tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74785784920718538612024-03-13T00:41:58.814-07:00Abbie GrowsLogging my lifetime journey of growth in grace. abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-1489203528789052252014-05-02T09:14:00.002-07:002014-05-02T09:16:03.715-07:00Friday! Hey there friends! It's Friday here! My heart has been so full lately with watching God work in so many lives, and I'll get to that on another day. But for today here's a few Friday pictures for you from what we've been up to!<br />
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1. Our little man is getting ready to start school in the fall and he had his Kindergarten screening a few weeks ago. Can you even handle the cuteness! He's a mixture of scared and excited I think. </div>
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And a little bit of silly I guess. </div>
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We never opted to send him to preschool so we've been working with him on learning to write a bit and recognize letters and such. He's doing well and I think will be eager to learn in school next year. I'm no elementary school teacher, but I think he'll do well! </div>
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2. Chris and I have been doing T25 for the last 7 weeks or so. It's been so fun! We've never worked out together much, so it's been a fun thing to do as a couple and the 25 minute time span it takes to complete each workout feels doable for this out of shape body. I've seen a lot of growth in my strength and endurance and I'm excited to keep it up! The kids like to join us from time to time as evidenced below. My daughter clearly needs some girl time.... to learn to exercise with a shirt on! Yikes! </div>
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3. My sister and her hubs got a new puppy and we've gladly joined in on the festivities that a new puppy brings. My kids are LOVING it and it just melts my heart to watch the little man with her. He's loves on her so gently. Cocoa is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and won't be little for long, but we're enjoying her puppiness for now (While letting my sister do all the hard work. It's fun being an aunt!)! </div>
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4. We celebrated a birthday in our house recently! We love birthday's at the Perry house. They are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our favorite people! </div>
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God's grace has been evident in all of our lives through this guy! He's my best friend. He loves our family so well and loves God and serves others with such a genuine heart. He's such a blessing and I pray God gives him many, many more years to serve Him with! </div>
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5. Working with our College & Career group at <a href="http://www.sonrisebaptist.com/" target="_blank">Sonrise Baptist Church</a> over the last year has been one of the greatest joys of the last year for us. Recently we went bowling as a group (GLOW Bowling as you see evidenced below). My 3 year old daughter had the highest score (how does that even happen!) but we all had a fun night! Seeing these college students and young singles grow in Christ is such pure joy for us. We are excited about what God is doing in their lives! </div>
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Me with my little winner! </div>
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6. Easter was of course a wonderful day of celebrating our Risen Savior! We enjoyed some typical festivities of coloring eggs and such with the kids then had my sister as well as some other friends over for an Easter meal. It's such a joy to rejoice with brothers and sisters in Christ for all that God has provided for us in Christ through his death and resurrection. </div>
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Our sweet friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaydi-Harp-Photography/560968147255452?fref=ts" target="_blank">Kaydi Harp</a> provided a little Easter Photo Booth for our church families this weekend after our Easter services. What a sweet service she provided and some sweet little pictures she was able to capture of our littles! </div>
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7. Our little lady went to her first REALLY girly birthday party last weekend, where I let her paint her nails <i>by herself </i>for the very first time. She was pretty thrilled, and took it all very seriously. </div>
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Such a fun little group of girls! </div>
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8. Another birthday took place this last week. My little sister Brittany is entering her last year in her 20's! She requested this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/13088655141442085/" target="_blank">lemon blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting</a> and I happily set to work making it for her.... and eating way too much of it. </div>
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Wishing you a wonderful year ahead Brittany! You are a blessing and it's a joy to have you as a sister! </div>
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9. Lastly, our little man started his T-ball season Monday night with his first practice. He's excited to play with the new Little League team in our town, and I was excited about how organized the practice was! It should be a fun season for him! </div>
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Sorry about the slight overload! Enjoy! </div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-10122197773472964552014-01-23T06:30:00.000-08:002014-01-23T06:30:01.088-08:00Living out this Prov 31 stuff is exhausting! Tonight I completed a somewhat exhausting day. I got up early to run an errand before work. Got there just in time to check a few e-mails before heading into a counseling session. Finished that around lunch time only to start working on…. well work. Went to a 3 o'clock meeting that got done at 4:20 (I usually leave at 4 on Wednesdays). Finally got out the door at work at 4:50. Drove home, made dinner, gave my kids baths, went to church. Tried to love on and encourage a few college girls. Texted back and forth with my counselee all through church Scripture to encourage her during a rough night. Brought the kids home, quickly drove to my sisters (we're sharing her T25 videos!), came home, cleaned up the bedroom a bit, and I just finished prepping for the Counseling Women class I'm teaching tomorrow morning at Baptist Bible College.<br />
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Whew!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPgE-Mos2WhUsZVslGTT0FY0LN0DB1ZYx94S5Su86CVPXhgjUUT3apY93OnaL8DLewtidpEZ61ubgYFh_mIf6-hvt7iAIVc7kEKrEyWJCe0JulETunilRHrJ6NapllhVoWlcLzU-sPdM/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPgE-Mos2WhUsZVslGTT0FY0LN0DB1ZYx94S5Su86CVPXhgjUUT3apY93OnaL8DLewtidpEZ61ubgYFh_mIf6-hvt7iAIVc7kEKrEyWJCe0JulETunilRHrJ6NapllhVoWlcLzU-sPdM/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>While prepping for my class I was reading through Proverbs chapter 31 and these three verses seemed to describe my day.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. </span><br />
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The last 6 months have been a trying time as far as trusting God with the future. We just. don't. know. what's. next. It's one of those seasons of waiting and wisdom as we seek to do the next thing. But God has prepared me for this time through lots of other seasons of waiting and proving Himself faithful to the task. He always takes care of us. He always provides in ways that we couldn't have imagined starting out. So I've had the joy of learning to laugh…. to whole heartedly trust what God has in the future. Sometimes I just chuckle that we're here again and I'm sure it won't be the last time in our lives.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.</span><br />
I hope what I had to share today was wise, and that I was kind in all my presentations of it. God has thrown me some kind of crazy situations lately that I wasn't expecting to get right now as far as walking with girls through some just tough situations in life and my prayer day to day is that I am always pointing them toward the Lord. That HE will be their all consuming joy.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. </span><br />
And idleness…. yeah, that didn't get to be me today. This semester is just a plain old busy season of life for me with all the different roles I've been put in in work and ministry. (You ever have a season like that, where you just sit there and think, what did I get myself into? Yeah, I'm in one of those!) And all those things are important. Really important at some level. But I don't want to neglect my own household. My first responsibility lies there. So I took the extra minutes with my 3 year old daughter to snuggle her as she went to sleep tonight. I sang her the songs she wanted to hear and those extra minutes settled her like only mommy time can. It was pure joy, for both of us. I can't be idle at work, but those dishes need washed, and the clean clothes put away, and those exercise videos really should be done at home too. And now into the wee hours of the night (ok it's only 10:45, it's not that late!) I'm ready for bed. Because it all needs to be done tomorrow. But this Woman Who Fears the Lord of Proverbs 31, she is consistent. She keeps going. She doesn't do it all at once, but she moves with the ebbs and flows of all the different seasons of life, recognizing that none of it will last forever, enjoying each one and working hard through it all. And what a blessing she is to those around her.<br />
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I pray I might be called that woman at the end of my life. And that you might too.<br />
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-52783583761952218362014-01-05T08:50:00.000-08:002014-01-05T08:59:47.965-08:00Here's to a New Year! <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My husband and I were joking on New Year's Eve that last year on January 1st my daughter came down with Influenza B….. over the next week and a half each of us fell to it for what was one of the more miserable couple of weeks of our lives (as far as sickness goes). And so began one of the hardest years of our lives. 2013 came in with a vengeance and proved to be a year that would try our faith in some of the strongest ways. Personally, I'm glad to see it go. While I wouldn't trade my kids' growth or the experiences with them, I would've preferred to do without some of the other trials. But the neat thing about hard times is the growth it produces. James 1:2-4 teaches us this: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">Count it all joy, my brothers,</span><span class="footnote" style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2px; text-indent: 1.5em; text-indent: 1.5em; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">when you meet trials</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">of various kinds, </span><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-indent: 1.5em;"><a alt="esv_01" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v59001003" style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 1.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">for you know that</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">the testing of your faith</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">produces steadfastness.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 1.5em;">perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">This was a year full of various kinds of trials in our family, but they produced their desired effect in the long run. God grew us in ways we didn't know that we needed to grow and our faith is stronger than it was at this time last year. Here are a few things that I'm praising God for doing in me:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">-I trust Him more with the ugly stuff. God doesn't always bring prosperity, or help us accomplish our personal goals. He has a bigger plans in mind. It's easy when life just keeps throwing junk at you to question His goodness. I get that. I questioned his goodness this year. But through His Word God grew my faith and I'm thankful that I see Him more clearly today than I did January 5th 2013 and I trust Him to do His good even in the really hard times of my life.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">-My heart is more generous, even though we have less. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">-I trust Him to provide even more than in the past.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">-I've seen God answer some specific prayers in the last 6 months that have grown my faith and caused me to pray more, and be very, very thankful! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">So even though in some respects in my book 2013 was a total bust, in God's timeline of my life 2013 was exactly what I needed to look more like Jesus and to, as James says, be a mature Christian. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Here's a little video recap of the year for ya. As is typical, the instagram pics show lots of smiles. You'd never know how hard life has been! (Something good to remember as you watch everyone else on social media. Their lives aren't as pretty as they look on camera!) </span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 22px; text-indent: 24px;">But it shows off some of the fun stuff of the year. We truly do have much to be thankful for! </span><br />
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-64242119350240949072013-11-25T13:50:00.003-08:002013-11-25T13:50:49.445-08:00Just a couple simple thoughts from Isaiah 46 As I sat in bed last night ending a really, really nice weekend, I opened up my Bible to Isaiah where I've been spending a bit of time recently. Now I'm not an Isaiah scholar and don't even begin to pretend to be, but I've picked up some really encouraging themes present about my God that have been an encouragement to my heart. I'll share one from last night today:<br />
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Isaiah 46: 3-11<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_08" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046003" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all the remnant of the house of Israel,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_16" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046003" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">who have been borne by me from before your birth,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_26" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046003" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">carried from the womb;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_09" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046004" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and to gray hairs I will carry you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_17" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046004" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have made, and I will bear;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_24" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046004" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will carry and will save.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_11" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046005" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and compare me, that we may be alike?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="line" id="p23046006_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those who lavish gold from the purse,</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_08" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046006" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and weigh out silver in the scales,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="line" id="p23046006_15-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_15" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046006" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">then they fall down and worship!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="line" id="p23046007_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_10" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046007" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they set it in its place, and it stands there;</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it cannot move from its place.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="line" id="p23046007_26-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_26" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046007" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If one cries to it, it does not answer</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_35" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046007" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">or save him from his trouble.</span></span></div>
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<span class="end-line-group" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: block; height: 1em; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<div class="line" id="p23046008_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Remember this and stand firm,</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_06" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046008" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">recall it to mind, </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">you transgressors,</span></span></div>
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<div class="indent line" id="p23046009_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 7em; text-indent: -4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">remember the former things of old;</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_07" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046009" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for I am God, and there is no other;</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_16" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046009" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am God, and there is none like me,</span></span></div>
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<div class="line" id="p23046010_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">declaring the end from the beginning</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_07" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and from ancient times things not yet done,</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_15" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">saying, </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘My counsel shall stand,</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_20" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and I will accomplish all my purpose,’</span></span></div>
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<div class="line" id="p23046011_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">calling a bird of prey from the east,</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_09" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046011" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the man of my counsel from a far country.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><a alt="esv_28" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046011" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have purposed, and I will do it.</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
Here's what got me. Verses 3-4 show the breadth of God's hand in our lives. We came from Him, He carried us through the womb of our mothers, and then took us all the way to old age, all the way to our gray hairs. There are some beautiful words written about love in this life between a man and woman in marriage and love so often looks like a man and woman walking through this life together into old age. Perhaps even to the point of one caring for the other through illness or suffering of some kind. Love sticks with a person, even when their youth has long fled, their waistlines have thickened, wrinkles formed from years of smiles and tears, and dementia has taken over the mind. Love stays and cares and that's what God is doing here. Walking with us into old age. Creating us, bearing our loads and often carrying us through life. We don't do it alone. He is there, and ultimately he delivers us. He saves us through His son. He loves us that deeply and purely.<br />
<br />
Then God says, compare me. Compare me to the other gods people erect in their life. The wealthy have glitzy gods, and back then they literally had them formed into gods that they'd have made, carry home, and sit in a place where they could talk to it. But that little god couldn't do anything. It never moved from its place where it had been set. You could cry out to it, but it would never answer. I have lots of gods too, and while I wouldn't classify myself as wealthy by American standards, my heart still creates the same kinds of gods, desiring comfort, or security, or a Pinterest worthy living room, or perfectly obedient kids, or a little waistline, or Starbucks, or jewelry, or any one of the thousands of things that my heart vacillates between on any given day. And the true God says, 'Compare me.' Compare me to all those things and what stands? Who is bigger? Who has been at your side all this time? He has. My God has.<br />
<br />
<i>Remember this and stand firmly in this truth!</i> God gets serious here. He just throws it out there, who He is.<br />
<br />
<div class="line" id="p23046009_07-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">for I am God, and there is no other;</span></span></div>
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<div class="indent line" id="p23046009_16-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 7em; text-indent: -4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_16" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046009" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am God, and there is none like me,</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="line" id="p23046010_01-1" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #363030; line-height: 22px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5.5em; text-indent: -3.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">declaring the end from the beginning</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_07" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and from ancient times things not yet done,</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_15" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">saying, </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘My counsel shall stand,</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_20" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046010" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and I will accomplish all my purpose,’</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">calling a bird of prey from the east,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a alt="esv_09" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046011" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the man of my counsel from a far country.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><a alt="esv_28" class="va" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7478578492071853861" rel="v23046011" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span><span class="" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have purposed, and I will do it.</span></span></div>
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There just isn't anyone who compares to my God. He knows the beginning all the way to the end and He will accomplish everything he has set out to accomplish. From the beginning of time, to the end of this world, and all the details of my little life, He has spoken it all out, and He will bring it to pass. That is my God. He is good. And He will do it.<br />
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-32551421981773871672013-11-08T13:39:00.000-08:002014-05-02T09:21:12.432-07:00It's Friday Friends! I'm still stuck in October.... my brain doesn't want to admit that my favorite month of the year is over. You think I'm kindding. Luckily so far, November is looking a lot like October, with some beautiful color left in the trees and perfect temps!<br />
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I didn't get my Friday post up last week, so I'll back track a bit today to fill in.....<br />
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1. For the last 10 years our church, <a href="http://www.sonrisebaptist.com/" target="_blank">Sonrise Baptist Church</a>, has hosted a wonderful Fall Festival for our community. It's a great opportunity to serve and love the people around us with fun and games... and my yummy cookies! This year Pinterest inspired a few spiders, very fall like. <span id="goog_1239395755"></span><br />
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We had our own little Hulk in the house this year. He has the Rooooaaaarrrr down pat! </div>
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And our little Repunzel loved being all dressed up. </div>
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2. This happened. God's creativity on full display. The colors were magnificent! </div>
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3. We dressed up again for Halloween and I managed to rig up a the little crown that came with her new Repunzel baby so she could wear it. She might really think she is a princess now. We don't normally emphasize the whole princess thing (even though we may secretly consider her our princess.... we don't appreciate the haughty spirit that often comes with reinforcing it for little girls, so we try to stay away from it with her so as not to contradict the humility we try to teach her.) </div>
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4. Chris took the kids to a local park and let the kids run around happily. </div>
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5. Right after the above photo this happened. His first little bee sting. Poor guy. Fortunately he had little reaction and is fine now. </div>
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That's pretty much been our last couple of weeks. We've had some fun! </div>
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God has been good during this season of life that's different than usual. It's astounding to me how God shapes and molds us through his Word and through circumstances. Disappointments, opportunities, the good, the bad, the patience testing, the joy.... God is at work through it all. And while I'm really, really excited to see what God has for us in the next season of life, I don't want to miss what's happening in the here and now. Because he's just as much at work today as he will be tomorrow. </div>
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What's been going on for you? What is God using in your life?! </div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-33769860059835290082013-10-30T08:59:00.000-07:002013-11-26T14:09:27.837-08:00The Perry's Eat! Our Favorite Garlic Chicken PizzaSome foods fill your brain (and your mouth) with memories. The smell, the texture, the taste take you right back to a certain season of life. This pizza is one of those.<br />
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I was first taught how to make it by my sweet friend Crystal. During my last year of grad school we were two of the last of our college 'gang' to still be in town and we had a Friday night ritual of cooking dinner at my apartment and watching Friday night TV. I particularly remember <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0616117/" target="_blank">Joan of Arcadia</a>.... One night we made Chipotle copy cat (Before we had one in our college town), other nights fish tacos, and.... this pizza. I believe the recipe first came from our friend Letty (thanks Letty!). And after I got married the following fall it became a regular in our rotation. Last night as we were eating it my husband said all he could think of were our first few years of marriage in our first apartment, then our first house and lots of episodes of Smallville and Gilmore Girls. Ha! Apparently we watch TV when we eat this pizza :)<br />
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Well it was just as much of a hit last night as it was in those first few years and will definitely be making it's way back into my regular rotation!<br />
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I even found a decent crust that was easy and quick to throw together! Win! Win! I found the recipe for the crust <a href="http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/st-louis-style-pizza/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Ingredients: </div>
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<b>Crust</b></div>
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2 cups of unbleached self-rising flour*</div>
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2 Tbsp olive oil</div>
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6 Tbsp water</div>
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*Substitute 2 c. all-purpose flour + 1 tbsp baking powder + 1/2 tsp salt and increase water to 1/2 c. </div>
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<b>Toppings</b></div>
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1/2 red onion</div>
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2 cloves garlic, pressed or 2 3 tsp. of minced garlic</div>
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Olive oil</div>
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2 chicken breasts sliced in thin strips</div>
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3 Tbsp parsley</div>
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2 c. mozzarella cheese</div>
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1. Preheat oven to 425<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">°</span>F </div>
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2. Mix the flour, oil, and water together. The mixture will be flakey, so use your hands to form it together and shape into a ball. </div>
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3. Cover with saran wrap and let it sit for 10 minutes.</div>
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4. While the dough is sitting heat a good dosing (3-4 Tbsp.) of olive oil in a frying pan. Sauté the onion and pressed garlic until the onion is soft and sweetened. Add the chicken and cook through. </div>
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5. Grease 2 pieces of parchment paper and roll the dough out between the two. I ended up finishing the rolling without the parchment paper to get it thin enough. </div>
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6. In a separate bowl combine the chicken/garlic/onion mixture with the parsley and half of the cheese. Spread on the crust distributing evenly over the entire surface. Top with the remaining cheese.</div>
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7. Cook in oven for 10-13 minutes or until crust is cooked through and cheese is bubbly. </div>
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And Eat!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Seriously, it's fantastic! Enjoy! </span></div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-75451343444952268402013-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:002013-10-25T11:23:06.401-07:00It's Friday! Hey there friends! I'm linking up with <a href="http://www.thelaurenelizabeth.com/" target="_blank">Lauren for High Five for Friday</a>!<br />
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Sometimes we get a pause from ordinary life and get to step back and enjoy. Last weekend was just that! On Wednesday we thought our weekend plans were going to be thwarted by a stomach bug that hit my husband, but everyone woke up Thursday morning feeling great, so we finished packing our bags and headed up to the south side of Chicago where much of my family lives, praying that no one else would come down with anything! And this trip was a bit different than most. We had very few plans. Our only real objective was to visit a church that we've recently heard about near where my family lives. Other than that we just wanted to enjoy time with my family, and that we did!<br />
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1. Friday we hung out at my grandparents' farm. They have the most beautiful old Victorian home out in the country. My papa keeps Poll Herfeord Cattle and he and his son (my uncle) farm a lot of land out there. So we took the kids down to where my Uncle Craig was combining (is that a word?) and we all got a turn riding with him in the combine, watching it do its thing.<br />
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Isn't my gramma's place beautiful! It's one of my favorite places to be.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was pretty excited about it :)</td></tr>
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It really is incredible what this thing does..... it can separate all the corn kernels from the cobs and stalks and spits out all the unwanted stuff. Papa was telling me how when he was a boy they went through the fields two rows at a time with a horse and some kind of cart. It's amazing the transformation farming has gone through in the last 60 years! </div>
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The kids loved watching it work! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-iX2pNX2A975-i8iiijFKxmzhj1LepjHjteUXkG12rKZZgRhEMCLE9Y-ryBGaiV94uNMClSRUSYHmg6fWtL9KCdkbPWP7Yy1_Ce6mIjyg3b0avhbnC5aMdLvs0cE4lNhMbpXok4cruU/s1600/IMG_9998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-iX2pNX2A975-i8iiijFKxmzhj1LepjHjteUXkG12rKZZgRhEMCLE9Y-ryBGaiV94uNMClSRUSYHmg6fWtL9KCdkbPWP7Yy1_Ce6mIjyg3b0avhbnC5aMdLvs0cE4lNhMbpXok4cruU/s400/IMG_9998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of my favorite people! I've always had such a soft spot in my heart for my Gramma! She was a huge influence on me as a girl in learning to appreciate the beauty around me in all of God's creation and the creativity of others. </td></tr>
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2. Friday night we got to eat at one of my fave pizza places growing up. We often visited it for family birthdays and such!<br />
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We had dinner with my sister Brooke and my step-dad John. It was great to see both of them and catch up a bit! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landon loves his Aunts! </td></tr>
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Then afterwards we headed to a local Starbucks and chatted for awhile about bee keeping, my step-dad's specialty. We had fun.<br />
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3. Saturday morning had more farm time filled with kittens and cows and it was the perfect medicine for this slightly weary family.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How stinkin' cute is this?!!</td></tr>
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They chased these poor kittens all around the barn and I thought for sure one of them would fall and puncture themselves on some rusty something, but we managed out without any tetanus shots! Success!<br />
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I always love these climbing the fence shots at the farm. </div>
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We got to spend a little time with my mom that morning. Can you believe that was about the best shot I got of the three of them. The littles weren't exactly in a sitting down mood. </div>
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We enjoyed riding what Papa calls the 'Mule'. I don't know what it actually was... some kind of small tractor/riding little truck. I'm not sure. But we got to ride out to see another pasture of cows and let me tell you... they are so cute. I mean SO. Cute. I couldn't get any decent pictures, but they are such sweet animals. </div>
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Later in the day I got to meet up with my college roommate from my freshman year of college at Baptist Bible College. She and her husband and 4 BOYS live outside of Seattle, so I haven't seen her since freshman year and randomly they were in town speaking at a Missions Conference at a church. So we ran up to catch up for a few minutes. We only got to talk briefly, but it was sweet to see her and April :) </div>
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4. My great grandpa has sold the farm house he's lived in for the last 60ish years. So my gramma and her siblings have been cleaning it out. They have found so many fun old pictures! Looking back at your history and heritage is such a neat privilege that I know not everyone has. I was thrilled to find a few gems like these....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineLNInJKLS1UoUVVE2ZeqeRF4700gz8yX9a9bzhrZXgYnvl2opD3J18DP72dgFAqbUodLvvFq7Qp3Ro0leycTXLgfdqD8CfgUL0My8rokdTMEQNFmnxzQb4WfkJeFw7k7lXHePsuir4s/s1600/IMG_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineLNInJKLS1UoUVVE2ZeqeRF4700gz8yX9a9bzhrZXgYnvl2opD3J18DP72dgFAqbUodLvvFq7Qp3Ro0leycTXLgfdqD8CfgUL0My8rokdTMEQNFmnxzQb4WfkJeFw7k7lXHePsuir4s/s400/IMG_0055.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my great grandma (My maternal grandmother's mother). </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my mom and I when I was around 7 months old. I was kind of a chunk here! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands down my favorite. These 2 are my great-grandparents (my maternal grandmother's parents). Isn't it precious!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 generations and one of the youngest pics I've ever seen of myself. I was pleased to see that my daughter looked a bit like me as a baby. I've never been able to tell who she looked like! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBA8qNR5Z6fIDdDGVEFcG2nYCC5DiKNFC10T9uYf8Yg_IrQmkDehgXAxYoEpQuONQmCBIRRnOp2gdihoM_gMTeIz1cG2wpM3bOGtPB5CEuSVW92ZPaPp5iI4DttZv54NqyM8q7UwBBjk/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBA8qNR5Z6fIDdDGVEFcG2nYCC5DiKNFC10T9uYf8Yg_IrQmkDehgXAxYoEpQuONQmCBIRRnOp2gdihoM_gMTeIz1cG2wpM3bOGtPB5CEuSVW92ZPaPp5iI4DttZv54NqyM8q7UwBBjk/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is precious too. My grandmother's 17th Birthday party in the 1950's. Her sister is on the far left.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was so fun to me. My parents divorced when I was 4 so there really aren't a lot of memories or pics around of everyone together. This had both of them and my mom's parents and her paternal grandmother. Pretty neat.... and my brother Aubrey is the spitting image of my dad :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was so cool too. Me (As a baby), my dad, his mom, and her mom (4 generations). And that dress my grandma is wearing... priceless!</td></tr>
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5. Sunday was a wonderful day. We attended church in Northwest Indiana at a church we've recently become familiar with. If you're looking for a good place to learn and grow in Christ I highly recommend Bethel Church in Crown Point, IN (and they have a campus in Cedar Lake too!) </div>
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We heard a wonderful gospel centered message, ate lunch at Portillo's a popular Chicago area restaurant, and headed downtown to visit my step-dad farmer's market in the Pilsen Community at 18th and Halstead where he sells his honey and jellies and jams... and eggs... and all kinds of stuff. </div>
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He calls himself the King Bee. I don't know how that name got started but it fits him perfectly. He had 11 of these shirts made with little honey bees all over them. He's kept bees for as long as I can remember and I'm glad he's been able to make such a nice business out of it. </div>
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My kids kind of love the city too. Landon tends to come alive as you can see.... well both of them do.<br />
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Seriously my favorite place on earth. </div>
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After hanging out with my step-dad for a bit we headed to the north side of the city to visit with my brother. After graduating from the Illinois Institute of Technology he got a job in the city and has made a nice life for himself there. The kids loved hanging out with Uncle Preston! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROjaypKwGyMYsa_jLLUWr2GRyXcGXirFLg_SEjTgiaPx1b2MooWHuoyz9V9JYl-ZNfPmlNYuhs_fvudUVozWA9YFDV9IJ0Jd8UdFyNHFCl4fOd9jeju0tmEOcmCZhOWqR8eRhSYzQlSQ/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROjaypKwGyMYsa_jLLUWr2GRyXcGXirFLg_SEjTgiaPx1b2MooWHuoyz9V9JYl-ZNfPmlNYuhs_fvudUVozWA9YFDV9IJ0Jd8UdFyNHFCl4fOd9jeju0tmEOcmCZhOWqR8eRhSYzQlSQ/s640/IMG_0101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We took a walk AROUND THE CORNER to my little slice of Heaven on Earth.... Target of course. </div>
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Chris snapped this shot of me looking around. Clearly I'm excited. 2 whole stories of Target goodness! <br />
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Preston got right on down and hung out with the kids. Of course they loved it. </div>
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We walked around the back side of his street to a fun little city park where the kids had a ball playing and running all their energy out !</div>
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Ok so this whole Friday post is about last weekend, but it was just that good. And this week has just been work, not as exciting :) </div>
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Thanks for looking at this glimpse into our weekend and thank you to our family for allowing us to crash in your homes and hanging out with us. We love seeing you!</div>
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-76355863826546011772013-10-15T14:22:00.001-07:002013-10-15T14:22:45.616-07:00Things I'm reading and Loving!Here are a few links to things I've been reading over the last week that have caught my attention....<br />
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1. I've been concerned about healthy food for awhile. When I was pregnant with my first I started reading more and more about food, and while I've always enjoyed a pretty healthy diet, I became a bit more passionate about it, both for myself, as well as for the rest of the family. Sugar is something I still battle with finding a balance in.... and I think these <a href="http://www.designmom.com/2013/10/sugar-rules/#more-41649" target="_blank">sugar rules</a> might be a good idea.<br />
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2. Even when life presents some struggles, and let's face it, every day has them, I've been learning over the last several years to enjoy the ride. We've been walking through some passages in Eccelesiastes lately and talking about the 'portion' that God gives us. Everything we have materially, and even just our circumstances are our portion from God. And He wants us to enjoy it. We see in Romans 8 that through all of it He is growing us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ. This little statement reminded me of all that today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE2fVpiFep9dJVzm44NbYHQ2zt-B7wXXBzZLOj7lIHWFDWUtvSDGxHkztjRbFH4F3uo6sNtw-UKxmhEes4S4HdJma3TG4_gxkpKdW8UIB_lgKzvWRqf9P1PoW2zubhD92MwbC-obZri4/s1600/Enjoy+it+Because+It's+Happening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE2fVpiFep9dJVzm44NbYHQ2zt-B7wXXBzZLOj7lIHWFDWUtvSDGxHkztjRbFH4F3uo6sNtw-UKxmhEes4S4HdJma3TG4_gxkpKdW8UIB_lgKzvWRqf9P1PoW2zubhD92MwbC-obZri4/s320/Enjoy+it+Because+It's+Happening.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: http://hellopetersen.bigcartel.com/product/petersen-poster-enjoy-it</td></tr>
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3. I can't agree more with <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2013/10/15/dont-give-your-kid-a-trophy-for-losing/?utm_source=feedly" target="_blank">Trevin Wax</a>, that we shouldn't give our kids trophies for losing. I stand on the sidelines even at my 4 year olds t-ball games wondering why on earth we don't keep track of the score. I want to be able to congratulate my boy on his hard work.... but it never comes.... It seems so silly and I don't think it teaches them to work hard for success. They feel like everyone is successful, which isn't at all the case in real life. Good read.<br />
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4. Do you ever fall prey to the mommy wars? The comparison games of mom vs. mom? The ultra fit mom vs. the crunchy mom vs. the cloth diapering mom vs. the crafty mom..... I want to be all of those on any given day and it's so easy to compare myself against all of these other women. <a href="http://lovingmylot.com/2013/08/23/mom-vs-mom-the-war-i-didnt-see-coming/" target="_blank">This response</a> points moms to the right place.... Christ... to find their sense of identity so that we don't have to compare ourselves against each other.<br />
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5. I thought Tim Challies did a great job here of pointing out some of the ways that <a href="http://www.challies.com/christian-living/its-not-just-a-guy-thing" target="_blank">women tend to take a second glance</a>.<br />
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6. I love this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/13088655140726344/" target="_blank">curtained idea for covering a closet</a>, especially in a little girl's room.<br />
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7. This <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/13088655140704132/" target="_blank">coat </a>has me swooning!<br />
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Enjoy!abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-24104732917489190002013-10-11T14:03:00.000-07:002013-10-11T14:03:36.414-07:00It's Friday Friends! Can't believe my crazy week of being ALONE with the kids went by so fast, and so without a hitch! Before my husband left bright and early last Saturday morning I had been struggling in my inner woman with my kids..... letting their frustrations frustrate me. Not good for a week alone with the kids, and one in which they'd be joining me at the office more often than not. So I knew I had to repent of my selfish attitude and change my perspective fast! Thankfully, the Lord changed my heart, and the kids and I had a great week while the hubs was in Alabama for the <a href="http://www.biblicalcounseling.com/" target="_blank">NANC/ACBC Conference</a>!<br />
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And it's once again time for my High Five for Friday post, linking up with <a href="http://www.thelaurenelizabeth.com/" target="_blank">The Lauren Elizabeth</a>!<br />
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1. I've had a heart for Biblical Counseling since my senior year of college. God opened my eyes to the sufficiency of His Word through an Apologetics course with Dr. Christopher (info for the BBC alum who are readers), and the counseling and theology courses I took over the next few years with Dr. Kevin Carson and Dr. Wayne Slusser, and others as I completed my Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling dramatically changed my life and perspective. The Holy Spirit made something click in my brain that never had before. The Gospel literally changes everything, starting with my heart, and He instilled in me a passion for women and girls to know God's Word and to let it change them that has yet to quiet down. Chris has a similar passion (although not aimed at girls in particular as mine is;) and I was excited when he was given the opportunity to go to this year's NANC (National Association of Nouthetic Counseling) Conference. It was somewhat of a historic event as they changed the name of NANC To ACBC (<a href="http://www.biblicalcounseling.com/" target="_blank">Association of Certified Biblical Counselors</a>), and he was honored to be there for the decision. We have plans to work on our certification over the next year. We both have all the training completed, and just need to test and be observed. I've been counseling girls and women in our church's Biblical Counseling Ministry for the last 6 years, so it will be nice to have that certification completed! I love that he was able to go and be inspired and have fellowship with one of our pastors the head of our counseling ministry!<br />
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2. You already know all about the little lady's 3rd Birthday Bash, but did you know my little man helped make the cup cakes? Can I just squeeze him? He asked if he could help. He loves his little sis so much!<br />
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3. This isn't the greatest pic, but post party I turned her big '3' made out of Instagram pics into a heart for her room. I love having some new pics up in her room for her to enjoy!<br />
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4. While the hubs was gone I tried to get the kids out and enjoy the incredible weather we've had over the last week.... it's finally starting to feel a bit like fall! I caught this pretty pic along a local river and it had an almost magical feel to it. They both are growing so fast and they love taking bike rides. I'm gonna need to get my own soon to keep up with them!<br />
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They got to come with me a few times to work with this week and I made sure to get them out to the park for a mid day lunch break. This little lady loves to swing! </div>
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She also enjoys a good ride through the car wash. (That makes my week sound fascinating huh :) </div>
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5. And then there was this..... how on earth could I make them stay in their own bed when daddy was gone. It was a camp out with mommy this week! </div>
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All in all I hada great time this week hanging with the kids and snagging some extra time with them. Thank you Lord for changing my perspective and allowing me to enjoy this beautiful season of life! </div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-62192891684527937882013-10-09T12:51:00.000-07:002013-10-09T12:51:00.344-07:00The Little Lady's 3rd BirthdayCall us weird but we probably won't throw huge birthday parties for our kids every year. So far we've done parties on their 1st and 3rd Birthdays, but just a simple family gathering for their 2nd and 4th.<br />
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Families have different traditions and I for one love birthdays. It's a day to celebrate the entrance into this world of the ones I love. And my children are some of my favorite people to celebrate. So their birthdays are a big deal. But I also know the depths of depravity in my heart and my own desire for others to celebrate ME.... and I want my children to be loved and celebrated.... but not expect it as my own heart can sometimes do.<br />
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How on earth do you find that balance in teaching your kids?!<br />
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We're working through that. But not having HUGE parties every year is one way we're trying to flesh that out.<br />
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This year though was the 3rd Birthday for our little lady and we wanted to throw her a little shebang. She has literally been talking about her party since at least March (when her big brother had his last Birthday) and she had pretty high hopes for a 3 year old. We tried to make it a fun time for her and even got to spread out the celebration over two days since her actual birthday was on Friday and her party was on Saturday.<br />
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So I left work a little early and we did some running around. She wore her new tutu from Grandma Perry and I'm pretty sure she felt very dressed up. Look at that grin!<br />
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Daddy treated her to her first rose and a little balloon. That was the icing on her cake. Pretty special stuff.<br />
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Then we spent the evening at Aunt Brittany and Uncle Matt's house to eat a pizza dinner, sing her Happy Birthday (she sang along!), open 1 present (a special outfit for her party from Aunt Britt) and watch the much anticipated Jake the Pirate MOVIE that Brittany DVR'd for the kids.<br />
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Obviously they were entranced. And I think it was a good day for her.<br />
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However Saturday was her PaRtY! (And let's face it.... that's what she's been waiting for all these months).<br />
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Chris had to leave to go out of town on Saturday morning for the <a href="http://www.biblicalcounseling.com/" target="_blank">Association of Certified Biblical Counselors Conference</a> in Alabama and the decision to go was a bit last minute, so I was left to party prep by myself. Thank you Connor for coming over and helping out. I never would have gotten it all done without you! As I was going through my phone I found this lovely little creation that the Birthday Girl made! Ha! Love it! </div>
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My sister found some pretty Martha Stewart party decorations on a recent trip to the JC Penny Home store. I had no idea they carried that line and their sale prices weren't bad. The Birthday Girl requested <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/13088655136597286/" target="_blank">Strawberry Cupcakes</a> for her party so I made the same recipe I used for her 1st Birthday party from Sprinkles Cupcakes. They always turn out so good! </div>
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I got Instagram pictures of the little lady printed up at Walgreens (did you know they print them in 4x4?!) and made this big '3' on the wall. Afterwards I took them down and made a heart on her bedroom wall with them. I love looking back at all the fun photos from her 3 years of life! So many good memories for both her and I. It amazes me what she remembers! </div>
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Next check out these grins. She is so hard to photograph. The girl won't sit still. But she was SO happy! </div>
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And of course present time. Her friends were so kind and each brought a sweet gift for her. Lots of new coloring books and 3 baby dolls! Look at the open mouth. She was pretty excited to have her very own Tangled dress and doll. (it's been a favorite movie for awhile)</div>
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Bad picture (girl doesn't stop moving!), but she was pretty pleased. </div>
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All in all I think her party was a success! I did forget to get a group picture. I just realized that. Bummer. Wish I had one of all her friends. </div>
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That evening I took the kids (by myself!) to see the new Monster's University movie at our little discount theater. We barely squeezed in... nabbing two of the last seats in the house. The little lady sat on my lap the whole time (squeezing her Boo doll I might add that she had just opened!) and had such fun. </div>
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They've only been to 2 other movies.... both with their aunt Britt, so it was a fun new experience for me taking them. And my little man said to me on the way out, 'Mom, that was fun!' So it was a good night in my book. </div>
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All in all, we got to celebrate our favorite little girl and the 3 years God has blessed us with allowing her to be a part of our family. It still blows me away sometimes when I consider the privilege it is to be her mom and the grace God shows us in allowing us these relationships. I'm tearing up even now just thinking about it, the light in her eyes, her fierce little spirit, her spunk and song in her step. It all blows me away, that God allows me to be a part of her life and loans her to us with the responsibility of raising her for His glory..... it's big stuff and my heart is so full. </div>
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We love you our Little Lady! </div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-46727314229658269242013-10-08T06:30:00.000-07:002013-10-08T06:30:01.409-07:00Things I'm Reading and LovingWell hello there Tuesday. It's nice to see you. The kids and I have been enjoying the beautiful fall weather this weekend. We enjoyed the little lady's 3rd Birthday and her party, we played tennis outside and rode bikes yesterday and even got a little park time in today. October is my favorite month of the year! The cool crisp air adds energy to my day and I have a few favorite streets in town that I go out of my way to drive down just to watch the leaves turn each week. God's beauty in the seasons astounds me every year and every fall I fall head over heals in love with autumn fresh and anew.<br />
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Enough basking in the cool weather and on with some of my fave links for the week!<br />
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1. I've not been very present on Twitter recently. Not sure why. It hasn't captured my attention like Instagram. Facebook even bores lately. But apparently I missed some funny stuff the other day. <a href="http://www.challies.com/" target="_blank">Challies</a> filled me in on the whole <a href="http://www.challies.com/humor/add-a-word-ruin-a-christian-book?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+challies%2FXhEt+%28Challies+Dot+Com%29" target="_blank">#addawordruinachristianbook hashtag</a> and I was sitting on the couch last night LOLing (laughing out loud). This is some pretty funny stuff.<br />
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2. This simple little <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/13088655140668480/" target="_blank">Pinterest pin</a> and the C.S. Lewis quote on it really got me thinking.<br />
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"Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage."</div>
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I really hate the way my kids play sometimes. Our little boy loves everything about sword fights and gun shooting. And I really want him to properly understand violence. We live in a world that has become so violent. And for a long time his play has made me a bit uneasy. BUT.... I don't know, maybe it's not all bad. Because the reality is, evil is alive and present in the world. Satan hasn't left yet. And man alone has enough evil in his own heart. I want to be creative and active in giving Landon brave heroes that he can model himself after so that he can have heard of 'brave knights and heroic courage.'<br />
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3. Have you seen that Target is now carrying <a href="http://www.target.com/p/nespresso-pixie-espresso-machine-bundle/-/A-14739241#prodSlot=medium_1_7" target="_blank">Nespresso brand</a> espresso makers? I'm pretty excited. My sister has one and I stop by a few mornings a week to make my coffee at her house, because it's just that good (and my sister lives in my neighborhood. It's cheaper and faster than a Starbucks!).<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">4. One of my favorite restaurants in town is <a href="http://www.flamesteakhouse.com/" target="_blank">Flame</a>. My company used to take us there for Christmas every year and it was always a highlight of the holiday season for me. Not only do they have fabulous steaks, but really my favorite thing is their Lobster Macaroni and Cheese. The girls of <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/" target="_blank">A BEAUTIFUL MESS</a> have recreated<a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/09/lobster-baked-macaroni-cheese.html" target="_blank"> the recipe</a> and I'm dying to try it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Carolyn McCulley always has a nice perspective and I apprecaite her article on <a href="http://www.boundless.org/faith/2013/make-love-your-aim" target="_blank">Boundless</a> about Spiritual Gifts.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 27px;">'Make love your aim, and you never have to be self-conscious about your efforts. Love never fails.'</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">she says. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. And finally...........</span><br />
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Aren't you?!!<br />
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-76236635700590946952013-10-04T10:44:00.003-07:002013-10-04T10:44:41.327-07:00It's a Very SpEcIaL Friday! It's Friday friends! And I've been a little absent here at the blog lately. Suffice it to say that my work life has been a bit extra busy lately.... and that's where I tend to do my blogging. So I've had to slow down a bit while my mind reorganizes.<br />
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I'm back to join us with <a href="http://thelaurenelizabeth.com/" target="_blank">Lauren for High Five for Friday</a> and I've got some fun stuff!<br />
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1. Today is a very special day in our family. It's our little lady's 3rd Birthday!<br />
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She is such a little light in our family. So full of spunk and she has an opinion on pretty much everything and exact ways she likes things done. Just getting in bed at night is such a battle because the ways she wants every detail changes from day to day. Yet, eventually she always ends up snuggled underneath her blanket and once she's actually asleep, you'd never know she had a care in the world. </div>
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Watching this little lady grow up is one of my greatest privileges, but being her mom is my scariest endeavor. There is so much responsibility wrapped up in raising this little girl. And I think I feel it heavier than I do with my son, just because of shared gender. While our little man has his dad to look to and to model himself after, this little girl is modeling herself after me. So I feel this weight of being everything I dream for her. I have to be careful to make sure that my dreams for her are grounded in Scripture and are flexible enough to follow God's plans for her life. If I've learned anything in my 32 years it's that God's plans most certainly don't always follow my plans! </div>
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But today (and tomorrow, since her party is tomorrow), we celebrate her, and her life, and the joy that she brings to us, and so many others. My greatest prayer for her is that she would recognize her sin, and her need for Christ and the redemption he provides for us through his sacrifice and that she would use her life to love Him more than anything and strive to always bring all glory to Him. </div>
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2. In other news.... we did a little traveling last weekend to visit Chris' grandmother in Wichita, KS. His parents live there and his last remaining grandparent is in a nursing home there struggling with dementia. She is a sweet lady who has loved the Lord for many years and served Him faithfully in her little Baptist Church in small town Kansas. It's precious really. </div>
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I was thankful we got to visit with her. Chris has some nice conversations with her and she seemed perky and very happy to have him visit and to see her great-grandkids. She was in a nice home with caring workers which was good to see as well. </div>
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3. While in town we visited the <a href="https://www.scz.org/" target="_blank">Sedgwick County Zoo</a>. Chris has always reminisced about what a great zoo it was (especially for a mid sized city) so I was excited to take the kids and see what they thought. The kids are the true test, am I right?? Well, the verdict was that it was a blast. They had a nice petting area where the kids could feed the sheep, watch cows and horses eat, and my favorite.... pet the baby goats. The baby goats were a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. </div>
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Can I please have one Chris?!! </div>
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The Tiger exhibit was my next favorite. I've never been that close to a Tiger, though I was glad it was through glass. </div>
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Even cooler was that we were there on one of the first days that they were allowing visitors to see their new baby Tiger cubs. We waited in line for about an hour that evening with Chris' cousin and his family. The boys played and we stood. in. line. for. a. long. time. Then the tiger cubs were at the further part of the tiger sanctuary, and it was dusk so we could hardly see them. But they were cute :) and the kids had fun. </div>
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4. Last week we celebrated our 9th Anniversary. I know everyone says it, but wow is time starting to feel like it's going by fast. Nine years hardly seems possible. I'm so thankful to have spent these years with my best friend. God has been faithful and grown us in ways we never thought possible and blessed us in ways we could have never have imagined. I truly can't wait to see what God does next! </div>
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Our big day was in the middle of the week, so we celebrated at home that night with the kids, but Chris surprised me over the weekend, by having some of our College students from church set up a recreation of a date back in our college days at a local park, complete with sparkling cider and candlelight. It was so sweet. And I was just as surprised this time as I was last time. I am so blessed by this guy. </div>
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5. The kids have had a lot of great park days this week. It's been warm. Honestly, too warm for my taste. But they've enjoyed the outdoor play time. Chris has captured some fun photos. </div>
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It's been a good last few weeks. We've seen God work in some crazy ways. And we're still waiting on a lot of things. But even in the waiting God grows us, renews us day by day, and teaches us more than I think we even realize right now. I'm so thankful for His amazing grace and provision and the hope of what's to come, both in this life and the next. The joys we experience here will be nothing in comparison to being with Him. </div>
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How has God been growing you this week? What circumstances are pointing you straight to Him?<br />
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-26218901756515892442013-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:002013-09-16T11:06:12.614-07:00Chicken Tortilla SoupOne of my favorite soups to throw together is Chicken Tortilla soup. It takes just a few simple ingredients that I usually have around the house and it's the perfect warm punch of flavor on a cool day. I love finding ways to feed my family fresh, tasty food on a budget. It's one small way I can be a Godly wife, mother, and homemaker, fulfilling my Biblical roles while loving every bite!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI6HcxCWO51SGP1BUgQhgECDUbccAOQVzOR5q8lqJMXKM5_ikj433_q2fjdcBO9c1UqmM7xebfDV-WTPUQKP0kAcEkF_ZdzwZS_6tGsRlzofHXkAhzXRTPuU3NOzWwmvIg7sr1jyx_-A/s1600/Chicken+Tortilla+Soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI6HcxCWO51SGP1BUgQhgECDUbccAOQVzOR5q8lqJMXKM5_ikj433_q2fjdcBO9c1UqmM7xebfDV-WTPUQKP0kAcEkF_ZdzwZS_6tGsRlzofHXkAhzXRTPuU3NOzWwmvIg7sr1jyx_-A/s400/Chicken+Tortilla+Soup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Ingredients:<br />
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Soup<br />
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<ul>
<li>4-6 cups of Chicken Broth (I like to make mine at home and freeze it)</li>
<li>1-2 cups of chunky salsa (Our local grocery stores have a $1 section that has the perfect salsa for this. I've found the cheapest ones work best in this soup)</li>
<li>1 cup of corn (Frozen or canned)</li>
<li>Precooked chicken (I love to use leftovers from a roasted whole chicken, or I'll bake it in the oven right before making the soup)</li>
<li>Black Beans (optional)</li>
<li>Leftover Rice (optional)</li>
</ul>
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Garnish:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Mexian Cheese</li>
<li>Sour Cream</li>
<li>Avacado</li>
<li>Tortilla Chips or Corn Bread</li>
</ul>
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Put all the soup ingredients together in a Stock pot and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve!<br />
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-22887571631380913942013-09-11T12:54:00.000-07:002013-09-11T12:56:05.548-07:00In Tenderness<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been listening to <a href="http://marshill.bandcamp.com/track/in-tenderness" target="_blank">this song</a> for the last month, but Wednesday morning as I rounded the first corner on my morning run the truths it teaches hit me fresh and I almost broke into thankful tears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me share the lyrics first:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGi-Plb8qMVoZrDY5E7G_CqDOBSIiSDQg2b-7h3t5L5fZro1ATQ5svsCENAne8DItwEdXFGPCnAWgX9K8WfiKX0O7C9SBggxFPt5chwIicVr12O-6H64xE1Q_-DGo12ypAlHtSXw8mdXo/s1600/Citizens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGi-Plb8qMVoZrDY5E7G_CqDOBSIiSDQg2b-7h3t5L5fZro1ATQ5svsCENAne8DItwEdXFGPCnAWgX9K8WfiKX0O7C9SBggxFPt5chwIicVr12O-6H64xE1Q_-DGo12ypAlHtSXw8mdXo/s200/Citizens.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="tralbumData lyricsText" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
In tenderness he sought me<br />
Weary and sick with sin<br />
And on his shoulders brought me<br />
Back to his fold again<br />
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While angels in his presence sang<br />
Until the courts of heaven rang<br />
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Oh, the love that sought me!<br />
Oh, the blood that bought me!<br />
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold of God<br />
Grace that brought me to the fold of God<br />
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He died for me while I was sinning<br />
Needy and poor and blind<br />
He whispered to assure me,<br />
“I've found thee, thou art mine”<br />
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I'd never heard a sweeter voice<br />
It made my aching heart rejoice<br />
<br />
Upon his grace I’ll daily ponder<br />
And sing anew his praise<br />
With all adoring wonder<br />
His blessings I retrace<br />
<br />
It seems as if eternal days<br />
Are far too short to sing his praise!</div>
<h3 class="credits-label" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; left: -10000px; position: absolute; top: -10000px;">
credits</h3>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
from <a href="http://marshill.bandcamp.com/album/already-not-yet" style="color: #a99466; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Already / Not Yet</a>, track released May 8, 2012</div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was rounding the corner that morning I was flooded with memories of this summer and the struggle I had internally with God. I struggled to trust Him, to believe that He was good to me, that He had good things for me. I'd never felt like that before and it surprised me and annoyed me. But...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>'In tenderness he sought me, weary and sick with sin, and on his shoulders brought me, back to his fold again.' </i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was so sweet to consider that he didn't just seek me out on the day he saved me, but that even in my continuing struggle he'd brought me back. When I was just plain weary and struggling with the sin of doubt, he lifted me back up and brought me home, back to his fold. Back to complete faith and trust in Him. </span></div>
<div class="tralbumData tralbum-credits" style="background-color: white; margin-top: 1em; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">In my day of greatest need, when I was destitute in sin, he reached down and found me, claiming me as his own. And now </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">He whispers to me every day, 'I've found you. You are mine.' Have you ever heard more beautiful words? I can't speak for the guys around me, but as a girl it seems that for most of us, this is our greatest longing, to BE somebody's. We try to find it in guys, in friendships, from our parents, etc. etc. And then some of us fight against it, trying so hard to be </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">independent and on our own, completely self sufficient. But God reaches down and claims us. He puts his mark on us through the death defying power of His son and makes us His. No other relationship can ever provide the satisfaction for me that being God's provides. So I no longer have to expect my husband, or my kids, or me parents, or friends to make me feel wanted. I am God's. Nothing else is really all that important. I am His. And my heart rejoices in this over and over again. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And therein lies my only power for day to day living. It makes me sing with this song: </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Upon his grace I’ll daily ponder</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> , </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And sing anew his praise</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> , </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">With all adoring wonder</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> , </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">His blessings I retrace</span></i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a joy to have observed in my own life, not only the power of the gospel for my salvation, but the power of the gospel and the love of God even post salvation to keep me as his own and to restore genuine, full faith in Him. His love will never let me go. I'm His. </span></div>
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-57226280537904940692013-09-06T13:35:00.001-07:002013-09-06T13:35:30.584-07:00It's Friday, It's Friday, It's FridayWeeks with a holiday to start off always feel like they take forever to go by. Anyone else ever feel that way. They should feel shorter, but they feel longer. Craziness.<br />
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1. I was thumbing through some old pics and found this sweet little prophetic gem. Just 2.5 years later we were getting married. We had NO idea that would happen when we were on this 'court'. Crazy wonderful how God works life out.</div>
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2. Chris set the pool up for the kiddos and they had a ball splashing around. We're finally having 'summer' around here with warmer temps and I'm ready to put on corduroys and chambray shirts. Isn't that how it always works :) </div>
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3. Saturday we got my sis and her hubby all moved into their new house. Slowly they're getting settled! And we're right down the street from each other now. </div>
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4. Labor Day was a wonderful and much needed day off and family day. We started the day with a little Play-Doh time, took a 2.5 mile bike ride, I ran back to our car, and we topped it off with some ice cream at a local place. The kids had chocolate all over themselves by the time we were done, so I'm pretty sure it was a success! </div>
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5. Cool mornings have meant breakfast on the patio for me! Love. Love. Love.</div>
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6. Chris took the kids to Jump Mania for the first time this week. They had SUCH a good time. Pretty sure we'll be making this a more regular activity.</div>
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7. Anyone else feed their kids moldy yogurt. Whoops. Thankful they figured out the issue and are getting it resolved. My kids love this yogurt! </div>
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How has your week been? </div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-31719069498588195882013-09-03T10:22:00.000-07:002013-09-03T10:22:14.517-07:00Things I'm Reading and Loving! 1. Stop <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/08/23/213578553/julia-child-was-wrong-don-t-wash-your-raw-chicken-folks" target="_blank">washing your chicken</a>! I've honestly always wondered about this. Now I know. Now you do too.<br />
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2. I'm so excited to make a variation of<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140448505/" target="_blank"> these</a> later this week!<br />
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3. My husband mentioned that we may be getting a dresser than he thinks has a similar shape to this.... how fun would <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140470563/" target="_blank">this</a> paint job be on it?<br />
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4. Nicole Balch of <a href="http://makingitlovely.com/" target="_blank">Making it Lovely</a> recently purchased a <a href="http://makingitlovely.com/2013/08/29/the-victorian-house-the-rest-of-the-second-floor/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+makingitlovely+%28Making+it+Lovely%29" target="_blank">Victorian House</a> in the burbs of Chicago. I can't wait to see what she does with it. I've always loved her mid century style and I'm seriously curious to watch her transform this house into something more up to date, while I'm sure she'll retain much of the original charm!<br />
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-73327653938989046522013-08-30T07:42:00.004-07:002013-08-30T07:42:45.415-07:00Miley Cyrus, Modesty, and How We Teach our Teenage Girls WrongI've been listening to all this chatter over the last couple of days about Miley and there have been some good things said about it all, like Trevin Wax's <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2013/08/26/i-weep-for-miley/" target="_blank">I Weep for Miley</a>. This development and just the season of the year (Summertime!) has led to a lot of discussion over the last several months about modesty, some of which has been good, but some of which has me weeping.<br />
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I've heard LOTS of things about modesty over the years. I grew up in a pretty conservative church culture. The kind where girls only wore skirts or culottes. My sister wouldn't go to youth activities because she always got talked to about her jeans (not that they rode too low or were too tight or anything... just the fact that she was wearing them). I never quite got some of the rules that were put in place for us girls. Because, for instance, the culottes showed more leg than my pants did on the volleyball court (we seemed to play volleyball a lot). But it was what it was, and I know that our church leadership was trying to help us to live out this whole modesty thing, because what we wear is important. It was just done in a way that I didn't understand.<br />
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We've moved forward from the whole culotte fiasco I think (although I looked good in a pair of mean teal polk-a-dot culottes with a matching scrunchie), but modesty is still a very hot topic and the sexuality of women is talked about more and more. And here comes Miley, the sweet little Hannah Montana Disney character (which I honestly never saw much of, maybe 2 episodes). I only knew of her from afar. I watched about 10 seconds of her performance Sunday night and was just kind of bewildered. I don't know why anyone would want to move like that in public. And it has erupted all sorts of reactions. One in particular that I watched was especially heartbreaking to me. The conversation in this pastoral response video quickly moved from Miley to just general modesty for women, young women in particular, and while I appreciate the video's desire to teach young women about modesty from a pastor's perspective (a much needed topic of discussion for women), here is my humble opinion of what was lacking within in this video, and often times is lacking in discussions about modesty.<br />
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I've heard mentioned over and over again in my life when taught on this subject that how you dress will determine what you attract. And the guys that are attracted to immodesty will eventually throw you to the curb. The guys who are attracted to a modest girl recognize the prize, the princess that they have. The particular conversation within this video that I heard recently compared girls to cars. The immodest girl is like a Ford Ranger, he said. She's normal and common. She has to advertise to attract. Everyone has a truck like that because it's common. Whereas a modest girl is a Rolls Royce. She's valuable and priceless and will withstand the test of time. So if you want to be classy, or one of a kind, a rolls royce if you will, be modest.<br />
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This comparison broke my heart for a few reasons:<br />
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1. While there is a certain level of truth that the way you present yourself will attract a certain type of guy, there is no absolute to this. Please don't make implied promises to impressionable young girls that tug at their heartstrings. Most girls deeply crave the attention of a man, and most want one who will be faithful to her (despite what many will say). Making the kind of guy you're gonna end up with the motivation of modestly, puts that motivation in the wrong place. I've watched too many girls grow up thinking that if they act a certain way and dress a certain way they're sure to get a certain kind of guy. And some of them end up alone, or some of them end up being cheated on. And they are left with heartbreak, because the driving motivation behind what they had been doing all those years was selfish and their hearts didn't get what they had been (perhaps subtly) promised.<br />
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2. Please don't ever compare a girl to a car again. It only adds fuel to the fire of young men viewing women as objects, especially in the case with a car.... something that most guys love, and love to use and abuse! I am not a Ford Ranger (a pickup truck?!). I am not a Rolls Royce either. Neither of these are made in the image of our God, as all women are (and men are for that matter). I realize that this was just an analogy that this pastor used, but it lacked much when it came to viewing God's women as the children of God that they are.<br />
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3. Further, and perhaps most important, this comparison and the way it was made (and the way I've heard it made for so much of my life at youth camps and such) doesn't point young women to the gospel, it doesn't point them to Jesus, it simply plays at the idols of their heart, mainly the desire to 'stand out.' As women this desire is played on everywhere and our clothing is one of the main ways in which women attempt to stand out from the crowd. Different methods are used, varying styles of clothing and hair, different personalities, different sins even, but the root issue at stake behind all of it is the desire for glory for self. But God is the one who deserves ALL of the glory. When I get dressed in the morning it should never be to 'stand out.' My clothes shouldn't draw attention to me, they should be a reflection of my walk with my savior. And to encourage women and girls to be modest for the purposes of standing out, is only asking them to dress in more covering clothing <u>for the sin</u> of seeking personal attention.... <u>the very same sin </u>they were committing (more often than not) when they were choosing to dress in less clothing.<br />
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<b>It's just exchanging a sin for a sin, not pointing our girls to Jesus.</b><br />
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The answer to the clothing debate isn't exactly simple, and there are not hard and fast rules, but the root of it is simple. Girls, immerse your heart in Jesus and want nothing more than him. If we're dressing to draw attention to ourselves in any way we're dressing selfishly, and sinfully, no matter how modest your outfit might be. But if we're dressing for God's glory, we will be mindful of others and not seek to draw attention to our bodies, but rather our sweet spirits that are a reflection of our Savior will draw attention <u>to God</u>.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;">Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;">but let your adorning be </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 22px;">the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.</span><span class="extra_text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (1 Peter 3:3-4, ESV)</span></span></div>
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-54861341083708708252013-08-30T06:30:00.000-07:002013-08-30T06:30:01.340-07:00It's FRIDAY! (Plus a 3 day weekend!) Something about this weekend has me slightly giddy inside. With my hubs being around the house all day right now (he is SUCH a good dad!) I seriously miss not hanging out with my 3 fave people all day. So I think I'm just excited for a three day weekend! Plus, my heart is just full lately. God has been stretching and growing me and my heart is trusting Him, which is a wonderful place to be in.<br />
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I'm hooking up with <a href="http://www.thelaurenelizabeth.com/" target="_blank">The Lauren Elizabeth</a> for High Five for Friday and Darci of <a href="http://www.the-good-life-blog.com/search/label/FIVE%20on%20Friday" target="_blank">The Good Life Blog</a>!<br />
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1. I've been really working at running over the last few months (this night I think I ran/walked 2.75 miles) and I've been fortunate to have had a cool summer. But I'm seriously itching for fall right about now (the hottest weeks of the summer) and this little pile of leaves a few streets over from mine got me more than a little excited!<br />
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2. We've been having a great time working with the college students and singles at our church recently. They are a great group that love the Lord and love life and I love that we're getting to know them! Saturday night we hung out with a few at Pineapple Whip. </div>
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3. As you can see we don't give the kids donuts very often. For some reason Chris decided to buy them each one at Casey's. </div>
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A. gas. station.</div>
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Whatever.</div>
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They loved it. </div>
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4. Um...... this one's just because she's growing up way too fast on me. </div>
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All of a sudden she's 2 going on 22. </div>
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5. Chris attended the plantMIDWEST conference on Tuesday that focuses on church planting throughout the midwest and this one particular in the Ozarks. It was a refreshing time for him to interact with area church planters and a few local pastors. In the mean time our kids got to hang at their favorite babysitters house and Kelli snapped this pic of the Little Lady with Greg. Too cute.</div>
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What have you been up to lately? Tell me about it! </div>
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-13937530024443022422013-08-28T06:30:00.000-07:002013-08-28T06:30:02.238-07:00Pizza QuesadillasI've tried and tried and tried to make GOOD homemade pizza. But I have never consistently gotten the crust right. So I gave up and we've been eating Papa Murphy's more than I like to admit, because we can't go much more than a week without pizza (I can't help it. I grew up in Chicagoland!). So last week in a moment of desperation, and on a night when daddy wasn't home and I wanted something fun to do with my toddlers, I scoured Pinterest for some creativity and we ended up making Pizza Quesadillas. And it. was. fantastic.!! The kids had a blast making their own little pizzas and they gobbled them up! Success! Here's how we did it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsI3N1L_TzY_8YfMdIdhyphenhyphenbzGLlnLQbnwZHXG-Z6uiWN006Jz_dvqlNho3ZS3vkEZYnkjOxZpeGoSHFAA0yr5kPqYQC2jAELNdhE0hysueB_UulG8DkJeK-tem55MVv5he5Rv00ahc9zM/s1600/Pizza+Quesadillas+Ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsI3N1L_TzY_8YfMdIdhyphenhyphenbzGLlnLQbnwZHXG-Z6uiWN006Jz_dvqlNho3ZS3vkEZYnkjOxZpeGoSHFAA0yr5kPqYQC2jAELNdhE0hysueB_UulG8DkJeK-tem55MVv5he5Rv00ahc9zM/s320/Pizza+Quesadillas+Ingredients.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ingredients:<br />
-Tortillas (We prefer Stacy's Organic's from Mama Jean's locally!)<br />
-Pizza Sauce (Muir Glen's is FANTASTIC!)<br />
-Pizza blend Cheese<br />
-Toppings (we used black olives, pepperoni, onion, and yellow pepper from the farmer's market)<br />
-Oil for frying, I like Coconut Oil<br />
-2 Cute toddlers (optional, although it's much more fun with them :)<br />
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1. Pile on your cheese and toppings onto one side of the tortilla. The littles might need help understanding the concept of a half. But let them have fun with it!<br />
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2. Fold the tortilla in half and fry each side till nice and crisp. Let it cool for a few minutes before eating.<br />
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3. Give each person some pizza sauce for dipping.<br />
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4. Dip away! And enjoy your 'pizza.'<br />
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Confession: Mine was so good I went back and made a second. Then I was stuffed. I'm working on that portion control concept.<br />
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Easy, peasy week night dinner!<br />
<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-4730938991204169512013-08-27T11:39:00.000-07:002013-08-27T11:39:10.318-07:00Things I'm reading and loving!1. I danced for several years as a kid and early teen. <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/22-incredible-photos-of-ballerinas-in-urban-cityscapes-of-ne" target="_blank">These</a> photos make me wish I'd kept it up!<br />
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2. If you're a Christian, what holds you back from sharing the gospel with unbelievers? <a href="http://www.9marks.org/blog/five-reasons-we-dont-evangelize" target="_blank">Here</a> Mike McKinley offers up a few reason. What resonates with you?<br />
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3. After reading this I fully plan to be <a href="http://jenwilkin.blogspot.se/2013/08/the-mother-of-all-swear-words.html" target="_blank">The Mother of all Swear Words</a>. Why you ask?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">'</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Why should you care about being the first word on “bad words” with your child? There are many good reasons, but consider this one: When your first-grader sees a word written on the bathroom wall and suspects you might disapprove of it, he will not look it up in the dictionary. He will Google it. And because his language skills are just developing, he will most likely go to Google Images. What do you think he will find? Or more to the point, what do you think will find him?'</span><br />
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Because I want for my husband and I to be for our kid<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">s '<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">the most reliable and safe search engine they can consult when their curiosity on any topic is piqued</span>.' </span><br />
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4. Parenting is hard some days, don't we all know it. And it's easy to forget some of our basic theology.... that of sin, and the place it has in our children's hearts. <a href="http://biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/blogs/2013/08/19/the-down-to-earth-gospel-for-parenting/" target="_blank">Keri Seavy talks frankly here</a> about sin in our children and the importance of allowing a robust gospel to permeate our families, such that our children find a place of hope in Christ not a place of despair!<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">'We ought to talk frankly about how deceitful sin is as it presents to us alternatives to Jesus for our happiness.'-Keri Seavy</span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Loved <a href="http://www.challies.com/articles/what-will-be-the-cost-to-the-church" target="_blank">this thoughtful article </a>about pornography and its long term effects on young men (and women) and the larger body of believers. Protect yourself from sin my friends. The long term effects just aren't worth the momentary pleasure. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">6. Saying goodbye to dear friends is hard and is something I've been contemplating a bit lately. It's makes me squirm a bit in my skin wondering who will be my 'next' friends when the new ones aren't around me anymore. But it's also exciting to watch friends or myself somehow be used for <a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/the-village-blog/gospel-people-say-goodbye/1&click=0&user=0" target="_blank">good gospel purposes</a>, even when they take us far away from each other. </span></span>abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-66886738618589404062013-08-23T13:53:00.000-07:002013-08-23T13:53:11.890-07:00My Recent PrayerNormally I'm an ESV loving girl when it comes to Scripture translations in the English language. However, recently for my Bible reading I decided to read my daily portion in a few translations, the ESV, the NLT, and The Message. I wouldn't do any deep studying out of the last two, but sometimes they give me a refreshing new perspective that is encouraging or helpful. The translators have done a lot of interpreting for us, and meshed it down into a 3rd grade reading level, so it's simple. I was finishing up Romans last weekend and this verse stood out in the NLT:<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Romans 15:13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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As I thought through these words and the passage before it this hope is put into context. Our hope is not in our circumstances, or our health, or our financial status, or the success of our children, or even in any emotion we might feel. Our hope is in the gospel, in the peace with God Jesus secured for us on the cross, and power that he provides for us in Christ.<br />
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Verse 12 quotes Isaiah and says that it is in Jesus that the Gentiles (me!) will hope. Based on that here is my little paraphrase.<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;">So I pray that God, who gave us Jesus, will keep us happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May we overflow with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.</span> </div>
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<b>Jesus</b> is my hope. Not the changes in our circumstances that my heart so deeply desires. Just more of <b>Jesus</b>. Oh God make me overflow with <b>Jesus</b>! That has been my heart this week.... to just be overflowing with Him. That it's not more money, or more of the jobs I might want, or more time with my kids, or more ministry, or more of anything that isn't Jesus. I want Him, not the feelings he gives, but just Him. I pray you desire that too.abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-14235908321930632902013-08-23T13:23:00.000-07:002013-08-23T17:36:50.245-07:00It's Friday!!!I'm linking up today with Lauren at <a href="http://www.thelaurenelizabeth.com/2013/08/high-five-for-friday_23.html" target="_blank">The Lauren Elizabeth</a> for High Five for Friday. It's been a few weeks for me, but my sister has been missing my posts, so here I am Britt! This week has been FAST and busy, but fun. My toddlers are growing up way too fast on me and I'm just trying to cherish every minute with them.<br />
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1. This is from a few weeks ago, but it's been awhile since I shared. The little lady FINALLY figured out that her Puddle Jumper life jacket will indeed make her float. She's been terrified of it all summer, but on the LAST day of swimming for the summer, she figured it out and spent a few hours kicking around the 'big' pool. I was thrilled! </div>
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2. This summer has had the most amazing weather. I know I've mentioned it before. We've been able to have late night fires in the fire pit and the kids love roasting marshmallows. </div>
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3. After our fire pit time we let the kids watch Night at the Museum in a tent in the backyard. We kept them up way too late, but they loved every minute and I'm pretty sure it will be a sweet memory for a long time. Besides what fun is parenting if you don't have a little fun every now and then?! </div>
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4. Mornings with my fave girl.</div>
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5. I found this string of pictures on my computer when I got to work yesterday. Apparently someone had gotten ahold of it and had a little too much fun in PhotoBooth! </div>
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6. Last night we got to enjoy a Springfield Cardinal's game with our <a href="http://gobbc.edu/" target="_blank">Baptist Bible College</a> family. The kids love going to games and I just love hanging out with them! </div>
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(P.S. Chris was there too.... Why did I not get a pic with him?!) </div>
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How has your week been? God has been stretching and growing us the last few weeks and months and I finally have gotten over the hump of it all I think and am basking in the strength God provides his children. We have SUCH a faithful God who provides for us even in our inner man, as well as for us in the outer. Drink richly friends. He is good.<br />
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-82020070411958524462013-08-14T13:10:00.002-07:002013-08-14T13:10:59.686-07:00Things I'm Reading and Loving....1. My husband and I were sitting at our kitchen table chatting last night after the kiddos were in bed about God's glory and our good and how the two intersect, and how sometimes it doesn't feel like they intersect. As if God's good is only reserved for some people that seem to have all the blessings. And I was reminded of <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/07/29/is-glory-gods-only-goal/" target="_blank">this article</a> I read a few weeks ago that asks..... 'Is God's glory His only goal?' It's a good question because I know that God works for His glory, but sometimes when His glory doesn't feel very pleasant in my own life, it can be tempting to view God's glory as my enemy. As if Him working for His glory is always going to hurt me. I forget about the other parts of my God.... his faithfulness, his goodness, how he always keeps his promises, his gentleness and kindness, and many more. Parts of my God that are HIM. Not something that sometimes come out of him, but they are who he is. He is the very definition of these things. It was an encouragement to me.<br />
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2. Thank you <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/08/01/sorry-kids-back-to-school-back-to-bedtime/" target="_blank">Al Mohler</a> for the good reminder of the importance of bed times for my littles, and of what we do with our bed time routine with our children. I want to use mine for the sake of the gospel.<br />
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3. Isn't <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140335799/" target="_blank">this little girl's Bubble dress</a> adorbs?!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF4ed9kN7CRgkF1eaB7UynRUrKGVFTHm5igMbMKD37QM5R0uRnaOvIRTiCsRRG8Pvq6h49cmZWEYCuupHzT1ZtHDOQFtk7aqa5hhPD6JMHeEFXxAu7vAqG2HFJ1h9_fd4fRQa2QjJDJM/s1600/teal-gradient-stairs_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF4ed9kN7CRgkF1eaB7UynRUrKGVFTHm5igMbMKD37QM5R0uRnaOvIRTiCsRRG8Pvq6h49cmZWEYCuupHzT1ZtHDOQFtk7aqa5hhPD6JMHeEFXxAu7vAqG2HFJ1h9_fd4fRQa2QjJDJM/s320/teal-gradient-stairs_300.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: www.realsimple.com</td></tr>
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4. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140330020/" target="_blank">These stairs.</a>..... I swoon.<br />
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5. I made this <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140294022/" target="_blank">ravioli bake</a> for dinner last week and was reminded of what a simple weeknight dinner it is.abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-15090010696321110792013-07-26T05:30:00.000-07:002013-07-26T05:30:01.704-07:00It's F.R.I.D.A.Y.!!!Welcome to Friday! It seems like the days of each week are dragging on and flying by all at the same time. You ever feel that way?<br />
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This week started out special with my 32nd Birthday. Yes, I just admitted to my age. Although if you ask my kids I'm working at training them that I am forever 26. It was a fantastic day spent with our church family (it was Sunday), followed by a delicious lunch at Rosati's pizza (the only place I know of to get Chicago style deep dish pizza around here), and a relaxing afternoon at home. My sister made me the pound cake we used to make as kids. It's a true pound cake.... a pound of butter, 6 eggs, a pound of powdered sugar, a pound of flour, etc. And let me tell you, it's gloriousness in my mouth, with strawberries and whipped cream. Just as my family started to sing me Happy Birthday it started to rain outside. It was perfection and after a hard week kind of like God smiling down on me. Cheesy thought perhaps, but I needed a little pick me up and that rainfall hit the spot for me. It's the little blessings. So I'm 32 now, and I'm not sure how I feel about it :) But I'm blessed with the 2 cutest kids, and an incredible husband. I couldn't ask for more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuaYLI40WpdTVr30XdhX-PONt-ptTMyxpe-HyR2i0BObHcmpf4660SOBfQpGsFCeWyim1y7HQIv3PZAwg3Axy4uC8tECgdhIuFHzUe5MI6FAhvHf4k5ihrJD4ax4UIr7rZy5Q70xbB48/s1600/IMG_8467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuaYLI40WpdTVr30XdhX-PONt-ptTMyxpe-HyR2i0BObHcmpf4660SOBfQpGsFCeWyim1y7HQIv3PZAwg3Axy4uC8tECgdhIuFHzUe5MI6FAhvHf4k5ihrJD4ax4UIr7rZy5Q70xbB48/s320/IMG_8467.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids found a mini tornado in the corner of this stopping strip on Saturday. They thought the leaves swirling in circles were pretty cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65IL_Q1QXEW4688dWmY4uVcsDDKYVSSlD1QSYr7Dq8dGDjG19AyzD30Ptpp8TihTNPp01r_ipSgRH8NHPFMmX2Cq4GWasdNTpUYnyY0PGUNc6mOOgbrTMuDb0O7BPtyRnhwfxWmrlq6M/s1600/IMG_8481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65IL_Q1QXEW4688dWmY4uVcsDDKYVSSlD1QSYr7Dq8dGDjG19AyzD30Ptpp8TihTNPp01r_ipSgRH8NHPFMmX2Cq4GWasdNTpUYnyY0PGUNc6mOOgbrTMuDb0O7BPtyRnhwfxWmrlq6M/s320/IMG_8481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to me with my fave little girl! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wn_qMHoF5BJ9hiz2pABkGzmJ2euUf60xSrTjXQ2UTbyPOzGD0KkjEzw8K0f6rvT6Ns0_1aK5TDr1q9lOBwao5lbFcfYokRKZgIXidEquNMULQt9XD65f6DXY3rx5jGqH7YGU5byf3Sk/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wn_qMHoF5BJ9hiz2pABkGzmJ2euUf60xSrTjXQ2UTbyPOzGD0KkjEzw8K0f6rvT6Ns0_1aK5TDr1q9lOBwao5lbFcfYokRKZgIXidEquNMULQt9XD65f6DXY3rx5jGqH7YGU5byf3Sk/s320/IMG_8482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves pizza about as much as I do. Girl after my own heart. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlfFe3BSQcCT6iJVM0pc5wB9IRAC9k_WPFdFMnRJ34OKHzptUD_jcTj9ZDnDITumkXgYCub-vd6OgN9F4ILsuOoyIEahQ8dQEqwVULuhjRgrTozWDbAeCpGQyeKHG0u-4Rdsbk49Dhh8/s1600/IMG_8505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlfFe3BSQcCT6iJVM0pc5wB9IRAC9k_WPFdFMnRJ34OKHzptUD_jcTj9ZDnDITumkXgYCub-vd6OgN9F4ILsuOoyIEahQ8dQEqwVULuhjRgrTozWDbAeCpGQyeKHG0u-4Rdsbk49Dhh8/s320/IMG_8505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain.... glorious rain! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vrOXZLqkBqSYku2Kfm2LokC3n_BtQt_cUTmqVNZpyvRbHLk8vDLPO9J4YDIeq_VvXAVO1iWhuH-DbSei0zgZNOzutAHtmjT2cwjZFpithnwrrLmaJ-D8JMZMH-zskojx2rb7APURsHU/s1600/IMG_8510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vrOXZLqkBqSYku2Kfm2LokC3n_BtQt_cUTmqVNZpyvRbHLk8vDLPO9J4YDIeq_VvXAVO1iWhuH-DbSei0zgZNOzutAHtmjT2cwjZFpithnwrrLmaJ-D8JMZMH-zskojx2rb7APURsHU/s320/IMG_8510.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother in law thought it'd be funny to add 10 years to my age and get me candles that said '42.' I put a quick stop to that and turned them around! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYqKEZpUKTjPMEOqWUocyMqr0sq7qShcyBZL-1Rocw-ZhXFjaWXIEaitPalZqcNfao8J-O5LsY67bmC1SmKwPZA4JLBWG6IyECsAsqu7sPo22TbGq7Cd5bGAgSzlni52JzV9IehxEVMk/s1600/IMG_8512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYqKEZpUKTjPMEOqWUocyMqr0sq7qShcyBZL-1Rocw-ZhXFjaWXIEaitPalZqcNfao8J-O5LsY67bmC1SmKwPZA4JLBWG6IyECsAsqu7sPo22TbGq7Cd5bGAgSzlni52JzV9IehxEVMk/s320/IMG_8512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And one with my boy! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo8clke93aBf3x45XqK6sW6XKhMIf65dj4ilShKVIazO0xD-ypaiGtJQbHcVK3jzPMWcZUQ1k-ivwzkzGhocucexGLTrE-tlG8dR1LSNVLnOp5uz5o3KjwIgzNqlmsyCyOHXT86qxb1U/s1600/IMG_8514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo8clke93aBf3x45XqK6sW6XKhMIf65dj4ilShKVIazO0xD-ypaiGtJQbHcVK3jzPMWcZUQ1k-ivwzkzGhocucexGLTrE-tlG8dR1LSNVLnOp5uz5o3KjwIgzNqlmsyCyOHXT86qxb1U/s320/IMG_8514.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random rainbow later in the week. I can't remember which day, but it wasn't even raining. </td></tr>
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I'm <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I'm hooking up with </span><a href="http://www.thelaurenelizabeth.com/2013/06/high-five-for-friday_28.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Lauren Elizabeth</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> today for High Five for Friday and </span><a href="http://www.the-good-life-blog.com/search/label/FIVE%20on%20Friday" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Darci of the Good life for Five on Friday</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">! </span></span></div>
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abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478578492071853861.post-27919014567817520402013-07-24T08:50:00.001-07:002013-07-24T08:50:48.498-07:00things I've been reading and love1. We've been talking a bit about spiritual warfare at church as we finish out the book of Ephesians. It's something I don't dwell on often. <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/07/23/how-demons-are-like-the-nsa/" target="_blank">This article</a> got me thinking even through my own life about what these evil minions see in my life that they use to tempt me to sin.<br />
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2. <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/07/22/nadas-story-yemeni-child-shares-tale-of-escaping-an-arranged-marriage/" target="_blank">This brave young girl</a> managed to escape an arranged marriage. I can't even imagine growing up in that kind of a situation, or the courage it would require to take the drastic measures she has done. Not ever girl has her options.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tzFfoydXp9NmEs7b2rWARhrdFbZpOheCwGcjOF1QsubZ5lzgyVkU4xrp4j6AwLBMVFeu4XpmHZcoL9w3hFq4vac_iH4Id5FveuihJAw4J9KDBZ6a4sf7ch7vCIOTxfg6ZKaaueSkduw/s1600/IMG_6534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tzFfoydXp9NmEs7b2rWARhrdFbZpOheCwGcjOF1QsubZ5lzgyVkU4xrp4j6AwLBMVFeu4XpmHZcoL9w3hFq4vac_iH4Id5FveuihJAw4J9KDBZ6a4sf7ch7vCIOTxfg6ZKaaueSkduw/s320/IMG_6534.JPG" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source Unknown</td></tr>
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3. <a href="http://www.fabsharford.com/jesus-is-better/" target="_blank">Jesus is Better</a>. I've really, really needed that reminder lately. Thank you for reminding me.<br />
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4. We have a few friends who counsel and work with the military personnel, several of whom struggle with PTSD. I found <a href="http://www.rpmministries.org/2013/07/post-traumatic-growth/" target="_blank">this to be a helpful article</a> both for that issue, as well as just for the struggles of life. I for one, want to come out stronger on the other side of whatever gets thrown at us, and pray it's to God's glory. <br />
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5. This is a beautiful tribute to his wife by <a href="http://www.challies.com/christian-living/she-strengthens-me" target="_blank">Tim Challies</a>.<br />
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6. There is not much more that gets to me in my flesh than a whiny kid. And I often have 2 of them! (They are toddlers after all!) <a href="http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/07/dealing-with-a-whiny-insolent-child/#_a5y_p=758478" target="_blank">This article</a> really encouraged me to step back. I loved her #1 rule of the house and the way she reinforced it with her littles. I plan to put it into practice.<br />
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7. Someday I'd love a house with a little hideaway <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140214573/" target="_blank">like this</a> for my kids, complete with gold polka dots!<br />
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8. I have both of <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/13088655140214512/" target="_blank">these items</a> in my house. I'll come back with the results soon!<br />
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<br />abigailmarie16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07643040529788163353noreply@blogger.com0