tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91871120431528269192024-02-07T11:02:47.232-08:00{ scraptherapy }e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-22421913107227493502018-01-05T14:51:00.002-08:002018-01-05T14:51:27.025-08:00How to Lose Weight by Loving Your Body Better: from Allie Casazza<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When
my doctor told me that my blood sugar levels came back just over the cutoff and
that I was considered “pre-diabetic,” I immediately joined Weight
Watchers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although my weight is within
normal range, my waist circumference puts me at higher risk for not only
diabetes, but cancer and heart disease as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was a wake-up call that I need to embrace a healthier lifestyle if
I am going to get to live a full life on this planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So,
for about a year I changed my eating habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I lost a small amount of weight, but my waist circumference didn’t
budge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started yoga and eventually
ballet, but still nothing was changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Except, I was now a part of an entire plethora of feminine life that I
hadn’t ever experienced before: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the group
of women who have tried to lose weight.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
am very fortunate that I can say I never struggled with my weight, an eating
disorder, or even hating my body as much as I did over this year of dieting
(which WW insists is actually a lifestyle change).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being immersed in conversations and culture
that I hadn’t ever experienced was eye opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of my friends, I discovered, had used all sorts of “cleansing”
diets, shakes, supplements, excessive exercise, or counting-calorie-type plans
to lose weight over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
women I knew wanted to change her body in some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO ONE WAS HAPPY WITH WHO THEY WERE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And,
I began to ask myself: is this the only way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is this the only way to actually lose weight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I supposed that indeed you had to hate your
body – at least a little – in order to motivate change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, have you ever met someone who started
a weight loss program because they were already happy with themselves??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course not! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But,
even after losing weight, the problem is, I was actually unhappier than I was
before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I HAD to think negatively about
myself every time I chose spinach over chips, the yoga studio instead of a
coffee date, and a hard boiled egg over a scone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to say to myself, “This won’t get you
where you want to go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, stay focused
on your goal of being skinnier and don’t eat that dessert!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">When
we train our minds to think AGAINST our bodies, that thinking pattern doesn’t
change as soon as we lose that last 10 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a matter of fact, that negative thinking is only strengthened
because, after all, THAT’S what helped me get to where I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have to keep thinking like this if I’m
going to stay skinny.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So,
I’ve asked people if anyone knows a strategy for losing weight that actually
involves being kind to yourself instead of criticizing yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">God
sent me the answer I was looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Allie
Casazza has a podcast called “The Purpose Show.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a Christian mama who teaches about
minimilasm, and I have loved reading her emails and learning from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most recently, her second episode of 2018 has
given me exactly the tools I have been looking for and was titled, “How to Lose
Weight by Loving Your Body Better.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">She
posed the questions: “What do you love about your body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in light of that love, how will you treat
your body better?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it or not,
these answers aren’t as easy to come up with as their antonyms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, here are my attempts:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
love that my body is capable of so many wonderful activities: dancing,
laughing, tasting, playing, scrapbooking, painting, sex, reading, taking
photos, listening to music, carrying my children on my back, driving, learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful that my ears can hear music,
giggles, and fire alarms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful
that my eyes can see sunsets, my kids cute faces, and love notes from my
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful that my hands can
mend, heal, touch, cook, play piano, and tickle my kiddos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful that my organs are all
cancer-free, functioning properly, and allowing me to simply enjoy life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful that my mouth can taste
chocolate, and chai lattes, and a good steak; and that it can speak the truth
in love, offer encouragement, save my children from danger, and teach them
about the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful that my
nose can smell Christmas trees, and baby powder, and spring flowers, and
David’s hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
body does so much for me every day, and God sustains it and empowers it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
light of this place of gratitude, I don’t want to beat my body up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to purposefully damage it nor
ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to hate it or
criticize it or constantly try to fix it and change it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body isn’t an ornament, it’s an
instrument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s something God can use,
if I cooperate, for His purposes each and every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So,
I WANT to do yoga because it feels good and stretches these precious
muscles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, I WANT to enjoy a chai
with a friend at Starbucks while we share about our struggles and joys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I WANT to walk more, play more, write
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to savour the feeling of
sand between my toes, the smell of autumn apple picking, and the sound of ocean
waves crashing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to scratch my
hubbies back, even when he doesn’t ask for it, rub my kids feet when they’re I
want to use my body in a way that brings life and joy to my family and my
tribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to choose food that tastes
good, sits well in my tummy, and fuels me for the next few hours of this
precious life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
life isn’t a dress rehearsal; I don’t get a re-do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, the last thing I want to teach my two
beautiful daughters is that they need to focus their lives on changing some
aspect of their body that is totally trivial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I don’t model self-acceptance, gratitude for my body, and the
self-care that follows from that love, my girls won’t either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This is for them.</span></div>
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e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-31351766411783735012017-06-18T14:27:00.001-07:002017-06-18T14:27:35.351-07:00Boundaries and Forgiveness<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many people believe that in order to forgive someone, we must be able to have a relationship with them. Unfortunately, however, although we are ALWAYS better off to forgive a person, we are not always better off to remove healthy boundaries that we have put up with a person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Boundaries are necessary in all relationships! Even happy, healthy, whole relationships have a line drawn where the relationship will have dire damaging consequences if the boundary is crossed. For example, if a friend of yours spreads a rumour about you, you won't likely maintain the friendship. If your husband cheats on you, you might get a divorce. If a boss harasses you, you might quit your job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some relationships need extra boundaries put in place, because there have been demonstrations of behaviour that warrant a need for safety. If a verbally abusive family member persists, you may choose not to take phone calls from them. If a roommate steals food from your cupboard, you may need to keep it protected and out of reach. If a client doesn't pay their bill, you may choose not to work for them again. Boundaries come after futile attempts of communicating with the other person that their behaviour is hurting your relationship and finding that person unwilling to modify their actions. Notice that boundaries aren't expecting the other person to change, but they're only changing YOURSELF. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, if those boundaries are put in place, does that mean a person hasn't forgiven? Can a person forgive someone but still keep themselves within the safe gates of boundaries? In order to understand this complex conundrum, it helps to understand a little bit about what forgiveness is NOT:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Forgiveness is not excusing or justifying behaviour. Instead, forgiveness says, "What was done was wrong and painful, but I will no longer hold this offence over you. I will treat you with love and kindness, even though you don't deserve it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Reconciliation is when BOTH sides of the offence choose to first forgive, and then find a way to make a relationship work together. Instead, forgiveness says, "No matter what you choose to do, I will forgive you from my side. Even if you don't forgive me, I will still choose the higher road and forgive you." Forgiveness is a personal choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Forgiveness is not welcoming more offences. It's not saying, "Well, you did that once and I didn't like it but go ahead and do it again...and again." Instead, forgiveness acknowledges the reality of the damage that the offence caused and doesn't live in denial that "it really wasn't <i>that</i> bad."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgiveness can happen without any interaction with the offender. Forgiveness can happen even if the person who hurt you is dead, completely unwilling to apologize, or even if they keep re-offending. It is a personal choice to let go of the need to make a person pay for what they did. It's choosing freedom over revenge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some people mistake boundaries for revenge. It's very important to make sure that when considering the enforcement of a new boundary, you consider your motives. Is this boundary to keep you safe and prevent further harm? Or is it to make a person pay for their actions? There's a huge difference, and you must be aware of your personal attitude toward your offender in order to discern this. Revenge doesn't free anyone from their offender; it only keeps you bound and drags you down to the same level as them. Boundaries, when done with a forgiving heart, allow you to heal and find strength to become a better person after whatever offence occurred. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This leads to the question, of course, "What about relationships where I can't put boundaries in place?" There are the rare situations when we really have no power to escape the damage someone is doing to us: a child in an abusive home, a person who is the victim of severe crime, prisoners of war, etc. Must we still forgive even in these times? I think that we are privileged to have the stories of WWII survivors who can offer us an understanding of these extreme circumstances. You'll find that even though many people were unable to escape the pain that was happening to them, they were able to find an inner peace and deep meaning through having forgiving hearts. If someone in that case can forgive, then we can too!</span><br />
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<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-71035363908474823862017-05-05T16:33:00.000-07:002017-05-05T16:33:20.849-07:00Bulimic Shopper<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hi, my name is Erika and I am a Bulimic Shopper.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I binge shop, and have done so for years, filling my cart (or sometimes two) at target in a thrilling and exciting time of compulsion. The high I would acquire placing beautiful objects on my shelves, hanging lovely clothes in my closet, and giving generous gifts to my friends became nothing short of an addiction. The cycle was complete with the aftermath of buyer's remorse and guilty consumer debt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But, we always managed to pay off the credit card and get afloat. And, I would often keep the clutter from becoming too much by cleaning, organizing, and re-organizing again. I justified my actions by keeping everything "under control."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Little did I know that my purging was as much an addiction as my buying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I dropped off carloads of donations I felt lighter, free-er, and even slightly altruistic as I would be praised for my "generosity." I have always held lightly to my things - I don't let them captivate me! Honestly, I don't!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But, what HAS trapped me in it's lure? This cycle I now recognize as Bulimic Shopping.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My friends and I have joked about my habits for the last couple years. When your best friend has watched you go through this enough times and jokes, "Wow, that birthday present survived a lot of purges to last this long in your house! It must be a good one!" then you know you have to admit it: there's a problem.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So? How do I change? What can a shop-a-holic like me really do to make a difference?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't believe I will ever be able to embrace the concept of "pure" Minimalism as I understand it. I have been researching this concept for a number of weeks now, filling my mind with TedTalks and blog posts on the subject. The truth is: I don't want a tiny house! I don't want a capsule wardrobe! And I don't want to travel all the time! I love our home; it's perfect for entertaining AND living. I love my walk in closet; it offers me all the choices I need with my shifting moods and expressions. I love to be a home-body; travelling is more draining than energizing with two young children who are just as happy with a sprinkler in the back yard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That being said, there are a number of ideas around Minimalism that I can totally get on board with:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- less debt and fighting about making ends meet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- less distraction and more clarity in my life priorities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- feeling of lightness and newness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- less time organizing, re-organizing, and looking for things</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, probably the biggest change I have started making once I realized I had this Consumer-Disorder was CHANGING THE WAY I SHOP. I will never stop shopping. I love it. It's in my bones and that's not likely to change. I enjoy getting a starbucks in hand, wandering isles of beautifully displayed eye-candy, and chatting with my mom or sister or friend while I do so. It's a hobby, and I'm not willing to give it up, because it makes me happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I'm REDIRECTING my shopping. A number of years ago I completely gave up shopping for lent (even though I am not a Catholic). You can read about it here </span>http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2013/05/the-value-of-thing.html<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Through that experience, I have become a VERY picky shopper. Here's my new way of shopping:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) think ahead of time about what I actually "need." I do hold this term loosely, because of course I'm not talking about basic needs here. I mean things like: new potholder mittens because the ones was have are full of holes, or a pair of sandals that are so supportive I can wear them for hours all summer, or a rain jacket that's actually waterproof. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) quality over quantity. I used to be all about the bargains! More "bang for your buck" was so enticing! If a sweater that I liked came in three colors, I bought all three. If I found a scrapbooking paper I liked, I bought two pieces because you never want to run out. Those shoes are ALMOST as comfortable as the other ones that are twice the price. You get the picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) don't look at the price tag and skip the clearance racks. This especially applies to clothing for me. My reasoning behind is this: when an item is really expensive, I might not try it on because I can't imagine it will be worth that much money. When an item is cheap, I no longer feel it has the same value as expensive clothes, and I therefore won't treat it with value in the future. I literally don't look at the price of an item when I check it out on the rack...I continue to ignore the price tag as I take it to the dressing room and try it on. Then, once I have determined that I feel like a 10 (not a 9, or 8...but TEN) in the clothing item, I set it aside and at the very end I look at the prices and determine how many of my "10" items I can afford. Sometimes I can still only get one thing: but that one thing will be loved and worn and used for many years to come! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) gifts are a go! When I find something that speaks to me, "Mom would love this!" I scoop it up and save it for her next birthday or Christmas. I have the hardest time trying to find gifts for people under pressure...What do they want? What do they need? Instead, I just allow myself to collect gifts throughout the year (and yes, all of my 5 nieces' Christmas presents are already purchased and it's only May). Then, everything is less stressful throughout the year and when I get an invitation to a party we're ready to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5) I don't buy my kids toys. My kids, like everyone else's, have more toys than they could ever use. This is something I'm working on changing. They have always known that we do a purge before birthday season (spring) and a purge before the holidays (fall) and I invite them to get in on the action! I don't *usually* sneak their things away without them knowing (although, when I do they NEVER miss anything or ask about anything!). We make a fun time of filling up one bag with toys they don't use anymore. I'll sometimes lay out duplicates of three and say, which is your favourite? Then, they get to keep that one. The less toys they have, the more they play! It's amazing ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With these significant reformations in place, I am hoping to transform my life-long Shopping Disorder to a habit of intentional, critical, and more satisfying consumerism. Join me?</span><br />
<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-48462937490488728072016-04-30T14:56:00.000-07:002016-04-30T14:57:07.553-07:00Play Room Tour<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hello Everybody! Since buying our house over a year ago, most of the rooms have already changed a bit...for the better ;) We've discovered that some things need to be moved, used, filled, or simply out of the house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The playroom is no exception. Especially after living down here for a month due to our dishwasher flooding (and hence new main level floors!), I knew that some things weren't functioning as well as they could for the kiddos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At first, the two expedit shelves on the left of the fireplace were separated one on each side. Would have been great if the girls were using them as reading benches, but their tops just ended up catching large toys and taking up too much space. Hence, the new layout which is so much more useful for them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The big TV is wonderful in here for the occasional viewing of Paw Patrol. We aren't huge TV people, so we don't have one on our main floor. But, this is great when Mama needs a break in her nearby scrapbooking room!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The IKEA RUG has been a blast to use as a colour learning toy - we often make up twister-like games with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I absolutely LOVE this art that I got here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thewheatfield?ref=l2-shopheader-name</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Katie Daisy is the Oregonian artist, and this colourful work completes this room!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I bought a bunch of cheap second hand frames (and two open ones from Micheal's), painted them with acylic paints I had laying around and strung art across them...voila! An art wall :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These curtains were originally duvet covers from Ikea...so I got 6 panels of fabric for only $45! Woo hoo! Thanks to a friend who helped when my machine made me ANGRY ;) I still hate sewing... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Organized the many bins with pictures of what's inside and letter stickers...easy and hopefully helpful to my pre-literate children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj143Dk5i4_9afrTW2AKJfJmQx4BZ3wANpATx6fan0rSbKyT_iqSz7X1y0E-qBNJvy3lis5aPxf1xBbkU_bBKOOSXb6ypHeGdfXMSz9BXn7_67OjxTvvS_VPFpmcDarFvq8FNSEn9pHTIt/s1600/IMG_2877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj143Dk5i4_9afrTW2AKJfJmQx4BZ3wANpATx6fan0rSbKyT_iqSz7X1y0E-qBNJvy3lis5aPxf1xBbkU_bBKOOSXb6ypHeGdfXMSz9BXn7_67OjxTvvS_VPFpmcDarFvq8FNSEn9pHTIt/s640/IMG_2877.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lastly, a few of the reading nook area - it's a bit messy right now as the girls' have used the chair for a fort, and there's a pile of tiles that are about to be installed in my husband's office...but, ya know I would never get things photographed "perfectly" around here! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHAmbqQXt6FGrVsnD8kXSBn8zz7MDYrKl1pbqZAZQshkf9c9fDeMl6R162KmITmaUsAfprINS20SkM0ypqdhQXKDc9yZZyL-BVW7hlkrNwj6XIDgyTE7diR1d4qCMrPwXOP9t_MaYpS-j/s1600/IMG_2879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHAmbqQXt6FGrVsnD8kXSBn8zz7MDYrKl1pbqZAZQshkf9c9fDeMl6R162KmITmaUsAfprINS20SkM0ypqdhQXKDc9yZZyL-BVW7hlkrNwj6XIDgyTE7diR1d4qCMrPwXOP9t_MaYpS-j/s640/IMG_2879.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These letters are carved from books! HAD TO HAVE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-15445185489438954052016-03-07T20:40:00.000-08:002016-03-07T20:40:25.635-08:00Do we have to forgive the unrepentant?
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Do we have to forgive someone who is not
repentant?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">(First, two quick definitions:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Forgive: To give up resentment against or
stop wanting to punish someone for a perceived or real offense.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Repent: To feel remorse for wrongdoing, and
to change one’s mind and behavior regarding it.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">This is a question that is heavily weighing
on me these days…and I have researched and read…book upon book, blog post upon
blog post.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I’ve heard good arguments in the “yes”
category, and equally good arguments in the “no” category.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">So…which answer do I embrace as my
own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me give a brief overview of
some of the Biblical evidence put forth before the jury:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">NO, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO
ARE UNREPENTANT:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">God didn’t forgive people in
the bible who didn’t repent of their sins</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Only people who have repented
of their sins will be saved </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">We are to forgive as Christ
forgave; so if he didn’t forgive the unrepentant, we don’t have to either</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">We still have to treat our
trespassers with kindness and love, but we don’t actually have to forgive
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we hand them over to the
wrath of God to have Him deal with them.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">YES, YOU DO HAVE TO FORGIVE PEOPLE WHETHER
THEY REPENT OR NOT:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Christ actually DID forgive
people who didn’t repent (for example, the people who were crucifying him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is rebutted by camp “NO” by saying that
Jesus actually hands them over to God the Father to deal with them.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">We are told to forgive many
times in the bible without the added qualifier of “those who repent.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">We can forgive people but still
have healthy boundaries in place especially if the person isn’t willing to
change their behavior (separating the concept of “forgiveness” and
“reconciliation”)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">There are countless Bible verses to support
BOTH CAMPS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So…here’s the conclusion I
have come to (ready….drum roll…)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">WE ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Instead of asking “do we have to” (ie. What
is required of me?), how about we ask, “Is it BEST to forgive, or is it BEST
not to?”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">WHAT IS THE BEST CHOICE?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To forgive anyone and everyone whether they
repent or not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, to keep a score card
of those who actually repent and those who allegedly do not and then try to play
judge under these arguments?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">My (wise beyond her years) little sister
once said, “I think that personal growth is all about doing whichever thing
placed before us is the most difficult.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest thing is
to choose to forgive someone no matter what – to forgive the person who has no
intention of changing their ways, to forgive the person who continues to do
wrong, to forgive the person who is dead and unable to make amends, to forgive
myself and pull up my bootstraps and try to do better next time even though I
will probably fail.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Because, in my humble opinion, I cannot
even possibly repent for all of my wrongdoings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t even know all of them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
rest believing that Christ’s blood covers all of my sins – even the ones I am
not aware of and therefore cannot repent of yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I have a stance of willingness toward
His Spirit to change me and mold me – and therefore, people would argue I am
repentant – but I still am not completely self-aware.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">As we are not aware of our wrongs toward
other people at all times, so they also are not aware of their wrongs toward us
at all times. And, even if we bring a wrong to their attention, THEY MAY SIMPLY
BE INCAPABLE of changing their behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, the drunken abusive man may not actually be able to get sober
today; the gossiping “friend” may not be able to stop her habit today; the
snippy coworker may not be able to improve her manners today; and on and on the
list goes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">But, it is still the BEST choice to
forgive!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why is it best?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, what
other choice do we have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To sit and be
angry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To allow the wrong doings of
another person to fill us with hatred?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To become darkened as they are? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To begin the vicious and fruitless cycle of
seeking revenge? No thanks.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Yes, it is BEST to choose to be free from
the weight and the burden of keeping score, of holding the wrongs that someone
has committed against them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
rather experience lightness of heart, freedom to love, generosity of spirit,
then to carry judgment as a shackle. I would also prefer to be in charge of this state of myself, instead of having to be prisoner to another person's repentance of their behavior. Healing is in my own hands this way, and not dependent on anyone else.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I would like to clarify also that I do not
think that forgiveness is the same as continuing to put oneself in an unnecessary
position of experiencing wrongs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
don’t have to stay in an abusive home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You don’t have to continue to tell the gossiping friend about your life
(or even be her friend).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have
to listen to the snippy coworker – or you could even get another job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might be truly “stuck,” or you might just think
you are.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">You also do not always have to give someone the
power to hurt you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can make the
deliberate choice to say that a person no longer has such permission to control
how you feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can behave as they
wish, they can say what they will, and you can simply recognize that their
behavior and words are a reflection of THEM, not YOU.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Last point against the "NO" camp: if we are to "hand our trespassers over to God" and let them deal with His wrath, aren't we just eagerly awaiting revenge? I mean, maybe I am more sinful then the next person, but when I think about that concept it makes me feel super self-justified and excited that the people who have hurt and wronged me will get their due! Yes, we need to recognize that perfect justice will not happen on this earth; so why not choose forgiveness since it's not going to be "all fair" now anyway?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I have much more to say about this, but I’ll
address more topics on this later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
now, I think I have answered this one question well enough so that I can go to
sleep now ;)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Upcoming Topics:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">- Forgiveness and Reconciliation (in relationships
with others and also in our relationship with God) are not the same things</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">- Boundaries: can they coexist with forgiveness?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">- The process of forgiveness: how do we do
it?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-9145491667386285112015-11-16T18:25:00.000-08:002015-11-16T18:25:55.497-08:00Christmas Home Tour - Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Super excited to share some pictures of
parts of our home all dressed up for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Believe it or not, as much as I love decorating, my husband also loves
the decorations (once they’re up!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
the advocate to do just one…more…tree this year ;)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I’ll show you the three areas that are all
spruced: the great room, our master bedroom, and the landing upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The formal front room (with the BIG tree)
will come later.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I hope you all enjoy – thank you for
stopping by!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Kitchen: kept it simple with a wreath above
the stove, a garland over the big window, and gift wrapping the usual art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s pretty and classic </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably will choose
different gift wrap next year, as I don’t love the kraft colour of the paper
against our paint colour (BM Rockport Grey).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlLeK4J3C-lNFDJ8bSEG8p0H2aMVDz1k7_Oiu5CDO7neZ10HWkQS1yjTkQiuPJBHp7A01ynQs2wcUojhYNYhswy0FfRm2cjWOKFs0chCtV_7zTVPa-Um1iZzfNXDi6W-M_BmIkRTOlkNM/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlLeK4J3C-lNFDJ8bSEG8p0H2aMVDz1k7_Oiu5CDO7neZ10HWkQS1yjTkQiuPJBHp7A01ynQs2wcUojhYNYhswy0FfRm2cjWOKFs0chCtV_7zTVPa-Um1iZzfNXDi6W-M_BmIkRTOlkNM/s640/IMG_1467.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Living Room: This is our new tree!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went with red, gold, and burlap for this
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely need to continue
collecting things to make this room work better, but it’s a play space for
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s where we spend a lot of time
so I wanted the nativity to be the thought-provoking centre of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still debating on maybe doing some paintings
for the space on the wall to the left of the mantle…we’ll see!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And just a little pic to give you a sneak peek of what is "really" underneath all those beautiful pictures ;) haha! We do live here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYekYZifpTgQyALdAsqCdymMsZIOcvDu4XX2csATkSbBSf-ejtrBAurIrpSCIveIZb8WhOI4VVQ4rcnRu5_XNSqD8LHdL34wCSfv1h2YtU366Ji1cqlkMice7XKrDYNVtinfhGqMZpz3D/s1600/IMG_1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYekYZifpTgQyALdAsqCdymMsZIOcvDu4XX2csATkSbBSf-ejtrBAurIrpSCIveIZb8WhOI4VVQ4rcnRu5_XNSqD8LHdL34wCSfv1h2YtU366Ji1cqlkMice7XKrDYNVtinfhGqMZpz3D/s640/IMG_1497.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Master Bedroom: purple and silver, just
like always </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romantic and calming – we
love it here!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Landing: this little spot is where the
bedtime stories get read, and the chasing around in the evening to get teeth
brushed happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an added bonus
space and white with more white is what I went with here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love trying out different colours and styles
around the house!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used feather boas a
lot in this area (cheap and pretty!) – and thank you Alyssa for the awesome
wreath that now drapes over the scrapbook shelf.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Thanks again for stopping by - will show you more when it's done :)</span><br />
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e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-37428666726207106312015-04-23T21:58:00.001-07:002015-04-23T21:58:55.245-07:00My Baby Is ONE<div style="text-align: center;">
{ONE MINUTE}</div>
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{ONE HOUR}</div>
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{ONE DAY}</div>
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Today is a big day in my world: it's my baby girl's first birthday. She couldn't care less - to her it's just another day that also happens to involve chewing on bright gift bows and smearing around cupcake frosting.<br />
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But, for me, it's a big deal.<br />
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This year has been the most overwhelming year of my life. There have been sleepless nights followed by extreme fatigue. There have been moments when I've wanted to just come unraveled...and I almost have. There have been countless prayers that sounded like this, "Please. Just. Help. Me." There have been so many days where I just did my best to make it through the morning to nap time...and then through the afternoon to bed time. Headaches. Viruses. Colds and flues. Baby has even had pneumonia and a couple of ER visits.<br />
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{ONE WEEK}</div>
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There's just nothing easy about parenting. To say it's exhausting is putting it mildly. Having one child was manageble for me. Having two children has been one big blur.<br />
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A foggy mess of memories...with lots of pictures since I was only half awake. Instead of focusing on the laying on the couch while Annelise naps and Evalie watches a movie kind of moments, I want to hold on to THESE moments:<br />
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{ONE MONTH}</div>
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- the way that Annelise lights up EVERY time I come into the room; she waves her arms and grins<br />
- that special strong sister bond that Evalie and Annelise share<br />
- how Annelise is so grossed out by our dog Jolie and really doesn't want anything to do with her<br />
- what a good breastfeeder and then eater Annelise has been<br />
- hearing her first coos, then mumbles, and now word-ish sounds<br />
- her love of music and the way she rocks left and right and dances when it's on<br />
- the countless smiles she has put on strangers faces by smiling at them in public<br />
- her head resting on my shoulder and pressing into my chest for cuddles<br />
- sneaking in to watch her breathe in the middle of the night, but always waking her up on accident<br />
- the sounds she makes when sucking a bottle or a bag of baby food<br />
- the softness of her perfect skin; unburdened by diaper rashes and sensitivities<br />
- tiny feet that seem too small to hold her up as she learns to walk<br />
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My love for Annelise Virginia has grown steadily since the day I first held touched her wet head and pulled her shoulders from my own body and placed her on my chest...That moment changed my life forever. THANK YOU SWEET BABY FOR THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!<br />
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(See it all on the Cradled Creations link here:)<br />
http://www.cradledcreations.com/home/annelise-abbotsford-maternity-birth-and-newborn-journey<br />
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{ONE YEAR}</div>
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<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-56130111022623862532015-01-12T22:05:00.001-08:002015-01-12T22:08:13.023-08:00House Pictures!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sorry it's taken me so long - here's a little tour of a few of the rooms in our new house! Rarely are things very tidy around here these days...so it's taken me quite a while to have a moment to grab my camera and snap! Also, excuse the Valentine's Day decorations lol ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">EVALIE'S LITTLE GIRL ROOM: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A few pretty touches - a shadow box of her take home outfit, a little statue my mama bought her (they're the same ones she got me as a child!), a personalized jewelry box from our friend Katrina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Main paint colour is BM Grey Mist...really more like an off white with a dab of greyish. It was the perfect colour to tone down the very yellow "vintage white" furniture yet not turn yellow itself with the purple accent stripe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I painted the accent stripe using the new scallop frog tape - so cool! Made the name with decoupaging wooden letters. Lighting is from home depot. Furniture is by Munire (Savanah line - HIGHLY recommend this company for their customer service and excellent product!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lastly, the blessing we say to her every night. Got the idea from the book "The Blessing" by John Trent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ANNELISE'S NURSERY:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Main paint colour is BM Revere Pewter with accent wall of BM Bridal Pink (requires a LOT LOT LOT of coats - and USE A PRIMER even if your paint is the best there is.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lace banner by my dear friend Alyssa. Photography by the amazing Jaydene Freud of Cradle Creations, Abbotsford. Lighting is again from Home Depot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Curtains from Restoration Hardware. Vintage doilies were my crafty touch ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Furniture by Bratt Decor. Art work by Lindsay Letters (LOVE HER STUFF!) Used ikea metal bars on the wall to hang special handmade blankets (thanks Auntie Jenn!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">GUEST ROOM:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Stuck with a simple black and white damask scheme (from years ago!) and brought in a touch of green. Walls are "Folly" by Behr. Curtains are...WALMART of all places! Lighting is from Tiffany Lighting through Joss and Main online.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you come to visit, you get your own bathroom! I'm thinking about painting the end tables in a crisp fresh white instead of the creamy colour that they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">FRONT SITTING ROOM:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We wanted this room to be a bit more formal and elegant, but also not too heavy on furniture so that our formal dining room can expand here when needed. We still wanted it warm and inviting, so we added the blanket ladder in the corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The wallpaper is a stock line at our local Benjamin Moore store, so it didn't take nine months to custom order (like our last house!) Google "Atlantic Damask Silver Modern Damask" and you'll find it in other neutral colours too. We love how it's a modern take on a traditional pattern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We moved the big bathroom mirror from our upstairs en suite remodel to the entry way. We also painted the inside of our front door black to dress it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Painting, lamps, couches, ottoman, end tables: homesense. Coffee table, black rug: ikea. Decided to use aqua as the accent colour through pillows, curtains, and lampshades, but can easily change this up as desired :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">LAUNDRY ROOM:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This mudroom off the garage was once just a couple machines on the floor and an industrial sink. NOW IT'S DREAMY! I always get laundry done quickly and easily (the folding the putting away is another story lol!) The drawers are sturdy enough that they act as a stand for my baskets; and the lower ones are deep enough to actually store laundry baskets full!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Haven't decided what to do here yet - it's a low shelf of hooks for Evalie to hang up her coats on her own for now. I am thinking eventually I would like to find a really cool bulletin board for school stuff to gather when the time comes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">LIVING ROOM:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some people call this the Family Room, but to me it's where all the living takes place so I call it the living room...it's a bit confusing for some (like my husband, for example lol)! We went with a darker, warmer paint colour since we have tons and tons of natural south facing light along this great room. It's BM Rockport Grey. I think it really keeps everything warm, but modern :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Two sitting chairs and two couches (sofas from Urban Barn) makes for lots of room for friends to chat! Yet, there is still room for the kiddos to play (that ottoman is full of toys!) and there is a baby swing, play mat, and exersaucer usually here too ;) Curtains are from Target - love the ombre!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Big fireplaces are hard to decorate without televisions! But, I think this painting from Bouclair Home did the trick ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Love this office nook where we can one day keep an eye on what our girls are looking at on the computer. Notice the messy papers everywhere...tis wha tis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A couple fun Heart Day decorations ;) The heart banner is on its last leg and might have to retire after this year...the paper just keeps getting more and more warped. OH, and if you ever decide to do one of these paper flower styrofoam ball things, two pieces of advice: only use the Martha Stewart four-petal flower punch and stick with monochromatic!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Love our awesome rug because it pulls in all the neutrals and adds some pattern to the room. It was an investment from our carpet store (Atlanta Flooring in Mission BC) and won't stain (so they say!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some art I made from cutting old hymns into heart shapes and modge podging - the gold isn't the best with this paint colour, but oh well! It's special anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another spot where I have toys available - under the couch console table...see how pretty it all looks when I cut that bottom part off? Haha! Oh what pictures can hide and show! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks for looking - hope you can come for a visit IRL soon!</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-20942972820406728802015-01-04T19:58:00.001-08:002015-01-04T19:58:16.424-08:00Courage to Change...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Courage to change the things I can,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and the Wisdom to know the difference.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A simple prayer. A profound reminder.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes,
it's easy for me to focus on the things I can't change, even though
it's frustrating that I can't change them. Primarily these things
include...well, ALL OTHER PEOPLE. It's easy to let my mind wander onto
all the things that I would change about others. The thoughts go
something like this, "If only ____ were more ____ then (insert good
outcome here)." Like, "If only my toddler were more obedient, then I
wouldn't pull out my hair." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But,
the truth is, I can't change other people. Even my own children. (A
good parenting book that recognizes this premise is Scream-Free
Parenting...it encourages parents to change themselves, thereby
impacting their children instead of the vast majority of behavior
modification publications out there.) Okay...that was a side note...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
also can't always change my circumstances. Sometimes money is
plentiful, sometimes it's not. Sometimes the weather makes my day
bright and cheery; usually dreary and rainy. I can't always change my
health. Sometimes I'm plagued with an extremely painful migraine;
sometimes I feel great. Sometimes I get a good night's sleep; sometimes
I'm exhausted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can change:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my thoughts & perspective</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my emotions (eventually)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my words</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my actions</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">what I read</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">what I wear</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">what I eat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">who I spend time with</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">who I invest in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">who I let go</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">how much I sleep</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">how much I spend money</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">how much I exercise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">how much I clean house or play with my kids</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This
year I'm going to have courage to change something when it's not
working for me. To think optimistically, instead of worrying. To speak
encouragement with boldness. To read more scripture & more
parenting books (I love those!). To eat in a way that gives me energy
and strength. To invest in relationships that serve, fill, and mutually
build up. To let go of people, things, thoughts that drag me down. To
prioritize healthy sleeping and spending habits. To choose happy
children over a clean kitchen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year I'm having the courage to be who I want to be...who God wants me to be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> just a note that I wouldn't change how cute these kiddos are EVER ;)</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-14436492049093687602014-12-30T12:33:00.001-08:002014-12-30T12:34:05.696-08:002015 Word of the Year: COURAGE<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I used to be a courageous gal. A little TOO courageous in fact. I was that girl who would say whatever I thought - often without tact - whether you wanted to hear me or not. Let's just say I lost some friends along the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lesson learned: LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL. -Phillipians 4:5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, and it helped that I moved to Canada, one of the most polite countries in the world. People here don't speak up much (in general) for fear of hurting or offending others. It was a good culture for my personality to become immersed in. But, tending toward all-or-nothing, I became quiet, and as PC as I could. My pendulum swung clear to the other side, and my goal was to be liked by everyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New Lesson learned: THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO AVOID CRITICISM: DO NOTHING, SAY NOTHING, BE NOTHING. -Aristotle</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Turns out, no matter what I did, I still wasn't liked by some people. Some people still got mad at me, didn't want to be my friend, or asked me to be quiet. Turns out, you can't please everyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, this is the year that I say: I'm going to have real courage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">COURAGE IS WHAT IT TAKES TO STAND UP AND SPEAK. COURAGE IS ALSO WHAT IT TAKES TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN. -Winston Churchill</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm finding my balance between the extremes. 2015 is the year of true courage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More to come.</span><br />
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<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-84704420492193058132014-08-09T08:15:00.000-07:002014-08-09T08:15:33.193-07:00Well, that was easy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A little background before I share the story of this last week...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We purchased our first home (this home!) almost three years ago in the fall. Our plan was always to stay here for about 5 years or so, depending on how life progressed. And, oh has it progressed! When we moved in, we immediately made this home everything we wanted it to be - we put in all the little details that we knew we would enjoy and I got to decorate to my creative heart's content! We didn't take it slow, most likely because we have been so used to living in spaces for a short time - usually about a year or two. Those "short" times have added up to our first decade of marriage! What if every space we lived in I put off decorating and making our own? Then, we would have spent the last ten years never feeling at home in our little suites, apartments, and first house. We're glad we did our upgrades as soon as possible...it paid off not only for us, but also for the sale of our first home (more on that!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For the last few years, this house has served us exceptionally well. But, of course, with a growing family comes the desire for a bit more space. Not that we NEED it. "Need" is such a relative term! We are always aware of our tremendous abundance - the vast majority of the world live in conditions far below what North Americans would ever consider acceptable. We love to give; we love to serve; we love people. We have always dedicated this home and all who enter it to the Lord. He is the One who ACTUALLY owns this house, and who actually owns everything. Nothing we have is ours - it's all His.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All that to say, we have what some of our friends refer to as a "revolving door"! We're constantly entertaining, having people live and stay with us, throwing parties, and welcoming people into our home. After all, that's what we want to use our house for - to bless others, warm others, provide a refuge for those who need it. With our newest addition - little baby Annelise Virginia - we don't have a guestroom anymore. We also don't have a floor plan that has allowed for the large parties we love to host. Hence the motivation for a change...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">David and I have a long list that makes up our "dream home." After weeks of discussion, deliberation, viewing lots, considering building, arguing, praying, and of course pinning (lol!), we finally thought we would find a realtor (Jennel Youssef with Remax - a sister of a friend whom we met at a child's birthday party) who could actually show us a bit of what's available. Never in a million years did we think that the events of this last week would unfold:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Friday, Day 1: casually viewing houses (have been for a few days). Our long wish list is 99% met by a random viewing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Saturday, Day 2: view many more houses. David wants to know more about what's out there and what's available. Erika is along for the ride, because she thinks that 99% checked boxes is pretty darn good. But, they're still not sure, because it wasn't the plan to actually BUY a house and MOVE right now! Plus, the 1% problem is that the house is on a busier street than they had hoped...will that be a major deterrent?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Sunday, Day 3: Nope, turns out that one deterrent is doable, considering the perfection of the house. We decide to put in an offer on the house, negotiate a price, and have an <b>ACCEPTED OFFER </b>by the end of the day! WHAT!? We are buying a house!? Much prayer. Our greatest desire: If God doesn't want us to have this house, He will stop it from happening. We don't want to live somewhere He doesn't want us to be! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Monday - Wednesday, Days 4, 5, 6: Working on <b>removing subjects</b>, including SUBJECT TO SALE of our current beloved home. We have to decide on a listing price, which is difficult. We poured a lot of money into this home, but don't expect to get it back out...homes in our neighborhood tend to go for low prices (hence we are here!). Upon finally deciding a price, we're worried it may be a bit too high...but we're hopeful nonetheless. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So many emotions, so many thoughts! Suddenly our house feels so much more valuable at the prospect of losing it. We continue to pray, continue to question, continue to discuss. We love this neighbourhood! We love our neighbours! We love our little first house! What are we doing?! On top of managing all of our previous commitments to this week, and continuing to care for a newborn (who, by the way, has been awake and stayed awake since 4 am all of these days!), we have mounds of phone calls, contracts, emails, meetings...the list is endless. Oh, and don't forget the packing up, decluttering, depersonalizing, cleaning, and staging of our house! Whew!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Thursday, Day 7: Our real estate agent puts <b>a sign on our front lawn.</b> The house will not actually be listed for sale until Friday (privately for estate agents only) and then Saturday (publicly on MLS). She figures that the sign will build a little excitement for the weekend. Oh, and today is our 10 year wedding anniversary! We also have a photo shoot of the home this day...don't know if you've ever done that, but it's a little difficult with two napping children! By the end of the day, we already have a request for a showing in the morning - yippee!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Friday, Day 8 10:00 am: our first showing. It's in the morning, so we run through our quick and easy checklist for staging the house and rush the girls out the door (deep breath: shut all toilet lids, make sure there are absolutely no dishes or crumbs or specs of dust anywhere, open all curtains and blinds, turn on lights, take out all garbage, make sure all laundry is put away, put on music, light a candle, have a plate of cookies ready, pick up the dog poop, clean the floor, PERFECT TIDYNESS...you know, no biggy...) Meeting with our mortgage broker, grocery shopping, and breakfast out. <b>The first showing results in an offer! We're thrilled!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- 2:30 pm: our second showing. Wake the girls from naps (sadness!) and rush off again...repeat above list. <b>The second showing results in a second offer! We're amazed!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- 5:30 pm: our agent informs us that a third party wants to view the house in an hour, and then they will write us an offer just after viewing. <b>The third showing results in a third offer! We're dumbfounded!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- 7:15 pm: get Evalie Rose down for bed, and begin negotiations. Our agent's phone is still ringing off the hook for requests for viewings. Pray for God to give this house to the people who need it most; pray for direction and guidance and clarity; pray for the new owners that they will be blessed to live here. Three realtors present three offers - all for over asking price. After hours of prayer, discussion, and lots of phone calls, we <b>accept an offer</b> for significantly more than we ever dreamed our home would sell for! Surprisingly, we didn't just go with the "highest bid" but we went with what we believed was the best overall offer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- 11 pm: evaluate feelings, kiss each other, kiss our babies, and thank God for this wonderful whirlwind of a week! Now for sleep...which happened to be through the night as baby finally didn't wake up at 4 am! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I write, we're awaiting removal of all subjects - which is to happen this coming week. Lord willing, all will work out and we'll be moving in a month! So, there's our crazy house-selling house-buying story! What a wonderful adventure :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Pictures by Lara McAllister with Red Wagon Photography (no longer in business) January 2012) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-49822432223004580282014-04-18T10:04:00.001-07:002014-04-18T10:04:31.530-07:00Scrapbooking Sharing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hi Everyone! I know it's been a while since I've blogged...Turns out I've been DOING so much! Prepping for baby has meant a ton of scrapbooking projects! And, I've been super motivated to try to "catch up" the best I can on my regular scrapbooking. Last night I actually finished all of 2013 - woo hoo! I'm sooo thankful to my mom and hubby who let me have hours of uninterrupted art time to enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My apologies for the less than ideal photos...I decided that the ease and speed of quickly uploading things from my iPhone outweighed the need for perfectly exposed and edited shots ;) I hope you still get the idea of the layouts and that they inspire you in your own scrapbooking journey! (Side note: there are also some older layouts on here but I wasn't sure if I had posted them yet or not...so here they are!)</span><br />
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<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-71721861719185483112014-01-28T13:59:00.001-08:002014-01-28T14:00:51.237-08:00Word of the Year 2014<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">{photos by Julie Christine Photography} </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am so excited to finally announce my word of the year for 2014. It's taken me a while...in between raising a busy (yes, she's actually busy now) toddler and simply trying to stay awake through these exhausting pregnancy days...But here it is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">NEW!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">NEW! NEW! NEW!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The
Bible has a TON to say about NEWness. It's something I love most about
my particular faith: it's not about trying to REform, but being
TRANSformed. When Jesus came into my life - or when I allow Him control
over an area of my life - He takes the old, burns it away (painful...that's what He was busy doing last year), and makes
something NEW and more beautiful, more amazing, more divine come out of
it.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">– Ecclesiastes 3:1</span> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New normal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9kMiTNrqXQpkMz0FsGAHtkkxCI-CcqHCy2Izx2LSMskmn4Ovas2K64KZaqiwvjEViJrh174KUU5R3azx44V0CaFgeJYTjFONCzFyYykDmQaLc5a6CUNU2V7OWPqaOASULNC4UW4kfv_L/s1600/The+Melnychuks+Maternity+01+14-Melnychuck+Maternity+01+14+14-0041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9kMiTNrqXQpkMz0FsGAHtkkxCI-CcqHCy2Izx2LSMskmn4Ovas2K64KZaqiwvjEViJrh174KUU5R3azx44V0CaFgeJYTjFONCzFyYykDmQaLc5a6CUNU2V7OWPqaOASULNC4UW4kfv_L/s1600/The+Melnychuks+Maternity+01+14-Melnychuck+Maternity+01+14+14-0041.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">- Isaiah 43:18</span> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New purpose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New intent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New meaning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">- 2 Corinthians 5:17</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New relationships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New conversations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New connections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New perspectives on old things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past
and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of
the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is
calling us up to heaven." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">- Philippians 3:14</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New feelings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New actions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">New ME. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">- Ezekiel 36:26</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That is SO what I need this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last year, I did a lot of hard emotional work. I'll continue to press forward with that work, because it's in valuable. And, sometimes that work means simply submitting, surrendering, letting go. There has come a season in my life (as one who is committed to self-improvement) in which I will finally get to take a deep breath and reap the benefits of all those tears. Reap the new joy of all that sorrow. Reap the new lightness of all that heaviness. Reap the new respite of all that diligence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> old has gone, the new is here!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">- 2 Corinthians 5:17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*EXHALE* </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbZdLBD-li86eloyfRzFIDiqefCoDh0f-KY9CDIBp_Q_NeKshKM97CvFYPTYE0UL0P0JVe8wRdBtOIvZkhkzlx9wokCxivJLZXBPp5NsmzFwpiYLvqhfZnRegLjj_KHZSS9mbEBF8V4Co/s1600/The+Melnychuks+Maternity+01+14-Melnychuck+Maternity+01+14+14-0056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbZdLBD-li86eloyfRzFIDiqefCoDh0f-KY9CDIBp_Q_NeKshKM97CvFYPTYE0UL0P0JVe8wRdBtOIvZkhkzlx9wokCxivJLZXBPp5NsmzFwpiYLvqhfZnRegLjj_KHZSS9mbEBF8V4Co/s1600/The+Melnychuks+Maternity+01+14-Melnychuck+Maternity+01+14+14-0056.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-8107445830115582482014-01-11T17:06:00.005-08:002014-01-28T14:02:07.447-08:00One Little Word<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Any of you hear of the One Little Word project? You can read all about it here: http://aliedwards.com/shop/one-little-word-2014</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's an amazing idea: Choose a word for your year. Then, do something with that word. Make art. Write. Wear your word. Share it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've done this project before, and found it a fun and helpful way to focus my resolutions for the year around one idea. Here are my old posts about it:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/03/canvas.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/01/word-of-year-enough.html</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://scrap-therapy.blogspot.ca/2010/03/enough-projects.html</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year in 2013, my word chose me. I didn't blog about it. I just went through it. Those of you who are close to me know about my struggles with certain relationships last year…and you can probably guess what 2013 was all about for me:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">FORGIVE. (posting pictures of my cute puppy Jolie Violet because I'm pretty sure no one forgives better than a dog!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvcCLyWzFjaFr-cYFF3EgUQPjgfyE61Ih8jzMs6e5-eNiael85gOA4_WmUcm6zfTcgqctTrfkyvWKExsM2T8FzOrYZW8eArI2XXXlm4nF1_8e9tiS3n1Eh97XK6KEdTZn6PYG54aq7o7J/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvcCLyWzFjaFr-cYFF3EgUQPjgfyE61Ih8jzMs6e5-eNiael85gOA4_WmUcm6zfTcgqctTrfkyvWKExsM2T8FzOrYZW8eArI2XXXlm4nF1_8e9tiS3n1Eh97XK6KEdTZn6PYG54aq7o7J/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm obviously not going to go into unnecessary details on the world wide web…but what I WILL do is share about what I learned this last year. Because, I'm a different person today as a result of these painful experiences. God has allowed me just enough pain so that, by harnessing it's opportunity for growth, I could become a NEW person this year!</span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN4WICLuCxX0uXE0fYVfiwbTYw31Lls9T-TSOv73LXO__pneAM4guG4Kxh3JrY1hmzrJ7Ed7W1FhKUAqypAqfhfTrx45-okpF0kXxV3AOBkAmOW1EXJ9ZO_e6CMaarJ4TEtGukd31jBZd/s1600/IMG_8253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN4WICLuCxX0uXE0fYVfiwbTYw31Lls9T-TSOv73LXO__pneAM4guG4Kxh3JrY1hmzrJ7Ed7W1FhKUAqypAqfhfTrx45-okpF0kXxV3AOBkAmOW1EXJ9ZO_e6CMaarJ4TEtGukd31jBZd/s1600/IMG_8253.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I LOVE THE PERSON I'VE BECOME, BECAUSE I FOUGHT TO BECOME HER. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- KACI DIANE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgive. The Bible is one of the most potent resources on this topic. God actually goes so far as to say in Matthew 6:15, "If you don't forgive each other, I don't forgive you." WOAH. Back the truck up. Salvation is dependent on me forgiving other people? Sounds like that's what he's saying…After all, if we've humbly asked God's forgiveness recognizing that we're unworthy of heaven do to our imperfect nature, who are we to hold a grudge against another imperfect human? It makes a lot of sense for me to realize that I'm no better than the people who have hurt me in my life…so I have no right to hold a grudge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">HE WHO ANGERS YOU CONTROLS YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other thing about forgiveness that the Bible has taught me loud and clear is that it's a one-sided activity. Romans 12:18 says, "As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." I cannot make the other person like me, or talk with me, or work it out, or even forgiven me no matter how much I plead. I cannot make RECONCILIATION happen, but I can be open to it. I can let things go so that I am in a position of love, grace, and kindness toward people who have caused me great harm. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshFnoG6X6g4k4c6xLTxr07g8I8LefUbRt5U68-6_4fZKv3fdVHziA8T8yiS-KQxAjWDmCyQr9YS__rfx6ZDQO6IRcHDz27uSntY5xsxIVPa_m6V1feLl9ZT3i9JCw8SfmQspVdnKS3UR-/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshFnoG6X6g4k4c6xLTxr07g8I8LefUbRt5U68-6_4fZKv3fdVHziA8T8yiS-KQxAjWDmCyQr9YS__rfx6ZDQO6IRcHDz27uSntY5xsxIVPa_m6V1feLl9ZT3i9JCw8SfmQspVdnKS3UR-/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">LET NO MAN PULL YOU LOW ENOUGH TO HATE HIM. - MARTIN LUTHER KING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So…what exactly IS forgiveness? I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what forgiveness is out there. I know it's NOT unhealthy boundaries, being a punching bag, or chasing endlessly after someone who doesn't want you anymore. I have come up with this definition: to let go of the right to hold someone accountable for perceived wrongs against me. In other words, they don't owe me anything. I'm going to put myself in a position where I won't get hurt anymore (to the best of my ability) and let that person be that person. I'm not going to try to change the person, make them understand me, or give me an apology. I've let it go…all on my own. Why? Because forgiveness is for ME!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">ANGER IS AN ACID THAT CAN DO MORE HARM TO THE VESSEL IN WHICH IT IS STORED THAN TO ANYTHING ON WHICH IT IS POURED. - MARK TWAIN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For me, it's a continued practice of handing over thoughts to God. Whenever my mind starts circling (over and over) about the things that have hurt me so deeply, I go to God and say, "You take this. This isn't my project to fix - it's yours. I trust you and I pray that I will have a heart of forgiveness. Soften me and let no bitter root take hold." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">MAYBE ITS HARD TO FORGIVE, BUT TO TRUST AGAIN IS THE HARDEST. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgiveness is a continual process…it doesn't happen like magic in one sitting (unfortunately!) After many months of continuing to practice this…I'm excited to share with you my Word for 2014…in my next post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">IF YOU GET THE INSIDE RIGHT, THE OUTSIDE WILL FALL INTO PLACE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- ECKKART TOLLE</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JRMf5FR6FlJpmM5NxQ3KwQBRtglnX7BWzhJMgT2lUW8afPsu3SEL7aKcBSC9O8x2wdMivM4wFeWhKkGPT6U7ICRhxwUFAiBzihvyH8AeXJ7zaI8MQ4uhcQZC8u_BLwLpTGDuT156qB9m/s1600/IMG_8391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JRMf5FR6FlJpmM5NxQ3KwQBRtglnX7BWzhJMgT2lUW8afPsu3SEL7aKcBSC9O8x2wdMivM4wFeWhKkGPT6U7ICRhxwUFAiBzihvyH8AeXJ7zaI8MQ4uhcQZC8u_BLwLpTGDuT156qB9m/s1600/IMG_8391.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks for listening…and feel free to share your thoughts about forgiveness :)</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-42516433917506136102013-12-07T14:54:00.003-08:002013-12-07T14:54:33.775-08:00"Do You Know How Lucky You Are?"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Every year we attend David's emergency department Christmas party. It's a wonderful celebration with clerks, doctors, nurses, porters, management...all the people who keep this critical area of the hospital operating. And, of course, every year David is involved in the hilarious entertainment that goes on. He's just a riot! His humour and extraversion shine through at these kinds of events, and I love seeing him in his element...a "class clown" to be sure ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last night while dancing and enjoying the festivities, a pretty young nurse touched my back and said in my ear, "DO YOU KNOW HOW LUCKY YOU ARE?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It struck me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes, I know David is amazing and I am so very thankful to be married to him. But, it's interesting how people (not everyone, but some people) think that I am ESPECIALLY lucky...particularly I get lots of comments like, "Oh, you must love being married to a doctor!" or, "He's a handsome doctor!?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being married to a doctor isn't really how I see my life. Yes, we're financially blessed because he works hard. But, when I first met him and fell in love, he was a poor struggling student who still hadn't been accepted into med school. We journeyed through those difficult academic years and have only recently begun to reap the wonderful benefits of all that hard work! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I didn't fall in love with a handsome young doctor. I fell in love with David because he's David.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For those of you who have found your true love, you know what I'm talking about. You know that you don't marry someone because of their profession. You don't fall in love with their career. And, if you do, you'll end up likely unsatisfied. Because when he's home with us, he's just <i>David.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nonetheless, I do appreciate the reminder...I am very lucky! I am fortunate that the risk I took when saying "I do" has so far worked out. He's faithful, loving, and devoted. What more can a girl ask for than <i>that? </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(pics from our recent "babymoon" to San Fransisco)</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-31528115078578529522013-05-20T22:01:00.003-07:002013-05-20T22:01:36.060-07:00The Value of a Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5aKC3hWO6yUz3NmT0L52eOG_o1v1uKlfzu2jDcL-ekGRR_6YYLpUFqYvYlZdIjys1JwR-cH4m47oEXiRQn55GXxSzVBK3aSnQV3S5jlvyOh1O7k1g34FX6B9ZeH5ZuwLg-oWgMt2R6rY/s1600/IMG_8204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5aKC3hWO6yUz3NmT0L52eOG_o1v1uKlfzu2jDcL-ekGRR_6YYLpUFqYvYlZdIjys1JwR-cH4m47oEXiRQn55GXxSzVBK3aSnQV3S5jlvyOh1O7k1g34FX6B9ZeH5ZuwLg-oWgMt2R6rY/s640/IMG_8204.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Look at the quote to the left...the one by my picture. The one about how it's not how much we HAVE but how much we ENJOY that matters...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I put that quote there because it's something I aspire to. It's not something I've arrived at.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of you who know me know that I love to shop. As a matter of fact, just the other day when I quickly thought about a few of my favourite things, scrapbooking, Starbucks, and shopping were right at the top. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nothing wrong with that. Right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes. And no. There's nothing inherently wrong with scrapbooking, a cup of happy, and a cute new pair of earrings. The problem is, I'm never satisfied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year, I decided to give up all shopping for lent. I'm not catholic, but often I like to practice lent because I've often experienced it to be a helpful spiritual exercise. This year, it was a 40 day round</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> of practicing self-control. Surprisingly, I didn't find it too hard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also surprisingly, the most amazing epiphanies happened AFTER lent was over:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) I really really really like having a ZERO balance on our credit cards!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) Shopping is something of an addiction to me, and I found myself chomping at the bit to get back into those stores!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and, the most incredible part:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) Shopping hasn't given me the same thrill ever since this fateful last Easter Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You may wonder how epiphanies #2 and #3 can coincide. It's sort of like this: the smoker quits and feels great relief. But, then all of a sudden they pick it up again, out of habit or whatever...and they just don't LOVE it anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, that's it: I just don't LOVE it anymore. It's a habit - be it good or bad, affordable or not. I do it because it's what I'm used to doing. But, I don't seem to get that enticing, exciting, over the moon happy thrilling FEELING anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take a couple weeks ago as an example. I was in Oregon...yes, OREGON: the tax-free shopping capital of the west coast! And...not only was I in Oregon, I was at OUTLETS! Outlet prices, outlet selections, outlets for hours and hours...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hardly bought a thing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78fcg7Tg7Raoetx4M6LkqKzyVxBFx6dopdsmiHeYLjrNmusPTsbPrj4EdlG-yiD2Z5tcOz56OV9SG0O0L2ep8Vr2cWkDFSBuHl1_EHsKNGy19LgJda_RXGd9szDwl8j-6qmNhexpLCl78/s1600/IMG_7510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78fcg7Tg7Raoetx4M6LkqKzyVxBFx6dopdsmiHeYLjrNmusPTsbPrj4EdlG-yiD2Z5tcOz56OV9SG0O0L2ep8Vr2cWkDFSBuHl1_EHsKNGy19LgJda_RXGd9szDwl8j-6qmNhexpLCl78/s640/IMG_7510.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, what I DID buy I truly adore. I didn't settle for something "on sale" and I didn't buy things just because they were a good deal. I only bought things I was actually looking for (namely summer dresses that were long enough for a busy toddler-mother). And, even when I was buying these things, I really didn't get my usual high.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">***</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've been working on our will these days. It's a sobering project - something all responsible parents need to get around to at some point. Do you know what our will calls all of our belongings? ALL of our belongings??</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RESIDUE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, residue. Like the film inside my veggie drawer that develops after something rots. Like the red layer of slime gathering around my bathtub drain. Like the white blanket of dust over my oak bookshelves. Residue. Something extra left behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THAT'S what I spend our money on?? That's what stresses us out financially?? That's what I waste countless hours accumulating?? That's what I daydream about??</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Makes the thrill of the shoppping experience a little less enticing, a little less addictive, a little less thrilling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that's okay. There are lots of other fun things to do that don't require shopping...like scrapbooking! And, playing with Evalie! And, baking chocolate cake! And ...</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-18319698481649180322013-05-18T11:17:00.000-07:002013-05-18T11:17:02.439-07:00Card Frenzy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6A8FejDnT_OsBUjFkYgyFlAAHu3h97nhmpgsltGwGmPqnlyyjDScaE_kgjzVV1Od36STasWnb7Bf5wdA7vIq0I1LJ9vb82xTbUm4KNFUXS1rb8OvZy96TNLC29Hpq8ZGwo7nY2znaI5nl/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6A8FejDnT_OsBUjFkYgyFlAAHu3h97nhmpgsltGwGmPqnlyyjDScaE_kgjzVV1Od36STasWnb7Bf5wdA7vIq0I1LJ9vb82xTbUm4KNFUXS1rb8OvZy96TNLC29Hpq8ZGwo7nY2znaI5nl/s640/IMG_8235.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have had a card making frenzy over the last few weeks - love love love it when creative inspiration strikes! I've been able to whip out dozens of cards and add to my stash...something I haven't done in months. And, for those of you eager for some cards that I usually gift to you...they'll be coming soon! A peek :) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GKvHMEBm6iAqZ7_XdTWQGIA5-aL4ycavBFcO4PpHTK0_SG14FZqUvi2qjdsgsZysZQOt8Ux53v0PTgjX-JS0JCEyqTEp3zwLt3JBgmOB3nLY6fD5vE8wDRFlNK_rl1fDLgRKQz5e2PO2/s1600/IMG_8239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GKvHMEBm6iAqZ7_XdTWQGIA5-aL4ycavBFcO4PpHTK0_SG14FZqUvi2qjdsgsZysZQOt8Ux53v0PTgjX-JS0JCEyqTEp3zwLt3JBgmOB3nLY6fD5vE8wDRFlNK_rl1fDLgRKQz5e2PO2/s640/IMG_8239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Notice how I don't reinvent the wheel every time I make my cards...if I come up with a design I like, I make it for girls and boys alike...and I'll make totally different kinds of cards using the same layout. Copy yourself!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW89w5NRYYEeIVGMxYFMcmFbBxzOpZH2mh1p_m9aZwjCSgwNof5K0rAAq5CaU9BWZsy5X3c_sStHjWa1XRFD3hXsPBMU4fKu6IHvdxL7ls2GMDrKH5xbVr7Ks-0F7rEkxwiY8JvYYhs9K/s1600/IMG_8245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW89w5NRYYEeIVGMxYFMcmFbBxzOpZH2mh1p_m9aZwjCSgwNof5K0rAAq5CaU9BWZsy5X3c_sStHjWa1XRFD3hXsPBMU4fKu6IHvdxL7ls2GMDrKH5xbVr7Ks-0F7rEkxwiY8JvYYhs9K/s640/IMG_8245.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-56876976934863049172013-03-27T19:45:00.003-07:002013-03-27T19:46:09.003-07:00Retreat Results<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A few layouts from my recent scrapbooking retreat with a group of LOVELY ladies! Thank you for the creative inspiration and supportive encouragement that kept my artsy mojo flowin' all weekend long (oh...and the coke helped too...lol)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6S43MSPRwiYG5wQYJY6fMSQXHz108xUTQK2TSPvVNNv3agjycAvgyMlmLpNK8pOptc4Y8Hw1p8nmzwsr_PYtUFRTiyM8pCHTnNrj_SKcywb7T5lkrHghAXwbFvU4q6bNKg4EKHSoa3O/s1600/IMG_7045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff6S43MSPRwiYG5wQYJY6fMSQXHz108xUTQK2TSPvVNNv3agjycAvgyMlmLpNK8pOptc4Y8Hw1p8nmzwsr_PYtUFRTiyM8pCHTnNrj_SKcywb7T5lkrHghAXwbFvU4q6bNKg4EKHSoa3O/s640/IMG_7045.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> (the one below is a scraplift!!! Not my original design - I got the idea from Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Yes, I did use Jolie's actual old dog tag on this one :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks for looking, everyone!!!</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-84131132373038918672013-03-26T22:17:00.001-07:002013-03-26T22:17:06.274-07:00She's just Two-Two CUTE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One fine morning I was chit chatting with the Starbucks barista while waiting for my drink...she asked, "What are you doing today?" When I mentally went through the mile-long list of birthday party to-do's, I realized my answer was complicated. I simply remarked, "I think it's fair to say that I've become the Crazy Party Mama...I'm planning my daughter's 2nd birthday party and it's gotten out of hand." We laughed, and I proceeded to continue with (caffeinated beverage in hand) weeks of decorating, shopping, list making, food prepping, pom-pom making, and day-dreaming. All for a few short hours of birthday party bliss!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Which, I might add, aren't possible without the amazing PEOPLE who joined us for this special celebration. Truthfully, all the beautiful stuff in the world doesn't a lovely party make...it's actually beautiful people that make the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, I think it's safe to say, everyone had a good time! Now...on to the details :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE STATIONARY</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For some, this might not even be a category in party planning. But, I gotta tell you: I LOVE PAPER! I love making the invitation something super special every year (for all of my events...although, there have been last minute times when I've had to only rely on the good ol' www!) This invitation, as usual, didn't turn out ANYTHING like I had envisioned, but I still thought it was pretty darn cute. After all EVALIE is right on the front of this postcard style card...and there's a fun little poem on the back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The thank you cards were made using my cricuit die cut machine. I'm planning on enclosing photos of the guests in their thank you cards, and having Evalie colour a picture inside...It's very important that I pass on the value of a handwritten thank you card like my mama passed on to me! That reminds me...sorry if I owe you a thank you card...lol!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE CAKE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last year I made Evalie's birthday cake...bu<span style="font-size: small;">t it was simple. This year, I was intending for someone else to make th<span style="font-size: small;">is cake. Didn't work out that way, and I was "stuck" with the job...something I don't TOTALLY love doing, but <span style="font-size: small;">wasn't able to simplify it after I had already dreamt of THIS cake! It's three layers on each tear of ombre teal cake inside with ombre purple buttercream outside. Oh, and before you go thinking that I am an amazing baker...it's from a box! lol! <span style="font-size: small;">I will say, however, that Betty Crocker <span style="font-size: small;">knows what she's <span style="font-size: small;">doin<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">g...it tasted gr<span style="font-size: small;">eat.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am SUPER proud of this adorable cake bunting I made with scraps of tulle from various decorations - how CUTE are those little pom poms?!?! Seriously! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJXaC5mztm1GJON3ldPx0v65YmBZQBHhQliDkIz5EvXnHgBMttY6Uvx3OhMSLl80l0NDZcQrqPCVBjz5_BRRgna9T5ON12Fc_fUvNWzcFK_vUAN8rpMWQpUOddvlVIBz39pzOqkNhyphenhyphenvOv/s1600/IMG_6560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJXaC5mztm1GJON3ldPx0v65YmBZQBHhQliDkIz5EvXnHgBMttY6Uvx3OhMSLl80l0NDZcQrqPCVBjz5_BRRgna9T5ON12Fc_fUvNWzcFK_vUAN8rpMWQpUOddvlVIBz39pzOqkNhyphenhyphenvOv/s640/IMG_6560.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The cake topper is a vintage address number that was painted turquoise. I found it at my favourite new store in Abbotsford, which within three months of opening its doors was published in House and Home - for good reason! <a href="http://www.sprucecollective.com/" target="_blank">http://www.sprucecollective.com/ </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE D<span style="font-size: large;">ECORATIONS</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been decorating this place for weeks...<span style="font-size: small;">yeah, I'm not kidding! This wall of photos was from the photo shoot I did with Evalie<span style="font-size: small;"> in order to <span style="font-size: small;">capture a perfect shot for her invitation. I had so many cute pictures after<span style="font-size: small;">wards that I thought, why not blow th<span style="font-size: small;">em up and add another splash of purple and teal for the photo wall?! I left two black and whites from her 9 month photo shoot with previous local business Red Wagon Photography. Love how it added a little whimsy to the living room :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWluZwGCpkZqZOKQJQGopVJHlZ99s4AIm9GDr_526VQg7rfiyw7_UnVr9zTiFaDmkvZtJewgWJG0LFVff188a50plZ5iDEx1mlxAQ6v_r8PsIu1vx_mYLyaTvnuTmjLyE9n9hgDh7CmGt3/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWluZwGCpkZqZOKQJQGopVJHlZ99s4AIm9GDr_526VQg7rfiyw7_UnVr9zTiFaDmkvZtJewgWJG0LFVff188a50plZ5iDEx1mlxAQ6v_r8PsIu1vx_mYLyaTvnuTmjLyE9n9hgDh7CmGt3/s640/IMG_6548.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Two of these frames are filled with simple free printables I found on pinterest - here's the awesome blog I got them from http://www.nestofposies-blog.com/2013/02/easter-chalkboard-printables/ Thank you Nest of Posies! The middle one is actually one of her thank you cards yet to be sent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJZ9sQaTgPQaGtTUZVIYxkidvT2AhKIGmuNLAADQ3pG42BTBPrhUL5cZOjHTo8OKJnr__PZViKOlJz2Nx9tUKiozmqfusQmg6cl08vszV9uhfiRvueVdBwBZvqloxwvGw5UT0eAjGRmVs/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJZ9sQaTgPQaGtTUZVIYxkidvT2AhKIGmuNLAADQ3pG42BTBPrhUL5cZOjHTo8OKJnr__PZViKOlJz2Nx9tUKiozmqfusQmg6cl08vszV9uhfiRvueVdBwBZvqloxwvGw5UT0eAjGRmVs/s640/IMG_6546.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We didn't make tutus for all the little girl guests. (See?! I'm not really as crazy as you thought!) We just invited them to wear their own tutus - but just in case we had a few little dollar store ones strung along the stairway as extras ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_Adw7daU_6ZR4ooNbLpjw9J20uese0l6dWy9cE7w3Bsd8YfewBdB90PzMbercLxvjDxqmxJ8y_xItt4obWWopfVJ2EdeDUoTrlRXwLa_wjU2pyShqFIKDaiSsJqOI2H_f9Swwy3W2JJZ/s1600/IMG_6568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_Adw7daU_6ZR4ooNbLpjw9J20uese0l6dWy9cE7w3Bsd8YfewBdB90PzMbercLxvjDxqmxJ8y_xItt4obWWopfVJ2EdeDUoTrlRXwLa_wjU2pyShqFIKDaiSsJqOI2H_f9Swwy3W2JJZ/s640/IMG_6568.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My dear friend Jenn helped me with this pom-pom centered balloon-strung crete-paper ceiling for the living room. The banner was something I already had (remember Christmas?...yeah, this is the one that says Merry Christmas on one side and Happy Birthday on the other!) Even though it doesn't perfectly match the theme of this particular party, I am hoping to use it for all the birthdays...that's why I kept it neutral. I think it worked out okay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We converted Evalie's toy ottoman into the kids eating table by putting a board over it and wrapping it in simple plastic table cloths. It worked out great to have the kiddos on the floor and their parents keeping an eye on them on the comfy couches. David also made a slide show of Evalie's last year of life for everyone's entertainment - the computer is playing it over and over on the mantel in the background. I had leftover chevron fabric from some curtains I made for my scrapbooking room, and hung it as a backdrop for pictures of the birthday girl enjoying her cake at the head of her kiddie table...simple! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaJmcjhE3zV8Fdb86ymWHB9XYYEAoa_rF1ndarJxdXbuAEHD3mh8tJ7hw_RWId2rcBIahE7Zke6sYk3splGZ7ZiWJIbt9AP2kXRz9C0Ru3RtlzyBwSTn5SVroweOfruuhCnwfJO56h0VV/s1600/IMG_6578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaJmcjhE3zV8Fdb86ymWHB9XYYEAoa_rF1ndarJxdXbuAEHD3mh8tJ7hw_RWId2rcBIahE7Zke6sYk3splGZ7ZiWJIbt9AP2kXRz9C0Ru3RtlzyBwSTn5SVroweOfruuhCnwfJO56h0VV/s640/IMG_6578.jpg" width="426" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The front room was converted into a "dance party/photo shoot" room with huge wrapping paper backdrops and banners and balloons everywhere! Auntie Krystal was blowing bubbles off the staircase for added excitement - the kiddos just loved it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzvAY-pJIcT4VP84QCw2dNeH9v1_UKFVWp64-r2CFqOIga80Vv-KRC4dznkxR16DOF8u1W0zLwAYQ2iUeojBtD59njIwUo2QpnauJ7Eym7cAjRuDDhqxaTj6d1KGE2wU4bndWDYBGSXxo/s1600/IMG_6575.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzvAY-pJIcT4VP84QCw2dNeH9v1_UKFVWp64-r2CFqOIga80Vv-KRC4dznkxR16DOF8u1W0zLwAYQ2iUeojBtD59njIwUo2QpnauJ7Eym7cAjRuDDhqxaTj6d1KGE2wU4bndWDYBGSXxo/s640/IMG_6575.JPG" width="640" /></a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had this picture from in my craft room for various photo shoots. My mom and I painted it purple for this special day - it worked out pretty cute I'd say! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgnm2CzQn54CHmdS45A7cGMrUpDVzjw6asKG8KYFnDFz-z3Vw5esG25IseQY7JM82N45HgMK_Og3d3kE64Oe5G3dArarnmkr2_r9tKtQuO4T2rxz-ziuwj4YbXhYyNY8Nc2L74DCPsMm/s1600/IMG_6653.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgnm2CzQn54CHmdS45A7cGMrUpDVzjw6asKG8KYFnDFz-z3Vw5esG25IseQY7JM82N45HgMK_Og3d3kE64Oe5G3dArarnmkr2_r9tKtQuO4T2rxz-ziuwj4YbXhYyNY8Nc2L74DCPsMm/s640/IMG_6653.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE FOOD </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll be honest, the food part of party isn't really my thing. I'm not that great in the kitchen - never have been. I much prefer to just eat out...truthfully. The food was mostly from M&M Meat Shops...I mean, why try to make what you can buy?! But, there were a few little things that were homemade...</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;">As usual, there was way too much food. <span style="font-size: small;">But, I'm always nervous that there won't be enough! Yes...I just ate another Feta Pepper Pinwh<span style="font-size: small;">eel before I ty<span style="font-size: small;">ped that last sentence. They're good! I for<span style="font-size: small;">got to <span style="font-size: small;">get a closeup of the jello cookies in teal and purple and the <span style="font-size: small;">jello trifle also in teal and purple (I thought ab<span style="font-size: small;">out yello<span style="font-size: small;">w and red instead, but then realized th<span style="font-size: small;">at wouldn't really GO...lol!)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-boJPRxCNG0wnwM4IhnT2Q5zoKdzmoycWTGhtQhKxe0Vxxng76mVy0zFObYYZJ56XzzZ4WhyphenhyphenFR19U52v21QUtetB9PnmUimofEZeJn_HZxTjMKTWHaO1bAKble1yVS0KWjKEwa24hBUeT/s1600/IMG_6572.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-boJPRxCNG0wnwM4IhnT2Q5zoKdzmoycWTGhtQhKxe0Vxxng76mVy0zFObYYZJ56XzzZ4WhyphenhyphenFR19U52v21QUtetB9PnmUimofEZeJn_HZxTjMKTWHaO1bAKble1yVS0KWjKEwa24hBUeT/s640/IMG_6572.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></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;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last year my MIL had the brilliant idea of making rice crispy "cake" balls for <span style="font-size: small;">any <span style="font-size: small;">gluten free guests to enjoy. This year I did it again! But, I <span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;">ipped them in frosting <span style="font-size: small;">to keep with the theme.<span style="font-size: small;">..actually, I <span style="font-size: small;">used frosting because<span style="font-size: small;"> I had SO MUCH that I had made!!! All you do i<span style="font-size: small;">s microwave the frosting for a few seconds to make it <span style="font-size: small;">soft enough for dipping - who knew?! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzi3JHzNfIBEUTeOyG-vaL89Ptoy8EfJWg08jTy3r3-DUYHu0EEbh1eo8pUJycBYsRU9w8iNtjUj2Oy47BiApAHzyAB2WMjeVlEt3spftlZlbKH7oj9rdMiWXHq7T79VscDMd_72eboXG/s1600/IMG_6867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzi3JHzNfIBEUTeOyG-vaL89Ptoy8EfJWg08jTy3r3-DUYHu0EEbh1eo8pUJycBYsRU9w8iNtjUj2Oy47BiApAHzyAB2WMjeVlEt3spftlZlbKH7oj9rdMiWXHq7T79VscDMd_72eboXG/s640/IMG_6867.jpg" width="426" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Little die cut flowers were sprinkled on the table to add another touch of colour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C80dPRFmN9QtKrka62XWzBxzRFAX4Djvytn-JFtFCvI1mZUlW6166PQgxQZtZfPPTPJ6AQj8TkXoyjdHy23oRpA7maMq1cdNkql1riTAcJv65Sl8l3oM7tqqcP8i2ere8fmGQjXKF_9u/s1600/IMG_6606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0C80dPRFmN9QtKrka62XWzBxzRFAX4Djvytn-JFtFCvI1mZUlW6166PQgxQZtZfPPTPJ6AQj8TkXoyjdHy23oRpA7maMq1cdNkql1riTAcJv65Sl8l3oM7tqqcP8i2ere8fmGQjXKF_9u/s640/IMG_6606.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-boJPRxCNG0wnwM4IhnT2Q5zoKdzmoycWTGhtQhKxe0Vxxng76mVy0zFObYYZJ56XzzZ4WhyphenhyphenFR19U52v21QUtetB9PnmUimofEZeJn_HZxTjMKTWHaO1bAKble1yVS0KWjKEwa24hBUeT/s1600/IMG_6572.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbhe5ofJoNYGTigoK8Ea_uQ7ESgUUDWPu9biXV9L8Ig_eEhpPUSvSJ8p3gOhh_7mV3aqoaKn-vxtQWxyqAX7Qf3-3nyqhNYmkI0SDsQNby7zOYOwasTYDlTsvD1YM3yZgjTx3ZaO6m6N_/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbhe5ofJoNYGTigoK8Ea_uQ7ESgUUDWPu9biXV9L8Ig_eEhpPUSvSJ8p3gOhh_7mV3aqoaKn-vxtQWxyqAX7Qf3-3nyqhNYmkI0SDsQNby7zOYOwasTYDlTsvD1YM3yZgjTx3ZaO6m6N_/s640/IMG_6602.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You may have noticed that my table is wearing a tutu. Yeah. I DID that. It started off as an EPIC pinterest fail! But, I just kept adding more and more tulle, and then finished it off with a big pretty aqua bow, and voila! It worked out. Unlike all the tutorials online about making a tutu table, I had to come up with a way to do this that didn't involve nailing, stapling, or gluing anything TO our actual beautiful locally created real wood table. This is a piece of furniture we would like to have forever, so I couldn't damage it in the process of dressing it! How did I do it? My table is literally WEARING a tutu - it's made of elastic edges, with command hooks for added stability along a built-in wooden lip underneath. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlgToO4gNtRe21KTENbslP3qR6pUaT1tyVvQ-lHqCBRFpTtHBkY_n_DHwAD3-uLiriZ2nGC2As93kNARxHaOmhdUGGz45U__-f7uUhebsuTrMutpuaS8tqrdzB8QdCuCfJbVbW0PnnRS1/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlgToO4gNtRe21KTENbslP3qR6pUaT1tyVvQ-lHqCBRFpTtHBkY_n_DHwAD3-uLiriZ2nGC2As93kNARxHaOmhdUGGz45U__-f7uUhebsuTrMutpuaS8tqrdzB8QdCuCfJbVbW0PnnRS1/s640/IMG_6871.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The guests enjoyed 7-up and cool aid in mason jars with spill proof lids. I used my crop-o-dile to punch holes in the lids of the jars, and then we covered them with cupcake liners. Amazingly, the lids just screw on right over all that! They're like party sippy cups ;) And filled with delightful childhood sweetness! So much sugar in those little jars...mmmmm!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_JhbR9gANtrOV0ZyXeszj_4rM6GJ7L_uIwnV7C0lpZP4_YE1BcdyaNkdIew3eLPPhF1IdrtS2mcOEJ2vDHXqolyk4i0ZfHBPdEWa2OStMN8OQFqQ4SBNcjcxjy_y_MVOKbWnHrdswih_/s1600/IMG_6600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_JhbR9gANtrOV0ZyXeszj_4rM6GJ7L_uIwnV7C0lpZP4_YE1BcdyaNkdIew3eLPPhF1IdrtS2mcOEJ2vDHXqolyk4i0ZfHBPdEWa2OStMN8OQFqQ4SBNcjcxjy_y_MVOKbWnHrdswih_/s640/IMG_6600.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlgToO4gNtRe21KTENbslP3qR6pUaT1tyVvQ-lHqCBRFpTtHBkY_n_DHwAD3-uLiriZ2nGC2As93kNARxHaOmhdUGGz45U__-f7uUhebsuTrMutpuaS8tqrdzB8QdCuCfJbVbW0PnnRS1/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE FAVOURS</b></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;">We seriously contemplated giving out puppies this year. Then, we realized that our dog is really great. So, we contemplated giving out toddlers instead. Just kidding! We had cupcakes in bags, magic wands for the girls, and bow ties for the boys. Of course, the boys wanted the wands to use as swords, and the moms wanted to put bows in the little girls' hair...so whatever! It was cute anyway ;) Oh, and it should be noted that everyone got to take home a helium filled balloon with a bag of aqua <span style="font-size: small;">jelly-bellies</span> on the bottom (given the world-wide helium shortage, it's difficult to say if this could one day be considered historically significant!<span style="font-size: small;"> Floating bal<span style="font-size: small;">loons <span style="font-size: small;">photographed <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">above</span> may one day be unrecognizable to our youngsters! You have no idea the <span style="font-size: small;">moral <span style="font-size: small;">dilemma</span> I <span style="font-size: small;">internally faced trying to decide if we should fill some of our balloons<span style="font-size: small;">...in<span style="font-size: small;"> the end I <span style="font-size: small;">figured that the helium is sitting there at the store <span style="font-size: small;">ready for use...I might as well <span style="font-size: small;">use a little of it to bring smiles to a dozen <span style="font-size: small;">children for the day...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After the party, I watched Evalie run around back and forth like a maniac dancing, twirling, singing happy birthday, and then repeating this process numerous times. I fed her a steady diet of cheese and beans before bed, hoping that some of the protein might off set her crazy sugar high. I have never seen my child like this in her life! Let's just say that if she had been in the process of a psychological assessment during this time, it would likely have resulted in some serious treatment recommendations - haha! She slept deeply that night...and so did I :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been amazing to watch this little baby grow into a toddler with her own opinions, thoughts, and especially strong will. Discovering her personality, her likes and dislikes, and her hilarious thoughts has been an unending delight. Nothing in the world is as rewarding as being Evalie's mama! Happy birthday my sweetest little girl!!!!</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-28366293852289233952013-01-14T21:24:00.001-08:002013-01-14T21:25:04.022-08:0010 years and going strong *heart heart heart*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Looking at the pictures, you can see the love just seeping from David and I :) We love each other so much, it's crazy! I've had a few people - particularly young unmarried ladies - comment on how picturesque we appear. And, in a lot of ways our life is like a romantic movie. But, in a lot of ways it isn't. We have our tough seasons, just like everyone else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been thinking about this post for a long time. What should I write about? Should I share all the crappy stuff we've been through? Be really candid? Or, will that scare people away? Will it be too revealing? Should I give advice...like a "how we got so happy" post? Maybe 10 steps in 10 years? No...that would be unrealistically pretentious. So, I've decided that I'm just going to share out story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our story: what's worked, what hasn't. Take what you like; leave the rest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1) We were available for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The night we met, December 31, 2002, David and I were both in that fun college dating time in life. You know, the season where you just kind of have a good time and mess around with different people, hoping that it won't go any further than you want it to. I was pretty blunt as a collegiate - I would tell guys, "look, I know this relationship isn't going to work in the long run...but wanna make out?" Not exactly stellar moral behavior, I admit. Then, one day a very wise man asked me, "So, if God brings Mr. Right along your path and you're messing around with that guy...will you notice Mr. Right or will you be too distracted?" That got my attention! So, only a few weeks before I met David, I called it off with all my little flings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2) David pursued me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the beginning, the night we met, David asked ME to dance. Now, don't get me wrong, I was sending all the signals I could! But, ultimately, I let him make the first move...and the second, and the third. He emailed me first, and quickly! He called first, he asked me if he could have the honour of calling me his girlfriend, <i>he</i> kissed <i>me</i>. Being a leader-type personality, this is really hard for me to run with! What if he doesn't do it?? Well, part of this is just that David had the guts to step up to the plate. He's someone who knew he had a good thing and wasn't going to let it slip away. It's not like this in EVERY relationship - there are almost always exceptions to things - but ladies, don't settle for a guy who doesn't pursue you! Isn't it so hard watching your best friend keep chasing after some guy she really likes, and you're like, "He's just not that into you!" Yeah. Watch the movie ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3) We waited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alright, this one is going to sound super weird to a lot of people. But, for us, I think it's a major reason why our relationship totally rocks. We waited to have sex until we got married. Yup. We were virgins until our wedding night. Now, don't get me wrong, we weren't like those face-eating people on that TLC show who never kissed before we said "I do." We allowed our intimacy and our commitment to grow at the same pace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm going to say that one again: We allowed our intimacy and our commitment to grow at the same pace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, this wasn't just in the physical area. We grew in intimacy as we got to know one another more and more, as we spiritually connected, as we shared our secrets with each other. But, we didn't give it all to each other until there was demonstrated commitment to the relationship. You know: commit to not dating anyone else, commit to prioritizing one another, commit to marrying each other...and then commit it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4) I watched for flags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I wasn't just keeping my ears and eyes open for red flags, I was looking for <i>yellow</i> flags too! Was there any reason I shouldn't devote the rest of my life to this awesome guy?? Examples of flags:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- RED FLAGS: he hits or in any way abuses you or other women, he refuses to take responsibility for himself, he can't keep a job or pay his own bills etc, he doesn't have any successful relationships in his life, he has unresolved severe mental health concerns, okay...you get it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-YELLOW FLAGS: you don't have the same core values or beliefs, no chemistry, you don't like any of his friends, doesn't respect your boundaries, nothing in common, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With David the craziest thing is: there were no red flags OR yellow flags. I had never been in a relationship like that before! We don't fight like cats and dogs? We don't disagree on major issues? My friends and family totally love you? You're so handsome I can't keep my eyes off of you? You treat me (and your mom - big sign) like a queen? How is this all even possible?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5) We sealed the deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We got married. I know a lot of people don't really agree with marriage or think that it doesn't make much of a difference. But, I remember one of my super-liberal Portland State professors saying that she was in a 20 year common-law relationship with the father of her children, and things STILL felt different when they got married! Marriage isn't a piece of paper and it isn't a ring or a wedding. Marriage for us was the continuation of love already in bloom - not a monumental overnight magical change - but a step in the same direction our relationship was already going. It was a continued natural way to show each other that we meant FOREVER. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">6) We kept the deal sealed ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our first years of marriage were turbulent, although we didn't really think so at the time. But, there were all sorts of classic difficulties that we had (btw, being two virgins, sex was NOT one of those difficulties - lol!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- I tested the waters in his commitment - will he still love me if I am THIS mean to him? Will he stay with me if he discovers the REAL me? I have heard of SO MANY people doing this...it's the classic way that we test intimacy (defined as allowing someone else to truly know you and seeking to truly know someone else). If I show him my shadow side, will he really stick around? I got that out of my system as David patiently pressed forward and re-re-re-assured me that he loves me anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- In-Laws - Here's the blunt truth: I've never fit in perfectly with David's family. It's a combination of personality differences, value differences, and cultural differences. David continually demonstrated an unwavering transfer of his allegiance from his family of origin to our new family: him & me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- We cut out anything that came between us - primarily this meant anything that would damage our trust in one another. Flirtatious girlfriends of mine had to go. Lunch or coffee dates with female friends of his or male friends of mine weren't allowed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">- Money was combined - this was a slow process for us, as I had lived on my own for 5 years before we married. At first we had separate accounts and joint accounts, then just a joint account and separate credit cards, and in time it all got joined. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">7) Commit (over and over and over and...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Commitment is the deliberate choice to do what is best for the marriage instead of what is best for an individual...it's the decision to make this relationship a desirable place to be on a daily basis. It also meant, for us, leaving all of our friends and family and jobs and security behind and hopping on a ferry across the ocean for two years and then across the country for a third year. I've told people that making that move as a couple took our relationship from two people with their own individual lives (friends, family, jobs, separate activities) to one couple in a new town forming new friendships, new activities TOGETHER. What a huge thing for our marriage - probably the best thing that happened to it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">8) Forgive (over and over and over and...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Forgiveness is letting go of the right to hold someone accountable for a perceived wrong. This means they don't "owe" you anything - not even an apology - because forgiveness happens on one side in your own heart. Forgiveness in our marriage sometimes happens before the wrong even occurs; I don't even bother getting offended in the first place with things because I just know I'm going to let it go anyway! Sometimes it happens during or after the offence takes place. And, of course, there are lots of conversations if there's something that seems really serious. But, ultimately the question is, "Are we going to divorce over this?" If the answer is NO, then I might as well forgive - carrying around a grudge only hurts <i>me</i> after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">9) Head overrides heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is not what the movies tell you. In the movies, the girl always goes for the difficult, turbulent, steamy, sexy relationship instead of the reasonable, he's-so-obviously-perfect relationship...after all the latter is so BORING. But, you know what?! My love to David has always agreed with what my HEAD knew was RIGHT. My heart has been damaged - it's been hurt by previous relationships, by losing my father at a young age, by all the terrible things that happen to girls these days. My heart - my emotions - would tell me that "this is too easy, this is too boring, this is too not-dramatic! If we really loved each other there would be more fireworks and music and passion when we kissed." But, whenever I really thought about it, I KNEW that David and I were meant for each other, even when my feelings would make me question. I could stand back and THINK logically and see that we are a perfect match. Movies are not real life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, there ya have it. Movies are not real life. My life isn't a movie, and neither is yours. Because, the movies FEEL different than real life feels. But, I gotta say: this real life is SO MUCH BETTER than anything I could have dreamed ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks for listening to my story. Thanks for believing in David and I. Thanks for the advice and for the support that our friends and family have given us over 10 years of love. Here's to many more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Photos by the lovely Julie Christine Photography: http://www.juliechristinephotography.com/) </span></div>
e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-29117963930204511792012-12-15T20:08:00.001-08:002012-12-15T20:08:23.406-08:00Christmas Isn't Easy<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In light of yesterday's events in Connecticut, and in light of so many other constant world-wide tragedies, sometimes we just have to remember that Christmas isn't easy for everyone. This year, all the families from Sandy Hook will be grieving, living in terror and sadness as they open their Christmas presents and look at their trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, there are millions more like them. Whether families are grieving a recent death, or anticipating a difficulty ahead, enduring the loss of an unborn baby, or fighting off some illness, struggling financially due to unemployment, or maybe their house just burned down...there are so many difficulties in this world. Or, maybe it isn't even something so "monumental." Sometimes the difficulties for many people are relational. After all, getting a lot of people all in the same room who don't have to figure out a way to live peacefully that closely together during the rest of the year is bound to wreak havoc! In many families, people may find Christmas day a difficult obligation of spending time with people that they just can't find a way to get along with - or people who are using drugs, abusing each other, involved in criminal activity, etc. These families might be hurting just as much due to relational traumas as others are from different catastrophes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This isn't new news for me - as I'm sure it isn't for you. But, for the most part I think the vast majority of us are able to avoid, avoid, avoid...we make sure that OUR homes are happy and cheerful and ignorant of the burdens others are bearing. We want to make our own little bubbles as picturesque as they can be. We want to follow the rules and "be of good cheer," because that's just what you do in December!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sometimes we seem to think that we have to fake happiness in order to enjoy the holidays. To be honest, knowing that three of my friends are fighting cancer this year doesn't make it easy. But, here's my insight this year: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">HAPPINESS AND HARDSHIP ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's right. We don't have to avoid hardship in order to be happy. Actually, the bible says in James 1 that we are to "Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." AWESOME. Truly a good, wonderful, deeply profound bit of wisdom here. The stronger the breeze, the stronger the trees! When bad stuff happens, we are faced with a choice: let it make you worse, or use it to make you better. In order for the crap to make you a happier person amidst it all we must choose to recognize that fighting through these hardships, and learning, and growing, and trusting God's plan will make us develop perseverance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Perseverance takes time. I couldn't have recognized these things when I was a child, because enough time didn't pass in my life for me to learn how to persevere. Hardship did happen to hit our home at an early age for me; on the 7th Christmas of my life, I had to celebrate through tear streaked eyes without my father, who chose to take his own life in the autumn. We wouldn't laugh and take pictures and celebrate the way we normally did. That year we would open presents from complete strangers who had pity on our state - people who wanted to bring a little bit of brightness to our dark corner of the world. That, for me, was the beginning of learning perseverance. Because even though Dad was dead, Christmas still happened. The next year it happened again - and life just kept going. No one stopped while I would stare into the distance enduring a moment of overwhelming grief. No one at the stores could tell by looking at me that I hadn't slept nightmare free in years. My teachers at school saw my shining smile and good grades and always thought I was a happy-go-lucky kid. Many people had no idea of what I was going through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Except God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He knew every tear, every sleepless night, every overwhelming numbed-out moment. And, He still knows...through the dozens more struggles and sadnesses and traumas and terrible things I've gone through in my life. He still knows. He knows about every heart and every person touched by yesterday's events. He knows every cancer patient, all their children, and every sick person. He knows all the alcoholics, all their families, all the abuse, all the relationships gone awry. He knows and He cares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then, I can hear it now, "Well, why didn't God stop it then!?" To answer it simply: He gave humans free will, and sometimes they choose the evil side. Sometimes it's not that anyone does anything wrong at all - Satan is alive and well on this planet, and he is the root of evil, pain, suffering, destruction, and death. To answer it more completely: read The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis or The Shack by William P Young. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the meanwhile, we all have Christmas to look forward to in only a matter of days. It can be a happy holiday for all of us - even if we're suffering while the carols are ringing, the lights are shining, and the turkeys are baking. We can choose to make it a day of joy no matter what...and maybe it has the potential to be an even deeper, more meaningful holiday for those of us who are going through something difficult.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Merry Christmas to all! (pics from Evalie's first Christmas last year)</span>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-25913350982839712532012-12-12T14:01:00.000-08:002012-12-12T14:01:45.289-08:00Freezer Meals gone CRAZY!I tend to do WAY too much sometimes...like so many freezer meals that my freezers are having a difficult time closing (and yes, I did say PLURAL freezerS...)<br />
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But, hey!? That's alright this time of year! It's that season to build up and store up and prepare for the harsh winter months when you just never know if food will be available. Oh, wait, that's not the case anymore, is it? It's not the 18th century...I know. But, still I have to prepare...just in case!<br />
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So, here are some of my fav freezer meals complete with links to the recipes...<br />
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- Seafood Pasta Casserole (this one is soooo good - I threw in artichoke hearts instead of mushrooms and feta cheese for added flavour - soooo yummy!): http://www.momsbudget.com/freezerrecipes/seafoodpasta.html <br />
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- Sausage and Spinach Bake (David's fav!): http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sausage-n-spinach-pasta-bake-10000001578358/<br />
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But, the reality is, I am NOT a recipe girl. I actually think this might be my "rebellious" side; like, I think, "Who are YOU to tell me how to cook!? If I'm going to cook, I'm going to do it the way I want to!" Yeah, apparently some dislike of authority issues coming out in this one ;) So, I also do MANY freezer meals just however I want. Here's an overview of more of my favs: <br />
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- Lasagna (don't have a specific recipe for this one - just do it however you like!)<br />
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- Beefy Cornbread (you don't even have to bake the cornbread before freezing - so cool): mix a bunch of cooked hamburger with taco seasoning, salsa, tomatoes and sauce, maybe some beans if you want, spinach, grated carrots...then top this casserole with jiffy corn muffin mix (prepared). When you bake it, there will be a whole layer of cooked yummy fluffy corn bread on top of the delightful hamburger spicy yumminess :)<br />
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- Stroganoff: my mom's classic is cooked hamburger with stroganoff seasoning mixed in, add cream of mushroom soup, sauteed mushrooms and sour cream and you're done! Freeze this one in a bag with our without egg noodles for a quick easy dinner.<br />
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- Butter Chicken: I cheat. I use a can. I add lots of random veggies that need to be finished up. I also throw this one in a bag with or without rice and it's ready to eat after defrosting and heating!<br />
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- "Grab n' Go Burritos" (I named these myself!): throw a big roast (I use beef, but am thinking I might try pork to save money sometime) onto the stove or in your crockpot with a box of beef broth and a couple packets of taco seasoning. Let it cook ALL DAY or about 6 hours until it falls apart and is super tender. Pull it apart with forks so it soaks up the flavours on the taco seasoning. Drain it and SAVE THE SAUCE FOR ENCHILADAS NEXT. Then, use this meat as the center of burritos. Mix the meat in HUGE bowls with small diced peppers, cheese, black beans, white beans, grated carrots, mushrooms, whatever you want in your burritos. Wrap the mix with a tortilla on top of a piece of tinfoil; then fit 7 in a bag. Grab them on your way to work, or microwave them when you need a quick 300 calorie protein packed lunch!<br />
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- Enchiladas: in the USA we can find DELICIOUS enchilada sauces in jars for uber cheap...not so in Canada :( So, I use the broth from the roast mentioned above as my base. On the stovetop add to the broth a block of cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and whatever tomato sauce you have. Add some salsa for more kick, and there's your enchilada sauce. The beauty of enchiladas is that you can really (again) put whatever you like in the tortilla - chicken and mushrooms, beef and beans, cheese and veggies, whatever. Mix just a LITTLE BIT of the sauce in with the filling, but reserve most of it for the top of the casserole. After wrapping the enchiladas, line them in baking pans and cover them in the sauce; top with cheddar and pepperjack grated cheeses...mmmmmmm!<br />
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Here are some of my tips for making freezer meals:<br />
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1. GO BIG OR GO HOME. Do NOT skimp on ingredients when you're at the store - when in doubt, buy MORE. I've literally watched myself plow through 36 tortillas or 4 boxes of broth or 10 cans of cream of mushroom soup and wondered, how'd that happen!?<br />
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2. REMEMBER NON FOOD ITEMS. Get lots of tinfoil, tons of gallon freezer bags, glass casserole dishes with plastic lids, press n' seal wrap, etc.<br />
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3. GET CHILDCARE. Trying to do freezer meals with Evalie at my feet not only irritates HER but it breaks my heart; I have to ignore her and focus on the projects at hand. So, it's only fair that freezer meal cooking happens when the kiddos have some entertainment.<br />
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4. DO LOTS AT THE SAME TIME. While the beef is roasting, sautee the mushrooms. While the chicken is cooking, chop the vegetables. While the noodles are boiling, put cheese through the food processor. NEVER waste a moment or you'll be standing there for DAYS!<br />
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5. DO NOT MEASURE OR BE PICKY. Seriously, it's going to taste fine. Do NOT be picky about details or specifics - just throw a little spice in there and it will work out. Pour an extra can or two of beans - who cares about proportions being the same as last time? It does NOT matter. It WILL taste good :)<br />
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6. USE UP EXTRAS. Have one more can of soup or broth or beans or tomatos or mushrooms or frozen spinach?? USE IT. Throw it in. Don't let your cupboards be filled with clutter when that food could be put to good use. And, especially don't let your FREEZER be filled with anything besides your completed meals...you'll need that room.<br />
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<br />Have fun cooking!<br />
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<br />e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-54747427171226916052012-12-02T18:22:00.001-08:002012-12-02T18:28:01.552-08:00Our Home is the Winner...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today was a big day for us! It was the Northview Home Tour (http://northview.org/adults/women/christmas_home_tour/). We opened up our home for a few HUNDRED people to tour and see our Christmas decorating. All the funds went to support a local ministry called the Cyrus Centre which helps struggling youth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">David and I (and our dear friend Jenn!) spent an entire month decorating, shopping, and cleaning. It's been a blast (well for me, at least...David probably could've lived without all this work)! We were quite happy with the results as we marveled and prepared for last night's pre-tour for the home owners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then, we started walking through the other homes. WOW. These houses were MANSIONS! I'm talking 11,000 square feet of heated marble floors, hand finished venetian plastered walls, stone baseboards, arched metal ceilings, hand crocheted bedspreads from France, fireplaces in BATHROOMS, stone work on 40 acre mountain view lots, the list goes on and on...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, by the end of the tour we officially designated ourselves as the WINNER OF THE BEST SUPPORTING ROLE: OUR HOUSE MAKES ALL THE OTHER ONES LOOK HUGE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">{What can we say? We do what we can!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, hey? Someone's gotta get that award, right? Honestly, it was so neat to see people enjoy our home and fill it with love and laughter. It was especially touching to know that people felt cozy and welcome here - I think what they really felt is LOVE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you to everyone who shared our home with us. It was a tremendous blessing to be a small part of a great project in our community! If you weren't able to tour our home today, then let me give you a little personal one via blogland ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As you enter our front door, this is what you'll see...Welcome to a Winter Wonderland!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These pillows were made using iron-on transfers from Staples. I purchased the images from Etsy.com at the Graphique store. They're only $1! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are a few views of the Christmas Tree. This is a real tree - I think maybe the only real tree on the tour?? It's a Noble Fir from Ledgeview farms - we cut it down ourselves, and LOVE the scent. I have to admit, it wasn't the easiest tree to work with, because it's not a very full tree. But, with Jenn's brilliance we came up with some ways to fill it in using mesh bows, poinsettias, and glittery sprigs. We love the colours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The silhouettes are now donning Christmas wrapping paper as their festive backdrop. We had to take down our coffee table to make this room work with a tree in it! But, I love having it in the front window for all to see :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We hung the stockings along the banister this year - I got each of them engraved with our names :) The dangling black snowflakes are a symbol of the Earth's pollution problem...no, just kidding! They just worked with my decor - lol. They're actually placemats from Canadian Superstore with a thread through them ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's a view of the whole room as you're going upstairs:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SXi-gmpwuR33dtVy9lhlTmrulJp5iE-sXW9qFNru1_fKOpJvxK2_L1FPykuB56hgrj-lTsVqEIjvxp-0iA0yQVq_fUpwEBui_mSmlPzhufuBLUJ0Yy40iuqMC53y_QsCurcaEYq3Dut2/s1600/IMG_4715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SXi-gmpwuR33dtVy9lhlTmrulJp5iE-sXW9qFNru1_fKOpJvxK2_L1FPykuB56hgrj-lTsVqEIjvxp-0iA0yQVq_fUpwEBui_mSmlPzhufuBLUJ0Yy40iuqMC53y_QsCurcaEYq3Dut2/s640/IMG_4715.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Before we head upstairs on our little tour, though...let's have a look at the main living, kitchen, and dining areas...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxrEtgUTqzJfdWpSeQ1Rve-2SEC6ZXqr2atS9hWEEbGiKWuZF9NWhn5rpqzy_J5Y8H6Voh7PLNcGs5DzhryljIJ0fJ8rKpERf1ib5gGO0tsTPiPYex4me2hyo0_w1v8GcIyQ1tzZKlWU_/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxrEtgUTqzJfdWpSeQ1Rve-2SEC6ZXqr2atS9hWEEbGiKWuZF9NWhn5rpqzy_J5Y8H6Voh7PLNcGs5DzhryljIJ0fJ8rKpERf1ib5gGO0tsTPiPYex4me2hyo0_w1v8GcIyQ1tzZKlWU_/s640/IMG_4698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Along the island, we served cranberry lime punch and chocolates. We also had a little notice about my dear friend Kristin Erickson who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. We raised money by selling bracelets during the tour to support her family of four children...over $130 in one day!!! It was incredible to hear how many people ALREADY KNEW HER and had read her blog here: http://www.canadiankristinconnected.blogspot.ca/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The dining room was completely set with our nice china (which I bragged about how our family had given it to us as wedding gifts - thank you again!) We put Mary, Joseph, Shepherd, and Wiseman on the name cards - lol ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Living Room was definitely one of my favourite areas, because it really features the nativity scene, which was a graduation gift to me from my family (thank you!) David built the cresch for it himself, and even made the manger by hand. So special. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have a DOZEN decorated Christmas trees on our huge mantel...I love how the nativity looks like it's sitting in the middle of a beautiful forest :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHqpSNcP0FPVsoDh4bSbMJVf969RhTz4JlRH8pbmP3lud7Av_bqfVgvHNr2JDrvC0RFaDEZxoy5mPsSubvMwPID4L1l5Znai1j_GQHDNK9syFV-7P5WdJqGz-_rZD29DH4HtQJXaE3Oqk/s1600/IMG_4689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHqpSNcP0FPVsoDh4bSbMJVf969RhTz4JlRH8pbmP3lud7Av_bqfVgvHNr2JDrvC0RFaDEZxoy5mPsSubvMwPID4L1l5Znai1j_GQHDNK9syFV-7P5WdJqGz-_rZD29DH4HtQJXaE3Oqk/s640/IMG_4689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I created the banner (thank you to so many friends for your consultation on this project!) using cardstock, modge podge, glitter, and my cricut machine. On the other side, its says Happy Birthday! so we can reuse it over and over through the years :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBVNCDijk8sNAzYiLeipPo6ICJHidQ6c9LAx3gFzGGV6B9MHMw8qQtZovOBlTNBy-qpO_rC-IitZXFO3cf7B4sWA8G_j1UxxsU-kWQmJGARPYVXFuMlhZ67qZ2DmardhbDAwYqXNZNeTL/s1600/IMG_4693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBVNCDijk8sNAzYiLeipPo6ICJHidQ6c9LAx3gFzGGV6B9MHMw8qQtZovOBlTNBy-qpO_rC-IitZXFO3cf7B4sWA8G_j1UxxsU-kWQmJGARPYVXFuMlhZ67qZ2DmardhbDAwYqXNZNeTL/s640/IMG_4693.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado is our favourite Christmas storybook about the angel who brought Jesus' spirit to Mary's womb...so incredible! Thanks to David's parents for this awesome tradition - we read half the story Christmas Eve and the other half in the morning.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3BrbBes_-aUuFFh5BFB_kqc_UyEkMgscmTcCqsRVjpBOjTsDI3jEKQT_LEFCooLTzhicZO4IzU6-OSgdFTupkYSTk97wnY81PKfx5xbFsGqPj4L6-G4XdH3mijSfcZrYDawvFQ4CIHAz/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3BrbBes_-aUuFFh5BFB_kqc_UyEkMgscmTcCqsRVjpBOjTsDI3jEKQT_LEFCooLTzhicZO4IzU6-OSgdFTupkYSTk97wnY81PKfx5xbFsGqPj4L6-G4XdH3mijSfcZrYDawvFQ4CIHAz/s640/IMG_4675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This Oh Holy Night was a free printable that I found on pinterest and is available here: http://akadesign.ca/oh-holy-night-free-christmas-printable/ Yes, that's right: it's FREE and you just PRINT IT. Thank you akadesign!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, a quick note about bathrooms...they're odd little areas to decorate! I searched high and low for festive shower curtain and towel sets...but there was nothing out there! So, I tried to work with what we had...Here's the front powder room in red and white:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The guest bath upstairs already has a letter theme going on, so I just added to it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We simply dangled pretty ornaments along our master shower curtain and called it a day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alright...ready to head upstairs???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our bedroom took on a feathery bird theme:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We did a wreath above our bed and also one on the closet door. These were feathery wreaths I had originally bought for Halloween, but then added the purple bits to Christmas-it-up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And, here's our romantic tree inspired by the new gift shop in town, Spruce Collective: http://www.sprucecollective.com/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I made these sparkling words with my cricut and more glitter!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Candles EVERYWHERE! It smells so good in our house right now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAFXyekYtu8MrRby9jBZiW1Azjtrju5BPppku4a1kb-iIJ6jWnMZSZb463wO7aTNbWLLgYOyO30yUNSmLL-7Q8raQh-LYlX8vSB-jcqPsdKhuTostii7tg_63f7sFDCE97ovDBAvubola/s1600/IMG_4769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAFXyekYtu8MrRby9jBZiW1Azjtrju5BPppku4a1kb-iIJ6jWnMZSZb463wO7aTNbWLLgYOyO30yUNSmLL-7Q8raQh-LYlX8vSB-jcqPsdKhuTostii7tg_63f7sFDCE97ovDBAvubola/s640/IMG_4769.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ornaments dangling from the curtain rods:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More iron-on special pillows:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now for the finale! Evalie's sweet adorable room!!!! We love her nursery anyway, but then dressing it up for Chrismtas?! What can be prettier?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Her own little mini tree and dozens of snowflakes dancing above her crib:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!!!! Now we're going to sit back, sip some tea, and enjoy our clean already decorated house for the holidays :)</span></div>
e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-17074632672861235572012-09-04T14:05:00.001-07:002012-09-04T14:06:46.044-07:00Evalie Rose's Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to the prettiest room in our house! Evalie's Nursery is meant to encapsulate all that is sweet and innocent...just like our precious little girl :) </div>
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Her bedding (and accessories like the diaper holder below) was handmade by Melissa's Boutique on etsy (find her here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mellissasboutique?ref=seller_info) We were so pleased with the attention to detail, fine craftsmanship, and unique beauty that custom ordering delivered. The bedding will last Evalie through the toddler years, as her crib converts.</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcXzMbQ_mjoVCLCtj7kAoUlazo9XHgRBBMIOP5EmWZ88xJT6_KekPcJRHWS34l6GzY7vTmkyCvOkNSsz05mKsA76sXTbLpLn7erMSoSW1K7N5iJfo0U-NFaLExb5clMqOvzrFELgWHrgU/s640/IMG_2782.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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My mom generously bought these black wooden letters for Evalie's room. But, for the longest time I didn't know what to do with them! The black was just too stark on it's own against the lavender walls. Finally, inspiration struck and this is the result! I modge podged scrapbooking papers (in music notes and fine print) onto the letters, sanded the edges, and completed it with glitter lining and butterflies. I think it's just right :)</div>
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Evalie's furniture was something so difficult for us to choose! David insisted on high quality real wood craftsmanship, while I wanted something super pretty and classic in white. Finally, we discovered Munire furniture (http://www.munirefurniture.com/) and fell in love with the Savannah Collection. David and I are BOTH happy with this life-time investment, and plan on keeping this beautiful timeless furniture around forever :)<br />
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A little detail (above); shadow box of Evalie's take-home outfit, umbilical chord clip, hospital bracelet, etc. Love having these keepsakes out to cherish.</div>
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One of Evalie's special 1st birthday presents (above); a name plate for her door crafted by our dear friend Katy, who was there in the labour room when Evalie entered the world!</div>
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I made these wall pictures before Evalie's room was complete. I used a cricuit and stamps to make art that would perfectly match her room - it's so hard to find purple art!!! Just recently has she started to notice them and make fishy faces when she sees the fish...so cute :)</div>
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View from the crib side of the room (above). This little white stand was displayed at a local boutique with baby books, and I thought it was a perfect creative use for a vintage looking baby doll crib. Soon Evalie will want to put a doll in it instead of books, but for now it work well to have them out for storytime.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTOqRLqWemDTkuc_z0hjMpChFSEZr5Ki2O8ZhhpDORyPZRM6Gk0YGRNG_1Nld1OgyUf5ASPkJJZUNuAiL0Fe4byaxnRmqptLRVshYXiXjvlNy0k6WbJdvCBu3rzC3AmAaFasvW24LGGBt/s1600/IMG_2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTOqRLqWemDTkuc_z0hjMpChFSEZr5Ki2O8ZhhpDORyPZRM6Gk0YGRNG_1Nld1OgyUf5ASPkJJZUNuAiL0Fe4byaxnRmqptLRVshYXiXjvlNy0k6WbJdvCBu3rzC3AmAaFasvW24LGGBt/s640/IMG_2760.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Painting the whole room in stripes was a TON of work. A few things I recommend when doing this process: a good long level, a sharp pencil, and FROGTAPE. This product is SO worth the extra money! It made PERFECT stripes on our walls! The colours are BM Lavender Mist and Whisper Violet. They were exactly what I wanted. And where in the world did I find a purple sock monkey?? Target, of course ;)<br />
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Lastly, a few more precious items on display, including a cupcake painting by our friend Laura - reminiscent of Evalie's gender revelation party (before she was born...of course!) </div>
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Thanks for looking friends!</div>
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e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187112043152826919.post-34813374347108209262012-07-13T21:49:00.002-07:002012-07-13T21:50:04.820-07:00Be Our Guest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Having a guest room is SUPER important to me, which is why I thought this space would be the perfect one to splash with the bright yellow and grey trendy colour scheme. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made the pom poms with black and white damask tissue papers from walmart. I thought they would tie together with the damask lamp in the corner and add a touch of similarity to the rest of the house. The guest bed from Ikea pulls out to become a king sized luxury! The drawers underneath house sheets, pillows, and blankets...love this bed so much!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6uLdOJo2l651C20Lq8iBSFFnd5KDyDRYmshMcZdVoIGYsIRYY0_UYY0Xi4F1nIcVGJIYa1lb33_qHadj1fmcg_VxrXvoX7Sfp_eVF7JvTnkjxPQTSD68yiZsfQnmBJH6bS1D0pkfQdnV/s1600/IMG_1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6uLdOJo2l651C20Lq8iBSFFnd5KDyDRYmshMcZdVoIGYsIRYY0_UYY0Xi4F1nIcVGJIYa1lb33_qHadj1fmcg_VxrXvoX7Sfp_eVF7JvTnkjxPQTSD68yiZsfQnmBJH6bS1D0pkfQdnV/s640/IMG_1496.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The walls are WAY brighter, though, than I had wanted. I really SHOULD have gone with "dijon" by Benjamin Moore - a colour that, on the chip, looks like a neutral but really turns out to be a beautiful yellow. Instead, I chose this yellow that perfectly matched the pillow fabrics I had chosen and it turned out to look a LOT like a school bus to me. Nonetheless, I've tried to embrace it and tone it down with lots of greys, blacks, and whites... I think the overall effect is still okay :)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These three suitcases are SO SPECIAL to me. They are actual vintage suitcases from our grandma and grandpa. I LOVE THEM and will treasure them so much! They make the PERFECT grey end table :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQW1gLHkT5vbk5gzib6A2_dSAZY8yNqCts2J6moh-Qqe8zcuEedMzEZH0jBaTf1lMc4y4HVkOSesj3uQAmlSJFzcqn3PCi5EMqRmqj35ZF5LlyoAgIr0HLaMYUCxBaX2yxx_ds3059GXt/s1600/IMG_1501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQW1gLHkT5vbk5gzib6A2_dSAZY8yNqCts2J6moh-Qqe8zcuEedMzEZH0jBaTf1lMc4y4HVkOSesj3uQAmlSJFzcqn3PCi5EMqRmqj35ZF5LlyoAgIr0HLaMYUCxBaX2yxx_ds3059GXt/s640/IMG_1501.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I painted this canvas and then had it custom framed. Turns out the canvas I painted on was not perfectly square (can you tell!? yup!) so they had to restretch it :( What a money sucker!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A little framed art - something I whipped together on the computer...printed on patterned paper.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvKt3kDwtfWQsRWRLd5jJdppoopAyrfe_zuyn73cHwOcZlKFyvAbdt0eMAlX4sPwmPUHLFIplYql2RZ0WRX264G2W9GPa5Zp0ziWHBfbem0jB8dWzj2nxErH9HS_MjfZaE33a0Jo3_GvH/s1600/IMG_1504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvKt3kDwtfWQsRWRLd5jJdppoopAyrfe_zuyn73cHwOcZlKFyvAbdt0eMAlX4sPwmPUHLFIplYql2RZ0WRX264G2W9GPa5Zp0ziWHBfbem0jB8dWzj2nxErH9HS_MjfZaE33a0Jo3_GvH/s640/IMG_1504.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our guest book...more on that later!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZAA7gtT5W7iQcy0w-OCA3cybu2NOwvLyO5Ohq9Vg0xLrsGyeIE0VWV79iumiVnFxAPfkWudb9ydhPrAybYW3jFTuOohrNyxYisW6VRUKt5RusrqM7w309PzcFn1_Phv1VS1rAizzOX2i/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZAA7gtT5W7iQcy0w-OCA3cybu2NOwvLyO5Ohq9Vg0xLrsGyeIE0VWV79iumiVnFxAPfkWudb9ydhPrAybYW3jFTuOohrNyxYisW6VRUKt5RusrqM7w309PzcFn1_Phv1VS1rAizzOX2i/s640/IMG_6634.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The pillows are all ones that I sewed removable washable covers for. This project really was super easy, even for someone like me who's terrible at sewing! I love love love the fabrics! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIVJF7d3xBhf0apxHcqQalEIog0inPhaqbSaCB4Y0EPXkpJ7z8VA5V2zBaky4qONtUQWxpI09D1rXaQl1RmMOG_vf09uEmGTzrHDHm4uAyHtTM-phz9UfE8Rk4JTUZmjKvwgrDBK56OPY/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIVJF7d3xBhf0apxHcqQalEIog0inPhaqbSaCB4Y0EPXkpJ7z8VA5V2zBaky4qONtUQWxpI09D1rXaQl1RmMOG_vf09uEmGTzrHDHm4uAyHtTM-phz9UfE8Rk4JTUZmjKvwgrDBK56OPY/s640/IMG_1527.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Thanks for looking :) Come be our guest anytime!</span></div>
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<br /></div>e.melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12557840232597917411noreply@blogger.com5