tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63788035720218890482024-03-05T03:48:22.891-05:00always.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-65073461757094660962021-03-28T09:43:00.002-04:002021-03-28T09:43:40.356-04:00My hands. <p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">What did these hands do before?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I sit and catch my hands folded, always ready for a quick prayer. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I’ve noticed this happening more and more and it reminds me of my grandma. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Then I wonder, what did these idle hands do before. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Before they held the hand of a first love.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or a soldier boy on leave. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Before they had a band on them in wedded bliss. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">These hands held a baby full life. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">And another as she breathed her last. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">They held the hands of two toddlers at once. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">These hands aren’t currently needed for holding on to babies, although they soon will be again. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">But what about before? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Before all that? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">What did they do?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">They must have been empty...waiting. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Thank you Lord for filling them so greatly. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">(And now I have Jewel stuck in my head.)</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-79133880057376473362020-06-17T23:28:00.000-04:002020-06-17T23:28:40.763-04:00Hattie and Abner...also called "the tweedles"<br />
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I <a href="http://jmrockhill.blogspot.com/2016/04/there-was-time.html" target="_blank">wrote a bit about them a few years ago,</a> and not much has changed.<br />
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They are still inseparable. Occasionally, now that Eliza is home schooled she will mix things up, but a lot of time it is these two.<br />
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It is mostly cute, but we recently started calling them The Tweedles, because...well...it fits.<br />
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This name popped up after they had the grand idea to make homemade Sprite. The recipe? Water and hand soap. I found them in the kitchen eating watermelon to try and get the taste out of their mouth. Oh Tweedles.<br />
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Many times I have to remind Hattie that she is not his mother. It is so hard for her to understand that.<br />
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We had a few more years together before Eliza was home schooled, and sometimes I miss those days. With my two buddies.<br />
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The dress up days.<br />
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The snuggles.<br />
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The never ending play.<br />
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Wild imaginations.<br />
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And BIG love.<br />
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Abner refused to leave her side when she began Junior Kindergarten. Always sitting across from her. Never realized it was a problem, until we found out he only recognized his letters and numbers upside down! </div>
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She went through a big phase of rocking him, calling him her prince, tucking him in, and singing lullabies. </div>
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She was born to fuss.<br />
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Recently Abner talked about what would happen if James and I died, and Eliza was already an adult "Hattie and I would just have to live together until she got married."<br />
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They have never looked anything alike, but today Eliza was asked if they were twins. Nope, just The Tweedles.<br />
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If only everyone had a best friend that loved them as much as these two love each other.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-7605396686882050582020-05-28T08:38:00.002-04:002020-05-28T08:55:17.087-04:00on summer camp, and changing plans.Recently it was announced that Camp Lakeview had to cancel their normal summer camp due to Covid-19 restrictions. It is a sad time for so many kids, and here is another normal thing that changed.<br />
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As I was falling asleep last night I was thinking of the two camps that shaped so much of our childhood. Also how the story of us, wouldn't be a story at all without both of those camps. Just wanted to document how a little change in plans, many years before we met, set the course for us to become, us!<br />
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It's like God knew what he was doing. ;)<br />
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Camp Lutherhaven has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From work weekend, to chicken dinners, to my first cabin (7!) It was a constant, and a second home.<br />
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Camp Lakeview was a camp that served the southern part of the state. We didn't know anything about it until my oldest brother became a counselor there.<br />
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Here is where it all begins. James went to church at Grace Lutheran in Lafayette, Indiana. An hour south from where I lived. One Sunday his mom picked up a brochure for summer camp. She meant to grab the one for Lakeview, but instead got the one for Lutherhaven. I am so thankful she did.<br />
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He spent a few summers as a camper, met a counselor who would become a great friend/mentor to him.<br />
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After our time as campers, spending one week in the summer, we moved up to work kids. We would volunteer for 2 weeks, and help in the kitchen, with maintenance, and just enjoy making friends and helping.<br />
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After a few years of that I got to be a CIT (counselor-in-training) Still there for 2 weeks, but working alongside a counselor and being with the campers. (No more cleaning toilets!)<br />
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It was during those 2 weeks that I wrote in my journal "I met a cute work boy named Jamey."<br />
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The rest is history...<br />
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That church James attended in Lafayette? My brothers all started going to when we were at Purdue.<br />
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James and I broke up, for a time, but Grace continued to be our church.<br />
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My future sister-in-law took confirmation classes with the pastor.<br />
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My parents started attending when they needed a new church home.<br />
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Pastor Morrow was the officiant at all the Vandercar kids' weddings, and one Hildebrandt!<br />
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That counselor James had, Ben Haupt? He became a pastor and took a call to the first church James and I attended after we were married. Reunited in Georgia, and crazy enough, there was another counselor from Lutherhaven that attended that church too!<br />
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Ben baptized his Goddaughter, Eliza June.<br />
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He and Pastor Morrow, helped our new pastor (Josh Cook) with Delia's funeral. They were there as friends in the hospital, and Pastors when we needed guidance and support.<br />
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After working at Lutherhaven for a full summer as a counselor, I did go on and spend two amazing summers at "the other camp." It became home.<br />
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My brother Dav is now the Executive Director at Camp Lakeview. It was hard to see him make the announcement yesterday. I know how important camp is, for so many people. Kids, young adults, parents. It will be weird to not have that escape. Just remember that a change of plans, is still all part of His greater one. Who knows what this year will bring? I pray for happy, unexpected surprises. I know my life was changed by quite a few of those!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">20 years ago this summer! Outside the pavilion at Camp Lutherhaven.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-71105927017143407192019-11-29T17:32:00.003-05:002019-11-29T17:32:54.376-05:00how a recovering perfectionist takes on Christmas.alternately titled a sentimentalist realizes traditions come and go.<br />
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sometimes i sit and wonder how we got to where we are.<br /><br />i used to place each ornament carefully on the tree.<br />
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make sure everything was just right.<br /><br />obsess over details on things that most people wouldn't notice.<br />
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now i look at the Christmas tree that has ornaments tossed haphazardly and my heart is full.<br />
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i guess the easy answer is i had a child.<br />
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and another.<br />
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and another.<br />
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and another.<br />
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little by little they pecked away at those ocd tendencies that i thought were rooted deep.<br />
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another thought is that i and my dreams were uprooted.<br />
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from indiana, from georgia, from korea, from indiana, and finally to western nebraska.<br />
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with that went some ideas and traditions that we had, that we just couldn't keep.<br />
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in georgia, it was spending Christmas morning at our home.<br />
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in korea we had to settle for an artificial tree.<br />
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in indiana i thought we had it all figured out. our little home we built. our church. our Christmas tree farm. family close and able to stay in jammies on Christmas day.<br />
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then we were uprooted again and landed here.<br />
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i cried over the tree that first Christmas here.<br />
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broke down in the garage to my poor husband.<br />
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it was hard to lose some of our precious traditions. instead of Robert's Christmas Tree Farm, we settled for menards or bomgaars.<br />
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instead of being surrounded by family, we had each other.<br />
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but little by little we began our own new traditions. in this place, with these people.<br />
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this year, we didn't even pick up a tree together. i called james and he shoved one in his tiny toyota and brought it home.<br />
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and it was ok.<br />
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Eliza helped with the garland.<br />
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and it was ok.<br />
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i handed the kids most of the ornaments, and only adjusted a few.<br />
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and it was ok.<br />
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it was more than ok! i got to to sit back with my love and watch our children flit around excitedly.<br />
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there were no arguments when setting up the tree stand. no grumpiness. no annoyed spouses or whiny kids.<br />
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they even almost had me convinced to leave it in the middle of the room, "so we can see every side!"<br />
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i'm not there yet, but it sure is fun letting them take the lead!<br />
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i hope they remember the fun we have together, and the traditions are just an added bonus.<br />
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we got this...because we have each other.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">side note - james will probably laugh at this, because i am still crazy about certain things, and he is currently building a table for my mom's Christmas village i inherited. this was after he hung the classic c9 glass bulbs on our house, complaining about each one that was burned out. sorry dude! ;) i'm trying!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-13529277947287747022019-01-02T14:52:00.002-05:002019-04-16T19:59:13.720-04:00just enough...or why i am thankful i married an army boy.let me preface this by saying by no means do i think i have my life together. there are many days that i struggle with depression, my kids are monsters, my house is trashed, i am throwing scraps for lunch, and overall feeling like i can barely keep my head above water. i do however feel like i have learned a few tricks over the years to make my life as a stay at home mama easier, and i was compelled to share.<br />
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james and i grew up very differently. he is the oldest, i am the youngest. his mom had to work, mine stayed home. he had many responsibilities, mine didn't come until i left the house. (i remember him teaching me how to do laundry at my dorm. dude even knew to hang up bras!) he joined the army and i lived on my own, but still had to call my parents for the occasional loan for rent.<br />
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then we got married, and moved to georgia. i happily took on the housewife role, but i was still learning. did you know there are proper ways to fold t-shirts? and garbage can lids need to always be clean? that you must wipe down surfaces that are above your head? no, really...his years with his mom, and then in the army, made him a bit particular about certain things. then here i was, this organized chaos lover. over the years i feel like we have balanced each other well. he relaxed where he needed to, and i tightened up in the important things. kids will help that happen too!<br />
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kids, man, they can change your world and fill it with junk. some necessary, but some just to make your life a little easier, but not required. when we registered for our first baby i knew i wanted to keep that in mind. no diaper genie or wipes warmer on our list. just the basics. we have adopted the "just enough" attitude in many ways, and i really feel it has kept me sane.<br />
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we don't have a cabinet full of tupperware with missing lids. just a few glass storage containers. ball jars for the rest.<br />
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we used the same 3 glass bottles for all 3 kids. granted, i breastfed so bottles were rare, but we never did the bottle search. one kind and if they didn't like it, well, i guess they'd eat when they were hungry, or i came home and could nurse.<br />
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same with sippy cups, oh how i hated sippy cups. we kept it simple with just a handful, and they were used on multiple kids. no lost cups in the car if we only used one a day. the day we recycled our last kid dishes was a very happy one. now everyone drinks out of ball jars and they get corelle bowls and plates.<br />
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ditto on pacis, ours didn't use them often, but we never bought more.<br />
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the big one i have learned after an abundance of girl clothes is to simplify. i am doing enough laundry as it is. they don't need 20 outfits. (even though they are so cute!) if we pack for a week away, there is not much left in anyone's drawers. if we leave for two, we better have access to a washer and dryer.<br />
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same with socks and underwear, i don't know if i just got lucky, but i honestly do not understand the whole missing sock thing. feel free to punch me for that. ha!<br />
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shoes, baby shoes are adorable, but unnecessary. our kids have a pair of boots, church shoes (for the girls) sneakers, sandals and one pair of flip flops. i choose quality over quanity. buy bigger, and they can wear for two years.<br />
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minimal character toys...because they will just move on to the next and we'd be left with junk they don't care about. actually minimal toys too, because we've found ours just love a stack of paper and something to write with.<br />
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we bought each kid a kite for one of their first easters. a nice nylon one from target. after each flight we wrap it up and put it back in the sleeve. our oldest's kite is going on 8 years.<br />
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speaking of easter, we've also used the same grass and eggs every year for 10 years now!<br />
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i am also super crazy about keeping the fridge clean. the thought of mold makes me sick, so things get tossed out regularly and it usually looks like a bachelor's fridge when it's time to grocery shop again.<br />
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holiday decorations are reserved to just a few totes. we keep it simple all around. i would love to have a fancy house all decked out, but i also enjoy pulling out the same few decorations that we had our first Christmas together.<br />
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now all this said, i myself still struggle with certain things. mostly memory keeping. i have piles and piles of cards, and newspapers, and kid art. my hope chest is stuffed with photographs, journals, notebooks, letters, certificates. i am definitely a hoarder in that respect. the thing that has helped is moving often. first in the army, and now as a pastors wife, that is always a reality. with each move i realize more and more what i can toss and what i feel is worth holding on to.<br />
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after a few conversations, and a good post Christmas house clean, on top of the new year, i thought i would share a few of our minimalist ideas. something that works for us, in this season of our life. it is freeing and peaceful at the end of the day to have just a bit of cleaning to do. and if i ever need to keep myself in check i just think to myself...what would laura ingalls wilder have. it's a good rule!<br />
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enjoying the simple life, with 3 kids i need all the peace i can find!<br />
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now anyone have an extra hope chest or two?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">p.s. we are now the proud owners of a litter genie. had to laugh that we survived 3 kids, but not 1 cat without a system like that!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-79623951189330489852018-09-09T11:30:00.002-04:002018-09-09T11:31:43.475-04:00all the company of heaven.it goes without saying that i have no idea what heaven is actually like...<br />
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but i like to think that with each loss to our story here...delia's story grows.<br />
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she has a grandma to rock her.<br />
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a baby cousin to love on and play with.<br />
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her daddy's parishioner's to entertain, like her siblings have.<br />
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and now an uncle to sit with, to hear stories from, to chat and catch up with, to love her.<br />
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a week ago i sat at my uncle's funeral and it just did not seem real. it felt incomplete. all our family gathered together, but he was missing. there was a noticeable hole. so i take comfort that our loss, is heaven's gain.<br />
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and what a place to be.<br />
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1 Corinthians 15:55-57<br />
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O death, where is your victory?<br />
O death, where is your sting?<br />
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The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-13305861081442785372018-05-02T23:51:00.001-04:002018-05-03T00:00:58.804-04:00abner at 3 1/2...4th kid. dead blog. he doesn't have a whole lot documented. so i figured it was time for an update on our favorite boy.<br />
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he is very much in love with our cat, winston. they love to bug each other. when we first got winston and he would snuggle on abner, abner would say "he yike my body." :)<br />
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hattie and abner are also pretty inseparable. i was bummed for a little bit after we decided to home school the girls, that abner wouldn't get any one on one time with me. he is absolutely miserable to be around when hattie isn't home though. he is lost without her!<br />
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speaking of home school, hattie is in junior kindergarten now. abner sits in most days, so he has picked up on a great deal. he can count pretty high, write his name, recognizes most letters. it's pretty cool to watch! except when i realized he is learning everything upside down because he sits across from hattie. i think he has it figured out though!<br />
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this is what he does when he says something he shouldn't. he has been testing his limits a lot lately. if you discipline him he turns on you real quick. you could be his favorite one minute, and the next he is yelling "i don't yike you anymore! only daddy...and hattie...and ziza." it both frustrates me and makes me laugh.<br />
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he loves his cowboy boots, and was pretty proud when he got a cowboy hat. he doesn't realize just how much it sticks out though. when he first got it he ran into hattie with a "ohp! mine hat!"<br />
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he is gaining independence...finally. he will venture away from me. he goes to sunday school without me. he will play at the park without being stuck to me. he still has his moments and shadows me everywhere. so much that one day i told him he was no longer abner lee, he was now abner leech.<br />
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he is very much our shy guy, but i am able to encourage him a bit. this pic was after he carried his library books up to check out and say "may i haff these pease." i was super proud! many times he hides from people, not just unfamiliar ones, but everyone.<br />
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he's my little artist. constantly impressing me with paintings, drawings, creations. i hope his love for it continues to grow.<br />
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next to daddy, the ranch is high on his favorites list. especially if roger and colby are there. he talks about the cows and the 4 wheeler a lot. i love that they have a place to run, because we are definitely country people and not town dwellers.<br />
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he loves me a lot...when daddy is not around. he goes back and forth on who is his favorite, but he is such a lover. the best snuggle bug. thankfully he is still peanut sized, so he's easy to hold.<br />
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he loves his sleep, and i love him for it. many days we hear "i tired" and he enjoys naps still.<br />
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his dork status is reaching new levels. ones that would make uncle luke proud. but he is the cutest dork around.<br />
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we found out a year and a half ago that he has a subaortic membrane. he has to see the cardiologist every 6 months to get an echo cardiogram. he is a rock star patient. this time as soon as the doctor walked in the room he lifted his shirt up. he also has to see an ear, nose and throat doctor soon. his tonsils are rather large. i wish he didn't have to deal with any of this, but his attitude makes it easier.<br />
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and two random things, that i don't want to forget.<br />
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he created a card game. basically, you take turns drawing cards, but you hold them facing out. from what i gathered it's called "you have a pair!" ha!<br />
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and today he wanted a chance to bat with hattie's new t-ball bat and squishy ball. he lived up to his name, and hit it on the first try. i have high hopes for his baseball career. ;)<br />
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he is definitely the best thing that ever happened to us. God knew what he was doing when he surprised us with abner. his sisters love him like crazy, and he completes our family perfectly. our little caboose.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-42612882743497183602018-03-09T23:06:00.001-05:002018-03-09T23:15:03.053-05:00spoiling hattie.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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just wanted to remember this conversation with eliza...<br />
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after another hattie whine at bedtime, i was saying good night to eliza.<br />
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eliza - i just don't understand why she does that. it makes me mad.<br />
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me - i know. i don't understand either, but she is learning. you just need to keep showing her how to act, and hopefully she will figure the world out. do you know why daddy thinks she acts like that?<br />
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eliza - why?<br />
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me - because i spoiled her when she was a baby.<br />
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eliza - MAMA!<br />
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me - what?! sorry, i did.<br />
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eliza - how? why?<br />
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me - well, a lot of moms are nervous with their first kid. they fuss and worry, but i wasn't like that with you. i learned a lot from watching aunt tammy, and it was just fun. i was never nervous. then we lost delia, and you know what? when we had hattie, i was scared. i was nervous and i worried a lot. and she liked to be held, so i held her, because you didn't like to be. i gave her what she wanted, and spoiled her. but guess what else?<br />
<br />
eliza - what?<br />
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me - you spoil her too.<br />
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eliza - errrgggh...i know, but i like to be nice!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-29342109983949564072018-02-03T17:57:00.000-05:002018-02-03T17:57:34.364-05:00another plan that wasn't ours.train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. proverbs 22:6<br />
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let's go back to when james was in the army. you could have heard me say things like "i just want to be settled by the time the kids are in school." at that time we only had eliza and it would be years before she would begin. little did i know, james would get called into the ministry and a new life of uncertainty would be upon us. </div>
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eliza started kindergarten in our comfortable country lutheran school. i was all set for her to be there throughout. to one day have her aunt as her teacher. to share recess and lunch with her cousins and best friend. </div>
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God had other plans. </div>
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plans that would start by taking us to western nebraska. </div>
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the days, weeks, months before call day i said that a school was at the top of my list. sure distance would be hard, but we had been to korea after all. i just wanted a lutheran school, and i wanted the kids to be settled and not have to switch schools.</div>
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<br /></div>
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so when we heard the words crawford and harrison nebraska, in the wyoming district, i was shocked. the distance must be great, but my initial prayer was "please let there be a school." and i was disappointed when we found out there wasn't one.</div>
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"i will NEVER homeschool."</div>
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that was another thing i often said. sure my degree was in early childhood. i could handle preschool, but i did not have the patience to teach my own children past that. </div>
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and yet here we are. diving in to that world.</div>
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when we moved out here, eliza started at the public school, and it's been a great experience. she has had wonderful teachers, but that hasn't stopped us from wanting more. we knew when she left the lutheran school setting we were going to have to pick up some new routines at home. i wanted her to still have that education. memory work, bible lessons. we have since begun matins in the morning, and learning the catechism at night. it has helped us. it has brought us together as a family, but also made that desire for more grow stronger.</div>
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we discussed homeschooling last summer, but it was late in the game, and i was so scared to move eliza again. 3 schools in 3 years? when i always wanted them to be settled, we can't drop this bomb on her. so back to public school she went. hattie is preschool age now, and so we tested the waters. we bought a curriculum and did a formal junior kindergarten with her at home. see how it goes, and maybe this would be something we could do in the future. </div>
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between that, and what we are doing as a family, i am just blown away.</div>
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<br /></div>
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to hear your 3 year old recite the books of the bible, or your 5 year old belt out the venite, or your 8 year old tell you the meaning of the 10 commandments, it sparks something.</div>
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i realize more and more that they only get this one chance at an education. i want more for them, not state standards, but ours. and if we can't be in a place where a school is, we can make one. we can do this, and we can do it together!</div>
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i never imagined we would be here. not only in western nebraska, but also facing a year of homeschool. </div>
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i realize that He had this plan all along. because of it we get to be active and involved in training our children.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br />what a blessing that is!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-84240361028408648002017-07-19T00:38:00.002-04:002017-07-19T01:29:01.738-04:0017 years ago...i was a 17 year old girl. volunteering at camp for 2 weeks.<br />
<br />
i met a boy.<br />
<br />
we shared my first kiss.<br />
<br />
and life would never be the same.<br />
<br />
that's the short story.<br />
<br />
but there is so much more.<br />
<br />
i documented everything in my journals.<br />
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we exchanged numbers. home numbers.<br />
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we kept in touch through icq, aim, and yahoo messenger. yes...icq.<br />
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i didn't have my license so ma had to drive me an hour to visit him.<br />
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we'd swing through the drive thru of burger king just so he and i could flirt.<br />
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he came to my homecoming dance.<br />
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we thought ahead and lied about his age, so when the time came he could go to my prom.<br />
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we left messages on answering machines.<br />
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we wrote notes...not texts.<br />
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he was there at my graduation open house.<br />
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he helped move me in to my dorm freshman year.<br />
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we held hands on the night of 9-11.<br />
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we held each other.<br />
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we couldn't get in touch over the phone when my roommate was on the internet.<br />
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we went to my first frat party.<br />
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we took selfies without being able to see them instantly.<br />
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we fell in love.<br />
<br />
but i was young...and he was younger.<br />
<br />
and we broke up.<br />
<br />
i drowned myself in dashboard confessional and incubus.<br />
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i wrote poems.<br />
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i wrote letters to him that i'd never send.<br />
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i burned his stuff and he got rid of mine.<br />
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i was a brokenhearted college kid. it was insufferable.<br />
<br />
(seriously, reading my journals, i'm pretty sure i defined emo.)<br />
<br />
years passed.<br />
<br />
we got lost in others.<br />
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we both grew up.<br /><br />we found ourselves.<br />
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but neither one of us forgot.<br />
<br />
and then myspace happened.<br />
<br />
and we found each other.<br />
<br />
a slow restart, but a restart.<br />
<br />
now a college graduate and a soldier.<br />
<br />
letters written.<br />
<br />
yahoo video chat.<br />
<br />
skype.<br />
<br />
cell phone calls.<br />
<br />
voicemails.<br />
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a deployment.<br />
<br />
10 years ago he proposed.<br />
<br />
he was in afghanistan, and i was in indiana.<br />
<br />
things were still difficult, but we were together.<br />
<br />
right where we were supposed to be all along.<br />
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more years have passed.<br />
<br />
and i still can't believe that i get to be with that cute workboy from camp.<br />
<br />
always...always.<br />
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p.s. alone in my car tonight, i listened to that dashboard cd. i could still belt every. single. word.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-55532328455977185592017-05-29T13:26:00.002-04:002017-05-29T14:25:00.748-04:00remembering...not celebrating.8 years ago i was a new army wife. there was a baby in my belly. we went to a memorial day service in georgia. i remember being filled with pride for my soldier. i'm sure i was smiling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWp9BkbLkQXrF0XvujlmXqdf1xrEjJU41O7K2rYGCqRxP04feNdDveQ9FhfryYuRk3CQPqfnACyih9WDVOoVLGbrb6wovBLnqJIQc8Y4fO-yJWc5evZ1LXrCUv9iiAJU-KX1gzVZGkGMW/s1600/4405_804420587668_6888036_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWp9BkbLkQXrF0XvujlmXqdf1xrEjJU41O7K2rYGCqRxP04feNdDveQ9FhfryYuRk3CQPqfnACyih9WDVOoVLGbrb6wovBLnqJIQc8Y4fO-yJWc5evZ1LXrCUv9iiAJU-KX1gzVZGkGMW/s640/4405_804420587668_6888036_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
3 years ago (in march) i was no longer an army wife. there was a baby in my belly, and two by my side. we went to a funeral in georgia. the same cemetery as before. i remember being filled with sadness for my friend. i'm sure i was crying.<br />
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there is nothing more humbling than a military funeral.<br />
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it changed everything.<br />
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i've seen a lot of memes about how it's not "happy memorial day" i'm sure i've said that at some point in my life. now i realize that this day is more than that. to the families left behind that word "happy" really stings.<br />
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be careful with your words.<br />
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instead, pray for the husbands and wives, the parents, the children, siblings...let them know that you remember. go to a service. put out your flag. be thankful that there are people out there willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.<br />
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this year i'm a pastor's wife. there are three kids by my side. we went to a service at a cemetery. james got the honor to speak. i reminded the kids why we are going. who we are honoring. that we are remembering. not celebrating.<br />
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John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-87352417020184560292016-11-11T15:11:00.001-05:002016-11-11T15:11:45.099-05:00dinovember and bible journaling.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
two things that have given my mind a break from the world this november. </div>
<br />on tuesday, before eliza went to bed she wanted to know who was elected president. i told her i would tell her in the morning. then i remembered we had some presidential flashcards and instead she woke up to this...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZvs4wPiNv91CxnKFPFdF5sAL7uEQgiK3Hc1ZLhTQ8r1u_wmNpXfar19l0HnHg8hUuyd7YY4M16vw-ayPfYjc8F-7h_G-dSEegEr297aglD64WhR0e_ktYPAnBg4Lp85x6CrW8LlMjfzd/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZvs4wPiNv91CxnKFPFdF5sAL7uEQgiK3Hc1ZLhTQ8r1u_wmNpXfar19l0HnHg8hUuyd7YY4M16vw-ayPfYjc8F-7h_G-dSEegEr297aglD64WhR0e_ktYPAnBg4Lp85x6CrW8LlMjfzd/s400/image1.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />after sharing on fb, and the kids waking up and discovering what the dinosaurs did, i added "this became a great teaching moment and if i was more articulate i could explain better. went to bed reading posts like "what do i tell my child now?" and reminiscing of that election 8 years ago. pregnant with our first baby and thinking "do we really want to bring kids into this world?" but then as they took turns holding up cards and testing my u.s. history, i thought "this isn't the first time parents went to bed wondering what to say to their kids, and it certainly won't be the last last." but i am my kids mama, not anyone else. i can teach them, show them, love them. the world is not ending because of this. life will continue as it did 8 years ago, and all the years before. so what do i tell my kids? "we have a new president. history was made. the world may be scary at times, but we have the comfort of knowing this world is not our home. He has a far better plan than any of us can imagine."<br /><br />and He does! and i will teach them, show them, and love them.<br /><br />which brings me to bible journaling. as the election drew closer, i found myself in His word more. just praying, focusing, thinking of our country and it's future. i journaled a few different pages. one specifically for the election. i messed it up so many times, but joked that it gave me more time to pray.<br /><br />focused on the verse...<br /><i><br />Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. </i>Romans 12:12<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswMKH0PiyGHwTZufSfO2TgYoBhJEu7R6q50ocN9RHH79XD6Br8kZCqICy8-DH-p4wyIcwvgTGpwz4WKAhgnSQ9Ham00uMOU_BIOVTk_m-NFflfj9ri2AIg2nCqIv2091yyTFOfDbVbxxX/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswMKH0PiyGHwTZufSfO2TgYoBhJEu7R6q50ocN9RHH79XD6Br8kZCqICy8-DH-p4wyIcwvgTGpwz4WKAhgnSQ9Ham00uMOU_BIOVTk_m-NFflfj9ri2AIg2nCqIv2091yyTFOfDbVbxxX/s640/image2.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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and then the last few days happened. and i went back to my bible. flipped open to this page again, and realized it was perfectly placed next to another page i had done. this one back in april.<br /><br />focused on the verse...<br /><br /><i>May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. </i>Romans 15:5-6<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX45nsudslQa71zJxzCdEM96eum9CkAw_29ztpMlkOEbaN5DefkI2t9xoWlrYIKfrVCMAoUhyphenhyphenMKGgC6lPF_9K9YZylaV_aBvdHHq1eFbPHsrH9D5i_dOwV61z298YkWn_7rjLHe_Gsq5/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX45nsudslQa71zJxzCdEM96eum9CkAw_29ztpMlkOEbaN5DefkI2t9xoWlrYIKfrVCMAoUhyphenhyphenMKGgC6lPF_9K9YZylaV_aBvdHHq1eFbPHsrH9D5i_dOwV61z298YkWn_7rjLHe_Gsq5/s640/image3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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and right smack between the two is "do not pass judgement on one another" in chapter 14. you should read it. good stuff!<br />
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all i have to say is "wow God." thank you for always leading me to your Word. my prayer is that others would be brought to it too.<br />
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and because it's veteran's day...go thank one, our dinosaurs did. ;)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-5515140963248008842016-07-28T11:17:00.002-04:002016-07-28T11:23:59.974-04:00"two of us...""you and me sunday driving..."<br />
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on the last leg of our drive last sunday, the beatles' "two of us" came on. i had to smile thinking of our wedding and how many of their songs we had played at the reception. now, here we were, another new chapter, another song.<br /><br />"we're on our way home. we're going home."<br /><br />the end of july has always been kind of a big deal for us. it's when we met, 16 years ago. it's when he proposed, 9 years ago. it was the fun week before we got married, 8 years ago. when we moved home from korea, 5 years ago. and now this...another new adventure.<br />
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"you and i have memories, longer than the road that stretches out ahead."<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-67379359586855709652016-06-06T12:36:00.000-04:002016-06-06T12:36:06.306-04:00two of my favorite camping moments...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFF638wxLiwkl3fHQ-ZGGDe6UFKo5nbd0hNLc2vMsdnMbSMeRsZVX4Z1NMU2DVVJHJQhOsPNgWZHNnQcmPChq5qwjqBZuL8qI3pJA6TCK9v-nBpE7vGk5ec8eDVCyq_Np-ezV_62MSg6g/s1600/DSC_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFF638wxLiwkl3fHQ-ZGGDe6UFKo5nbd0hNLc2vMsdnMbSMeRsZVX4Z1NMU2DVVJHJQhOsPNgWZHNnQcmPChq5qwjqBZuL8qI3pJA6TCK9v-nBpE7vGk5ec8eDVCyq_Np-ezV_62MSg6g/s640/DSC_0917.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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our friend josh was cooking bacon over the fire for everyone. he had a plate on the ground, and a few of us grabbed a piece to eat while he cooked the rest. abner climbs down from his camping chair, struts over, grabs a piece, and promptly walks back to his seat. we were all cracking up. mostly because he did it all without saying anything, looking at anyone to see if it was ok, no hesitation. he is awesome.</div>
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the second happened when we came across this bus on one of the trails. we continued on, but then looped back. as we walked on the other side of the bus hattie exclaims "another bus!" we laughed, and tried to tell her it was the same one. grannie stopped by for a visit and hattie told her about it, then laughed and said "mama said it was the same bus...(crazy laughing) BUT IT WASN'T!"<br /><br />love making these camping memories!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-69278164749208698502016-05-12T11:24:00.002-04:002016-05-12T19:48:59.008-04:00why i color (and paint!) in my bible.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
i started this endeavor thinking about seeing handwritten notes of my grandma's and journals from my nanny (great grandma) i envisioned my daughters (or son!) future granddaughters (or sons!) finding this bible and growing closer to Him. i wanted to leave notes for them. passages to reference, memories about certain verses. "we used this at your sister's funeral" "this was read at our wedding." "remember this, even in the hard times..." "this is my favorite!" i wanted something to pass on. </div>
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journaling is so intimate, but i feel the push to at least share the illustrations. if one person is inspired, then it's worth it. i poured over images for almost 6 months. then sat with an empty bible for another few months until i got the courage to make that first mark. i stayed in the margins for awhile, but once i ventured out, there was no turning back. i still want to make sure i can read all the scriptures. it's not my only bible, but i'm not sure james could handle if i did anymore. ;)</div>
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if i had one piece of advice it would be to just dive in. open up your bible, grab a marker or paintbrush and just drop it anywhere. get that first mark over with! i am such a perfectionist, and this has been so freeing. one thing that i can just let go, shrug my shoulders, and know that it doesn't matter the outcome of the illustration. what matters is what i gain from it. from the process. from the studying. from the One that gives me art. He gave me this, and His word, and this is how i choose to spend my time with Him. definitely learning more and asking james more questions, and finding myself craving bible studies. </div>
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i've been so inspired by others, thought i would pass it on, and maybe spark something. here are some of my favorites i have done. a few are copycats from ones i found on instagram, pinterest, or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/illustrateYOURfaith/" target="_blank">journaling bible community. </a></div>
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i love the feeling of stumbling upon something at just the right moment. i love when eliza asks if she can draw something. i love hattie asking if i'm reading my bible. i love looking up and seeing abner peeking at me over the table while he colors. just being an example to them. i want them to always know where to turn. </div>
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need to add nebraska!</div>
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one of my favorites.<br />
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product of girls' weekend.<br />
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my second entry.<br />
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my first double page complete. (done at separate times)<br />
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eliza's first. it was so scary to let her go, but i am so happy i did!</div>
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this one will always be special.<br />
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documenting a crazy 7 days in april. so many emotions.<br />
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my first entry. those flowers were on the bulletin at delia's funeral, and that was a verse that resonated with us.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-2346828847003502282016-05-11T09:07:00.002-04:002016-05-11T09:12:50.513-04:00there have been so many times...that i wanted to share about one of my new passions, <a href="https://www.illustratedfaith.com/blog/" target="_blank">bible journaling</a>, but i just haven't.<br />
<br />
it's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me.<br />
<br />
i am deeper in the Word than i think i ever have been (even when i committed to reading the bible in a year)<br />
<br />
i am constantly amazed at the way God leads me to a certain passage.<br />
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i get so excited when it all just falls into place.<br />
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today marks 5 years since <a href="http://jmrockhill.blogspot.com/2011/05/our-story.html" target="_blank">that</a> ultrasound. of course jj heller's "your hands" has been on my mind. it was on <a href="http://jmrockhill.blogspot.com/2011/05/song-of-day.html" target="_blank">repeat</a> those first few days.<br />
<br />
i googled a bit about it, just to see where she got the inspiration to write it, what verses she was inspired by, and came across an interview where she quoted proverbs 3:5-6.<br />
<br />
i open up my bible to read it again, and see if i have illustrated it yet, only to find that it is the passage i had bookmarked to work on next.<br />
<br />
and i just look up, smile and say..."i get it."<br />
<br />
thanks God!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-71322842881606611722016-04-20T13:06:00.002-04:002016-04-20T13:09:05.749-04:00there was a time...that i really wanted 2 kids under 2.<br />
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it's how far my brothers and i were spaced.<br />
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everyone i knew had it.<br />
<br />
i thought it would be great.<br />
<br />
then God had other plans.<br />
<br />
eliza and delia technically made 2 under 2, but we would never see their relationship bloom.<br />
<br />
after hattie arrived, i came to love and appreciate the space between the two. it was better than i could have imagined.<br />
<br />
i wondered why more people didn't go that route.<br />
<br />
eliza was old enough to help and appreciate hattie.<br />
<br />
hattie looked up to eliza and they loved on each other.<br />
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all was well.<br />
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then abner happened.<br />
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and i freaked.<br />
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2 under 2? this will be crazy. people do this? really funny God!<br />
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but you know what?<br />
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it's also better than i could have imagined.<br />
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i call them my mwf buddies.<br />
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eliza is in school those days, and i love when it's just the three of us.<br />
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hattie gets to be the big sister.<br />
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abner soaks up being the little brother, but tries so hard to follow.<br />
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they are both awkward. stumbling. needing to be on my lap at the same time. still, at 19 months and 3.<br />
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they fight over me.<br />
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they fight over toys.<br />
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they make each other laugh.<br />
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they are a cart full at the store, or the two cuties holding hands.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">if i time it right they nap at the same time.</span><br />
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they were two babies in a diaper change line up.<br />
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they can share diapers if hattie runs out of bedtime pull ups.<br />
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story time could be combined.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvUUYImzNiXNUmwLcYYPjUjmyhbq2U3IAf_eqaVuG5zVYYbtah39Adzgp2gjghpUhyphenhyphenuzvZ4i35WjOlYBs3VmfyUzmib6pSLWDkLGarwi465oPJGInXbeqRlxvj_5g0fUnYdZc-2G-BOMu/s1600/IMG_5802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvUUYImzNiXNUmwLcYYPjUjmyhbq2U3IAf_eqaVuG5zVYYbtah39Adzgp2gjghpUhyphenhyphenuzvZ4i35WjOlYBs3VmfyUzmib6pSLWDkLGarwi465oPJGInXbeqRlxvj_5g0fUnYdZc-2G-BOMu/s640/IMG_5802.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
they are so close.<br />
<br />
i love watching their relationship grow.<br />
<br />
it's amazing...and exhausting. i'm so thankful God had other plans for us!<br />
<br />
side note - it is so funny to take them out, looks wise they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. it feels a little weird. i assume people judge they have different dads, or they aren't both mine! eliza is the one that connects the two. we miss her while she's at school, but life is definitely easier when you take one kid out of the mix. ;)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-85459574264054131872015-09-21T17:41:00.001-04:002015-09-21T17:41:29.282-04:00rookie of the year!happy 1st birthday abner lee!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
you stole all our hearts when you rushed into this world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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you rocked your rookie year. looking forward to many more!</div>
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we love you little bug.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd7PbwyDZ6Pk3IgDZ8XdBBl7FV8NOiQSWy2nszuEUqiL8uiaAvqEq4pvOV4IoM6e27WKtpT4pJxW9jqYQxUGlpdBDMJMM7oZoZaWWegMeGHYrrOJFqhpENQ6TUyE1HVdnklGGYN77Ohvb/s1600/DSC_3075+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd7PbwyDZ6Pk3IgDZ8XdBBl7FV8NOiQSWy2nszuEUqiL8uiaAvqEq4pvOV4IoM6e27WKtpT4pJxW9jqYQxUGlpdBDMJMM7oZoZaWWegMeGHYrrOJFqhpENQ6TUyE1HVdnklGGYN77Ohvb/s640/DSC_3075+%25282%2529.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
<div>
(you can't see his shirt, but it is perfect. orange and blue, his colors. a baseball player, his game. the number 4, his number. and it says rookie all star, which was the theme of his birthday party!)</div>
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<div>
(oh, and that stadium seat? it was from comiskey. i have two, 13 and 15. thought this one was fitting for the year!)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-45974193388804720022015-08-31T10:43:00.003-04:002015-08-31T10:43:51.375-04:00abner is (was) 11 months.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_2mryctrQLLZdpRSJmV9Gqd2K2fyEsZCpw3SuPxgys6HGdGgEym7kcnNEARzgwjBMG-2zUl82QJLrQEC3SY0BACthtMThw5sEcjHNq8ySYKtTu9-U8z8iZVb8Px7GGYqSPXQEF6DXRH2/s1600/DSC_2872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_2mryctrQLLZdpRSJmV9Gqd2K2fyEsZCpw3SuPxgys6HGdGgEym7kcnNEARzgwjBMG-2zUl82QJLrQEC3SY0BACthtMThw5sEcjHNq8ySYKtTu9-U8z8iZVb8Px7GGYqSPXQEF6DXRH2/s640/DSC_2872.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
abner likes...<br /><br />crawling away.<br />laughing.<br />smiling.<br />being a joy.<br />cruising.<br />snuggles.<br />biting out of love.<br />his woobie.<br />flapping his arms.<br />climbing stairs.<br />swinging.<br />baths.<br />exploring.<br />eating.<br />being the best brother ever.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-54544111136947748352015-08-05T21:19:00.001-04:002015-08-05T21:20:02.301-04:00abner is (was) 10 months.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and i'm still in denial.</div>
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abner likes...<br />
cruising.<br />
biting.<br />
smashing his face into blankets.<br />
his sisters.<br />
swinging.<br />
water.<br />
eating.<br />
being outside.<br />
making noise with toys. banging hammers against the floor.<br />
playing in his own room.<br />
exploring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-40127771339073023532015-07-26T21:27:00.000-04:002015-07-26T21:27:04.632-04:00hattie at 2 1/2.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMaE2LmjjQcee_hr9uOLZcaH1QgfJFHLMMtgPKHGjlQS9Ep_efHk6lCubNxNU3VIfDLvw2aoajHCz34d__DgyLOH6_QAeG7i7NFqnfFbbJ-EwNlIZp6z92QMeJ38YytCThKc_jky_h77Z/s1600/DSC_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMaE2LmjjQcee_hr9uOLZcaH1QgfJFHLMMtgPKHGjlQS9Ep_efHk6lCubNxNU3VIfDLvw2aoajHCz34d__DgyLOH6_QAeG7i7NFqnfFbbJ-EwNlIZp6z92QMeJ38YytCThKc_jky_h77Z/s640/DSC_2480.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
she is intense.<br />
<br />she is a mess.<br />
<br />
she is the best 'nuggler.<br />
<br />
she is passionate...or just stubborn and dramatic.<br />
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she is eliza's shadow and echo.<br />
<br />
she loves to love on abner.<br />
<br />
she loves to show him that she is bigger.<br />
<br />
her prayers are awesome.<br />
<br />
her eyes are killer.<br />
<br />
her laugh even more so.<br />
<br />
she moves at her own pace...her very own, very slow, pace. my little duck always trailing behind.<br />
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she is day time potty trained, and goes without being prompted!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMOm0JviIjtJlHlK6a1GBvOTfrlJ4Zh9zf76Fem3QhVT8BR0x0rCPXZMRtRH8i1KM9QiYtGw72RI3YOEyyb68N4a56wZ4rrMyLEmUVcoAM6Pt7lBffEygi8HvkTdtDrhZb2YOmJuNGhUg/s1600/DSC_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMOm0JviIjtJlHlK6a1GBvOTfrlJ4Zh9zf76Fem3QhVT8BR0x0rCPXZMRtRH8i1KM9QiYtGw72RI3YOEyyb68N4a56wZ4rrMyLEmUVcoAM6Pt7lBffEygi8HvkTdtDrhZb2YOmJuNGhUg/s640/DSC_2565.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
her baby is her most prized possession...next to food.<br />
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this girl can eat, and eat, and eat.<br />
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she tries hard to sing her abcs.<br />
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she can count to 15...even though i never worked with her.<br />
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she knows the colors of the rainbow...also not my doing!<br />
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she may be a bigger klutz than me.<br />
<br />
she is still a mama's girl. on long drives it's torture that i can't hold her. "i need you! i 'nuggle you!"<br />
<br />
but daddy is okay too.<br />
<br />
nana is way up there on her list.<br />
<br />
sometimes she just needs a hand to hold, an arm to lean on, a leg to grab...physical touch is her thing.<br />
<br />
she is learning the ways of the world...especially when daddy is around.<br />
<br />
some days it is tough.<br />
<br />
i feel like she is older than she is, but i know that is eliza's influence.<br />
<br />
she talks a ton and is as crazy as can be...until people come over, or we go somewhere.<br />
<br />
she puts on a big front.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(thanks aunt corinne for this shot!)</span><br /><br />
i feel like songs will be written about her.<br />
<br />
she is wild, she is sweet, she is stubborn, she is moody, she is hilarious, she is dorky, she is everything.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-86959927261833110342015-07-01T21:43:00.001-04:002015-07-01T21:43:30.367-04:00abner is (was) nine months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
and keeping us on our toes!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_N8bKVK_ljAYQi2eyxFPj4k8COgtUbQ2WR9Tjzw-laN8h8eipyfnRR_l1HxsWVZH4XvaDC6wFeyZx14qXzgukj-Y5vmRwZuWD1TNFtl81W9c-7E9RV_lVUMxvcjGKXQdhmVZsLfl5TGO/s640/DSC_2316.JPG" width="428" /></div>
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abner likes...</div>
crawling.<br />going from sitting to crawling to sitting again.<br />standing against furniture.<br />flirting.<br />screaming like he is in a lot of pain when he wants to nurse.<br />biting everything.<br />laughing at his sisters.<br />exploring the house.<br />banging toys against the floor, a chair, the table.<br />water...baths or swimming.<br />hanging out with daddy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN69l_3ixKs9UW0teBBDQhNJ-D9GLnvv6Iotci8rJDAE4WBLDBcE55L0pZR9iU3B-41mVcE6Q7NXjSDD6pnex2qF66fFTeIaUnVJXsRwAHfBhsluixz_kn6kWog3nPmtixLYgGhXSOl9va/s1600/anine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN69l_3ixKs9UW0teBBDQhNJ-D9GLnvv6Iotci8rJDAE4WBLDBcE55L0pZR9iU3B-41mVcE6Q7NXjSDD6pnex2qF66fFTeIaUnVJXsRwAHfBhsluixz_kn6kWog3nPmtixLYgGhXSOl9va/s640/anine.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />man this is getting harder and harder. he is keeping us so busy, but i also think i just want to prolong his first year. i cannot believe how old he is getting. dude has a ton of teeth. he weighs 21 pounds. as i lug him around it's hard to remember my little 36 weeker. he wants to go so bad. he is all over the place, and trying to cruise around furniture. active guy, but still as sweet as can be! he's happy 90% of the time. so quiet and content. this month was a little rougher though, getting 4 top teeth at once will do that you. extra snuggles and tickles help ease the pain. now, if we could just find a way to stop him from getting too big!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-19079557340975624732015-05-29T21:57:00.002-04:002015-05-29T23:13:14.701-04:00abner is (was) eight months.crazy. crazy. crazy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_RrqN2IVeSwDaNzin7gqXE203_oYQoDmTciSEn74LvH7NbOA8BlYEsAIEg5IcRLh2oJFQAZ_6iwV2HO7Qi3tSyyrgEtaqvhyu6XSFEJmzJppBHJhmjv4P-Ske_u9F-1dC4jCSzM5QLQ-/s1600/DSC_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_RrqN2IVeSwDaNzin7gqXE203_oYQoDmTciSEn74LvH7NbOA8BlYEsAIEg5IcRLh2oJFQAZ_6iwV2HO7Qi3tSyyrgEtaqvhyu6XSFEJmzJppBHJhmjv4P-Ske_u9F-1dC4jCSzM5QLQ-/s640/DSC_1840.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
abner likes...<br />
army crawling.<br />
exploring food.<br />
sucking his fingers.<br />
laughing.<br />
standing up. don't you dare try to make him sit.<br />
finding the smallest speck on the floor and going for it.<br />
being determined.<br />
playing outside.<br />
water.<br />
snuggles.<br />
playing with toys.<br />
time with daddy.<br />
smiling at his sisters.<br />
being happy. "does he ever cry?"<br />
complaining about teeth. "yes, yes he does."<br />
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the months continue to pass quickly, but are filled with so much fun now that you can really see his personality shine. he plays, he laughs, he lets you know if he doesn't like something. he gets to where he wants to be. we went on our first camping trip as a family of five and to keep him contained we brought a blow up pool. worked great to let him have freedom, but keep him safe! he got his first glimpse of lake michigan, and loved the sand and water. he is very intrigued with beer. makes his daddy proud. continues to be so easy going. and that fedora. oh how i thought they were silly for babies, but when you have a kid that doesn't bother taking it off? it's irresistible. nana has said often that i am so in love with him, and he is so in love with me too. it's true. he stole our hearts. his sisters are still enamored, although he is slightly less cool since he can now eat crayons or grab ninja turtles...and hair! :) just getting a head start on the sister torment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-85752596768503976332015-05-28T16:28:00.000-04:002015-05-28T16:28:16.276-04:00conversations with eliza.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLr8vyjqXGp6Vie8PTlPuVGkWUEGreNo-njtGF-iIrNpkxj8sF42wOe6_UrUYqP8TRjQiDKj-V9ckj7k_R1I9BY1A1cmZCAWwP56cE-oJUvD03aJN4bAyao_EVtGPniQ9vbJiCcrug5s7/s1600/DSC_1901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLr8vyjqXGp6Vie8PTlPuVGkWUEGreNo-njtGF-iIrNpkxj8sF42wOe6_UrUYqP8TRjQiDKj-V9ckj7k_R1I9BY1A1cmZCAWwP56cE-oJUvD03aJN4bAyao_EVtGPniQ9vbJiCcrug5s7/s640/DSC_1901.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
eliza - "i just want to wear this shirt, but i don't like the white sox."<br />
<br />me - "excuse me?"<br /><br />eliza - "i don't like the white sox."<br /><br />me - "that's not ok."<br /><br />eliza - "what...i just like the bears and colts!"<br /><br />me - "well, that is football. you can still like the white sox."<br /><br />eliza - "i just don't like them."<br /><br />nana - "what are you? a cubs fan?!"<br /><br />eliza - "oooh! that sounds pretty! i like the cubs!"<br /><br />me - "just go. get out of my house!"<br /><br />eliza - "why?"<br /><br />me - "you can't like them. they are a horrible team!"<br /><br />eliza (growing concerned) - "why? what do they do?"<br /><br />me - "THEY LOSE!"<br />
<br />
it took a phone call to uncle luke, but we got her straightened out. "well, i like them...i just don't love them!"<br />
<br />
james told her just to say she doesn't like baseball. we can accept that. not liking the sox? that requires an intervention.<br />
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<br />
also, she requested that abner wear his baseball shirt today. so fitting for our home baby!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378803572021889048.post-11174403241305422802015-05-05T21:20:00.003-04:002015-05-05T21:20:47.879-04:00abner is (was) seven months.and i took the picture, then we left for a week. so here it, finally, is...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh21CQXsK5tB30Kyy7rI5WUM3w93s4qgfxichkmT23Gk708dGqkh7uKE0ak88tJfkbMfyvxdybxRDufXGf8X3DKzRZ2oSj1bqz2hNaTEJUN8-ZMosYw9lpxyHuGBMNXep_uOdDu_-tGw/s1600/DSC_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh21CQXsK5tB30Kyy7rI5WUM3w93s4qgfxichkmT23Gk708dGqkh7uKE0ak88tJfkbMfyvxdybxRDufXGf8X3DKzRZ2oSj1bqz2hNaTEJUN8-ZMosYw9lpxyHuGBMNXep_uOdDu_-tGw/s1600/DSC_1391.JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
abner likes...<br />his sisters.<br />trying to crawl.<br />being awesome.<br />smiling.<br />laughing.<br />flirting.<br />stealing hearts.<br />his woobie.<br />showers.<br />standing...all. the. time. (with assistance)<br />shrieking.<br />sucking his thumb.<br />getting his head scratched.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXHsThZR-iCNCq76nvas70WpveP2H3fYd06d2SnjtHJg207bHDj_rLPsEYYRDmjs75rJpc7P6DjRl1PKmJRg1yNK2g7MN58jzLWeEwn96w7V7sM4JwlM7zXp-TezH4AOeXchnB35pFiI/s1600/aseven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXHsThZR-iCNCq76nvas70WpveP2H3fYd06d2SnjtHJg207bHDj_rLPsEYYRDmjs75rJpc7P6DjRl1PKmJRg1yNK2g7MN58jzLWeEwn96w7V7sM4JwlM7zXp-TezH4AOeXchnB35pFiI/s1600/aseven.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
seriously...this kid is awesome. he had a few more ear infections, that gave us a bit of a run, but overall he is one happy kid. i have said he's the best of both worlds. eliza hated snuggles, hattie couldn't get enough, he is cool one way or another. "oh! we get to snuggle? that's cool." "oh. you can't hold me right now...i'm fine with that too." mellow. we started exploring with food. not eating a whole lot yet, but enjoying some here and there. he grew his first two teeth. i was not ready for that goofy gummy grin to disappear! we lowered his crib this month, and removed the bumper. that made for some silly sleeps. it also gives the girls a chance to peek at him when they wake up in the morning. he puts up with being on the inside of the bars pretty well while they bounce around making faces. it is still all about abner around here. guess that is standard for the baby of the family. we are all just enamored with this boy of ours!<br />
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