tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25263098799204949972024-03-05T22:42:22.702-05:004 Golden EggsRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-81441359791676147962014-07-18T15:28:00.001-04:002014-07-18T15:37:20.266-04:00Summertime in Minnesota<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello again my friends. Life is often unpredictable. Once again my husband was let go from a very good job. Reason: "reduction in force". This is our second experience with unemployment. It feels harder this time because we have been in Minnesota for a short time and don't have the network of friends and the support we had when we were unemployed the first time and lived in MA. He has been unemployed since April.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our four children are older and more knowledgeable and experience the deeper meanings that come with their Daddy being unemployed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We live fairly frugally. We buy clothes from Goodwill or Savers. We buy books from used book stores. We don't eat out. We turn off lights when we are not in a room. We don't have the luxury of an air conditioner because the people who foreclosed on our home stole it before they moved. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many reasons to be upset or filled with anxiety, but I am not.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each day we have enough, more than enough. We eat well, we laugh a lot, we count our blessings and look forward to the next adventure we will have. We are healthy. The lyme disease and babesia that I suffered from for 5 years has finally taken a bow and departed. I thank God for <a href="http://greenhousemedicine.com/about-us">Dr. Julia Greenspan</a>. She was a master at treating me and my symptoms have gradually gone away. I feel like she gave me another chance at life. We are together in this journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So our children won't get "dumb" over summer break from school, we have been doing "homeshcool". I was really impressed with Julie at <a href="http://wingedwisdom.wordpress.com/about/">http://wingedwisdom.wordpress.com/about/ </a>and her curriculum for homeschooling and have based our summer school loosely on her plan. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each week our children chose a place and an animal, insect or reptile to study. They research and write out reports and give an oral presentation to each other and us. They include their own artwork as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each week we study a well known artist, we cook up something fun in the kitchen (like toffee, cookies, soups, etc..), we go on field trips, listen to classical music, watch Vi Hart <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Vihart">http://www.youtube.com/user/Vihart</a> for math and geometry. We go to the local library more than once a week as our children are avid readers and on hot days it's a good place to cool down. We study body systems. We play games and have popcorn and movie nights. Our children bike, roller blade and play ga-ga on our lower, octagonal deck. They are becoming expert skateboarders.<br />We get out to explore and unearth the mysteries God has left us to discover. Our two younger boys are fascinated with finding "the golden ratio" in nature right now. Spirals are everywhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our children are not lazy or bored or playing video games all day. They keep us active and we are learning new things as they discover the world around us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each night we close the day by reading in a DK Illustrated Family Bible. We began at the beginning and are reading about the Israelites slavery in Egypt and the Exodus. We pray for others. We pray for ourselves. We thank Lord God Almighty for all we have been blessed with. </span><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-63496703944282785542013-06-30T01:17:00.000-04:002013-06-30T01:18:47.703-04:00In Search of the Super Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the cool of the evening, we decided to go for a walk around Willow Lake. The mosquitoes are hungry so we covered ourselves in an all-natural repellent and were on our way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Pup always joins us. We were alone on the 2 mile hike around the lake. The fireflies were not out yet, so our children chased dragonflies instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wildflowers were found. Charlotte found a wild iris too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The boys found sticks for poking in the mud and water. As I got lost in the field of daisies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We spotted deer prints and felled trees (from the recent storm).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have fallen back into those familiar and comfortable rhythms of a family being together. It feels good to be "home" again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Willow Lake is peaceful. Even though it is close to a major highway near St. Paul, we felt like we were in our own special place. We had the woods and pathways and lake to ourselves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The old walkway that crosses over the lake was tilting and yet, still very sturdy. Water lilies are abundant. We know there are many different types of fishes in this lake, but we didn't see any and weren't there to fish, but rather wander.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Waiting for the "Super Moon" to appear...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As our children are in their own imaginary adventures as knights, ninjas or superheros.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then we waited. A lone swan floated across the lake from where we were. The fireflies emerged and flashed their love light songs. The natural mosquito repellent began to wear off and it was past bedtime. And then, a hint of orange appeared on the horizon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There it was! The "Super Moon" and then...clouds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we walked on in the darkness of the woods, with the fireflies flickering along the path, we held hands and were thankful for moments like this. Sometimes things don't go the way we plan; clouds get in the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We did see a most beautiful sunset ~ created by the Master. He makes a different one every night and the clouds make it spectacular.</span><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-20336428466783727552013-06-13T01:55:00.000-04:002013-06-13T01:55:22.757-04:00I'm Back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has been a while since I last posted. Those of you who have been faithful to continue following me, thank you! "Every journey begins with a single step".</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR103qSDifz3xLPgY_A2hZPtQpPGvab5OYbJs-AhEnWEdoWdhVouvTRfqE3yD20VqBiqQ6Y6dXb2M4ZOmUdCATB8jBJUcS__BfXVB76g8uCfiyFI7nnvEXn1jVQk9Jz4Jbp6UyIXEQL3x/s1600/6733_1187291075866_6006378_n_Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR103qSDifz3xLPgY_A2hZPtQpPGvab5OYbJs-AhEnWEdoWdhVouvTRfqE3yD20VqBiqQ6Y6dXb2M4ZOmUdCATB8jBJUcS__BfXVB76g8uCfiyFI7nnvEXn1jVQk9Jz4Jbp6UyIXEQL3x/s320/6733_1187291075866_6006378_n_Snapseed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We have been on quite a journey these past 3 years. My husband found a good job in MN and he moved away from me and our four children in MA to begin work. We put our home on the market in MA and waited. A year later, we finally got an offer and said, "Goodbye" to our home with 2 acres, our friends and neighbors and we packed up the last of our things in two cars, our four kids, our dog and two old cats, and headed West to MN. I will tell you about traveling across half of a country with two cats and four kids next time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> We will never say "goodbye" to the memories that were created in those 10 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are now reunited as a family in MN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We found a foreclosed home in a charming town North of the "Twin Cities". It needs some work, but I think in time we will make it feel like ours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our four children are adjusting very well to the changes we have been through. I think children have a better way of coping with change than we adults do. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0I0ISlA7vlOA55etEYrqG0ctAjxOF8SLg3YYIy1NY8TW4fg1AFL0J6IlIRfEbKTca6lKvooZwPFiSW2p7RKrnPVge1xnTB1SVmkyzBpce6P40xcnMm0AIuA5Gwx2XrEPi90NLfJh0DTh/s1600/IMG_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0I0ISlA7vlOA55etEYrqG0ctAjxOF8SLg3YYIy1NY8TW4fg1AFL0J6IlIRfEbKTca6lKvooZwPFiSW2p7RKrnPVge1xnTB1SVmkyzBpce6P40xcnMm0AIuA5Gwx2XrEPi90NLfJh0DTh/s320/IMG_1316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They have made school and neighbor friends easily. They have each other as well; and I have them. They have become my closest friends through this journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I grieve "home". Home had become the East Coast for me. Even though I was born in Southern California and lived most of my life there. There is something magical (I don't think that is the right word) about New England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a8kPxH3eqqQYUpoo7RkK0fwO6fDD7aJNqrdMu0p88QvZJjJX-Ru2ydhcgJbiUfXLrNh4n6Sdv6zEn4T4wqedlpIc9kQfsAGKwKILD-pdibyTYAJ5uauODHf1KifLlNfW3KdXfNCWou4Y/s1600/232323232-fp537-6-nu=3283-634-3-9-WSNRCG=3464;65-3532-nu0mrj_Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a8kPxH3eqqQYUpoo7RkK0fwO6fDD7aJNqrdMu0p88QvZJjJX-Ru2ydhcgJbiUfXLrNh4n6Sdv6zEn4T4wqedlpIc9kQfsAGKwKILD-pdibyTYAJ5uauODHf1KifLlNfW3KdXfNCWou4Y/s320/232323232-fp537-6-nu=3283-634-3-9-WSNRCG=3464;65-3532-nu0mrj_Snapseed.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I feel like I grew more in New England than I ever did in So. Cal. (I definitely weigh more)!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Of course, I experienced some monumental things in our 10 years in Massachusetts. This may play a role in my love for this area of our country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are now in the Mid-West. I wonder what kind of transforming experiences we will have here?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGBAhh76k9c0ujxZU7sbtnGGkBxqm5WjSNKy8NwyLu3K7z2aYy-W8Cj0JQzl_vPWZbyh6xPzP9z-qbWmERbMhJe-GSD6ch7tGL7FZ7HaojYEodg8SboiGpQEg0SZVVp_ho7AcEUHl3eE-/s1600/IMG_8507_Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGBAhh76k9c0ujxZU7sbtnGGkBxqm5WjSNKy8NwyLu3K7z2aYy-W8Cj0JQzl_vPWZbyh6xPzP9z-qbWmERbMhJe-GSD6ch7tGL7FZ7HaojYEodg8SboiGpQEg0SZVVp_ho7AcEUHl3eE-/s320/IMG_8507_Snapseed.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Seeking the blessings in the journey, Rebecca </span><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-64604676493384002662012-03-05T22:49:00.000-05:002012-03-05T22:50:50.926-05:00Cape Ann ~ Gloucester, Massachusetts in Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In yesterday's post I promised photos of our afternoon in Cape Ann. We went to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. It is located along the northern coast of Massachusetts and is one of the earliest settlements (1623) in our fair state.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our children are standing on the most prominent geological feature, a large rock sixty feet high and two hundred feet wide. It gives us panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding fishing village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The waves gently break on smooth stones and trees grow out of the larger boulders above. There are winding trails through the rocks and a wonderful playground at the park near the large rock. Our children loved being in the rocks and woods above the sea. Max found a hollow in an old tree and claimed it as his own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a quiet time there by the sea in winter. No snow on the ground but, cold enough to wear our winter gear. I found a nice piece of pale blue sea glass. I want to come back to this place again. There is something restorative about the sea for me. I love the smooth stones, the dragon art on a huge rock, the sea glass, the trees growing out of rocks and all the winding trails above the sea. Magical. Healing really. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our children want to return too. I'm hoping the next warm and non-scheduled day to head back. Max can reclaim his tree home. Grant will fight the enemy. Ben and Charlotte will create imaginary scenarios and play them out and I will search for more sea glass and enjoy the solitude together with them. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-9714017404731581842012-03-04T23:16:00.000-05:002012-03-05T22:51:33.554-05:00Hello again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello again my friends. I apologize for not blogging recently. So much has taken my time and attention elsewhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Beloved flew home for five days a few weeks ago and we spent those five days as best we could. He has been with his company for a year now and got a good review. He really likes what he does and the people he works with. They are salt of the earth people. What a blessing ~ both work and good people. We are thankful. We are also thankful that he got to come and spend part of winter break with us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That means we spent time together as a family doing what our family loves the most. Going somewhere and doing something together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYk85pkVchiPbFQ1UUSugiS0WmMHi3GMMB8IH0wGFdpduND4uTHqyQqys0U0jZxhpzpHayYJ7gABwLbNkWyvHAWgX0uZSAieD9CYeCDTniLoxZBKAISZZA-loLhhjE_sPjw9eEQM81kRx/s1600/february+2012+364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYk85pkVchiPbFQ1UUSugiS0WmMHi3GMMB8IH0wGFdpduND4uTHqyQqys0U0jZxhpzpHayYJ7gABwLbNkWyvHAWgX0uZSAieD9CYeCDTniLoxZBKAISZZA-loLhhjE_sPjw9eEQM81kRx/s400/february+2012+364.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The first full day with David, we went to Gloucester ~ to the sea. Cape Ann this winter is different. It's cold but, we had no snow yet and our children explored the rocks and trees right next to the sea. I will post photos of that in my next post. Our second day together we went <a href="http://merrimack.wildnh.com/minefallspark/">here</a> north of where we live. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmMgmu8cNh8LsshzRpISvBq38sEYUj91iYq6UEoN1mBlWWhoMj-gDDG38D5SoktaCuTbOR37fU8FvLkexfiABOyebCg8clvw2Kw-ch3E3FVLEk6A5-_dXceUuDhyphenhyphenNNH-3zTENh3ZCrCyQ/s1600/february+2012+463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmMgmu8cNh8LsshzRpISvBq38sEYUj91iYq6UEoN1mBlWWhoMj-gDDG38D5SoktaCuTbOR37fU8FvLkexfiABOyebCg8clvw2Kw-ch3E3FVLEk6A5-_dXceUuDhyphenhyphenNNH-3zTENh3ZCrCyQ/s320/february+2012+463.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because our weather had been so mild, no snow yet then, the woods gifted us with unique mushrooms and fungus. We hiked on fallen leaves and our children poked sticks into the icy edges of the river. We wandered holding hands again. We wandered watching our children play out imaginative games. We wandered as our dog would run off and back to us again. We breathed in the crisp, winter air and held tight to the warm hand in ours. It was timeless and lovely to be together as a family again. Priceless really.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslxc6I-ix9F5RjH_BYWe3qvY3XTw3I4bq_lMagGnw5XJnKoMWIwy7U4vXWCRSlDy5GDufl7X6UMuzxdxRyv4m4-TS4rxNLSL5SEBvJzXijYrPi7-fur83MxFhsL-ozAf4gFCGZLIdBLVq/s1600/february+2012+440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslxc6I-ix9F5RjH_BYWe3qvY3XTw3I4bq_lMagGnw5XJnKoMWIwy7U4vXWCRSlDy5GDufl7X6UMuzxdxRyv4m4-TS4rxNLSL5SEBvJzXijYrPi7-fur83MxFhsL-ozAf4gFCGZLIdBLVq/s640/february+2012+440.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our friends offered to watch our children one night and David and I were able to have a quiet supper out together. Of course I wore heels! David dressed up too. What did we talk about besides the food? Our kids. We got to spend time with some of our friends at an evening Bible study in their home. They prayed for us and the sale of our home. We felt loved and loved in return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">David had one on one time with our oldest. They went to see the Star Wars movie in 3D. I had one on one time with one of my dearest friends. Even though it was raining cats and dogs, Miss Caragh and I talked until the Japanese restaurant closed. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt9mgQ2Z9P8F1aVta_ismzeYAqRjjEk_vMzvTe9CoQJ-Ozxy0eW10YgVuGj5ODmxSUZUhJ-n8w0i438TZwEye34tIY4Rl0WN-0YQ_1F84p8YhL4m9u4nO0gbMv0c6cb4xuAc-1GoAjbsR/s1600/february+2012+524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt9mgQ2Z9P8F1aVta_ismzeYAqRjjEk_vMzvTe9CoQJ-Ozxy0eW10YgVuGj5ODmxSUZUhJ-n8w0i438TZwEye34tIY4Rl0WN-0YQ_1F84p8YhL4m9u4nO0gbMv0c6cb4xuAc-1GoAjbsR/s400/february+2012+524.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We went to our favorite used book store and our favorite second-hand store too. We had family meals together. We prayed together. We played together. We just were ~ together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-EYZaQZeoUiOB2wGEYwvslv9HGEacIeU-TWkVRkKQIq9l59hlCvP8lOk9qmZ4w7I9rGTwV63ZjzebktlxUlXNXJviBzMulfyiOxJJNIZlzhG_4jyc4WBZdY_gSRFBJYLiH2STI-wW95a/s1600/february+2012+586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-EYZaQZeoUiOB2wGEYwvslv9HGEacIeU-TWkVRkKQIq9l59hlCvP8lOk9qmZ4w7I9rGTwV63ZjzebktlxUlXNXJviBzMulfyiOxJJNIZlzhG_4jyc4WBZdY_gSRFBJYLiH2STI-wW95a/s640/february+2012+586.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">David fixed a leak under the kitchen sink. The dog got to sleep on our bed. Pup usually sleeps on the sofa in the living room. Life felt a little normal again. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8P4Bp6pklpvKxuPOEXkhNla-nOSzwwjelhF3sJqdxvwbmqrgzoArHiCQOVVdKtoABB5wcLChmH2wsDrEdYJA8z90KFbfjk8U4oizXgcHGIteon8r8nfWncq3ETOZT4wgV3U_oAzFaTEc/s1600/february+2012+558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8P4Bp6pklpvKxuPOEXkhNla-nOSzwwjelhF3sJqdxvwbmqrgzoArHiCQOVVdKtoABB5wcLChmH2wsDrEdYJA8z90KFbfjk8U4oizXgcHGIteon8r8nfWncq3ETOZT4wgV3U_oAzFaTEc/s400/february+2012+558.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our kids showed him their artwork, Lego creations, played baseball in our yard with Daddy, got piggy-back rides upstairs to bed each night. We caught up on bill paying and phone calls and grocery shopping. Five days fly by quickly. Too quickly. We signed our kids out of school early and drove David to the airport and prayed he have a safe journey back to Minnesota and that we will be together as a family soon. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKdeeNwNQYarIZNlmKKkZ9762nr3Dn0xAKZfIWIAojZ1GFxj0wjvzAh2CcwQnzamAICFk5ORL8qPr6N2cg2ZQCF0BSwtPz9Oh42e_xpe8g4EfshpPJ3OSpEbWtACT2_tjB2FX48SMGknv/s1600/february+2012+456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKdeeNwNQYarIZNlmKKkZ9762nr3Dn0xAKZfIWIAojZ1GFxj0wjvzAh2CcwQnzamAICFk5ORL8qPr6N2cg2ZQCF0BSwtPz9Oh42e_xpe8g4EfshpPJ3OSpEbWtACT2_tjB2FX48SMGknv/s400/february+2012+456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remind myself that each day is one day closer to us being together again. </span></div>
</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-17369372398161078222012-01-27T11:48:00.001-05:002012-01-27T11:48:55.652-05:00The Heaviness of Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCQk305o0YOmviDhTAf2QkHBIZc0qDf8LE33blFhEiQAX9Sf1n3St5bUNgRIw7C3KSo0V4w5bx1ZI8wUNQ-SS_yfBvBtdKhhkb5HJo1jcGlQx_0HKs4uZy6AROTI2ac5mnpnIqY-8u8k2/s1600/221677_7960299559_748189559_317023_2845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCQk305o0YOmviDhTAf2QkHBIZc0qDf8LE33blFhEiQAX9Sf1n3St5bUNgRIw7C3KSo0V4w5bx1ZI8wUNQ-SS_yfBvBtdKhhkb5HJo1jcGlQx_0HKs4uZy6AROTI2ac5mnpnIqY-8u8k2/s320/221677_7960299559_748189559_317023_2845_n.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My dear friend Mark...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We've known each other since High School. He is a year younger than me. We were in the same Drama class and had the same friends. When our school performed the musical Snoopy, I was Lucy Van Pelt and he played my little brother Linus. We were close. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was the last of five children and always longed for a little brother. He was the oldest of two boys and always longed for a big sister.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We were that for each other.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHI9D9yz_RS36Xy6Ivffn1a15At4llyy5Y-vwjOPimjLClVOcBotWVKduHMTYSuSBUTujVqPXy2V8vJw5KR734V43tAS8QSVD8I0xqoz7v-gD6UYy1BnkiBOR3vxJu_ae85UfsrBLtJyky/s1600/40791_1520455886659_1092403255_31529872_8263232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHI9D9yz_RS36Xy6Ivffn1a15At4llyy5Y-vwjOPimjLClVOcBotWVKduHMTYSuSBUTujVqPXy2V8vJw5KR734V43tAS8QSVD8I0xqoz7v-gD6UYy1BnkiBOR3vxJu_ae85UfsrBLtJyky/s320/40791_1520455886659_1092403255_31529872_8263232_n.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mark became a hero. He is a firefighter, an engineer and paramedic. He saves lives every day. Mark married Stephanie, the love of his life. They have two sons Sean and Dillon. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtPljxM6g4KIYRrFuwMYkD6onSONEsIt8BvZj49KLyT26kL7Ee1JXBGMRCnXmb2rDOUIpuVcVVROQjAydJ0bJYrUcXLQjd7QBvhc5MRoE0xAI59TqIso5JbM56UoBYpGjNRFOR9RImsSO/s1600/163758_491519154559_748189559_5817115_3597784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtPljxM6g4KIYRrFuwMYkD6onSONEsIt8BvZj49KLyT26kL7Ee1JXBGMRCnXmb2rDOUIpuVcVVROQjAydJ0bJYrUcXLQjd7QBvhc5MRoE0xAI59TqIso5JbM56UoBYpGjNRFOR9RImsSO/s320/163758_491519154559_748189559_5817115_3597784_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Stephanie is golden. She loves people, her animals and the outdoors. She is the type of person who others are drawn to. Strong, intelligent, joyful and determined. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When Mark met Stephanie years ago, he was so smitten. He called to tell me about this beautiful girl he had just met. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few years later I was at their wedding. They glowed. One could tell that this would be a marriage that would last. They were tender and kind with each other. Respectful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Life was good. Then. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Stephanie was diagnosed with anal cancer. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiie6-NW8o5uqtusYtRl4gvNBpLyXeKMwyb8goYWd_BTg_Fir3hK2EEX8QUfmX3mz2CKFnQDFH2f0bIgz2DJVVgFGdpv3UepZDJuBtIBOg3bxMLcFkfp8K6SI_OQbNNWbIbm6XBUQl859t/s1600/402153_10150710493092306_692402305_12074376_183031548_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiie6-NW8o5uqtusYtRl4gvNBpLyXeKMwyb8goYWd_BTg_Fir3hK2EEX8QUfmX3mz2CKFnQDFH2f0bIgz2DJVVgFGdpv3UepZDJuBtIBOg3bxMLcFkfp8K6SI_OQbNNWbIbm6XBUQl859t/s1600/402153_10150710493092306_692402305_12074376_183031548_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few days ago this is what Mark wrote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Thanks to all. The boys and I know and appreciate all of the Support, Blessings and Love. Stephanie </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"> has had a very challenging(to say the least) Adventure Race. She is nearing the end of this journey calmly but with periods of fight. I don't know where the finish line is for her but its near. Please continue </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">thinking and praying for her and use her strength as an example for you in your every endeavor. Kiss hug and Love your children always. I will try to continue updating as I can. Summas Exicutio Subter Quivas Status.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We prayed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">We prayed mor</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;">e. Then yesterday we got the news...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Stephanie lost her battle with Anal Cancer today at Noon. The Boys and I want to thank everyone for the incredible support and love we have received.</span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Please remember Mark and their young sons Sean and Dillon in your prayers.</span></span></div>
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-50393340951835887342012-01-23T11:10:00.001-05:002012-01-23T11:12:56.869-05:00Sometimes...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJGy-jafZitYQQTLIsRwCdc609OHwhviVa9QgafY2EawwLOC6zaTsvGgqhtvTwRSjULMpGUs7fttac8QIWC1WfQ-Hee3xOxgYrfkG55oGidsyvzFN0EXNqgwrGja8Sbm9FFu5wxp16T7N/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJGy-jafZitYQQTLIsRwCdc609OHwhviVa9QgafY2EawwLOC6zaTsvGgqhtvTwRSjULMpGUs7fttac8QIWC1WfQ-Hee3xOxgYrfkG55oGidsyvzFN0EXNqgwrGja8Sbm9FFu5wxp16T7N/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+017.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I really look at my life. You know, those moments when time slows down and I see what is memorable. It usually happens when I'm not searching for it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgrBHF2-Kmdg9Jbc00oOLWJeAqtVOXrv2GttkXxWUH7JRJAc8kfvXSOsi6ilk3iwBzyOZiQg34tSUiDXQcYkxZce8SboX9BRKDKWgHKxezx93MdA5TSo1Fri-kG67PnQ989EEA70wDDtl/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgrBHF2-Kmdg9Jbc00oOLWJeAqtVOXrv2GttkXxWUH7JRJAc8kfvXSOsi6ilk3iwBzyOZiQg34tSUiDXQcYkxZce8SboX9BRKDKWgHKxezx93MdA5TSo1Fri-kG67PnQ989EEA70wDDtl/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+024.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Often I am focused on just getting through the day doing the things that all good moms are supposed to do. I am focused on making sure our children are safe, fed, clothed, loved and hopefully learning something. I am usually so focused on the menial tasks of the day that I don't take the time to really see. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildgYW_A987zWKASLORfpbTAgfTMxtE3yO27CiiquhftdnOFWDNqb0Lb2K4Z_KoFJQcJsQCRF43QdqG4jTZnauSnALEHatyYfsVaHpYPMZAQwqGEV4uVqP2p0TlgHcrbIy1v8s1lm7PeY2/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildgYW_A987zWKASLORfpbTAgfTMxtE3yO27CiiquhftdnOFWDNqb0Lb2K4Z_KoFJQcJsQCRF43QdqG4jTZnauSnALEHatyYfsVaHpYPMZAQwqGEV4uVqP2p0TlgHcrbIy1v8s1lm7PeY2/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's those moments when I just am and not trying to be that time slows and I actually see the beauty in my life. I am so thankful. I know we all have gone through tough times. Times of loss, times of grief, times of injury and even illness. None of us are immune to the human experience. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBwQLO6WCu_flEgVeRU4_Eh4KsofAMyHROTMdWsoywJd7IEOmBYSS4LGw1CgWgo9VfMSqV_rsI-OMCehs6YeSeih2NNRuznAyImduFthvA5szOehgBjDYoFxkfWzngvawPa8jD4EpmxHA/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBwQLO6WCu_flEgVeRU4_Eh4KsofAMyHROTMdWsoywJd7IEOmBYSS4LGw1CgWgo9VfMSqV_rsI-OMCehs6YeSeih2NNRuznAyImduFthvA5szOehgBjDYoFxkfWzngvawPa8jD4EpmxHA/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+100.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have held dying children in my arms. I have lost my own. I have grieved because of years of infertility. I know what I have. I know how God has blessed me and I don't take it for granted. I appreciate what I have. It was a very painful and long journey to have what I have. I cherish my life. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hYMUabdUXRRC-71Tb3LckAGuVZr1UYOUGP8fSGOcPbYZj9T7VCv2sgb8rpDzKZN53loLWDUvFzMKg_33mOybCMWB587iMUwYdB_iXR2Plzy4Z2qfRF6XY6uC6RsjYziEwb9UaQyk86_Y/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hYMUabdUXRRC-71Tb3LckAGuVZr1UYOUGP8fSGOcPbYZj9T7VCv2sgb8rpDzKZN53loLWDUvFzMKg_33mOybCMWB587iMUwYdB_iXR2Plzy4Z2qfRF6XY6uC6RsjYziEwb9UaQyk86_Y/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I cherish our children. Yes, they are a lot of work. Yes, they push me to my limits. Yes, sometimes I worry about who they will become. Yes, they bring me to my breaking point at times. I know some adults who do the same.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlQeK8XFlNMWCWvzisEM920cdtKaLzHXut1ZpHgUVMb48jRm9dd4Yk1NX1TedDg9IQB6rbgg1VMUeCNhsyCOqNuc7EGTltB5MlpArRsAJwVjquzCiI8pls83PrS3S4_cBpYT7feDxP8bV/s1600/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlQeK8XFlNMWCWvzisEM920cdtKaLzHXut1ZpHgUVMb48jRm9dd4Yk1NX1TedDg9IQB6rbgg1VMUeCNhsyCOqNuc7EGTltB5MlpArRsAJwVjquzCiI8pls83PrS3S4_cBpYT7feDxP8bV/s320/tunnel+fun+jan+2012+BK+Nashua+122.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Having four children so close in age is a lot of work. There is always something to clean, wash, fix, do, teach, pick up, make. There are hugs to give, tears to wipe away, matching socks to find, decisions to make, books to read, words to define, food to make, projects to do and clean up. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The times they remember and love the most are the times when we are not doing but, rather being. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-68264857388014709982012-01-19T10:43:00.001-05:002012-01-27T11:50:21.356-05:00Sick Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last week our oldest was sent home from school sick. Grant has had a cough for a long time but, no real other symptoms. Last Wednesday was the day he threw up in the van on the way to the doctor's office. It was the day we waited in the exam room for a long time and barely made it home in time for the school bus to drop off our triplets. That night it snowed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grant was diagnosed with an ear infection and pneumonia. Treatment: 10 days of amoxicillin two times a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We made it through the weekend. Grant started feeling a little better. He stayed inside while Max, Charlotte, and Ben played in the snow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monday was a school holiday. We went out and had the unfortunate adventure with the cat (see last post). We ate supper at Denny's and by the time I was tucking them all into their inflatable beds that night, Max, Charlotte and Ben were complaining of headaches, feeling sick and ears hurting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ben said he couldn't hear out of his left ear. I called the school absent line Tuesday morning and left a message for all four of our children. Then I called the pediatrician again and we were back in the doctor's office. Diagnosis for the triplets: ear infections.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Treatment: Amoxicillin for 10 days two times a day. Our co-pay for each visit per child: $40. Total for four kids to see the doctor: $160. Ouch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On our way home we stopped by the pharmacy again. This is what it takes to treat four ear infections and pneumonia in our house. The children line up and I pour out the medicine and they drink it. A 10 day routine. Twice a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have lived in our pajamas for two days. Oh, and I've been fighting Lyme disease, a bad respiratory infection and I broke my toe. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The nice things about sick days:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I get to spend more time with my children.<br />We've been watching the original <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052461/">Dennis the Menace</a> on Netflix. The kids love it. I tell them, "don't get any ideas!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have a new obsession with <a href="http://pinterest.com/1goldenegg/">Pinterest</a> (an online pin board ~ eye candy really). You can check out my boards <a href="http://pinterest.com/1goldenegg/">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I get to stay in my cozy fleece pajamas and a knitted hat my sister <a href="http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/">Trese</a> made for me, and my fuzzy knee-high socks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I get to sip hot tea and sit in front of the fireplace and blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today Grant, Max and Charlotte made it to school. The medicine is working.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ben is by my side playing with LEGO bricks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He needs another "day off". He says, "I'm not 100% yet." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-17071143629334791882012-01-17T00:43:00.000-05:002012-01-17T00:48:38.046-05:00One of Those Unpredictable Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It has been one of those days that goes somewhere completely different than planned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And at the end of the day you are thankful for sweet strangers. Today was one of those days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The day began simple enough. It's MLK day and the kids had the day off from school. After morning breakfast and cleaning up we decided to go to two of our favorite stores. Savers and our Discount Book Superstore. Both stores were having big sales today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We strap in and head north to New Hampshire. The "Live Free or Die" state with no sales tax. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On the road ahead of us is a cat struggling to move. It has obviously been struck by a car. We all see the cat. The kids see it too. A truck ahead of us pulls over; I pull over and turn the hazard lights on; a lady in a car behind us pulls over. I tell the kids to stay put and buckled in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I run back to the cat. The lady behind me runs back to the cat. The man in front of us doesn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The lady lifts the cat from the road. I wave my arms to oncoming cars to slow down and move away a bit. I then help her carry the cat to the side of the road. It is a beautiful cat. We both call it a "her" and "she" and then we speak very little. The cat's right eye is hanging out of it's orbit. It's tongue is out of it's mouth. Seeing the cat is disturbing. But it is still alive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I notice the lady is wearing a white uniform and a name tag. Carol (and her last name), LPN engraved on her tag. I am a nurse too. We two caring, nurturing women can not bear to see this cat suffer in the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The man slowly approaches us. He doesn't speak. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Carol and I notice a collar on the cat. She says that there is a phone number. I run back to the van and grab my cell phone. The cat is still alive. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have the silent man read off the phone number as I dial.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">An answering machine picks up and not a warm, personal message but, a cold, computer-like voice asks me to leave a message. I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then Carol lays the cat down in the snow. It doesn't move but, it is still alive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We three stand there silently looking at the injured cat. Then Carol and I reach down and pick the cat back up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Carol and I agree that the cat needs help. I tell Carol that I have four young children in my van and that I really don't want them to be traumatized by the way the cat looks. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She says that she is on her way to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We both look at the silent man. He says nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I say, "Okay, I'll take the cat to the animal hospital."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I turn to the silent man and ask, "Did you hit the cat?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He says nothing but, shakes his head slightly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Carol hugs me and then she hugs him and says something about being good people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then Carol and I carry the cat to my van. I tell the children not to look at the cat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Carol is careful to lay the cat gently down in the back of my van and mentions something about being careful in case there is a spinal injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The cat is still alive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My children do not look over the back seat to see the cat. They have remained buckled in. They are quiet. Charlotte is covering her ears. Max has his head down. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So off I drive with a dying cat in the back of our van.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I call 411 and request the animal hospital number. I am transferred to a lovely lady named Anne at the hospital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anne and I have an interesting conversation. It goes something like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Hi, I'm Rebecca. A cat was struck by a car and three of us pulled over to help. It is injured. It has a collar with a phone number and I've left a message for the owners. It needs medical attention. It is alive but, has an eye out of a socket and it's bleeding from the eye and it's mouth. What should I do?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne: "Has the cat been seen here before? What is the cat's name?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "No. You don't understand. It is not <i>my</i> cat. I don't know the cat's name. I don't know who owns the cat. We just couldn't leave the cat to die in the snow by the side of the road. It needs help. I have the cat in the back of my van right now. The cat looks well cared for and is probably loved by it's owner."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne: "Oh. Okay. Hold on. I need to talk to the Vet. Where are you now?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "I'm on my way to the hospital across from the mall where you are."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne: "We are in Merrimack but, I'm sure <i>that</i> animal hospital can help you. Hold on."<br />I wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne comes back and tells me that their vet says that I would be responsible for the cost of treating the injured cat until the owners are notified and that even then, the owners may not want to treat the cat or may not be able to pay.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At this point, I am now at the animal hospital across from the mall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No one is there. They are closed for the holiday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I let Anne know and she suggests the All Pets Veterinary Hospital about 12 miles away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne and I talk about the ethical dilemma I am now in. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't bear to leave the cat by the side of the road. If someone came across one of my injured pets and cared for them, I would be so thankful. We have no money right now. I can't pay to treat this injured cat. What will I do if it dies?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anne tells me that she is pretty sure that the All Pets Veterinary Hospital will take the cat. She gives me directions and their phone number.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I drive to the All Pets Veterinary Hospital. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I leave the cat in the van and go in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I tell the edited story to the front desk gal Nina and an assistant Eunice. They listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Eunice says she will talk to their veterinarian. She comes back and tells me to call the Police Department.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Police Department? Now, I'm thinking I'm in trouble!<br />Do <i>they</i> think I hit the cat?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then she explains that the Animal Control Officer is at the Police Station and he will tell me what to do with the cat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I call the Police Dept. and talk to the receptionist. She tells me that the animal control officer only deals with dogs, not cats.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Eunice is now on the phone calling the owner of the All Pets Veterinary Hospital. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Moments later Eunice and I are walking out to my van to get the cat. The cat is still warm. She lifts him gently and carries him quickly inside. I feel relieved. Finally! It's been about 40 minutes since we found the cat on the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My children are now playing with the toys in the corner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eunice comes back and gives me that look that says something or someone has died. I nod my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Eunice tells me that the Humane Society will have possession of the cat and gives me a phone number.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I call the phone number on the cat's collar again. I tell the machine that the cat will be at the Humane Society and leave their phone number and my home phone number and in the last moment, I let whoever listens to the message that their cat has passed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I regret doing that. It seems so cold and impersonal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I cry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I thank Eunice and Nina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I call Anne back. She tells me that I did a good job. That most people pretend they don't see. That I went above and beyond. She thanks me!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel like hugging her through the phone. I tell her that she's the kind of friend I want on my team. It's mutual.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I tell our children that the cat has died but, that we did the right thing even though it was difficult.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Charlotte says, "It's okay Mom. That precious cat is with Quincy (our very first cat ~ died many years before our children were born) and Granddaddy Don and Clover too." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(I will tell you about Clover some other time.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wipe away the tears and we get back on the road headed to Savers and our favorite discount bookstore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Life is so unpredictable. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God bless the American Humane Society ~ if you want to make a donation, you can do so <a href="http://www.americanhumane.org/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I get a phone call. A warm and thankful voice is on the other end. It is a man's voice. His name is Rostis. He has a Russian accent. He tells me about the life of his beloved cat named Marble. He is so thankful that I stopped to help his cat. He says a blessing for me and our children and our pets. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After we say good-bye, I cry again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The kindness of strangers.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-24225067684953752212012-01-15T14:42:00.000-05:002012-01-15T14:42:59.177-05:00The Tooth Fairy Strikes Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It all began last autumn when Max lost a top front tooth and the Tooth Fairy visited. Max left a note for her with a request for a "cat bobble head". Yes, a cat bobble head. The Tooth Fairy searched and searched for a cat bobble head. There are none to be easily found ~ plenty of dog bobble heads. So, as any good Tooth Fairy's should do, she left a note apologizing for her inability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This note greatly pleased Max and the three golden coins helped too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward to winter. Now both Benjamin and Charlotte are losing baby teeth. They have begun to write notes to the Tooth Fairy too and being the BEST Tooth Fairy ever, she writes notes back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It began simple enough. Thank you notes for the money or gift left under the pillow. Love notes really.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then one night, the Tooth Fairy (ours is named Klepta Dente) forgot to retrieve Charlotte's tooth! Disaster! The tooth fairy, I think, had the flu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Charlotte cried. Klepta Dente felt terrible. How could the Tooth Fairy forget a tooth?! Charlotte wrote a note. "Dear Tooth Fairy, I was upset because I didn't get a gift. So please, please know where I put...it's going to be under my pillow. XOXO You're the best tooth fairy. From Charlotte."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Klepta Dente had to write a note back apologizing yet once again for being so daft. "Dear Charlotte, I am sorry I missed your tooth last night. It was a very busy night for me. Thank you for your lovely white tooth. I love you. Tooth Fairy ~ Klepta Dente."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Charlotte received a <a href="http://www.dollartree.com/Hello-Kitty-Travel-Toothbrushes-with-Caps/p324296/index.pro">Hello Kitty travel toothbrush</a> and she was happy again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She even wrote a thank you note for the toothbrush.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Tooth Fairy, Thank you for the awesome toothbrush. I love it so much. from Charlotte."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Whew! Maybe the Tooth Fairy would get some rest at night. Not so, soon Benjamin lost a baby tooth and Klepta Dente was on duty again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This time Benjamin left a note and a gift with his tooth. I'll have to translate because he is still learning how to spell (first grade). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Tooth Fairy, I would like to see a picture of you. And are you the best tooth fairy? From Ben. P.S. I wish I could see you and where you live. I love you more than Christmas."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh boy! Here's Klepta Dente ~ Tooth Fairy extraordinaire's reply.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Ben, Thank you. I think I am the best Tooth Fairy. I am shy and don't like my picture taken but, I will see what I can do. I love you more than Christmas too! Klepta Dente."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was praying that this would be the end of the notes. No more baby teeth were lost. Benjamin with his inquisitive mind couldn't let it go. He continued to write notes. And leave money. I guess he believes the Tooth Fairy needs money to give to other kids or to buy gifts. Right. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Tooth Fairy, my tooth is wiggly it bothers me at school. I think it is going to fall out soon like maybe possibly Monday. I love you. Benjamin. P. S. What's your phone number?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh boy! How could the Tooth Fairy keep from laughing at that one. He wants a phone number!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, randomly, our oldest lost a baby tooth. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpkEnIVKGy9WM3gXHJ7qnrUxS34hQeocilBkAfpNqC9-34pbp3QuH47bFB6hmE4YujNyQGE1PKF8-qvIaNR8F8xd9wt-xZT2kQM40V-9lyszbLVlfYCcmFMdqFlOJLf_GvM3DbO1lndLQ/s1600/tooth+fairy+flowers+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpkEnIVKGy9WM3gXHJ7qnrUxS34hQeocilBkAfpNqC9-34pbp3QuH47bFB6hmE4YujNyQGE1PKF8-qvIaNR8F8xd9wt-xZT2kQM40V-9lyszbLVlfYCcmFMdqFlOJLf_GvM3DbO1lndLQ/s320/tooth+fairy+flowers+035.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The tooth fairy was on duty again. She being "The Best Tooth Fairy Ever", decided to leave gifts for all four precious children.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSPZPOi2PpT5VSaMpwQv41YPgmb1g7ayzvuTXKR5HBhinVqU19Qvx9TjLR-wpgvDcUrhZKAr6XhdW4zh50AG6aFs16l3DQrNmV7Pit6kx49y9sOm0lazzP-cZioq98OU1458oF-Gc9-2_/s1600/tooth+fairy+flowers+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSPZPOi2PpT5VSaMpwQv41YPgmb1g7ayzvuTXKR5HBhinVqU19Qvx9TjLR-wpgvDcUrhZKAr6XhdW4zh50AG6aFs16l3DQrNmV7Pit6kx49y9sOm0lazzP-cZioq98OU1458oF-Gc9-2_/s320/tooth+fairy+flowers+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">They loved their flowers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5MNkBZIPZP5DgJOcYDbhPYTx4QA4sh4aRYZblCsqNIES2SU87dEbIYtxREgeCuyuQn2IZdo6W8_jsK9txoiBItj1letXDU2isS5iDUgDZSy7_JUd25dspqTa7RdlKg3rrLPszY6vaW7C/s1600/tooth+fairy+flowers+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5MNkBZIPZP5DgJOcYDbhPYTx4QA4sh4aRYZblCsqNIES2SU87dEbIYtxREgeCuyuQn2IZdo6W8_jsK9txoiBItj1letXDU2isS5iDUgDZSy7_JUd25dspqTa7RdlKg3rrLPszY6vaW7C/s320/tooth+fairy+flowers+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then more notes came.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a picture too. This one had a fortune cookie on it. Klepta Dente ate it with hot tea. Delicious.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabQ2wzlN6LS_hGhJ3pJvK5P4fChGZ-vl4sxYtEgLRoSwED4mqVeUDSP7evfBlBRjFVjYUGvEVWmlv45l3Wf-zLFh5f8Cn266fdgPxCZN4N8CsWUZhXgpz7zKul1U0zfrOVLS7ayZs-z5Q/s1600/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabQ2wzlN6LS_hGhJ3pJvK5P4fChGZ-vl4sxYtEgLRoSwED4mqVeUDSP7evfBlBRjFVjYUGvEVWmlv45l3Wf-zLFh5f8Cn266fdgPxCZN4N8CsWUZhXgpz7zKul1U0zfrOVLS7ayZs-z5Q/s320/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+023.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Klepta Dente HAD to respond.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VHWxg0SEE3vxvlP0BT77T0EhwlAK_PnOraOnnj57EyYUHJZ_g68P2CkwcdrJFWrSqLtp6mcQ4Q5mh_PhsjMoZ2xTeXzADwHKEDxs6UF8hEuszrM7XoYZQAzeDmh-mdEsjedTZzAnGB_n/s1600/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VHWxg0SEE3vxvlP0BT77T0EhwlAK_PnOraOnnj57EyYUHJZ_g68P2CkwcdrJFWrSqLtp6mcQ4Q5mh_PhsjMoZ2xTeXzADwHKEDxs6UF8hEuszrM7XoYZQAzeDmh-mdEsjedTZzAnGB_n/s320/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+060.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then the questions came.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ben: "Are fairies real?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "I'm not sure but, many people believe they are."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ben: "I think they are real. Have people seen them?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Um, maybe. (Then I remembered a movie I had watched a number of years ago ~ <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119095/">Fairy Tale A True Story</a>). There is a movie about two girl cousins who took pictures of fairies long ago in England." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Big mistake!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ben: "Can we see it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "Okay, let's see if it's on Netflix."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We tried and it can be rented but, we have the streaming option instead and there it is not offered.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: "I bet <a href="http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/">Auntie Trese </a>knows. She knows about things like this."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, we called Auntie Trese. Auntie Trese says we need a "seeing stone" like in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spiderwick_">Spiderwick</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Benjamin headed right out into the nighttime snow in search of a "seeing stone". I had to tell him to come back in and that the next time we were at the beach or near a lake that we could look for one. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a natural rock with a hole in the middle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We then watched the most adorable Tooth Fairy sighting on You tube (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_bVSrdbTM8">you can watch it here</a>). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ben and Charlotte wrote yet another note last night.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtq_MYmyWjqnPPQKjBrfPb2o7xg06Y9X_wrmyE-xODbjIEOXYePfeg7icDGKuRxYc0pBP9pEhtFACoYH0uuLrMtsmxMiHNxhAEhBU_xq-r1ljhE_K7Fdn66c6XA0u7nlX8tcyuSh1PWYV/s1600/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtq_MYmyWjqnPPQKjBrfPb2o7xg06Y9X_wrmyE-xODbjIEOXYePfeg7icDGKuRxYc0pBP9pEhtFACoYH0uuLrMtsmxMiHNxhAEhBU_xq-r1ljhE_K7Fdn66c6XA0u7nlX8tcyuSh1PWYV/s320/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+044.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Tooth Fairy, Charlotte and I was going to see if we could see you some day. We love you 900000000...(you get the idea) so much. Love Charlotte and Ben."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh boy! How was Klepta Dente going to slow this pony down?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Light bulb!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the note they received last night.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75PPwbAFeuhhEKvsvyi6Ffhj7BxWbi-eVuM1XgmfbzjYvERf5PmXKlJdAd_Hex71QcHZ8AydCkvpfbYgfnhRnRIhlFD4AR9T72eQKMbyNccz2HjERSGboImqBqAL7ElzsPL-guPmINYPQ/s1600/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75PPwbAFeuhhEKvsvyi6Ffhj7BxWbi-eVuM1XgmfbzjYvERf5PmXKlJdAd_Hex71QcHZ8AydCkvpfbYgfnhRnRIhlFD4AR9T72eQKMbyNccz2HjERSGboImqBqAL7ElzsPL-guPmINYPQ/s320/our+tooth+fairy+klepta-dente+jan+2012+123.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Dear Charlotte and Ben, I thank you for your kind words and lovely notes. No human has ever seen me. I don't dare. I may turn into dust and that would be absolutely terrible. I love you both just the same. Klepta Dente."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll see how that works.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Klepta Dente is tired! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbhlWWbihfknQ_ZZYDizAK6lWXkbiP7niKMSGNU9Fi3CEvaTWm7D-eoNGY5OzD8wYVRpzdNChJzGrUVrrsttTLOhv-tTxQsW4MedomBko_tf0w6ox6pgOCiStbHax7Qj6KucKpocibXt/s1600/tooth+fairy+flowers+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbhlWWbihfknQ_ZZYDizAK6lWXkbiP7niKMSGNU9Fi3CEvaTWm7D-eoNGY5OzD8wYVRpzdNChJzGrUVrrsttTLOhv-tTxQsW4MedomBko_tf0w6ox6pgOCiStbHax7Qj6KucKpocibXt/s320/tooth+fairy+flowers+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Klepta Dente needs sleep!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-5049558307573802102012-01-13T15:37:00.001-05:002012-01-17T13:04:43.605-05:00Reading In The Dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOlHIW2r8Sj1Hd0zNy1WLkr__TbpZkKsv7hit7C5rK5TWffgIuvS1RBP1ICS_gsxOpcoyzPsRrnnekvE7qBcHt9GVaDiaHsNsCNoyJsgjDjB8SHmkjlRnRtH8JdKpRxGpVRuBVI3Ltnn7/s1600/the+new+year+2012+156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOlHIW2r8Sj1Hd0zNy1WLkr__TbpZkKsv7hit7C5rK5TWffgIuvS1RBP1ICS_gsxOpcoyzPsRrnnekvE7qBcHt9GVaDiaHsNsCNoyJsgjDjB8SHmkjlRnRtH8JdKpRxGpVRuBVI3Ltnn7/s320/the+new+year+2012+156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our triplets are in first grade and have begun to read books on their own. All four of our children have discovered the Diary of the Wimpy Kid series.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXN5NZH3svXSm40w_ugO80JeE9fw8xQVna-xBMZMMPlSDPuEZziuAowyWlc_pj24ckczLblpg22nqyu9dZO0IJheZ5_o0iCl1aEvnXQtJjV-IaFUPxXdqShCckg0jbPVuuBJ1uJeaCoNj/s1600/the+new+year+2012+207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXN5NZH3svXSm40w_ugO80JeE9fw8xQVna-xBMZMMPlSDPuEZziuAowyWlc_pj24ckczLblpg22nqyu9dZO0IJheZ5_o0iCl1aEvnXQtJjV-IaFUPxXdqShCckg0jbPVuuBJ1uJeaCoNj/s320/the+new+year+2012+207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They all love to read. They love to be read to as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recently I found these wonderful<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=headlamps+kids&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3841173471&ref=pd_sl_70bfwcftmo_b"> Coleman LED mini headlamps</a> at our local Walmart store. They had them in four colors. Perfect. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoMBoDL7UIx2EE9BMvOBRMYx_MPJvcrl7KGM4UZC6l9RCFMu7MK_Uj76rq3glHzxC8c2vduH3wPMZbWXfTT7N3ddAuNXANfTd5OaC6qUoCOgHmzDON_RxTqEW182Mu-39dDnyi7hfPunU/s1600/the+new+year+2012+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoMBoDL7UIx2EE9BMvOBRMYx_MPJvcrl7KGM4UZC6l9RCFMu7MK_Uj76rq3glHzxC8c2vduH3wPMZbWXfTT7N3ddAuNXANfTd5OaC6qUoCOgHmzDON_RxTqEW182Mu-39dDnyi7hfPunU/s320/the+new+year+2012+188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pink for Charlotte, blue for Benjamin, green for Max and black for Grant.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grant is sick. On Wednesday the school nurse called and said she thought he had an ear infection. I drove over with the pup and picked him up. He did not look well. Dark circles under his eyes and a little green in the face. I called his pediatrician right away and thankfully they could get us right in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On the way, he threw up in the van. We had an airsickness bag from Grandpa and Grandma so he used that for the next few times.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poor guy, we walked into the doctor's office with him holding the partially full bag. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We didn't wait long in the waiting room but, then we waited forever in the examining room. I finally stuck my head out the door and mentioned that I would need to leave soon to be home in time to get our triplets off the school bus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I could hear a doctor chit-chatting away in the room right next to ours. Sure enough, it was the doctor who was scheduled to see Grant. I started feeling frustrated because we had been scheduled to be seen at 2:10 and now it was 2:40!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think the gal at the front desk said something to the doctor because she came in soon after I said I was going to have to leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grant has a bad ear infection and possibly pneumonia too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We got him on an antibiotic and thankfully he's kept the medicine down. He's been sleeping and hanging out on the sofa since Wednesday afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While we were in the doctor's office, the dog must have eaten the vomit because the van smelled a little better when we got back. Dogs are good for many reasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We made it home just in time for the trio to get off the bus.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsURllVN1S41rDxA8oeyqugDQHsiprZ8-BSlWlBd6PBmLrr1244PQ_ZGS34C4Dg17jvn-Flj8kLE8CQ0ndenW2yQJEwn3hXj-jNvo4cc9wrkN_LOt5CYG7WlCSNZipaksog9tLZB66Hwl/s1600/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsURllVN1S41rDxA8oeyqugDQHsiprZ8-BSlWlBd6PBmLrr1244PQ_ZGS34C4Dg17jvn-Flj8kLE8CQ0ndenW2yQJEwn3hXj-jNvo4cc9wrkN_LOt5CYG7WlCSNZipaksog9tLZB66Hwl/s320/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Grant has been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0781444993/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7941839347&ref=pd_sl_7e2jg5z92n_b">this book</a> every night. You can find it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0781444993/ref=asc_df_07814449931864467?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=0781444993">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is another<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Cripple-Creek-Troy-Howell/dp/0810997134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326486274&sr=1-1"> book</a> worth reading! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-33747752593674540022012-01-11T00:26:00.000-05:002012-01-12T13:01:55.593-05:00You Can Take the Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN-eiUMzg8PlweiHotd3cLKmz4MpEu65EGK5y2UrLfRCQcDX6n1MrZg8TWScYSK-AW8jmMDCGT-GWZTlrKpFAzhyfjmPBeizORQDSKhWonAdY-yi96zpfp5wzoeu4y7IKoZZSGIEO1Zl1/s1600/play-with-moon-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN-eiUMzg8PlweiHotd3cLKmz4MpEu65EGK5y2UrLfRCQcDX6n1MrZg8TWScYSK-AW8jmMDCGT-GWZTlrKpFAzhyfjmPBeizORQDSKhWonAdY-yi96zpfp5wzoeu4y7IKoZZSGIEO1Zl1/s320/play-with-moon-02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
(<a href="http://www.laurentlaveder.com/galerie_nuit.html">Laurent Laveder</a> ~photographer)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can take the moon, gather up the stars</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlrwbgv8oTFPVpVVrej3xxTvcZpzXTPbIfZm7fW14xvfXjkOuHnhyjL0Pc8jrdJUbpRTzmMt-re-64eZQoQtoiLoQVew3xW4kOOHniZWGNAUv0wZK-QtRYVpTUQlYd80VuSZz6WWQtzNJ/s1600/stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlrwbgv8oTFPVpVVrej3xxTvcZpzXTPbIfZm7fW14xvfXjkOuHnhyjL0Pc8jrdJUbpRTzmMt-re-64eZQoQtoiLoQVew3xW4kOOHniZWGNAUv0wZK-QtRYVpTUQlYd80VuSZz6WWQtzNJ/s1600/stars.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And the robins that sing merrily</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmY2MznFCuUJivnuHQObRfv1SJ7Jjui3qcgu1Td8Ldv5jSW_tDjhjXdTp9mBGjsAw_gifn8rymp301bh5PN6RrwhgWHZdnEkwSmTivkKGD4dxBPIFd7n-jT2ROTLxtE0LFXzSH4CGPCZw/s1600/robin+singing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmY2MznFCuUJivnuHQObRfv1SJ7Jjui3qcgu1Td8Ldv5jSW_tDjhjXdTp9mBGjsAw_gifn8rymp301bh5PN6RrwhgWHZdnEkwSmTivkKGD4dxBPIFd7n-jT2ROTLxtE0LFXzSH4CGPCZw/s1600/robin+singing.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Put 'em in a box</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGX9MygK0DmP9_-cnDbyQLHBkHl_4LxbsA5P12__oEPDrdBlwyMkqwsLFK1xzdy7UcWd7UWUw7O2hFZrexHTUyy3F5Y_Sg6emmhzE8Odw_sQXuunWCOyDHEWZFacKMkjPN5EvpFEK3IWJ/s1600/ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGX9MygK0DmP9_-cnDbyQLHBkHl_4LxbsA5P12__oEPDrdBlwyMkqwsLFK1xzdy7UcWd7UWUw7O2hFZrexHTUyy3F5Y_Sg6emmhzE8Odw_sQXuunWCOyDHEWZFacKMkjPN5EvpFEK3IWJ/s320/ornaments.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tie 'em with a ribbon</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcZyR6L1csxStbkJKSelbBpj5qf_0dgB4GbtM3911nkTQ9fCUWKKwp1EvfAyH0IIZBLaxVAzsXN9la_brRgaetCIg2BxaYKgr25IPZMctTxWU_NcPVPq79lP6AoXjAI-0fDIVkqYiKylG/s1600/old+suitcase+with+ribbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcZyR6L1csxStbkJKSelbBpj5qf_0dgB4GbtM3911nkTQ9fCUWKKwp1EvfAyH0IIZBLaxVAzsXN9la_brRgaetCIg2BxaYKgr25IPZMctTxWU_NcPVPq79lP6AoXjAI-0fDIVkqYiKylG/s1600/old+suitcase+with+ribbon.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Throw 'em in the deep blue sea</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmHgZT_64IWo6eKT8_nXauFO8dWNa6NC4ZY9SnOL-iO-6WiKiLEYtWGUp9n55YmVkYQy1zlZZY1B_XxvHCIzL9WxYYti3TAqjKGevygydGvIeEqmNwYHwyyZ93rW0CpVxelFq9PseIXyX/s1600/deep+blue+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmHgZT_64IWo6eKT8_nXauFO8dWNa6NC4ZY9SnOL-iO-6WiKiLEYtWGUp9n55YmVkYQy1zlZZY1B_XxvHCIzL9WxYYti3TAqjKGevygydGvIeEqmNwYHwyyZ93rW0CpVxelFq9PseIXyX/s1600/deep+blue+sea.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not for me, all that stuff</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The dreams that ruin your sleep</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not for me, had enough</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Love is one thing you can keep</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ6hOv05nPB4EQp2wymDYXomA6gXJ0DZgPxlHtJjNoLWtqPGa5Eeaq5mygNZcAzUMy_U-iN6dkZvVFYfv-6JcFzA6h2ukNkTHVvHe6_OvUUoUGsP7Ie7iVzp0IyzLV9UMUX4OlRlMf4Jr/s1600/dreams+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ6hOv05nPB4EQp2wymDYXomA6gXJ0DZgPxlHtJjNoLWtqPGa5Eeaq5mygNZcAzUMy_U-iN6dkZvVFYfv-6JcFzA6h2ukNkTHVvHe6_OvUUoUGsP7Ie7iVzp0IyzLV9UMUX4OlRlMf4Jr/s1600/dreams+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can take the plans and the wedding bells</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And whoever sings, "oh, promise me"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Put 'em in a box tie 'em with a ribbon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Throw 'em in the deep blue sea</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'Cause love and I we don't agree</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hansoms through the park, kisses in the dark</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All the promises made faithfully</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Throw 'em in the deep blue sea</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not for me, all that stuff</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not for me, had enough</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You know what to do with good old tea for two</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the girl for you, the boy for me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Put 'em in a box, tie 'em with a ribbon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Throw 'em in the deep blue sea</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'Cause love and I we don't agree</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">~ music written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jule_Styne">Jule Styne</a> ~ lyrics by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Cahn">Sammy Cahn</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">popularized by the 1948 movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040745/">Romance on the High Seas</a> (aka It's Magic) sung by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Day">Doris Day</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My mother sang to me each bedtime and this is a song she would sing. She sang many others too. I have such fond memories of her singing to me. She had the voice of an angel. I imagined putting love in a box, tying a yellow ribbon around the box and throwing it into the sea. Her singing transported me to dream-land each night and most of my dreams were sweet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwYLyxZgoC0QWdcLTM_EoBJX0BHak3hperNvy3kxc_9HeaVsM5kbOR-6drsA-NazT-x7-vO7Br2LHryZpnIpMdg74iaa03ePGGGljAvulEz6wGQH06Vj15i4JdQx5Pv0GSwrfFB8DGbvh/s1600/15859_104180822932031_100000203422112_112951_5025835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwYLyxZgoC0QWdcLTM_EoBJX0BHak3hperNvy3kxc_9HeaVsM5kbOR-6drsA-NazT-x7-vO7Br2LHryZpnIpMdg74iaa03ePGGGljAvulEz6wGQH06Vj15i4JdQx5Pv0GSwrfFB8DGbvh/s320/15859_104180822932031_100000203422112_112951_5025835_n.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">(this is a school photo of my Mother ~ Barbara)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I sing to our children each night. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They usually have sweet dreams too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God bless you Mother, you have blessed me all these years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-30079649919078906962012-01-05T13:02:00.000-05:002012-01-05T13:02:52.393-05:00A Walk on New Year's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3jJS5c7Gy9Hv-8D_cecMNcJ5ilF0IsPVZLVp6dtYrSCAuXG1yH0uO6hx6TcwKoHXWaVYMXgxKrJOgxtZffSEvdpmqWFFy31lggXpI2aKVLrQ-aAjm-eJ_6E5ZFEqYsgdnSfFOgnRTHkR/s1600/end+of+2011+357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3jJS5c7Gy9Hv-8D_cecMNcJ5ilF0IsPVZLVp6dtYrSCAuXG1yH0uO6hx6TcwKoHXWaVYMXgxKrJOgxtZffSEvdpmqWFFy31lggXpI2aKVLrQ-aAjm-eJ_6E5ZFEqYsgdnSfFOgnRTHkR/s320/end+of+2011+357.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day." ~ Henry David Thoreau</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBOSTi8CZV0djJeJt9aHkGP3P5o2rV65EuAHFWVtA320zRYzP59VkgkR7PfIydoiBSMQHJM0BPTaCwpYjBQEqobvA3-kua37t8WOmyUOcQ4MOWDetUJ1bpL0c3FhfQ4DCZq2kD5NllxU9/s1600/end+of+2011+364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBOSTi8CZV0djJeJt9aHkGP3P5o2rV65EuAHFWVtA320zRYzP59VkgkR7PfIydoiBSMQHJM0BPTaCwpYjBQEqobvA3-kua37t8WOmyUOcQ4MOWDetUJ1bpL0c3FhfQ4DCZq2kD5NllxU9/s320/end+of+2011+364.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Farewell we call to hearth and hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall. We must away ere the break of day. Far over wood and mountain tall." ~ J R R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8oWu-AK_Bi6QvvWGg42dwo5vvIeqOGTMMyEY7TGsISthBCuXaV5pOhRzr85fBt3qxiZI71BXin7KMgqFz9NGgdBPmZBoltMByRuBmu2JT5J8L42sa_11U-KTQogCGjaE4u_xBUk-RVaz/s1600/end+of+2011+363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8oWu-AK_Bi6QvvWGg42dwo5vvIeqOGTMMyEY7TGsISthBCuXaV5pOhRzr85fBt3qxiZI71BXin7KMgqFz9NGgdBPmZBoltMByRuBmu2JT5J8L42sa_11U-KTQogCGjaE4u_xBUk-RVaz/s320/end+of+2011+363.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo." ~ Paul Scott Mowrer</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_jBH7W8UGgRmOo9fGoniAefkhzkuPwJ0MzNRz_TNvCMihXwRWAREt46cMszaapcVishOWLqRHAexcsLuEeVCOMsnc119-TMj35XhCEzVFAQD5Fq_j5YiIA1N-rlm39rkLnelLVUE330C/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_jBH7W8UGgRmOo9fGoniAefkhzkuPwJ0MzNRz_TNvCMihXwRWAREt46cMszaapcVishOWLqRHAexcsLuEeVCOMsnc119-TMj35XhCEzVFAQD5Fq_j5YiIA1N-rlm39rkLnelLVUE330C/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~ John Muir</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQXEKTXeYXh7lvuzpIUv8-Csqk7pWeiUi4e2sHeDs1tGG0T1OgmNnnARaVEdVt7k9dD1KBk0lU_qHEOMOuksQ6sc9UeAFwDkgN4ql8mrqcuoS0XTaagNDpLw-9piVFEGxxxWwTiMEDRvI/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQXEKTXeYXh7lvuzpIUv8-Csqk7pWeiUi4e2sHeDs1tGG0T1OgmNnnARaVEdVt7k9dD1KBk0lU_qHEOMOuksQ6sc9UeAFwDkgN4ql8mrqcuoS0XTaagNDpLw-9piVFEGxxxWwTiMEDRvI/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We shall not cease from exploration and in the end of all our exploring will be to arrive at where we started and know the place for the first time." ~ T S Eliot</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0fttzbEXstGdVyD_adCa23-A0CiE9BkFd3dGYS6b5RhldOfxUtoid_yVyoIdUkqbTBGNGdVlZx0g0yFcgF6clYLKaBz7fZxS0zOiJbnHGqzT94LWesuwZyV29ZEhm7_x4JPIXLTfpH11/s1600/end+of+2011+373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0fttzbEXstGdVyD_adCa23-A0CiE9BkFd3dGYS6b5RhldOfxUtoid_yVyoIdUkqbTBGNGdVlZx0g0yFcgF6clYLKaBz7fZxS0zOiJbnHGqzT94LWesuwZyV29ZEhm7_x4JPIXLTfpH11/s320/end+of+2011+373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The place where you lose a trail is not necessarily the place where it ends." ~ Tom Brown, Jr.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjfml1qzpJIB8IjzXiNqpgAnk-udOU7b6thitfFIdZCKex4uFUVk6s-UVRvRNBYgbkgQHu3cx8LRwK4mPZegF0ZQZyxj3EKPodUQsC0uaO9c9c4K0zdlai1JjGE3bS1nscs6bW_ueAatj/s1600/end+of+2011+370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjfml1qzpJIB8IjzXiNqpgAnk-udOU7b6thitfFIdZCKex4uFUVk6s-UVRvRNBYgbkgQHu3cx8LRwK4mPZegF0ZQZyxj3EKPodUQsC0uaO9c9c4K0zdlai1JjGE3bS1nscs6bW_ueAatj/s320/end+of+2011+370.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast, you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." ~ Eddie Cantor</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrco5wzpAWBmcQCM0gdyTyleO_4WlroZVKm8cFYf4zZJam9fQfukNKPa0BCW6M9SHqVFL4q9LsXN55tCs6YGOpFGNM7E8MsM6MJwQF9tdMFvQr265amiOyUziJbniu-oCdnq1dojrcxNn2/s1600/end+of+2011+432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrco5wzpAWBmcQCM0gdyTyleO_4WlroZVKm8cFYf4zZJam9fQfukNKPa0BCW6M9SHqVFL4q9LsXN55tCs6YGOpFGNM7E8MsM6MJwQF9tdMFvQr265amiOyUziJbniu-oCdnq1dojrcxNn2/s320/end+of+2011+432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is the walk steadily and with a purpose." ~ Charles Dickens</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mcz_A6fFFw/TwEKVFpufkI/AAAAAAAACEM/YEVNcNL0IhA/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mcz_A6fFFw/TwEKVFpufkI/AAAAAAAACEM/YEVNcNL0IhA/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">"It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end." ~ Ursula K LeGuin</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8R_T7hTmuMQjkhaoMK0_EYoVLWVTaPjuSFeBcH78-DIqTAzubkmWpD1SLQ13kwV-CgK3mj9zj2T_n7_1Uf8eAw-g3sPBfO0joiUhkYYSTdq9dfHXec2x8tiKRfxpQ80tGI90p19dAW6G/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8R_T7hTmuMQjkhaoMK0_EYoVLWVTaPjuSFeBcH78-DIqTAzubkmWpD1SLQ13kwV-CgK3mj9zj2T_n7_1Uf8eAw-g3sPBfO0joiUhkYYSTdq9dfHXec2x8tiKRfxpQ80tGI90p19dAW6G/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">"If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." ~ Raymond Inmon</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIuJN9DUD6dtzfpEE4lxremHpgHxl0vHJDSJzLoGIjuMOoZf_ikiUKZXLnSSdyCm9IRerCP_KzAZQfOJXZ0VDFTLTvmKKXaxRPrAtO5Z837cXU5F_7mjQUdqTLrVni8AGM_LbU34rQCaV/s1600/end+of+2011+420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIuJN9DUD6dtzfpEE4lxremHpgHxl0vHJDSJzLoGIjuMOoZf_ikiUKZXLnSSdyCm9IRerCP_KzAZQfOJXZ0VDFTLTvmKKXaxRPrAtO5Z837cXU5F_7mjQUdqTLrVni8AGM_LbU34rQCaV/s320/end+of+2011+420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It is good to collect things; it is better to take walks." ~ Anatole France</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjGU2dkMX5tDD3-REpvwYeWfYK4KJLIjd1SFgqCe9X-xinvy5lCWdSJSjlCS5JdRcFJ6cdDwVKDyTPVK3NzoMFvYHI1c2uIPRDJz-I8b3thiBfYn8at6OwUOO82tXtXVKQaCD3t_vAF0y/s1600/end+of+2011+421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjGU2dkMX5tDD3-REpvwYeWfYK4KJLIjd1SFgqCe9X-xinvy5lCWdSJSjlCS5JdRcFJ6cdDwVKDyTPVK3NzoMFvYHI1c2uIPRDJz-I8b3thiBfYn8at6OwUOO82tXtXVKQaCD3t_vAF0y/s320/end+of+2011+421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven." ~ Matthew Henry</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW-mly72xVBQnahNuOadI97xB01Dt6NrEbeRqC_w3f20BpJ-dsHWtXbbTZnE-q4L4whOg5HJnpNz676P240t504vUGEUt7cmXTDsH_BgoAkfLMGSkvomQEI66d3ajy8M2JXnsV3rYGGsy/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW-mly72xVBQnahNuOadI97xB01Dt6NrEbeRqC_w3f20BpJ-dsHWtXbbTZnE-q4L4whOg5HJnpNz676P240t504vUGEUt7cmXTDsH_BgoAkfLMGSkvomQEI66d3ajy8M2JXnsV3rYGGsy/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards." ~ Abraham Lincoln</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt3XrYllaCmGNr4jPPnKQtX25Xivocx9ViN_vfWEf2avYo8jTPnP1EC59hT5XYy0ftN_Qb7BoV6dKFtHB9NUSbxjXuIXHNjxubHEcTYLfrPRmklQW6e6AvCpBomsL0ME9nFOolIY_bBt4/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt3XrYllaCmGNr4jPPnKQtX25Xivocx9ViN_vfWEf2avYo8jTPnP1EC59hT5XYy0ftN_Qb7BoV6dKFtHB9NUSbxjXuIXHNjxubHEcTYLfrPRmklQW6e6AvCpBomsL0ME9nFOolIY_bBt4/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Singing the same song at a different tone, in thoughts, destined to die, unknown. Born unto a world not of our own, we walked together, walking alone." ~ Michael R Anderson</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD7pqEnxnnSei_wpDvd24LvRschGfhvOtqJGX1gmcVAtJS51bce1INUXqJD-5A_lJ2v3Yw3JLNXJdEyRB5-Mu2EctfqCp3-Y8WBNZPwHvGi7XKCXIZi-mmRuBO3YE43a_SMGGSvAx0NgA/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnD7pqEnxnnSei_wpDvd24LvRschGfhvOtqJGX1gmcVAtJS51bce1INUXqJD-5A_lJ2v3Yw3JLNXJdEyRB5-Mu2EctfqCp3-Y8WBNZPwHvGi7XKCXIZi-mmRuBO3YE43a_SMGGSvAx0NgA/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+307.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Don't think you're on the right road just because it's a well-beaten path." ~ Unknown</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4awzQnVez25xUv3jgwVJc2tIITuBhZO1bVZ-7nnHC5574CaO2VEfeFlA6C1mrt0YC9GEy1mMBGo8NLWjUz31H5rMYYgVKy5yfuAqOimEUuy1hR4DLKS6-Fq3K9Ok2OvqTRzSg2CulbvSR/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4awzQnVez25xUv3jgwVJc2tIITuBhZO1bVZ-7nnHC5574CaO2VEfeFlA6C1mrt0YC9GEy1mMBGo8NLWjUz31H5rMYYgVKy5yfuAqOimEUuy1hR4DLKS6-Fq3K9Ok2OvqTRzSg2CulbvSR/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." ~ Steven Wright</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlgTbLWpQoVo2QrYrdxJRqii1xWPm3vOK_vSKPBsDC-Em0AqoXHAghShAMd_F9pOHHCev3SN13oN_nq2OrVvdelHz5P3OYoXnk8ZeLMli7L2lp2pHZCkWH6JoC8oO5xyN-GX4yTGGpsyV/s1600/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlgTbLWpQoVo2QrYrdxJRqii1xWPm3vOK_vSKPBsDC-Em0AqoXHAghShAMd_F9pOHHCev3SN13oN_nq2OrVvdelHz5P3OYoXnk8ZeLMli7L2lp2pHZCkWH6JoC8oO5xyN-GX4yTGGpsyV/s320/end+of+2011+%2526+New+Years+Day+2012+269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Of all exercises walking is the best." ~ Thomas Jefferson</span><br />
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-79608404433409787682012-01-04T19:42:00.001-05:002012-01-04T20:19:05.089-05:00An Afternoon at Plum Cove<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w9irozKr-lF-v2yTHfkNk4LDHyFOs0YBmNpX9lhN5XpVmQ1y6e9ddkKLaHG1LOvj5J3QWLuQiw9NJ1KlGHvB13tIlhUIw6YFECNJUu216Pa7HkFnylS3U8XU7NZOhK4LJb2ErKrWByY7/s1600/end+of+2011+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w9irozKr-lF-v2yTHfkNk4LDHyFOs0YBmNpX9lhN5XpVmQ1y6e9ddkKLaHG1LOvj5J3QWLuQiw9NJ1KlGHvB13tIlhUIw6YFECNJUu216Pa7HkFnylS3U8XU7NZOhK4LJb2ErKrWByY7/s320/end+of+2011+081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We live (well I and our four children do) in one of the most beautiful and diverse states in our country. I knew very little of Massachusetts when living in Southern California for most of my life. I had often been asked if I was from the East Coast probably because of the New York sense of style I adopted after college but, that was about it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWKiGG3r0EATS-GqktN3E7NCBmA5iaze2mD7DxmBlt3Y4WigpN5PkFqyvRh8siZ6UTyD_wbeV8UwxnSFJYGH6lQ-smnsTDSAoVMqD_y-ODDNzo0VF4M19KK5qHGeqEItmSkLUwDJ96cYb/s1600/end+of+2011+347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWKiGG3r0EATS-GqktN3E7NCBmA5iaze2mD7DxmBlt3Y4WigpN5PkFqyvRh8siZ6UTyD_wbeV8UwxnSFJYGH6lQ-smnsTDSAoVMqD_y-ODDNzo0VF4M19KK5qHGeqEItmSkLUwDJ96cYb/s320/end+of+2011+347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Nine years ago my husband was offered a promotion with the company he worked for. The promotion was only available if he was willing to relocate to the East Coast. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg3iOzJIzcOCvENRxBtQyApIvFbN3x91cioPJT6sdNrZl64A9ar7HEQ4z5UGH3sXLMAT3P5W66t3IChdXYBInH5TzN6c8C7NOWyOjyj1Zo0B2FC4U_CAAZq22xCS16mq16Xdkq0McVDmb/s1600/end+of+2011+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg3iOzJIzcOCvENRxBtQyApIvFbN3x91cioPJT6sdNrZl64A9ar7HEQ4z5UGH3sXLMAT3P5W66t3IChdXYBInH5TzN6c8C7NOWyOjyj1Zo0B2FC4U_CAAZq22xCS16mq16Xdkq0McVDmb/s320/end+of+2011+340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Our oldest was only an infant at the time and we would be leaving our family and friends and taking the only grandchild from first-time grandparents. It was a challenging decision but an overriding desire for adventure, change and a trust in God moved us forward.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0kkW2RpklbR4E7pHXbQHB-qcLQnu9Y8sal_BSlQQCNUvKsQopqsTUjl5cTVyDAPMzwdII7g0oFLffsqesftZrrFX6Jgmc-s9pc9PP5H-B6gqJgTvZlma6FHHTm9uLfRzXMh5FgRsda-d/s1600/end+of+2011+316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0kkW2RpklbR4E7pHXbQHB-qcLQnu9Y8sal_BSlQQCNUvKsQopqsTUjl5cTVyDAPMzwdII7g0oFLffsqesftZrrFX6Jgmc-s9pc9PP5H-B6gqJgTvZlma6FHHTm9uLfRzXMh5FgRsda-d/s320/end+of+2011+316.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">In the nine years that we have lived here I have grown to love the people of New England. For the most part, they are generous, loyal, kind and very welcoming. We had been told that New England people were cold and hard to get close to. That has been far from the truth. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-slrtEn3JFH8/TwE0USQNsMI/AAAAAAAACKM/3D18f08LSYc/s1600/end+of+2011+322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-slrtEn3JFH8/TwE0USQNsMI/AAAAAAAACKM/3D18f08LSYc/s320/end+of+2011+322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We have made some close friendships. Enduring friendships. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUcY6t1NMwBV0ZWeVs3OOvJIdf9bL8RiBksuvgUlJ44M_Z_caVA_fvQSVxj-zbvSyn737N5CxGScIndT8HP6sRBOLWxbeOMQJUExuVPgNF_Fa9Xq4n1spMgoMpdWrHj17fYuety7cZrV2/s1600/end+of+2011+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUcY6t1NMwBV0ZWeVs3OOvJIdf9bL8RiBksuvgUlJ44M_Z_caVA_fvQSVxj-zbvSyn737N5CxGScIndT8HP6sRBOLWxbeOMQJUExuVPgNF_Fa9Xq4n1spMgoMpdWrHj17fYuety7cZrV2/s320/end+of+2011+103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We have gotten to know our fair state, known as a Commonwealth, pretty well. We have visited the <a href="http://www.nrm.org/">Norman Rockwell Museum</a> nestled in the <a href="http://www.berkshires.org/">Berkshires</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockbridge,_Massachusetts">Stockbridge</a>; we've traversed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord,_Massachusetts">Concord</a> where the beginning of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War">American Revolutionary Wa</a>r began; we have held jelly fish in our hands in<a href="http://www.chathaminfo.com/"> Chatham ~ Cape Cod</a>; we have walked the <a href="http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/">Freedom Trail</a> in Boston.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr-OQGXOQ43y3YjBvf0lcFOgnu9IychsQlVX5mm7v4wYuwZxDaQMnsjTJBdrkq2zmLS4hTsLiTGZu7OjxZLJyEQ8dUNWXaLTqNEyMQi1TVoQHQjla7v7VVq2c6vRiZT0z2NFkSch4MCdI/s1600/end+of+2011+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr-OQGXOQ43y3YjBvf0lcFOgnu9IychsQlVX5mm7v4wYuwZxDaQMnsjTJBdrkq2zmLS4hTsLiTGZu7OjxZLJyEQ8dUNWXaLTqNEyMQi1TVoQHQjla7v7VVq2c6vRiZT0z2NFkSch4MCdI/s320/end+of+2011+114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago my husband found this little cove in <a href="http://www.gloucesterma.com/">Gloucester</a> called <a href="http://www.capeannvacations.com/Beaches.cfm?id=10547&mk=0&ck=35">Plum Cove</a>. It looks out on Ipswich Bay and is so peaceful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk72FKFA1yqUvy7fKlThVfulDhSZiProX-OhIaH3ILHbq-0w1Ay3Ja8axCCKwOFPYhWUd6WIA_iwHRRgs4LmKsOlsfGOI1hr6mtfadWVajk2moT6IGhLZyx9GXbdwNHpbgkraxMWtAUGbo/s1600/end+of+2011+335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk72FKFA1yqUvy7fKlThVfulDhSZiProX-OhIaH3ILHbq-0w1Ay3Ja8axCCKwOFPYhWUd6WIA_iwHRRgs4LmKsOlsfGOI1hr6mtfadWVajk2moT6IGhLZyx9GXbdwNHpbgkraxMWtAUGbo/s320/end+of+2011+335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">In summer we have sunbathed and snorkeled. In winter we wander collecting sea glass and the children climb the rocks in search of higher views. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ij11fdirwE6yi0NWSPIMbKf4xr97oKz2-9UvLnJOAMR0Yubaia5b2iBRW9luzFkSFYy1-rRsZUjPzWNIzep8gZe1SPlTLp-rmkgdQoEGiGQwwqCUMsMD533QZOO9kqjnWAsKGqbup4KM/s1600/end+of+2011+305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ij11fdirwE6yi0NWSPIMbKf4xr97oKz2-9UvLnJOAMR0Yubaia5b2iBRW9luzFkSFYy1-rRsZUjPzWNIzep8gZe1SPlTLp-rmkgdQoEGiGQwwqCUMsMD533QZOO9kqjnWAsKGqbup4KM/s320/end+of+2011+305.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The locals bring their dogs and so we do too. They stop and talk about everything from politics to the weather. They share sea glass hunting tips and correct us when we pronounce the town's name incorrectly. "It's Gloustah, like lobstah", they say. We laugh and add it to our list of frequently mis-pronounced names. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpeh9Fj4Fpllkpx9neh48zjdYb_E3lr1l2VymnLxX9NKOvnY6G94hC6ClAIwuwDdajnlreJDLclZrUOZ2JWVgawE_Luyk_UDwfP_6h2S88MbUh-0Jzvkt_rKIYUxBL4BBOkjI03Qx02KE/s1600/end+of+2011+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpeh9Fj4Fpllkpx9neh48zjdYb_E3lr1l2VymnLxX9NKOvnY6G94hC6ClAIwuwDdajnlreJDLclZrUOZ2JWVgawE_Luyk_UDwfP_6h2S88MbUh-0Jzvkt_rKIYUxBL4BBOkjI03Qx02KE/s320/end+of+2011+139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We love it here.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ukIYmxY3PGAwukFsdkTx51cyGySTOhN_LFet_f4DyboWGUOYWooUEZAAEwOM6MmV71sAf7Qe94kPGYuLa4fTJM5ONH69kAKD3zZwUavwP0GJYe7aGYJeVYvuWvvNe70dDGgHjJfQbLja/s1600/end+of+2011+326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ukIYmxY3PGAwukFsdkTx51cyGySTOhN_LFet_f4DyboWGUOYWooUEZAAEwOM6MmV71sAf7Qe94kPGYuLa4fTJM5ONH69kAKD3zZwUavwP0GJYe7aGYJeVYvuWvvNe70dDGgHjJfQbLja/s320/end+of+2011+326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We wish there were more employment opportunities for my husband here so we could stay.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQS7yYvgOL_hwxBgcb6WTMDN6rUE76g7dQDadasuJpE4r0WCirJr2dFj9ySrbM5cADp_FPyQPUINM_RY-qr304958Oz-KMMMJFlZBGQ5co5VGqUMeiT8NE52n0RU1UIe9y5Nex67mYpDE/s1600/end+of+2011+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQS7yYvgOL_hwxBgcb6WTMDN6rUE76g7dQDadasuJpE4r0WCirJr2dFj9ySrbM5cADp_FPyQPUINM_RY-qr304958Oz-KMMMJFlZBGQ5co5VGqUMeiT8NE52n0RU1UIe9y5Nex67mYpDE/s320/end+of+2011+170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Minnesota calls to us. We know very little about Minnesota. We have been told by New Englanders that it is cold there. Very cold. We've watched a few movies filmed in Minnesota and know they sound different than we do but, so do the natives here. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMEB0Zfzj5A/TwEvbBHXwSI/AAAAAAAACJQ/_qWfGkGgmHU/s1600/end+of+2011+190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMEB0Zfzj5A/TwEvbBHXwSI/AAAAAAAACJQ/_qWfGkGgmHU/s320/end+of+2011+190.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we will find that state to be just as diverse and beautiful. Maybe we will make enduring friendships there too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we will love it and hate to leave if the time comes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHntGUIHNaHijUFGQvYJbxHyD0sC-xcBmjlq2ESEliL-E48UA8tkbadNaPTIYp8mzZs2at6ip_Jn6F5zsaSCbc08XY5UhD2mo9m69DORLcBwzX03Ms75Hpmxg_Nnalhji-1tpKuLNazrX/s1600/end+of+2011+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHntGUIHNaHijUFGQvYJbxHyD0sC-xcBmjlq2ESEliL-E48UA8tkbadNaPTIYp8mzZs2at6ip_Jn6F5zsaSCbc08XY5UhD2mo9m69DORLcBwzX03Ms75Hpmxg_Nnalhji-1tpKuLNazrX/s320/end+of+2011+123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We lowered the price on our home. Our realtor tells us that the market may pick up some. We are hopeful but, we are also thankful for the extended time we have had here. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PWdK3F9-drPNdQus_nmob1mkDMFfiah6raKYrF3PsOuKNQGToouZsUqaR2TLYqh1Go5wxzLCOgexTaeaM8BP9WVrGvNgX-UZwLE7BqH5HqdlouWFq4TSc6HlB2Occ7RLW_oPDm1b9fgV/s1600/end+of+2011+312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PWdK3F9-drPNdQus_nmob1mkDMFfiah6raKYrF3PsOuKNQGToouZsUqaR2TLYqh1Go5wxzLCOgexTaeaM8BP9WVrGvNgX-UZwLE7BqH5HqdlouWFq4TSc6HlB2Occ7RLW_oPDm1b9fgV/s320/end+of+2011+312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't think I'd see Plum Cove again. I had said, "goodbye" six months ago. What a gift to be here again and find sea glass and watch as our children explore the rocks along the edge of the cove and see our Pup play with his new found furry friends Georgia and Picasso and Palin. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUxlQuRuv6nbWTA8B02HkforqQISk5ufrkcSpYI6nM76xRrwAyx9ctTpAFGESbcpoouI1cPLJZQbr47RVNPIrIw-X8phaxNIMhRxbz64q9sSBCINJkhrWZ4Skgkuubkz7lDqDjut2R148/s1600/end+of+2011+320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUxlQuRuv6nbWTA8B02HkforqQISk5ufrkcSpYI6nM76xRrwAyx9ctTpAFGESbcpoouI1cPLJZQbr47RVNPIrIw-X8phaxNIMhRxbz64q9sSBCINJkhrWZ4Skgkuubkz7lDqDjut2R148/s320/end+of+2011+320.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We were also able to introduce our little cove to David's parents and they began searching for sea glass too. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpI0wRt4IzaAi0C-4Jj9B7MSs0wAQyw1PtyxcBsiW57q3rA4eghjRi07Qn73JSgZ3JAC3AGdhLkOzCkNzevoFXz8B9K-ivltU0KKe4N4P1y3pXzYxGmG2DroLy8RJkcCXgCgFTpksPRtp/s1600/end+of+2011+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpI0wRt4IzaAi0C-4Jj9B7MSs0wAQyw1PtyxcBsiW57q3rA4eghjRi07Qn73JSgZ3JAC3AGdhLkOzCkNzevoFXz8B9K-ivltU0KKe4N4P1y3pXzYxGmG2DroLy8RJkcCXgCgFTpksPRtp/s320/end+of+2011+208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmUo2fMvQ-snU_6X2iuOcwvsIPqMj0DY-n50Wtb7g92vyuBeiTME6_-L_lDcUUzuJooLhlto-LaMWP3PDK8j64lvtqZo-4j4MNmpYkKXdWQe8eRadAXTLPGY4tvQZAIY_fU9bmOYIVYeX/s1600/end+of+2011+206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmUo2fMvQ-snU_6X2iuOcwvsIPqMj0DY-n50Wtb7g92vyuBeiTME6_-L_lDcUUzuJooLhlto-LaMWP3PDK8j64lvtqZo-4j4MNmpYkKXdWQe8eRadAXTLPGY4tvQZAIY_fU9bmOYIVYeX/s320/end+of+2011+206.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">In small moments like these, life is sweet. </span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-1055244074124523752012-01-03T12:06:00.006-05:002012-01-03T12:54:24.509-05:00Grandma and the "Lice"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jxSUkJurJU0ROtqMWA-Bv3Wi2N-NcqtlOjhHr8bX_Ne6NxBIVAWdmOa4uqCjl5_JPJx4owPFnGOUge6GgFZpVSQH3iyRmA9q05npr9JwJh0RiYDx4ohSWbKhIx9TQaiVxGoU-hQLpVDZ/s1600/end+of+2011+070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jxSUkJurJU0ROtqMWA-Bv3Wi2N-NcqtlOjhHr8bX_Ne6NxBIVAWdmOa4uqCjl5_JPJx4owPFnGOUge6GgFZpVSQH3iyRmA9q05npr9JwJh0RiYDx4ohSWbKhIx9TQaiVxGoU-hQLpVDZ/s400/end+of+2011+070.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">We had David's parents visiting from California recently. It was somewhat of an unexpected visit. When they last visited, back in June, we thought that would be their last visit to our home here in Massachusetts. We thought our home would be sold by now and we'd see them again in Saint Paul. They can't bear to be without their four grandchildren too long.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXPnIebt_OU/TwMnj-O90UI/AAAAAAAACPk/a9xhjs2dCBI/s1600/end+of+2011+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXPnIebt_OU/TwMnj-O90UI/AAAAAAAACPk/a9xhjs2dCBI/s320/end+of+2011+074.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Some friends of ours loaned us blankets and pillows and we made do with what we have remaining in our "empty" home. It was good to see them. Grandma Sonnie seems to end up doing surgery on fluffy lovies and Charlotte loves her stuffed bunny. Thankfully, I had some thread and a needle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt_YhDA3OqSbzgKXqAtIlOipbhvQZABcNNg7q11XY8SgyvvzcyEymgoSBMFQZFqVTGaX3n5Tr5UuaGe2f2h0miT_Hg6CinkRN6eitGHHH1x5dcREJ2KP0-lJRNGkavJ9qD9Qag-0KVcOH/s1600/end+of+2011+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt_YhDA3OqSbzgKXqAtIlOipbhvQZABcNNg7q11XY8SgyvvzcyEymgoSBMFQZFqVTGaX3n5Tr5UuaGe2f2h0miT_Hg6CinkRN6eitGHHH1x5dcREJ2KP0-lJRNGkavJ9qD9Qag-0KVcOH/s400/end+of+2011+066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Charlotte loves her Grandma Sonnie. They had the cutest conversation in the bathroom. Grandma Sonnie was combing her hair and uses a lot of hairspray to give it some lift and keep it in place. Charlotte noticed some white flakes on the comb and shook her head and said, very matter of fact, "Hmm, hmm, Grandma Sonnie it's lice. Yes, lice."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPA6jhiE21TRvJS9xZGcB08Bz_C9gPWKRcySBModN15-S7Y3ZJHxAFBDeqR0_oqumZSrwyTKKYvjLGLELcRodPVmvOBnP8bN6g4xNeju3TIdAs57uy5eDxuMvFgQgEbZ52h5wuBeOCl3J6/s1600/end+of+2011+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPA6jhiE21TRvJS9xZGcB08Bz_C9gPWKRcySBModN15-S7Y3ZJHxAFBDeqR0_oqumZSrwyTKKYvjLGLELcRodPVmvOBnP8bN6g4xNeju3TIdAs57uy5eDxuMvFgQgEbZ52h5wuBeOCl3J6/s400/end+of+2011+078.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Grandma Sonnie laughed and told Charlotte that is was just her dried hairspray on the comb. Charlotte, thankfully believed her.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrt9BMQel-o/TwMsxuzD12I/AAAAAAAACP4/GT-FYrF-pdY/s1600/IMG_0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrt9BMQel-o/TwMsxuzD12I/AAAAAAAACP4/GT-FYrF-pdY/s400/IMG_0439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-35738405155814211192011-12-26T18:28:00.003-05:002011-12-28T22:37:03.281-05:00Grandpa's Hands ~ A Poem inspired by Bill Withers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b3RNm-hvw3lhu91ntyJqe4HMW-lLg4Mxs-XZXOgvFTw8ui1S-NJ4NR-xAiQkPEdmOBnvwyTVoKdU0QkFNAW00KiTMjDdzzzrMnk4kA-FSZLd04TG-IkvjNWVJfkSDCgVT0-oC6_pbXY4/s1600/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b3RNm-hvw3lhu91ntyJqe4HMW-lLg4Mxs-XZXOgvFTw8ui1S-NJ4NR-xAiQkPEdmOBnvwyTVoKdU0QkFNAW00KiTMjDdzzzrMnk4kA-FSZLd04TG-IkvjNWVJfkSDCgVT0-oC6_pbXY4/s320/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa's hands raised in church on Sunday morning. Grandpa's hands holds another when praying, drops a dollar in red kettles, can hold a tender petal, knows when not to meddle. Grandpa's hands.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlmbxYi-_n3HJjcJ70bJ3bOQkGIX2OLePKH9utJp1KyfcfmnZAMjv37kEdmO5a0lMSR-fvpysZKWo4rZJgY3FN0AcO5RgzCbTfh7SuS3vVcjzfZVITyhPcU6pKWTYF-60gNTo2KeqIPR/s1600/IMG_6567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlmbxYi-_n3HJjcJ70bJ3bOQkGIX2OLePKH9utJp1KyfcfmnZAMjv37kEdmO5a0lMSR-fvpysZKWo4rZJgY3FN0AcO5RgzCbTfh7SuS3vVcjzfZVITyhPcU6pKWTYF-60gNTo2KeqIPR/s320/IMG_6567.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa's hands used to issue out a warning. He'd say, "Baby don't you climb that high, might fall down from the sky". "Might be bad boys at that dance; don't go wearing those tight pants". Grandpa's hands.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBhlngfiBwMgjRU8G80KjZ7ssSGJ2gYMT6l6GtbNjvyNvhZ3t8bg98gwuCkBY3uZ1z4wYEJQOU4Zv_gKPG5Wv5m4tu3t308exX-uvO6Bij6xpnMAqY8jN1HzE1iQmQ_eBPiTBTeCbvEyu/s1600/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBhlngfiBwMgjRU8G80KjZ7ssSGJ2gYMT6l6GtbNjvyNvhZ3t8bg98gwuCkBY3uZ1z4wYEJQOU4Zv_gKPG5Wv5m4tu3t308exX-uvO6Bij6xpnMAqY8jN1HzE1iQmQ_eBPiTBTeCbvEyu/s320/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa's hands held a brand new baby. Grandpa's hands get so dry and crackly; get greased up with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Corn-Huskers-Oil-Free-Hand-Lotion/dp/B000RO3EMA">corn husker's cream</a>. Always smell so soft and clean. Grandpa's hands.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqwwMNeWaHy0iEWwHksxW9J6KewDHBiQkLPG6MT8yAMrzKd54dbdygKIJs_qh7BZSkgo2xnstg9hZzX0_bnG-nNhx5NKP3MDVIl-BsBDbs6bxUspkODHTtnI4bXcfUuPGCr90qXO07GB6/s1600/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqwwMNeWaHy0iEWwHksxW9J6KewDHBiQkLPG6MT8yAMrzKd54dbdygKIJs_qh7BZSkgo2xnstg9hZzX0_bnG-nNhx5NKP3MDVIl-BsBDbs6bxUspkODHTtnI4bXcfUuPGCr90qXO07GB6/s320/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+076.jpg" width="179" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa's hands turned the velum page with care, underlined and notes everywhere. Used to whisper in the ear, "I'm your grandpa and I care; put your life in Jesus care, he's the answer anywhere. Grandpa's hands.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioND9EfTm6ks5-biqiYD0uteZBjEyru17jFWwCOfs_OKGPwkcJdiXKEHZgUg_TlOY2It_vm11PiJjk82TRt0lPnX_ZOURzRKIy6ZiIWfda12UrCnELtcEShHHWbgI1zbGDXJF2jKR-UNl8/s1600/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioND9EfTm6ks5-biqiYD0uteZBjEyru17jFWwCOfs_OKGPwkcJdiXKEHZgUg_TlOY2It_vm11PiJjk82TRt0lPnX_ZOURzRKIy6ZiIWfda12UrCnELtcEShHHWbgI1zbGDXJF2jKR-UNl8/s320/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa's hands used to write me letters; drive to see me in any weather; buy me gifts from any store. Life is not like it was before. I don't have Grandpa anymore. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBhlngfiBwMgjRU8G80KjZ7ssSGJ2gYMT6l6GtbNjvyNvhZ3t8bg98gwuCkBY3uZ1z4wYEJQOU4Zv_gKPG5Wv5m4tu3t308exX-uvO6Bij6xpnMAqY8jN1HzE1iQmQ_eBPiTBTeCbvEyu/s1600/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBhlngfiBwMgjRU8G80KjZ7ssSGJ2gYMT6l6GtbNjvyNvhZ3t8bg98gwuCkBY3uZ1z4wYEJQOU4Zv_gKPG5Wv5m4tu3t308exX-uvO6Bij6xpnMAqY8jN1HzE1iQmQ_eBPiTBTeCbvEyu/s320/end+of+2011+%257E+grandpa%2527s+hands+082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">When I get to Heaven's door, I will look for the one I adore. Grandpa's hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Written by me (Rebecca Howell Gibson) to honor Donal Howell Sr. (Aug. 1928 ~ April 1997)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and Thomas Gibson Sr. (Oct 1928 ~ still alive and kicking)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Inspired by a song written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Withers">Bill Withers</a> ~ Grandma's Hands</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-26403845158940887812011-12-16T22:02:00.001-05:002011-12-16T22:04:49.734-05:00Making Much From Little<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7lkUo8KFjKfe6fvOj0oB8oxmpSGTgcwyeydIBZ1BA7HTByiSfp4uWTSfg3Gs5ODKftYmplMIQblEeszd4kPF3Dhmar12DMn4Rz2POmAdiz2cNfIV_ZiLngzwtd2sHCTMMgF4QKcijsmE/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7lkUo8KFjKfe6fvOj0oB8oxmpSGTgcwyeydIBZ1BA7HTByiSfp4uWTSfg3Gs5ODKftYmplMIQblEeszd4kPF3Dhmar12DMn4Rz2POmAdiz2cNfIV_ZiLngzwtd2sHCTMMgF4QKcijsmE/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our children have impressed me. In late July, the movers came and packed up all our house-hold items (including their toys).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LvF-97LrxXNEhdojpA_dE6-IFZPOYLLaswsrVhDAdsoq08huLODqofKUNZje0WpKQS2kXOnfUV6iz3c_AqUh67autnboJb5jCNsQ9H8EflbrGRIohfaJwXtgAavHf0rl5Ja-Cg1ooF7J/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LvF-97LrxXNEhdojpA_dE6-IFZPOYLLaswsrVhDAdsoq08huLODqofKUNZje0WpKQS2kXOnfUV6iz3c_AqUh67autnboJb5jCNsQ9H8EflbrGRIohfaJwXtgAavHf0rl5Ja-Cg1ooF7J/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+061.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The movers left behind many cardboard boxes and rolls of packing tape.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cSpUrOXTSMDW_zaEr7JdEX1zXOGX3MvfKk7N1W27qFen4tUXdV7rRaUbZkM6VFIlwIdcJFpZspEPypTjUxmAzYw34EUhCX6ZfuNTm3E2KozgFa1BosLnyoqccoUjGYGOor__MG1OiB88/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cSpUrOXTSMDW_zaEr7JdEX1zXOGX3MvfKk7N1W27qFen4tUXdV7rRaUbZkM6VFIlwIdcJFpZspEPypTjUxmAzYw34EUhCX6ZfuNTm3E2KozgFa1BosLnyoqccoUjGYGOor__MG1OiB88/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our Max decided to make masks from the ends of the cardboard boxes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpNfQpzlRYGqmK8qJotxsEimUVRi0r0KzeCBTEYZL6DgHAhm0_H1iitd2Zjp1WAGl__Hv4BsremCBgqXnKZm0IrlySpu4bFgyaLtEPOV3zXCWEgSiI9DRjOidvQq7RnT4VyGB2zO-iIpr/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpNfQpzlRYGqmK8qJotxsEimUVRi0r0KzeCBTEYZL6DgHAhm0_H1iitd2Zjp1WAGl__Hv4BsremCBgqXnKZm0IrlySpu4bFgyaLtEPOV3zXCWEgSiI9DRjOidvQq7RnT4VyGB2zO-iIpr/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+095.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The others joined in and came up with some unique creations.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8YCRRbFojj1BSbQmExYHoYSzMZMfCCAxOiLa6QlNxGVMsYFxRNtaeDoBBTAjEM3tC-u4mlHj3BWVcQXRPccjgLpIH77jhyphenhyphendWbf4vdyjOxJFHJYLt_zrq7KkgIM-9nDky-MbkQkosMWww/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8YCRRbFojj1BSbQmExYHoYSzMZMfCCAxOiLa6QlNxGVMsYFxRNtaeDoBBTAjEM3tC-u4mlHj3BWVcQXRPccjgLpIH77jhyphenhyphendWbf4vdyjOxJFHJYLt_zrq7KkgIM-9nDky-MbkQkosMWww/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+081.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They have had fun with their homemade masks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwp8RfEwIXA9b74o2GoccMbecxfjCu6vjEgH4r27aLFp8HEl064ChrdAiBSKmC9qUsMo1JVhqGaXoiC3h_Pe2X0g0yMSDr_tSM7N0Cgg33SH2G4_5dPv9kGcQJAE-y-B0YpzJjo6gIEXF/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwp8RfEwIXA9b74o2GoccMbecxfjCu6vjEgH4r27aLFp8HEl064ChrdAiBSKmC9qUsMo1JVhqGaXoiC3h_Pe2X0g0yMSDr_tSM7N0Cgg33SH2G4_5dPv9kGcQJAE-y-B0YpzJjo6gIEXF/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+046.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I couldn't figure out what Grant's was. He told me today that it is, "An Electric Ghost". Okay. I'm not sure what that is exactly but, okay. Cool.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_CLoz17rC0PWLVhY-WdRhOwM-vAlBDVVOJmi3-kwLiZp7LTEx5GSdIbmy_FVVEiZ-X3K7oRXJCKmuGPNvmuvQVXhHXyIOhvrjEVnf6IL6m8NkuU_1b7UEx2wKVxW7rE-3mkvLZZ3zPXn/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_CLoz17rC0PWLVhY-WdRhOwM-vAlBDVVOJmi3-kwLiZp7LTEx5GSdIbmy_FVVEiZ-X3K7oRXJCKmuGPNvmuvQVXhHXyIOhvrjEVnf6IL6m8NkuU_1b7UEx2wKVxW7rE-3mkvLZZ3zPXn/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Boo! Zap!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Wdwz2bA16MDYG3hdvON2SVjQ41_U3IUJ4B0xSA7odUdJwHykeJooPEaAgu-vw1uw7QppKn3BrFzws15YL2maL0Cf_S5ojTklWHHmhMcRoEvixPrxrHw2k4Qc-4PaPWPQdnfCdY-dj2f/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Wdwz2bA16MDYG3hdvON2SVjQ41_U3IUJ4B0xSA7odUdJwHykeJooPEaAgu-vw1uw7QppKn3BrFzws15YL2maL0Cf_S5ojTklWHHmhMcRoEvixPrxrHw2k4Qc-4PaPWPQdnfCdY-dj2f/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+074.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I believe that Max is a genius. Maybe it's because I am his Mommy but, that boy has a mind that is impressive. Also, he is good at making much from little. He is also good at inspiring his brothers and sister to join him in the creative process.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCCR0XDujy0pm_lUcxPDsWU2fl9tLqzZKwIViaHIXqG4N7B15aIgL6I0toyjYvnzghID5MVFIEAfzF-bwnmMx-fSZhego6KOVi4Kv-H-L_uU1J_orleg21hLwXeGBa-psPnkNB8o7_aPi/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCCR0XDujy0pm_lUcxPDsWU2fl9tLqzZKwIViaHIXqG4N7B15aIgL6I0toyjYvnzghID5MVFIEAfzF-bwnmMx-fSZhego6KOVi4Kv-H-L_uU1J_orleg21hLwXeGBa-psPnkNB8o7_aPi/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Believe me, our children are not suffering from lack of toys. It has had the opposite effect. They are even more creative with what remains in our home. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e-ALXt7scQ2CDnmkETuaksNn8KwWel4fJXONfvOc7nfOC3wzY4WMktS_IohP_Q3nQW5CsdhYDqhr6paqOnx2SLNVOy_E_BO30Du1U044UzYBm4lPuUHOrkBuFrZCBeiSSDO9ThsGApFD/s1600/decembers+gifts+2011+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e-ALXt7scQ2CDnmkETuaksNn8KwWel4fJXONfvOc7nfOC3wzY4WMktS_IohP_Q3nQW5CsdhYDqhr6paqOnx2SLNVOy_E_BO30Du1U044UzYBm4lPuUHOrkBuFrZCBeiSSDO9ThsGApFD/s320/decembers+gifts+2011+059.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't miss the days of cleaning the playroom! Now I get to pick up pieces of cardboard and balls of packing tape instead.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiZa1fCYrds-ojh8kbeV-TeJNbiuYOidHxYCyrK-cxiVw1zn07jNX_P8RhMNRzh5Qp5PUJx_Qnd3mWLop2sLSa0UQRYViYJxXv8UpxYg6uejvBZIJKTdjZ1svQstaDdNtKEIlz08T-WPn/s1600/december+gifts+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiZa1fCYrds-ojh8kbeV-TeJNbiuYOidHxYCyrK-cxiVw1zn07jNX_P8RhMNRzh5Qp5PUJx_Qnd3mWLop2sLSa0UQRYViYJxXv8UpxYg6uejvBZIJKTdjZ1svQstaDdNtKEIlz08T-WPn/s320/december+gifts+008.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Give a child a cardboard box as a gift. The creative ideas are endless.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD13ibHavyi8FyWWFnq7XZBqVyCs6oImuK6xuuqaWUyxM0_1N0y8J6NRjSrVTHnkPA2s4R3DlTM9o-Q7TomcwOJ-FQW9SoMUAryGK4CJ33laXpSsF1mZX_rQP1q9dD6nJtjCEigIRd87Md/s1600/december+gifts+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD13ibHavyi8FyWWFnq7XZBqVyCs6oImuK6xuuqaWUyxM0_1N0y8J6NRjSrVTHnkPA2s4R3DlTM9o-Q7TomcwOJ-FQW9SoMUAryGK4CJ33laXpSsF1mZX_rQP1q9dD6nJtjCEigIRd87Md/s320/december+gifts+003.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br />
</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-64647450741271588582011-12-08T01:42:00.000-05:002011-12-08T01:47:18.802-05:00I am thankful for<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLDO6n1grrFqyxV2lQPFGkRA3uWylti9r3jT4_vhLqqxbbBir6qQufU0NXbAcFeep3LokfMdP4nYrlUKd5uV_-ZlZ2JpiXM9h2FSHoy0tLdzhrLsSJGmfm_jiW0DVlcngM7aTsR7ezDQ2/s1600/random+life+oct-nov+2011+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLDO6n1grrFqyxV2lQPFGkRA3uWylti9r3jT4_vhLqqxbbBir6qQufU0NXbAcFeep3LokfMdP4nYrlUKd5uV_-ZlZ2JpiXM9h2FSHoy0tLdzhrLsSJGmfm_jiW0DVlcngM7aTsR7ezDQ2/s320/random+life+oct-nov+2011+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the randomness of life. I begin most days preparing breakfast and lunch for our four children. They each have their specific sandwich requests and usually breakfast request too. Some times I feel like a short-order cook. If we are running late, cereal is the only item on the breakfast menu.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWD05QHdcOTZNEy7mXSXtlaxdDuRytuml8jRhJmueajyUW-y1T99OB8xsewtb-UWCAG_FQPq8TnIanY6SluNYnVnszHCb_-Y7Y4O9ZTaGculeFH7BzHcW7hNzcSafnBrNXbP83Uz3U8pG/s1600/random+life+oct-nov+2011+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWD05QHdcOTZNEy7mXSXtlaxdDuRytuml8jRhJmueajyUW-y1T99OB8xsewtb-UWCAG_FQPq8TnIanY6SluNYnVnszHCb_-Y7Y4O9ZTaGculeFH7BzHcW7hNzcSafnBrNXbP83Uz3U8pG/s320/random+life+oct-nov+2011+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boys usually begin their day in front of our fireplace with their Lego bricks and characters. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI4lkgJPc6dLFpliXCRuub-LoF7WHYT3CZQf6XfonYgmObEfX5xsagT5LSIx-1WHfz_Pz0MZLAiQBfjlFqntqhokPLi63L-85XP-09RsV1SdH_t3RJR-mWJaT9T8-V5umsm_VCJIjQLZB/s1600/pepperell+days+nov+2011+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI4lkgJPc6dLFpliXCRuub-LoF7WHYT3CZQf6XfonYgmObEfX5xsagT5LSIx-1WHfz_Pz0MZLAiQBfjlFqntqhokPLi63L-85XP-09RsV1SdH_t3RJR-mWJaT9T8-V5umsm_VCJIjQLZB/s320/pepperell+days+nov+2011+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte and Benjamin love to help me in the kitchen.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pugqtpsxwmyb0DWuu02Kx4GfoazqqUHATKS-0Ks4bLI3QFMXCWStOH_i_fH9CdJdntW1kp1qxUpZwvWxRWTWYqWlU0hsVrTy5T0yBE_lx3rkGXTpegOpUipDmSKkQUHgn03SjvKixQWl/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pugqtpsxwmyb0DWuu02Kx4GfoazqqUHATKS-0Ks4bLI3QFMXCWStOH_i_fH9CdJdntW1kp1qxUpZwvWxRWTWYqWlU0hsVrTy5T0yBE_lx3rkGXTpegOpUipDmSKkQUHgn03SjvKixQWl/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte is the best at arm farts. She has excelled at the practice and it has become an art form. "Da-da-da-da-fart-fart-fart-fart..." You get the idea. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Recently, I acquired a used washing machine from our children's school vice principal. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZgazcYNxuJcdiAz2PqBMzLybUuoxKh2Qo-ALcy6YeCxcU4XXwlY5axgOWQr0gNYDiYC5J0BwRk-fwyfkaokSXH1PGqKlJSnxXAVNYev9tmmRISNjiTkyRuoc8jnyxVYpPJ0zzokRDSHQ/s1600/fall+2011+146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZgazcYNxuJcdiAz2PqBMzLybUuoxKh2Qo-ALcy6YeCxcU4XXwlY5axgOWQr0gNYDiYC5J0BwRk-fwyfkaokSXH1PGqKlJSnxXAVNYev9tmmRISNjiTkyRuoc8jnyxVYpPJ0zzokRDSHQ/s200/fall+2011+146.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> The vice-principal felt sorry for me and knew of my need for a little help and randomly blessed me with this well used washing machine. It works well! On warmer days, I'll hang the wash out on our deck. Recently, I've been hanging the clothes on a rack the movers failed to pack when they packed up all our belongings back at the end of July. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0CabLcaxnAjNCC1Fp8jY86UU9RTBwd9BHhAHWCEt8ELWPYYp6GCPiabFsHozXJ8Dya-yTSEAiKpRIriqiuyiuIPSqs9gZ2ZARuPCyvByla7fRofeFzt7Y-e3oxGA6bv-qgMXRz6Jrmk9/s1600/fall+2011+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0CabLcaxnAjNCC1Fp8jY86UU9RTBwd9BHhAHWCEt8ELWPYYp6GCPiabFsHozXJ8Dya-yTSEAiKpRIriqiuyiuIPSqs9gZ2ZARuPCyvByla7fRofeFzt7Y-e3oxGA6bv-qgMXRz6Jrmk9/s200/fall+2011+142.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I came home this week to a business card from a detective at our local police department stuck to our side garage door. Of course, I panicked. What had I done wrong? Was my husband in some sort of trouble or dead?! Yikes! I called right away, not noticing the note he'd written on the back of his card, "Please call so we can set up a time to install a dryer". </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, there are still acts of random kindness between strangers. I cried. With four children all under the age of 10, laundry can pile up quickly. They missed the soft bath towels and non-crunchy blue jeans; they didn't say anything about it and maybe I missed it more for them than they did. It also takes a few days to dry a favorite blanket in autumn. I am so thankful for this new/used dryer. Detective Greathead (yes, that's his super-hero name) and his plumbing friend installed it yesterday. I asked him how he found out about our family and our recent challenges and he said, "The school nurse Linda told me." I've done three loads of laundry already. It's a luxury to have fluffy towels again. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJKu9I7B-BbxoYkMHVNjvc27m9pzn9ihZPqQAAtYKlk3L6emDuJLTzfuiAepxC9MlwUqwQwuFrUmiMqRgbdq8hgfrhjZvRmyLaNm2Pu6qs90KkK64gDF5CaLnoB22YulU-TiWJ2uNncXL/s1600/fall+2011+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJKu9I7B-BbxoYkMHVNjvc27m9pzn9ihZPqQAAtYKlk3L6emDuJLTzfuiAepxC9MlwUqwQwuFrUmiMqRgbdq8hgfrhjZvRmyLaNm2Pu6qs90KkK64gDF5CaLnoB22YulU-TiWJ2uNncXL/s320/fall+2011+103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My beloved got his Master's Degree! One perk of unemployment is he was able to have the "extra" time to finish up his degree. He began working on this degree while employed, using the benefit his company offered for educational reimbursement. He was almost done with his degree when his company was purchased by a foreign company and over time all employees were dismissed and the factory here closed. I am thankful for his parents who decided to pay the remaining costs so he could complete what he began a number of years ago. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJyg0kxDFAEwhJnvNdP4YWw_kxpGa1YFgVYDGCjzFImt9dVsXScoj60ptKJS2EcRL1vDWMt32cMlPZI-H8lxyWdrnk7GMtxFdFKLNKWiU8YXYoEQzi8vVOUbUYY49jqxPhWV0mLvrirHr/s1600/fall+2011+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJyg0kxDFAEwhJnvNdP4YWw_kxpGa1YFgVYDGCjzFImt9dVsXScoj60ptKJS2EcRL1vDWMt32cMlPZI-H8lxyWdrnk7GMtxFdFKLNKWiU8YXYoEQzi8vVOUbUYY49jqxPhWV0mLvrirHr/s320/fall+2011+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am thankful for our oldest son Grant who is so happy when Daddy comes home from his job in MN to visit us for a while</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZdL8YVIOyqPqZKCy4WgbVUAoBoD0_XamaA66kx1l81zg10FT7o2WOV1AAcgAfq0JVE9dDSTFCLrImbFMAuykev8uV3zLbqP76Hhs72YxaUDM4lZblXqz86WEncjVrgjC43ohsgKKaA8i/s1600/nov+%257E+dec+2011+127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZdL8YVIOyqPqZKCy4WgbVUAoBoD0_XamaA66kx1l81zg10FT7o2WOV1AAcgAfq0JVE9dDSTFCLrImbFMAuykev8uV3zLbqP76Hhs72YxaUDM4lZblXqz86WEncjVrgjC43ohsgKKaA8i/s320/nov+%257E+dec+2011+127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and feels so sad when Daddy has to leave again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love that they have that kind of Father-Son bond.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30tQ9v1G2kY-NvzYRK0fazVATZx5ZwGBkaof4xoeYVwb29Z256euu0sK5CGTm4rrO2H3Mmy6wn9ZkszNC88LKGt6gd2j1IU9y8RMSuvtDUxAFUJuAjDme80mU1qyDBFmvbsL3yW9xgDS3/s1600/nov+%257E+dec+2011+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30tQ9v1G2kY-NvzYRK0fazVATZx5ZwGBkaof4xoeYVwb29Z256euu0sK5CGTm4rrO2H3Mmy6wn9ZkszNC88LKGt6gd2j1IU9y8RMSuvtDUxAFUJuAjDme80mU1qyDBFmvbsL3yW9xgDS3/s320/nov+%257E+dec+2011+133.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am thankful that we can enjoy the times in between.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNc2D9WKM2kYfODUSwyLCnmZplf7jPMOe4uZG02AykJMb5QcUHsRJxEJB3QItmlrLnger5A0LkhqrSquKgmA1n8Yv0y7xSIZAnzB-gXOuAu2Bdhz6B3QxG9mF-DGEGrpYQDlE7947kvpF/s1600/mobil+phone+2011+228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNc2D9WKM2kYfODUSwyLCnmZplf7jPMOe4uZG02AykJMb5QcUHsRJxEJB3QItmlrLnger5A0LkhqrSquKgmA1n8Yv0y7xSIZAnzB-gXOuAu2Bdhz6B3QxG9mF-DGEGrpYQDlE7947kvpF/s320/mobil+phone+2011+228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am thankful that our children are healthy and happy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKxr8zfA46yzldAZEDryT65-6bep4_e-o_5w26KhrSZDE9U-8enL8p8D6ym42tiPlmxlNMQ826Ven_Kq0hxVBdbohpnY_QOKmdd-N7BzOBT-WABgvNCFGxnjrog_K6x4TL5lkRhEDR_0W/s1600/dec+happiness+2011+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKxr8zfA46yzldAZEDryT65-6bep4_e-o_5w26KhrSZDE9U-8enL8p8D6ym42tiPlmxlNMQ826Ven_Kq0hxVBdbohpnY_QOKmdd-N7BzOBT-WABgvNCFGxnjrog_K6x4TL5lkRhEDR_0W/s320/dec+happiness+2011+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am thankful that eventually our home will sell here so we can buy one in Minnesota and all be together as a family again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am thankful for you.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-85164135375254733082011-11-13T22:15:00.000-05:002011-12-10T20:39:56.905-05:00Apples and more apples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5xgweZExmK9D2BB0CJByNltEPXwuTuK0QKgDqwsJuPSeHX2MhdoNX1m8Oskwsez6tP5cA6M9h6c-j6AohOdGRtoORQV6rUQanmEZrWzaseh3NH_Ol8_r334kioRgqcUWE_4nqxn2DofA/s320/fall+2011+179.JPG" width="320" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, dear friends of ours invited me and our kids to their home to make apple butter, apple crisps, or anything to do with apples. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZlr1meOca-R88z0WvFMO71D-kwjqo12eiHy6_I1sRRlbUnZ23IWs95Aip9uMGAH6RwqJksolJHfWFi7iZ5uXuQpQwMiuyO1N2EwYoABY335iqn3vM24o34GzSexXi_cHrhApIBel2EpH/s1600/fall+2011+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZlr1meOca-R88z0WvFMO71D-kwjqo12eiHy6_I1sRRlbUnZ23IWs95Aip9uMGAH6RwqJksolJHfWFi7iZ5uXuQpQwMiuyO1N2EwYoABY335iqn3vM24o34GzSexXi_cHrhApIBel2EpH/s320/fall+2011+187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Their home was filled with the delicious aroma of apples and one baking pumpkin. Derrick is an ace at cooking and whipped up a meat, bread and pumpkin stuffing and baked it in the pumpkin.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX25xe-toB8zBXR2TUhyyeoJzcg1fJEJsGbtnQ00T3ZCts55JMGYdF_1rqjIQf7JfHCLLBDBKIG_pr2BtLm4k1TJhTk2K48iXUoPO_tOaYlhh7FYhls7ppd6ZAjJRrgnMQW29y9p4PS9L/s1600/fall+2011+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX25xe-toB8zBXR2TUhyyeoJzcg1fJEJsGbtnQ00T3ZCts55JMGYdF_1rqjIQf7JfHCLLBDBKIG_pr2BtLm4k1TJhTk2K48iXUoPO_tOaYlhh7FYhls7ppd6ZAjJRrgnMQW29y9p4PS9L/s320/fall+2011+190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">While the children played with their three children, the ladies peeled and sliced and stirred and cooked apples. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxgZ861DPk3_Awb-FDrLGC4YZRUfrLM1wR6548r_csTrx88Hfc5VPuWK-cHr36t0IB_jBpUblA67LBfySwJaHru2V2UnDezssh8h1wDO8ub3dWpGlKS3icCG5a-Shcn4G_3eeZ3_utImm/s1600/fall+2011+181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxgZ861DPk3_Awb-FDrLGC4YZRUfrLM1wR6548r_csTrx88Hfc5VPuWK-cHr36t0IB_jBpUblA67LBfySwJaHru2V2UnDezssh8h1wDO8ub3dWpGlKS3icCG5a-Shcn4G_3eeZ3_utImm/s320/fall+2011+181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was a special afternoon and a good way to use up the almost peck of apples our children had brought home from a recent field trip to a local farm.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENplhWTnmjQN8hY6TvDQwCPbpSicHr5Bkded76uKhjbX7SSC_w8fHftB0rl2cv0o5zjkL4XEAciZGdFrX8o7crsQpebHyPZHrNMkxQFnxukzU5BuVfFG6xEzTPnreJI0nYv4knP-oInVY/s1600/fall+2011+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENplhWTnmjQN8hY6TvDQwCPbpSicHr5Bkded76uKhjbX7SSC_w8fHftB0rl2cv0o5zjkL4XEAciZGdFrX8o7crsQpebHyPZHrNMkxQFnxukzU5BuVfFG6xEzTPnreJI0nYv4knP-oInVY/s320/fall+2011+184.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The pumpkin meal was unique and delicious. We came home with apple butter, apple crisps and apple sauce to enjoy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIdqR0iWVM861JUMDZz6lVyzm_DdA659gNY-Vldp2MZxTkc4wHt6mOCSVIDJLcXpkPOAroNiVmwG-99VdqPQFePtalC7nvtl5gKbNVhivGh-xcqAhmybHEKCCLtA6Z8jnVF-_6rDmY_8/s1600/fall+2011+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIdqR0iWVM861JUMDZz6lVyzm_DdA659gNY-Vldp2MZxTkc4wHt6mOCSVIDJLcXpkPOAroNiVmwG-99VdqPQFePtalC7nvtl5gKbNVhivGh-xcqAhmybHEKCCLtA6Z8jnVF-_6rDmY_8/s320/fall+2011+186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Derrick and Irene have become dear friends of ours. They are intelligent, live as green as they can and always reach out to others in need. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EYgD2Z88qYk3s2sWyTKZtoukDHatxn2U7_pulU71GfLrXfTmR6UMbSUl9lF7jY8JgfbAAscgkUclhgJm1zO93lKhwHPdj1UWHzD4ar4ViDUxzH58PIVJXhagEq1UYqumhjdTadQikvJO/s1600/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EYgD2Z88qYk3s2sWyTKZtoukDHatxn2U7_pulU71GfLrXfTmR6UMbSUl9lF7jY8JgfbAAscgkUclhgJm1zO93lKhwHPdj1UWHzD4ar4ViDUxzH58PIVJXhagEq1UYqumhjdTadQikvJO/s320/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are enjoying the last of autumn here in New England. The snow has melted and the last of the leaves are falling. Soon winter will come.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaoR0DsHk4MBZ6osaqoPb9zBFPEWs4Bw1o7xiUNOLuf11yFSKzbUAsugWbH31S3vs80M2xcj2ZlxCmqVfwqGjUdsx8vSoxwVIy_IzP9QhvVqCzMm2dUiaeTOdaS6MTTLn37grMNoUrK8H/s1600/mobil+phone+2011+676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaoR0DsHk4MBZ6osaqoPb9zBFPEWs4Bw1o7xiUNOLuf11yFSKzbUAsugWbH31S3vs80M2xcj2ZlxCmqVfwqGjUdsx8vSoxwVIy_IzP9QhvVqCzMm2dUiaeTOdaS6MTTLn37grMNoUrK8H/s320/mobil+phone+2011+676.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-79976245732256622022011-11-12T21:26:00.000-05:002011-11-12T21:26:29.380-05:00Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IuNlQEdqL75F9TjEqsvn7xxdK8GLS76D2RMjbwH1BjfzIM8pTDnY9cnJ3RObfFPAEN4BR7WMMXidXYGVH5CLj6jOb4Ddn5AKJ8DfEFY6qqaKe29sm_uWPAHmdHLBA_i3GZ18fzmZxtjL/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IuNlQEdqL75F9TjEqsvn7xxdK8GLS76D2RMjbwH1BjfzIM8pTDnY9cnJ3RObfFPAEN4BR7WMMXidXYGVH5CLj6jOb4Ddn5AKJ8DfEFY6qqaKe29sm_uWPAHmdHLBA_i3GZ18fzmZxtjL/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+799.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've had this song running through my head this week. Some of my days are so sweet. I end the day not having regrets, not wishing I'd done something different or said something nicer. Today was one of those days.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy84BhL89Y8NFfCnS7fJmDDUN_qq35CAQ2pHUCX0i3ivIt-CoFUS8eoAFEM7bbHy5RYXBB6C0mVEXR5oVQeKu8tbOP2qmgtn2JrqnpYb9-0FjHJlNROQj_ExtQIvRLQvestCmS0SU_oHUU/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy84BhL89Y8NFfCnS7fJmDDUN_qq35CAQ2pHUCX0i3ivIt-CoFUS8eoAFEM7bbHy5RYXBB6C0mVEXR5oVQeKu8tbOP2qmgtn2JrqnpYb9-0FjHJlNROQj_ExtQIvRLQvestCmS0SU_oHUU/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our children still wake up early. Someone wakes up before the rooster every day. They don't pay attention to the clock or the recent time change. A few days ago Max was up at 4:40! I had to tell him to go back to sleep. He was ready for the day. I wasn't.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUB4viWNrvMaedmjtWFbhSImZ2qXCAZKTzdlBWY0e6fPVoetkg2MYAp15JSEGZPQbgh7TJv69leSrJTuVGT6gZJjjwi9VYxAfqJT1TzGzz2O0ex3-_QLhDpO7kGePoSkStn_TH5ApfqRY/s1600/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUB4viWNrvMaedmjtWFbhSImZ2qXCAZKTzdlBWY0e6fPVoetkg2MYAp15JSEGZPQbgh7TJv69leSrJTuVGT6gZJjjwi9VYxAfqJT1TzGzz2O0ex3-_QLhDpO7kGePoSkStn_TH5ApfqRY/s320/grant%2527s+camel+summer+st.+paul+2011+091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte is usually the last one up (good girl). Grant is usually our first riser. He has always been an early riser. He is also the one who could probably use a nap in the afternoon. I can tell when he starts crying about the simplest things. I know he misses Daddy. I do too. I give him a hug and he's better.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9oVhPHir4X07OsWMOT8iPmUdIWcjnA35q8XSbi1rbz5dliM_ceZrrL0mZMY7GywmY7QfAR5CuvxbpXhscqovm-whv2It7NGJZ0Vl3xjEOx8wKJA-TLeOKWRTKtjYrh85IUf7LQ0icE1d/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9oVhPHir4X07OsWMOT8iPmUdIWcjnA35q8XSbi1rbz5dliM_ceZrrL0mZMY7GywmY7QfAR5CuvxbpXhscqovm-whv2It7NGJZ0Vl3xjEOx8wKJA-TLeOKWRTKtjYrh85IUf7LQ0icE1d/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ben starts sucking his thumb when he's tired or hungry. He still carries around a white cloth that is shredded and knotted. It's his comfort. He likes it when I call him "my sugar bunny bear". </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRKg3GxNc4dn7Cdj408fCPXLAx-zlL_gjxZfqfVE8UmOu5rliTP-jUONuP55DXhWxBcSMOOLaly3Gc_Pcqy48gobh7zON1rgBJt2OFroOy52wTa2IWYXiIVb0nnj5tYo3UGrYGp_oxUFO/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRKg3GxNc4dn7Cdj408fCPXLAx-zlL_gjxZfqfVE8UmOu5rliTP-jUONuP55DXhWxBcSMOOLaly3Gc_Pcqy48gobh7zON1rgBJt2OFroOy52wTa2IWYXiIVb0nnj5tYo3UGrYGp_oxUFO/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+434.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's a wonderful thing being a Mommy. I feel like I am living a miracle each and every day. It was dark by 4:30 today and they were ready for sleep early. I'm sure tomorrow one of them will be up before the rooster!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ enjoy the rest of your weekend, rebecca</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-52560651943435840762011-11-06T22:46:00.000-05:002011-11-06T22:46:50.293-05:00Autumn Festivities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofA3BXItPdcgyHavqSffrs_vz3oQkHmxGJU83Z18K6UytHZJyiC5Kpz8cvTgGGUXemzJkth6MFqlviQ8jeaqNOpYWgSahyphenhyphenJ2xkvtYkyBke2er_w6Wuqvd-5svkGa6Z60suWtSF05dqu_3/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofA3BXItPdcgyHavqSffrs_vz3oQkHmxGJU83Z18K6UytHZJyiC5Kpz8cvTgGGUXemzJkth6MFqlviQ8jeaqNOpYWgSahyphenhyphenJ2xkvtYkyBke2er_w6Wuqvd-5svkGa6Z60suWtSF05dqu_3/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Due to the freakish storm that hit us last Saturday and the heavy snow that shut down power to over 70% of our town for a week, Trick-or-Treating was wisely postponed until this past Saturday and even then it was only allowed from 4 to 6 PM. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This was a smart decision because there are still downed wires and tree limbs across many roads. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, we never lost power and had minor tree damage.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPNiIVC2CSDj4hMNbI1rM1sOetOGG6FMa-zumGXrQRmcDAz-r9Nd25pvrK0kKvtBFEB1YTTmoPqJeUZwpKdXnS-3e_qSs6JR0-7eI18ZcEJnBODMgmaEE8KRAIRY0X38hsiHp6oZ4IQ4S/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPNiIVC2CSDj4hMNbI1rM1sOetOGG6FMa-zumGXrQRmcDAz-r9Nd25pvrK0kKvtBFEB1YTTmoPqJeUZwpKdXnS-3e_qSs6JR0-7eI18ZcEJnBODMgmaEE8KRAIRY0X38hsiHp6oZ4IQ4S/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1149.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our kids were excited to be able to dress up and knock on doors for candy. Our neighborhood is full of kids and for two hours late Saturday afternoon, there were ninjas, Darth Vaders, pilots, and Cleopatras on the run. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrOlyy6K8AcCFXEc8NSnj7rhuCpGBJo6md2zMp5wp0wpX5Pb3xRC6tCQAogSZRuDmjmCz8gtDJhk0RiqK2KQYTdQO_HdfAIi3avNN8pryiYZXx1Q3cZdS68EVr9iMaVTnMgF78xuMwj8i/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrOlyy6K8AcCFXEc8NSnj7rhuCpGBJo6md2zMp5wp0wpX5Pb3xRC6tCQAogSZRuDmjmCz8gtDJhk0RiqK2KQYTdQO_HdfAIi3avNN8pryiYZXx1Q3cZdS68EVr9iMaVTnMgF78xuMwj8i/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We walked the mile and a half stopping to chat with neighbors,</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVZMq3hM4XjTiq51-OXPBTzHVFoEl6V5n7aQzh3wJJEIO8aAuVEtL9H-f6x6Pmzxy_Dda03HMjEyekffGXzGAyviG5tyRXP1n-TA2qIwrGlI12BUVI3Hj5Vp_mobvHygubfQKgnJwbFwX/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVZMq3hM4XjTiq51-OXPBTzHVFoEl6V5n7aQzh3wJJEIO8aAuVEtL9H-f6x6Pmzxy_Dda03HMjEyekffGXzGAyviG5tyRXP1n-TA2qIwrGlI12BUVI3Hj5Vp_mobvHygubfQKgnJwbFwX/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">let little ones greet our Pup-Pup, take a few photos, and collect more treats.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK4RIcbu8vzYQxn7CaX4_vGExoZYDFp3LujI-5WS7z3Dhu8h3CIc2Hxzit3zrasXzjkT7FxfnTo2uzV0oqgqNf3HeJsAfI1wGAeq8X9zc12eaqyfyyHI6JRi5vkGsKjuj-ZaKheMluAJJ/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK4RIcbu8vzYQxn7CaX4_vGExoZYDFp3LujI-5WS7z3Dhu8h3CIc2Hxzit3zrasXzjkT7FxfnTo2uzV0oqgqNf3HeJsAfI1wGAeq8X9zc12eaqyfyyHI6JRi5vkGsKjuj-ZaKheMluAJJ/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They sorted their goodies and were allowed one treat before having a late supper. I made sure they all brushed their teeth really well before bedtime!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb75CjFVWz4Y-v8IauSLvtz7sltc-ntvB1X3LClg4xuNJDXYeN1FhLG9NOutGZobjcXpJhFfvGekUzy5wQyGb6XnuY8AruS436QGHGtwhI3BkGCe_7ULXoSYot2gSiFbAZV4AK2gpqRGlb/s1600/autumn+new+england+2011+1233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb75CjFVWz4Y-v8IauSLvtz7sltc-ntvB1X3LClg4xuNJDXYeN1FhLG9NOutGZobjcXpJhFfvGekUzy5wQyGb6XnuY8AruS436QGHGtwhI3BkGCe_7ULXoSYot2gSiFbAZV4AK2gpqRGlb/s320/autumn+new+england+2011+1233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Three favorite childhood memories: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. dressing up</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. having candy to eat</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. getting to be with friends doing the same thing</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm glad it's over. Now, what to do with four bags of candy?</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-52982841170736247072011-10-31T12:41:00.000-04:002011-10-31T12:48:32.572-04:00First Snow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVoSTcN-QKc62a6K2-ygXJ-xj0EX0kSq3AD4iTQ67cn1OwF0QUyz8ZPswA-TF9kjgLAXARSWvt7jglA6VfIrQk6e1zOGU9AJyBIWW2un_jgFJfTz8NS1c4mZYuaE9xIxS_h208byh2A5b/s1600/fairy+house+7th+birthday+Oct.+2011+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVoSTcN-QKc62a6K2-ygXJ-xj0EX0kSq3AD4iTQ67cn1OwF0QUyz8ZPswA-TF9kjgLAXARSWvt7jglA6VfIrQk6e1zOGU9AJyBIWW2un_jgFJfTz8NS1c4mZYuaE9xIxS_h208byh2A5b/s320/fairy+house+7th+birthday+Oct.+2011+078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just last week we were enjoying our autumn weather and the peak of foliage here in New England. It was getting cooler and we enjoyed evenings and mornings in front of our fireplace.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmX9fLZqWWiiSjsh6Jw5fX4TDaN8VPEucA2ce3CXoW2XehOpgTCyRCjwb-c_FxLR3U1M49Uo2xcMLrosCJl8hOIE8ys765jeT1CnQyq6P5rJB3aLg4i2t8sqieJRtqN34o710KmrB402_/s1600/fairy+house+7th+birthday+Oct.+2011+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmX9fLZqWWiiSjsh6Jw5fX4TDaN8VPEucA2ce3CXoW2XehOpgTCyRCjwb-c_FxLR3U1M49Uo2xcMLrosCJl8hOIE8ys765jeT1CnQyq6P5rJB3aLg4i2t8sqieJRtqN34o710KmrB402_/s320/fairy+house+7th+birthday+Oct.+2011+075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then, a dusting of snow greeted us a few nights ago. Our children loved being in the dark of the night watching the snow lightly fall on their faces. That light snow melted by the next midday.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFT9iIUXCkdYjdiaHpGdsx6ytC62CAK7oUVnsNYGLayxXi8UImSTSZggkwBjtncf-LAU_ZwLr-otIBbUhV3wGewR0GgW6jr1g96HgVXoUNkYO7sIkJgPJ1YKF2WL67Mpvy4dMBcQLa7os/s1600/arm+farts+and+first+snow+Oct+2011+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFT9iIUXCkdYjdiaHpGdsx6ytC62CAK7oUVnsNYGLayxXi8UImSTSZggkwBjtncf-LAU_ZwLr-otIBbUhV3wGewR0GgW6jr1g96HgVXoUNkYO7sIkJgPJ1YKF2WL67Mpvy4dMBcQLa7os/s320/arm+farts+and+first+snow+Oct+2011+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This past Saturday afternoon it began snowing and snowed all night and by yesterday morning it had stopped. The weight of the wet snow broke many tree limbs and caused power outages throughout our state. We were fortunate to have power but, three large tree limbs were broken from two of our trees and one of our pine trees bent down to the ground. Thankfully, I still have my pink rain boots and so I doubled my socks, left on my fleece pajama bottoms and pulled on flared jeans over those and went out to start moving the branches to our back bog. Then I began to shovel the wet snow from our driveway. I was listening to our neighbors snow blow their driveways and was hoping one would be a good neighbor and help me out (I am without a husband or snow blower and no winter gear right now) but, none did.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP82yW2R8DVIjybgXgmD8nbLt94eFvjztm-u8scO-K1_PqKTi3tNrrkB97vLjfpJ1ZRDsnxiiE91igYvf4mXwR60UQKMrxuEYREi56pT27wRCyYZZq6me7dmXe6Ot9QhZMnVcPo-cN1YjK/s1600/arm+farts+and+first+snow+Oct+2011+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP82yW2R8DVIjybgXgmD8nbLt94eFvjztm-u8scO-K1_PqKTi3tNrrkB97vLjfpJ1ZRDsnxiiE91igYvf4mXwR60UQKMrxuEYREi56pT27wRCyYZZq6me7dmXe6Ot9QhZMnVcPo-cN1YjK/s320/arm+farts+and+first+snow+Oct+2011+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was about a quarter of the way through and family friends of ours from church showed up with snow shovels and mittens for the kids. Grant and Max had been wearing socks over their hands and they were so happy to now have warm, dry mittens to wear. The four of us shoveled our driveway in no time and the boys carried the heaviest limb out to the back pile of wood.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Thompson's are wonderful, quirky people. They have hearts of gold and were our true neighbors yesterday. We thank God for them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's nice to know that I have help when I need it and help even when I didn't ask for it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was willing to clear the snow and clean up the yard on my own but, it was sure nice to have help!</span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-30266503031769889532011-10-25T23:06:00.000-04:002011-10-25T23:20:06.248-04:00Collecting for a Fairy House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1bLhwN9Tl5WDNIzsPUMN8QvRY0SAmyeE-OcZqVk6PzNTcuMOB6fmNmJY7gVESQqhhHi9r_Ve69SpblVOWZq_bsFjP_nc0e6zQkyCCLNOtL-mnKC5FYDecpzOLROgMaTZhEu7bGhyphenhyphenCqlm/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1bLhwN9Tl5WDNIzsPUMN8QvRY0SAmyeE-OcZqVk6PzNTcuMOB6fmNmJY7gVESQqhhHi9r_Ve69SpblVOWZq_bsFjP_nc0e6zQkyCCLNOtL-mnKC5FYDecpzOLROgMaTZhEu7bGhyphenhyphenCqlm/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today, after school, I took our kids to our town cemetery. They love playing among the headstones and climbing the trees but, we went to find twigs and acorns and leaves for the fairy house we will build.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDDVkgOwigo4_D17lBLZHAfjh9l9WVwsLPXkAGoVhsQaaeV6TAjI8kDAJmzAKhyOPiedteICsNh2ACDZdfCRip7kdfw6CwqbzS_OhmzktHXg58lKZ2RNWFNVMqZA-BKpzpRxzbe1oHHXE/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDDVkgOwigo4_D17lBLZHAfjh9l9WVwsLPXkAGoVhsQaaeV6TAjI8kDAJmzAKhyOPiedteICsNh2ACDZdfCRip7kdfw6CwqbzS_OhmzktHXg58lKZ2RNWFNVMqZA-BKpzpRxzbe1oHHXE/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Max discovered a hollow in a tree and had fun sitting in it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39lTMCSjZtb22F3YLpIjmDu-bqxjwgC3avRk7iItEl3m1jGrMri_6Xc1Cu6Fk5TK-4Qsv4c_DoPVpzHm9OJK7p2h9G8RjQy_MaJY1DBv17naS9M6KzFYbk-D2bdYwg9Wt1NjgU7HZyWH6/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39lTMCSjZtb22F3YLpIjmDu-bqxjwgC3avRk7iItEl3m1jGrMri_6Xc1Cu6Fk5TK-4Qsv4c_DoPVpzHm9OJK7p2h9G8RjQy_MaJY1DBv17naS9M6KzFYbk-D2bdYwg9Wt1NjgU7HZyWH6/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was a cool, crisp day. We are supposed to get our first snow on Friday. I know I am not ready for snow.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ETnbPGCS2c3qVbS21pIsCwLMDn8kJ04PHihDSDPK-I1IyXNl_jdqYyL4GYkipfQ54Kyy-wf3edZItLfhsUrpxR1PrtdnIpJr6ul-Tq_ypILqAfEKtuPn74V5_eTNtNpcd70aNmEinpHP/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ETnbPGCS2c3qVbS21pIsCwLMDn8kJ04PHihDSDPK-I1IyXNl_jdqYyL4GYkipfQ54Kyy-wf3edZItLfhsUrpxR1PrtdnIpJr6ul-Tq_ypILqAfEKtuPn74V5_eTNtNpcd70aNmEinpHP/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We found smooth twigs and bark. We were inspired to make a fairy house when we saw one of our neighbor's fairy houses. She made it from things gathered in their woods and some Spanish moss she bought from the craft store.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tC94Tu1Csja-RcENet9_BoWvPDieQQBhpCqhGqg_AKiOZckcXjoy7sXivC_5daqRuXxrp3Jc3R5uypZ-BS_3iZTFutSi4tx89waXKbI7w9eTfzGwAQgH8d3U-ql9IlWs5H9PY-B_JibL/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tC94Tu1Csja-RcENet9_BoWvPDieQQBhpCqhGqg_AKiOZckcXjoy7sXivC_5daqRuXxrp3Jc3R5uypZ-BS_3iZTFutSi4tx89waXKbI7w9eTfzGwAQgH8d3U-ql9IlWs5H9PY-B_JibL/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+020.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm sure some of our inspiration comes from recently reading the book Twig (about a little girl and an Elf and Fairy Queen). I bought a hot glue gun, some Spanish moss, and pastel colored glitter (since all my craft supplies are in storage in MN) and I'll sketch out some ideas for the design tomorrow. I have some ideas in my head like turrets and circular stairs.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_nQxstYmpLaTaYnePxj1POikZ6vbNyw0-XLkQRKgzTx5-fOEsHZsKx1gFpZKrW53hpVUVL1_GPAcoNJgePFJXEdf_uSGRuuDMIwktRHNtbegtpBUSddBYsjcgOgGvAtxGR4duqKFe7de/s1600/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_nQxstYmpLaTaYnePxj1POikZ6vbNyw0-XLkQRKgzTx5-fOEsHZsKx1gFpZKrW53hpVUVL1_GPAcoNJgePFJXEdf_uSGRuuDMIwktRHNtbegtpBUSddBYsjcgOgGvAtxGR4duqKFe7de/s320/cemetery+with+kids+oct+2011+021.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We have plenty of acorns and pine cones. It may take us a while to make it but, I hope it turns out like something like these photos.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh-nYifKn9KWCpqhdEUXPYmAW7ThlWZ1mHZILZ-7K_GIZXdJtrddNcZX9aChzwhAPLeZR1tgoMdG8x5yBlC69Q1RxC4iXySSF0dQwl6lpOQY80UeIHWBZcsLQVc64GGBC_D9783Tj4OtL/s1600/ENCfairySAP0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh-nYifKn9KWCpqhdEUXPYmAW7ThlWZ1mHZILZ-7K_GIZXdJtrddNcZX9aChzwhAPLeZR1tgoMdG8x5yBlC69Q1RxC4iXySSF0dQwl6lpOQY80UeIHWBZcsLQVc64GGBC_D9783Tj4OtL/s320/ENCfairySAP0407.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once we finish building it, I'll post the process.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fN5k5MnXIoiQ9O-icK7KEzALn8r-SCmW9uAJrB3E4Rzbr71QbDijmo0kqaMnJp2Fo0Fw4Ou6QcRf8jNPoUvIKLqaoAZwWF8flBNBHp5QxRo7TWBqpYKf_eUC6mv5KGhiDxCRs5lnFCN9/s1600/schramer+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fN5k5MnXIoiQ9O-icK7KEzALn8r-SCmW9uAJrB3E4Rzbr71QbDijmo0kqaMnJp2Fo0Fw4Ou6QcRf8jNPoUvIKLqaoAZwWF8flBNBHp5QxRo7TWBqpYKf_eUC6mv5KGhiDxCRs5lnFCN9/s320/schramer+230.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I made four adorable ice skating snowmen out of pipe cleaners today. I'll show you those next time.</span><br />
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-21548589116429543402011-10-21T12:22:00.000-04:002011-10-25T23:22:02.107-04:00Twig ~ A Book We Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG9ajBDR6P3LT1FNCBOdL575M9qjsYy2gibs08yn1UNpnbLv9Zyj6tctpPbbcPwIuHqSzvzZHk3_mSjIHEH_yIGdXBRFn991Ab7ZS7NiKrZwUA1zu-0egOyffQ0hGHozkQ0p80kIGJokw/s1600/Orton+Twig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG9ajBDR6P3LT1FNCBOdL575M9qjsYy2gibs08yn1UNpnbLv9Zyj6tctpPbbcPwIuHqSzvzZHk3_mSjIHEH_yIGdXBRFn991Ab7ZS7NiKrZwUA1zu-0egOyffQ0hGHozkQ0p80kIGJokw/s1600/Orton+Twig.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My dear friend Rhonda introduced me to this wonderful book by<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Orton_Jones"> Elizabeth Orton Jones</a> called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twig-Anniversary-Elizabeth-Orton-Jones/dp/1930900058">Twig</a>. It is a delightful book. Our four children would beg me to read another chapter each night. Even our 9 year old son enjoyed the story.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Twig is a little girl who lives on the fourth floor of a "high sort of house" in the city. One day Twig finds an empty tomato can and places it upside down in the bare back yard. She thinks it looks like a pretty little house perfect for a fairy. A fairy queen shows up and is wearing a fur around her neck. There is an elf, a couple of sparrows with eggs, ready to hatch, in a nest, Old Boy the ice-wagon horse, Old Girl the cat, Lord Buzzle Cobb-Webb a magician and humans too. The story is full of magic, fun and fantasy interwoven with reality. It is a tender story and encourages imagination.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rBMl2l9ajc9KTiUAn6np_aQ34ekqY65btfamVEMfWC90wOnVAACi1QpOO2es0nJ1ENPHu-3iKjVa34Im5D1GFdAVESUGyKdJVXDzpreOaYAXQ3DMUTo1UWBsEDHTsZJfPVZn5kCTMMnw/s1600/images+%252895%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rBMl2l9ajc9KTiUAn6np_aQ34ekqY65btfamVEMfWC90wOnVAACi1QpOO2es0nJ1ENPHu-3iKjVa34Im5D1GFdAVESUGyKdJVXDzpreOaYAXQ3DMUTo1UWBsEDHTsZJfPVZn5kCTMMnw/s1600/images+%252895%2529.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ortakales.com/illustrators/Jones.html">Elizabeth Orton Jones</a> captured the innocence of childhood in such a precious way in this tender story. I highly recommend it. She wrote and illustrated this book in 1942. Miss Jones was born in 1910 in Highland Park, Illinois. In the early 40's she moved to a house in Mason, New Hampshire. She bought her first house with her first royalty check from this well loved book.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBB5Ee5vA3tXjxie1cT1LKeGd8IaxsTvpmCZ4F3v8ewptzn4rHBmLeE8bIJpRfr4gVyIfEzo8Ump8p56ievVQMOAecTJi3WfF8sEgI5PsgYyLPmloSmMClM5V6MeNjCwARVBwk9dXFFuo/s1600/pickety_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBB5Ee5vA3tXjxie1cT1LKeGd8IaxsTvpmCZ4F3v8ewptzn4rHBmLeE8bIJpRfr4gVyIfEzo8Ump8p56ievVQMOAecTJi3WfF8sEgI5PsgYyLPmloSmMClM5V6MeNjCwARVBwk9dXFFuo/s320/pickety_house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She named her new house <a href="http://www.pickityplace.com/">Pickity Place</a>. Miss Jones passed away in 2005 at the age of 95. Pickity Place is a charming place. It is still open today with a gift store, cafe and garden.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAI9EUidqVJBwrcNe4IpFBbkZil-x8YkujSB5qRUxAbIRPmqMBkEjvGrtJiQp6vJvj3I5etaxiyCxWPh7e_9qxFYlPa12U0Yfl08ARvGSBBBCJL408kQJdJGus48GANMeKPd7Vpe0z6AI/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAI9EUidqVJBwrcNe4IpFBbkZil-x8YkujSB5qRUxAbIRPmqMBkEjvGrtJiQp6vJvj3I5etaxiyCxWPh7e_9qxFYlPa12U0Yfl08ARvGSBBBCJL408kQJdJGus48GANMeKPd7Vpe0z6AI/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+050.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the story Twig, the Fairy Queen is wearing a fur. Elf is very interested in this fur and calls to it, "Here Kitty-Kitty". The fur crawls away. It is a fuzzy caterpillar. When Charlotte found a fuzzy caterpillar this week, she was thrilled.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsKDIbeK1rPbb0MDBLasYDqqcFHFC74B9SZ1q5F0osYIBPE97alR3eN07pUwTBGd9hnD0kPSKHLl4DVh6DEqLuLwiwxprEOLwczEg-rmuKTuHeMGQxoj0F1wlfGszfv7_WWi2L4KTCaYB/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsKDIbeK1rPbb0MDBLasYDqqcFHFC74B9SZ1q5F0osYIBPE97alR3eN07pUwTBGd9hnD0kPSKHLl4DVh6DEqLuLwiwxprEOLwczEg-rmuKTuHeMGQxoj0F1wlfGszfv7_WWi2L4KTCaYB/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Max named it "Kitty-Kitty". Charlotte made sure her new friend was safely returned to our backyard after I told her, "No, we can't keep Kitty-Kitty".</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkielEQOcbIJib8c59Fo6xtCi3IOQmarKJKlUqF09VLuqRZJ92oKL2Lu7uyrxOUvhe7jp8AtrIMHdF8fXOS2Z_7sg5Uj_Nov8pQSk3Hm4PyZzNPECF8FyGW6cFLLIJRDKopP5jaV920S_8/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkielEQOcbIJib8c59Fo6xtCi3IOQmarKJKlUqF09VLuqRZJ92oKL2Lu7uyrxOUvhe7jp8AtrIMHdF8fXOS2Z_7sg5Uj_Nov8pQSk3Hm4PyZzNPECF8FyGW6cFLLIJRDKopP5jaV920S_8/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What are some books you enjoyed reading or having read to you when you were a child?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My mother and sisters read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingalls_Wilder">Laura Ingalls Wilder</a> books to me and when I was old enough, I read them to myself. My siblings also read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit">The Hobbit </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings">The Lord of the Rings</a> aloud while we took road trips. J R R <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien">Tolkien</a> remains one of my favorite authors to this day. I also loved<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drew"> Nancy Drew</a> mysteries in my pre-teen years. If you want to know more about these books or authors, follow the links. Here's another great book for kids and adults ~ <a href="http://www.readkiddoread.com/book/488">The Dragon of Cripple Creek</a>. It is an intelligent read, with adventure, mystery, and moral. You won't be disappointed.</span><br />
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2526309879920494997.post-88690470009256425012011-10-20T12:48:00.000-04:002011-10-25T23:24:58.590-04:00Celebrating Seven Years!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqn-mHf-fuNk-gkDKkqNQlu5AL3szaPh71x4ro-sKk1egj32ehmYc9ZBXLWUGmpFi_6C8ZT1x_V1pMkm2XOfPFXoXeHjXcHLCq8jxRJvs05_3si7dA3HCRbOw8X5KBRaqPK-GRoItzr4r/s1600/G-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqn-mHf-fuNk-gkDKkqNQlu5AL3szaPh71x4ro-sKk1egj32ehmYc9ZBXLWUGmpFi_6C8ZT1x_V1pMkm2XOfPFXoXeHjXcHLCq8jxRJvs05_3si7dA3HCRbOw8X5KBRaqPK-GRoItzr4r/s320/G-111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> It is truly amazing. Our triplets just celebrated their seventh birthday. Many of you know that my Beloved and I tried to have children for ten years. We experienced many dark days with loss and miscarriages. I would cry out to God asking Him to bless us with children.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We eventually chose to adopt and after nine months with our adoption agency, our first son was born. I had the honor of being in the delivery room when our birth mom gave birth to him. It was a transforming experience for us.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then, two and a half years later, a miracle occurred in our life. I gave birth to three babies. They were seven weeks early but, perfect. Max came out first. We called him our "Atlas" because for 33 weeks, he held the other two up. He weighed 3 lbs 8 oz. Charlotte came next. She had little, downy curled hair (very briefly) and then was my beautiful, bald headed baby for the longest time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRtPEwXFY9nDa9GYlfJpDIpSI9OnbK4nGlArs2jf4TjxAkCfvut2OmFyq9NFbnSo7rIjJ5G5lq3lRu1sQqcVG4KDBSETB_GJqWXpRLsnDyL5PnJ10FwlJa82uCCNWk-L9Ly0EEMoyyXgb/s1600/G-135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRtPEwXFY9nDa9GYlfJpDIpSI9OnbK4nGlArs2jf4TjxAkCfvut2OmFyq9NFbnSo7rIjJ5G5lq3lRu1sQqcVG4KDBSETB_GJqWXpRLsnDyL5PnJ10FwlJa82uCCNWk-L9Ly0EEMoyyXgb/s320/G-135.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now she has long, beautiful hair that I brush and braid each day to prevent tangles.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She weighed the same as Max.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ben was last to come out. Dr. Nicole Brown reached in to pull him out and he kicked her hand away. She had to reach in again and get a solid hold on him to pull him out. He was our biggest baby weighing 4 lbs 4 oz. They were in NICU for 6 days and then transferred to a step-down unit to grow and gain some weight before they came home. They came home on Veteran's Day (27 days after they were born). We consider all our children to be our miracles. So, it is with great joy that we celebrate their seventh birthday.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFbu8yi5W_mT4xof2MYLdN0opygea2TTuLTQ5MUVQGWT6aCrg9cg_YWPi6r1xO5PquNWug6jZy5A-HdPkG71OhR8kWEHKoC7a7tUhtqjW_UOXVH6ldmp3ycAK4PAHaSaNq3-QzhJAE20I/s1600/fall+2011+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFbu8yi5W_mT4xof2MYLdN0opygea2TTuLTQ5MUVQGWT6aCrg9cg_YWPi6r1xO5PquNWug6jZy5A-HdPkG71OhR8kWEHKoC7a7tUhtqjW_UOXVH6ldmp3ycAK4PAHaSaNq3-QzhJAE20I/s1600/fall+2011+052.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I stayed up late the night before their birthday making three, individual cakes. Each year, they tell me what kind of cake they want and I try to make their dream come true. In the morning, they came downstairs to find their special cake waiting for them. Of course, they ate cake for breakfast, cake for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevenses">elevenses</a>, for lunch and supper I serve something healthy and then they sneak some more cake before bed.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgJ4ycSq4z6rQA8eTT64cIYXK3w_92o_OfyC7H1oovqbemzx9llVOmIEEnlU286O5U0JRFhkVQx0pOUm7LMcMxxtCT2Se9DTvWNmH_x58Gfv1J85be8UqnibbYyp5plBBKJ052wEjPrwe/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgJ4ycSq4z6rQA8eTT64cIYXK3w_92o_OfyC7H1oovqbemzx9llVOmIEEnlU286O5U0JRFhkVQx0pOUm7LMcMxxtCT2Se9DTvWNmH_x58Gfv1J85be8UqnibbYyp5plBBKJ052wEjPrwe/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This year, Max had an odd request. He asked for a "blob cake". There is a Wii game that he enjoys playing. It is adorable. I highly recommend it for 6 to 10 year old boys. You can find a copy of it<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boy-His-Blob-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B002FG9MWE"> here</a> on Amazon So, I had to get creative and make a blob cake for him.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigngYsJ7NuvXDaWq8ezvwjppUxSo8IPIfUD9ac5ZwKD7RjIHvDyMuV-B3DU3q_vibDRy_ENQCWibfEuijZ_ozxRnAIk_ooTbmjYKR79rEp2WRMi74PHgMvAKEj_D72ZoENZDFnXvhYLKoF/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigngYsJ7NuvXDaWq8ezvwjppUxSo8IPIfUD9ac5ZwKD7RjIHvDyMuV-B3DU3q_vibDRy_ENQCWibfEuijZ_ozxRnAIk_ooTbmjYKR79rEp2WRMi74PHgMvAKEj_D72ZoENZDFnXvhYLKoF/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte asked for a Hello Kitty cake (this is the third year she has asked for a Hello Kitty cake).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-1cPq_dBQP3GsSUESmPnAJe1N0seVB3ns2_PHWWtnBEa1mUmjZlio0dppF_8O-HL0PK3yavCJY2N_BsjojDa2l5dcO2FOSxpXNi_UItyXkJutCzkgTMxk3brJ7ryCiKaS5IgpU1IjKo3/s1600/IMG_8705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-1cPq_dBQP3GsSUESmPnAJe1N0seVB3ns2_PHWWtnBEa1mUmjZlio0dppF_8O-HL0PK3yavCJY2N_BsjojDa2l5dcO2FOSxpXNi_UItyXkJutCzkgTMxk3brJ7ryCiKaS5IgpU1IjKo3/s320/IMG_8705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's a photo of the Hello Kitty cake I made for her fifth birthday.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzbYeDOt64ORvlcwDbVD_uhY3oWrd7_6Go0iBHlRmNqD1II2HRYkNFb5HIkOxzJ29QDApvAAn9W0v6c8d0hQSTA1-6V0m0gnis8_8nayiURC2a5RjwWLQVjBIzF_Ay89TZSDQujWNuspy/s1600/our+family+Oct+2011+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzbYeDOt64ORvlcwDbVD_uhY3oWrd7_6Go0iBHlRmNqD1II2HRYkNFb5HIkOxzJ29QDApvAAn9W0v6c8d0hQSTA1-6V0m0gnis8_8nayiURC2a5RjwWLQVjBIzF_Ay89TZSDQujWNuspy/s320/our+family+Oct+2011+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Benjamin had numerous requests. First it was<a href="http://see.walmart.com/sanrio/sugarbunnies/"> "Sugar Bunny"</a> cake; then it was a "Lego City" cake and then a combination of "Mario in Lego City". I helped him settle on a Mario and Luigi cake. I think he liked it. Usually he chooses a dog cake. Here's the cake I made for him on his fifth birthday. I had a lot of fun making it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpmbQ9d_tswAZ9iAXn3kOx4Hcsrx6XWiYxTYT6-LGn5BIODEnbxv6P-wl5URhpZatBgIKWqZiIqzmdMklenCPhRanyG11eQ8RJ4H1TuBGfsNzIXlp6AhdH7mY9OGrmZbOT8FJv9Y7s94K/s1600/IMG_8710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpmbQ9d_tswAZ9iAXn3kOx4Hcsrx6XWiYxTYT6-LGn5BIODEnbxv6P-wl5URhpZatBgIKWqZiIqzmdMklenCPhRanyG11eQ8RJ4H1TuBGfsNzIXlp6AhdH7mY9OGrmZbOT8FJv9Y7s94K/s320/IMG_8710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNaZw43y4tBZLCLheXJVoRwdCR3n0s1lQJsFs_7iB2cLTT4_PTvYCFWlwhzERUeFAD_q06tIROgRzAz16-KQuh7x4KxlscloS1ruasOtW1B4JChRVUeIinYpVQgLwXwmRgI699wIYlqwH/s1600/IMG_8716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNaZw43y4tBZLCLheXJVoRwdCR3n0s1lQJsFs_7iB2cLTT4_PTvYCFWlwhzERUeFAD_q06tIROgRzAz16-KQuh7x4KxlscloS1ruasOtW1B4JChRVUeIinYpVQgLwXwmRgI699wIYlqwH/s320/IMG_8716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday to our trio! May you all be blessed with many more!</span><br />
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</div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09988633689650693318noreply@blogger.com2