tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20835202848619862812024-03-13T14:32:31.720-07:00My Small Corner of the WorldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-9035778694534995232013-08-26T09:29:00.000-07:002013-08-26T09:29:13.023-07:00Seven and so ResponsibleTryn has been wanting to get her ears pierced for such a long time. Years. Which is saying something because she is only seven.<br />
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Steve and I were never opposed to ear piercing, we just...I don't know, wanted it to be special for the girls. Not just a, "Hey! It's Friday. That seems like a good enough reason to do something big like pierce your ears!" Haha!!<br />
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We have some good friends who use a rock/jar system for encouraging good behavior. You have one jar filled with rocks, in our case 34 (not sure why it was such a random number), and one empty jar. We told Tryn that each day that her stuff was cleaned up in her room she could take one rock from the full jar and move it to the empty jar. If she didn't clean her room that day then one rock would be taken out of the goal jar and put back into the first jar.<br />
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We thought it would take her 6-8 weeks or more to get her ears pierced. It took her 34 days. Not once did we have to put a rock back into the first jar. <br />
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This girl was serious about wanting her ears pierced.<br />
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I am so proud of her. I don't think she gets her dedication from me. I definitely would have skipped a few days. :)<br />
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Of course, I had to take pictures. Although Steve took this picture of the pre-piercing excitement and I am not sure what Kye is doing here...using Superman as a microphone? Haha! It makes me laugh though. <br />
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Picking out the earrings!! <br />
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The boys watching ever so carefully. <br />
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Getting a little nervous, although there is just ear cleaning going on here. There are no pictures of the actual piercing moments. I was doing mom things, making concentrated eye contact, and making sure we weren't going to have a meltdown. She did great though. She didn't even cry! <br />
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First look at the new earrings!! <br />
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Learning how to take care of everything with some help from daddy. <br />
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And what was Berlin doing this whole time? Exploring every item in the entire store and staying away from Tryn because watching made her nervous. :) <br />
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I am so proud of you Trynie!! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-34308131278893294312013-08-06T11:19:00.000-07:002013-08-06T11:19:36.640-07:00The Belated Man Child UpdateKyeson is one lucky dude, everybody loves him. Adores him actually. Even his big sisters. Tryn and Berlin are constantly saying, "Oh, he's so cute! Kye is the cutest boy in the whole world. Don't you just think he is the cutest?!"<br />
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Well, yes, I do think he is the cutest boy in the world.<br />
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What's new with Kyeson? Hm. Well, instead of just existing as a member of this family, I would say that Kye is now old enough and developing enough to be adding his own personality and dynamics to The Haines Family unit. He has his own opinions, he is starting to like and dislike certain things. Things that Kyeson loves are trucks, emergency vehicles (especially the noise of the sirens), watching the helicopter land at the hospital across the way, playing outside, the moon, Superman, animals, the Zoo, reading books, Curious George, going on walks, the park, the beach, playing with his sisters, singing, 4-wheelers, loading up his pockets with rocks, playing instruments, and his dad. He loves his dad a lot. Favorite foods include Greek yogurt with honey, berries, toast, peanut butter sandwiches, Oatmeal Squares cereal, and sausage. Although he will eat other things, those are the main foods he will eat on a regular basis. Everything else is eaten based on whether or not he is the mood, which he is <i>not</i> a lot of the time. <br />
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Things that Kyeson dislikes are things like feeling left out, vegetables in general, dinnertime (not kidding, he rarely ever eats dinner), being sick (my worst sicky for sure), and loud noises. If you are too loud he will put his little finger up to his lips and tell you, "Shhh." The 4th of July was classic. He sat in my lap during the fireworks and wouldn't let me take my hands off of his ears, not even to scratch my nose. He almost fell asleep watching the fireworks with my hands pressed up against his ears. He did then fall asleep in his carseat with his own hands pressed to his ears...while there were no fireworks going anymore. Haha!<br />
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Kye doesn't talk much yet, though he seems to get his point/wishes/desires across when he needs to. He has gone from having just Mr. Monkey, who he has now named OoAh (monkey sound), and has adopted a Pound Puppy and Kitty that my mom saved from my childhood. He loves animals so much that as soon as he saw this 20 year old little kitty he promptly claimed it as his own and called her Meow Meow. The Puppy doesn't have a name yet.<br />
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Something that Kyeson is famous for in our family is expressing his excitement over things. This is what happens: We will be playing outside and suddenly Kyeson will notice the moon. Or hear a siren. Or...whatever. Then it's, "MA!!!! AHHHHH!!!" [Insert loudest and highest pitch scream you can imagine a two year old little boy making.] This is how he expresses excitement about everything. Like we will be in Target and he sees a toy that he recognizes, so in the middle of Target, "AAHHHHHHH!! Ma, Ma, AHHHH!!!!" Or we see a monkey at the zoo, "AAAHHH!!!! OoAH!! Da, DA, DADA!! ZOO!" Totally embarrassing sometimes but one of my most favorite things ever. Because he doesn't talk much he especially loves if he feels like he is having a conversation with you - which, because he still doesn't like people that he doesn't know well, only happens usually with me and Steve - but he gets so serious and earnest if he feels like he is communicating at our level. So cute. <br />
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Some of my favorite Kyeson words:<br />
Guitar - Gee<br />
Tryn - TT<br />
Berlin - B<br />
Kyeson - KyeKye<br />
Love - Sus (not sure how that came to be, but that's how he says it)<br />
I love you - Eye-eye-oo.<br />
Thank you - Taint too<br />
Oh, and if you ask him who Superman is he puts his little fists up in the air and sings the first few notes of the Superman theme song, "Da, da, daaaa, da, dadadaDA!" I taught him that. He will actually try to sing and hum tunes more than he will try to say new words. <br />
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He still uses signs as a regular part of his communication too, which is so helpful. Kye is also super interested in all things bathroom right now too, so we are thinking about potty training. However, I am not sure if I am ready for that yet because I don't think it is going to be an easy process. We might wait awhile...can't decide. :)<br />
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Dear Kyeson,<br />
I know this is a little late, but Happy Birthday my dear sweet boy. I can't believe that my baby is two and I really don't have a baby anymore! You are getting to be such a big boy. I am so glad that you are a part of our family, you bring so much joy and life to our household and I can't imagine life without you. You are my special boy and I love experiencing the world through your eyes, it's a pretty great world from your view. You are my best boy and I am so thankful for you. I can't wait to see how you grow and change over this next year.<br />
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Love, MamaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-13954319635434485032013-07-23T06:53:00.001-07:002013-07-23T06:53:23.972-07:00Pictures of the Birthday Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, so this is a lot of pictures from Kye's birthday. But it's only a few out of the 150 that I took, so at least I didn't post 150. You're welcome.<br />
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Kyeson was having a hard time getting his presents open, wrapping paper is confusing you know. So he started ripping the wrapping paper apart with his teeth. Cute? Oh, so cute.<br />
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Kyeson's room is Superman themed with vintage Superman comic books in frames, but this was his first Superman action figure. When I ask Kye what Superman says he puts one of his little fists in the air and starts singing the theme song, "Da, da-da-daaaaa!"<br />
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My creative Trynie made Kyeson an alligator out of his present refuse for this birthday.<br />
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Superman cake, of course.<br />
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"I'm embarassed! Don't look at me!"<br />
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Cheese face! :)<br />
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Of course, the best way to eat cake is with your hands. Surprised you didn't know that.<br />
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I think now that Kye is two I officially don't have a baby in my house anymore, which is so bittersweet. Two is such a great age though. One of my favorite ages. I'm definitely looking forward to this next year and all the changes that Kye will make during it. Of course, Kye will also probably have to tell me to stop treating him like my baby when he is 30 years old, but...bye-bye little baby. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-6024391180764663892013-07-11T08:47:00.000-07:002013-07-11T08:47:36.565-07:00The Little Man Child Turned Two! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yup. Kye turned 2 almost a whole month ago. In June I gave myself a deadline of the end of June to blog about his birthday. Now it's July 11th and at the end of June I gave myself a deadline of July 12th (exactly one month after the birthday) to get this blog done. Barely made it. Whoops! <br />
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Okay, but let's be honest, summer is FINALLY here and who wants to sit around typing on a computer more than we have to when we can finally be outside!!!!! Kyeson and I don't, that's for sure. We love to be outside right now.<br />
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Kyeson's birthday was really fun and relaxed. Steve and I decided not to have a party for him because he doesn't like people. Haha!! I'm only kind of kidding. Kye still doesn't really like to feel "out of his comfort zone" and lots of people bigger than him wandering around his house for no apparent reason makes him feel uncomfortable. When he is uncomfortable there is lots of crying and whining. And who wants to make a boy cry unnecessarily on his birthday? Not these parents.<br />
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It took Kye almost two hours to open his presents because he was so intent on playing with each one as he opened it. He especially loved his new matchbox cars and Superman action figure (which Steve insisted that Kye must have, and since Kye lives with Superman, ahem, Steve, who can argue with that?)<br />
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Then we just played with birthday presents and played outside all day and ate Kye's favorite, sausage pizza from Papa John's, for dinner. We even got out the kiddy pool, even though it was technically not hot on June 12th. I'm pretty sure he thought it was a fantabulous birthday. Yes, fantabulous is a word, I promise. :) <br />
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I have just these few iPhone pictures right now, but update on the boy and more pictures to follow!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-7791604653704227092013-06-11T13:00:00.003-07:002013-06-11T13:00:50.841-07:00Happy Birthday Trynica!Trynie!!<br />
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Oh my. You are SEVEN! My first baby turned 7, I can hardly believe it!<br />
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I love having you in my life! You are such a good kid. I guess you are like daddy when he was little, you like to follow the rules and don't like to get in trouble. But you are also like me, we both like to write and do artistic and crafty things. In fact, that's what you spend the majority of your free time doing. You don't color, you write books. You tell stories. We have stacks and stacks of books that you have written and illustrated yourself - and you always tell such creative stories. You even make books for other people, you are so sweet and thoughtful.<br />
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One of my favorite things about you is that you like to make people laugh, and that you love to laugh too. Recently you are really into trying out new jokes and funny lines, it's hilarious. I also love that you are such a sweet and helpful big sister. Kyeson, who calls you T-t, totally adores you and loves to play with you, so I think that is pretty good evidence of how great of a big sister you are.You are quiet and sensitive, but strong and very brave too. If you decide you want to do something you will try and try until you make it happen, which I guess is also something you get from me. You love making good friends, and love having friends. You love to play with friends, but you also like to just be by yourself because you just like to have alone time. You are a wonderful person and I am so thankful to have you as my daughter.<br />
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For your birthday this year we went camping! Daddy and I tucked away all your presents into the van and so you were really surprised when you woke up on your birthday that you still got to have your presents even though we were camping. What is awesome about you is that we had told you that we might not have room to bring your presents with us and you were fine with it! I thought that was very mature of you. I think your favorite present was your new bike. You rode it all over the campground, you even went out of sight from us, which made you seem like such a big girl. Your new thing that you are talking about is that you want to get your ears pierced now that you are 7 because you remember the one time last year that daddy told you that you could get your ears pierced some time after you turned seven. You have a very good memory. :) <br />
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You are treasured and love ever so dearly by Daddy and me.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mom<br />
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The questions we asked you.<br />
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Favorite color: Red<br />
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Favorite food: Strawberries<br />
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Favorite dessert: Chocolate cake<br />
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Favorite thing to do: Play with Lili<br />
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Favorite game: Brave video game<br />
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Favorite toy: Sophie (stuffed dog)<br />
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Favorite movie: Brave<br />
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Favorite song: Any song by Taylor SwiftAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-86624793072262873482013-05-30T10:11:00.001-07:002013-05-30T10:11:55.087-07:00Growing UpTryn is turning 7 next week. Oh my goodness. Most days I feel like I am not old enough to have a 7 year old. I mean, really, it's easy to have babies who don't have many serious thoughts for themselves. They don't ask questions like, "How can Jesus be in every persons heart when he is only one person?" WELL. How am I supposed to explain the Trinity to a 7 year old when I don't fully understand it myself?! <br />
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Often I get nervous about my kids getting older. I don't know how to have older kids, and thinking about them being older and the things that I might have to deal with...well, then I just want them to stay the age they are right now and never grow up.<br />
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And then I realize other things about them getting older. Like a friend recently posted on Facebook about going on a 12 mile run with her son and I thought that it will be so much fun if I can go on runs with my kids someday. I can't wait for that...but they will need to be older first. And, honestly, I am excited about having girls and the possibilities of mother/daughter trips and going shopping for the perfect outfit together. But they need to get older first.<br />
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Then there are moments like church the other night. Tryn's program was canceled and so she was with me the entire service. Steve, of course, was leading worship and he had picked a song that we listen to regularly around here. It's called <i>I Am Set Free</i> by All Sons and Daughters. <br />
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I Am Set Free<br />
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You broke my chains of sin and shame and you covered me with grace.<br />
You mend my life with your holy fire<br />
You cover me with grace.<br />
You are the hand that reaches out to save<br />
<br />I am set free oh oh oh oh<br />
It is for freedom that i am set free.<br />
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And yes Lord, we are grateful for Your Grace and for Your Love. <br />
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You are the hand that reaches out to save.<br />
<br />I am set free oh oh oh oh<br />
It is for freedom that i am set free
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It was a newer song for most everyone at church and so people were not singing out, but Tryn and I listen to this song a lot. As a hush settled over the sanctuary because of the unfamiliar song I noticed Tryn standing next to me. I was holding her hand but her eyes were straight forward and hers was the only other voice I could hear besides mine. Just her and me singing along with the musicians, "I am set free oh oh oh oh..." She was singing with all her heart in a strong, pure, clear voice. It was beautiful. Because she is older we were able to stand and sing to Jesus together in a way that we never have before. <br />
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And I realized I am thankful and excited that she is growing up because she is becoming beautiful in a whole new way. I can't wait for what will come next. Bring on boys, crushes, dating, and the teenage years if it means we also get to have more moments like we did Sunday night, because times like that...those are priceless. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-65271903535789920862013-05-26T19:55:00.000-07:002013-05-26T19:55:48.128-07:00Pictures of the Kids! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was realizing lately that I haven't posted pictures of my kids on my blog for an embarrassingly long amount of time. Whoops. I didn't actually even take these, I came across them on my camera tonight while I was editing for a client. They are hilarious. These next three are even blurry, but you'll understand why I posted them...and they are action shots after all. :)<br />
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And then there is Kye, playing with the girls. Story of his life. He needs some more little guy friends. Haha!<br />
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So, that's all. Just wanted to post some kiddo pictures for the mom's and grandma's. And me. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-28273723167593505902013-05-18T20:37:00.001-07:002013-05-18T20:37:39.034-07:00Let the Children Come<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->I mentioned the water truck day, one of the days that we went into
Cite Soleil. It was crazy to be in such a dangerous place and even more crazy
to realize the way that people were living and what poverty really looks like. People
can really live without running water? They can really live amongst so much
trash and filth? They can really live with so little? Yes. They can. However,
that is not what sticks out to me the most from that day.<br />
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A few years ago I was at a retreat where a friend spoke,
challenging us to really try to see people the same way that Jesus sees them.
He spoke of how we interact with people all day long, from standing in line at
the grocery store, to passing someone on the sidewalk, to being noticed by
another driver on the road, to our kids, or spouse, or friends. We are
constantly interacting with other human beings, and what if we actually started
to look at them with the same lens of love that Jesus uses? I
can’t even fully grasp the overwhelming and intense love of Jesus, but from that day forward
it hasn’t stopped me from trying.</div>
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In many situations, especially the times when I am getting
frustrated with someone or a person is being unlovely towards me, I try to stop
and think, “How would Jesus feel about this person right now?” Or in tough
situations I think, “This is not how Jesus would respond. What would he say
instead?” I tell you what, it has changed me.Of course, I am no expert at “being Jesus” but I can’t tell
you the number of times thinking along these lines has changed my heart towards
someone. It is humbling to realize how many icky thoughts I can think about
people and about how self serving I can really be. When I try to see someone like
Jesus would see them, my heart always crumbles a little bit more. </div>
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So, at the second water truck stop of the day last Friday
the thought just popped into my head, as it so often does, “I wonder what Jesus
would be doing if he were here right now?” And you know what? For the very
first time in my life I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would be
standing right beside me doing the very thing that I was doing. In fact, when I
realized that I almost felt as if I could see Jesus out of the corner of my
eye. If I turned my head just fast enough, maybe, just maybe I would catch a
glimpse of him. </div>
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There amongst filthy and unclothed humanity I had a holy
moment. </div>
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I couldn’t understand this for awhile. I think we can be like
Jesus wherever and whenever. Standing in 100 degree
weather in Haiti holding dirty children and handing out water is not the only way to be like Jesus.
Yes, Jesus does say in Matthew 25, </div>
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“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup>35 </sup>For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, <sup>36 </sup>I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.’</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup>37 </sup>“Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you something to drink? <sup>38 </sup>When did we see
you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? <sup>39 </sup>When
did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup>40 </sup>“The
King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
While this passage took on an entirely whole new meaning to me in
Haiti, providing people with basic needs when you have plenty and they are
in want is...well, it is a very humbling experience. However, Jesus also doesn’t say, “This is the
only way to be like me.” So I have been mulling over this for a week now. Why, in
that particular moment, did it seems so clear to me?<br />
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I think I figured it out today. It wasn’t because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> I was doing, it was because of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i> I was doing it. See, if I had run
across one of those kids standing naked and dirty down at the end of my block,
I probably would have called 911 so that someone could come and help me find
her parents. I did actually do that once when I was living in North Minneapolis. I wouldn’t have picked up anybody’s naked child but my own, and especially
not one with sores on her legs. I would have held her at arm’s length, if I had
touched her, or him, at all. But while I was standing there in Cite Soleil I
didn’t just let kids come up to me. I reached out to them. I picked them up. I
held them close, and hugged them, and kissed their cheeks, and loved them with
all the love that I had to offer in that moment. And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> was the difference. It was me. It was my heart. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I think that every time Jesus
encountered someone, whether they were in desperate need or not, he reached out
to them and loved them with all the love that he had to offer. He never cared
if they were dirty. He never cared if they were unlovely. He never cared if
they were clothed. He never cared if they were diseased. In that moment last week it was so clear to because I was able to put myself aside for awhile
and just love some kids who so desperately needed to be loved. I wasn't thinking about myself. I wasn't asking or hoping for anything in return. I was just pouring out what I had to offer, love. I got to love
those kids like Jesus would have loved them if he had been standing next to me, and that love mattered to them. I got to see those precious babies through his
eyes. And they were oh so beautiful. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-29348644580452151742013-05-16T13:59:00.000-07:002013-05-16T13:59:02.950-07:00HaitiI just spent several days in Haiti with an organization called Healing Haiti and now that I finally have time to sit down and write something I feel at a loss for words.<br />
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Being back at in Robbinsdale has been just a shock to my brain. For all the trips I've taken and the missions experiences that I have had, I don't think I've ever had such culture shock coming home. I've also never had my heart broken so many times in one week. I can't even count the number of times I have cried since last Tuesday. And then how to answer the simple question, "How was it?" </div>
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Well, the best answer I have to that is that it was simply heartbreaking. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuYaE_8zM8rAH2XVvRKRPBXjVX32rwpmKoGUQ9n-a7j5WSqgtNOMVSCWdwJF6c573iT1u3Seug21vNCV71yLVTjhaVutoa7M4QrNae6IlgLScAco3aRtwLso5ET4EE37gQwmgx4gepCt-/s1600/IMG_8417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuYaE_8zM8rAH2XVvRKRPBXjVX32rwpmKoGUQ9n-a7j5WSqgtNOMVSCWdwJF6c573iT1u3Seug21vNCV71yLVTjhaVutoa7M4QrNae6IlgLScAco3aRtwLso5ET4EE37gQwmgx4gepCt-/s400/IMG_8417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
When Steve and I were once planning to be missionaries to Poland a missions pastor and friend of ours said something along the lines of, "How can I give you that much money for a car and a washer and dryer when that much money would literally save lives in Haiti and Africa? If you can give me a good reason I'll give you the money, otherwise I'm going to use it to save some lives." We didn't have a good answer at the time and, to be honest, I didn't truly understand the full meaning of what he was saying. Yes, the souls in Poland need Jesus just as much as the souls do in Haiti, and could he really be saying that the money was better spent in Haiti? </div>
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That was a good 7 or 8 years ago and it was taken me this long and a trip to Haiti to understand. </div>
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There really are no words or pictures that can accurately describe what it is like to look at a tent city where 100+ people live in an area the size of my yard in makeshift homes made of pieces of tin, tarp, and bedsheets. Rocks and bricks hold the roof from blowing away and there is no running water and no toilets. Add to this picture a ground that is covered in trash and children who are only partially or maybe not clothed at all. There are tent cities that stretch on for blocks and miles. </div>
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I can't tell you what it is like to stand on the sacred ground of a mass grave where 300,000+ bodies were dumped by truckloads after the earthquake a few years ago. There was no room to bury them all. Every single Haitian can tell you the exact date of the earthquake and what they were doing when it happened. One guy I met was in a school with 300 other students. He left the building to get a drink of water and when he stepped outside the earthquake shook the building and everyone in it died, he was the only one who survived. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa72F8LEpi1KwtyfjZGssPK0sO9Ns9aNqqkqSXOVVWwovE_K2yehx7WuYou9lK6q_A5wV24ezjBAW56YZd9yCZ-KhjzyTAirnHeJ18S25BH5pRcdYPkCmXnZ__ruUR-dRkYuwuhgug1dE/s1600/IMG_8646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa72F8LEpi1KwtyfjZGssPK0sO9Ns9aNqqkqSXOVVWwovE_K2yehx7WuYou9lK6q_A5wV24ezjBAW56YZd9yCZ-KhjzyTAirnHeJ18S25BH5pRcdYPkCmXnZ__ruUR-dRkYuwuhgug1dE/s400/IMG_8646.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV2ndIffjOWP2aq6_jKk1wqcJXvzEXlhj19xx4arvXiMk077-rr9eCJ_Ig_vzQGrUpdBskkdBkwgUylZcRihJ_2kVBjfWGMS0ruZPye9okpEDC_gFtBVMUhJSOLnBa8ix5HvTeBgAYyKN/s1600/IMG_8744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV2ndIffjOWP2aq6_jKk1wqcJXvzEXlhj19xx4arvXiMk077-rr9eCJ_Ig_vzQGrUpdBskkdBkwgUylZcRihJ_2kVBjfWGMS0ruZPye9okpEDC_gFtBVMUhJSOLnBa8ix5HvTeBgAYyKN/s400/IMG_8744.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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These pictures don't describe what it is like to hug someone who <i>should</i> get hugged every day, several times a day, and doesn't. I hugged hundreds of kids who should know the love of a mother every single day and they don't. They are hugged and loved by the occasional white American who stops into their lives for an hour or so...I tried to make each hug count as much as possible. But I know that hugging my own children once or twice a day is not enough for them, and it's not enough for Haitian orphans either.<br />
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Cite Soleil is one of the most poor and dangerous places in the world and I went there last Wednesday to deliver water to its residents. They have no access to water, no toilets, and an estimated 400,000 people live in area smaller than North Minneapolis. We did three water truck runs that day, to three different areas of Cite Soleil. When we drove up to the first place my new friend Katie turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, "I don't think I can do this, tell me something good." I was silent and tears sprung into my eyes, I had nothing good to tell her. When I stepped off the truck a little girl older but smaller than my son leaped into my arms and would not let me put her down the entire time we were there. I held her and hugged her and tried not to cry. Before we left that water stop we took a little walk out onto a peninsula. Cite Soleil has, ironically, the beautiful turquoise Bahamas looking ocean at it's western edge. We walked out close enough to touch the salty water, but I didn't dare. The peninsula was made up of layers of mud, garbage, and manure. The kids who followed us out there walked over broken glass with their bare feet and didn't even flinch. I carefully picked my way over earth that was really more trash than dirt.Once we reached an open space we stood in a circle with all the children and sang, "God is so good, he's so good, he's so good." And the children sang, laughed, and danced with joy. And I tried not to sit down and sob.<br />
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I could tell you of so many other moments just like that where my mind was blown away and my heart ripped open, but I can't right now. Like I said, I've cried so much this past week already. All I can say is that I am glad that our friend took the money and sent it to Haiti. Because just maybe I saw some people, some precious souls who have no hope and who still need a chance to hear about Jesus, who were still alive because of his great heart. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-30898132524863440812013-04-26T12:47:00.001-07:002013-04-28T07:32:27.376-07:00Spring is Here<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Today is the first day of truly nice weather we have had all
year. It is 65 degrees or so –several degrees warmer than any other day this
year – and I finally get to open the windows that have remained motionless for
so many months. When I walk into rooms they smell different and feel different. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As I write this from my sunny backporch, Tryn is leaping
around the backyard singing, “It’s is finally SPRING! It is finally SPRING!
Favorite season, favorite season.” And Berlin, in a sleeveless dress, tights
and sparkle shoes, is marching around the yard chanting things about spring:
"Spring is here. Piper can be outside. All the time. Spring is here. Little baby
trees. And baby Jesus. We can have fun in the sun."</div>
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<br /></div>
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There is leaping, running, dancing and lots of singing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is glorious.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is even more glorious to me this spring as this winter will be remembered as a long one. Literally
and otherwise. The feeling that most of my world is feeling today, that
glorious realization that the days hoped for are finally here, I already waited
for once this year. The days of sickness in our house felt to me like a dark
winter with long awaited days of health. And it didn’t stop snowing until APRIL
23. It snowed several times in April in fact, after the winter with several months of
sickness. It really was a long winter. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ironically, Kye started coming down with a cold yesterday
and is in full blown cold and teething mode today. But it feels impossible to
be unhappy about anything. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spring is here. The long wait is finally over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are very excited. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-30038586182565423882013-04-16T07:17:00.000-07:002013-04-17T17:43:03.141-07:00Bigger Than Social Media<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I read another blog article the other day. The kind
where someone is calling me to stop using Instagram, stop getting on Facebook,
stop looking at Pinterest, and to stop reading blogs. You know the kind. If
only I stop using social media my life will be much fuller, better, fulfilled,
and more meaningful. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The problem is that I don’t think that minimizing my
usage or quitting is going to make me feel better about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I go on Pinterest and feel dissatisfied
because I see a picture of The Perfect Kitchen, will I suddenly start being
satisfied with everything I have if I never go back to Pinterest? If I’m on
Facebook and see that everyone and their mother has been on a vacation in the
past few months while I haven’t been on a vacation in the past couple of years,
will I suddenly start feeling better if I never go on Facebook? I think not. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I get the point. Sort of. If the good parts of all
of your friend’s lives are not right in your face whenever you are bored, you
might find yourself a little less unsatisfied a little more often. I agree that
real relationships cannot be built via the Internet. However, social media is
not the cause of the problem. It’s you. It’s me. It’s the status of our hearts.
If I get on Facebook or Pinterest and start feeling dissatisfied with my life
or hurt by people because of their careless comments about who knows what, who
is to blame? Facebook doesn’t cause me to be unhappy. And, to be honest,
neither do any of those people. They didn’t post their comment with me in mind,
trying to make me feel or be a certain way. No. It is just me. My response is
all my own. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The crux of the issue is not whether or not I have a
Facebook account, use Instagram, read blogs, or look at Pinterest. The question
is <i>did I wake up satisfied</i> today?<i> Did you wake up thankful</i> for the things that
you already have, for the blessings in your life? Did you give thanks for any
of the things that you have before you opened up your computer and jumped
online? Are you thankful that you are privileged enough to have a functional
kitchen in a warm house before you got on Pinterest found the picture of The
Perfect Kitchen? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you found enough satisfaction in the life that
you live and lead so that you don’t need to go on vacation to enjoy the life
that you already have? Don't get me wrong, I love to travel and see the world
as much as anybody else, truly. I LOVE to travel. Love. Then we had three kids
and decided to live on one income. But that didn’t negate the fact that I have
dreamed of going to go to Italy since I was a little girl. Then all of my
friends, and their friends, and the friends of friend’s acquaintances started
going to Italy/wherever without me. And I didn’t want to look at their pictures
online because they were doing something that was surely going to make me happy
and I couldn’t go. But I couldn’t just stop looking at the pictures online as a
remedy for my jealousy. What did that solve? I still saw friends, still heard
travel stories, still knew that people went on trips – all without the help of
social media. But after realizing that nobody I know has a more fulfilled life
because of their vacations, I started to really evaluate my need to travel.
Going to Italy wasn’t going to make my life better. Not to mention I am so
blessed to be living the life that I have, I should be able to be completely satisfied
and happy even if I never go to Italy or take another vacation ever. Italy sure
would be fun, but it’s an expensive and extravagant form of fun (that I am sure
I will partake of someday) that is not going to make me more Christ-like, more
satisfied, or more content with my everyday life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I am only asking myself the question, “Why do I
look at Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest when all it does is make me feel
unsatisfied?” I am really missing the question, “Have I found enough
satisfaction in the life that I live and lead so that I don’t need to go on
vacation to enjoy the life that I already have?” If I started to think that the
only time I could really be happy is when I was traveling or vacationing, of
course I was totally going to feel jealous or envious or dissatisfied every
time I saw someone’s travel pictures. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I am not fully living here, right where I am,
finding satisfaction with my everyday life and the things that I have, that is
not the fault of social media. It is the fault of my own ungrateful heart.
There is a reason why 1 Timothy 6:6 reads, “Godliness with contentment is great
gain.” Being a follower of Christ and being content do not go hand in hand. If
Eve had been content in the garden do you think she would have eaten the forbidden
fruit? Being discontent and dissatisfied are at the core of our sinful selves,
cutting out social media won’t fix that. If I think about how Jesus would live
a life here, in the midst of social media and all that we have, I am not sure
what Jesus would think. Personally, I don’t think Jesus would be campaigning to
get everyone off Facebook . Instead I think he would call us all to examine our
own hearts, to figure out why we feel dissatisfied or unhappy, and to change
our hearts first of all. If changing our hearts resulted in less FB
interactions, less Instagramming, and less computer time in general – well,
great! I think he would just be calling us to live more Christ centered lives,
and if we did all of those other things would become a little bit more
irrelevant.</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday Berlin was in the middle of yet another fever. She
had fallen asleep on the couch and so Steve carried her upstairs and put her to
bed. When she woke up she was really warm, like 103.7 warm. Steve gave her some
medicine and I got a cold wash cloth to put on her forehead to try to bringing
her fever down a little. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steve left and I laid down next to Berlin and put the cloth
on her face. She peeked open her eyes to see what I was doing. Suddenly her
eyes filled with tears. I ask her what’s wrong. Nothing. I ask her again. She said
I don’t know. It was like a game of Twenty Questions only I am sure we went
well beyond twenty. Something was clearly wrong and she either did not know
what it was or did not want to tell me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally I asked if she was worried. Yes, she said. Really?
Yes. Okay, well, what are you worried about? I don’t know. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We began to repeat Twenty Questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I remembered. Last week I rearranged the living room. More
like spring cleaned and rearranged the living room, which took most of one
whole day. Part of that time I had Little Women playing on the TV for
background noise. Well, Beth, one of the sisters, gets
scarlet fever and then later dies from it. All they show is her lying fevered
in bed, and being cooled with a wash cloth to her forehead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh. Oh my. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sweetie, are you afraid you are going to die? With tears
still falling and ragged scared breaths Berli nodded yes. Like she did in the
movie last week? Another nod. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dear sweet sensitive girl. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not if I can help it. And
definitely not today from this fever. I promise, promise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, still tired with her fever, I tried to convince Berli
it would be a good idea to take a nap. This is like trying to tell a cat that
it would be fun to take a bath. You know how that goes. Berlin is calmer than a
cat in her response, but the answer is still the same: Heck no.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could tell she was tired though. Her fever was 100.2-101.6
all day, which would make anyone tired. Then I finally got it. Berlin is our
child who was hard to potty train. The reason being that she was always
having way too much fun to even think about going to the bathroom. This
resulted in many races to the toilet to see if we could make it in time and
ever so many accidents, some while we were just trying to get pants off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, after 5 years, I finally realized why
Berlin doesn’t like to nap. Why didn’t I see this before? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ask, are you worried about missing something fun? She
doesn’t even answer. Her whole face just changes and she suddenly lets her real tired show. Her eyes fill up with tears in a way that only I
understand because I am her mother and she gets that from me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I promise that we will not do anything at all fun will
you please take a nap? A slow nod yes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, good. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
I'm glad that has been figured out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLRIsx67Gy_bYyUgA9f4iWzFij2O_G7J1wRTIRee2hS6s8Gd_ieue55V1YNmeKhtIYjhKuAlaDa_gwCRvUj_Zz3wFtO2qxKXDM_43ZvBm6o2Tr4Z6RKXz1MHp2Xv6avyDUuhBCnKG3e1e/s1600/Berli+and+me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLRIsx67Gy_bYyUgA9f4iWzFij2O_G7J1wRTIRee2hS6s8Gd_ieue55V1YNmeKhtIYjhKuAlaDa_gwCRvUj_Zz3wFtO2qxKXDM_43ZvBm6o2Tr4Z6RKXz1MHp2Xv6avyDUuhBCnKG3e1e/s1600/Berli+and+me.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-40311380476973848582013-03-15T08:06:00.002-07:002013-03-15T08:06:42.110-07:00My Long Winter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
111 days. That’s how many days it has been since
Thanksgiving. Out of those 111 days I think that someone has been sick in this
house for all but maybe 10 of those days. The only days I can literally
remember not one of us being sick was from Christmas Day to New Years Day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
101 days of sickness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The person most sick has been Kye, which, for obvious
reasons, is the hardest. He is a 21 month old boy. He is active, rambunctious,
learning to test me and test his limits, and so very busy. Over the past 111 days
he has also added a lot of whining and picky eating to his repertoire of
descriptors. He used to be my best eater, but sick kids are finicky and when
they are sick for almost 111 days straight they live and breathe pickiness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although I have nothing to contend with Laura Ingalls, this
is my version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Long Winter</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve had my own sickness during this time, starting with the
flu, two other stomach bugs, two colds, and a bout of pink eye that lasted for
6 days and was then followed by a weeklong head stuffy cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seriously. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometime back in January I said, “This has to be it. We have
gotten all the illnesses there are to get, right? I think we are done being
sick.” That was more than 60 days of sickness ago. Now I have been taking care of sick kids for 111 days, not to
mention homeschooling for the first time, trying to keep Heidi Haines
Photography up and running, and all the general household upkeep and trying to
make healthy food for my family. I am tired. And just a little bit discouraged. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in January I wrote a post about how God has been good
to me. I still firmly believe that, but you want to know what else I have also
discovered since then? Seeing God at work in my life has more to do with me
that it does with anything else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know this because I learned it the hard way. In February,
after some 80ish days of sickness, I got really tired, so tired and discouraged
that I didn’t care anymore. I stopped acknowledging God’s blessings in my life,
I stopped saying thank you, I stopped being grateful. God did not change during
this time. He didn’t stop being the same consistent, faithful God that He is
without fail. The only thing that changed was me. I got burnt out on sick life
and stopped looking around me - I started to only look at myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Want to know what happened? I became icky to be around. I
was crabby, every day felt so hard, and even Steve, who loves me like no other,
didn’t have much tolerance for me. To be honest, I didn’t have much
tolerance for me either. I think the only people who actually wanted to be
around me during that time were my kids, bless their little hearts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all this, I finally have an answer to the one inquiry
that was posted in response to that blog that I wrote back in January. The Lord
was good to me last year, so good. BUT, He has been good to me every year. Yes,
lots of years were harder for me than last year, but that has nothing to do
with God. What changed is that I changed last year. I spent the entire year
being thankful and grateful on a daily basis, saying out loud, “Jesus, I am SO
thankful for my kids, I am so grateful for my house, I love my
neighborhood, I am so thankful for ______” I acknowledged Jesus in my life and
I acknowledged my blessings every day. And I felt SO blessed, not because Jesus
was blessing me more, but just because I was being thankful and I was content. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are still not done being sick. Two days ago Berlin went
sledding and her face connected with a chunk of ice after a full speed jaunt
down the hill. She looks like someone took a 2x4 to the left side of her face. The
scariest moments in parenthood are the ones when you realize that your kids
will have accidents and there is nothing you can do to stop it. She could have
been hurt so much worse and it was so scary. I still feel a little sick when I think about what could have happened. The next day Kye woke up with yet
another fever. After our second trip to the doctor in one week I was told that
he either has pneumonia or is just getting another cold. You have GOT to be
kidding me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although this is completely discouraging, the one thing that
I will not forget this week is to say, “The Lord has been good to me.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lord has been good to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the emotionally longest winter I have had in years,
the Lord has not changed. He is faithful, He is consistent, He loves me, He is
at work in my life, and He sees me. <i>He sees me.</i> Yes, my kids have been sick for a long,
long time, but there is still so much good in my life. So much to be thankful for.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lord has been so good
to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Small disclaimer: I actually started this blog on Tuesday,
when it was 111 days. Today it makes 114 days.)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-83950464740205171962013-03-14T08:37:00.001-07:002013-03-14T08:37:33.104-07:00Happy Birthday BerlinBerlin,<br />
<br />
You turned five!! I can not tell you what a
joy the past five years have been to have you a part of our lives. You
bring so much life and light and happiness to our family. <br />
<br />
One
of the things that I love most about you is your passion for life. That
combined with your happy, content, easy going attitude about most
everything makes you dynamic in a great way. You are a wonderful, happy,
bubbly, energetic, sweet, sensitive, helpful, loving little girl and
you have captured my heart. <br />
<br />
I love that you still
call me Mama and that you still say "later ago" when you are talking
about the past. I love that you like to make people laugh, you are still
a good story teller. I love that you are the last of my babies to fall
asleep every night and the last to wake up every morning. You are a good
friend and good at making new friends. I like that you find your own
things to do and love outside of what your siblings are doing, that you
don't feel that pressure to be like everyone else.<br />
<br />
For
your birthday we had a treasure hunt to find your very own (plastic) bow
and arrow. I never would have guess that could be the best present my
five year old girlie could get, but this might be your favorite birthday
for a few years to come. You have never loved a present more. We also
had some of your girlfriends over to do some crafts with you. You love
(love, love, love, love, love) to do crafts and projects and be with
friends, so it was all around pretty great. It was a good day. <br />
<br />
You are treasured and loved deeply by Daddy and me.<br />
<br />
Love, Mama <br />
<br />
<br />
The questions we asked you.<br />
<br />
Favorite color: Purple <br />
<br />
Favorite food: Chicken from the rooster (chicken on the bone) and the chicken that I like (homemade sweet and sour chicken)<br />
<br />
Favorite dessert: Ice Cream<br />
<br />
Favorite thing to do: To go to the beach and to play with Ava and Tryn<br />
<br />
Favorite game: Hide and Go Seek<br />
<br />
Favorite toy: New Brave dress and bow and arrows<br />
<br />
Favorite movie: Brave <br />
<br />
Favorite song: Brave soundtrackAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-91132112242869318482013-02-02T12:36:00.003-08:002013-02-02T12:36:53.443-08:00Dreams Do Come True<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I tried posting these pictures shortly after Christmas, really. I did. Twice. Only I have a super special computer that likes to do really special things like freeze up and not upload pictures. Special. So, sorry to be posting these pictures in February, I know, Christmas is <i>way</i> over. </div>
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I wanted to post these pictures because I think this was the most beautiful Christmas tree we ever had. Don't you think it's pretty?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cKymSOUCgtobErEsNu5T_xtZcDqY6xb7OQJYIvHK10Zpm8RLlzp0djxuw4MEKs-Gp0xRrovZUxycvUxXd50YA41SFSQ2DX63-i1r9vU7n2duG_e5LKAFdGY77Lic5Qpl8lTwVcGrAAIN/s1600/IMG_5482.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cKymSOUCgtobErEsNu5T_xtZcDqY6xb7OQJYIvHK10Zpm8RLlzp0djxuw4MEKs-Gp0xRrovZUxycvUxXd50YA41SFSQ2DX63-i1r9vU7n2duG_e5LKAFdGY77Lic5Qpl8lTwVcGrAAIN/s640/IMG_5482.JPG" width="426" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMQkkhhr9oqb6QgwINVeJrxVo9KchVGSwU5xnILVFDH3nEk6-yKCy7bRjXWP3RLpfqdKzcWOxh7ELDt_P7K_oQhrgFb8Xlq8avKoJi_nijzis9Cbk1rKMOK9JNX8uN0ZouWAdZWiCJGNV/s1600/IMG_5488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMQkkhhr9oqb6QgwINVeJrxVo9KchVGSwU5xnILVFDH3nEk6-yKCy7bRjXWP3RLpfqdKzcWOxh7ELDt_P7K_oQhrgFb8Xlq8avKoJi_nijzis9Cbk1rKMOK9JNX8uN0ZouWAdZWiCJGNV/s640/IMG_5488.JPG" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMQkkhhr9oqb6QgwINVeJrxVo9KchVGSwU5xnILVFDH3nEk6-yKCy7bRjXWP3RLpfqdKzcWOxh7ELDt_P7K_oQhrgFb8Xlq8avKoJi_nijzis9Cbk1rKMOK9JNX8uN0ZouWAdZWiCJGNV/s1600/IMG_5488.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Not only that, but there were two things that were especially exciting to me this past holiday. One was this mirror. How exciting is a mirror? Not very, I know. BUT, Steve and I bought this mirror at a garage sale about 4 years ago in hopes that we would have the right kind of house to put it in someday. It's an old mirror, antique and vintage looking, and it would only look really good in the right kind of house. We bought the mirror and said to each other, "Hopefully we will have the right kind of house to put this in someday." And now we do. We finally hung it up and it fits here perfectly. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-MyDalIOZuGRJ3w5OaazobwILoombUmcV7yUCc6Uy2WG-MR_6KJ9WelIRxl1locHdlMgNTyabHEqk-uht9CFZJpl38vE9P-Jr1xS90LAUme2-yKvYnpiwt7AnU7pXoeE7cGgF7jr1_qx/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-MyDalIOZuGRJ3w5OaazobwILoombUmcV7yUCc6Uy2WG-MR_6KJ9WelIRxl1locHdlMgNTyabHEqk-uht9CFZJpl38vE9P-Jr1xS90LAUme2-yKvYnpiwt7AnU7pXoeE7cGgF7jr1_qx/s640/IMG_5525.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
The second really exciting thing is that I have always dreamed of having a fireplace in my house. Ever since I was a little girl I thought it would just be the most wonderful thing to have a nice cozy fireplace for cold winter nights, of course with snow falling softly outside. And stockings. Stockings are meant to be hung by the chimney with care and where do you hang stockings without a chimney?! Lots of places, I'm sure, but this year I got to hang stockings by my chimney with care and it was magical.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYC2xVULI8G9HamAOXO6GlOitC2WAMojbZQMOTyUx-3VpycmK8u3ohajIo0b8Z-OKksqd_BTEbZF-ofyXzHgLsH3JwPTaTJRsOlCwRPvq504nApRUrFNbD-FB-8WurH9cjUPFQ_UBghZ/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYC2xVULI8G9HamAOXO6GlOitC2WAMojbZQMOTyUx-3VpycmK8u3ohajIo0b8Z-OKksqd_BTEbZF-ofyXzHgLsH3JwPTaTJRsOlCwRPvq504nApRUrFNbD-FB-8WurH9cjUPFQ_UBghZ/s640/IMG_5430.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
So, that's all. I just wanted to acknowledge that sometimes dreams really do come true, even the little ones that don't matter. Little things like stockings by the fireplace and the perfect place to hang the right mirror are not necessary to survive in this world, but they were my dreams all the same. I am so thankful for these small unnecessary blessings in my life. It could just be coincidental, but it sure feels like Someone noticed my dreams, that Someone cared. I think Someone did. Not because I deserve it, but just because I am Loved. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJo9A5-JE1Q2O98ccyha1mWgxo42-kTCIk94RZW7uk5P-Ozf-0nvyXL6HnbqmZTjfeymIGZtNlXOv_g1s11gklpL6A5vHNYiKsMgY6StJsEm6j-69Vn7n6_XJ216YKD9jzki7c74IXoGb/s1600/IMG_5458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJo9A5-JE1Q2O98ccyha1mWgxo42-kTCIk94RZW7uk5P-Ozf-0nvyXL6HnbqmZTjfeymIGZtNlXOv_g1s11gklpL6A5vHNYiKsMgY6StJsEm6j-69Vn7n6_XJ216YKD9jzki7c74IXoGb/s640/IMG_5458.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Continually thankful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-25996148905739902592013-01-15T14:09:00.002-08:002013-01-15T14:09:48.775-08:00BlahThat's how I'm mostly feeling these days. Blah.<br />
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In my Thanksgiving post I mentioned that we had gotten the flu over Turkey Day. Now add to that two different colds (one immediately following the flu and the other just a week and a half ago, that one complete with fever and everything), some random fevers with the kids, and some sort of stomach bug that Tryn and Kye had last week that I now have this week. Oh, not to mention that I couldn't walk very well for a week because of my back. <br />
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This has been the worst winter for sickness ever! I literally think someone has been sick in this house with some sort of something since Thanksgiving Day. There may have been a day or two where we were totally healthy, but I honestly can't remember those days. The irony of it all is that last winter Tryn was actually going out of the house for school 5 days a week and being exposed to many more germs than our homeschooled selves have been this year.<br />
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Last week, when I was already tired of all this sickness, I accidentally wished that we could have a few more good snowfalls before spring (and it RAINED here, like a lot, last week!). I'm retracting that wish and am now wishing for Spring to arrive ASAP. Along with that wish, I also want to clarify that I would like Spring to force Winter to take all the yucky sickness with it.<br />
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I keeping thinking, "Okay, now we've had everything. We can't catch anything else, can we?" And it seems that there are just 100's of sicknesses waiting to infest our bodies and take over the world. Ahem.<br />
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I will stop my rampage now. I will stop complaining. I'm just tired of being sick and being surrounded by sick people. <br />
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Bring on Spring! Or else, take me on vacation. :) Either one will do. <br />
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On to more positive things. Time to, hopefully, put this all this sickness behind us. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-13944166616776402192013-01-08T08:26:00.001-08:002013-01-08T08:26:56.010-08:00The Year and Psalm 116<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am feeling incredi<span style="font-size: small;">bl<span style="font-size: small;">y thankful and blessed these days. In <span style="font-size: small;">light of the N<span style="font-size: small;">ew Year and re<span style="font-size: small;">flect<span style="font-size: small;">ing </span>over the past year, I realized that this is the first year that I can remember where I spent N<span style="font-size: small;">ew Year's Eve celebrating the previous year.<span style="font-size: small;"> Usually I spend New Year's <span style="font-size: small;">Eve thinking about things I w<span style="font-size: small;">ish I could have done differently, thinking about past decisions, trying not to regret what I haven't gotten done, and just feeling anxious in general. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This year though<span style="font-size: small;">...this <span style="font-size: small;">time I <span style="font-size: small;">just feel so excited about the ways that Steve and I changed and grew last year. I feel so thankful for the things that we learned, the hard things we dealt with. <span style="font-size: small;">I did a lot, I grew a<span style="font-size: small;"> lot, and it was a good year. I<span style="font-size: small;">t wasn't just an easy year. We had some definite hard moments, defining moments, and it still was a lot of work. However, <i>the Lord has been good to me</i>. </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <span style="font-size: small;">thing that I have realized is that in all my floundering, all my good and bad decisions, all the things I should have done differently, all the ways I <span style="font-size: small;">could have be<span style="font-size: small;">en better, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the Lord has been good to me</i>. Despite myself </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the Lord has been good to me</i>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I called on the Lord, and <span style="font-size: small;">He <span style="font-size: small;">heard my voice and answered my call. And though that doesn't make life perfect or everything bad go away, it sure makes the journey a lot more <span style="font-size: small;">manageable</span>. Exciting even. I can see the ways that God has worked in our live<span style="font-size: small;">s this year and I can<span style="font-size: small;"> confi<span style="font-size: small;">dently say that good things really do come from God. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Lord has been good to me.</i> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-116-1" id="en-NIV-15850">Psalm 116</span></h3>
<div class="poetry">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-116-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>I love the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, for he heard my voice;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-1">he heard my cry for mercy.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-116-2" id="en-NIV-15851"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Because he turned his ear to me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-2">I will call on him as long as I live.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-116-3" id="en-NIV-15852"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>The cords of death entangled me,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-3">the anguish of the grave came over me;</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-3">I was overcome by distress and sorrow.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-116-4" id="en-NIV-15853"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Then I called on the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>:</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-4">“<span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, save me!”</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-116-5" id="en-NIV-15854"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is gracious and righteous;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-5">our God is full of compassion.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-116-6" id="en-NIV-15855"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> protects the unwary;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-6">when I was brought low, he saved me.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-05">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-116-7" id="en-NIV-15856"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Return to your rest, my soul,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-116-7">for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has been good to you.</span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-25308488750596035642013-01-03T08:37:00.001-08:002013-01-03T08:37:38.519-08:00My Year...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love to do this at the end of every year, it's my favorite New Year's tradition. It's maybe actually my only New Year's tradition :) The reason I FB all the funny things that my kids say during the year is so that I have them written down somewhere. It's easier to organize them into a compilation at the end of the year this way. Although, "My Year in Status" app has not been updated since last year and it is still extremely tedious. But totally worth it because someday the kids will be able to read these. And for now I will read these. And laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. I love my kids and our life together. :) </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-19205410626749138872012-12-12T14:11:00.001-08:002012-12-12T14:12:54.088-08:00Oh, Turkeyland and Christmas TreeI for sure thought this blog was not going to happen today. And then my lower back, which will forever hate me for making it bear the weight of three children, decided to flare up again. It does this from time to time. It got progressively worse with each pregnancy until with the last one the problem never completely went away. I am not sure what the problem is exactly, but it makes me hobble around the house and I can barely pick up Kye. Or bend over to pick up anything for that matter.<br />
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So, instead of cleaning my house for my ladies group tonight I am doing things like soaking my back in hot water and sitting on the couch...and blogging. It so happens that this morning Kye discovered for me that a mouse had chewed a hole into my rice bag hot pad. Not only do I not get to use the hot pad on my back today, Kye also decided to evenly distribute a layer of rice all over the living room floor for me first thing this morning. I did get some vacuuming done today too, I guess.<br />
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I have digressed.<br />
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Turkeyland. I love Thanksgiving. I say that every year and I will say it again. I LOVE THANKSGIVING. For so many reasons that you can probably find on my previous posts about Turkey Day. I just wanted to highlight on the fact that for the third year in a row someone has had the flu around here on Thanksgiving.<br />
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Isn't that terrible? On one of my most favorite holidays.<br />
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Actually, two of the years it has been me. This year and two years ago I had the flu - and I got it on Thanksgiving Day after completing meal preparations. Two years ago I actually ate the whole meal and felt fine until a few hours later. This time I didn't feel awesome from the start, realized something was up when I sat down for dinner and didn't want to eat it any of that yummy food, and then fully realized what was going on a few hours later when Berlin threw up on me and in front of our guests. Oh my.<br />
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Last year it was our friend Dave who was over for Thanksgiving who ended up getting the flu by the end of that day. And this year we so nicely gave him our flu so that he had it a few days after Thanksgiving this time.<br />
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All that to say, we didn't get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving this year like we always do. Even when I had the flu two years ago we went out and got the tree because I was the only one who was sick and I didn't want to give up our tradition. This year, however, both of the girls were the most sick and so we stayed home and went that Monday instead. <br />
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Berlin will forever love to be outside, no matter what the weather is like. <br />
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Kyeson, on the other hand, pretty much hates winter right now. I've said before that he really loves to be comfortable. Well, picture him as the living example of the little brother from "A Christmas Story" who gets bundled up and can't put his arms down. That's Kye in his snow gear. And it makes him so mad. <br />
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I totally get why he is uncomfortable. Take this for example. He sees a stick on the ground that he gets excited about and, naturally, he wants to pick it up. <br />
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Well, imagine bending over to pick up that stick and then just slowly falling forward until your forehead is resting on the ground and you literally can't move. You are stuck because your mom and dad put so much clothes on you, and you can't get up. That would make me mad too. Shhh. Don't tell, but we laughed really hard about this one. :)<br />
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If that were me, I would probably sit down and have a fit in the middle of the tree field too. Especially if I sat down and couldn't get up again. <br />
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The perfect tree!! <br />
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Cutest little girlies ever!!!! <br />
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Oh, we just love Christmastime around here. :) <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-6589117692119390852012-12-11T11:12:00.000-08:002012-12-11T11:12:04.854-08:00Life on This Tuesday MorningApparently having three mobile children, homeschooling, starting a photography business, trying to work on a substantial writing project, and starting a women's small group have been the death of my blog this fall.<br />
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I am pleased to say that the photography business is going swimmingly and I am about as busy as I can handle being right now. In fact, a few weeks ago I had a few photo sessions every week and, while the sessions themselves only take two hours at most, I was feeling totally swamped with all the editing and website updating that needed to get done. I had to slow things down a bit so that I could feel like I was actually going to enjoy the holidays. <br />
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Lately most days are spent trying to keep the house from looking like three little tornadoes live here instead of three sweet little kiddos. There are lots of crafts, painting, coloring, book writing, and toy time going on and those things all involve lots of mess and clean up. The kids are having a great time and I feel really excited about the fun childhood that they are having...I just need a vacation from feeling like I am constantly cleaning the same things over and over. And over and over and over again. Haha!! I am totally blessed beyond measure. I just need to train the dog to pick up toys maybe. :) <br />
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Also, having a one and a half year old little boy is so much different than when I had one and a half year old little girls. I have to keep an ever watchful eye on that little guy because he is constantly doing things he is not supposed to be doing. Such as finding the one marker that the girls missed picking up and carrying it around the house with the lid off. Daily true story. I also can barely type a sentence on the computer without little fingers getting in my way and trying to push as many buttons as possible in a 5 second time span. Maybe a solid reason I don't have much time to actually write a blog anymore.<br />
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Anyway, this morning Berlin inspired me to pull out my camera and I ended up taking a bunch of pictures of Life on This Tuesday Morning. <br />
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Yes, the little man child still uses a pacifier. No judgements. AND, the little bugger had a fit every time I pointed my camera at him so I have all blurry pictures of him. Bummer. <br />
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A new development in our house is that I let the girls watch "First Position" over the weekend. It's a documentary on Netflix about kid ballet dancers. It's really interesting, especially for anyone (such as myself) who wishes that they could be a dancer in another life. :) Well, the girls just thought it was about the coolest thing and since they have worn their dance outfits constantly. I'm not kidding. I even discovered this morning that Berlin had her dance outfit from yesterday on underneath her footie pj's and she slept in it all night. They have them on underneath their clothes right now that they put on to go play in the snow. I have seen so many "dance shows" since this weekend. <br />
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That's all. If I find a few more minutes to blog tomorrow I might post the "getting the tree" pictures that I just discovered are still on my camera...but...we'll see. :) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-85192793090247519622012-11-10T13:43:00.002-08:002012-11-10T13:43:41.894-08:00ProjectlandI love to do projects. Mainly I just love to be creative and make things and so when I say I like to do projects it's kind of like saying I like arts and craft time. But a little bit more then that. I posted this picture on Instagram of a project that Steve and I decided to do when he had some time off a few weeks back.<br />
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Piano stairs. Heck yes. <br />
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A year ago when we moved into this house I undertook the project of "fireplace art". I thought why buy something for above the fireplace when I could <i>make</i> something? It took me awhile to make it. To be fair, Steve told me it was going to take me awhile to make it and I said, "Pssh. No way!" It DID take me awhile to make it though, haha!! The four pieces of art represent us and our story, but you'd have to see them in person to really get it and see the detail. Anyway, I am happy with the way it turned out. <br />
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And most recently was this project. Let me tell you, Pinterest is full of awesome ideas but they are not all what they seem. This seemingly super easy Pinterest project idea took me <i>days</i> to finish when I thought it would take a few hours. I am happy with result and the super large piece of art for our upstairs hallway that only cost about $20 to make...but I was almost in tears a few times during the making of said project due to the amount of hours put in vs. some really annoying results and redos that took place. I won't tell you the whole story, but I did actually write a comment on the blog where I found this idea to warn others about what they were getting into. :) <br />
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Anyway, I like projectland, even when it doesn't go exactly the way that I think it will. My next project is probably going to involve a really old window that I found at a garage sale that I have sitting out in the garage. Just waiting for the right inspiration about what exactly to do with the window...I'm open to suggestions. Even Pinterest ideas. :) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-90243115222633536002012-11-02T20:31:00.000-07:002012-11-10T13:54:21.764-08:00Man ChildAlright. I haven't written an update on Kye's progress as a human being in a long time. He has changed so much and has developed so much more of his personality in the past few months!<br />
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First of all, I am pretty sure he gets away with <i>sooooo</i> much more than the girls ever did. I guess that's what comes from being the baby of the family. Even tonight I was noticing that he doesn't listen as well as they did at that age, but I think that's because we don't enforce it as much. I told him to "come here" and he ran away and hid in the corner and would not come out. I remember the girls doing the same thing when they were younger, but I never let them get away with it. Tonight I decided I better not let him get away with it anymore either.<br />
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Kye is getting more and more verbal, but I've noticed that if I ask him to say a new word in a normal voice he won't always try. However, sometimes I can get him to say new things in a whisper. He will say "up" all the time if I whisper it to him, but he has only said it out loud one time ever. A few nights ago we were all sitting at the table, Steve and the girls were working on a puzzle and Kye was sitting on my lap. He was quietly playing with some plastic toy playdough scissors and so I whispered in his ear, "Can you say scissors?" And he whispered back, "Scissis." I was totally surprised. All in whispers he said mama, dada, Piper, scissors, ball, baby, oh boy! (which sounds like oh biya!) outside, all done, up, thank you (which also totally surprised me because Tryn, our earliest verbal child, couldn't say thank you until she was almost two years old) and he tries really hard to say Berlin. He still won't try saying Tryn yet. Oh, and the way that he communicates that he wants Mr. Monkey, his bff, is making a little sound that is similar to the sound that Piper makes when she is whimpering. So when he is looking for his monkey he walks around making little whimpering sounds with his soft chubby hands turned palms up with a quizzical look on his face and it just melts my heart every time.<br />
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Oh, haha!! Also, Kye loooooves his dad. As soon as Steve gets home from work Kye wants to be where ever his dad is or do whatever he is doing. If Steve is in a different part of the house, say going upstairs to change clothes, Kye will either have a fit because he didn't get to tag along OR he will stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell, "DADA! DA! Dada!" until Steve answers him. The yelling parts, not the fits, are hilarious. <br />
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One of my most favorite things right now is the fact that he has realized that he can communicate that he wants to be picked up, even though he won't say "up" out loud. What he does instead is he comes up to me and lifts up his arms and then with all of his little might and energy he lifts his body as much as he can. He gets all the way up onto his toes, as if stretching and reaching for me with all his might is going to lift him right off the ground into my arms. It's too darn cute.<br />
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He also loves to be outside (what boy doesn't?!), loves to play upstairs in his big sister's room, loves music, has started dancing or clapping when he hears his favorite songs, loves to be at home (as in gets stressed when we spend the night elsewhere and is never more happy than when we come home after being away for a few days), loves trucks and getting into anything (especially markers) that his sister's leave laying around, and he loves food. Well, he loves food that he likes. He still won't eat many veggies, but gosh this little boy can sure eat a lot when he likes what he is eating!<br />
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He is changing all the time, but one thing still remains the same. He is still The Most Loved Boy in the World. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-82307414631149824322012-10-25T11:34:00.000-07:002012-10-25T11:34:33.224-07:00The Last MonthYikes. Blog neglect at it's finest.<br />
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My very, very, very good reason is that I have been spending a LOT of time working. Yes, actually working. For a long time I was saying that I was trying to start a business, now I think I can officially say that I have started a business.<br />
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Heidi Haines Photography.<br />
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You can check out the site that has been getting a lot more of my attention that this blog: <a href="http://www.heidihainesphotography.com/">Heidi Haines Photography. </a>It has been a lot of work to pull together and I didn't even do it all myself. Thankfully I had some wonderful help from someone who doesn't feel like HTML code is a second language. Anyway, I have also been pretty busy with photo sessions and editing. I love it because I get to be creative and get out of the house a little bit!<br />
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If you're interested in a session, contact me!<br />
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Also, Steve managed to have almost two weeks off from work and so we were also staycationing, relaxing, and getting other projects done too. One of my favorite things that we did was this:<br />
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Piano stairs!! I am also really excited about two different projects that are still in the works and so I don't have pictures of them yet. Stay tuned. <br />
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But, I do need to write an update blog about Kye because he has changed a ton and it just one of the cutest little things ever right now, so...back to blogging!! <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-84713622390765489572012-09-22T16:00:00.000-07:002012-09-22T16:00:02.877-07:00Beach Time? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our nature walk through state parkland we found this beach which I officially vote Most Real Sand Sandy Beach in all of Minnesota, right there on the river. The kids loved it. It was like a huge awesome sandbox...or like being at the beach except <i>way</i> too cold to actually be at the beach. </div>
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First of all, I love this picture!! It makes me laugh! What a cute family I have. </div>
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And Kyeson, who spends most of our walking/hiking time strapped to Steve's back in a backpack, got to get out. Which he LOVED. "Look Mom! I got sand on my feet!"</div>
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Instead of footprints in the sand, this is what it looks like when you can't walk down a sandy hill but scooch a gimpy crawl down the hill.<br />
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And, haha!! This picture also makes me laugh! I wish you could tell what this hill was like from the picture, but Kye was trying to stand up to make another walk attempt through the sand and got off balance because of the incline. At first I thought he was just doing his "look through the legs" thing, but then realized he wasn't when he started getting mad because he couldn't lift up his head because it was too heavy at that angle. Haha!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083520284861986281.post-16920983998652705552012-09-22T07:30:00.000-07:002012-09-22T07:30:01.072-07:00My Hearts <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First there was one. </div>
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Then there were two. </div>
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And now, now there are three. </div>
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Oh, my sweet babies. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15255393018087947530noreply@blogger.com0