwuty5_36mhvNGVlVZn41gHG9rhByhSm5GxjulAIYMjsLnSFMChyphenhyphenNfGl0SyCBD9PDd9jvN6h6GIJuz3CEu3a_3Oy6kDIhYnyDGHHtZyfUKPMo6GB7UGpfL/s1600/IMG_9456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamTfgmHxoK_J-oaiKxHMJAnvwuty5_36mhvNGVlVZn41gHG9rhByhSm5GxjulAIYMjsLnSFMChyphenhyphenNfGl0SyCBD9PDd9jvN6h6GIJuz3CEu3a_3Oy6kDIhYnyDGHHtZyfUKPMo6GB7UGpfL/s320/IMG_9456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We added another 50+ boxes</td></tr>
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<b>Boxes</b>. They may seem a small thing. It was no small thing. This is an example of a <b>Tender Mercy</b> from the Lord. It was a reminder that He cares about all aspects of our life. It is another reminder to me that our move to Texas is a blessing and that we are being watched over, cared for and protected. I didn't know to pray for boxes, but I did pray for help. Boxes on my doorstep reminds me that prayers are answered and we have<b> angels,</b> both seen and unseen, looking after us. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-75464106341716197682015-11-27T09:20:00.000-08:002015-11-27T09:20:28.144-08:00Thanksgetting?? No!!!It's Thanksgetting! This is what I heard when I was put on hold during a phone call with Verizon this week. My stomach just felt sick as I realized what they were saying. ThanksGETTING?? Ugh. Disgusting.<br />
Last year was the first time I had heard of shopping on Thanksgiving - we were in Utah and while driving our sons back to their apartments we passed two Walmarts that could be seen from the freeway. The parking lots were completely full and there were police officers with flashing lights to keep the peace. I couldn't believe it! - People couldn't take a day off from shopping??<br />
I am not a shopper, though I do love a great deal! I <i>do not</i>, however, venture out on Black Friday. It sounds like a nightmare to me. I do enjoy stories from my friends of their adventures and bargains... I just do not wish to join them.<br />
I certainly Thanksgiving as a day to be with family and friends, and to eat good food. After hearing the Verizon ad I thought that I might focus too much on the food and not enough on the <i>giving </i>of <i>Thanks.</i><br />
My sister posted this yesterday:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIQzim6aIcnKmDWxqlhD9gdGgUy9VWuiph_vN4T2ZHQH2DfYcxkF-FJVm8mEkraGUODEh12Rs6MA5hBdL4mblTEHUCiYR-3sbHUuEeh1WyutLIkkUCIB0cNr7EWkas9k4FJ734exR9Emu/s1600/12303969_1174208285941013_7540547238559601170_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIQzim6aIcnKmDWxqlhD9gdGgUy9VWuiph_vN4T2ZHQH2DfYcxkF-FJVm8mEkraGUODEh12Rs6MA5hBdL4mblTEHUCiYR-3sbHUuEeh1WyutLIkkUCIB0cNr7EWkas9k4FJ734exR9Emu/s400/12303969_1174208285941013_7540547238559601170_o.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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And this is what stands out to me:</div>
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~<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">all <b>business and labor be suspended</b> after 10 o’clock</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">people assemble at their respective places of wor</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ship and instruction and <b>devote the day and evening to holy praise, and prayer, and patriotic song and story</b></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">that the <b>young may be inspired</b> with lofty purpose</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">many may <b>feely bestow from their abundance</b> material aid to the few among us who are in need</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>Christian charity and brotherly love may ever abide as the chief cornerstone of the Commonwealth</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>There is nothing here about GETTING!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We had 27 people at our home yesterday. Several family members and dear friends - and as my nephew offered a blessing on the food ~ I felt so grateful for each of them that I was very near tears. (Whew, that would have spoiled a few appetites.) I have everything to be thankful for - and I feel it deeply... yet I did not even approach the ideals that are spelled out in this 1889 proclamation. Nevertheless it was an incredible evening - there are so many people on the planet that I love so much!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I have nothing more to say on this matter. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRLT6aX0TWx0eG9d8vkzeJflCZQsblEpqdzZ4c14aG2C4G1giZsClrRpmO9910XcL9DRuvoNgL47KfDgAekrVxNbPuXzMTV0rFThy32jxFDBHsMaWBhbIyopeOURZ21AedckXNj3Z76P_/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRLT6aX0TWx0eG9d8vkzeJflCZQsblEpqdzZ4c14aG2C4G1giZsClrRpmO9910XcL9DRuvoNgL47KfDgAekrVxNbPuXzMTV0rFThy32jxFDBHsMaWBhbIyopeOURZ21AedckXNj3Z76P_/s200/IMG_9403.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful for potluck also!<br />Good home cooked food!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu2-Yqki8ESKjSN5Z9AF_fbJeRn-6-C1c6E2F8e-ZhvjfWNJHAUN4bT5pNGjSa_YumrHlaR47411p0uJ2eMR0ioTm1Fd_s5epc6rOmfTkQq2ZuxdRgPrRiYydqi4YzNTNc0jCEv6gjwdm/s1600/IMG_9405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu2-Yqki8ESKjSN5Z9AF_fbJeRn-6-C1c6E2F8e-ZhvjfWNJHAUN4bT5pNGjSa_YumrHlaR47411p0uJ2eMR0ioTm1Fd_s5epc6rOmfTkQq2ZuxdRgPrRiYydqi4YzNTNc0jCEv6gjwdm/s200/IMG_9405.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ended up with 17 pies!<br />Another reason to be<br />grateful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxyX0Kasg4vIKrBctGt0ie9vcdQntvvghB9BCyGUqRvFUtlYcJZ6iiFtlCXCTWX6_pbUusqhU-6tUHiJ46h1KlF6FNJ5UdtABOOu7ph6sQPJMiPWRKdh7NXQvf9EBRtXvfqk35FwcjNWd/s1600/IMG_9406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxyX0Kasg4vIKrBctGt0ie9vcdQntvvghB9BCyGUqRvFUtlYcJZ6iiFtlCXCTWX6_pbUusqhU-6tUHiJ46h1KlF6FNJ5UdtABOOu7ph6sQPJMiPWRKdh7NXQvf9EBRtXvfqk35FwcjNWd/s200/IMG_9406.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful for those who joined us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-46893107642946448542015-11-16T11:27:00.001-08:002015-11-16T11:27:39.225-08:00Christmas Without Cancer? Perhaps...What would Christmas be without cancer? <br />
<br />
That was Greg's response. <br />
My statement had been, "Well, if it does turn out to be something, at least the timing is good, with time off of school, etc."<br />
"Well, yes, what would Christmas be without cancer?"<br />
<br />
Three months post-chemo meant MRIs and blood work for Greg this week. Mercifully, he didn't tell me about all of this until the day he was headed to Salt Lake City. It is not that I worry excessively, but it does mean feeling a pit in my stomach, or an extra weight on my shoulders until I hear all is clear. A hovering uneasiness is probably the best way to describe it. MRI on Tuesday with clear results on Wednesday. Blood work on Wednesday with low numbers back on Thursday. Then Friday morning came, and in the middle of the off-to-school rush I received a call asking for Greg. It is rare to get a phone call for him and it is usually the hospital scheduler calling our number by mistake, but this voice sounded intelligent and kind, so I found a quiet spot to hear his message. This kind, intelligent voice belonged to Greg's oncologist in Utah. His MRI had be re-read by Dr. So-and-So, the best reader of abdominal films, and a suspicious spot had been identified.<br />
Friends who read of this account are probably letting out a low moan, similar to the one I shared with Dr. W---. (I almost met this doctor after Greg's surgery, but didn't. We think that he believes my mother is Greg's mom because she accompanied him on several visits... a bit awkward because he thinks he knows to whom he is speaking. - irrelevant -) <br />
There is a good chance that this spot is scar tissue. Between moving a large piece of colon a few months ago and removing his right rectus abdominus muscle five years ago, there could obviously be a little bit of scarring. This is what we are counting on... they will be calling to schedule a PET scan and hopefully it happens soon... If there is something that needs to be removed, we are praying that surgery will take care of it and he can be spared another round of chemotherapy. <br />
A few nights ago I was praying and was just overcome by feelings of love from my Father in Heaven. It was so real, it was like a hug. I knew again who I truly am - his daughter. My experiences here on Earth are for my learning. He wants us to be strong, to have courage... and the miracle is that he is there to provide it for us if we look to him and seek his help. It was a beautiful experience, and the next morning the doctor called. We are hopeful that this spot is just scar tissue, but it is comforting to know that if there is a fresh trial to face - the God of the Universe knows us, loves us and is on our side!!!<br />
<br />
And... the timing is good. Greg will be home for Christmas, and what is Christmas without cancer? <br />
<br />
Actually very few of my Christmases have been associated with cancer. I just typed up a few stories - none of them are new:<br />
<br />
First Cancer Christmas was 1990. Mark had a large bone tumor removed from his femur that summer. The weakened bone then fractured while he was bowling, but it was so high on his leg that it could not be set without a body cast. We had managed to borrow a wheelchair to get him to his final exams for the semester, but we were just newlyweds and determined to go back to our parents' homes in California for Christmas. What a trip - over an hour to get him from his bed and into our car. I drove on snow-packed roads from Provo to St. George. We were about the only car brave enough to be there, and I just followed my dad's instructions to get my speed and not slow down. Mark was in considerable pain but would occasionally try to stretch back with the long-armed snow scraper to wipe the back window of our little Dodge Colt which has defrost issues. It wasn't so painful for him to help clear off the front windshield. We had the necessary equipment to ensure that he never had to get out of his seat and I just drove for all I was worth - it is twelve hours on a good day. We pulled into his parent's driveway and etched on my mind is the image of his father and brother, Danny, coming from the house to extract him from his seat and carry him indoors. What a relief to be with family who loved us and wanted to take care of us.<br />
What year was it that he had the parotid gland tumor removed from his face? Maybe seven or eight years ago. Was that Christmas? I can't recall, but it was during a huge snow storm through which I had to get myself home to the kids when they decided to keep him overnight. The surgery had taken many hours longer than expected and it was late when I got home. Then back through the snow to retrieve him in the morning. We laugh now when we remember how he called me early in the morning to come and help him because the nurses weren't doing just what he thought he needed... It's a good thing our children are brave because they have spent a lot more time in hospital beds than their dad.<br />
There was the magical Christmas of 2010 when we all gathered in Greg's hospital room and had a special visit from Santa Claus who came bearing several gifts for each child in the family. How wonderful that Santa could find us so far from our home.<br />
2012 - Mark's father passed away (due to cancer) just before Christmas. We were able to use our time off during the break to go and be with family.<br />
2013 - We had just learned about Jackie's parotid tumor and Natalie's brain tumor, but the plan was to watch them for changes. It was the 26th of December when the doctor called from his family vacation in Florida to let us know that they had somehow missed the large chordoma on Jackie's spine - I guess the page had been missing from the report. Yet as soon as they found out the wheels began to roll very quickly to remove this horrible tumor. Even then it took a couple months for all the necessary testing and precautions... I have always thought that this was a sweet blessing in timing - we were blessed with a peaceful Christmas before the storm.<br />
2014 - Great Christmas to have all of our children home together - may be the last time we ever have just the eight of us alone! With all of the good times was that same "hovering uneasiness" about Greg's health. He weighed less than all of us, except perhaps Kimberly... and, of course, it was colon cancer - surgery in January and six months of chemotherapy.<br />
2015 - ??? (Well, we are moving two weeks before Christmas, so it's not like we don't have a little added stress already.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-86066363008459182032015-10-25T12:13:00.002-07:002015-10-25T12:13:42.090-07:00Observation, Inspiration & Confirmation... Independent Thought<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One challenge my husband and his colleagues face in the
business world is the new generations and their lack of independent
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know how to click and
check boxes, but there seems to be a lack of effort to understand and problem
solve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around I think that this
can be said about much of society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
community you drive though has the same stores, the same restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We like to use our Yelp app to find small,
local eateries.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stepping off the beaten
path definitely has its reward… especially when the beaten path society is on
is, for the most part, heading to a destination to which I do not aspire.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I wrote about how participating in family
traditions makes us unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about
traditions which involve “not participating?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Traditions evolve, and lately I have been considering the evolution of
Not Doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought of a few things
that we traditionally do not do – and I see that these evolved through the
process of observing (ourselves and other), praying for inspiration and later
receiving confirmation – that is, knowing that this was the path on which we
preferred to be found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These traditions
may continue to change and evolve, but the underlying principle is that of
making conscious choices about our life’s activities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some things we do not do:</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X_DBUJjLUa19WQfrYAEtHCCApQlNkeu-C6GJBolSl07Zt3cQdfV3cUy5rtVqjuwhyA8-SFObZ1mQhyVV3er-POHZI0SjxurG0dTUqAhumK1-3dRP-DK18T85GFcoR2o29xsuVyaJhT3S/s1600/IMG_7221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X_DBUJjLUa19WQfrYAEtHCCApQlNkeu-C6GJBolSl07Zt3cQdfV3cUy5rtVqjuwhyA8-SFObZ1mQhyVV3er-POHZI0SjxurG0dTUqAhumK1-3dRP-DK18T85GFcoR2o29xsuVyaJhT3S/s200/IMG_7221.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We do not play soccer.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>I am not a soccer mom. Nothing against soccer, this is more about families being completely
overscheduled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple months ago I
heard a young mom say that it was time for the next child to begin soccer, as
though it was time for kindergarten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
felt sad knowing that she would now have so many children in so many activities
that it would spread the family thin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The idea seemed to be that every other kid in the neighborhood was
signing up – but I bet most of those young children would rather be climbing a
tree or digging in the dirt or drawing with sidewalk chalk – or even better
going to the park with their siblings and parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organized sports for young children --- I
just don’t get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evolution of our
non-soccer tradition began simply and for two reasons… we couldn’t afford the
fees involved and my husband was always out of town so that I had the care of
all of those young children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did play
little league baseball for several years with the older boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was fun, hectic, and I realized that
home life was greatly improved when we were involved in activities
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years later Nathan was
playing basketball and we were all (five younger siblings) there watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another mom mentioned how each of her several
children had a game at the same time and were spread about at different
schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt strongly that this is
not how I wanted to spend my weekends – particularly during soccer season when
it is cold and rainy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked hearing of
families that allowed only one sport per year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have encouraged basketball for those who are interested – it is a fun
sport to watch, they will actually play it when they are out of school, and it
is indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have also encouraged activities
that they can do with siblings such as dance classes (girls) or piano/music
lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, we have tried to think
of positive activities that our family can do together – usually hiking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiking isn’t always popular, but we our
outdoors, we are together, and we know that they are making great memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cross country, tennis and middle-school
running are all winding down this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My kids are in high school/8<sup>th</sup> grade and these sports have
been great experiences!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good teamwork,
developing physically and socially, we love going to watch them participate –
this seems like an important part of their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">life
at this stage</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I am sooo
very excited to have more time at home together as we get into the holidays and
before spring activities begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
zero regrets at how we have chosen to spend our children’s precious childhood
years.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmdhVcs-_WYI0m67m4BII4IYls21Am4n_6cuJBslF1VhDmvMPqvVnJGQUTK8bDED2VaSApqrjEmVdetSNMCkQkf36GZFcVUKeBfdLJWuLiAwLr8RsiOF4iWtFMuneRaKwpVV9FLt6gSBV/s1600/IMG_5566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmdhVcs-_WYI0m67m4BII4IYls21Am4n_6cuJBslF1VhDmvMPqvVnJGQUTK8bDED2VaSApqrjEmVdetSNMCkQkf36GZFcVUKeBfdLJWuLiAwLr8RsiOF4iWtFMuneRaKwpVV9FLt6gSBV/s200/IMG_5566.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notes from Jackie</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We do not play video games (</b>at home<b>).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I should say we do not own video games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A few observations here – when the boys were young I had several moms
tell me that they wished they had never purchased their child’s playstation (or
whatever they were using then).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why
don’t you get rid of it?” I would wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They didn’t like how it took their child’s time and attention, how they
never went outside to play anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also observed how children would be glued to their Gameboys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered how they were going to learn about
the world around them when all they did was stare at that little screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When did they learn to interact… oh yeah –
when they were playing soccer…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, much
to the disappointment of our children, we decided to Just Say No to
videogames.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a couple of the children
have really cared – and it has been confirmed to me that these are exactly the
children who needed them absent in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do own a Wii – with the stipulation that the games had to involve
physical activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes the Wii
“disappears” for months at a time – and we don’t miss it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the children have gotten older they are
more likely to thank me than to ever see that their childhood was somehow
lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The confirmation I have felt
regarding this decision is ongoing and I have no regrets!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We do not drink caffeine.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b>
</span>This one started in my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After making deliveries at the local grocery stores, the Pepsi truck
would then drive to my grandpa’s ranch to load up his shed with cases of
soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess they really liked
Pepsi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon marrying my father (51 years ago today),
my mother also grew accustomed to drinking the stuff – and the story goes that
she could hardly wait at night for my dad to come home at night because he
would bring her a Pepsi from work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
she realized just how much she cared, she began to realize that she was
becoming addicted and began to work on weaning herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember as a child we would have Pepsi or
Dr. Pepper, but never after the age of 9 or 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For myself, I think that the taste is disgusting anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In college I took some physiology classes
that showed how caffeine intensifies and then takes the place of our own
neurotransmitters – thus is highly addictive like nicotine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark once ordered a Pepsi while we were
dating – and, though I know I didn’t say anything, I somehow conveyed my
disapproval (apparently I have a certain “look”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus
it goes – we don’t have caffeinated drinks in our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years I also observed how a few of
my children couldn’t handle the sugar when they drank any sort of soda – so we cut
those way down and what do you know? – no regrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorAREVuCZMYlC6BhnXTw-uSeS6phVY42rcBdea8VdkswyAr-_YaSqxYC5OjP2ngPd6ZkHB3uQ416YzwmsrJAM53W9-p5q_flQSqFhWLmGSggDcFOBgaCtXsze2Q0TNMdufAx4ZW_3UjBL/s1600/DSCN0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorAREVuCZMYlC6BhnXTw-uSeS6phVY42rcBdea8VdkswyAr-_YaSqxYC5OjP2ngPd6ZkHB3uQ416YzwmsrJAM53W9-p5q_flQSqFhWLmGSggDcFOBgaCtXsze2Q0TNMdufAx4ZW_3UjBL/s200/DSCN0322.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the outdoors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We do not watch TV.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b>
</span>What a shock Mark gave the internet provider in Texas when he was
getting us all set up and we turned down the “amazing” offer of Direct TV for
only an extra $10/month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This tradition
has definitely evolved over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
didn’t have a TV for the first couple years after we married but then someone
gave us a small portable TV… this was at a time when I was completely out of
commission with morning sickness and Mark was going through a long recovery
after having a bone tumor removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were careful about what we watched, mostly PBS shows for the kids… but
eventually we made two important observations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV wastes too much time – this is super
obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other was that the messages
about family – the children are sassy, the
fathers are made to look less-than-capable and the general attitude is far from ideal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have never had more than a couple channels… and for almost 14 years we
have had no channels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had friends
adopt this same approach to TV – their families miss TV for a couple weeks and
then can’t believe they ever had it as part of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand we have a home theatre and
love to invite friends to watch movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Confirmation for this tradition comes each time we watch TV in a hotel –
besides the very lame lineup of shows available… what about those commercials?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ugh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One more observation about TV – I hung onto it for awhile to watch the
news… until I observed ….well, I am getting too opinionated, but let’s just say
I have many other options for getting news if I want to learn what is going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a few other not-doing traditions, but this is getting
too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just like I don’t think that everyone needs to take
old-fashioned photos every couple of years to be successful, there are happy
families who watch TV and play soccer – Yet, as everyone seems to want to live the same type of life, doing all the same things... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
I would just encourage all families to
think for themselves, look into the<b> future </b>and <b>choose activities</b> which will
<b>strengthen their most important relationships,</b> within the walls of their own
home!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-77545637521070030182015-10-13T12:24:00.000-07:002015-10-13T12:24:04.314-07:00Family Traditions... what we ALWAYS do!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"But.... that is what we ALWAYS do!!"<br />
I started to hear this more and more as the children grew older... whether a cherished holiday tradition or making homemade pizza on a Saturday night - the children knew what they wanted... and what they wanted was for things to be done the way that "we ALWAYS do them" - - - The funny thing was that some of these things we had done once or twice... yet I began to learn that these events/activities were important to the children and thus to the family. So, if it was good and positive... I would go ahead and implement, thus forming a Tradition, thus solidifying our family identity and building needed strength and love. Even when this "tradition" didn't last long... it still provided memories to share together.<br />
This is the reason that, a few weekends ago, we used two nights of hotel points, left our visiting grandmother home alone (it's ok, she had friends come stay with her), and drove five hours each way... the end result was this photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeqo_u-rxEGtQziGoElbHh9j94OCl3gmmg0BTkfUdVvdxxcKuLJCWVV2sJd5TlD9-ZqO_naOZHmQ1I9XTa2NY-M0c2uY3Q7TsDm4bGQlNhasiaHV-Vb938seqPnwljgtSjZJkNQ6V28YQ/s1600/2015+%2528Sept%2529+Leavenworth+WA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeqo_u-rxEGtQziGoElbHh9j94OCl3gmmg0BTkfUdVvdxxcKuLJCWVV2sJd5TlD9-ZqO_naOZHmQ1I9XTa2NY-M0c2uY3Q7TsDm4bGQlNhasiaHV-Vb938seqPnwljgtSjZJkNQ6V28YQ/s320/2015+%2528Sept%2529+Leavenworth+WA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photo is part of a somewhat silly but cherished family tradition and here is our story:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkEgcmy0y-Idn1mFfU98F_VLk_jGIdMnhCUHZ-S9DDjW7WCW3OEaSJF0jHMgYS2ktzTCrH3IPySnMqXwnVg6WNfV7lMUa3gk1BlEeeNtmiwQ1g3maSRALhXBNXwn6k4sDXaQTpGkC5Rt0/s1600/1992+Durango+CO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkEgcmy0y-Idn1mFfU98F_VLk_jGIdMnhCUHZ-S9DDjW7WCW3OEaSJF0jHMgYS2ktzTCrH3IPySnMqXwnVg6WNfV7lMUa3gk1BlEeeNtmiwQ1g3maSRALhXBNXwn6k4sDXaQTpGkC5Rt0/s200/1992+Durango+CO.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
Our first official family vacation was in 1992 when Nathan was about 9 months old. Before that time, our vacation has consisted of returning to California to visit our parents. By now I was working as an RN in the operating room at UVRMC, so although Mark was still a full time student, we had a little money for a hotel and gas to get us there. We found places with refrigerators so that we could pack our food. We drove to Durango, Colorado and went to Mesa Verde. When we walked past the old-fashioned photo shop we both remarked how we had wanted to do these photos as children but neither of our parents would agree... then it dawned on us... we were grown up! We could take have an old fashioned photo taken and wouldn't our little boy be happy about that when he was older? And so it began.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tk_zZm1JbHYPLlCvHCkdPv6HzCMbuHCVTwiuwbm5G8pzc6OsyjyD3trSjLtEDArhyE_8BuHB930NaU59uA0vntMkue7uYIDj_wElVo48gUWkPDA5Ge1bwHzzgAlLzCOOpKTcbUWDQLdx/s1600/1994+Silver+City%252C+NV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tk_zZm1JbHYPLlCvHCkdPv6HzCMbuHCVTwiuwbm5G8pzc6OsyjyD3trSjLtEDArhyE_8BuHB930NaU59uA0vntMkue7uYIDj_wElVo48gUWkPDA5Ge1bwHzzgAlLzCOOpKTcbUWDQLdx/s200/1994+Silver+City%252C+NV.jpg" width="200" /></a>Two years later we found ourselves at Lake Tahoe with Mark's family. We took an afternoon off from the reunion to have a little family time and explore Silver City, Nevada. Of course a tourist town like this would have a photo studio - and we had a new little Greg to be added to our picture, so we once again splurged. Both of the boys were pretty excited to be holding guns, especially when Daddy had one also.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAU_iEmOHG4_g__Kt-4stdtIbBJTbHeqAkP31fLK7q8Xk5IOVp84aeHVV8zfSfUs4_wY7pZ8gal6d_nGTAhAtYr0XMh0b1zKx6fbViRxy8avnRdi-J9OdUE-59iNxXWr0sAyPR33Gj4eX/s1600/1997+Jackson+Hole+WY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAU_iEmOHG4_g__Kt-4stdtIbBJTbHeqAkP31fLK7q8Xk5IOVp84aeHVV8zfSfUs4_wY7pZ8gal6d_nGTAhAtYr0XMh0b1zKx6fbViRxy8avnRdi-J9OdUE-59iNxXWr0sAyPR33Gj4eX/s200/1997+Jackson+Hole+WY.jpg" width="200" /></a>One of our best vacations was in May of 1997 when we borrowed Mark's parents' RV and drove around Idaho and Wyoming. Here we are in Jackson Hole - we have to smile when we see this photo because the kind man that took it had really no idea what he was doing. He was a disabled vet who was watching his sister's shop while she went to lunch. He just said - go stand there and starting shooting (the photo, we were happily the ones holding guns once again). In these days the photos were not digital and I think that when he came out of the developing room and saw how awful both shots had turned out, he just gave them both to us - we think he pocketed our money and never told his sister that we had been there...<br />
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By the time we drove to Edmonton, Canada in 1999 to visit Mark's parents who were living there as missionaries, we had begun to notice a pattern. We were having a baby one summer and taking a family vacation the next summer - adding a new little baby each year. The boys were none too pleased to be holding school books instead of guns, but Jackie was very happy to be wearing a long dress, and of course, this year we included Natalie who was just shy of her first birthday. I believe that we were at Fort Edmonton.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YD4YyA3J9XG7YlnKe6QK-0ddL_DVyeIicEZLucDL-i1Wo6JqzN5uDnuy7xymXQB4ZH_rVgrus2mN_EHfPYEvyVswlZ75WgdyBfrSpXZKTpx6tGZWBF9GxgonWKePZuDeNYw5g0oPOEV2/s1600/img158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YD4YyA3J9XG7YlnKe6QK-0ddL_DVyeIicEZLucDL-i1Wo6JqzN5uDnuy7xymXQB4ZH_rVgrus2mN_EHfPYEvyVswlZ75WgdyBfrSpXZKTpx6tGZWBF9GxgonWKePZuDeNYw5g0oPOEV2/s200/img158.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-qoZxysqYyss0MxS2Jk-upzazNEogkNL3J4zDOVA2sVatkCWlVGwfwQKINvZOp_upiiLMfvBlGafoAFFLpNqT8qhSODOJBUu70n2m-b3J0SehmIJL7QbSsTRoFgp4VfBE2UiX7oZUkc5/s1600/2003+Seaside+OR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-qoZxysqYyss0MxS2Jk-upzazNEogkNL3J4zDOVA2sVatkCWlVGwfwQKINvZOp_upiiLMfvBlGafoAFFLpNqT8qhSODOJBUu70n2m-b3J0SehmIJL7QbSsTRoFgp4VfBE2UiX7oZUkc5/s200/2003+Seaside+OR.jpg" width="157" /></a><br />
A most memorable vacation in May of 2001 to Boston, Massachusetts. We had enough frequent flyer miles to fly the whole family and hotel points for the week. Our good friends, Nathan and Sarah Smith, were living there going to M.I.T. and they provided great food and acted as tour guides many times. We saw a lot of American and Family History sites - combining them on this day as we visited Plymouth. Where else can you dress as pilgrims? Nowhere - I think that this shop was out of Cape Cod - we had just had a very long day and seen a lot - the boys missed their guns, but those little girls felt so pretty with their basket and flowers. They never wanted to take off their costumes! Here we have David at 10 months old.<br />
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Life got a little crazy by the time our sixth baby, Kimberly, arrived. It looks like she is about two years old in this photo and we hadn't been on a vacation - at least not one with old fashioned photos. We had moved from Oregon to Washington in July 2001, and this was 2004. Everyone was happy with the Civil War theme as there were swords/guns for the boys and the girls were dressed up to be beautiful. We like this one because our little one behaved very well, but wasn't thrilled to be wearing gloves. You can see that she is taking one off while its pair is there on the floor already. A fun moment to capture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTtI6NL8VARf66-e8FidX16q9KRM7Udr2QIs7E_0pE8t5VZxuFEjDQTgEHZ7lA_5BBDWLcLhD-29kzZKoio82W1_LzkJsyBfSFiARKXP2gUI-jfzhZC5LD2H2XTEioURsUN4u-XpM6Aw1/s1600/2006+Deadwood%252C+SD+%2528June+14%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTtI6NL8VARf66-e8FidX16q9KRM7Udr2QIs7E_0pE8t5VZxuFEjDQTgEHZ7lA_5BBDWLcLhD-29kzZKoio82W1_LzkJsyBfSFiARKXP2gUI-jfzhZC5LD2H2XTEioURsUN4u-XpM6Aw1/s200/2006+Deadwood%252C+SD+%2528June+14%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>2006 and we are back on schedule for photos, but had no more babies to add. Quite alright, we fill up the photo just fine. Here we are in Deadwood, South Dakota. We are dressed as a gang of outlaws. We thought we should get back to our western theme to celebrate our location, but soon-to-be-8 yr old Natalie flat out refused to be anything but a cowboy. Jackie refused to be anything but a lady in a pretty dress. Kimberly wanted to hold a gun, so we decided to be a gang of outlaws. Mom agreed to wear the dress for Jackie, but balance it out by wearing a cowboy hat and gun. The momma of ruthless outlaws needs to be ready for anything...<br />
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Seaside, OR, 2008 - we saw these cute outfits when we came in 2004 and thought it would be a fun addition to our collection. At this point our tradition had morphed from adding a baby to just taking a photo with a new theme every two years. Thankfully there is a great little photo shop in Seaside and we looked forward to other events here such as renting one of those nightmare three-bench bikes. It was fun the first time... but the second time... read on...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmGhTsixRkc1lsiEkizp70pQd1rfCZNQzQo2-jw4vCA9LUtY3eVnHFRcsv-5lqmJsDaXq4achNhvXUscOBKX7uA5_8p6C7oa2Zg1zt697The3jz7l6GRhCRrMM5kpjnQR91TjxlrU7Ur7/s1600/2010+Seaside+OR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmGhTsixRkc1lsiEkizp70pQd1rfCZNQzQo2-jw4vCA9LUtY3eVnHFRcsv-5lqmJsDaXq4achNhvXUscOBKX7uA5_8p6C7oa2Zg1zt697The3jz7l6GRhCRrMM5kpjnQR91TjxlrU7Ur7/s200/2010+Seaside+OR.jpg" width="158" /></a>Back in Seaside in 2010 - we are scruffy, merciless pirates. We took this just weeks before sending Nathan to the Philippines on his mission and sending Greg to the hospital for chemotherapy. We realized that this might be the final time to have Nathan in our photos - and we decided to morph the tradition once again to counting down the children - that is, to take a photo each time a child leaves home. For the record, this was our second bike rental and we happily headed down the street only to find out that it had no brakes...and I think there was a problem with the steering. I just have an image of driving wildly past oncoming traffic into a curb to stop ourselves - not my favorite memory.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIpHxehZVhXrrzrd43cOAYiisROP9evuC6MtavP7KEA6vm22Sx0KZTxrYMTFcGD0VjGHWO0m4x7nadK1FJZK6F48L5MY30OQe6FmLzE5q75n6DHZ_ZS9VNyNnMNYa6aS7wONYBKG-0Vye/s1600/2012+Seaside+OR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIpHxehZVhXrrzrd43cOAYiisROP9evuC6MtavP7KEA6vm22Sx0KZTxrYMTFcGD0VjGHWO0m4x7nadK1FJZK6F48L5MY30OQe6FmLzE5q75n6DHZ_ZS9VNyNnMNYa6aS7wONYBKG-0Vye/s200/2012+Seaside+OR.jpg" width="144" /></a>A bunch of wild Indians - that's us in 2012 as Greg prepares to serve as a Spanish speaking missionary in Oakland, CA. This is not our favorite - but it is fun. We are back in Seaside, and maybe this is the time that the brakes gave out - I don't know, it is all getting to be a blur of costumes and salt water taffy... Therefore, for our final photo before Jackie leaves on her mission to Utah, we thought it worthwhile to drive the five hours to Leavenworth, Washington where we not only had the fun experience of seeing our men in Bavarian lederhosen, we ate some delicious German food - and here I will put in a plug for the Andreas Keller Restaurant - very authentic!<br />
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I was just thinking that the first time I ever saw an "old-fashioned photo" was when I was quite young... I probably have the memory all fuzzy, but it seems that it was at my parents' friends' home - perhaps the McNeals who lived up Poly Canyon? I thought, even at a young age, that an old picture was very cool - and then to realize it was modern people... well, that was just magical to me. It was probably 20 years later that I walked into the little shop in Durango, Colorado to get a picture of my own... and look at me now. <br />
This is just one of our traditions - a rather unique one I think. Just like us...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-88601700507383094722015-10-09T10:46:00.000-07:002015-10-09T10:46:05.572-07:00Salt and Honey in The Land of Enchantment<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next time we will need a<br />
much larger U-Haul!</td></tr>
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Shiprock, New Mexico – as we approached Shiprock I told Mark the story of my family’s experience in Shiprock almost 40 years ago… My parents had moved to Farmington, NM and when they heard there was a parade in Shiprock they thought that they would take the family to absorb some local culture. Well, it worked… I was nine years old and I recall the “Cuchina” dancers, but my parents remember that we were definitely a few grains of salt in a large pepper shaker – definitely the wrong ethnicity and not exactly welcomed. Oh well.<br />
Yesterday it would appear that Shiprock had once again had a large parade – maybe they do this quite often. The traffic was horrific, but as we slowly made out way through town my mouth was watering over the many little stands selling Navajo tacos. Though we make them at home, I know that they are not as good as the ones I remember from my childhood in New Mexico. Therefore, when we came to a little gas station/café in a town called Cuba – we decided to order some Navajo tacos and frybread.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious - but it burned!!</td></tr>
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“Green or Red Chili,” the man was asking me – I asked which was the least hot…<br />
“They are both hot,” was his reply – hmmmm.<br />
“I guess I will take red”<br />
“Red is hot!”<br />
“Then I will take green.”<br />
“Green is hot!”<br />
“Please make mine without chili.”<br />
….I got green. It was hot. We ordered to go and pulled over beside a little adobe Baptist church to eat. It was delicious, but hot. Too hot. We enjoyed a few bites and set them aside to eat the fry bread with some honey. I noticed that she had also added little packets of salt, probably to spice up the green chili, but I decided to add it to the honey on my fry bread (cheap honey packets aren’t too great) and was rewarded with a kettle-corn-like fry bread experience. Yummy as it was, Mark had spoken of some great sopapillas in Albuquerque so I only had a few bites. I guess I am going to have to get used to eating deep fried food if I am going to live in the South.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sopapilla stuffed with<br />
carne adovado - YUM!!<br />
(Chili on the side - unused)<br />
<i>Mary & Tito's in<br />Albuquerque</i></td></tr>
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Back to Farmington – watching the map as we drove through town I saw that we would be driving right past my old neighborhood and was so thrilled for a chance to check out the old house! We drove right to it – 1409 Camino Monte. Almost 40 years later and there are all the memories coming so clearly – we passed my friend Tanya’s home with the large addition in the back that my dad helped to build… there was the home that was robbed the same week as ours… the driveway that we weren’t allowed to rollerskate on even though their cement was so smooth… the neighbor’s house with the nice dad who saved us when we (the children) thought our house was on fire but it was only us burning up our treat in the oven… the Butler’s home where we lived while waiting to move to Wyoming… the Carlson’s home where I had my first babysitting jobs when I was 10 years old… and my house – missing the tree in front that I used to climb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1409 Camino Monte - 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluffview Elementary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNbiT_8qPtZop4v577aZr-_JZaDbwGfsOq4xsUVZzD00uA5IcPImso67pq9T8vYiicBwzUFhBNZp0qC6rAa6-ysidM3z9PFT14jJ9c_GCjFQwDBU6_EszuyEiqyw5qrNdUB2PzvoiK9F6/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNbiT_8qPtZop4v577aZr-_JZaDbwGfsOq4xsUVZzD00uA5IcPImso67pq9T8vYiicBwzUFhBNZp0qC6rAa6-ysidM3z9PFT14jJ9c_GCjFQwDBU6_EszuyEiqyw5qrNdUB2PzvoiK9F6/s200/IMG_0227.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camino Monte - 1977</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We drove to Bluffview Elementary – on the way I saw the house where the lady told me that I was too old to trick-or-treat; though in reality I was just tall for my age – I was 9 years old and so mortified Inever went out trick-or-treating again… I saw the alley where someone had dumped old sheetrock and we would take pieces of it be chalk on the sidewalk… The school had changed of course… it was so much smaller than I remember… I saw the gym and remembered sitting at a before-school parent meeting with my mom being so shocked that we would be expected to bring our own school supplies because we had moved from Reno, Nevada where they had enough money to supply paper, pencils and other supplies for their students…. There was the library which made me remember the day that I had pretended to be sick in order to skip the all-school spelling bee. My friend and I had won our grade level and I was so afraid that I would win again and be sent to a larger spelling bee – the teachers made it sound fun, but to me it sounded like a nightmare. Then there was the playground... the fun get-your-wiggles-out equipment had all been replaced with colorful and safe yet boring places to play. They used to have rows of half-buried tires to do hurdle races and we even had a semi-circle of telephone poles buried on-end at different heights to jump between. Someone had donated hundreds of giant tractor tires and they were creatively made into all sorts of play equipment. There was an awesome piece of equipment called "The Spider" which entailed hanging on vey tights and being spun in the air - like a merry-go-round in the sky. There was always a big line to play here - and usually one or two injuries each year... but even the injured kids were back in line as soon as permitted. Poor modern children - There are schools in town have "no running" rules. Really?!? My teacher kept a shoebox of Indian pottery pieces that we would find at recess while digging around in the dirt. We could take them home if we wanted, but it was fun to see her collection grow also. I suppose that would all be illegal now... For the record, I had the same teacher for 4th and 5th grade - her name was Amaryllis Trujillo and she was amazing. She is the teacher who introduced me to one of my all-time favorite books, <u>The Hiding Place </u> by Corrie Ten Boom.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTWfPMK0pN1Nrvj_nYGUGORUV_k0VPngp0W3K5_r-UfJEZxMr9KCMF5WhVuTNkYxDflv9v1Y2VKtteM40FRllQWKm3hhuOTwxZURrel9-h3CJVj1DNY6f4ZXfLx5BVO5MLwBetYG35pnf/s1600/IMG_9066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTWfPMK0pN1Nrvj_nYGUGORUV_k0VPngp0W3K5_r-UfJEZxMr9KCMF5WhVuTNkYxDflv9v1Y2VKtteM40FRllQWKm3hhuOTwxZURrel9-h3CJVj1DNY6f4ZXfLx5BVO5MLwBetYG35pnf/s200/IMG_9066.JPG" width="200" /></a>Wow – I was amazed at how the memories came flooding in. Life is so interesting. So many people with which to interact… so many experiences to shape and form who we are today.<br />
And the Land of Enchantment… I am, indeed, enchanted. Driving through New Mexico was a beautiful adventure. The bluffs and free standing monoliths – different colors and shadows. I wanted to get out and explore so many places – enchanting is a great description for what we saw yesterday. Southern Utah is magnificent as always. As I type we are driving through Western Texas – it is flat and I find it invigorating. Big sky… the hills are beginning to roll now (typing while en route) and I am reminded of my roots in Central California. Driving out Friday through the Columbia River Gorge I knew it would be one of my last times to make that drive – the Gorge has intrigued me since I first saw it almost 23 years ago. It is no secret that the beauty of the northwest is intoxicating to me – but driving through the varied landscapes for the past three days reminds me that I simply love the earth. The variety is spectacular and I am grateful that my Father in Heaven has provided such a get-my-hands-dirty-and-have-fun-doing-it type of playground in which to live, love, laugh and learn! He obviously loves us very, very much!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10th Birthday on Camino Monte:</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<i>I found this photo of my 10th birthday party - we moved away the next year but I remember most of these girls... left to right - Lori, ?, Elizabeth Penrod, Andrea Nygren, Myself, JoAnne, Shirley, Nanette Nygren, ?, Patty Palmer.</i> <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17392502370294090335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248101439665706699.post-71652130879204982372015-09-03T13:05:00.000-07:002015-09-03T13:05:12.411-07:00Buon Appetito! An Italian Food Experience...<i><b>Buon Appetito</b></i> - and in Italy we learned one cannot help having a great meal each time you sit down. The ingredients are so fresh! Restaurant tomatoes usually make me cringe, but here they really did taste like they were fresh from my garden. Our favorite part of the Italian restaurant experience was probably the waiters... handsome, charming Italian men playing their part wonderfully well!<br />
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One handsome, charming Italian man stands out as our family favorite!! His name is Angelo and he was our official Make-A-Wish Wish Grantor. Today's post will be a record of the wonderful day that we spent with Señor Angelo...<br />
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Jackie's official wish, "A Food Experience in Italy," was a mystery to us all. Our local representatives were also unaware of what it would entail. This would be our final day in Rome and we simply did not know what to expect. All that we knew is that we were supposed to go and stand in front of our hotel at 10:00 a.m. and that a driver would come for us. We had read about food tours that went to several restaurants and thought that this would be our activity. We had spent the week in hot, crowded conditions and were simply hoping that we could be on a small tour, ideally just our family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilG_AgyvybkesK786t5R7G98q-JvBdA2KGFHMBg951REyTjnVXUhouwhtjmYRdaUEIqQ1qpdsGJAIFoBcFIYAJhccrKk9Gwp8MqZeUZHaa_lSm7e9_B0VK-_iyU7rhEqp8UfpDM0xddNuh/s1600/P1000790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilG_AgyvybkesK786t5R7G98q-JvBdA2KGFHMBg951REyTjnVXUhouwhtjmYRdaUEIqQ1qpdsGJAIFoBcFIYAJhccrKk9Gwp8MqZeUZHaa_lSm7e9_B0VK-_iyU7rhEqp8UfpDM0xddNuh/s200/P1000790.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza samples, sold by weight</td></tr>
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Our worries were put to rest by the appearance of a gentleman who introduced himself simply as Angelo. His kindness and his charisma put us at immediately at ease and we could see that we were in for a very special day! He centered his attentions on Jackie... this was her wish and he often referred to her as "Queen for the Day" or introduced her, "This is Jackie, today she is the mayor of Rome!" <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uc5-ZuK0gnXkUdQk9AuDDoRxkKhzV1j_dediSPDPCZoWhpwWRZa5CeWM1esiS1Wldx5rqhYqXFQE_N_MaqP1Alp6OrhKxHGLzcCRWflTPac8HMPNg91_7rRtkzE2msOtCsXK6v7LfgJ4/s1600/P1000795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uc5-ZuK0gnXkUdQk9AuDDoRxkKhzV1j_dediSPDPCZoWhpwWRZa5CeWM1esiS1Wldx5rqhYqXFQE_N_MaqP1Alp6OrhKxHGLzcCRWflTPac8HMPNg91_7rRtkzE2msOtCsXK6v7LfgJ4/s200/P1000795.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried Rice Balls</td></tr>
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Angelo Amorico, of Access Italy, is Oprah Winfrey's personal tour guide when she chooses to visit Italy. His list includes Sharon Stone, Diane Sawyer, and others. On this day, he was ours, and our day was <i>fantastic</i>.<br />
An open air market was our first stop. We have been to these markets in Mexico and the Philippines, but a market in Italy is a much different experience - primarily because it smells so good (no dead chickens hanging here!). The produce smelled delicious. A man was demonstrating a fun kitchen gadget which has many interesting uses such as cutting carrots into corkscrews. Angelo bought one for Jackie and she has enjoyed using it at home. We proceeded to a cheese store for a few cooking ingredients. Along the way we kept meeting members of Angelo's office staff. He had given them the day off to spend with us! They are all young, personable and hospitality-oriented... just the kind of people that make you feel welcome. We popped into a couple delis to sample different pizzas and a couple flavors of some sort of fried rice-ball.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPBmkioG6pxSH3vqggEmFhc3T-20yvDbTHeMkqQh1-1po3SyiuKNiaHj-vQw-1sCcUp8FT4AGAmpN-EMH3UMLZK6-slDOhEFNK4xhBWorzH_UaaBhyphenhyphenPPix-9BlHJQKThWLn5ls57YILfx/s1600/P1000803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPBmkioG6pxSH3vqggEmFhc3T-20yvDbTHeMkqQh1-1po3SyiuKNiaHj-vQw-1sCcUp8FT4AGAmpN-EMH3UMLZK6-slDOhEFNK4xhBWorzH_UaaBhyphenhyphenPPix-9BlHJQKThWLn5ls57YILfx/s200/P1000803.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natalie and Angelo add Olive Oil</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjGEaoSzdSIA13OBEXQJ_mToBVzmpXp3uvEFEXzTjksjPZa2TcXC-ZslhGVjPB8LmPEjAfpyNTtsodDKf9dvXxyBd8Qe2jELmln_2if5xN87ASpFqjbFaRpvsF6bGw2dyL2-qUsL8vYZa/s1600/P1000815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjGEaoSzdSIA13OBEXQJ_mToBVzmpXp3uvEFEXzTjksjPZa2TcXC-ZslhGVjPB8LmPEjAfpyNTtsodDKf9dvXxyBd8Qe2jELmln_2if5xN87ASpFqjbFaRpvsF6bGw2dyL2-qUsL8vYZa/s200/P1000815.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to roll the dough</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dVx-V50gZdx-9P-hU49csDbPL0Jq6QVt00WZFIeuSM4j_wq1zOL5X6jmVp9J_V9KOIMrrLc9nSTTYLUOMktirwpKlrQa6p867tRTdjZRTLUx31C_I5y0IyjP9ZFV-rKipwhjseuaihZs/s1600/P1000821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dVx-V50gZdx-9P-hU49csDbPL0Jq6QVt00WZFIeuSM4j_wq1zOL5X6jmVp9J_V9KOIMrrLc9nSTTYLUOMktirwpKlrQa6p867tRTdjZRTLUx31C_I5y0IyjP9ZFV-rKipwhjseuaihZs/s200/P1000821.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pizzas cook quickly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGakhlRH4puUkWqgnerTxvheF3NdvJjaY4tvBfb1xJ9i7reHT9mWtCnXeW9vVcXqlDyoYyqvdEGhhyV3mNJzp1v9FRGy9g4f-4Je5koi-JeKv7SL-eHe_gaxYpgaZibCD7RVio_8CaQflX/s1600/P1000832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGakhlRH4puUkWqgnerTxvheF3NdvJjaY4tvBfb1xJ9i7reHT9mWtCnXeW9vVcXqlDyoYyqvdEGhhyV3mNJzp1v9FRGy9g4f-4Je5koi-JeKv7SL-eHe_gaxYpgaZibCD7RVio_8CaQflX/s200/P1000832.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart pizzas for parents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLEKFTppA9U2bmSvE_ZwBNORK2DwSfSnoDlx9Cyux_wAtwkEdV1bx7wvI6JgtEpXWKaadRWaCawKduue0qvVEsrNSrVTRiNOf9D5AEPEGAJ3d66p4t-fRjLGAJrYn3BaBYS3L5uVtY2ek/s1600/P1000810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLEKFTppA9U2bmSvE_ZwBNORK2DwSfSnoDlx9Cyux_wAtwkEdV1bx7wvI6JgtEpXWKaadRWaCawKduue0qvVEsrNSrVTRiNOf9D5AEPEGAJ3d66p4t-fRjLGAJrYn3BaBYS3L5uVtY2ek/s200/P1000810.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many hands make light work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LJfJ8e7wVChoyxbDBZHdz0i6GwR-mqwoiCrQFxy3pNm3aiAkd_AYa6CGEZG_dwfxneeUAy1BJXAunrhYppWFrc3n2zrHg-kYB85HxMo66Kr_iVIpZFnV-fODHSraOUKz1Rgazr-_1Fi3/s1600/P1000813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LJfJ8e7wVChoyxbDBZHdz0i6GwR-mqwoiCrQFxy3pNm3aiAkd_AYa6CGEZG_dwfxneeUAy1BJXAunrhYppWFrc3n2zrHg-kYB85HxMo66Kr_iVIpZFnV-fODHSraOUKz1Rgazr-_1Fi3/s200/P1000813.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two chefs magnifico!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back in the van, we could hardly believe it when we pulled up to a pizzeria and they met us with hats and aprons for the four children. The kids washed up and were led into the kitchen where they mixed a large batch of pizza dough to be used that evening, enough for 50 pizzas. Dough was supplied for each of them to create their own pizza. Italian pizzas are much more simple than ours - and it was a bit of a surprise to the chef when Natalie requested ham and pineapple... but he supplied some chunks of fresh pineapple and prosciutto. Mark and I were sent outdoors to the table so that we could not see them preparing heart-shaped pizzas for the parents. Each staff member then ordered a pizza and we all ate together at tables set in the narrow street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-K7neYLtQlbblRGjCpwX728hyCq2hgFLQrudiRbWMQ1n3JJJl7kgnpiy74xYdja9E9zYbh5wZmT97aatnCG_jLagw7Es98byp8I3IExLObi0ONX8nhrysZd65ujzy2R-5s3qJb2dm4Kz/s1600/P1000860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-K7neYLtQlbblRGjCpwX728hyCq2hgFLQrudiRbWMQ1n3JJJl7kgnpiy74xYdja9E9zYbh5wZmT97aatnCG_jLagw7Es98byp8I3IExLObi0ONX8nhrysZd65ujzy2R-5s3qJb2dm4Kz/s200/P1000860.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding a layer of chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_Z4eOQsSzh8rWhFnnQruCqlaYzrvlb7tOtzFe2rEVcoAirSKOFJmuOJYHrtRwOtsby9PtX-eSWFwVc6udgwCcZ1jc4_spHWxvtsgpV0qB5ef6BOE-O5UYokXygR_vgcyckWBaH-TUxyl/s1600/P1000847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_Z4eOQsSzh8rWhFnnQruCqlaYzrvlb7tOtzFe2rEVcoAirSKOFJmuOJYHrtRwOtsby9PtX-eSWFwVc6udgwCcZ1jc4_spHWxvtsgpV0qB5ef6BOE-O5UYokXygR_vgcyckWBaH-TUxyl/s200/P1000847.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making tiramisu at Angelo's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At this point Angelo was going to take us for some amazing gelato - we had eaten gelato at least once a day for a week, but Angelo assured us that we were in for a treat. Unfortunately, we were all very full... so we moved on to an even better surprise. Señor Angelo took us to his home! Here we met his charming wife - she grew up in Boston, but when she married Angelo he informed her that she would need to learn to cook Italian... and she has. We all crowded into her kitchen and were taught how to make tiramisu! Only one problem - the biscuits are supposed to soak in coffee... and here I had to let them know that we do not drink coffee but usually just substitute milk. These kind women did not miss a beat - immediately they were making hot chocolate and we soaked with this instead. They had us add a layer of chopped chocolate in the middle so the flavors blended beautifully - it was delicious. While it soaked we simply enjoyed being in their home...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVL0snHnlynWip1r640-dOwidR3XOnzA1MyALaV5jnCUZpndqR-DZ2M014Zf8fD88CCBStKrWT5haCAKPXqUV_ruT4v_5tF4RXyG5tHLaf8Fk0LUADyVR-GwR4Ror2TGBdtTqPnFX58Us/s1600/P1000841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVL0snHnlynWip1r640-dOwidR3XOnzA1MyALaV5jnCUZpndqR-DZ2M014Zf8fD88CCBStKrWT5haCAKPXqUV_ruT4v_5tF4RXyG5tHLaf8Fk0LUADyVR-GwR4Ror2TGBdtTqPnFX58Us/s200/P1000841.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelo, Jackie and<br />
an un-named, but famous, pope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8clvUZRgUL9Qb_uh7kzFd-SAEtEEKvTeYHKJvlGtSxDS5MEMeAVJ5Q5IZavdfdAtRW1BJs7cMfZvSuiEWsdDIG7rSrN-ZwUOAy-LBfDJ9m77aCjzD4Hxtt2vb77xI6o1rm1UuII079xnZ/s1600/P1000834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8clvUZRgUL9Qb_uh7kzFd-SAEtEEKvTeYHKJvlGtSxDS5MEMeAVJ5Q5IZavdfdAtRW1BJs7cMfZvSuiEWsdDIG7rSrN-ZwUOAy-LBfDJ9m77aCjzD4Hxtt2vb77xI6o1rm1UuII079xnZ/s200/P1000834.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelo's door - look at the step</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6q2VtLKSAv2JlGsca2X4nAE2TIe0MIoL8pZB_2Wew606o6MWY2T4aAZidmYYbqR-E0uoo-Rn7SYZjEmd0iinM_MX8ags99_HoErKX3YiPUlV2UjRDoejONFOf5fmLWUkCQiLZghN2OuC/s1600/P1000868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6q2VtLKSAv2JlGsca2X4nAE2TIe0MIoL8pZB_2Wew606o6MWY2T4aAZidmYYbqR-E0uoo-Rn7SYZjEmd0iinM_MX8ags99_HoErKX3YiPUlV2UjRDoejONFOf5fmLWUkCQiLZghN2OuC/s200/P1000868.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really loved this door!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8t-fkG3UtiyYqEFfkcZ43GnecktRr-HE0Z8qSckCWbsSMV8WZG7sksprH3ZOl8F2Q9KgoDE5Eo0mWlNKZdI7oKbAQ55238K5kUF-Xl25fdPKTmPDBSYQfrrdqgqIkMyufaz7zfRFRScT/s1600/P1000843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8t-fkG3UtiyYqEFfkcZ43GnecktRr-HE0Z8qSckCWbsSMV8WZG7sksprH3ZOl8F2Q9KgoDE5Eo0mWlNKZdI7oKbAQ55238K5kUF-Xl25fdPKTmPDBSYQfrrdqgqIkMyufaz7zfRFRScT/s200/P1000843.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I remember correctly,<br />
this stonework was<br />
originally at St. Peters<br />
until it was remodeled.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Angelo had told us the building in which they live was built in the 1400's. When we entered there was a plaque with a date in the 1600's - so he clarified that it was built in the 1400's but remodeled in the 1600's. The door into the building was so old - I was enchanted because the step below the door was also quite worn with age. We saw a lovely garden and a small chapel which housed a vault in which a pope had been buried. This pope is famous - in St. Peters Basilica there is a large statue of Christ, Peter, Paul and a pope... this is that pope, but I do not recall his name.<br />
Sadly, our adventure came to a close. We would like to have walked through more streets and heard more stories - For example, a fun fact he shared with us was that a plaque on a building banned putting any sort of trash in that area - this "law" had been in effect for hundreds of years on that street because no one is allowed to change it. I wondered what all the other plaques had been saying.<br />
Angelo has been doing this for a lifetime - and for us, spending a day with him was the opportunity of a lifetime.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVYarM-9_pKXqV7SF9uzkuMFAEq-9Iuzo5ei48z7zCGyoHUZVKkzgHEtNreVjvPlv_XO92nOzcPqYkaf_W3FiAk7SZhDLowjXO5MOF8cPBJJOHlP1Uuc6YQ5GiWPL5Y15pSwMk1plXI7Q/s1600/P1000869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVYarM-9_pKXqV7SF9uzkuMFAEq-9Iuzo5ei48z7zCGyoHUZVKkzgHEtNreVjvPlv_XO92nOzcPqYkaf_W3FiAk7SZhDLowjXO5MOF8cPBJJOHlP1Uuc6YQ5GiWPL5Y15pSwMk1plXI7Q/s200/P1000869.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie is an official<br />
Italian Chef!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just for fun - after being dropped off at the hotel we had to choose our final activity. We decided to return to St. Peters Basilica because we liked it so much the first time. As we left we remembered that Angelo's neighborhood was also near the vatican... we wandered the streets until we came to a gelato shop - hoping that it was the one that we had missed earlier. With the best flavors and no labels in English - we think we found it and... YUMMY!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsD1fubdqwgKFlHvFypcY35TjDdjTfTr1kxbnFHte4Q62_hjyVyw43x-QPoEpi15Rtt-Nr0Knw0OLa0c6w4W7wfFuiKCqHdDbScge8eQEiPfRrDeGNlTXXLb60ic-nRe24H7qahsi5At8/s1600/P1000885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsD1fubdqwgKFlHvFypcY35TjDdjTfTr1kxbnFHte4Q62_hjyVyw43x-QPoEpi15Rtt-Nr0Knw0OLa0c6w4W7wfFuiKCqHdDbScge8eQEiPfRrDeGNlTXXLb60ic-nRe24H7qahsi5At8/s200/P1000885.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We think we discovered<br />
the Best Gelato Ever!</td></tr>
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Italy held many delights and adventures for us - ancient ruins, fountains, the Vatican, Pompeii, pizza, gelato... but Angelo truly stands out as a Wish-Come-True!!<br />
Thank you to Make-A-Wish... and forever thank you to Señor Angelo Amorico. He's the best!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NcyCX5bH7uU13A1p5FmaTZ09Rteo7OjYkc15eKA3hX_c9vrur0KBAhc0DzjSrrOdxbPlEWatYMkjeZGjJZTJPr5AOiI5gvpI-rfqA5neR1-s9L4lL3guJ-QJ4vHbBoVBTl9zcfRfPyAs/s1600/P1000866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NcyCX5bH7uU13A1p5FmaTZ09Rteo7OjYkc15eKA3hX_c9vrur0KBAhc0DzjSrrOdxbPlEWatYMkjeZGjJZTJPr5AOiI5gvpI-rfqA5neR1-s9L4lL3guJ-QJ4vHbBoVBTl9zcfRfPyAs/s320/P1000866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Angelo!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUcZhrCTEeHrsa8e4kuT46zGIbYHZkaRs_yt4wNHhZfyGZtbWYX8GaSFwnLNKBI8c46Fe8oiWTwdHOj4sqYZEh4g6MS9utS0tMdXpWOoF3_aEhghvVg8woCq21gLEMCZGitIPtJnEHV1a/s1600/IMG_8839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUcZhrCTEeHrsa8e4kuT46zGIbYHZkaRs_yt4wNHhZfyGZtbWYX8GaSFwnLNKBI8c46Fe8oiWTwdHOj4sqYZEh4g6MS9utS0tMdXpWOoF3_aEhghvVg8woCq21gLEMCZGitIPtJnEHV1a/s200/IMG_8839.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made some <i>delicious</i> tiramisu<br />last week but had to use Vanilla<br />Wafers - couldn't find ladyfingers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhCOXRpNuYGpHWGOvwxLddoTUU-bY75x-XyBnHyLnOo0febCfojHXc3xWgDsCwPn9hbVkxMbKdFrtZRC-m6hAdoQZGAMH0Nc9qvmPeLxg6PWBg4AuRLCf337uWnV74T5jhyvEom4fMgEE/s1600/P1000931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhCOXRpNuYGpHWGOvwxLddoTUU-bY75x-XyBnHyLnOo0febCfojHXc3xWgDsCwPn9hbVkxMbKdFrtZRC-m6hAdoQZGAMH0Nc9qvmPeLxg6PWBg4AuRLCf337uWnV74T5jhyvEom4fMgEE/s200/P1000931.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We wore our Make-A-Wish buttons<br />
as we traveled.</td></tr>
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