tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84009642525817596292024-03-17T20:03:02.267-07:00Not My Own"you are not your own; you were bought with a price." 1 Cor. 6:19b-20aMommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.comBlogger631125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-43010962662636437972016-05-11T02:00:00.000-07:002016-05-11T02:00:22.094-07:00Mother Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the gifts we gave our girls for their 10th birthday was their first "<span style="color: #e06666;">Mother Daughter</span>" get-away.</div>
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It was something I've dreamed about since they were born!</div>
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For over 20 years now, my mom and I have gone on Mother Daughters, aka a girls get-aways.</div>
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When I was blessed to have 2 little girls of my own, I started planning our little get aways!</div>
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My dream came true last week</div>
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as we headed to the beautiful seaside town of Santa Barbara for a few days.</div>
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There were many lovely moments, but this one was my favorite!</div>
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I gave the girls a list of activities they could choose from to fill our time.</div>
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One girl was very excited to watch a movie in our room!</div>
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All in our jammies and ready to cuddle in bed with a movie, we were disappointed to find that we didn't get movies in our room! Imagine that! </div>
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I guess they wanted us to look out the window at the ocean or something!</div>
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We ended up watching an episode of "Little House" on my phone and it was magical!</div>
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Left over pizza, tiny phone propped up on a pillow, long past bedtimes..</div>
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I really felt like I was hanging out with my girlfriends!</div>
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I have to say, this trip came at a great time.</div>
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Honestly, life with 2 girls can be a bit rough from time to time.</div>
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Especially when they're twins.</div>
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Especially when they're 10!</div>
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And to be even more honest, these past few weeks have felt rather hopeless in the "mother of girls" category. I get so frustrated with them and their endless arguing or bossing or talking back!</div>
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Take me now Jesus!</div>
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But this time away together felt like a breath of fresh air.</div>
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They didn't bicker or compete for my attention.</div>
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They acted like best friends.</div>
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Our time away gave me the reassurance that everything is going to be ok. </div>
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I'm going to be ok.</div>
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Sometimes it takes getting away, out of the everyday normal, to see people in a new light.</div>
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I saw 2 little girls that are not so little anymore, 2 girls that I can't wait to take away again!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-41212600484343200662016-05-03T02:00:00.000-07:002016-05-03T02:00:22.165-07:00Whatever Is Lovely - Think About Such Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's no secret that social media can be misleading.</div>
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As can blogs.</div>
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We post photos that look great and everyone is happy and smiling.</div>
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And to some extent, I'm ok with that.</div>
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We all know that there is more going on behind photos.</div>
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For example</div>
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endless running that led to a few days of shin splints!</div>
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thorns in our feet</div>
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itchy legs from the tall grass that I "made them stand in"</div>
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Moma falling down in the tall grass that left more than my legs itchy!</div>
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Arguing over who holds the balloons...</div>
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But I kind of look at my posted photos like life as a parent.</div>
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I know there are many tough days and attitudes and disobedient moments,</div>
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but I don't want to dwell on that or burn those moments into my brain.</div>
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Because for every rough day, there are at least 3 others that are good!</div>
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I want to <span style="color: #e06666;">focus on the good</span> and burn those images into my brain.</div>
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Images of my kiddos laughing, throwing flowers into the air, running freely, embracing the moon.</div>
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I want those magical moments to be what comes to mind first, not all the negative.</div>
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I want the special times with my children to get me through the rough times!</div>
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I'm not in denial or trying to put up a false impression.</div>
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I simply want to <span style="color: #e06666;">focus on the good</span>.</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Philippians 4:8</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Finally, brothers and sisters, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> true, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> noble, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> right, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> <b>pure</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> lovely, <b>whatever</b> <b>is</b> admirable—if anything <b>is</b> excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. </span></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-59043184270032529102016-04-20T02:00:00.000-07:002016-04-20T02:00:08.475-07:00Chasing The Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My daughters are about to hit double digits!</div>
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I've considered this milestone birthday for sometime and wondered how I might make it special and memorable for them.</div>
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Perhaps I'm really trying to make it most memorable for myself!</div>
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It's all going so quickly, rather cliche I know, but far too true not to say.</div>
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I want to mark this 10th birthday because it's the last one they'll ever have.</div>
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My baby girls will only turn 10 once!</div>
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They're so excited to grow up.</div>
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I'm holding onto every moment, wishing I could pause and rewind a bit.</div>
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In my effort to pause their little lives, I took them into the hills to capture some photos of them.</div>
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In desperate pursuit of the "golden hour," we devoured our dinner and took off for the hills.</div>
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As we started our hike, I feared we missed it. </div>
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A hiker on the trail passing us by simply said, "<span style="color: #e06666;">chasing the light</span>!"</div>
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Yes, I was chasing more than light.</div>
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I was chasing my little girls that were quickly on the trail to teendom </div>
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and then college and marriage and...</div>
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I needed to run faster.</div>
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Out of breath and increasingly disappointed,</div>
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I ran even faster to capture the fleeing bits of gold.</div>
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And just when I thought we'd missed it, I turned around to find my girls putting flowers in each other's hair.</div>
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All too soon this life scene between sisters will repeat,</div>
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perhaps with doing each other's hair for prom or their wedding, </div>
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and even more then, I want to be on the trail with them, <span style="color: #e06666;">chasing the light</span> that is their lives.</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-81218710789447249282016-04-12T05:54:00.001-07:002016-04-12T05:54:17.653-07:00You Are Free Indeed<div style="text-align: center;">
Last Tuesday I had the privilege of speaking to a group of women at Cornerstone Church.</div>
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I shared with them the <span style="color: #e06666;">freedom</span> that Jesus came to give us.</div>
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"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim <span style="color: #e06666;">freedom</span> for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18,19</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jesus would not have come to preach this message if it were not something that we needed to hear.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He would not have endured the agony and torture of the cross if there weren't chains that only his death and resurrection could break.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are many things that try to bind us in this life. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Things that try to tie us up and hold us captive, keep us small and ineffective.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Insecurities</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fear</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Past mistakes</div>
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Pride</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perfectionism</div>
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Guilt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wrongs done to us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The list in inexhaustible of the things the enemy uses to chain us to a lie for the rest of our life.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
But Jesus came to set us <span style="color: #e06666;">FREE</span>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are promised trouble in this world as it is broken and sinful.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But Jesus overcame the world and with that he has set us free from all of the trouble that this world hurls at us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We need only to lay down our chains and receive his <span style="color: #e06666;">freedom</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"So if the Son sets you <span style="color: #e06666;">free</span>, you will be <span style="color: #e06666;">free</span> indeed." John 8:36</div>
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<br /></div>
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His death on the cross really was enough to break any chain.</div>
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You name it - <i>nothing</i> is too difficult for him!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you need <span style="color: #e06666;">freedom</span> today?</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-66097686257874348172016-04-04T02:00:00.000-07:002016-04-04T08:48:00.601-07:00Imperfect Moments<div style="text-align: center;">
This Easter had some<span style="color: #e06666;"> imperfect moments </span>that made me laugh.</div>
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Like going to church on Easter Sunday and half way there I realize that we didn't do my son's hair - my son's chia pet, thick brisolly hair which requires a good amount of gel to control it! </div>
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Or the Easter decorations never made it up this year </div>
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(but St. Patrick's Day decor remained through March 31st!) </div>
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Or family photos that just can't get to the print-worthy stage!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And those <span style="color: #e06666;">imperfect moments</span> also made me cry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cry with gratitude that I'm not who I used to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sat on the toilet in the guest bathroom, large solid wood door closed in front of me. Just in there to do normal "bathroom" things and I saw a dark knot in the wood of the door and I was immediately overcome with a flood of memories.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you Jesus for saving me."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you Jesus for rescuing me."</span></div>
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The words came out of my mouth, through tears, before I could even complete or process the memories that surrounded me as I sat in that bathroom.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I walked into that bathroom on Christmas day, 2011, and begged to be taken to the hospital. I was in the throws of a severe panic attack and literally felt like I was moments away from going blank. One more breath and I'd just stop, fade away, blankly stare for the rest of my life. I didn't fear dying, but rather feared loosing control of my mind and my ability to process and function. The fear was real as the reality of loosing control was already in full throws. </div>
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I couldn't stop the nightmare. </div>
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No words could comfort or make sense. </div>
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I had no control of what was happening to me.</div>
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I felt like I was chasing myself down a never ending hallway, screaming, "STOP STOP STOP."</div>
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But I didn't stop.</div>
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I couldn't stop.</div>
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***</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now 5 years later, and a different holiday of celebrating, I sat and cried as the dark knots in the wood of the door told me stories that I thought would be the final chapters of my life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But just as death was not the final word in Jesus' life, anxiety was not the final word in mine!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The same power that rose Jesus from the dead, set me free and changed my life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you Jesus for saving me."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Thank you Jesus for rescuing me."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Those words were so appropriate for this Easter Sunday, for not only did Jesus rescue me from hell when I die, and save me from my past sin, but He rescues me everyday from the hell we all live in and saves me time and again from the mistakes I daily make.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm so grateful for<span style="color: #e06666;"> imperfect moments</span> as they kindly remind me that perfectionism is a disease of self destruction. And they also remind me that I've been set free and am grateful for a God who is not shaken nor defeated by ANYTHING.</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-90502377851461204382016-03-15T02:00:00.000-07:002016-03-16T07:11:10.990-07:00Let's All Be Brave... in our own way!<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a year ago this week that my husband was going in for his 3rd knee surgery.</div>
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As I was telling a girlfriend the schedule for surgery day, </div>
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when I came to the part of him being put under, I paused.</div>
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An unexpected lump came into my throat and I almost lost it.</div>
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As I fought back tears, my friend said, "It's no big deal. It's not heart surgery!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Um... WHAT?</div>
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I was very aware of the fact that this was not a life or death surgery, but there is always risk when you're under anesthesia and beside, this is MY husband!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was scared.</div>
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<a href="http://notmyownlife.blogspot.com/2016/01/brave.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">As I posted in the beginning of this year</span></i></a>, my one word for the year is<br />
BRAVE.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't pick it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It picked me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been working on a project that is taking me out of my comfort zone and I assumed that the word BRAVE would apply to this new venture.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It does.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But that's not all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a challenging week for me personally and whereas I'm more than aware that many are facing far more difficult circumstances, some life and death, this is MY tough circumstance and I need to be BRAVE.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bravery looks different for everyone.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For some, being brave means walking away from a difficult relationship.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For others, being brave means staying, and working through it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Being brave could mean taking a risk and following your dream,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
writing that book, launching that company, going on that mission trip...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or being brave might mean trusting your life into someone's hands for a time, giving up control.</div>
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I know it is different for everyone, that's why I will not compare my brave moments to yours.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For no matter how extreme or different the circumstances, bravery demands the same of all of us - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trust.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ultimately I know I can be BRAVE this week because I trust the God that made me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I trust His word to be true and I trust that He will do exactly what He says He will do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Joshua 1:9</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life is promised to bring everyone challenges.<br />
Some are extremely difficult and others are mildly uncomfortable, but</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Let's All Be Brave!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And encourage one another to trust God's promises to be true.<br />
He is with us, so we can be<br />
BRAVE.</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-75800561636877057502016-03-11T06:09:00.002-08:002016-03-11T06:09:31.931-08:00Learning From the Big Boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Something that has been a mixed bag as a parent is kiddos' team sports.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes we get a good coach, sometimes we don't.</div>
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Sometimes the kids really want to play the sport and learn, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sometimes their parents have forced them to be there!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But one thing has remained true.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When my children have been placed on teams where they are the youngest, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
least experienced or aren't the best player, they rise.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They are called higher by those around them and they greatly improve and grow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's awesome to see!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little kids mentoring other little kids without even knowing it!</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is one of those awesome years for us as my little slugger got bumped up a level in baseball and now is in the youngest and least experienced category.</div>
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Without talking about the fact that there are some amazing players on his team, he just longs to be better. He has seen these bigger boys crack that ball and he wants to do it too!</div>
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He is pushing himself, watching, learning, trying harder.</div>
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I love it!</div>
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In life, it's so important to surround ourselves with people who call us higher.</div>
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People who are doing life smarter, better, healthier, wiser than we are.</div>
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People who live like we aspire to live.</div>
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Watch them, learn from them, listen to them, and grow.</div>
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Proverbs 13:20 tells us that the one who walks with the wise, will become wise.</div>
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If we are spending most of our time with people who simply stroke our ego, </div>
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it's likely we are not growing.</div>
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However, if we spend more time with folks who have been in the game longer than we have and have acquired more skills and wisdom along the way, we will grow, rise and become wise.</div>
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Are you at the top of your team?</div>
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Perhaps it's time to bump up a level and <span style="color: #e06666;">learn some new things from the big boys</span>!</div>
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Happy Friday!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-7459901182633530992016-03-09T02:00:00.000-08:002016-03-09T02:00:12.194-08:00No Substitute for the Truth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBF02ngpxMTi4sVJvdmZaG0RgM75E02ACkG52BC-cpcgj_cENv6cF0uNFmvZjmJ9hdLwAOhU_JqHCN3mYa5u9rU7bP5dibU1f3isqnLAI7J55mdog9dAffAmjAR0i2gtThZRoITGw7io/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBF02ngpxMTi4sVJvdmZaG0RgM75E02ACkG52BC-cpcgj_cENv6cF0uNFmvZjmJ9hdLwAOhU_JqHCN3mYa5u9rU7bP5dibU1f3isqnLAI7J55mdog9dAffAmjAR0i2gtThZRoITGw7io/s640/IMG_2235.JPG" /></a></div>
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2 little weeks ago I <a href="http://notmyownlife.blogspot.com/2016/02/is-it-too-late.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">posted</span></i></a> about missing the window to prune my roses, but cutting them back anyway. Statistics tell us that as parents we have small windows to teach our children certain things, expose them to various experiences and flavors and encourage desired behaviors, and if we miss those windows... well, who knows what will happen to our kids!!</div>
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And if we don't prune our roses in the right season, we're doomed!</div>
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But just as I know that it's never too late for change, growth and transformation in God's economy, I decided to hack down my roses anyway and to discipline my children with the hopes that God is not bound by a certain window of time and nothing is impossible with Him!</div>
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Well, just 2 weeks later, here is that same rose bush!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0bt2K5_Zz8l_fQZadXA38nzsN5uXiLNjECwRCzmR-c92knhJve4gQRWm1KNrsU3AmlR9U1Z8AaLMYQTrF3bfGwZuo9xUGFkKsh-rB6iUFvZb9-3ULxDfxeeFRpUtl5crVMW82atKFhU/s1600/IMG_8850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0bt2K5_Zz8l_fQZadXA38nzsN5uXiLNjECwRCzmR-c92knhJve4gQRWm1KNrsU3AmlR9U1Z8AaLMYQTrF3bfGwZuo9xUGFkKsh-rB6iUFvZb9-3ULxDfxeeFRpUtl5crVMW82atKFhU/s640/IMG_8850.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Only 2 weeks later and there is visible, healthy growth!</div>
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As I was looking at this rose bush today, aside from being thrilled that I didn't listen to the gardeners guide to healthy roses!, I was struck with another bit of truth.</div>
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We've been suffering from a much publicized drought here in California for quite some time.</div>
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We ration our water and only water our gardens on Mondays and Thursdays or else we get fined heavily! Our plants are limping along just fine, but this past weekend we got some solid rain! And I kid you not, the growth after the rain is undeniable. Almost the very next day we could see new shoots and buds spring forth on our plants and bushes! It's unreal.</div>
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We never see that obvious growth from the sprinklers or the hose.</div>
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But the rain, pure, falling from heaven rain, nourishes like none other and spurs new growth immediately. <span style="color: #e06666;">There is no substitute for the rain</span>.</div>
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Made me think of Truth.</div>
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Word of God Truth.</div>
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Nothing yields more growth and abundance in our lives than the Truth of God.</div>
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So many other substitutes can help us limp along, scrape by and "make it."</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">But there is no substitute for the absolute Word of God that is pure Truth</span>, falling from heaven, to heal our wounds, bring light into darkness, cleanse our mistakes, remove our scars, and</div>
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spring forth new life in dead, hopeless areas. </div>
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It's just unmistakable.</div>
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Where do you need new growth in your life?</div>
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Are you looking to other things to nourish you and bring about change?</div>
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I encourage you to simply read the Bible, surrender to God's Truth and allow His Word to transform you in the healthiest, longest lasting way.</div>
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Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-54941217152430221042016-02-24T06:40:00.003-08:002016-02-24T12:13:33.119-08:00Mama Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-A2C-mSKRr1z829n1sVSNHDh660s5kIpnNmQGhhtQgUlYIyZ3Z1tRVChq0ezXw89YqpjnTG6eqnUcj3gLN-bzeeRFijegbPBRTdSnWMZq9c6OwH2N3_j9CfoEjbIuQaW4xUuRFNvyVA/s1600/IMG_8501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-A2C-mSKRr1z829n1sVSNHDh660s5kIpnNmQGhhtQgUlYIyZ3Z1tRVChq0ezXw89YqpjnTG6eqnUcj3gLN-bzeeRFijegbPBRTdSnWMZq9c6OwH2N3_j9CfoEjbIuQaW4xUuRFNvyVA/s640/IMG_8501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last Summer I received a card in the mail and the writing on the envelope made my heart race.</div>
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My name was written so beautifully I had to look closely to see if it were handwritten or printed by a computer!</div>
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When I opened the envelope, the card inside had similar writing, telling me my card was handwritten!</div>
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Stunning</div>
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Amazing</div>
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A lovely surprise.</div>
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"<span style="color: #e06666;">Mama Bear</span>"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOmV3E2aomyz1_OGWOjv3CWFAc7a42DqXeQAoDNZwRy2kGetQ83G3EvWo2PfyLeJXquji2yw_p3s-8CcaKvvfdPMbdz5u1awYFA3NFAYMdQjiwIbliCDTWafPiQ03V-WgFeoDywxkUmY/s1600/IMG_8496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOmV3E2aomyz1_OGWOjv3CWFAc7a42DqXeQAoDNZwRy2kGetQ83G3EvWo2PfyLeJXquji2yw_p3s-8CcaKvvfdPMbdz5u1awYFA3NFAYMdQjiwIbliCDTWafPiQ03V-WgFeoDywxkUmY/s640/IMG_8496.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I could hardly wait to open the card and discover who it was from!</div>
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And as I read the words, written as a lovely font, tears came to my eyes.</div>
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A girls who was a college student when I was a college pastor about 15 years ago had written me this beautiful card! And immediately the memories flooded back as I would not mistake her writing anywhere. I always joked that she was a "font," because her printing was unreal.</div>
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Now her font-like writing was laying before me like a piece of art and the arrangement of the beautiful lettering read like a poem.</div>
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"The Mama Bear Collection is all about encouraging mothers to remember who they are - </div>
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strong, fierce, and enough."</div>
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She went on to thank me and encourage me as a <span style="color: #e06666;">Mama Bear</span>.</div>
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I really was left speechless.</div>
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Today, there is more information swirling around for moms than should be allowed.</div>
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It causes us to worry and panic about every tiny decision we make for our children.</div>
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It also has had an even more damaging effect as it causes us to judge, give unsolicited advise and shame other moms who aren't doing it like we are.</div>
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It's really sad to see.</div>
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It's sad to experience.</div>
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It's sad to do.</div>
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Alisha launched her stationary business last year, <a href="http://www.goldpresspaper.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Gold Press Paper</b></span></i></a>.</div>
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Her motto is, <span style="font-size: large;">"Words are Powerful - You are Powerful"</span></div>
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So true!</div>
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Our words are very powerful.</div>
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Words have the power to give life or bring death.</div>
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All too often as moms we use our words as weapons.</div>
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How amazing would it be if we blessed one another as <span style="color: #e06666;">Mama Bears</span>?</div>
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If we fought FOR each other and encouraged each other with our words?</div>
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If we affirmed one another's decisions and differences instead of shaming?</div>
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We'd be a mighty ferocious pack!</div>
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Bless another <span style="color: #e06666;">Mama Bear </span>today with mighty words of encouragement!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64altY2SEjpUOczPLpl5UY3_WKMXyDVI2BsyALHeQjb2Wx7DIWYLIkyPqls8Sw1ROPf-TZ29_G0U2dh7Onq3SqkYmG2RiKa02D5LHN5iX7Kwxn99Lktjn78IErIb78Pvkg9M5PzW2C0s/s1600/IMG_8507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64altY2SEjpUOczPLpl5UY3_WKMXyDVI2BsyALHeQjb2Wx7DIWYLIkyPqls8Sw1ROPf-TZ29_G0U2dh7Onq3SqkYmG2RiKa02D5LHN5iX7Kwxn99Lktjn78IErIb78Pvkg9M5PzW2C0s/s640/IMG_8507.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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***head over to Alisha's site to find some amazing cards to send to someone today!</div>
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<a href="http://www.goldpresspaper.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">Gold Press Paper</span></a></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-26191912076273658402016-02-22T06:29:00.001-08:002016-02-22T06:29:08.797-08:00Is It Too Late?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBF02ngpxMTi4sVJvdmZaG0RgM75E02ACkG52BC-cpcgj_cENv6cF0uNFmvZjmJ9hdLwAOhU_JqHCN3mYa5u9rU7bP5dibU1f3isqnLAI7J55mdog9dAffAmjAR0i2gtThZRoITGw7io/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBF02ngpxMTi4sVJvdmZaG0RgM75E02ACkG52BC-cpcgj_cENv6cF0uNFmvZjmJ9hdLwAOhU_JqHCN3mYa5u9rU7bP5dibU1f3isqnLAI7J55mdog9dAffAmjAR0i2gtThZRoITGw7io/s640/IMG_2235.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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El Nino El Schmino!</div>
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Where is our rain?</div>
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So Summer has officially hit Southern California, 90 degrees, one 64 degree day of rain, followed by another 85 degree day! They lied to us.</div>
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In the midst of this Summer heat, I totally forgot to prune back my roses.</div>
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Usually I cut them way back to nubs in January, but I kinda forgot that it was winter!</div>
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"Shoot, I forgot to cut back the roses last month," I said to my husband.</div>
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Walking out and looking at them today I found that they're thin and spindly. </div>
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They have already sprouted some new growth and buds at the end of gangely branches.</div>
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They look horrible.</div>
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Do I cut them back now?</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Is it too late?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_SfEN4U9FaYeLMYBdJUN1BFMRuuWR1gbC0cZepOMUHwtykiZkQjEJCIJatp9eep5Y4ytIcuPC_8-CKfB8H_OsAHqdzlmeRp_Uj3orBdHR7yjOd_Cbl5LzWLIvV_EA0JqiE6doGMyBZY/s1600/IMG_2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_SfEN4U9FaYeLMYBdJUN1BFMRuuWR1gbC0cZepOMUHwtykiZkQjEJCIJatp9eep5Y4ytIcuPC_8-CKfB8H_OsAHqdzlmeRp_Uj3orBdHR7yjOd_Cbl5LzWLIvV_EA0JqiE6doGMyBZY/s640/IMG_2236.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Did I miss the window?</div>
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I don't know, but I knew I couldn't leave them growing as they are.</div>
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They look horrible!</div>
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As I stood in the hot sun, hacking at the rose bushes, wondering if they'll come back full and nice, I thought about parenting.</div>
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We are flooded with statistics these days like, "a child has fully formed their personality by age 3." AKA, if you're kid isn't super polite and kind and compassionate by 3, you're screwed!</div>
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Or "the brain has fully formed by age 5," so if you're kid isn't reading Shakespeare, speaking 2 languages and mastering 3 instruments by 5, most likely they won't be going to college.</div>
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(these aren't actual statistics, but you know what I mean!)</div>
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Or any of the other things they tell us to make us think that we've missed the window and it's too late as parents!</div>
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I've been feeling this way a little bit lately as some ugly behavior that was never fully extinguished is now growing in a spindly, hollow, ugly way.</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Is it too late?</span></div>
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Should I have cut that off a few years ago?</div>
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Did I miss the window as a parent to form polite, gracious children?</div>
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As I chopped the roses, getting stuck with thorns and burned by the sun I again thought of parenting.</div>
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It is never fun to discipline a child.</div>
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It is painful and we can easily get burned.</div>
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Isn't it easier to just stay inside where it's cool and avoid the hard work?</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">It's too late</span> any way, they are who they are.</div>
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But like the roses, I can't just leave them that way.</div>
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Growing wildly without boundaries or attention.</div>
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It's so unattractive.</div>
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And even if there are a few great moments of politeness, like new buds on the ends of ugly branches, they still aren't appealing.</div>
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I really believe that it's never too late to correct a child.</div>
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Discipline is done out of great, deep love. And we all know it's <span style="color: #e06666;">never too late</span> to love someone!</div>
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No matter how out of control we feel or overwhelmed, it's never too late.</div>
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And just like I'm confident that my hearty, stubborn roses will come back beautifully, I know that children can be trained and transformed, even past 5 years old!</div>
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So, regardless of what the books say, I'm pruning roses and kids!</div>
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Because no matter what the season is, they both need it!<br />
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(I'll post pictures in a few months to see the new, beautiful, healthy growth!)</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-67239173525512323252016-02-19T06:33:00.000-08:002016-02-19T06:33:14.134-08:00Pure Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Blessed are the <span style="color: #e06666;">pure in heart</span> for they will see God."</div>
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After taking a holiday break, The God's Girls gathered again to kick off our new series, "Body Parts."</div>
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We will be going through various body parts and discussing what the Bible has to say about them and how we, as girls who belong to God, are to use our mouths, eyes, hands, feet... to please God.</div>
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We kicked off with the heart, it being Valentine's week and all!</div>
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The heart is talked about so much in the Bible.</div>
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It is the place where we invite Jesus to come in and take over our life.</div>
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Why not the brain?</div>
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The brain seems to be mission control for the body, the hub of all communication. </div>
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Why don't we ask Jesus into our brains to take over our life?</div>
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In Matthew 15 Jesus tells us that out of the heart comes our words and our thoughts.</div>
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What? Doesn't our mouth speak and our minds think?</div>
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There is something about the heart that is the center of all of us.</div>
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The heart directly influences the mouth.</div>
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The heart guides the mind.</div>
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What we value most is where we place our hearts.</div>
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The heart determines how we live.</div>
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And Jesus told us that those who have a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>, will see God!</div>
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I want to see God!</div>
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If your heart is clean, pure, then everything else in you will be pure too.</div>
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Your thoughts, your words, your actions, your desires.</div>
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They all come out of your heart.</div>
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When our thoughts are coming from a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>,</div>
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they are not distracted and they are focused on God and we see Him all around us.</div>
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When our words are coming from a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>, </div>
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they are not harsh or rude, but a blessing and a gift that allow others to see God.</div>
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When our actions are coming from a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>, </div>
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we are not acting for our own fame and glory, </div>
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but for the benefit of others and the glory of God and we see Him.</div>
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And when our desires are coming from a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>,</div>
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we are selfless and seek to please God through doing His will, </div>
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which is always where we see Him.</div>
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The God's Girls made bookmarks.</div>
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Using pencil erasers dipped in paint to decorate them.</div>
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At the bottom of the bookmark we punched a small heart out.</div>
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When I laminated the bookmarks, the heart hole was covered by the plastic,</div>
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making a window of a <span style="color: #e06666;">pure heart</span>.</div>
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Truly our heart is a window into who we are.</div>
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If our heart is cluttered, dirty, or covered up, no one really sees us.</div>
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But when our heart is pure, people can clearly see into who we are,</div>
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and because we are all made in the image of God,</div>
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they will see God.</div>
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Search me God and know my heart.</div>
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Investigate my life, find out everything about me;</div>
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Cross-examine and test me,</div>
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get a clear picture of what I'm about;</div>
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see for your self whether I've done anything wrong - </div>
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then guide me on the road of eternal life.</div>
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Ps. 139 MSG</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-57325737421753007122016-02-16T06:46:00.002-08:002016-02-16T06:46:55.138-08:00Macky Bear 7<div style="text-align: center;">
From the moment you were born little baby boy, I knew something was different.</div>
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You stole my heart like non other and I just couldn't keep my lips off your cheeks!</div>
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You are such a special boy Mack.</div>
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You're heart is tender and sensitive.</div>
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You have a deep desire for everyone to know Jesus and you pray earnestly for your friends.</div>
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You are kind and compassionate.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">"I want to make my own Valentine's for my class Mommy. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">And I'm going to make Natalia's the most special because she has cancer."</span></div>
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You have a deep understanding of God and His grace and mercy.</div>
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You are quick to say you're sorry and quick to forgive.</div>
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As I sat at the computer one evening, long after you were asleep, </div>
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I heard someone come in behind me. You were crying.</div>
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"What's the matter buddy?"</div>
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"Mommy, remember when Georgia was at swim practice last year and you brought me goldfish for a snack? You asked me if you could have some and I didn't share.</div>
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I'm so sorry Mommy."</div>
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As you lay in bed at night, you contemplate your days and the regrets that are brought to mind hit your little heart and you go to make things right.</div>
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Macky, you have a sensitive heart that desires purity and God will use you in mighty ways.</div>
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You make me laugh all the time.</div>
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You are so quick witted and funny!</div>
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Your confidence is a gift that allows you the freedom to be who God has made you to be.</div>
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Your sissys love you soooo much, sometimes perhaps a little too much!</div>
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But the day is quickly approaching when you will tower over them and take great care of them!</div>
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"Macky, do you want an ice cream sandwich?"</div>
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"YES! But let's wait until sissys get home so they can have one too."</div>
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You are selfless and have always wanted to include your sisters in all the joys of life.</div>
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You're 7 today!</div>
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A new year is before you.</div>
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I pray that God protects your tender heart and continues to draw you closer to Himself.</div>
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I pray that your compassion for others deepens as you grow up in a world that desperately needs to know God's love.</div>
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I pray that your sense of humor brightens up the days of all you come in contact with.</div>
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I pray that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved and that </div>
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God has great plans for you.</div>
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Happy Birthday Mack!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-47392732978643408182016-02-10T06:21:00.002-08:002016-02-10T06:21:14.983-08:00Starving<div style="text-align: center;">
First of all, I must say that I had some of the best food of my life in Austin Texas!</div>
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Little food truck named,</div>
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"Shut Up and Eat"</div>
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or</div>
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"Are You Gonna Eat or What?"</div>
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I don't know, but they gave me the sandwich of a lifetime!</div>
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Mesquite smoked turkey, shellacked in jalapeno jelly, fried green tomato, chipotle aiole.<br />
House made chips.</div>
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COME ON PEOPLE!</div>
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I died.</div>
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Second Bar Restaurant, best gnocchi of my life!</div>
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I might have licked the bowl when no one was looking.</div>
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Coopers BBQ</div>
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Brisket, beans, white bread, macaroni and cheese (which the Texas native with me said was one of the best!) pickles and peacan cobbler!</div>
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WHAT??</div>
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<br />
Not pictured was the fried chicken eggs bennedict I had on the way to the airport!<br />
I must go back to Austin just to eat more!<br />
<br />
In Austin, I attended the IF Gathering.<br />
A Gathering of 2000 women in Austin, hundreds of thousands of women live streaming all over the world, to come together to be equipped in the name of Jesus and be unleashed out into our communities to make a difference. We explored the question, "What IF we lived like Jesus?"<br />
In the past few days since being home, I have tried to start unpacking the experience of<br />
the IF Gathering and I've realized a few things.<br />
First of all, I didn't know I was <span style="color: #e06666;">starving</span> going into the Gathering.<br />
Looking at all these pictures of food, I kinda think, "how did I eat all that?"<br />
But an empty belly can hold much.<br />
Just as an empty soul can hold much.<br />
With all of the rich truth that was poured out at the Gathering, I never seemed to be uncomfortably full, like Thanksgiving full. Instead I just received all that was offered, realizing that my soul has been <span style="color: #e06666;">starving</span> for solid, rich truth for a long time.<br />
My appetite for solid food was awaken as I realized that I've been drinking Spiritual milk for far too long. I don't know how my faith in Jesus has been subtly watered down over the past few years, still growing and being nourished, but not in a way to produce an abundance! <br />
Just in a way to produce enough to look "productive."<br />
But devouring meal after meal after meal of God's unmistakable truth, spoken from a place of deep conviction and passion did not leave me uncomfortably full, but quite the opposite.<br />
It left me awake, alive and longing for more.<br />
<br />
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.<br />
I often think of Lent as being a season of fasting. <br />
A season of identifying with the suffering of Christ by depriving ourselves of something we enjoy.<br />
I'm not giving up anything today.<br />
Instead, I'm indulging.<br />
For the Lenten season, I'm going to feast on the rich Word of God more than I have before.<br />
I'm going to identify with Him through knowing Him more,<br />
spending time listening, reading and praying. <br />
I'm going to indulge in His rich, delicious truth that not only gives life, but gives life to the full!<br />
<br />
Sometimes we don't even know we're<span style="color: #e06666;"> starving</span> until we have a meal that awakens all of our appetite.</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-19685498206884051312016-02-08T09:01:00.000-08:002016-02-08T09:11:45.228-08:00Unpacking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
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I just got back from 4 days in Austin Texas at the IF: Gathering.</div>
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It was a women's conference and going into it, that was about all I knew.</div>
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We had many questions, </div>
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"What are we going to? What is this thing? Who will be there? Who is speaking? </div>
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Is there a theme?"</div>
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Ending with our final, joking question, </div>
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"What the if?"</div>
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Since we were traveling from California, you'd think we would have sought some of these answers prior to purchasing airline tickets! But no. </div>
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We just knew we needed to be "there," whatever "there" was.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Holy smokes!</div>
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4 days later and I have a lot of <span style="color: #e06666;">unpacking</span> to do!</div>
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It was like going to an all you can eat buffet, where after 20 minutes of eating ridiculously rich food, your stomach aches, yet you cannot stop eating because the delicacies around you are far too valuable to leave without sampling. So you start stuffing food in your pockets, your purse, your pant legs and even your ears so you don't miss a single morsel.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I felt as though I was in the current Hall of Faith with some of today's greats.</div>
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There was not one keynote speaker. There were about 30!!!</div>
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Yea, just about 30 different people sharing golden morsels of truth </div>
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in the short span of about 14 hours!</div>
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Well now I'm stuffed to the gills and have a lot of<span style="color: #e06666;"> unpacking</span> to do.</div>
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A lot of processing.</div>
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A lot of going through notes, praying, journaling, praying and then some more digesting to really understand what I just encountered.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm excited to share with you what God spoke through His servants at the IF:Gathering.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I'd love for you to hear some of it for yourself!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Today only you can watch the live stream for free!</span></b></div>
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So, grab a pen and paper, a glass of water and your baggy pants because you will be filled to the gills!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ifgathering.com/">ifgathering.com</a></div>
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register to watch the live stream</div>
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at the top menu bar, click on "archives" to start at session 1</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My favorites were:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jo Saxton Session 1, 54 minutes in time marker - 54:00<br />
Beautiful Indian woman Session 2, 3 hours into the session time marker - 30:33</div>
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Eugene Cho Session 3, 2 hours into the session time marker - 2:00</div>
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David Plat Session 4, almost 2 hours into the session time marker - 1:54</div>
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to name just a few!!!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-34577801172342848072016-02-01T02:00:00.000-08:002016-02-01T02:00:12.082-08:00Excuses Excuses<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><img height="427" src="http://cdn2.freedomoutpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ark.jpg" width="640" /></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Excuses</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Excuses</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lately I've had some ideas and dreams that I'd like to make happen.</div>
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I dream and jot down thoughts and get really excited.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Only to loose steam a few days later when the reality of<br />
"I have no idea how to make that happen" darkens all hope.</div>
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I wouldn't know where to start</div>
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I wouldn't know who to ask</div>
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I'll just go back to doing the dishes and laundry!</div>
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<br />
There is so much practical knowledge that I'd need to make some of my dreams come true. Practical knowledge that I don't have and don't know where to get it!<br />
Everyone seems to want to throw out advise and suggestions, at which I politely nod and smile.</div>
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All the while I'm thinking,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"It sounds like you're speaking German to me because I haven't a clue what you're saying."</div>
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You know, the suggestions that others think are so obvious and simple, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but to me it's a foreign language.</div>
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So I let the ideas fade away with my legitimate <span style="color: #e06666;">excuse</span> of "I just wouldn't even know where to begin."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, I read a great word from Rick Warren the other day that totally smacked me in the face! He was talking about Noah building the ark.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There were problems that could have caused Noah to doubt. First, Noah had never seen rain, because prior to the Flood, God irrigated the earth from the ground up. Second, Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to water? Third, there was the problem of rounding up all the animals and then caring for them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b> But Noah didn't complain or make excuses. </b></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He trusted God completely, and that made God smile."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First of all can I just say that my seminary educated self didn't know that </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
prior to the Flood there was no rain! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What the what?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But seriously, there were so many legitimate excuses Noah could have thrown down because truly he had no idea where to begin with what God told him to do. It was all like a foreign language.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rain? What's that?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Giant ship? Never seen one.</div>
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It's supposed to float? But where's the water?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Herd and care for all the animals ever created? Not qualified.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">But he didn't make excuses</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He trusted God to provide the plan and He did.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks Noah.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I needed to be challenged to stop making <span style="color: #e06666;">excuses</span> of all that I don't know, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and just trust God to give directions to make these dreams of mine come true!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I heart Noah.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-72994221492439311092016-01-29T11:02:00.000-08:002016-01-29T11:02:35.377-08:00Simplicity of Childlike Snow<div style="text-align: center;">
Everyone has been posting these beautiful pictures of snow all over the country </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it's made me a bit jealous!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I grew up snow skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California and this year especially, I've been a little sad that I'm not giving my children that same experience.</div>
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My son is about to turn 7 and he's never seen "real" snow before!</div>
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Something had to be done about that!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So with a random day off school this week, we took the kids to the snow!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because this is supposed to be an El Nino year for us Californians, there actually is a bit of snow on our mountains, even in Southern California.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So we drove through absolute desert, like sand, cactus legit desert, and the mountains that rose behind the desert were covered in snow! As we headed up the incline, anxious to step out into the frothy fluff, my husband and I looked at each other with a bit of a grimace, thinking, "um, is this it?"</div>
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The kids were about to jump out of their seats, "CAN WE GET OUT NOW??"</div>
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But no, we kept driving, looking for the "prefect" spot to stop and play.</div>
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We assured them that we were not going home until we got to play in the snow, but we were just looking for a good spot to sled.</div>
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After pulling over to survey several spots, only to return to the car and move onto somewhere else, we finally found a decent area to play and allowed the kids to get out of the car.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The same grimace came over our faces as we stepped out, almost slipping flat on our backs on the hard, icy, snow. As the kids ran ahead of us, my husband and I began picking apart this experience, "this snow is terrible, it's so hard and icy, we're all going to break our necks! it's freezing out here, I have a headache already, this is miserable!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just then a kiddo ran back to us, "Come on! This is amazing! Hurry and grab the sleds!"</div>
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They were beaming from ear to ear.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They couldn't be more ecstatic with this "snow."</div>
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I looked at my husband and said, "Let's not say anything. They're totally happy. They've never been to the snow before, they have no idea that this sucks! Let's not ruin it for them."</div>
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So we kept quiet, walked extremely gingerly so as not to fall and break anything, </div>
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and let them have the time of their life!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the ice, amongst the dirt, rocks and branches, they slipped and sledded down some hills and couldn't stop laughing and smiling. It was a solid 35 degrees and I was grateful for all the snow clothes our neighbors lent us, even the pink boots for my little dude! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(that's how much he loved the snow - he didn't even care that he was wearing pink girl boots!)</div>
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Such a great life lesson was once again learned!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kids don't have a huge file of previous life experiences. They aren't constantly comparing. </div>
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They are totally present in the moment, loving every bit of it!</div>
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Every moment is a gift, even if it looks different than previous moments!</div>
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There is a new gift in every experience.</div>
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Look for it!</div>
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Find it!</div>
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Then ride it like you've never done it before!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Friday</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-46744701028656943952016-01-27T14:13:00.001-08:002016-01-27T14:13:25.775-08:00Pumpkin Whoopie Pies<div style="text-align: center;">
My little girl is a ferocious reader!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She devour books in no time and quickly is onto the next.</div>
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She recently finished, "Absolutely Truly," by Heather Vogel Frederick.</div>
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At the end of the book, which takes place in Pumpkin Falls, </div>
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there is a recipe for <span style="color: #e06666;">Pumpkin Whoopie Pies</span>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she has been begging me to make them since she turned the last page!</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and they were delicious!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Aunt True's Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cookies:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/2 c. butter, softened</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 1/4 c. sugar</div>
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2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten</div>
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1 c. pumpkin</div>
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1 tsp. vanilla extract</div>
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2 T. molasses</div>
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2 c. all purpose flour</div>
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1 tsp. baking powder</div>
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1 tsp. baking soda</div>
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1 tsp. ground cinnamon</div>
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1/2 tsp. ground ginger</div>
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1/2 tsp. ground cloves</div>
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1/4 tsp. ground cardamom</div>
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1/4 tsp. salt (only if using unsalted butter)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Filling</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4 oz. cream cheese softened</div>
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6 T. butter, softened</div>
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1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</div>
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1 1/2 c. powdered sugar</div>
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<br /></div>
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For cookies:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add eggs and beat well. Add pumpkin, vanilla, and molasses; beat until smooth. In a separate bowl. whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture and stir well. Using a teaspoon-size cookie scoop, drop onto greased cookie sheets.</div>
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Bake for about 10-12 minutes, until the cookie springs back to the touch. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.</div>
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For the filling:</div>
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Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Generously frost the flat side of one cookie and top with another flat side of a cookie to make a sandwich! Enjoy!</div>
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Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-81553022768094237932016-01-20T07:03:00.003-08:002016-01-20T07:03:32.701-08:00You Are Loved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hRJvvKdhM2M2LkXVJJHggAsyjPZy3nAI11dp9EmJ_yPAJtGJ3a1WpKgyJ6E-F1KgvXJHqPYnIHf89acfFn-MwV527x6vHD5kIl7FUEhVnhqTuIN2OaBacPRgMtam0fWnHwrBeYx4qXM/s1600/IMG_7857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hRJvvKdhM2M2LkXVJJHggAsyjPZy3nAI11dp9EmJ_yPAJtGJ3a1WpKgyJ6E-F1KgvXJHqPYnIHf89acfFn-MwV527x6vHD5kIl7FUEhVnhqTuIN2OaBacPRgMtam0fWnHwrBeYx4qXM/s640/IMG_7857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In this day</div>
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whatever you face</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
whomever you meet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
know that </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">You Are Loved</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let it sink down deep.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are the beloved of God.</div>
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Beloved</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be loved</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Receive it today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unconditional</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unstoppable</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unending</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">LOVE</span></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-3690878943999612242016-01-15T10:11:00.000-08:002016-01-15T10:11:06.569-08:00We Are Not Troubled Guests<div style="text-align: center;">
Wednesday night I went to a performance of sorts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An honest, vulnerable, hilarious, storytelling by <a href="http://scottericksonart.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Scott Erickson</span></i></a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I met Scott many years ago when I lived in Seattle and Scott is someone who always puts a smile on your face! Whether he's showing up at your door with a "welcome basket" filled with random items like a can of soup and stuffed animal, </div>
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or going out karaoke in a powder blue, polyester tux fully equipped with ruffles!</div>
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Oh, and did I mention he's a painter?</div>
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Oh yea, and that he loves Jesus!</div>
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And that he's married to a beautiful woman that I'm currently obsessed with </div>
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(that's for another post! but check out <a href="http://themodernproper.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>The Modern Proper</i></span></a> in the mean time!!!).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyhooch, Scott is currently doing a one man show called,</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://scottericksonart.com/speaker/" target="_blank"><img alt="0000handheld" height="640" src="http://scottericksonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/0000handheld1-1024x1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's a mulitmedia presentation of his difficult conversation with God that came out of a dark time in his life, and lest you think it's moody and depressing, think again - there is a moment when he busts out with a little karaoke of Queen! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll leave it at that!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had no idea what to expect, although I know Scott is highly talented and a person that I've always loved time with, I figured the show might me a bit too artsy for me and go over my head because I'm not really that "deep." But oh no! I was on the edge of my seat the whole show, laughing, borderline crying, but smiling for sure as he time and again revealed simple yet profound truths that stirred up all sorts of questions in me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One thing he said that stuck with me was that people spend a lot of time in their lives trying to fit in and avoiding situations where we feel like we won't. We want to belong. This might cause us to be something other than who God has created us to be, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
someone who will fit in with society's norms and meet the world's demands. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But if we are not true to ourselves, we are not living into who God has created us to be and fully reflecting His light to all around us, the light He put in us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, <span style="color: #e06666;"><b>we are not troubled guests</b></span> in this world. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We belong. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just as we are. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just as God created us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go be who God made you to be today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing less.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And if ever you hear of <span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>We Are Not Troubled Guest</b></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>s </b></span>playing somewhere within a 5 hour drive of you, do yourself a favor, get in the car and drive!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Friday.</div>
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***</div>
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<br /></div>
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Go to Scott's site for all sorts of rad art and videos of what he does!</div>
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<a href="http://scottericksonart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><i>Scott Erickson Art . com</i></span></a></div>
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Some of Scott's Rad Art!</div>
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<img src="http://scottericksonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/benotafraidlion.jpg" /></div>
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<img src="http://scottericksonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/wd_SKULLWARRIOR.jpg" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="http://scottericksonart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/forgiveothersmall.jpg" width="558" /></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-75151817681713907492016-01-13T06:36:00.001-08:002016-01-13T06:36:52.041-08:00What Would You Do If You Won?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAKv8yEGMvlK8pOH9ALrxh_BXQkuTxV6dDCJbA6zp5to0b-u95PXZtjqM5YUfMrI8NUGX9d8WTWLcQqamtHvN0Dwxw8OIpQRgti21pjsQwgiF431JqRaGKC_28HKnRSph5DS9TBHyx78/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAKv8yEGMvlK8pOH9ALrxh_BXQkuTxV6dDCJbA6zp5to0b-u95PXZtjqM5YUfMrI8NUGX9d8WTWLcQqamtHvN0Dwxw8OIpQRgti21pjsQwgiF431JqRaGKC_28HKnRSph5DS9TBHyx78/s640/IMG_1966.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The question has been swirling around the water cooler this week:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"What would you do if you won $1.5 Billion?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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We pulled into a gas station on Sunday and I couldn't resist, I just had to be part of the hype!</div>
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So I ran in and purchased 3 tickets.</div>
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You've gotta play to win!!</div>
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***</div>
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I had coffee with some friends yesterday and we discussed the possibilities of $1.5 billion!</div>
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My girlfriend said it feels like a mental vacation just to ponder the possibilities!</div>
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Isn't that true?</div>
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"Immediate purchase, impulse, you just won, what are you immediately going to buy?"</div>
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Whereas we all agreed that we'd settle down and wait awhile before doing anything major,</div>
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we still all had that one thing we'd purchase right away.</div>
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Mine was a Hawaiian vacation that we've been dreaming about for a few years, but just can't pull it off. I wouldn't think twice, I'd pick up the phone and book the trip without hesitation or regret.</div>
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"I'd buy my mom a house."</div>
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"I'd buy a new wardrobe."</div>
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My husband said he'd go buy the new Corvette!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I just can't imagine getting to completely buy whatever I want!</div>
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In some ways it would bring great peace to be financially set for life.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My girlfriend said not having to worry about money or anything again, to be secure, </div>
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would be the best part of winning. </div>
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It was ironic because just that morning I had read,</div>
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"The most common myth about money is that having more will make me more secure. It won't. Wealth can be lost instantly through a variety of uncontrollable factors. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you - your relationship with God."</div>
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-Rick Warren from <i>The Purpose Driven Life</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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No words could be more true as we did lose our wealth instantly through an uncontrollable factor - </div>
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I lost 2 of the lottery tickets!</div>
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Yep.</div>
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Somehow one is still in my purse and the others are not!</div>
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So tonight as those balls swirl around and land at random (or fate) at the winning numbers,</div>
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and you just so happen to be holding a ticket you "found,"</div>
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and all of your numbers line up...</div>
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after you wake up from passing out, please go book yourself a trip to Hawaii in honor of the one who purchased that ticket for you! While you're there, I hope you meet Jesus who will give you life long security, come what may!</div>
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<br /></div>
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(and honey, I'm sorry. I'll buy you a Corvette one day!)</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-47941527258721425102016-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:002016-01-11T03:00:10.222-08:00The Recipe For A God's Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_WPLCgxkZv9kZNn6J1DmS3k2MmfrTGhrBjleo2Fs9d1Qz2y5XW8qkRrspxEAAiecVW9Rh9Bw9zIx4F5hnPfAZMK4haR6PzEp2cLoMJGfKcxaFpE-brYXcv1hPJ3UBWoYulKZi-vBF-I/s1600/IMG_5522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_WPLCgxkZv9kZNn6J1DmS3k2MmfrTGhrBjleo2Fs9d1Qz2y5XW8qkRrspxEAAiecVW9Rh9Bw9zIx4F5hnPfAZMK4haR6PzEp2cLoMJGfKcxaFpE-brYXcv1hPJ3UBWoYulKZi-vBF-I/s640/IMG_5522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What are the ingredients that make up a Girl who belongs to God?</div>
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I spent the past 4 months discussing this question with my group of 4th grade girls - The <span style="color: #e06666;">God's Girls</span>.</div>
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We gather a few times a month to challenge and equip these little girls to be who God has created them to be and to live differently as they step out bearing the title "<span style="color: #e06666;">God's Girl</span>."</div>
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This past session was all about recipes - </div>
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we discussed how recipes are guides that give directions to obtain a desired result,</div>
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we talked about the ingredients we must acquire to make us into girls more like Jesus,</div>
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and we made a few recipes in the kitchen for fun!</div>
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We started this series by decorating our own recipe boxes that would hold our prayer requests, notes, memory verses, and actual recipes that we would make during our time together.</div>
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The girls were over the moon!</div>
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I loved seeing their creativity and the sweet things they wanted written on their boxes.</div>
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***</div>
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This gathering of little girls has been a huge challenge and blessing in my life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know how much I greatly benefited from discipleship groups </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when I was in jr. high and high school.</div>
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But why wait until the girls are teenagers?</div>
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Why not start them early growing in their faith, relationships and accountability with other girls?</div>
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Female relationships are a treasure that the enemy is threatened by because he knows there is power when women, both young and old, come together in Jesus' name!</div>
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An area that God is calling me to be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> in 2016 is with this ministry.</div>
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I'm scared.</div>
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I'm not sure how exactly to move forward with what God has put on my heart.</div>
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But I'm going to be Brave!</div>
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I hope to have more posts about <span style="color: #e06666;">God's Girls</span> throughout this year!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-7881108561170067102016-01-08T09:03:00.002-08:002016-01-08T09:03:34.888-08:00Be Brave and Jump!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Friday!</div>
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Each day has been a new opportunity for me to be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> in some small way or another.</div>
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Being <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> is so much more than heroic courage that runs into a burning building to save someone!</div>
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Being <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> means setting aside the limits of self and taking the next step - maybe a jump.</div>
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We stand at the edge of a cliff, a decision, a moral crisis, a small choice.</div>
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We have to make the move to stay put, safe, and just look at what lies beneath, </div>
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or to be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> and jump!</div>
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Sometimes the hardest step is the first one, but after we are<span style="color: #e06666;"> Brave</span> and jump, we find that there are great rewards waiting on the other side.</div>
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This morning I'm faced with a small decision - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to jump into a new experience where I won't know anyone and will feel uncomfortable - yet reap great rewards when it's finished,</div>
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or</div>
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stay home and be safe.</div>
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As much as I'd rather stay home,</div>
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I'm going to be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> and jump!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What areas of life do you need to be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> and just jump into?</div>
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Happy Weekend!</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-69915756397850262322016-01-06T13:33:00.000-08:002016-01-06T13:33:12.122-08:00Noodles & Beef<div style="text-align: center;">
When I was a child, I remember my grandparents from Illinois coming to visit us each year<br />
and that meant 4 things -<br />
cinnamon rolls, Reeses Pieces, giving up my bedroom, and <span style="color: #e06666;">Noodles & Beef</span>!<br />
My Grandmother would make her famous cinnamon rolls in Illinois and bring them out to us, individually wrapped in a foil package, waiting to be reheated and devoured!<br />
But the <span style="color: #e06666;">Noodles & Beef</span>, she'd make in our kitchen for dinner.<br />
<br />
We celebrated my Father's birthday over the holidays with a special birthday dinner. I wanted to make something special for him and having just received all of my <a href="http://notmyownlife.blogspot.com/2015/09/recipes.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Grandmother's old recipes</span></i></a> when my Aunt came to visit in the Fall, I knew <span style="color: #e06666;">Noodles & Beef</span> would be special for the occasion!<br />
<br />
The recipe card was worn and stained, marking it as a recipe made often!<br />
The recipe itself was vague, and left much to the imagination of a novice noodle maker!<br />
But I was so excited to give it try and impress my Daddy,<br />
so I approached the challenge with confidence and prayer!<br />
<br /></div>
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I was shocked!<br />
It was rather easy and the end result was divine.<br />
A bowl of memories, comfort and a confidence booster!<br />
Do you have a favorite recipe from your Grandma?<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Grandma Jones' Noodles & Beef:</span></b></div>
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3 egg yolks</div>
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1 whole egg</div>
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3 T water</div>
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3/4 tsp. salt</div>
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Flour</div>
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<br /></div>
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Beef Roast</div>
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1 carton Beef Stock</div>
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1/2 large Onion</div>
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4-5 Garlic Cloves</div>
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Chopped Parsley for garnish</div>
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<br /></div>
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For the Beef:</div>
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Start by generously seasoning your beef roast with Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper. In a pot on medium / high heat, add 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil and sear the roast for about 4-5 minutes on each side.</div>
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Place the seared roast in a slowcooker. Slice onion and place on the roast, crush the garlic cloves and place in the slowcooker, and add about 2 inches of beef stock. Cook on low all day.</div>
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For the Noodles:</div>
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Whisk first 4 ingredients together. Then "add flour." How much you ask? I have no idea! I started with about 1 1/2 cups and then added small amounts until the consistency felt right!</div>
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Then divide the dough into 2 or 3 pieces and roll out on a floured surface. Roll out about 1/8 of an inch thick, adding flour as needed to keep from sticking. Allow the dough to dry out for about 20 minutes. Then cut into strips in desired width, I used a pizza cutter and did about 1/2 inch strips. Let the noodles dry out for another half hour or so.</div>
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When the roast is "falling apart" tender and the noodles are ready to cook, remove onion and garlic from the slowcooker (it's ok of there are a few remaining pieces), take all the liquid out of the slowcooker and place in a pot on the stove. Add remaining beef stock to pot and bring to a light boil. </div>
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Add the cut noodles. Keep them at a soft boil for about 10-15 minutes or desired doneness. The dusted flour on the noodles will help thicken the stock. While the noodles are cooking, shred the beef and set aside. When the noodles are finished cooking, add all the beef, cover and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve immediately with fresh, chopped parsley for garnish.</div>
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Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-31566328722425964012016-01-04T09:38:00.001-08:002016-01-04T09:38:41.373-08:00Brave<div align="center">
Happy New Year!</div>
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2016</div>
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As is my tradition, I spent the morning of January 1, 2016 on the beach alone.<br />
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I've done this for as many years as I can remember - my time to reflect on the year that just ended and look ahead to the one just beginning.</div>
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With my journal, Bible and thermos of hot tea, I sat and stared at the placid ocean before me.</div>
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I got out and began to walk on the shore and happily enjoyed what Winter does to the beach -<br />
the sand changes, little cliffs form, and bigger rocks and shells scallop the water's edge.</div>
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I looked down to see some larger than normal pieces of sea glass.</div>
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Pure treasure.</div>
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There was the normal green and brown glass, but I also spotted some unusual clear glass that had become frosted with the days of being worn down by the sand and sea.</div>
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"What must have broken to cause such large pieces of sea glass?"<br />
I wondered.</div>
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The brown and green glass - beer bottles we all assume!</div>
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But the large pieces of clear glass?<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><i>What has to break to make such beautiful things?</i></span><br />
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That very question stuck with me as I walked.</div>
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Of course God makes beauty out of ashes, He redeems and makes all things new.</div>
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He takes our broken pieces and makes something beautiful out of them.<br />
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But what if breaking is intentional from the start, in order to create something beautiful?</div>
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Not just redeeming the brokenness, but purposing the breaking?</div>
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I sought the clear glass as I continued to walk, thrilled at each discovery!</div>
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When I got back to my car, I pulled out my journal and began reflecting on 2015. But I also pondered 2016 in light of that question, "What has to break to make something beautiful in my life?"<br />
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I've had some ideas, dare I say "dreams," about some things but I'm a little insecure about them.</div>
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I don't know how to accomplish these dreams.</div>
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I'm afraid. </div>
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<br /></div>
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What needs to break to make something beautiful in my life?</div>
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The strongholds of fear and insecurity that paralyze me - that's what needs to break!</div>
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As I journaled and reflected, my "one word" for 2016 came to me.</div>
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My one word for the year was hanging around my neck:</div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Brave</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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I saw this necklace, created by two beautiful women, that simply says "<span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span>"</div>
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When I read the inspired verse on <a href="http://www.rebekahgough.com/category/jewelry/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Rebekah Gough's website</span></i></a>, I knew I had to have it</div>
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<br />
"But you, GOD, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to GOD, His answers thunder from the holy mountain."<br />
Psalm 3:3-4<br />
<br />
the Shield Collection was done in collaboration with <a href="http://www.goldpresspaper.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Goldpress Paper</span></i></a> and lettered by the amazing Alisha Sanvicens (who was a student in my college ministry).</div>
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I asked for it for Christmas and when I opened it,<br />
I just knew it was more than a piece of jewelry for me.</div>
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This is my badge to wear this year.</div>
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I will not be bound by fear or insecurities.</div>
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By the power of God within me, I will break these strongholds and be <span style="color: #e06666;">Brave</span> and watch beautiful things come from my life this year.</div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400964252581759629.post-17849245082139204062015-12-31T07:51:00.002-08:002015-12-31T07:51:35.814-08:00Christmas 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">‘Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the house, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">everyone was resting, even that old trusty mouse!
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">It's been quite a year with adventures and firsts, some were quite grand
and others the worst! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>
was first up on water skies, where she laughed and she smiled and enjoyed the
lake breeze! She's quick on the soccer field and always has fun, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">she ran
for Student Council Treasurer and guess what? She won! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Mack can't
get enough of any sport with a ball, from baseball to soccer, the boy plays it
all! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"> He's had many firsts with school and water skies; </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">while he slept his
first tooth came out with great ease! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Emma had a first that wasn't so
fun, a trip to the ER with pneumonia in the midst of the summer sun. She
continues to dance and can't stop spinning, she leaps and she jumps and never
stops singing! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">All of the children are now back in school, it's a first
for this mom and it's really quite cool! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Daddy’s knee was reconstructed
which wasn't his first! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">But he had his first appendectomy and that was
the worst! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">A year filled with firsts, some rough and some better, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">we've
made it through stronger and so happy together. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">With God our great guide,
forgiver and mender, He sent His son Jesus as a baby so tender. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">He's
always been working since time first began, to love us and draw us right into
His hand. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">His hand that can take all of our broken pieces, and make
something new, His work never ceases. First joys and first pain, He is
always there; He loves you and knows you, each detail His care. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">So make
this a Christmas with Jesus the center, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">He's the giver of firsts and His second
chances are even better!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Now I'll be the first to end this
note right, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Love the Newquist Family</span></div>
Mommy Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17413041757668659770noreply@blogger.com0