tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50181681956646107942024-03-21T01:57:31.792-07:00Givensmeabreak....givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-72240902189571327912017-11-06T10:47:00.000-08:002017-11-07T10:37:21.903-08:00I got a side hustle....I recently became a shampoo girl...<br />
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I wasn't looking for anything different. I started a new job over the summer at Lighthouse Foster Care which I absolutely love. I love the flexibility of it. I love the atmosphere. I love learning the ins and outs of foster care and eventually adoption. I love serving the families and helping the agency grow because I truly believe it is the best in the area. I love it. <br />
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BUT....<br />
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As much as I love it and love serving in that capacity....THE LORD kept tugging at my heart...<br />
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"Ashleigh, you need to get out more...Ashleigh, you have a gift....Ashleigh, are you loving people the best way you know how?"<br />
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While none of these things have to do with shampoo or foster care, it does have to do with getting outside of my bubble. I really struggle with being around people and a lot of people for that matter. I have to do it in spurts and I have to prepare myself for it. But THE LORD kept saying..."Ashleigh, I love them, do you? Are you showing them love like I love you? Are you being nice to your neighbor?"<br />
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I wasn't being rude per se....HAHAH but I wasn't loving them and being friendly. I wasn't sharing His love to them because I really didn't want to get out of my comfort zone.<br />
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So...I took the steps to start looking for part time work over the summer and the Lord planted Lighthouse in my lap and it has just been such a blessing. <br />
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FAST forward to October and my sister planted a seed in me to learn about Monat. I tried it out from a friend on Facebook for my birthday! And I was hooked. I could tell a huge different almost immediately in my hair and I knew this would be an awesome way to connect with girls and share life with them. I mean who doesn't love to have pretty hair! <br />
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So through all of this - I decided that part of why I want to do this is obviously to put myself out there and meet new people and love them. But also - some of the obvious reasons for our family is to get out of debt, travel and do some much needed home renovations! <br />
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If you want to learn more about foster care in the North GA area - I'm your girl!<br />
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If you want to learn more about Monat or would love to have a hair washing party - I'm your girl!<br />
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Let me know how I can help! God is so good, He is so faithful and I have so loved watching this season of life unfold.<br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-78473536665259896792017-11-04T12:46:00.000-07:002017-11-07T10:44:41.193-08:00New additions....new life....I'm going to get this another shot. It is such a great outlet to let our family see pics of my kids and share our lives. So...here goes.<br />
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Here is just a snapshot of what you can expect as I kick this back up....<br />
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I don't think I have posted since 2015....so we had another kid. My parent's bought a family farm so we are all out living on the Holland Homestead that I have so named it. We have chickens! The Lord has worked so many things out so I look forward to sharing with you those answered prayers. I got a new job which I love. Kraig's job has shifted. We love our youth group and church. Ya know....God is just so good and He provides beyond our wildest dreams. <br />
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Life can still be messy and I look forward to sharing those stories with you too but here we are...just a family of 4 living life and loving Jesus through it.<br />
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I look forward to sharing our lives with you and all the bumps and bruises along the way. <br />
<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-55968546943227208162015-03-03T12:38:00.000-08:002017-11-07T10:44:51.360-08:00some praises....I've started this blog for days now and keep running around in circles of how or what I want to say.<div>
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Bottom line...</div>
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God is GOOD. That's what I keep going back too. Let's praise Him for a minute....</div>
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We have had a great news from our cousins that are battling horrible diseases! There is still much fight to be had but God is good.</div>
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We got great news from a friend this morning....their adoption is a GO! God is good!</div>
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We have seen God work in our kids lives and our church family in huge ways the past few weeks! God is good!</div>
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It's so easy to be in a slump especially with this gloomy weather that we have had. But God still works. He works in the small things and even the big things!!! </div>
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After the beauty of last week's snow, I found myself loving the parts that were untouched. I loved looking at everyone's pictures and the beauty of it. But then...it would get messed up. People would walk on it, drive through it, and play in it. </div>
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Sometimes...we get messed up. We get caught up in the every day and forget that we need to remember that what God has done and is doing. We need to pull ourselves out of our yucky funk and FOCUS on the beauty of what He is doing. </div>
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I have been refreshed lately and I love seeing what God is doing elsewhere. </div>
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I hope you can be encouraged and then reflect on what He is doing in your life! </div>
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givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-6042653742248949082015-02-17T15:01:00.002-08:002017-11-07T10:48:34.393-08:00Live LoveOver Valentine's weekend, Kraig and I took a group of our youth along with our friends at First Baptist Lakeview down to Atlanta to the International Village for a mission trip/retreat.<br />
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I have to confess....I was beyond stressed out. I was imagining anything and everything to go wrong. This was the first trip that we completely did ourselves. Usually, we go along with others and go to some big retreat where we have to plan NOTHING! But with this, we had to plan EVERYTHING. So, I was scared of forgetting things, how everything would work out, and what things could go wrong.<br />
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Well, GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD! We arrived late Friday night and had a great start off to the weekend. Mitchell and Kraig did a great job all weekend with the main talks. And the music was wonderful. But the main part of the days were doing the missions.<br />
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Both Saturday and Sunday we went to different apartment complexes and played with kids and shared bible stories with them. We just loved on the kids. We braved the freezing temps, stepped outside of our comfort zones and just had a blast. The kids were all touched in some way or another. The team we worked with ministered to the refugees that come into the area. Whirlwind Missions help them with jobs, places to live, and other things to help them get settled in America. But they love them and share Christ with them. Its so beautiful to hear their hearts and see the work they do day in and day out throughout the year. <br />
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I think it is safe to say our kids came home changed by the Lord. I can say, I did too. I try to cram so many things into our days but at the end of the day, I need to be able to say... "did I love on someone?" "Did I help someone?" "Did I put others first?" I mean that's the gospel. I hope going forward, I can take time and live love instead of cramming things together to just get things be accomplished. <br />
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I'm sure this is all just ramblings but it's always good to put into words things we see and do that matter to us. Well, this weekend was amazing in all sorts of ways and God is good. Although, we had to cut it short because of the "snow," I never heard a complaint...all I heard was "when can we go back?" <br />
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I challenge you to look up <a href="http://whirlwindmissions.org/">Whirlwind</a> and plan your next youth trip to visit them! <br />
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Hope you all had a great Valentine's weekend. We sure did!!!givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-53224215472644029062015-02-06T11:31:00.001-08:002015-02-07T06:23:01.953-08:00what is my WHY?!So, as many of you all might know....I started an awesome new nutritional product a couple of months ago. <br />
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At first, it was to lose weight, which to be honest, I still haven't reached my goal but I am closer than I was. <br />
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But it has evolved. Now, I want to continue to lose weight but we have some more things on the horizon and I want to be able to pay for those things without going further in debt or having to use money that we already have designated for other places. So, I want to do this business and make some money.<br />
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Here are some of those reasons WHY I want to continue on with this program...<br />
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1. To get out of debt. Isn't that always the thing! We went through the Dave Ramsey plan before Kraig and I got married and have done OK with sticking with the plan but we have had some unforeseen things come up and we were forced to get into some debt to pay for some home repairs. Because I stay home, and would love to continue to stay at home with Rett, I want to help us get out of DEBT!!! I want the freedom that comes with being debt free and being able to still be at home with my kid.<br />
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2. Next, Rett will probably start school in August at OCA! We are super excited about the opportunity so we have got to start saving for it now. I want my income to supplement that payment to OCA so it won't be an added expense out of Kraig's check. <br />
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3. I believe in this product and if it's helping others get healthy or to become debt free, I want to help. I have read countless stories of success and I look forward to being successful too. I want to help my family's finances as well as being with Rett. <br />
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I am sure these reasons will continue to evolve more over the months but right now, I want to help get our family out of debt and pay for Rett's school next year! I hope that eventually my reasons will become less selfish and more selfless so we can give more! That is my ultimate goal! <br />
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Let me help you do the same. Whether its to be healthier or to become debt free! I can help! Let me know what I can do for you!!!<br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-8211571751958921042015-01-06T11:56:00.000-08:002015-01-06T11:56:27.095-08:00For Anna!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">My cousin, Anna is a dear soul. She is a beautiful and caring person. I love being able to spend time with her. When my sister and I were little, we would go to Atlanta to spend time with her, her brother Brad and her parents. Then, they moved to Germany and well, life happened. We all lost touch and would only see each other on those rare occasions they came back to the states. Now we are all adults, Anna moved back to the states, we get to talk and see each other more often. A few weeks ago, she posted a comment and tagged me in it. I have been really trying to come up with an answer to her questions. So here goes....this is her post...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Please list the top 3 best things that happened for/to you in 2014, whether it be professionally, personally or whatever. You can put down more or less or whatever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I would also like to hear the 3 worst things about your 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then finally the 3 most significant things that happened to the world in 2014. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">3 best things in 2014 - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> 1. Baby Case was born August 7th! My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. It was quite a struggle throughout </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> the pregnancy but when it was all said and done, Case and Brittany were healthy and alive. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 2. We had an awesome year with our youth group. Lots of growth in their hearts, minds and souls. It was a great </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> year for both Kraig and me in realizing our path with the youth and realizing how much we care for them and want</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> to see them grow. This really isn't a major thing, it was just a great thing to realize that we are doing what we are </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> supposed to be and we are were the Lord wants us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> 3. I had a lot of time with family and friends. I had lost touch with a few friends over the last few years and a couple of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> those relationships were brought back together this year. I was even in one of those friend's wedding in December.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> And one of those friends moved away and we still talk over the Internet a lot more. A lot of our family came back </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> home for visits, so we got to visit more with those members when they came for family get togethers, birthday</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> parties or just to visit. It was a nice year to just have be with family and friends. Along with that, my dad retired this </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> year so after 3 years of living in Nashville, he came home this year. This has been so much fun! It has been </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> awesome to have him back in GA!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">3 worst things in 2014 -</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 1. I had 2 family members get very sick this year. It showed me that life happens. And it happens to anyone. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Although, life does happen and sometimes it sucks....I learned that I just got to fight. Just like our family members </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> are doing. I admire them and look forward to a healing in 2015.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 2. We were faced with a huge decision in the fall. It wasn't a bad thing. We just weren't ready to make a decision.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> We wanted to do what the Lord wanted for us and we were so torn. We had a few weeks of just stress and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> wondering what we should do. Through much prayer, we finally made the decision and felt a huge sense of relief. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> So, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it was just a stressful time of not knowing the future and what to do. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 3. I don't have another one....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">3 things that happened in the world - </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 1. Ebola</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 2. ISIS</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 3. Robin Williams died. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">It was a pretty fun year, some tough things happened but all in all....we just praised the Lord it wasn't worse. We were thankful for times with family, we learned a whole lot, and we look forward to 2015. Kraig just turned 30, I turn 30 this year. We have an awesome youth group. We have a great family full of wonderful cousins and aunts and uncles! We serve a huge God who can heal and can do "abundantly more" (Eph. 3:20) than we ever can imagine. He is so faithful through everything and I look forward to seeing whatever happens in 2015. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">I love you, Anna! I'm so thankful for you and your beautiful heart! I look forward to what you are going to do in 2015 and seeing you grow like never before! I wish the best for you and Mateo! </span></span>givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-1398110887287804032014-12-30T07:33:00.001-08:002017-11-07T10:39:31.562-08:00what a breakWell, I don't know about you but we need a vacation. Kraig has one more week off before he returns to normal schedule. We had Gigi and Papa come for a visit! We had our youth Christmas party! We have a sickly baby boy (just sinus stuff) and we are pooped for all the craziness of the last two weeks. Although, we wouldn't trade it for anything...well...the sickness but everything else was great!<br />
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Last year, for our youth Christmas party, we just had a dinner and played games at the church. This year, we wanted to do something special and off of the church campus. So, we got the idea to go skiing. Well, it was supposed to rain and it never got cold enough so we had to change our plans. We racked our brains and came up with a Christmas Scavenger Hunt at the mall. We split the groups up into 3 teams and let them loose (with a chaperone, of course) in the mall. They had to talk to strangers, find trash, get an autograph, sing a Christmas carol, and do some other crazy things. It was super fun. Well, the girls had a blast. I think the boys just went a long with it because they got to walk around the mall for a few hours. They were good sports. <br />
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Then, Gigi and Papa arrived for the week of Christmas!!! Rett had so much much fun showing them around, playing with them and sharing Christmas with them. We shopped a couple days, cooked, ate too much and just enjoyed each other! It was a nice time and I am so glad they got to come for Christmas. We always look forward to seeing our PA family!!! I just wish we could all be together one year. Maybe in a couple years!!! That would be a great Christmas present for Gigi and Papa :)<br />
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After they left, we cleaned out the garage, the Christmas decorations came down and Kraig moved our living room around. :) We are cleaning out Rett's old toys and clothes to make room for his new stuff and next we plan to clean out our clothes and stuff. I guess the spring cleaning has started early for me. I think every year for New Year's, I get this hankerin' to "be more organized, cleaner, etc" And I do ok for a few weeks and then it all goes downhill. At least I start off good, right? Maybe 2015 will be different. :)<br />
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How was your Christmas? <br />
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What are your goals for 2015? <br />
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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and now and awesome 2015! I look forward to 2015. I think we have a lot of fun things to look forward too :)<br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-5076220530523151302014-11-27T07:34:00.000-08:002017-11-07T10:40:52.155-08:00Youthsgiving and thankfulness We had a blast yesterday with our first annual Youthsgiving. We took all the kids to Superfly out by the mall. Its a new jump park in the area and it was SUPER fun! <br />
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Then, we came back to our house for our feast! I made a turkey and by "I," I mean, Kraig because I couldn't bring myself to touch the bird! So, Kraig did a great job!!! It was super tasty. We made other wonderful treats! It was such a fun time to just hang out with the kids and relax! </div>
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We had so much fun and are so thankful for these kids. We always question (really more me than Kraig) if we are doing what we should be doing and after yesterday....it was once again confirmed we are right where the Lord wants us. We love seeing these kids grow in Christ and in times like yesterday...we love seeing them relax and have fun. We look forward to the tradition every year and can't wait to make more fun times with these kids. <br />
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Now, time for the day to commence and 2 more Thanksgiving meals to go! Wahoo!!! <br />
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One last thing...I am so thankful for my salvation and what Jesus means to me. I love the life that He has blessed me with. Being surrounded by the people we love is the best!!! We are so thankful for each other!<br />
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I am beyond thankful for these two guys! I can't imagine life without them and I am so glad the Lord has given them to me. :)</div>
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Hope you all have a great day and have time to reflect on what you are most thankful for. I would love to hear some of those things! Comment back and let me know!! :) Eat a lot of turkey! Gobble Gobble!!!</div>
<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-43782654824686110142014-11-21T19:22:00.001-08:002014-11-22T18:46:23.115-08:00before and in betweenFor the past year, I have struggled horribly with fatigue, bad self esteem, weight gain and some days just not wanting to get out of bed.<br />
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I think I attributed the bulk of that to having a toddler and not being able to lose the "baby bump." <br />
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So, I would work out, try to eat better, try to take naps and I was still so exhausted. I just couldn't catch up. I would pretty much run an IV of Dr. Pepper through my body most days and still couldn't make it through the day. I just struggled. <br />
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I finally said "I AM SICK OF NO ENERGY, FATIGUE, and THE EXTRA WEIGHT!!!" and so I started a boot camp. Well, that worked great as far as the extra energy and gaining muscle and I could tell a difference in my sleep and just my attitude seemed to be better but I still couldn't cut the weight. I had a friend in my college days that worked at a summer camp with me and I kept seeing her wonderful posts of her post baby health and how great she was feeling and how she was dropping the baby weight. I was so jealous. <br />
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I wanted to feel better. I wanted to enjoy my 2 year old and not be so groggy. So, I messaged her. <br />
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I am now half way through my nutritional pack and let me tell you, I have never felt better. I have so much farther to go but I look forward to my workouts, I no longer have to have a nap or a Dr. Pepper IV...in fact, I have cut out Dr. Peppers and cokes altogether. For anyone who knows me...knows this is huge! <br />
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I have lost right at 8 pounds and many inches!! I feel good about myself and look forward to the future. I have more weight to drop to hit my goal but I am so excited about doing it the healthy way with eating right and working out hard! <br />
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This is a before pic which was a few months ago. It still looks like I am 6 months pregnant. The pic on the right is from today and it only looks like I'm 4 months pregnant. HA But I am toned up and few pounds down, tons more energy and ready to conquer the rest of the weight loss journey. <br />
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I know they aren't great photos mainly because of the phone quality... and I just hate taking selfies.... But there is progress and I am so excited about that!!! It's been so long since I have seen the scale drop or energy level high so it is something to be celebrated and shared with others!<br />
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Let me help you get started!!! I can tell you all about what is helping my process!!!<br />
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Thanks Charley for all your help and getting me started!!!givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-66318219102961012502014-11-16T20:11:00.003-08:002014-11-21T18:49:55.793-08:00boot camp healthy living, and disciplineLet's get real for a minute. I have put on some weight.<br />
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Kraig told me once that he read an article in some sports magazine (I think, I'm not real sure) that people who play one sport growing up are more likely to gain more weight and keep it on when they get older. I was always a pretty active kid, however I only played one sport. I don't know how true that article or information he read really is but it is true for me and it has stuck with me. </div>
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After having Rett, I would read blogs, magazines and books that would tell me that the weight would just fall off after giving birth especially if you nurse. Well, I nursed and the weight never JUST FELL OFF. In fact, it stayed. and STAYED even a little bit more. So, although I don't think I am overweight, I am the most unhealthy I have ever been in my life. And being so unhealthy plays with my psyche. Which has played a role in other aspects in my life. </div>
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SO....after months of trying to eat better, work out with Kraig and trying to "be a runner"....I was fed up with nothing working. The weight didn't budge. And I just felt more discouraged and more defeated. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the weight off. </div>
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I may step on some toes here but it has messed so much with my mind. I think as women - when we don't feel good about ourselves - it affects everything else. I never realized how sad, even depressed some days because I didn't want to go out because I just didn't feel good in my clothes or confident enough to "face the day." I just didn't want too. </div>
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This summer...well more like end of August...I was done. I decided I was done living this way. I needed extra help. I couldn't do it the way I was doing it. It wasn't working. SO....</div>
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I joined a training boot camp. It has been one of the hardest things I have done since giving birth, I am pretty sure. ha The first day - I got so sick I pretty much just sat with my head over the fan and prayed I wouldn't throw up. I didn't but I sure wished I hadn't already paid for the next 10 weeks. I mean, who gets up at 4:45 am to go work out to the point of almost throwing up. Well, I did and I stuck with it. I couldn't do many of the exercises to the full capacity and had to take many breaks and was super tired but I stuck with it. Now, 9 weeks in....I did my first real pull up last week, I can do burpees, I can do things I never thought I could. And although I haven't really lost weight, I have gotten a lot stronger and I feel better. I finally felt good about myself. That is huge.</div>
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Well, I was still bummed I wasn't losing weight. I was losing some inches and I couldn't tell a difference in some of my clothes which was great but not big weight lose. So...I started to figure out what I could try along with the training camp. My friend told me about Isagenix. If you know nothing about this nutritional program....CHECK IT OUT..... <a href="http://ashleighgivens.isagenix.com/?sc_lang=en-US">HERE</a></div>
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I started this program November 1st. I started with 2 shakes a day and a low cal dinner....the first week in, I lost 5lbs and a couple more inches. So, I was hooked. I struggled with some headaches and weakness during that first week. I started to feel skeptical and thought it wasn't working but I learned that what was happening was that toxins were getting out of my body and that was just my body's way of reacting to the nutrients coming in and the toxins getting out. I am now in my 3rd week. I feel so much better. I have so much more energy. I have had a couple rough days with some bad meals....I FELT HORRIBLE AFTER! I can tell how bad pizza and mexican food messes with my stomach. I should not have had that. So, my goal for this week is to do better with clean eating and no fried foods. I look forward to seeing great results. I have built muscles and now I am losing weight because of the good things I am putting in my body...but more importantly I am learning so much more...</div>
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I have learned that I struggle with consistency and discipline. I hate to wake up. I am not a morning person. I don't feel like 5 am is a good time to do anything productive. However, I signed up for boot camp and stuck with it. I now, can't imagine not waking up and going. It's not easy by any means...especially now that the weather is colder but it's worth it. But I am seeing how important it is to be consistent in this weight loss journey. I know I will have rough days but I will continue and wake up the next day and go to boot camp and take each meal at a time. I choose to put good things in my body. And because I decided to loose weight....I have committed myself to do this. </div>
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I don't know that I will ever post my before and after pictures...maybe when I hit my goal weight but know....this is working! I have found the mixture of exercise and good nutrition that is working for me! And I am feeling so much better for it. I am not as sluggish because of the bad foods...I have more energy. I just feel better. That's all I can say, I cant stress it enough. </div>
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So, come join me at boot camp (Matt Eubanks-training camp) and get on this Isagenix plan! It works!!!</div>
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givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-46576177790418660352014-09-29T10:47:00.000-07:002014-09-29T10:47:04.221-07:00Things for a baby deliveryMy sister recently had a baby. He's precious. His name is Case Holland Pryor and although I have multiple pictures of him, she's very limited with what she puts on the Internet so I'll respect her and keep him off of here. I'm sorry. But take my word for it...he's handsome and squishy and a great baby. <br />
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Some of you may not know but my sister had a rough pregnancy. Lots of morning sickness, aches and pains and braxton hicks and list goes on. As her due date approached, things started to get more intense for her also. His due date was Sept. 16....by the end of July, she was having more pains and it seemed like more calls to her doctor as well as more visits were happening. She also had a couple late night runs to the ER but all was well. We all knew that Case was coming early....but no one knew how early, except the Lord of course. :) <br />
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Well, my mom and I had planned for Britt's baby shower to be August 9. It was super cute. Brittany picked out cookies and milk. So, we had all kinds of cookies and coffee punch and milk. It was great. Also, the week before the shower, Kraig, Rett and I had planned a trip to go visit Kraig's family. I told Brittany that Case had to hang on through the weekend so we could make it home. So, on August 6, we came home from Pennsylvania, Brittany went into the hospital early Thursday morning (the 7th) and had the baby. He was a little over 5 weeks early. Because of a prior visit to the ER, the awesome doctor had given Case steroid shots to help his lungs so when he did make his appearance he wasn't so far behind. His lungs and everything looked relatively well. But because he was a preemie, he had to stay in the NICU until he could breathe and eat on his own. So, the next Thursday, I got to meet my nephew and he got to come home. WOW! What a miracle and what a blessing from God! We were all just praising the Lord!!!<br />
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I left out some fun details because it is her story to tell but I will give you some pointers from the outside looking in. And thoughts from when I was in the hospital having my son. Brittany and Lance were super lucky and were able to stay at the hospital the whole time Case was in NICU. That is not the case with all new moms. But I think some things that are super helpful for family/friends that visit the new moms/dads are as follows:<br />
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1 - snacks....and lots of them. I would also include drinks or bottled waters in this category. Or I would say bringing quarters for the vending machines because they don't always get to leave the room but you never know when those late night munchies will attack so snacks/drinks are always helpful to have on hand when you come for a visit.<br />
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2. I would say money or gift cards to places to eat that are located close to the hospital. Hospital food gets old quick and the daddy doesn't get to eat that food so gift cards and money is always helpful so the dad can get something to eat too. If you are like my sister, I'm sure she had money budgeted for such occurrence but not everyone thinks like that. I sure didn't. I forgot all about food when were going in to have Rett. So, it wasn't budgeted but we had the money and people brought us food so it all worked out for sure. <br />
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3. Lastly, and very important, I know it's hard to know who will be at the hospital when. But, if at all possible...try to coordinate who comes when. I know with Rett, we had pretty flexible visiting hours but it still seemed like everyone came at one time and then no one came. So, I felt guilty that some people weren't able to see him because of others, which is fine but if they were staggered visits then everyone would have gotten their time with Rett. With Case though, no one got to see him because of being in NICU and they had stricter visiting hours so I think in those cases especially, the staggered visiting times are crucial. Sometimes, I could tell Brittany was more tired from all the people that the actual birth itself. I'm exaggerating but I know she was tired because people came all at once on some days. Just be thoughtful and maybe try to plan the visits with family members and/or the new mommy to make sure you aren't coming on top of someone else's visit. <br />
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All in all, being a new mommy and daddy are great. I think these are some of the things to be mindful of if you go visit the new family in the hospital. It's not much but everyone always wants to visit and always wants to not come empty handed. Of course, you don't have to bring anything at all but arms to snuggle the new baby but if you do want to bring something, bring a snack :)<br />
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Hope this helps.<br />
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Once a new mommy, myself....<br />
~ashleighgivensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-2327739587018663372014-04-14T11:14:00.001-07:002014-04-14T11:16:28.588-07:00a praise and a prayerWOW!<br />
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What a few weeks!!! Busy!!! I cant even begin to tell you what has been going on...<br />
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Let's start with praising the Lord for what He has done. Kraig and I have set out to take our youth kids to GoldRush 2014 in Atlanta, GA. I have gone on this trip probably 3 times and every time I come away amazed and encouraged by the Lord. I am so excited to take our kids. But in order for this to happen we need to raise some money. We put on another yard sale. Last year, we had a yard sale and made right around $1,000.00. Well, this year by our 2nd dropoff date, I was hoping for just $500. I don't know why I short change the Lord. So, on Friday (day before the sale), we went up to the church and began to set up and get everything organized. Our kids showed up to work (and play and eat)...and our church family showed up!!! They came out to help set up. Such a blessing. Over the past 2 years, I have so enjoyed working along side these families, getting to know them and hearing their stories. Well, we didn't have much stuff so I didn't set out many tables. Let me tell ya something though...it was like when Jesus fed the 5,000 and His food kept multiplying. That's what was happening with this stuff. We hardly had any furniture or "big ticket" items. I think the most we sold one single item was $50. But anyways...back to the Friday....the stuff just multiplied. We had to send the guys down to get more tables. We had to get more clothes racks. We had to move around tables. I still have no idea where this stuff came from. But either way...I was so pleased. The Lord provided the stuff. Why I doubt, I'll never know. We left Friday night just praying for the people to come and that we would be able to minister to them even through a simple thing like a yard sale. Well, again...I was just praying for $500 because we didn't have a lot of big items. We opened at 8:00 am...people started coming at 7:30 am....and we didn't stop until we had to close the doors at 12:30 pm. There was a constant flow of people. It was beautiful. The Lord again provided the people for our location. So, when it was time to count the cash - we had over $1,100. I was floored. Side note - we had a bake sale also...Mrs. Sandra helped head that up because I wasn't all about it...mainly because last year when I put it together, it flopped so I was totally ok with not doing one but Mrs. Sandra wanted to help out and she loves anything baking and youth so I said sure thing, please head it up....she made over $100 alone in that! Again, I was floored. I don't even know what we sold because when it was all said and done, we still had bookoos of stuff. So, we opened up again after church on Sunday and did a half price and we made another $200 in 45 minutes. I was beyond humbled by the love of our church family and the help they provided, the time they committed to this sale, and the donations they gave both with the stuff and monetarily. Through that weekend alone we made close to $2,000 with donations and the sale. We are well on our way to GoldRush 2014. I signed us up this morning knowing that the Lord will provide the rest of the money for our trip. I am so excited!<br />
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So, with that being said....our 1st annual golf tournament is coming up May 17th. Let me know if you want to help!<br />
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I think the only change to this flyer is that the start is 9:00 am not 8:00. Let me know if you want to sponsor a hole or play! We would love to have you come out!</div>
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Now for a Rett update....if you follow this blog, I am sure most of you know that we have been struggling with Rett's weight. He can't seem to gain weight on a steady basis and sometimes even he will lose weight. It has been a bit discouraging especially when he is so happy and healthy most of the time. He eats well, plays and is where he needs to be for his age. Just his weight has been the issue. Well, this last visit (we go monthly) he lost a significant amount and the doctor is really growing concerned. He said we need to get back to giving Rett more milkshakes which I know Rett doesn't oppose. He said to try to get more protein in him. Rett doesn't do great at eating meat but he eats a lot of peanut butter and yogurt so I wasn't worried until this visit. So, when we go back next month, the doc hopes to see a weight gain and if not then he wants to explore some other options. All of which are not extremely easy for a momma. So, please keep us in your prayers as we try to get a handle on his weight and be more aggressive with what could be the possible reason for his weight loss. We are praying it is just because of his high metabolism and high activity because he is ALWAYS ON THE MOVE. But just pray we see an increase this next visit and get good news! </div>
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Love you all! Thanks again for all the support for our youth and for our son! We are so overwhelmed with God's watch over us. And that He cares for things big and small. </div>
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NOTHING IS TOO SMALL FOR HIM.</div>
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I am clinging to that promise today.</div>
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-72773147692105815502014-02-20T06:19:00.000-08:002017-11-07T10:50:43.572-08:00Just some encouragement....YOU ARE AWESOMELast night, I got the opportunity to talk to our youth. Usually, I just get the girls and sometimes put my little tidbits in every so often but Kraig has been super overwhelmed this week plus he is preparing for his sermon for Sunday....HE'S PREACHING!!! So, he asked if I could handle the youth service. I apprehensively said, "Sure...." Whatever I can do to help....RIGHT!?!?!<br />
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I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to talk about, it was just putting it together...<br />
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I started with a video from the Skit Guys. If you hadn't seen them, they are generally a funny duo that go around and tour with conferences and stuff like that. This one is pretty serious. I like how it shows that we are a work in progress and that God loves me enough to not leave me like I am. I think the kids got the message.<br />
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From there I talked about Job. If you know anything about Job....HE HAD A ROUGH LIFE. He had many trials and tough times but he never "cursed God and died." He continued to praise Him and had faith in God. I shared with the kids about Job's friends that were not encouraging to him at all and just wanted him to blame God, yell at Him, and just give up. But Job never did. I also expressed that although Job had a rough life, he was still in good spirits. Have you ever known someone that even though they are going through a tough time, they are still joyful? They don't complain...they encourage others? Now, Job did question God and ask Him "Why?" But he was never disrespectful and remained faithful to God. I think Job was the real deal. </div>
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Then, I went to 1 Peter 1:6-7. The main part of this was the first part of verse 6....</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="versetext" id="1pe1-6" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6</span> "<u>So be truly glad!</u> <a href="" name="a"></a>There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. </span><span class="versetext" id="1pe1-7" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7</span> These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."</span></span></i></span></div>
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God tells us to 'be truly glad!' and continues to explain we will go through tough times and trials but we have to be glad. So, not only do we have to be glad but I think that also includes how our attitude should remain joyful, not angry and encouraging. <br />
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Life is hard. Bad things happen. But we have Christ, so we are not in it alone and He commands us to be glad. So, I encouraged the kids, Kraig, and me to be encouragers instead of complainers. I showed this video of Kid President and hopefully, we can be nice to others instead of degrade them, I feel as though that is the trend in our youth today....<br />
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Just watch the first 2 minutes or so...then he just talks about a promotion he's doing for the kids. <br />
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Anyways...I found this a cute way to be an encourager and "awesome this year" We need to be more positive even in our hard times. Stop playing the victim. And go on. God is with us and He will help us through whatever. I hope I can remember some of these things to do throughout my days. I want to be glad everyday and make everyday count. <br />
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Hope you can too. Hope you know God loves you and wants you to be the perfect masterpiece He created you to be. <br />
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love you guys. thanks for reading my soap box today :)<br />
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stay tuned....Rett had his first REAL haircut yesterday! Pictures to be posted soon!<br />
<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-12011444595469360642014-02-14T14:37:00.001-08:002017-11-07T10:51:06.877-08:00snow day, photo bomb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photo bomb! Sorry for the way this looks, I'm not patient enough to figure out how the pictures should be placed. :( And sorry so long but we have some great pics of the last few weeks of our snow days!!!! Hope you all enjoyed your snow/time off/rest time....it was a great time for us! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aGGYyiO2Q_wPv050km-YYee7WpqarNlqe1Cp3q9NXVy9dFXXKn188KIEJ9Ynq6VpvOzms8-nPEP47qiveoHAMKT0x2pdWmHSNrjzX4M5_374Q72EPvhyuZxGFwg9bdE15SFFZ5JMOSVY/s1600/IMG_3097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVl17eTdjKOAekMhhVOx9T1f24sbqXSNQxnduk8pSsJ4H7yXisC4A7deUG8v1KBggcsz5WcYmf9FUDD_XYcOS0yz4jeOTVyFNQZhia4dH1ap-RY5_YCeZi-7K0CUb1DLUInNDlcnLJinE/s1600/IMG_3100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aGGYyiO2Q_wPv050km-YYee7WpqarNlqe1Cp3q9NXVy9dFXXKn188KIEJ9Ynq6VpvOzms8-nPEP47qiveoHAMKT0x2pdWmHSNrjzX4M5_374Q72EPvhyuZxGFwg9bdE15SFFZ5JMOSVY/s1600/IMG_3097.jpg" height="200" width="150"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdDL3Rt91vPqFAihcuPR_hrMOvyQrPGQKWMp0kEmKUwVrL52_ZMpzGrvmEpfq6oFueBKmz_bqL8VtJwp8L33iuFZbPRj8NS5e-x-z6UMj30JYubnpvB4t5tqzM2QQ4AfzCe74L0JOQCPP/s1600/IMG_3101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdDL3Rt91vPqFAihcuPR_hrMOvyQrPGQKWMp0kEmKUwVrL52_ZMpzGrvmEpfq6oFueBKmz_bqL8VtJwp8L33iuFZbPRj8NS5e-x-z6UMj30JYubnpvB4t5tqzM2QQ4AfzCe74L0JOQCPP/s1600/IMG_3101.jpg" height="200" width="150"></a></span><br />
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These are from our snow a couple weeks ago. He didn't like it. However, we think due to a tooth breaking through, him just waking up from a nap and the lack of gloves, he just wasn't feeling it. So, we didn't last long. But it was a great few days with Kraig off work to be able to spend some extra time with us and a time for rest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOUYxXBmMMWGS-yQ1ZHHmSWQfb1kWnFq1KXlaIoZxczKj74d4ubAJ8kl5Siq_bFuWHBrLQ7CzVTBcDKAH_FJf-fU9Fp89btOK0maJRmM42Btg-D_hPLvr-tm4x2xl53QNfKYshMnfUy5a/s1600/IMG_3112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOUYxXBmMMWGS-yQ1ZHHmSWQfb1kWnFq1KXlaIoZxczKj74d4ubAJ8kl5Siq_bFuWHBrLQ7CzVTBcDKAH_FJf-fU9Fp89btOK0maJRmM42Btg-D_hPLvr-tm4x2xl53QNfKYshMnfUy5a/s1600/IMG_3112.jpg" height="200" width="149"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy36FrJNXcoU01utieTCjr5XwVJhaBet9dUehiR3CPKLgwR2tBZXIHyC7SQmd7U5vmpgDHHnwejXgN8zYUqX3-b6O66wmDyrSQhhFZVCFqIJ-sRw7ejorg55NDo00deT8DQT2ZUmCYn9cL/s1600/IMG_3113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy36FrJNXcoU01utieTCjr5XwVJhaBet9dUehiR3CPKLgwR2tBZXIHyC7SQmd7U5vmpgDHHnwejXgN8zYUqX3-b6O66wmDyrSQhhFZVCFqIJ-sRw7ejorg55NDo00deT8DQT2ZUmCYn9cL/s1600/IMG_3113.jpg" height="200" width="149"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCpbIqahw1PvFVbtEloz62YpcE8RTgl9J1qkTpBEs_UoV62nsBS6wy_Nv8TqAp5UypgiJXW3AC5wpXZ8Yj5t1oTBVeMPWikExrRwoB-_qbuorwacv0XcoagHGP_DcVusrzVnZpbbKogTK/s1600/IMG_3114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCpbIqahw1PvFVbtEloz62YpcE8RTgl9J1qkTpBEs_UoV62nsBS6wy_Nv8TqAp5UypgiJXW3AC5wpXZ8Yj5t1oTBVeMPWikExrRwoB-_qbuorwacv0XcoagHGP_DcVusrzVnZpbbKogTK/s1600/IMG_3114.jpg" height="200" width="149"> </a></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOUYxXBmMMWGS-yQ1ZHHmSWQfb1kWnFq1KXlaIoZxczKj74d4ubAJ8kl5Siq_bFuWHBrLQ7CzVTBcDKAH_FJf-fU9Fp89btOK0maJRmM42Btg-D_hPLvr-tm4x2xl53QNfKYshMnfUy5a/s1600/IMG_3112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCpbIqahw1PvFVbtEloz62YpcE8RTgl9J1qkTpBEs_UoV62nsBS6wy_Nv8TqAp5UypgiJXW3AC5wpXZ8Yj5t1oTBVeMPWikExrRwoB-_qbuorwacv0XcoagHGP_DcVusrzVnZpbbKogTK/s1600/IMG_3114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">These are also from the last snow days....I gave Rett his first hair cut. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">I didn't cry one time. </span></a></span></div>
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While he was teething, he insisted on being naked. He tried to go around without a diaper too, but I wasn't going for that one. I love this picture of him. </div>
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Lance, Kraig and Rett built a snowman! This time, we were prepared with gloves and more sleep. HE LOVED THE SNOW! Our dogs loved the snow too but they loved relaxing even more. Then, JoJo (my sister's dog) came over and Rett and her had to watch the snow fall. He loves JoJo. He says, "JOJO!!!" Then, he calls our dogs, "dog" hahahaha I guess we need to work on the names of our dogs. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexUl8gBai8FLkTjUnjqYOf2LlD2f6aWaktgljBhcwfbrlumFqyf90lfv6L1eZ9L8VKwagwpXV2MEtRq47x8BwMC5ecIb8VpU3kcs0Nbv_jlwP6c6iDyujIC4DCJcItK7uEwTqSGlmLjdS/s1600/IMG_3185.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/AVvXsEiexUl8gBai8FLkTjUnjqYOf2LlD2f6aWaktgljBhcwfbrlumFqyf90lfv6L1eZ9L8VKwagwpXV2MEtRq47x8BwMC5ecIb8VpU3kcs0Nbv_jlwP6c6iDyujIC4DCJcItK7uEwTqSGlmLjdS/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG" height="298" width="400"></a></div>
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This is one of my favorites from these past few snow days. If you could zoom into Rett's face. It is pure joy. I love him. :)<br />
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My dad threw snow at him. He thought it was hilarious. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">He loved the snow so much better this time. When he would walk he would just fall into it because it was so deep. He loved to make "balls" (snowballs). He would take a bite out of the ball and then throw it. Then, when he got hit or hit someone else with his ball, he would just giggle. He was so much fun to watch this time. </span></div>
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Mom took most of these pictures. This one is great of him throwing a ball!!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImZQnqaiq89ZySZFz-O_XjjDfJ1m2qtgyev8hGSn7ChiYAuIoyXJ4U2ZIrudgHjQCfBWbkT2tcoe5R70M0EEfDr4-26dOB-rpc3YnG7V6AXFWAWPJCoFbZkxfhyWWNeW-Hrb5a0HsEOXo/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImZQnqaiq89ZySZFz-O_XjjDfJ1m2qtgyev8hGSn7ChiYAuIoyXJ4U2ZIrudgHjQCfBWbkT2tcoe5R70M0EEfDr4-26dOB-rpc3YnG7V6AXFWAWPJCoFbZkxfhyWWNeW-Hrb5a0HsEOXo/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" height="298" width="400"> </a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: left; color: black; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> *****<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImZQnqaiq89ZySZFz-O_XjjDfJ1m2qtgyev8hGSn7ChiYAuIoyXJ4U2ZIrudgHjQCfBWbkT2tcoe5R70M0EEfDr4-26dOB-rpc3YnG7V6AXFWAWPJCoFbZkxfhyWWNeW-Hrb5a0HsEOXo/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I love this one of Rett and my dad!!! He looks like he is listening so intently on whatever wisdom my dad is imparting on him. hahah :)</a>******</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j9gm08IqyK_9Z_T0KtdscC5nX19tf3wdEyCpKDo0Idi6zfN5KXHAzDemIwWtKhrkwEnsx-CQD31wbBxdumtqeMyq1G36IyPLR-5dOB-NItaJidn5dBtrLyX01AD5qGWY7wVMyTD8aLVE/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">1. <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j9gm08IqyK_9Z_T0KtdscC5nX19tf3wdEyCpKDo0Idi6zfN5KXHAzDemIwWtKhrkwEnsx-CQD31wbBxdumtqeMyq1G36IyPLR-5dOB-NItaJidn5dBtrLyX01AD5qGWY7wVMyTD8aLVE/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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2.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pFVG5i9KdTRMt9c7DUMtl95BYmfqDEz3WaqaQ9eoM_0DX7cufxQWCnSc5joSFZeyoqBF8dcMi0kH-lBRfDnM6GCJ4lrxWpTbV7f_w89y3ifFtRla_C910IEScKmhewz8dJdBBrz0K84b/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pFVG5i9KdTRMt9c7DUMtl95BYmfqDEz3WaqaQ9eoM_0DX7cufxQWCnSc5joSFZeyoqBF8dcMi0kH-lBRfDnM6GCJ4lrxWpTbV7f_w89y3ifFtRla_C910IEScKmhewz8dJdBBrz0K84b/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJG4hlHWt09L8hYVyS20Ol6z0N8qx5ZV5OU4T88Iw33MkuMruxZvw1QycR35I-_ONSZ7wxbDrzZo5mBOtqsynPiRccyoX_CflpfePX61WeP9jWgQgbMHFQ2j_Kv5n99SfytXMdyx94s2b/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">3. <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJG4hlHWt09L8hYVyS20Ol6z0N8qx5ZV5OU4T88Iw33MkuMruxZvw1QycR35I-_ONSZ7wxbDrzZo5mBOtqsynPiRccyoX_CflpfePX61WeP9jWgQgbMHFQ2j_Kv5n99SfytXMdyx94s2b/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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MY HANDSOME!</div>
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I think another favorite was to roll in the snow.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uJxmAwoz67LCUvARK2Tl9FJERQB-D12FkZKNIodTc8dSPwzhHlLBmuUrJR1XZTFFo8YPb2vzpqjLo5zBp-SAx_Vin9lNXMQtb05PP-xDgmVGPCrgCTQFAToFsBMTwJ_MdFwdTQKimsqi/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uJxmAwoz67LCUvARK2Tl9FJERQB-D12FkZKNIodTc8dSPwzhHlLBmuUrJR1XZTFFo8YPb2vzpqjLo5zBp-SAx_Vin9lNXMQtb05PP-xDgmVGPCrgCTQFAToFsBMTwJ_MdFwdTQKimsqi/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6V_XVxAMtksIev14ArLhVqusPhbOJBxc15fFRWajrn_pgLHrpX53zmyMi2gWjluvs_fMPpyA8ApWRaySukz5lkGbTfEc3yg4mzPGk4GrJLNdX2QGK-XjA5r-0eKSU01_gp-mqolfxHp_/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6V_XVxAMtksIev14ArLhVqusPhbOJBxc15fFRWajrn_pgLHrpX53zmyMi2gWjluvs_fMPpyA8ApWRaySukz5lkGbTfEc3yg4mzPGk4GrJLNdX2QGK-XjA5r-0eKSU01_gp-mqolfxHp_/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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OR SIT........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWprEkT3wVpVSjKik2BNbpLDgk_4HpoOnFGs8ZvjULBvdJW0kG4sfokJT1shwvHRDaSnskSMd8o0U4Hh7JCHZc32NJitA4fl_joUB9BaFwSCJjQJ6RSxHAjRxDA1eI9F0-NeJtV0c77F9/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWprEkT3wVpVSjKik2BNbpLDgk_4HpoOnFGs8ZvjULBvdJW0kG4sfokJT1shwvHRDaSnskSMd8o0U4Hh7JCHZc32NJitA4fl_joUB9BaFwSCJjQJ6RSxHAjRxDA1eI9F0-NeJtV0c77F9/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQDXaDB1ICiSI29YyRvN4VIbZJReqv5H5oQpziiqTJ_50c9v8VnTgj33N2ASW2RVmk9sT616Ht6RB5Aj98hrUgCAQRqit98RD4JC6XbPKouBEtQf0DKxvFBagVM7Zmryhkwz_h3HkHwyN/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQDXaDB1ICiSI29YyRvN4VIbZJReqv5H5oQpziiqTJ_50c9v8VnTgj33N2ASW2RVmk9sT616Ht6RB5Aj98hrUgCAQRqit98RD4JC6XbPKouBEtQf0DKxvFBagVM7Zmryhkwz_h3HkHwyN/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a>AND FALL....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwFMFpY3Yyg_rR7CX-PkAEaLPPpsnj1cdZZwtXrCDI3liDZlxVIzRiQk_2U8RFeqWQ0Pnxft69SNik6743R4F_aMTc9rp9oP6Dt2j4z94bi7BdXSS3ZmuX6h9cttq7otaYXmBnKFzKAN/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rwFMFpY3Yyg_rR7CX-PkAEaLPPpsnj1cdZZwtXrCDI3liDZlxVIzRiQk_2U8RFeqWQ0Pnxft69SNik6743R4F_aMTc9rp9oP6Dt2j4z94bi7BdXSS3ZmuX6h9cttq7otaYXmBnKFzKAN/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a> HEHEHEHE :) :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzUtP3DlWmvMkfjIWDreerCEtjJu7GawbivpihWS8qfekBzg0_w0iEJ3TXx_RVnauKJbwWElbolkxw_JGLXKoa6UTjYtQEGMWnZVS6_DBsY1e4ad6imw0YC6kPhgcIbO51cXi4e5LDYa/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzUtP3DlWmvMkfjIWDreerCEtjJu7GawbivpihWS8qfekBzg0_w0iEJ3TXx_RVnauKJbwWElbolkxw_JGLXKoa6UTjYtQEGMWnZVS6_DBsY1e4ad6imw0YC6kPhgcIbO51cXi4e5LDYa/s1600/IMG_3200.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8N2pqjVcKzzZLXXLRzRlVLxwQLBEXv-ZjPq2PIl1hTCH8NmZBorkTTs0SCPVitAJyL1DGmjte-QGCFm2H-ELehiHx81lPAGko3xV5r49FunRZ4FPzGwN0JplwydkSPZKm51XtbkNSez-/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8N2pqjVcKzzZLXXLRzRlVLxwQLBEXv-ZjPq2PIl1hTCH8NmZBorkTTs0SCPVitAJyL1DGmjte-QGCFm2H-ELehiHx81lPAGko3xV5r49FunRZ4FPzGwN0JplwydkSPZKm51XtbkNSez-/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" height="239" width="320"></a> Getting a taste before he throws it.....</div>
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For Valentine's, the Incline was giving free rides up the mountain and since Kraig was going to have a 1/2 day, we were going to have a fun, family day. Well, the WONDERFUL snow messed that up. Although we had a blast the last few days, we had to let Kraig go back to work today so Rett and I went to the Incline. Well, I don't do heights well so I was a bit nervous. I called my parents. My mom didn't have to go back to school today so they were so gracious to help me with Rett in case I got too nervous going up the mountain. Well, Rett did great, I did ok and we made it up the mountain and back down and had a great lunch with my parents. All in all, a great Valentine's with my little Valentine (and parents) We just missed Kraig. </div>
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Hope you all have had a great few snow days and a wonderful Valentine's with your honey! Love you all and am so thankful for you all! </div>
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Happy Valentine's Day!</div>
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O....PS.....if you are needing some gift ideas visit my friend's blog <a href="http://thefaithjournals.blogspot.com/2014/02/show-some-love-valentines-2014.html">here</a> She has great ideas for this love day. She has posted a blog for girls, guys and for both! And most importantly about the greatest love of all. It is just great! Check her out. :)</div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5v-z9HBjoG0%2FUv6Kg4jWM5I%2FAAAAAAAAAco%2F5qkf3HhLdPI%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3186.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckYkRLkYAfIUMs72_hvMiyifJvsWz9-40Q2h4YhZpZrtIrB526mb-WvpNJnmeA__4jaFn_juD87I0qBSI3oNaLh6a82YuSZC_NFwUgr71aH00ZsCUAsu262XHQxOz7veJZ6ggNYlneEY8/s1600/IMG_3186.JPG" -->givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-81330826222422002062014-02-07T07:02:00.003-08:002014-02-07T07:02:37.457-08:00Growing up....Yesterday, I got to go to the Chapel service at Kraig's school. <br />
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It was a treat. <br />
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A student that I have had the privilege knowing since she was in 6th grade (now a Senior) spoke. I have been her small group leader for 5 years and have seen her transform into a wonderful and beautiful young lady.<br />
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She is going places. She is a talented athlete and great friend. Loves Jesus and a new found desire to serve Him in all things. She's not a speaker and will tell you that. She's a bit shy but will be so loyal once you have the friendship with her. But yesterday, even being as scared as she was to speak, the Lord was so gracious and gave her the exact words He wanted her to say.<br />
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I couldn't help but be proud. I know I didn't have a huge roll in her life but just being able to be a part of her life for the past 6-7 years and to see her faith and love for God grow is just....amazing. As I listened, I couldn't help but be teary-eyed because of her bright future ahead. I'm just so excited for her and what the Lord will continue to do through her. I hope she will continue to keep me in the loop of her life. She is going off to college in the fall to King College to play volleyball, although I'm sure she's nervous...her parents have done a wonderful job of preparing her to go. And I just couldn't be more excited. <br />
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As I was sitting there listening to her and as the day progressed, I went to get Rett and spent the day with him doing tedious tasks around the house. Playing, picking up, and making dinner....it just kind of hit me that Rett will be a Senior one day. ha - talk about skipping lots of steps. So, then I went back and thought, well....first we got to make it through Kindergarten. It started to get overwhelming because I was then presented with the fact that we have to prepare him for his future. I want him to be able to go off to school, go experience the world. I want to be ok with that. I'm sure it won't be easy but I have to remind myself that he is the Lord's and the Lord has big plans for Rett. And I so want to watch God work and I so want to be apart of that journey. I don't want to hinder Rett from doing what God's plan is for his life. <br />
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My prayer for my friend is that she will keep the Lord first, continue to seek Him in all things and just keep going. Not giving up. My prayer is the same for Rett. I look forward to the time when he asks the Lord into his heart. I look forward to conversations about friends, girls and futures....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpHDcSWsMzTnYRRAi3sh3Mn01tpr55q9UwfuqAOjfb7q2pE_j1NRs2V18g7A-is2S7e56ANgj7623vsGcH_WsQDlCyPcO-K9eg0aL3ekpIjZIdZFUf3HgtrRpAsAy9Lf3C8ftUzzkJ5or/s1600/IMG_2900.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/AVvXsEgPpHDcSWsMzTnYRRAi3sh3Mn01tpr55q9UwfuqAOjfb7q2pE_j1NRs2V18g7A-is2S7e56ANgj7623vsGcH_WsQDlCyPcO-K9eg0aL3ekpIjZIdZFUf3HgtrRpAsAy9Lf3C8ftUzzkJ5or/s1600/IMG_2900.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Then as we were struggling last night waiting for Daddy (Kraig) to get home, I realized he's going to grow up for sure. ha I realized though that I needed to enjoy this time more than ever. And today since he's sick, I need to get all the extra cuddles in that I can. That's what I'm going to do. So, enjoy your day, I'm going to play and cuddle with Rett and pray he feels better. <br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-67351752365734660762014-02-03T06:18:00.002-08:002014-02-03T06:41:56.617-08:00lessons learned from Moses....We are going through the Old Testament with our youth in Sunday School.<br />
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The Old Testament never gets old to me. No matter how many times I read or hear different stories, I learn something new every time. Or something new stands out to me. It just never gets OLD. I don't know why. It's amazing to me how their faith blossomed, how they experienced God and how even through all the trials and hard times, they still BELIEVED God. It blows my mind every time. <br />
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So, let's get to Moses. In Exodus 1 and 2, Moses was born, "adopted" by the Pharaoh, saw a fight and murdered an Egyptian, fled from Egypt, and then met/married his wife. Now, Moses knew about God and that He had made a covenant with His people (that He would take them to the Promised Land) but Moses had never heard from God until this point. The Burning Bush. God talked to Moses through a Burning Bush. REALLY! A BURNING BUSH!!! HA! THINK ABOUT THAT! hmmmm....so, God tells Moses to go back to Egypt and free his people from the Pharaoh. This was a tad harder than it sounds. Moses knew it wouldn't happen right away but after one conversation with God, HE GOES. He goes and he goes again, and again and again....10 times. The Pharaoh's heart was finally softened and he lefts the people go AFTER TEN TIMES!!! I don't know about you but after one time, I would have probably given up. I am ashamed of how weak my faith really is when I was putting it into perspective. But Moses doesn't give up. <br />
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Let's look at the big picture. God knew how long it would take. God knew that Moses would face opposition. God knew that Moses had to do this though. I am just fascinated by Moses' faith. <br />
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I guess as we went through this yesterday with our kids, I saw how meek my faith was. How I don't know the big picture. I don't know why we are at our church most of the time, (now, we can't imagine being anywhere else) or why God has chosen to give us Rett when we (I) felt so ill-prepared, (we love him more than anything) or why all of sudden Kraig feels comfortable about preaching. (what's that about).....and many other things that are little but when put in place....it will lead to a bigger picture of what God is preparing us for. I do know that because of all of these things, we are supposed to have faith that God will take care of us and that even when we have no idea what we are doing, GOD DOES! All we have to do is do what He says. I know and was reminded yesterday that it's not always easy but it's ok. It's ok because God loves us and will provide everything we need to make it through to our "BIG PICTURE," whatever that may be. I have also learned recently and again through Moses that it takes time. Moses didn't free his people until he was in his 60s. Many people in the Bible and even people in our lives didn't just come out of the womb and all of sudden was able to do what the Lord commanded. IT TAKES TIME. We go through seasons in life of growing, we have trials and good times. <br />
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Now, I'm rambling I feel like. But just remember God knows the big picture when we can't see past our own wants and desires....He is preparing us for that big picture. Just have faith that He will take care of us and enjoy the ride.<br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-13664753977994934842014-01-21T11:40:00.003-08:002014-01-21T11:40:28.536-08:00Busy, busy, busy!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
We have been crazy busy the past few weeks. </div>
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Kraig went back to work. We so miss him when he works. Rett loves his daddy! That's all he talks about during the day. </div>
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We had a great doctor visit a couple weeks ago. Rett grew an inch and a half. Didn't gain any weight really but that's ok. They weren't too concerned this time. They gave us some things to work on for his next visit. </div>
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He has made stride in his speech too. I haven't been to worried about it but he has started to say "foo-ball," "ba-ball," and "jui" and "blue" for blueberries. It's been so fun. We are working on our ABCs and numbers now. We got some fun games for Christmas so we work on the alphabet every few days. Just taking it a day at a time.</div>
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We had a youth weekend a couple weeks ago. It was super fast and super good. The kids worked hard and played even harder. They are so fun and I look forward to many more great trips.</div>
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Kraig and I went to Passion2014 this past weekend with our friend's church as leaders. We were so blessed to be apart of the weekend and be with our friends. They live out of town so its always a treat to see them and get to hear their hearts, share our hearts and just laugh. It was a weekend that we needed. We feel refreshed and ready to face the day. There were a lot of great speakers and music. And we learned a lot. I'm still processing most of it but the Lord is good and faithful. We have a lot to work on and do. </div>
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Rett had a great time with his Gpa which has turned into "Budpa" and Honey which he hasn't said often enough for us to know what that one is but he was so spoiled and came home exhausted from all the playing. So thankful that he was able to spend some extra time with them so they can spoil him.</div>
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Basketball is wrapping up for Kraig. He has had a pretty good year. It's been fun to go watch the girls play and see him coach. He's so good with them. And patient. Baseball should start soon. We look forward to that and the warmer weather. </div>
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We are excited for the next few months. Lots of fun things going on! Be sure to check back for more Rett pics and his first haircut will probably happen soon :/ </div>
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-81441118068371503882013-12-31T18:17:00.000-08:002013-12-31T18:17:20.546-08:00Welcome, 2014....2013 has come and about to go....<br />
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2013 has been a year full of blessings. Today, I guess in leu of 2014 approaching I have been super reflective. And as trying as 2013 may have been, it has been packed full of surprise blessings.<br />
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Let's recap.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPE8bwetIgaI7-b_dSSsEp39AM6jCuG8o8kl40UYFpfAmVc0az03B0Nxf6kYXHEFJL3dJWqR5i6rIbjFq6nasdEMAhAuDyfwVQGoyQVDuB73ei9ziXRp9Tva5VWdSPGl6ajrSCfOcQ9PS/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPE8bwetIgaI7-b_dSSsEp39AM6jCuG8o8kl40UYFpfAmVc0az03B0Nxf6kYXHEFJL3dJWqR5i6rIbjFq6nasdEMAhAuDyfwVQGoyQVDuB73ei9ziXRp9Tva5VWdSPGl6ajrSCfOcQ9PS/s200/IMG_2447.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJo_oMe_XK7m-dXxqUyufHomV1adiiaVtl9NpUhVrz0wgrMwUa-e8y2_qCM3VhCEYDTM6-kHSQyQ0MYvN9VgdFx7XtxuBTujmGBdt3X6UQ4faWj40cEBh85JB_idGR-Ren_JLDdXOWnVS/s1600/IMG_2449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJo_oMe_XK7m-dXxqUyufHomV1adiiaVtl9NpUhVrz0wgrMwUa-e8y2_qCM3VhCEYDTM6-kHSQyQ0MYvN9VgdFx7XtxuBTujmGBdt3X6UQ4faWj40cEBh85JB_idGR-Ren_JLDdXOWnVS/s200/IMG_2449.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjAvAXnNJ9y0H6YCtze5rhEkWnE3pRJvsYzyHaoaJymY_rrrSpE3IQwU2D6o-3wjIzwAzcKncZfZ_buAKNLOo3eKK0HjvU3kMR2GRmebliIiQoWWXn9xbUvMICqoUfDsiACKPnYRTdr2L/s1600/IMG_2487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjAvAXnNJ9y0H6YCtze5rhEkWnE3pRJvsYzyHaoaJymY_rrrSpE3IQwU2D6o-3wjIzwAzcKncZfZ_buAKNLOo3eKK0HjvU3kMR2GRmebliIiQoWWXn9xbUvMICqoUfDsiACKPnYRTdr2L/s200/IMG_2487.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdFTUWU_WQO0Ee7sQAyJU4XT376D0oH2w-h_P5A62C2GQWxHyaWmycpEZcNGvULHlRyzzaiMVQjX7nFqI8Onz9sHmkQ6_2pWqT0ELUaaB9AKG9vlgURvYq2EZcUAbr0Ulb4N0zYk12hOH/s1600/IMG_2671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdFTUWU_WQO0Ee7sQAyJU4XT376D0oH2w-h_P5A62C2GQWxHyaWmycpEZcNGvULHlRyzzaiMVQjX7nFqI8Onz9sHmkQ6_2pWqT0ELUaaB9AKG9vlgURvYq2EZcUAbr0Ulb4N0zYk12hOH/s200/IMG_2671.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyaS-eNFN1SPAyPZOc0aePk0WE6d1FKSMd4J1u8BGiC5iwt_ubq9sL6-2meE578vrq9HY4Sz4wmZUF5bjanmEE21Nk8h3kvbSUSVOaMIYajNUi5MXs975Iih9sHJCSzgYv8D_v1O80NB_/s1600/IMG_2757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyaS-eNFN1SPAyPZOc0aePk0WE6d1FKSMd4J1u8BGiC5iwt_ubq9sL6-2meE578vrq9HY4Sz4wmZUF5bjanmEE21Nk8h3kvbSUSVOaMIYajNUi5MXs975Iih9sHJCSzgYv8D_v1O80NB_/s200/IMG_2757.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB9ditVvD-IvbN2kmg9zbUnSGGyB24YY3qbVzO83I_u4aqh6dbG-UfVP0krtvXWh8eU168ogSPZZ2GGzeKeD-gBtixFvo0WTkBAe2s2iY5PBma5USV379io7Sa2u1SsWqDveQPnTCjudW/s1600/IMG_2770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB9ditVvD-IvbN2kmg9zbUnSGGyB24YY3qbVzO83I_u4aqh6dbG-UfVP0krtvXWh8eU168ogSPZZ2GGzeKeD-gBtixFvo0WTkBAe2s2iY5PBma5USV379io7Sa2u1SsWqDveQPnTCjudW/s200/IMG_2770.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2J_WkIROE4yPjI5qgekGvOGgBvtu8Rv4Y6_Zm9g5DKEsax_53zhUoUIsC9YuruWAvUvGi-a7g-H_BxtF98Tu0u4YQ34LIaHVkP7GHDTTRiZEEsFG79f4vqgrQ__2z1gnTXrrfFJ2M8C4/s1600/IMG_2808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2J_WkIROE4yPjI5qgekGvOGgBvtu8Rv4Y6_Zm9g5DKEsax_53zhUoUIsC9YuruWAvUvGi-a7g-H_BxtF98Tu0u4YQ34LIaHVkP7GHDTTRiZEEsFG79f4vqgrQ__2z1gnTXrrfFJ2M8C4/s200/IMG_2808.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QAYtAWxMKG_sqs5Pefo670FAnYItwJ6iMjbJCuQTFOPnmDTuNq2HhPIoJVNVaeRqHsrqOlewJCmTDd3SfHBQP0qCXA4FCOqmx9RuVmKHstQrP-lsA0jIx8YPl-dtnHNzE7A70IOAY1BH/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QAYtAWxMKG_sqs5Pefo670FAnYItwJ6iMjbJCuQTFOPnmDTuNq2HhPIoJVNVaeRqHsrqOlewJCmTDd3SfHBQP0qCXA4FCOqmx9RuVmKHstQrP-lsA0jIx8YPl-dtnHNzE7A70IOAY1BH/s200/IMG_2832.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuGXR-AcqAxWjV57m84P2v-COsrMQ0cygb81J-D194Ujnq_TRvTubbhQjWauJcXQg80KPm-_3aBPqiH8fxhpi366v3emmj-0f8blo8W3PU4i-ueU3Wbcju5-o9xAgVooSUUj-rn-mzhU-/s1600/IMG_2843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuGXR-AcqAxWjV57m84P2v-COsrMQ0cygb81J-D194Ujnq_TRvTubbhQjWauJcXQg80KPm-_3aBPqiH8fxhpi366v3emmj-0f8blo8W3PU4i-ueU3Wbcju5-o9xAgVooSUUj-rn-mzhU-/s200/IMG_2843.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPW658azMR-JRTXP6g62IIwKKBYDuqVBtUhYfFlJItxfn2qG4CDomH8T-BzsYLFyZrSqPhWN3cCH0fRN-DBUwS3oYpCedYxGkx7245ujZiyXd5yCzVw7Bfk4tRCI-cxfRXB4YHDSF1AXo/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPW658azMR-JRTXP6g62IIwKKBYDuqVBtUhYfFlJItxfn2qG4CDomH8T-BzsYLFyZrSqPhWN3cCH0fRN-DBUwS3oYpCedYxGkx7245ujZiyXd5yCzVw7Bfk4tRCI-cxfRXB4YHDSF1AXo/s200/IMG_2848.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKok1IbSQMFhfso_iMhsP_4u8KCPouSsR-Q5SPFsV6u28bSEhd0R9pRvBSJW0Ab0L6YVU-Y-0kZR36hnheB5CWE8d4ZUu9Ij2but4MXgLOnOO8B3HvYFI540tSM7z7SqsuRAdK956R_Fgy/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKok1IbSQMFhfso_iMhsP_4u8KCPouSsR-Q5SPFsV6u28bSEhd0R9pRvBSJW0Ab0L6YVU-Y-0kZR36hnheB5CWE8d4ZUu9Ij2but4MXgLOnOO8B3HvYFI540tSM7z7SqsuRAdK956R_Fgy/s200/IMG_2887.JPG" width="160" /></a><br />
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Here are some photos from the year. Rett turned 1. He traveled to New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida this year. He was last year's New Year baby. He learned so many things. He learned to walk, sleep through the night, talk and make fish faces. He was Batman for Halloween. He went swimming this summer. He loved the sand. Rett had a good year. <br />
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My dad retired this year. It has been 3 years since he has lived at home here in GA. It will be exciting to get to see him more and be able to share more memories with him with Rett.<br />
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We got to visit with much of our family this year too. We got to see our PA family many times throughout this year and have so enjoyed that. We always love to go north and always welcome visits to GA! <br />
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It's been a good year. <br />
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I am not always one to be excited for the New Year. I don't normally get all into the ball dropping and stuff. It's never been a big deal. And I may only make it to midnight tonight long enough to give my honey a kiss and sneak in and give Rett a kiss and then go to bed but if 2013 is a precursor to 2014 - I am super excited. I am just looking forward to 2014. <br />
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Right off the bat, we have a youth trip planned. Then, we head to Atlanta with some very dear friends to Passion ATL. Then, it just gets better. Spring comes. In April, we get to go to PA for a short trip to see Kraig's sister get married. Our 5 year anniversary is in May. My life group girls I had since 6th grade are graduating. Rett turns 2. We have a retirement vacation planned for my dad this summer. We have another youth trip this summer. And I am sure we will make our way to PA in August for Givens' family vacation. Next fall looks calm for now but I'm sure it will be great also! I am just excited to watch Rett grow and learn. These past few months have been so fun! <br />
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I'm excited to get fit in 2014. I am anxious to continue my cooking skills. I have come a long way this year. I have learned new meals and I am ready to challenge my ability even more and try to be more healthy and creative for us. I am ready to clean out my house and make it more organized and toddler friendly. I just need to declutter. I have made new goals for our family and myself. The past few weeks I have been really trying to figure out ways to be better in 2014. I guess I just thought - "The Lord has more for me as a wife and mother, I know I tried my best this year but there is always room for improvement." My pastor spoke last week about an attitude adjustment....that whole day, my attitude was horrid because I knew he was right and I didn't want to admit it. It just hit me square in the forehead. The Lord had that message just for me. So, I am going to seek the Lord and hope my attitude changes on many things. I have to learn many things. I know I can be better, I just need His help. I am ready for a new attitude and I am hopeful. <br />
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I am just anxious to get going. :)<br />
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I sure hope you all had a great 2013 and I pray for blessings for a 2014. <br />
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Happy New Year! Hope you all make it to midnight. Heck, I hope I make it to midnight. It's crazy how things have changed since Rett came along. WHO KNEW!!! :) <br />
<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-68763111879349470272013-12-10T18:30:00.003-08:002013-12-31T18:17:32.195-08:00Getting ready for Christmas - a Christmas wreathDue to my anxiousness, Rett and I have been busy the last couple days. We have shopped 'til we dropped, semi-finished our tree, semi-cleaned the house, wrapped some presents, and made a Christmas wreath. <br />
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Nothing is really complete except the wreath but hopefully by this time next week (when Kraig's parents arrive) we will be complete with everything. FINGERS CROSSED<br />
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But today I got my craft on. I rarely craft, mainly because I don't feel confident in my skills. And I am not creative. Plain and simple. But I have some friends who are and give me inspiration. <a href="http://sothecooksaid.blogspot.com/2013/12/gift-wrap-wreath.html#comment-form">Here</a> you can see my friend's Cindy gift box wreath. She is super crafty and I love reading her blog. Please check it out. My friend Stacie makes cool wreaths a lot too. She made a awesome pink frame and made it a wreath...I tried to find a picture of it and came up empty handed. Take my word for it - so cute!<br />
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Well, here is my go at my Christmas box wreath...<br />
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First - I got the supplies...I just took a stroll around my kitchen and found boxes with things in it that could be placed in baggies :) <br />
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Then I got to work. I did glue the lids together on the boxes just because it made it easier to wrap them once I got started. <br />
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During Rett's nap today, I wrapped the presents, placed them where I wanted them and hot glued them all down and to each otehr. I felt there was still something missing so I got to thinking and conversing with a friend and we came up with the "g." Well, this was tricky mainly because I was impatient and I couldn't find our box cutter. So, I found a knife Kraig had in the junk drawer and cut the best I could and then shaped it up using scissors. shhhh...don't tell my mom or Kraig - they are very adamant about me not using knives because of a recent cut to my finger....another story, another day. :) I don't suggest using the knife though at all but again, I was impatient. :)<br />
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Then - this smiling face woke up so we took a snack break. Isn't he precious. He had a busy morning with helping me trim the tree and making homemade apple butter. When Kraig got home, he was super excited to show off all of the ornaments on the tree and look at the lights. <br />
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After I cut out the "g" - I went searching for my red paint. And guess what - it was no where to be found so I just spray painted it black and strung a ribbon through it and called it a day. I still feel as though the Christmas-y colors are missing but for my first try - I am pretty pleased. Next year - I will have the red paint and possibly green! Now, it sits happily on our front door waiting to greet our guests. </div>
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Now, to find a tree skirt and topper before this weekend! And monogram our stockings. O and stocking holders for the fire place....still so many things to do but I at least have the tree mostly done and I have a wreath, and some presents are wrapped...have to stay positive, right?</div>
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-83628543220839007212013-12-09T10:59:00.001-08:002013-12-09T10:59:19.891-08:00update....Christmas is approaching.<br />
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I feel anxious and overwhelmed because I don't have all the "kid-friendly" things for Rett to experience. I have been on a crazy hunt for all the fun things that I feel like we should do to celebrate Christmas. Such as a Nativity scene, an advent calendar, and we need stockings and just fun decorations. I can't find any of the things I want. I may be too picky though because I don't want some of the newer versions of things so I have been searching Ebay and thrift stores. I told Kraig that we probably should have been collecting these fun and kid friendly things over the years and we have failed. At least we have our tree up, right! It doesn't have the ornaments on yet but we have lights! We hope to finish that tonight...fingers crossed.<br />
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Rett is now 17 months. Growing so fast. We have been going to the doctor every month or month and a half since he turned 1. So, update on that. The doctors have been concerned because he hasn't been gaining weight like he should be. Well, talk about nerves being shot. I did do what the docs said about feeding up extra calories, we did milkshakes, and just feeding him all day long - I felt like anyways. Some days, I felt like he was a bottomless pit. He ate all day. So, every time we would go get weighed and there was no change, I was very discouraged. Then to hear that something could be wrong with him was even more discouraging. However, if you have met Rett, within minutes you would realize he is very healthy, happy, and thriving. He can say words, sign words, and express what he wants. He doesn't stop moving. So, to say the least, I was conflicted because he seemed to be doing so well but the doctors were still worried. Needless to say, Kraig and I prayed and just waited it out. Well, this past Friday we had to go back to the doc for a check up from his sinus infection and of course to check his weight. Guess what!!!! He gained a little over a pound. That is the most he has gained since before he turned 1. The Lord answers prayer. <br />
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We are getting ready for Kraig's parents to come visit for Christmas too! We are so excited about them heading south. It is going to be a special time this year. <br />
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Well, update for now is complete. I hope to be making a wreath later tonight while watching the "Sing Off" and part 2 of "Bonnie and Clyde" We shall see how that goes. givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-67315648896073881752013-10-09T12:56:00.001-07:002013-10-09T12:56:33.517-07:00Rett is growing...It's been a while.<br />
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Sorry for my absence. NO excuses.<br />
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Here are a few pics...from the past few weeks....<br />
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We had some fun with shaving cream.</div>
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Loved the wood chips at the park</div>
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First football game of the season...cheering on Evan!!!</div>
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I think he is precious....</div>
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Fun day at the park</div>
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My little south paw...so far anyways...</div>
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He loves riding on Daddy's shoulders</div>
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That face....</div>
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Fun day hiking at Cloudland Canyon</div>
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He has to move the seats at the volleyball games. He's so strong. </div>
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Silly boy! Love that curly hair. I never want to cut it.</div>
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He's teething. His molars have come in and he's moving onto the set of teeth. He had his well check up a few days ago. He's a little over 20 pounds and 31 inches tall. He's happy and healthy and loads of fun. He loves to go on walks and be outside. He loves dogs and animals....and loves to be around people. He loves to play. He can sign "please" and "more" We are working on "thank you" He can say "ball" and "dad" and sometimes "dog" He's just a smart little guy. We are having so much fun learning from him and figuring out parenting. It's been a blast. It's hard but we are loving it. </div>
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Just wanted to give our out of town family an update on Rett! He's a bundle of joy and loves life! :) </div>
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Love you all! Miss you guys! </div>
<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-50592933947468375312013-08-20T12:05:00.003-07:002013-08-20T12:05:22.942-07:00WHAT A SUMMER, WHAT A SUMMERWell, it's been a busy few months.<br />
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We went to New York with Kraig's family.<br />
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I started working my summer job.<br />
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Rett turned one, started walking and became a little toddler all in one week it seems like.<br />
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We went to Florida.<br />
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My parents sold their house in a day, moved to an apartment and have yet to find a place to plant their roots. <br />
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We saw some very dear friends off to China. We got to visit with some more dear friends from Alabama. <br />
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It has just been one thing after another. And I feel like I don't have a thing to show for it except a messy house and a walking baby boy. <br />
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And I'm pretty positive I wouldn't want it any other way.<br />
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I am very sad our summer camp is coming to a close... BUT I am so excited about the new school year and being home with my now 1 year old. It's crazy how a kid will change things and perspectives.<br />
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I was talking with a friend yesterday about lists and we suggested we make a "blog bucket list." We wanted to make our list, do it and write about our experiences. Then, my mom gave me her list/goals for her new school year and although one of her's was directed at my sister and I (new grandbaby...hint hint) she had some big things to accomplish this year. So, with those two conversations fresh on my mind - I figured I'd make a "blog list" for this year with Rett and being at home. So here goes!<br />
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1 ~ do more hands on things with Rett with learning and teaching him things. I want him to try more things and see things. We will get out more. He is such a blessing and I am so thankful for him but I can easily say that last year was probably one of the hardest years ever. It probably stemmed from my mental state more than anything but honestly - I didn't want to do anything. So, this year....I want to do...I want to be more present in his life and show him the world. He's precious and so full of life and I want to experience that with him instead of being borderline depressed. I have no reason but to love life with him and I am so excited for that this year. <br />
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2 ~ my girls in my youth group want to get "FIT" So, we are working out 3 days a week. Talk about a commitment. I already struggle with time management and not seeing my family, so to commit to do something with the girls when time is so valuable, well to be honest - it was a hard decision. But long story short - I came to realize they are part of my "family" too and I need to be present in their lives too. And I want to be present in their lives. So, again...I am going to get fit while hanging out and investing in my girls! I am pretty excited about this too.<br />
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3 ~ I know I say this all the time but I want to cook. I remember growing up and my mom cooked probably every night....ok at least 4 out of the 7 nights. And she's a great cook! I only to aspire to be like her, she is amazing. Anyways - I want to cook - I want to have a family-sit-down-at-the-dinner-table-dinner....So, that means things will have to change. I will have to prepare, menu plan, go to the dreaded grocery store, and make the plan for the food to be ready when Kraig gets home. So, I hope to tackle that this year. <br />
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4 ~ we have lots of little things we want to accomplish this year too like just being more involved with our youth, doing more family things and getting more things done/fixed/changed in our house....just the random day to day things but I guess the big thing is I want to be more proactive and live rather than just "trying to survive." Which is how I am pretty sure I spent the whole first year of Rett's life. :( <br />
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We will see...I hope I can place big fat check marks beside each of these but let's be real...I can't do these alone. So, we will see. I hope I can get that energy from the Lord and get this going and not sit back and let life happen. I want to live it. I want to make memories with my family. <br />
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I encourage you to make goals for the new school year. <br />
I hope you will do more and make things happen. And enjoy life. <br />
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-70642168248112906852013-05-14T09:21:00.001-07:002013-05-14T09:21:49.211-07:00Rett is the limb I never knew I hadWhen Kraig gets home in the evening, sometimes I go out and run errands or take care of some stuff that didn't get done during the day. <div>
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Sometimes, we all go out together and that's a big help...Kraig is a wonderful help. But sometimes, when I go, I don't take Rett with me or Kraig. They get to stay home and spend some time together. I'm so thankful that Kraig loves to hang out with him and be a positive example to him.</div>
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But I have noticed, especially that last few times that I went out...I miss Rett. I miss lugging the diaper bag and the stroller and everything else that comes with us when Rett goes out. It has really been frustrating me because sometimes I just need a minute to refresh myself and have time to recoup from the day. So, why am I missing him?</div>
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I am a minimalist...I like to think that anyway. I like things to be made as easy as possible. I like to carry as little as possible. So, to miss all of that stuff was real aggravating. </div>
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Then, I got to thinking...well...all of that STUFF that we tote along with Rett is important to making life easier when we go out. We need snacks, diapers, extra clothes, stroller...we need it all or else it would make for an unhappy time if we have an unexpected situation. All of those things are a part of my body when we go out. They are extra "limbs" to make things easier. I don't know if this is making sense. But to me...this was a huge breakthrough. </div>
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Although sometimes, I do just need a minute. I miss my extra "limbs." I miss Rett coming along and getting to experience what I am doing or meeting new people. </div>
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Again, this is big for me because for a long time, I didn't want to experience all of the baby-dom...I enjoyed the quiet life we lived. So, to add a baby to all of this has rocked my world. And as much as I have enjoyed being a mom and figuring it out....I am really <b><u>experiencing</u></b> it now. I am starting to take it all in. I am realizing that I need all of those extra things sometimes. I know Rett will make life hard sometimes but at the same time...he makes life fun and exciting...along with all of the things we need for him.</div>
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But...this is a big BUT! When I go out...I can also understand where I could be identified by all of those "limbs." I think to some degree that is why I miss those things. And that is not what I want at all. I am loving this age right now...and where we are in life....but I do not want to be identified by Rett or what we do. I don't want to have to have all those things with me for people to take me seriously or treat me differently because I have Rett. Again, I don't know if this makes sense....but what I do want is to be identified by what the Lord is doing in my life. I want people to see His love and grace through me and how Kraig and I raise our son. </div>
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I realize we are only about 10 months in and I also realize this will probably be a struggle for years to come but my prayer is that I can see the difference in the limbs that make things easier and rather seek to live in the teachable moments for Rett, that he can experience Christ rather than things, that he won't seek "limbs" but to seek what's important through Christ. I pray that both Kraig and I can be patient and learn how to be the best parents, that we won't need the extra limbs to be important but to lean on His love to figure out how to do this whole parenting thing. </div>
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I really don't have this parenting thing figured out but for me...this was a great breakthrough. I am now aware of this desire to be identified by Rett and now, I can work on focusing on being identified by the Lord. </div>
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givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-92132686452870665742013-05-06T14:03:00.002-07:002013-05-06T14:03:17.256-07:00SALE SALE SALEWho needs some Mary Kay!?!?<br />
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In lieu of Mother's Day coming up, I am getting rid of some of my stock! I don't have much so this is how this will work...<br />
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If you want something that I have, it will be 25% off (plus tax) and I will deliver by Friday. Or mail by Friday if needed.<br />
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If something needs to be ordered then it will be 10% off (plus tax) and I will place the order on Monday after Mother's Day. I'm sorry it won't be here by Mother's Day but you will still get the sale and it will be here shortly! <br />
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So, this is what I have in stock that is 25% off....<br />
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I have 2 sets of the Trial Size of the TimeWise Miracle Set regularly $44.00. </div>
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I have 3 sets of the Satin Lips regularly $18.00</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmQf9KyGk-Fxe8xsQKenG7yreMQVuE2iv_CNvqxz3UJbM9JsuDAUSAUsPM5eQtoTJjHOKgVv_fBdOCEj-wb9xdpLmhE4Ohq-dd0GiGeT4fKUf_RLN_Ipbw-VQmiusATUVcIkOBW6dnq8H/s1600/satin+lips.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmQf9KyGk-Fxe8xsQKenG7yreMQVuE2iv_CNvqxz3UJbM9JsuDAUSAUsPM5eQtoTJjHOKgVv_fBdOCEj-wb9xdpLmhE4Ohq-dd0GiGeT4fKUf_RLN_Ipbw-VQmiusATUVcIkOBW6dnq8H/s320/satin+lips.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have some different shades of the Matte Wear Luminous Foundations...you can let me know what shade you need and I can let you know.</div>
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I have a few sets of Mary Kay for men shave gel, body spray and after shave!!! </div>
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P.S. Kraig loves it! So does my dad and brother-in-law. </div>
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I have a couple single tubes of Satin Hands which is regularly priced at $10.</div>
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I have lots of mascara! The prices range from $10 to $15 so let me know what you are interested in :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6TYRGtW0rm5GCFCVO3SVRv7KW7TQevsC8E0AfReSSe73kFIcqShZjCsKQxQMY5Xv8kVXaRAqUBpIpwojgqCBrlnculctDGwAPwB_hJ2k6JckUqS7PlC40K1Psw1ioYzYzMcwGeTlDEpi/s1600/mascara.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6TYRGtW0rm5GCFCVO3SVRv7KW7TQevsC8E0AfReSSe73kFIcqShZjCsKQxQMY5Xv8kVXaRAqUBpIpwojgqCBrlnculctDGwAPwB_hJ2k6JckUqS7PlC40K1Psw1ioYzYzMcwGeTlDEpi/s320/mascara.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have lots of samples that we can play around with...</div>
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If you need anything else just let me know and I can get it for you. </div>
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Check out my website <a href="http://www.marykay.com/agivens1015/en-US/Pages/default.aspx">here</a></div>
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Look forward to working with you! And Happy Mother's Day!!!</div>
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018168195664610794.post-70926631019132693012013-05-04T13:21:00.001-07:002013-05-04T13:21:26.179-07:00The Monsoon of 2009This time roughly 4 years ago - Kraig and I were married. <br />
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We got married May 2, 2009.<br />
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I don't know if you all remember that like we do. Granted, it was our wedding day/weekend so we won't forget but it was also the weekend the monsoon came through Chickamauga.<br />
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Much like this weekend.<br />
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On Thursday before the wedding, we got word that the weather was going to get really bad. Now, we (I) wanted to get married outside!!! We didn't buy flowers or things to decorate the church with because we WERE getting married outside. <br />
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When we heard how bad the weather was going to be...we had to make the tough decision to move the wedding inside. <br />
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It poured all morning long, much like today...it let up long enough to get some pictures outside but not much. Once we left and headed to our Bed and Breakfast....it rained the rest of the weekend. <br />
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Here are some wonderful pics from that weekend! I loved how it turned out. I was pleased with everything. Even without flowers and big decorations. We had a blast. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9BenBJapikac4F80XnsZE1F0gjCQyelImPpTGpt0qvy8OSdTzoOY4YF61Wq_mNwAKrplKNx1FH73nGsX1Bpup58HAWUVYTY3TEMWExgFHRqn1JrUyP6NWFZ2gGhrFQbJzHlklgBeiiAQ/s1600/gran+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9BenBJapikac4F80XnsZE1F0gjCQyelImPpTGpt0qvy8OSdTzoOY4YF61Wq_mNwAKrplKNx1FH73nGsX1Bpup58HAWUVYTY3TEMWExgFHRqn1JrUyP6NWFZ2gGhrFQbJzHlklgBeiiAQ/s320/gran+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My Gran and I at the reception.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PFVqrX0R4Ps64a9YeBK7mvBEyEIKJCxEF6TQQ9AUGbxGxPqZk-p5XT-q7rfdWzZ6LqRMPIXBy8PHcE0a6RuFvOLr9KWO_b5Qs0d6sUtTQm2ZLWHYM3ELpk-vx_-zvf_ZAgfHaG_I-og0/s1600/wed+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PFVqrX0R4Ps64a9YeBK7mvBEyEIKJCxEF6TQQ9AUGbxGxPqZk-p5XT-q7rfdWzZ6LqRMPIXBy8PHcE0a6RuFvOLr9KWO_b5Qs0d6sUtTQm2ZLWHYM3ELpk-vx_-zvf_ZAgfHaG_I-og0/s320/wed+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The full wedding party.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXXHtGg8RvtyDRWp3fACf0rl5issfp170BBFGeb_ciDx0xNXZAF6VQJz82nlJoBGZrrK6A1CkLjZPVB9dkyKHFsa0UCEVHjn-cVLZNBcNcyLrEqVMaw8aTSidvxODDQ3KxZbssB93P76c/s1600/wed+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXXHtGg8RvtyDRWp3fACf0rl5issfp170BBFGeb_ciDx0xNXZAF6VQJz82nlJoBGZrrK6A1CkLjZPVB9dkyKHFsa0UCEVHjn-cVLZNBcNcyLrEqVMaw8aTSidvxODDQ3KxZbssB93P76c/s320/wed+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Leaving before the rain started again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA-tfFxqcodjy2MSC6_nkDtzwWWDcFd8bVkyQEDsDhs1eMMceuQ1TiaJUpvkFVoNfnbzQDcquUn1TolachYROA8PSu7_bnm6_Pepax4U_3uv3_bmZgtMHUCESFt1po__tfMq6uTsk7qed/s1600/wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA-tfFxqcodjy2MSC6_nkDtzwWWDcFd8bVkyQEDsDhs1eMMceuQ1TiaJUpvkFVoNfnbzQDcquUn1TolachYROA8PSu7_bnm6_Pepax4U_3uv3_bmZgtMHUCESFt1po__tfMq6uTsk7qed/s320/wedding+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The church decorations.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNf4SqLRlVQN7NR2zzszprZHzpFxD5U6TSYJuv3lHLCSjL3Ye7wj2FeKK0n6Bb4RRKAXm28G4ge4aMSjv4o2U_l_MWPPEYj43EHoH7S45r73AyKShJUVkBAGgEdMhHbMbwXq0o9r75PU3/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNf4SqLRlVQN7NR2zzszprZHzpFxD5U6TSYJuv3lHLCSjL3Ye7wj2FeKK0n6Bb4RRKAXm28G4ge4aMSjv4o2U_l_MWPPEYj43EHoH7S45r73AyKShJUVkBAGgEdMhHbMbwXq0o9r75PU3/s320/wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last but not least...the MONSOON...</div>
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They say if it rains on your wedding day, you'll have a blessed marriage. I don't know about that but 4 years in and I love him more and more everyday. I am so thankful that the Lord chose Kraig for me. </div>
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He is my favorite. :)</div>
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<br />givensmeabreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13353148886677461238noreply@blogger.com1