tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35316726634848785472024-03-13T12:27:48.906-07:00The Funny, FAITHful Housewife. Peg Bundy meet June Cleaver. I can take on a house remodel project, but can't take the kitchen trash out. I manage our finances, but can't manage to find my car keys. I can remember what my husband said a year ago, but can't remember what I asked my kids to do 5 minutes ago. I take my Bible to church, but have a swear jar at home. I'm far from perfect, but I enjoy this perfect life. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-72505624278362667232018-09-05T18:56:00.000-07:002018-09-05T19:46:13.608-07:00The little girl said #metoo and then let go<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The pieces of the puzzle that make up my life are floating in the water.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Every time the <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pieces get closer to each other, a wave comes by and pushes the pieces away.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You never get to see the big picture.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I read the <i>below</i> exert a year ago written by a man in his forties as a result of #metoo. It was part of his testimony - that he has had to defend women from "predators" his <i>whole </i>life. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“When I was maybe 10 years old a teenage kid babysitting me and
a much younger female family member got me to leave him alone with her by
bribing me with a copy of the Little Red Riding Hood 7" by Sam the Sham
& the Pharaohs. I was too young to really know what was up but suspected
something was fishy and when I snuck back to spy on them he was rubbing her
shoulders with a pervy look on his face while she sat there dead-eyed and
frozen and scared. I went and got a hammer and told him to stop. He left, but
not before quietly saying he would kill me and my family if I told anyone. I
was terrified but told anyway. Nobody did anything but at least he never got
hired as my babysitter again. For the next year or so I'd run into him while
riding my bike around and he'd show me his knife and tell me he was going to
kill me and that my mother was a whore.</span>”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">heart has ached
for that little girl, and for the little boy who protected her. I have thought about them everyday for a most of a year. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />After some time</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">, the waves have settled and I have allowed the pieces to come together.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>I am that little girl. My brother wrote those words. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had a vague memory of that babysitter. The babysitter and I were alone in our enclosed carport,
and he had … and I don't remember. <i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></i>I remember waiting
in the driveway for my mom to come home and not wanting to go back inside or have that babysitter
again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo0yWa-6cVs/W48k0vJD__I/AAAAAAAAEgo/AYkP9t-VMi0mh553oKUctr03FHy1BnabwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I always knew in the back of my head <i>something</i> happened. I never wanted to admit it and didn’t have any proof because God
had protected my precious little heart and mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And although I don't remember this part either, I had another protector that day, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo0yWa-6cVs/W48k0vJD__I/AAAAAAAAEgo/AYkP9t-VMi0mh553oKUctr03FHy1BnabwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1040" height="196" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo0yWa-6cVs/W48k0vJD__I/AAAAAAAAEgo/AYkP9t-VMi0mh553oKUctr03FHy1BnabwCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_5526.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo0yWa-6cVs/W48k0vJD__I/AAAAAAAAEgo/AYkP9t-VMi0mh553oKUctr03FHy1BnabwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out for bad guys at a young age</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This missing piece to my puzzle helps explains things... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I now know why at thirteen I had a crush on and wanted to date a nineteen year old. </i></span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo0yWa-6cVs/W48k0vJD__I/AAAAAAAAEgo/AYkP9t-VMi0mh553oKUctr03FHy1BnabwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I now know why I flinch when I am touched casually on the shoulder by any male, even family
members or friends. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I now know why I literally fell onto my knees and almost threw up when another child said something accidentally troubling to one of my young girls.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I now know why I have <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">always been adamant that my daughters didn’t <b>ever </b>have male babysitters. </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I now know why I was extremely cautious if they ever went to a
sleepover where there was a teenage male. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<i></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><b>My husband would like to find this guy and pummel him. I think my dad and my older brother would like to harm him as well. Lets just throw in all my brothers for that matter. </b><br />
<b></b><br />
But something my husband said made this more acceptable, <i>"maybe this is why you have a heart for injustices, and you so fiercely protect our girls. Those are really good things". </i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unfortunately, I think this new puzzle piece is making it harder to let my daughters go as they are entering and near exiting high school. <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>I have been able to protect them so far, but
knowing they will be out in the big world and not protected from "predators" is a scary
thought.</em> </span></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>They laugh at my all too familiar "mom" routine whether they are going to a football game, movie or the mall</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;">...</span></span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">use the buddy system to go to
the bathroom”, </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“don’t take a drink from anyone”, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“don’t use that word so a guy doesn’t
get the wrong impression”, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"when you get in an elevator always stand by the button pad" </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“look around you constantly when you walk to
your car”. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also tell them <b>God</b> gave them instincts, and they should <i><b>always</b></i> use it. </span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And, as I learn to let go, I pray nothing tarnishes the many puzzle pieces of their precious lives.</i></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">#metoo</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-12721644912658592972017-02-06T08:06:00.000-08:002017-02-06T09:07:30.768-08:00Dammit Dolls Day Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It all started when these two crazies picked me up <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">in a store, one saying, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">"We should get your friend </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rhonda with breast cancer </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">a dammit doll. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">My mom had one when she had cancer"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
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<b>What is a dammit doll you ask? <i> </i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-D-JMUlHC8/WJdI9yvivFI/AAAAAAAAD-I/QSYToSFMhXAbqWzWS4Q30UQ_iGFlxQg9gCEw/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-D-JMUlHC8/WJdI9yvivFI/AAAAAAAAD-I/QSYToSFMhXAbqWzWS4Q30UQ_iGFlxQg9gCEw/s320/IMG_4548.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was my lucky day, the crazies happened to be in Hawaii. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except I forgot my bikini.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGk9TR3XJM4/WJdJBsD2boI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/YkZLNr99URwaAhxEbC7sIckgVwgDbdo5QCEw/s1600/IMG_4709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGk9TR3XJM4/WJdJBsD2boI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/YkZLNr99URwaAhxEbC7sIckgVwgDbdo5QCEw/s320/IMG_4709.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">(these are not beads, its a lei, they give them out everywhere)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1I9xptQvJA/WJdI9erodTI/AAAAAAAAD-I/xKK4iGl3z5Uqyw7BuUhP55L9T_SsZqMIACEw/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1I9xptQvJA/WJdI9erodTI/AAAAAAAAD-I/xKK4iGl3z5Uqyw7BuUhP55L9T_SsZqMIACEw/s320/IMG_4538.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RbyscXsJ4Y/WJdI9WKxC-I/AAAAAAAAD-I/N0pqroM-zZ8HiQb0OS1fXdZ4LK1eR3LwACEw/s1600/IMG_4542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RbyscXsJ4Y/WJdI9WKxC-I/AAAAAAAAD-I/N0pqroM-zZ8HiQb0OS1fXdZ4LK1eR3LwACEw/s320/IMG_4542.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">what happens in Hawaii... <br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQmuA69w-4s/WJdI9isHcUI/AAAAAAAAD-I/sMxHwXaQkYsKBRvsFFFhu73d94-1gdQpgCEw/s1600/IMG_4543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQmuA69w-4s/WJdI9isHcUI/AAAAAAAAD-I/sMxHwXaQkYsKBRvsFFFhu73d94-1gdQpgCEw/s320/IMG_4543.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">does stay in Hawaii. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1edYv3DssM/WJdI-DqbxmI/AAAAAAAAD-I/2vQ6D1NfcvEooJhA9pAg0wOK5I6j09i9QCEw/s1600/IMG_4560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1edYv3DssM/WJdI-DqbxmI/AAAAAAAAD-I/2vQ6D1NfcvEooJhA9pAg0wOK5I6j09i9QCEw/s320/IMG_4560.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Don't judge. It was the only shady spot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vsWGN1brk/WJdI7yCRXxI/AAAAAAAAD-I/yKnGCux_J2ME7C2Iv5qdwvBAo7zIDVQtACEw/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0vsWGN1brk/WJdI7yCRXxI/AAAAAAAAD-I/yKnGCux_J2ME7C2Iv5qdwvBAo7zIDVQtACEw/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then this happened.<br />
I tried to feed the birds a cracker, fell and no one picked me back up.<br />
Have you see the movie "The Birds"? THANK YOU.<br />
<i>Some new friends I have!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi2FJSGotew/WJdI-VUZozI/AAAAAAAAD-I/Kbtpw_ieof8DxlPrEe0BvZ4fj2KJmtPVACEw/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi2FJSGotew/WJdI-VUZozI/AAAAAAAAD-I/Kbtpw_ieof8DxlPrEe0BvZ4fj2KJmtPVACEw/s320/IMG_4561.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I feel better now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNez57R-dws/WJdI-92LimI/AAAAAAAAD-I/SapcobvVTYI3a0EFFlj453DJRddKPRyVgCEw/s1600/IMG_4573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNez57R-dws/WJdI-92LimI/AAAAAAAAD-I/SapcobvVTYI3a0EFFlj453DJRddKPRyVgCEw/s320/IMG_4573.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">After a wonderful nights sleep and a quick<br />
stop in the store, I head to the North Shore. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfaxGjYPcpA/WJdI-rsmJWI/AAAAAAAAD-I/TjmCPQYuDj8Q5XM6xQO8Zfo64sl1T-eBgCEw/s1600/IMG_4574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfaxGjYPcpA/WJdI-rsmJWI/AAAAAAAAD-I/TjmCPQYuDj8Q5XM6xQO8Zfo64sl1T-eBgCEw/s320/IMG_4574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">HELLO sunrise. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOu4r-juSfc/WJdJArYABeI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/yXmikotThoU6jpj_UybDkgByhzDBbSRxQCEw/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOu4r-juSfc/WJdJArYABeI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/yXmikotThoU6jpj_UybDkgByhzDBbSRxQCEw/s320/IMG_4658.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank goodness for coffee. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbm_tMq8k_0/WJdI-yuocHI/AAAAAAAAD-c/2R_jqb25V2U21wLYiUAK7HlBMnBtpRe7ACEw/s1600/IMG_4582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pbm_tMq8k_0/WJdI-yuocHI/AAAAAAAAD-c/2R_jqb25V2U21wLYiUAK7HlBMnBtpRe7ACEw/s320/IMG_4582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess this is where they make you ride when they are<br />
afraid you will blow away in a convertible.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5asChKveKcw/WJdI_cHRm9I/AAAAAAAAD-I/FD_v7E8XsXUNUdRogy-la1RrSiL4e4okwCEw/s1600/IMG_4610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5asChKveKcw/WJdI_cHRm9I/AAAAAAAAD-I/FD_v7E8XsXUNUdRogy-la1RrSiL4e4okwCEw/s320/IMG_4610.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stop for breakfast...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMJ0QdkYbm0/WJdI_bkYFVI/AAAAAAAAD-I/UieFQvJGs9QeYgn4atGbKnTFA7TZCCZcQCPcB/s1600/IMG_4609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMJ0QdkYbm0/WJdI_bkYFVI/AAAAAAAAD-I/UieFQvJGs9QeYgn4atGbKnTFA7TZCCZcQCPcB/s320/IMG_4609.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">at Turtle Bay Resort isn't too shabby. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZXSn1IpNiA/WJdI_2mE3UI/AAAAAAAAD-I/40qyvrO0Yjs4syLAlyVWFO5V2KeFxQ3iQCEw/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZXSn1IpNiA/WJdI_2mE3UI/AAAAAAAAD-I/40qyvrO0Yjs4syLAlyVWFO5V2KeFxQ3iQCEw/s320/IMG_4614.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh.... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8AiKVYaA66E/WJdI_68_wzI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/BBF-TmZQqAwc4A-Zpq4qpSlvdWOWypiKQCEw/s1600/IMG_4615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8AiKVYaA66E/WJdI_68_wzI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/BBF-TmZQqAwc4A-Zpq4qpSlvdWOWypiKQCEw/s320/IMG_4615.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shhh, I snuck in the outdoor spa area.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-Yt2Htjb_M/WJdI-8jPXmI/AAAAAAAAD-I/qBB9Kvb5ILUWlDbu1mUqBFV_DV_QSE6GQCEw/s1600/IMG_4576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-Yt2Htjb_M/WJdI-8jPXmI/AAAAAAAAD-I/qBB9Kvb5ILUWlDbu1mUqBFV_DV_QSE6GQCEw/s320/IMG_4576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
Enough of the fancy life.</div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's good to mix it up and explore some local fun.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1NwD2h8B3w/WJdJAN3VsvI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/kZS1imYhet8J4GXq1FwUJ1JItqVwax5nQCEw/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b1NwD2h8B3w/WJdJAN3VsvI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/kZS1imYhet8J4GXq1FwUJ1JItqVwax5nQCEw/s320/IMG_4654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Like shopping by Giovonni's Shrimp truck.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPu9J3sX8Kw/WJdJAQrwI9I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/BJUPK-3mxmMpAJ5gaMUCmsCD_13zDi5swCEw/s1600/IMG_4655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPu9J3sX8Kw/WJdJAQrwI9I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/BJUPK-3mxmMpAJ5gaMUCmsCD_13zDi5swCEw/s320/IMG_4655.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just didn't quite fit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8---p99O7s/WJdI_NZRxnI/AAAAAAAAD-I/vuFhNqVsj9gVL3WO_pO73ZtuhEYezDSGgCEw/s1600/IMG_4587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8---p99O7s/WJdI_NZRxnI/AAAAAAAAD-I/vuFhNqVsj9gVL3WO_pO73ZtuhEYezDSGgCEw/s320/IMG_4587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>And now the beach. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">North Shore!</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Surfers... anywhere? </i></span><br />
<i>Hello? </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJigz2O9cG4/WJdTg4eDS7I/AAAAAAAAD-s/RhlMrlAaPekZ738QAC1JTibnizmzlHmWgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJigz2O9cG4/WJdTg4eDS7I/AAAAAAAAD-s/RhlMrlAaPekZ738QAC1JTibnizmzlHmWgCLcB/s320/IMG_4664.JPG" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oh. HELLO!</b><br />
Why Pro Surfer Miguel Blanco,<br />
don't mind if I do!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtqXT132tAE/WJdJBl7pJlI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/goOJQ1ReFqkIrPii307SJleAj6DwcmCbwCEw/s1600/IMG_4717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtqXT132tAE/WJdJBl7pJlI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/goOJQ1ReFqkIrPii307SJleAj6DwcmCbwCEw/s320/IMG_4717.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A day like that will wear a girl out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJHcQviLGYs/WJdJAgn34NI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/mFqe58QGw20uPDwF-u7YZqkHiP_udLBqgCEw/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJHcQviLGYs/WJdJAgn34NI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/mFqe58QGw20uPDwF-u7YZqkHiP_udLBqgCEw/s320/IMG_4704.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautiful morning, last day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bbYLjhWk0Eo/WJdJBH1oBYI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/8d1R_GdkAGUIOZ0OqH-RNv0T2hMlbpZvgCEw/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bbYLjhWk0Eo/WJdJBH1oBYI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/8d1R_GdkAGUIOZ0OqH-RNv0T2hMlbpZvgCEw/s320/IMG_4705.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And another friend. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ACyavsDSqY/WJdVPG4hwlI/AAAAAAAAD-4/b9PVqFfTRkkvdSrkskp42uiZ42Zbzm2IgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ACyavsDSqY/WJdVPG4hwlI/AAAAAAAAD-4/b9PVqFfTRkkvdSrkskp42uiZ42Zbzm2IgCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Although Bubbles the duck was a little shy. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P41upVrgLRk/WJdI8lIJfKI/AAAAAAAAD-I/jHaEIJC8zTEWbUTDv6bdcTTpZcJWxT3SACEw/s1600/IMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P41upVrgLRk/WJdI8lIJfKI/AAAAAAAAD-I/jHaEIJC8zTEWbUTDv6bdcTTpZcJWxT3SACEw/s320/IMG_4537.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look at the beach. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXeMPKCxb0I/WJdJCAnYHZI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/bvlmaWRoeHwGa3BGHU45trYQH6jNEMdygCEw/s1600/IMG_4731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXeMPKCxb0I/WJdJCAnYHZI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/bvlmaWRoeHwGa3BGHU45trYQH6jNEMdygCEw/s320/IMG_4731.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last minute shopping at the airport. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ag6O_HEpnWU/WJdJB_3h6-I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/1P_ArxZgazYUNiqFZAllmzl0GQfl2nNIgCEw/s1600/IMG_4734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ag6O_HEpnWU/WJdJB_3h6-I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/1P_ArxZgazYUNiqFZAllmzl0GQfl2nNIgCEw/s320/IMG_4734.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed home to meet my Rhonda. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1H_UBeRj_7c/WJdJBoITEUI/AAAAAAAAD-g/D6ZYQhPJ018SUF9qrH0mKI-VfXgDZ10oACEw/s320/IMG_4730.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Won't be long!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qKY_8r7J7M/WJiItaeKxNI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/CsHnNc6_K0ImX0mIrpS-oSnp_GWBtUoYgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4761%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qKY_8r7J7M/WJiItaeKxNI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/CsHnNc6_K0ImX0mIrpS-oSnp_GWBtUoYgCLcB/s200/IMG_4761%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><b>Dedicated to Rho with prayer's for a speedy recovery </b></i><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you have a Rhonda send them a Dammit Doll, </i></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<i>o</i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">r if you just want to share a laugh, forward this post! </i></div>
<i><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1H_UBeRj_7c/WJdJBoITEUI/AAAAAAAAD-g/D6ZYQhPJ018SUF9qrH0mKI-VfXgDZ10oACEw/s1600/IMG_4730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-24115216551115715702016-11-09T08:17:00.004-08:002016-11-09T08:50:33.562-08:00An open letter to my daughters ~ Why I threw my vote away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XspG87GnTQ/WCNJnQ3KrZI/AAAAAAAAD4c/WesiFggR5U0q78Q0dBSDmQXasJgRuS90QCLcB/s1600/images%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XspG87GnTQ/WCNJnQ3KrZI/AAAAAAAAD4c/WesiFggR5U0q78Q0dBSDmQXasJgRuS90QCLcB/s200/images%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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We are blessed to live in America and have the right to
vote, but I was saddened that neither the Democratic or Republican candidates represented
my views in the 2016 election. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I didn’t vote for Donald Trump. And, I didn’t vote for Hilary Clinton. You pointed out that I had to vote for someone
and set a good example, and I did. I “threw my vote away” yesterday and for the
first time, and voted for the Libertarian party. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I couldn’t vote for Trump.
I felt he had shady his business dealings across the board, and avoided
taxes in doing so. He would encourage hate and behaved in a narcissistic manner. And, as a woman and
mother, I couldn’t look you in the eye supporting him. The words he has used about women are unforgivable.
He reminds me of a boss I had when I was
a waitress, who would flirt with the waitresses and say what he wanted about our
figures etc.… I was too young at the time to realize how inappropriate and
actually illegal it was, and thinking back it makes me feel dirty.<br />
<br />
<i>Thankfully, you have the example of your
father, grandfathers and uncles, to know that real men do not talk or treat
women like that. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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I couldn’t vote for Clinton.
While I admire her public service to our country, education and
intelligence, I feel like she was riding the coattails of a long political
legacy that wasn’t honest either; something didn’t seem right. It was going to be more of the same. It wasn't just the emails. I didn't care for how the Clinton Foundation took large amounts of money from high ranking people and countries. And, you saw in the news about her husband, please know that not all men cheat of their wives.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I also want you to know that although I didn’t
vote for her, a woman is more than capable of being
President. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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So the results are in, and now Donald Trump is the
President. As promised when we attended
the prayer service at The Vine Church the night before the election, I will
pray for our new President Donald Trump, Vice President Pence and their team. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kYuUV5k3A/WCNKVKPC6WI/AAAAAAAAD4k/w9SjFgb-hr8ppJRww576jG-4wPisIzfNwCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kYuUV5k3A/WCNKVKPC6WI/AAAAAAAAD4k/w9SjFgb-hr8ppJRww576jG-4wPisIzfNwCLcB/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they make sound and unselfish
decisions for our country.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they will prove people wrong who
felt Trump was too reactive and unfit to be President.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they represent what in theory people
voted for, a change in the establishment and fair representation of the people.
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they value and support our teachers.
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they will help the inner cities as
promised.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray they will help the towns where industry and
jobs are gone.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that he will support our veterans, many who
have PTSD.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that he will revamp the health care system
so it is truly affordable.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they support and respect our police
and first responders.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they set a good example, which is
void of racism, ignorance, hate and sexism.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they educate themselves on Planned
Parenthood and all its services; for I am thankful it caught a precancerous
condition I had when I was younger. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they will be reasonable about gun
control, are massive fire machine guns are necessary when my children are afraid they will be killed at school?</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I also pray that they respect life. <i>(I am not
just talking about abortion, but it was a huge topic on social media with this
election.</i></span><i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">As a Christian, I did feel pressure
to vote Republican solely because of that. But I don’t feel banning abortion is
going to make us value life. Murder is illegal.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yet, an average of 40 people get murdered daily. Child abuse is also
illegal. The news story about the baby that died of starvation in their car seat while
its parents were playing video games has not left me.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We jail the mentally ill and addicted, walk by people starving and turn a blind eye
to abuse. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">So, as
Americans, do we really value human life? The values our country needs go beyond
abortion.)</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they make our tax system fair, and revamp the existing system that allowed Trump to evade unknown amounts of taxes in the first place.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray for a practical, decent and fair approach
to the illegal immigrants, while remembering we are a nation built on immigrants!
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray for kindness and education when dealing
with refugees based on the belief of a Pastor in Atlanta. </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-syrian-refugee-crisis-immigration/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-syrian-refugee-crisis-immigration/</span></a></span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that since the political system has been shaken,
something positive comes out of it. That we have less lobbyists and more representatives.
That we have term limits. That we would no longer spend billions on lobbying
and elections.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">I pray that they put a lock on the nuclear button, and government is afraid of nuclear
war, and will not speak or act flippantly with regard to nuclear arms. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">I pray that we will raise a nation of honest people who want to get involved in public service. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">I pray that they are good stewards of the earth, and educate people of taking care of it. It is the only one we have. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">So girls, so even though I didn’t vote for the President, my
promise to you is that I will pray for the President and our country. It is going to be okay. </span><br />
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<i>“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and
holiness.” </i>1 Timothy 2:12</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-4943402972406373652016-09-15T07:46:00.001-07:002016-09-15T12:44:41.250-07:00IMPORTANT: Watch out for these Lortab side effects NOT posted on the bottle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSm6Hm4XgrU/V9qwa7TkbpI/AAAAAAAAD1M/MC0PAW8BBrsSMKalz23LRxbU4tZT-QtggCLcB/s1600/IMG_2510.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSm6Hm4XgrU/V9qwa7TkbpI/AAAAAAAAD1M/MC0PAW8BBrsSMKalz23LRxbU4tZT-QtggCLcB/s200/IMG_2510.PNG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Recently when I was prescribed Lortab after shoulder surgery. I looked on the bottle at the possible side effects, but nowhere did I see the below warnings:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>1. Excessive Shopping<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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So... when half asleep on Lortab, you can still use your phone...and if you can access websites and type the numbers on your credit card, you can
also dangerously shop. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3blLSvw20rg/V9qikm41WHI/AAAAAAAAD0w/sKE8vX_AfD06E-guO5oVb6f8ldD-ECTPwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3blLSvw20rg/V9qikm41WHI/AAAAAAAAD0w/sKE8vX_AfD06E-guO5oVb6f8ldD-ECTPwCLcB/s200/IMG_2335.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">As the packages started to arrive, <br />I thought, this medication should have a warning about this. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I tried to explain to my husband
that it was a side effect, and then my oldest stared, “No, mommy you were just
bored on the couch and decided to shop.” Tomato, tomatoe, I think it is a side
effect.<br />
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<b>2. Odd Cravings<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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I was warned that after the airway tube I would have a sore
throat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkR_82U7wdw/V9qwbEBLNXI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/igHuY1wvrFMLxAgZ97pYU1JYJSeZhzo_wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkR_82U7wdw/V9qwbEBLNXI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/igHuY1wvrFMLxAgZ97pYU1JYJSeZhzo_wCLcB/s200/IMG_2509.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Nowhere on the bottle did it say<br />I would consume cough drops <br />as if they were <i>tortilla chips as a Mexican restaurant, <br />the first morning cup of coffee, or thin mint girl scout cookies. </i></span></td></tr>
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And, it was no bother to me that my kids looked on strangely as I would open random drawers, purses and the
pantry looking for cough drops that may have accidentally fallen out of something years ago.
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<b>3. Uncontrolled movements<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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The Lortab taker is unaware, but while you sleep you will move your hands randomly
as if you are dreaming about folding laundry.
<i><b>Who am I kidding, who dreams about laundry?</b></i> How about making s’mores,
trimming a flower in the yard, or petting your dog. This is apparently so disturbing to watch for
those around, that a mini-intervention discussion was held 5 days into taking the medicine. </div>
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<b>4. Increased confidence<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
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It is not uncommon after surgery to wear clothing that is
comfortable. For me, since it was shoulder surgery, it was strapless cotton dresses. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHEYU9etdQQ/V9qjUVW2U1I/AAAAAAAAD04/5m8yup5Kh0EDimR9vTqXUlSWW2FKXDyjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHEYU9etdQQ/V9qjUVW2U1I/AAAAAAAAD04/5m8yup5Kh0EDimR9vTqXUlSWW2FKXDyjgCLcB/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Nowhere on the bottle did it say <br />I would go out to lunch <br /><b><i>with a GIGANTIC Maxi Pad on my shoulder. </i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>5. Memory Loss</b><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And lastly, when you go to write thank you notes for the sweet people who came to see you while you were down, you may need to do a little research.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiyBOzY-1p0/V9r5vZpDDfI/AAAAAAAAD1g/in5hkSIDjhkUifot88mhggnoKZtT8EFMACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiyBOzY-1p0/V9r5vZpDDfI/AAAAAAAAD1g/in5hkSIDjhkUifot88mhggnoKZtT8EFMACLcB/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am sure the soup was as delicious as the 2 lasagnas.<br />If you are reading this and you brought the 2nd lasagna,<br />let me know! </td></tr>
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Needless to say, my family was thrilled when I was vertical again, could put on a normal shirt, and stopped searching for cough drops. When it comes to Lortab, just be careful. :-)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-1142456255067604292016-04-01T07:16:00.001-07:002016-04-01T07:16:22.878-07:0016 Truths for for a Happy Marriage<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do read the book “The 5 love languages” early in your
marriage. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t accept jewelry with “You should return this, it cost too
much” because your love language isn’t gifts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do take your long hair out of your husband’s hairbrush if
you use it. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t share a hairbrush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do tell your husband he is really, really tall. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t decide to challenge his height by measuring how tall
he really is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do make homemade meals for your husband. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t get offended when your husband says your homemade
pasta ravioli tastes like Olive Garden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do shower your husband with lots of attention. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t ignore your husband for a year after you have your
first child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do leave detailed instructions for your husband when he
cares for the children as if he is a babysitter.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t offend your husband by saying it is like he is “babysitting”
his own children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do get a mommy’s helper occasionally if you are home with little
children all day. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t threaten to lock your husband out of the house if he
is home five minutes late from work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do act like you have missed your husband all day when he
returns from work. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t talk to the dog before you talk to your husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do answer your phone when your wife is trying to reach you. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t act like you are going to run over your husband when
you finally get a hold of him. (especially in front of his business associate) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do talk openly with each other. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t tell your spouse, “Wow, it is hard for me to talk to
you with that big zit on your forehead”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do find the name of the closest drycleaner. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t promise to iron if you don’t know how to iron. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do apologize to spouse when you are wrong. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t tell your spouse you have an “Unable to Apologize Disorder.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do refrain from keeping secrets. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t tell your husband about late public library fees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do tell your spouse how smart they are. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t feel the need to look up something on the internet to
prove them wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do enjoy a sense of humor with your spouse. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t enjoy a sense of humor at your spouse’s expense “all
the time”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do let your spouse know you can’t imagine your life without
them. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t follow that up with, ‘I can’t imagine life without our
[newest dog]”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Seriously, eat a family meal whenever you are together at dinnertime
as a family. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And…</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAN8uF7Sdyg/Vv5_R2tK2rI/AAAAAAAADvU/qpkSDr3Z1W8VfxWYzwrMEMpjCqHR9LaVQ/s1600/marriage-triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAN8uF7Sdyg/Vv5_R2tK2rI/AAAAAAAADvU/qpkSDr3Z1W8VfxWYzwrMEMpjCqHR9LaVQ/s320/marriage-triangle.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-78042511900983885102016-03-29T09:32:00.000-07:002016-03-29T09:51:55.606-07:00Do Easter Miracles Still Happen?<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I wasn’t looking for an Easter miracle. Although getting to church early enough to get a seat would have been a nice surprise.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EggBFWr-Wok/Vvqop54YxKI/AAAAAAAADuo/gdTOiZKNICAtAYSAN_NSeaPQBtr3PBDKQ/s1600/blog%2Blate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EggBFWr-Wok/Vvqop54YxKI/AAAAAAAADuo/gdTOiZKNICAtAYSAN_NSeaPQBtr3PBDKQ/s200/blog%2Blate.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I kept telling my family, “we are going to be on time”, but they were all right…. <br /><b>on time on Easter is very, very late.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Easter eve, I asked my Walk to Emmaus Reunion Group to
please pray for healing in my arm and shoulder. I was tired of the unexplained nerve
zinging across my shoulder which felt like someone was playing the “Devil Went
Down to Georgia” on a fiddle. The zinging
was hindering the diagnosis of other arm pain. That after a x-rays, a neck MRI,
a shoulder MRI, a round of steroids, a steroid shot, a neck cortisone
injection, 800mg of ibruphrophen regularly, and enough time with my PT I
thought we were dating…. I was ready to be better and move on. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had a sweet friend take me to two of the mentioned my doctor appointments, because she said, “You take care of enough people, someone can take care of you!” <i> I shared with the group that maybe God wanted me to learn through this experience to learn to ask for help. </i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eH4eU2T4rVA/VvqphWOrRgI/AAAAAAAADuw/n6l8yAjufGkxhtjeSMkfbZv46W0BQqMdg/s1600/blog%2Blate%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eH4eU2T4rVA/VvqphWOrRgI/AAAAAAAADuw/n6l8yAjufGkxhtjeSMkfbZv46W0BQqMdg/s1600/blog%2Blate%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
Later that night, I helped the Easter Bunny fill the
baskets and went to bed. I was unable to sleep due to my jelly bean sugar
high and my arm. I ran the scenario in my head of storming in
my doctor’s office telling them “to just cut my arm off”.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rushing the next morning to get ready for church “on time’,
I didn’t give a lot of thought to my arm.
And we did eventually get a seat. As I was listening to the sermon I thought,<i> this is the first time
my shoulder hasn’t hurt in church in forever. </i>I
almost said something to my husband. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the pastor says, paraphrasing of course, “as we were praying
for today’s service and the church members, we felt like it was pressed upon us
that someone was going find repair in their marriage, a grown man was going to
cry for the first time ever, and <i><b>someone was going to find healing in their
arm.</b></i>” I looked at my husband wide eyed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mbbWyepsCk/Vvqod2k8r9I/AAAAAAAADuk/VfMg_9a-0Ak2D61asH4OWdoHxTETILEWg/s1600/blog%2Blate%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mbbWyepsCk/Vvqod2k8r9I/AAAAAAAADuk/VfMg_9a-0Ak2D61asH4OWdoHxTETILEWg/s200/blog%2Blate%2B1.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well folks, it’s been two days and it is feeling better than it has in months. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I am going to assume he was talking about me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><i><b>“</b><span style="font-size: large;">There are only two
ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as
though everything is a miracle.”</span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> -Albert Einstein<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-decoration: none;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-43346266684826159352016-03-02T08:01:00.001-08:002016-03-02T08:03:54.517-08:00Conversations In a Closed MRI<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dny5rNOuX4/VtcDTzLRtHI/AAAAAAAADtQ/e9Y9rPi-fHI/s1600/pipe%2B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Dny5rNOuX4/VtcDTzLRtHI/AAAAAAAADtQ/e9Y9rPi-fHI/s320/pipe%2B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">MRI Nurse</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;"> “This will be a piece of cake.”</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Me</b> “Oh, it is my third. I am good.” <i>Why did I just brag about that, am I 75 years old? When is getting an MRI cool?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>MRI Nurse</b> “Just lie down and don’t move.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Me</b> “Got it. This is when I close my eyes and pretend not to
be here.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Here we go now.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t move, and Katie, don’t open your eyes. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do not open your eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbFgCrdpboI/VtcDUK0M6fI/AAAAAAAADtY/sNyKGoxCwUA/s1600/pipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbFgCrdpboI/VtcDUK0M6fI/AAAAAAAADtY/sNyKGoxCwUA/s200/pipe.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well the headphones fit tight now that the <br />machine just compressed my head.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am glad I recently watched Star Wars, this sounds like I am fighting Darth Vadar. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Luke…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I should
have asked for an eye mask. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Darth Vadar has a mask. </i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t open your eyes. </span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, a cool breeze. That’s
nice, they have AC in here. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can relax, well, that is ironic. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t open your
eyes. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are you kidding me, its blowing the one loose piece of hair that is on my
forehead. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can’t reach it. Can you push the panic button for that? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has anyone really had
a full panic attack in one of these? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Breathe. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t move. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFFKQrznBg8/VtcDUI4CzYI/AAAAAAAADtU/xuXQedUWkDQ/s1600/pipe4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFFKQrznBg8/VtcDUI4CzYI/AAAAAAAADtU/xuXQedUWkDQ/s1600/pipe4.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh wait, now, wait for it, oh yes, </span></i></div>
<i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am inside a jackhammer on a NYC. Street.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t open your eyes. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Why are you curious if you are claustrophobic?</i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>This is why people take zanax before an MRI.</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can always push the panic button. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wonder if anyone has
died in one of these. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpVnpf_PzSI/VtcDTe-_vSI/AAAAAAAADtM/GCUGLicbkfI/s1600/pipe%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At least I have cool Nascar like
headphones. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, now I am actually at a Nascar race. </span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpVnpf_PzSI/VtcDTe-_vSI/AAAAAAAADtM/GCUGLicbkfI/s1600/pipe%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpVnpf_PzSI/VtcDTe-_vSI/AAAAAAAADtM/GCUGLicbkfI/s1600/pipe%2B3.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No, in the engine of the car. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">These headphones really should have music in them. </span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And why is the pretty picture
on the wall, I can’t see it from in here?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is interesting that
when you swallow the noise actually changes. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Swallow, remember to swallow. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh crap, that’s a
tickle. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now I have to sneeze. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Really, if I sneeze, I will hit the roof of the
machine and break my nose. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can you push the panic button for a sneeze? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don’t move, whatever
you do, don’t move. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do not open your eyes.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has a machine ever
crushed someone? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Should I have researched
this? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is an MRI? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is it going to kill
me? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If there is metal
in my mascara, will my eye lashes get sucked to the side of the machine? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am
glad I skipped deodorant. The aluminum in it could make me get pulled into the
machine. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now it sounds like I
am living in a NYC apartment while renovations are going on. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can hear a phone
ringing in the background. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8dbYwH6LS8/VtcIleYqU1I/AAAAAAAADto/p48BeNJGjMo/s1600/pipe5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8dbYwH6LS8/VtcIleYqU1I/AAAAAAAADto/p48BeNJGjMo/s1600/pipe5.png" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Answer the
phone. Please.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, its not really a phone. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You moved! </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yikes. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You moved your foot.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This is for your shoulder, phew. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wonder if I was
supposed to have my arm by my side?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Was I allowed to have it crossed on my
chest?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Darth Vadar is back. Didn’t
I kill him a while ago?<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">_________________________________</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MRI Nurse “<b>I hate to wake
you up,</b> Katharine, but you are all finished.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting";">Now…that was funny</span><b>.</b></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-88127680042488496372015-09-04T06:19:00.001-07:002015-09-04T06:37:13.844-07:00The life lessons we learned at the animal shelter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When my children stated they wanted to do community service
by volunteering at a local animal shelter, I couldn’t have been happier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <em> </em></span><em>Truth be told, I would probably be a hoarder
with fifty dogs if it wasn’t for my wonderful, conservative husband. </em> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BiManwnGLKg/VemWULTcM8I/AAAAAAAADnE/VLa0QRzhNY0/s1600/PhotoGrid_1440988848947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BiManwnGLKg/VemWULTcM8I/AAAAAAAADnE/VLa0QRzhNY0/s320/PhotoGrid_1440988848947.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit we were caught off guard our first trip there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is it hard to see all the animals in kennels, we were also side by side with female inmates from the local jail which was a first for us.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYG2nxp65Ko/VemWUFeKc5I/AAAAAAAADnQ/JM7z-issHCE/s1600/20150815_133259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYG2nxp65Ko/VemWUFeKc5I/AAAAAAAADnQ/JM7z-issHCE/s320/20150815_133259.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We also witnessed several owner surrenders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A family brought in their three yard dogs; one
with its ears ripped open and bleeding after being bit. We noticed that no one in the family
seemed upset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Then we watched as a woman surrendered her sweet bulldog at
the front desk because “she was moving and they wouldn’t allow dogs
there”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog had a heavy chain for a
collar and leash, which was bothersome to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My daughter whispered after the woman left, “she is probably going to
jail and that is why she can’t keep the dog.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I chuckled a bit at the irony of her comment. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GOnrd-mEPQ/VemXYrfEMpI/AAAAAAAADnY/FOEnqDh5d5A/s1600/PhotoGrid_1439664002129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GOnrd-mEPQ/VemXYrfEMpI/AAAAAAAADnY/FOEnqDh5d5A/s320/PhotoGrid_1439664002129.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We felt validated at the animal shelter. we were doing the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have two rescues at home, and loved getting the sweet dogs out for some play time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, who gives up their dog?</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then on the way home, I remembered that we actually
surrendered our dog Buffi to an animal shelter 12 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had tried to bite our baby. I tried to rehome her sitting with her at Petsmart on Saturdays, but as she snarled at people and bared her teeth, it didn't really go well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When
my husband took Buffi to that shelter years ago, they didn’t even take her
collar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would immediately be put
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My husband was one of those people in the foyer. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But many years had passed,
and I was quick to judge the owner surrenders I witnessed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Several visits later to the animal shelter, we were walking the dogs outside for
some time in their <strong>chain link fence pens</strong>. The male inmates in the jail next
door were given their <strong>“outside” time in their much larger chain link kennel.</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My girls were quite uncomfortable by the all
the inmates in uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They chose to
stay inside in the puppy room and avoid seeing the inmates. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was uncomfortable too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was envisioning cat calls and chose to
avoid the dog run areas which were close to the inmates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The inmates were a big point of conversation that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about life choices and how you
don’t want to end up in jail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Then something happened the next night at dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were saying grace before the meal, my
oldest prayed for our sick friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
my youngest added, “We should pray for the inmates too”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That’s when I realized volunteering at the shelter wasn’t
just about walking the dogs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>"In
all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the
weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive.’ "Acts 20:35.</strong></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTMKwsPxo0Y/VemWAPs2GMI/AAAAAAAADnA/cnGteyGZQH4/s1600/the-pet-community-steps-up-for-lucky-dog-rescue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTMKwsPxo0Y/VemWAPs2GMI/AAAAAAAADnA/cnGteyGZQH4/s320/the-pet-community-steps-up-for-lucky-dog-rescue.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-10966407805095112882015-08-24T12:58:00.002-07:002015-08-24T14:03:09.351-07:00Why you should really bring tissues to a Nascar Race<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I attended my first Nascar race this past weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend googled some helpful tips for newbies,
among the suggested items: </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j4usMx-EB5U/VdtmO3OPdlI/AAAAAAAADlg/v2Gp5-mM7qY/s1600/Nascar%2Btissue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j4usMx-EB5U/VdtmO3OPdlI/AAAAAAAADlg/v2Gp5-mM7qY/s320/Nascar%2Btissue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">bring tissues in case the bathrooms run out of toilet paper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Well, I am sure glad we had tissues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I left for the trip anticipating the “People of Walmart” combined with a football tailgate, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and that is pretty accurate. But, it is also SO much more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> </strong></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
It is an event where fans-</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UrieBK6QB4/VdtlI8X5B8I/AAAAAAAADi8/-GsX3fz_4Ag/s1600/_SAM2777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UrieBK6QB4/VdtlI8X5B8I/AAAAAAAADi8/-GsX3fz_4Ag/s400/_SAM2777.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">...never meet a stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our campground neighbor left their outdoor TV </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">on for our group to watch the Friday night qualifier race we didn’t attend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QasyR675f24/Vdtlfiy4p4I/AAAAAAAADlA/ez10HN865HQ/s1600/_SAM2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QasyR675f24/Vdtlfiy4p4I/AAAAAAAADlA/ez10HN865HQ/s320/_SAM2916.JPG" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...can let it all hang out. </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8TaE3_FElY/Vdtld-9H9HI/AAAAAAAADkw/ar6mjd9_lEs/s1600/_SAM2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y8TaE3_FElY/Vdtld-9H9HI/AAAAAAAADkw/ar6mjd9_lEs/s320/_SAM2902.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...repeat, let it all hang out. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPJF2Af72ow/VdtlMiXppvI/AAAAAAAADjY/bxfJAwj90AI/s1600/_SAM2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPJF2Af72ow/VdtlMiXppvI/AAAAAAAADjY/bxfJAwj90AI/s400/_SAM2797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...get 5-star service with cooler check-in. Take that college football. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVBRgn1ogpo/VdtlMOsgGhI/AAAAAAAADjM/Mw0KZjyoDh8/s1600/_SAM2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVBRgn1ogpo/VdtlMOsgGhI/AAAAAAAADjM/Mw0KZjyoDh8/s320/_SAM2814.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">...show other fans they are in fact a<strong> “professional Nascar” </strong></span><u style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">regular attendee</u><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> by sporting the well-stocked, clear backpack. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTMCTpzBKJg/VdtlgVlRqlI/AAAAAAAADlM/TtWGoW50y4Y/s1600/_SAM2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTMCTpzBKJg/VdtlgVlRqlI/AAAAAAAADlM/TtWGoW50y4Y/s320/_SAM2904.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>(clearly an amateur fan)</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2QR_bdfjzA/VdtlVRm-2dI/AAAAAAAADkI/yxP25jZcc-k/s1600/_SAM2844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2QR_bdfjzA/VdtlVRm-2dI/AAAAAAAADkI/yxP25jZcc-k/s320/_SAM2844.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">...Pray with over 100,000 of your best friends for the safety of the drivers, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">before you go purchase your 20-ounce beer. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0yXOc9BrMi8/VdtlRZ0EgvI/AAAAAAAADjk/FXWwHJ-4NS4/s1600/_SAM2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0yXOc9BrMi8/VdtlRZ0EgvI/AAAAAAAADjk/FXWwHJ-4NS4/s200/_SAM2840.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyhgwaaExBQ/VdtlVj7doVI/AAAAAAAADkE/J7QT5nZR6bg/s1600/_SAM2845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyhgwaaExBQ/VdtlVj7doVI/AAAAAAAADkE/J7QT5nZR6bg/s200/_SAM2845.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uqdZyL595kg/VdtlafIqYyI/AAAAAAAADkY/Ru45FBFdjMU/s1600/_SAM2869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uqdZyL595kg/VdtlafIqYyI/AAAAAAAADkY/Ru45FBFdjMU/s400/_SAM2869.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">...get an arm workout as you wave at your driver as they pass in front of you,<strong> 500 times.</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rruf74Jng-s/VdtwfxS8rVI/AAAAAAAADmA/nZFR4AG4s8g/s1600/_SAM2836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rruf74Jng-s/VdtwfxS8rVI/AAAAAAAADmA/nZFR4AG4s8g/s400/_SAM2836.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
500 times!</h2>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Usga5yZ6y54/VdtlcpQeltI/AAAAAAAADkg/oYwMNAv9G8o/s1600/_SAM2895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Usga5yZ6y54/VdtlcpQeltI/AAAAAAAADkg/oYwMNAv9G8o/s400/_SAM2895.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">...see stadium parachuters, a jet flyover, fireworks and a car burnout in the same evening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCeKv4r_bLM/VdtlasXbzxI/AAAAAAAADkU/KxthRrGDfis/s1600/_SAM2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCeKv4r_bLM/VdtlasXbzxI/AAAAAAAADkU/KxthRrGDfis/s400/_SAM2890.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Okay, this was really cool to watch in person.</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Although some of these moments were either touching or made
me laugh till I was about to cry, that is not why I needed tissues. It was these 2 babies that were stowaways in our friends rented RV bus that were found Friday at 4 AM.</em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtOZDmTo6v8/VdtlDeuPELI/AAAAAAAADic/zouRyZ3gikM/s1600/_SAM2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtOZDmTo6v8/VdtlDeuPELI/AAAAAAAADic/zouRyZ3gikM/s400/_SAM2773.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>They only saw a tail at first and thought it was a rat, </strong></span><strong style="font-size: medium;">but then they started desperately meowing.</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They were alive, but had endured over 12 hours in a
drawer underneath the bus. </span> </div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
The Nascar fans jumped into action. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TDc8_uxR5Q/VdtlDkvUq3I/AAAAAAAADig/JvWlomhnt1Y/s1600/_SAM2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TDc8_uxR5Q/VdtlDkvUq3I/AAAAAAAADig/JvWlomhnt1Y/s320/_SAM2771.JPG" width="212" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A friend who had an infant let us feed the kittens her pumped milk.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQIZPHp89j4/VdtmO3RGpiI/AAAAAAAADlk/c3Iq9yZKhDo/s1600/nascar%2Bbottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQIZPHp89j4/VdtmO3RGpiI/AAAAAAAADlk/c3Iq9yZKhDo/s400/nascar%2Bbottle.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another
neighbor gave us their dog’s food in case we could soften it for them to
eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another got us a tall box we could
leave them in while we attended the race on Saturday night (in the A/C of course).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMX3FSP_KdA/VdtweuSgQlI/AAAAAAAADl0/Cwu4xt-6oLM/s1600/_SAM2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMX3FSP_KdA/VdtweuSgQlI/AAAAAAAADl0/Cwu4xt-6oLM/s400/_SAM2769.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And all came over to wish them well in their make shift pack n play. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>At maybe 4 weeks old, it really is a miracle they were alive.</strong> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luckily, between the milk and soft food we purchased at the local store, we were able to not only keep them alive, but see them flourish and act like fun little kittens. </span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We later found out that there were more kittens the RV
owners removed from the RV, but they couldn’t get to these two. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t comment on that with my own words and keep this post clean, so
I found a bible verse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xgo6ul2A-c/VdtlJQU42qI/AAAAAAAADjA/089T9GZeaLc/s1600/_SAM2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xgo6ul2A-c/VdtlJQU42qI/AAAAAAAADjA/089T9GZeaLc/s400/_SAM2786.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, </span></em></strong><strong style="font-size: 12.8px;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. Proverbs 12:10</span></em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">These babies have a great life ahead of them and quite
a story to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were taken home by
our friends who had rented the RV they were found in<em> (they said we should take them, but as the owner of 2 dogs, about to add a 3rd rescue, I thought, "we are good")</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was totally caught off guard when I said goodbye
to these sweet babies I cared for and loved on for two days, I bawled like a little
baby.</span></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I followed the kittens into the RV bus as they
were leaving and thought about becoming a stowaway myself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Well, they say to bring tissues to a Nascar race and I am
glad I did. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-87648585707233291512015-06-28T18:34:00.000-07:002015-06-28T18:34:01.905-07:00Why Christians should really be upset. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christians we should be upset. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very upset. But not because the Supreme Court upheld
gay marriage. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIZJUkLhY18/VZCfi44-giI/AAAAAAAADeI/M_2CmyiWlL4/s1600/rainbow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIZJUkLhY18/VZCfi44-giI/AAAAAAAADeI/M_2CmyiWlL4/s200/rainbow.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset because someone can walk into a church or
our children’s school and shoot them dead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset because college students raped an incoherent
girl in their dorm and people laughed while they did it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that everyday someone finds out they have
cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset because everyday children are dying or
being abused at the hands of their caretakers and/or parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset because there are people with children
who can’t care for them physically, emotionally or financially. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset because everyday people commit suicide. </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:207.6pt;
height:153pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
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o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that there are people in our community,
maybe our own neighborhood, that didn’t eat dinner tonight. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtc98x8Njzg/VZCfwxD0SNI/AAAAAAAADeQ/IMstLs8DWt0/s1600/dinner%2Bplate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtc98x8Njzg/VZCfwxD0SNI/AAAAAAAADeQ/IMstLs8DWt0/s1600/dinner%2Bplate.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that we live next to pedophiles,
murderers and rapists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that some people would rather to beg then
to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that our schools don’t have the resources
they need to teach our precious children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset with what is on TV. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that we don’t know our next door neighbor.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We should be upset that so many don’t know the love of
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So be upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don’t
spread hatred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was raised by a lesbian ERA hippie. I am now a Christian
stay at home mom and vote republican. Who would have thought? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preach less. Pray more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-81657056287716360662015-01-27T11:27:00.000-08:002015-01-27T11:43:18.923-08:00Common Sense You Need to Know<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Remember the nice poster we all have read, </i></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Everything I
ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten.” </i></span></h4>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RMC9F8rwe8Q/VMfo-2SleoI/AAAAAAAADQI/b5EXptbgSM4/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RMC9F8rwe8Q/VMfo-2SleoI/AAAAAAAADQI/b5EXptbgSM4/s1600/baby.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">After reading the news, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">I came up with a new list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">What is wrong with people</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">!</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This... could save someone or something’s life.</b></span></h4>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you have sex, you can get pregnant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Plan accordingly now that you have read #1. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I</span>f you don’t read #2, know that children need caretakers, food, clothing, shelter and love.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You cannot leave infants or children in cars, or
home alone to fend for themselves, or lock them in cages.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You should not leave infants or children alone
with child molesters or any type of animal. Even ferrets. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you cannot abide by #3, #4, AND #5, please
give your child up for adoption.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Animals can reproduce just like humans, but more
quickly. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Take the same precautions as #2. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You cannot board a plane with any weapons, chemicals
or animals that are not allowed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">It is not okay to drown a puppy in the
toilet in the airport once you are told you are not allowed to board the plane
with the animal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Do not swim alone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you cannot swim, do not go in a lake or ocean
where the floor drops off abruptly. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Even
if you can swim, be careful.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tell your family or friends where you are going
and where you have been.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Respect and obey the police. If you resist
arrest or fight with police, you may get shot.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you barge through someone’s front door, you may get shot. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t drink and drive; and if you engage police in a high speed chase, you could get killed or kill someone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you kill someone, the death penalty may be
the punishment, so please don't act suprised. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Salt and chili powder can in fact be lethal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Stealing is against the law.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">The addicted, lost, angry and homeless all have
a story. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tell the truth.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Go with your gut instinct, always.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you don't like something in the store, you won't like it any better at home. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you wouldn’t want it done to you, don’t do it
to someone else.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">You catch more flies with honey, so remember to smile and bake cookies for someone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Pray daily. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Not just for yourselves and your family, but
for our whole world.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
“<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish
and you feed him for a lifetime.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-33852017465068484862014-10-06T08:33:00.000-07:002014-11-06T17:21:03.631-08:00My child, I won't promise you ice cream, but I will promise you this... <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This about did me in this weekend. <em> “But Daddy, Mommy PROMISED she would
take me to the store this weekend. She <u><strong>always</strong></u> breaks her
promises. She forget to print two things out for me this week
too.”</em></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let’s look at the definition of promise:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Segoe UI Semibold","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Promise </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: #737373; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[ ˈpräməs ] <a href="javascript:void(0)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1020d0; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">noun<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a declaration or assurance that one
will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">synonyms: <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+word+(of+honor)" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">word (of
honor)</span></a> · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+assurance" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">assurance</span></a> · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+pledge" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">pledge</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+vow" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">vow</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+guarantee" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">guarantee</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+oath" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">oath</span></a>
· </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+bond" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bond</span></a> · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+undertaking" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">undertaking</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+agreement" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">agreement</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+commitment" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">commitment</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+contract" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">contract</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+covenant" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">covenant</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the quality of potential excellence: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">synonyms: <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+potential" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">potential</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+ability" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ability</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+aptitude" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">aptitude</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+capability" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">capability</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+capacity" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">capacity</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">an indication that something specified
is expected or likely to occur: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">synonyms: <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+indication" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">indication</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+hint" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hint</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+suggestion" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">suggestion</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+sign" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sign</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">verb<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">assure someone that one will definitely
do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will
happen: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">synonyms: give one's word · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+swear" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">swear</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+pledge" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">pledge</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+vow" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">vow</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+undertake" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">undertake</span></a>
· <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+guarantee" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">guarantee</span></a>
· </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+contract" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">contract</span></a> · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+engage" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">engage</span></a> · give an assurance · commit oneself · bind oneself ·
swear/take an oath · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+covenant" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">covenant</span></a> · <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+plight" title=""><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">plight</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn’t break a promise about the store, I changed my mind. I get to do that, I am the parent. And forgetting to print something out is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being human.</i></span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
When did this word promise become part of our children’s
vocabulary? Oh, at a very young age apparently. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6nqch0JFnw/VDKzCszS0uI/AAAAAAAADKo/fLdXq9qbSt8/s1600/crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6nqch0JFnw/VDKzCszS0uI/AAAAAAAADKo/fLdXq9qbSt8/s1600/crying.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“YOU PROMISED ME ICE CREAM” followed by the 3 year old tantrum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Really, ice cream is a vow, pledge,
undertaking? <strong>Here is what a promise to you my child, as your parent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will:</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love you unconditionally like the day you were born.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Raise you in a Christian home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Love you father. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Care for you when you are sick. </span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Make sure you have food on the table.</span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Make sure you have a roof over your head. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make sure you have a shirt on your back and shoes on your
feet. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Support you in your academics.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Help pay for college to the best of our abilities.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Support you in your afterschool activities, as long as they don’t interfere
with academics.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Discipline you. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Teach you. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1-i-eU86kk/VDKzigussaI/AAAAAAAADKw/FfJ1Mw3hRbU/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1-i-eU86kk/VDKzigussaI/AAAAAAAADKw/FfJ1Mw3hRbU/s1600/love.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And once again, love you. <o:p></o:p></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></i></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These, my child, are promises. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-89611147605858392672014-09-22T12:10:00.000-07:002014-09-22T12:13:26.270-07:00I'm letting my life go to the dogs. <div style="text-align: center;">
I was walking my dogs this morning around the green space in front our home. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There isn't anything special about this grassy green space. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_k4jMSELFo/VCBvkxqF_uI/AAAAAAAADJs/3xhSoG8rpZk/s1600/2014-09-22%2B14.46.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_k4jMSELFo/VCBvkxqF_uI/AAAAAAAADJs/3xhSoG8rpZk/s1600/2014-09-22%2B14.46.09.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was actually line with trashcans today. <u><br /></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But my dogs were so excited to go around the circle. Checking everything out, taking in everything for the first time. Then we went around that same, ordinary circle, <b>six</b> more times.<br />
<br />
But the funny thing is, my dogs were just as excited to go around the circle each additional time - <b>as if each was the first time. </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZEYsZhQnqE/VCBvl4pVnWI/AAAAAAAADKA/J1BScOqIwb4/s1600/20140922_091340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZEYsZhQnqE/VCBvl4pVnWI/AAAAAAAADKA/J1BScOqIwb4/s1600/20140922_091340.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noticing something new to see each trip around. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>I began to think, how many times have I treated each day, or even a moment of the day, like a second trip around the "ordinary" circle. Thinking I was doing the same thing or routine, and just going around and around, and not really looking at it as anything special. </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>So today, my eyes are open</b>, and I am going to act more like my dogs. I'm not going to start peeing on everything and chasing chipmunks BUT, I am going to go around EACH round of that ordinary circle as if it were the first time. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-34300c9Metc/VCBvkV34tkI/AAAAAAAADJo/g6kAhlOau6Q/s1600/2014-09-22%2B14.43.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-34300c9Metc/VCBvkV34tkI/AAAAAAAADJo/g6kAhlOau6Q/s1600/2014-09-22%2B14.43.28.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recognizing that each trip around the circle is an opportunity to see something special. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Is there a butterfly to see, or a flower I didn't notice before, or a
friend to wave at or talk to as I am walking around that "ordinary"
circle?<br />
<br />
Although I love my dogs, it would not be fair to give them all the credit for my eyes being wide open this morning. Actually, this is my "first" day after My Walk To Emmaus. <b>And to continue in tradition of our gifted table of Ruth, I can summarize the experience in one word, "WOW".</b><br />
<br />
I dedicate this post to all the Sisters that were there at the Georgia Foothills walk to Emmaus #26, as we now are walking with, not only our eyes, but our hearts wide open. <br />
<br />
<h1 class="passage-display">
</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-104-1" id="en-ESV-15573">Psalm 104: 1-3</span><span class="chapter-3"><span class="text Ps-104-1"></span></span><span class="indent-1"></span></span></i></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="chapter-3"><span class="text Ps-104-1">Bless the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, O my soul! </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-104-1">O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> my God, you are very great!</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-104-1"> </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-104-1">You are clothed with splendor and majesty, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-104-2" id="en-ESV-15574">covering yourself with light as with a garment, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-104-2">stretching out the heavens like a tent.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-104-3" id="en-ESV-15575"> </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-104-3" id="en-ESV-15575">He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; </span><span class="text Ps-104-3">he makes the clouds his chariot;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-104-3">he rides on the wings of the wind;</span></span></span></i></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-19677806433676561682014-06-23T06:49:00.001-07:002014-07-01T11:30:42.222-07:00We didn't start the day out mullet hunting...The plan was for the kids and me to drive to Panama City and pick my husband up at the airport for a conference. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jIt5mHDHPfc/U6f90Phf3zI/AAAAAAAADEs/xQgcqC5iZNs/s1600/overheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jIt5mHDHPfc/U6f90Phf3zI/AAAAAAAADEs/xQgcqC5iZNs/s1600/overheat.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were about 30 miles out from the airport,<br /> in the middle of nowhere when...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Really? So, I get fancy with my husbands two year old vehicle's gadgets and search for the closest Automotive Center. It was only 4.7 miles away, the other way. And I was watching it get further away, 4.9, 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.7 miles.... hmmm... turn around or push forward and see what happens.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNj07DMJJhY/U6f-zxEZtJI/AAAAAAAADE0/vujkXmEld8c/s1600/auto+center+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YNj07DMJJhY/U6f-zxEZtJI/AAAAAAAADE0/vujkXmEld8c/s1600/auto+center+1.png" height="117" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After some praying and a couple minutes of driving, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">fighting flashbacks from college when I had a loser of a car,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">maybe some cussing (not in the same breath) </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I see this glorious place. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
I pull around to the back as instructed by the sign on the door and a nice gentlemen walks up. I ask,<i> "Do you work here?" </i><strong>Great first line, did I mention we were in the middle of nowhere?</strong> The helpful man thinks its the radiator cap, and fills the car with water and says I should head to the dealership 22 miles away, near our destination. He explains it's clearly under warranty. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Meanwhile, I am scoping out the place for a getaway, grabbing a pen in the car for a weapon, realizing my cell phone has NO SERVICE and no one knows I am here and my kids are in the car. </b> </i><br />
<br />
Then I give him a small tip and get his business card because I realize if I breakdown, he will be the one to save us. We begin the trek to the dealership and get a hold of my husband on my oldest child's $9.99/month trac fone. It's working great. <em>Just great.</em> <br />
<br />
My husband grabs a cab and tells me to call the company vehicle maintenance people. I'm instructed to "Pull over immediately", and a tow truck will come get us. After driving 38 MPH with the flashers on with people angrily passing, this is a welcome thought. We pull into a shut down diner, however there is a lovely Subway right across the street. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My husband arrives, and we play pong with cars to cross the four lane highway to Subway. I have seen women in strollers do this in the big city, so I've got this....right?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UakuJQkHX80/U6gyk5eHPSI/AAAAAAAADFk/bINymYKU8Hc/s1600/IMAG8160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UakuJQkHX80/U6gyk5eHPSI/AAAAAAAADFk/bINymYKU8Hc/s1600/IMAG8160.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Did I mention the Subway is inside the convenience store. I mean, that is convenient. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We make ourselves at home while he handles arrangements. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGBFAirSw_Y/U6gDsEp9R6I/AAAAAAAADFI/D0rmtvGPB50/s1600/IMAG8161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGBFAirSw_Y/U6gDsEp9R6I/AAAAAAAADFI/D0rmtvGPB50/s1600/IMAG8161.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dog food, water, and pepsi!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was relieved when a friend agreed to come get us while my husband went with the tow truck, because "we were out of our element in this part of town". <em>Wait....what?</em><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Over the next hour, I had a lovely conversation with a local who said we needed to be careful we don't get over charged from the mechanic. You see, that happened to him in Kentucky. Then the Subway worker's son came in and they asked how his leg was after the chain saw "accident". He said that was nothing after the machete injury to his arm. <strong>Everyone decided he should really be more careful.</strong><br />
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dprdn9q73wU/U6gDtCtSEvI/AAAAAAAADFY/0BitTkq84XI/s1600/IMAG8162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dprdn9q73wU/U6gDtCtSEvI/AAAAAAAADFY/0BitTkq84XI/s1600/IMAG8162.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">They even had a great place to charge my cell phone. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
And then wobbly guy came in who looked at my oldest one to many times. I initially thought he was special<em> </em>and ignored it, then I decided he was especially drunk and maybe a little special.<b> But if you look at my kid to many times, I don't really care what you have going on because the crazy in me will come out.</b> He successfully got his sandwich while carefully holding steady on the counter. He then walked slowly up to the convenience store cashier, and gave her a hug, smelling her hair for a few moments. He tells her, <i>"Your hair smells reeeaalll nice." </i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thankfully, our friend showed up immediately after that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, after ALL that excitement, what do my kids say? <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Mom, did that cashier have a mullet?"</span> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Later that night, we let the kids watch the TV version of Joe Dirt with their friends. I figured after everything else they had seen that day, it should be the least of my worries. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-81179666219092510972014-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:002014-04-02T10:05:47.652-07:00If I have a happy marriage, why did I spend my wedding anniversay crying?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwcvXlgXc3Q/UzxCwHk56DI/AAAAAAAADB8/2_ka_IBMOT0/s1600/crying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwcvXlgXc3Q/UzxCwHk56DI/AAAAAAAADB8/2_ka_IBMOT0/s1600/crying.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not because my husband forgot to buy me a card and his
usual flowers. He did forget, but he’d had a long day and when he told me I actually
laughed. I laughed because I bought him a card and I NEVER do! And then I forgot to give him the card, we both
laughed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not because we got married on April Fool’s Day and he played
a mean trick on me. Or vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And it’s not because he fell asleep in his chair by 9:00 pm.
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>It’s simply because our children had left us flowers that morning
of our anniversary and two homemade cards.</strong></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1X_agdokxI/Uzw1aaaizXI/AAAAAAAADBI/pYwcknRnk9A/s1600/card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1X_agdokxI/Uzw1aaaizXI/AAAAAAAADBI/pYwcknRnk9A/s1600/card.jpg" height="400" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one made me laugh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second card made me laugh too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>“It takes a lot of strength to keep a marriage alive this
long. Don’t worry, you make it look easy.”</em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Any married person knows it is
not easy. We realized a couple years ago that all our friends were not going to
stay married, and it made us start to appreciate each other more. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>
</em></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told our children how much I appreciated their
thoughtfulness all day, which included a romantic “breakfast” dinner for two. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irSKxyNDvto/Uzw2dViljjI/AAAAAAAADBQ/W-u0kUHGTDg/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irSKxyNDvto/Uzw2dViljjI/AAAAAAAADBQ/W-u0kUHGTDg/s1600/dinner.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I wanted to shout from the roof top that it meant more to me than they could
ever know, how happy I am that they are being raised with both their parents
and to cherish every moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then it hit me, this girl from a “broken home”
whose parents divorced when she was very young, was already is teaching them that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that is why I couldn’t stop crying. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpaBDxn98Wo/Uzw6DGX7dFI/AAAAAAAADBc/ouTH9P2x-Fg/s1600/IMAG7794-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpaBDxn98Wo/Uzw6DGX7dFI/AAAAAAAADBc/ouTH9P2x-Fg/s1600/IMAG7794-1.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-88571665465861250702014-03-21T06:52:00.000-07:002014-03-21T06:52:32.049-07:00I refuse to raise a mean child. But ultimately the choice is up to them. <div style="text-align: left;">
I have been having the same parenting conversation recently with one of my children and feel like I'm stuck in the movie Groundhog Day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Mom, today <em>(fill in any school circumstance in the class or on the bus where one child was the target of laughter)</em> and I laughed <em><strong>a little too</strong></em>...is that bad?" Or, "Today I chimed in on and then I giggled only <em><strong>a little</strong></em> at so in so...." "So in so was misbehaving on the bus, and I encouraged it <em><strong>a little too</strong>...</em>.but only a little..." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZz2j34TahA/Uyw7FO2t0II/AAAAAAAADAc/9_ObWBTxT9Y/s1600/kids+yelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZz2j34TahA/Uyw7FO2t0II/AAAAAAAADAc/9_ObWBTxT9Y/s1600/kids+yelling.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is there such think as laughing A LITTLE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">at another child? No, to that child it looks like this. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I cherish the honestly and opportunity to parent, and it really shows the sweetness of my child. </em></span>But I am plain sick of saying, "Don't give in to peer pressure and act like the other kids. You should have done this, or should have handled it like this, or next time, or WWJD? or fill in blank here____"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last night the same conversation had a new twist. After yet another story, I explained AGAIN how her father and I were the target of laughter when we were children. "You know Mommy and Daddy were laughed at and that made them sad." </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I could not believe the response my child gave back, who clearly is out parenting my parenting. <br />
<br />
<strong>"Well, look how great you turned out Mom. So I don't think I should really feel that bad." </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Really? Are you kidding me? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
I calmly said, "Look, I am tired of telling you how to you should act. You have a choice in life, to be one of these people in this category" (insert me pointing to imaginary Group A), "OR you can be one of these people over here." (Imaginary Group B.) "This group cares about other peoples feelings, and this other group cares what other people think. I have a feeling if this happened at church, you would have handled it differently. But you chose to fall under peer pressure and handle it like the rest of the group. I am not going to tell you what group to be in, that is your choice. I know what group I would like you to be in, and what group God would like you to be in. But you need to make a decision which group it is, <em>and your everyday actions should match whatever group you choose to be in</em>. I am going to leave the room now and give you time to think about it." Me pointing. "This group here or this one over here." </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A look of fear set in and possibly a tear. "Wait mommy, I know what group I want to be in. Whichever one you just pointed to that was the nice group, because I can't tell just by you pointing at them." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got a good chuckle, and I think the better choice will be made. </div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-32579190530126231792014-02-20T11:03:00.000-08:002014-02-20T11:04:20.495-08:00Motherhood turned me into an Animal<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>And many at that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One moment I'm a mama bird, firm on life lessons and consequences, pushing my baby
bird out of the nest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CiNrTK1s2jE/UwY4MWW8_tI/AAAAAAAAC9w/-uWwlb7ySM8/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CiNrTK1s2jE/UwY4MWW8_tI/AAAAAAAAC9w/-uWwlb7ySM8/s1600/bear.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
Mess with my kids? I turn into a mama bear.</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there’s
the moment, “Mom, I don’t feel like you are listening…are you on Facebook?” and
I want to put my head in the ground like an ostrich<em> (after I
comment on my friends post).</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><o:p></o:p></em></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Not sure
they are behaving? </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>I have the supersonic hearing of a bat. </strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-28kKlVbExGE/UwZIqt_bYwI/AAAAAAAAC-o/j36kxwWrUdI/s1600/wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-28kKlVbExGE/UwZIqt_bYwI/AAAAAAAAC-o/j36kxwWrUdI/s1600/wolf.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When teaching my children, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want to be a leader of the the pack.<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During play, I want the freedom of</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> a dolphin jumping in the sea beside them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those quiet moments when my children are hurt, scared or</span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> they have self doubt, </span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
am a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>kangaroo with my baby back in my
pouch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">When my children amaze
me by just being..... themselves, </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">I feel like a lion holding my mane up high a top a beautiful mountain. </span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">And when my patience is tested, </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I climb into a Eucalyptus tree quietly like a koala bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankfully, the Eucalyptus tree sometimes has wine in it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Like swans, I have found a mate for life who can help </strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>navigate this parenting
jungle. </strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong></strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>And like the ants who team up to carry one piece of </strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>food for the whole
crew, </strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>I have many family, friends and God to lighten the load.</strong></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS9Vg1WLxyQ/UwZJ7DuhmBI/AAAAAAAAC-8/jjzdh_VTzDg/s1600/eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS9Vg1WLxyQ/UwZJ7DuhmBI/AAAAAAAAC-8/jjzdh_VTzDg/s1600/eggs.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>But no matter where life takes us, </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>my children will always be as miraculous</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong> and fragile as a nest of baby eggs in the wild. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-20264668750819491922013-12-19T08:36:00.000-08:002013-12-19T09:16:54.105-08:00Leave the Crazy behind this ChristmasStop jumping up and down, I am not talking about having one less seat at the Christmas dinner table for<em> "that"</em> family member...
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_dXh1378Lo/UrMcEzV0jPI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/SMbsvLb5IyY/s1600/IMAG7164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_dXh1378Lo/UrMcEzV0jPI/AAAAAAAAC8Y/SMbsvLb5IyY/s200/IMAG7164.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually one of my normal relatives if that tells you anything. </td></tr>
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While out shopping this Christmas Season, I was beginning to think, do I not like people anymore? Or have they just becoming more annoying? ...And parking a mile away is irritating... And why does someone have to sneeze <em>on</em> me in every store? <br />
<br />
<b>List, let me look at my LIST</b>. <i>Which BTW has been rewritten no less than ten times.</i>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37mUZNC2sQ8/UrMY9MP94TI/AAAAAAAAC8M/V4mWaMLUgRA/s1600/IMAG7217-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37mUZNC2sQ8/UrMY9MP94TI/AAAAAAAAC8M/V4mWaMLUgRA/s200/IMAG7217-1.jpg" /></a><b><em>Thanksgiving was less than a month ago.</em></b> I was so thankful...for everything...I couldn't post on the 30 days of Facebook thanks because I had 1,000 thanks. Too many things to post, it couldn't possibly fit in 30 posts. It was all pumpkin pie and scarecrows. <em>How quickly I forgot that Thanksgiving isn't a holiday, but a way of life.
</em><br />
<br />
Now I am cranky and irritated and way to busy with "Christmas Stuff".<br />
<br />
And I am having to budget in more time for a daily bath in hand sanitizer thanks to Sneezy.
<br />
<br />
Then I felt really ashamed, because many have a heavy heart this Christmas. Some people are reminded of those that have passed this time of year-whether many years ago or last year. Some people are leaving a loved one behind in the hospital to heal. Some people can't come home to be with their family. And some people are mourning a very recent loss of a loved one.
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So how dare I get irritated and impatient. For one, that is not what the Christmas Spirit is about... it is about love.
<br />
<br />
<em><strong>So hug your relatives extra tight this year, even the crazy ones.</strong> </em><br />
<br />
Let your heart be filled - not with "Christmas Stuff" - but with many thanks and "The Christmas Spirit", and love on those that have one less seat at the dinner table.
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-57481718088188296852013-10-07T13:45:00.000-07:002013-10-07T13:56:49.470-07:00Parenting is risky businessOne of the <strong>biggest</strong> risk factors is driving your child to school..... in your <strong>pajamas.</strong><br />
<br />
Even riskier.... driving them in your pajamas when the car line is about to close. Then you do what I believe the school calls the "Mommy Walk of Shame." <br />
<br />
Thankfully, it has only happened to me once....okay, maybe twice....well, no more than three times. The most memorable Mommy Walk of Shame outfit I had on included slippers, my husband's oversized camo fleece, and baggy plaid pants. <em>I know, you are thinking my husband is one lucky man.</em> <br />
<br />
<br />
I am no mathematician, but I found myself doing some math on a recent car line visit (while I was in yet again, my pajamas, and watching the clock tick). Approximately eight vehicles should be able to pull forward and drop off in about a thirty seconds to a minute. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akeU0dOLht8/UlMCvb0UyNI/AAAAAAAAC3M/dZF6AtQZCXM/s1600/IMAG7208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-akeU0dOLht8/UlMCvb0UyNI/AAAAAAAAC3M/dZF6AtQZCXM/s1600/IMAG7208.jpg" height="640" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My calculations were way off as I watched the car line turn into an I-85 traffic jam. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I was thirty seconds away from total humiliation, and I pondered that I could be leaving the house earlier.<br />
<br />
But instead I came up with a some hints for the parents making car line last way too long.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Goodbye should begin at home. </em></strong></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It may be something like this, "Here's a hug before we leave. I love you and have a wonderful day! Now sweetie, let's get going. We have 30 minutes before carline ends" <em>OR</em></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"HURRY, HURRY! Get your breakfast, get your shoes and get your backpack and get in the car!" </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nonetheless, all this letting go should begin prior to the car door opening. </span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>As you pull up to the school, pretend the shuttle is about to take off. </strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Give your child a heads up that they will have to be ready to exit the vehicle in 5 minutes... 4 minutes... 3 minutes... 2 minutes.... 1 minute. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong></strong></em></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">S</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">iblings should not hang out the top of the car in carline.</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIN3wXGKukc/UlMeu5Wur1I/AAAAAAAAC4I/Uj3B0QsBXAo/s1600/856445_10201488549929891_828145243_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIN3wXGKukc/UlMeu5Wur1I/AAAAAAAAC4I/Uj3B0QsBXAo/s1600/856445_10201488549929891_828145243_o.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one I threw in for a friend, </div>
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this happens frequently at their school. <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><em>Your child should already have their shoes on before you stop to have them exit your vehicle. </em></strong></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">And in hand, their backpack, lunch box and any projects. </span></div>
<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>Parents should not exit the vehicle when dropping off. </strong></em></span>The adults that we entrust our children with all day, can assist the kids getting out of the car.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>And last but not least, don't EVER wear your pajamas to drive your kids to school.</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unless you want to humiliate your children on purpose, and that will be a whole other blog post! </span><br />
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-77238027290831758302013-08-06T12:54:00.001-07:002013-08-06T12:54:28.694-07:00Check this Back-To-School Item off your list<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgXj1FuZXWs/UgFNVg96qhI/AAAAAAAACyE/zQ1v_dwH3RY/s1600/IMAG6877-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgXj1FuZXWs/UgFNVg96qhI/AAAAAAAACyE/zQ1v_dwH3RY/s320/IMAG6877-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backpack - check</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lunch box - check<br />
<div>
Clothes - check</div>
<div>
Shoes - check<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmspdBmsZJY/UgFSuOL_LHI/AAAAAAAACyU/svCh5xKx7yo/s1600/IMAG6878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmspdBmsZJY/UgFSuOL_LHI/AAAAAAAACyU/svCh5xKx7yo/s320/IMAG6878.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School supplies - check. Even the last minute add-ons they do in the 11th hour. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
And it's a big year here at our house, we have a <strong>MIDDLE SCHOOL-ER</strong>. <br />
<br />
And though I have bought the necessary supplies, how do I prepare my children for bullies, snarky kids, and just plain mean people? </div>
<div>
<br />
We have already dealt with some not so nice mouthy kids. I offered three suggestions:</div>
<br />
1. You gotta get thick skin and ignore them<br />
2. Tell them something witty, like, "You will probably still be living with your parents when you are 40 and I will remember this when I am your boss"<br />
<div>
3. Kindly offer them some laxative infused brownies<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MsgT5NXJi4/UgFJ6KhMTtI/AAAAAAAACxg/sjnEqEWExmM/s1600/IMAG6874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MsgT5NXJi4/UgFJ6KhMTtI/AAAAAAAACxg/sjnEqEWExmM/s320/IMAG6874.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Number one turned out to be the best. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And, I remember middle school.... aah.....Brandy was gonna beat me up on numerous occasions. Probably because I wore fake K-Mart Nikes or something silly like that. We had a good laugh ten years later when I saw her and said, "Remember when...." <br />
<em></em><br />
<em>I am sure she is still living with her parents. </em></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, as I was sitting in the Middle School parking lot on "Meet the teacher" night with my child, I saw <em>one</em> 6th grader wearing a backpack. I casually said, "Ooo, aren't you glad you didn't wear your backpack on meet the teacher night?" <br />
The reply after a long pause, "Mom, that's my friend." <br />
<br />
Oops. Just add that comment to my other one about the highlighters and pens in the outside pocket of the backpack looking baby-ish... <em>Hey, I am parent of the year here. </em><br />
</div>
<div>
But a nice note written to my child from a fellow parent reminded me that maybe the tools our kids need aren't that far out of reach after all. And I am going to learn to keep my mouth shut. Really. </div>
<div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tApeEChBrl4/UgFK0FVik2I/AAAAAAAACx0/tKlR0sNHnqs/s1600/IMAG6872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tApeEChBrl4/UgFK0FVik2I/AAAAAAAACx0/tKlR0sNHnqs/s320/IMAG6872.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-28577274107664086812013-07-15T07:24:00.000-07:002013-07-15T07:24:45.384-07:00The Spirit of The League<div style="text-align: center;">
We have all been there as parents. <br />
Whether at a sporting event, school or recreational activity, <br />
watching your child succeed at something and you find yourself tearing up<br />
- brimming over with pride and emotion - <br />
and you may or may not refrain from yelling,<br />
"That's MY kid!" <br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEbZRN9Vqw0/UeP7kVruthI/AAAAAAAACwU/SHDv8Hd8DQw/s1600/IMAG6056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEbZRN9Vqw0/UeP7kVruthI/AAAAAAAACwU/SHDv8Hd8DQw/s400/IMAG6056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEbZRN9Vqw0/UeP7kVruthI/AAAAAAAACwU/SHDv8Hd8DQw/s1600/IMAG6056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
It was a County Championship Swim Meet, <br />
comprised of more 40 teams split among four sessions.<br />
All the parents were seated <em>comfortably</em> in the stands <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
on the plastic flip down chairs made for really tiny people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Reminiscent of an airplane, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but at least on the airplane there are only rows of three.)<em> </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"Excuse me, pardon me.. excuse me, pardon me, excuse me.., </em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>excuse me... pardon me, excuse me, excuse me...."</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the third session, the stands were packed. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We all became very close.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Obviously, we are all cheering for our team's swimmers. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's a given.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I noticed half way through the session, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
once the parents around us realized who our kids were,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they started cheering for our kids too. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was no longer competitors with team spirit, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but parents-sharing in each other's joy. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whether our "new friends" heard our child's name called, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
saw they were heat winner, or just that they swam hard, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there was a nod of approval and parents were congratulating the<br />
parents from competing teams.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And when another teams swimmer broke their own sibling's county record, <br />
we were all congratulating them.</div>
<em>(I won't mention their names because I got in trouble with my kids for talking about it,</em><br />
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em> but I will so be looking for them at the Olympics!)</em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then the moment came. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The parents right in front of us were watching their child <br />
(from a competing team)<br />
in the final heat-in the fastest lane. <br />
They went crazy, hollering, cheering, jumping up and down, <br />
and then when he won, hugging and crying. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that's when I found myself crying too, <br />
because after all the competition is over, <br />
we are all parents at the end of the day. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsdL3XkgYPM/UeP76mHFBmI/AAAAAAAACwc/XyqnWwfsqUw/s1600/IMAG6079-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsdL3XkgYPM/UeP76mHFBmI/AAAAAAAACwc/XyqnWwfsqUw/s320/IMAG6079-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-60951666021384010052013-05-01T07:35:00.000-07:002013-05-01T07:35:18.739-07:00Leaving of a legacy<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMwqPYMabPI/UYEXmXEHP_I/AAAAAAAACSU/UlnKdoNYSjk/s1600/IMAG5461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMwqPYMabPI/UYEXmXEHP_I/AAAAAAAACSU/UlnKdoNYSjk/s320/IMAG5461.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I first heard my 90 year old Grandma </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">had fallen ill and was terminal, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">my first thought </span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">(other than the gut wrenching sobbing and snot slinging) </span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">was, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">this...is the end..... of an era. </span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> My mind said that she lived a wonderful and full 90 years, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">but my heart was so very sad. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After travelling to NY to see her for the last time, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I no longer feel it is the end of an era.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZMGwKChVs0/UYEZmOKmnnI/AAAAAAAACS4/ezHNyGQqSfo/s1600/IMAG5459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZMGwKChVs0/UYEZmOKmnnI/AAAAAAAACS4/ezHNyGQqSfo/s320/IMAG5459.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As God calls her home to be with my Grandpa</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">whom she loved dearly, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I now feel like it is the beginning of her legacy. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">She is at home and most definitely </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">surrounded by love and family, </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">and it is how they are loving her that represents her legacy. </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Loved ones praying for her,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">gently holding her hand, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">sleeping by her bedside or on the couch near her, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">listening to the monitor in case she makes a sound, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">giving medicine as needed, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">calling from all over the world to let her know they love her </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and hear her voice, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">bringing flowers to her, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">thanking her for everything she has done and</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">all the prayers she has prayed,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> kissing her forehead, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">even arguing about what will make her most comfortable. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Even in those moments of disagreement, </span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">it is a example of how much she is loved. </span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLH7FiV4vbA/UYEXoxoSjuI/AAAAAAAACSc/jqtxclfoSbw/s1600/IMAG5470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLH7FiV4vbA/UYEXoxoSjuI/AAAAAAAACSc/jqtxclfoSbw/s320/IMAG5470.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Not just one, but two priests came to pray with her at the house, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">bring her communion and / or read her last rites. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you include the priest from the hospital, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">we think she had her last rites read three times, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> she is in the Lord's hands. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXegMgL1xNM/UYEYI088EdI/AAAAAAAACSs/J-WxdnzywL0/s1600/IMAG5462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DXegMgL1xNM/UYEYI088EdI/AAAAAAAACSs/J-WxdnzywL0/s320/IMAG5462.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> She is a witness for her love of the Lord </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">by the way she clings to her rosaries saying prayers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y-ENoCzCFI/UYEXqjrjucI/AAAAAAAACSk/bRNqIf6SPQg/s1600/IMAG5472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y-ENoCzCFI/UYEXqjrjucI/AAAAAAAACSk/bRNqIf6SPQg/s320/IMAG5472.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is all the mark of a woman who loved her children deeply,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">all thirteen of them, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and showed her family </span><em><span style="font-size: large;">the power of love and prayer. </span></em></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A woman who taught those around her </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">to look at the world</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> through rose colored glasses, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">literally and figuratively.</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEo-nVVr_kc/UYEetUWnQGI/AAAAAAAACTM/rAxP9iIhz2Q/s1600/IMAG5473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEo-nVVr_kc/UYEetUWnQGI/AAAAAAAACTM/rAxP9iIhz2Q/s320/IMAG5473.jpg" width="320" /></span></em></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She will be missed terribly, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">as Grandpa is to this day,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">however she will still live on in each person </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">that was lucky enough to know and love her. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is not just her legacy, but their legacy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">And as she is being called home and takes this journey, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I pray for her to be at peace. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMtuEVORqVo/UYEXg5W0KeI/AAAAAAAACR8/StSoMqQaltI/s1600/IMAG5455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMtuEVORqVo/UYEXg5W0KeI/AAAAAAAACR8/StSoMqQaltI/s320/IMAG5455.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3Ri69wJsFg/UYEXika8WQI/AAAAAAAACSE/-BLASbcPHOo/s1600/IMAG5457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">"Angels are everywhere, </span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">one has only to be still to hear the rustle of a wing."</span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-34559858347735119972013-01-28T08:02:00.000-08:002013-07-01T05:54:28.317-07:00You can learn a lot from Duck Dynasty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HdHvN4edn1E/UQkdjuBzhoI/AAAAAAAACLU/yssNWqD0xow/s1600/duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HdHvN4edn1E/UQkdjuBzhoI/AAAAAAAACLU/yssNWqD0xow/s320/duck.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN"></span><br />
<span lang="EN"></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN">We are new fans of the hit show <strong><em>Duck Dynasty</em></strong> </span></div>
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and have been watching ALL the episodes. </div>
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Without further ado, here is my list of </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Everything you ever needed to know, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">you can learn from Duck Dynasty”</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Snippets from Uncle Si</em></span></u></div>
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Warm donuts are always best</div>
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Don’t judge a book by it’s cover</div>
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Know how to sew, you may never know when it comes in handy </div>
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Naps are great</div>
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Dating teenagers need chaperones</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Know what you like and what is special to you</strong></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Wisdom from Phil</em></span></u></div>
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</strong>Pray before a meal</div>
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Always think your wife is hot and love her cooking</div>
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Learn the art of having your wife “think” you are listening</div>
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Listen to your mama</div>
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A teenage boy shouldn’t touch his girlfriend below the shoulders...<br />
dating teenagers need chaperones</div>
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Nothing is impossible</div>
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You should know how to fish</div>
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<b></b><em><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Treasures from Miss Kay</span></u></em></div>
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Dogs are members of the family</div>
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Use your God given talent to bless others~especially your family and your church</div>
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Don’t be afraid to eat a piece of Boudin because you might gain an ounce</div>
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Apologize and hug it out</div>
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Eat dinner as a family</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE4jgyboOcQ/UQac7-ZE91I/AAAAAAAACLA/7iLBG-bFUuY/s1600/ham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE4jgyboOcQ/UQac7-ZE91I/AAAAAAAACLA/7iLBG-bFUuY/s320/ham.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>A woman should know her way around a kitchen</em></div>
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<em><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Education from Jase</span></u></em> </div>
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All work and no play is no fun</div>
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When teenagers kiss, they should just be holding hands~always</div>
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If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again</div>
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It’s fun to ruffle peoples feathers</div>
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If you love your job, you will work harder</div>
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<em><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Expertise from Willie</span></u></em></div>
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Have a good work ethic</div>
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If a boy wants to date your teenage daughter, take him hunting and intimidate him</div>
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It’s good to have an entrepreneurial spirit</div>
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Sometimes you gotta let your hair down and relax</div>
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Teamwork is best</div>
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Make sure your children know how to drive before well before they get a license</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><u>Observations of Jep</u></em></span></div>
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Sometimes it benefits to be the baby of the family<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And last but NOT least</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><u>What we can learn from the wives</u></em></span><br />
Know how to go with the flow<br />
Love your husbands and love your babies<br />
Sometimes you don't have to know how to cook</div>
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Hey!</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-69161247694155800662013-01-15T09:18:00.001-08:002013-01-15T09:18:49.728-08:00Sandy Hook ~ A month later<div>
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" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Every Christmas Eve, in Tarpon Springs, Florida on the Bayou, <br />they light thousands of white luminary bags with a candle for someone special. <br />It is a beautiful sight. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> Normally, these bags have the names of those living and deceased..... </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">but this year, they mostly were in memory of someone. </span> </div>
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There was a large section dedicated to the </div>
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Sandy Hook Elementary School children. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prNtgJaxLDk/UN0d5der81I/AAAAAAAABBk/4unarcmmvzg/s1600/luminaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prNtgJaxLDk/UN0d5der81I/AAAAAAAABBk/4unarcmmvzg/s200/luminaries.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div>
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My oldest was overwhelmed by all the children's names and began crying, saying, </div>
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"I just feel like if I can remember one persons name and pray for them, </div>
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I have helped in some way." </div>
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I was moved.... proud.... and sad. </div>
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I think it is safe to say, the holidays had a somber underlying tone for everyone. </div>
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I had also read about a little girl in Griffin, GA who was found dead Dec. 22. </div>
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She was only nine. </div>
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Her neighbor was arrested almost immediately, maybe that is why it didn't make the national news. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol5leg3utEw/UPWKyR55tAI/AAAAAAAACKQ/CrUy-pkTWSg/s1600/Praying+girl+figurine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol5leg3utEw/UPWKyR55tAI/AAAAAAAACKQ/CrUy-pkTWSg/s200/Praying+girl+figurine.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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Her name is Skylar Dials. </div>
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Thankfully, my children knew nothing of it. </div>
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I couldn't stop thinking about her though... I figured that was the least I could do. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a class="rg_hl uh_hl" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=clock+pic+11&hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7GGIE_en&biw=1280&bih=592&tbm=isch&tbnid=MsvguJ_f6rumFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.clickstart.org.uk/page/view/id/5536&docid=MMWXqusn36aS7M&imgurl=http://www.clickstart.org.uk/assets/img/sites/pages/5536/Clock%252520showing%25252011%252520o%2527clock%252520Royalty%252520Free%252520Stock%252520Photo.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=TV31UJQLh6L1BMS_gcgI&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=123&vpy=125&dur=164&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=126&ty=119&sig=111116078826223640008&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=189&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:84" id="rg_hl" style="height: 194px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 259px;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="149" id="rg_hi" 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" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Last night my youngest was up till 11:00 p.m., calling out every so often, <br />"Mom, dad, are you there?" <br />"Just making sure you are okay." <br /><br />This isn't part of our "normal" bedtime routine. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think the sporadic new bedtime has something to do with the poem my oldest had just written, so here it is,<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Sandy Hook Massacre through a child's eyes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As everyday passes by,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I wonder why things happen the way they do.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And I try and try not to dwell on it. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But I get to thinking…</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>They didn’t deserve to die,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Why was it so many lives?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Those innocent, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Don’t deserve to die. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>At least they lived happy lives.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We’ll grieve and grieve,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But try to accept it.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>‘Cause they didn’t deserve this.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What did they do to you.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Did they ever hurt him in any way?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Why, why did he take their lives and his own?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What a cowardly act,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>doing that.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Every time I think about it I am chilled to the bone.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>So why, why…</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Did he kill them all?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>They were so small. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>They didn’t have to die,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but they did.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And he did.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>Once again, I am moved.... proud.... and sad.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531672663484878547.post-53029730717670504122012-11-27T07:54:00.001-08:002013-01-30T05:29:08.974-08:00Things you never knew you needed to know!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZimHoU5mNh8/ULTWhN-CDfI/AAAAAAAACJo/SFM-7cY5wj8/s1600/birthday+balloon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZimHoU5mNh8/ULTWhN-CDfI/AAAAAAAACJo/SFM-7cY5wj8/s200/birthday+balloon.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It is normal to reflect upon your life when birthdays are approaching. </i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">One the eve of mine, I would like to share some of what I have learned over the years. </i><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And perhaps, some observations, truths and just plain good advice. </i></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<ol>
<li>Go to church.</li>
<li>Don’t spoil your children, but do spoil your husband.</li>
<li>Act irrational and crazy once in a while around your husband so he doesn’t get spoiled. </li>
<li>Play games. (Oh, not "<i>play game</i>s" but "<i>play</i>"<b> games</b> like UNO, Yahtzee, checkers, wiffle ball, etc... )</li>
<li>Don’t gloat when you win, or pout when you lose. </li>
<li>Ask for forgiveness when you gloat when you win and pout when you lose. </li>
<li>It is impossible for your children to<i> <b>only</b></i> inherit just your fabulous, wonderful qualities. </li>
<li>Love your children. </li>
<li>Don’t judge people. </li>
<li>Double check that your clothing or bathing suit covers up your birth control patch. </li>
<li>If you are going to wear a thin skirt and be outdoors in the sunlight, it is a good idea to wear a slip. </li>
<li>Don’t wear tan pantyhose with white pumps. Actually, don’t wear either.</li>
<li>Don’t wear your husband’s camouflage fleece, pajama bottoms, and slippers when driving your children to school late. You will surely have to go sign them in at the school’s front office. </li>
<li>If you decide to get spunky and wear shorts on that warm mid-winter day, remember to shave the legs you have neglected for 2 weeks. </li>
<li>Enjoy the rain, it brings the sun. (If live you in Seattle, go to a movie and get a coffee.)</li>
<li>Try growing a garden and camping, at least once.</li>
<li>Be thankful for your parents. </li>
<li>It is okay to go to therapy. </li>
<li>If you have the option of laughing or crying, laugh. </li>
<li>Apologize when you should. </li>
<li>Appreciate your friends. </li>
<li>Dog is a man's best friend. </li>
<li>Ombre style hair is not when your dark roots grow out 4 inches, so book your next hair appointment as your leave your last hair appointment. </li>
<li>Watch hoarders occasionally if you need help getting rid of things you don‘t use, need or like. </li>
<li>Go to college.</li>
<li>Nothing good happens after midnight. </li>
<li>Don't drink and drive.</li>
<li>Don’t let yourself get over-served. If you do, drink lots of water the next day and take ibuprofen, because you will wish you followed #26. </li>
<li>Nap and occasionally sleep in. (also helpful for #28) </li>
<li>Come to a full stop when a school bus has the “STOP” sign out. </li>
<li>Donate money and/or time to a charity. </li>
<li>Eat dinner as a family. </li>
<li>Eat cereal for dinner if you don’t want to cook; teach your children to cook. </li>
<li>A serving of ice cream is ½ cup, but a serving of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies is 1 sleeve. </li>
<li>Exercise. </li>
<li>Brush and floss your teeth. </li>
<li>Read something. </li>
<li>Be thankful and keep pity parties short.</li>
<li>Smile. </li>
<li>Pray. </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDz_iZFDbIjhT0e2Zf3JcXTkBvUhSowdKxjolsWGDMSZD4O1qm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>So I am not really 30-something, <br />oh wait, I am for a few more days! </i></span></td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Be sure to check out my book at www.havensheaven.com </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094406974552704795noreply@blogger.com0