tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76549882001279854952024-03-05T19:55:02.526-05:00The Earley DaysThe crazy life and times of our family. Now, I will have everything documented for us all if we ever end up in therapy later.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-82279669521580928992011-01-27T20:33:00.000-05:002011-01-27T20:33:06.596-05:00Following God - even when it's not convenient.Lately, I have been pondering a thought that permeates all elements of my life, I just cannot figure out how to word in a witty and concise way. Maybe some of you can help.<br />
<br />
I coach gymnastics in the evenings and we tell our girls that they will never get stronger without conditioning. We relate it to school and any thing else that we can think of to make them understand a little better. Since I coach a younger team, they always look to the big girls and want to do what they are doing. We tell them that if their arms are not strong enough to do a pull up and a push up, then they will not be strong enough to support them in a back handspring.<br />
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I have caught myself using this thought process in other parts of my life as well. If you want to improve at anything, you must, at some point, become uncomfortable. If you want to become a black belt at martial arts, you are going to have to work through the other belts first. You will have to get some bruises in order to learn how to block. In order to learn how to dive, you will have to learn how to drive your heels up and hold your body tight. You will go through several belly flops before you become strong enough to dive correctly.<br />
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In other words, you are perfectly prepared to do exactly what you are doing right now, but nothing else.<br />
<br />
I had the chance this last week to reaaaaaalllllllly step out of my comfort zone. I had a casual friend that was in kidney failure. I went through the testing and ended up being a good enough match to be able to donate. On Friday, my friend went from kidney failure to having normal kidney function numbers. I am so so happy for him. Everyone is making a big deal about me donating the kidney, but to me, that was not the hard part. The hard part to me is the down time, not the surgery itself. I do not like being "weak." I do not like having to depend on others. Giving up a physical part is not hard, the vulnerability that comes with that is the difficult part.<br />
<br />
However, if there was no "uncomfortableness," then how would that be serving others? It is easy to be generous if you don't have to go out of your way to do it.<br />
<br />
This has been quite the spiritual journey for me. I have always thought of myself as somewhat caring, but have never really had to test it before. I really have had to trust that this is what God wanted me to do, even though it was definitely NOT convenient.<br />
<br />
I have seen amazing spiritual growth in my husband as well. I have seen him step really out of his comfort zone and take the other family under his wing as well. He has risen above and beyond anything I have ever witnessed in him before. <br />
<br />
My hope through this journey is that I will help myself to remember that God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called and that he will prepare you for the journey He has for you - although there are no guarantees that the journey will be an easy one. I hope that my kids will learn this lesson in their life as well.<br />
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No one wants to push beyond the comfort zone, but that is where the greatest rewards are.<br />
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I just hope that I remember this as May rolls around and it is time for the Iron Girl Triathalon that I have signed up for. Anyone want to teach me how to swim?Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-40972509647810717852010-12-24T22:08:00.000-05:002010-12-24T22:08:09.261-05:00Our "Green" Christmas letter<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a45324d6a63794f54633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox newsletter" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a45324d6a63794f54633d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own newsletter - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Personalize a newsletter design</td></tr></table>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-4202725217425736002010-08-22T21:39:00.000-04:002010-08-22T21:39:23.704-04:00Never Let GoWell, I don't know if anyone really visits here anymore, so we will see I guess.<br />
<br />
I had visions of grandeur of writing several posts a week over the summer, but obviously that did not happen.<br />
<br />
So, I will do a short recap of what has gone on with us since my last update.<br />
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My oldest daughter J started having some lightheadedness issues and unexplained weight loss. We are still trying to figure out the cause, but we have eliminated heart issues. In the interim, she found a lump in her chest that we ended up having to get removed. Tests showed that it was benign, thank goodness. She has started her junior year in high school, so it is going to be a tough year. To help balance her life a little better and to help heal from 2 years of injuries back to back, she is most likely not going to compete at any gymnastics meets this year and will be cutting back on her practice hours. Then, she will be in the best possible shape both physically and academically for her senior year.<br />
<br />
My youngest daughter, M, has started 7th grade and is still really enjoying JH. She is about halfway through her braces journey and will be glad to get it over with. She is considering looking at other sports, so we will start thinking about that, although no decisions have been made either way.<br />
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My DH received a promotion at work. Woo hoo! He has started working on getting healthier as well. I am so very proud of him.<br />
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I am still coaching gymnastics and working at the kids school, so nothing ever changes with me.<br />
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My main purpose in writing tonight is for therapy for myself. While I cannot go into much detail, I do need to work some things out in my heart and soul, and writing has always helped me do that. So, if you are reading just to catch up on the family, you can stop reading now. :-)<br />
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My spiritual family is in a lot of pain right now. There has been a betrayal that has affected many, many people. The fallout from this is life-changing in a vast myriad of ways. Anyone that has ever been through a huge life changing event - death, divorce, infidelity, violence, etc. can probably relate to what emotions are surfacing. Anger, denial, acceptance, disappointment, confusion, hopeful, hopeless - all rotating through repeatedly. I have no idea what I will be feeling in 10 minutes, much less in 10 days. I do know, however, that all of us MUST remember that God is God and we are not. Neither is anyone else. We MUST all remember that we are the body of Christ and that while it is painful to lose a part of the body, that the body can still work and do it's job. We all MUST remember that we have all failed and fallen short of the glory of God.<br />
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We sang this song today and I could feel God's arms holding me while saying these words by Matt Redman:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Your perfect love is casting out fear</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">I won't turn back</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">I know you are near</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And I will fear no evil</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">For my God is with me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And if my God is with me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Whom then shall I fear?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Whom then shall I fear?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">(Chorus:)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Oh no, You never let go</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Through the calm and through the storm</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Oh no, You never let go</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">In every high and every low</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Oh no, You never let go</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Lord, You never let go of me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">A glorious light beyond all compare</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And there will be an end to these troubles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">But until that day comes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">We'll live to know You here on the earth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">(Chorus)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">And there will be an end to these troubles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">But until that day comes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">Still I will praise You, still I will praise You</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">(Chorus 2x's)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif; font-size: 16px;">If you have never heard this song, you can listen to it here:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'DejaVu Serif', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iXQBqQejnIA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iXQBqQejnIA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
I will be singing this song a lot in the coming days, I'm sure. <br />
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My mom also lost her last living brother today. So all in all, today was kind of sucky. But, the good thing is, this heart will hold on for that light that is coming.<br />
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Thanks to any of you that still visit.<br />
<br />
I will hope to post a happier post soon with pictures and funny stuff.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-46057979048695324212010-04-25T14:43:00.000-04:002010-04-25T14:43:41.601-04:00I refuse!!For those of you that know me personally, you know that I am still child-like in some ways. (Probably child-like in some ways as well. :-D) I still like to play and hang out with kids. I usually feel more comfortable with kids than adults. I like to be silly and play jokes.<br />
<br />
However, this is getting harder and harder to pull off. Mainly due to the fact that by body is not cooperating with me very well. It is starting to be very obvious that I am not the 20 or 30 something year old that I envision myself to be. <br />
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I have blogged on this before, but only about my face and the fact that it looks like it is melting when I lean over to the side.<br />
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Now, other body parts are joining in the parade.<br />
<br />
My latest fixation is on my knees. I know have the dreaded elephant knee syndrome. Have you ever seen elephant knees? How they are pudgy and wrinkly just above the knee? How in the world do you make that go away? I coach gymnastics part time and wear shorts in the summer. I cannot figure out how I am going to deal with these knees out in public. I already have to make sure my triceps are flexed the entire time that I coach so that I don't injure anyone with the flapping that occurs there when I move my arms. <br />
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Also, my eyes are becoming squishy. You know when you rub under your eye? Well, know when I do that, the skin squishes up and stays distorted for a bit.<br />
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As a matter of fact, a lot of my skin looks different now. It is almost like I lost a ton of weight and was left with a lot of loose skin. Or it is a size too big for my body.<br />
<br />
Never mind the spider veins and the grey hair. <br />
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It looks like I am gonna have to give in and accept the fact that I am getting older. I am going to have to change my thought process on the whole thing. I always thought that I would age gracefully. I thought that I would be a mature adult with it all together. Boy, was I mistaken. I do NOT have it together, I am NOT mature, and I am definitely NOT graceful.<br />
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I am trying really really hard to remember that we are all made in the image of God and that he loves who we are on the inside and not what we look at on the inside. I hope that I do a much better job of instilling that ideal in my daughter's than I did in myself.<br />
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Do any of you struggle with self-acceptance?<br />
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***Prayer requests: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/travisshumard">Travis Shumard</a> just started his first round of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He is 15 years old.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smithellaneous.com/">Becky Smith</a> just had a double mastectomy and is starting her treatment for breast cancer. <br />
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Please visit and leave them a note of encouragement.<br />
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As always, let me know you were here.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-69120594092020107572010-04-11T17:01:00.000-04:002010-04-11T17:01:08.216-04:00Blessings of multi-generationalismI have been very remiss in posting anything lately. Mainly because I got so many awesome comments on my last entry that I knew that I could never come up with another topic that would generate such great feedback.<br />
<br />
We just finished up a much enjoyed spring break. It was awesome to not have to work either job for several days in a row. As much as I enjoy both of my jobs, I enjoy my husband and kids more. We went up to the mountains and spent a few days at the cabin. It was warm enough to hike and play in the creek, but cool enough that there were no mosquitos or chiggers or poison ivy yet - perfect weather.<br />
<br />
We also had Grandparents Day at school. It is always the last day of school before spring break. There is a special program just for the kids and grandparents, and then the kids get to leave at noon. My hubby and I are blessed that we both adore our inlaws. Our kids are blessed to have 3 full sets of grandparents that all get along with each other. <br />
<br />
I have tried to make a point of making sure that my kids appreciate their grandparents. Neither my husband nor myself have any living grandparents - and haven't for a while. It is kind of an empty feeling. <br />
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My oldest, J., and I were talking about this while hiking at the cabin. She had a neat way of putting it. She said that you have your friends to be your friends, your parents to be your parents, and your grandparents are like your friendly parents. Friends, parents, and grandparents all fill a different role and meet a different need, and none can fill the space of another. I thought that was a neat way of looking at it.<br />
<br />
My grandparents were awesome people and I was so blessed to know them. In a way, they remind me of my children. My oldest daughter, while funny and fun-loving, is a nurturer. She is always careful of others feelings. My maternal grandparents were the same way. My youngest daughter, while a nurturer as well, is very up-front and no-nonsense, the same as my paternal grandparents. While she, and they, would do anything for you, they will also let you know where you stand and did not waste time on stressing about pleasing everyone. I think this is the best mix in the world as they balance perfectly. You need both personalities in your life in order to make your life complete. <br />
<br />
I think this is why my husband and I work so well together - we balance each other. If you have two personalities that are completely alike or so completely opposite, you have nothing to use to complete each other. <br />
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Well, this was another one of my posts about nothing, so if you are still reading - congrats and thank you.<br />
<br />
Please sign the guestbook and let me know you were here.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-83270364828896921402010-02-01T21:30:00.002-05:002010-02-01T21:42:57.570-05:00Would you like me to bubble wrap you?This is a pretty pointless entry, but I am posting it out of curiosity.<div><br /></div><div>What do you think/feel when someone tells you that they will pray for you? Do you feel thankful, blessed, or comforted? Or do you feel empty, puzzled, or awkward?</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you really feel like it makes any difference? I mean, everything is in God's hands, right? So, will praying actually do anything? Will it change God's mind? Will it make him mad when you ask for things? </div><div><br /></div><div>I will tell you my take on it, because, after all, that is why I blog. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like prayer is almost like bubble wrap. Whether prayer changes your circumstances or not, I feel it will at least make things easier to deal with. If you had to fall down a flight of stairs, wouldn't you prefer it to happen while wrapped up in bubble wrap? Will it still hurt? Probably, but maybe not as much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me know your thoughts, please.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for stopping by.</div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-85520191315293398952009-12-28T11:26:00.002-05:002009-12-28T11:41:36.696-05:00Never, EVER, assume! AKA - Object lessonEveryone has heard that you should never assume anything.<div><br /></div><div>I just want to give you quick proof that this is very good advice - in a purely hypothetical setting, of course.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you assume, that once you and your children get home from dropping one of the vehicles off at a service center, that you can outrun the children to the closest bathroom, you would be wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you assume that maybe if you bring everything in from the car, that the child that made it to the closest bathroom would be done by the time you got inside, you would be wrong again.</div><div><br /></div><div>If, when you screech out the words, 'You are still in there?' to the child in the preferred bathroom, you assume that they won't giggle at your predicament, then, you would be wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>If, in your panic as you realize that said child is still in the bathroom and that you will not trip running up the stairs to the next closest bathroom, you would, again, be wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>If, in the midst of finally getting to go to the restroom and your phone rings and the caller i.d. shows it is the daughter from the preferred bathroom, and you assume it is her calling you to gloat over getting the closest bathroom, you would, believe it or not, be mistaken. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you ever find yourself in this predicament - please, please do NOT make that final assumption above. Because, chances are, if you answer that phone call and make a comment about 'talking while peeing' because you assumed it was your child on the other end, it could possibly be someone saying that they just found a cell phone and called the contact listed as "mom" in it to hopefully find out who it belonged to. This person could also be calling from the car service center that you just dropped the car off at. The same place you have to go BACK to in a short while.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, you see, assumption is bad!! Purely hypothetical situation, of course.</div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-71628496112339676772009-12-24T14:14:00.001-05:002009-12-24T14:15:39.419-05:00Merry Christmas!Please take a moment to view our animated Christmas letter below.<br /><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d544d324e6a6b354d546b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox greeting: Merry Christmas!!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d544d324e6a6b354d546b3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own greeting - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/ecards" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox greeting</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-80815984784448661992009-11-19T21:07:00.002-05:002009-11-19T21:43:00.981-05:00What would your sign say?Do you ever wish people could wear some kind of sign that gives everyone kind of a heads up on things you need to know about them? Or vice versa?<br /><br />For example, I often wonder if I walked around with a sign that said, "ADD. OCD. Depression. Low self esteem. Slightly neurotic," if it would make people be more conscientious with their words and actions, or if it would scare them off or make them decide I was not worth getting to know?<br /><br />What if the signs said only positive things? "Devoted wife and mother. Desire to be Christ-like. Persistent." Would that then make people want to get to know me? Would they be disappointed if they chose to get to know me based on my sign, and then saw all of the "bad" traits later?<br /><br />What if it were that everyone wore a sign? Would you greet the person with the sign that said "Addict" or "Murderer" the same way as you would the people whose signs said "Clean and Sober" or "Protective of loved ones?" <br /><br />What if the signs had positives on one side and negatives on the other? Would you want to only show one side, or would you show both sides?<br /><br /><br /><br />Some days, I wish I had a sign so that people would know that I have ADD and would therefore not sit and click their pen next to me. They would know that I struggle with self esteem issues and depression and they would not say things in a joking manner that keeps me up crying at night. They would know that I am a little OCD and would not do things willy nilly without a list to check off. Other days, I wish I had my other sign so that people would know that I take my family and my faith seriously.<br /><br />Then there are days that I wish that other people wore signs so that I could figure out what in the world is going on in people's heads sometimes.<br /><br /><br />However, one of my favorite things to do is to try to figure out what makes people "click." I love to people watch and find out about them. So, I think the signs would take away from that.<br /><br />Also, I know that to God, I might as well be wearing a sign since he knows my true heart and spirit. He is the one whose opinion matters most, and that is what I need to remember.<br /><br />So, my question to you is:<br /><br />If you could know, beforehand, what would be on the front and back of peoples signs, would you choose to do so?<br /><br />Would you want to wear a sign?<br /><br />What would each side of your sign say?<br /><br />If God made your sign, would it say the same thing as if you made it yourself?Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-38907076037983117412009-11-14T18:54:00.012-05:002009-11-14T20:40:58.410-05:00See, I can post a happy post. . . .<div>No deep and pondering thoughts this post, just some pics to let you guys get to know us a little better.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are all a little silly and we love to have fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is M. on the podium at her state gymnastics meet last year. Don't you love the beautiful smile?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTRgRFrGe-EtEOkggMYvBecs8qhKMBf759hw6VzujYxp0eYzCgLQs4ioUm958FJZskrsT4tfWMVhseSySKnuM8NTz7eCeoJES4PJi9yhpp7jjeSpoqAq18TiTgZCIeSrVIUDBePMnYZY/s1600-h/IMG_4332.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTRgRFrGe-EtEOkggMYvBecs8qhKMBf759hw6VzujYxp0eYzCgLQs4ioUm958FJZskrsT4tfWMVhseSySKnuM8NTz7eCeoJES4PJi9yhpp7jjeSpoqAq18TiTgZCIeSrVIUDBePMnYZY/s400/IMG_4332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404129341533846786" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here she is while up at the cabin</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg2HXEiaK6mu3EIlFzLa8Nn0lbxPHM-4gWbPo-0oFpQvdDWELyIpTFGvgzVMwgSW7lxoAelBcwwaN13rKSSUeJLeqUfWrI7px0CmNrmC11DmW5F3FixAgqa26l7PbDgnenbh7VlV6OQ4/s1600-h/IMG_4599.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg2HXEiaK6mu3EIlFzLa8Nn0lbxPHM-4gWbPo-0oFpQvdDWELyIpTFGvgzVMwgSW7lxoAelBcwwaN13rKSSUeJLeqUfWrI7px0CmNrmC11DmW5F3FixAgqa26l7PbDgnenbh7VlV6OQ4/s400/IMG_4599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130782804192466" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And here she is at her 5th grade graduation:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2LRxAO0_6WcIj9RG4XSrNyrBkIqcrZi-pYvxADmmjMWoMg6aNRHYcI_8xj4J8EeYJPAhxnniuVzDqcc4vM9H7_6mJse_lp7HN4UvI7k3p35zAMe3qbuIQ1jn8kcYED3G2TzjAotlams/s1600-h/IMG_4349.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2LRxAO0_6WcIj9RG4XSrNyrBkIqcrZi-pYvxADmmjMWoMg6aNRHYcI_8xj4J8EeYJPAhxnniuVzDqcc4vM9H7_6mJse_lp7HN4UvI7k3p35zAMe3qbuIQ1jn8kcYED3G2TzjAotlams/s400/IMG_4349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404129344915128354" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a very excited M. She found a chocolate chip cookie the same size as her head:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZKqQXjp7JFFGeeOnRtkVxwwpblvtG8pHX5rOT6AoKgbnf3aIFwzvZVN7BQwIAbW-akqa7TES1-2IuqGN535U4e8pNKz1NV2boO0NUIYLnuwWi6Trflz9ImH2zeHHlNP1O58u4WoTOhU/s1600-h/IMG_4483.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZKqQXjp7JFFGeeOnRtkVxwwpblvtG8pHX5rOT6AoKgbnf3aIFwzvZVN7BQwIAbW-akqa7TES1-2IuqGN535U4e8pNKz1NV2boO0NUIYLnuwWi6Trflz9ImH2zeHHlNP1O58u4WoTOhU/s400/IMG_4483.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404129334881505106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She is not the only silly one. Here is her sister, J. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56hNRmBO09jt-gE9nlRbrDvODKpM9KgrKcuA_Vm5j_7exBaLF9Aa63-lBwMFC0hy8TQjWM1T47ED9pfzCJLX1WWaxulu4rkh5YWcwiS6CZPF9GfFD0D7h3u8xF62kVR-qV3B7WyQJ4mI/s1600-h/IMG_4633.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56hNRmBO09jt-gE9nlRbrDvODKpM9KgrKcuA_Vm5j_7exBaLF9Aa63-lBwMFC0hy8TQjWM1T47ED9pfzCJLX1WWaxulu4rkh5YWcwiS6CZPF9GfFD0D7h3u8xF62kVR-qV3B7WyQJ4mI/s400/IMG_4633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404135278529785394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The girls together:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHfkizYizZgByK4e8SWt6JGINRZWTNAxSkv8ZRx9FHW8NA3rQURXwsW1TD6N0d1jEY4vG0PrltfBb-AXW2N81L27sPKW8MQBcvoU_6o5jCC88nCyFOBQa4DdQN-w1er6fAbDpBVMZAhM/s1600-h/IMG_4637.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHfkizYizZgByK4e8SWt6JGINRZWTNAxSkv8ZRx9FHW8NA3rQURXwsW1TD6N0d1jEY4vG0PrltfBb-AXW2N81L27sPKW8MQBcvoU_6o5jCC88nCyFOBQa4DdQN-w1er6fAbDpBVMZAhM/s400/IMG_4637.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404131426071617666"></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHfkizYizZgByK4e8SWt6JGINRZWTNAxSkv8ZRx9FHW8NA3rQURXwsW1TD6N0d1jEY4vG0PrltfBb-AXW2N81L27sPKW8MQBcvoU_6o5jCC88nCyFOBQa4DdQN-w1er6fAbDpBVMZAhM/s1600-h/IMG_4637.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0Bw8S6d_qSkonPVyn199hrr9JMYTxpdnjS38SBEUPVHB3ofA9gmk8QkIg5Se7hupY-wzqcFmeL_GFEUA84sS2_WiPm1mVRIL0lxOJZHMjIMjYtADR2Idsj1XbeRjPSGENIkbbAPJI00/s1600-h/IMG_4505.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0Bw8S6d_qSkonPVyn199hrr9JMYTxpdnjS38SBEUPVHB3ofA9gmk8QkIg5Se7hupY-wzqcFmeL_GFEUA84sS2_WiPm1mVRIL0lxOJZHMjIMjYtADR2Idsj1XbeRjPSGENIkbbAPJI00/s400/IMG_4505.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404129328149926754" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0Bw8S6d_qSkonPVyn199hrr9JMYTxpdnjS38SBEUPVHB3ofA9gmk8QkIg5Se7hupY-wzqcFmeL_GFEUA84sS2_WiPm1mVRIL0lxOJZHMjIMjYtADR2Idsj1XbeRjPSGENIkbbAPJI00/s1600-h/IMG_4505.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf10Sp48qYMkdFf7n9HRIJxDJsGq8aUJ56rS4QbXtHr178mI54HZ0hcuWsf6IrabMgxUSFeQWYZab6lfj64AK6PIFeWtEk8rRrg-lwhKa6CIavw97Jlm7Di5udKg_CQnIHGqTgXbQ2Gks/s1600-h/IMG_4507.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf10Sp48qYMkdFf7n9HRIJxDJsGq8aUJ56rS4QbXtHr178mI54HZ0hcuWsf6IrabMgxUSFeQWYZab6lfj64AK6PIFeWtEk8rRrg-lwhKa6CIavw97Jlm7Di5udKg_CQnIHGqTgXbQ2Gks/s400/IMG_4507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404129324416518274" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHfkizYizZgByK4e8SWt6JGINRZWTNAxSkv8ZRx9FHW8NA3rQURXwsW1TD6N0d1jEY4vG0PrltfBb-AXW2N81L27sPKW8MQBcvoU_6o5jCC88nCyFOBQa4DdQN-w1er6fAbDpBVMZAhM/s1600-h/IMG_4637.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG8eRfaL9wedfcw6pV3qD9gT05WYwriMPGI2En9fbkXWzpDMHpXZ_W-IJSFQ-x4_4MGeXYCXpDEJhTvD-71vVTWvtCgHTVRQtbb4M9ZvigCnUuWXZ9H9d6p3sSqidVcC1nAv0SOUA8u4/s1600-h/IMG_4511.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEG8eRfaL9wedfcw6pV3qD9gT05WYwriMPGI2En9fbkXWzpDMHpXZ_W-IJSFQ-x4_4MGeXYCXpDEJhTvD-71vVTWvtCgHTVRQtbb4M9ZvigCnUuWXZ9H9d6p3sSqidVcC1nAv0SOUA8u4/s400/IMG_4511.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404135269609829314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMVF19VG0eE16RfygeVKtUKiU6DG75LcCKHulczbR5f3hfjD9dUJNPJSGZp1lj4UsRkS17vpiMRZFmoVfBB3hMhsIR2F8ghzMxd3aur0-cjOmn78r79j_KilNJg9Q4zreBJWlgI2K8ns/s1600-h/IMG_4509.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMVF19VG0eE16RfygeVKtUKiU6DG75LcCKHulczbR5f3hfjD9dUJNPJSGZp1lj4UsRkS17vpiMRZFmoVfBB3hMhsIR2F8ghzMxd3aur0-cjOmn78r79j_KilNJg9Q4zreBJWlgI2K8ns/s400/IMG_4509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404135268052945922" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig080cODQYii5KB_JKM8C5yUa0xfIPrlztDQ_dvjNBYSi4RE6k4adgp5tN2xL3678aUKIGCCxVcAHKp9kAJ_pJFvpw9VR0T7_jsvnolhR5OsJfMEpouCNaTh4T5yzSBL_O3E7qdfjKRVQ/s1600-h/IMG_4635.JPG"></a>Unfortunately, this strangeness does not limit itself to the children:</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The lazy man's way to mow grass on a very steep hill:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJ7wGm_bOVGxjBzvR2P-Fmj3IX6mlFkVtKTbWDhSK7eo-r3ccGKa29K_UqE83zjfHx-odutBkWM3gzk0nUejx6eW_r9tIB01Ipg854MOPXph2zhd_MeRVYhHxbchL0UDKf1eWbhbBLE/s1600-h/IMG_4478.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uJ7wGm_bOVGxjBzvR2P-Fmj3IX6mlFkVtKTbWDhSK7eo-r3ccGKa29K_UqE83zjfHx-odutBkWM3gzk0nUejx6eW_r9tIB01Ipg854MOPXph2zhd_MeRVYhHxbchL0UDKf1eWbhbBLE/s400/IMG_4478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130788081144162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_rk0xUJcGfkfOdWMNEN8DiILyoGBj6ITJYseekmEbeE4v2NxHhhz35YrskYY9I-1_YCAQy149LDp4XELYzwXMzTkgYSJ8VTc7OBU3C7DVWpbVGlQm2mWbEKCRSOuutY4SQQ099q4Ycg/s1600-h/IMG_4477.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_rk0xUJcGfkfOdWMNEN8DiILyoGBj6ITJYseekmEbeE4v2NxHhhz35YrskYY9I-1_YCAQy149LDp4XELYzwXMzTkgYSJ8VTc7OBU3C7DVWpbVGlQm2mWbEKCRSOuutY4SQQ099q4Ycg/s400/IMG_4477.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130025657819410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_rk0xUJcGfkfOdWMNEN8DiILyoGBj6ITJYseekmEbeE4v2NxHhhz35YrskYY9I-1_YCAQy149LDp4XELYzwXMzTkgYSJ8VTc7OBU3C7DVWpbVGlQm2mWbEKCRSOuutY4SQQ099q4Ycg/s1600-h/IMG_4477.JPG"></a>At the aquarium:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyKZqydvqKIH3qVEbXSCJMH-vneFrInUdQGXTScNrh_g5xpeHbgbCziYjWw4AhgbNt838wusausCpPbfBtnMKzH16oxCrv9yNKzSJvJvkSpv_V7lWuh8fLPS0HjLu7dlyqR1SD89i-qU/s1600-h/IMG_4446.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyKZqydvqKIH3qVEbXSCJMH-vneFrInUdQGXTScNrh_g5xpeHbgbCziYjWw4AhgbNt838wusausCpPbfBtnMKzH16oxCrv9yNKzSJvJvkSpv_V7lWuh8fLPS0HjLu7dlyqR1SD89i-qU/s400/IMG_4446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130020891369330" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyKZqydvqKIH3qVEbXSCJMH-vneFrInUdQGXTScNrh_g5xpeHbgbCziYjWw4AhgbNt838wusausCpPbfBtnMKzH16oxCrv9yNKzSJvJvkSpv_V7lWuh8fLPS0HjLu7dlyqR1SD89i-qU/s1600-h/IMG_4446.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i1ZCTenUVHW3M3PkLI0-f8kZnYPRiWGN7nIaD-NutX6YK3XazbiJO24N3WRlpD3UnBtFF1rwEKgGWSDrGViNcVF3oCTq-wZtb4kztkq9POWQ7t0Khgb679VCXSFk9RtPK1kjVmZuecA/s1600-h/IMG_4444.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i1ZCTenUVHW3M3PkLI0-f8kZnYPRiWGN7nIaD-NutX6YK3XazbiJO24N3WRlpD3UnBtFF1rwEKgGWSDrGViNcVF3oCTq-wZtb4kztkq9POWQ7t0Khgb679VCXSFk9RtPK1kjVmZuecA/s400/IMG_4444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130013576246866" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i1ZCTenUVHW3M3PkLI0-f8kZnYPRiWGN7nIaD-NutX6YK3XazbiJO24N3WRlpD3UnBtFF1rwEKgGWSDrGViNcVF3oCTq-wZtb4kztkq9POWQ7t0Khgb679VCXSFk9RtPK1kjVmZuecA/s1600-h/IMG_4444.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7o4NkWwQoHXloajh05JuTs51olYwxVu_r97vvzYts8rS3MOBnGPlPOqmCPtCkeS2H2O3P0uxkVV7-591UmZALpx61bW1lRoZ8xeRNjnQDWQ3oNB6QmpynDmjtVrUdJaN7Sk5oNUjgI/s1600-h/IMG_4442.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7o4NkWwQoHXloajh05JuTs51olYwxVu_r97vvzYts8rS3MOBnGPlPOqmCPtCkeS2H2O3P0uxkVV7-591UmZALpx61bW1lRoZ8xeRNjnQDWQ3oNB6QmpynDmjtVrUdJaN7Sk5oNUjgI/s400/IMG_4442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130008453413810" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7o4NkWwQoHXloajh05JuTs51olYwxVu_r97vvzYts8rS3MOBnGPlPOqmCPtCkeS2H2O3P0uxkVV7-591UmZALpx61bW1lRoZ8xeRNjnQDWQ3oNB6QmpynDmjtVrUdJaN7Sk5oNUjgI/s1600-h/IMG_4442.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDqNwhzF36CM3BcZewvseFnOAPHTLCyGZqNVjOOAdTM0HWiZXbc7Ettknntydcw7iyHJe0sDCvjxg_ZDK1Ic-RUCI_aLOMHshTOEgKK2ItzevQVPNLngStQVAZuEmKbC9x-_yz_sZt_4/s1600-h/IMG_4440.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDqNwhzF36CM3BcZewvseFnOAPHTLCyGZqNVjOOAdTM0HWiZXbc7Ettknntydcw7iyHJe0sDCvjxg_ZDK1Ic-RUCI_aLOMHshTOEgKK2ItzevQVPNLngStQVAZuEmKbC9x-_yz_sZt_4/s400/IMG_4440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130000487457874" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbPWaqnqFIDdRdjxZ2GplfWHS9aOh4GSDLcDC-_vR4TGF7Rhingq7RjxX1jospX84S_fj6Q1CqaC8_OOIhyWmw_6JWDyd2iQEO1NwWlzGPdpY1OyCS73ut2YclshBUhOjwsW9W89Yuzo/s1600-h/IMG_4632.JPG"></a>On your mark:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2c6qdnDXeIEUIBogEcxZqBt8kjEwNVIHBiJjp5saNpjly3pE2CA3he_UPwchmwBDsGgq_XE4bdXqp2skiMQr9QrkgwhcjczF8AD284bJEMRK0nEbJeK1hvrKND_qaIzAuUB2C_-XyiE/s1600-h/IMG_4624.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2c6qdnDXeIEUIBogEcxZqBt8kjEwNVIHBiJjp5saNpjly3pE2CA3he_UPwchmwBDsGgq_XE4bdXqp2skiMQr9QrkgwhcjczF8AD284bJEMRK0nEbJeK1hvrKND_qaIzAuUB2C_-XyiE/s400/IMG_4624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404131415163056018"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Get set:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LcYIuSia4lqW3R5s8_odC9T7jHO1d-TJdBmn3RAffO1_O0Ca6KLaHPl6QrZ77ULCK62LVqFpJmTRewbDAcHWdtiH74Oe7JqkjEd_n6rAi38Xqxxv4MuvGRdtg0Pagcfq_dZRNMBh5TU/s1600-h/IMG_4622.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LcYIuSia4lqW3R5s8_odC9T7jHO1d-TJdBmn3RAffO1_O0Ca6KLaHPl6QrZ77ULCK62LVqFpJmTRewbDAcHWdtiH74Oe7JqkjEd_n6rAi38Xqxxv4MuvGRdtg0Pagcfq_dZRNMBh5TU/s400/IMG_4622.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130805489915458" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2c6qdnDXeIEUIBogEcxZqBt8kjEwNVIHBiJjp5saNpjly3pE2CA3he_UPwchmwBDsGgq_XE4bdXqp2skiMQr9QrkgwhcjczF8AD284bJEMRK0nEbJeK1hvrKND_qaIzAuUB2C_-XyiE/s1600-h/IMG_4624.JPG"></a>GO!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9Wcsv1uDfM3o90UX7b3M7hmPK5jcqAUAHfp5e2ctvWoe5ClXYajIEdH4xYLXTjhq0NmtHzC0m_OUSRYC5Du1XCYhVxoJBgRPK7Kiqik4AoowYO0h6Cr7wBnpVUPOTZonqRQylWYphK0/s1600-h/IMG_4623.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9Wcsv1uDfM3o90UX7b3M7hmPK5jcqAUAHfp5e2ctvWoe5ClXYajIEdH4xYLXTjhq0NmtHzC0m_OUSRYC5Du1XCYhVxoJBgRPK7Kiqik4AoowYO0h6Cr7wBnpVUPOTZonqRQylWYphK0/s400/IMG_4623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404131411393503778"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9Wcsv1uDfM3o90UX7b3M7hmPK5jcqAUAHfp5e2ctvWoe5ClXYajIEdH4xYLXTjhq0NmtHzC0m_OUSRYC5Du1XCYhVxoJBgRPK7Kiqik4AoowYO0h6Cr7wBnpVUPOTZonqRQylWYphK0/s1600-h/IMG_4623.JPG"></a><br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LcYIuSia4lqW3R5s8_odC9T7jHO1d-TJdBmn3RAffO1_O0Ca6KLaHPl6QrZ77ULCK62LVqFpJmTRewbDAcHWdtiH74Oe7JqkjEd_n6rAi38Xqxxv4MuvGRdtg0Pagcfq_dZRNMBh5TU/s1600-h/IMG_4622.JPG"></a>We also like to take silly pictures of things other than each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>A tiny froggy that M. found:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1tGnWNOCYIac6845vPooEII3S5SZwjqmgQunAtWXlxVXGabAV1TH_LN6p3pCwACyhvmS3rORYvm2Bxyqxdf3ZmbhncEG9hlg_XGKmt8mK5nrMke-J6WTUaiEcAjFfgAdghBGmWncqDs/s1600-h/IMG_4616.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1tGnWNOCYIac6845vPooEII3S5SZwjqmgQunAtWXlxVXGabAV1TH_LN6p3pCwACyhvmS3rORYvm2Bxyqxdf3ZmbhncEG9hlg_XGKmt8mK5nrMke-J6WTUaiEcAjFfgAdghBGmWncqDs/s400/IMG_4616.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130799532228690"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1tGnWNOCYIac6845vPooEII3S5SZwjqmgQunAtWXlxVXGabAV1TH_LN6p3pCwACyhvmS3rORYvm2Bxyqxdf3ZmbhncEG9hlg_XGKmt8mK5nrMke-J6WTUaiEcAjFfgAdghBGmWncqDs/s1600-h/IMG_4616.JPG"></a>M.'s hair curling in the humidity:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW8itcci5vgUjWDDCmNHI4EvlsPiTIJtOnK3WXHgonw6aqhyaggmr6FKMbuTLTV07vHy-71ekzIq-q8Iu2CIKi54n41wJF53Y0uC9pbYsQRi3ZZZfibseUezB2Fjewy0ms0r6RKw-IJw/s1600-h/IMG_4603.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW8itcci5vgUjWDDCmNHI4EvlsPiTIJtOnK3WXHgonw6aqhyaggmr6FKMbuTLTV07vHy-71ekzIq-q8Iu2CIKi54n41wJF53Y0uC9pbYsQRi3ZZZfibseUezB2Fjewy0ms0r6RKw-IJw/s400/IMG_4603.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404130793237995986"></a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW8itcci5vgUjWDDCmNHI4EvlsPiTIJtOnK3WXHgonw6aqhyaggmr6FKMbuTLTV07vHy-71ekzIq-q8Iu2CIKi54n41wJF53Y0uC9pbYsQRi3ZZZfibseUezB2Fjewy0ms0r6RKw-IJw/s1600-h/IMG_4603.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently silliness is contagious. Here is our BB curling up with the bear skin rug at the cabin:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbPWaqnqFIDdRdjxZ2GplfWHS9aOh4GSDLcDC-_vR4TGF7Rhingq7RjxX1jospX84S_fj6Q1CqaC8_OOIhyWmw_6JWDyd2iQEO1NwWlzGPdpY1OyCS73ut2YclshBUhOjwsW9W89Yuzo/s1600-h/IMG_4632.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbPWaqnqFIDdRdjxZ2GplfWHS9aOh4GSDLcDC-_vR4TGF7Rhingq7RjxX1jospX84S_fj6Q1CqaC8_OOIhyWmw_6JWDyd2iQEO1NwWlzGPdpY1OyCS73ut2YclshBUhOjwsW9W89Yuzo/s400/IMG_4632.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404131419227129106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And poor BB trying to figure out how she is going to sleep with those two hooligans sleeping under her:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig080cODQYii5KB_JKM8C5yUa0xfIPrlztDQ_dvjNBYSi4RE6k4adgp5tN2xL3678aUKIGCCxVcAHKp9kAJ_pJFvpw9VR0T7_jsvnolhR5OsJfMEpouCNaTh4T5yzSBL_O3E7qdfjKRVQ/s1600-h/IMG_4635.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig080cODQYii5KB_JKM8C5yUa0xfIPrlztDQ_dvjNBYSi4RE6k4adgp5tN2xL3678aUKIGCCxVcAHKp9kAJ_pJFvpw9VR0T7_jsvnolhR5OsJfMEpouCNaTh4T5yzSBL_O3E7qdfjKRVQ/s400/IMG_4635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404131422960739026" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; "></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2LRxAO0_6WcIj9RG4XSrNyrBkIqcrZi-pYvxADmmjMWoMg6aNRHYcI_8xj4J8EeYJPAhxnniuVzDqcc4vM9H7_6mJse_lp7HN4UvI7k3p35zAMe3qbuIQ1jn8kcYED3G2TzjAotlams/s1600-h/IMG_4349.JPG"></a><br /><br /></div><div>So, I know this was not a very exciting post, but my last several posts have been so serious and verbose, so just wanted to lighten things up some.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you enjoyed the pics.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, let me know you were here.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTRgRFrGe-EtEOkggMYvBecs8qhKMBf759hw6VzujYxp0eYzCgLQs4ioUm958FJZskrsT4tfWMVhseSySKnuM8NTz7eCeoJES4PJi9yhpp7jjeSpoqAq18TiTgZCIeSrVIUDBePMnYZY/s1600-h/IMG_4332.JPG"></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZKqQXjp7JFFGeeOnRtkVxwwpblvtG8pHX5rOT6AoKgbnf3aIFwzvZVN7BQwIAbW-akqa7TES1-2IuqGN535U4e8pNKz1NV2boO0NUIYLnuwWi6Trflz9ImH2zeHHlNP1O58u4WoTOhU/s1600-h/IMG_4483.JPG"></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-24453930345556649652009-09-28T20:34:00.007-04:002009-09-28T21:36:43.744-04:00Is it a tradition for you to trim your butt?There is a story that I read somewhere that goes something like this:<br /><br />A woman is teaching her daughter how to make a roast. She gets out the roast and proceeds to slice the end off of it and throw it out. The daughter asks her mother why she threw part of the meat away. Her mom told her that was what you were supposed to do. The daughter asked why again. The mom said that she did not know, that she did it because HER mom did that. They then called the grandmother and asked her the reason. She said that she did it because HER mom always did that when she was making a roast. They then called the great-grandmother and asked her why she always cut the end off of her roasts before cooking them. The grandmother's response? 'Because my pan was too small.' <br /><br />At church recently, we were discussing about what do we do because of tradition and what do we do because it is what God wants us to do. I believe so many of us have developed not only our sense of right and wrong, but our entire belief system on what we learned from our parents.<br /><br />While this is okay for small children, as one matures, we need to learn to think for ourselves. With this growth, we also need to learn WHY we think what we think and to be able to defend and support it. I believe that any religion out there has the goal of reaching out to others to try to teach them about God/Jesus/Allah/Buddha, etc. I cannot think of any religion off hand that encourages people to completely avoid others and to not ever try to spread the word. In order to successfully do this, you must have some ammunition. You must have some ready answers and to be able to support your words. <br /><br />If someone asks you what religion you are, you can give a simple answer. What, if after that, they ask what your religion believes in? That answer, while a little more in depth, would not be too difficult. Then, what if they ask you WHY you believe that? Could you answer that? How would you answer that?<br /><br />We talked about visiting other churches with your friends. I think it helps you to start asking questions when you are exposed to other beliefs. It makes you see that there are different sets of beliefs out there, and while we may never know this side of heaven which religion is the closest to being right, it will help you make an informed decision if you actively search for info.<br /><br />Hopefully no one picks a religion because it seems easier than others. It is not supposed to be easy. I mean, Adam and Eve were the only people in the world at one point and they only had 1 rule. They had an intimate relationship with God and they blew it, so we cannot expect to not fail. <br /><br />I hope that the girls that I teach on Sunday's will at some point question their beliefs. I hope that when it happens, their parents realize what a sign of maturity it is and will allow them to make this journey. I also hope that they understand that all differences may not be salvation issues. Some differences are due to different core beliefs and other are just matters of preference or tradition. That is something I hope these young ladies, and everyone else as well, realize as they spiritually mature. I also hope that they realize that people can agree to disagree and still respect each other's beliefs. <br /><br />If you are still reading, I really appreciate you listening to your ramblings. I would love any feedback any of you may have, positive or negative. My only request is that no one bashes any one else's comments.<br /><br />So, do you "trim your butt" because your pan is too small, or because that is how you're parents did it? (In other words, do you believe what you believe because you looked for the answers, or because you followed what your parent's did?)<br /><br /> Thank you for reading!<br /><br />Come back and visit again.<br /><br />I do hope to get a more "fun" entry up soon.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-14008463352105609522009-08-23T19:04:00.003-04:002009-08-23T19:17:51.063-04:00Why do my eyes keep leaking?I have decided that I need a tear duct transplant, mine are obviously defective. They leak all of the time, when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m angry, when I’m frustrated, etc. It seems to be my default response, and frankly, I’m tired of it.<br />Lest you think I am exaggerating, let me tell you about the strange things that I have cried about in the last week:<br /><br /><br />1) I was talking with a friend who was concerned about some struggles their child was having. She started crying. So, I cried because she was crying.<br /><br />2) I was talking with a teacher friend at school about a mutual child we were concerned about. I cried because he showed empathy and concern.<br /><br />3) My mom’s closest sister is not doing well. I cried because she was sick, I cried because my mom was sad, AND I cried because my mom pulled on some crazy inner strength and was dealing with it very well.<br /><br />4) The strangest – I cried because I saw a young lady, around 18 – 22 years old, walking with an elderly lady holding on to her arm, going into QuikTrip gas station. We walked in behind these women and stood close to them at the Slushie area. The young lady proceeded to read each and every flavor to the older lady, telling her the ingredients in each, as well as explaining what each different machine did; made drinks, icees, shakes, smoothies, coffee, etc. She let her pick out what she wanted and made it for her. As we stood next to each other getting lids, I told the young lady that seeing them together was one of the most heartwarming things I had seen. She thanked me and told me it was her great aunt. I then proceeded to tell her that she looked just like my aunt (see above) that was not doing so good. This girl then proceeded to tell me that she was so sorry and then gave me a hug. As soon as that happened, I started crying all over her. Of course, my children pick this exact time to come around the corner and see their overly emotional mom wrapped in the arms of a complete stranger and crying on her. The girls, knowing me the way that they do, just waited until we were done and we left. You know that you cry too much when something like this doesn’t even faze your children. J<br /><br />So, while some of these were normal things to cry about, the QuikTrip thing is just ridiculous.<br /><br /><br />While I know some of you will say that this just means that I care about people, I seriously still think that I have got to get it under control. It is hard to ever deal with anything when all you can do is stand there and blubber. Imagine you wanting to confront someone who has been disrespectful to your children. How effective can you be while crying? Have you ever tried to be professional while crying? It doesn’t work.<br /><br /><br />Any suggestions on how to “toughen up?” Or at least enough to contain my crying until I am in a more appropriate place?<br /><br /><br />On another note, a couple of weeks ago, we sung this song at church:<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QsS190dZTs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-QsS190dZTs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />I have heard this song before, but it never grabbed me until we sung it at church. We sing acapella (without instruments) at our church, and to me, that makes the songs much more powerful. It is just a room full of people singing with nothing else to focus on except the words. I personally like to close my eyes when we sing because then it feels like it is just me and God.<br /><br />I encourage you to listen to this song and really pay attention to the words.<br /><br />Oh, guess what I did when we sung it at church?<br /><br />I cried. Big shocker there, huh?<br /><br /><br />Sign the guestbook and let me know you were here. If I don’t get a lot of signatures, I may just cry. Of course, if I get a lot of signatures, I will definitely cry. So, I will probably end up crying no matter what you do, but you can at least make it a happy cry. JMamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-73027932391113092452009-08-09T21:04:00.001-04:002009-08-09T21:06:24.321-04:00Hey - remember me??Wow, it has been a long time. Not sure if anyone still visits or not, but if so, I’m glad you’re here.<br /><br /><br />I kind of took a blogging break over the summer. I enjoyed my wonderful kiddos and my sweet hubby. Each summer I realize how little time I have left with my kids at home. J. is going into 10th grade this year and M. is starting 6th grade – Junior High!! I cannot believe they are that old. Nor can I believe that I am old enough to have children that old. I still believe that I am a decade younger than I am. It is always a big shock when I realize that I will be turning 40 in January instead of 30. <br /><br /><br />While we did not do anything extravagant this summer, we did get to spend some quality time together. We had day hours at the gym, which let us have the evenings all together, which will not happen during the school year.<br /><br /><br />Since I tend to be verbose, here is the Reader’s Digest Condensed Version of our summer:<br /><br />- J. got to go to church camp in Arkansas<br />- The girls got to gymnastics camp and train with the GA Gym Dawgs. They loved it!<br />- We got to spend some time at our family’s cabin in the mountains – our favorite place<br />- Vacation Bible School<br />- Anniversary trip with hubby to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Cherokee<br />- Starting on the orthodontic road with M.<br />- My baby girl turning 12<br />- Drivers Ed. For J.<br />- J. getting a boot on her foot for tearing up a ligament/tendon and bone bruising<br />- Went to funerals for 3 different people<br />- NOT GIVING IN TO THE DEPRESSION MONSTER!!<br /><br /><br />The depression monster really tried to get me this summer as I had a lot of things hitting me all at once from many different locations. I really worked hard into not giving in, but it took everything in my power. While normally I have a very low sense of self worth, I was actually quite proud of myself for being able to hold it together this time. I have never had some of the things happen to me before that I had to deal with over the summer; nor have I ever been treated the way I was by some this summer. I got hurt very deeply while dealing with some stresses at my jobs as well as a lot of changes going on at church and at home. There were many nights that I cried myself to sleep, and many days that I hid in the bathroom and cried. There were many times that I could not stop thinking on all of the things that were going on. However, I NEVER gave up hope! This was due to many factors – good friends, good family, and a great God. I remembered all of the wonderful things my “online” friends and my “church” friends, and my “work” friends and my family have said to me along the way. I also remembered the promises that my Father in Heaven made me about never forsaking me and that if He led me to it, He would lead me through it. <br /><br /><br />I appreciate all of you sticking with me and for being such an important part of my life.<br />Also, you friends listed over there on the right of my page? I truly love you all and send my apologies for not visiting your sites lately. I kind of removed myself from the blog world for a little while. I did miss you all dearly and hope that I will be accepted back.<br />Now I am going to spend my last evening with my family before school starts. <br /><br />Hug your family – you never know when it will be the last chance you get.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-41936805985862155682009-07-10T20:55:00.002-04:002009-07-10T21:10:20.767-04:00Those left behind have it the hardestIf you have not read my last post, scroll down and read that one first.<br /><br />Little Ryan was welcomed into heaven tonight by his mom Missy. <br /><br />While Missy and Ryan are no longer in pain and are able to now be together without their longtime cancer companion, the rest of the family is left without their wife/mom and son/brother. They are now planning a double funeral.<br /><br />Please stop and think about this for a minute. Can you even wrap your mind around that? <br /><br />I beg you to stop by Ryan's site and leave this family words of encouragement.<br /><br />I also ask that you get angry. Get angry at cancer. Why, with all of the advances we have made in cancer treatments, do we still have families that have to go through this? Why do our best treatments leave people with burns on their skin and poison flowing through their veins? Missy had a cancer that gets tons of research and funding. Ryan had a cancer that does not get tons of research and funding. Yet, they both had the same outcome. Cancer stinks. I loathe it and what it does to people. <br /><br />The Morgan family did not deserve this. No family deserves this. Please remember them in the days to come.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Ryan's site: <a href="http://www.superryan.blogspot.com/">www.superryan.blogspot.com</a>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-61533797336148491662009-07-09T18:30:00.003-04:002009-07-09T18:41:59.850-04:00Why?For my first blog in a while, I had planned on coming on here to tell you the struggles we have had over the last month and how we were dealing with them.<div><br /></div><div>Instead, I come to you begging you with all of my heart to pray for the Morgan family. Ryan is 10 years old and has been battling neuroblastoma since 2004. He has repeatedly fought long and hard with this monster that will not leave him alone. Last week, he was sent home on pain management as there is nothing left for them to do. To make things worse, Ryan's mom, Missy, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2007. Last night, Missy lost her battle. Ryan is not doing well at all. Please, please, please, pray for Les as he lost the love of his life and is now on the verge of losing his little boy. Pray for Heidi and Will as they lost their mother and are watching their little brother get weaker.</div><div><br /></div><div>Any "struggles" that I was having over the last month pale in comparison to what this family is dealing with. </div><div><br /></div><div>To visit this family, click on the following link:</div><div>www.superryan.blogspot.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to you all!</div><div>Mamasita<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-41128290983733814912009-05-03T23:06:00.003-04:002009-05-03T23:28:51.771-04:00Irony, Gratefulness, and Prayer RequestFirst off, the irony. I wrote a lot of random things in my last post. One of those items was my wonder if my children would grow up to be strong Christian women. I also wondered how I would feel if they did NOT, would I still love them? I think I have my answer. It is a resounding YES.<br /><br />The very night that I posted this, there was a crisis beginning in another family. Friday morning, things looked really bad for this family. Friday night, however, brought unimaginable heartache to two different families. I will not go into much detail here out of respect for both families. These 2 families lives will never ever be the same.<br /><br />The gratefulness is for my church family. One of the families involved is an integral part of our church. There are many generations of this family that attend as well as extended family members. This morning, our entire church service was devoted to prayers for this family as well as covering scripture that reflected on grace and mercy and forgiveness. The songs chosen focused on the same themes. This family was all sitting in church. Things could have been so different. The church could have turned their back on them for having a family member that made such a grave error in judgement. The family could have hidden out at home rather than face the questioning looks and possible inappropriate words of others. Instead, they knew that they were loved and would be held up by those that love them. The church surrounded them with love and prayers. They stood firm on the scripture that states that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God as well as the fact that God's grace is sufficient for ALL and that Jesus died for ALL of our sins. <br /><br />Is our church perfect? No. But if myself or any of my loved ones stumble and fall far away from God, I have decided that this church is the one I want to "have my back." <br /><br />My prayer request is for both of the families involved in this tragedy. Both families have many unanswered questions; questions we may never know the answer to. While most prayers are usually always with the victims in any situation, I beg of you to pray for the parties on both sides, they are all hurting and need as many prayers as you can spare. <br /><br />I may never post more details about this situation, I don't know. I also know that this is quite the cryptic post. I just ask for you to love those around you. You never know when it may be the last time you see them. I ask you to always remember that everyone you see is someone's son or daughter and that they are loved. I beg you to show others the grace you would want shown to you.<br /><br />Thank you for your time.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-5294020062405421812009-05-01T09:21:00.002-04:002009-05-01T09:25:14.305-04:00Seinfeld-esqueDid you ever watch the TV show Seinfeld? If not, it was the show about nothing. That is kind of how this post is going to be – a lot of nothings with no point whatsoever. <br /><br />My blog buddy <a href="http://canicontrolmylifeificantcontrolmyhair.blogspot.com/">Natalie</a> did something similar to this and I really enjoyed reading it. I am going to piggyback on her idea, with a few changes. Most of these are hypothetical questions that I don’t expect an answer to in this lifetime. Others are just things that stress me out and keep me up at night.<br /><br />I am doing this for 2 reasons: I haven’t had a minute to put together a coherent entry. Out of the 4 computers in our house, only one is both working and accessible right now. Of course, it is the one computer that I don’t have any of my pictures on. With all of us fighting over the computer, my turn doesn’t last long. <br /><br />Anyway, here goes.<br /><br />Why do people on a multi lane highway drive the same speed as the car next to them? That creates a wall in which no one can get around. Why can’t they either speed up or slow down and/or change lanes? It’s not that hard.<br /><br />Why do people think it is okay for them to turn left into the school entrance that says “No left turn?” <br /><br />Why are people disrespectful to my kid(s) in front of other people and then deny it? Especially when a whole room full of people can hear it?<br /><br />Why do networks find it necessary to put so much language and sexual stuff in shows that otherwise would be great shows that we could watch as a family?<br /><br />Why am I so talented at having things get mangled somewhere between my brain and my mouth? Things sound so different in my head.<br /><br />It bothers me that I may have to take anti-depressants my entire life.<br /><br />I wonder if I will ever “get it together.”<br /><br />Will I ever get enough sleep so that I am not always so tired?<br /><br />When we get to heaven, will we be forever the age we were when we died?<br /><br />Will we recognize each other in heaven?<br /><br />Why can people make decisions that affect other people without conferring with those affected?<br /><br />Will I ever be happy with myself?<br /><br />Why do I have so many strange quirks? Can I make them go away? I don’t want to have issues with certain sounds and textures.<br /><br />Will my kids grow up to be wonderful Christian women?<br /><br />If they don’t, will I still be able to show unconditional love and acceptance?<br /><br />Will I ever be able to find the movie Pure Luck on DVD?<br /><br />Why have they not found more cures and treatments for cancer, especially childhood cancers?<br /><br />Will I ever be caught up on laundry and house cleaning?<br /><br />Why do my grey hairs all grow in the same spot?<br /><br />How did I get so blessed to have such great blog friends, a handful of awesome friends that I see on a regular basis, a husband who loves me as well as likes me, and two amazing kids???<br /><br />How was that for a post about nothing? <br />Leave me some comments and let me know some of the things you ponder.<br /><br />As always, thanks for stopping by. Hopefully soon I will post a blog about an actual topic. Or with some pictures. Or at least a coherent thought. If it is a good day, maybe all three will appear in the same entry. Who knows???Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-83694530766212093122009-04-19T21:06:00.003-04:002009-04-19T21:43:51.706-04:00My "other" girls<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">As some of you may know, I coach a level 3 gymnastics team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We had our state meet this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They finished 8<sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span></sup> in the state, out of more than 30 gyms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">YAY</span>!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While I am excited about how well that they placed, that is not the point of my entry today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As their season comes to a close, I look back at some of my favorite memories, both of the season and of the state meet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I look back on all this time together, I have decided that I am too much of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">softie</span> to ever lead a cut-throat, unbeatable team. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What has touched me the most has not been high scores and 1<sup>st</sup> places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has been watching them grow and mature and become a “team.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">They came in as a bunch of scared and nervous girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now they are friends and supporters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have seen my girls hug each other when they learn a new skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have heard them cheer each other on when they see one of their own struggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have had them jump up and do the “stay on the beam” dance when one struggles to stay on the beam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have had them crawl in my lap and snuggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have had them wrap around my legs when I am walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have seen them holding hands with each other while they are getting instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am more proud of my girls for their actions at the meet than if they would have come out in 1<sup>st</sup> place, but without their wonderful personalities.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let me tell you a couple of excerpts from the meet so that you can see what amazing young girls that I have.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we were at the bars and some of the girls would get to a skill that they had been struggling with, I would hear them quietly cheer, “YES” when their teammate made their skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They came and sat next to me during beam because they knew that I needed to hold on to someone when the girls are doing their handstands on beam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They let me hold their arm or leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(There was once that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">accidentally</span> grabbed the leg of the girl that was the timer for beam, but that is another story for another day.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They did a modified “stay on the beam” dance with me while their teammates were doing their handstands and leaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They cheered their teammates loudly, they told them good job and high <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">fived</span> them no matter if they stuck their routines or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They were able to shake off a bad event and not take it with them to the next event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They made me and their other coach so very proud and we love them dearly.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the season will be spent training them for the next level, learning new “fun” skills and getting them ready for their new level and new coaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am going to be sad to see them go, but proud to see them progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is almost like having kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You have to give them roots before they can grow wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whether these girls stay in gymnastics or not, I hope that they remember the lessons they have learned and the coaches that loved them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, obviously I do not have what it takes to make these girls be state champions that will always outscore everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That would take someone much tougher than I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Someone who does not get teary eyed when they are crying during conditioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Someone who does not think one of the best parts of practice is getting the hugs at the end of practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Someone who does not feel so honored when they want to come sit in my lap or lay their head on my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maybe one day, I will be “tougher.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For now though, I am going to enjoy the ride and the joy that comes with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">As always, leave me a comment (click the word "comment" below) and let me know you were here.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-81114648203836789562009-04-16T07:57:00.007-04:002009-04-16T08:50:38.998-04:00Pictures, gymnastics, and more<div>Sorry for the delay in posting. March and April are insane months for us. For March, we had gym meets the first and second weekends, then a retreat from church the 3rd weekend. In April, J. had her state gymnastics meet the first weekend. She did awesome! She came in 5th All Around with a score of 36.075. (A perfect score would be a 40 - which would be a 10 on each event.)</div><div><br /></div><div>She has had an ongoing series of knee and ankle injuries lately. The last one being that she landing a tumbling pass on the side of her foot, with her ankle rolled under. It had a huge knot on it and turned many beautiful Easter colors; purple, blue, yellow, and green. The colors were nice and vivid around her ankle and faded as it extended to her toes. She went and saw our athletic trainer here at school every day for a week and a half and he would do some kind of e-stim boot therapy on it. We were really hoping she would heal in time to compete at state. She was hurting afterwards, but was able to do all 4 events.</div><div><br /></div><div>She got 5th on vault with a 9.4. Third place on bars with a 9.175. 9th on beam with an 8.5, and 11th on floor with a 9.00. I am so proud of her! </div><div><br /></div><div>I am more proud of the fact that she did so much to help herself heal quickly and kept working through the pain. This is what makes a gymnast - not the scores, not the placings at awards. These girls work out 18 hours a week, go to school for 35 hours a week, keep up their grades, and do their chores. For some, they are quite active in church. They are usually leaders among their friends. When they are hurt, they push through it. I can personally say that there have been times where my daughter has saran wrapped ice bags to herself so that she can still work out. She has gone in the bathroom and thrown up for one reason or another (sinus drainage, stress, etc - nothing contagious) and then has gone back out to the floor and finished whatever skills she was working on. She competed twice last year with a fractured shin. She has come home from practice and has had to have had help getting up the stairs because she is hurting. She is not a rarity in the gymnastics world by any means. They are all this way. We had one girl still coming to practice with a stress fracture in her spine - she thought she just had a backache. I have seen several girls doing conditioning with ice bags saran wrapped to their knees. I have seen girls coming in and doing just conditioning when they have a cast on. When they fall off of the beam or bars, they get back up immediately and do the same skill again and again so that they don't develop a fear. I have seen them get hurt in the middle of a routine, finish the routine, and then not be able to get back up afterwards. They have a work ethic like I have never seen before in kids. They do their homework and dinner in the car on gym days. Yet, when they take a couple of days off, they miss being there. Since it is not a seasonal sport, they have these hours all year long, so the literally only get days off a year, not weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, enough talking. Here are some pics from the last couple of meets. Keep in mind that you can not use a flash, the action is quite rapid, and the lighting is flourescent. None of which allows for optimum pictures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is J. and her friend A. getting ready to compete at state. These are two of the most amazing young ladies:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis12iehcJsKbvil_ok1PWcvchyTDgQrDGlkp1mVJVjiIZnynhmxmeo6-Smz4DZW2LxyaJroanhNIozzu2bCFjgMWeL0GNz1piM9riWDfKlyzJs6aTDwdd9qA6VUCzNKEbdKQ94izGLzNM/s1600-h/IMG_4083.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis12iehcJsKbvil_ok1PWcvchyTDgQrDGlkp1mVJVjiIZnynhmxmeo6-Smz4DZW2LxyaJroanhNIozzu2bCFjgMWeL0GNz1piM9riWDfKlyzJs6aTDwdd9qA6VUCzNKEbdKQ94izGLzNM/s400/IMG_4083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325258698773919170" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>J. doing her favorite event. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s6njXSY-4ri-fffNIoGyYfo5xPv5BNGFZgzNq3GUCnRDofxa4FZ518au_sNupoXPVhMwYgrmcMVOVkeahqa-19I35T3dYYNJN9KwvwN3QA28UbwiyQ0whKXtaI9ub19UiQ1GkDo0twc/s1600-h/IMG_4087.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 207px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s6njXSY-4ri-fffNIoGyYfo5xPv5BNGFZgzNq3GUCnRDofxa4FZ518au_sNupoXPVhMwYgrmcMVOVkeahqa-19I35T3dYYNJN9KwvwN3QA28UbwiyQ0whKXtaI9ub19UiQ1GkDo0twc/s400/IMG_4087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325258700940110770" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>J. doing her least favorite event:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-I436ECnHTd8MjO01yodLbOUDHUndxvCktH3NeYj4GacknQEDXo9KmLpIiUEUzGB2YGK3o-symzerUQM-fJ8A3tHuxsWmEK0JXJZjidS4wdReoIbb3oO_dMWBFF-pyqfRYzz1E63grh8/s1600-h/IMG_4108.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-I436ECnHTd8MjO01yodLbOUDHUndxvCktH3NeYj4GacknQEDXo9KmLpIiUEUzGB2YGK3o-symzerUQM-fJ8A3tHuxsWmEK0JXJZjidS4wdReoIbb3oO_dMWBFF-pyqfRYzz1E63grh8/s400/IMG_4108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325258694165268530" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>J. and A. holding the team banner. The team came in 7th! Yay!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_iW8YMhJ5pUDFmiXxaa5L4gbPotYloflTyzlQ1-x-BdAUIN_Umax6PFBfzCKx_vea6ltyyAqG3qD0_U8X3E4f1na3Dew21sT4YaKaeHJcZF591FhDsVN0d3EtLGTXSTYyIFP3bxKI/s1600-h/IMG_4131.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_iW8YMhJ5pUDFmiXxaa5L4gbPotYloflTyzlQ1-x-BdAUIN_Umax6PFBfzCKx_vea6ltyyAqG3qD0_U8X3E4f1na3Dew21sT4YaKaeHJcZF591FhDsVN0d3EtLGTXSTYyIFP3bxKI/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325258692314843506" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>M. had a meet the same weekend. She got her first 9 on beam. Look at those pointed toes!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi7uUbs7zXNds-qYSrZEr4Gx1E5Qqi2dZe9lnDhQfFwRk69z3nKPU3vajSjdgeVaUfjvlaO2rYcuaBqstGvaZ1Q2c2Tos8KTvjO3FWf6M94hvT8PKVxuPDSTDMUQYN4akltCgIaVdhRo/s1600-h/IMG_4063.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 365px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZi7uUbs7zXNds-qYSrZEr4Gx1E5Qqi2dZe9lnDhQfFwRk69z3nKPU3vajSjdgeVaUfjvlaO2rYcuaBqstGvaZ1Q2c2Tos8KTvjO3FWf6M94hvT8PKVxuPDSTDMUQYN4akltCgIaVdhRo/s400/IMG_4063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325257883717244290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oNLE64Vy1Yj80H6beich6KSrSK9eiz2Auw6xTAQxn3TkiidoYYz_Jf2GRfWvz3SmvmASkHICQBUQz8LyvaiRJGs6iAe_-6Z-4Xtbz62WHj536GtYlwg-WKbV7g6DZZxapTkO0l9VEWw/s1600-h/IMG_4056.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oNLE64Vy1Yj80H6beich6KSrSK9eiz2Auw6xTAQxn3TkiidoYYz_Jf2GRfWvz3SmvmASkHICQBUQz8LyvaiRJGs6iAe_-6Z-4Xtbz62WHj536GtYlwg-WKbV7g6DZZxapTkO0l9VEWw/s400/IMG_4056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325257872940911730" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>M. on bars. She is such a flexible person that she has to really focus on staying tight. She looks so much better on bars since she has learned how to focus on that:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsf9mgMclUNXKP03mpyQurRPuD_E6x4U0mbsg_2BEyOT9kF_wrnX_Km7N1IqMAfrdy6xFApB9ygnPnRq91wWLo_O7LfX1mCikWv58Lf72U9RgNx0rwCEZsk0p9avQiWRy6JeooV-4-9tA/s1600-h/IMG_4052.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsf9mgMclUNXKP03mpyQurRPuD_E6x4U0mbsg_2BEyOT9kF_wrnX_Km7N1IqMAfrdy6xFApB9ygnPnRq91wWLo_O7LfX1mCikWv58Lf72U9RgNx0rwCEZsk0p9avQiWRy6JeooV-4-9tA/s400/IMG_4052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325257871374169090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjh62mPEzSWLqRtmovUd6wdWMdlty4b8CAUyr0tWJHY0CCtqdCww6GF3AZV0cv2a_f48N8e3pYnEFpxR83nBV1wr3pM6O2y-iQk0uGxuH8KB54p5XaAekau0IgesAN3ekxxkX2DrfreU/s1600-h/IMG_4050.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjh62mPEzSWLqRtmovUd6wdWMdlty4b8CAUyr0tWJHY0CCtqdCww6GF3AZV0cv2a_f48N8e3pYnEFpxR83nBV1wr3pM6O2y-iQk0uGxuH8KB54p5XaAekau0IgesAN3ekxxkX2DrfreU/s400/IMG_4050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325257864752715186" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This pictures look a little better as the lighting was a little better. Here is J. hitting her handstand on the bar:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHFesJ2nxKr-oBgGs7sN8xwRXXyuSVVgCaqdNLiZ4WAnLm2BM4LzQVAYUoDM0eVi_XvZqWxzouqTNjdq-yT9sxMaHIMglMWPPHmT7GQl7A51pEqF2eVR14In52phjY8BbbeOmoCrMs0E/s1600-h/IMG_4035.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHFesJ2nxKr-oBgGs7sN8xwRXXyuSVVgCaqdNLiZ4WAnLm2BM4LzQVAYUoDM0eVi_XvZqWxzouqTNjdq-yT9sxMaHIMglMWPPHmT7GQl7A51pEqF2eVR14In52phjY8BbbeOmoCrMs0E/s400/IMG_4035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325257862782254802" /></a><br /></div><div>Look - her heels are together! YAY! (Since she is pigeon toed, this is a big struggle for her.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, hope you enjoyed the pics. The photographer at state got some really good pics, I will post them when I get them.</div><div><br /></div><div>My team has state meet this coming weekend. I am so excited and nervous for them! </div><div><br /></div><div>The next weekend, M. has her state meet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, we are done competing for a few months and will work on training for the next level.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went to the mountains over spring break and I am working on an update that will have "prettier" pictures for those of you that are not into the gymnastics stuff. I forget that other people have a life that does not revolve around gymnastics schedules. </div><div><br /></div><div>**For those of you that get email updates - I'm sure that you noticed that you only got the title of the blog and a link to get here instead of the full entry. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. There were several reasons for this. I realized that for people that do NOT visit the actual site, you and I both were missing out on some things. You would not get to see any pictures that I place on the blog template. You also would not get to see my blogroll on the side. Those sites are absolutely wonderful and I encourage you to visit them. Also, for you guys that don't blog, something you may not know: Bloggers LOVE for their hit counter to go up. We also love to get comments. We like to know you were here. There is nothing more rewarding for a blogger than to see and read that people were here - another reason to visit my cyber-friends on the side over there.**</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, thank you for stopping by!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-5260041424464846482009-03-31T08:28:00.004-04:002009-03-31T08:32:46.817-04:00Very disturbing entry - also quite uselessThis is probably the strangest and most useless blog entry that has ever been posted. As a matter of fact you may want to stop reading now, because what follows is quite disturbing.<br /><br />Let me set the stage. For those of you that know me, you know that I have a LOT of hair. I also have a lot of weird issues. One of my weird issues is my wet hair touching me. So, the other day after my shower, I was blow-drying the ends of my hair so that it would not drip on me (I am cringing just typing it – ewwww.) Anyway, I was leaning far to one side so that all of my hair was hanging down in the air and not on my back. I then leaned a little forward. While blow-drying my hair, I happened to look in the mirror and noticed something quite strange and frankly downright frightening. I noticed that gravity was not my friend.<br /><br />My face looked quite strange. It actually looked like it was melting. I was leaning to the left while using the dryer. The left side of my face looked like it was stretched realllllly far and the right side of my face was all bunched up at my eye. After I got over the sheer terror of realizing that was MY face, I became interested to see what would happen as I moved around. Unfortunately, I discovered that it was not just that one position. As I leaned further over and forward and backward, my face continued to morph into unrecognizability. <br /><br />I knew that as you aged, your skin lost elasticity and have even noticed it around my eyes. However, NOTHING could have prepared me for what just happened. I am still in my 30’s! Not by much, but I am holding on to the 30’s with dear life. I forget quite often how old I am. I don’t think I will forget any more, though, as that image is indelibly etched in my brain.<br /><br />I am still going back and forth between being mortified and morbidly fascinated. I keep finding myself in front of the mirror leaning over in different ways. <br /><br />Now, I am going to be curious as to which of you go and try this when no one is looking. Let me know if you discover strange contortions of your face. If you try it and nothing changes in your face – well then PHHHHTTT. Just kidding, it will happen soon enough.<br /><br />You may wonder why in the world I posted something like this. My reasons are two fold – one, it gives everyone fodder for teasing me with, as if you needed more ammunition. Two, it gave me a chance to use my new Mac book and see how well it works with blogger.<br /><br />Thanks for reading this absolutely pointless entry.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-22046811763537040252009-03-20T08:10:00.003-04:002009-03-20T08:52:14.502-04:00Teenage epiphanyTo clarify at the beginning, this is an epiphany that my teenage daughter had. NOT an epiphany that I had about teenagers. I'm still waiting on that to happen.<br /><br /><br /><br />As you saw in my last post, J. was baptized earlier this month. Before that, she obviously had been doing a lot of thinking. One night, she came to me and said this:<br /><br /><br /><br />'You know that phrase that you hear people say - "God is Love?' (I John 4:8) Well, you hear it a lot but don't ever think about it. If you do, it is kind of hard to make that phrase make sense. So I started thinking about it. Then I thought of that passage in the bible that says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (I Corinthians 13) If God is love, then you could say that God equals love. So, you could go through this passage and replace the word "love" with "God." That would make the "God is love" phrase make a lot more sense. '<br /><br /><br /><br />I was blown away! I had never thought of this in this fashion before. It got me to thinking more about it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here is how that passage would read with the replacements made:<br /><br />GOD is patient<br /><br />GOD is kind<br /><br />[GOD] does not envy<br /><br />[GOD] does not boast<br /><br />[GOD] is not proud<br /><br />[GOD] is not rude<br /><br />[GOD] is not self-seeking<br /><br />[GOD] is not easily angered<br /><br />[GOD] keeps no record of wrongs<br /><br />GOD does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth<br /><br />[GOD] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<br />GOD never fails<br /><br /><br /><br />That is powerful stuff in my opinion.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you look at this passage in The Message translation, the sentence that precedes the passages states, "So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." Again, if you replace love with "God," it is right on target again.<br /><br /><br /><br />This has been floating around in my head for the last couple of weeks since she said it. It has really got me thinking. I wonder if this thought went through the authors head when he wrote these words?<br /><br /><br /><br />Irregardless, it got my teenagers thought processes going in an awesome direction - there are a LOT worse things that she could be thinking about!<br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you for stopping by and reading.<br /><br /><br /><br />I do want to ask 2 favors from you:<br /><br /><br /><br />1) Please visit my friends on the right sidebar over there. Many of them are going through a lot right now and some kind words would go a long way. Just don't leave me for them. They are much more talented writers than I am and lead much more exciting lives than I do. You will enjoy their sites more than mine, I promise. But remember how insecure I am and still come back and visit me, please??????<br /><br /><br /><br />2) Leave me a comment and let me know you were here. You don't have to say anything other than "I was here." I just like to know I am not alone. Plus, it helps my insecurity issues when I look at my blog and see that I have comments posted. :-)Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-13345235775458357352009-03-05T08:19:00.015-05:002009-03-05T21:27:28.415-05:00Marching forth on March Fourth!What a happy, happy time! My oldest daughter, J., got baptized Wednesday night!<br /><br />(As stated when M. got baptized in July, I am not wanting to start a theological debate or anything. I just want you readers to understand what baptism means to us:<br /><br />The word baptize comes from the Greek word "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">baptizo</span>" and literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the practice of the church in apostolic times. Still further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.<br /><br /><br /><p>We believe that baptism by immersion is a necessary response of faith to God’s free grace. It is not a work we do to earn God’s favor, but rather, a work God does for us."We see this as one of the steps necessary to becoming a Christian - giving your life to God.)</p><p></p><p> </p><p>Okay, now back to the pictures. For those of you that are not from the same religion as us, I will have a running commentary on what is going on with each of the pictures. For those of you that were there, or know what is going on, feel free to just look at the pictures if you want.</p><p>Here is the excited Dad, waiting on J. to get ready:</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3NkmO28oWu-pXiOargpqXSsG4WppGX-NKh46g6cBKZYvgd7FtIj-3zEy5XXsHm1s2SaI0lFfVWEW0O-Vm7Z1Zjz0x0z9ayLYsaOHFwl4HOoqubNimVlmibZusgLQk-s5Nc-kOzpq9n8/s1600-h/IMG_6120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309693685267830066" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3NkmO28oWu-pXiOargpqXSsG4WppGX-NKh46g6cBKZYvgd7FtIj-3zEy5XXsHm1s2SaI0lFfVWEW0O-Vm7Z1Zjz0x0z9ayLYsaOHFwl4HOoqubNimVlmibZusgLQk-s5Nc-kOzpq9n8/s400/IMG_6120.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here is our good friend V.T. getting the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">baptistry</span> ready. By getting it ready, I mean removing the foam rocket that had mistakenly and mysteriously landed in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">baptistry</span> earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdYHgzPesERcfn1fDb5e3PE2xE6ev1zsSSKht1XFvlVq4S7yuCB-rKoKPDrlj0u7zjt60A8uMOxsfpxTKVMqDzqh-bCWn7tAvEkqOMVRWguNs0D9cVQESfpxT3ta3DNipU0GTdepVguE/s1600-h/IMG_6123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309693695147509298" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdYHgzPesERcfn1fDb5e3PE2xE6ev1zsSSKht1XFvlVq4S7yuCB-rKoKPDrlj0u7zjt60A8uMOxsfpxTKVMqDzqh-bCWn7tAvEkqOMVRWguNs0D9cVQESfpxT3ta3DNipU0GTdepVguE/s400/IMG_6123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />My sweet M. and our "adopted" sister B.B. She bridges J. and M. together nicely, don't you think? With her blue eyes like M. and dark hair like J., she blends right in.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZZa0K2Hd7JMrEedIZ6-hidj8HYDpE4iAADiMZNpDoy_OI3ASUgLbEfYwkR1vvRuRKDx-IODFkpWgOlbHJeeTLlxNjQSZ1dtErdEN0_LndEg5Md79a2v_AFh4kHP8HN2goV-2NwyZOg0/s1600-h/IMG_6126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309693701563509826" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZZa0K2Hd7JMrEedIZ6-hidj8HYDpE4iAADiMZNpDoy_OI3ASUgLbEfYwkR1vvRuRKDx-IODFkpWgOlbHJeeTLlxNjQSZ1dtErdEN0_LndEg5Md79a2v_AFh4kHP8HN2goV-2NwyZOg0/s400/IMG_6126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Friends waiting on J. (There was a lot of waiting on J.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiJHAw-OeZiAyzEz2Qxbq5pWSMSyVX6gUgZLNJX0peOLQFWKG-Cjedre6_R1aoWevoANcBJdDsZw-UdT3svZkzZFaPqFAgbWmvItzrCtaC5TFCcy9_4FQHqIwF3gNQxNn0Ecs1uzrQVM/s1600-h/IMG_6127.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309693710583012338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiJHAw-OeZiAyzEz2Qxbq5pWSMSyVX6gUgZLNJX0peOLQFWKG-Cjedre6_R1aoWevoANcBJdDsZw-UdT3svZkzZFaPqFAgbWmvItzrCtaC5TFCcy9_4FQHqIwF3gNQxNn0Ecs1uzrQVM/s400/IMG_6127.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CtN2lA2SblgjfY1VQY6czqsoD2vjhmI6ySFMYU-aR1jweYR_IZcqI2clXlQ6ZuwXSIHQJMKANK63vQ6rgurfmBlWLrcZ7uy3ZWicXaLGXrh1_l62zCtncB6DBG-dgiox-vHSjj9WXss/s1600-h/IMG_6131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309694763906881650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CtN2lA2SblgjfY1VQY6czqsoD2vjhmI6ySFMYU-aR1jweYR_IZcqI2clXlQ6ZuwXSIHQJMKANK63vQ6rgurfmBlWLrcZ7uy3ZWicXaLGXrh1_l62zCtncB6DBG-dgiox-vHSjj9WXss/s400/IMG_6131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyx2fJui4-FrtFHM7VkQwMq30v-AkMy-xmFE3Ay7r-CaRyHfph8-V_-o7G0a5Ywwwl87jpk3TkXGD-VroTwZfguucUJPzlYGYEUbWM5rSZ_YoM0fJycz9thqVIYFNmhwXcyeETRZJMhc/s1600-h/IMG_6130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309694760500929458" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyx2fJui4-FrtFHM7VkQwMq30v-AkMy-xmFE3Ay7r-CaRyHfph8-V_-o7G0a5Ywwwl87jpk3TkXGD-VroTwZfguucUJPzlYGYEUbWM5rSZ_YoM0fJycz9thqVIYFNmhwXcyeETRZJMhc/s400/IMG_6130.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbK58nTGVEGAjBsfhhqR_dDQ99vH10QJnJY7mVnvFfBk8OLZtpRqEWkvqbjCo08T9NQqLaPq18A3iBacSLVkLO_cIGzD7UA7kuqWhvVI8o7Ejk3cOXMJQhGrlG9qOGy0UchfEuJHiFNs/s1600-h/IMG_6129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309694750083105522" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbK58nTGVEGAjBsfhhqR_dDQ99vH10QJnJY7mVnvFfBk8OLZtpRqEWkvqbjCo08T9NQqLaPq18A3iBacSLVkLO_cIGzD7UA7kuqWhvVI8o7Ejk3cOXMJQhGrlG9qOGy0UchfEuJHiFNs/s400/IMG_6129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRhVtCT0dOMCoOuHZFhd1aMULSilpXW_IrMmsDgM3ww6YC9kCsbmvmAYxkCxYLsSmUvN9d-ocHvJtUS6PihOYM1bUQoICRVRrcbq6Nh8nlK3DuPRc07ssOka2byuvXoZfEf7GMeOwirM/s1600-h/IMG_6128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309694747084948098" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRhVtCT0dOMCoOuHZFhd1aMULSilpXW_IrMmsDgM3ww6YC9kCsbmvmAYxkCxYLsSmUvN9d-ocHvJtUS6PihOYM1bUQoICRVRrcbq6Nh8nlK3DuPRc07ssOka2byuvXoZfEf7GMeOwirM/s400/IMG_6128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Behind the scenes: J., MM., <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">KJ</span>., and CT:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPwyeIdaXSw-qk9vJDCJLOWYsHfQeKSPHfUvj0STB7kBQfk6tm0hEn1eMtIkFsu_4AYPbyTVqjGK76LB2_s3cYpQsAX-VAwMqqO7hnrVvRfaGER0rAwmKjMG_iqUy4rwg_wvF7-uikpo/s1600-h/IMG_6135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309695644040755186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPwyeIdaXSw-qk9vJDCJLOWYsHfQeKSPHfUvj0STB7kBQfk6tm0hEn1eMtIkFsu_4AYPbyTVqjGK76LB2_s3cYpQsAX-VAwMqqO7hnrVvRfaGER0rAwmKjMG_iqUy4rwg_wvF7-uikpo/s400/IMG_6135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlkCTGfRixxwRlX-P3x6Wqe_3SJOjT-bPJtzHOgGUEgghVfKKSyrvT1b69PIF0jB6Y102QXi6rrqhNy1I8xPUxpIXbr6PhaK6hNcKeWSAFodYTgGXk1UpTT7jVoeArBBKF9v5vco18h8/s1600-h/IMG_6134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309695637705351346" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlkCTGfRixxwRlX-P3x6Wqe_3SJOjT-bPJtzHOgGUEgghVfKKSyrvT1b69PIF0jB6Y102QXi6rrqhNy1I8xPUxpIXbr6PhaK6hNcKeWSAFodYTgGXk1UpTT7jVoeArBBKF9v5vco18h8/s400/IMG_6134.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX2GsIFJyUBxn6BfYYC7rFYH7MBqmR5Gi999MELjCybS2AStQ3lG_RDpKRn6PUA_PsUh9Oemz-NtmN6TRYtAZq9mMRp64XgSsAnVKO6HiuAw6k338Ke3oXcxBoAeIE9Dxi27V7uqm2Y4/s1600-h/IMG_6133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309695631913434786" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX2GsIFJyUBxn6BfYYC7rFYH7MBqmR5Gi999MELjCybS2AStQ3lG_RDpKRn6PUA_PsUh9Oemz-NtmN6TRYtAZq9mMRp64XgSsAnVKO6HiuAw6k338Ke3oXcxBoAeIE9Dxi27V7uqm2Y4/s400/IMG_6133.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p>I absolutely LOVE this picture. The kids are being led in prayer by one of our youth ministers.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxD_xR13kHQ1Ty_821IpFsNkdKKvbwysfRmPWA4ls-be_gO_Gwn2oE7yawfkwYOga1iv_sSwzRjAr8vdAYlo3wFnzXo8bJKI8ww2u6k3-fPLmLnwbSiiZe8iSoWCKO-mg1cWP8opcgPI/s1600-h/IMG_6132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309708902545787634" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxD_xR13kHQ1Ty_821IpFsNkdKKvbwysfRmPWA4ls-be_gO_Gwn2oE7yawfkwYOga1iv_sSwzRjAr8vdAYlo3wFnzXo8bJKI8ww2u6k3-fPLmLnwbSiiZe8iSoWCKO-mg1cWP8opcgPI/s400/IMG_6132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><p>Here we go!</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIeuTd1rJKfO_MNXtbMiyrZF6GS7oRCfZ7wFv-EJv0Nw1zLo7kyQKft1dTw6FA8vSEASw0y2omHv9e_YDASy2DIedLH7wl_Rz_rdz7X1clLAp0KC_oE0fv8rNpW-08pBjzaD1Ll4uCEg/s1600-h/IMG_6136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309695650368423842" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIeuTd1rJKfO_MNXtbMiyrZF6GS7oRCfZ7wFv-EJv0Nw1zLo7kyQKft1dTw6FA8vSEASw0y2omHv9e_YDASy2DIedLH7wl_Rz_rdz7X1clLAp0KC_oE0fv8rNpW-08pBjzaD1Ll4uCEg/s400/IMG_6136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />J. realizing that the water is really cold:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadOsebjgvfMechc5erhAS5VES7bzKYRTZo7Z297BpygpJViSVc_iehuZ5z0LTgebl1qPFXMQMol3tzHZ6zhXRgRE5-phYGClyBflPLnxb0pj3cPIsqKNkZdupAB7Rd62Jv98wxPOZe8w/s1600-h/IMG_6137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309695654396619858" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadOsebjgvfMechc5erhAS5VES7bzKYRTZo7Z297BpygpJViSVc_iehuZ5z0LTgebl1qPFXMQMol3tzHZ6zhXRgRE5-phYGClyBflPLnxb0pj3cPIsqKNkZdupAB7Rd62Jv98wxPOZe8w/s400/IMG_6137.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqKyYEuGCliYZag_QB_c36DMRhXfQGhshFFlA4yRiVWtwOL5NR8K-gC9S4r-a7rHtx2C4q0DpFgC5Y3Kl4i0_5g6QAeldRCJ9iajvkos3WiIXjZeCrIDgRT356gncjFqro0EHvWDIjqI/s1600-h/IMG_6138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309696394462531602" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqKyYEuGCliYZag_QB_c36DMRhXfQGhshFFlA4yRiVWtwOL5NR8K-gC9S4r-a7rHtx2C4q0DpFgC5Y3Kl4i0_5g6QAeldRCJ9iajvkos3WiIXjZeCrIDgRT356gncjFqro0EHvWDIjqI/s400/IMG_6138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Before I go any farther, I have a couple of disclaimers to throw in. When I was young, it seemed to always be the minister who did the baptizing. I have observed that more and more people are choosing to be baptized by someone who has been a big influence on them spiritually. J. and CT, the young man in the picture, have been talking a lot lately about Christianity, life as a teenager, being spiritual leaders, etc. They are not "dating" or "going out" or whatever the term is these days. J. calls him her big brother and he calls her his little sister. I didn't want any inaccurate beliefs about them to be floating around making either of them uncomfortable.<br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program. Again.<br /><br /><br /><br />Here, CT is asking J if she believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he died for her sins.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxGrGjf379pcOiHuJM2L6z4heMBN4B7g6i4Bum0dBPbh9ny4-6qo7-5lXOzLtyv_7SMYwWUVlJRUMSD9WTOH8Bv7bo5sVUqNVfcdEZEjakE_xDP66u9cTX1xgH7Hfp-BOBi-7fFt622w/s1600-h/IMG_6139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309696400762490626" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxGrGjf379pcOiHuJM2L6z4heMBN4B7g6i4Bum0dBPbh9ny4-6qo7-5lXOzLtyv_7SMYwWUVlJRUMSD9WTOH8Bv7bo5sVUqNVfcdEZEjakE_xDP66u9cTX1xgH7Hfp-BOBi-7fFt622w/s400/IMG_6139.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Based on her agreement and confession of her belief, she is baptized:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGw_-w5rl1kgUKKBVInJU79zI7uF00A77GOT-e0hUGdhSBdeHrPfclCOlOztorWfrfpv5kpk3NiQgx2-I0MrpVm0xFm_qITAk0qPRVSjM0AgaoyuE3oUshOwkX53Onjds41VY3Gq8vKk/s1600-h/IMG_6141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309696404374124194" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGw_-w5rl1kgUKKBVInJU79zI7uF00A77GOT-e0hUGdhSBdeHrPfclCOlOztorWfrfpv5kpk3NiQgx2-I0MrpVm0xFm_qITAk0qPRVSjM0AgaoyuE3oUshOwkX53Onjds41VY3Gq8vKk/s400/IMG_6141.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0HP75xNYMAZbDvRX2rLqr15imfRIDhqM4OfViz7oSgbQk2Ye8bt9Lte63X9ivlYGqorZVurVYriF-trIakngmDOFSamfm3vy_4XMxTRhBWfzIGKHu4gVxAh_xLk-3uAz3diPYJPrmEU/s1600-h/IMG_6142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309696413703518418" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0HP75xNYMAZbDvRX2rLqr15imfRIDhqM4OfViz7oSgbQk2Ye8bt9Lte63X9ivlYGqorZVurVYriF-trIakngmDOFSamfm3vy_4XMxTRhBWfzIGKHu4gVxAh_xLk-3uAz3diPYJPrmEU/s400/IMG_6142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLGV1_hJxc2sMaOUGc0hsGewFsepjro0ftngoU-MGGvYf_1_qbSgSC-pR8ccRTJ_T2DERKpROi6LTyVn8lps6TlOpp8zL7eAL3rCU6gQRUrs6ANw0iVCEErP4S4ZytsQzDEJBJoWIRtE/s1600-h/IMG_6143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309696418611045298" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLGV1_hJxc2sMaOUGc0hsGewFsepjro0ftngoU-MGGvYf_1_qbSgSC-pR8ccRTJ_T2DERKpROi6LTyVn8lps6TlOpp8zL7eAL3rCU6gQRUrs6ANw0iVCEErP4S4ZytsQzDEJBJoWIRtE/s400/IMG_6143.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHHb0m5IbQpDIDt6RNfRDt-3qZztPeikKwG1d8-kw9hEtCEHhpzww-L9Nuype2b5vwSLvSArtOWTwSlvLnsyQ3AroE2FFtfboNDakqaablHmMoL6lRPZQJXnLIpW3AJWvpPSRd8tpW_Y/s1600-h/IMG_6145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309697347671528962" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHHb0m5IbQpDIDt6RNfRDt-3qZztPeikKwG1d8-kw9hEtCEHhpzww-L9Nuype2b5vwSLvSArtOWTwSlvLnsyQ3AroE2FFtfboNDakqaablHmMoL6lRPZQJXnLIpW3AJWvpPSRd8tpW_Y/s400/IMG_6145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCE9jlmd15N9Vz0dzTYr_w0Ar9mQyTXeg9PCMhOpZGdk9HoZoiNqlFlPYKqiTxctjZSmgyRvTQYSQY53uGdaGPpe0sl3xjw0tKcnFOe-1YYFkiMfsYMugdN6PXQloAQ8F0e3UIwHiazk/s1600-h/IMG_6146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309697352762273202" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCE9jlmd15N9Vz0dzTYr_w0Ar9mQyTXeg9PCMhOpZGdk9HoZoiNqlFlPYKqiTxctjZSmgyRvTQYSQY53uGdaGPpe0sl3xjw0tKcnFOe-1YYFkiMfsYMugdN6PXQloAQ8F0e3UIwHiazk/s400/IMG_6146.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkeHE11MigTFSs30wLdtY_ErqvbE6xIltAaF81ZnldEZIoaoDK13QhaW4hINRh3oJuAGdmQjAI8qVbQ1j6qicWZfUYdPp9Z37vufnlsdZodFsEj2siqWMRlwRc8YtQGDqK4Bvq9aCKOs/s1600-h/IMG_6147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309697364378815042" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkeHE11MigTFSs30wLdtY_ErqvbE6xIltAaF81ZnldEZIoaoDK13QhaW4hINRh3oJuAGdmQjAI8qVbQ1j6qicWZfUYdPp9Z37vufnlsdZodFsEj2siqWMRlwRc8YtQGDqK4Bvq9aCKOs/s400/IMG_6147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBLxbo4mUSF5yUaxKMjYdP-zB8SucLrFna_VapTwGZm-ZBIZlBXVTUQuA4UEx01YddwjHvxtHvWuSpSsxIoPNKTyWNCjqXOVzfbIFg8D4qNPbE4a_bs52e-V7VmLXxYPtbKdwULrokXc/s1600-h/IMG_6148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309697373291818258" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBLxbo4mUSF5yUaxKMjYdP-zB8SucLrFna_VapTwGZm-ZBIZlBXVTUQuA4UEx01YddwjHvxtHvWuSpSsxIoPNKTyWNCjqXOVzfbIFg8D4qNPbE4a_bs52e-V7VmLXxYPtbKdwULrokXc/s400/IMG_6148.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKfjnhBO-nZ_cYbBM2BGTFONRmdfqMtsJ128b0Mvw4z2KQ55x3As3Ktb0apAg1l6yi90iXSjIh6A3kD1isXdzJkuwo_5hT4mgrvVwDUgD25rhavPdKu-Q6nH6hXxLCf0H2YxY9enZEvE/s1600-h/IMG_6149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309697376239978626" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKfjnhBO-nZ_cYbBM2BGTFONRmdfqMtsJ128b0Mvw4z2KQ55x3As3Ktb0apAg1l6yi90iXSjIh6A3kD1isXdzJkuwo_5hT4mgrvVwDUgD25rhavPdKu-Q6nH6hXxLCf0H2YxY9enZEvE/s400/IMG_6149.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64ZGIPyEv5MEUNW74l-K_fCpoiEWP3OyiNy6sGt98aub3ulrUhoayAt3Ut19C8m5Q0hb35lp4lCpbFnP-hcy1ap55D0gUrJKaKO47HwH8erFQEVsoblUF0_rt39BfvI-lvgKs-dXiGPg/s1600-h/IMG_6150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309698868447063970" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64ZGIPyEv5MEUNW74l-K_fCpoiEWP3OyiNy6sGt98aub3ulrUhoayAt3Ut19C8m5Q0hb35lp4lCpbFnP-hcy1ap55D0gUrJKaKO47HwH8erFQEVsoblUF0_rt39BfvI-lvgKs-dXiGPg/s400/IMG_6150.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lest you think I wasn't there, here is proof. My left hand is holding on to J.'s hand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oW6pDiPvbvTCcDamt9BBqXxjqHxPUDFl0TSdnflH-fid6LVz2WsQZ8o0Ri1WzPGcJ77lnbnzLU4RKTt606ciYBwwWPnTQaJ4fn2V5RTayqffkvm7wFYPww5Fmpd8H8StloGPflmgbtA/s1600-h/IMG_6151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309698873066877458" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oW6pDiPvbvTCcDamt9BBqXxjqHxPUDFl0TSdnflH-fid6LVz2WsQZ8o0Ri1WzPGcJ77lnbnzLU4RKTt606ciYBwwWPnTQaJ4fn2V5RTayqffkvm7wFYPww5Fmpd8H8StloGPflmgbtA/s400/IMG_6151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Notice <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">KJ's</span> expression? J had just slipped coming up the steps. She is a true gymnast.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD4bHniMli72d-tTtxCHXNRKAcAK6lrjeiN1JQFeUDvHy4a_4PgnNjBVwwfa2MQJ7lt4Rs4g50hvvfDKIqvWQ0C8bUOiwDI7m3U5HS1NX18H5TT08Y9LB0A8xvWLApP-zZsMgDd8a8Js/s1600-h/IMG_6152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309698881716244626" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD4bHniMli72d-tTtxCHXNRKAcAK6lrjeiN1JQFeUDvHy4a_4PgnNjBVwwfa2MQJ7lt4Rs4g50hvvfDKIqvWQ0C8bUOiwDI7m3U5HS1NX18H5TT08Y9LB0A8xvWLApP-zZsMgDd8a8Js/s400/IMG_6152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I LOVE this picture. I love these girls. I love this picture of these girls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3j2EHbMtikGu8VB2XaZaQCjz8rTgm8PVndfJXd_sakOi3-ZSbI_SExcjyOxXFhwv-toG92dfGdheJajBy-gjwJzy3jR-TEeX8kDjY_BBfiiy42Vq1Q-g_lFMJ1XETgr5WUHPlU1jXg/s1600-h/IMG_6153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309698886250740578" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3j2EHbMtikGu8VB2XaZaQCjz8rTgm8PVndfJXd_sakOi3-ZSbI_SExcjyOxXFhwv-toG92dfGdheJajBy-gjwJzy3jR-TEeX8kDjY_BBfiiy42Vq1Q-g_lFMJ1XETgr5WUHPlU1jXg/s400/IMG_6153.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The "hugging" aftermath:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS7sk-t-t7HOsiKDaaIy_ua4bPy2xhVuo1i-0HbkFg2pgeaD9PWrYjl1WVPyQEtHhkgBlkqNBUeaUtBK9UJiUD__V3XPlp_EqRVBLePNNYB0Z2aVJQ9E3v5in9p8SeNDFCVv9qPmVSkQ/s1600-h/IMG_6161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309699596006675746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBS7sk-t-t7HOsiKDaaIy_ua4bPy2xhVuo1i-0HbkFg2pgeaD9PWrYjl1WVPyQEtHhkgBlkqNBUeaUtBK9UJiUD__V3XPlp_EqRVBLePNNYB0Z2aVJQ9E3v5in9p8SeNDFCVv9qPmVSkQ/s400/IMG_6161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNrq0S7lL36kXyBO-y4AKClUq7gXfXTtbmR8l7lyA9L9ylQyIWwkMvz-3jMpgboCW2ZmcTmNCMWhRXErLCVU-j5QaZODdz66wy4Db1ykriIDgCwv9LB9BWMkCPkEhJbiWb9BKT6YMjY4/s1600-h/IMG_6160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309699590028464194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNrq0S7lL36kXyBO-y4AKClUq7gXfXTtbmR8l7lyA9L9ylQyIWwkMvz-3jMpgboCW2ZmcTmNCMWhRXErLCVU-j5QaZODdz66wy4Db1ykriIDgCwv9LB9BWMkCPkEhJbiWb9BKT6YMjY4/s400/IMG_6160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEQHCmuzwQJxuKNS17901ylnRVYZ0wqMKC3ewFkG3MvgB7AMDB0lx_EQ1us7Wz3D537IGtl_obcNsR_yl3zG_Hqa7gXxG24AdG0WJvpyWKdchpNcMZ9-6MNidVgNnp5msPx48BTlMZeE/s1600-h/IMG_6158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309699589051488082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEQHCmuzwQJxuKNS17901ylnRVYZ0wqMKC3ewFkG3MvgB7AMDB0lx_EQ1us7Wz3D537IGtl_obcNsR_yl3zG_Hqa7gXxG24AdG0WJvpyWKdchpNcMZ9-6MNidVgNnp5msPx48BTlMZeE/s400/IMG_6158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DO2L0_T5m0sT04QgaXDLZtBsPpumZ3H6lmPbRfWv5jMurSngW_DgWFjc3pVULw1CEb5YFbPVQfxcX31fuuBt5Ga4wgZtczU7faKb2KFDFgTsnMn2d1Lgd2VrN9FOOVcGhYycHWUMQ5g/s1600-h/IMG_6157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309699584768997058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DO2L0_T5m0sT04QgaXDLZtBsPpumZ3H6lmPbRfWv5jMurSngW_DgWFjc3pVULw1CEb5YFbPVQfxcX31fuuBt5Ga4wgZtczU7faKb2KFDFgTsnMn2d1Lgd2VrN9FOOVcGhYycHWUMQ5g/s400/IMG_6157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro-yXN2DAL6TQDzFIwqfbl5CY6FJw3hf5hcOJfwuiuP-7Fs7HKcPJ5xXhy7m7bOZjOXAQqsi5bH-FzChTXwl6aWiNc8fB4OeVuyLjmfrDV79TA2dUm9dggNZhY_PKhFRdTWBYJUwFAw4/s1600-h/IMG_6155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309699574210624082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro-yXN2DAL6TQDzFIwqfbl5CY6FJw3hf5hcOJfwuiuP-7Fs7HKcPJ5xXhy7m7bOZjOXAQqsi5bH-FzChTXwl6aWiNc8fB4OeVuyLjmfrDV79TA2dUm9dggNZhY_PKhFRdTWBYJUwFAw4/s400/IMG_6155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMUh5BZ24l_nGxrhCRmJEkmEPNkPd7FiAbbUNvTqCJOFIbBSOC9T3HewiUrJkkZMXbDVhMh9bllh8dL45mDb1LshM6X4_4xK9WlK0Oprzr1-jqaHfh90csaaH14MrKeTUcofHL56t2E4/s1600-h/IMG_6154.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309698896617046978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMUh5BZ24l_nGxrhCRmJEkmEPNkPd7FiAbbUNvTqCJOFIbBSOC9T3HewiUrJkkZMXbDVhMh9bllh8dL45mDb1LshM6X4_4xK9WlK0Oprzr1-jqaHfh90csaaH14MrKeTUcofHL56t2E4/s400/IMG_6154.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We are all so very thankful to you that were there in person, those that have prayed for any of us in the past, and those of you that will pray for us in the future.<br /><br /><br /><br />Please continue to pray that we will be able to be good parents to our daughters and that we will raise them to be strong Christian women.<br /><br /><br /><br />As always, leave us a note in the guestbook to let us know you were here!<br /><br /><br /><br />(Instructions for newbies: click on "comments" below. Type your comment in the space provided, then provide your identity by clicking on "Anonymous" unless you you are a fellow blogger/have a google account, or fit one of the other ID types listed. If you click as anonymous, be sure to sign your name to your post.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqesbyuy_1l2NJtbnOn5jPkXh5C7FjSAZ4S-A07fLUbVcTnHiDWFtcoOvkl240JEgcLrt0V47UMCrTGcJH2UGC4kWBuH42AYLY7QBCWzmKVL6cB0yu_4SW3xMogju68vw185XpyIws1E/s1600-h/IMG_6122.JPG"></a>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-62740021272991327622009-03-02T16:39:00.016-05:002009-03-02T19:24:31.311-05:00Dinner with royalty and more roller coastersLast weekend was quite amazing - I got to do something really cool! I got to have dinner with royalty! The<a href="http://caringbridge.org/nc/sarahsmith/"> Sarah Smith</a> crew were in town picking their son up from the airport, and several of us fellow Sarah followers met them for dinner. It was so much fun! Besides myself and the Smith's, <a href="http://lifebythecreek.blogspot.com/">Pam D</a> and Vicki were there. I took my 2 girls and they chatted with Sarah the whole time. Sarah is right in the middle age wise of my girls. Pam and I discovered that not only are we from the same home town, we are from the same denomination of church. She actually goes to church with M.'s teacher! Vicki brought her 2 adorable little boys. They were so well behaved, and so so so cute! It was kind of weird in that we all knew so much about Sarah and her family, yet we had never met each other face to face. The restaurant was very nice to us and was quite interested in the whole situation. If you click on Sarah and Pam's names above where they are highlighted, you can read their version of the night. Since they are much better writers than I am, you will be much more entertained there than you are here, I promise.<br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>Here are some pictures from that night:</div><br /><div><br />Sarah and the adorable guard dog, Snowy: </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDygSh4aRG9mGXxaDyXLi-cIl4MISwjJehzErFfIuEgXe47KJsrIbtSNkAxy8sac6O5mVJoMJvv1d4XbvYLuJGwG2D_2GzaJ3FtxEUi-x_Yg8fInxB6kqioExs2l0ikxT8wIfUzxcwQrU/s1600-h/IMG_3933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308744032709841042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDygSh4aRG9mGXxaDyXLi-cIl4MISwjJehzErFfIuEgXe47KJsrIbtSNkAxy8sac6O5mVJoMJvv1d4XbvYLuJGwG2D_2GzaJ3FtxEUi-x_Yg8fInxB6kqioExs2l0ikxT8wIfUzxcwQrU/s400/IMG_3933.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8kK3c2xcxPZHOW4JjxE11KKIJHCLzKxSJdPvGm65YrEb6QrQIkLLUKZrmU8xsVt7p-k3MAELVyBVKV1jVAzQkARj7nAEw9WcnCTpZAKbVnkCACB4yqUnz9EmI2n7sgIOUr-yMTZaG1k/s1600-h/IMG_3932.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308744031702288674" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8kK3c2xcxPZHOW4JjxE11KKIJHCLzKxSJdPvGm65YrEb6QrQIkLLUKZrmU8xsVt7p-k3MAELVyBVKV1jVAzQkARj7nAEw9WcnCTpZAKbVnkCACB4yqUnz9EmI2n7sgIOUr-yMTZaG1k/s400/IMG_3932.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The 3 blogging ladies, Pam D, Becky Smith, and myself:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl_BwhovCWaIQjSL_29oPDOkP2hWrPe3wYQPspP3lpDlPcqDdWER-BzoJ3wVYlwxjssunva-MxZ5lGRnU53xp3HQNVhrxpcgooVGQn-46iP9TtmIT8vO-2Yb53VCqjfKSAmIanYs1eTw/s1600-h/IMG_3931.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743646795887746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl_BwhovCWaIQjSL_29oPDOkP2hWrPe3wYQPspP3lpDlPcqDdWER-BzoJ3wVYlwxjssunva-MxZ5lGRnU53xp3HQNVhrxpcgooVGQn-46iP9TtmIT8vO-2Yb53VCqjfKSAmIanYs1eTw/s400/IMG_3931.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />J., Sarah, and M.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJJh2BSbkQBNp5rz-whwASg56ekScEZRFOn74THk-CWJpGVQS7RoKP9mJZFpSpVEVJiVxQmr8ZUZJgwGgqKRRvGsykXVM7DqtmnXbQpIF6DUhITPYbhjvw2PKmU0zOiw6Dm_ZrJALuJ0/s1600-h/IMG_3930.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743642510208146" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJJh2BSbkQBNp5rz-whwASg56ekScEZRFOn74THk-CWJpGVQS7RoKP9mJZFpSpVEVJiVxQmr8ZUZJgwGgqKRRvGsykXVM7DqtmnXbQpIF6DUhITPYbhjvw2PKmU0zOiw6Dm_ZrJALuJ0/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The whole gang, starting at the left and going around: Steve Smith, Pam D., myself, M., J, Sarah Smith, Becky Smith, Vicki, her beautiful boys and her husband, whose name escapes me at the moment.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1SqG5TbUgWhsazqDbPAOcv_UKWQhu1EX-kZGsl1pVWjRHfxAyiQL0wVJ_VvhRvQDMcC_gsXCd0hdkJx9Fhr85_FJSkA4iwWdsEidF20o-IueQNPlmeP5X_kxZHU0xISizYFkEbe6vpY/s1600-h/IMG_3929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743640044340226" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1SqG5TbUgWhsazqDbPAOcv_UKWQhu1EX-kZGsl1pVWjRHfxAyiQL0wVJ_VvhRvQDMcC_gsXCd0hdkJx9Fhr85_FJSkA4iwWdsEidF20o-IueQNPlmeP5X_kxZHU0xISizYFkEbe6vpY/s400/IMG_3929.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />Becky's son Nathan called to let her know his ETA back in the states. Notice the smile and the eyes glowing:<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEBKbdhkozhl5bwkr6jedCSYFqgxjZObO_-C1AcVIJ3gGVNiEWkpyYOT3fUi4tjhuMH51_l-6tD76YHTNnREwIFBf6EDyof7KHHsO1T24NCfZmbnqUUAoQjJoGm5IXzvizM1gfjdwelo/s1600-h/IMG_3928.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743639767557186" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEBKbdhkozhl5bwkr6jedCSYFqgxjZObO_-C1AcVIJ3gGVNiEWkpyYOT3fUi4tjhuMH51_l-6tD76YHTNnREwIFBf6EDyof7KHHsO1T24NCfZmbnqUUAoQjJoGm5IXzvizM1gfjdwelo/s400/IMG_3928.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />How cute is this little guy?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZrmsyB9TgyQZANUamPvCYe68BDJ1uyRAKMsRp5Z7FHUT3G2q1klgYdRzgy4ExyHl9t0dyPnqUU2WBL89DnbYjqTF2ezldRQni4J3L-swReJTD5KVBId6pYidKgKYkGUJstFB0bdAWSg/s1600-h/IMG_3926.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743633662925090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZrmsyB9TgyQZANUamPvCYe68BDJ1uyRAKMsRp5Z7FHUT3G2q1klgYdRzgy4ExyHl9t0dyPnqUU2WBL89DnbYjqTF2ezldRQni4J3L-swReJTD5KVBId6pYidKgKYkGUJstFB0bdAWSg/s400/IMG_3926.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sarah trying her first fried pickles. She is being quite brave here because she does not like pickles.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb0coQiBUHBzUmhlHJ2ojez571c13x6Vdi63_OJFN3NpmcMWSpX65QTYO2Ftue90DsHSF6pac3-t0xvDxieUxKK5b8d_KZmWfwNV1fralrFonvKp4pfshNN8wGgnR71ESELUJw156usw/s1600-h/IMG_3925.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743372044082722" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb0coQiBUHBzUmhlHJ2ojez571c13x6Vdi63_OJFN3NpmcMWSpX65QTYO2Ftue90DsHSF6pac3-t0xvDxieUxKK5b8d_KZmWfwNV1fralrFonvKp4pfshNN8wGgnR71ESELUJw156usw/s400/IMG_3925.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The men pretty much had their own conversation going:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCyV7LXymc_fIwRDvzyFLUj3vsDFpRjGaZUvqu-fJNBIiVHpHDQpNaIYkHlWFbfLY_UocEncnu1BcU4OHMACiWjmlQXDJzqGWO5bpRWIM4oTeit11LVqT3dtza90w7dm8ODmAi4JrrQs/s1600-h/IMG_3924.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743368015836930" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCyV7LXymc_fIwRDvzyFLUj3vsDFpRjGaZUvqu-fJNBIiVHpHDQpNaIYkHlWFbfLY_UocEncnu1BcU4OHMACiWjmlQXDJzqGWO5bpRWIM4oTeit11LVqT3dtza90w7dm8ODmAi4JrrQs/s400/IMG_3924.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bravely trying an olive for the first time:<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA10HS-oIV-Dw8MwoTaJNsQmk8vmN7_7TJxwXMpoMvOYKDK6yD5TkW9fG_eK1p1plprxC2S-XkjbbWpleoYe9H1M4sJcq-9XwXAj4apz3OIvw0_R0p8S3BkZcSO6HMqsfGJDX_e76uNuY/s1600-h/IMG_3922.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743364494044114" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA10HS-oIV-Dw8MwoTaJNsQmk8vmN7_7TJxwXMpoMvOYKDK6yD5TkW9fG_eK1p1plprxC2S-XkjbbWpleoYe9H1M4sJcq-9XwXAj4apz3OIvw0_R0p8S3BkZcSO6HMqsfGJDX_e76uNuY/s400/IMG_3922.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZeRb9ZJfjkUHMrls5HYnQQ3smhZt6I104HTfT3JOu_0vyzqoR59Y8ruiQQN6mmCjlintvf6rQRQU5IXtE9gzRfwLB_gEqfVpCtE2PtcYYpJY40kXMBE2M3JRyLFQMu9DJ2bwyQzY8XQ/s1600-h/IMG_3923.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743362739348258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZeRb9ZJfjkUHMrls5HYnQQ3smhZt6I104HTfT3JOu_0vyzqoR59Y8ruiQQN6mmCjlintvf6rQRQU5IXtE9gzRfwLB_gEqfVpCtE2PtcYYpJY40kXMBE2M3JRyLFQMu9DJ2bwyQzY8XQ/s400/IMG_3923.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Knowing we were meeting in downtown, we were a little nervous as to what kind of restaurant we would end up with, but it proved to be quite nice:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ309Pnxkose899p5LNeB0LFaU-h_QoCIjOPQUoXl_KVC6_BvgvNK4HBcYkwtTd_PDJWmviQNtCYiZPlQ1UmgNykbdERosDxNjw4n5otEDKKNA43bhTQ-nAz6qDOowWZ4y3bWKq0pUNnA/s1600-h/IMG_3918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743358550860482" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ309Pnxkose899p5LNeB0LFaU-h_QoCIjOPQUoXl_KVC6_BvgvNK4HBcYkwtTd_PDJWmviQNtCYiZPlQ1UmgNykbdERosDxNjw4n5otEDKKNA43bhTQ-nAz6qDOowWZ4y3bWKq0pUNnA/s400/IMG_3918.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Even if the decorations hanging from the ceiling were a little, um, strange. These were hanging right above the girls' heads. They kept looking up uncertainly, hoping they would stay suspended and not come crashing down on their heads.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eY_xtl8nkoF5R8oqzX8S37wKsQCoJQpnjH-tU5skBm5cIg8tZKAeOXmELsgyQrjrgAgsN2GOqtzbexiSq7nTIOgBxRASF4s91Bt8AlIzzgnxBAcCaIUw1TzjgXn1BbLRB9sak5PRd18/s1600-h/IMG_3920.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743072531387762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eY_xtl8nkoF5R8oqzX8S37wKsQCoJQpnjH-tU5skBm5cIg8tZKAeOXmELsgyQrjrgAgsN2GOqtzbexiSq7nTIOgBxRASF4s91Bt8AlIzzgnxBAcCaIUw1TzjgXn1BbLRB9sak5PRd18/s400/IMG_3920.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Sunday brought a whole new set of emotions as the kids at church were told that their youth ministers are leaving. There were so many tears and so much anger. I worry over how the kids will get past this. So many of them have deep relationships with one of the youth ministers or with the other, or both. It is hard to understand emotionally. However, the leaders felt this was best for the kids as a whole. While I trust our elders, as I stated earlier, I wish all would have been handled a little differently. Hindsight is truly 20/20. We must remember to keep our focus on God and on continuing the legacy started by our youth ministers. Now is the time to start healing and start looking forward.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />Also, during this past week, another friend of ours, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.notquitewhatihadplanned.blogspot.com">Kristie</a>, got some horrible news about her husband and his ongoing battle with cancer. This family has been dealt a "crap sandwich," as they put it, over and over again. Please go visit them and leave them some words of encouragement.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>This weekend found quite a bit of snow in our area. We actually had a snow day today! The funny thing is that the temperature for this coming Saturday is supposed to be 70 degrees. Go figure.</div><br /><div><br />Here a few snow pics: </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8w56bXsk3ubs6kOp6IoRbpyNwgTSIKVOEHxSJHPBlx6kV9_YNNQUMxO1II4930H756G7zL2RWbLsrsQm5Ap2e-7dxzJH4yLA-f1bcFLlwczcgl7SCrKur5YlXba78gAP4PDEN898JMA/s1600-h/STC_3937.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308744036690081106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8w56bXsk3ubs6kOp6IoRbpyNwgTSIKVOEHxSJHPBlx6kV9_YNNQUMxO1II4930H756G7zL2RWbLsrsQm5Ap2e-7dxzJH4yLA-f1bcFLlwczcgl7SCrKur5YlXba78gAP4PDEN898JMA/s400/STC_3937.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeeycPpMpaYcd7w_LJBnMnQy1LHT25yFeTuds00hT60Ij532w9_xkWaHtvU92_HR1DpWQ31KflrEo1HZtyjny6GIJibkTIfBpZghcEZh-_SJ1r2O6FTab8WJy43yNLFGgHbhDkFDnISM/s1600-h/STA_3935.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308744034740061234" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeeycPpMpaYcd7w_LJBnMnQy1LHT25yFeTuds00hT60Ij532w9_xkWaHtvU92_HR1DpWQ31KflrEo1HZtyjny6GIJibkTIfBpZghcEZh-_SJ1r2O6FTab8WJy43yNLFGgHbhDkFDnISM/s400/STA_3935.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zgg15eW0v-vj4OGnyc9hXsvOwM2Akx-ig6c6gduO66d4IhrxJ9jazFFj8VhQ43p3AmAmJgmdRkj-FXXu13Cuvdlna9e1thGa3X-G6kAp-IoGSoALKiBbPvOrfpO2SCNtoOyTAvGeZ8M/s1600-h/STB_3936.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308744039797705378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zgg15eW0v-vj4OGnyc9hXsvOwM2Akx-ig6c6gduO66d4IhrxJ9jazFFj8VhQ43p3AmAmJgmdRkj-FXXu13Cuvdlna9e1thGa3X-G6kAp-IoGSoALKiBbPvOrfpO2SCNtoOyTAvGeZ8M/s400/STB_3936.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5LyOmlUTT4AJ0ZpE4TKtn5EBPIUOVBFgqq1F1M_ae_37ZqU9gUpWGKBRNxtVG-gkfOi9ZhSnvamQSoA0N3mJjUCrMHvWXWsrQa4QGzR1AWAKht6KLMqZtgI3nNGiOO92fOY7PwKjsVM/s1600-h/blogpics.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308743060783386402" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5LyOmlUTT4AJ0ZpE4TKtn5EBPIUOVBFgqq1F1M_ae_37ZqU9gUpWGKBRNxtVG-gkfOi9ZhSnvamQSoA0N3mJjUCrMHvWXWsrQa4QGzR1AWAKht6KLMqZtgI3nNGiOO92fOY7PwKjsVM/s400/blogpics.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, this post was quite a potpourri of topics. Hope you stuck with it and weren't too bored.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thank you for stopping by.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Let me know you were here.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-84343341671264249932009-02-26T23:39:00.002-05:002009-02-26T23:43:16.999-05:00Dire prayers needed for a dear friend<a href="http://www.notquitewhatihadplanned.blogspot.com/">This family</a> has been served yet another helping of a "crap sandwich," as they call it.<br /><br />Please visit this family and leave them some words of encouragement. <br /><br />Please storm heaven with prayers for this family.<br /><br />(If you are easily offended by foul language, be forwarned that you will run into some while reading her post. However, they are at a point where harsh language is all that is left to describe what they are going through.)<br /><br />Thank you in advance for visiting and praying for this family.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654988200127985495.post-23385999780315862452009-02-20T10:14:00.003-05:002009-02-20T11:10:05.423-05:00I thought that I liked roller coasters . . . .As I have stated before, comparing life to a roller coaster ride is quite an accurate analogy. The nervousness and tenseness over what is coming, the fear as it gets closer, the desire to turn around and get off as you crest, the terror and thrill as you plummet, the amazement that you survived after the descent, the wonderment if you can handle it again as a new climb begins, and finally, exultation at the end that you survived it and could survive it again.<br /><br /><br /><br />This past week has been one of those roller coaster rides. There were so many emotions that were experienced this week that it has left us a little dazed.<br /><br /><br /><br />We had 3 gymnastics meets this weekend. (Don't worry, the whole post isn't about gymnastics.) The team that I coach had their very first meet ever. This was also my first meet as a team coach. I was nervous for myself and each of my 15 girls. However, they all did such an amazing job and came in 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> place as a team! Woo-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hoo</span>! My own daughters each competed this weekend as well. M. scored a 9.5 on vault! It was a beautiful vault. She also brought her all around score up by around 2 points from her first meet. (When scores are measured by tenths of points, a 2 point change is quite an improvement.) Her team came in second place as well. Their team score came up by about 5 points from their last meet, which is incredible. J. scored her highest all-around score ever! Her team came in first place, by about 5 points. So, all in all, an incredible weekend gymnastics wise.<br /><br /><br /><br />However, in the midst of all of this, we got hit with several not so wonderful things. I really cannot go into much detail of the exact circumstance. Even if I did so, it would not do an accurate job conveying the emotions involved. I can say that it struck our foundation really hard. I will try to use a hypothetical situation to help everyone understand. Think of something that is a vital part of your life or someone in your immediate family's life. It could be a job, school, church, a group of friends, a support group, or something like that. Now, imagine that you all of a sudden found out that it was no longer going to be the same. Imagine that it was going to change so drastically that it scared you. If it is your job that you are thinking of, imagine if someone in headquarters was going to revamp your whole department, and your favorite boss or mentor was no longer going to be there. Granted, there are reasons for this decision, whether you agree with them or not. However, you struggle because the people making the decision are basing their decision on what they feel is best for a department that they are not a part of. If you work in the department, you will see this decision completely differently than those that are not as emotionally involved. You also know how the news will be received by those affected. You know that it should have been handled differently. They know it too, but they realized it too late.<br /><br /><br /><br />You know that there had to be a legitimate reason for the decision. You have to trust that those in charge know what they are doing. You have to have faith that they are looking out for those they are leading. You have to accept what has happened, maybe not quietly, but you have to accept it. You have to. Or else you will self destruct. You have to believe that the entity that is such a strong part of your life will still be there for you. You have to realize that those involved are humans, and that you must have grace.<br /><br /><br /><br />The hard part is watching your child cry herself to sleep at night. It is hard watching her friends cry. It is hard to see them go through so much inner turmoil - more than they normally go through. It is hard seeing the fear in your child's eyes because they don't know what is going to happen next. It is hard to explain to them that there may be something good that comes from this. It is hard to know that they feel unimportant. It is just hard.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am at the point on the roller coaster ride where I want to get off. This isn't fun anymore. I want to go back to 2 weeks ago when my kids were happy. When they felt important and loved. When they felt like their opinions mattered to others. However, I know that this isn't possible.<br /><br /><br /><br />I know that all decisions cannot be based on what we want. I know that these things happen and I cannot change them. I also know at the end, when this ride is over, I will feel exultant to have survived, as will my children. I will feel a little better prepared for the next ride. I am starting to see some of the "good" already. I see my oldest daughter deciding to step up and be a leader to help some of the other kids who are upset and scared. She and several of her other friends talked and decided to step up together to help with this. I see other teenagers so affected by emotion that I know they will never be the same. They will be more approachable and more appreciative. I believe this will force some of the kids affected to take more control of themselves. I wonder if some of them may have gotten too dependant or too comfortable in their comfort zone. This may open some of their eyes to the fact that they alone control their lives. I see people showing passion that before were kind of lackadaisical. Passion, whether positive or negative, is much more effective than nonchalance. Passion shows care. Used properly, it can be a very powerful tool. I see more parents becoming involved. I see leaders realizing that decisions on paper and decisions in real life are two different things.<br /><br /><br /><br />So, am I happy about these events? No, absolutely not.<br /><br />Do I think that it is what is best? For my family, no, definitely not. As a whole? I'm not sure yet.<br /><br />Do I think good can come out of this? Yes<br /><br />Am I scared of the changes? No. I am terrified.<br /><br />Do I trust those that made the decision? Yes<br /><br />Am I a barrel of contradictions? Yes and no. :-)<br /><br />Do I believe that God will help guide us through? Oh yes!<br /><br /><br /><br />So, if you have read to the end, kudos to you. It probably makes no sense whatsoever. I just needed to get it all out.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you for listening. I would love to hear how any of you have dealt with unforeseen life-altering events. I want it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly.Mamasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15733969272786039734noreply@blogger.com8