tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57517503139511098812024-02-07T13:49:26.072-05:00Following Where He Leads...jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.comBlogger1282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-82436871041981761382018-01-26T14:37:00.003-05:002018-01-26T14:50:38.827-05:00G-man is 6!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This...is a happy boy.<br />
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This...is also a SIX-Year old boy! <i>HOW can that be?</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the birthday card Lao Lao and Papa sent him</td></tr>
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Gabriel's love of drums has not abated. We gave him a little kid's set for Christmas when he was 2...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It physically hurts my heart - like I feel it squeezing - when I look at this and see how impossibly little he was here.</td></tr>
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...but it was time to move him up to a real drum "kit". (I have learned lots of drum lingo...but I am sure there is still lots to learn!)</div>
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The night before Gabriel's birthday, Jason set the kit up in our family room, so G would see it first thing in the morning when he awoke.<br />
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We had to google how to set up all the different pieces of a kit. Where does the floor tom go? How about the crash cymbal? And the ride cymbal? And the hi-hat? And WHERE is the snare supposed to be situated?<br />
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Jas and I were up early (it was a Saturday), itching for G to wake up and see his new drums!</div>
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But he slept in some, still recovering from a nasty bug. (He was the 5th of 6 children to get sick...we think it was the flu.)</div>
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We covered the kit up with multiple blankets, but apparently didn't do a good enough job, and from the top of the stairs G started giggling excitedly. </div>
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But when he came down he got more somber.</div>
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And then he was oh-so-serious for the next HOUR while he played non-stop. </div>
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Yes, he slipped onto that "throne" (and here I had been calling it a "stool", silly me!)...and played away for an hour.</div>
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I tried to get him to smile for me for some pictures...but he wouldn't have much of that.</div>
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The kit is now situated in the garage, where it is (a little) more quiet. But it is so neat to still be able to hear him playing his little heart out.</div>
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He was born with this <i>in him.</i></div>
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It is so amazing to see how all the children are different...all have their unique talents, giftings and interests...from the Lord.<br />
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We pray that Gabriel uses drumming - along with everything else in him - to praise the Lord!<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-40487539731746949892017-12-21T18:13:00.001-05:002017-12-21T18:15:19.824-05:00Nice and Clean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Nice" and "clean" are normally two words that I love to hear.</div>
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But not when they are said by multiple medical providers at an urgent care and E.R. about a cut on my daughter's leg! Eek! </div>
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(Well, except that a "nice and clean" cut is way better than a jagged, yuck cut!)</div>
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Lily Kay (who is our current kitchen-trash-taker-outer) was letting Abigail "help" her by holding the big, full trash bag. </div>
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"Look how strong Abigail is!" </div>
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As I turned around from the stove to admire my strong 3-year old, Abigail dropped the bag...and landed on top of it.</div>
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She immediately cried out, as she rolled off the bag to sit on the kitchen floor. </div>
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When I saw the cut right through her jammie bottoms, I knew we were in trouble. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLG0kcUIYQVenObuzwWl93-ORfpDOJO_bWRmUZqVR_eqsef59WrapYEXRpoLAPc-KBQBjzsCHnFh8N4nbz__sviH8uQZ31XjAgJBphMHFg5K9kXUOImPANoJWIJlk-iVfUwhfD4vUZVA/s1600/IMG_4242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLG0kcUIYQVenObuzwWl93-ORfpDOJO_bWRmUZqVR_eqsef59WrapYEXRpoLAPc-KBQBjzsCHnFh8N4nbz__sviH8uQZ31XjAgJBphMHFg5K9kXUOImPANoJWIJlk-iVfUwhfD4vUZVA/s320/IMG_4242.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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I pulled the pant leg up to get a look. Yuck. It wasn't even bleeding yet, and all you could see was white. The nurse later told me it is called fascia, the tissue under the skin. Noah and LK jumped back and made gasping noises. I immediately grabbed the two sides of the cut together and kept it squeezed shut. </div>
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As A and I continued to sit in the middle of the kitchen floor, I had one child bring a phone over and I spoke over the speaker with Jas to formulate a plan. </div>
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I took A to a nearby urgent care. When we decided A needed a Tetanus Immunoglobulin shot and they didn't have it there, they sent us on to an E.R. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrThJznMW-wmFOjC45ZzSrGde_xlcF5Arj-jCWa6CLroGlU7rD0Kjvpmivru_40MpY0JJKX7LOwqnrxq-GmOPQO0bNNTSw261zcLGTFasWwGBLVk6lHT0YhyphenhyphengmUdlIlKCqs7_9GCT4yQ/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrThJznMW-wmFOjC45ZzSrGde_xlcF5Arj-jCWa6CLroGlU7rD0Kjvpmivru_40MpY0JJKX7LOwqnrxq-GmOPQO0bNNTSw261zcLGTFasWwGBLVk6lHT0YhyphenhyphengmUdlIlKCqs7_9GCT4yQ/s640/IMG_4239.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what A looked like in the waiting room of the Urgent Care</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi5QBq7X_YPyoO_MCg0REXAQGlf6OoTSBiQ2DwE45PA7KICc3ZPSt0nH6y0Oye2543XXMkUuA8MD6Bv7kp-QSQ8GSwnIOpu411bCNQv_l8LQmW8q1OtO1D_3D95IOqk8RT0SzbhM2UKY/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKi5QBq7X_YPyoO_MCg0REXAQGlf6OoTSBiQ2DwE45PA7KICc3ZPSt0nH6y0Oye2543XXMkUuA8MD6Bv7kp-QSQ8GSwnIOpu411bCNQv_l8LQmW8q1OtO1D_3D95IOqk8RT0SzbhM2UKY/s640/IMG_4240.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My very professional bandage job. Duct tape really CAN do anything!</td></tr>
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At the E.R. they put a numbing gel on the cut, and we then had to wait 30 minutes for that to take effect. </div>
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Noah had (so sweetly!) packed a little bag for A to bring with us full of snacks, A's baby doll, etc. So while we waited, Abigail had a grand time playing with her baby:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I said I wanted a picture of her and her baby, this is how she held her. Crazy girl! You can see enough of her crinkly eye to know that she thought she was so funny!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I grabbed a pink bow to stick in A's hair as we left the house. Priorities.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWXN8vXdM4dAdDdMLUe7sEi6m7iP2-AHmu0cJBhMul8LAWoWJLta3O7l3bUHQ7iHjytN34HMSaNeeY0Unj9jFRCYzyoLWA_QxPdttOEs7bRFYNfkN6Y_9smjwawwdBN9EfJuLoT_31qA/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWXN8vXdM4dAdDdMLUe7sEi6m7iP2-AHmu0cJBhMul8LAWoWJLta3O7l3bUHQ7iHjytN34HMSaNeeY0Unj9jFRCYzyoLWA_QxPdttOEs7bRFYNfkN6Y_9smjwawwdBN9EfJuLoT_31qA/s640/IMG_4247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If my three-year old waiting for stitches wants some of those gloves available in a box on the wall, I get her some gloves.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiuYEhrXOob08kOvrT8EMZcI1JmY7mgzzSg8q4Fg5TjZgQFgyeXJqIBzuE9z87IZw_lIfKzfYuYN98h1JoHd_tBgMrFqdN0OqvpMapydb5-yXPu93SO_2VlmNBDcUzaB9InjNDLhebCo/s1600/IMG_4248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiuYEhrXOob08kOvrT8EMZcI1JmY7mgzzSg8q4Fg5TjZgQFgyeXJqIBzuE9z87IZw_lIfKzfYuYN98h1JoHd_tBgMrFqdN0OqvpMapydb5-yXPu93SO_2VlmNBDcUzaB9InjNDLhebCo/s640/IMG_4248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Abigail was <i>such</i> a trooper through this whole episode. This was literally an hours long ordeal. From the time she cut herself, until she and I arrived back home was 5 hours. She ended up with three stitches. <br />
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She fussed some when the doctor put the stitches in, but didn't really cry. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three "bows" as the doctor called them.</td></tr>
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And after the stitches, when the nurse gave her the Tetanus Immunoglobulin shot in her thigh above the stitches (a painful IM shot), A didn't even flinch or make a peep. The nurse and I just stared at each other in (happy) surprise!</div>
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When we arrived back home, the other children had "Feel better soon" cards ready and waiting for A - so kind! Abigail never missed a beat once we got home. I asked her the next day if her leg hurt...and she just said, "no!" She really needs some training on how to milk incidents like this a little better than that.</div>
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Abigail has had fun recounting the cut and stitches story to us and to others. Her and Gabriel's pretend play now includes trips to the E.R. - a word/place neither one of them knew before! </div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-87523277769795577162017-11-15T15:29:00.000-05:002017-11-15T15:29:03.052-05:00Family Pictures - Fall 2017It's that time of year again - time to try to catch some good family pictures! This thought makes me happy, and strikes fear in my heart...simultaneously.<br />
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First, I have to start by figuring out what the 8 of us will wear. No small feat. I don't want to go out and buy anything new. It always takes me at least two weeks to coordinate this part - with approximately 20 outfits hanging on the front of my master chest during the whole two weeks. I usually end up texting pictures of different arrangements to friends who are good at this (unlike me)...like Amy and Vicki. This year I figured it out all by myself! <br />
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Next, we have to figure out where to take the pictures. We fell back on an old stand-by: the location we had (big) family pictures taken (with all 19 of us) when we were just visiting in 2011 and 2015. We had never taken pictures of just our family there, so I thought this would be nice. <br />
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Finally, we sweet talked Nai Nad and her friend Homer into taking pictures for us...with the promise that we'd all head back to our house for supper as soon as the snapping was finished! They fell for it!<br />
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So on Sunday we grabbed my DSLR, Linda, Homer and headed out. <br />
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There was a whole lot of tomfoolery going on...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-1KD7cncz0nmt2C_Zo31I4wOhmioDv10DQXrV1nYNolhyEyd5u9rXJZcJOZpkCO4u42nbeITt14gYIYdItqilBIC8e3vZUVbUUvbmIfZXsa396BN8mZwHGDQyDusIfiKyGsve4LnEq0/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-1KD7cncz0nmt2C_Zo31I4wOhmioDv10DQXrV1nYNolhyEyd5u9rXJZcJOZpkCO4u42nbeITt14gYIYdItqilBIC8e3vZUVbUUvbmIfZXsa396BN8mZwHGDQyDusIfiKyGsve4LnEq0/s640/DSC_0033.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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...but we managed to end up with some good ones!<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-68424267391466959822017-05-15T15:23:00.002-04:002017-05-15T15:23:59.438-04:00Mother's Day - 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am blessed beyond measure!</div>
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Mother's Days just keep getting better and better.</div>
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We went to church, then out to eat for lunch (at "Souped Salads" as A calls it), had naps/rest time, and then all of Jason's family came over for supper. (When we all get together - which we thankfully do very often - there are 20 of us.)</div>
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Here are the children's cards for this year...love their heart and creativity!</div>
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Noah:</div>
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Abigail:<br />
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Elisabeth:<br />
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Gabriel:<br />
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Lily Kay:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ0PSLZFmpqLJ0R72LXiFWSs7OVheEVAfT45PyKyGM-4Nenu6It8ZVbEDo68wjJbJUhykSxoXyB2V3k57UEoojK1dlZ_GxQ3Vuw0K7dN7CIIVOymSoY4lYGq5MAasytBHlzJoM2MSnaY/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ0PSLZFmpqLJ0R72LXiFWSs7OVheEVAfT45PyKyGM-4Nenu6It8ZVbEDo68wjJbJUhykSxoXyB2V3k57UEoojK1dlZ_GxQ3Vuw0K7dN7CIIVOymSoY4lYGq5MAasytBHlzJoM2MSnaY/s640/IMG_0675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Daniel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi27629-boV90CDvF6l-_gzwRKMu8cQJ7Td3fU-Lbz7azqkA8UokV4qybTgCSwJ0OwQ4Y8PuCQ0U7iUdGvcida-pdZiaVPSW53yuAd84nOVMkGcasnfRZ1SzP7dWKp26SrLb4nvpBnVg/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi27629-boV90CDvF6l-_gzwRKMu8cQJ7Td3fU-Lbz7azqkA8UokV4qybTgCSwJ0OwQ4Y8PuCQ0U7iUdGvcida-pdZiaVPSW53yuAd84nOVMkGcasnfRZ1SzP7dWKp26SrLb4nvpBnVg/s640/IMG_0677.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb82wTmJd7WWnHEdHE3kygdWfaHXo_hfhqOAFLxRZ3zOGC4lot487RGCYLpKUSyddk5Nx66gN4b2VHsOQ1EbtA0_uyn9PW5WpG6LGewylqxqdlqhYj_oNFFZzC7_pYqFI91uyAzzeWms/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb82wTmJd7WWnHEdHE3kygdWfaHXo_hfhqOAFLxRZ3zOGC4lot487RGCYLpKUSyddk5Nx66gN4b2VHsOQ1EbtA0_uyn9PW5WpG6LGewylqxqdlqhYj_oNFFZzC7_pYqFI91uyAzzeWms/s640/IMG_0678.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel and I are going to sit down soon and play this game he made...and I am determined to win some "rubs"!</td></tr>
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<br /><br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-1556677266873263612017-05-02T15:53:00.005-04:002017-05-02T15:53:56.239-04:00Passports Around the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have joined two different homeschool groups since arriving in our new home. One group is a "co-op" and offers weekly classes (I wrote about <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2017/02/homeschool-co-op-classes.html">HERE</a>). The other group is a "support" group, and offers fieldtrip opportunities, moms' nights, field day, used-curriculum sales, etc. (These are two separate and distinct groups, but there is a lot of overlap in the families between these two different groups.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg5HhRnFSCz8S8iwvvMs9SJQJwNEGQfPtM4vdwHEM46uUEu4YyeSWglIL3nxg83DCnDWzgwU4Q-ncuIYTEr0bQrqku1ZUsFjEMPxQLSk0Hzt-6QAMppiYm7t8QAaRhiJSbb8qlb1RSmo/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg5HhRnFSCz8S8iwvvMs9SJQJwNEGQfPtM4vdwHEM46uUEu4YyeSWglIL3nxg83DCnDWzgwU4Q-ncuIYTEr0bQrqku1ZUsFjEMPxQLSk0Hzt-6QAMppiYm7t8QAaRhiJSbb8qlb1RSmo/s640/IMG_0435.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <i>awesome</i> handwriting on these directional signs, courtesy of yours truly. BLECH, my handwriting stinks!</td></tr>
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The homeschool support group recently hosted an event entitled, "Passports Around the World." It was fabulous! Families signed up to host a country table, and offered information, food, music, etc. to children who visited around and had their passport stamped in each country.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6td2lR-J3uiPWXQK_oVgaAm0DXyBB8bpGYqNWU2N9xWPZQnTiYzk50RLTXo_kzSBNaaC6Q1iEvvx7FfJI0SiNSfvBPNiJ6MCxDZ42hafX_3KPKMqPYLaa6HWLq_VBgWpbnc5St4E1lRA/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6td2lR-J3uiPWXQK_oVgaAm0DXyBB8bpGYqNWU2N9xWPZQnTiYzk50RLTXo_kzSBNaaC6Q1iEvvx7FfJI0SiNSfvBPNiJ6MCxDZ42hafX_3KPKMqPYLaa6HWLq_VBgWpbnc5St4E1lRA/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Our family hosted a "China" table. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqRow2oJrhmGiEHxenOI5S43NaCjunr2OVorQbGtCKLO8xg7gBODCC1N7mDMeSX2-dUBzFkbtHxk2yRcAaqhJy1V9bWGlGqdp7h9APe39iyO137gVCX92tACewapPcL_Rjk2ulhvX3tY/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqRow2oJrhmGiEHxenOI5S43NaCjunr2OVorQbGtCKLO8xg7gBODCC1N7mDMeSX2-dUBzFkbtHxk2yRcAaqhJy1V9bWGlGqdp7h9APe39iyO137gVCX92tACewapPcL_Rjk2ulhvX3tY/s640/IMG_0406.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An opportunity to practice the Chinese character for "love"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ0QdzdTRGI82MgXEnU__1GDGv80C8CXPHfe9mpsGAq7NY8fVJHAHF4QnSWgzhZ5QOnoaXxCf3n8_rzO-FloAXWyn4r7rdvULwB0yuumWumaL8Y31PccftdaldqJr-nsbIMGB8FiKLhI/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ0QdzdTRGI82MgXEnU__1GDGv80C8CXPHfe9mpsGAq7NY8fVJHAHF4QnSWgzhZ5QOnoaXxCf3n8_rzO-FloAXWyn4r7rdvULwB0yuumWumaL8Y31PccftdaldqJr-nsbIMGB8FiKLhI/s640/IMG_0409.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a Chinese bible, a tea set purchased in China, and an opportunity to practice using jade chopsticks </td></tr>
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We also offered samples of Egg Drop Soup (it all got eaten up, and one Egg-drop-soup-lover said it was good! phew!)</div>
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Noah is obsessed with Europe - England and Paris specifically - so he did his own table for England:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He passed out samples of "English Breakfast" tea</td></tr>
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This event was fun from beginning to end. The president of the group asked me to help with this event. Which basically meant we had a couple of fun meetings (their kids included)...and did some work together. Here we all are sitting around cutting out country stamps together:</div>
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And then the evening of the event was fun - learning new info while having fun with friends!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E with her buds, K and R, also adoptees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G and A caught several rides in this "tuk tuk".</td></tr>
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To conclude the evening, everyone participated in Polka lessons!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet friends Amy and Sherry...whom I am so very thankful for!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail is NOT a wall flower...no way was she going to be excluded from the dancing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet friend Karen, who is just too cute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instead of Polka-ing, these kiddos snuck out to the room next door to get some foosball playing in with their buddies</td></tr>
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While we were all snazzed up in some of the pretty clothes we purchased in China, I asked E to snap mine and Jason's picture. <br />
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He cooperated....<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-29790495531259955182017-04-03T15:46:00.001-04:002017-04-03T15:46:15.207-04:00Out of the Mouth of BabesRecent sayings from Abigail and Gabriel that I sure don't want to forget:<br />
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I was one of four of us who took a turn being sick last week (just a cold, apparently). When it was my turn, Abigail clambered up into my bed, squeezed her eyes shut, bowed her head, clasped her hands together in front of her and said, <i>"Dear Lord, thank you mama feel better. Amen!"</i> It was the first time she had spontaneously prayed like that...and it was precious.<br />
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This is a big - if somewhat sad - development: Abigail has started pronouncing "banana" correctly. She has always called them "banas." As in, <i>"May I have a bana, please?"</i> But the two days ago she busted out with, <i>"May I have a ba-NA-na, please?" </i> (And she emphasizes the second syllable like that.) It is so cute! And so sad! To my knowledge no one specifically corrected her, she just spotted the difference and fixed it herself. Yay! And (sniff)!<br />
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Gabriel was #4 to succumb to the cold last week. It had him sneezing a bunch for a bit there, and he asked me, so perplexed, <i>"What keeps sneezing me?!?"</i><br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-76545340138572564822017-04-03T15:35:00.002-04:002017-04-03T15:35:51.225-04:00Before - During - After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We knew it was coming....</div>
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...and now it is here.</div>
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Danel D got started with braces:</div>
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(And Noah had to start OVER with braces....that is the way our new orthodontist does things, something about, "using different brackets." Don't get me started.)</div>
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The silver lining (although they might not admit it) : It is making it easier for both of them that they are doing this together.</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-69713654724710395712017-02-12T17:31:00.001-05:002017-02-12T17:31:46.846-05:00Abigail is Two and a Half!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Y9Jvs2XGFoopRMO8zRby4Fq2JVl4dPyWV0EyuhQ22mSg8zruNzSZgaKTR5-_lzjim2UV1YTm2yX-EDKQXb__shmPZfGEtLvPvAX7Vt8kKjY-J5gqN5WVpuyHR1_sM68gHbuoYnvmpU/s1600/bSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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...Abigail really is every bit as full of personality as it appears in these photos. </div>
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<i>And all the ornery-ness and mischievous-ness also!</i></div>
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She keeps us on our toes all the time...and <i>laughing</i> all the time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW2rQ91JuxFTXbTtf5ts43Uz6AbdU3j4FLeGAIFJ8TB2Dgd18a0zHPaPaODwrDgY1MSeYWc4EI6Ewi1DUQq0Sz_3dXyN3AN51tmywVU0OoA98o4nDLNt4me0z80MkS85z_XcqBvL4TPw/s1600/IMG_8902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW2rQ91JuxFTXbTtf5ts43Uz6AbdU3j4FLeGAIFJ8TB2Dgd18a0zHPaPaODwrDgY1MSeYWc4EI6Ewi1DUQq0Sz_3dXyN3AN51tmywVU0OoA98o4nDLNt4me0z80MkS85z_XcqBvL4TPw/s640/IMG_8902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't catch this until later: She thought it would be funny to pose like this for the picture of Mama's birthday lunch out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-qfnLTi2GRlqODkv7Sz11Q3I5mMS-VWHhpqCrQx2HYuOFAgu6zzih_ESGUM0LtBTGKLakZempzgnAs4LSfI3eBgXvtA7xIqPMOwPwCAUSkUmxG7VemdZ2uu-2l2G-Vz_5Yl32alMUmY/s1600/IMG_8115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-qfnLTi2GRlqODkv7Sz11Q3I5mMS-VWHhpqCrQx2HYuOFAgu6zzih_ESGUM0LtBTGKLakZempzgnAs4LSfI3eBgXvtA7xIqPMOwPwCAUSkUmxG7VemdZ2uu-2l2G-Vz_5Yl32alMUmY/s640/IMG_8115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail was mad at us about something, and decided to "clean off" the big big shelves in the girls' room</td></tr>
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You never know what will come out of A's mouth next. One afternoon as she and I were in the kitchen for me to grab her a banana for snack, she came out with this (I asked her to repeat it, and thankfully caught it on video):<br />
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And she would really prefer to be the one to pray at our meals. All three. Every day.<br />
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<i>"And Jacob come. And Papa's house. And LaoLao come. And put my seatbelt on, and go to church. And different church. And go to school. I love you, Jesus. Amen."</i><br />
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We didn't catch it in this video, but it is also very common for her to include the names of all the CO cousins/Aunts/Uncles:<i> Aunt Brittady (Brittany), Uncle Wobet (Robert), Aunt Steph, Uncle Jerry-ed (Jared), Lexi, and Lacey, Esan (Ethan), Jacob, Esser (Esther), Ellington.</i><br />
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Her favorite movies right now are Zootopia and Finding Dory. She loves to quote one of the first lines in Zootopia, when young-Judy is being all dramatic at the end of her play: <i>"Blood, blood, blood...and death." </i> (Wow...that sounds <i>horrible</i> when I type it down, but it really is a hilarious part of the movie...and the movie is <i>great</i>, with amazingly well-done comparisons to current social issues.) <br />
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Her current favorite book is Sandra Boynton's <u>Barnyard Dance.</u> She (and Gabriel) love to act out the moves in the book as we read it aloud to them. It is quite a site, as the text is so funny! Here is a small selection:<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Bow to the horse</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Bow to the cow</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Twirl with the pig</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">if you know how</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Bounce with the bunny</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Strut with the duck</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Spin with the chickens</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Now cluck, cluck, cluck</span></div>
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Abigail can actually say all of our names fully and correctly now, which is a bit sad. But sometimes, just to be funny, she will say our names <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2016/07/abigail-is-two.html">the (incorrect) way she used to ("KK" instead of "Lily Kay", and "Woah" instead of Noah)</a>. I think it is hilarious that she knows how funny this is, and she does it to crack us up!<br />
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Abigail loves using "chapsticks." She applies it liberally...on AND around her whole mouth. She would really like to use "lipsticks" too...but accepted it pretty well when I told her she could use "lipsticks" when she is 13. Yesterday as we were all driving in the van, Elisabeth was applying some of my lipstick in the passenger seat. Abigail got my attention and very seriously told on Elisabeth, <i>"Mama, Elisabeth is using your lipsticks." </i><br />
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Abigail currently wakes up right about 7 a.m. (if not a few minutes before). She and G take turns being the first children up (I have to wake up all the 4 older kiddos). She take a nap in the afternoon, which normally lasts 1.5-2 hours (but lately it is consistently closer to 1.5). Bedtime for the younger two is about 7:30 p.m. on a normal night. (But we have lots of non-normal nights.)<br />
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She continues to be very independent. I don't know if that is just her personality and she would have been that way no matter the birth order, or if it has much to do with the fact that she has an older brother who is just 2y4mos older than her. All the time we hear, <i>"I got it!" </i>From getting dressed, to putting on her own diaper, to hiking....she would rather you leave her alone and let her do it herself!<br />
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I love this picture:<br />
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Wow, is the independent body-language strong in this above picture, or what?!?<br />
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And she is pretty proud of herself when she does something by herself. Recently when she finished getting some part of her dressing done by herself, she shouted: <i>"Good job ME!"</i><br />
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Abigail is currently 34.5 lb, and is <span style="color: red;">????</span> inches. Depending on whether we're talking about jeans, leggings or shirts, Abigail is wearing 3, 4, and 5T sizes. Abigail is still on the GAPS diet (as we all are), and is thriving! People consistently mistake her for a child of 4 or 5, which is understandable. It is not normally a big deal, I just don't want others to expect her to behave more mature because they think she is older than she really is. (This has only happened a couple of times, and it was actually other younger kids who were making assumptions.)<br />
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She is still loving her paci, which she calls "papi." We had an aborted attempt to wean her from it a couple weeks ago...but couldn't follow through. Totally my fault/doing. I am a very different mom than I was to my older kiddos, in some good ways and some bad. I haven't figured out which is which in every situation. <br />
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We love taking walks around the neighborhood on nice afternoons, and Abigail has recently become enamored with fire hydrants (of all things). She calls them her "friends." She has never been exposed to them before (we didn't have them out in the country in GA!), and is making up for lost time. When we pass them on a walk, she wants to go climb on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1BfOtQoIawDSf5T6Dgn3pb9a83OYXHBaXaUCX0DL03RKoZFVTTi7bIgWCsqASKZ8xXUQBFtN2sFh7mxtxS3V8gcvmH17JL_CbgJmEZaJdlC85w38AckRcSLV-166kNMrCwhLYAnXl9o/s1600/IMG_9384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1BfOtQoIawDSf5T6Dgn3pb9a83OYXHBaXaUCX0DL03RKoZFVTTi7bIgWCsqASKZ8xXUQBFtN2sFh7mxtxS3V8gcvmH17JL_CbgJmEZaJdlC85w38AckRcSLV-166kNMrCwhLYAnXl9o/s640/IMG_9384.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzmXGUP9GOBu_aT_bu_bFk8iiUVMbhLb1keM39AMOn3uh-C5NRJxJh5ozIzdnbORxeXthcnTS42ZyrwlAjTydZO2KNW-7O_Rovxti0rrSUsdR0YSsqfbnwjy9QEUtyOtnXIgdftUxTaU/s1600/IMG_9385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzmXGUP9GOBu_aT_bu_bFk8iiUVMbhLb1keM39AMOn3uh-C5NRJxJh5ozIzdnbORxeXthcnTS42ZyrwlAjTydZO2KNW-7O_Rovxti0rrSUsdR0YSsqfbnwjy9QEUtyOtnXIgdftUxTaU/s640/IMG_9385.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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When we pass them while driving (which we do approximately every 5-10 seconds), she calls out, <i>"A other friend!"</i></div>
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All three girls share a room right now (the three boys share a room also). It is cozy for sure, but we're making it work. We brought the big girls' bunk beds from GA, and Abigail's crib mattress, and we slip it under the bunk during the day:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RdPVhywb5fwZpVXajuO9ecj3A73mm7xknV0kCbSvB66I0zZEr9zh8AZkqddV9fqRt1SE1euR54uTo36POFk9aDLGNSTJiT8OA9jMJ_aXA3V45hcbKhGM3Iwisc_B-uQ1BkBsqPlxPA4/s1600/sleeping+arrang3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RdPVhywb5fwZpVXajuO9ecj3A73mm7xknV0kCbSvB66I0zZEr9zh8AZkqddV9fqRt1SE1euR54uTo36POFk9aDLGNSTJiT8OA9jMJ_aXA3V45hcbKhGM3Iwisc_B-uQ1BkBsqPlxPA4/s640/sleeping+arrang3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At bedtime, we pull out A's mattress and place it at the end of the bunk:</div>
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She likes this arrangement just fine!</div>
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You can see in the above photo that she sleeps with quite a collection of blankets on top of her. Closest to her (and not visible) are two fleecy/warm blankets with adorable prints: one from Lao Lao and one from Dr. Kathy. Next is a quilt of Nai Nai's. Then Abigail insists that we put "the pink one!" And finally, she insists on having "the white one!" She toggles between saying "I'm cold," "I'm warm," and "I steamy hot!" - and back and forth again - in quick succession. At nap/bedtime she always requests a "hug and a kiss" also. We're happy to oblige!</div>
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She is a girly-girl and is very opinionated about her clothes (she is only 2.5!), and loves when her big sis Elisabeth paints her nails....</div>
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...and dresses her up for "photo shoots":</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekJXjd-sxr4M3hHCrVV2fEHEX2mGD8Gm_bkjSA6ZIYvUaTsaa9cVo1mnxqogQwx4w-gCSkTTRdbVV8MlS66mZNObox6t6gFRQiuFMsU4jiz9CeKktTNLQsNu4GCAkCSAkUA-y3OEwfT8/s1600/DSC_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekJXjd-sxr4M3hHCrVV2fEHEX2mGD8Gm_bkjSA6ZIYvUaTsaa9cVo1mnxqogQwx4w-gCSkTTRdbVV8MlS66mZNObox6t6gFRQiuFMsU4jiz9CeKktTNLQsNu4GCAkCSAkUA-y3OEwfT8/s640/DSC_1180.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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Abigail's hair seems to have adjusted well to the drier climate of CO. I was concerned, but it always seems moisturized enough when I take out her styles. And her styles are usually lasting at least a week now...and one recently lasted 2.5 weeks! WOOHOO!</div>
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I never let her leave the house without a protective style in her hair...but this is what her hair looks like when it has just had a style taken out (probably corn rows):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB6p58Gd02lwp8fzFspHojn_qnOO5IE3SOhth5lz11IqlgjCyHWukxf4Ezjh4z91pdlC2V-Q9eX_Xj7HsBytyeK-gsT0420DiN1vIDlyb22SOYCkAKggM6do1_TXXKmOA59GRSpBlVjM/s1600/IMG_7871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB6p58Gd02lwp8fzFspHojn_qnOO5IE3SOhth5lz11IqlgjCyHWukxf4Ezjh4z91pdlC2V-Q9eX_Xj7HsBytyeK-gsT0420DiN1vIDlyb22SOYCkAKggM6do1_TXXKmOA59GRSpBlVjM/s400/IMG_7871.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Abigail was holding my phone and (unbeknownst to me) took about 100 pictures while I did her hair:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfH9wYDAevdsD_5sgy60kfBdToI_pmOBFc_zw98vSU0CxFWlwzCZjiLjNdH96MrXhm0QbXrgTiZCyTq4vSh9Lf20il7oRwMPyZaPjLSjb71WAkS3qn5OW1a9JO_67c2tsLIWh-Q8pbGE/s1600/IMG_7623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfH9wYDAevdsD_5sgy60kfBdToI_pmOBFc_zw98vSU0CxFWlwzCZjiLjNdH96MrXhm0QbXrgTiZCyTq4vSh9Lf20il7oRwMPyZaPjLSjb71WAkS3qn5OW1a9JO_67c2tsLIWh-Q8pbGE/s640/IMG_7623.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Note to self: Trying keeping a nicer look on my face while concentrating on her hair!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ71RwJdQ0fN0fTT2ZROyVXOqO9mC7VXe8f676gJ6OV-eoNirpRV0cBAnIQZzY3wWrLoMuaDMNfC7KqQ0DFzbUBi4YMUBRp92GV4U8O70nxcIIiDGYsE7oUWeaeIvOIXOhyir8oEExkQ/s1600/IMG_7689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ71RwJdQ0fN0fTT2ZROyVXOqO9mC7VXe8f676gJ6OV-eoNirpRV0cBAnIQZzY3wWrLoMuaDMNfC7KqQ0DFzbUBi4YMUBRp92GV4U8O70nxcIIiDGYsE7oUWeaeIvOIXOhyir8oEExkQ/s640/IMG_7689.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I have been working to conquer corn-rowing on her hair. And then when I did this style....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS0n_YRZuV3tbSRjZC7IxolBjY1Qu7eFGLYivr6BKIZI-qLvDdmOKKCNeMGeOAdEfh2pqrNbfpENz0BgxXzRGVG7LYlS8Id_vjgPdYwxXac_hS-6a-uEDQ0SkPmZlcSd2u0kysookBfs/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS0n_YRZuV3tbSRjZC7IxolBjY1Qu7eFGLYivr6BKIZI-qLvDdmOKKCNeMGeOAdEfh2pqrNbfpENz0BgxXzRGVG7LYlS8Id_vjgPdYwxXac_hS-6a-uEDQ0SkPmZlcSd2u0kysookBfs/s640/IMG_7714.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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...it took me 4.5 hours, and I had an epiphany: This sort of style takes MUCH longer to install, and doesn't look as nice for as long. I need to stay away from these...until she gets older. </div>
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We normally wash her hair every two weeks. </div>
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Sample schedule...</div>
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Friday: take out current style, wash/condition, band hair before she goes to sleep</div>
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Saturday: Style her hair</div>
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Next Saturday: Take out that first style and put in a new style for the second week.</div>
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following Friday: take out current style, wash/condition...<i>repeat</i></div>
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I have (finally) figured out to do a style that second week that just reuses the part lines from the first week's style.</div>
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For example - Here is a style I had in her hair one week:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uaj_VBUCWcUsWGQ6qfU_u-vP5td6rC07u6RFKqY_N9TU7dgFLF4YIZguxXMvQRwYSVdD3k8QU00KdS9bFZYADpxdDt4gd5fiT7AW8D2DkzhOnThzjV0kx59GO4X-_qnjIpLOcNGISvg/s1600/IMG_8397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uaj_VBUCWcUsWGQ6qfU_u-vP5td6rC07u6RFKqY_N9TU7dgFLF4YIZguxXMvQRwYSVdD3k8QU00KdS9bFZYADpxdDt4gd5fiT7AW8D2DkzhOnThzjV0kx59GO4X-_qnjIpLOcNGISvg/s640/IMG_8397.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAND7JP44Tj6cibCFCq6PH1yKq8rwH6pLD4RUY0XTx-Hmj4_o-fE0xaDrCeCjKMCDLcx1Y8yg6PIDeHoVKDChCKlVKYnL1105T34-ElpP1e0k30yI7oyclj1B__sDpbh_OZkfFuoQSBMM/s1600/IMG_8404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAND7JP44Tj6cibCFCq6PH1yKq8rwH6pLD4RUY0XTx-Hmj4_o-fE0xaDrCeCjKMCDLcx1Y8yg6PIDeHoVKDChCKlVKYnL1105T34-ElpP1e0k30yI7oyclj1B__sDpbh_OZkfFuoQSBMM/s640/IMG_8404.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And then the second week I used the same part lines/sections, but did a different style: </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8JXypkw2gJxsJbui-cRTyenlnmH6NnVbfIN5Xjtaf7ap8jn8rbHSKrL20TclBogT0D23S7YkaGSI54r7k6yzdyvAHMmImtp55guDjCJ2eQ53xYHYOfejuh-GQ8r-QZ1e-Dd5xvA06R4/s1600/IMG_8520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8JXypkw2gJxsJbui-cRTyenlnmH6NnVbfIN5Xjtaf7ap8jn8rbHSKrL20TclBogT0D23S7YkaGSI54r7k6yzdyvAHMmImtp55guDjCJ2eQ53xYHYOfejuh-GQ8r-QZ1e-Dd5xvA06R4/s640/IMG_8520.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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(Flat twists going <i>toward</i> the crown, into a pony tail...with "bangs" in a "twist out":)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxpPCvRUoPPuDBKRYwU-w6jsd3ierNibPUK2z3eMhz8oPxC2wyruSpKAGkllkFj3l2_UbMr7Nk5LF99Umv5AjVbokqUQV_JANkBuYzbiPljbCSVhOaAJOPYUxeQPMnTvcGBsFJBJI_P8/s1600/IMG_8517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxpPCvRUoPPuDBKRYwU-w6jsd3ierNibPUK2z3eMhz8oPxC2wyruSpKAGkllkFj3l2_UbMr7Nk5LF99Umv5AjVbokqUQV_JANkBuYzbiPljbCSVhOaAJOPYUxeQPMnTvcGBsFJBJI_P8/s640/IMG_8517.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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But what I've hit on for our staple style is just boxes with ponies put into either twists....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLMCGfXTLqAKmS165av8CyGjqWCsrcoUH6kbt9ypz2xcBHjOJxtjQXNilGizE6mcRgJO4TwZ9eVNIlyhU6qJGnzZN3zVO7wDatUuWYzEkCOetRyZ1E8hmDLYb07A5CRuOzn8WA46isBg/s1600/IMG_8782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLMCGfXTLqAKmS165av8CyGjqWCsrcoUH6kbt9ypz2xcBHjOJxtjQXNilGizE6mcRgJO4TwZ9eVNIlyhU6qJGnzZN3zVO7wDatUuWYzEkCOetRyZ1E8hmDLYb07A5CRuOzn8WA46isBg/s640/IMG_8782.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finally figured out that when the sections get a little loose because the rubber band is slipping some, just to add another band at the base. It tightens the section right back up, and we can sometimes get another week(!) out of the same style...without having to restyle halfway through a two-week period!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPMuTdPvMej50mIbNZJ5Vyw6m1cxhSEAG5TTgn5uMPHuRaXWV1whouhKK13sg6Dcau94j22GokjtbnPq5hyIxO_ue8V151RLMsZwE8a3B2x1IbAFyuXFNJJ3vLdX8OZHswom00GM9so0/s1600/IMG_8784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPMuTdPvMej50mIbNZJ5Vyw6m1cxhSEAG5TTgn5uMPHuRaXWV1whouhKK13sg6Dcau94j22GokjtbnPq5hyIxO_ue8V151RLMsZwE8a3B2x1IbAFyuXFNJJ3vLdX8OZHswom00GM9so0/s640/IMG_8784.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She thinks she is so funny making faces when I want her to smile nice for a picture</td></tr>
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...or braids:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVT_QuEu_0lv3wtyzYPstNqdtRjtwqE00Tfm0qMwJuWCnThYpClcPalmkVqj6hOeTIn4Dx0_D5DVfMn8nnz_4fVLR2_5PVa6k7P9-tcN2qKlUVANaTerGsoHF61nkqKWYRVF485Oci4A/s1600/IMG_8920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVT_QuEu_0lv3wtyzYPstNqdtRjtwqE00Tfm0qMwJuWCnThYpClcPalmkVqj6hOeTIn4Dx0_D5DVfMn8nnz_4fVLR2_5PVa6k7P9-tcN2qKlUVANaTerGsoHF61nkqKWYRVF485Oci4A/s640/IMG_8920.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The braids make her hair look longer than the twists do. </span></td></tr>
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And I have switched away from using barrettes at the ends, instead using beads. Reasoning: The beads weigh the twists/braids down more, and keep the ponies hanging straight down (with barrettes they tend to curl up and point in crazy directions after she sleeps on them.)<br />
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I change up her part lines from one two-week segment to the next, to give her hair/scalp/part lines a rest. Meaning, if I have straight front/back parts in for two weeks...I use diagonal part lines for the next two weeks. </div>
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When Gabriel was younger I felt sad for him that he didn't have siblings close in age to him, like his older siblings do (There is only 8.5 mos difference between E and N, and then only 8.5 mos difference between N and D). Two years and 4 mos seemed like a HUGE age difference between G and A.<br />
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But that gap is seeming smaller and smaller all the time. Gabriel and Abigail are truly buddies now. Buddies....Cohorts in crime sometimes...sparring partners occasionally. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubERwK024ZQjxju56blIVwRsXP2Rc0-Dy69vFJFFdrvGH32bODJnznc4OVDlJlh4-Zn4QkvipnUyz0NeQplun7nMlW6UgkuwXt3XnOc2K6wF90V5-8mjo-CXBv-zeutyZz2I15b2GfA/s1600/DSC_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubERwK024ZQjxju56blIVwRsXP2Rc0-Dy69vFJFFdrvGH32bODJnznc4OVDlJlh4-Zn4QkvipnUyz0NeQplun7nMlW6UgkuwXt3XnOc2K6wF90V5-8mjo-CXBv-zeutyZz2I15b2GfA/s640/DSC_1169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And Rainbow-chasing partners sometimes:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnPnrbs5DBv1RyrTqwOMpfnh7K45FUCX-_x6s8ngOaZKfoFBBdVOItH4Fg1E-e-AIJuJxoNViBhcXMt2QOX7EPTuzz5uhumv4J3W9P28F2WyRqtpSx7MkpbZdnnPpS2HNf3tm6UbdIvQ/s1600/IMG_5555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnPnrbs5DBv1RyrTqwOMpfnh7K45FUCX-_x6s8ngOaZKfoFBBdVOItH4Fg1E-e-AIJuJxoNViBhcXMt2QOX7EPTuzz5uhumv4J3W9P28F2WyRqtpSx7MkpbZdnnPpS2HNf3tm6UbdIvQ/s640/IMG_5555.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Trying to jump up and grab that rainbow!</td></tr>
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People sometimes mistake these two for twins, when they see G & A sitting beside each other (when they stand up, he is noticeably taller).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CKuMCI02syBSgO-8AgS736dqNfM-JF40RIRMoK4Qw02-YzMw1tS2Vl7sr0HAb_ev8RxGpx8pUjEPrbUpIg-o5hlzXNxNY8_xzUSr1p2eprG7-7rE82uz-ewVvWYn_6ZeoLvslxvW1-Q/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CKuMCI02syBSgO-8AgS736dqNfM-JF40RIRMoK4Qw02-YzMw1tS2Vl7sr0HAb_ev8RxGpx8pUjEPrbUpIg-o5hlzXNxNY8_xzUSr1p2eprG7-7rE82uz-ewVvWYn_6ZeoLvslxvW1-Q/s640/IMG_1085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Abigail normally calls him "Gabriel", but sometimes she calls him "Gabe", and it is so cute! My favorite is when they are just waking up/sleepy and see each other for the first time and hug, and kiss and she will say, "I love you, Gabe." And he responds, "I love you, Abigail."</div>
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And Lily Kay and Abigail have a really neat bond, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvIAfM5mLOSfFTleuu4b8D5gCq_ATaeAAcKTIgpiZPwtGkc_dZQpAd0Q_ieEcBkO7K462wu9VwiuEc3ej1GuQiJbmw0pD-_vqry5e9h9azU89L9_H_sciaiWzQCsCdalqRPct69XICPk/s1600/IMG_7163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvIAfM5mLOSfFTleuu4b8D5gCq_ATaeAAcKTIgpiZPwtGkc_dZQpAd0Q_ieEcBkO7K462wu9VwiuEc3ej1GuQiJbmw0pD-_vqry5e9h9azU89L9_H_sciaiWzQCsCdalqRPct69XICPk/s640/IMG_7163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lily Kay has always held Abigail...from the time A was an infant (when I didn't really want LK holding her). But I don't know how much longer she is going to be able to...A is definitely going to end up taller than LK (she'll almost definitely end up taller than ALL of us!):<br />
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Noah has such a special place in his heart for this girl. Recently, on his weekly turn for a date with me, he asked if A could come too. How could a mama say "no" to a sweet request like that???</div>
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He sounds like a second dad with the things he says about her, "She is getting so big...it makes me sad!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHHaZ8Iksyw64YmUvskhRZQlxjRH_rNppm-Jm4Zzo33UDlSTAawunU21d0ieEG6lPhfGl7uSSa_NmRvLOB08XWD_aVy27y0t43W3NHlTDV1VYpVoGhP6K0bVRdmDhJkvwq4bFsjITYa4/s1600/IMG_8630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHHaZ8Iksyw64YmUvskhRZQlxjRH_rNppm-Jm4Zzo33UDlSTAawunU21d0ieEG6lPhfGl7uSSa_NmRvLOB08XWD_aVy27y0t43W3NHlTDV1VYpVoGhP6K0bVRdmDhJkvwq4bFsjITYa4/s640/IMG_8630.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the bad lighting, but I wanted to sneakily catch a pic of these two, when Noah was reading to her one night recently</td></tr>
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But then, Abigail seems to have a special bond with <i>everyone</i> she is around. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle "Jerry-ed" ticking A</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting in our "neighbor's" lap at the For King and Country concert</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With cousin "Esser" (I took all of them to see a dollar movie during the Christmas break)</td></tr>
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She will NOT let you ignore her....even if she has to knock you down....</div>
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...and sit on you!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail is harassing cousin Jacob here, while they're supposed to be watching cousin Ethan's football game.</td></tr>
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We finally turned Abigail's carseat around to forward-facing. </div>
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(Back when Elisabeth and Noah were little, the recommendations was at least 1 yr and 20 lbs. (I kept both of them rear-facing longer than that). But now the recommendation is to keep them rear-facing for at least <i>two</i> years, and really for as long as possible. )</div>
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Although she hadn't complained about facing backwards (when everyone else was facing forwards), she was extremely excited about her new view when we switched her seat around! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Heading out after dark one night to see a church's Christmas lights display...with hot apple cider in tow.)</td></tr>
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This girl has a big personality, big smarts and a big future ahead of her!</div>
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We are blessed to get front-row seats on what the Lord accomplishes in and through her!</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-32878598689765969422017-02-06T16:15:00.005-05:002017-05-02T15:54:20.503-04:00Homeschool Co-op Classes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The number of homeschool groups and programs here in our new city is astounding. Every church and every school district offers programs. All the opportunities are wonderful...and overwhelming!</div>
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After checking out the websites of different programs and talking with some other homeschooling moms, we visited a co-op in November on their last day of fall semester classes. We liked what we saw and applied to be able to join the co-op this spring semester. I liked that all 7 of us could be there on the same day together. (One co-op I looked into would have my kiddos there - because of the range of their ages - on three different days during the week...not o.k.)</div>
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This is a co-op, meaning not a "drop your kids off and have some free time" program, so I am there helping the whole time. The classes are by-and-large enrichment classes...not academic ones. It will meet for 9 weeks, and then we will host an Expo, where the students display or have performances of their work for the semester. </div>
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The children are taking 4 classes each, and we meet on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:40 p.m. (With a break for lunch between the third and fourth classes.)</div>
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<i><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Elisabeth:</span></u></b></i></div>
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Stage Drama</div>
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Ballet</div>
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Study Hall**</div>
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Sewing</div>
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(**the class she wanted - baton - ended up not being offered after all...</div>
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so E opted to do Study hall over any of the remaining options for that hour)</div>
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My right-brained girl is going to have a blast this semester. If she had her way, we would have had her in voice lessons, gymnastics, dance, baton, drama, etc. etc..... for <i>years</i>! But that is not possible, so I am so very thankful that she is getting exposed to these classes through this co-op. </div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Noah:</span></u></i></b></div>
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Stage Drama</div>
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General Science Lab</div>
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Money 101</div>
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Lego Building</div>
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My introverted guy has surprised me with his interest in drama. He loved working on a video skit that he and the yearbook committee put together last year, so he wanted to sign up for this class.</div>
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And I am <i>so glad</i> he is able to take this General Science Lab class! This is based on the experiments in the Apologia General Science textbook (which he was already studying this year anyway)...so this is perfect! And that I was assigned to be in there as a T.A. was just the hand of God (I didn't request it). </div>
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Noah liked the sound of the Money 101 class, but he hopes that they talk about something he "doesn't already know." With Jas and I both being finance majors, we do talk about money quite a bit with the children...but I am pretty convinced he still has some stuff to learn!</div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Daniel:</span></u></i></b></div>
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Comic Drawing</div>
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Perspective Drawing</div>
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Charcoal Drawing</div>
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Lego Building</div>
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Daniel has always loved drawing. He has an amazing attention span and attention to detail. But still, it wasn't until I was looking back at the spreadsheet of (40!) classes (5 children x 4 classes x 1st and 2nd choices for each) that I realized D was requesting THREE drawing classes. I checked with him to make sure that sounded o.k., and he said "yes." I am glad for him to get some instruction in this area and explore this talent more. </div>
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And then...Legos. He is in heaven.</div>
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<i><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Lily Kay:</span></u></b></i></div>
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Wild About Rainforest Animals</div>
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Lily Kay loves all things animals and science. She has tossed around the idea of wanting to be a vet ever since <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-harsher-side-of-life-in-country.html">BeBe was attacked several years ago</a>, so she has been really excited about the Safari Animals class. And P.E., of course...right up her alley. But coming out of the first day of classes, she surprised me by saying that she loved the Europe class. (They got to drink a cup of hot tea, which she loves - because England was their first stop on this tour.)</div>
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And then...Lego building. This girl is basically in heaven with all of her classes.</div>
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<i><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gabriel:</span></b></u></i></div>
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This is Gabriel's first exposure to any sort of class-type setting. So I was interested (anxious, really) to see how he liked it...and how he behaved. </div>
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I am with Gabriel during his recess class. I assumed this would be a sort of free-play time. It is not. The teacher is great, and very structured. She had two different picture books to read with the children, and after each one we did little physical activities inspired by the story. Gabriel seemed very rambunctious during this class. I don't know whether this is because...</div>
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1. He had been (relatively) still for the first two classes, and was ready to MOVE</div>
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2. I was in there (I am convinced he shows out more when I'm around)</div>
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3. He was the only boy, surrounded by 7 girls...so maybe he just seemed real rambunctious compared to those 7 sweet little girls (because he is ALL boy!) </div>
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I asked his other teachers how everything went, and they all assured me he was fine. </div>
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<u><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Abigail:</span></b></i></u></div>
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Nursery</div>
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Abigail was so excited to start "school" with the big kids. When we got their backpacks/bags ready the night before, she insisted we get out her cute little backpack (given to her months ago by LaoLao) and put her diapers/wipes in there, instead of in the diaper bag.</div>
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I get to be in the nursery with Abigail during the first hour, for which I am very thankful. While she is only 2.5 yo, it does seem like she would be capable of doing some of the activities, like Recess or Music...and I wish she didn't have to be in the nursery the whole time. She does come with us to eat lunch between the third and fourth classes, and it is so nice to get to see her then. But that made it harder for her to go back to the last class (which is normally nap time at home). She cried when I left her there for the last class, until she (in very short order) fell asleep on the nursery worker's lap in the rocking chair. </div>
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<u><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Joli:</span></b></i></u></div>
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I help out in these classes...</div>
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The number of lists and spreadsheets and more lists it took for me to coordinate the children's first and second choices for each class, and then the supplies that we need to bring, astounds me. I don't know how moms of public school kiddos coordinate everything...and then get their children to school so early every morning!!</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-48478513919136200792017-01-05T15:09:00.000-05:002017-01-05T15:09:50.211-05:00Lauren and For King & Country<div class="MsoNormal">
We recently were blessed to attend a concert with Lauren Daigle and For King & Country.<o:p></o:p><br />
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To be honest, I was more looking forward to Lauren Daigle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew the name For King & Country, but couldn’t have told you what they sing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we purchased our tickets, we watched a bunch of youtube videos and realized time and again, <i>“Hey, we know that song!</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <i>“I like that song, I didn’t know they sing that!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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It turned out that Lauren was the opening act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sings beautifully, and she did great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she just stands there…singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I was disappointed when she left after only singing a few songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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But not for long, because then…..<i>the real show started!</i><o:p></o:p><br />
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Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does For King & Country ever know how to put on a show!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> These two brothers from Australia are <i>great</i> showmen! </span>I really believe it was the best concert I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to a few: Janet Jackson, Back Street Boys, Milli Vanilli!!!, Michael Bolton, George Strait….who could beat those?!?)<o:p></o:p><br />
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They started with their rendition of Drummer Boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my little Drummer boy sat in my lap, simply mesmerized!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Another song they played that night that we *love* is Baby Boy:<o:p></o:p></div>
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But it turns out we love all their songs!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-2dKOfbC9c">The Proof of Your Love</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXGuWHb5INk">Fix My Eyes </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPgSrMOTnqM">Priceless</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmTmTMcdxOs">It’s Not Over Yet</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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And it is precious to hear Abigail going around the house yelling, <b><i>"Ceasefire!!"</i></b><br />
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After we bought tickets, Jas ended up being in CA that whole week and missed the concert, so we took our (13yo) friend Jadyn with us instead. <br />
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One of the wonderful things about going to concerts for Christian artists is that you are surrounded by....Christians. A precious family with 11 children sat in front of us. And a sweet homeschooling family with 3 children sat right beside us. They fell in love with A, and the feeling was mutual. <br />
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In fact, she sat in the 17yo daughter's lap for a while:<br />
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Here is a video I captured early one morning (before everyone else was up) a few days after the concert, when G and A were constantly going around singing and asking for Drummer Boy (A calls the song "Rock a Poc Poc"):<br />
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We highly recommend you see For King & Country if you ever have the chance!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-89032208730933035382017-01-03T16:42:00.001-05:002017-01-03T16:47:16.555-05:00Lily Kay and Elisabeth's Choir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Very shortly after we arrived here in CO, I connected with my sister-in-law's best friend Carmen, a homeschooling mom who gives private voice lessons and had recently started up a homeschool choir. <br />
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Elisabeth loves to sing...and loves to perform. Lily Kay loves to sing...and doesn't love to perform. I thought they both needed to be involved. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPPPssO9DBYJY6-kDgobwPB3x8HoVP4ZGvDeAuoljwArCsA475_0tcGxWiy_FGLHF18LTPyGCIM_2UE0r37wCrgemAU7roMSMsHuPap26fFB2JS2RrI7IrhcNhGbmQtJEwyuBaLl3oPA/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPPPssO9DBYJY6-kDgobwPB3x8HoVP4ZGvDeAuoljwArCsA475_0tcGxWiy_FGLHF18LTPyGCIM_2UE0r37wCrgemAU7roMSMsHuPap26fFB2JS2RrI7IrhcNhGbmQtJEwyuBaLl3oPA/s640/DSC_0116.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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Turn on any Contemporary Christian song and Lily Kay knows it word-for-word, and note-for-note. She is really <i>amazing</i>. Just yesterday, we were looking back at pictures of our trip to China to bring LK home, and saw her sitting watching and listening to a <a href="http://www.meimeiandme.com/videos.html">Mei Mei video</a>. She was mesmerized, and was soon singing along with all the songs perfectly. I thought she just knew already knew the songs from her orphanage, but now we know that she just learned them all super-fast, after watching the video only a time or two on the trip. She truly has a gift for this!<br />
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At the end of the fall season of choir, Carmen's student joined with some other choir students and had a recital. <br />
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This is how sweet LK poses when left to her own devices:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO8-3TEm4aRpntFs6g8Bx2MQY9K_Qt09OaiqT02z4sIUzFOMrsNIbrGiP9xuqQnQGFZdle0dWqbxVBQGVPulDRzzWsgIG7fBEckNXYht2WF_eRmKOoVFm7rGHTU0btHD3XMMeo-PNqU0/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO8-3TEm4aRpntFs6g8Bx2MQY9K_Qt09OaiqT02z4sIUzFOMrsNIbrGiP9xuqQnQGFZdle0dWqbxVBQGVPulDRzzWsgIG7fBEckNXYht2WF_eRmKOoVFm7rGHTU0btHD3XMMeo-PNqU0/s640/DSC_0107.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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And here is how she poses when her big sister gets a hold of her:</div>
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<i>The choir sang:</i><br />
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There's a Song in the Air<br />
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Silent Night (in German, Spanish, Russian and English)<br />
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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day<br />
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Feliz Navidad<br />
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Let It Snow<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte-nRppC0SLYmkcZ33gjDQcZsymKYpdxZ-kfOKxt3hx5o0W-kelk61SuVqI9viF9YA-oW1C8rwK6UdC_TMInl9Zx62DyxqhyphenhyphenUn7lPgSfOw4pgIajvMedjR5FQiY3LEFg8lGKJFkWD_Uc/s1600/IMG_8671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte-nRppC0SLYmkcZ33gjDQcZsymKYpdxZ-kfOKxt3hx5o0W-kelk61SuVqI9viF9YA-oW1C8rwK6UdC_TMInl9Zx62DyxqhyphenhyphenUn7lPgSfOw4pgIajvMedjR5FQiY3LEFg8lGKJFkWD_Uc/s640/IMG_8671.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With their choir director - Carmen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E with her precious friend, Milly (Milly has 8 siblings!)</td></tr>
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Over the next couple of weeks following the recital, Carmen scheduled her students (and a couple of their moms who sing great! (notice I'm not in there)) to sing at two different nursing homes.<br />
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Here is the group at the first nursing home:<br />
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Here is the second nursing home:<br />
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Jason's Grandfather spent his last three years at this (beautiful!) home.<br />
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After the performances at the homes, the students (and the rest of us family members that were in attendance) were encouraged to walk around and visit with residents. This is so very out of this introvert's comfort zone, but we all did it. <br />
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The residents were more diverse at the second nursing home. When I thought about it later, I realized that the resident the girls made a beeline to visit was an Asian woman. And G had gone to visit a black man. I find this very interesting. <br />
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In some many ways and for so many reasons this whole choir experience was a great one! They will definitely be continuing with this when it starts back up here soon. <br />
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AND....after watching all three performances, G is dying to get involved too! Carmen says to bring him on...we'll see how this goes!<br />
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-49472725901626806692016-12-14T22:21:00.001-05:002017-01-02T16:01:18.676-05:00**SOLD** Back on the Market <span style="color: red;">Less than 72 Hours after we put the house back on the market, we received a full-price offer. <i>Done! </i>So very thankful for the Lord's provision in this area!</span><br />
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As we pulled out of Georgia <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-backstory-on-our-move-to-colorado.html">to move to Colorado</a> in October, we were so comforted knowing our house was under contract. <br />
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I suppose the saying <i>"It's not over til it's over"</i> is so famous because...well, it's true! The financing has fallen through. Our house is back on the market. <br />
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I have put it back on FB, and people are (of course) asking for inside pictures. So I've come here - to <i>my</i> comfort zone - to post some pictures for people to get a better look.</div>
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Except - <i>ach</i>! - this isn't really going to be a "better" look. With our house being under contract within 10 hours last time, when I posted it on FB as a fluke...we never needed to take proper, staged pictures. <br />
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So, we're going to have to make do with these random, non-staged shots...<br />
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First, some details about the house...<br />
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4 bedrooms</div>
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3.5 baths</div>
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2,480 sq ft.</div>
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2.5 acres<br />
We had about one acre of pasture fenced in (pasture contains a 20'x20' pole barn that is less than 2-years old)</div>
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Work shed (16'x16')<br />
20'x40' salt water pool, includes a diving board and slide (enclosed by a white metal security fence)</div>
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The house was 48 years old when we purchased it...so it would be 51-52-years old now. <br />
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We love this house and its floorpan. Wish we could have brought it to Colorado with us!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ydUTf2PY8sSq5El5jZYYye2NUN-rK3jDIoNEn3xlvCKVljud5-wY0C8jM_V3A2lDQTuy7vAOrz4d8C7aVJDLWz53Ud1kBYGf2anyJJicnnyRqujIy-axkeVxLNRBN2SkZ68PpXIs0yw/s1600/DSC_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ydUTf2PY8sSq5El5jZYYye2NUN-rK3jDIoNEn3xlvCKVljud5-wY0C8jM_V3A2lDQTuy7vAOrz4d8C7aVJDLWz53Ud1kBYGf2anyJJicnnyRqujIy-axkeVxLNRBN2SkZ68PpXIs0yw/s640/DSC_1869.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Here is a shot of the family room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bNf4PPkzJPIwo3RZITeVcIbyWrQtxOskwv2eDd8NdaLH4wuLMECdT7sXtabA8-jESTi_rJLRtSQCgHuYdJ894wXKA_cTwQoSRG0ReJiqkbvAFpNps3yxk5wzlm3c2PWAFPki3CrZ-r8/s1600/DSC_1568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bNf4PPkzJPIwo3RZITeVcIbyWrQtxOskwv2eDd8NdaLH4wuLMECdT7sXtabA8-jESTi_rJLRtSQCgHuYdJ894wXKA_cTwQoSRG0ReJiqkbvAFpNps3yxk5wzlm3c2PWAFPki3CrZ-r8/s640/DSC_1568.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Here is another shot - very scary-looking because we'd already started packing to move to CO:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0mpCAdK32jDox7ziBEurmhHFT3VNQGlbpbWL9E4B-p1kuxRxm8BNwFDHjHwBXMRsJHQgtAzB7slyBiTb5TyYtA1M9JYRKt2atwei5tdRTjp4zgNSK3iiKPCIivXG9Y08m2T8bpmEbh4/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0mpCAdK32jDox7ziBEurmhHFT3VNQGlbpbWL9E4B-p1kuxRxm8BNwFDHjHwBXMRsJHQgtAzB7slyBiTb5TyYtA1M9JYRKt2atwei5tdRTjp4zgNSK3iiKPCIivXG9Y08m2T8bpmEbh4/s640/IMG_5892.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see into the kitchen in this above shot</td></tr>
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Here is the dining room, right after I took down the wallpaper border and repainted it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hcwmWqy1OubhayCCcC8jmyYy6qQ7LVWBt37RHkoxUhbSk-cva1y3HA4MtxpSN_4XjfWHmmBPQAqhHSEJmoMKIIf5my8Dl07kFZj5FGX4EmZKrex6nhj1V6U-PVPATgIrUrZVtgo8XT8/s1600/DSC_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hcwmWqy1OubhayCCcC8jmyYy6qQ7LVWBt37RHkoxUhbSk-cva1y3HA4MtxpSN_4XjfWHmmBPQAqhHSEJmoMKIIf5my8Dl07kFZj5FGX4EmZKrex6nhj1V6U-PVPATgIrUrZVtgo8XT8/s640/DSC_1565.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Here is part of the back of the house:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx3BIonp08JgNaMT8XrXOSIjk_tcF2cfA8J2NT1janLD0xKU8Wy3Nw1DKyKDXaT1rkgmF-zowJDYCYidCojAxuM3Y0EowGXvTdRPzDMCuBLbTYm7OpNlPzMUy63fDrVREtU5SG8jj7FI/s1600/DSC_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx3BIonp08JgNaMT8XrXOSIjk_tcF2cfA8J2NT1janLD0xKU8Wy3Nw1DKyKDXaT1rkgmF-zowJDYCYidCojAxuM3Y0EowGXvTdRPzDMCuBLbTYm7OpNlPzMUy63fDrVREtU5SG8jj7FI/s640/DSC_0633.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the far right of the above picture you can see a peek of the sunroom.<br />
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Here is a picture out into the sunroom, from inside the family room. The sunroom is large, and is NOT included in the square footage of the house, because it is not heated/cooled:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfSvOYQcynB6OzONT6PIFMGYV5gHMk0bQhiZi3E-XqcX_zSbd8gRALF3aG6OQNPY8KFSA0dFvRV2kdTP19e3SIdvgVKuysGftelbrQDTzHqzqW93fzYs0aflSEEm9EDwHI6rFJSIQTwI/s1600/DSC_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfSvOYQcynB6OzONT6PIFMGYV5gHMk0bQhiZi3E-XqcX_zSbd8gRALF3aG6OQNPY8KFSA0dFvRV2kdTP19e3SIdvgVKuysGftelbrQDTzHqzqW93fzYs0aflSEEm9EDwHI6rFJSIQTwI/s640/DSC_1267.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Bedroom #1 (already started packing):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP1BS76Zr3WxlIhfVsJ0h9y61LvBsKnHfwRuQDL2lpWi9rss7_VHC7l3MOKrSBzKvlQSgSnvgBDzWZ8i985E70pZ_nG4OX3PXIAzzqtjDcOUTLoMTvkO3oK1Ncw7riCoQp9ss1IoFVp4/s1600/IMG_5894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP1BS76Zr3WxlIhfVsJ0h9y61LvBsKnHfwRuQDL2lpWi9rss7_VHC7l3MOKrSBzKvlQSgSnvgBDzWZ8i985E70pZ_nG4OX3PXIAzzqtjDcOUTLoMTvkO3oK1Ncw7riCoQp9ss1IoFVp4/s640/IMG_5894.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bedroom #2 (two different views): </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP-VbCHMdmlHbPzrTiJ9d6IDx9P_BiHQlm37IeSOowQozgOO4PzLEI8tedrZMRnb4xjkwPomzNRA5XZKXuE2sOLJywTfWHSHzP4YHYdT-fxZGgFodp3fXNLwT1_57E4pjJiEnh57PcSo/s1600/DSC_0907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP-VbCHMdmlHbPzrTiJ9d6IDx9P_BiHQlm37IeSOowQozgOO4PzLEI8tedrZMRnb4xjkwPomzNRA5XZKXuE2sOLJywTfWHSHzP4YHYdT-fxZGgFodp3fXNLwT1_57E4pjJiEnh57PcSo/s640/DSC_0907.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two closets</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQieDcjnQCq3v-oMjUSCZ5jLv6cmnzQu3jlqEFUOzGvWZc9i06yjC4qamebGqWcKsCUoTWCrt6OcuiTmvtq1V37vuhd5nfXGu5EeeKBm1f6x_3DfbBIuPVDyoo9iTlBiL6zTfRkitpD8Y/s1600/DSC_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQieDcjnQCq3v-oMjUSCZ5jLv6cmnzQu3jlqEFUOzGvWZc9i06yjC4qamebGqWcKsCUoTWCrt6OcuiTmvtq1V37vuhd5nfXGu5EeeKBm1f6x_3DfbBIuPVDyoo9iTlBiL6zTfRkitpD8Y/s640/DSC_0905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bedrooms #1 and #2 have a Jack-and-Jill bathroom between them. The bathroom has a toilet, sink, and shower. I am sorry, but I don't have any pictures of that bathroom.</div>
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Bedroom #3:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCqS1tNLr2PyRdWbla4GGF2LNXcA8M8TgUCgLBUCTPbAofKM6R3mvg7jD6n_zOkJvgzHixTrJM18seRZot80dwkQQgr1x6Ug1jGOlSmj8hZ7Rush3l9pFrH25xIucSz40zJx0Ou3USr0/s1600/IMG_5896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCqS1tNLr2PyRdWbla4GGF2LNXcA8M8TgUCgLBUCTPbAofKM6R3mvg7jD6n_zOkJvgzHixTrJM18seRZot80dwkQQgr1x6Ug1jGOlSmj8hZ7Rush3l9pFrH25xIucSz40zJx0Ou3USr0/s640/IMG_5896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the guest bathroom, with separate water closet/bathtub:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_udj0pRQ-FQdW2e0oMM8pxjaVoi1NbBiA2S1YDapUQLuBnqsfc8ejsYC6gRZG_3t_IVYyNEnQ16ekOk5SJTaWVr8LfT8e7lM21S1mfcKzpd3VU_I8_CejjVTdTM_Tcuy5nrmuEvAAkI/s1600/IMG_5897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_udj0pRQ-FQdW2e0oMM8pxjaVoi1NbBiA2S1YDapUQLuBnqsfc8ejsYC6gRZG_3t_IVYyNEnQ16ekOk5SJTaWVr8LfT8e7lM21S1mfcKzpd3VU_I8_CejjVTdTM_Tcuy5nrmuEvAAkI/s640/IMG_5897.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Two views of the master bedroom:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk79yHknfJ8H6UK5tFRwRvS-eqZ5G2ubiTdbfiYyd8t6oyazn2yJ0nADfjnuhcfd9QsBCf93YkUDt8gH4smPWHC4pSCK5CNiEcU8SkbsRi_sloNIo0d-Lxl1KNPcHAcS2kEUiXY1OrXw/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk79yHknfJ8H6UK5tFRwRvS-eqZ5G2ubiTdbfiYyd8t6oyazn2yJ0nADfjnuhcfd9QsBCf93YkUDt8gH4smPWHC4pSCK5CNiEcU8SkbsRi_sloNIo0d-Lxl1KNPcHAcS2kEUiXY1OrXw/s640/IMG_5898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bedroom is very large...which we didn't mind one bit!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRoJ1zFk-DQVoCyrQ57lZ3MHIBfBlN7RpQkEZPAor74XtcyDxuasfyAukfmnSBmBXQfZXx91KAdIV85xksjICqxm1-dCBIZ3qR0fVW2RSyU-3WCl38jZNKlmy-ZNRCmVYTdohCCRuJgg/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRoJ1zFk-DQVoCyrQ57lZ3MHIBfBlN7RpQkEZPAor74XtcyDxuasfyAukfmnSBmBXQfZXx91KAdIV85xksjICqxm1-dCBIZ3qR0fVW2RSyU-3WCl38jZNKlmy-ZNRCmVYTdohCCRuJgg/s640/IMG_5899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the master bathroom vanity area:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWGlURcCHfqp_NNTMjFm97ehwxHxZ9PMm0sZ80oflPCupWTRVA17rT6aVfHA1zvJzj8ZMRp2pRq1nCQvsGZYzvHcDj_7f3btXd31QAh8poiuAZ0D5FiEyOF7Uw2RM8nADAmoXORU8XxQ/s1600/IMG_5900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWGlURcCHfqp_NNTMjFm97ehwxHxZ9PMm0sZ80oflPCupWTRVA17rT6aVfHA1zvJzj8ZMRp2pRq1nCQvsGZYzvHcDj_7f3btXd31QAh8poiuAZ0D5FiEyOF7Uw2RM8nADAmoXORU8XxQ/s640/IMG_5900.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The master bedroom Water closet/bathtub/shower are off to the left (I don't have any pictures), and the master walk-in closet is the door to the right:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmLNHp9cXGbC7hihJU9fX1M3rgzmIyRgtp1yT8DUEUPR1JjEVn9H7_JJ1U0_jQALwzyyb1YfWrHeBlOFwdzNl36kmLIBjpBQ_Pfo8wRhPDpgzAiaHrXgH0ZWJUQ3wXejI8PM5_kV9Yhg/s1600/IMG_5901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmLNHp9cXGbC7hihJU9fX1M3rgzmIyRgtp1yT8DUEUPR1JjEVn9H7_JJ1U0_jQALwzyyb1YfWrHeBlOFwdzNl36kmLIBjpBQ_Pfo8wRhPDpgzAiaHrXgH0ZWJUQ3wXejI8PM5_kV9Yhg/s640/IMG_5901.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here is the eat-in portion of the kitchen (we'd begun packing, sorry!):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrapKtReAXNwMZmzOwsK1TAw_bVt_uBvReC_fM6X2MyM3Llm2FhX5ORV4dSGSLzSD8xUSsDVaYXlhhECUf5kUH8Rjhyphenhyphen_dDeJf6r1E7xaTWvWPM1Hj9VJu8AXZ8Z-j-UjRLVOFyDz5A0qU/s1600/IMG_5902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrapKtReAXNwMZmzOwsK1TAw_bVt_uBvReC_fM6X2MyM3Llm2FhX5ORV4dSGSLzSD8xUSsDVaYXlhhECUf5kUH8Rjhyphenhyphen_dDeJf6r1E7xaTWvWPM1Hj9VJu8AXZ8Z-j-UjRLVOFyDz5A0qU/s640/IMG_5902.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here is the other end of the kitchen:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcWrMyX7g8BX_qSsdCA3_SHWnY6i57S96Ckjp69Xav8Lv15e-FBCAJt0DnLRpEtPt4nsJ5JWkZO1ITBC7utyYyGPtg0C0wYcN6W99zyk5OKfbWWjU6IVIlC64aQ07oJv4xpWpqFh3xq0/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcWrMyX7g8BX_qSsdCA3_SHWnY6i57S96Ckjp69Xav8Lv15e-FBCAJt0DnLRpEtPt4nsJ5JWkZO1ITBC7utyYyGPtg0C0wYcN6W99zyk5OKfbWWjU6IVIlC64aQ07oJv4xpWpqFh3xq0/s640/IMG_5903.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a five-burner gas range that is amazing. And a convection oven.</td></tr>
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This kitchen has plenty of counter-space for lots of helpers to...help! (Many hands make light work!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfFoLya7OrTc9d8fCFtUE2Z_F5xNUpcskFTqYF3Pwzpe5hCK9H3pM7KLTyF9wZCOt8WZHGTlz3UmD2WrVuCw8UFTSKnYuUyBpp7Nzf-MGQWiX7tHXXkoy6URPd9B5Vrq3QH-l-xwSbxI/s1600/DSC_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfFoLya7OrTc9d8fCFtUE2Z_F5xNUpcskFTqYF3Pwzpe5hCK9H3pM7KLTyF9wZCOt8WZHGTlz3UmD2WrVuCw8UFTSKnYuUyBpp7Nzf-MGQWiX7tHXXkoy6URPd9B5Vrq3QH-l-xwSbxI/s640/DSC_3303.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Here is the utility room, off the kitchen. It holds the washer/dryer, utility sink, room for extra storage (we had a 6'x6' shelving system from Lowe's), a toilet (I thought this was so weird when we moved in, but it was SO handy!) and our extra fridge:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw2O4IYOvnspsoZbKk5-ybE4uEEiLpm5ZqNfFzubo8ZyXUx7O85nhomUqVhdB9LseDiJRA9bFoSce6t5z5SrHaN81pPt5SgAV08F3Day5kmyh5ct5m9XFSUmMFCvoG27a4Fr-5687Ebs/s1600/IMG_5904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw2O4IYOvnspsoZbKk5-ybE4uEEiLpm5ZqNfFzubo8ZyXUx7O85nhomUqVhdB9LseDiJRA9bFoSce6t5z5SrHaN81pPt5SgAV08F3Day5kmyh5ct5m9XFSUmMFCvoG27a4Fr-5687Ebs/s640/IMG_5904.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is a pic of the inside of the 16'x16' work shed in the backyard:</div>
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Out back is a 20'x40' salt-water pool (we converted it from chlorine). It has a diving board and a slide: </div>
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Another view of the pool:</div>
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Also out back is perhaps my favorite part of the whole property...the <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-evolution-of-chicken-coop.html">playhouse-turned-chicken coop</a>:</div>
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We fenced in about an acre of the pasture (where we kept two cows)...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23mA7SqFSznDQ6KF8Kof8H4uiey0-xnVeJlHWLSDY_3vBZKuRXDnc2cV9WNnWYJcPQaZixtL34uvVGz6uHlmbyB4aRocnHGgQi_Y6pCCSxD1G49dqu-VbWAJhIo-6qxFDQn5Dkdtc9js/s1600/DSC_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23mA7SqFSznDQ6KF8Kof8H4uiey0-xnVeJlHWLSDY_3vBZKuRXDnc2cV9WNnWYJcPQaZixtL34uvVGz6uHlmbyB4aRocnHGgQi_Y6pCCSxD1G49dqu-VbWAJhIo-6qxFDQn5Dkdtc9js/s640/DSC_0451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and a 20x20' pole barn is in the pasture (we had it built less than two years ago):</div>
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It had been o<a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2013/02/gods-latest-act-of-grace-in-our-lives.html">ur dream for years to move out to the country</a>, and the Lord blessed us immensely with this house. He has big plans for it...and I pray that exactly the right family is now blessed with it!</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-43669067473641958382016-12-01T16:39:00.003-05:002016-12-01T16:46:11.330-05:00And....He's Off and Running!<br />
Jas opened the doors of his own office 4 weeks ago. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A_NbbyQElMGdeKGWy7p-v2RQ8oe9CPfsz-0NSouXplg3uAbIfCBoWpj4PY27uhxMN_LPFF9741NO-iV2kG-kwnsNC14XJj53012xUWvelrfBVMhedscwat2iwONYn5tNrshj3FpWP24/s1600/front+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A_NbbyQElMGdeKGWy7p-v2RQ8oe9CPfsz-0NSouXplg3uAbIfCBoWpj4PY27uhxMN_LPFF9741NO-iV2kG-kwnsNC14XJj53012xUWvelrfBVMhedscwat2iwONYn5tNrshj3FpWP24/s640/front+door.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I couldn't be more proud of him.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_AaVRd9Xs_u1_qo8jOh6jko7QESX4nXeMbds5caQmIqof5yWCckxBqEavtkYV67Pj9lBr9gC3zXYXxrVnJ-OaYUIiT9IvBOvnrlLvebfHkjHMy6HOVSCXo1HPErT5krBXWItcU4vdMc/s1600/Jas+first+day2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_AaVRd9Xs_u1_qo8jOh6jko7QESX4nXeMbds5caQmIqof5yWCckxBqEavtkYV67Pj9lBr9gC3zXYXxrVnJ-OaYUIiT9IvBOvnrlLvebfHkjHMy6HOVSCXo1HPErT5krBXWItcU4vdMc/s640/Jas+first+day2.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the house for his first day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcTi_UJbbWsnnFYetX0fjSLoLyQGjcRVft0Y8Xe7ojkX2etGVa9hk4gUXoramBa6DWOqUhOokik0hQKrTvxJbhbFKWOb1SskWLLb6GIUoZg8Tg5qeqCVgqZCB2e1hB5pwLFQq-F-2KI/s1600/Jas+first+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygcTi_UJbbWsnnFYetX0fjSLoLyQGjcRVft0Y8Xe7ojkX2etGVa9hk4gUXoramBa6DWOqUhOokik0hQKrTvxJbhbFKWOb1SskWLLb6GIUoZg8Tg5qeqCVgqZCB2e1hB5pwLFQq-F-2KI/s320/Jas+first+day.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He let me take lots of pics...but finally drew the line: "I would like to be there before my employees!"</td></tr>
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This is such a good fit for him. Everything he has done educationally and professionally has equipped him to open this office and run his own business. He really seems in his element. </div>
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This post contains all the "before" pictures of his office. </div>
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I say "before" because we have plans. BIG plans. Well, not really BIG, but they seem big to us. We are going to paint all the walls. We don't care for the colors that are there right now, and they actually aren't even "compliant" with the home office color scheme. The tan color looks better on the screen than it does in real life...Nai Nai described it as "Baby Poopoo Squash." And we want to do some redecorating: changing out some tables and seating and decorating the shelves in the open reception area and in the conference room. </div>
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This is the view as you walk in the front door. <br />
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We have just (as of about an hour ago) sold this sofa. It is nice and comfy enough, and not professional enough for an office. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTr87FexX3PRD11qLcQ4gajC2-FBd8CfEM2c5c47qdmjV5p1tTsCqAR27DYEGheQLOYl6loYynjPYRU25jcycJmZnVic79GRqFs9UdcW0BjAg-EEycFHhGBz-Qk3GpgwAIIUe9MWoV64/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTr87FexX3PRD11qLcQ4gajC2-FBd8CfEM2c5c47qdmjV5p1tTsCqAR27DYEGheQLOYl6loYynjPYRU25jcycJmZnVic79GRqFs9UdcW0BjAg-EEycFHhGBz-Qk3GpgwAIIUe9MWoV64/s640/DSC_0044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've already bought 2 parson chairs (that I LOVE!) and a table to go between them. (I purchased all these things on a FB group of local moms.) As soon as we deliver the sofa Monday, we will have room to move the chairs/table in to Jason's office. I already have him a beautiful orchid to go on the table also. It is REAL...because Jas totally has a green thumb (unlike his wife). <br />
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You can see along the right side of the above picture that there are three doors, leading into the three private offices. <br />
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Here is the first office:<br />
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This is the office for Jason's full-time employee.<br />
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And here is Jason's office:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am *itching* to paint and decorate in here...but that takes money, so we are taking it slow.</td></tr>
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And here is the third office:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQc8bZDtruQLJGEJFidfPZLxKn7Os4rbIwaM-Q0TLWCg5ZsLujTHOQ04uZPa7HBHEAlt4_Fw8diXRvmlnShI5xPSH9urM_ifdLNrXC8BmYaPKHfze7e1j8hXDH-Jdve3V2Np83P6NcMs/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQc8bZDtruQLJGEJFidfPZLxKn7Os4rbIwaM-Q0TLWCg5ZsLujTHOQ04uZPa7HBHEAlt4_Fw8diXRvmlnShI5xPSH9urM_ifdLNrXC8BmYaPKHfze7e1j8hXDH-Jdve3V2Np83P6NcMs/s640/DSC_0029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, that is a gum ball machine...don't ask...we don't know.</td></tr>
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It has two desks, back-to-back, and is unused for now.<br />
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Here is the main open reception area. Isn't Jason's part-time employee beautiful??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmb6oQLNmHMSXKdgZ-1YcUxUX9nNehuEHAmslx5qn5Ye_EC7W4Qquy-_FUtjrNFGqP70lNKEfO6JqNHFwCBzlctRirI-1tQATTrA0KrgnkgxkomRKBOLksPuWacayXnZgCXBCmu5jWYM/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmb6oQLNmHMSXKdgZ-1YcUxUX9nNehuEHAmslx5qn5Ye_EC7W4Qquy-_FUtjrNFGqP70lNKEfO6JqNHFwCBzlctRirI-1tQATTrA0KrgnkgxkomRKBOLksPuWacayXnZgCXBCmu5jWYM/s640/DSC_0027.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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The young lady who really works here part-time (four hours every afternoon) speaks Spanish...which is wonderful!</div>
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Looking back toward the front door:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFajo0uXTuhX0egspvysO1oaXWz8taLbQGsSKmsDi7v26Hb0edqqD5KBNxmOFG7i-vzT5_yo819npASI7Clcv5cbw-9dv1Tza_TufJZQfRlJnlfpYRGj9ZCWvNjJ2pyius-uRu7ffxwo/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFajo0uXTuhX0egspvysO1oaXWz8taLbQGsSKmsDi7v26Hb0edqqD5KBNxmOFG7i-vzT5_yo819npASI7Clcv5cbw-9dv1Tza_TufJZQfRlJnlfpYRGj9ZCWvNjJ2pyius-uRu7ffxwo/s640/DSC_0030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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These built-in shelves will one day (soon!) house beautiful things, instead of files (they have plenty of storage space in cabinets...this doesn't need to be on display):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYmghZd_ZWW2wI8LHsLdVdkn7cKVtRD4GPkqH0vQnDmWaYD48SMzqduk2IHacBeDFLOroj9MOJzXlz4-COU1FgVfMEFEEaSqc1BWHbWNKA0FJGpbmImSCbp4WPmvVHkvJhHTHWdBBo-k/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYmghZd_ZWW2wI8LHsLdVdkn7cKVtRD4GPkqH0vQnDmWaYD48SMzqduk2IHacBeDFLOroj9MOJzXlz4-COU1FgVfMEFEEaSqc1BWHbWNKA0FJGpbmImSCbp4WPmvVHkvJhHTHWdBBo-k/s640/DSC_0046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here is the conference room:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OhCPKLFF8zpZ936e5Rp0xd3BWBpgTuB5wc-Me9bFqtTcVxf4zf8E0TSGlTueramYDlcjtTV5xQHof7tMLoLfOYMGNMEhJzBHnWj-8JT97x-dc9xwphaKNz1yoR6NQw5Bz_Pvxtp0LRs/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OhCPKLFF8zpZ936e5Rp0xd3BWBpgTuB5wc-Me9bFqtTcVxf4zf8E0TSGlTueramYDlcjtTV5xQHof7tMLoLfOYMGNMEhJzBHnWj-8JT97x-dc9xwphaKNz1yoR6NQw5Bz_Pvxtp0LRs/s640/DSC_0031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The view from the other end of the conference room:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLft6qhZLgirIIYC37ge6eX_dClp5jH7OKj6dexDQwqJgWnSohNiEER60c0mk6f91WnQXVrWczoLGdXHFv3n3_9-Dz-vGxUwAq4EbjDivnOBYVaBz7gEj1ahC2rWPCxUum-HxcIiwdM/s1600/conf+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLft6qhZLgirIIYC37ge6eX_dClp5jH7OKj6dexDQwqJgWnSohNiEER60c0mk6f91WnQXVrWczoLGdXHFv3n3_9-Dz-vGxUwAq4EbjDivnOBYVaBz7gEj1ahC2rWPCxUum-HxcIiwdM/s640/conf+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These shelves will also one day (hopefully soon!) display beautiful things.</td></tr>
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The first weekend after Jas started, we went to rearrange some furniture. Thankfully, his two brothers helped:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZMHZdlMTxM0kRRMwNlBVJSg6Kuh5ayKZMIodA5GaCpB9yc4W1L6gCgFoS5WqBfnWSBU9qpjg451C2eCpsdJD-17FX775QbmoRn0iiVMcad-Oh-7gqWG22NUSeULhrgt82mEN-g7GlJI/s1600/IMG_7899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZMHZdlMTxM0kRRMwNlBVJSg6Kuh5ayKZMIodA5GaCpB9yc4W1L6gCgFoS5WqBfnWSBU9qpjg451C2eCpsdJD-17FX775QbmoRn0iiVMcad-Oh-7gqWG22NUSeULhrgt82mEN-g7GlJI/s640/IMG_7899.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyPwoXrnv9g9qCqkBKPIV7FL6aRDvf9S0MXZZ0ya_msyrA7JSVlC_7Nudz0-97JGLywchAALFVktZLvVQZrXhhy6-XB1sVB2qPJt2oieBqOdL9mKmdDhyM0rthwzoGWh3HKIgo7axMTE/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyPwoXrnv9g9qCqkBKPIV7FL6aRDvf9S0MXZZ0ya_msyrA7JSVlC_7Nudz0-97JGLywchAALFVktZLvVQZrXhhy6-XB1sVB2qPJt2oieBqOdL9mKmdDhyM0rthwzoGWh3HKIgo7axMTE/s640/IMG_7903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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They were so helpful, and I am so glad they were there (otherwise I would have had to work harder!)....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9TvuXdkEa4FJIMBViOW3OG_lo-bY7fInIG1blmYIbsYNKSNn7qs_8sNwSVQMN7E3wrBxy4zl9HTZJm4aaC6gKb69blU4G9pAvp4mDqB24NhDX7n5FVvAR3ExupWxIqxGBJM54lnPpxA/s1600/IMG_7910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9TvuXdkEa4FJIMBViOW3OG_lo-bY7fInIG1blmYIbsYNKSNn7qs_8sNwSVQMN7E3wrBxy4zl9HTZJm4aaC6gKb69blU4G9pAvp4mDqB24NhDX7n5FVvAR3ExupWxIqxGBJM54lnPpxA/s640/IMG_7910.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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...but plenty of "play" went on also!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97RCet4z3X7n7c_wWo7cAt8Tz6QREj6OtGEb0_oq-ERIyJI80FG7jWq9rze0ZX9sryHPF-6Sj5W9Ga1jVentbk58-AawQ-NWdsrqXVr76VaSjKsvPOXzoL3rgG-jn27XNMHaf3MVPlnY/s1600/IMG_7911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97RCet4z3X7n7c_wWo7cAt8Tz6QREj6OtGEb0_oq-ERIyJI80FG7jWq9rze0ZX9sryHPF-6Sj5W9Ga1jVentbk58-AawQ-NWdsrqXVr76VaSjKsvPOXzoL3rgG-jn27XNMHaf3MVPlnY/s640/IMG_7911.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Our kiddos sure do love their uncles....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVVFn5GANwKUrxyHZOACfzLi8R7Os9pMy7hsvAE3pc_n1-48MrgdeliZlVewDx_6qa9j5mNLI8j8ffXwAPHYrkE-53teEVqHkdy1qtOJR4PgerpP6Su6Ve5Vcp3UQjieDRg4oEJ1_cN0/s1600/IMG_7914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVVFn5GANwKUrxyHZOACfzLi8R7Os9pMy7hsvAE3pc_n1-48MrgdeliZlVewDx_6qa9j5mNLI8j8ffXwAPHYrkE-53teEVqHkdy1qtOJR4PgerpP6Su6Ve5Vcp3UQjieDRg4oEJ1_cN0/s640/IMG_7914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and the feeling is mutual!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYfXetsUwm-gV_d728z3I686r_6yybu_EqK4wWL_0ayWNB7Y8fSx5_hkf_BE7rejJDdDiqINlauhYpJ-BVWGNrNFmc4DL0VMMjT6GqXavs-zTJop9VAronukjJwDAUjc2NM18ytlEqLo/s1600/IMG_7916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYfXetsUwm-gV_d728z3I686r_6yybu_EqK4wWL_0ayWNB7Y8fSx5_hkf_BE7rejJDdDiqINlauhYpJ-BVWGNrNFmc4DL0VMMjT6GqXavs-zTJop9VAronukjJwDAUjc2NM18ytlEqLo/s640/IMG_7916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So glad we get to be by Jason's family again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVk2oU-QilQORX4crGC0WRwY_ySf41UgesRVdxhctFTRVC26P3o2zQCC6LJmSC9zWzymbTlKl70vNyez3DMJ-6_tWhz73Wq9wTrMX4saQsBc97su8Bdn6AdwuZ2D_oltl1Fs-RtbAdf0/s1600/three+brothers+in+the+office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVk2oU-QilQORX4crGC0WRwY_ySf41UgesRVdxhctFTRVC26P3o2zQCC6LJmSC9zWzymbTlKl70vNyez3DMJ-6_tWhz73Wq9wTrMX4saQsBc97su8Bdn6AdwuZ2D_oltl1Fs-RtbAdf0/s640/three+brothers+in+the+office.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is such an exciting time. And at the same time...it. is. hard. The learning curve. The financial commitment involved. The time commitment for all the studying and exams Jas has had to take (and he is taking another one tomorrow!). <br />
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There is always some attrition when there is an agent change, and this time is no different. And November and December are notorious for being the slowest months anyway (everyone is busy buying Christmas presents!). On the bright side, the only place to go from here is up!<br />
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I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for Jas (and the rest of our family) in the future!<br />
<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-14910403439080842692016-11-03T17:32:00.001-04:002016-11-03T17:32:21.315-04:00Book Club...and then Rambling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(This post is all over the place...discombobulated. And I am going to leave it just like that. I started out talking about a book I am reading that is impacting me greatly...and then went off into left-field. But I don't have time to make it flow good and nice and cohesively. I just need to get stuff <i>out. </i>I don't want to be fake and only post good/nice when there is plenty of not good/not nice.)</div>
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A few days before we left GA my sis-in-love Steph texted me and let me know I would henceforth be part of her Book Club. </div>
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Being a girl who was desperately sad to be leaving the great community of girlfriends the Lord surrounded me with the past 14 years, this was music to my ears. New potential friends? Yes, please!</div>
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Tomorrow night is the first meeting I will attend. </div>
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This is the book we are discussing:</div>
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Honestly, my socks weren't blown off when I read the title. <i>A book about motherhood?</i> I want some life-changing, deep, theological book - nonfiction or fiction, it doesn't matter. But <i>not</i> something about motherhood. (And my kiddos were aghast at the four-letter word in the subtitle :) )</div>
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And honestly, my sockets weren't blown off when I read the first chapter a week and a half ago. So I put the book down...until a couple days ago (because I am a procrastinator). But I am also a rule-follower, so I was determined to <strike>slog through</strike> read the book before the meeting.</div>
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So I started reading again. While I still am not done quite yet (but I do intend to finish!)...<i>my socks are officially, totally blown off! </i>The second chapter drew me in, and hasn't let go. I could have written most of this myself.</div>
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I have cried.</div>
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I have taken copious notes.</div>
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I have highlighted and screen-shot-ted (I have the kindle-edition). </div>
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Yes, this book is about motherhood...but <i>so. much. more.</i></div>
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It is hitting me right where it hurts. Right where I am struggling. Right where I <i>always</i> struggle.</div>
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Striving. Working. Spinning. When will I ever learn? I have struggled with these things for years. I have written about this before. </div>
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I know (pointing at my head) the great truths of our Christian faith. I know all the Sunday school answers. The problem is I often don't live them out...don't let them sink into my heart and actually change my feelings, my thinking...and therefore, my behaviors. </div>
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I knew this move would be hard. I knew that. Of course it would be. Duh. Stripped of all the amazing friendships and support network we had built for 14 years. That takes time to build. Of course it does. I knew to expect this...and I thought I was ready. </div>
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But here we are. Right smack dab in the middle of hard. And I am whiny. I am lonely. I am ready for "hard" to be over. This is enough, Lord. Can't we be past this already? </div>
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Part of the problem, I am realizing, is that I have relied on my friends...when I should have relied on God. I have a bad day? Call a friend. Having trouble in school with a child? Call a friend. <i>Anything</i> big - good or bad - happen? Call a friend. Pour my heart out to a friend on the phone. Over tea at my/her kitchen table. At the playground during a homeschool group get-together. </div>
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Friends and community is great - a gift from God! But not when I use them to replace God. </div>
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The change in our location and circumstances is revealing some work I need to do. Work I need to allow God to do <i>in me</i>, I should say. Stripped of my friends/community I am feeling so alone. Needy. Like the picture of a woman walking around holding out a cup, hoping someone - anyone - will fill it for her. What is my worth? Who am I? Where is my value? The people who know me, the people who like me and think I am great? They are across the country. Yes, I can still talk with them...some. But it is hard (time difference, AND most of them are homeschooling many children, among other reasons) And yes, we do have long-time friends here, and family, but they are busy too. </div>
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And all of this, ultimately, is good. I know that. We are exactly where the Lord wants us to be. The 8 of us - sticking closer together than ever before. Figuring out this new normal for our family...together. Seeking God's will for us in this season...together. It is good. And hard. </div>
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So, I am working hard. Trying to <i>make</i> everything normal. And perfect. Because perfect is how I like things. And I want everything to look perfect to everyone around me, too. </div>
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To wrap up (because rest-time is almost over!)....</div>
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The book has hit me hard.</div>
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I need to lean into Him. Find my worth totally in Him. Know how loved I am.</div>
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Some of my favorite excerpts:</div>
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What if He's not at all surprised when we fail at our feeble attempts of perfection? What is He is so madly in love with us that His feelings don't change based on our behaviors?<br /> And - wait for it - what it it's actually His love that changes us, not our attempts at trying harder? What if, by realizing how incredibly loved we are, we actually started living like it? </blockquote>
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Paul's prayer for you in Ephesians:<br /><br /><span style="color: blue;">"May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is. <br /> May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the <i>fullness of life and power </i>that comes from God." </span></blockquote>
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Fullness of Life. No more striving for worth. No more straining for attention. Completely and lavishly satisfied. </blockquote>
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Experiencing the love of Christ? This is where the power comes from. This is where we will be made complete...full...free. Free from the comparisons. Free from our anger, our impatience and our selfishness. Guilt and shame have no power to change us. It is in being loved that we are changed. </blockquote>
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Goodness tied to performance of any kind is never sufficient. Worth tied to performance is always fleeting. Never good enough. Worth found in the goodness and love of God can silence the voice of failure in an instant.<br /> You are not good because you are a good mom.<br /> You are not good because you do good things.<br /> You are good if you are a child of the King. </blockquote>
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You will miss experiencing God's goodness in your life because you will feel like you don't deserve it.<br /> Yes, you will keep trying to find it. You will keep trying to earn it. And you will keep tripping on your own efforts.<br /> Because you can't be good by trying harder. You can't be good by performing better.<br /> Goodness comes from the grace of God. Undeserved. Unmerited. And irreversible. </blockquote>
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(I don't know how to end this post...so, Amen!)</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-42324694983860204992016-10-31T18:20:00.003-04:002016-11-01T15:48:20.994-04:00The Two Littles...Being Little (And I Never Want to Forget)<br />
Gabriel recently became aware that Christmas is not far away now (how can this be?!?), and he immediately began working on his Twelve Days of Christmas again (his most favorite-est Christmas song). He is getting better! (I talk about how he sang/pronounced this song last year when he was 3 right <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2015/12/ready-for-christmas.html">HERE</a>)<br />
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And I want us to always remember the phase that A went through where she put "poo paste" on her "poopbrush":<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y0EUKviMjBw?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-31182309751745537942016-10-27T17:06:00.003-04:002016-11-01T15:43:35.526-04:00Running....and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have so much to post. We have so much going on. <br />
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I feel like we hit the ground running 3.5 weeks ago...and we haven't stopped. And we need to slow down. <br />
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During rest-time everyday I am reading, researching, making calls/sending texts to gather information. We need a church family, a homeschool group, a house. There are lessons that the children want to take. Doctors to find. Insurance(!) to decide on. (We are eligible for Jason's company's group insurance in a few days, but we have heard it is not the best, so we are gathering information to make a decision). <br />
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All of these decisions will come. But I just want them to come <i>now</i>. I want this all settled...so I can feel settled. It doesn't work that way, though. I just need to do the next thing, and be patient with the rest. AND....rest in Him, that He will guide our every step, in His perfect timing. <br />
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And, OH, He <i>has</i> guided. We have seen so many evidences of this along and along. It is so encouraging! <br />
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And so many wonderful things have happened, little mercies...and BIG! And I want to keep a good record.<br />
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So....<br />
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I'm starting here...with a field trip the children and I took Monday. <br />
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I got connected with a FB group for local homeschoolers, and saw that the Denver Museum of Science and Nature was having a FREE day on Monday. We like Free!<br />
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I whipped out my phone's mapping app, figured out where to go and we headed out. It was so neat heading through areas that I haven't been to/through in forever, and pointing things out to the kiddos. Walk down memory lane, for sure!<br />
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First, the two youngest were unusually cooperative with my picture-taking desires before we left for the field trip:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't love this picture any more!</td></tr>
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I love the opportunities we now have!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail was done cooperating with pictures.</td></tr>
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The museum was three floors of amazing sights. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were just talking about arthropods in science last week...so this was cool!</td></tr>
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There were so many exhibits that let the kiddos get real hands-on:<br />
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Abigail wasn't real sure she wanted to get hands-on....<br />
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...but then she got over it!<br />
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And then we headed to a paleontology exhibit. The employees were great here! First, our kiddos got on their stegosaurus tails (the bigs didn't want to participate, go figure!):</div>
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Then they crawled after the guides to see what the stegosaurus ate, and how it defended itself:<br />
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Then the children dug to discover bones.....</div>
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...and then figured out which bones they had dug up, and where they went on which dinosaur:</div>
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The museum offered multiple comfy places where we could eat the picnic lunch we brought. (The museum also offered strollers for free, which we used, but not as much as I would have liked because they kept wanting to get out and get hands-on!) (Seriously, the only money we spent all day was on gas...woohoo!)</div>
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Gabriel asked so sweetly to take some pictures himself, I had to oblige:</div>
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G also asked me to video him...and I was happy to comply:<br />
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The fourth floor of the museum was an observation deck overlooking a beautiful park....<br />
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...and beautiful mountains!<br />
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We still having fully gotten used to the idea that we actually live here now!</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-16786860042453274802016-10-18T16:40:00.003-04:002016-10-18T16:40:46.804-04:00Kathy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Last night I got to connect with Kathy. Yes, the Kathy who totally <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-surprise-is-on-me.html">surprised me by flying to GA</a> and then <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2012/12/kathys-tripand-another-surprise.html">throwing me a surprise 40th birthday party</a>! </div>
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It's been almost four years since I've seen her...but it will never be that long between visits again!</div>
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<br /><br />Just a few months shy of 20 years ago, Jas came home from work and told me about a new co-worker that had just been hired, and was so nice. She and her husband were newlyweds like us, and were new to the city. We had them over to eat ASAP. This girl crawled into my heart and has been there ever since! Kathy is so very good for me, and I still can't believe that we get to live in the same city again. I see many more "dates" like last night in our future! <div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-48414307518677098302016-10-12T16:19:00.003-04:002016-10-12T16:22:42.955-04:00The Move<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Thursday, September 29th, the 26-ft U-haul arrived in our driveway. </div>
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Gabriel was *enthralled*. He wanted his picture taken with it...</div>
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...and then he had a heyday taking pictures of the truck himself:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are just three of the approximately 50 he took.</td></tr>
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Jas, Robert, my dad and myself went back and forth talking all day Friday about whether all our stuff would fit in this van. It was the biggest they offer...we hoped for the best.</div>
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Saturday morning, mom (Lao Lao) came and picked up the youngest three. Papa stayed at the house to help us. </div>
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And then at 9 a.m sharp, about 15 men friends showed up to help. Our pastor (who also came to help) took it upon himself to be in charge of arranging this crew. Friends new and old. Community group members. This was such a <i>huge</i> blessing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTffv54-pixkQrK0zYGPDv5fL5GlW_8yWNnCj8Fe7i_ehVX6aQUcu90oqt60ZPBtTgUt6asAyJjtC1JUZ2Kt1jQ05O-xQdR8rzzxkWWufgZjQ0kAQqFNnve6mJ7SUJdO7QVLFjfOThPo/s1600/IMG_6706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTffv54-pixkQrK0zYGPDv5fL5GlW_8yWNnCj8Fe7i_ehVX6aQUcu90oqt60ZPBtTgUt6asAyJjtC1JUZ2Kt1jQ05O-xQdR8rzzxkWWufgZjQ0kAQqFNnve6mJ7SUJdO7QVLFjfOThPo/s640/IMG_6706.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is <i>some</i> of the moving crew</td></tr>
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We didn't really need that many helpers. But it sure was nice. Two or three guys (always Jas) were up inside the van, with others keeping a steady stream of boxes and furniture out to them. The ones in the van were fitting things together like Tetris. It was amazing how much they were able to fit in there! It took less than two hours to get this part done. <br />
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And yet...it still didn't all fit. So while all the guys headed home (they had done all they could do), Jas and Robert headed to rent a smaller U-haul trailer to haul behind the big moving van. <br />
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And then it was night before we actually headed out on the road. 8:46 p.m., to be precise. <br />
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Jas drove the moving van hauling the trailer:</div>
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Robert drove Jason's truck:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHONranOk-diAMrUtysH3qHxvg0OzPL5YUHo9aHTve72SFvmssfaCZn5BLrktZ7pIBxT2Zs2Vun8KmT3QXaim-OuhIZD9K-G2Sp9GwxzAQNmGJGswt-0iIPsQq6JhSrWitYWsIhBbaA4/s1600/IMG_6710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHONranOk-diAMrUtysH3qHxvg0OzPL5YUHo9aHTve72SFvmssfaCZn5BLrktZ7pIBxT2Zs2Vun8KmT3QXaim-OuhIZD9K-G2Sp9GwxzAQNmGJGswt-0iIPsQq6JhSrWitYWsIhBbaA4/s640/IMG_6710.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This truck is 15 years old now....we bought it in CO and moved it to GA with us 14 years ago!</td></tr>
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And I carried the most precious cargo with me in the Silver Bullet:</div>
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It didn't take long at all for the kiddos to conk out.</div>
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We drove for several hours and then parked in a Kroger's parking lot and slept for about 5 hours. Or not slept, as the case may be.</div>
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But at 7 a.m. we were raring to go again:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsd7bR_knWMU-zknFtG616mZifTWUvju9ncuANqCTMjvr49s7-FPwSzJi5nPvDyPQmNCK9U0TMAPy2Dvd1A4YogvXJuQ6MLBKqcdOi1-jMiWCxGfoPzbz8iNpo0TE1BodB3sH6VhDNxc/s1600/IMG_6715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsd7bR_knWMU-zknFtG616mZifTWUvju9ncuANqCTMjvr49s7-FPwSzJi5nPvDyPQmNCK9U0TMAPy2Dvd1A4YogvXJuQ6MLBKqcdOi1-jMiWCxGfoPzbz8iNpo0TE1BodB3sH6VhDNxc/s640/IMG_6715.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We stopped about every 2-3 hours for a gas/potty break. (That 26-ft van guzzled gas, of course.)</div>
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We made sure to have fun along the way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi6UvHFFDhCi-_aGIpapMwKSxnB9Y1Yrfki2MlHhYAMTu4atSvP4ZG8gVGLCQPWxHc3EtpyxQPT1DFt5qZTvFBzJqbGMH8uUUUDATb854CRevkABHmJMksRz4LZ9H4Vj5uadlH8zOB30/s1600/IMG_6716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi6UvHFFDhCi-_aGIpapMwKSxnB9Y1Yrfki2MlHhYAMTu4atSvP4ZG8gVGLCQPWxHc3EtpyxQPT1DFt5qZTvFBzJqbGMH8uUUUDATb854CRevkABHmJMksRz4LZ9H4Vj5uadlH8zOB30/s640/IMG_6716.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One thing we did NOT do on the gas/potty breaks? Buy food. We did buy drinks (water/100% fruit juice)...but never even needed to buy any food! We just kept snacking on the food that we brought along. It worked out BEAUTIFULLY. Even better than I imagined!</div>
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We ate healthy. We ate much more economically. And I cannot even imagine the time we saved by not stopping to go in and eat somewhere at every mealtime.</div>
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And then at about 9 p.m. or so on Sunday evening, we pulled into a Hampton Inn in St. Louis (Hamptons are our fave place to stay) to spend the night. Got adjoining rooms...and all fell into bed so tired. This was the best night's sleep I'd had in *weeks*! </div>
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When I climbed out of the shower in the morning, I discovered Jas was gone from our hotel room. He'd received a call that our moving van was about to be towed...so he raced outside to move it. He joked that this was quite a "wake-up call" and he didn't need any coffee to get him going this morning!</div>
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Moving van safe again...we had a great time at the free breakfast buffet: eggs, bacon, fruit (I'm pretty sure we ate our weight in bacon). And the kind employee in charge of the buffet packed us a couple bags of apples "to go" when she discovered our cross country adventure.</div>
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And we headed back out on the road at 8:30 a.m....all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed:</div>
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Approximately 10 minutes later, in the middle of St. Louis I-70 morning rush-hour traffic, the trailer came off the hitch of the moving van. The only thing securing it to the van was the emergency chains (there for just that purpose)..the trailer was dancing ALL OVER THE PLACE!! Watching all this a few vehicles behind Jas was about the scariest thing I've ever witnessed!<br />
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Praise the Lord, Jas was able to get over four lanes (everyone was trying to give him plenty of space...lol!) and get safely off on the right shoulder. Robert and I did too and parked behind him. When Robert reached Jas, the first thing he did was give his big brother a big 'ol hug. It still brings tears to my eyes. <br />
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How no one was hurt/killed during all this I have no idea. No...I do. It was the Lord. Period.<br />
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The guys then spent the next hour fixing the connection so that we could get back on the road. Jas is way smart and Robert works with cars, otherwise we would have had to rent a replacement trailer and unpack and repack the whole shebang. <br />
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And...we are so glad Jas got the insurance on our rentals, because <i>there was damage! </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeV5-xCeMg8aq3z1emp_y727fZlHgXvMqIAJsgxSG9yWU9IATuUrOuzZX_L-gGW4QFh6MnQGu7xuFu7sRZ45-OodpAZbKKuZpukXaTQgOp5Qm6eI-IGbVNIV9YoFFaR5-R8QiHHtUitI/s1600/IMG_6747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeV5-xCeMg8aq3z1emp_y727fZlHgXvMqIAJsgxSG9yWU9IATuUrOuzZX_L-gGW4QFh6MnQGu7xuFu7sRZ45-OodpAZbKKuZpukXaTQgOp5Qm6eI-IGbVNIV9YoFFaR5-R8QiHHtUitI/s640/IMG_6747.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is rush-hour traffic, going about 70mph, whizzing by, a few feet away.</td></tr>
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The rest of the day was very anticlimactic after our way-too-interesting Monday morning...and for that we are very thankful!<br />
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So at about 11 p.m. (mountain-time) Monday night, we finally pulled into Nai Nai's driveway. 52 hours after we pulled out of our GA driveway.<br />
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We hugged Nai Nai...and then fell into beds and slept good.<br />
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And when I got up the next morning, I walked outside to make sure we were really here, and it wasn't just a dream. <br />
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We are home!<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-30773473715985827182016-10-10T15:56:00.000-04:002016-10-10T15:56:18.541-04:00Alive and Well in ColoradoIn a few hours, it will be one week that we have been in Colorado! <br />
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This past week and a half has been amongst the hardest (physically/mentally/emotionally) I've ever experienced. But - and praise the Lord for this - His sweet presence and peace has been there the whole time. Keeping us safe, imparting wisdom and guidance, giving us strength (when I felt so weak)...keeping us sane!<br />
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We are (mostly) settled in here with Jason's mom, whom the children call Nai Nai (Chinese for "maternal grandmother"). Can I just say how she amazes me? A woman who has lived alone for years - an introvert at that - agreeing to have a family-of-8 move in with her? Just...wow. She said "yes" willingly, and has handled it all with grace and aplomb!<br />
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The children and I started up school again today, and Jas started work today...studying and training in his company's district office (before he opens his own office in three weeks). <br />
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For now, we are home sweet home right here with Nai Nai:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygSrbPQGnwUS3EVDFmivEinZAaZs6LZmg84miMAGA6Fqbhyphenhyphenkx0Npqlds0IdEB2df5_fN0DCnS_sZB2sqvDgYTmS4qvT8yaoMS_rChtxPHBV0h821oKc8Bj1n4AmdufyGVhePl4gNITCk/s1600/nainaihouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygSrbPQGnwUS3EVDFmivEinZAaZs6LZmg84miMAGA6Fqbhyphenhyphenkx0Npqlds0IdEB2df5_fN0DCnS_sZB2sqvDgYTmS4qvT8yaoMS_rChtxPHBV0h821oKc8Bj1n4AmdufyGVhePl4gNITCk/s640/nainaihouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQxMx4ab8eJ2llePFIlRgZJWxWTZlSDEiTpVn2OTxxvt6TOTt5QOXGdq3ILsFXjaMAhFnNtc_COROoXZEFqFW6fR8kglt9Lipo0mxMTSf7a0VR0I5tlL2LAlvW1eR1tNq5QxKLQhJO8w/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQxMx4ab8eJ2llePFIlRgZJWxWTZlSDEiTpVn2OTxxvt6TOTt5QOXGdq3ILsFXjaMAhFnNtc_COROoXZEFqFW6fR8kglt9Lipo0mxMTSf7a0VR0I5tlL2LAlvW1eR1tNq5QxKLQhJO8w/s640/DSC_0020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sand box has already seen hours (and HOURS!) of play. And not just the two youngest play out there...N, D and LK love it also! And they LOVE how these sand structures don't get knocked down by the incoming tide, like at the beach!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r9wOjwvFKQ5uL4EAtPkxdam__wXZkiqPMu8VIOfoti7RZYDCqyPSw5NAhIV-XR_4vL_w55k39JvYukGKlu7EqvqDbF3-gOh3J0XB7fhUriGJa5KfX-VUeEws3mCk7mXRLyOgQMROY3s/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r9wOjwvFKQ5uL4EAtPkxdam__wXZkiqPMu8VIOfoti7RZYDCqyPSw5NAhIV-XR_4vL_w55k39JvYukGKlu7EqvqDbF3-gOh3J0XB7fhUriGJa5KfX-VUeEws3mCk7mXRLyOgQMROY3s/s640/DSC_0022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't ever want to take this view for granted...His handiwork is amazing!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0X0xP95D6M7_24UrizJbhHhmzJkwIjWCFpGvyQI7hHUJKUGFk58Pk2J8VtXtk6u9gU_rPl0uFdsYUC6740AV6vYup7uExya7Xa40oPYqZZ_hk-Ute_F_7-874CD1_Y2Lmih8UL_pQGg/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0X0xP95D6M7_24UrizJbhHhmzJkwIjWCFpGvyQI7hHUJKUGFk58Pk2J8VtXtk6u9gU_rPl0uFdsYUC6740AV6vYup7uExya7Xa40oPYqZZ_hk-Ute_F_7-874CD1_Y2Lmih8UL_pQGg/s640/DSC_0023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdZMzc6WohhJzzCFD8eirswCT0gTZU2Y9gKfws0dHmwf6pqpjAuLH2_d-t0FpyjHC72snFpCjCJgE85wBESwSsgpbeIkUKfllsxASVcuxFwmED2X-xNKcSWnMuzNR-lr5dQO_IashFDQ/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdZMzc6WohhJzzCFD8eirswCT0gTZU2Y9gKfws0dHmwf6pqpjAuLH2_d-t0FpyjHC72snFpCjCJgE85wBESwSsgpbeIkUKfllsxASVcuxFwmED2X-xNKcSWnMuzNR-lr5dQO_IashFDQ/s640/DSC_0024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the front door. E is busy doing school work.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFjdQXQX3yyMFhi75b1Khrid90NSxF5Ahuna_24ZD4hZWJYnoPWCTj53AuBzYFm70D_NaxycU4sOdN-rv2CDtR2pzLBeEQRzhuzLGsbxtIHaafylBXWTIEGt_Z0fNEDGHFMvZuMIIPCQ/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFjdQXQX3yyMFhi75b1Khrid90NSxF5Ahuna_24ZD4hZWJYnoPWCTj53AuBzYFm70D_NaxycU4sOdN-rv2CDtR2pzLBeEQRzhuzLGsbxtIHaafylBXWTIEGt_Z0fNEDGHFMvZuMIIPCQ/s640/DSC_0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We are loving the feel of this part of town. And the diversity. LOVE the diversity. Noah remarked a few days ago as he and I were out and about: <i>"I love seeing other Asian men and boys!" </i>No, we didn't see many in our little town in GA. <br />
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We have joked that moving a family-of-8 was such an undertaking that we'll just buy this house from Nai Nai and <i>she</i> can buy a smaller place (which she had been looking into). But then, as we drove to Jas' brother's house a mile away, we spotted a precious house for sale...and I had a child jump out and grab a flyer. We are just much in prayer about that next step...and so many others. <br />
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I want to go back and document other things, like the actual trip out here, our first week here, our last week in GA. But the cable to hook my phone to the computer is MIA right now, along with many other things! (All 8 of us made it here, but other than that...I didn't do such a great job of packing in a smart way!)<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-30819030179388447832016-09-27T14:25:00.001-04:002016-09-27T14:38:13.585-04:00How a Family-of-8 Moves Across the Country While Still Doing GAPS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we announced we were moving across the country to Colorado, more than one person (including one of our older children) asked if we were going to continue doing GAPS during this time. <br />
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My answer: <i>"We can't NOT do GAPS."</i> It's just not worth it. Between the skin issues that immediately show up on some children, the congestion/sinus issues that crop up on some, and the behavioral issues that manifest in some....it is just. not. worth it. Not to mention how I feel with my hypothyroid (which is an autoimmune issue) when I eat stuff that doesn't like me. The inflammation and pain in my body becomes quite unbearable, enough to make me cry. (You can read more about GAPS <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2013/08/gabrielon-gaps.html">here</a>, or <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2013/12/gaps14-weeks-in-aka-longest-post-ive.html">here </a>and <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/p/gaps.html">here</a>)<br />
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Mind you, I did not know *how* we would go about eating GAPS-legal during this whole time...but I just knew it had to be done. No if, ands or buts about it. <br />
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So, for the past several weeks, this is the two-fold plan of attack I've come up with:<br />
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1. I cook extra when I am cooking, freezing the extra<br />
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2. I've bought some "convenience" foods (that are still GAPS-legal) that we don't normally keep around (because they are more expensive)....<i>now is the perfect time to take advantage of those kinds of products!</i><br />
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I have frozen (so far) 9 gallon bags of various soups that we've had over the past several weeks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicESn8hTVBX_HL2K8xRqStlwMwn0ZoyG0sNgLhot5J05nDhJNNBlE5yx5FrzbvdPTW0ij1WzHD05-dMdW9gkqQYbzZt5sCj_ixxgteqWewksKn9ZagNM4PPzAOF9q3j9xi8tkYBBzyh6I/s1600/DSC_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicESn8hTVBX_HL2K8xRqStlwMwn0ZoyG0sNgLhot5J05nDhJNNBlE5yx5FrzbvdPTW0ij1WzHD05-dMdW9gkqQYbzZt5sCj_ixxgteqWewksKn9ZagNM4PPzAOF9q3j9xi8tkYBBzyh6I/s640/DSC_1264.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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We will use these during the last day or two here and during the first few days in Colorado.<br />
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For the actual, factual drive to Colorado....<br />
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Elisabeth prepared <a href="http://diaryofafitmommy.com/4-ingredient-flourless-oil-less-fudge-muffins-cookbook-news/">Fudgy Muffins</a> for us (6x the recipe):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNQFw113CnTxCzqApzX3MRTaPUCO-lkcraQsbDzcL50-Ipa5rSgz9xg8hXJg0oODMa9_YQ5w3lmNNYyNViQRQ5crmGCbOZ6kogUnxzIgVZL9MKXx2H77vZ9PwkZkPOjHFjt3-OHlwd5o/s1600/DSC_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNQFw113CnTxCzqApzX3MRTaPUCO-lkcraQsbDzcL50-Ipa5rSgz9xg8hXJg0oODMa9_YQ5w3lmNNYyNViQRQ5crmGCbOZ6kogUnxzIgVZL9MKXx2H77vZ9PwkZkPOjHFjt3-OHlwd5o/s640/DSC_1252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This seems like such an indulgent treat, and it is totally healthy: just bananas, peanut butter, cocoa and honey</td></tr>
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I have been preparing many pounds of Turkey Sausage Patties (9 pounds this past Saturday alone)...and freezing what we didn't eat for breakfast:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl5XYn0VALKjxuvcPFhjBz91K2kQPafu-k_ZuSzo8KqqxKK2TOboKbk8apS9H5hutN9h2XC6BBY214WIv9zA0UTembHhbtKqO2MrO-N77PFH1b3Nn3L9UhVuou5yzyy4QkPuGR3pwxUQ/s1600/DSC_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl5XYn0VALKjxuvcPFhjBz91K2kQPafu-k_ZuSzo8KqqxKK2TOboKbk8apS9H5hutN9h2XC6BBY214WIv9zA0UTembHhbtKqO2MrO-N77PFH1b3Nn3L9UhVuou5yzyy4QkPuGR3pwxUQ/s640/DSC_1253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot find any packages of sausage at our grocery store that don't contain Corn Syrup or MSG, or both! I was thrilled to find this sausage recipe several months ago.</td></tr>
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Sausage: for every pound of ground turkey, add</div>
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1 tsp dried sage</div>
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1/2 tsp dried rosemary</div>
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1/2 tsp dried thyme</div>
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1/2 tsp garlic powder</div>
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1/2 tsp cinnamon</div>
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1 tsp sea salt (we use Redmond's Real Salt)</div>
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I made lots of meatballs a few days ago, some went in the soup we had that night, and then I froze the rest of them:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are just ground beef, garlic powder, salt and pepper...baked</td></tr>
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We made beef jerky in our dehydrator (using <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2201/ground-beef-jerky/">Wellness Mama's recipe</a>): <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr9hoFnurHwHPZUAQuTyyt8MheqSZhwDPnONAvKQBxUZBh9brAnlPQiy-1mr8EHDJUZkBr20laRi44rGwESotlcv0H-ON354uoLrUF4YTOguZYzSuEMHlSPfVn8xiEIRbMZgTTLBkZXM/s1600/DSC_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr9hoFnurHwHPZUAQuTyyt8MheqSZhwDPnONAvKQBxUZBh9brAnlPQiy-1mr8EHDJUZkBr20laRi44rGwESotlcv0H-ON354uoLrUF4YTOguZYzSuEMHlSPfVn8xiEIRbMZgTTLBkZXM/s640/DSC_1256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is so yummy, I had to freeze it right away, before we gobbled it all up!</td></tr>
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I have been stocking up the past several weeks as I go grocery shopping, and run by TJ Maxx...good deals on nuts and dried fruit. (I have more bags than shown here, like, ummm, 6 of the dried mangoes!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-apfl797bQ7Cr4zWWfvdka_0LV7k_SXzCGuDFsVGQrX1lHZBpcultX74cluwj5b6nykNe-qF42ERPUdpqtxbpGtumZuTVM1mLcYC9BXGFXMBXHVKl3VxGJ0ThccQYx9fUBvmopCT1SA/s1600/DSC_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-apfl797bQ7Cr4zWWfvdka_0LV7k_SXzCGuDFsVGQrX1lHZBpcultX74cluwj5b6nykNe-qF42ERPUdpqtxbpGtumZuTVM1mLcYC9BXGFXMBXHVKl3VxGJ0ThccQYx9fUBvmopCT1SA/s640/DSC_1257.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this particular bag of nuts because they only contain "Almonds, salt"...no weird (inflammatory) oils!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUKdievRL684Sym7N6K62KQTNa2I8VTrD4vh_uOt-UJwBfCMvcDI48EpAZ93exnPYG_nVedkJv6pSXsugiOfssC2SaIFTb-BSikcYgkgZRZ54Z3qJoRbhCxppepYEky01NB5rA0jLmNs/s1600/DSC_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUKdievRL684Sym7N6K62KQTNa2I8VTrD4vh_uOt-UJwBfCMvcDI48EpAZ93exnPYG_nVedkJv6pSXsugiOfssC2SaIFTb-BSikcYgkgZRZ54Z3qJoRbhCxppepYEky01NB5rA0jLmNs/s640/DSC_1258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the dried fruits only have one ingredient each. No added sugar...no sulfur dioxide. (Hint: dried apricots should NOT be bright orange! That is the sulfur dioxide keeping it that color!)</td></tr>
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We never buy these because we can make them easily at home, but Elisabeth knew that our Kroger has good deals on Larabars. It sure was easy to just buy these...and having them on hand will eliminate us buying them at gas stations along the way, when they'll cost twice as much!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jas went yesterday and brought all these home. It's a good thing he did that shopping (during his lunch hour) because I wouldn't have bought this many. The only ingredients in these: nuts, fruit</td></tr>
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In addition to the above items, we will also have on hand in the van:</div>
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Cheese (for those of us who can have dairy right now, which is only 4 of us)</div>
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Raisins</div>
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Apples</div>
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Carrots</div>
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Celery</div>
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Peanut Butter</div>
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Boiled Eggs (for those who can eat eggs right now, which is 4 of us)</div>
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Right now it seems like a good plan to me....but ask me how it all went down a week from now when we have actually arrived in Colorado - We'll see!</div>
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-25833268607725641422016-09-26T13:54:00.001-04:002016-09-27T07:23:52.063-04:00The Backstory on our Move to ColoradoAs I said in <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2016/09/socolorado.html">my last post</a>, we felt when the Lord moved us here to the deep-south from Colorado it was for a season. We have prayed many times during the past 14 years, checking to see if it was time to move back. We have gone through several (very serious) cycles of praying...and fasting....and a few times Jas put out feelers about jobs. And the answer was always the same: It wasn't time. Yet.<br />
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But a year and a half ago as we were <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2015/04/colorado-trip-2015-outings.html">pulling out of Colorado</a>, we knew that we knew: It was time to start working toward moving back. <br />
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And we have been slowly working on it for the past year and a half. Praying at each step along the way for the guidance that we so desperately need. Praying for His wisdom. Praying for His timing. <br />
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We told only a small, small circle of friends. Jas had 4 people praying with him (including our pastor), and I only told two of my closest friends. (Our children have only known for not quite 3 weeks now.)<br />
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Near the beginning of Jason's job search, he looked into franchise opportunities. We were intrigued by the idea of owning our own business...and he spent hours (and hours) pursuing this line of thought. But after all the research and reading, we knew that none of those opportunities was right for us...and we abandoned that idea. <br />
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May 2016 - Jas was contacted by a company. After seeing his resume online, they thought he would be a good fit to own and run one of their offices. When Jas came home that day and told me about it, immediately it just. felt. right. Peace. Excitement. We both could totally see him doing this. From that first conversation we were both very intrigued and wanted to continue pursuing this path. He then spent hours and hours (and HOURS) reading, researching, and finally...studying. He had to take 8 exams in order to become licensed to run this office. And...he had to take the tests in the state of Colorado. Most people take some exams, study more, and then take more exams, etc. But with Jas needing to fly across the country to take them, he had to do this differently: He studied HARD for almost 8 weeks...and then...<br />
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8/24 - Jas flew to CO, took 4 exams on Thursday, spent all day Friday meeting with district staff, took the remaining 4 tests on Saturday, and flew home that afternoon. (btw - He rocked all the tests, finishing in record time!)(We told the kiddos that daddy was on a business trip...which was the truth.)<br />
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8/28 - Jas arrived back home in the wee hours of Sunday morning. We had a full day of church and community group on Sunday (like normal) and didn't have a chance to fully debrief. <br />
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8/29 - When we finally got to talk (alone!) on Monday morning before Jas headed to work, he said it was looking like we would move to Colorado in January, and he would open the doors of his new business on March 1st. My words were, <i>"Hmmm, if we know for <b>sure</b> we are moving, my preference would be to "rip the band-aid off" and go ahead and move. I hate knowing it is coming, but just hanging around several more months." </i> Famous last words. When Jas got home from work that evening, my friend Amy and I were sitting at the kitchen table chatting (and crying). Jas had an interesting look on his face, <i>"You want to rip the band-aid off? We can rip it off." </i> A new office of the company had become available, a turnkey opportunity. Ready to walk into. A great fit all the way around. It would require us to move in October, and Jas open his doors November 1st. <br />
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9/6 - Jas talked to his boss at the bank and turned in his letter of resignation. That night we told the children we were moving.<br />
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9/7 - It was announced at Jason's bank. We let all our family and friends know (the ones we didn't want to find out on FB.) <br />
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9/8 - We posted on FB-land that we were moving. And a couple hours later, almost as an after-thought (but was really the Lord's plan), I posted on FB a pic and short blurb about our house being for sale. 16 minutes later I had a message, <i>"Can A and I come look at your house this afternoon?" </i>And over the next few hours, four other couples were interested in coming to look also. But that first couple who contacted us were the first to come and view the house...and gave us a binder check. Done. Less than 10 hours after I posted on FB, our house was sold. (We totally intended to list our house with an agent, but when we called him on Wednesday afternoon, he was out of town and couldn't come to see us until Saturday....so I went ahead and posted it on FB, thinking it couldn't hurt to try, until we met with Jonathan on Saturday. This was another not-so-little detail in how the Lord has been working everything out, a "detail" that saved us five digits!) (And no, we didn't have our house way under-valued...we had it appraised several months ago, getting ready, and we sold it for right at the appraised value.)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FAQs</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Where will we live?</u></b><br />
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At first, we will live with Jason's mom for a bit. We don't really know how long...but it seems that it will likely be 3-6 months. With Jas just starting his business, we'll need three months of paychecks before we will be able to be considered for a mortgage loan. <br />
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Yes, Linda is basically a saint for taking in 8 of us (EIGHT!). But I think(hope?) she is as excited as we are. When we first told her about moving back and asked if we could live with her for a bit, she immediately said yes. And then when we talked with her next (a week later), she'd already taken a bookoodle bags of stuff to Goodwill, cleaning out closets and making room! <br />
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She is living alone in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house. The three boys will share one room, the three girls will share another. <br />
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<b><u>Will we have cows/chickens?</u></b><br />
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No. We are so, so thankful that the Lord allowed us this season out here on these 2.5 acres to live out this dream. And now this season is over. Sad...and not sad. We'll be glad to have less land/animal work to do. Our weekends were consumed by work. So glad we (and our children!) have had this opportunity and experience...and now we'll move back to an approximately 1/8 acre lot in town. <br />
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We intend to live in a neighborhood. You know, the kind where you can reach out from your window and practically touch your neighbors' house. Our kiddos are so. very. excited. about this. They have dreams/visions of running around playing with neighborhood kids. <br />
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<b><u>Are you doing school? Will you continue homeschooling?</u></b><br />
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We began school early this year (mid-July) because we knew we'd need to take off time (sometime) during the school year to move. We have already completed 8 weeks of school, but now we're taking time off to accomplish the move. We plan to get started back the first Monday after we arrive in CO. <br />
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We intend to continue homeschooling. There will be many (MANY) more options available to us now...so things may look different in the future. Cottage schools? (2-3 days in a school, the remainder at home), homeschool co-op (for actual academic classes, instead of just for fun as we have been doing), etc, etc.... We'll see. We will continue to pray every year and seek the Lord for what he has for our children for the coming year. <br />
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<b><u>How are you getting to Colorado?</u></b><br />
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Jas reserved the biggest Uhaul truck there is, and he will drive that to Colorado. We are flying Jas' middle brother Robert here, and Robert will drive Jason's truck. I will drive the Silver Bullet. We have sold/given away so much stuff (ALL our family room furniture, two of the 6'x6' Ikea Expedit bookshelves, kitchen table/chairs, crib, computer armoire/desk, riding lawn mower, trampoline, etc.), and we are hopeful that everything/everyONE else will fit in these three vehicles!<br />
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<b><u>How are the children taking it?</u></b><br />
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The youngest five are thrilled. E took it harder. Much harder. She has made such sweet, precious friends....she is so sad. The others are sad about leaving friends too...but with E being the oldest (and a girl) it just seems different for her. But she is ok with it now. <br />
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This is all so very bittersweet. We aren't <i>wanting</i> to leave Georgia. (It would be so sad if we did!) But we very much know that we are supposed to be in Colorado. <br />
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I keep thinking that I wish I could just fast-forward through this next 3 months? 6 months? <i>12 months? </i> This is so hard. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.<br />
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Saying good-bye. The actual, physical move. Starting the business. Finding a church. Finding a house. Moving <i>again </i>when we find our house. Finding new health care providers (I just counted: we need at least 9 different doctors for the special needs we have going on). Finding a homeschool co-op (or maybe not in this season of our schooling life?). Finding a food co-op (or will Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sam's and Costco eliminate my need for a food co-op?). FINDING FRIENDS.<br />
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But when I get right down to it, I don't really wish to skip ahead (I think). The Lord has guided us and worked things out in amazing ways (ways that everyone around us can see!) and we are so excited at what He is doing. When my head starts to spin thinking about all that needs to be accomplished and all the (HUGE) decisions that need to be made...I come back to the fact that the Lord already knows All The Things. And He will most certainly reveal His will and plan to us...as we need to know it (and not before!). We just need to "<a href="http://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/do-the-next-thing-wisdom-from-elisabeth-elliot">do the next thing</a>"...and trust Him. <br />
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This process is hard, and good...and I don't want to miss anything He has for us. I want all the lessons. I *need* the lessons. The good, the bad and the ugly.<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-67475362001598386452016-09-13T14:02:00.000-04:002016-09-13T14:02:51.595-04:00So....ColoradoWhen the Lord moved Jas and I here to the deep south from Colorado 14 years ago, we knew it was not a forever move. We knew it was for a season. And now...the season is over and He is moving us back. <br />
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I intend to post the backstory on our move, because I <i>need</i> to document it for us. I know from experience that I will forget all the amazing things that He has done that right now I can't imagine <i>ever</i> forgetting. (Like, how He sold our house in less than 10 hours 5 days ago.)<br />
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This has been coming for 18 months, but it just all got nailed down two weeks ago. We have been in "Wait...wait....wait..." mode for over a year, and now all of a sudden we are in "GO! Full-steam ahead!" mode. <br />
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We plan to pull out on Oct. 1st...18 days. <i>Time to get back to packing....</i><br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-56464956869668797012016-09-12T14:12:00.001-04:002016-09-12T14:34:05.665-04:00Hermine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hermine came through, and my kiddos thought it was actually one big party.</div>
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They all had a slumber party in our master bedroom. Specifically they were in the vanity/closet area (all carpeted). No widows, close to Jas and I...perfect!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can hardly see G, but he is back there leaning on LK's lap.</td></tr>
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The worst of it hit us in the wee hours of Friday morning, lasting until about noon or so. <br />
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Jas had a delayed opening at his bank, and one of his branches didn't have electricity. We were so glad that daddy was here with us through the worst of it.<br />
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I was rejoicing that we never lost power...and then we did.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the dark...watching the rain, and the trees being whipped around</td></tr>
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And then in early afternoon, it was done. It was clear and sunny...like nothing had ever happened.</div>
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Except well, we did have to pick up the yard. Branches (one really big one) everywhere!</div>
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G couldn't wait to get out there to get started on those branches. He and I headed outside to survey the damage as soon as the sun came out:</div>
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This big branch was leaning on another branch it caught on its way down, so after I set it "free" and it fell on down, G said he wanted to take my picture!<br />
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Then G kept right on taking pictures. I love seeing things from his point-of-view:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdEiohE7zFhQv5RTaSVapahilKqcXVDEIrnIEKjC_xRsuiN8FryZr19DK2t54x-_Hxi07knUDqZSYAfcxEzG9FrPM_xFExz5w2botflY3Yesxn310oZIcC57lC4PcKmacXIbtRlUsX8/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgdEiohE7zFhQv5RTaSVapahilKqcXVDEIrnIEKjC_xRsuiN8FryZr19DK2t54x-_Hxi07knUDqZSYAfcxEzG9FrPM_xFExz5w2botflY3Yesxn310oZIcC57lC4PcKmacXIbtRlUsX8/s640/IMG_5705.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His dinosaur boots are practically camouflaged</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I let my babies run around half-naked outside</td></tr>
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But then I got the camera back and caught G with his buddy BeBe Grace.<br />
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It was very thoughtful of Hermine to hit right before Labor Day. </div>
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Labor Day weekend we all *labored*!!</div>
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Hauling, hauling, hauling!<br />
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And when the hauling was (finally) done...straight into the pool!<br />
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We successfully weathered Hermine, and were so very thankful for the Lord's protection in this storm.<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-36489846451405205992016-08-25T05:00:00.000-04:002016-08-25T06:21:53.260-04:00Our Littles Memorizing JamesI mentioned in <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2016/08/2016-2017-school-year_29.html">this post</a> a few weeks ago that we are memorizing the book of James over the course of this school year. I assumed "We" meant the oldest four children and I. But just hearing us review the verses at mealtimes, G has picked up quite a bit!<br />
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He shocked us when he started spouting off verse...after verse...after verse. <br />
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I finally captured him on video...<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fSw7AYgyt4s?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
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(We are using the ESV translation. Also, it may look like Gabriel is reading the verses...but brother doesn't even know all of this letters yet...I promise he is not reading.)<br />
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And....not to be outdone.....<br />
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Abigail wanted to give it a try after Gabriel got done. She actually does have the whole 1st verse memorized. (Watch how she asks for the index cards also (like she can read!). And watch her "side-eye" at the 20-second mark. <i>And</i> she got mortally offended when I prompted her to be done (and started BAWLING when I stopped taping):<br />
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They are watching. They are learning. The good <i>and</i> the bad. They are like little sponges. This is encouraging and <i>very scary</i> - all at the same time.<br />
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<br />jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5751750313951109881.post-10224580901859274652016-08-24T05:00:00.000-04:002016-08-24T05:00:07.902-04:00Abigail's Hair This Week<br />
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This is Abigail's hairstyle for this week:</div>
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Yes, her styles can last a WEEK now. Not just a day or two, or even three. A whole week! This is HUGE! I don't know if it is that her hair is getting longer (it is 8.5 inches stretched at the crown), I am putting in styles in smaller sections and that are more protective, or if she is easier on them. I think it is the first two...because it is NOT the last one!</div>
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It took me right at 2 hours to complete this style before church on Sunday morning. (I am beyond thrilled that I am getting quicker and neater with cornrows.) </div>
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But getting her ready started the day before - Saturday afternoon. We spent about an hour taking out her previous style, 20 minutes shampooing and conditioning it, 30 minutes of her letting the deep conditioner sit on her hair (she had plastic wrap and a towel covering it)...and then I spent about 45 minutes doing the LOC method and banding it into 5 sections (already parted for this style I knew I'd be doing the next morning).<br />
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I have (finally!) begun faithfully updating the <a href="http://oneblessedbunch.blogspot.com/2015/02/abigails-hair-gallery.html">"Hair Gallery" post </a>that is on the ride side-bar of the blog. I want to be able to compile all of Abigail's hairstyles in one spot. </div>
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I don't want to come across as boasting about her hair. But, well...I **am** so proud that I can do her hair now. There are few things I have worked so hard at in my life. I have purchased multiple books, follow multiple blogs, belong to multiple hair/skin care groups on yahoo and FB, and have watched HOURS (and hours) of videos on YouTube. I have learned much good and helpful information. And I have learned (the hard way) many things I should never do again. I have cried literal tears of frustration/worry about her hair (when she was about 6-9 months and needing more done to it and I was just starting to understand all I needed to know). I was so worried that I wouldn't do right by her, and then wouldn't be able to pass along to her the knowledge she'll need to care for and style her own hair. I have worked long and hard to get us where we are and the fact that I am not embarrassed for black women to see her hairstyles now? Still amazes me. </div>
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There is <i>still</i> so much for me to learn/practice...but I see the light at the end of the tunnel now.</div>
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jasnjojhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179550260183296807noreply@blogger.com0