tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50486414430777125662024-03-05T22:52:32.553-08:00Lemons & Snickers: A Series of Unforeseeable EventsBekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-47307460746460552692014-12-01T22:55:00.000-08:002014-12-01T22:55:13.079-08:00The Struggle<br />
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<span style="color: #0000ee; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">A</span> few Sunday<span style="color: #0000ee;">s</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> back our Pastor was speaking on <b>our struggle.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That primary <b>sin</b> that keeps holding us back.</span></div>
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I stopped for a moment, waiting for that familiar guilt to wash over me, knowing that sin that keeps holding me back, the one that came to mind every time a message like this came around, the one that has held me so long it's almost a familiar friend....</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">and I felt breathless.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I realized without my knowing it, that hold on me. That addiction. <span style="font-size: large;">It had left me.</span></span></b></div>
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Let me back up a bit, and let me just say that this is a hard story for me to tell.</div>
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Because though I feel a new freedom, I still feel shame knowing how strong a grip this addiction had on me. </div>
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It started so long ago, 18 years ago to be exact.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">WOW.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">I was 13 years old.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I lived in a loving home, with a foundation in the church, growing up with a Southern Baptist preacher for a Pa-Paw. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To anyone who knew me, they couldn't tell. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wore the greatest mask of my life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To them, I was happy. cheerful. silly.secure. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But inside I was awkward. insecure. sad. lost.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and one comment in a conversation I overheard, with no frills or encouragement towards the subject matter turned me down a path I couldn't begin to navigate. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I had a rough childhood, I used to be bulimic and made myself throw up and lost so much weight, it was scary."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To most people that would send them into empathetic words of sorrow and send the message not to ever do that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To me, it was a a quick fix for how I was feeling...I could now strive to be "prettier", to be "confident".</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>That night was the first time I made myself throw up.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">From then on, it just got worse.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I exercised tirelessly, wanting toned muscles, wanting that "perfect body".</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">13 years old.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I conditioned my body in such a way that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I couldn't even keep water down</b></span>. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I would binge and purge while I was alone. Caught in the cycle. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had concerned family, who found out.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">two years into it my dad came to me one night with tears in his eyes because he could see my spine through my shirt. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> But I made promises to stop and hid it so that they thought I did. </span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then at 16 I met a boy.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This boy would hold my heart from the first smile.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This boy who to everyone else just seemed like a big guy who didn't talk a lot, held me one night and cried with me, and begged me to stop because he wanted to marry me and have babies with me.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What kind of person can't stop after that?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This person.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I made the same promises.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and kept hiding it. </span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I married that boy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and two years later, we had our first baby boy.</span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">and then a girl.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">and then another boy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">and through each pregnancy, not as extreme but still present ,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(this is so hard to write out) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I continued on with my addiction.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">NOTHING</span> stopped me. Not the knowledge of a little life inside me that I should be taking care of. Not chest pains. Constant heartburn. Stomach issues. <span style="font-size: large;">NOTHING</span>. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would pray, beg, cry and plead with God to take this away from me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I would read articles on recovery and wonder WHY it wasn't happening for me. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I wished I had never started this. I was spiraling out of control with no hope of stopping. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But then as the kids got a little older,I started eating better. Exercising (in a healthy way).</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It didn't stop. It was improving. But I still struggled.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">With every large meal. A dessert I should've passed on. A late night snack. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">the struggle came back. </span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then by His grace, this September we found out we were pregnant with baby #4.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I panicked.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to do this right. I wanted to be healthy. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I worried that with every pound I gained, I would want to go back.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then last Sunday. I realized.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this still makes me awestruck.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hadn't purged ONCE in this entire pregnancy.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While this doesn't seem that great to some....oh my heart. It's such a miracle to me, that I can't help much smile and shake my head as I type this out. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can't say I won't ever have those thoughts again.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can say that I truly feel like I've been relieved of the heaviest burden I've held.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and that I will hold fast to the relief. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "</span></span></span></span>Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls."</b></div>
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<b>Matthew 11:28-29 </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">He's taken it from me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And my heart is grateful.</span></span></span></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-78936439504124008102014-10-22T14:17:00.002-07:002014-10-22T14:17:48.386-07:00The Grace Case<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Grace</span></span></div>
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<b>1.<span> courteous goodwill.</span></b></div>
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<b><span><span>2. a divinely given talent or blessing.</span></span></b></div>
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<span><span> In the list of words we use often in our home, it's up there with "respect", "kindness" and "gratitude".</span></span></div>
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<span><span>And because I can't go a whole day without rhyming, like "put some gratitude in that attitude", we say "have a case of grace"...though I do end up adding "yo" to the end of that, because I'm so gangsta. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>There's so many beautiful verses regarding grace:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span><span> </span></span><span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;">
But he said to me, <span class="WordsOfChrist">"My grace<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a> is sufficient for you, for my power<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a> is made perfect in weakness.<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="4"></a>"<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="5"></a></span> Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. </span></i></div>
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<span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;"><b>2 Corinthians 12:9 </b></span></div>
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<i><span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;"><b> </b></span><span class="versetext" id="eph4-7" style="display: inline;">
But to each one of us<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="1"></a> grace<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a> has been given<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a> as Christ apportioned it</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="versetext" id="eph4-7" style="display: inline;">Ephesians 4:7 </span></b><i><span class="versetext" id="eph4-7" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span>And most of the time,I truly feel like I can give grace pretty easily. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span>When someone is late to a get together?</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span><span>Grace. Easy!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>When the kids are having attitudes that are.... LESS than stellar.</span></span></div>
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<b><span><span>Grace. A little more effort, but still...done!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>When that person makes their backhanded compliments about your appearance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span> or abilities in life.</span></span></div>
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<b><span><span>Grace. With deep breathing and a momentary clenched fist, and yeah ok sometimes an eye roll.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span><span>But still ...I can do that!</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>How about having grace with ourselves?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span><span>When we sputter out an awkward declaration or observation and immediately realize how rude it could have sounded?</span></span></i></div>
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<b><span><span>Do you have grace with yourself? Or do you ponder over that encounter for the next week, hoping that person doesn't think you're a total jerk?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>Me? Jerk face pondering.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Or when our house isn't as clean as "we" think it should be?</span></span></div>
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<b><span><span>Grace or Hermit mode?</span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span>Me...it used to be grace, but has crept into hermit mode.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span><span><span style="font-size: large;">When we feel like we are FAILING...<b>EPICALLY</b> failing to do what we feel we should with:</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Housecleaning</i>.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Cooking</span>. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Parenting</span>.</span> <i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Friendships</span></i>.<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Faith</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Teaching.</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Homeschooling. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Time Management</i>. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span>But...but...our CAPES!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span> What about our "Superwoman-I can do ANYTHING, just give me five minutes and Pinterest and I'll get it done" capes?! </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I don't know about you....but my cape, is torn, stained, and some days downright threadbare. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: small;">So, as I'm writing this and <strike>most definitely</strike> possibly crying and feeling worn out, and ready to throw my cape in a fire and buy a leotard, <strike>but then I remember how unflattering leotards are, </strike>I want to send this message to you all. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: small;">You mama's, sister's, friends....who feel like I do<strike> regularly</strike> lately....</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: small;">Have a case of GRACE, for your friends, your families...</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span>for YOURSELF.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span><span style="font-size: large;">Let's not be weakened by self-doubt, feeling inferior, guilt or shame.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We can keep those capes, and pull them out on the occasions that we need to, but let's also pull out the pillows and blankets and rest our bodies and rest our weary heart's when we need to.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM-sLCAHbqVY1s_4XHOkBr7nO7eoV1wP2958NPsbq7jTZnZJaRMr68Q1MrlvX0pA1xSrxBgSEnoGeEm8Nxn9SZP7kO6OgNWGQ0DCrOI1oHNqRRRCgDbyJuA68do7IPeppKJVr-z1yipo0/s1600/40fe4750439c5a93b5c45a9095ed2a1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM-sLCAHbqVY1s_4XHOkBr7nO7eoV1wP2958NPsbq7jTZnZJaRMr68Q1MrlvX0pA1xSrxBgSEnoGeEm8Nxn9SZP7kO6OgNWGQ0DCrOI1oHNqRRRCgDbyJuA68do7IPeppKJVr-z1yipo0/s1600/40fe4750439c5a93b5c45a9095ed2a1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuM-sLCAHbqVY1s_4XHOkBr7nO7eoV1wP2958NPsbq7jTZnZJaRMr68Q1MrlvX0pA1xSrxBgSEnoGeEm8Nxn9SZP7kO6OgNWGQ0DCrOI1oHNqRRRCgDbyJuA68do7IPeppKJVr-z1yipo0/s1600/40fe4750439c5a93b5c45a9095ed2a1a.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><i><span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;">Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;">Hebrews 4:16 </span></b></span><i><span class="versetext" id="2co12-9" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-89455047857843632122014-10-12T16:50:00.001-07:002014-10-12T17:14:42.493-07:00This brain was made for working...like a floor sample. <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You heard right, folks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God is good </span>and we are expecting baby #4!!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2014/03/surrender.html" target="_blank">here's the post</a> for those who don't know the journey) </span></div>
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<b>We are feeling so grateful for this time in our lives right now...</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the weekly development of our wee one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">the love and encouragement from family and friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the excitement brewing daily,</span></div>
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<b>and then my very favorite.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Being able to say "I'm with child!" every time someone says or does something I don't care for!</span></div>
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(It's USUALLY said in jest, but I'm not afraid to pull it out at random!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But there's one thing I forgot that I personally seem to possess at random times in my pregnancy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">RAGING HORMONES! </span></div>
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I can cry/laugh/or get incredibly frustrated at the drop of a hat lately.</div>
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It's a gift...or a curse. Depending on which moment you catch me in, I'll say either. </div>
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Here's some things that have amused/frustrated me in these first weeks/months of pregnancy: </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Frustrated me:</span></div>
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PREGNANCY BRAIN!</div>
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(though to be completely fair....my brain really didn't have much of a chance.) </div>
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I recently set up a get together with some homeschool mamas to chat, eat dessert and talk about our first few weeks of school...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, <span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span>set it up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I even posted on our page THAT MORNING that I was looking forward to seeing everyone.</span></div>
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and 20 minutes after the shindig started I got this text while I was sitting on the couch, having showered and gotten into my grubby jammies watching a show with the Chief:</div>
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I FUH-LIPPED out! I jumped up yelling "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! How could I have forgotten?!"</div>
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and proceeded to make myself feel like a putz for this "travesty" that I created.</div>
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<b>Talk about needing to give yourself some grace!</b></div>
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(that's a whole other blog post, I have literally been the WORST to myself!)</div>
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I got to the destination...40 minutes after it started. </div>
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Luckily the gals were full of giggles and grace for my scatterbrain. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amused me:</span></div>
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There are times when my brain actually amuses me. I have to be amused because if I crawled under a rock every time I said/did something ridiculous, I'd basically be Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">This morning after church was one of those days:</span></b></span></div>
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We had a great worship service</div>
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(at least I thought so...probably because we sang several of my favorite songs),</div>
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and after church I was chatting with friends here and there, but I had to get going quickly because a dear lady from our church invited my daughter Roo and a friends daughter to come over and pick out a bunch of Barbie's and other toys that she was getting rid of and I didn't want to keep her waiting.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I'm getting my keys out for our new van, with it's fancy little key fab</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> (fab...faub? I don't know how to spell it, the thing with all the buttons!) </span></div>
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<i>and I'm standing by my car, with my daughter and her friend and I'm pushing the button to unlock and it's not working!!</i></div>
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I'm frazzled, going "what the heck is wrong with this thing? It's BROKE!" as I'm pointing it at the car, willing the button on the car to go up and say "Ok I'm unlocked now".</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">I'm there for almost 5 minutes...pushing that button</span></b>. <span style="font-size: large;">Panicking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>When suddenly I look over at the car next to me...and the doors are open...and unlocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had been trying to unlock my friends van the whole time!!!!</span></div>
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Oh lordy! And I'm barely 7 weeks pregnant!! Stay tuned for the many adventures of my pregnancy!</div>
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Also, a thanks to Christina over at <a href="http://treeofolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Olive Tree</a> for encouraging me to blog!</div>
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Hopefully I can make it less than 4-5 months before I post again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN2jkwYl1V6zVNkA41SaftRGclKIeso2hxTESZ7pg3uCZLC0PaYQB_32ndkq1SvhQt0QJO9-QoqQo0MpfYF-DoGyldOPVQjo_lCrnH9mqzN6qpZ7w6jttIrjqyZw6gWoKf5ATx0hDnkDU/s1600/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN2jkwYl1V6zVNkA41SaftRGclKIeso2hxTESZ7pg3uCZLC0PaYQB_32ndkq1SvhQt0QJO9-QoqQo0MpfYF-DoGyldOPVQjo_lCrnH9mqzN6qpZ7w6jttIrjqyZw6gWoKf5ATx0hDnkDU/s1600/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" /></a></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-58843346701011074362014-07-17T23:22:00.003-07:002014-07-17T23:22:41.030-07:00Live your life.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/ehhdesign/media/signature_zps604dd3f5.png.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Well HEYYYYYYY there! It's been awhile my loyal 13 followers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You've stuck with me through this dry spell, and I'm ever so grateful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I've had a dear, sweet friend who has been faithfully encouraging me to get back to blogging and I'm ever so thankful for her!</span></div>
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<b>It's not that I haven't WANTED to blog....</b></div>
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<b>I would say it was more like I didn't know where to start.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You know those game shows where they stick someone in a payphone-like container full of dolla bills and then start the wind machine, and they try to catch as much mula as they can?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's how I feel about blogging. </span></div>
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<b>But instead of money I feel like I'm trying to grab one of the bazillion thoughts running through my brain at any given moment, hold onto it and write about it.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">SO DIFFICULT! </span></span></div>
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<i>So much has been going on, but nothing so profoundly clear that I felt like</i></div>
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<i> "Oh yeah, I'm gonna share this because I could TOTALLY formulate words for this situation!".</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But one thing (one dolla bill) that has been coming to mind pretty often lately is this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Live Your Life.</span></div>
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(and not just because I'm in love with MIKA and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHbc7uGNCXA" target="_blank">this song</a>)</div>
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As I've <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-plight-of-perpetual-people-pleaser.html" target="_blank">written before</a>, I'm a people pleaser. I should even have a special plaque because I've always been so darn good at it! But as I've gotten so deliciously older and wiser, I've relaxed on that feeling, stepped back and thought "OK....how on earth am I going to please all these people in my life, and still be ME?"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">LIGHT BULB!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I can't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I could try to be less silly and not sneak my friends camera phone and take pictures like this:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz9R8FmWNTNHl_FK9DFbdXmHHI4tqO2CAxz7e0nmvhtO4qcZQ063hrXzq-651P7-sQXYS8K5_wYzrv3oH8j5OWqLh7QP_KRtXhleOD8hdHqEb0F-PoL1hOxbHIc-6ffF-eJ4zCDNDEAYg/s1600/10534727_874537555907459_2742206937823783797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz9R8FmWNTNHl_FK9DFbdXmHHI4tqO2CAxz7e0nmvhtO4qcZQ063hrXzq-651P7-sQXYS8K5_wYzrv3oH8j5OWqLh7QP_KRtXhleOD8hdHqEb0F-PoL1hOxbHIc-6ffF-eJ4zCDNDEAYg/s1600/10534727_874537555907459_2742206937823783797_n.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Because the proper people think that's totally gross and immature.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I could stop bursting into song at the drop of a hat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">because I might get a disapproving look, affirming my awkwardness.</span> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But seriously, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb9xG6QqauSTfczxB9d9hXjiNOQXUu3bgLCewllocMioArRuhTYpYoTns4Pdu_lNum-a2Hov1ZZ5tvBMJPJpG1dUlv8dBlsjfd1Tu7rnZSLwZJWRskrznzjU2ktnG6AiIsODQLbouD3nr/s1600/Singing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb9xG6QqauSTfczxB9d9hXjiNOQXUu3bgLCewllocMioArRuhTYpYoTns4Pdu_lNum-a2Hov1ZZ5tvBMJPJpG1dUlv8dBlsjfd1Tu7rnZSLwZJWRskrznzjU2ktnG6AiIsODQLbouD3nr/s1600/Singing.png" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I could only hang out with a small circle of friends, to avoid the drama of different personalities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But lord have mercy I'm not a fan of encouraging Diva attitudes. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP-EMMr5e6B9BHBDe3AZZeQTJiDGxBSKatOOr3qOtZ_q2IJS9_aGNhH_wTDqKApG0AMHAevvonjczCvAAjX01DMmH6fAJXsMrCH61ZBGiYEJw3uQMtnlVsOO1zie85KRjmcjIoT2xDpCJ/s1600/37410095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP-EMMr5e6B9BHBDe3AZZeQTJiDGxBSKatOOr3qOtZ_q2IJS9_aGNhH_wTDqKApG0AMHAevvonjczCvAAjX01DMmH6fAJXsMrCH61ZBGiYEJw3uQMtnlVsOO1zie85KRjmcjIoT2xDpCJ/s1600/37410095.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See, there are SO MANY THINGS about myself that I would have to change in order to satisfy the personalities and opinions of others, but the only one I want to be totally and completely satisfied with my attitude is my God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So I'm gonna <span style="font-size: large;">sing awkwardly</span>, <b>laugh loudly</b>,<span style="font-size: large;"> cry often</span>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">be silly</span></b>, <b><i>dress weird</i></b>,<span style="font-size: large;"> hug tons</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">smile big</span>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> dance like a dork</span>, <b>snort laugh</b>, <span style="font-size: large;">love fiercely</span> and <span style="font-size: x-large;">shine brightly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and I strongly encourage you all to do the same!</span> </span></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-56751878867912353442014-03-29T23:33:00.000-07:002014-04-02T19:26:41.655-07:00Surrender<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm giving you my heart, and all that is within.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I lay it all down, for the sake of you my King"</span></span></div>
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<b>video<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB9avoFdYrU" target="_blank"> here</a></b><br />
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b>This song, and these lyrics have hit me hard as of late.</b></i><br />
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<i>You see, God is working in our lives,...like for realz. </i></div>
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<i>He's working in MAJOR ways over here!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And, I've come to realize that my life is the most beautiful, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">the most exciting and transformed,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> when I <b>surrender</b> my stubborn ways.</span><br />
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I recently told a friend that I feel like God put me on this earth, JUST so He could have a good laugh. To take this stubborn woman and set in her ways gal and show her how silly she is.<br />
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I should've know after our <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/03/humbled.html" target="_blank">homeschool adventures</a> that He would use my "Oh no, we're never going down that path again" attitude and make it positive.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a little back story:</span><br />
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My hubby and I married in 2001, one MONTH after I turned 18.<br />
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<span id="goog_1994017056"></span><span id="goog_1994017057"><span id="goog_852543841"></span><span id="goog_852543842"></span><br /></span></div>
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It wasn't a spur of the moment decision, it was just two young people who KNEW with all their hearts that they were meant to be together. And like I said back then, when everyone was telling us to wait, "If we marry now, we can celebrate our 50th anniversary sooner!"<br />
(C'mon, that's pretty impressive for an 17 year old) </div>
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So after a little over two years of marriage,in December of 2003 at the age of 20 (and 22 for my Chief) we welcomed our first baby into the world.</div>
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Jackson Tyler <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNtsC61SZqGR05OaT2h2MccIPhyphenhyphenBtoQqvto9BVIN9P5bsX452dxVmExcr5qACgItyA7LjOoeN4jOMNsoDbElF8C5M7ZGLfs0J8JpTqIlFQb90SNA_aAG_70oo9uMCYk-x-kkNFyC6ETEA/s1600/240994_1973687831925_5196125_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNtsC61SZqGR05OaT2h2MccIPhyphenhyphenBtoQqvto9BVIN9P5bsX452dxVmExcr5qACgItyA7LjOoeN4jOMNsoDbElF8C5M7ZGLfs0J8JpTqIlFQb90SNA_aAG_70oo9uMCYk-x-kkNFyC6ETEA/s1600/240994_1973687831925_5196125_o.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Life as new parents and a family of three was blissful. Learning all of these new "baby things" together, was amazing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then in August of 2005, we were so blessed to have a baby girl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ryleigh Madisyn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Our little doll, and the apple of her daddy's eye.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN4S9dZ4k-Fm0emtqmKVMhbauNY-wtO087TjiLFEm9H12HhxAjfXBRRFUzyhS0_FMqLSTsw3nDRg0U33qKrDjKE1q_Ilc2EXvmNFQ-T7MylOiCLyg4Gtkxcu9vi1hqWQsHWXyGw6MD42A/s1600/59542_1563431815781_3863748_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN4S9dZ4k-Fm0emtqmKVMhbauNY-wtO087TjiLFEm9H12HhxAjfXBRRFUzyhS0_FMqLSTsw3nDRg0U33qKrDjKE1q_Ilc2EXvmNFQ-T7MylOiCLyg4Gtkxcu9vi1hqWQsHWXyGw6MD42A/s1600/59542_1563431815781_3863748_n.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Our plan" was to wait until Ryleigh was two,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and then try for our 3rd baby.</span><br />
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<b>(oh those PLANS!)</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well....when Roo was 9 months old...SURPRISE! </span><br />
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in February 2007, we welcomed Gavin Michael into the world!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L_BOKKIybvJXzhyphenhyphenc7TczgyokgRoVWuAHt0bw4D458VvQHSWHxdSOut4RhJR0TejZv7RP1TEGljNK2iP-IRlTdglRgG23yp7e9fO2AyuCCETkQjkLXJg6tlaKvF7XB2t5ZzDnkeTV-n1y/s1600/59542_1563431895783_6520134_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L_BOKKIybvJXzhyphenhyphenc7TczgyokgRoVWuAHt0bw4D458VvQHSWHxdSOut4RhJR0TejZv7RP1TEGljNK2iP-IRlTdglRgG23yp7e9fO2AyuCCETkQjkLXJg6tlaKvF7XB2t5ZzDnkeTV-n1y/s1600/59542_1563431895783_6520134_n.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
Once a Peanut, always a Peanut!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3 kids in 3 years!</span><br />
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We were surrounded by "baby"! <br />
Baby toys, baby songs, baby shows, baby furniture, baby clothes, diapers, wipes, burp cloths.<br />
<i><b> You get the picture...</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was like Groundhog Day....baby edition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, we were <b>DONE.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not pass go, do not collect free time,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> DO NOT TOUCH ME!! LOL</span></span><br />
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So, we truly convinced ourselves that God was speaking to our hearts and telling us to get Jeremy a vasectomy. I mean, seriously...we couldn't possibly take care of a another baby. We were tapped out.<br />
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<br />
Now, listen. I'm not by ANY means speaking out against vasectomies. Because I can't in good conscience be the "judge" of that choice, because as I said, we REALLY felt like it was the best choice. And maybe it was at that time. Maybe we needed that choice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Because every time we were around another baby, or toddler,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> we would both give each other that look..<span style="font-size: large;"><b>you know the one</b></span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">*eyebrow UP*=</span><br />
<br />
"Aren't you glad we aren't in their shoes anymore??"<br />
<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
when someone was in the throws of potty training.<br />
<br />
<br />
"WORST days EVER!"<br />
<br />
<br />
On the rare moments that I felt sad about not having more babies, my hubby would QUICKLY go through the "list" of why we are better off without a baby:<br />
<br />
<br />
"No more diapers."<br />
<br />
<br />
"Remember all the work?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"Sleepless nights?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"our kids are so self sufficient now!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, we were THAT couple. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
But then, on a Sunday afternoon in January; we went to the beach as a family after church to enjoy the rare sunny day we had in our little coastal town. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll never forget that day, because it started out with a simple dress:</span><br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEgfodqszqJob-ctO6rrObHubRmllsBAMUZWTOTMXtDD4fUTj2NSTmOXONsG6UfzB0VNi9EUcm8hht0790_qKqZzEhjShJZ_xuuRvaklrRafv3GUHhC3sI6qRfVV_SfGNQByOf1ht-pwF064/s1600/1560740_705083219524873_1438786365_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfodqszqJob-ctO6rrObHubRmllsBAMUZWTOTMXtDD4fUTj2NSTmOXONsG6UfzB0VNi9EUcm8hht0790_qKqZzEhjShJZ_xuuRvaklrRafv3GUHhC3sI6qRfVV_SfGNQByOf1ht-pwF064/s1600/1560740_705083219524873_1438786365_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pic taken from that day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"> In <span style="font-size: small;">that flowy blue dress, </span></span>I was watching our kids run and play in the water and sand, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, when my fella came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, and I blurted out..<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Oh...this is going to sound weird, but for a minute there I wanted your hands to rest on my pregnant belly."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
expecting our usual "Oh yes, oh well...look how awesome our lives are now!" banter, instead I got a quiet moment from Jeremy... he then cleared his throat and said:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Well, it's funny you say that, because I feel very strongly that God has put it on my heart to get my vasectomy reversed"</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">to which I simply replied.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">*gulp*</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and then he proceeded to tell me all the amazing ways he felt the Lord was speaking to his heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I took it all in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not with squeals of delight, not with a grin of excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I just..listened.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
I am being honest when I tell you that my first response was NOT to pray about it, my first response was to text family and friends saying "You would NOT believe the conversation Jeremy and I just had!!!" but I didn't. Oh I wanted to, I wanted to get advice from someone ASAP!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But slowly I felt my heart thawing, moving and responding to this idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And I prayed.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
By Monday night, the VERY next night my friends;<br />
Jeremy and I were praying and crying and KNEW this was the path we were meant to be on.<br />
<br />
<br />
Everything just fell into place so beautifully.<br />
The doctor we checked into had a average 6 month waiting list.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We had an appointment not even a MONTH later!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
And now if you know me, you know that I am a worrier, more specifically about what other people think and feel. I hail from the <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-plight-of-perpetual-people-pleaser.html" target="_blank">People Pleaser</a> Pack.<br />
I'm embarrassed to say that often I let my feelings get ruled out by others. <br />
<br />
<b>Well, I have been tested on this!</b><br />
I have had; well meaning talks, opposing opinions and some pretty snarky ones from different people. But I don't hold bitterness towards any of these, in fact they just bring me back to the fact that this is a God thing, because I feel this overwhelming PEACE.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, friends and family, I know a lot of you already knew about this adventure and are already praying and sending love and encouragement. So for those that are doing this, I thank you and ask for continued prayer. For those who just found out, I say the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because this day:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVoUeWqEniXgRYbaj6u7gxvZdrxSMhbVBq41OpAVDFxQK9bnMP95YXU1S-iH1d7hI7Tmq-wps5zaU18jywJgrCpiAtgMm31IN45w3MDwGmOfuk_w-md3MLiG5Z6CgAuTslqUeba_WYIjG/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVoUeWqEniXgRYbaj6u7gxvZdrxSMhbVBq41OpAVDFxQK9bnMP95YXU1S-iH1d7hI7Tmq-wps5zaU18jywJgrCpiAtgMm31IN45w3MDwGmOfuk_w-md3MLiG5Z6CgAuTslqUeba_WYIjG/s1600/beach.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We surrendered.</span><br />
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<a href="http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/ehhdesign/media/signature_zps604dd3f5.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature_zps604dd3f5.png" border="0" src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b579/ehhdesign/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" /></a></div>
Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-38359341385056334772014-01-21T14:19:00.000-08:002014-01-21T14:21:47.330-08:00Parenting Pride Takes a Hit<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They say pride goes before the fall...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">well TIMMMMBERRRRR!!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know I'm not the perfect parent, nor do I have the perfect kids.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I try to be honest and open about that fact.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and reading<a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2014/01/20/one-bold-move-two-healing-words/" target="_blank"> this article</a> from Hands Free Mama </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
reminded me of how much worse it is to always hold it in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But parents, you know that feeling, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">when your kids are on a good track?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good attitudes!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Manners a'plenty!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Helpful Hands!</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thankful Hearts!!</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh mercy, aren't we lucky? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">*and maybe that secret pride...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I think I got this parenting thing DOWN!"*</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and then reality sets in:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
your standing in the line at Subway, giving a "treat" of sandwiches for lunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And your kids start to argue at the table...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">you let them know (via "mom look" and "quiet wolf" hand signal) that they need to cool it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>You see the lady at the adjoining table looking their way (and yours).</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Then they keep it up, so you go over for the warning "If this continues, we will not be getting sandwiches today" (thinking of COURSE they will obey now!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">then they don't. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The threat of losing a round of thumb war has frustrated your youngest to the point of getting his hand ready to smack his brother. While his sister argues along.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And you have that split second</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> (where like 20 things run through your mind)..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"O.K, they had their warnings, you know what you have to do."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"But...maybe if I just look the other way...I mean kids will be kids..right?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"that lady is looking at you, you have to make your choice."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"it's gonna suck"</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Yeah..but here we go."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The worst does indeed happen.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your oldest holds it together, while the other two scream like they have NEVER screamed before.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>People turn to stare.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A LOT of people.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>People you don't know, some that you do. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You. Just. Keep. Looking. Forward.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because parenting isn't for sissy's!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And it sure isn't about making everyone happy, all the time, regardless of the circumstances!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*though there are times when that seems like a REALLY great plan!*</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No, it's bigger than those moments. It's about taking those <strike>embarrassing, scarring, horrific</strike> moments..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and growing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Deuteronomy 6:6-9</b> <i>And</i><i> these
words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach
them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and
when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the
doorposts of your house and on your gates. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We've come home, we've talked about it & cried about it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We've discussed the consequences. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a life lesson, folks. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And it's under our belt.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></span> </div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: justify;">
<i>Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.</i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: center;">
<b>Proverbs 22:6 </b><i></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96xfhYDxTpuGBd6QrTzogyREAeCDisciwKNMGQAhg1Ri8GdEP68tqC4p0sp-jzWvfrqLzUaiUIu-h4bCzskN4ZtnTmZX-n04ApyDuAcLlX5KjTJf809FWiNFzPuw6sCshxMivBnKCPOyF/s1600/1312298884103_2958771.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96xfhYDxTpuGBd6QrTzogyREAeCDisciwKNMGQAhg1Ri8GdEP68tqC4p0sp-jzWvfrqLzUaiUIu-h4bCzskN4ZtnTmZX-n04ApyDuAcLlX5KjTJf809FWiNFzPuw6sCshxMivBnKCPOyF/s1600/1312298884103_2958771.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Let's try not to do this with each other!</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Encourage, be honest, be open, be understanding.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-30304537381556753912014-01-10T21:01:00.000-08:002014-01-10T21:01:23.383-08:00It's an epidemic!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Are you aware of this</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> (not so)newly discovered disorder?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's EVERYWHERE!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Maybe if I tell you a little bit about it, you'll guess what it is,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Symptoms may include but are not limited to:</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b>a knot in your stomach.</b></div>
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<b>high blood pressure.</b></div>
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<b>headaches. </b></div>
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<b>excessive eye rolling.</b></div>
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<b>&</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<b>nausea.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Any guesses? Surely you've experienced these symptoms. I know I have!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> You my friend have PTFD</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's Present-Traumatic-Facebook-Disorder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">(present because clearly we're not past it)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrOQzqm6smrMyoblu51dFIcneNiM-HKdR7J-0EgBPTKjBMdHlyKSV21j4LJxWTUxwf7sJEwxRk1idssB8PJRRistwKc6HyFhYa7zCeL4wIldzLnBvV9w0CZvdhDqceHW_yQBnuoewpNIe/s1600/facebook-envy-ecard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrOQzqm6smrMyoblu51dFIcneNiM-HKdR7J-0EgBPTKjBMdHlyKSV21j4LJxWTUxwf7sJEwxRk1idssB8PJRRistwKc6HyFhYa7zCeL4wIldzLnBvV9w0CZvdhDqceHW_yQBnuoewpNIe/s1600/facebook-envy-ecard.png" height="224" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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that <i><b>knot in your stomach</b></i> could be caused by those pictures you see of your friends...hanging out...*gasp* WITHOUT YOU!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">what jerk-faces, not thinking I deserve to be in every social situation!</span></div>
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that <i><b>high blood pressure</b></i> could be caused by those "combative" articles you see containing opposing opinions, you know..the ones you want to comment on, but are worried about the reaction it would get.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> *I'll tell HER what I think of her political views!!...ok no I won't!*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">excessive eye rolling? </span></div>
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Gigi posted another status update about how perfect her relationship is.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> *does Dirk Square-Jaw ALWAYS bring her roses"just because"??*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">nausea? </span></div>
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Lucy posts "inspirational" quotes and status' about her workout routine. She's fit and feeling fine!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhI3SHhtfFDoc6Wxwuuw7FiRgeANorTOK1B24l-69f4xjzJqDS-dbl0aMhmXiXdbDsolZ2VeRbEUBGhbFAHZAWcgFlrmF03IVesaHk22dDbnRn55RlEBaBe4Vg2oLwlcHCEBwD5qEenrPR/s1600/gym-facebook-300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhI3SHhtfFDoc6Wxwuuw7FiRgeANorTOK1B24l-69f4xjzJqDS-dbl0aMhmXiXdbDsolZ2VeRbEUBGhbFAHZAWcgFlrmF03IVesaHk22dDbnRn55RlEBaBe4Vg2oLwlcHCEBwD5qEenrPR/s1600/gym-facebook-300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">headaches?</span></div>
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that could be the late nights you spend pouring over pages of "perfection"</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*just ONE more picture...then I'll call it a night!*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Oh it's toxic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">and baby your slipping under.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">ok, sorry..I blame Dutch Bros. for blasting it on the radio..yesterday.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But that heartache??</span></div>
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<i><b>That blame my friends, belongs solely to ourselves. </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because life more often than not, DOES look pretty darn peachy from our view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because if we choose to look at Facebook for what it really is, <b>a glorified cliff notes of our lives</b>, then we'll understand that those posts, those pictures...they aren't our friends and family trying to stick a knife in our envious little hearts.Those are simply our loved ones showing us their very best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Their moments they want to share:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The roses their husband bought them.</span></div>
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*because they've been so busy, they've barely gotten to see each other*</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Disneyland vacation.</span></div>
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*that they saved for a year and a half to pay for*</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The picture of their new car.</span></div>
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*that took them months to decide on*</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The status update about their kids getting along.</span></div>
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*because they've had a hard week and having a moment of peace is a blessing*</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The selfie before a night out.</span></div>
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*because they are so happy they get to feel pretty*</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Instead of looking at these posts in a green tinted light, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">let's be happy for them! Smile when we see those posts, those pictures, those highlights.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Heck, maybe we can really branch out and do more than just "like" their status and tell them WHY we like their status!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For pities sake, they are on our Facebook for a reason, right?? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let's do this, because we don't know the full story on Facebook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And we don't NEED the full story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's THEIR story to tell, to those they hold dearest to them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That's OUR story to tell. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFwEIpf0XhLTuGjdWCVbua3AmW219h14pytKfywltVLdClZADBva4oejkfF-BA0KOV8HJXhO1cTbHv2j6eQh6oO7Qkml1X5X2_BNQikf6B3TMba-WN-IVlB341VJHYS3VBo0KmMNOSWjR/s1600/brave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFwEIpf0XhLTuGjdWCVbua3AmW219h14pytKfywltVLdClZADBva4oejkfF-BA0KOV8HJXhO1cTbHv2j6eQh6oO7Qkml1X5X2_BNQikf6B3TMba-WN-IVlB341VJHYS3VBo0KmMNOSWjR/s1600/brave.jpg" height="183" width="200" /></a></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-30776028873507388412014-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:002014-01-09T14:07:40.006-08:00This is the story of a scooter...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time it was Christmas Eve...2011.</span></span></div>
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I was giddy as always, because I love the wonder of Christmas. </div>
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And I love, love getting things for people. To buy things I think will bring a smile to their face.</div>
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And not to brag, but usually I think I'm pretty good at knowing people, from listening to conversations, to sort of checking out their style etc. </div>
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But my dear, dearest Chief always blows me out of the water! </div>
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Which I've learned I need to be less curmudgeonly about and more grateful. ;0)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back to 2011.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Where I thought I got this awesome gift for my hubbies new "Man Cave"...a <a href="http://www.redriderleglamps.com/" target="_blank">leg lamp</a>! You know..from</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/" target="_blank"> A Christmas Story ? </a> In my family, we quote movies pretty often, dating back to the early 90's
when my family would take road trips back to Mississippi and sing every
song from Sister Act (oh yes...I can do ALL the voices!) so that has
carried on to my own little brood. So since we quote "You'll shoot your eye out", "It's a major award!" and "FRAG-EE-LAY, that must be Italian!". I thought this was a pretty rad gift. <strike>And it was. </strike>But of COURSE, he "outdid" me.</div>
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At first I unwrapped a super duper cute helmet! </div>
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That alone made me excited, so I wouldn't feel so manly when him and I go on motorcycle rides. </div>
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But then he has me go to my stocking which holds...a key. And he says "let's go to the shop!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWqcp76stsHlwnaqZJPLM5F7zoqbWbJBG5XQyFLpkQIsi-WrR14MDlR7RwJIZPaWjJoEv-Wcc3oENGtyqmRXzOk0PvvfFLcgE64PKRZY92XBADQxy2mP75J1dVzC6_wIFkJmho7fQjxDY/s1600/1233429_10202130692018859_384418016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWqcp76stsHlwnaqZJPLM5F7zoqbWbJBG5XQyFLpkQIsi-WrR14MDlR7RwJIZPaWjJoEv-Wcc3oENGtyqmRXzOk0PvvfFLcgE64PKRZY92XBADQxy2mP75J1dVzC6_wIFkJmho7fQjxDY/s1600/1233429_10202130692018859_384418016_n.jpg" height="265" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Where this beauty was waiting for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I went through the emotions at first of "Well poo! My gift looks LAMMMME compared to this!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But pretty quickly, I moved on from that and just enjoyed "the open road"...ok it goes 60 MPH tops, but STILL, the road felt pretty exciting to me this mama!</span></div>
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<i><b>And even MORE exciting? </b></i></div>
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My youngest (Peanut) was just a year away from going into Kindergarten, which meant I would have ALL THREE KIDS in school! Which started my "dreams of adventure"...I could take my camera anytime, anywhere and GO!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Go relish in His creation, go and not have anyone to answer to for a few hours...EVERY DAY if I wanted (and if weather permitted).</span></div>
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<i><b>Then those desires of my heart soon changed. You can read about that <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/03/humbled.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Suddenly I didn't have those extra hours in the day.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Those hours went towards teaching.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I didn't "get to" immerse myself in peace and quiet at the beach.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I instead went to the beach to play, to hand out waters & snacks. To wipe off sandy feet. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I didn't have long moments of no one to answer to.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I had questions every 10 minutes. ;0)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> And the best part is?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm OK with that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm more than ok with that, I'm BLESSED by that.</span></span></div>
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I feel this immense gratitude in my heart when I stop amidst the chaos that can take over our lives and think "WOW......He led me to this.".</div>
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<b>Because yes, there are days when I feel overwhelmed. When I feel like I'm not getting through, when they aren't digging it, when I would truly like to just GO.</b></div>
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But above all that, there are days when we laugh together, when they conquer an "educational hurdle" and feel victorious, <i>when we learn TOGETHER, not just lessons in the curriculum, but lessons in LIFE, lessons in THE WORD. </i></div>
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So, while I still get a little twinge of sadness when I think of selling my scooter, due to lack of time to "go". I also get a sense of excitement thinking of what new adventure is around the corner. </div>
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<br />Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-18091244461460143062014-01-02T10:52:00.001-08:002014-01-02T23:21:49.532-08:00New Years, New Post, New Adventures!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Hey hey hey!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's a new year, my friends!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm one day in and so far so good! ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have this really great feeling in my gut, that 2014 is going to be swell!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(note that I will reference this post if it is indeed swell, but will ignore it, if 2014 totally stinks.) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Have you ever heard of "One Little Word"? It's something I've seen around for a few years, but never felt drawn to participate in. Then out of nowhere (I think we all KNOW WHERE...ha...ok, sorry), I get this word on my heart:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">BRAVE </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I instantly knew why.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not Brave, like the movie (though I did love her hair).</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BRAVE</b>,</span> as in stop second guessing <b>WHO</b> you are, <b>WHY</b> you are the way you are, <b>WHAT</b> you should be doing, <b>WHERE</b> you should begin and <b>WHEN</b> you will find time.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And walk out into the world, begin these things that are on your heart, be <b>bold</b>, be <b>confident</b>, be <b>BRAVE</b> in faith.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Knowing He is there every step of the way. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Guiding you. Cheering you on. Loving you.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got goosebumps just typing this!</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever had One Little Word? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">What was it and how did it help you?</span></span></span><br />
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-29535305627099479742013-11-25T16:05:00.002-08:002013-11-25T16:05:30.265-08:00Push through the insecurities<div style="text-align: center;">
OK, I don't know if anyone has been following my "<a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/11/it-only-takes-spark-to-set-heart-on-fire.html" target="_blank">Start with a spark</a>" project. </div>
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But if you have you would know that I SAIIIID I would post every Monday with a "spark" for everyone to (hopefully) be inspired by. </div>
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Well....I didn't post last Monday.</div>
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and I would love to say it was because I was just so busy, or I was out spreading the love, homeschooling was taking up our time etc, etc. Which are all true as well, BUT the reason I didn't post was because of a stinky little feeling we all know as INSECURITY.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was having an inner monologue with myself (which happens more often than I'd like to admit), it went something like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"No one thinks this idea is a good one, in fact...you've gotten several weird looks when you bring it up"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"that's ok though! We're not doing this for the approval of others, right??"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"We aren't? Don't we want people to be inspired and to love this idea?? *Which they don't*" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"...well yeah...but I can't let that be the determining factor in this path I'm on, PLUS we have had a few people who gave you positive feedback... so I'll post a spark anyways!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"No one reads it so why take the time?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Ahhh...that's true. Nevermind."</span></div>
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My inner monologue really is a butt face if I may say so.</div>
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So, my sincerest apologies for letting my attitude get in the way of posting a spark. Even if you aren't necessarily wanting them so you can do them, my attitude of giving up is definitely not an example I want to leave for anyone! :)</div>
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SO, with that being said, here's my spark for the week!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OG8Em8fV7ZnAInZrWdg8y9-G7l8TxThrsetFRZfeTHYa1ZoJ_FwY2Guz_p_uBTOxtb4qXIbIPiDxoGefz2Br29C1tqQXUdLwjxJPcBKbTuA05oPNYYl7B-jCqhVl6iN_kr8B4bpJMouP/s1600/friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OG8Em8fV7ZnAInZrWdg8y9-G7l8TxThrsetFRZfeTHYa1ZoJ_FwY2Guz_p_uBTOxtb4qXIbIPiDxoGefz2Br29C1tqQXUdLwjxJPcBKbTuA05oPNYYl7B-jCqhVl6iN_kr8B4bpJMouP/s1600/friend.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now this may be something you do already, so if it is...here's something to ADD to that spark...</div>
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Make someone you don't necessarily "enjoy" being around all the time feel loved.</div>
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Get them a card, buy them something small or if your feeling especially gutsy, give em' a hug!</div>
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If you feel more comfortable doing it in secret, then do it! </div>
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That's tough, huh?? Well growing up ain't always easy folks!! ;) </div>
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I know this is something I could work on myself and darnit I intend to!</div>
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As always, I would love (and truth be told, would feel encouraged) to hear your "Spark Stories"!</div>
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<br />Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-32941433482302908032013-11-11T10:34:00.001-08:002013-11-11T10:34:19.566-08:00A little hope, goes a long way. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD2uQ9olswWtetXBk_iEa9zwvEL4sGG2-5L9sZ3RmsuqaoBuBH6BoijuKvlZMxmmEfRbvyddx8oYVA_HMFsSwoEgU__w8fBiHAVlmYBfbxf-Vn6XgAuUcLmGAcnKrfD2vOP65YoFEAthK/s1600/1461432_10202566228106989_565114659_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD2uQ9olswWtetXBk_iEa9zwvEL4sGG2-5L9sZ3RmsuqaoBuBH6BoijuKvlZMxmmEfRbvyddx8oYVA_HMFsSwoEgU__w8fBiHAVlmYBfbxf-Vn6XgAuUcLmGAcnKrfD2vOP65YoFEAthK/s320/1461432_10202566228106989_565114659_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, when I first had this feeling of "spreading the love" and <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/11/all-we-need-is-love.html" target="_blank">blogged</a> about it, I had this grand idea that people </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">around me would latch on and be excited </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">and oh my goodness wouldn't this be amazing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...well, to be honest that hasn't really happened...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm ok with that. I won't be dishonest, I wasn't ok with it at first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I felt like I had failed to shine bright enough, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">so that everyone would WANT to be involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came to realize a few things yesterday, during a </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">really touching and beautiful church service. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1</b></span>. This stirring on my heart wasn't necessarily for EVERYONE I know to do. Would it be wonderful if everyone felt that same stirring? <b>Of course</b>. But for me to expect all who read my blog post to have that same feeling that I did? <b>Not really fair. </b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2.</b></span> This is the path set before myself and my family, at this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> And if it inspires? <b>wonderful</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> If that spark starts right now for someone?<b> great</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> If it starts at another time down the road for someone? <b>Still, great! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. </span></b><span style="font-size: small;">my heart's desire is for this "project" to become a regular part of our lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To live intentionally, to love constantly, to shine brightly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week's "spark" is something that has been an obstacle to overcome for myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Give hope to the homeless. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">You see, when I was a little girl, I used to ask my parents if we could invite the homeless people we saw to lunch. I had a desire to help.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then through some unfortunate circumstances through helping, my views became jaded.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I came to a point where I didn't want to reach out anymore, because it hurt.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">But it's not about my ego is it? That's a hard pill to swallow!<a name='more'></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">So this week we are making care packages</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to send out around our area.</span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can make 1, or 5, 0r 20! Whatever you feel inspired to do!</span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a really neat<a href="http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/how-to-make-care-package-homeless" target="_blank"> link</a> for ideas, that we've drawn from.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">A wonderful couple in our church is a part of the Gideons and</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> they are giving us some bibles to include in the packages, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm so excited and grateful for that blessing!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">My hope is that this spark inspires, in a small or giant way! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, no matter what:</span></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-6261219525537077652013-11-04T08:19:00.003-08:002013-11-04T08:19:37.678-08:00All we need is love.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm so excited for our first </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">"spark" of November!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PMHaOTTYySjiJtxVTqOoTuw3OsgeTvYZMT7eIzTh5gX6dsmXUPr6V9JLjo0IHLsXcGZ0rtA1tDXbI5iD0n_zeUoNettPhzHvROwraJ22lz9wQKfi4JusgvacwKPVH-dTFXsExB2ejdco/s1600/spark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PMHaOTTYySjiJtxVTqOoTuw3OsgeTvYZMT7eIzTh5gX6dsmXUPr6V9JLjo0IHLsXcGZ0rtA1tDXbI5iD0n_zeUoNettPhzHvROwraJ22lz9wQKfi4JusgvacwKPVH-dTFXsExB2ejdco/s400/spark.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let me be honest with you friends, I can feel the enemy fighting against this already.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Almost as soon as I published my first post about <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/11/it-only-takes-spark-to-set-heart-on-fire.html" target="_blank">this idea</a> to shine a light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I had soooo many thoughts of doubt:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can't possibly think you have any ideas for this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What makes you qualified to try something like this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You won't have the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No one is going to do this with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's my answers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your right, I don't have any ideas for these...on my own. This is all <b>God</b> <i>speaking to my heart</i>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am qualified because I am a child of the King.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am confident that since He put this on my heart, the time will be opened up.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's possible that no one decides to do this as well. And that's OK. That doesn't make them "lesser than". I have faith that if this same stirring is in their heart, they will join in. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so with that said, the first "spark" is to go out and show a <b>kindness to a stranger</b>. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eSBe_DAqdjiyUWEYPMTo8nZuhnOwNOrArLAHEKZPK9u46YYXkl3kPhfsEMly5s6HqQcFp4QpEDCU9GbooKwCE3xS_-M0u0Fh760BAMR8cC4roxT6Du3kX6CEnIx0xqm1aP6vjK9viKtM/s1600/shine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eSBe_DAqdjiyUWEYPMTo8nZuhnOwNOrArLAHEKZPK9u46YYXkl3kPhfsEMly5s6HqQcFp4QpEDCU9GbooKwCE3xS_-M0u0Fh760BAMR8cC4roxT6Du3kX6CEnIx0xqm1aP6vjK9viKtM/s400/shine1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And here are some ways how:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pay for a coffee for the person behind you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pay for groceries for someone. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smile at a mama who's child is having a "rough moment" in the store.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Write a random note of encouragement.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">These simple acts of kindess, can change the attitude of those around you. </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">*Be sure to comment on here (or Facebook) to tell me about your "spark experience".*</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Be blessed!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Heb-13-2" id="en-ESV-30227"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-13-2" id="en-ESV-30227"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hebrews 13:2 </span></span></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-52499309825981867122013-11-02T19:00:00.002-07:002013-11-02T19:00:43.651-07:00it only takes a spark, to set a heart on fire...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztZxjUBm-grLiyt_cJjVatphDn2J2sQbDHDVpfxikJ9K_VJszdhKVEBC6LmZeuG9UYY_lZCv8nFNOFwpnIrQXqnfeGMegpCbX3vqHYwuhbCopdnKisdry67FIPqnB19OFNmXOG-qA3ZBG/s1600/shine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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I've felt a stirring in my heart for awhile now...<br />
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One night at the very end of summer, after praying with the kids, we started talking about things coming up, and since school was starting that was our main focus. I had so many idea swirling in my head/heart as to how we were going to make it even better than our first year....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">L</span><b>ess buckle down, more chill</b>- (of course structure is good, but I wasn't fully allowing us to have that relaxed home-school environment, you know...sitting on the couches while working etc. The first year I was all about "re-creating" our previous school experiences. This year I wanted to embrace the pluses of this "lifestyle".) <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">M</span><b>ore field trips and outings with new friends</b>- We had a small homeschool group our first year, and it was/is great but we needed some more tangible events scheduled to do.<br />
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and the biggest stirring?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>o Shine</span></b>- We had started what we dubbed our "Community Craft" towards the end of the year, where we picked an outreach each month. Well we did one in March where we made cookies and sent out clovers that said: "We are so 'lucky' to have you serving our community!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemI_NYbA1bnZEZOb5TRl-OI6imdpafaNGveFAyFRnfuUHh1EuVyKfVjhJUTyaBlBl7yAVcM1nJnNQxk9Gj9OQ1apPV0Y-OGJ3B-IpObXEc-8Sl0NgXFoMFiFK7nuiBq5_gycVCqk2uJS5/s1600/390187_10200771123550497_1264461703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemI_NYbA1bnZEZOb5TRl-OI6imdpafaNGveFAyFRnfuUHh1EuVyKfVjhJUTyaBlBl7yAVcM1nJnNQxk9Gj9OQ1apPV0Y-OGJ3B-IpObXEc-8Sl0NgXFoMFiFK7nuiBq5_gycVCqk2uJS5/s320/390187_10200771123550497_1264461703_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KSNKr1uPMvJ4SCwwFb_akdNzI5Xdhu4qnsFjK9X54866wrMgJTRuTpn9w1IyflaHVX-ufcY5ouJLj2s5eWR89jvKtnV0G_3K2FqStoLzBFkJV26GAzBEbwkfqQh_2vqnrwlGnVxiU8et/s1600/602037_10200771123670500_1896658275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KSNKr1uPMvJ4SCwwFb_akdNzI5Xdhu4qnsFjK9X54866wrMgJTRuTpn9w1IyflaHVX-ufcY5ouJLj2s5eWR89jvKtnV0G_3K2FqStoLzBFkJV26GAzBEbwkfqQh_2vqnrwlGnVxiU8et/s320/602037_10200771123670500_1896658275_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not the best LOOKING, but boy were they yummy!</td></tr>
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This was such an awesome time for our little bunch. </div>
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I had each of the kids pick a personal place/thing that they were thankful for, and off we went.</div>
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<b>Ryleigh's</b> choice was our old school full of lovely teachers and staff who were very kind and appreciative of our treats.</div>
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<b>Gavin's</b> choice was the fire station and met Willy who was very thankful for some treats and blessed us with a tour of the fire station. His smile and sweet spirit really inspired my munchkins and myself!</div>
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<b>Jackson's</b> choice was the local VFW Hall, where they brought out an army veteran and my soft spoken oldest walked up to her and said "<i><b>Thank you for serving our country and fighting for our freedom</b></i>".</div>
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I had to summon all my control not to cry right on the spot. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That day will remain in my heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I knew going into our second year, that I wanted more of these moments. These beautiful experiences in life that remind us what we're here for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who we serve and why we serve Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So once I told the kids my feelings, they were totally on board and my youngest said </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Hey what about that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRwdUWK-EiU" target="_blank">Newsboys song</a>? You know...the one that says "Shine, make em' wonder what you got...?" and proceeded to do a silly dance that we still do now every time we hear the song. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Theme song? Check!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Then we found our verse:</span></i></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/AVvXsEiztZxjUBm-grLiyt_cJjVatphDn2J2sQbDHDVpfxikJ9K_VJszdhKVEBC6LmZeuG9UYY_lZCv8nFNOFwpnIrQXqnfeGMegpCbX3vqHYwuhbCopdnKisdry67FIPqnB19OFNmXOG-qA3ZBG/s1600/shine.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztZxjUBm-grLiyt_cJjVatphDn2J2sQbDHDVpfxikJ9K_VJszdhKVEBC6LmZeuG9UYY_lZCv8nFNOFwpnIrQXqnfeGMegpCbX3vqHYwuhbCopdnKisdry67FIPqnB19OFNmXOG-qA3ZBG/s400/shine.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So for the month of October, we knew that we would be going to our local convalescent homes and doing our "trick or treating" there, which we've been blessed to be able to do that last few years now. But my little Roo spoke up and said "Mom, you know how we go see the grandmas and grandpas for Halloween? Well, I think we should <span style="font-size: large;">give</span> them something, instead of just taking candy from them"...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bless her heart, I honestly hadn't even thought to do anything else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So she took charge and decided we should make cards for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We cut them into pumpkin shapes, and each kiddo took 10 on their own and drew a picture of their favorite thing about fall and each had a message </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Wishing you a Happy Harvest, with love:" </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHKUHtKJoDGMHDmEOx5FkmtT0akZzAqeRZG8rGDXZRErHON59CDJQtQGmI0ZC__YgBiNYwzQcNqJXBJ85JTOqcwpyFPju-Vam9Tf8BkkcnY0dEiJ88XQ_1_0Op_wiCBamkvVImDnegmXg/s1600/1452188_10202519800906338_538273531_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHKUHtKJoDGMHDmEOx5FkmtT0akZzAqeRZG8rGDXZRErHON59CDJQtQGmI0ZC__YgBiNYwzQcNqJXBJ85JTOqcwpyFPju-Vam9Tf8BkkcnY0dEiJ88XQ_1_0Op_wiCBamkvVImDnegmXg/s320/1452188_10202519800906338_538273531_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The residents were so kind! And my kids really enjoyed chatting with them and learning more about them (so much so that we're going back...regularly!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This night got me thinking..."<span style="color: #b45f06;">this started with a spark...now how can we set a fire?</span>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">SO, to bring this post to my PURPOSE for posting...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the month of November, I challenge you my friends to set a fire! </span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not literally, OBVIOUSLY. ;)</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Each Monday, I will post how we plan on setting a fire that week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then you can take that "spark" and do the same in your area,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> OR do what you feel is put on YOUR heart!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is no right or wrong way to show kindness, am I right? :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Then link up your "spark experience", pass around the graphic, and let's encourage each other to reach out, to help others, to SHINE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutAAHMaBBcppU94C2S5inJKnDgYfcffOOHcI2z3WMgQpjMGB3Bo0aGUkPQrJAAVgTWh0LQDKr2kTXoI75OPNkjU5Jlzua_80u-2F-cu_0xcOrU55WQgh-VMAOrcledDqACdrCJr4qNwHJ/s1600/spark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutAAHMaBBcppU94C2S5inJKnDgYfcffOOHcI2z3WMgQpjMGB3Bo0aGUkPQrJAAVgTWh0LQDKr2kTXoI75OPNkjU5Jlzua_80u-2F-cu_0xcOrU55WQgh-VMAOrcledDqACdrCJr4qNwHJ/s320/spark.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-91673240704133081052013-10-10T21:52:00.003-07:002013-10-10T22:06:13.932-07:00Thankful for new days!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRZK7Xl9cyN26ZyC9u5n0UT_AaT-GRVyD6uXEHCtPrW3q1FElDa8Nd5i4H5wAmILyk_CiVXq5IS5NMVyusst94s_HPEqQ9TY1QHyQKgT5dW7cnn3DsVzEJVrE24szNTH3oKWctHDCrHrI/s1600/www.pinterest.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I sit here and sip my tea tonight, I reflect on my day. </span></div>
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<i>Here's what today should have looked like if I made the conscious effort to focus on the positive:</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Sunny</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Warm</span></span>. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beautiful</span></span>. <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Relaxed</span></span>.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Fun</span></span>.</div>
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<i>If only I would have let myself enjoy it.</i></div>
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But no, today I chose to focus on MY negative, I chose to let the enemy stick his ugly nose into my life, to dig in there and let insecurity stay awhile, let envy slither it's way into my thoughts and money woes laze about. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"It takes it's place so stealthily, happy to get a hold of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Mind wandering, heart desiring.<span style="font-size: large;"> Envy so <span style="color: #274e13;">green</span></span>."</span><br />
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I felt like I could write a novel on my insecurities! </div>
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But instead I wrote in my journal, and though my writing is amateur, it is in fact my heart:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She's known for her smile and crinkly eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She fools even herself with this happy<b> disguise</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A <b>battle</b>, a fight to hold fast to what's right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She <b>clings to the good</b> with all of her might.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Once she let's the battle go, there's no turning back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And like a delicate shell, her resolve <b>starts to crack</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lines like veins form upwards and out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She let go of the <b>Rock</b>, she gave in to the doubt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First a leak, then a pour, <b>rushing through</b> like a current.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She forgot what she's here for, she had <b>no endurance.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lost</b></span> in the game of desire and need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She fell into the sin that you all know as<b> greed</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It took her smile, it <b>stole</b> her grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It replaced it with <b>sadness</b> that showed on her face.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Amidst the longing for material things, she hears so softly a whispering.</i></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Take comfort<b> my child,</b> hold fast to your heart, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">know my Truth of which the world has no part. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Beyond money, looks and fame.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Beyond the desire that brings your shame.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I call to you now, to end this plight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Go forward, be YOU and <span style="font-size: large;">shine</span><span style="color: #f1c232;"> brilliantly bright</span>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though writing these thoughts out wasn't a quick fix that leaves me sitting here smiling and the same ole "Oh look a rainbow!" me ...it's a start. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And tomorrow is a new day.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRZK7Xl9cyN26ZyC9u5n0UT_AaT-GRVyD6uXEHCtPrW3q1FElDa8Nd5i4H5wAmILyk_CiVXq5IS5NMVyusst94s_HPEqQ9TY1QHyQKgT5dW7cnn3DsVzEJVrE24szNTH3oKWctHDCrHrI/s1600/www.pinterest.com.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRZK7Xl9cyN26ZyC9u5n0UT_AaT-GRVyD6uXEHCtPrW3q1FElDa8Nd5i4H5wAmILyk_CiVXq5IS5NMVyusst94s_HPEqQ9TY1QHyQKgT5dW7cnn3DsVzEJVrE24szNTH3oKWctHDCrHrI/s400/www.pinterest.com.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank"><u>source</u></a></td></tr>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-8867246873695741672013-09-08T23:03:00.000-07:002013-09-10T12:33:31.355-07:00To be a better me....<h4 style="text-align: center;">
I've been sitting in my living room, trying to have some "me" time.</h4>
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Read a book, write in my journal...watch Project Runway. </h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But midway through PR, all the thoughts that have been running through my head today, well not even just today...for the last few weeks, boiled up to the point that I couldn't just smash them down and zone out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Time to face the feelings:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm 30</span></span></div>
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Yes, I know when I plan a party that includes dressing up in <span style="color: magenta;">neon</span> and running around town reenacting scenes from 80's movies it might not SEEEEEM that way, but while I'm keeping my ridiculous and silly side of me intact, I'm tweaking some stuff... we all can <b>grow</b> right?</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I think too often we get too prideful.</span></div>
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<b>"This is who I am, this is how I was made. Deal"</b></div>
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OK, but were we made to be <b>snarky</b>?<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> rude</span>?<b> sassy</b>? <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">uncaring</span>? <b>prideful</b>? <span style="font-size: large;"><i>vain</i></span>?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nah.</span></div>
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But we're <b>imperfect</b>, I get it. Hello, I LIVE it. </div>
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But I'm making a choice, a conscious voluntary choice.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">To grow.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In homeschooling:</span></b></div>
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Making our 2nd year even greater than the last, but not having ridiculously high expectations of my kids or myself. To not feel like I have to prove my worth as a "teacher" to others, to not feel embarrassed when the kids don't know an answer to a question, to realize that they are LEARNING, as I am learning. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In my health:</b></span></div>
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To be healthier.</div>
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To eat well, drink more water and less soda, exercise but not become obsessive about it. </div>
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Not to do it because of that picture on Pinterest of the girl with the body of an Olympian,</div>
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not to do it for the desire of compliments, but for <span style="font-size: large;">ME</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Because it's not fun looking in the mirror and hating what I see, to feel like living in this body is the worst form of torture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because running out of breath after 10 minutes of working out is embarrassing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because I want to be an example to my kids and not feel like a hypocrite when I tell them to go outside and ride their bikes and play, while I sit and read (or check Facebook).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my relationships:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">to understand that everyone will not always like me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be honest about my feelings, but not about ALL my feelings. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To understand that some relationships just aren't meant to be a big part of my life, not everyone is going to be in my "constant contact wheel" at all times because I am one person. And they are too. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In my faith: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">to not just jot down notes on Sunday then inevitably toss them later that week. I wrote those notes with a PURPOSE. I will journal them to look back on when I'm struggling.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To understand that I am nothing without Him, this includes all facets of my life. I will begin my day in the Word, and yes this means I will wake up earlier, but I'm tired of being too selfish with my time. I can't give Him 30 minutes every morning? REALLY? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is it my friends, these are my goals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know I'll stumble at times, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">but I'm not going into this lightly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm determined, I'm serious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm gonna be the best me I can be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cause I'm 30, remember?</span></span></div>
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<b><br />Wanna join me in this growing up business?</b><br />
<b> Let me know and let's communicate and encourage each other!</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.gracelaced.com/category/grace-laced-mondays/" title="GraceLaced Mondays"><img alt="GraceLaced Mondays" src="http://www.gracelaced.com/uploads/2012/10/GL-Mondays.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-80269637171332980662013-08-31T14:15:00.000-07:002013-08-31T14:15:03.650-07:00a letter to remind myself..<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dear Bekah,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, home-school....</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>It's our second year now. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>You've learned a lot, about what works, what doesn't work. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> That <b><span style="font-size: large;">your</span> not perfect</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You and the kids will lose your patience, you will feel so done some days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Like those days that feel like we're stuck in a time loop from Lucifer,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> going over the same math concepts with seemingly no comprehension.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But we also know that after many hours, many tears...many "huffs of frustration"..</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">there will be that day, when they GET it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Their <i>eyes light up</i>, they <b>smile</b> so wide, and I jump up and clap excitedly because they <b>DID IT</b>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take that, square roots! Take that, multiplication! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We've also been through the gamut of emotions of others approval, the articles, the raised eyebrows the "knowing yet truly not knowing" looks, the "Oh boy...I could NEVER do that, I enjoy my down time too much!" comments. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We've learned to not take those to heart so much.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, there will be that day when you already feel like your failing, and your in the store with your kids and you look defeated, and you run into someone that doesn't agree with or understand your choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's ok.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This doesn't make them right, but it also doesn't make them a bad person, or a spiteful jerkface like you may have categorized them in your mind last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> (sorry...I blame the math concepts)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some people just will not get it right now, <span style="font-size: x-large;">or ever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the thing though....this was put on <b>YOUR </b>heart.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, you remember <a href="http://lemonsandsnickers.blogspot.com/2013/03/humbled.html" target="_blank">that moment</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, when days come up where you feel like you are failing<span style="font-size: large;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Failing in their education.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Failing to have them "properly socialized".</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Failing to get them in the right PE program.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Failing to get all their folders in order for your teacher's visit. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remember why your doing this.</span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those 100% grades they got.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those days when your "shy guy" walks up to another child he's never met, holds out his hand and confidently says "Hi, my name is Jackson. What's yours?" </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those sunny days you jump in the car and drive to the beach for PE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those reassuring smiles you get from your teacher, telling you your doing just fine.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">*thank you Liz!* </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can do this..</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">But </span><b>not alone:</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b> with<b> many</b> prayers raised up to Him. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whether quietly to yourself during a particularly frustrating concept </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">or literally on your knees sobbing and asking why He chose you to do this.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">source</span></a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-11-28" id="en-ESV-23488"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-11-29" id="en-ESV-23489"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-11-30" id="en-ESV-23490"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”</span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Matthew 11:28-30</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">with serious support all around you, from your Chief, to your parents, to your homeschool group, to your encouraging friends.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i> A friend loves at all times, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i> and a brother is born for adversity.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Proverbs 17:17 </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>He's got you covered.</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <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/AVvXsEhcQju63ksDnrQm25Rub2OnyAMvmy14bRUK1l3q_RwijPS_X1my9qt7iwsnGnveY5dvI2N43DuzesS2GcJqRnzBmIQz4JyLDizm0OFyno15u_JR0LidaLr5AjQNuxXJpzLYuI4SkxdxYkGy/s1600/pinterest.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQju63ksDnrQm25Rub2OnyAMvmy14bRUK1l3q_RwijPS_X1my9qt7iwsnGnveY5dvI2N43DuzesS2GcJqRnzBmIQz4JyLDizm0OFyno15u_JR0LidaLr5AjQNuxXJpzLYuI4SkxdxYkGy/s400/pinterest.com.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So go out there and <span style="font-size: x-large;">SHINE!</span></span></span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-55466437577164976942013-08-18T22:36:00.005-07:002013-08-18T22:36:46.799-07:00He comes in quietly<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">My oldest son Jackson had a very big life decision today...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Today, my sweet boy was baptized. </span></div>
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You see Chief and I decided that we would never "force" salvation on our children.</div>
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That we wanted them to be perfectly clear on what exactly it is. </div>
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Why we chose it and what a big step it is.</div>
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That it's not just a prayer.</div>
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It's not a quick fix, "look now I'm angelic" type of deal.</div>
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<b>It's a big, serious</b>,<span style="font-size: large;"> life changing</span> <b>decision.</b></div>
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It's also <span style="font-size: large;">beautiful </span>and <span style="font-size: large;">wonderful</span>, if you fully do give your heart over to the One who gave His life.</div>
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Oh that line alone makes my eyes burn with tears of<span style="font-size: large;"> gratitude</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me? He gave His life...for ME?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For US?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That sacrifice is THE most amazing gift.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So when Jax told me a year and a half ago at age 7 that he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart, my first reaction was "Honey, I really think you need to wait til your older and understand this decision" and those eyes...those beautiful blue eyes looked right at me and said "Mom..I'm ready NOW, I know Jesus is my Savior and I want Him to live in my heart"...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"> <sup class="versenum"> </sup>but Jesus said, <span class="woj"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="woj">“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Matthew 19:14 </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">the conviction in that little soul stopped me in my tracks, made me realize </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I couldn't put an age on when he was ready. Who am I to dictate and know when his time of knowing was? Isn't that why God gave us free will in the first place? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right then and there </span>he prayed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Sincerely and sweetly for Christ to live in his heart.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4F9KE7fuu2-BHuWezRd6uqT0D4ANE6SRzs_jCj130SUu97mkr_PCOMSJhhJPj8gu2i2qwVa0HIIsn5IsAnlzFQCltyZ_3QI2UM-ATNrZcwXpjQC25DVrKeo-6oHg9EVFzLN2imetRqVub/s1600/IMG_7931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<b>What a beautiful experience to witness.</b></div>
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So here we are a year and a half later...a year and a half older and a year and a half wiser.</div>
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Our Pastor announced the baptism at the river that we do every summer.</div>
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And after much pondering, and a lot of discussions and praying about his anxiety of people "watching", or of feeling like he was gonna "get the answers wrong"</div>
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(and to be honest if "Mama Bear" had her way </div>
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a private baptism where he would've have to "face his fear")</div>
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Jax (just this morning!) told us he wanted to be baptized.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF4xGo_4vD2hi2GftZM1pw153YFaDRcIokQ7DFOdP1Q4Ch9ajkGKcdBQo1OP8M2VdugYiVBaSDm8WOSwa3xgH6NO6Lm_dbHpU0lMLPL3NflH2ajqMjknb9RpO-jikI0YBe0vDTtYD7uf7/s1600/IMG_7930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF4xGo_4vD2hi2GftZM1pw153YFaDRcIokQ7DFOdP1Q4Ch9ajkGKcdBQo1OP8M2VdugYiVBaSDm8WOSwa3xgH6NO6Lm_dbHpU0lMLPL3NflH2ajqMjknb9RpO-jikI0YBe0vDTtYD7uf7/s640/IMG_7930.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and just as quietly as he came into this world, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">he came up into his new life. </span></div>
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<b>Not loud and boisterous like his mama.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But with a peace and a calmness that is the essence of who God made him to be. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ekP_b6BkgUm4kuvj9G4Y-PkK68Mkff7UyPgtOZaNuGGhyphenhyphen1u_IkXZN00aaULgYyhJ9I4sgPRIxr4uEr4lcHLxb4ZM4N-WhUMIp1Qfz7zpPnsI5DjpVfYxYQ9-L3lSZ9-2iymp-AVUdaog/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ekP_b6BkgUm4kuvj9G4Y-PkK68Mkff7UyPgtOZaNuGGhyphenhyphen1u_IkXZN00aaULgYyhJ9I4sgPRIxr4uEr4lcHLxb4ZM4N-WhUMIp1Qfz7zpPnsI5DjpVfYxYQ9-L3lSZ9-2iymp-AVUdaog/s640/IMG_7937.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.</span></span></div>
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<span class="woj">Romans 6:4</span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-81813545630920185262013-08-13T00:00:00.000-07:002013-08-13T00:00:10.485-07:00Roo<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">My lone little girl. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The middle child to our bookend boys.</span></span></div>
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<i>You look like your daddy, you have his same reaction to deep conversations sometimes </i></div>
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<i>(a glazed look is a good term for it), </i></div>
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<i>but my daughter...</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You remind me of myself. </span></span></div>
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<i>You have some of my <b>best</b> traits, and some of my <b>worst</b> traits.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> You<span style="color: #990000;"> love </span>deeply, you <span style="color: #134f5c;">care</span> sincerely, and I know you really <u><b>try</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">your best to make good choices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a time in your life when your starting to figure out who you are, what makes you, YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your 8.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">EIGHT!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b><i>I
feel like the majority of my memories started when I was 8.</i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I
remember the first time I walked around the school talking </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like Groucho
Marx and loving that people <b>laughed</b> about it.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8McS85L3_Ua-vjWdbWmqF0wh70kXgR9iEoy7AnfokSIhUkgB_zBNuvJdpQIinRhzA5rPE1rIFUWr8Xc7ib4yM8kXZX3X406_roE69ylVWQdE3k32aw_4YuOTY1844REGP154HpxuJ-3p/s1600/163650_1750772859190_5035786_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8McS85L3_Ua-vjWdbWmqF0wh70kXgR9iEoy7AnfokSIhUkgB_zBNuvJdpQIinRhzA5rPE1rIFUWr8Xc7ib4yM8kXZX3X406_roE69ylVWQdE3k32aw_4YuOTY1844REGP154HpxuJ-3p/s320/163650_1750772859190_5035786_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"> *Though it drives me crazy sometimes, I know that your love of silly voices is familiar*</span></b></i></div>
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Or when I would put together an outfit that I LOVED, only to have it made fun of.</div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrbjnAVh3tHOE4KdZHv4hRWAFTbQcvDg8oaTr3qwl1TPFa55WLPN9hJN_6FS94hwumruqqKTpNbZORQJwMe3TiP6zKUsMlLhUoG0TCwOHulgaFJfe4N_udhw6EeN2WU9_FfpGgOVjmCxL/s1600/198176_1838162443875_2184467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrbjnAVh3tHOE4KdZHv4hRWAFTbQcvDg8oaTr3qwl1TPFa55WLPN9hJN_6FS94hwumruqqKTpNbZORQJwMe3TiP6zKUsMlLhUoG0TCwOHulgaFJfe4N_udhw6EeN2WU9_FfpGgOVjmCxL/s320/198176_1838162443875_2184467_n.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>*My Rainbow Roo, you have such a sense of style. Keep that. Don't let it be tainted by what's trendy or acceptable. Be fun, be bright, because that is YOU*</b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Or the time when my friends didn't want to play with me, </div>
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but with the other girls instead and I felt <b>rejected</b>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxkGh5EHQzEtxPDnY4ToVzU5nYu9S2yRqILsTkSV5AbLdXA3W54cMKDHqSgQ-JAqRmeVFW2KJhnV4S2WXTdlPvMb4oSNPmN4sYREphFvNJYEj-SKHzG0hxMwfi0hB-Ty619n2p72RNKnQ/s1600/936479_148088932056789_622820817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxkGh5EHQzEtxPDnY4ToVzU5nYu9S2yRqILsTkSV5AbLdXA3W54cMKDHqSgQ-JAqRmeVFW2KJhnV4S2WXTdlPvMb4oSNPmN4sYREphFvNJYEj-SKHzG0hxMwfi0hB-Ty619n2p72RNKnQ/s1600/936479_148088932056789_622820817_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkks_noxT0pzZecLg7O9UijJ2gAK58bnrOJDCbIP7wWx0BL69liPTbGw6CNBJbXiABm9VCeX5AG50uNxpKXQe65aZSG9W_AFIWj2gAru0O-8OAcLkeVBFBnFdjAFKpPSe5MMjxvOh5RdG/s1600/31045_1464836950971_821304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<i><b>*Dear sweet girl, this has happened already and will happen again. I pray that you grow strong in your heart and know that it's OK if everyone doesn't get you...you might struggle with this concept for a long time.* </b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Or when I looked up to the "cool" older girls, </div>
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and they weren't all I thought they would be.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkks_noxT0pzZecLg7O9UijJ2gAK58bnrOJDCbIP7wWx0BL69liPTbGw6CNBJbXiABm9VCeX5AG50uNxpKXQe65aZSG9W_AFIWj2gAru0O-8OAcLkeVBFBnFdjAFKpPSe5MMjxvOh5RdG/s1600/31045_1464836950971_821304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkks_noxT0pzZecLg7O9UijJ2gAK58bnrOJDCbIP7wWx0BL69liPTbGw6CNBJbXiABm9VCeX5AG50uNxpKXQe65aZSG9W_AFIWj2gAru0O-8OAcLkeVBFBnFdjAFKpPSe5MMjxvOh5RdG/s320/31045_1464836950971_821304_n.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>*This is part of life's disappointments, one day you will start seeing what personalities could strengthen you and what personalities could weaken you. Regardless of "status", "popularity" or "intelligence", be true to who YOU are.*</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are times when I want to shelter you from your own heart, because I see the hurt you experience when someone speaks unkindly to you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">And I feel it.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The confusion you feel when your left out.</span></div>
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<i>I feel it.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The sadness you feel when you've let someone down.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>I feel it. </b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because though we may clash already,<span style="font-size: large;"> I get you</span>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will do my best to put aside my desires for you to be ONLY the best of me</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and focus only on letting you <span style="font-size: large;">be the best of you</span>. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD7gnm12MpRziYij4p4gTr9jYbvRLNAsi2uk7O41IJ0IZXuxoURpmcX00g5QL_6FGIaosta6vY2KTin4ulvvA7B_ftjjPLwhIllEu0PEUKrgcYAKYf_ocO4FVH9Dasb-6AbekrjZtFtwH/s1600/IMG_0786_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD7gnm12MpRziYij4p4gTr9jYbvRLNAsi2uk7O41IJ0IZXuxoURpmcX00g5QL_6FGIaosta6vY2KTin4ulvvA7B_ftjjPLwhIllEu0PEUKrgcYAKYf_ocO4FVH9Dasb-6AbekrjZtFtwH/s400/IMG_0786_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Ryleigh Roo. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpp1720CrXE0Hpn1u3KqaNlpEH597mAXtkHXAE6OaG6sEJsLl8lS6Ed7M3h44f4LTFF9h5C4GxFY9PAw81qYwwaTXmVfC6wEtC8Agv2Farf9WsffcBv63dXIExQH5mS4F3Ou3pIf9jSax/s1600/946649_10201139481279210_726073513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpp1720CrXE0Hpn1u3KqaNlpEH597mAXtkHXAE6OaG6sEJsLl8lS6Ed7M3h44f4LTFF9h5C4GxFY9PAw81qYwwaTXmVfC6wEtC8Agv2Farf9WsffcBv63dXIExQH5mS4F3Ou3pIf9jSax/s400/946649_10201139481279210_726073513_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mama</span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-78083147284692672322013-08-05T22:14:00.002-07:002013-08-08T13:29:23.673-07:00Even loudmouths get the blues<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
To the observer of my life, things look pretty wonderful!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And to be honest, so much of it is...we just spent the last few days "detoxing from technology"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (minus my phone which took all these pics, but that's all it did! Oh and our Kindles that we read on, I'm keepin' it real.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and spending some relaxing family time together, no plans, no agenda. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just the sound of the river and our talking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(and our dogs barking at every dog that passed) </span></div>
<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/AVvXsEhu_LXTisdoxoM_pwl_rlOk9Ds0Zp7wdTriqTmM2ANWk7C9FnkGj2G98COi_2emjkaPBEXOugyVKQKXSmkD0yROQFXt55cSCFKLxJtyVj3r4fut3IrlMuXLWwK97TU2rhTI3SFukVhsWctI/s1600/935898_10201836022852314_1985886513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_LXTisdoxoM_pwl_rlOk9Ds0Zp7wdTriqTmM2ANWk7C9FnkGj2G98COi_2emjkaPBEXOugyVKQKXSmkD0yROQFXt55cSCFKLxJtyVj3r4fut3IrlMuXLWwK97TU2rhTI3SFukVhsWctI/s320/935898_10201836022852314_1985886513_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly moments are always necessary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEhg806Y-Ks0SjqF89QUpfD-Fy9cajiSE-LY7vgh5R7laLJ_mooBaAmQiXXpnfyFzE0__4j-seK4-3EzytQnDVg_QLP2SDD-o5Q1Tpqy3sOfSNl7Hmy31fRlB_cc0hzyK7-rnZFf9NNytp-K/s1600/1003496_10201836015612133_147075971_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg806Y-Ks0SjqF89QUpfD-Fy9cajiSE-LY7vgh5R7laLJ_mooBaAmQiXXpnfyFzE0__4j-seK4-3EzytQnDVg_QLP2SDD-o5Q1Tpqy3sOfSNl7Hmy31fRlB_cc0hzyK7-rnZFf9NNytp-K/s320/1003496_10201836015612133_147075971_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">early morning and we're smiling, that's the life!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<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/AVvXsEgaWN4wRWuOhTK-jwrC_3KIg7AcobRgMPnxMZT87Tap5DE7XmYIdv9aOSFFDo1XXCnxEl-WzVavBFRaIiPDHQtWFDDKiPUQhpHRKBysMUH_OXMkz4Gv_4_aVcKpc7P-z4v41ZMPd4_H1wrv/s1600/556364_10201836015092120_1711795469_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWN4wRWuOhTK-jwrC_3KIg7AcobRgMPnxMZT87Tap5DE7XmYIdv9aOSFFDo1XXCnxEl-WzVavBFRaIiPDHQtWFDDKiPUQhpHRKBysMUH_OXMkz4Gv_4_aVcKpc7P-z4v41ZMPd4_H1wrv/s320/556364_10201836015092120_1711795469_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a rare request from Roo to snuggle? I'm in heaven!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am blessed, I believe that, I know that, I'm thankful every day for that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><b>I'm in a season right now.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I feel something <b>big</b>....something<span style="font-size: large;"> wonderful</span> and<i> beautiful</i> coming my way.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>I really do.</b></span></span></i></u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But right now, I just want to unplug, I don't want to have deep conversations, I don't want to debate opinions, I don't want to show my heart, I don't want to read anything that hurts, I don't want to say anything that could hurt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just want to give my heart a break. If that makes sense. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Don't wanna break your heart, wanna give your heart a break!...you know you were all thinking it!) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I think I will.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll text as needed, I'll call or message as needed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I HAVE to remove myself from what<span style="font-size: large;"> I </span>am taking internally that is hurting. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The thing is, I gotta step back. Strengthen MY heart, who I AM, and not feel worthless so easily, it's just ridiculous how quickly the enemy can jump in and twist my thoughts around. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I need to remember how <b>He</b> sees me, and be just that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Rom-12-1"><span class="chapternum"> </span>I appeal to you therefore, brothers,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28231a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]"></sup> by the mercies of God, to <b>present your bodies as a living sacrifice</b>, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28231b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]"></sup></span> </span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></i></span><span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-ESV-28232"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><sup class="versenum">2<b> </b></sup><b>Do not be conformed to this world</b>,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28232c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]"></sup> but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, </span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span class="text Rom-12-2" id="en-ESV-28232"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">that by testing you may <b>discern</b> what is the will of God, <b>what is good and acceptable and perfect.</b></span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Rom-12-3"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>For by the<b> grace</b> given to me I say to everyone among you<b> not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think</b>, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.</span> <span class="text Rom-12-4" id="en-ESV-28234"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>For as in <b>one</b> body we have<b> many</b> members,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28234e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]"></sup> and the members do not all have the same function,</span> <span class="text Rom-12-5" id="en-ESV-28235"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.</span> <span class="text Rom-12-6" id="en-ESV-28236"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup><b>Having gifts that differ </b>according to the grace given to us, <b>let us use them</b>: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;</span> <span class="text Rom-12-7" id="en-ESV-28237"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;</span> <span class="text Rom-12-8" id="en-ESV-28238"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28238f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]"></sup> with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Rom-12-8" id="en-ESV-28238">Romans 12:1-8</span></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Rom-12-8" id="en-ESV-28238">(full chapter<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=ESV" target="_blank"> here</a>) </span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />Until I plug in again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Lots of love, rainbows and silliness. </span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-80638115597288122922013-07-28T22:56:00.001-07:002013-08-08T13:29:48.902-07:00What do we give for?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Pride.</span></div>
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<i>It comes in many forms.</i></div>
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But lately it's been on my heart to talk about pride in the form of...boasting.</div>
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You know we've all done it.</div>
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It starts in our children.</div>
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I've already had this conversation many times with my very own brood.</div>
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"Mom, he just sat and played, but <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*drawn out to make sure I was aware who was the bigger person in this situation* </span>just cleaned up my room, and...and I made my bed without being asked!"</div>
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"That's great, thanks so much...now why did you do that?"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Insert blank stare here*</span></div>
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(because clearly it was for either the glory of being the top dog for the day, or candy...most likely both)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"You know that when we do something kind, that's great but...we're not supposed to be doing it for a recognition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That takes the sincerity out of it"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*then I have to explain what sincerity & recognition mean*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But what about when we're "all grown up"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don't we STILL desire that</span></div>
<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/AVvXsEiMQ6npMmeUXyyHEamOp_mpvnGfQiBvtlsD2ny5eEvtfhLhxMJdZEQ1kqYbBNM0lT5alusJbJ4nRkx-mA-uqp115J52wTpOi8gSjyUN21pU8dq51Tc8xbY7TSi1sAnvhcIc6eI8nhHF5hu_/s1600/pat_on_the_back_print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ6npMmeUXyyHEamOp_mpvnGfQiBvtlsD2ny5eEvtfhLhxMJdZEQ1kqYbBNM0lT5alusJbJ4nRkx-mA-uqp115J52wTpOi8gSjyUN21pU8dq51Tc8xbY7TSi1sAnvhcIc6eI8nhHF5hu_/s320/pat_on_the_back_print.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rudelimited.com/pat-on-the-back-print.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Or how about?</span></span></div>
<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/AVvXsEj88Sx_Q6NudlEzSIYeaAbwFrUCzbhg0qNrq01cuFNfbFWlpCYoSH3Tebx10QuLQ_ruSMR3S8wsFVHpgG_CIJCfbDJhJr30DisB8jXBrvK2GVzEF0NkigMrSql6XLCg24sJpgghoKF8Rcr-/s1600/showoff_outside_CG02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88Sx_Q6NudlEzSIYeaAbwFrUCzbhg0qNrq01cuFNfbFWlpCYoSH3Tebx10QuLQ_ruSMR3S8wsFVHpgG_CIJCfbDJhJr30DisB8jXBrvK2GVzEF0NkigMrSql6XLCg24sJpgghoKF8Rcr-/s320/showoff_outside_CG02.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rudelimited.com/pat-on-the-back-print.html" target="_blank">source</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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Now don't get me wrong, sometimes these gestures are comforting...encouraging. Like when you've been working hard at eating right, or exercising or overcoming a hurdle in your life. In these times or times like it, everyone could use some friendly encouragement.</div>
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<b>But how about those times, when we're led very strongly by the Holy Spirit to help those in need?</b></div>
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<i> To talk to a friend who's struggling?</i> <b>Sponsor an orphan? </b></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Send off a Christmas present to needy children?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Give money to a struggling family?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In those times, I've found when I tell others about it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">it takes the joy away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suddenly feel insincere.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And listen I'm not saying this is true for all, but it's true for me.</span></span></div>
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I remember when I was 9 years old at a private school I went to, during the morning assembly the pastor came up and spoke about giving for the right reasons, that when we're giving because we've been led to...nobody but <span style="font-size: large;">Him</span> needs to know.</div>
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That in itself is a beautiful gift, and I'm telling you it has stuck with me since!<br />
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And I've been frustrated this week because I could not remember the verse that goes along with this sentiment for the life of me. Until this morning when the guest speaker at our church brought it into his sermon:</div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj">“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><b>Matthew 6:1 </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let's be <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>on fire</b></span> for Christ my friends, TOTALLY!</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not for our name to be glorified</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but for<span style="color: #20124d;"> <b>His Name</b></span> alone.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsswRPsIQ1ZOvzRUp2vEmdBncNY1UkF64zr2KKHz1qLYOj_N4vd0j0zBTqX_qncs2aE4mU_87IEPVe24tUyU_rWi8oaxodIa4bC8DIMo-7jRYtVzWY72JW0x1-s10v2fu48v_XgvxVySMH/s1600/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsswRPsIQ1ZOvzRUp2vEmdBncNY1UkF64zr2KKHz1qLYOj_N4vd0j0zBTqX_qncs2aE4mU_87IEPVe24tUyU_rWi8oaxodIa4bC8DIMo-7jRYtVzWY72JW0x1-s10v2fu48v_XgvxVySMH/s200/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Matt-6-1"><span class="woj"><b></b></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.carissagraham.com/search/label/miscellany%20monday" target="_blank"><img alt="lowercase letters" src="http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r72/follysurffisher/lowercaseletters.jpg" /></a></center>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-29862431701093260122013-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:002013-08-08T13:30:05.861-07:00My imperfections, through her imperfections.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have a confession.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not the perfect mom.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whoa. Mind blown. I know!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I love my munchkins, I find myself stopping and just listening to them, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">or watching their interaction and tearing up with gratefulness. </span></span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b>I hug them everyday, I tell them I love them every day. </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But, sometimes I also get frustrated, I raise my voice when I really </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">should just stay calm, I blurt out my frustration instead</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> of showing grace and self control. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Confession number two:</span></div>
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<i>And I've been guilty of really, truly disliking my daughter Roo's attitude lately.</i></div>
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<i>I let myself get to the point where I didn't WANT to hang around her.....</i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Ouch, right? </span></i></div>
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She had some situations where she was being incredibly sneaky,</div>
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she was outright lying and nothing I was doing was making it better.</div>
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<b>I showed her the scriptures that speak specifically about lying.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had long talks with her about the repercussions of lying, and what it does to our heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I also yelled. I cried. I took toys away, I took privileges away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was spent.</span></div>
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I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong, what was I doing as a parent that made her feel so comfortable in her dishonesty? How could <span style="font-size: large;">she</span> do this to <span style="font-size: large;">me</span>?<b><br /></b></div>
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<i><b>Then I remembered.</b></i><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not perfect.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In fact, I'm sort of a lot to handle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At any given time in my life, I too can be:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Emotional. <b>Sensitive</b>. Whiny. Grouchy. <span style="font-size: large;">Scatterbrained</span>. Quick to judge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So who am I....to in essence push my own daughter away?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What am I teaching her?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That if people don't behave exactly as we want,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> we just stop talking to them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We give up?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">No. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Never.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I loved. </span></span></span><br />
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I stopped focusing on how <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span> wanted her to behave. </div>
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What<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I</span> wanted her to do.</div>
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I focused on who <span style="font-size: x-large;">she</span> is.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She's a girl who sings every day, without fail.</span> <b>Who loves all animals. </b>Who cleans up around the house without being asked. <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who enjoys folding laundry.</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who loves lip gloss, nail polish and sparkles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> She lights up a room with her hugs and smiles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even writing this, I feel that shame of not realizing these wonderful things about her, in my frustration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I know enough to swallow my pride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And apologized. And asked her to go on a date with me. A girls only date that she had put on our "Summer Wish List" and I selfishly had been ignoring because of my attitude. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Shopping, taking silly pics, buying nail polish and sparkly things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But most of all.....</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Showing Love.</span><br />
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-34713921000353844762013-07-10T08:00:00.000-07:002013-08-08T13:30:20.911-07:00A month away, deserves a special day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, it's been awhile since I've blogged. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I've been busy enjoying the river, and actually MAKING Pinterest </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">projects instead of just well...pinning them like I usually do!</span></div>
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But it's a special occasion my friends, tomorrow I am going in for an outpatient surgery, nothing major....but I'm nervous so prayers are always welcomed and appreciated.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">But that's not the special occasion, no no.</span></div>
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Tomorrow my kids will be watched by my mom and dad, </div>
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as my Chief takes me out of town for the surgery.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nope, that's not the special occasion either </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(well it is to my kids)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">but tomorrow...and the reason I must stop doing craft projects to blog and brag is because it is my Mom's birthday.</span></div>
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Yep, that's right, she is watching my kids for me...<b>on her birthday,</b> that alone is a big deal to me.</div>
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But the sweetest thing about it?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She offered. </span></div>
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The surgery dates they gave me were for the day of her birthday </div>
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(which I immediately mentally blocked off,</div>
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because I wouldn't dream of asking her to do that for me on her special day) </div>
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or August, which is when mine and Roo's birthdays are.</div>
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Immediately, with no hesitation, no thinking about it, no selfish thought involved she said </div>
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"Do it on my birthday!"</div>
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When I quickly said "Mom, I can't do that! That's your day...no." she says "..but I want to."</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That still makes me tear up.</span></div>
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You see, to have that sweet sacrifice for me...is a BIG deal...because as a child, my mom and I were sort of combative.</div>
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And I'll admit, <span style="font-size: x-small;">(this may be the only time I admit it, so luckily for her it's documented forever!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">I was not the easiest child to raise.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7h8E0DyzdyAM7kOVVlf8kUblohXt7fE8_q5Lgg4ZFlykZvgwMc3g3u3Q3nd839yC7D2jRWHY1b_5G_sG5tzmks2WOPxWo7Wy38_F0gcDR39_df692uO8MljU29_CS9kyRiaeDsJIvIMY/s1600/17939_1324016550549_7437353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7h8E0DyzdyAM7kOVVlf8kUblohXt7fE8_q5Lgg4ZFlykZvgwMc3g3u3Q3nd839yC7D2jRWHY1b_5G_sG5tzmks2WOPxWo7Wy38_F0gcDR39_df692uO8MljU29_CS9kyRiaeDsJIvIMY/s320/17939_1324016550549_7437353_n.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Bow? That's me! Snuggling up to my mama</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ya see....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was dishonest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like</span> when I was chewing a cookie, and my mom asked me if I snuck a cookie and I said no...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">with crumbs coming out of my mouth. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I wasn't the best liar, obviously. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">*And that's just a time when she caught me!*</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was sneaky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like <span style="font-size: small;">when</span></span> I was about to get a spankin' for...lord knows what I did that time, and I stuffed Berenstain Bear books in my pants to ward off the oncoming pain...though when I started laughing uncontrollably she was on to me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was sassy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Youuuu</span> have not met a sassier child, I'm sure. I ALWAYS had to have the last word...and<span style="font-size: large;"> that</span> got me in a lot of trouble!</span></span></div>
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But things changed...so beautifully after I got married and started having munchkins, I not only realized her frustration...I <span style="font-size: large;">understood </span>her for the first time. </div>
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No longer did I only look at her as the lady that said "No" to me, </div>
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but as the lady that miraculously didn't throttle me!</div>
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<i><b>I thought of the moments that I took for granted...like the fact that she most mornings MADE our breakfasts, like serious good ole giant breakfasts, pancakes, eggs, waffles and such. </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I don't do that! It's a treat over here, but it was a regular thing for her.</span></div>
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<i><b>Or the fact that she worked very hard to keep our house clean all the time.</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I certainly don't do that over here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> We're "Comfortably Cluttered" in this house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So where do you think I go for a good cup o' coffee and conversation?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTHlS5xIWw5J_Tf05Gichj3Ubv5dokYmzCpKdAEc-vv6KzqA3QTZm91nzqT10zpl0_cVSnWNbU_POgGzHM2H1ojCsKypfsJ0RqZtzP99wW6Zg6_9WzGP4tl39iyqdn1-heCUNRCy3Rd17/s1600/304078_2318603574603_1659930030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTHlS5xIWw5J_Tf05Gichj3Ubv5dokYmzCpKdAEc-vv6KzqA3QTZm91nzqT10zpl0_cVSnWNbU_POgGzHM2H1ojCsKypfsJ0RqZtzP99wW6Zg6_9WzGP4tl39iyqdn1-heCUNRCy3Rd17/s320/304078_2318603574603_1659930030_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>To My Mama.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who did I call to cry to when my feelings were hurt by someone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To My Mama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who let's us tease her by slipping salamanders in her chair while camping?</span></div>
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Or puts up with us laughing hysterically when we all pose for a picture at Disneyland and she missed the memo:</div>
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Who loves her grand-babies with all her heart:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt6oyjyGVSbz3hC3ely_GBIw5tAAumye2a8rMeuAtfgGI-hgCzxttQbyivrqUY98mZ_3cHO6LC_6NI6WMneZHwIVoyj2NGmcMLteNxRnNRcwTpXdOOCfYf0St8gbeI8ntBoQxO_Ky_x8t/s1600/599241_4209970857603_262882488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPt6oyjyGVSbz3hC3ely_GBIw5tAAumye2a8rMeuAtfgGI-hgCzxttQbyivrqUY98mZ_3cHO6LC_6NI6WMneZHwIVoyj2NGmcMLteNxRnNRcwTpXdOOCfYf0St8gbeI8ntBoQxO_Ky_x8t/s400/599241_4209970857603_262882488_n.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Who always makes a point of having family dinners at her house so we can be together:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7qRYl8XFOiygHxBzz2bRZy30xnrVgY0_WTriQzK0WmX_PcFpZr-rYllAJtUfsr1rC6w6olotI1jdAchqo9AzMc5UcWmMxKXl6SRQj0fFCVWsUDNMRFpa_LuWonSEp9A6p8GRu-p2_s1P/s1600/72690_10200680277079392_232479421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7qRYl8XFOiygHxBzz2bRZy30xnrVgY0_WTriQzK0WmX_PcFpZr-rYllAJtUfsr1rC6w6olotI1jdAchqo9AzMc5UcWmMxKXl6SRQj0fFCVWsUDNMRFpa_LuWonSEp9A6p8GRu-p2_s1P/s400/72690_10200680277079392_232479421_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who sacrificed her special day so that I could get the surgery I needed....</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This gal..my mama.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpRAQEy4Dka37BKdRHLDmfZCcS1bwFoIoRExN3Qg_hVnd-IT8HT_TxFYgV8YzUdRtVWB9_DFW4G6SE0ZoEZKndKYZU6Z5gNfJCLBTVPHJcZUUehBxz5-nlFO8IhVcXsEBB0nDhbrhN4Ca/s1600/994822_4399775932268_1743157387_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpRAQEy4Dka37BKdRHLDmfZCcS1bwFoIoRExN3Qg_hVnd-IT8HT_TxFYgV8YzUdRtVWB9_DFW4G6SE0ZoEZKndKYZU6Z5gNfJCLBTVPHJcZUUehBxz5-nlFO8IhVcXsEBB0nDhbrhN4Ca/s320/994822_4399775932268_1743157387_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So to you ...mom, mama, little lady,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Early Birthday!!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love you so much.</span></div>
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-38554459767549481992013-06-06T11:49:00.004-07:002013-08-08T13:30:30.480-07:00Stop! Grateful Time!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Life is crazy...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">..not even necessarily because of rough times,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> but just the<span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>day to day</b></span> </span><strike>drudgery </strike>craziness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In those times it's so very easy, to just wallow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In boredom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">*wishing you had more to do*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In the frantic pace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">*I wish I had LESS to do*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In envy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">*I wish I had what she has*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In self pity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">*Why can't my life be easier?* </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I was cleaning up a bit around the house today, I felt this tugging at my heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Be thankful. Find beauty in the ordinary"</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RGvXZdfo_JJI-rWBD5Lq8uru51ASoGgVw-YHG49TADdSIkURsHoZzMtaWmusDPl-4plKHSJM6a2BN9EhUuFEYPJn0Yf1Rova0YbsnJab-VyiEitTS3dGxSmUCeuemhCIFKmC49AtM4Ub/s1600/431510_3440057810258_1041471872_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RGvXZdfo_JJI-rWBD5Lq8uru51ASoGgVw-YHG49TADdSIkURsHoZzMtaWmusDPl-4plKHSJM6a2BN9EhUuFEYPJn0Yf1Rova0YbsnJab-VyiEitTS3dGxSmUCeuemhCIFKmC49AtM4Ub/s400/431510_3440057810258_1041471872_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Like this beautiful bedding, given to my daughter by a beautiful lady. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">RIGHT at the time when we needed it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXEUSJjdhA9GpyoFHct8omMlM-7eG9Kl42b6X-nZT1hbkS7K0z1gOptUsra5uRWbjrDGxmqL2Pe7EBnrv53xANvBLv_p9_5zecGFzvBW4xYetrkhBo7xO9m1u6d6fdmt2Oam20Lj4q4z3/s1600/psalms119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXEUSJjdhA9GpyoFHct8omMlM-7eG9Kl42b6X-nZT1hbkS7K0z1gOptUsra5uRWbjrDGxmqL2Pe7EBnrv53xANvBLv_p9_5zecGFzvBW4xYetrkhBo7xO9m1u6d6fdmt2Oam20Lj4q4z3/s640/psalms119.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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Or this lovely printable, given so generously by a <a href="http://treeofolive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">beautiful heart</a>. To encourage others.</div>
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That now sits atop our piano as a much needed reminder.</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRco2_WPKN4J5-iyGjk_p1MvaSFSizh96y7KRU5DRiRdAIfaNSAiUZPDNFF6KaTh7sMplWChNVxeFAjiExtC-dngKNqHqU28d8_Iz6ISorFKgNBT1ugq2vihMnh7ssIhu7Z99vFOW_0Ek/s1600/424171_3408895751226_1264308657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRco2_WPKN4J5-iyGjk_p1MvaSFSizh96y7KRU5DRiRdAIfaNSAiUZPDNFF6KaTh7sMplWChNVxeFAjiExtC-dngKNqHqU28d8_Iz6ISorFKgNBT1ugq2vihMnh7ssIhu7Z99vFOW_0Ek/s400/424171_3408895751226_1264308657_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Or this "ink" of mine.</div>
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Drawn by a "kindred spirit", duplicated on another piece of my heart. </div>
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Serving as a reminder of life's ups and downs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsdAR_Kgyw8wALF4URYbC5p8bI5hNUF2B5jCHY6xI7JCaFcWANxmWwSrcZs3et6Q6iLh9Z8NELcJkGG3jZwx8JQjLo6j0IW2wxOGhrRxZThFRX-QVmcooEmkuBKuMoq5ZRbiOrsWXKne9/s1600/268239_10201338828262760_476485255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsdAR_Kgyw8wALF4URYbC5p8bI5hNUF2B5jCHY6xI7JCaFcWANxmWwSrcZs3et6Q6iLh9Z8NELcJkGG3jZwx8JQjLo6j0IW2wxOGhrRxZThFRX-QVmcooEmkuBKuMoq5ZRbiOrsWXKne9/s400/268239_10201338828262760_476485255_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Or this simple moment of practicing for "Kindergarten Graduation", given as a sweet gift by a sweet teacher. </div>
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Embracing us, even though our path took a different turn this year. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of these "ordinary" things...are in fact, extraordinary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-2"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Count it all joy, my brothers,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30252b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]"></sup> when you meet trials of various kinds,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-ESV-30253"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-ESV-30254"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">James 1:2-4 </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/ehhdesign/media/signature_zps604dd3f5.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature_zps604dd3f5.png" border="0" src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b579/ehhdesign/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" /></a>Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-88259931072164287302013-06-02T22:14:00.001-07:002013-08-08T13:30:38.708-07:00I like my postin' just a little on the sassy side!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Things that make me go "Hmmmm" lately....</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. Saving our children's teeth, after they've essentially fallen to their death out of their mouths.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLhirVq0ZIoxMN8J1A7Bkr-6d7DiLPSDvzAtmDXhn2_Vr5fPO0eOe2WySgh-X42LUa_JsHQn3YmXijOGrU_1fVo26_9dmKIwRFKVyMpCLO2D_bRRe3rnEAsfchrwQOhHGP0hQZuPRM_M-/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLhirVq0ZIoxMN8J1A7Bkr-6d7DiLPSDvzAtmDXhn2_Vr5fPO0eOe2WySgh-X42LUa_JsHQn3YmXijOGrU_1fVo26_9dmKIwRFKVyMpCLO2D_bRRe3rnEAsfchrwQOhHGP0hQZuPRM_M-/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I can see the "Awww" factor....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until you realize you look like Jeffrey Dahmer </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with bags full of teeth around your house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However this doesn't stop me from using "Purple Tooth Fairy" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">(yes my kids have their own person Tooth Fairies...that's legit)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;">to reiterate some "deep thoughts"</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFqz8MTMUJDNDAd2q-jPZGbAnSTlJLSlAhY1PW6rN1WQkmewfDHZNBArf95ndbwa_zE8CIHOh4DEpctbX4M12tsCOMhab_9eZcA_H09Ey4ULRJDrTZWqbpGX2bMPXfoHC7kaB65iuFf2d/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFqz8MTMUJDNDAd2q-jPZGbAnSTlJLSlAhY1PW6rN1WQkmewfDHZNBArf95ndbwa_zE8CIHOh4DEpctbX4M12tsCOMhab_9eZcA_H09Ey4ULRJDrTZWqbpGX2bMPXfoHC7kaB65iuFf2d/s640/photo+3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />Guess who's trying a little harder to not be sneaky now?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BOOM!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Parenting. I got this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Why isn't Pluto a planet anymore?? And I don't wanna hear the smarty pants reason, because I've heard it and it still doesn't convince me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why on Earth we would get rid of the ONLY planet named after a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_%28Disney%29" target="_blank">cartoon character </a>is beyond me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">*Guess who's kids are going to grow up thinking neutrons </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">are just a family with a child named <a href="http://www.nick.com/shows/jimmy-neutron/" target="_blank">Jimmy</a>?* ;0) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. <a href="http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/i/icona_pop/i_love_it.html" target="_blank">THIS</a> song, I've only heard it on the radio but "WHAAAAAAAAAT?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> You crashed your car into a bridge and you LOVE that? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you have superhuman powers, that prevent you from getting hurt?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Do you have amazing insurance coverage, that allows you to randomly crash your car into bridges, just cause you feel like it?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Cause I don't love that. I think that's crazy.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And DANGEROUS. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Am I right, or am I right people?! ;0)</span></span><br />
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Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048641443077712566.post-51422638498672689602013-05-30T22:32:00.001-07:002013-08-08T13:30:48.468-07:00Insta-BUSY!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Week Number TWO of InstaFriday over here!!</span></div>
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And clearly since this is my only blog post this week SINCE last Friday, it's clear I've been a busy bee!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPrs6AjDY1ecj_Tr-BwsrmQFv5UpiEx7_hbiSrLlkE_gAHxW3X1_MFtkTN3DkLpuLvv-k1QKt5n78F-el2QjtBxWWYoUWWt_RPgcqDbtFF-OL1GZbNovmARULLYs1lVAvDYuzXHMWbFe-/s1600/memorialday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPrs6AjDY1ecj_Tr-BwsrmQFv5UpiEx7_hbiSrLlkE_gAHxW3X1_MFtkTN3DkLpuLvv-k1QKt5n78F-el2QjtBxWWYoUWWt_RPgcqDbtFF-OL1GZbNovmARULLYs1lVAvDYuzXHMWbFe-/s640/memorialday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First
off, last Saturday we went to the local Memorial Day Parade with some
great friends and watched the different floats drive by and clapped for the service men and women, I may have choked up as I
always do when the parade comes to town. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's just beyond beautiful to
me, how these men and women sacrifice </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">their lives for our country. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I
stop and ponder it, I always feel my heart tug. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyBroRqWgkI8EW2ukM0QG3YKo_jCGvgcFsOJoZPz2e8wr4d6Op54wWN-qOIpJkRflcXEAkL0BvkT6o3qVmLXKiDZUw3s7Gverw3NQ7EctLsOh-S0cbeSkPP_8nVfpRn61-jRzRBeCHioh/s1600/970021_10201238009102344_599308008_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyBroRqWgkI8EW2ukM0QG3YKo_jCGvgcFsOJoZPz2e8wr4d6Op54wWN-qOIpJkRflcXEAkL0BvkT6o3qVmLXKiDZUw3s7Gverw3NQ7EctLsOh-S0cbeSkPP_8nVfpRn61-jRzRBeCHioh/s640/970021_10201238009102344_599308008_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I felt very <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_Michaels" target="_blank">Bret Michaels</a> this day. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Minus the possible STD's mind you!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Before you go "Ohhhhh, say what?!", know this:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I watched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Love_with_Bret_Michaels" target="_blank">Rock of Love</a>.</span></b></div>
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<b>*yeah, I admit it wasn't my proudest moment in life*</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then that night,we went to listen to my awesome rocker friends <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/thelostwoods" target="_blank">The Lost Woods</a> play a gig and listened to their great tunes while laughing and eating some delicious food at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Vista-Pub/140391372693100" target="_blank">this place</a>.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZal9gBzx6yFoXSXAcA26J9cg0t-yWKcnpzuBipj5vLkq9gXaI7Rd8JWaAwBFOWfWhJZmll06sW-1y0_IJzLx1k-3XPZeWpTgBurCbsICZkViZj-PdYe_bGkP3En4WdwSRXbzTD3JSjUbR/s1600/970135_10201241436308022_1491087596_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZal9gBzx6yFoXSXAcA26J9cg0t-yWKcnpzuBipj5vLkq9gXaI7Rd8JWaAwBFOWfWhJZmll06sW-1y0_IJzLx1k-3XPZeWpTgBurCbsICZkViZj-PdYe_bGkP3En4WdwSRXbzTD3JSjUbR/s640/970135_10201241436308022_1491087596_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Aren't my pals, GORGEOUS?!</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, we had a beach day with the family, and clearly it's not a beach day til mama dresses like a hippie!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">~*I'm kind of loving this picture.*~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">That same night, we went to our local drive-in with some MORE rad friends and watched</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Croods" target="_blank">The Croods</a>". We can always count on a lot of laughs with this family!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrPdeoNMYRqD4f1fS80t4foTfPBjJd9SLxtLAC8tXbV26Bxy9KuRS8YHlBIZc9O0n0kgp8CDn0aQEzWQU2Ww3SNou9JA4xGunHRVZUre9HaRbrS9VOtgIqoSZorn4vQUzfFan5ZSbvqp7/s1600/917_10201278247628282_1054061184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrPdeoNMYRqD4f1fS80t4foTfPBjJd9SLxtLAC8tXbV26Bxy9KuRS8YHlBIZc9O0n0kgp8CDn0aQEzWQU2Ww3SNou9JA4xGunHRVZUre9HaRbrS9VOtgIqoSZorn4vQUzfFan5ZSbvqp7/s640/917_10201278247628282_1054061184_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I was lucky enough to go to the park and have a coffee date with these lovely ladies, whom I've known for almost 20 years!!! It's days like this that I feel blessed to live in a small town, where we can keep in touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">ANNNNND, finally. THIS handsome fella received a call from our school today saying that he won an iPod shuffle from the state testing drawing!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As you can tell, he's very jazzed!</span></div>
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WHEW! That was our week in Instagram and I'm tired just looking at the pics!</div>
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What did your week look like via Instagram?</div>
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Linking up <a href="http://liferearranged.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/ehhdesign/media/signature_zps604dd3f5.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature_zps604dd3f5.png" border="0" height="92" src="http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b579/ehhdesign/signature_zps604dd3f5.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
Bekah @Lemons & Snickershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671311122406212356noreply@blogger.com1