tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71934140047205740282024-03-14T09:11:30.714-07:00Life More AbundantAnnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.comBlogger421125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-82801698807274981802012-06-20T15:34:00.001-07:002012-06-20T15:34:15.699-07:00Printables for Your School Room<div style="text-align: center;">
For those of you who are interested, </div>
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here are the printouts for my Alphabet border in my school/dining room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLzTUlaNAmI-MHtWF5rI6N0PdyLZcQVVa8cVF6ek4s2DQ4d8og7iP3hzVmWTwNwVfUoMfLetk-D1a-UpjErd4MfdIyznYiG_IrhCIubw7ZPGnhRrAWrLsZMyJqOmcBHUGz62WhP9BGUo/s1600/Slide1_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLzTUlaNAmI-MHtWF5rI6N0PdyLZcQVVa8cVF6ek4s2DQ4d8og7iP3hzVmWTwNwVfUoMfLetk-D1a-UpjErd4MfdIyznYiG_IrhCIubw7ZPGnhRrAWrLsZMyJqOmcBHUGz62WhP9BGUo/s320/Slide1_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You'll have to use a Sharpie or something to extend the lines of the lowercase k, h, d and t all the way to the top. <br />
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I cut these down to about 4 & 1/2 by 6 &1/2 and then mounted them onto <a href="http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=123150" target="_blank">scrapbook paper</a> (cut down to 5 & 1/2 by 7 &1/2) that coordinated with my decor :) <br />
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I used <a href="http://www.staples.com/Avery-Letter-Size-Self-Adhesive-Laminating-Sheets-3-mil-50-pack/product_262691?catalogId=10051&fromUrl=home&cmSearchKeyword=Avery+laminating+sheets&cmArea=SEARCH&langId=-1&searchViewTypeGridList=listView&searchViewTypeGridList=listView&storeId=10001&ddkey=http:StaplesSearch" target="_blank">laminating sheets</a> (found in most office supply stores) to laminate the front of them.<br />
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Enjoy :)</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a> </div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-71083925108874128472011-08-24T14:58:00.000-07:002011-08-24T15:08:47.033-07:00I am New<div style="text-align: center;">Stuck in sin and brokeness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not where we meant to be</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">if we have already taken the hand of Mercy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but our human hearts often find a way to believe we are still meant for the murk we were rescued from</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">even though we wear robes of white now and can call ourselves daughters of the King.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The evil one has a way of making us believe we are doomed by the sins and mis-steps of our past, present and future,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He penetrates our deepest thoughts</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He causes us to believe the lie,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"God doesn't love you. Who would He love you? You're nothing."</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But Christ the King is always there, arms outstretched calling out,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You're mine. I love you. There is nothing I won't do to have you belong to me."</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">His hand sometimes feels miles away, even though it's right within my reach.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'll reach for Him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll cling to Him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll cling to his promise that He's not finished with me yet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">that I'm not stuck in my depravity,</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">that I'm not a lost cause.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am His.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am new.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-w6YG2NZguc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-37457195646521831732011-05-24T04:39:00.000-07:002011-05-24T04:48:43.089-07:00Leavin' on a Jet Plane<div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, I go on a trip.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, I get to see one of my most favorite people on earth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't seen her in 2 and a half years but we talk almost every day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, I get to be with a friend who puts the meaning into <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2017:17&version=NIV">Proverbs 17:17.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow, I see a sister and hug her tight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll cradle her baby in my arms and kiss his chubby cheeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll hold her older children close and remind them that "Mimi" loves them so much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll bring Izzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Éva will get to go with Daddy to visit Masie and Yosie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll miss my own big girl and my amazing hubby.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But tomorrow I get to see Kasey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5754657836/" title="The BFF <3<3<3 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5754657836_07f7faaf7f.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt="The BFF <3<3<3" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;">Kasey holding Izzy at 5 months old</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And my heart is happy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-88527226496832947282011-05-23T04:16:00.000-07:002011-05-23T04:31:20.384-07:00Casting Cares<div style="text-align: center;">Well, the military beckons once again for our little family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This summer = move.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not a big move mind you, but a move just the same.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll be making the trek a whole 30 miles south to D.C.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And even though the move is a short distance away, the process is the same as when we moved from Hawaii to here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boxes need to be checked on the military side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Housing and movers needs to be arranged and set up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paperwork needs to be filled out and transitions have to be made.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's going to be a big summer for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of change.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A new home, a new neighborhood, a new job, a new area to get used to, and I'll start homeschooling in August so a new homeschool group.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As excited as I am for the change (it's the military brat in me),</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's a little nerve wracking too when I consider all that needs to be done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few days ago, I was officially freaking out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The list of "to dos" seemed daunting and I felt eager to start crossing stuff off, but alas, there's really not much I CAN do right this moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thus, the freak out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to run a few errands, get out of the house a bit. Éva came with me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I drove to Walmart in silence, gazing straight ahead, brain reeling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then, Éva started singing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49IUrvIALc&feature=related">"I cast all my cares upon you.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49IUrvIALc&feature=related">I lay all of my burdens, down at your feet.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49IUrvIALc&feature=related">And any time I don't know what to do,</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49IUrvIALc&feature=related">I will cast all my cares upon you."</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This has been one of my favorite songs since I was Éva's age and it was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her sweet voice singing those simple and whole words was like a soothing balm to wrecked psyche.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Out of the mouths of babes, or so it goes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva's intuition kicks in again, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and God continues to use her to teach me just as much as I hope to teach her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5662143917/" title="DSC_0152 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5662143917_4648028530.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0152" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-24431750860049005732011-05-12T07:04:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:43:32.752-07:00Web Surfing When I Should Be Studying<div style="text-align: center;">Yep. I'm supposed to be listening to a marriage counseling lecture. My last day of school for the semester is tomorrow and I have three-one hour lectures to complete plus two quizzes and a discussion board post.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm web surfing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In my defense, the lecture is playing in a separate window on my desk top.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So technically, I'm listening.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, in all this listening/web surfing, I came across an interesting post on <a href="http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/09/629-raising-dorks-2/">this blog </a>that I thought would be fun to copy here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">______________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(85, 85, 85); line-height: 21px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;"><h1 class="title" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; width: 620px; z-index: 0; font: normal normal normal 24px/normal MuseoSlab500; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Raising Dorks</span></span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By Jon Acuff, September 2009</span></span></span></div><h1 class="title" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; width: 620px; z-index: 0; font: normal normal normal 24px/normal MuseoSlab500; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="title" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; width: 620px; z-index: 0; font: normal normal normal 24px/normal MuseoSlab500; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don’t have any hard data on this, but I think that of all the major world religions, Christianity has the highest dork per capita ratio. Did I say that right? Is there a different metric we’re using to measure number of dorks that I should have referenced instead? Are we still rolling with the per capita ratio? It’s so hard to find good research on this topic.</span></span></span></span></h1><div class="entry" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size:14px;color:transparent;"><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But think about it, no one ever says, “You know who is cheesy? Muslims.” Rarely will you hear someone proclaim, “The Hindus are all uptight.” And when Buddhists are stereotyped they’re labeled as being “relaxed and peaceful.” Christianity though has a lockdown on dork status and you know what?</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I love it.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I used to hate it. From the time I was in the seventh grade right up until I became 33 I railed against it. I did everything I could to prove to the world that I was not some cheesy Christian. I distanced myself from Christian culture as fast as I possibly could because it all felt so overwhelmingly dorky. But then something weird happened, something unexpected … my five year old tried to get into pop culture.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I’ve got nothing against the particular pop star my daughter suddenly became fascinated with but the transition from “I love the Wiggles” to “the Wiggles are for babies” was ridiculously fast. (In her defense, that Captain Feathersword who the Wiggles run with, scares me to death.) Up until that point I really hoped my daughter would grow up to be a cool kid. I wanted her to be part of the popular crowd at school and be considered hip. But when she started sweating pop stars and other little girls in our area started getting into teenage television shows, I had to pause.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Those things weren’t created for a 5 year old. The entertainment she wanted to watch was not written for a girl two years out of diapers. It’s got boyfriends and girlfriends and topics that are way out of her understanding as a little kid. And she might love it. She might sing all the songs and have a blast doing it and fit right in with all her friends. But if I encourage her to do that, if I push her toward that, I fast forward her through childhood. I speed her up from a 5 year to a 10 year old. And although I make about 47 dad mistakes a day, I have learned one secret about childhood:</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You can fast forward childhood, but you can’t rewind it.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I could but I can’t. Childhood only goes one direction and I want her to stay a little kid for as long as she can. There will be plenty of time later for her to think boys are cute and interesting. (Right now I’m pushing for “smelly and cootie laden.”)</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Until then though, she’s not going to be hip. I’m going to raise a dork. Which is different from naïve, don’t misunderstand, she’s going to be like Matthew 10:16, shrewd as a snake and innocent as a dove. And if you’re making different decisions with your kids, please don’t hear this as an attack. I’m new to being a dad, am by no means a pro, don’t have all the answers and am really only writing about the two kids with my last name. Who will be dorks.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I hope I don’t help create one of these sheltered Christian girls that just goes insane when they get to college, but I promise you that I’m going to do everything I can to keep my kids young, out of the loop as far as the world goes and maybe even dorky. And when my oldest daughter yells at me when she’s 13 because she can’t go to a party with a bunch of boys, who I know are going to try to kiss her, I’ll show her this post. And she’s going to yell some more, but at least I’ll kind of look like I predicted the future, which is fun.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background- font-size:14px;color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">________________</span>_____________________________________________</span></span></span><br /><br /></p></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-75128715028457934322011-04-26T14:00:00.001-07:002011-04-26T14:10:47.137-07:00Balancing Act<div style="text-align: center;">Life is all about balance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Balancing schedules,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">balancing time, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">balancing diet,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">balancing the checkbook, etc...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These days, I'm finding it hard to find the balance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Being a stay at home mom to two children under 5 is a full time job in and of itself. Those girls keep me on my toes at all times!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then there's keeping up on housework, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping up on friendships,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping up on laundry, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping up on exercise (sometimes) and </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">keeping up on schoolwork.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Going to school full time while keeping up on life has been very tough.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm feeling a little burned out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's times like these when I start to ask myself, "Self, it's feeling a little heavy around here, and Jesus said His load was light...so what are we carrying around that just ain't ours?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I wonder...are you feeling weighed down by life? By relationships? By obligations?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are, it's time to unload all the things that Jesus didn't hand you to carry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For me, that's lightening up my school load and making time to do the things I need to do to stay healthy for my family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's taking time to weed out the expectations I put on myself that aren't necessarily bad, but aren't really necessary either.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just some random thoughts for the evening...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-4088789400045954712011-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:002011-04-22T06:11:23.894-07:00Good Friday<div style="text-align: center;">Today, I'm reflecting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And packing for a trip down to see the in-laws for Easter Weekend but mostly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">just reflecting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5641278821/" title="Untitled by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5641278821_e1a0eee420.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The girls and I read the story of Jesus' arrest and death this morning in our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Storybook-Bible-Every-Whispers/dp/0310708257/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303477311&sr=1-1">Jesus Story Book Bible</a>. If you don't have one, I highly recommend it for your little ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're also listening to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Story-Little-Tree-Bridgestone-Kids/dp/1563710315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303477623&sr=1-1">The Story of Little Tree</a>. If you've never heard it, I also highly recommend for the little ears in your life. I've been listening to it every year since I was 6 or 7 and it brings me to tears every time. The most powerful message the world has ever heard, in the most simple form...humbling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I began my morning praying...praying hard. Praying like I haven't in a very long time. Years even.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I can feel the Holy Spirit alive and well in me this morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm so grateful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5641850808/" title="Blossoms by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5641850808_80fa3cfb64.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Blossoms" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And so, I'm going to do something I've never done before.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because today is a day of reflection and prayer and remembrance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And being that I struggle with food and it's perceived power over me, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's the one thing I know to eliminate today so that I can focus on Christ's power in me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And His power over death.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-78062002521024384472011-04-20T04:23:00.000-07:002011-04-20T04:48:23.679-07:00Beautiful.<div style="text-align: center;">Easter is quickly approaching.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Good Friday is only 2 days away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614509247/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5614509247_31bd8ac401.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the time of year when Christians start to really reflect on what happened on those two magnificent days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We also start to reflect on how undeserving we are of the magnificence.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615088762/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5615088762_c2a6805132.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As much as the Resurrection of our Lord is something to be JOYFUL over, the truth that His purpose for coming, the purpose for His beating and death, the purpose of His resurrection was to reconcile us to God, is very humbling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are that depraved and unholy that God had to send His only Son to die so that we might Live. Because we deserve death.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a hard truth. It's a humbling truth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614508889/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5614508889_c4ea44d8d8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the midst of all my personal reflection on this matter, I'm also reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faithfully-Fit-Devotional-Lifestyle-Chronic/dp/0849909880">this book</a> in my morning devotions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been struggling with food and body image for as long as I can remember.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And as much as I know how to get the weight off and I want it off, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the extra poundage is simply an outside manifestation of what's really going on inside me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I want to resolve this problem from the inside out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615088806/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5615088806_bb38c7edf0.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, today's assignment in my devotional was to compose a love letter to myself from God's perspective.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would you know I couldn't do it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I sat there for half an hour trying to find "good" qualities about myself but for every good attribute, I could list at least 10 not-so-good ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I don't tell you this for pitty or empathy, I choose to be transparent on this blog because I honestly hope that someone who might read this will identify themselves in my words and not feel so alone. That they might join me on this journey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615088590/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5615088590_354f316c33.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But even as I compose this post, I can feel the Spirit working in me. Even as I type how unworthy I am I can hear Him whispering to me, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"But I love you. So much so that I died for YOU! So much so that I delighted in watching you grow in your mother's womb and I rejoiced the day you were born. I love you so much that I have placed my hand into your life and blessed you over and over again...abundantly! I love you so much that I have never left your side, even when you felt distant from me. I love you so much that I want you to be with me for an eternity, and I've made a way for you."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, at the top of my list of redeeming qualities about myself this morning, (and I hope at the top of yours) is that I am loved by the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He has chosen ME. He has carved a path of righteousness for ME by sending His only begotten son to die the most humiliating kind of death so that I might live with HIM forever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And you know what?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He did all that for you too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615088918/" title="Cherry Blossom Festival by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5615088918_0913299e30.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Cherry Blossom Festival" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-86855742252210119032011-04-12T18:30:00.001-07:002011-04-12T18:56:36.388-07:00Spring has Sprung<div style="text-align: center;">It's green outside, the temps are consistently in the 60's, it rains often and the deer are eating my daylillies...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615090302/" title="Deer got to my day lillies :( by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5615090302_92d41dc22b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Deer got to my day lillies :(" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's Spring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spring is more like New Years for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's something about watching new life pop up from the formerly frozen ground that inspires hope and determination in me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615090438/" title="Blushing Bride by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5615090438_9b6790c2f7.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Blushing Bride" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm always so amazed when my perennials push their way through the earth yet again...and this year, even some of my annuals made a come-back! Yay!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614510081/" title="Bloom by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5614510081_4ba327ac83.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Bloom" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the harshest of winters can't keep new life from finding a way. It's really incredible.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And so symbolic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Lord really does walk us through the darkest and coldest of times, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">only to offer us a chance at renewal when it's over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615090666/" title="Limelight Hydrangea by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5615090666_3faede7cba.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Limelight Hydrangea" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How blessed we are!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along with my foliage is blossoming a beautiful friendship between my two girls.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615090190/" title="Sisters Share by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5615090190_b2512bf7d2.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Sisters Share" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As Izzy gets older, the gap between them developmentally seems to be narrowing and they have discovered one another in a new way in recent weeks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615089976/" title="My Izzy Bee by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5615089976_030ae3fd4b.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="My Izzy Bee" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I over hear them often telling one another that they love each other. Too cute! I find myself constantly running upstairs at the sound of screaming only to discover squeals of delight...not terror or frustration.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They share well (most of the time) and sing together. As different as they are, they truly do love to be with each other and that does my heart good :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615089530/" title="Éva by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5615089530_09cd3234f0.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Éva" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is also Charlie's first spring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615089792/" title="Confused Charles by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5615089792_a7aeb6b908.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Confused Charles" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My puppy has LOVED frolicking all over the front yard chasing bubbles, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614510265/" title="Charlie licks his chops! by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5614510265_d3893e173d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Charlie licks his chops!" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614510911/" title="Charlie chasing Bubbles by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5614510911_6636438f4a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Charlie chasing Bubbles" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">taking long walks next to the stroller and running leash-less around the green grass at the Parade Field on Post.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5614509893/" title="DSC_0076 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5614509893_89503a7b9d.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0076" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He's also loved sniffing around my garden (which I think has something to do with the deer).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spring also tends to bring all the neighbors out again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615091792/" title="Eden by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5615091792_8a42ba4c1b.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Eden" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It begins in the late morning, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll venture outside with my girls, sidewalk chalk in tow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and as if a radar went off around the cul-de-sac,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">kids and moms start to trickle from front doors,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615091168/" title="Shelby and Olive by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5615091168_86e9e26c53.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Shelby and Olive" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bounding across the small pasture, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">arms wide open as the run to greet one another somewhere in the middle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615091462/" title="Eden by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5615091462_f1210e6f62.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Eden" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's always a joyful reunion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love spring in our neighborhood.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5615091350/" title="Neighborhood KIddos by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5615091350_8c9cc758ab.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Neighborhood KIddos" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love spring period.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-23061421316185895732011-04-08T03:31:00.000-07:002011-04-08T04:03:24.380-07:00Izzy<div style="text-align: center;">One of the amazing things about having two girls, somewhat close in age is how different they are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Try as I might to coordinate their outfits or convince them that they want to watch the same cartoons, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy and Éva are different.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5593753626/" title="Izzy by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5593753626_8e86cfb97e.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Izzy" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Where Éva is more shy, Izzy knows no strangers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While Éva thinks of sensible names for her stuffed animals and dolls, Izzy calls them "Punk" and "Monkey" or my favorite "Ha."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> While Éva made me a mother and turned our house into a home, Izzy made it more full, more complete, and more joyful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5600336742/" title="Izzy on the metro by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5600336742_f38518fa49.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Izzy on the metro" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy is not a fearful or shy child. In fact, this quality in her makes me nervous at times. She's so willing to talk to someone new that I often fear she'd just walk away with anyone, chatting their ear off as they stole away with my baby.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She's an adventure seeker. Just yesterday, I took her to the park and she proceeded to climb every single part of the jungle gym that I would've rathered she didn't. And she did it well. Sigh...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy has never wanted to be little. She decided right after her 2nd birthday that it was time for her to be potty trained and she did it...all I did was help her onto the potty. I am convinced that this child sees herself as more of an adult than I see myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5600335888/" title="Izzy under the cherry blossoms by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5600335888_8489f90b6a.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Izzy under the cherry blossoms" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy talks incessantly. She. is. always. talking. Her first words to us almost every morning as she bursts through our door are "Hi Guys!" and she doesn't stop all morning long. My favorite things she says right now: "Mom, look how big my am!" or "I wuz you too, Mom" or Paul's favorite, "Guys, here's the plan..." as she pops out a hip and puts one hand in the air.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy is the life of any party and in so many ways, she brought us all out of our shells. Éva struggled intensely with separation anxiety and nervousness, but as Izzy has grown, so has her relationship with her sister and we've seen amazing changes in Éva as she gains confidence watching her little sister do all the things she's wanted to try so badly. Izzy will even look at her sometimes and say, "C'mon Éva, you turn!" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Izzy is most certainly made up of leadership material and she has no problems coloring outside the lines. I love these things about her and I know raising her will be one of my life's greatest challenges. Izzy will always need room to be Izzy...I just pray that I am able to have the discernment and wisdom when to recognize when to reign her in and when to set her free.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5600334978/" title="Izzy eating her cupcake by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5600334978_2d54802997.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Izzy eating her cupcake" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She is my joy; My comedic relief through most days. While Éva is affirming and affectionate and sweet and makes my heart all warm and fuzzy, Izzy makes me laugh</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and gives my life cheer,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and abundance :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5599011854/" title="Izzy on the slide by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5599011854_7013d8f891.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Izzy on the slide" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-4785166389740180482011-04-06T05:51:00.000-07:002011-04-06T06:22:36.995-07:00Éva<div style="text-align: center;">Like keeps happening around here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It happens quickly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So quickly sometimes that I'm not able to catch it and that kind of breaks my heart a little.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I heard somewhere this week that life with children under 5 means "very long days and very short years."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5595261534/" title="Girls by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5595261534_2f0d55672e.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Girls" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva and Izzy continue to grow and learn at an alarming pace and I find it hard to keep up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are moments that I wish I could freeze in time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I want to be able to remember this time with my girls. All of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This time when I was still the epitome of beauty in their eyes, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">when their Daddy can do no wrong,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">when an exertion of their will (very strong will) over ours will merely land them a time out instead of a heavier consequence that they might carry with them forever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a time of innocence and humor and I fail sometimes to see it in the shadows of the daily grind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here today, I want to document them. Today,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5595263178/" title="My big girl by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5595263178_6a6db4684a.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="My big girl" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva is in preschool this year at a local church. She comes home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon with something new. A new letter, number, idea, friend or attitude. I've loved watching her interact with the other children and her amazing teachers! She graduates next week. I'm making cupcakes (shocker!).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5595262406/" title="On the metro by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5595262406_48fa0cda14.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="On the metro" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva by nature is an encourager. She's always ready with a kind word or a helpful tidbit. She tells me daily that she loves me and that I'm beautiful. She's good for the self-esteem :) She also loves rules. In fact, I find her creating new ones all the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For example: The other day, as she delicately ate each fruit snack in her daily, highly anticipated package of fruit snacks, I found her holding the last one tightly in her hand and it seemed she had no intention of eating it. "Aren't you going to eat your last fruit snack?" I asked. She looked at me with all kinds of seriousness in her eyes and said, "Of course Mom. But I have to wait until after Veggie Tales is over."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva saves things for God. Whether it's her last bite of ice cream or the toy she got out of her Chick-fil-A kids meal, she'll set it aside and tell me that she's saving it for God. I love this quality in her. I hope that she'll always save things for God. Most of all, I hope she saves her heart for Him and all the wonderful things I'm sure He has planned for her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5595259258/" title="Eva by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5595259258_73a2ca6e58.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Eva" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Éva is an emotional child. She's very in tune with how she's feeling and very willing to express it. While this quality can bring about a bit of unpredictability, I love it about her! Being so in tune with her own emotions means she's also able to recognize quickly emotional shifts in others and she responds with such compassion. She'll be a wonderful friend. While Paul was gone, I had a few "sit-on-the-stairs-and-cry "moments. Éva never hesitated to sit beside me, rub my back gently and ask, "Mommy, do you miss Daddy?" When I would tell her yes she'dlook at me and say, "Me too. But he'll come home soon. It's going to be all right," which are the exact words I'd say to her when she was having "I miss Daddy" moments.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This little girl teaches me lessons on a daily basis. She's actually a lot like me (stubborn as all get out!) and that means that we often butt heads. But behind that strong willed demeanor is a heart that is being shaped and molded by her Creator and I'm blessed with the privilege of being an active participant.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5593162239/" title="Eva by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5593162239_e58528d1d6.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Eva" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-60073628898520293542011-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:002011-03-20T09:42:35.879-07:007 Times 70<div style="text-align: center;">Grace is at the very center of every successful human relationship, whether Christian or not in nature.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every human relationship, if it's going to last, has to extend the hand of grace and forgiveness from time to time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because people are not perfect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And even non-believers know that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But what about when a Christian, a Believer, an acceptor of Christ's eternal grace has a hard time extending that same grace to another person.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What about when the hurt runs so deep, when the offense is so divisive, when the betrayal is so big that forgiveness seems like no option.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What about when your heart digs it's heels in and says, "No way! They do not DESERVE my grace!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That is my struggle today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing that I am in no position to deny anyone forgiveness, but feeling like I can't grant it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I fear I may have hurt or offended those who are less close to me because of this sickness.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm sorry for that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But those who love me will walk next to me through this battle, with constant reminders of God's holiness vs. my own depravity and gentle nudges towards righteousness. They will extend me grace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I thank the Lord for that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For I am chief among sinners, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">desperately in need of Grace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-15360174836902604492011-03-12T04:40:00.001-08:002011-03-12T05:13:44.846-08:00City Girl for a Weekend<div style="text-align: center;">So as many of you know who read this blog, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my hubby just returned home from almost 10 months of being away from us due to a deployment and the training before hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">10 months of being away from your hubs takes it's toll on a gal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, he swept me off to NYC last weekend for some R&R.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741398/" title="On the plane headed to NYC by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5519741398_6e1ef33ff5.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="On the plane headed to NYC" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had SO much fun. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We really didn't do much "touristy" stuff. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We mostly walked, took pictures, ate, walked some more, took more pictures, ate some more and not necessarily in that order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was our kind of trip!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Places we were SURE to hit up were:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roxy's (Amazing Cheesecake!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bobby Flay's Bar Americain (VERY yummy!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Magnolia Bakery (good, but nothing compares to </div><div style="text-align: center;">my beloved Georgetown Cupcakes)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741076/" title="Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes <3 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5519741076_0ea3975b86.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes <3" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Little Italy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519151147/" title="Little Italy Dessert by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5519151147_aa6f13b442.jpg" width="500" height="376" alt="Little Italy Dessert" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ground Zero</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519151007/" title="Cross at Ground Zero by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5519151007_0861a26f5d.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Cross at Ground Zero" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Central Park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741054/" title="Love at Central Park by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5519741054_986a987bd0.jpg" width="500" height="378" alt="Love at Central Park" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Top of the Rock</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741044/" title="Kiss a the Top of the Rock by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5519741044_ff9aa98a98.jpg" width="500" height="378" alt="Kiss a the Top of the Rock " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stayed in Times Square so we saw all of that. We walked through SoHo, Tribeca, Canal Street, the Upper East side, the Upper West side and the Financial District.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741434/" title="Rainy Night in NYC by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5519741434_1f766a6d28.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Rainy Night in NYC" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519151049/" title="Tribeca by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5519151049_07233e397f.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Tribeca" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519741110/" title="Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 17 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5519741110_51e1c10dcd.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 17" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked a lot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so nice to get away for a little while for some much needed alone time with my best friend...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519151291/" title="Enjoying some vino with my honey by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5519151291_05aee80957.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Enjoying some vino with my honey" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but I did realize a few things:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1) I REALLY miss my babies when I'm away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2) My mom ROCKS. (She stayed with the girls while Paul </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I were away and was sick the whole time!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3) The Instagram app on the iPhone is amazing and great for </div><div style="text-align: center;">when you don't want to lug around your DSLR</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4) I am really NOT a city girl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">NYC was fun and I really hope to go back one day, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but I was VERY happy to come home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't trade my temporary, military-owned slice of Heaven for even the most posh city in the world!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5519206685/" title="Home... by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5519206685_215bb70ff9.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="Home..." /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-35326457266317118392011-03-11T12:10:00.001-08:002011-03-11T12:19:25.585-08:00Beautiful Pain<div style="text-align: center;">Tragedy strikes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Suffering happens.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's inevitable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It can leave in it's wake bitterness, anger, hurt, resentment and so much more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It can separate us from the Love of God if we allow it to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Or, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it can draw us nearer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it can encourage and offer hope and growth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But only if the sufferers are willing to lay themselves open, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">to expose their bleeding hearts, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and walk others through their tragedy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It can be beautiful, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">if one places their trust in Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that is what my dear sister in Christ, <a href="http://hintzclan.blogspot.com/">Meg</a> is doing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I encourage you to <a href="http://hintzclan.blogspot.com/">read her blog</a>, but be forewarned, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">you'll need a box of Kleenex.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-54682568436807296502011-02-13T07:09:00.000-08:002011-02-13T07:11:51.118-08:00Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">I made it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After a year of posting things in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/pwphotoassignments/pool/with/4489888365/">Pioneer Woman Flickr Assignment</a> page,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I finally made it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/4489888365/" title="Bunny Kiss by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4489888365_9cba1aabbd.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Bunny Kiss" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-43017674797383856032011-02-05T16:11:00.000-08:002011-02-05T16:18:02.704-08:00Mystery Revealed<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yG75Tm12IFS8AYd9m72AHpvQlWDPxloXMHVZ24CV4BmlTs_-uToipFis8VxmnE_DTtFw4m-6HKuDfAutn-7TiP-3w65Cs4bZMeCWYAs2St0ZyrpDZtV75BIqm2EGSN96i_f3ekUDpvc/s1600/BWTez.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;">So, for the last year I've had to be somewhat cryptic in my blogging. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our family went through something pretty big.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Something that many families go through, but that we had never been through and really hope to never have to go through again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was asked by my hubby not to blog about it for security reasons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But now I can.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yG75Tm12IFS8AYd9m72AHpvQlWDPxloXMHVZ24CV4BmlTs_-uToipFis8VxmnE_DTtFw4m-6HKuDfAutn-7TiP-3w65Cs4bZMeCWYAs2St0ZyrpDZtV75BIqm2EGSN96i_f3ekUDpvc/s400/BWTez.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570363602297166578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">he's finally home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Paul has been deployed to Iraq for the last 6 1/2 months and was gone for training for 3 months before that, and on Thursday morning, we received a surprise email stating that he would be home THAT NIGHT!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I scrambled around all day in preparation for the highly anticipated reunion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And what a joyful reunion it was!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And now I can breathe again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And smile again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And blog normally again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I feel like my half is a whole again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, no more cryptic posts about the goings on in this house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From now on,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">full honesty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">at least about most things ;p</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-28162763071081843012011-01-31T03:00:00.000-08:002011-01-31T03:00:01.718-08:00Girl Meets Horse<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZy4wPQh91oWcHAKxgh-cXjjEi1AX-NFPy8HF_PA0srswatKwo93FWy37wHpmAiqfQdYb5A8FulFaQ7gbPqlPWomFRz7m5kISbb5BB3AaZ2QjGgQB_xr_bHjRDKwzVVQYjAPyqy9Tlfc/s1600/black-stallion-kelly-reno.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;">I watched Secretariat this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I fell in love all over again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWClhrSkqTCamaIm3ZRIAJ6fZgkxCTiUQNlELHZl5EuutYAxKR5oPWo9EGKHijzGOUFO5RgR-B2E6YWQnLeoYEfD59MaSsH5ZwrswOCUDkb57V2FSKMJBG7PXSL9TskARBDmcJVPLXnw/s400/secretariat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567800965241805970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it took me back to the first time I fell in love...ever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It wasn't with any boy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was with a horse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Black Stallion to be exact.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZy4wPQh91oWcHAKxgh-cXjjEi1AX-NFPy8HF_PA0srswatKwo93FWy37wHpmAiqfQdYb5A8FulFaQ7gbPqlPWomFRz7m5kISbb5BB3AaZ2QjGgQB_xr_bHjRDKwzVVQYjAPyqy9Tlfc/s400/black-stallion-kelly-reno.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567800970804266130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I remember being 5 years old,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">my mom (a horse lover herself) taped The Black Stallion off of tv.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We watched it together one afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that was it for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I wonder, if one isn't a horse lover, if they know what it feels like to fall in love with a horse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well I'll tell you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Think back to the first time you ever fell in love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you remember how taken you were with the glisten in your special someone's eyes?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you remember how much you adored the way his jaw moved under his skin when he smiled?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you remember his cologne or the way his hand felt in yours?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, falling in love with a horse is not so different.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first time I saw Black, I was taken with the lean power of his legs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was enamored with the way his shoulder muscles moved under his glistening black coat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was totally head over feet with the rhythm of his mane rising and falling as he galloped.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I grew older, my parents enrolled me in riding lessons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I remember pressing my face into Summer's spotted neck, inhaling her deeply, savoring every second that I could feel her pulse against my cheek.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I remember gliding my hands up and down her back and reveling in the feel of her breath in my hand laid lightly against her muzzle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557450@N04/3087350148/" title="Horse Muzzle and Whiskers by theunquietlibrarian, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3087350148_7b59dc5053.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Horse Muzzle and Whiskers" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 14px; "><strong class="username" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1296355803595796" style="font-weight: normal; display: block; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><i>By </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557450@N04/" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1296355803595795" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; ">theunquietlibrarian</a></i></span></span></strong><strong class="username" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1296355803595796" style="font-weight: normal; display: block; margin-top: 0px; line-height: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Running my fingers up and down her forehead, I'd speak softly, promising her a yummy apple and a good brushing when our lesson was over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I loved her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it's been the same with every horse since.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I fall in love every time I see one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4970593294_7e17ef2885.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="8/365" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><a href="http://www.lifeheldstill.com/">Life Held Still Photography</a></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span><div style="text-align: center;">They say scent is the sense that is most closely tied to memory...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;">well I believe it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because while others might be repulsed by the idea of a stall, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd muck it all day if it mean that I was in reaching distance of a horse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I was 7, my Gramino asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I, quite matter-of-factly, told her I'd like to be a stable hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She laughed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't understand why.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess that would seem silly to a rational and mature mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But to be honest, </div><div style="text-align: center;">that that hasn't really changed either.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I watched Secretariat this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I fell in love all over again.</div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-69010400241502273122011-01-28T06:49:00.000-08:002011-01-28T06:51:28.735-08:00A Challenging Truth<div style="text-align: center;">I came across <a href="http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-want-my-children-to-be-happy.html">this blog post</a> last night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I encourage you to read it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Give it some thought.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even if you're not feeling a call toward adoption, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it's filled with amazing truths about Godly parenting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please read!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-61585123025698569832011-01-13T15:33:00.000-08:002011-01-13T15:43:51.337-08:00On the Cusp of a New Season<div style="text-align: center;">Spring is coming.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5352675165/" title="DSC_0058 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5352675165_c2b8a6883a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0058" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know you're thinking, "Spring?!? What?? Anne, honey we just had Christmas 3 weeks ago."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And maybe Spring isn't literally coming...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but metaphorically speaking,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">for me, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spring is near!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5352675071/" title="DSC_0047 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5352675071_b795e5835f.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0047" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm giddy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A season of Winter and solitude is leaving and dusting off the cobwebs in my heart along the way, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and leaving a path for love to shine through!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5353286354/" title="DSC_0053 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5353286354_760a0e61d0.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0053" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I know this is all a bit mysterious...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but be patient, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">this time of vague metaphors is drawing to an end for me,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and it looks like Valentine's Day threw up in my house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5352675003/" title="DSC_0029 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5352675003_2b495dd5cd.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0029" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But hey, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">like I said...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5352675035/" title="DSC_0045 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5352675035_583c9d4997.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0045" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm giddy ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-87971333254114341532011-01-06T04:31:00.000-08:002011-01-06T04:54:28.258-08:00Great Expectations<div style="text-align: center;">A New Year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A time for resolutions and renewed goals and brand new goals and new dreams and so on and so forth...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5281624358/" title="Impressionistic Christmas Tree by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5281624358_4f54c463cd.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="Impressionistic Christmas Tree" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A new year is usually very exciting for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the list of endless possibilities; the idea that I could completely transform myself into the picture in my head of the wife, mother, person I want to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">not so much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along with those lists of goals and dreams and possibilities, comes a list of expectations for myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And when I don't meet them, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel like a failure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that's no fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5329516875/" title="DSC_0109 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5329516875_b2bbcf8c0f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0109" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My mom and little sister came to visit over the holidays and we all got sick.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were sick 90% of the time they were here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kind of a bummer, huh?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, all the sick time gave us a lot of talk time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5329516625/" title="DSC_0095 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5329516625_cc702e174f.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0095" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My mom and I had one particular conversation that has changed me, encouraged me, renewed my sense of contentment with myself and my life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was going on and on about the picture in my head of what I wanted my life to look like.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What kind of house, how many kids, what kind of routine and schedule would be ideal for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5330129110/" title="DSC_0113 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5330129110_b97da5dcb7.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0113" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She listened with graciousness before she opened her mouth and said, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Where did that picture come from?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Me," I replied. "It's been there since I was 15."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I know," she said. "And now you're 28, and you have this life and this house and this number of kids and it really doesn't look like you thought it would. It looks like God thought it should. And it's time to be happy with this."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5330128910/" title="DSC_0114 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5082/5330128910_cf33f0726e.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0114" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WOAH!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now maybe for some of you, that's not a life changing statement. But for me, it rocked my world and brought me relief and peace. PEACE.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And it's not that I'm not HAPPY with my life. I am. I love my husband and my girls and my home. But I've struggled with the completeness of it all, or the lack thereof.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But God is sovereign. And I can put a whole heapin' pile of expectations and plans on my life, but if they're not in accordance with what God's plans are for me well, I'm just running in place aren't I?!?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And when I stop to think about what my plans were versus what He gave me, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5329516677/" title="DSC_0083 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5329516677_a3be36af12.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0083" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm one truly stinkin' blessed lady.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I'm ready to erase those synthetic pictures in my head and really wait for the path that the Lord leads me to instead.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because His path, is a good path.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5329549209/" title="Life Held Still Photography by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5329549209_a16f2ac947.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Life Held Still Photography" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Life Held Still Photography</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's the best path.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-10117951272595184252010-12-29T05:51:00.000-08:002010-12-29T06:17:21.396-08:00Humbled<div style="text-align: center;">Blogs are merely a window.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A glimpse.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A small fraction of the bigger picture of someone's life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They usually focus on the positives, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the uplifting,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the lessons learned,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the fond memories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Very rarely, do they take you into the dark places.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Windows are meant to let in light, after all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This can lead sometimes to a misconception for it's readers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A belief that all is well and right and perfect in the life of the author.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That they always have money for amazing decor or expensive ingredients.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That they don't fight or quarrel or experience grief or suffering.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But that's just not so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And today, after reading <a href="http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2010/12/the-god-who-promises.html">this</a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">that was confirmed to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trial and tribulation skip no one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Suffering does not only prey on the weak or poor,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">it grabs hold of everyone, sometimes leaving devastation in it's wake.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No one is immune.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not even <a href="http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/about">Edie</a>, who has been a source of light in my life ever since I found her blog, two years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week has seemed engulfed in suffering and devastation for those around me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I thank God for His mercies,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">which are new every morning,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">to all who will receive them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: medium; ">"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -Lamentation 3:22-23</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-78578836188171407072010-12-23T03:16:00.001-08:002010-12-23T03:17:06.959-08:00Guest Post<div style="text-align: center;">I'm a guest blogger :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see my guest post <a href="http://anwenelizabethphotography.com/2010/12/a-handmade-christmas/">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At my friend Wendy's blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-85882091642456557692010-12-20T04:23:00.001-08:002010-12-20T04:42:26.179-08:00Charlie's First Snow<div style="text-align: center;">This past week, we had our first snow of the season! The girls and I were so excited!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5276654995/" title="DSC_0023 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5276654995_4b41c48c88.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_0023" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For all of you who've been reading my blog a while, perhaps you're scratching your head about now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Excitement?" You ask yourselves?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, maybe because you remember <a href="http://cortezfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/snowed-in.html">this post from February</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5277265316/" title="DSC_0034 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5277265316_9247cf4eca.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0034" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But you know I heard that there is an actual hormone the body secretes about 6 months after a woman gives birth that makes her forget the pain and torment of pregnancy and childbirth, thereby causing her to want more babies?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I think there must be a snow hormone too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5277265270/" title="DSC_0039 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5277265270_44934ff411.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0039" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because I'm ready and rarin' to go again this year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My Alaskan next door neighbor thinks I'm crazy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I probably am a bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I don't care.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love snow!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was Charlie's first experience with snow as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5277254836/" title="DSC_0002 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5277254836_2c230e444b.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0002" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My 40 lb six-month-old puppy begged to go outside all day, jingling his bell at the back door way more often that usual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And when I'd let him out, watching him, expecting him to do his business and come back as he normally does, he didn't.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He played.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He dug, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He frolicked, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He pawed, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He buried his nose in it,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He thoroughly enjoyed it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">And that made me happy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because in some small way, it's another confirmation that he was meant to be mine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5276643971/" title="DSC_0003 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5276643971_535b37d844.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0003" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He's officially part of the family!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He even has his mother's unconditional love for snow!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5276643911/" title="DSC_0008 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5276643911_899b1a8b35.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0008" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-3238269860765374492010-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:002010-12-13T03:00:01.951-08:00Annapolis Photo Shoot<div style="text-align: center;">So, as I begin this post, the song "Back in the Saddle"comes to mind.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ya know the song.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The best association with that song that I have is Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle when he's calling Vicky for a date.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">C'mon! You know what I'm talking about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, the last few months for me have been so busy, such a whirlwind, a tidal wave of responsibilities and new challenges. But things are calming down a bit. And I'm glad for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because the calm brings time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And time brings BLOGGING!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, to kick off this fresh week, I want to share with a few photos from a shoot I did in Annapolis this weekend with a <a href="http://forgetmenotcrafts.blogspot.com/">dear friend</a>, her humerus hubby and their two adorable pooches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm happy with how they turned out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course it helps when you're working with really beautiful people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5256530630/" title="DSC_0019 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5256530630_9cb0496b07.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0019" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5256530820/" title="DSC_0178 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5256530820_f29638a0e2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0178" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5255917983/" title="DSC_0045 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5255917983_f45fe7f1eb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_0045" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5255918137/" title="DSC_0142 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5255918137_44fd20e360.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0142" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5256531010/" title="DSC_0109 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5202/5256531010_820f7a2e9a.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="DSC_0109" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See what I mean? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5255946577/" title="DSC_0192 by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5255946577_f4b354ce92.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_0192" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7193414004720574028.post-78400276144709300952010-12-07T11:14:00.000-08:002010-12-07T11:26:44.151-08:00Starting Over<div style="text-align: center;">Life moves at a mind-altering pace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And them sometimes, it seems to come to a total standstill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And neither tends to happen when you want it to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Life for me these days is mind-altering, mind- numbing and mind-blowing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In good ways and in bad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the bad ways aren't really all that bad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the good ways are really, really good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I still consider myself extremely blessed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5241977694/" title="Falling by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5241977694_e6b2b67299.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Falling" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With the holidays upon us the to-do list is ever growing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My day to day events, although not uber exciting, make my days full.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Between raising children, keeping a home, going back to school full time, filling cupcake orders and keeping Charlie from chewing on every toy that the girls so nonchalantly leave in the floor, my days are anything but boring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And there's something else about this season that is untellable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I say untellable because it's not really a secret, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">its just not something I want to announce on the internet, either.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the time will come when I can tell the untellable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then maybe, the fact that I haven't blogged regularly for almost 6 months will be forgiven.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I will try to ease myself back into the blogosphere in the coming months. The girls continue to grow at lightning speed rates and they say things that I hate haven't been documented properly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeabundant/5241381583/" title="Leaves on the Water by Life Abundant, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5241381583_b0342af254.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Leaves on the Water" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here I am.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starting over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/117/97D33D46BAF196513E5E496C8051EAA9.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div>Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414639461601100709noreply@blogger.com0