tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40321662184184082232024-03-12T22:27:26.629-04:00Living At Wit's EndFaith, marriage, family and homeschooling, a life journey full of wonderfully, messy, unexpected twists and turns.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-9770344033409795212023-03-07T21:11:00.003-05:002023-03-07T21:11:42.052-05:00Some Things Should Never be Invented, or Used!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">With all that is going on in the world, I
would like to know why sometimes my mind spirals when I see something (it can be anything, it doesn’t
matter what). Sometimes the spiral leads
me down a rabbit hole, looking for answers to the most useless questions that pop
into my brain. More often than not, me
being me, must find a satisfactory answer to this useless question. It becomes my quest for useless knowledge to a
question that plagues me, one that most people don’t even consider.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xsel81q30PCXmxCfpNjYtMWEweuT4bCE6iYnQ95kDuW26LZ9JuLLD2Tw3uGPhZ8O7arilqwWvN41AkJtvKvFejN9AG3nt-CifAg89bHbS7zgOnUzDbleIb81s5yMST-y6SojgPLqxVp39iuQ9pSjWPt45KKpXSbI3hCcgcZGLM94xtCE1Knhv4oy/s1080/Untitled%20design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xsel81q30PCXmxCfpNjYtMWEweuT4bCE6iYnQ95kDuW26LZ9JuLLD2Tw3uGPhZ8O7arilqwWvN41AkJtvKvFejN9AG3nt-CifAg89bHbS7zgOnUzDbleIb81s5yMST-y6SojgPLqxVp39iuQ9pSjWPt45KKpXSbI3hCcgcZGLM94xtCE1Knhv4oy/s320/Untitled%20design.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What is going on in my brain?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I could be working on solving a real
problem or creating something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, instead,
I try to figure out things like what happens if you’re caught bringing Kinder
Surprise Eggs over the US border. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You
can be fined up to $2,500 per illegal Kinder Egg, in case you’re wondering).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Let me back up a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My siblings, my mom, and I send each other random things
through text. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be anything,
really.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Today’s little tidbit was a picture of a toilet covered in
blue, matching, carpeted bathroom accessories with the words “THIS WAS NEVER
OKAY.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back and forth fly the comments;
some including toilet, poop, green-faced, and vomiting emojis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGUxfIhB0UQY3gSM_ekNMtMwumckVrj3kgfeetD_EDkdf34ARlIgxnWvbGlEAm3ROUCDd8Q77w70pjzwow-WBDllB_IvYxqXD6WS4vCi9e0QuLMsd9BXpnmv5-mXJaxA6mMlHF9jQNrBYdgKmrynffDPU-F2KsikL9JSGp6Zx3KO6HKJBl8wf-vOj/s1125/IMG_3690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1125" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGUxfIhB0UQY3gSM_ekNMtMwumckVrj3kgfeetD_EDkdf34ARlIgxnWvbGlEAm3ROUCDd8Q77w70pjzwow-WBDllB_IvYxqXD6WS4vCi9e0QuLMsd9BXpnmv5-mXJaxA6mMlHF9jQNrBYdgKmrynffDPU-F2KsikL9JSGp6Zx3KO6HKJBl8wf-vOj/s320/IMG_3690.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Here it comes! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ready
for it?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain says, “who invented
these ridiculous-looking, germ-infested, pee droplet and poop particle-ladened
things anyway?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why did they think
it was a good idea?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The questions tap tap at my brain, don’t you think you
should figure out who invented these items? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huh? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huh?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ya? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ya?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBRpFaD7AVsWhNDmNBrLM_ha3eWFC0KhLe-ZaF9tDtqgM1xx06DrHZ2ReqTed2K2vcE_YAAqJJqhFJ1hekMbYrCjt4_8KyL-CzEHhwbpY5iV95vCAn5-tkCI3skgyelc3WRTvoZFaGFzhzUeY6l6GG-USMmZ947te8ke0A2okmX6hFLsknNmAqaWE/s1080/Untitled%20design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBRpFaD7AVsWhNDmNBrLM_ha3eWFC0KhLe-ZaF9tDtqgM1xx06DrHZ2ReqTed2K2vcE_YAAqJJqhFJ1hekMbYrCjt4_8KyL-CzEHhwbpY5iV95vCAn5-tkCI3skgyelc3WRTvoZFaGFzhzUeY6l6GG-USMmZ947te8ke0A2okmX6hFLsknNmAqaWE/s320/Untitled%20design.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So, dooowwwwnnnn the rabbit hole of carpeted bathroom items
I went.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu9FSBEZaGtVoSx7TlLC7vXGkP8j3YgAIKENP--Y5mIBUYsZgcp-j-DsEjH2L-leDAn9DVI8KTMZWrZiyBno0Dxm3_KvUSZbUEbyrUM_ZlAAFRW6i_sxZLD3wZrYdBnjMf3vNh5u69lK3kHjtB83a25fFAn32MZvdyhzbbpWnoXsdWvMw7lZ7sLHW/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu9FSBEZaGtVoSx7TlLC7vXGkP8j3YgAIKENP--Y5mIBUYsZgcp-j-DsEjH2L-leDAn9DVI8KTMZWrZiyBno0Dxm3_KvUSZbUEbyrUM_ZlAAFRW6i_sxZLD3wZrYdBnjMf3vNh5u69lK3kHjtB83a25fFAn32MZvdyhzbbpWnoXsdWvMw7lZ7sLHW/s320/Untitled%20design%20(1).png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Several articles, blog posts, and timelines later, I have no
idea who invented these plush, luxury cesspools of germ-infested items. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I learned why people thought carpeted
bathrooms were a good idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evolution
of the toilet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there are still
people today that not only think carpeted bathrooms are a good idea (hint, they
like soft plushy things under their feet, and kids won’t slip if the bathroom
is carpeted) but are actually debating over this fact. There is a plethera of these carpeted sets available for purchase STILL TODAY! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that some people are drawn to rub
their hands through the plushy items, ewww. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And something I had never considered before, became
blatantly obvious! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bathrooms are humid and
wet! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humidity and water create moisture!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moisture breeds mold! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moisture and carpets don’t mix! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moldy carpets are an incubator for mold,
spores, and fungi!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Now before I go down that track...why I’d never considered moldy
carpets before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to point out my sole focus was on
bodily waste droplets and particles trapped in those matching shag accessories!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, at some point in my life, I saw
a Dr. Oz show on poop particles that fly around the bathroom and land on your
everyday items. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCCwWY0Cu4 check it out, it's a real thing) I also have sons; I know
what happens when boys head to the bathroom, especially when they’re half
asleep at night.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shag, plush carpet and pee dribble/poop particles don’t mix!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Add the whole moist, humid, mold spore, incubating aspect,
and I want to vomit! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just gross,
disturbing, and so unsanitary!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">With my original questions still unanswered, I must consider
the options. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve devised the following
ideas of who invented these items and why.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A. Several
70’s carpet salesmen, having a bad fiscal year, got drunk, high, or both and
developed this idea in their inebriated state as a way to increase sales.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRlotsLSBRvNmOr-zsm5a9yzgztyuFZ7-WyW5RnyLlah6TObG4GAoXMI-v58xyp9WOpKwfn31gSySoBLTLRWBNAO1iFcYhclUky3sxqtJx6bzOat8vC4BGVF5Jl4WnNO6JvL8WMn0H2pJubFu4IxJ3LMAZPJa3X8BdwLEKN86Pl0UmwBJSyQGU7VI/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRlotsLSBRvNmOr-zsm5a9yzgztyuFZ7-WyW5RnyLlah6TObG4GAoXMI-v58xyp9WOpKwfn31gSySoBLTLRWBNAO1iFcYhclUky3sxqtJx6bzOat8vC4BGVF5Jl4WnNO6JvL8WMn0H2pJubFu4IxJ3LMAZPJa3X8BdwLEKN86Pl0UmwBJSyQGU7VI/s320/Untitled%20design%20(2).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">B. Some traveling carpet salesman stumbled on a
newly wealthy couple and told them that carpeted bathrooms and bathroom items
were all the rage! </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And only the richest
of the wealthy had these items. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">From
there, it rose through “Keeping up with the Jones”! </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Can’t you just hear some woman saying (as she
takes a long drag on her Virginia Slim cigarette), “Honestly, Astrid, anyone,
and I mean anyone who is anyone, has wall-to-wall shag carpet in their
bathroom.”</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzRaFTOwhEFj9ShlOaK_D6HRM2MbYOsTzl5SrvWPYtGgAtW9yNsqiRCPwLWXzTzKGw1PFgKrd8HaXahcFKCLd5qQJ_REaCQ1nbDYsHs9ZL5Dl9JlXPl-qED95Pm3fJDXMg8jh-Y78mgTia04lVRsqnZCLiqrIu9loOaaGuIhI_5HzvtvNeaAceQE3/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzRaFTOwhEFj9ShlOaK_D6HRM2MbYOsTzl5SrvWPYtGgAtW9yNsqiRCPwLWXzTzKGw1PFgKrd8HaXahcFKCLd5qQJ_REaCQ1nbDYsHs9ZL5Dl9JlXPl-qED95Pm3fJDXMg8jh-Y78mgTia04lVRsqnZCLiqrIu9loOaaGuIhI_5HzvtvNeaAceQE3/s320/Untitled%20design%20(3).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">C. Some power-hungry, world-dominating, dictator
wannabe in some small, nowhere country locks up a brilliant scientist, threatening his family if he doesn’t do as he’s told! </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The scientist is instructed to create some
innocuous item that every household in the US must have! </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Then, once in place, this item will kill off
everyone in the home one by one! </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">No one
will be able to figure out what’s killing everyone, and the power-hungry, world-dominating, dictator wannabe will rule the world!</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">MWAHAHAHA!!!</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Only, it took so long to kill everyone off
with the mold spores and bodily fluid germs that the power-hungry, world-dominating,
dictator wannabe died of old age!</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IRc7mchTCieRtfJq6vPAOkrvozhU2WyETVCUbDwgbyWg9E5JnpghgfEeVVj3EFuhMgDLs8A6WbmyMwZu9YJ2xBwzyRC6h2zPopxNv6qHoZ5u2yNua5ZM1aZfMaDSgltFXDB8_Thl8rN5GRaN729iTuVHiOJdHTapHTE5rWy-2H53cyqYq6hHU6KO/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IRc7mchTCieRtfJq6vPAOkrvozhU2WyETVCUbDwgbyWg9E5JnpghgfEeVVj3EFuhMgDLs8A6WbmyMwZu9YJ2xBwzyRC6h2zPopxNv6qHoZ5u2yNua5ZM1aZfMaDSgltFXDB8_Thl8rN5GRaN729iTuVHiOJdHTapHTE5rWy-2H53cyqYq6hHU6KO/s320/Untitled%20design%20(4).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">D. Some family was redoing their house and threw
out the excess bit of carpet from the job. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some poor, sweet, spinster women that grew up
during the depression couldn’t bear to see the rug go to waste. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">So, she snuck over in the middle of the night
and took the excess from the trash pile. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Then, she got to work cutting and stitching a
beautiful matching shag carpet bathroom set. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">She had enough to cover the toilet seat lid,
tank, and tank lid, a rug in front of the toilet, and a bath mat. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">After the next afternoon tea with her dear
friends, she became the talk of the neighborhood. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The sweet spinster woman began combing through
carpet store dumpsters at night and created lovely carpet bathroom sets to sell
to all her friends and their friends. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">From there, she made a carpeted bathroom set
empire and ran it like Tupperware and Avon!</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhZ7HlGO3f-UeM1L_DdllkjH93221ru6UZGcJEwp0UlK4Ui0QAyY8Z4l3tjxb1Ynd86YrteCMUqQ42fLR6zZG3JRPBu83VNiX6MmttOQNB55JB80hI6z33xTs_VH6-X3mnnWCcNy36SmEXY22cB3L4zsaTeDK6NH7mMqGcsvqmgOkjeVDJbM_41z7/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(5).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhZ7HlGO3f-UeM1L_DdllkjH93221ru6UZGcJEwp0UlK4Ui0QAyY8Z4l3tjxb1Ynd86YrteCMUqQ42fLR6zZG3JRPBu83VNiX6MmttOQNB55JB80hI6z33xTs_VH6-X3mnnWCcNy36SmEXY22cB3L4zsaTeDK6NH7mMqGcsvqmgOkjeVDJbM_41z7/s320/Untitled%20design%20(5).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Finally, I would like to share two pictures that left me speechless, but flooded my brain with so many thoughts and questions!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX79m-4zt5dhEBGJ2Ly4GLKk72Ow3KN41mHOypYX7xAXPAvTEfHcusLzIJDhGX-KGl4rK0M-8-tZ3aOw0MBnJj6XlcAziVyXP9wqaeXLylGoSNDWmeGSqN_XR-SdClkSor9YfZlwRmeyZZNVPQRD01e7UOgr9yOH438PPBouzgC0j1-uw5SY4-wUD/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX79m-4zt5dhEBGJ2Ly4GLKk72Ow3KN41mHOypYX7xAXPAvTEfHcusLzIJDhGX-KGl4rK0M-8-tZ3aOw0MBnJj6XlcAziVyXP9wqaeXLylGoSNDWmeGSqN_XR-SdClkSor9YfZlwRmeyZZNVPQRD01e7UOgr9yOH438PPBouzgC0j1-uw5SY4-wUD/s320/Untitled%20design%20(2).png" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqKxKJZzWvuruHn3elhb_N2A0b9P-k2pRRKOUFtvu_10josKDeiECjKUw836LKtqBZxo30b-ndmoWmT2uJiVzZY--J__4kZtLt1eJ-KzBHJ8MpLXPmc3sfaqkDvV4O5yu50wEYGe4V-w67zMo5Er1Z_Nlo5-UE5L_vM3EPo9aVZOn19ejK5f6t1zS/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqKxKJZzWvuruHn3elhb_N2A0b9P-k2pRRKOUFtvu_10josKDeiECjKUw836LKtqBZxo30b-ndmoWmT2uJiVzZY--J__4kZtLt1eJ-KzBHJ8MpLXPmc3sfaqkDvV4O5yu50wEYGe4V-w67zMo5Er1Z_Nlo5-UE5L_vM3EPo9aVZOn19ejK5f6t1zS/w320-h320/Untitled%20design%20(1).png" width="320" /></span></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> I</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">s the bathroom in white from a space station?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In the brown bathroom, why is the woman reading a book to the child while the child is in the tub? Did they choose brown to cover any poop stains? Why are there modular leather stools in the bathroom? Why do they have so many towels?! And in case you didn't notice it, their bathroom is so moist and humid, they are growing moss from the ceiling!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Okay, now that I’ve wasted several hours researching nothing
that will actually help me in life that I know of. And I’ve given you a glimpse into the far
recesses of my brain. I think I will go
clean my bathroom because even though I don’t have any carpet anything, we have
determined that bathrooms are moist!
Moisture breeds mold! Mold is
bad! And let’s not forget about the pee
dribble/poop particles!</span><o:p></o:p></p>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-47788576962006405552023-03-03T13:33:00.000-05:002023-03-03T13:33:31.431-05:00 How's your lent going?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v9TsdIkwWOIiW5jckT7-sNuykeBWX2j4oV277N3EuhsRmWuwm81g1h8LOw-_8cDw5pl9UowwaUmK5cPLPUArkeKaFmnz6ezS2x4mJY5MXvbwqGvs_WlZpV-r87t9W8a0E3Q3IH2zjFbhnqPKOUG2UNbiRmeJJH49OKCsDO-E-ZI6EmkqCXbXY2y3/s1080/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v9TsdIkwWOIiW5jckT7-sNuykeBWX2j4oV277N3EuhsRmWuwm81g1h8LOw-_8cDw5pl9UowwaUmK5cPLPUArkeKaFmnz6ezS2x4mJY5MXvbwqGvs_WlZpV-r87t9W8a0E3Q3IH2zjFbhnqPKOUG2UNbiRmeJJH49OKCsDO-E-ZI6EmkqCXbXY2y3/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"> </h1><p></p><div class="nH aHU" style="color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;"><div class="nH hx" style="color: #222222; min-width: 502px; padding: 0px;"><div class="nH" jslog="20686; u014N:xr6bB" role="list"><div aria-expanded="true" class="h7 ie nH oy8Mbf" role="listitem" style="clear: both; max-width: 100000px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px;" tabindex="-1"><div class="Bk" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-radius: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; width: 908px;"><div class="G3 G2" style="border-bottom: 0px rgba(100, 121, 143, 0.12); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div id=":nl"><div class="adn ads" data-legacy-message-id="186a88e36bfe1d50" data-message-id="#msg-f:1759369114792369488" style="border-left: none; display: flex; padding: 0px;"><div class="gs" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; width: 836px;"><div class=""><div class="ii gt" id=":no" jslog="20277; u014N:xr6bB; 4:W251bGwsbnVsbCxbXV0." style="direction: ltr; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL msg5732703792109002748" id=":nn" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="m_5732703792109002748WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">As I drove my daughter to school, thoughts entered my mind...oh, to be seventeen again. Not the seventeen I was, mind you, seventeen with all the knowledge I have right now. If I were “that seventeen,” I would rule the school and make the changes to correct all the previous life mistakes I’ve made!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">I’ve heard it said it’s never too late to be who you want to become, and I can start each day anew. Why am I so thick-headed and entrenched in my habits that beginning each day anew is just that, day one on the path over and over again? I feel as if my days are ebbing away faster and faster with each minute that passes. You would think that this might light a fire under me. Yet, I feel like my feet are stuck in molasses, making my steps slow, sticky, and incredibly difficult, my brain in a fog. Why isn’t my desire stronger than my bad habits?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It’s the tenth day of lent already! I’ve fallen again! My lenten goals are lofty as usual, making it challenging to keep up with in my current messy life. What is it about planning big? Why don’t I choose an attainable goal with REAL substance versus an over-the-top goal I know I won’t achieve?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">If I’m honest, I think it’s because I want to be the person who does achieve over-the-top goals not just in my lenten journey with the Lord but in everything in life. So, what’s stopping me?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">I think this question bears pondering and prayer. What is stopping me? What obstacles are in my path? What is keeping me from adding more life to my days?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">My daughter’s principal sent out an inspiring message, something like: if you’ve fallen away from your lenten goal, it’s ok. There is no scorekeeper; you won’t be reprimanded; begin again. We’re getting ready for Jesus’ passion. On His trip to Calvary, He fell three times; each time, He got up and continued. Jesus is our guide and companion; no matter how poorly our lenten practices are going, it’s never too late to continue the journey with Him.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Az5ueagR5ikVMvU4wvpGvCkXwWHx3WCtgnFbC5iGfY1_bvamij_bLG_VDTf3Z6iZsBSgg-6qaVS7BO9saSA-koGTbm-_CDyuxCEs-5xd4NKOuP3__OcskANfDcRxotRfno4hrn6CO-zdCeO5ZRCht5ySGGT8KHpkPorOgAvAqEWYTp9Fr9Lcu1uI/s1080/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Az5ueagR5ikVMvU4wvpGvCkXwWHx3WCtgnFbC5iGfY1_bvamij_bLG_VDTf3Z6iZsBSgg-6qaVS7BO9saSA-koGTbm-_CDyuxCEs-5xd4NKOuP3__OcskANfDcRxotRfno4hrn6CO-zdCeO5ZRCht5ySGGT8KHpkPorOgAvAqEWYTp9Fr9Lcu1uI/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">So with that in mind, I’m beginning again! This time I’m taking three questions to prayer.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_5732703792109002748MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;"><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What is stopping me from reaching my lofty goals?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_5732703792109002748MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;"><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What are the obstacles in my way?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="m_5732703792109002748MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;"><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><u></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What is keeping me from adding more life to my days?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">And committing to only one lenten practice right now, a practice that will grow and enrich my relationship with Jesus!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">How about you? Do you need to reevaluate your lenten commitment?<u></u><u></u></span></p><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="adL"></div></div><div class="adL"></div></div><div class="adL"></div></div></div><div class="hi" style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></div></div></div><div class="ajx" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="gA gt acV" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top: none; font-size: 0.875rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><div class="gB xu" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ip iq" style="border-top: none; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 16px 0px;"><div id=":np"><table class="cf wS" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td class="amq" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px; vertical-align: top; visibility: hidden; width: 44px;"><img class="ajn bofPge" data-hovercard-id="angi.flynn@gmail.com" id=":n1_0" jid="angi.flynn@gmail.com" name=":n1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/AGNmyxbKEhyhUjXhkdwctak4GLTB165HytSPt_8arqK5=s40-p-mo" style="border-radius: 50%; display: block; height: 40px; width: 40px;" /></td><td class="amr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 836px;"><div class="nr wR" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 1px; border: none !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s;"><div class="amn" style="align-items: center; color: inherit; display: flex; height: auto; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ams bkH" id=":ni" jslog="21576; u014N:cOuCgd,Kr2w4b;" role="link" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-user-drag: none; align-items: center; background: none; border-radius: 18px; border: 1px solid rgb(116, 119, 117); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444746; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; font-size: 0.875rem; height: 36px; justify-content: center; margin-right: 8px; min-width: 104px; outline: none; padding: 0px 16px 0px 12px; position: relative; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0">Reply</span><span class="ams bkG" id=":nk" jslog="21578; u014N:cOuCgd,Kr2w4b;" role="link" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-user-drag: none; align-items: center; background: none; border-radius: 18px; border: 1px solid rgb(116, 119, 117); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444746; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; font-size: 0.875rem; height: 36px; justify-content: center; margin-right: 8px; min-width: 104px; outline: none; padding: 0px 16px 0px 12px; position: relative; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0">Forward</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="nH"></div><div class="nH"></div></div></div><div class="nH" style="color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-47801804261791856802021-06-18T14:32:00.004-04:002021-06-18T15:02:54.086-04:00 Start Your Summer with a Fun Themed Date Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3mN6yTZa_yrNVA9Zu2lfkmBt8h9yAwBCGSNARI-mY0M6B8ZlqORJlc_knY1RK_7H5u6YxAwOJwgXbbSEDGDbzc1vZ9eo3lBscvrPQmQ1qwLbt4o7I4d71gaXEz1n7jKMgPHRnzQ8wQ/s1080/Animated+Summer+Camp+Instagram+Post+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3mN6yTZa_yrNVA9Zu2lfkmBt8h9yAwBCGSNARI-mY0M6B8ZlqORJlc_knY1RK_7H5u6YxAwOJwgXbbSEDGDbzc1vZ9eo3lBscvrPQmQ1qwLbt4o7I4d71gaXEz1n7jKMgPHRnzQ8wQ/s320/Animated+Summer+Camp+Instagram+Post+.png" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This Sunday is not only Father’s
Day; it’s also the first official day of summer! So, for a fun date night, why
not head back to summer camp with your sweetie?
Check out the date night link below to plan an easy and fun date night. I’ve
listed everything you need and ideas for a simple, to a little more effort
evening of fun and romance. No matter
what you choose, make sure to have fun! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For people with kiddos<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If your babies are little enough, put them to bed and start your date
night after they’re in bed. If your kiddos are older, explain that you and your
spouse are having a date night and consider one of the following ideas for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because we were usually broke or didn’t have a sitter, I told my kids
that daddy and I were having a date night because it made us a better mommy and
daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I had something special
planned for them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I would plan
a fun dinner and movie night for them, either while we were doing our date but
in a different room or on a separate night, depending on their age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would make sure the dinner was something
they didn’t usually have (it was their special date night meal) or was
something they loved, liked pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also planned special treats that they only had on date night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My kids had dollar store movie candy or ice
cream sundaes.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they would get to
watch a movie or play a video game or do something that required little
supervision but was a rare, occasional activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep it simple!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Another option is to turn date night into a family night. </i>A<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">s always, I’ve chosen ideas that are family-friendly
in the event your kiddos will be joining you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as my kids got older, they looked forward to our date nights
because it gave them some freedom to do something they didn’t usually do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now, The Little Guy, who is 13, asks
every Friday or Saturday night, “Are you and dad having a date night?!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Click below<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><a href="http://livingatwitsend.blogspot.com/p/lovers-moonlight-summer-camp-date-night.html " target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lover's Moonlight Summer Camp Date Night</span></a><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Remember<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Date night is about having fun
with your spouse!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep things simple and
fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have to be perfect; the
focus is spending time with your spouse and growing in your relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use what works for you; dump what doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER AND HAVE FUN!</span><o:p></o:p></p>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-71383018086473642442021-05-07T14:00:00.002-04:002021-05-07T14:04:02.987-04:00Did Somebody say Date Night? Two "Done for You" date night plans (Quick, Easy, and Frugal)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">My kids love a party!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Especially the Organized Child!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, as my kiddos were growing up when a holiday showed up on the
calendar, I would try to do something special at dinner time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, we’ve celebrated Cinco de
Mayo, Presidents Day, Groundhogs Day, and others; you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of my predisposition to turn things
into a party, date nights with my hubby aren’t really different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One date night, I went all out for Chinese
New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Organized Child made a
homemade Chinese dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decorated, we
played a game, made some origami and watched a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My husband feels the need for a movie almost
every date night, no matter what activities I have planned.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFadZE21Ikvk39zq-8lgRI_PEuQBjQ1U6-pzdpXjVzRnU_fubloz0ujXPGqv2Mk_jyfvdIXT1eY3UgfzOnjvq7i5Hf-uCir5NSMTOeifFekFnG_JSb-eo4Crfj4SMttF8-YV2GsCSkrY/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1009" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFadZE21Ikvk39zq-8lgRI_PEuQBjQ1U6-pzdpXjVzRnU_fubloz0ujXPGqv2Mk_jyfvdIXT1eY3UgfzOnjvq7i5Hf-uCir5NSMTOeifFekFnG_JSb-eo4Crfj4SMttF8-YV2GsCSkrY/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWSWy4k4W-jP11ufB86NoUjVDYKpJQTgN2IcQp3v1ZtfdjfbsuqNcnSovH79aCAPEEXhQSDTPQfEkmuCQsutwpfDkEEBVruNcnUQX6iDUIjOpwmmEisD_M7X5i3opYCV4Ti35kOGIdlE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1009" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWSWy4k4W-jP11ufB86NoUjVDYKpJQTgN2IcQp3v1ZtfdjfbsuqNcnSovH79aCAPEEXhQSDTPQfEkmuCQsutwpfDkEEBVruNcnUQX6iDUIjOpwmmEisD_M7X5i3opYCV4Ti35kOGIdlE/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHjfOJ3fBO8NT1WGN26tU-xwcJgeVygx63XTC_G-XdzxDUCGfOY2k9iD8f3HRgYWVo-9D3anJjBNXfqB3bkas4M3JNOvLM0u95Xyc2e5n1uQiwZKCsgVJQjbzfs0U2Ky37M-EgGfUOuw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1009" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHjfOJ3fBO8NT1WGN26tU-xwcJgeVygx63XTC_G-XdzxDUCGfOY2k9iD8f3HRgYWVo-9D3anJjBNXfqB3bkas4M3JNOvLM0u95Xyc2e5n1uQiwZKCsgVJQjbzfs0U2Ky37M-EgGfUOuw/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I’ve had several people ask me for date night
ideas.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Specifically, I was asked for
ideas that don’t require going out, no need for childcare, minimal preparation
and can be done on little to no budget.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">So, since I’m a party girl at heart and love themes, this week gave me
the perfect springboard to offer two wholly planned out date nights.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">(I just wish I’d thought of it a couple weeks
ago so I could have provided you with pictures.)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">And, remember date nights on the weekend that
use themes for celebrations from the past or next week are always acceptable!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For people with kiddos<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If your babies are
little enough, put them to bed and start your date night after they’re in bed.
If your kiddos are older, explain that you and your spouse are having a date
night and consider one of the following ideas for them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because we were
usually broke or didn’t have a sitter, I told my kids that daddy and I were
having a date night because it made us a better mommy and daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I had something special planned for them
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I would plan a fun dinner and
movie night for them, either at the same time we were doing our date but in a
different room or on a separate night, depending on their age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would make sure the dinner was something
they didn’t usually have (it was their special date night meal) or was
something they loved, liked pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also planned special treats that they only had on date night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My kids had dollar store movie candy or ice
cream sundaes.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they would get to
watch a movie or play a video game or do something that required little
supervision but was a rare, occasional activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep it simple!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another option is to
turn date night into a family night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as my kids got older, they looked forward to our date nights
because it gave them some freedom to do something they didn’t usually do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now, The Little Guy, who is 13, asks
every Friday or Saturday night, “Are you and dad having a date night?!”</span><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Click below</span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://livingatwitsend.blogspot.com/p/star-wars-day-date-night.html" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">StarWars Day Date Night</a></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://livingatwitsend.blogspot.com/p/cinco-de-mayo-date-night.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Cinco de Mayo Date Night</span></a></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Remember</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Date night is about having fun with your spouse! Keep things simple and fun! Things don't have to be perfect, the focus is spending time with your spouse and growing in your relationship. Use what works for you, dump what doesn't. JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER AND HAVE FUN!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><br /></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-86347917105774695062020-03-18T18:10:00.001-04:002020-03-18T18:44:39.216-04:00My First Global Pandemic<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn5cXBmwlcaZFP4fbTQWEgmTTv5rb5O8Dzl1wV2x3FlYmQAsHQnnWZ4aeVSscqzkc6-vOKFLidJtmgKNOZ5Ej_8CFt5g4zEnD0K89IZ3EZ6OS5JYltdJWtda_TbpJ9uWOeR9ibMGnGYI/s1600/1799.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUn5cXBmwlcaZFP4fbTQWEgmTTv5rb5O8Dzl1wV2x3FlYmQAsHQnnWZ4aeVSscqzkc6-vOKFLidJtmgKNOZ5Ej_8CFt5g4zEnD0K89IZ3EZ6OS5JYltdJWtda_TbpJ9uWOeR9ibMGnGYI/s320/1799.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Little Man said to me the other
day, "This is my first Pandemic!" After giggling a bit, I replied, "Buddy,
I'm 51, and this is my first global pandemic too!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the last few days, several things
have stuck with me, and while I am trying to focus on getting certain things
done around the house, I felt it was important to address a few thoughts
I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will probably get a lot of flack
for some of these thoughts; it doesn't matter, I believe I'm being called to
speak up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This indeed is an uncertain time for
not just Americans but our entire world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Matthew McConaughy has said, "We have an enemy, in coronavirus
that is faceless, raceless, sexless, non-denominational and bipartisan…"
It is scary because of all the unknowns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As humans, we want to control things; we want to know the outcome, and
in this time of immediate news and social media, we are being bombarded with
information overload, all leading up to BIG unknowns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I'll admit I've watched and read more
news in the past four days than I have in months. I've been on social media more
than I have been in months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I've
also been in contact with friends and family more than I have been in months,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I've noticed so far can mostly
fall into two categories, focusing on negatives or focusing on positives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That realization brought me to this
point; we can learn the facts, look at both the good and the bad, feel the emotions,
and then make a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rick Warren says,
"Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of
like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good
and something bad in your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No matter how good things are in your
life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter
how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can be
thankful for."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have a choice after we've weighed
the information given to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
choose to focus on the bad or do our best to focus on the good by getting
creative, being kind, and choosing love. I've seen political sides bicker and
spew hate through social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this
really productive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is this helping
anyone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't believe there is one
person in a leadership position that is sitting back and saying, "Let's do
nothing, and where the chips fall, they fall." I genuinely believe people
are doing the best they can, with what they have right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us that I know of has vision into the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not had this particular
virus to fight in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
learning as we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a nation, we have
come to expect our leaders to be omniscient and do precisely what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>I</u></i></b>
want, and if they don't, God help them, insults, and hate are spewed at them
through social media and anyone that hints at thinking the way that leader
does!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does that help anyone?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I've also noticed so many posts about
feeling sorry for groups of people that are missing out, concert-goers, bike
week attendees, sports fans or players, kids, students, employees, employers, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list is long, and I am not
trying to invalidate any one of those groups of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What each of them is feeling is a loss, in
some ways, a considerable loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe it is vital
for them to feel the loss, grieve, and for us to validate their feelings, but
let's not get stuck there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the story
of the Two Wolves ends with, "…which wolf will win? he old Cherokee simply
replied, "The one you feed.""</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have a unique opportunity right now
to help others, especially our children, to grow emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be the example for others and teach our
children; this is a hard and scary time; however, let's get some perspective. Dictionary.com's
second definition of perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of
regarding something; a point of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are we focused on the slightly flawed brush stroke in the painting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, standing back, taking in the entire
masterpiece?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, events have been canceled, huge
rights of passage events, fun events, life-changing events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lives are impacted, vacations canceled,
weddings shared only with close family, loss of life, loss of jobs, lots of
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The source and summit of my faith,
sharing in the Eucharist at mass, has temporarily been suspended until further
notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people before us have suffered tremendously,
and maybe even more so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let's take a short inventory; we are
not:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not living in a concentration camp</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not currently fighting a physical war in our
own country</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not dealing with famine, at least not yet</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dealing with any current significant natural
weather-related disasters in our country</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Living in the dark ages, we have modern conveniences
like electricity, water, and technology</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suffering in dirty tents, we have advanced
medical facilities and amenities like teledoc</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Slaves, we live in a free country, and while
we may not like some of our leaders, they are still working with what they
believe is the best interest for our country (Remember this is an election
year, depending on how this plays out, many could be out of a job soon.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have much to be thankful for!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, what can we do to change our
perspective?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First and foremost, follow
the CDC US government and your state and local government's guidelines to
protect yourself and prevent the spread of Covid 19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit these websites for more information</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus">https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then use the following suggestions and ideas
to better yours and your families life in this time of crisis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get eight hours of rest if possible</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take a social distant 20 to 30-minute walk
every day</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get some sunshine and fresh air daily</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make healthy choices when eating, choose
(fresh if you can get it, then frozen then dried or canned, and remember dried
always has more calories) fruits and vegetables, a lean source of protein, complex
carbohydrates, healthy fats and comforting treats only occasionally. (Use food delivery services such as Instacart, Shipt, Uber Eats, GrubHub Walmart delivery or pickup to cut down on your exposure to others.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Limit alcohol, caffeine, and sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Drink lots of water, stay hydrated</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do something for your mental and spiritual
health daily</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Read</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meditate (Headspace
and Calm are both offering free services to help you through this crisis)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do mental puzzles
such as sudoku, crosswords or solving riddles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Limit your time
watching the news and online</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you must watch
something or be online, make sure you are reading, viewing positive sites that
report the facts, and offer uplifting stories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Learn a new
language; it's never been easier with apps like Duolingo or HelloTalk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Color </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Laugh every day!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Watch uplifting shows and movies or comedies
only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of my favorites are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Secondhand Lions</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Finding Nemo</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mulan</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mrs. Doubtfire</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Old Dogs</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RV</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The two new
Jumanji movies</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bringing up Baby</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Arsenic and Old
Lace</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Babe</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">School of Rock</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cool Runnings</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Togo</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I love Lucy</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Carol Burnett
Show</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Good Place</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When Calls the
Heart</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Signed, Sealed,
Delivered</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Play games, including online connection games
like words with friends, or chess online</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do a 1000 piece puzzle</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Create whether through art, crafts, sewing
making music or cooking</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Beyond a walk, exercise in a way you enjoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dance (have a
dance-off with your family)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wii fit</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many gyms are
offering free online fit videos</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For those of you who are missing sports events</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">watch great
movies about your favorite sport</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember the Titans</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moneyball</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Miracle</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Blind Side</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chariots of Fire</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Caddyshack</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">find something
that is going on, and follow it online (we were following the Iditarod this
week)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Connect with others through Skype, EBuddy
Messenger, Boxcar, Hicup, WhatsApp, and Hangout, to name just a few.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are many things you can do together,
apart… virtually, get creative</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Watch a movie,
Netflix has something so you can do this simultaneously virtually</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Join an online
book club or start one</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Play a board game
(how funny would Pictionary be on Skype?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have a cook-off
or dance-off using one of the above apps</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For your students missing out</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Host a virtual
class on something fun</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Host a virtual
party or prom for them</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let them connect
virtually with their own creative ideas</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have a virtual talent
contest, tape it and post it on Facebook or Youtube</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Create your own
fun graduation</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Make a scrapbook or photo montage of your
student's life</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rewrite Oh the Place You'll Go using your student
as the main character and your own ideas for them, get it printed through Shutterfly,
Blurb, or another online photo book company.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As homeschoolers, our kids get to send in an
activity photo, baby photo, and two graduation phots along with a fifty-word
biography of the student's life or achievements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put something together for your students,
include your friends, and have a virtual graduation for your students.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My kids were always teased, "How do you
graduate, walk down your hall to the living room?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not you have a unique opportunity to
really celebrate your kiddo's achievements, get creative make it a graduation
they'll never forget!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will love you
for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Create a Bucket List</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Create a Gratitude List</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Search the internet for other fabulous ideas
to keep you and your family engaged during this crisis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I saw an idea about hanging you or your kid's artwork
in your windows so that those taking walks can enjoy it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clean</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Organize</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Listen to music</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Write</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take an online field trip/tour, again there are
a plethora of places offering this right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Watch some documentaries or educations shows;
we <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>love:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Horrible Histories</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the Who Was Show</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Drain the Oceans</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brain Games</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Drive Through
History</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Learn online; this is especially important for
your kids; there are tons of free resources out there to help you right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Find resources online that build you up or
help you laugh such as</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Resilient
Option</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Proverbs 31
Ministry</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Z88.3</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dry Bar Comedy</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Build your relationship with your
spouse/significant other; here are some great resources:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Dating Divas</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Crated with Love</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Build with Lego</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Watch a virtual Opera or Broadway show; both
are being offered right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Above all, try and keep as much normalcy and
routine in your life as you can, breathe, recognize your feelings, feel them
but try to focus on the positives in the world, connect with your loved ones and
have fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you have been laid off, know that you are in my prayers. </span><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Seek to find all the local resources you can - food bank, unemployment, any aid available to you. Then get creative, search the internet for ideas on making money at home, check Pinterest for ideas on ways to cut back or make money, sell some things, take some odd jobs. Have your emergency fund, and you're in a good place? Great! Take this time to catch up on stuff at home and help others in any way you can.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">This crisis will eventually pass.</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">We are resilient; we will survive.</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">In the meantime, I'll leave you with this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26U_seo0a1g">Unbroken</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I'm praying for you all, stay safe, wash your hands and to quote one of my families inside jokes, "GET SOME REST!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-73848623785280875352019-08-13T15:53:00.002-04:002021-08-28T23:38:28.456-04:00Back to School...Wait! Did We Stop?!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoNormal">All the "Back to School" pictures on social media
got me thinking about my kids' past conversations, comments, and questions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, in the interest of starting the new school year, I
thought I would throw this out there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You might be a homeschooler if you've ever heard these
statements, questions, or had a conversation similar to one of these…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· There's a beginning of a school year?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Q - When did
I start school? A – The day you were
born.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· What's a grade?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Jane is in
2nd grade; am I in a grade?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why did Bill
get a number at the top of his paper?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why did Sue
get a letter at the top of her paper?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· What are
Valentines?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why do I
have to write a bunch of Valentines?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why did you
give me a name with nine letters? It doesn't fit on my Valentines?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· How come we
have to do a lesson on "fill in the holiday" before celebrating it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Jane didn't
have a "President's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Martin Luther King, Memorial Day,
Labor Day, etc." dinner; how come we have to have one?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Did you know
Bill's family just watches the Olympics? He didn't have to do a Lapbook about
them!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· What's homework?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why don't I
have homework?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· You mean
other kids don't go to school in the summer?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· I just
realized other kids get new school clothes each year because they don't go to
school in their pajamas!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Jane doesn't
have to heat up her teacher's coffee all day long; why do I have to heat up
yours?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· You mean
other kids don't do school in their bed, on the trampoline, in the car, on the
floor, outside, at the park, etc.?<o:p></o:p></p></div><ul>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_PjVlhjbKIY5rxFc1CYKkJPGh0Bist7F-aEPHsVig4viPOBo3LhE9Tvt-jj2zCnHNoijj3BnvToJxC9zfKEny-WMUChMIbnA4xgqAVynIm2OlGmFJxIge7oG0eOiDg7Fo8H7BNUft5k/s1600/10404176_10204865390973689_4896692563148344029_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_PjVlhjbKIY5rxFc1CYKkJPGh0Bist7F-aEPHsVig4viPOBo3LhE9Tvt-jj2zCnHNoijj3BnvToJxC9zfKEny-WMUChMIbnA4xgqAVynIm2OlGmFJxIge7oG0eOiDg7Fo8H7BNUft5k/s320/10404176_10204865390973689_4896692563148344029_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOVOwmWJzujtg4FIKg22Em81tpZWBopnvjrk8kJLycTT4R4C2ukq6TQCmo00b6XEhG7oHJ8boeUzxI2-HukkMG2tSEu7AiMKAWvjvoaAA2JPt2uOvMADEB_UzGzwFdbLIr3_R_UU00zs/s1600/school+in+bed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOVOwmWJzujtg4FIKg22Em81tpZWBopnvjrk8kJLycTT4R4C2ukq6TQCmo00b6XEhG7oHJ8boeUzxI2-HukkMG2tSEu7AiMKAWvjvoaAA2JPt2uOvMADEB_UzGzwFdbLIr3_R_UU00zs/s320/school+in+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">· Did you know
at "real" school they don't have parties on President's Day, Cinco de
Mayo, Martin Luther King, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc."?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Did you know
at "real" school they don't have to do chores every day? How come I
have to do chores every day?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Did you know
at "real" school they don't get to listen to music while they do
school?!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· At "real"
school, kids don't have to help make Thanksgiving dinner; they get off of
school!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· In a whiney
voice at 11:30 AM, "I finished my school and chores. I'm bored!"
Response, "do some more school, read a book, play a game, build something,
do a craft, watch an educational video." "It's not fair kids in "real"
school don't have to do that!"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· The place
that sends our school books is in Virginia, they had to have a snow day because
of the big snowstorm. Does that mean we
get a snow day too?!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Did you know
that in "real" schools, they don't have a field trip every month or
week, fill in the blank?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Can I take a
15-minute break? I did four books?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· How come Dad's
the principal?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· What's a principal?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· How come you
can't help me with this math problem? I
don't want to wait to do it with dad.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Can we go to
Pa's to do the science experiments? He's more fun than you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· How come in "real"
school, kids don't have to meet with a "real" teacher once a year to
show them all their work?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mom, do you count fishing with Pa as science or P.E.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While making homemade cookies, we learned something today: there
are 48 teaspoons in a cup. I don't know
when you would ever need that? Except
maybe now, I guess, haha.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is shooting at Bass Pro Shop school?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember? I wore the
Civil War outfit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can I count catching a Bonnet Head Shark as something for
high school credit?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When people ask, "What about socialization and things
like prom?" My response "The Organized Child attended five proms, I
think we're good."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· I don't see
how helping tar the roof, fix the car, rewire the kitchen, put a new engine in
the truck, sew costumes, mulching the yard, etc., counts as school.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpS6ntNJPx6tsqYcRObMXmgMBtfrr80wFzHe3qVjvXTgqRTxHMM9Q1w9v7kmRlTCei2LALmlByE6dTugAqGKOHrq4UU5bAcbwfmcCZ7iwhqMFf6_n8MpttFJFxOnETXJzUyb0R6z5aF0/s1600/10959735_10204693668200727_8903242550286652148_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpS6ntNJPx6tsqYcRObMXmgMBtfrr80wFzHe3qVjvXTgqRTxHMM9Q1w9v7kmRlTCei2LALmlByE6dTugAqGKOHrq4UU5bAcbwfmcCZ7iwhqMFf6_n8MpttFJFxOnETXJzUyb0R6z5aF0/s320/10959735_10204693668200727_8903242550286652148_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">· When your
kids were little, they measured time in the amount of "Arthurs" it
took to do something.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Bill has a
lunchbox; I want a lunchbox.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Jane gets to
ride the bus. Why can't I ride the bus?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· At the
library, your child picks out Walter Cronkite narrated dinosaur documentaries
to take home and watch for fun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Your cat or
dog joins you at the table, in your bed, on the floor, etc., while doing your
schoolwork.<o:p></o:p></p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSoB1zfwHna_iUCo583Nsf3ckWsRuTWaYjhD77Ic2Oyk_OTIOgO7NAo1KlCOareBHzoxOz4MJt1zwVONyHbeK8VMw2B8ahGWvNmlHtP9RusQ6qJVgCdAKL1_i3jH5RdN0tz5gOhi_dk4/s1600/cats+at+school.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSoB1zfwHna_iUCo583Nsf3ckWsRuTWaYjhD77Ic2Oyk_OTIOgO7NAo1KlCOareBHzoxOz4MJt1zwVONyHbeK8VMw2B8ahGWvNmlHtP9RusQ6qJVgCdAKL1_i3jH5RdN0tz5gOhi_dk4/s320/cats+at+school.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrPV5-ss-AUK-ZeYe9byY84bKzuoXFMI8nCVKXVkAsmCcpnxboj66ehwhKbHpLuBAWIws8v-uuf_RK_wiIe61phHMiONg4nf9uxteKaNCtyMiiV3JOzUIsFUUGntZMudhqP3ho8iBkNY/s1600/dogs+at+school.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrPV5-ss-AUK-ZeYe9byY84bKzuoXFMI8nCVKXVkAsmCcpnxboj66ehwhKbHpLuBAWIws8v-uuf_RK_wiIe61phHMiONg4nf9uxteKaNCtyMiiV3JOzUIsFUUGntZMudhqP3ho8iBkNY/s320/dogs+at+school.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">· When your
mom has doctor's appointments where you can't stay in the lobby and do your
schoolwork, you go to work with your dad and do school in his office.<o:p></o:p></p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BZuopwG4ayhrRJrawpYmZ05a_SOkTCH3x6rCIE5g9eBXv4F2SGrTOmgYb_Iyp7lCOAHlm5wLSw-nchJq1rhuVLjqifpKnKpMdBJtfEseVdskKYzupuJsKXHk7FKptfM93qOFL_QliCM/s1600/at+dads+work.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BZuopwG4ayhrRJrawpYmZ05a_SOkTCH3x6rCIE5g9eBXv4F2SGrTOmgYb_Iyp7lCOAHlm5wLSw-nchJq1rhuVLjqifpKnKpMdBJtfEseVdskKYzupuJsKXHk7FKptfM93qOFL_QliCM/s320/at+dads+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"> When you go to the
store with your mom in the middle of the day, and the clerk, looking perplexed,
asks, is it a school holiday? (Never
understood that! We live in the tourist capital; why couldn't they be some kid
on vacation?)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Your kid
asks after leaving the store, "why do they always ask us if it's a school
holiday?"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· What's a school holiday?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· How come we
have to know the name of every '80s song and who sang it?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· After every
song older than five years comes on the radio, "Are they dead?"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Everybody
else is taking Spanish in school. How come I have to take Latin?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Why is Pink
Floyd's "We Don't Need No Education" (Another Brick in the Wall Part
2) our homeschool's anthem?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· You're pregnant?
When is it due? Yeah!! Only six more months, and we get to do easy
school and school in mom's bed after the baby is born!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· The linen
closet needs to be cleaned out, and the bathroom is messy; can I not do school
today if I clean those out?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· "I'm pretty sure folding clothes isn't a school
subject!" Me – "Sure it is, it counts as Home Ec."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Q – "Jane's
mom makes her homemade breakfast every morning. How come you don't make us
breakfast every morning?" A - "I guess she's a good mom, I'm not."
Q – "When do you think you might become a good one?!"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Q – "You
mean I can graduate early if I just finish that list?" A – "Yes."
Q – "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" A – "I've been telling you
for years if you would just sit down and get your work done instead of dragging
it out, you would not only have your day to do other things, you would be done
with all of your school, and you could graduate early!"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· My friends
are all posting their school schedule, I wanted to post "Me, home 24/7".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· You mean
other kids have to take piano, voice, dance, fill in the blank lessons after school,
not during the school day?!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Your kid's
friends have asked them more than once, "So are you the valedictorian of
your class?"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Your kid's friends have asked them more
than once, "So for graduation, do you just walk down your hall to the
living room?"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">· Your kid's
friends asked, "Why are you wearing a pink, bedazzled graduation cap and
gown?"<o:p></o:p></p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">· And, my
all-time favorite from one of my kid's friends – My daughter had to take the
PSAT at the local high school. Upon
entering the classroom, my daughter ran into a friend from church. He looked up and asked, "What the hell
are you doing here?!" This is also the kid that, after hearing about my
daughter's dramatic tale of helping tar our roof, exclaimed: "Your life
sounds like a living nightmare!"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart, parents or
kids! In the words of Bill Jones, it's a
"living nightmare!"<o:p></o:p></p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Names and identifying
details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
Images from Tenor.com and Fotophire used to blur picsAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-4284526777083238592019-02-05T12:06:00.000-05:002019-02-05T12:25:39.700-05:00"What a remarkable age this is!"<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2oAXiYAkM3gLFq5eBKPtd2TBuZGaXwam9inoNDY_zKHdhS4ToOu-5_QoTQfTiMA3HfxJt0rkZj4lhiONkMrsvDK2hKwAKX_RXZ8hNWbpAKz2y8zvzKzRu52oIcb6_VInrSI3CqgZXkY/s1600/Remarkable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="487" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2oAXiYAkM3gLFq5eBKPtd2TBuZGaXwam9inoNDY_zKHdhS4ToOu-5_QoTQfTiMA3HfxJt0rkZj4lhiONkMrsvDK2hKwAKX_RXZ8hNWbpAKz2y8zvzKzRu52oIcb6_VInrSI3CqgZXkY/s320/Remarkable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yesterday morning I was driving The Littles to a gig, as we
were driving a verse from one of the songs in Titanic the Musical popped into
my head,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If it could be out in a phrase... it's "What a
remarkable age this is!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are a lot of negative things in the world today, but
there are a lot of magnificent things as well.
I think this is true of any time
in history, remarkable inventions, great works of art and literature, and
incredible people changing their part of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What made this song verse pop into my head</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">? The amount of information and tools available
at our fingertips, at any given time. Sunday
night I wanted to know what language Paul wrote to the Corinthians in, a quick
search on the internet while driving in the car (my passenger, not me), Greek. What Greek word for love was Paul referring
too? Agape. (Thank you Google.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The next morning, while driving
to our local Community Arts organization
for The Littles gig, YouTube quick search
and the kids were warming up their voices with Vocal Warm-Up videos by
professional voice coaches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> perhaps the one thing that
made me pause in awe, my mother sent me
an e-mail with a copy of my
great-great-grandfather's obituary attached.
I was able to see a picture of my great-great-grandfather and read his
obituary, from my computer, in my house!
I didn't
have to go someplace to look for it on microfiche, it was right there when I opened my
e-mail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">For me, it's
easy to take things for granted, to focus on all that is wrong in my own
world, the world around me or the world in
general. It was a learned behavior
growing up, one that has perpetuated into
adulthood. Yesterday, a friend posted
that she had DONE IT! She woke up at her
goal weight. However, her post wasn’t a
brag post, it was a gentle reminder to do things that are hard, to be an adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“Let's
be grown-ups today and do what we need to
do to take care of ourselves. Eat better, workout, heal a relationship, break
off a relationship. Whatever it is, do
it, you grown-up person. (I imagine
myself saying that in Stan Lee's voice, but probably most people have no idea
what I'm talking about.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">ANYWAY!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">No more excuses!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">God has been
knocking on my door a lot lately. The Holy
Spirit has laid it on my heart to change my viewpoint, to see things through
different a different lens. See more
positives, trust more, believe more, dream more and have unquestionable
faith. All things work for His glory, on
His time, He is forever faithful! The
letter we read on Sunday that Paul wrote to the Corinthians specifically said: “Set your mind on the higher gifts!...</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When I was a child, I used to talk
like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now
that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways.” I know that God is calling me to grow up, put away my childish excuses, focus on
the remarkable and work on the negatives that I can fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I am truly
blessed with incredible people in my life, family friends and co-workers, each
one a special gift set on a path to intersect with mine. God has been using many of them to help
change the lens with which I view the
world and my circumstances. I’m working on being grateful, recognizing the
remarkable in my life, counting my blessings, trusting and yes growing up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-44673433677570438562016-11-16T01:16:00.002-05:002016-11-16T01:16:54.526-05:00The Gift of the Holy SpiritIf you’ve read some of my past posts you know I love books! All books! I love how they feel and smell! I love words and writings; it doesn’t matter if the book is a real book or on a nook or kindle or and audio book anything to do with the written word I love! So here is the problem with my obsession with books, most of the time I get them start reading them and don't finish them. Or, I buy the book with every intention of reading it after I read whatever book I happen to be reading/listening to at the time. However, it ends up on a shelf somewhere or my overflowing nightstand only to be forgotten about until I unearth it in one of my angry declutter moments!<br />
There are a few books I’ve tried to read several times, but for one reason or another, I just can’t get into it. One book, in particular, freaks me out every time I try to read it. Then there is a book that my dear friend Megan recommended, I mean highly recommended that I read. She loves it so much she reads it EVERY summer! I have read only a couple of books more than once and only one series more than twice. I cannot begin to fathom loving a book so much you read it every year. I can’t even watch my favorite Christmas films every year. Yet, she really wanted me to read this book, and generally I can read what she recommends, our tastes are usually very similar. However, when she suggested Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, I could not get into it. I tried reading it several times, and every time, I thought I would die of boredom! How is possible Megan read this book once let alone every summer for who knows how many years?<br />
<br />
Today the Holy Spirit had great fun at my expense. My daughter had a meeting. We ran out of the house so fast this morning that I forgot to grab something to do while she was in the consultation. My phone went from 32% battery to 0 and turned off in the snap of two fingers, UNBELIEVABLE I have so much to do! What am I going to do for an hour while she’s in this meeting?! So, I decided to ask the person my daughter was meeting with if she happened to have any light reading I could use while I waited. I’m thinking a magazine or something like that. Instead, Rosie starts naming books off to me. She apparently had quite a little library going on in her office. Also, she had a fabulous selection of tools for keeping your hands occupied as well. You know squishy toys, hand strengtheners, Thinking Putty (like Silly Putty). As Rosie is reading the titles off she throws out Gift from the Sea. I share how Megan told me to read this great book and how I could never get into it. I say I’ll take <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gift-50th-Anniversary-Anne-Morrow-Lindbergh/dp/0679732411/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479275760&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gift+from+the+sea+by+anne+morrow+lindbergh">Gift from the Sea</a> out of guilt, and maybe this time I’ll get into it, even though another title sounded so much more attractive! And, while I’m at it, I’ll borrow some of that Thinking Putty too.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S-yQX_xhnBMCGHhlWu5VsU6oZNVdsLLbSrkxuG7l3uxjC1QoC3XnB2Cs4QUSooM0Dn5FT69wGiH5GfvmvsuhP2Xaowj7nTf7P0N992dP3tzgJWJf2iklgsbzpWK82yPvf3TNEcOkk48/s1600/gift+from+the+sea.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S-yQX_xhnBMCGHhlWu5VsU6oZNVdsLLbSrkxuG7l3uxjC1QoC3XnB2Cs4QUSooM0Dn5FT69wGiH5GfvmvsuhP2Xaowj7nTf7P0N992dP3tzgJWJf2iklgsbzpWK82yPvf3TNEcOkk48/s320/gift+from+the+sea.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
With book, Thinking Putty and coffee in hand, I head to the lobby to wait. Often the waiting area is filled with lots of people, but today it is quiet and serene. I settled myself into one of the chairs, pulled out the putty and began to knead as I read the introduction. Wait a minute, I turn the book over, I read the back cover, is this the same book Megan recommended? It can’t be! I take out my small notebook and begin to jot down notes. There is no way this is the same book I tried to read before, it can’t be! Words started to jump off the page at me! One sentence and then another, was this woman living with me and observing my day to day life then writing about it? I felt like she was living in my head. From the introduction on I was dying to highlight and underline so much! To flag pages to refer to later. I had to restrain myself… this isn’t my book, just take notes, write down the pages you wish to flag that way after you buy the book you can mark those particular pages, I thought.<br />
I read intently! Wait is this the same Anne Lindbergh married to Charles Lindbergh? The woman whose baby was kidnapped?! I checked the copyright date, 1955, I wasn’t even born when she wrote this book. How could this woman know me and my thoughts so intimately? She had written it before I was born, she was dead now. Why hadn’t these words struck me before, as they were now? I read again… “I had the feeling, when the thoughts first clarified on paper, that my experience was very different from other people's. (Are we all under this illusion?)” “Besides, I thought, not all women are searching for a new pattern of living, or want a contemplative corner of their own. Many women are content with their lives as they are. They manage amazingly well, far better than I, it seemed to me, looking at their lives from the outside. With envy and admiration, I observed the porcelain perfection of their smoothly ticking days. Perhaps they had no problems or had found the answers long ago. No, I decided, these discussions would have value and interest only for myself.”<br />
These are my thoughts! How is it this woman wrote these words 61 years ago and was struggling with the same things I am? Have all woman struggled as I have been? Can’t be, this is just the introduction, it’s a fluke. Calming my racing thoughts, I read some more. Anne speaks of intently studying the empty shell of a hermit crab. How intricate it is, how small yet perfectly created it is, how absolutely beautiful it is today as it was they day it was made. “My shell is not like this, I think. How untidy is has become! Blurred with moss, knobby with barnacles, its shape is hardly recognizable anymore. Surely, it had a shape once. It has a shape still in my mind. What is the shape of my life?” The shape of my life? Blurred, knobby, definite descriptions of the chaos in my life. How did I end up thinking so much like one of America’s most famous people? I’ve read nothing by her or about her other than she was married to Charles, and her first born was kidnapped. I read on, she had a family, she was married, she had five children, a home in the suburbs, a craft for writing, work she wanted to pursue in writing. Anne wanted to give and take and share with her family, her friends, the community. She had obligations that she wanted to live out for man and the world as a woman, a citizen, and an artist. I felt like a mirror image of this woman except for the notoriety and the kidnapping.<br />
<br />
“I want first of all—in fact, as an end to these other desires—to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact—to borrow from the language of the saints—to live “in grace” as much of the time as possible.” To be at peace with myself, to live in grace, peace, grace, my ultimate desires! To live in peace and grace. I sit my eyes damp with tears welling up, I bite them back. I’m only on the second chapter what does the Holy Spirit want me to get from this? Is He trying to tell me that all women struggle even rich and famous ones? Great! I get it, but is there a fix? Will I ever figure it out and get it right? I’m so exhausted, I need the peace and grace that will grant me rest and rejuvenation.<br />
<br />
I express to three different people my story of attempted reading and how now it is completely different, nothing like I remember. How the Holy Spirit must have wanted me to read this book now, that I must need to hear it’s message now. All three people express their opinion that sometimes it’s a timing thing, other times it’s a receptive thing. Rosie tells me to keep it, keep the book! Mark it up to your heart's content, Rae the office manager is obsessed with the book and has extra copies all the time. However, I must promise to read Anne’s daughter’s biography of Anne after I finish this book. Rosie goes on to explain that the publisher had Anne make this book not just palatable but delicious. Anne’s biography reveals more deeply the grit and things she actually struggled with. And so, I pack everything up, book in hand and leave. I can’t wait to read and highlight, underline, mark, make notes and unearth what awaits for me. I can’t wait to see why it is Megan loves this book so much. I can’t wait to see if the answers my soul has been yearning for, so deeply, are revealed to me through this small little book.<br />
<br />
As I write this I begin to contemplate, just the small amount I’ve read shows a woman’s heart in discord, pain, and struggling if this is the beautiful version how much more did this woman go through? I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like to have your child stolen from your home and later found dead. My only comparison is a miscarriage, and while that was extremely painful, I know in the depths of my soul that what Anne went through must have been excruciating, gut-wrenching. How did she get up each day and breath let alone live? Am I really so much like this woman? Do I have a clue what it’s like to live as she did? Am I really struggling? Do I have the right to grapple? Somewhere deep inside I hear a still small voice whisper a yes, and I am reminded of a quote from the movie Ghost Town "Your...Your story, it's not boring and ordinary by the way. I mean, we just get one life, you know? Just one. You can't live someone else's or think it's more important, just because it's more dramatic. What happens matters. Maybe only to us, but it matters. " Gwen to Pincus<br />
<br />
"What happens matters. Maybe only to us, but it matters.” I am reminded yet again I matter, if to no one else than to God! I am here for a reason and a time to live out some purpose designed only for me. My life will make a ripple that will affect others for good or for bad depending on how I live it. I need to grapple and strive, to work things out, to find my purpose just as everyone must (some maybe sooner than others). In my time, I pray that I will find balance and grace and peace that my soul so longs for. And, in doing so, I hope that all will come together like a completed jigsaw puzzle revealing the picture of my true person, my soul purified in the light of the Lord.<br />
<br />
(Names changed to protect the innocent)<br />
<span class="citation_text" id="_147927686"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="citation_text">Lindberg, Anne. Introduction. <i>Gift of the Sea</i>. New York: Pantheon, 1955. 9-10. Print.</span><br />
<span class="citation_text"></span><br />
<span class="citation_text">Lindberg, Anne. "2." <i>Gift of the Sea</i>. New York: Pantheon, 1955. 22-23. Print.</span><br />
<span class="citation_text"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="citation_text"><i>Ghost Town</i>. Dir. David Koepp. By David Koepp and John Kamps. Prod. Gavin Polone. Perf. Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, and Téa Leoni. Paramount Pictures, 2008. Film. </span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-44308441658201089142016-07-01T23:32:00.001-04:002023-10-31T14:23:02.564-04:00Longing
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lately my heart has been heavy to the point of
breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is so much pain and
suffering, meanness and ugliness, violence and hatred in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve written before that life is hard and
just when I think it can’t get harder or more complicated it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always seems like I’m being pelted with
snowballs and I have no snow to return fire with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind is knocked out of me and before I
catch my breath another follows quicker than the last.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m not just speaking about the mess and chaos in my life,
I’m talking about the rest of life, the part that happens out beyond my front
door, beyond my neighborhood, beyond my community, beyond my town, beyond my
state or even my country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although for
the first time massive violence happened not just in my state and town but my
own backyard, right next to one of my doctors’ offices and shopping
plazas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not once but two days in a row.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As it unfolded I felt as if I couldn’t breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t personally know anyone who lost
their life or even the injured victims but I knew people who knew people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My BIL worked in the trauma hospital where
the survivors were taken, he helped to care for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you process such violence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you make it palatable for a child to
understand without scaring them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do
you shield a child suffering with anxiety from everything going on yet teach them
how to be aware and what to do if they found themselves in a similar
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I even have to explain
these things to my teens, let alone my little people?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I pondered all of this I considered that the world may
have just finally lost its mind, all compassion, and understanding
completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered has evil finally
won?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it possible, Jesus came to
conquer evil and death, HOW can evil be winning?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I really thought about this over the past
couple of weeks I realized evil has reared its ugly head from the beginning of
time; from the time Eve took a bite of an apple because she was beguiled by a
serpent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Why would satan come as a
serpent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not something
majestic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why appear as a serpent, what
about the serpent sucked Eve in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
other constant question is what in the heck was Adam doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean he saw her talking to Satan why didn’t
he intervene?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the time Eve
believed Satan’s lies and was kicked out of the Garden of Eden we have lived
with violence and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all Cain
attacked and killed Abel, his own brother, and why because he was jealous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that point on we have had tremendous
violence, blood-shed, and carnage throughout the world in every era.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So why now does it seem as if violence throughout the world
is happening all over at warp speed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe it’s has to do with media advancements and social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We not only hear about things within minutes
of it happening we are transported there via TV, the internet, videos, Tweets,
Snapchats etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are literally seeing
what the victims see, hearing what they hear and fully imagining what pain they
must be enduring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tonight I was contemplating my own life, my own
accomplishments or lack thereof, asking myself why does God seem to be so
evident throughout some people’s lives and I often feel like He’s taken a
personal hiatus from mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very real
and very vivid thought came into my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When our Lord was sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God
please don’t make me do this, what was he truly experiencing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was He filled with immense fear, and
tremendous pain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did every precious life
cut short from violence pass through His mind like a movie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did He feel every heartache of a mother who’s
lost her child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did He feel the
humiliation of every person ever treated lower than an animal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did He experience every lost or broken
dream?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did He become familiar with the
pain and suffering of victims of extreme violence and torcher?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was Jesus Christ given full knowledge and
understanding of how it was going to be for every painful and hurtful thing ever
experienced by any human soul from the beginning of time to the end of
time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that why he asked God to please
don’t make me do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that why he
sweat blood as He prayed for a different way?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How could God the Father send His son to earth to live
amongst the lowest of low knowing what He would have to experience and go
through?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could any loving father do
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, why as the Son would He choose to take it
all on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why should He?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sinless, perfect, and blameless, He
had no reason to accept the Father’s will except for the fact that He
LOVED!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He LOVED!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved God His father and He loved all of
us, even the ones He knew would reject Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t know what Jesus experienced, if it all played out
before Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If He felt the immense pain
of every human soul that ever lived?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
meager mind cannot wrap around the idea that Jesus was both man and God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did He actually feel and think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a man’s feelings and thoughts or were
they the feeling and thoughts of an omnipotent God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continually fall back on my own human
experience and contemplate, what must Jesus have gone through to be able to accept
God’s will for His life as if it was his own will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even begin to imagine His pain and
suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, I am so grateful that
even if I were the only person living on the face of the earth, Jesus would
still have come to die for me, to save me from my selfish sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so grateful for His undying love for me
and willingness to endure all the pain and suffering so that I may have eternal
life with Him one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I don’t
always feel a connection or His presence or I’m overcome with human emotion and
forget, somewhere deep inside He waits for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know He is always there waiting, loving me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will never be words or deeds or
emotions to show how eternally grateful I am that the Father sent the Son and
the Son accepted the Father’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Right now though, my heart is heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I long to sit at His feet, place my head on His
lap and feel His loving peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To just
be in His presence and worship Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
once I truly want to be Mary instead of Martha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to forget everything in
the world around me and just be with my Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just be in His loving presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just be in His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just be
with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To just be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture taken from <a href="http://iamaruby.com/group/womenatthewell">http://iamaruby.com/group/womenatthewell</a></span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-19080763984840915692014-08-23T23:04:00.001-04:002014-08-24T01:22:30.576-04:00The Insane Behavior of a SHE (Sidetracked Home Executive) of If you Give a Mom a Task<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">So I sat down today to write a blog post on my new resolve,
to take the bull by the horns, and how I plan to do something about the chaos
and mess, starting with baby steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, I quickly realized I hadn’t finished part two of “In the Moment”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must finish part two before I can compose a
new post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has it really been almost
three months since I wrote that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me
see, I know I made notes on what I was going to write about in part two, where
are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dining room table, last I
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look how much stuff has accumulated on this
table in three months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many piles and
containers filled with papers, school stuff, who knows what?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How have I gone three months and not seen
this mess?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, let’s back up, regroup…notes,
notes where might you be?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was clear I was not going to find any notes in that mess
quickly, only one thing to do, clean up the mess, go through everything piece by
piece until I find them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That decision was made at 2:00 this afternoon, it is now 10:25
at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have thrown out an
overflowing Wal-Mart bag of trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
shredded several items, emptied the shredder and replaced the bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have filed a very large stack of receipts, statements,
cards etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I created a pile, organized
and ready to be dealt with, for The Director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I compiled a smaller pile of things that need a lot more attention than
I had to give today, for me to deal with this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listed a massive stack of school books to
be sold, on two different web sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I entered
a long list of movies I would like to see some day, on the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I answered several e-mails that needed my
immediate attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured out, with
The Director, plans for the little kid’s bed modification for when we re-do
their room. Cleaned out The Little Man's school bag. Typed up and saved four recipes. Typed up, printed out, and hung up new chore assignments, list of paid jobs for after regular chores are done and current projects I would like to be competed by the end of 2014. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally I tried
tirelessly to enter some info into the computer so that I can save it in one
location and not have pieces of paper everywhere but I’m having computer issues
so I’m still working on that, uugghh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here I sit at 10:33 at night, my table not completely cleaned
off but looking much better than before, feeling unaccomplished because I still
don’t have any notes for “In the Moment Part Two”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My actual plan for the day of reading my meal
planning, budget book then making a meal plan and blogging about it is not done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve missed out on time with my family and I’m
just as frustrated now as when I began this endeavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if I will ever really get it
together and live a semi-uncluttered, boring life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I should go get kids in bed and see
if The Director can fix this computer mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now where did I put my drink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
now I had a cup going somewhere, I wonder where it is?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-49715122841638518012014-05-24T14:00:00.001-04:002023-10-31T14:09:35.224-04:00My Hero<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">REPOST from August 23, 2013</span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have written on my blog about the heroism of and my admiration for the Organized Child's godfather. I was in awe as I learned even more about his bravery and heroism at his funeral. I had an admiration (and still do) for the Godfather be</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">cause of his patriotism and devotion as a man, father, grandfather and soldier. However, I am ashamed of my lack of admiration for another man who deserved it just as much as The Godfather did.<br /><br /> For years growing up I heard the story of my grandfather's heroism, but that's all it was, a story. A story that went along with a picture of a handsome, young, man that hung on the wall.</span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The story was never quite clear and seemed to have a few variations. I knew that he had died saving some men in a fire. What I took away from the story was the devastation and pain it had caused my grandmother, aunts and mother because he had died.<br /><br /> After my grandmother died I learned a little more about my grandfather and decided that I would like to name my first born son after him, in honor of him. Naming Oldest, was the extent of my interest.<br /><br /> Three years ago several coincidences started an investigation and a research project into the events leading up to my grandfather's death. Again, I followed along with what I would consider an apathetic interest. Not because I wasn't interested or didn't care, but because it was still just a story to me. I know this man lived and affected lives but for whatever reason it wasn't "REAL" to me. He wasn't real to me.<br /><br /> Finally after three long years and lots of hard work, a monument and memorial service were planned for yesterday at Fort Drum. It wasn't the ideal time for me to travel and one thing after another seemed to impede me from attending. I had ideally wanted my whole family to go and when it didn't work out, I thought I would just skip the whole thing. Finally, The Director encouraged me to go and my most generous aunt paid for The Middle Child to go with me. After venturing out for an over night trip with The Middle Child, we again ran into several road blocks. Those blocks almost discouraged me enough to get back on a plane and head home before I even arrived at my final destination. I am so glad that I didn't go home, that we endured and finally made it to Watertown NY to be present for the momentous occasion!<br /><br /> Yesterday I learned about a most amazing man, my grandfather, an Officer in the US Army in 1947! He was a hero who changed the course of history. I will never know the amount of lives he affected by his act of heroism. He suffered tremendously because of his selfless act of courage. While his act was not a game changer for the masses, it was for ten men. (Sitting there yesterday I was reminded of The Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley.) And, while my grandfather didn't die in combat, he still died serving his country, saving men he more than likely didn't even know. Because of the fire that claimed my grandfather's and four other men's lives, and some events that followed, the Feres Doctrine came into place and is still referred to in court cases today. This fire and his life, are a very important part of history that was almost completely forgotten.</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My grandfather arrived at the base only nine hours before the 2:30 a.m. barracks fire broke out. He is credited with saving the lives of 10 men after he sounded the alarm and searched the barracks to help all of them escape. Trapped by the debris while attempting to jump from a second story window, my grandfather suffered burns to approximately 90 percent of his body, and later died 18 days after the fire with my grandmother at his side.</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I am so grateful I was able to attend yesterday's memorial. I am grateful to all the people at Fort Drum who investigated and researched this event, to learn what they could, and bring the story of the handsome, young man, in the picture on the wall, to life. I am in awe of the man who gave his life, so selflessly and courageously. Who fought to stay alive for 18 days, I'm sure for his wife and three small daughters. The man who died at just 25, but seems to me must have been wise and mature beyond his years. A successful, accomplished and decorated soldier. The man I never met, but named a child after. The one I now call my grandpa. He is no longer just my "grandfather", the handsome, young man in the picture, who had a brief, unclear, lore attached to his name. He is my hero!</span></span></div>
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<span class="userContent"><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And, I am so proud of my mother and my aunt for their part in bringing this event to being and persevering all of these years without their father.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia;">While I am EXTREMLY proud of my grandpa and his heroism, it is IMPORTANT for me to keep the anonymity of my children and family. This is the ONLY reason I have blocked out my grandfather's name on the picture of the monument, placed where the front door of the barracks was.</span></span><span class="userContent"><span style="background: white; color: #38761d; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">
</span></span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-24270268780665634892014-05-22T04:05:00.001-04:002014-05-22T13:48:41.770-04:00The Ugly Duckling<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I was little probably five or six, I took ballet
lessons along with my friend that lived across the street from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest I don’t remember a whole lot
about the lessons themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do
remember is the recital we had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably
because of the two 8 x 10 pictures, featuring the group of us little girls, in
our costumes, in my baby book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I just
went looking to see the pictures and verify there weren’t more photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my parents moved into their motorhome I
was sure my mom gave me my childhood photo albums, but if she did I don’t know what
I did with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, note to self, check
with mom about photo albums.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Anyway, what I remember is being able to wear make-up, and
getting to dress up in costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
have had two numbers that we performed because we were all wearing two
different costumes in the pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
one of the pictures we are all wearing pretty, royal blue, sequined ballet costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all wore the same costume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Precious, matching ballerinas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the other picture there were three
different costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bunny costume, a
puppy costume and a duck costume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I
know if my mother is reading this, she is rolling her eyes and saying something
along the lines of “Here we go again with the duck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You were a precious duck, adorable, blah, blah, blah!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my mom, and I especially love my mom
for saying those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’m a
mom now and I know there are times when we moms have rose colored or in this
case cuteness glasses on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
nothing that could make our child not precious or adorable when they are
performing, no matter what they are wearing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For me, seeing myself in that duck costume makes my skin
crawl and brings back all sorts of “little girl” memories of pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a round, stout little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you enter the world at nine plus pounds
you are bound to have some weight issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My father referred to me as “so cute, what a chubber”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never remember being aware of taking that
in any way other than a compliment and with pure delight, love and esteem from
my father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, somewhere down
the line, at school I imagine, while I wasn’t an obese child, my weight was
brought to my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m figuring
this because when it came time to be assigned our animal costumes I distinctly
remembering wanting to be the pretty pink and white puppy or white bunny and
not the duck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that the duck costume was
ugly per say but because I remember all the chubbier little girls being chosen
for the ducklings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were getting assignments,
I remember thinking, I want to be a puppy like Michelle or a bunny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed as it went along that all the tiny,
petite girls were getting the puppy and bunny costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking at the other not so tiny or
petite girls getting the duck costumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then it happened the dreaded assignment I somehow knew was
coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was made a duck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I complained, I hated the idea of
being forced to wear that stupid costume, I absolutely didn’t want to do it and
looking back now, I think I felt humiliated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The costume did nothing for me in terms of looks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be honest, if the teacher was going for
nice round ducklings she sure got one in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked like an overstuffed, miniature, big bird!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The puppies and bunnies got cute, little
headbands with ears on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ducks
wore this full head things that only our faces peered through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I remember it, we were short, fat, rollie,
pollie, yellow, fake fur, umpa loompas forced to dance in the back so that the
cute, petite, puppies and bunnies could be showcased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I don’t know maybe the ducks weren’t the graceful ones (I’ve
never been very graceful).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we didn’t
have as much experience or maybe it’s just that we were all chubbers and she
thought it would be adorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless,
for whatever reason seeing those pictures, even just thinking about them,
conjures up anger and resentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean
SERIOUS anger and resentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s probably
a good thing I don’t remember who my teacher was, if I did I might have cornered
her by now demanding an explanation!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have read that all anger comes from pain or fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think iceberg with anger being the tip, what
lies beneath is the pain or fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking
back on this situation I can most assuredly say my anger comes from pain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m learning as I get older that in life
someone can do something absolutely right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As perfect as a human can do something!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, another person affected by those actions, right and perfect
actions, can be injured or hurt deeply because of their own flawed perceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, maybe my perceptions were wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it was my own insecurities because of
something someone said to me at school, which made me feel like a yellow,
fluffy, bowling ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For whatever reason I have a scar, it’s my
scar and it’s no one’s fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
my parents fault or the teachers fault or the kid or kids who drew attention to
my weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real or perceived it is an
old injury that left a scar that is now part of my stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My baggage that I have to work through and
figure out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I think it plays into my
body self-image now, you betcha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it
add to the tapes that play over and over in my head probably!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I have adverse reactions to duck costumes unquestionably!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just knowing that it’s a scar, knowing that
it’s my “STUFF” brings me one step closer to letting it go, changing the tapes
in my head, and seeing that I am so much more than the number on the scale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Am I there yet absolutely not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I working on it, oh yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head knows that no matter what I think I
looked like, most people were probably so focused on their own kid they never
even thought twice about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That my
parents thought I was adorable and that I was completely loved as that yellow ball
of fake fur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in reality it means
nothing forty years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is
getting my heart to that understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Healing
the pain that little girl felt, so that the scar goes way and no longer affects
my adult thoughts, emotions and behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only balm that is going to go that deep and heal it, is first recognizing
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then second, asking God to fix
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kiss it and make it better, fill the
opening in the wound that’s still there with His grace and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real or perceived it is an injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like my child that comes to me with a skinned
knee asking me to make it better with ointment, Band-Aids and kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is the only one who can soothe and heal my
pain, but I have to ask.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Figuring all this stuff out is hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times I would rather stay in bed with
the covers over my head, but then I wouldn’t be growing and not growing can be
just as scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I’m praying and
breathing and writing so that God can go deep to the source of my injury, heal
it completely, and then just like The Ugly Duckling I will one day see that I
am the beautiful swan just as He created me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">Pictures borrowed from <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=VPKeHZf5yv2W6M&tbnid=2_1SNr9hgQm2oM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.costume-shop.com%2Fducks%2Flucky-duck-mascot-costume%2F&ei=kKp9U8KFOcLesASJiIGoDw&psig=AFQjCNGIaEwPMLYNenhvLzZpPh5W8ZQKew&ust=1400830973486739"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">www.costume-shop.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=W6MOGX66Qz5pPM&tbnid=ZYDI5BjXWlHu4M:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dancingporthuron.com%2F%3Fpage_id%3D81&ei=0ah9U8fXGc3jsASA3YHgCQ&psig=AFQjCNFAdhWkRGt65_kt4mD6DOR4vnesaA&ust=1400830489266925"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">www.dancingporthuron.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=hwkkD_ZTOxZvQM&tbnid=Nnm87Kr-BS8kRM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatingcommunities.denverlibrary.org%2Fcommunity%2Fvintage-announcements-and-thank-you-cards&ei=CKt9U_XYMMXesATgpoKQDA&psig=AFQjCNG1YJGV_Wcy1uZpE2osNBJEh1369Q&ust=1400830362459002"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">creatingcommunities.denverlibrary.org</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=pKR7xCttRWOwbM&tbnid=_jT3ZePoKhHBqM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aliexpress.com%2Fitem%2FNewest-Adult-Donald-Duck-Cartoon-Costume-Fat-Animal-Mascot-Costume-Air-Mascot-Costume-Free-Shipping%2F912203183.html&ei=bat9U9nJBLDMsQT1uICQCQ&psig=AFQjCNF40CJxAyCtOd2R4IgaOy79AXt--A&ust=1400831206270572"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">www.aliexpress.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Bhg3AEoHZ6QduM&tbnid=_12NFMfVICWUuM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworkingoutyourcrap.com%2F2013%2F12%2F06%2Fin-your-face%2F&ei=46t9U-vTCIS_sQTdnoCgCQ&psig=AFQjCNHD9DI6tX4CngSGijhjVWDoHEE4hw&ust=1400831322641045"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">workingoutyourcrap.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=magh6CoW9rhl7M&tbnid=-NY5h10UPsyjiM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Frachelv%2F2659164621%2F&ei=Xqx9U-LpM6bjsAS0-YG4BQ&psig=AFQjCNFczezuILExw-sgNO9hVAOSEoG6rg&ust=1400831448391409"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">www.flickr.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=PhRxKLFp2F8nCM&tbnid=csP2bI96edJzBM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoodnessredefined.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F08%2F25%2Fboo-boos-and-band-aids%2F&ei=uKx9U5-tOrjfsASPioCoAw&bvm=bv.67229260,d.b2k&psig=AFQjCNGVDyQ-OUBpu0bZptnE-27rcizPwQ&ust=1400831524813977"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">goodnessredefined.wordpress.com</span></span></a>, <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://gilad.deviantart.com/art/The-Ugly-Duckling-123864530"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">gilad.deviantart.com</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-58640842753011556362014-05-18T09:01:00.002-04:002014-05-18T09:04:31.090-04:00Chosen Mom<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">There are several Mom Parodies using the “Let It Go” song
going around right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them are
hysterical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one in particular
brought tears to my eyes</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3je9jQf38c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the beginning she sings of
aggravation and the day to day stuff mom’s deal with, dirty socks, laundry,
fighting, tantrums, trash etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
in the end she nails it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lines that
got me, put the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>let it go</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>let it go<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I just have
to keep my calm<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>let it go<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">let it go<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>cause I’m
their only mom<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>here I stand
and here I’ll say<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>cause I’m
their mom<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>that stuff
never bothered me anyway<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hit me like a
ton of bricks because I very rarely keep my calm and all that stuff usually
bothers me a lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m working on letting
go VERY slowly, at a snail’s pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wish I was mastering it at Turbo’s pace, but not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ZoJLSwhslx4RPGIQQpqytmETHmiEq2kBVaL1TC8Fo5XRxt0Qk_zBM_bQCUi2puT_8stVXHm9t8YgFTySquAtjrJZPSiX0vzL1vpWoVIbWN7NApSWwkCu822dvPywd3M2qZUDfHUkrI/s1600/turbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6ZoJLSwhslx4RPGIQQpqytmETHmiEq2kBVaL1TC8Fo5XRxt0Qk_zBM_bQCUi2puT_8stVXHm9t8YgFTySquAtjrJZPSiX0vzL1vpWoVIbWN7NApSWwkCu822dvPywd3M2qZUDfHUkrI/s1600/turbo.jpg" height="156" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The line that really got to me was “<em>cause I’m
their only mom</em>” I never stopped to think I’m it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday was Middle Child’s birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever one of my kids has a birthday I post
on Facebook a baby picture and a current picture with a small explanation
saying however many years ago I gave birth to this child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I list all the wonderful blessings they have
brought to our family and how honored and blessed I am to be their mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed and honored to be their mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I type that, I truly mean it but I
haven’t stopped to think I, me, am their only mom and what does that mean to me
or them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn’t choose these kids, they didn’t choose me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God in His infinite wisdom saw fit to bless
me and The Director with each individual child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For some reason He felt each one of them needed me as their mom and The
Director as their dad and each other for siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I focus so much on the mess and the “what
ifs” that I fail to see that there has to be a greater plan here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may be a mess and I tend to be a pretty
strict mom and I blow it a lot of the time, but I love these five people, my
kids, so much that sometimes it feels my heart would burst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I overflow with pride at their
accomplishments, gifts and talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
move me in ways no other person ever has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of that love, even through the mess, I really try to do the best
I can for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want only the best for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to be able to stand on
their own two feet and navigate the world with morals, values and success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I never wake up in the morning purposefully intending to
mess up, so maybe I need to work on not focusing so much on the messing up and
more on the fact that I am their only mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another woman can come in and do mom jobs, but no one is going to love them
the way I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one wants for them what
I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am their only mom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the mom! No other woman will love them, pray for them
and lead them through the mess and chaos the way I will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was chosen just for these particular
ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chosen, entrusted with the rearing
of these five lives through thick and thin, better or worse, I am grateful and
I am blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in it for the long
haul!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">Video from <a class="g-hovercard yt-uix-sessionlink yt-user-name " data-name="watch" data-sessionlink="ei=Lqx4U-uAH6P70wHa4IHoCA&feature=watch" data-ytid="UCp0DGf4skiLCVeCdd3JrAWw" dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0DGf4skiLCVeCdd3JrAWw"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Granger Community Church</span></a> Image <span class="irc_dsh"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol" data-ved="0CAQQjB0" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=3_7mll8jQ28kJM&tbnid=NrCskKt1TUF9FM:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ew.com%2Few%2Fgallery%2F0%2C%2C20609141_20718087_21361620%2C00.html&ei=tq94U8mJIMXesASQmIGwBw&bvm=bv.66917471,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFKyXzEHyXtszxhqWubHT1bTnZApA&ust=1400504623427084"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">www.ew.com</span></span></a></span></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-2987919856157552512014-05-11T00:30:00.000-04:002014-05-11T00:30:01.896-04:00In Honor of My Mother-in-Law
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhSRMSYkQulYLv9VCr28FXPdkeaoOrmviC-nYhupxivvEvaWKI2KfVNLwyxK3DR8R2NK46_IBwayjxxsXAnXWkp6mOXjW8RmIUdA50EzzlgkPuNEBiB51I5zcSHypO9n8rEbfZaEbXFI/s1600/millie+flynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhSRMSYkQulYLv9VCr28FXPdkeaoOrmviC-nYhupxivvEvaWKI2KfVNLwyxK3DR8R2NK46_IBwayjxxsXAnXWkp6mOXjW8RmIUdA50EzzlgkPuNEBiB51I5zcSHypO9n8rEbfZaEbXFI/s1600/millie+flynn.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This will be the first Mother’s Day without my mother-in-law
Lynda Allen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went home to be with
the Lord on Black Friday last year, a truly black day for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In honor of my mother-in-law I thought I
would share my eulogy with you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">December 6, 2013 - Over the past week, preparing for this
funeral I have learned a lot about the woman that raised my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of me is sad because I didn’t learn
about these things while she was alive, but another part of me knows it’s
because in many ways Lynda was a very private person and didn’t share much of
her past with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, let me tell you a
little bit of what I learned about the woman I called Mom A.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lynda was born in Chicago, Illinois on Jan. 20, 1925 she was
one of 5 children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her mother Susan was
born in Poland and came to America when she was 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father Jim, was American born, of polish
descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lynda grew up in the Chicago
area and had a happy childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she
was 16 she quit school to go to work in a factory because she wanted to have
nice clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the age of 19 she enlisted
in the Women’s Army Air Corp but later transferred to the Women in the Air Force
where she achieved the rank of sergeant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She served as a cryptographer and teletype operator in communications in
San Francisco and later volunteered for overseas duty in the European theatre
of war, working in Paris, France and later at the Schweinfurt Air Force Base,
in Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While she was in the
military she also finished high school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From the time she was eight, Lynda dreamed of becoming a
glamorous and wealthy movie star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
studied drama at DePaul University of Chicago for two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She continued her drama education and in 1954
she graduated from Pasadena Playhouse Association College of Theatre Arts in Pasadena
California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over a four year period Lynda
enjoyed performing in 35 school and semi-professional plays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After not breaking into show business she
returned to the Chicago area where she worked as a secretary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She met and fell in love with her husband Doug
when the companies they both worked at underwent a merger and she was employed
as his secretary, they married in 1958. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lynda relocated to New Jersey with her husband and had two
children my brother-in-law in 1960 and The Director in 1964.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1972 she moved to Orlando because as she
says “I had always like Florida on the many visits I made when I was a single
gal.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was around this time that she
entered a new phase of her life, she became a divorced, working woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To her dismay, the salaries for secretaries
in 1972 were very low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also didn’t
help that she had been out of the work force for 14 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fought an uphill financial battle from
that point on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked two jobs in
order to meet her financial obligations and maintain her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For about seven years she worked as a
secretary, then she became a claims analyst servicing large accounts in the
area of unemployment claims and continued to do this until she was let go due
to down-sizing, she was 77 then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As a
side note, while cleaning out paperwork, we found employment applications dated
2002, so she was looking for work after she was let go.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her “moonlighting” job was a sales associate
for a large department store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked
in the woman’s dress department and outlasted the store itself as it changed
hands numerous times during her employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When asked how she could work two jobs she hesitated before
answering, because she thought it was no big deal when working two jobs was a
necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said it helped that the
two jobs were diverse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing she hated most about moonlighting
was that she felt she hadn’t lived a normal life in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t get very many Saturday’s and
Sunday’s off together, and she didn’t have much of a social life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, she was concerned about the
state of her home, in her words, “My home would not pass a white glove
inspection as it would have when I was married and a homemaker.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From 1972 to 1988 she also managed to return to school and
get her real estate license, but because she didn’t have the capitol reserve to
get started, she was unable to do anything with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she became licensed with a large
insurance company and began selling insurance on a part-time basis on the
evenings she wasn’t working at the department store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes she worked three jobs at one time in
order to support her household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also
became a notary, anything to bring in some extra money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She was very active in several church ministries (I don’t
know how she did it or where she found the time!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until a few years ago she had been a member
of one of the local Catholic Churches for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was there that she was a catechist, a
lecture, and served in the Ministry to the Sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1983 even though she and her husband were
divorced, after he suffered a stroke, was hospitalized and later confined to a
nursing home, she acted as his representative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She visited him regularly and saw to his needs over a four year period
before he passed away in 1987.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Lynda got older her values changed
considerably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1988, she wrote that
her interests now lie in the miseries of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Working through the trauma and adjustments
of my divorce, visiting the forgotten in hospitals, and witnessing the
negligence in care of the sick and elderly in a nursing home has filled my
heart with compassion and concern for people in this world who need help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am most interested in the homeless
population of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I love
my home and have always lived in a home I believe every person should have a
place to live.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her love for her home
was evident even up to the end of her life, days before her death she told us
she just wanted to be home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had
a great concern for the drug situation in the country and felt that if we could
solve the drug problem, the crime rate at the local and national level would
drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, she was also
concerned with the illiterate, she was trained and began teaching illiterate
adults how to read.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lynda has always been an unselfish person; even when she had
very little money, she donated to many charities and Catholic missions
including the Lasallettes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a
very generous gift giver, I found note after note after note of thanks for the
gifts she had sent to family and friends for various different occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She helped both her sons while they were in college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She allowed them to live at home with her and
financially she helped when she was able to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once she even purchased her younger sister Dee Dee a bicycle when their
parents could not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In her later life when she retired Lynda had dreams of
selling real estate and felt that she would be really good at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always wanted to visit Mary’s house in
Turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to get more involved
in the local literacy groups and teach adults how to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to play with her grandkids and
help out with their schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
wanted to get more involved at church, swim, garden, and read.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While I felt like her daughter-in-law long before, in 1991 Lynda
officially welcomed me into her family when The Director and I were
married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1994 Lynda became a
grandmother for the first time, she would go on to fill that role for four
additional kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until she was afflicted
with shingles she worked very hard at being the best grandmother she could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her home was filled with all kinds of toys
(even obnoxious noise making toys that you would NEVER find in my house!),
books, VCR tapes, play-doh and treats for kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When my older two kids would go over to her house to play she would put
a big sheet on the floor, pull out the play-doh and toys plop down on the floor
with them and play for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though she hated it, because my kids wanted to watch it every time they went to
her house, it was their favorite movie, she would always put on The Little
Engine that could for them and then watch it with them again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When The Organized Child was about six, Lynda
took her out shopping and to lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lynda
bought her a whole new wardrobe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact
from the time they were born she bought my older two kids just about all of
their clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Christmas she asked
for a list because she wanted to get the kids what they really wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Oldest was about four she bought the
kids a motorized Jeep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years
she bought them bikes and other large ticket items for their birthdays and
Christmas’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never realized she didn’t
have a lot of money and probably really couldn’t afford to buy this stuff for
my kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always had a huge smile on
her face when they opened their presents, I know she really enjoyed giving to
them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the past ten years or so, because of the shingles, her
health and her demeanor had deteriorated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She struggled with debilitating pain, lymphoma, which did go into
remission, and I what believe, depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All she wanted was to be able to drive again and live out her dreams,
when that didn’t seem to be what her fate was going to be, she seem to give
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very hard for me to watch her
choose to essentially stop living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
feel very sad that my younger three kids didn’t get to fully experience the
grandma that my older two kids did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was also unhappy to hear recently, that Oldest realized several years ago that
grandma wasn’t going to be like she once was, had already mourned that
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preparing for her funeral,
learning new things about her, like her dreams and aspirations has made me even
sadder because I realize how much I have missed the Lynda prior to 2002.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think I will miss Christmas time with her the most!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One year a few years back despite her not
being able to drive, she managed to order everyone a Christmas present from a
catalog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ordered The Director and me
t-shirts that were personalized with our kid’s names on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will cherish that t-shirt even though my
two youngest kid’s names aren’t on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She also ordered The Director these massive, overstuffed, fluffy green
and white Irish slippers that are made to look like sneakers, they are
hilarious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m going to miss the
box of citrus fruit, with the jelly and candy delivered to my house, even
though I live in Florida and only twenty minutes from her house and the box of
Whitman’s chocolates she got us each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, I’m going to hate not buying Fiddle Faddle, citrus fruit, a box of
Russell Stover’s nuts and chews, Hickory Farms cheese, cracker and beef stick
and Winn Dixie gift card for her each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m really going to hate not seeing her smile as she opened each of the
same gifts year in and year out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like every parent I believe she did the best she could with
what she had at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised two
very good men, she loved them deeply and did the best she could for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man with kids, the one I claim as my
husband, is a great dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fought hard
for what she thought was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
feisty and stubborn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked hard to
make a life for herself and her kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She played hard with her first two grandkids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a generous and loving woman, one that
I am proud to have known, I am truly honored to have been her daughter-in-law
and will miss her very much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I pray this mother’s day Lynda is resting in the arms of her
savior and spending time with Our Lady whom she loved dearly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y5a9DveyvAMaMTlHtBLH0YMiSE_QZORrbC9fmxystrkmGcZgKSO0OMNc8pFSpfSVItqRLKpTveufI8kTwUqPcLtkvyyA-K3mb9-00HZbxY6JClbztQx6TU1IESEMrmcHF9v43IFpRX0/s1600/Millie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y5a9DveyvAMaMTlHtBLH0YMiSE_QZORrbC9fmxystrkmGcZgKSO0OMNc8pFSpfSVItqRLKpTveufI8kTwUqPcLtkvyyA-K3mb9-00HZbxY6JClbztQx6TU1IESEMrmcHF9v43IFpRX0/s1600/Millie.JPG" height="320" width="282" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All names have been changed for anonymity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-85395821648419652452013-06-17T21:05:00.002-04:002023-10-31T13:18:03.187-04:00The Great Adventure<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the past 17 years every summer, always in June, I go on an adventure that starts in January. It involves a good friend, my kids and a substantial number of other people’s kids. My dear, dear friend The Teacher asked me to join her on this adventure when I was six months pregnant with The Organized Child. It started in a small classroom filled with very active and energetic three year olds. And, while I was absolutely exhausted at the end of the day, each year I come back again and again. This adventure is one of great stress, but HUGE rewards! It is one of my greatest passions, despite swearing year after year, that this is the end, no more! Each year somehow, no matter how stressed and completely spent I am, I am filled up with enough energy to take on this adventure. I can’t claim that it is grace, because I must admit there are many times I don’t handle what is thrown my way with any grace at all. Never the less I embark on this adventure and pray that God will take my meager efforts and work His grace like only He can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What is this adventure? It changes every year and yet stays the same. It is transformative and exciting and definitely full of adventure. It is a quest to sow seeds, seeds that with hope and prayer and love will emerge and transform the world. Seeds that are sown all for the Glory of God. Seeds that will hopefully blossom and bear great fruit, fruit that will be taken forth and shared with all. This adventure is one like no other and today I started it again, in a capacity like no other before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This morning I arose earlier than normal even though I had very little sleep. I showered and dressed and headed out the door with all five kids in tow. We loaded up and headed to church where we prepared with lots of other adults and teens to greet and share the word of God with 95 (you read correctly, 95) little people, ages 3 – 10. We entered our parish center temporarily transformed for one week. No longer a place to have donuts or omelet breakfasts on Sunday morning after mass, but a medieval castle! Kingdom Rock Vacation Bible School where kids “Stand Strong for God”!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In 17 years I have done every job there is to do when it comes to VBS. For the last 10 years or so I have been a co-director, making sure all the pieces of this massive puzzle fit together. I have a tremendous friend and partner that I take this on with each year. She is amazing when it comes to all of the administrative stuff and her people/children skills are amazing. She handles things much more diplomatically than I do, that’s for sure. I tend to tackle things like the daily materials, decorations, and discipline. Together we make a great team along with one other mom who anchors us and helps us manage it all, in any capacity we need her (even though her kiddos are in high school and college).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year I feel we are in over our heads! 95 LITTLE PEOPLE! I should have tackled 95 little people in my 20’s when I had a lot more energy and a lot less anxiety! So many times I looked around our parish center today and panicked! What in the heck were we thinking taking all these kids?! We are responsible for their safety, their fun and hopefully their learning about God’s word and His infinite love! When it comes to their safety I’m a nervous wreck! We have two children with diabetes, numerous kiddos with food allergies from gluten, to red dye, to eggs and milk and two children with Down syndrome. We have children who like to wander, kiddos that miss their parents and want to go home and those older kids who think they are just too old and cool for VBS. We have to make sure each one is safe from wandering, food stuff and normal every day boo boos. We have to reassure little ones missing mom and dad, help redirect and keep on track others that are distracted and try and break through the tough exterior of older ones who feel they have outgrown this. In addition we have to make sure all the helpers have what they need and are on top of what needs to be done. All while making sure everyone is having fun! It’s a tall order and one that has filled me with extreme panic over the course of the day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When I got home late this afternoon, I began to tackle VBS things that needed to be done for tomorrow, most of them e-mail related. As I deleted, answered and quickly read through the dozens upon dozens of e-mails I came across one that comes into my inbox every day. It comes from a blog that I love but don’t always have the time to read </span><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A Holy Experience</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> . Today in my scatteredness I felt the need to read Ann’s words. She writes in a very different manner, one that always speaks to my soul and fills me with peace. In today’s post I found the following words:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 140%;">“Worry is belief gone wrong.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
</span><div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 140%;">Because you don’t believe that God will get it right.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
</span><div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 140%;">But peace –</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
</span><div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 140%;">Peace is belief that exhales.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
</span><div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: x-large; line-height: 140%;">Because you believe that God’s provision is everywhere—like air.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
</span><div style="line-height: 140%;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 140%;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Exhale. Let go. </span><em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: #38761d;">Peace is the belief that God’s provision is everywhere.”</span><span style="color: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Words I so needed to read, to breathe in deeply to the depths of my soul, words to heal a momma’s worried mind and soul. Worried for 95 little people’s safety, their enjoyment, that they are being reached, that seeds are being planted. So much worry and anxiety, so heavy, so heavy that my shoulders ache, weighted down, more than I can almost bear. So much so that I began to dread thinking about tomorrow. Please God let us just make it through the end of the week safely, my constant exasperated prayer all day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then the words, Ann’s words, Holy Spirit inspired words? A still, small voice stirs in my soul, you have brought 95 little people together, 38 teens, numerous parents and adults, all to teach them about My word, My love, do you not trust that I will take your efforts and bless them? Do you not trust that I will protect all of these children, My children? Did I not command “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”* “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.*<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 140%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could say I had a great calm right now. I still feel an immense responsibility and safety for the 95 little people, and helpers. However, I do have a calmness, some calmness that I didn’t have before. I’m working very hard on letting go and trusting! Trusting that God is in control and without a doubt He will get it right! That no matter what happens good or bad, He is always in control. I’m exhaling, breathing in and out, exhaling, with each exhale I’m working on letting go a little more. Praying that God will help me to open my fists, let go of all this anxiety, and teach me to breathe in and out, exhale completely and rest knowing the He will always get it right now matter what!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 140%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Matthew 19:14 and Matthew 8:26</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-55575033633371711702013-04-02T21:42:00.002-04:002013-04-02T22:03:27.481-04:00The Picture in My Head<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lent has come and gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter Sunday has come and gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The picture in my head still remains even though my end result looks
nothing like the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set out on
my Lenten journey with specific images of the end result in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How my Lenten journey would look, how my
forty bags in forty days would look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
here to say my picture is a whole lot prettier than the real thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did fulfill my Lenten goal of forty bags in
forty days, I did not fulfill the image I had in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is how it panned out<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sold:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One large baby
gate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bags thrown out:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13
(this included things recycled or just thrown out because it was broken,
unusable etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bags donated to the VVA:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>26<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bags donated to JMJ Life Center:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwzV6pmmpf0Twk0aRGWUoTUX-AzkIy8ork6XlANBk_xERaoe0xEK8pFyMTor_tSVS6I4mqcZgk8y8FjaNAj-2v2PABcQOu6BTXpWPVpH02E9XlUer_rBrUcuTdoL9Wmw0R2MDL2VKnrg/s1600/B6657770-2C9F-46FE-87D0-8FAF85FDEE01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwzV6pmmpf0Twk0aRGWUoTUX-AzkIy8ork6XlANBk_xERaoe0xEK8pFyMTor_tSVS6I4mqcZgk8y8FjaNAj-2v2PABcQOu6BTXpWPVpH02E9XlUer_rBrUcuTdoL9Wmw0R2MDL2VKnrg/s320/B6657770-2C9F-46FE-87D0-8FAF85FDEE01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A lot of what I got rid of was clothing, I managed to clean
out some of my bedroom and go through some of the children’s clothes and
toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However most of the bags consisted
of stuff from our garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall this
frustrates me a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my mind I had intended
to go through each room in our house clean out the various sections of the
rooms (dressers, closets, etc.) and then spring clean each room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ending up with a beautifully clean house on
Easter Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also intended to focus
on getting closer to God as I released items from my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure how I thought that would look or
feel but by the end of Lent I felt like I hadn’t connected fully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not really sure how to describe it, I
just didn’t have a real feeling of sacrifice I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I was left with was the realization that
in the last 12 years we have accumulated a lot of STUFF!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all that stuff crowds out important things
like God and family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When we moved into this house 12 years ago we couldn’t even
fill it with furniture, now we are bursting at the seams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And honestly after giving/throwing away 40
bags of stuff I don’t feel much relief from this over stuffed, bursting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have realized that I have a lot more to do
to pare down and clean out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
realized that I feel like my soul resembles my house, overstuffed and bursting
with negative, life taking, mess!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
my house I need to do a lot more clearing out and cleaning up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I got rid of stuff in my home I did feel a
little relief, as if I could breathe and focus on other things like God and
family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The majority of the collected bags came from an overabundance
of stuff in our garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family’s way
of dealing with mess and stuff is to put the said mess or stuff into a box or
plastic container and put it in the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Out of sight out of mind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence
lots and lots of large plastic containers filled with STUFF being stored in the
garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it was all said and done I
went through 15 containers/boxes and three bags from the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a lot more to do and to get rid of,
lots and lots more projects for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I’m beginning to understand why the blogs I read, that posed this
challenge have done this several years in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to getting to the point
of one blogger, she no longer has much to get rid of and she cleans stuff out
as new things come into the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
she’s working on scheduling cleaning jobs regularly and organizing what she
does have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m going to have to figure out how to get projects of de-cluttering
into my daily or weekly routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m at
a point where I can look at something, hear the song “Please Release Me, Let Me
Go” and give it away pretty easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t want to lose that momentum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Letting go of stuff is so freeing!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My new goal to do one de-cluttering project a week, with a
minimum of one bag a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see how
it goes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="userContent">"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."<br /> Colossians 3:23</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-36506105851209039182013-03-08T18:37:00.000-05:002014-05-10T22:21:59.676-04:00Will the Real You Please Stand Up?!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
My forty days/forty bags is going along VERY slow, but I am
still determined to reach my goal by Easter Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the mean time I want to post something that I have wanted
to post since January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four of my kids
are involved in our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My two oldest
however are very involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are both
peer ministers, and are actively involved in the youth ministry program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition they serve the community in other
ways such as cantoring, sing in the choir, alter serve, and as an Eucharistic minister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In January our Youth Minister puts on a high
school retreat, this is a mandatory retreat for the confirmation candidates,
but is open to all high school students.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both of my kids volunteered to give witness talks this past January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theme of the retreat was Faith Book (a
play on social media).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oldest talk was
on “discernment” and The Organized Child’s topic was “about me” (focusing on
her life with our without God).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oldest
talk was very good; it focused on how we have to discern so many things
especially as a teenager and how seeking God’s guidance can really help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did a great job and obviously I’m very
proud of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is The
Organized Child’s talk that I want to share with you as it hit so close to home
for me, especially as a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel
that there are many people who could benefit from her message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, with her permission I present her witness
talk.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Talk #6 - About Me...The Organized Child</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(The Organized Child walks in with a purple sparkly mask on.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg06W_lV6gck4Q7FImbU0DGCDSsxK8t2arOUL4Js9M2mnNiqTsx4QZ2XBbldn7MOFGf9RwLfp2lr-jdjO6KO9qtufJRoRRcbfce4VP6X0XqeLpBMmcoR_gsGq-VF4BLyhw33sNbTqDtI/s1600/130308-173059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg06W_lV6gck4Q7FImbU0DGCDSsxK8t2arOUL4Js9M2mnNiqTsx4QZ2XBbldn7MOFGf9RwLfp2lr-jdjO6KO9qtufJRoRRcbfce4VP6X0XqeLpBMmcoR_gsGq-VF4BLyhw33sNbTqDtI/s320/130308-173059.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a show of hands how many of you are wondering why I’m wearing
a mask? (Wait a couple of seconds) Before I tell you I have a question for all
of you and I don’t want you to raise your hand for this one I just want you to
think about it to yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of
you are wearing a mask right now? (Let them think about it for a minute) Almost
every day, people walk out of the house wearing a mask that is similar to this
one. It’s clean, shiny, sparkly, and almost perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the fake, put together person, the one
that we think society wants to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
worn this mask before! In fact I’ve worn a lot of masks throughout my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pulls out the bullying mask) One of the masks I have worn is
the mask of low self-esteem. I was bullied a lot when I was younger. In many of
the activities and groups I was involved in, I was one of the youngest
girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older girls would make fun of
me, laugh at me, and talk bad about me behind my back. They would walk all over
me as if I were a doormat, I was timid and lonely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those girls seemed as if they had to get to
the top and it didn’t matter who they hurt along the way. I was very blessed to
have a mom that was able to take me out of these situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put me in ones where I was no longer the
youngest, but the oldest in the group or activity. By doing this I changed from
a follower and grew into a leader. I also learned what type of leader I wanted
to be. I knew what it felt like to be the outcast, to be made fun of, and to
have no friends and I decided that I would never be a person that acted that
way or did those things to others intentionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During these times I learned to pray for
others, even the people who treated me badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also prayed for the strength to tolerate the ridicule without being
ugly back to these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to
show God’s love to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pulls out the mask of fear) Another mask I wear is the mask of
fear. I was often afraid of things when I was little. I was afraid of waking up
and my family not being there anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was afraid of dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was afraid of
walking ten feet away from my mom in the store. I had terrible panic attacks,
and I was always worried about what others thought of me. For a lot of my
childhood I worried more about things rather than having fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom made me a dream catcher to help with
the bad dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went out and bought
me pillowcases with saints and prayers on them and a Saint Michael necklace and
had it blessed for me. I wore this necklace everywhere, when I went out, at
night when I was sleeping, and even in the shower. I lost the medal several
times in places like parking lots; somehow it always found its way back to me.
St. Michael is my patron saint and over the years he has taught me to be strong
and face the fears in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realized even though I had lost my medal, <st1:place w:st="on">St.</st1:place>
Michael and my guardian angel are always with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as a teenager I still struggle with
anxiety and worry, but recently I read a daily meditation, even though I read
the wrong day, it was exactly the comfort I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know God spoke to me through that
meditation reiterating He is my constant companion and comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard a movie quote that said “Don’t let
the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like God sent that message straight to
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pulls out the mask of difference)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wear the mask of difference. I have
always felt different in so many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would have to say two of the biggest things that made me feel different were
the fact that I was in speech therapy and occupational therapy when I was younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggled with the fact that in my
homeschooling groups and my family at the time I was the only one that had to
go to therapy. I hated when I had to go to all of the doctors’ appointments and
have MRI’s and other tests I had to have while other kids were out having fun.
I constantly wondered why me?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
absolutely hated heights, ball pits, hugs, swings, learning to ride a bike,
bridges, escalators, normal clothing and especially speech therapy!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My therapies were hard and things other kids
thought were fun were a nightmare for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I realized that the things I went through were not as bad as
what some kids who are ill or have more challenging problems than I did, have
to go through. Looking back on it I have learned that the therapies although
challenging (and I hated them!) they helped me to be more “normal”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel much better now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These experiences taught me to carry the
crosses that God gives me with grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6XrOPUn7MtxST45kHTLgIQ98esGyiM1KF7qM3oOlet6EMUVFlfBMHM4curPXNm8C5XvCT7TqBlAI200RzyQZgFkI461Y5hyphenhyphenloQInWXq5dpuspPGIQP-DILsiberWa3_XiYHv2JbNGJY/s1600/46944-38699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6XrOPUn7MtxST45kHTLgIQ98esGyiM1KF7qM3oOlet6EMUVFlfBMHM4curPXNm8C5XvCT7TqBlAI200RzyQZgFkI461Y5hyphenhyphenloQInWXq5dpuspPGIQP-DILsiberWa3_XiYHv2JbNGJY/s320/46944-38699.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pulls out the mask of Introvert) Another mask I wear is the
mask of an introvert. Being an introvert I have to take time to process things
and I also like to think before I speak. It’s very hard for me to be an
introvert because by the time I come up with an idea or want to do or say
something a lot of the extroverts have already decided, spoken up or taken the
job. My mom is an extrovert; my father is an introvert masquerading as an
extrovert and three of my siblings are extroverts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also been raised with an extended
family of extroverts that are in show business. While being an introvert is
hard at times it does have its special virtues too, such as restraint,
meekness, patience, fair-mindedness, unpretentiousness, and consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to accept God’s call with a lot of
thought and discernment. I am able to speak and touch many people in small
group settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Large group settings are
a challenge for me but I know with God’s help I can do anything, even step out
of my bubble and do things like give this talk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pulls out the mask of fitting in) One more mask I wear is the
mask of fitting in. Being raised in a homeschooling family, I have been taught
very different than other teens. School is different, it’s very rigorous, I’m
expected to get nothing but A’s, my mom says there is NO EXCUSE for anything
less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our grading scale is different and
I’m at home with my siblings 24/7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
mom and dad for the most part are my teachers so I don’t get away with
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, despite what most kids
think I cannot do school in my pajamas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Forget about school let’s talk about my parents rules and
expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not allowed to wear
shorts shorter than above my kneecap or tank tops or bikinis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t even wear a one piece bathing suit
without baggies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to dress
modestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modesty is a VERY important
virtue to my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also not allowed
to wear makeup on a regular basis and it’s really hard when society and my
friends don’t have to follow the same rules.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m also expected to be involved with my family on a regular
basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My siblings and I are expected to
do regular chores such as clean the bathroom, keep our rooms clean, make
dinner, and watch our younger siblings and anything else that is needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad expects me to help with larger
chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past year I had to help tar
the roof with Oldest and my dad, in the heat, in my long shorts and regular
t-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents expect all of us to
have family time together on a regular basis with activities such as pizza
night, movie night, games and outings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other BIGGEST thing that is really hard for me is I’m not allowed
to date or have a boyfriend until I’m 18. Even then my parents have to meet
the boy and approve before I can go out with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so important to my parents that my
dad took me out to dinner to teach me how a boy should treat me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad wants me to be treasured and cherished
so at that dinner he gave me a chastity ring to wear until it’s replaced by my
wedding ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I feel special with
my dad and I know my parents only want the best for me, it’s so hard for me to
sit back and watch my friends go out with the boys I like. I have also been
raised in the way that boys are supposed to ask the girl out and not the other
way around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s world, it’s
confusing because I am being raised opposite of the society norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was even given a book entitled The ABC’s of
Choosing a Good Husband as a confirmation gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What does that tell you?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I often feel that I don’t fit in because I spend a lot of time
with adults verses kids my own age. Sometimes I feel older than I am and
un-cool into today’s society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though I often don’t feel like I fit in I know that I was made in the image and
likeness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have special gifts
and talents and He wanted me here, I have a purpose in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned that it’s ok to feel different
sometimes, these experiences cause me to grow and I wouldn’t be the person I am
today without them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the thing we all tend to listen to society in this day
and age, we all want to fit in, we want to be popular, and accepted by
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our efforts to fit in we
really end up pushing out God and God’s plans for our life. I can remember the
first time I truly found God on my own terms not what my parents told me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to a different church’s youth group
at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I was bullied
there, I kept going because God was important to me and I wanted to get to know
him better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was younger I got a t-shirt in my Easter basket that
said I am a princess, my father is the King of kings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently heard a Disney commercial that
represents who I feel I am and am called to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pull out The Organized Child’s mask) I am a Princess. I am brave
sometimes, I am scared sometimes. Sometimes I am brave even when I am scared. I
believe in loyalty and trust. I believe loyalty is built on trust. I try to be
generous. I am kind even when others are not so generous. I am a Princess. I
think standing up for myself is important. I think standing up for others is
more important, but standing with others is most important. I am a Princess. I
believe compassion makes me strong, kindness is power, and family is the
tightest bond of all. I have heard I am beautiful and I know I am strong. I
promise and when I promise I never ever break that promise. I am a Princess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Pause!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pull out Christ
mask)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to me, my Father is the King
of Kings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Play the song "Perfect People" by Natalie Grant</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never let 'em see you when you're breaking<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never let 'em see you when you fall<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's how we live and that's how we try<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tell the world you've got it all together<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never let them see what's underneath<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cover it up with a crooked smile<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it only lasts for a little while<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">[CHORUS:]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's no such thing as perfect people<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's no such thing as a perfect life<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So come as you are, broken and scared<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lift up your heart and be amazed<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And be changed by a perfect God<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you hear the words that you are loved<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He knows where you are and where you've been<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And you never have to go there again<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">[CHORUS]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who lived and died to give new life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To heal our imperfections<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So look up and see out let grace be enough<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">[CHORUS]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By a perfect God [5x]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be changed by a perfect God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be changed <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-81788396844957219032013-02-27T00:51:00.000-05:002013-02-27T00:57:31.604-05:00Drawer d’oeuvres<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
I came to the conclusion that if I want to stay on track
with school, make all the scheduled appointments/activities on my calendar, and
continue to run the house I cannot take on any large, time consuming, projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I have decided that in order to meet my
Lenten sacrifice I’m going to have to only do a little bit every day, sometimes
just a drawer or a cabinet or even smaller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not my original plan, but I keep telling myself steady plodding brings
prosperity and slow and steady wins the race.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a very dear friend that I’ve known for about 18 years
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is very quick witted and makes
me laugh all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never known
her to be in a bad mood, I always feel lighter after talking to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw her over the weekend and was telling
her about my dilemma, how I want very much to tackle these big projects but in
reality I need to do lots of mini ones like a drawer daily etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She replied “of course it’s like the whole
meal verses hors d'oeuvres, you need to do drawer d’oeuvres”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, there you have it, I’m doing drawer d’oeuvres to try and
meet my 40 bags in 40 days challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I open a drawer or cabinet and have a few minutes I clean it out. I write
up what I’m getting rid of as the Director is a stickler about this, you know
for taxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I put everything in a
plastic bag clearly marked all ready to go for the VVA and move on with my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal is one drawer or cabinet etc. per
day; if I’m able to do more than one per day ,woo hoo, that much more the
better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since I last wrote I’ve been able to clean out most of my dresser,
ten drawers, the top and the two small jewelry boxes on top of it (still have a
couple of things to go through and then I want to wipe the entire thing down
really good and polish it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do almost
have a full bag ready to go just from my dresser (not a great start to 40 bags
in 40 days, wonder if I can gain ground in someplace really messy like the garage?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> V</span>ERY SCARY!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had things like nursing bras lurking in the
deepest corners of my drawers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t
nursed for at least four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those I’m
just throwing out, so I’ll have to keep track of trash bags too I guess. Steady
plodding, steady plodding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I hope your Lenten sacrifice is going well even if only at a
snail’s pace like mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal is to
draw closer to God and examine my relationship with Him right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as I’m always moving closer to Him I
think I’m doing well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard Lysa
TerKeurst on the radio today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spoke
of </span><a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/radio/imperfect-progress-1-2013-02/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Imperfect
Progress</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> , and while I could certainly relate to her discussion of “processing
emotions in an unhealthy way” I felt that what she had to say about imperfect
progress could be related to all areas of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even this Lenten sacrificial journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s a song to help you with de-cluttering, especially if
you’re struggling with letting things go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got it from </span><a href="http://www.flylady.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Flylady</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">; it’s to be sung
from the “STUFF’S” point of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY3JJnL4Fz4"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Please Release Me</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-29379877202181958912013-02-18T16:24:00.000-05:002013-02-18T23:44:38.672-05:00Day's 3,4 and 5<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I'm not feeling really great about this lent so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plans have not gone the way I
intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Friday I spent most of
the day visiting with my parents when I went to pick up the little ones from
spending the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I took the Middle
Child to an afternoon/evening birthday party, it was 40 minutes from home so I
hung out until it was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time
we got home it was after 9:00, I thought it would be nice to spend a little
time with the Director before I went to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, washed out day three.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day four, over slept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Took care of important stuff but shows no evidence of being done, such
as lowering car insurance bill, talking over important stuff with the Director
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did manage to make a plan for
de-cluttering though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I broke down the
house into all the rooms or areas I wanted de-cluttered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there I broke the rooms or areas into
specific things that needed de-cluttering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I was done I had 69 things that needed my attention, that is a tall
order and I’m not off to a great start uugghh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only areas I did not plan to work on were Oldest room,
the Organized Child and the Middle Child’s room, the Director’s night stand and
armoire and the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure those
are areas that need to be maintained by the older people occupying those
spaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will encourage them to
de-clutter as well but I’m not going to make them do it, as if I could anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the evening the Director and I went on a
spur of the moment date and spent some much needed time alone together. Day four another wash out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Day five, I had planned to take Sundays off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I had wanted to work around the house
on Sunday I couldn’t have, our day was slam packed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worked an omelet breakfast in the morning, at
church to raise money for the older kid’s mission trip this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Took the Informer to a birthday party in the
afternoon, swapped off with the Director, went home to put dinner in the crock
pot and head back out to go to mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got
home after 7:00 because Oldest is taking drum lessons in order to take over
playing the drums at the youth mass after our current drummer moves in April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ate dinner and watched a family movie
together with the kids before heading to bed. Day five, supposed to be a day off but another wash out.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before I went to bed I was reading a few things on-line and doing
e-mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had promised to send a link
from my blog to a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While on the
blog looking for the particular post, I came across a post I had written last
year during lent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://livingatwitsend.blogspot.com/2012/03/help-water-is-encircling-me-pulling-me.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">HELP!
The Water is Encircling Me, Pulling Me Down!</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I re-read it and I was reminded of a wonderful
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the post I had quoted one of
my favorite author’s blog Ann Voskamp, here is what I posted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Obviously this getting off on the wrong foot
is a pattern in my life.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today I read a wonderful post from the blog that really jump
started my desire to blog, <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank">A Holy Experience</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was titled What to Do When You feel like a Loser… let me tell you it
hit me right between the eyes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
just what I needed!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My lent has not gone according to my plans this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love where Ann says <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Whoever had the crazy idea that Lent was for the good who
were forsaking some lush little luxury?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lent’s for the messes, the mourners, the muddled — for the people right
lost. Lent’s not about making anybody acceptable to a Savior — but about making
everybody aware of why they need a Savior….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“See how these fingers can angle — how they can bend in surrender to
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you lay the other index
finger across, pick up your cross and follow Him– there it is — there’s the
sign to wear, the sign showing the way out of a mess: “A” – amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has to know this, that the word, “amaze,”
it comes from the act of wandering in a maze, to be bewildered, overwhelmed
with wonder — amaze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The losers, the
ones lost in the labyrinth of life, are the ones made amazing – by the One who
solves the mazes of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I touch her
cheek, “In Him, you are already amazing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She blushes and I laugh, nod my head yes, insisting to this daughter who
has to know her Father’s heart for her now because of the Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In the flesh, you’re a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Christ, you amaze.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sign the “A” over her and Christ with the
scars, He marks her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re already
amazing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I imagine she’s speaking straight to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Words I so needed to hear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The losers, the ones lost in the labyrinth of
life, are the ones made amazing – by the One who solves the mazes of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In Him, you are already amazing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know He will solve the mazes of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know that in the flesh I AM an ABSOLUTE
MESS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in Him I amaze.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I’m feeling like a loser for not getting a better start
on lent this year, I was gently reminded that I am a mess without God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, even though my lent hasn’t gotten off the
way I intended, I have definitely been more focused on God and spending time in
His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been intentionally trying to have a
better attitude towards everyone in my family and the mess in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been going fairly well considering who
were talking about here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, maybe it’s
not exactly as I have intended but I do know I’m being worked on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I am growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And today is a new day I can definitely always
start anew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see what I accomplish
today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-59319244140575469262013-02-15T14:25:00.000-05:002013-02-15T14:25:18.069-05:00Day 2 - The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So I had grand plans for
yesterday, even though it was Valentine’s Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The plan:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">get up early<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">do school<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">take the kids to see their grandmother at the
rehab/nursing home for Valentine’s Day<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">shop for Valentines picnic<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">create de-cluttering plan<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">pick one area of the house start de-cluttering and do a
surface clean of that area<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">take the three youngest kids to my parents to spend the
night<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">pack picnic<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">make the Director a valentine card<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">take older two to church for their Peer Ministry
Valentine party<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">go to movie in the park with the Director<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Reality - I woke up not feeling good
at all. After being up about 20 minutes I told the kids today was a
holiday. (As we homeschool year round and usually have more than the
required days each year I didn't feel bad or worried about taking the day off.)
I went back to bed for a couple of hours. When I got up for the
second time, I ended up sitting with the kids searching for valentine card
ideas for about an hour. Once we decided what they wanted to make, we made
a list for the store. I took a shower and we headed out, hit the dollar
store and the grocery store. I dropped the younger kids off at my parents
then went back to the grocery store for all the picnic stuff for my date with
the Director. Went to the drug store for the last valentine card
supplies, headed home to finish valentines and make the dish the older kids
were taking to their party. The Director came home and took the kids to
the party. Did I mention it was raining and had been raining all day?
Back up plan was to have the picnic at home, inside, and watch the same
movie that we were supposed to watch at movie in the park. The Director
put all the finger food out on plates while I finished his card. Changed
my clothes, gave the Director his cards, made a plate and began to watch the
movie. The movie was interrupted several times due to several phone calls
and then because the Director needed to pick up the older two from church.
We finally finished the movie and went to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Therefore, the only thing that was
accomplished in the de-cluttering front yesterday was, while I was getting
dressed I had the kids do a <a href="http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/fly-faq/#boogie" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">27 Fling Boogie</span></a>. However, I did maintain a
positive attitude and not lose it when certain chores hadn't been done; overall
we had a fun day. I know that was definitely an act of sacrifice on my
part, as I would have usually lost it and been a banshee woman when things
don't go my way. Maybe today will be more productive. Still praying
daily, and hoping that my behavior and attitude will be a sacrifice pleasing to
the Lord.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-81238817536160620962013-02-14T15:35:00.000-05:002013-02-14T15:35:01.983-05:00Day One – Ash Wednesday
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I didn’t get a huge jump on the house because it
took me most of the day to figure out that I was absolutely sure that my Lenten
sacrifice journey would in fact be de-cluttering, organizing and cleaning our
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, after I finally decided the
following took place:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got rid
of seven bags of stuff and a port-a-crib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not entirely sure that I will count this in my 40 bags, as the bags
were already packed up and ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have been in my living room for quite a while so on one hand they
are now officially gone from the house, hopefully blessing someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, on the other hand I didn’t actually
gather the stuff during lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see where
I stand at the end of lent as to whether or not I count them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
scheduled a pick up at our house on-line, put the bags on the front porch,
clearly marked, and waited for the VVA to pick them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing too, as I found out yesterday that
my local Goodwill branch closed uugghh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forgot
to post yesterday, another blog post I read concerning using everything you
have in your pantry and spending minimal money on food throughout lent then
donating the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course now that I
want to share it with you I can’t find the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not in my history and it’s not coming up
in Google.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, the gist of the post
was to use what is already in the house to make meals throughout lent plus a
$20.00 a week food allowance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
donate the rest of your food money to the poor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As a Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, sale/coupon
person our pantry, fridge and freezer are almost always full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, because some of the stuff I have
bought in the past didn’t get eaten fast enough and went bad; then, when my
husband lost his job last year we ate a lot of what we already had in the house,
my pantry and freezer pretty much looks like Mother Hubbard’s right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I did have a bunch of half used bags
of frozen veggies and stuff in the crisper close to going bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I decided to make this soup for Ash Wednesday
dinner, </span><a href="https://www.avemariapress.com/40daysofsoup/march-9-ash-wednesday/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Kitchen
Cupboard Soup</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw in all kinds
of frozen and fresh veggies that were very close to the end of their
freshness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had an envelope of French
onion soup mix, a veggie bouillon cube, some Cabernet Sauvignon wine that my
husband wasn’t too fond of and a bunch of spices that I added as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soup ended up being so good that it
almost felt wrong to eat it on a day of fast and abstinence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I added a hearty whole grain bread loaf and
fresh strawberries to complete the meal for the kids. (I actually have so much
left over that I’m going to freeze a batch for Good Friday as well.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It felt really good to use up stuff that we
already had in the house, and it felt equally as good to prepare a healthy home
cooked meal for my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed
at how well it turned out. While my cupboard is still pretty bare, there are things
that I can use up in my freezer, I plan to do that as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not a huge amount accomplished but I’m
focusing on self-denial as well as Proverbs 21:5, “The plans of the diligent
end in profit, but those of the hasty end in loss.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praying my offerings are pleasing to God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mother Hubbard Old English Nursery Rhyme</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-34106020013025999122013-02-13T22:42:00.000-05:002013-02-13T23:07:59.787-05:00Can you pick a Lenten Sacrifice from a hat?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My kids have been running around today singing “Lent, lent,
it’s time to repent, because it’s lent, lent our wills they get bent, by what
we’ve done and failed to do, but ask for mercy and He’ll give it to you. I'm
reminded that I still haven't solidified my Lenten sacrifice for this year. How
will I repent and ask for mercy? How will I grow in love and faith this year?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcnUo9Z3mNcznL87ezhQtsTiJrX-GAqcKht1Q9shoswVgsD1iD4Cn2Q8cUfY3FnkaXdZzEIvdoF1ZspVXc5gzwg-zh8VA_dDICZExwdQXScuWlV6ElslvDVP4RxJwos8AVBu2UmNflOA/s1600/hat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcnUo9Z3mNcznL87ezhQtsTiJrX-GAqcKht1Q9shoswVgsD1iD4Cn2Q8cUfY3FnkaXdZzEIvdoF1ZspVXc5gzwg-zh8VA_dDICZExwdQXScuWlV6ElslvDVP4RxJwos8AVBu2UmNflOA/s320/hat.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I said yesterday I’ve really been struggling with how to
make the most of this lent. Yesterday I prayed and read and prayed some more. I
woke up this morning with a pretty good idea of what I planned to do for my
Lenten sacrifice. I had read several things yesterday (unrelated to each other)
that seemed to drive the same point home and then I read the following post
from the <a href="http://www.holyheroes.com/Articles.asp?ID=163&Click=921"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Holy Hero's web site</span></a> this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<b>A priest friend sent us an email about Lenten
penitential practices. He said it so well; I thought I should give it to you
all to read.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The Lenten penitential practices of prayer, fasting
and almsgiving are not intended as a covert season of self-improvement, or
worse, a time of self-bashing because we are sinners (even though we are), but
are instead intended to help create an ever-larger space within our hearts to
love. The practices are focused on dying to self so that we are expanded in our
capacity to love. We seek deeper conversion and deeper love. By denying ourselves
some good, we die to ourselves a little, so that we can grow more in love of
God and neighbor. We die to self to grow in love.""<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I read this I wondered was my decision to de-clutter and
organize my house really a true Lenten sacrifice. I go back; I re-read what I
read yesterday, those passages that seemed to come to me straight from the Holy
Spirit. I re-read and re-read, I ponder discern and read the above passage on
Lenten penitential practices again. Is this what you want me to do this year
Lord, will it be a real sacrifice? Will I grow in my faith, grow closer to you,
be converted, and grow in love? I seek to do your will, guide me on this Lenten
journey. In my soul I hear a still and quiet voice, barely answer yes.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Is it a true yes? I mean de-cluttering and organizing are
great ways to bring peace to our home and family but is it a sacrifice? Then I
re-read yet again </span><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/02/why-doing-lent-this-year-is-what-you-really-need-and-a-free-family-lent-easter-devotional/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HolyExperience+%28Holy+Experience%29"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Ann
Voskamp’s </span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">powerful words from her post yesterday,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">“It is an irrefutable law: one needs to be dispossessed of
the possessions that possess — before one can be possessed of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">Let the things of this world fall away so the soul can fall
in love with God. God only comes to fill the empty places and kenosis is
necessary <i>– to empty the soul to know the filling of God.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And again I re-read
yesterday’s passage in my meditation book </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Calling-Enjoying-Peace-Presence/dp/1591451884/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360809802&sr=1-1&keywords=jesus+calling"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jesus
Calling</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Let Me be your
positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing Me as <i>God with you</i>, you
experience Joy. This is according to My ancient design, when I first crafted
man. Modern man seeks his positive focus elsewhere: In sports, sensations, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">acquiring possessions</b> (emphasis mine).
Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their
lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully
satisfy it. <i>Delight yourself in Me; let Me become the Desire of your heart.</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I went back to the
blogs that got me started on the idea of de-cluttering our home for lent to
begin with, I re-read again about </span><a href="http://www.littleflower.org/abouttherese/learn/stThereseLittle.asp"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">St.
Therese’ and the Little Way</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">. And the following post from the </span><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2011/03/one-week-from-now-40-bags-40-days.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Clover
Lane</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> blog: </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Why Lent? To me,
Lent is a time of prayer, renewal, self-reflection, sacrifice, self-control,
repentance and almsgiving. It does seem silly to me to somehow try to link a
good old home de-cluttering with something as deeply spiritual as the Lenten
season, but the first time I did 40 bags/40 days it was much more meaningful to
me than just getting rid of junk. I thought long and hard about how much we
really needed vs. how much we had, I became more aware of how we spent our time
and money, I had the chance to feel the rewards of charity (and so did my
children) giving away to those in need some of the things we took for granted.
It was a physical cleansing of the space we were all growing together in, as a
family, but it also freed up space in my heart and mind for awareness and
purpose-I didn't want my house buried under "stuff" and I didn't want
my heart and mind buried under "stuff" either-and I learned that
often the physical reflects the spiritual and vice versa.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">After much time and
thought I do believe that I am to de-clutter and organize my house as a Lenten
sacrifice this year. It will be a sacrifice as I can always manage to find
SOMETHING else better to do than clean, organize and de-clutter. And I do
believe that I will grow in love with both God and my family, as I am a mad
woman when I feel like I’m drowning. Honestly, I feel like I’m drowning in
stuff almost all the time. I cannot think straight, let alone spend quiet time
with the Lord in prayer and contemplation. I’m grumpy all the time and I know
at my very core that it’s because of the mess and STUFF in my life. I know that
forcing myself to actually do the de-cluttering and part with some of my stuff,
I will be dying to self. I don’t foresee this as being an easy journey, but I’m
posting it here for accountability.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I decided to do a
combination of the following de-cluttering posts and </span><a href="http://www.flylady.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Flylady</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2011/03/one-week-from-now-40-bags-40-days.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">40
bags - 40 days</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="http://maureenwittmann.blogspot.com/2011/03/40-days-to-clean-and-organized-home.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">40
Days to a Clean and Organized Home</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/buildingcathedrals/2013/02/5-intentional-home-projects-for-lent/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">5
Intentional Home Projects for Lent</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I plan to break my
house into several different parts. From there I plan to do a de-cluttering in
the morning and clean in the afternoon for twenty minutes in each session. I
hope by the end of lent I will have gotten rid of 40 bags of stuff, organized
and spring cleaned so that our house is ready for a glorious Easter! I also
hope that as the weeks go on, my mind and heart will be freed, unburied and
unburdened by blessing others with the stuff we aren’t using. Through all of it
I pray and hope that our family will grow in faith and love and that I will
have more peace and a better relationship with God and my family. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Does anyone want to
join me?</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The wonderful picture of the hat comes from the following blog <a href="http://themorninglorivine.typepad.com/weblog/2009/02/ooooothis-is-exciting-poor-jemima-was-so-nervous-and-anxious-and-crazy-with-anticipation-last-night-she-didnt-sleep-a-wi.html">http://themorninglorivine.typepad.com/weblog/2009/02/ooooothis-is-exciting-poor-jemima-was-so-nervous-and-anxious-and-crazy-with-anticipation-last-night-she-didnt-sleep-a-wi.html</a></span></span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-27495783302904801232013-02-12T12:26:00.001-05:002013-02-12T14:54:09.477-05:00Lent - 40 days, too many choices<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today is </span><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?RecNum=5877"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Shrove
Tuesday</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, how did lent sneak up on me so fast?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t written many posts over the past
few months because I feel like my life is an absolute mess; this has dampened
my inspiration and creativity. Today I’ve been thinking, what is the best way
for me to pray, fast and give alms this lent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figured if I post it here I will be held accountable and this will
help me make a positive choice and stick with it for the next 40 days of Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where to start?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
mean, I have so many things in my life that I need to be working on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could do any one of the following things:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days of discipline and building better
relationships with my kids and in the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(As the Director says Little Man and the Informer are like gasoline and
a match, add to the mix the Middle Child and you’ll have a raging inferno!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days to a healthier body and family (includes
healthy food options and excersise)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days to a better marital relationship<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days with no TV or movies, a definite need in
our family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days to a cleaner, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uncluttered house, an even bigger need<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days of using all the food in our pantry and
budgeting our food money/meal planning<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days of a more disciplined school day<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days of budgeting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>40 days of going to bed on time and getting enough
sleep<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe that any one of these would require a lot of
discipline, prayer, fasting and giving on my part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see how engaging in any one of these
activities could help me grow closer to God, take a closer look at my life and relationships,
and discern what God’s will for my life is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I recently read, often times our physical world and relationships reflects
our spiritual world and relationship with God and vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A quick Google search proves I am not the only person
struggling with a cluttered house, budgeting, menu planning and discipline
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read several other people’s
blogs and found that many others have chosen similar themes for their 40 day
journey as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While honestly, I really
want to tackle every single thing listed I know this is not a good choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As </span><a href="http://www.flylady.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fylady</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
says baby steps, baby steps are what will bring about lasting change and new
habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as I struggle with which area
to work on, I’m researching and praying for guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m praying God will lead me to the area He
feels I need the most work in and the one that will bring about the greatest
growth in my relationship with Him and my family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Have you thought about the Lenten journey you might take
this year yet?</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Shrove Tuesday image above, I love, came from Pastor Tom's Blog </span><a href="http://pastortomilcp.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/of-pancakes-races-ashes-and-lent/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://pastortomilcp.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/of-pancakes-races-ashes-and-lent/</span></a></span></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-30880320414997141572013-01-04T01:04:00.000-05:002013-01-04T01:14:21.826-05:00What do you love?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a daily meditation book in the bathroom. I can't even tell you how
long it's been there. My mother gave it to me because it spoke to her. I've
picked it up from time to time but nothing really jumped out at me and I felt
guilty if I didn't do every one of the suggested activities at the bottom. So,
the book sat, who knows for how long. This year I decided to give reading it a
try, it touched my mom why shouldn't it touch me to?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The gist of January 3rd is that we are all born in grace, as we live, life
clouds over this pure, unencumbered grace. Therefore, our whole life is spent
learning to peel back the film that clouds the grace and find our way back,
back to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The activities listed were to breathe deeply enter a calm, as a diver goes
deep below the waves into the stillness of the water. I took a diving class and
was certified a lifetime ago; however I will never forget the feeling of being
at the bottom of the pool. I loved the quiet, stillness of sitting at the
bottom of the deep end of the pool, being able to breathe yet still remain on
the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a dreamy state of being;
everything in the world seemed to disappear under the water. Such a peace
filled me at the bottom of the pool. So, as the author used the diver analogy I
understood completely and began the activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step two as you breathe deeply think of two things you love to do, running,
gardening, reading etc. Breathing, thinking, breathing some more, thinking some
more. My mind was a blank as I sat breathing and thinking. What do I love to
do? Good gravy! What do I love to do?! I like reading, but love it, not sure I
would classify it in the LOVE category. Maybe if I'm reading a fabulous book
that has me fully immersed in the story. I like scrapbooking, haven't done it
in over seven years, so I can't say that I love it. I like writing but again
it's not something that I jump out of bed and can't wait to do daily, so does
that mean I love it?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I pondered this question I asked the Director what you love to do. He
replied pretty easily with a long list of things he LOVED to do. What is wrong
with me why can't I come up with something that I love to do?! Is there a way
to measure if you love doing something? The book said in task three to think of
the wonderful feeling that is evoked while engaged in that activity. I can't
say that any of the things I like doing evoke a wonderful feeling, I can take
them or leave them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A quick Google search yields hundreds of articles, blogs and web sites all
claiming to help you figure out what you LOVE to do. Many started out with
finding your passion. Think, ponder, breath, think some more. Great! Now not
only do I not know what I love to do I can't even think about a passion that I
have, except maybe for family and parenting. Could it be my lack of love and
passion is leading to my discontentment in life? Maybe because I don't have any
real hobbies that I LOVE to do I'm burnt out. I wonder, am I living my life’s
purpose, my calling? I think I am, it's all I've ever dreamed of doing for as
long as I can remember. Do you have to have hobbies that you love to have
contentment?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I think of people throughout history that seemed to live a contented life, I
don't recall them having hobbies. Maybe like </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">George Baily, </span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I know it's just a movie, but I think
George encompasses a lot of us, I'm living the life spread before me. George's
one wish, his dream, his desired hobby was to travel; he never once left
Bedford Falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ends up very unhappy
and discontented, but given the chance to see how God has used him, how many
lives he touched, what wonderful things he had done, George Baily sees how
truly blessed he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He becomes grateful
for the things he has and the people in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So maybe I can’t think of something that I LOVE to do, and I can’t evoke a
wonderful feeling from an activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Focusing on my blessings, being grateful for all I have and thinking of
my loved ones conjures wonderful feelings of contentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And music, I can honestly say after writing
this, listening to certain music is something that I LOVE to do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music stirs my soul!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So maybe I need to express a lot more
gratitude, think happy thoughts about loved ones, and listen to more
music that stirs my soul, as a way to peel back my film and find my way back to
my pure, unencumbered grace and God!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What do you love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it help you
find your way back?</span> <o:p></o:p>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032166218418408223.post-18681989404669806092013-01-03T01:49:00.002-05:002013-01-03T12:35:27.452-05:00Are you poor?<span style="font-size: large;">You probably know by now that we are a family of serious movie watchers. I especially love Christmas movies, particularly old ones. One of my absolute favorite holiday movies is "It Happened on Fifth Avenue". If you're unfamiliar with it I highly recommend getting a copy and watching it, you won't be sorry. IMDB lists the synopsis as "A homeless New Yorker moves into a mansion and along the way he gathers friends to live in the house with him. Before he knows it, he is living with the actual home owners." The movie has all the charm of an old holiday movie, wit, drama, romance and the elements of surprise and hope.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite quotes comes from this movie. “For to be without <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">friends</em> is a serious form of poverty" - <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Aloysius T</em>. <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">McKeever</em>, It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)". While this quote has always spoken to me, it especially means a lot to me this year. A childhood school mate lost his 12 year old daughter to cancer earlier this week, not a good way to start a new year. Knowing the end was near, but holding on to hope and waiting for a miracle still makes her passing very hard I'm sure. I can not even begin to fathom the pain her family must be in, mourning her loss. An acquaintance from church phoned me to give me the news, I immediately got onto facebook to see if my other classmates knew (the one really good thing about social media, connecting with old friends). I was astonished to see all the wonderful posts, childhood friends reaching out to get info, asking how they could support the family. Although I don't see many of these people often or even talk to them on a regular basis, it was wonderful to see the connection we made as kids, was still there. There were so many posts sending prayers, offering help and just genuine concern.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As I read the posts and added my own I was reminded of Aloysis T. McKeever's quote on friends. I realized in that moment that I am a VERY rich woman indeed! I have so many friends in my life, people I can count on, turn to and laugh with. I am truly blessed! My hope for you in this new year is that you will be rich beyond all means, blessed abundantly with family and friends! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">(Please keep my friend and his family in prayer, this has to be a tremendously difficult time for them. It is unnatural to me that a parent must bury a child. However, I know that she is rejoicing in the arms of our savior! Our mourning is for our own loss. As I have mentioned before I know that <span style="font-family: ''.HelveticaNeueUI'';"><a href="http://livingatwitsend.blogspot.com/2011/07/he-died.html?m=0">Christ is victorious over death </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>and we will be reunited with this special little girl one day, but for now it is a hard pill to swallow.) </span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04359383962614001836noreply@blogger.com0